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A FULL MOON PEEKED through the naked branches of the old maple trees as a wisp of cloud floated over its yellow light. Neal’s breath steamed as he walked, and his nose and ears grew numb. He fixed his wool scarf higher around his neck as he made his rounds, his boots crunching over the icy ground. The troops keeping watch were bundled, some held warm cups of steaming liquid and sipped on them, but they were alert.
Neal nodded as he passed the sentries at the blacksmith’s livery. “If the need arises, I’ll be at the manor,” he told Lenneth.
That Barin had not returned gave him great unease, though protocol kept him from displaying his emotions to his soldiers. His concern for Barin did not end with duty, nor that of an officer and his king. Neal and Barin had been childhood friends. They played together as children, trained together as adolescents, and fought many battles side by side. When apart, Barin trusted Neal in his leadership, almost as though Neal were a prince. They spoke intimately with each other, knew each other’s thoughts, weaknesses and strengths and were accountable to each other. They were best friends with a bond so tight that should anything happen to Barin, Neal would blame himself.
His plan tonight was to see the gateway to the Neverworld. Perhaps it would give him a clue as to how to proceed.
The map Benjamin showed him had been eye-opening. An entire nation constructed underground by demons or a supernatural power. It stretched from Utal in the Casdamian empire to Kolada on the Potamian side of the river and then back again as far as the southeastern end of Moshere’s empire. Tunnels crisscrossed back and forth between the two kingdoms. Narrow burrows and dungeon-like cells opened up into huge chambers, an arena, classrooms, and a training ground, all guarded by dark magic and ghastly beings similar to the ones he and Barin once fought in Tellwater Valley. Finding Barin in those tunnels wouldn’t be easy.
If only the king had such a map! Instead, he had Anna. Why Barin took Lord Sylvester’s daughter into this unknown world puzzled Neal. Granted the two had renewed their friendship, possibly their love affair, but it was Anna’s father who attempted to overthrow the Potamian throne. Neal feared she may have lured Barin into a trap, and the thought sickened him. There was one thing on which Barin refused advice from Neal though, and that was his romantic affairs. You could not tell a man in love to be careful.
“Whoa, unfold yourself,” a sentry called out when Neal arrived at the manor’s entry. Neal pushed back his hood and nodded.
“It’s good to see you’re alert, soldier,” Neal said as the iron gate squeaked open.
“It’s too haunted a night for sleep, sir,” the man said.
“Haunted?” The moon, now orange, cast eerie shadows across the manor’s pasture and a slight breeze whistled through the bars of the gate. “Haunted,” he repeated as he rode onto the grounds
Candlelight flickered in the window of the estate, and smoke billowed out of the chimney. Jynifyr had made her troops comfortable, at least. That was the intent. Neal hadn’t grown accustomed to women under his charge and whenever possible, he gave them the more comfortable quarters, warmer tents, woolen blankets, the first of the grub and kept them away from the heat of battle, though Jynifyr argued constantly with him about the latter.
He tied his horse to a post near the porch and thought twice of walking in unannounced, lest he be accosted by his own army. He knocked and when he heard footsteps inside he cleared his throat.
“Commander Neal, here.”
The door opened and a female soldier saluted.
“Checking up on us, Commander?” Jynifyr asked with a grin when he walked in. She rose from the couch and saluted. It was an awkward gesture for him to salute back when he would rather embrace her, but she didn’t know that, and he would never tell her, not as long as he remained commander of the king’s army. His loyalty and duty were to Barin. Any other relationship he deemed impossible.
The women cleared a way for him and even though their rank called for the courtesy he rubbed the back of his neck, a flush creeping across his cheeks as he strolled to the fire. A man should make way for a woman, not the other way around. He cursed the day Barin’s sister convinced the king to allow females in the military.
“Looking for some hot broth if you have any,” Neal answered. One of the soldiers pulled a kettle from the hearth and poured a tankard for him. The heat thawed his frozen hands and the fire, his body.
“What, if anything, have you discovered?” he asked, focusing on Jynifyr.
She brushed her hair behind her shoulders. Though still in military gambeson, the women had taken the freedom of relaxing their collars, letting out the tight braids they wore, and some had changed into skirts.
“Aside from the dead militia we had to bury?” She shook her head.
“Sorry about that.”
“We’ve seen the trap door. There’s no indication of anything supernatural in the den, though some of the girls sense a presence throughout the house. No one can sleep. And, worse, there’s no sign of the king.”
