by T.M. Nielsen
Chapter 10
“Lady Kyrin?” Azimeth said from the door.
Kyrin reached out and grabbed one of the twins as he tried to crawl away from her. “What?”
“King Alric needs to see you in the throne room.”
“Did he say why?”
“No”
“Fine, stay with the twins,” Kyrin said, and then stood up and straightened her tunic. Since the twins were now crawling, it was almost impossible to wear any form of a dress. She spent a good part of her day digging them out from under the bed or catching them as they headed for the stairs.
“Yes, M’Lady,” Azimeth said as she got on the floor with the twins.
“Watch Ryche. He’s been trying to get to the fire all afternoon.”
“He does like it. I’ll watch him.”
Kyrin looked once around the room and then holstered her flail before walking down the stairs. She didn’t have knights any longer, because her magic was back fully. Creteloc had returned to Paramide Dimension as soon as Kyrin’s magic returned, and she’d refused to set foot in Paragoy since.
She rounded the corner into the throne room and saw Alric on his throne, talking to a shorter man with almost black hair and thick, broad arms. Kyrin sat down and looked at the man for a moment before turning to Alric.
“Azimeth said you asked for me?”
Alric nodded and then glanced nervously at the man. “Do you know him?”
Kyrin turned and looked at him again. “No. Should I?”
“Daemionis brought him to us.”
“Am I supposed to kill him?”
“I don’t think so. He’s your father.”
“So why did Daemionis bring him here?” Kyrin asked.
Alric was shocked that she showed no emotion at all. “He’s your father.”
“I heard that. I just don’t know why he’s here.”
He glanced at the man, not quite sure what to say. He had expected rage from Kyrin but was getting nothing. “Well, do you want to talk to him?”
Kyrin glanced at the man again. “Why would I?”
“He’s…”
“… my father. You said that already.”
The man was wringing his hands nervously. “You sure look like your mother.”
“Why did Daemionis bring you here?” Kyrin asked him.
“I’m not entirely sure. I was shifting.”
“Running?”
“No, just traveling the lands. I suddenly found myself in the presence of your god. He dropped me here.”
“With no purpose?”
“No”
“Okay then, shift out. I find portals mostly out by the orchard.”
The man nodded and started for the door.
“Wait,” Alric called to him. When the man turned, he motioned him forward. “I have some questions.”
“Okay”
“I’m done here,” Kyrin said, and stood up.
Alric took her hand. “Stay, please.”
Kyrin shrugged and sat down.
“What’s your name?” Alric asked the man.
“Naylor”
“What dimension are you from?”
“Kyrstalis”
“Where is Kyrin’s mother?”
Naylor sighed. “She’s dead. She died just after giving birth to Kyrin.”
“From what?”
“Infection I guess.”
“You guess?”
“Well, obviously I was done with her as a wife. Why else get her pregnant?”
“That’s so very messed up,” Alric told him.
“That’s how it is. So as soon as she had Kyrin, I took her to the orphanage and then shifted out. I heard years later that her mom died an hour or so after I left.”
“Did you ever wonder about Kyrin?”
“No”
“Never? Never wondered if she fell into the hands of a Consortium?”
“Not really.”
Alric studied him. “You seem rather cold.”
“No reason not to. When I dropped her off at the orphanage, she was no longer mine. Why should I care?”
Alric looked over at Kyrin to see if she was surprised, but she seemed bored and disinterested. “You care because she’s your daughter.”
“Well, maybe if she’d been a boy.”
“I’m hesitant to let you leave here.”
“Why’s that?” Naylor asked, glancing toward the door.
“I just am. We also don’t know why Daemionis sent you here, and until we do, I think we’ll keep you.”
Naylor looked around the luxurious room. “Well, I guess I could get used to the water here.”
“You’d be kept in prison.”
“Why?” Naylor asked.
Alric smiled. “I can’t have you shifting before we find out why you’re even here.”
“I promise not to.”
“Not good enough. Finn?” Alric called out.
Finn and four knights came in.
“Please escort Naylor to a cell.”
The knights took him roughly and hauled him out of the room.
“That didn’t bother you?” Alric asked Kyrin.
“No, why should it?”
“He abandoned you and left you for the Shadowmere.”
