The King's Gate

by K T Munson

Retracting her hand, she stifled a sob.

  “Nanette, I –”

  He vanished, his figure winking out in an instant. “Ethandirill?” she called. Desperate, she searched for any sign of him, but he was gone.

  Her grief took all of the air out of her lungs. Sobbing as her heart broke, she collapsed to the ground. She couldn’t focus as she poured her heart out in tears. There was only one reason that Ethandirill would appear to her like that—he was dead. She cried for him, for their lost love, and she cried for Elisabeth, her fate still unknown. The pain of his loss twisted like a knife, sharp and unforgiving. Time moved in a surreal way as she tried to get to her feet and move towards Troy, only to collapse against the wall and be lost to another wave of pain and grief. It felt like hours had passed before she was nearly to Troy’s door, her legs shaking and mind turning numb as she slumped against the wall by the door—nearly on her knees as she tried to fight to compose herself.

  A hand touched her back. “Nanette?”

  Her head came up as she tried to fight the hysteria fighting its way up her throat. “Ki?” she asked, sniffling.

  “What is it?” he asked, kneeling beside her.

  Without thought she leaned into his chest—seeking out the warmth of a friend. “I saw him,” she said, sobbing into his clothes. “He’s dead.”

  “Troy?” Ki asked and Nanette felt him straining to look toward Troy’s room.

  “No.” She tried to take deep breaths. She finally managed, “It was Ethandirill.”

  Ki blinked in surprise. “He’s alive.”

  “Don’t you lie to me!” She lurched back angrily. “I saw him.”

  Ki caught her arms before she could completely pull away. “Elisabeth brought him back. He died for a short time, yes, but he is alive now.”

  She stopped fighting against his hold. “Really?” she asked, letting hope in. “Elisabeth is back, and Ethandirill is alive?”

  “Yes. He hasn’t woken up, but yes, when I left him he was breathing,” Ki said.

  “Thank the Gods.” Nanette couldn’t remember the last time she had prayed. “I want to see them.”

  “I know, but that’s kind of why I’m here.” Ki helped her to her feet.

  She squeezed his hands. What other tragedy didn’t she know about yet? If Ethandirill had nearly died, what of Elisabeth? Her fear, which had for a moment dissipated into hope, returned with a vengeance.

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “We’re not sure, but something happened to Elisabeth. She panicked, and I think the only one who can make her believe is you,” Ki told her.

  “Believe what? Why me?” Nanette asked.

  Ki turned her hand over. “Because if Elisabeth commands you to, you must tell the truth. Whatever she needs, be it friend or truth, you can provide it.”

  Her eyes shot wide. Nanette could still remember the strange feeling that overtook her whenever Elisabeth commanded her. If she was willing though, it was easier. When Elisabeth had ordered her through the gate and back to Ashlad, for instance, she had wanted to go, and so it had been easy.

  She inhaled a steadying breath. “I’m ready.”

  Duke walked—the chip on his horn always made it easy for her to tell him apart from Nathan—and she curled her fingers tighter around Ki’s hand, anticipating the strange out-of-body experience. He gripped her hand back as he reached down for Duke. In an instant, she felt everything wash over her as though she were being carried along a flowing river. Caught in its current, she simply floated, her eyes squeezed closed, as she waited for it to be over.

  When Ki’s arm relaxed by her side, she opened her eyes. Spring had come to Lyreane. It was a little chilly, but Nanette didn’t mind. It was early winter in Ashlad, and their nights were bitterly cold—at least compared to the temperate winters she was used to in Oran. He squeezed her hand once to reassure her before letting it go. They were standing in the woods; there wasn’t anything resembling a building around.

  When she opened her mouth to speak, Ki shook his head. He pointed to a dark patch, and at first she didn’t understand. When his head lifted, she immediately realized it was Nathan. Duke whined as he made his way toward his brother. Confused, she scanned the area for Elisabeth.

  This time Ki pointed up. Following his finger, she finally spotted Elisabeth. She was sitting in a great tree. It was one of the biggest cypress trees she’d ever seen, with branches that reminded her of an octopus’s tentacles. They snarled and twisted every which way.