Neal sighed in frustration. “Show me this gateway.”
Jynifyr signaled for two of her aides to walk with them and led Neal through a large dining area. Lord Sylvester lived like a king in this home, with velvet furnishing, silk drapery, gold fixtures and devices Neal had never seen before, such as the pendulum clock on the mantel. Every room had a fireplace, and every room had a candelabra hanging from the ceiling. They were not lit, but the crystals still sparkled from the moonlight filtering through the windows.
Jynifyr opened the door to the den. Neal held his breath as he entered, for indeed this room had a strange feel to it, more than the cold. The floorboards creaked under his boots, and it sounded hollow beneath his feet. A table had been pushed against the wall, and the aides rolled back the rug revealing the trap door. There was nothing unusual about the door itself. It was made from the same wood as the floorboards with leather hinges and a knotted rope strung through a hole that functioned as a handle.
“Have you opened it?” he asked, staring at the thing, his heart telling him to enter and find Barin, and his mind warning him not to go near.
“You gave us instructions to avoid it, sir,” Jynifyr said softly. She took his hand and squeezed it.
“It sickens me to know Barin is in there.”
“He might have found another way out.”
“Strange you should suggest that. According to the maps...”
“Maps?”
“The blacksmith has a map of the entire Neverworld. He said it was stolen by a wizard he knows from some beings he called Influencers. This wizard fled to safety, leaving the plunder with Benjamin for safe keeping. I studied it this afternoon and will do so again tomorrow. This trap door in Lord Sylvester’s den is only one gateway into an underground facility that spans a good distance into the Casdamian empire. I would like to believe Barin has not perished but is exploring the place. He went there for a purpose, and knowing Barin, he won’t return until he’s successful or has exhausted his options.”
“You believe he’s alive?”
“I don’t believe he’s dead.” Neal looked at her.
“Then what do we do, sir?”
“We wait. Three days, and then we pursue him. Meanwhile, I will study the maps. Memorize them if I have to. Buy them from the blacksmith if I can.”
He turned to leave, but she nodded to her aides to go instead. “Neal, let me come with you when you go.”
He laughed and shook his head. “You’re the second woman who has made that request.” It was the wrong thing to say, for she frowned.
“The peasant woman from Tuluva? What did you tell her?” It seemed she tried to hide her displeasure, but Neal saw jealousy in her eyes.
“She’s married.”
“Does that matter to a peasant?”
“It matters to me! Her husband is in the Neverworld. Barin told her she could ride with us. It wasn’t my decision. If it were up to me, I would have all the women safe at home.”
She laughed and he looked away.
“Surely you don’t mean me, or my troops?”
He shrugged. Of course, he meant her. If circumstances were different, he’d marry her and give her a home to take care of.
“I fight as well as any of your soldiers,” she argued.
“Better. That’s not the point.”
“What is, then?”
She searched his eyes, and it was all he could do to not break down. Few women stood as tall as he did, and few women showed the strength, courage, and faithfulness that she showed. He took her hands and held them tight. “I have a personal interest in your safety. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“That’s no excuse. You don’t want any of your male soldiers to get hurt, either!”
“But I know they will. If not in this battle, perhaps the next. I’m not accustomed to seeing women in the field. They’re supposed to be home, wearing dresses, spinning wool, or cooking.”
Her smile disappeared. “And yet you’d take a woman who has no training above me?”
“It was Barin’s decision to let Lorica come along.”
“Lorica?”
Neal sighed and shook his head. “Jynifyr, stop it.”
“No, you stop. You’ve been sheltered from real life in that castle, Neal. You may think you’re protecting the villages, but you certainly don’t know what’s been going on in them. The first people to die when the enemy attacks a township are the women and children. That happens because men don’t trust them to defend themselves. Your narrow vision isn’t making things better for us. You need to toughen up. Women aren’t sheep to be herded into their little stalls.”
He had no words to argue.
“Let me and my troops ride with you. Give us a chance to prove ourselves. Who knows, maybe we’ll save your life. Maybe I’ll save Lorica’s life.”
“Fine.”