“I’ve told you, Alric. That’s normal outside of Paragoy. He did nothing out of the ordinary.”
“Still!”
“He means nothing more to me than a stranger on the road.”
Alric watched the door for a moment. “I still wonder why he was sent here.”
“I can go ask Daemionis.”
“I’d rather you not.”
“Why?”
“It seems like anytime you talk to him, he sends you out into the dimensions on a mission.”
Alric watched as Kyrin left the throne room. He was still proud that she had stepped up as the twin’s mother and was trying to be a good one. She had odd ways, and sometimes things she did with the twins seemed out of place, but nothing was harmful. He had to stop Azimeth many times from correcting something Kyrin did, reminding her to let Kyrin do what she thought was right.
He wasn’t sure she was really attached to the twins though. Often times, he suspected she was being a mother because she understood that he wanted her to and that he loved the babies. Alric hoped that someday she would move from protector over to their adoring mother, but he wasn’t going to push the issue. The time she spent with the twins was his best bet to get her to fall in love with them.
“Why is there another shifter here?” Sithias’ voice rang out through the throne room.
Alric looked around but didn’t see him. “Daemionis dropped him here. He is Kyrin’s father.”
A ball of golden light appeared and slowly formed into the god. “Her father is here?”
“He claims to be.”
“Did Daemionis say why he put him here?”
“No, and I’ve detained him until I figure out why.”
Sithias began to walk along the wall, looking at the paintings depicting past battles and the evolution of Valhara. “I’ve kept shifters out of Paragoy for thousands of years, yet Daemionis drops one here. I want to know why.”
“You’ve kept shifters out?”
“Yes, I wished to keep my people safe from the evil ways of the dimensions.”
“How did Kyrin get here then?”
Sithias turned and smiled. “I still don’t know.”
Alric sat back, deep in thought.
“The Shadowmere and Clemency have renewed their drive to find Kyrin.”
“They did?” That caught Alric’s attention.
“The bounty is much higher and even those that don’t normally seek criminals are out to find her. Times are getting harder in the dimensions. Water is almost non-existent and food is sparse. What they are offering would put a person in comfort for their entire lives.”
“Why the sudden push?”
“They saw her o
ften while she was on the run,” Sithias explained. “She always got away, but they at least knew she was around. They haven’t seen her in a while, and it’s making them nervous. I’m afraid that they will soon realize she’s found a dimension with comforts they don’t have, and that she’s decided to stay there.”
“That would bring them here.”
“Erianah and I both watch the portals. However, Kyrin managed to come in.”
“We can ask her how.”
“She won’t know. She follows instinct alone and will have no idea why she was able to,” Sithias said. “See what you can get out of her father. If you have to kill him to keep our dimension a secret, then so be it.”
“Kill him?” Alric was surprised. Sithias would normally do anything in his power not to kill a living creature.
Sithias turned pained eyes to Alric. “We cannot have our location getting out.”
“I don’t know how to find out why he’s here. If Kyrin talks to Daemionis, he’ll send her on some dangerous mission, and she’ll disappear again.”
“Then maybe you should speak to him.”
“Me, my Lord?”
Alric couldn’t help but stumble a bit and then grab for his sword when he instantly appeared in another dimension. This was the neutral dimension, and there was nothing but white as far as he could see. There was no visible sky, no buildings, just white.
“Calm, my Holy Knight,” Sithias said, motioning for Alric to sheath his sword. “This is where gods meet. Daemionis is coming to speak to you.”
“Daemionis is coming and you want me to put my weapon away?” Alric asked, making sure he heard right.
“Yes”
Alric spun when Sithias disappeared, and he saw that he was now alone. There was no sound and all he could hear was the pounding of his heart.
“Why have I been summoned?” Daemionis asked. His voice could be heard moments before his hideous form appeared. His green scaly skin seemed more vile in the stark white of the dimension.
Alric swallowed hard and then squared his shoulders. “Why did you bring Kyrin’s father to Paragoy?”
Daemionis snorted slightly and walked slowly around Alric. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Naylor, Kyrin’s father. Why did you bring him to Paragoy?”
Daemionis smiled, and blood dripped from his teeth. “You’re delusional, boy. Did Creteloc slip you a drink?”