  Elisabeth had her arms around her knees. Her hair was lackluster, and she appeared smaller than Nanette remembered. She looked like she had lost weight. Nanette started forward toward her friend.

  When she reached the bottom of the tree, Duke and Nathan made no move to leave, instead standing guard. She sighed, resigning herself to climb the tree, and they lay down. Arm over arm she slowly made her way up the limbs. It was much easier to climb then the trees back home, as there was no lack of twisting branches.

  When she heaved herself up to where Elisabeth was, she found her friend eyeing her. Her friend’s face was haunted, sharp cheekbones and sharper glares.

  Swallowing, she asked, “Is this seat taken?” Nanette gestured to the beginning of the branch on which Elisabeth was balanced.

  Elisabeth regarded her like a feral animal. It was worse than she’d thought. Anger boiled through her at the thought of what Arawn had done to her.

  Elisabeth pulled her legs closer against her body but didn’t answer.

  Nanette carefully climbed into the crook of the branch. She sat down and patiently waited. After watching her for a time, Elisabeth eventually she averted her gaze. They watched the sunrise together. It stained the landscape, washing away the shadows of the night.

  “I saved him,” Elisabeth whispered. “Didn’t I?”

  Nanette smiled, fighting the urge to hug her, afraid of how Elisabeth would react. “You did.”

  “That was real, right?” Elisabeth asked.

  Swallowing, Nanette spoke the words, though they pained her. “Command me, and I have to speak with truth.”

  Elisabeth’s eyebrows lifted at that. “You’re my friend. I don’t like to do that.” She sounded so vulnerable, almost childlike, that Nanette nearly wept right there. Tears burned in her eyes, but she focused on being strong for her friend.

  Gathering her courage, Nanette put a reassuring smile on her face. “Friends help friends. You need to know what is real. I’m real, this is real.” Nanette lifted her hand to show her the mark. “But to be sure, you can command me.”

  Elisabeth stared at her. Her lips slowly twisted into a frown. They sat in silence as Nanette waited for Elisabeth to make a decision. Eventually, Elisabeth crossed her arms and buried her face.

  “I’m afraid if I accept this as real and it isn’t that I won’t be able to deny him. That I won’t be able to keep it safe,” Elisabeth said into her legs. Nanette had to strain to hear the quaking words. “My heart wants it to be real.”

  Feeling her balance was precarious at best, Nanette carefully crawled out toward her. She put a hand on Elisabeth’s arm and whispered, “I’m real. I promise. Whatever you’re trying to keep safe, you’ve done it. You’re safe.”

  “He didn’t break me,” Elisabeth said with conviction, and Nanette saw the old Elisabeth for a moment. Her face crumbled as she visibly fought the tears. “It was so terrible. I almost did. If it hadn’t been for Ethandirill, I would have.”

  Elisabeth’s shoulders started to shake. Carefully, Nanette straddled the branch and embraced Elisabeth as she fell into her, crying on her shoulder. Nanette whispered the words over and over again in the hope that her friend might just believe them. She would whisper them a hundred times over just so her friend would be all right. Nanette only hoped it would be enough.

  Chapter 24: Kerrigan floated in a place between realities. She could hear singing, and it was familiar for some reason. She stood on an island of sand and grass. In every direction w
as endless water as far as the eye could see. Behind her sat the cottage, watching her like an expectant child. It was unnerving, as she hadn’t known inanimate objects could do that, but that was the feeling just the same.

  At first her skin felt like a million needles were assaulting her flesh. The pain had been unbearable, like when she had fallen asleep on her arm and woken up to a numb hand, magnified a thousand times. It hadn’t taken long for the blood to go rushing back into her entire body, causing her nerves to scream in pain.

  She inspected her arm and flexed her fingers. It still tingled a little. Frowning, she let her arm swing by her side as she looked back over at the house while walking away from it. She waded into the water, but she didn’t make it far before it was up to her waist. Walking was like striding through mud. It fought her every move until she couldn’t take another step, the pressure working against her stronger than she was.