#
Lorica woke before sunup, wrapped her cloak around herself, and slipped out of the house. She needed time alone. The trauma of losing her family had taken its toll, leaving a burden of guilt and remorse on her shoulders with little ability to think rationally. How often had she encouraged her children to use good sense when they made decisions, yet she hadn’t. It mattered little where she went wrong. There was no point in reflecting on what she should have done. What mattered was where to go from here. She had to trust Commander Neal. After all, the king did. If he chose to wait, then wait it would be. Yet, waiting in a hostile environment would not be easy. To avoid the conflict with Siera, Lorica would spend the day at the river and hopefully clear her mind.
The trail away from the village beyond the manor was less traveled. It passed the woods shortly after the gate and followed the towering rock battlement that kept the castle secluded from enemies and neighbors alike. So overgrown was the footpath on the other side of the manor that Lorica wondered if anyone came this way at all. Whereas the foliage around the castle had taken on the winter browns, the plants here were well protected from cold winds. Ivy, still green, crawled along the walls and moss coated the tree trunks. Lorica could hear the river on the other side of the barrier and wondered if there was a back gate where she might reach it.
The farther she walked the denser the woods, and the thicker the groundcover. So buried was the trail she barely found it, but something drove her on regardless of having to maneuver over and around roots, vines, and branches.
A quiet trickle of a stream lured her deeper into the forest. An artesian well pooled around her feet, and flowed into a rock laden stream. She knelt and took a sip. The water tasted sweet. Curious, she followed the stream, surprised that it led her to an opening in the bulwarks—a broken archway high enough for her to stoop and reach a sandy beach along the river.
She took a deep breath, for here the air was crisp and the sunrise was just beginning to blue the sky. A low fog hovered over the water, illuminating the shoreline with gold and pink light. Lorica knelt in the sand to absorb the beauty and rest. Whenever a breeze thinned the fog, she could see the shoreline in the distance. The fog thickened and thinned in rhythm and Lorica observed the gentle dance with amusement until she realized the horizon she’d been looking at was not a horizon at all, for it moved.
And then she heard voices.
She stood and blinked, staring into the mist, and as the sun rose and the fog lifted she had a better view of what seemed to be a floating island that traveled with the current like a river ship. There were trees and foliage on the island, and in the center of it rose a small hill and atop that what appeared to be a tower. People moved about and as the island floated in and out of the fog she caught sight of them. Men in black robes with red and blue scarves tied around their waists and hoods that covered their faces stood at the bow of the island. They leaned over the water waving their hands in a circle and chanted a low and eerie chant. Her mouth dropped in shock, for she heard children crying and saw them running frantically into the tower.
I should swim to it and see if Kandace and Crispin are there! But before she could take off her cloak, an explosion rattled the earth, a wave of water splashed into the sky, the island dove into the river as though entering a tunnel, and disappeared. The fog rolled in again, and when it dissipated a final time, the island was gone and the river calm.
# Two days later.
Neal wiped his hands with the napkin and leaned back in his chair, nodding his thanks to Rose as she took his plate. A rooster crowed near the window, announcing dawn, but oil lamps still lit the cottage. If it weren’t for the aroma of salt pork and egg, Neal would have stayed in bed. But this was his day to ride, and so he prepared for an early start.
“Your daughter is a wonderful cook, Benjamin. Thank you!”
“Happy to serve, Commander. I just wish Siera and your peasant lady were here to enjoy breakfast. We don’t often get duck eggs. Rose likes to show them off when we do.”
Neal frowned, concerned about Lorica’s disappearance. That made two mornings the woman hadn’t shown up at mealtime and he hadn’t had a moment during the day to talk to her. He’d like to persuade her to return to Tuluva when he packed, but without seeing her ahead of time, it would be hard to send her away.
“Siera left just before breakfast when she heard a commotion in the streets and someone shouting that Kayden and the others are at the inn,” Rose said.
Neal’s ears perked at the name. Of course, Kayden would be back in Kolada by now. He ignored the announcement.
“I must get an early start this morning. It’s been too long since we last saw Barin.”
“The sun hasn’t even peeked over the mountains yet. You have time if you know where you’re going.”
“I don’t. I only know that the other portals are across the river.”
“And the only bridge leads to Wellstone. But what would you do in Wellstone once you get there?” Benjamin asked, still chewing his salt pork.
“Ask questions.”
Benjamin grunted as he chewed. “Remember that village isn’t part of the Potamian kingdom. There might not be anyone willing to answer your questions.”
Neal shrugged and stood. “We’ll see. For now, I’ll have the horses readied, and I suppose I’ll need to search for Lorica.”