“I’m not delusional. Naylor showed up in my throne room, claiming you dropped him there.”
“I did no such thing. If I had him, I would have sacrificed him.”
“Then how did he get there?”
“How should I know? How are you even sure that’s her father?” Daemionis asked, still walking slowly around Alric. Alric got the impression he was sizing him up for something.
“I don’t know for certain.”
“Not too bright, are you?”
Alric sighed. “Well would you know if you saw him?”
“Yes”
“But you still say you didn’t bring him to Paragoy.”
“Correct. Have you ever considered a life of power?” Daemionis stood back and grinned as Alric shifted slightly under his scrutinizing eyes.
“No, I haven’t.”
“I could make you great.”
“While we’re on the subject. What would it take to get you to release your hold on Kyrin?” Alric asked him.
“Let that powerful of a magic user go? I think not.”
“Every demon has a price.”
“True, but that would be too great. There are only a couple of magic users left alive, but they are in hiding out in the dimensions, and all are marked for death. However, I’ve never seen another with her immense power.”
“Name it.”
“Your soul and the soul of every one of your bloodline from now until eternity.”
“For one follower?”
Daemionis laughed, and his wicked chortle echoed off of unseen walls. “For one powerful follower. You cannot have her.”
“I’ll think of a way. She’s good. Deep in her heart she’s caring and kind, and you’re holding her back.”
“Keep thinking that, boy. Now back to her so-called father. Have Kyrin sacrifice him for me.”
“No!”
“She’s long overdue. I let it go because of the twins, but it’s time.”
“Sithias isn’t going to allow human sacrifices.”
“Then tell Kyrin to shift out and do it,” Daemionis said.
“No. When she shifts out she’s often gone for a long time.”
A menacing grin crossed Daemionis face. “Want to ensure she never shifts out?”
“How?” Alric asked skeptically.
“Allow me a temple in Valhara, and I’ll not give her any missions and exempt her from sacrifices.”
“No! Sithias won’t allow that.”
“Fine, I have a mission for her.”
“Can’t you just leave her alone?!”
“No. You have my price. Now I want to know who allowed her father into Paragoy. It had to be that sniveling Sithias.”
Alric’s jaw tensed. “It wasn’t my Lord.”
“Then that other bumbling idiot, Alexandra.”
“Erianah. That had to be it, but why?”
Daemionis’ eyes flared. “I’ll find out.”
When the demon disappeared, Alric looked around him again and saw absolutely nothing. Seconds later, he appeared back in his throne room. A rush of footsteps sounded throughout the castle, and he ran out to find what the problem was.
The first knight who saw him skidded to a halt, his eyes wide. “King! You’re back.”
Shouts sounded throughout the castle that the king had returned. Alric was just about to ask what was going on when Trox and Finn ran up.
“Are you injured? We were so worried about you!” Finn said, looking him over.
Alric frowned. “I was only gone for about an hour.”
“An hour?! You were gone for two weeks,” Trox told him.
“That’s not possible. Sithias took me to talk to Daemionis, and it wasn’t that long.”
“Two weeks, sir,” Finn said. “We have been looking everywhere for you. Kyrin said she last saw you in the throne room, and then you were gone.”
“Well, I’m not injured,” Alric assured them. “Let’s let Kyrin know I’m okay.”
Finn rubbed the back of his neck. “Well…”
“What?”
“We can’t find her.”
“She shifted?!” Alric’s heart dropped. He couldn’t help but remember what the god told him about how hard the Consortiums were looking for her.
“We don’t know if she shifted. She waited a few days, then geared up and headed out. We tried to follow her, but those bloody boots took her faster than we could go, and she disappeared.”
“Did she take the twins?”
“No, Azimeth has them.”
“I can ask Sithias if she’s even in Paragoy,” Alric said, starting for the stairs.
“We tried that. He’s not answering.”
“He must still be dealing with Daemionis and Erianah then.”
“That’s my guess,” Trox said.
“Is Naylor still in prison?”
“Yes,” Finn told him. “Though he’s demanding to be released.”
“Demanding?”
“He says we have no right holding him.”
“Oh, I have a right. He lied to us about Daemionis sending him here, and I want to know why. First, we have to find Kyrin.”