  Sighing, Kerrigan turned back. Gazing to the sky with all its stars, she wondered what she was doing in this strange place. The cottage was her prison, she knew that now, but it was also her salvation. When she had felt her body become weak, she hadn’t wanted to tell the others. She hadn’t wanted to admit that she would have to leave them to rejuvenate herself in the Netherworld.

  She stepped onto the beach, leaving a trail of water behind her. Her hands on her hips, Kerrigan inspected the cottage. She felt like they were staring each other down. As calm as a gentle breeze, the door to the cottage opened as though it was inviting her inside. Crossing her arms defiantly, Kerrigan expressed her intent with one gesture.

  It waited.

  Kerrigan swiveled around and sat in the sand, her back to the cottage, as she crossed her legs. She was not interested in what it was offering. It didn’t matter what it was; she didn’t want anything to do with it. Its gentle prodding, felt like that of a elderly person to a child. If they were going to be trapped together, the least it could do was respect her instead of mock her.

  The singing continued as the sun cast the most beautiful light across the island, the stars winking all around it. Kerrigan knew she was not anywhere near Lyreane. She was somewhere else because the sun and the stars were never out at the same time. After a while, she heard the soft click of the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she knew that the house understood. Perhaps this could work.

  She hopped to her feet and strode to the door. Her hand hovered over the handle as she paused. Taking a deep breath, she tried to focus herself, ready herself for whatever was to come.

  When she rushed into the room, the singing immediately ceased. A fire burned in the hearth in the living area, and it was warm and inviting within the cottage. She took another step into the room and let the door swing close behind her.

  As the door snapped closed, a soft voice said, “Hello.”

  Kerrigan froze in place. Her gaze darted to the voice, arms up and ready to defend herself. Instead of an attack, she was met with laughter. Her mouth fell open as she focused on the owner of the voice. She stood as tall as Elisabeth, but she reminded her more of Selene. Was she related to them?

  “And who might you be?” the woman asked.

  “Are you related to Elisabeth…” Kerrigan trailed off when the woman’s smile fell.

  “If you are here to hurt my daughter, you’d best get your arms back up,” she said, her voice filled with the same venom she had heard in Elisabeth’s when addressing the Shadow Clan.

  “Elisabeth is my friend,” Kerrigan said excitedly. “I was just trying to get her back from the Netherworld.”

  “Back from the Netherworld?” she asked, shaking her head. “Did Malthael keep her safe?”

  Elisabeth’s mother should have been dead a long time ago. “How are you still alive?”

  The woman laughed again. “I’m anything but alive, child.”

  “How is your soul here then?” Kerrigan asked, indicating to the cottage.

  “Only a fraction remained after Darienith consumed it. The part that loved Elisabeth somehow survived. He explained it to me before tethering my soul to the cottage in the place between the Netherworld and the planet. I don’t know how long I’ve been here.” Her eyes drifted out the kitchen window. “I feel as though he just left.”

  Kerrigan cringed at that. It was like a reverse praying mantis—the male consumed the female after mating instead. “Elisabeth is an adult. Decades have passed,” Kerrigan explained. “I am the Guardian of this Gate that now links the two.”

  “Well, that explains how you got here,” she said with a smile that reminded her of Elisabeth. “Decades?”

  “Yes,” Kerrigan confirmed. “Decades have passed.”

  “Did Malthael take care of her like I asked of him?”

  Kerrigan couldn’t help but smile at that. “He is a father to her, and she has cared for all of us. Nanette calls him Uncle Malthael, and I think even Selene is coming around.”

  “Come, let us sit by the fire,” she said waving toward the hearth. “Tell me who these people are.”

  They made their way to the chairs that were situated in front of the fireplace. Elisabeth’s mother waited expectantly as she settled in. Kerrigan could feel the heat and wondered how that was possible.

  “Nanette is Elisabeth’s friend. They are like sisters to me. I’ve always wanted a sister, and Elisabeth was like an older sister to me more than once. When things got really bad, she helped me.”

  “And what about Selene? Is she another of Elisabeth’s friends?” she asked, leaning even closer.

