Alex lifted a square panel of wood attached by a hinge. Beneath it was a dark hole.
He looked at me, his features tight.
“What’s out there?” I asked.
He motioned for me to join him. “We have to hide you.”
Cicero and Sonya appeared. “They’re here?” Cicero asked.
“Almost,” Alex said.
Sonya glanced at me. “I’ll hide with her.”
Alex shook his head. “You all have to hide. If they know you and Dad are here, we’ll have a much greater problem on our hands.”
Something about his voice took away my urge to argue.
Sonya and Cicero exchanged a glance, and I watched as Cicero lowered himself into the black hole, followed by a soft thud.
“Hurry!” Thad was at the window.
Sonya dropped in after her husband, and I crouched at the ledge to follow them when Alex grabbed my arm.
There was an intensity in his eyes that held me still. His rigid mask was gone, all defenses stripped away, and what lay beneath was tenderness. But he quickly looked away and lowered me into the space below until my feet touched the floor. The hatch closed as a loud banging sounded on the door.
Chapter 7
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
The front door creaked opened. The storm outside wailed as Thad restrained a snarling Egan. The visitors walked inside, the wooden planks in the floor creaked against the heavy callunk—callunk of their footsteps. The front door shut behind them, muting the storm outside.
“Good morning, gentlemen, may I help you?”
I was shocked by Alex’s perfect control. His voice was calm and authoritative. Not at all like he had three fugitives hiding in his basement.
“I hope you can,“ one of the men said, his voice throttled like an old car engine. He meandered farther into the room. There was a metallic clang when he walked, and his boots scraped across the floorboards like they were carving into them. “We think someone’s passed through the boundary. From the other side.”
He halted right above us. I could see his shadow through the narrow cracks in the floorboards. Sweat beaded on my forehead as I held my breath. I didn’t know who these men were, but they were no friends. Their anger and hostility were so strong that it seeped inside of me, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth.
“Are you sure?” Alex asked. “I haven’t been notified.”
Even I believed Alex.
“No doubt you haven’t. We believe their passage was aided by someone of power.”
“Then King Darius is aware?”
A king?
“No.” A board creaked as the man shifted his weight. “We’d like to take care of the problem without worrying His Majesty and causing a public disturbance. You know how the people can be when it comes to the boundary.”
Alex was slow in his response. “I see. So then, if I may, what is your purpose here?”
“To find out if you’ve seen anyone out of the ordinary.”
“Other than Thaddeus here, no.”
I heard sharp movement, someone grunted, and then Thad cried out, “Spirits! He’s joking. I live here.”
“Yes.” There was a smile in Alex’s voice. “Unfortunately, Thad is correct.”
I had to hand it to Alex. He was a talented liar.
There was a soft thump and one of the men chuckled. The sound grated against my ears.
“Perhaps…you’ve seen Aegis Cicero?”
Sonya squeezed my sweaty palm. Alex had been right to hide all of us. Those men already knew Cicero crossed the boundary, and Alex didn’t miss it.
“I haven’t seen my father in a few weeks, and I can assure you if there was anything to worry about, he would have handled it already.”
I felt the men’s surprise along with their dawning comprehension. “You’re…Alexander Del Conte?”
“Yes.”
“Spirits take me.” This voice belonged to the other man. It sounded squeaky and muddied like his nasal passages were being pinched.
“My apologies,” said the other. “I wasn’t implying that—“
“Will that be all, gentlemen?” Alex’s voice was polite, but had an edge that didn’t invite further conversation.
“Yes,” said the man with the grumbling voice. “And if you don’t mind, we’d like to keep this from His Majesty for now.”
Alex didn’t answer.
Their footsteps stomped and clunked across the floor and the front door opened. The sound of howling wind filled the air and the clunking halted.
“Glad we weren’t forced to cross blades, boy. Good day to you.”
The door closed and the room returned to silence.
Footsteps crossed the room and light flooded in from above. Alex held open the hatch. “All’s clear.” His arms reached in to help us up.
“Who were they?” I asked Alex as he pulled me through.
“Hold on.” He helped his mom and dad out of the opening.
Egan returned to my side as if our momentary interruption never happened, and he resumed licking my hand, as if that also never happened.
“Were they wearing Valdon’s armor?” Cicero asked.
Armor. So that was what had been making all that noise when they walked. I wondered if they were from the group we’d seen near the portal.
“They were.” Alex narrowed his eyes at the door. “It was old, but it still bore the sigil.”
“Valdon?” I asked.
Alex looked at me with tired eyes. “Valdon is the name of this region.”
“Any idea who sent them?” Sonya asked.
“No, but it obviously wasn’t King Darius.”
There it was again. “Gaia has a king?” I asked. I hated being on the inside of a conversation I understood nothing of.
Sonya, Cicero, Alex, and Thad all turned to look at me. Even Egan perked his smoky ears.
“King Darius Regius is the ruler of Gaia,” Sonya said.
Gaia really did have a king. An authentic, living monarch. I felt excited and horrified at the same time; I knew about kings from my history books. “Is he a…good king?”