Benjamin rose and offered his hand. “I agree with you, sir. It’s in your best interest to leave town before Kayden and his crowd know you’re here.”
“It’s a little late for that,” Siera said as she walked in the door. A cold wisp of air trailed her and the large red-haired man who walked in behind her. Kayden gave Neal a long, hostile glare.
“But Kayden says he’ll forgive you for letting the king’s army stay here if you’ll sharpen some swords for him.”
Benjamin wasn’t a small man, nor was he ignorant. He stood up straight.
“I’m not up for any funny business, Kayden. I welcome you back, but I warn you—if you mean to cause trouble with these soldiers, you’d best stay off my grounds. I can’t keep you away from my daughter, but I sure as a rat’s dung can keep you away from my shop.”
“Don’t worry, Ben. I’m here on business. I need some weapons cleaned up. And I can’t fight a whole army of soldiers so all is well. For now.” He grinned at Neal. “Rose! Siera said you might have some breakfast for me?” He made himself welcome at the table and sat across from where Neal had been. “It’s a long walk from Prasa Potama. We haven’t had a satisfying meal since we left and that would be three days ago. And even then the food in the king’s prison wasn’t very...appetizing.” He targeted that last at Neal as if the commander had a say in what the prisoners were served.
Siera planted a plate of eggs and meat in front of him. He smiled even broader.
Neal rose. He’d had enough of the man already.
“Thank you for the hospitality, Benjamin.”
“You aren’t going already, are you, Commander?”
“I’m afraid I am.” Neal nodded a goodbye while tipping his hat, glad he had an excuse to leave. Not only did the man look tired and hungry but the entire room smelled like him, now.
“I don’t figure you’d be taking those women soldiers at the baron’s house with you?” he asked.
Neal froze.
Kayden dug into his food and took a drink. After he swallowed, he picked up his knife, cut a piece of pork, and pointed his dagger at Neal. “A woman looks good in a uniform, you know? King Barin has the right idea, dressing them up like that. I suppose you don’t want them hurt on any battlefield you might be going to, though. A word of advice. It’s not safe at the baron’s house, either.” He put a morsel of food in his mouth and talked while chewing. “You see...since both the baron and your king were gone, some of the villagers decided Lord Sylvester owed them a shilling or two, and they thought they’d collect while the collecting was good. It’d be a shame if the ladies in uniform stood in the way.”
“You step foot in that manor, and you’ll have the king’s army to deal with.”
“You might have to remind them. I’m here behaving myself.”
Neal wasn’t going to ask the man how he knew Sylvester or Barin were gone, but he suspected Lorica might have said something to Siera, and now his troops were in danger. He picked up his coat.
“Before you go...I have some information for you. I’d like to do some bartering.”
“What information?”
“I think I know where Sylvester is.”
Neal looked at the others in the room. Benjamin had moved to the shadows and leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Rose stood by the fire, staring at him and Siera sat on a chair by the hearth, twisting her hair and smiling.
“Where?”
Kayden chuckled. “Not so fast. I need a promise from you just like your king needed a promise from me.”
“I don’t have authority to promise you anything.”
Kayden shrugged and picked up his spoon again.
“Where is Lord Sylvester?” Neal prodded.
“Let me and my men take what he owes us. That’s all we want. We need to keep our families fed this winter and he has a stockpile of grain we could use.”
“I can’t give you permission to do that!” Neal argued.
“Maybe not, but you could turn your head.” He looked up, the smirk gone. “Your king promised to talk sense into the baron, but he’s not here and my guess is he won’t be until he finds the noble crook. That might be too late for us. Kolada is starving. Everything we need is wasting away in the manor.”
Neal thought for a long moment, glancing at his witnesses. Benjamin bowed his head and scratched his beard. Rose went on cooking and even Siera had her eyes closed pretending to be asleep.
Neal nodded to Benjamin. “Like I say, we’ll be on our way.”
“Benata,” Kayden whispered as Neal walked out the door. “Bring our children back home.”
Neal stopped at the threshold and turned to him. “You’re welcome to come help.”
With that he pivoted around and walked out, nearly bumping into Lorica. He stopped her. Holding back his rage, he took her gently by the arm. “Pack your things. We’re leaving. Don’t talk to anyone. No one!”
“May I ask where to?”
“The manor first, and then we’ll cross over the river to Wellstone.”