  Kerrigan’s eyebrows shot up at the question. She was sitting across from Selene’s aunt, after all. Kerrigan’s mouth opened, but she didn’t know how to say it. Selene was… Selene was something more to Kerrigan. A blush ran up her neck and into her cheeks.

  Clearing her throat, Kerrigan said, “Selene is your niece. I think she told me once she was even named for you.” Surprise registered on the other woman’s face. “What is your name?” Kerrigan asked, realizing she was thinking of her as Elisabeth’s mother.

  “Serena,” she said. Her face contorted with emotion.

  “What is it?” Kerrigan asked.

  “I remember Elisabeth, but I don’t remember my sister.” Her image seemed to flicker for a moment, and Kerrigan gasped.

  As Serena’s image went very still, Kerrigan felt the cottage shudder around her, as though caught in a great wind. It wanted her to leave—she could feel it in her gut. Whatever allowed Serena to exist here was tenuous at best. Perhaps the precarious nature of her existence was because she was only part of a soul. When the house shook again, Kerrigan hurried to the door. When she yanked it open, blinding light washed over her.

  Kerrigan floated in a place between realities. She could hear singing, and it was familiar for some reason. She stood on an island of sand and grass. In every direction was endless water as far as the eye could see. Behind her sat the cottage, watching her like an expectant child. It was unnerving, as she hadn’t known inanimate objects could do that, but that was the feeling just the same.

  At first her skin felt like a million needles were assaulting her flesh. The pain had been unbearable, like when she had fallen asleep on her arm and woken up to a numb hand, magnified a thousand times. It hadn’t taken long for the blood to go rushing back into her entire body, causing her nerves to scream in pain.

  She inspected her arm and flexed her fingers. It still tingled a little. Frowning, she let her arm swing by her side as she looked back over at the house while walking away from it. She waded into the water, but she didn’t make it far before it was up to her waist. Walking was like striding through mud. It fought her every move until she couldn’t take another step, the pressure working against her stronger than she was.

  Sighing, Kerrigan turned back. Gazing to the sky with all its stars, she wondered what she was doing in this strange place. The cottage was her prison, she knew that now, but it was also her salvation. When she had felt her body become weak, she hadn’t wanted to tell the othe
rs. She hadn’t wanted to admit that she would have to leave them to rejuvenate herself in the Netherworld.

  She stepped onto the beach, leaving a trail of water behind her. Her hands on her hips, Kerrigan inspected the cottage. She felt like they were staring each other down. As calm as a gentle breeze, the door to the cottage opened as though it was inviting her inside. Crossing her arms defiantly, Kerrigan expressed her intent with one gesture.

  It waited.

  Kerrigan swiveled around and sat in the sand, her back to the cottage, as she crossed her legs. She was not interested in what it was offering. It didn’t matter what it was; she didn’t want anything to do with it. Its gentle prodding, felt like that of a elderly person to a child. If they were going to be trapped together, the least it could do was respect her instead of mock her.

  The singing continued as the sun cast the most beautiful light across the island, the stars winking all around it. Kerrigan knew she was not anywhere near Lyreane. She was somewhere else because the sun and the stars were never out at the same time. After a while, she heard the soft click of the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she knew that the house understood. Perhaps this could work.

  She hopped to her feet and strode to the door. Her hand hovered over the handle as she paused. Taking a deep breath, she tried to focus herself, ready herself for whatever was to come.

  When she rushed into the room, the singing immediately ceased. A fire burned in the hearth in the living area, and it was warm and inviting within the cottage. She took another step into the room and let the door swing close behind her.

  As the door snapped closed, a soft voice said, “Hello.”

  Kerrigan froze in place. Her gaze darted to the voice, arms up and ready to defend herself. Instead of an attack, she was met with laughter. Her mouth fell open as she focused on the owner of the voice. She stood as tall as Elisabeth, but she reminded her more of Selene. Was she related to them?

  “And who might you be?” the woman asked.

  “Are you related to Elisabeth…” Kerrigan trailed off when the woman’s smile fell.