“Yes,” Cicero said as Alex made a faint grunting noise.
This earned him a glare from his dad, so he took the opportunity to leave the room, Thad following after him. I was glad because I’d rather ask my questions without Alex listening. “So…does this king monitor the portals?”
Sonya glanced at Cicero. It was like I’d asked them to open Pandora’s box. All I wanted was some information, anything to help me make sense of this place.
Sonya was the one that answered. “King Darius has a contingent of high lords that serve directly beneath him, and their territories are near the portals.”
“You live near a portal,” I said. “So are you one of these…high lords?”
Cicero grinned. “No, the high lords of Gaia are some of the most powerful in our world, second only to the king himself. My title is more of a duty than a rank. I’m technically called an Aegis, which means I’m an appointed protector. My lovely wife—” Cicero grinned at Sonya “—has inherited the role by marriage, and I fear it may be the only reason she married me.”
“Don’t listen to him,” Sonya smirked. “He has an unfortunate habit of remembering things in a way that will make a good story.” She then moved about the room closing the curtains.
But Cicero wasn’t finished talking, and his lips weren’t done smiling. “I tell it like I see it. The day I went from squire to being appointed an Aegis, Sonya finally decided to take my hand.”
“No.” Sonya glared over her shoulder, her hand still clutching the curtain she was closing. “I didn’t marry you sooner because you were a squire with an irritating need to follow every knight on duty. I needed some stability.”
Cicero laughed at that. “Eighteen years in Yosemite valley stable enough?”
So the Del Contes had been protecting investments. Quite literally. “All these years, you lived there protecti
ng…”
“You and Alaric,” Cicero answered for me.
I was going to say “portal.” That seemed the obvious token to protect. But protect Dad and me? I was no one and Dad was just a businessman—ambassador—whatever. And if Dad traveled through the portal…
“If those men were searching for someone that traveled through the portal, then my dad is in trouble!”
Thunder crashed overhead as rain threw itself against the windows with renewed fury.
“Your father isn’t in any trouble. Besides—” Cicero gazed at the window as if he could see through the curtains “—we can’t do anything tonight.”
How could Cicero not think my dad was in trouble? I’d worry about him in this storm alone, even without armed men searching for trespassers. My blood ran hot as I reached the end of my short rope. “The only reason I came with you was because you told me my dad was going to be here, and he’s not. If there are people out there looking for him, I’m going to find him, with or without your help.”
I wasn’t sure how, but I would. By the looks on their faces, they knew it, too.
Sonya placed her hand on her husband’s arm. “The letter?”
Remembering something, Cicero reached into his pocket, extracting a small, folded piece of paper. The same sort of folded paper the Del Contes had given me in their hidden room.
“Another letter.” I frowned.
Cicero held it before me.
Anxious, I unfolded the heavy sheet. Like before, it was my dad’s writing, but this time it was much more rushed.
Cicero—
My apologies for not waiting. I’m sure Thad told you the Pykans crossed the boundary undetected. I fear something greater is behind this. I’m off to see Lord Commodus. If anyone knows of a resurgence in Pykan activity, it will be him. I’d ask that you come, but it is more important you watch over Daria.
Bring her to Amadis and I’ll meet you there. A week’s time should be sufficient for me to extract what details I can and meet up with you all. The magic of the Arborenne should protect and hide you. Not a soul, whether it is good or evil, can know she’s here. Not until I get to the bottom of this.
Stefan is to act in my absence. He’s sending necessary supplies to you via Rex Cross morning after next. Trust few. Remember your oath, because more than Daria’s life may be at stake.
I thank you with all I am,
Your friend,
Alaric
There was a postscript at the end of the letter, addressed to me.
Daria,
Forgive me for not explaining this life to you sooner. My regret is greater than you can possibly imagine. I promise I’ll explain everything to you soon—once it’s safe. Listen to the Del Contes. They will care for you as their own, as they always have. I love you, princess. I’m so sorry. –Dad
After a second reading my panic waned and my anger returned. Most of the letter didn’t make sense, but there were three points I understood clearly. One, my dad was alive. Two, there were still secrets only he could tell. And three, in the meantime he expected me to trust and follow the Del Contes without arguing about it.
How could he do this to me? Throw me in this situation, leave without explanation, continue being secretive, and expect me to cooperate. It was almost like being wedged between a rock and a hard place, but this was worse. I’d been given a third barrier: solid ground, brought to me by my dad. I wasn’t going anywhere, unless I learned how to fly. But at the rate I was losing control, the sky would probably fall on my head and lock me in completely.
What to do, what to do…
I wasn’t going back home. Now that I knew this world existed, that was out of the question. So, I had two alternatives. I could march out of here alone, with no sense of direction and no one to trust—except, perhaps, Thad. Or, I could follow the Del Contes, who had lied to me my entire life but knew the way through this world.
I hated to admit it to myself but the liars would get me to Dad the fastest.
As much as I didn’t like it, my best option was to follow the Del Contes. I’d learn everything I could from them along the way, just in case I was left choosing that other alternative.
After folding the letter back on its creases, I glanced into the faces of a worried Cicero and Sonya. “These Pykans. Who are they?”
Cicero studied me a moment and looked a little relieved. He’d probably expected my other alternative.
“Why don’t we all have a seat?” he asked.
I picked a seat on the floor beside the fire. Egan bounded back into the room, carrying a large bone in his mouth. It was a strange looking bone, black and about as big as my entire arm. He dropped it at my feet, took a couple steps back, and stared at it.
“Egan, not now,” Cicero said as he and Sonya sat down on the small leather sofa.
Egan whimpered and slumped to the ground. He rested his head on his paws; his sappy eyes stared at the bone with longing. I felt bad, but I was too eager to learn about this place to play with him.
Cicero took a deep breath. “Long ago, the Pykans were a powerful people from the lands of Visigoth.”
“Visigoth? As in Alaric of the Visigoths?”
“No, here, Visigoth is a large island, far off the coast of Orindor—Lord Commodus’ territory.”
“Lord Commodus…as in the person Dad’s gone to see?”
Cicero nodded. “The Pykans were strong people—beautiful people—with many magical talents given them by Gaia herself. They became puffed up and proud, forgetting who gave them their power. As their pride swelled, they turned vicious and violent, lusting for more power. A great wizard—”
“Wizard?”
Cicero looked irritated, but continued. “Yes. A great wizard—”
“Wizards exist here? Really?” I couldn’t believe it.
Cicero smacked his hands on his kneecaps. “Confound it, Daria. How am I supposed to answer your questions when you keep interrupting?”
“Maybe if you had told me about this world when you should have, I wouldn’t have so many questions.”
Cicero sighed and leaned back on the couch. “All right. Would you like my explanation now, or would you prefer to wait a few weeks for your father’s?”
I folded my legs, rested my elbows on my kneecaps and glared at the fire. “I’ll listen.”
“A wizard,” he paused, “cursed their lands to waste and they were banished to them. They still keep some of their powers, since they are fueled by evil and even a wizard can’t touch all that is dark. The Regius dynasty and the high lords have done an adequate job of keeping the Pykan fury contained to nothing more than their ruined island of Visigoth.”
This supposed history sounded like a fairytale to me. However, under the current circumstances, my line between fact and fiction had blurred. I was establishing my foundation of knowledge all over again, much like a child would. But it was easier as a child because I hadn’t already established any rules of the world yet.
Cicero and Sonya watched me.
“These Pykans were at our home,” I said.
Cicero’s nod was steady. “Yes. Alaric contacted us when you got home. He said you were safe, but two Pykans had been there, waiting for you. He had no idea who sent them or how they got through the portal without any of us knowing. You see, as an Aegis, that is part of our job. Not just protecting you, but monitoring the portal from the other side. It is protected by great magic, and since the Pykans were able to get past that detection, that can only mean someone powerful sent them for you.”
In a land of magic and wizards and Pykans and kings, someone wanted me. “What would anyone want with me?”
They exchanged a glance.
“At this point, we aren’t sure,” Sonya spoke slow and careful. “But your father is trying to figure it out. Lord Commodus’s territory is closest to any port the Pykans may have used to get on the mainland. If anyone knows of their presence, it would be him.”
I thought about that for a minute.
“So let me get this straight. Dad is traveling alone, where more of these Pykans could be hiding, to talk to Lord Commodus, who might know more about the situation?”
“Yes.” Cicero and Sonya answered together.
“And what was he planning on doing if he found any of them? Fight? My dad won’t even kill a spider!” I was distantly aware that I was now standing.
My other alternative was sounding better and better.
“Don’t worry. If anyone can handle himself, it’s Alaric.” Thad had reentered the room with a smile and tray of steaming mugs.
I glared at Thad. “You don’t know my dad.”
“Do you?” Thad raised a brow, which made me even angrier. I was so tired of all these dual identities.
“Thad’s right.” Cicero grabbed an orange, ceramic mug from the tray. “Alaric is perfectly able to handle himself.”
“And I’m sure Pyxis has taken him halfway across Valdon by now,” Thad commented.
“Pyxis?” I asked.
“Alaric’s horse,” Sonya answered.
“My dad has a horse? He hates riding.”
Thad shook his head with a smirk. “Earthen horses, maybe. They’re nothing like ours. Your father is one of the best riders in the land, and Pyxis is the fastest stallion of his kind.”
Secrets, secrets, and more secrets. What else didn’t I know about my dad, the one person in the world I thought I did know? My anger rapidly dissolved and loneliness jumped in to smother me.
“Here.” Thad held out a glazed, green ceramic mug.
I shook my head. “No thanks.”
He pushed the mug towards me. “Take it. It’ll help.”
I glanced into his buoyant face. “What is it?”
“Tonic. Made from callaberries. Trust me, you need it.”
My hands trembled as I took it from him.
“Thaddeus, you’ve outdone yourself.” Cicero wiped frothy white film from his lips.
Thad grinned as he handed one to Sonya. “Nonsense, sir. I just happen to know you like extra froth.”
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