Portal: A Nina Decker Novel Part 12

Chapter 16.

When I left Severin, I promised him I would do my best to get out of here. I just didn't tell him that we'd be leaving together.

I made my way back across the ditch. The thorn bushes parted for me again. As I made my way back to the great hall I pondered my next move. How was I going to free Severin? And then how would we find my father? And then how were we all going to escape Nightfall and get back home? I wished I still had my longbow from earlier. I thought maybe I could locate the armory. I knew where the stables were. That would give us weapons and transportation. But I'd need a lot of help and the only person I trusted even a little bit was Dani. She was no warrior. I couldn't even consider asking her to help me in this.

Without alerting the guards, I made it back to my room. Climbing back through my open window was a little difficult without someone to lend me a hand. I was strong enough but it was just awkward getting my legs over the sill. I tumbled inside. It was dark inside except for the embers of the fireplace. I used them to light a candle. That's when I saw it.

There was a gla.s.s bottle with a stopper lying on my bed.

Someone had been in my room. The chair was still propped against the door. It was exactly as I had left it. Whoever had left the bottle must have come through the open window.

I didn't touch it at first. But then I remembered Dani's playlist bottle. It must be the same idea. I picked it up and removed the stopper. Words poured out. I thought it might be a trick. Maybe it was another ruse to get me to do something. I swore to myself I wouldn't fall for it. But when I heard the voice in the bottle I nearly dropped it.

It was my father's.

"N'Lina," he called me. "I want you to go to the town tomorrow and..."

I was so shocked I almost missed the instructions. They were detailed. Towards the end my father rambled about brownie food and pixie music. I slowly poured the last of his words out, savoring each one. It had been so long since I heard his voice. When the last word came out I whispered to the bottle "I'm going to find you. I promise."

I barely got any sleep. I thought it might still be a trap or a trick. But after all this time I'd finally heard from my father. Da would never intentionally lead me astray. This was the first clue to his whereabouts. I had to follow through with the plan.

The next day I put on one of the many dresses I'd been supplied with. Most of them were bright and colorful. I looked for something a little more muted and found something that looked formal and dour and a little plain. It was probably meant for a state funeral or some similar occasion. I told the servants that I'd take breakfast in my room. When the food arrived I thanked them, then after they left I slipped out the window. I walked across the wide lawns and down the hill. Spying a large group of fae lads and la.s.ses pa.s.sing over the bridge into the town, I quietly joined their group. It was much easier than charming my way through the brambles.

The town of Nightfall was bustling in the daytime. Fae, brownies and pixies went to and fro on their daily errands. I slipped in among them. No one seemed to recognize me as I made my way through the streets. I didn't have my entourage with me.

My father's instructions told me to go to the Red Hawk Inn near the town gates which were an imposing structure of iron and silver. Just off to the side was the inn. It was tall and had a tiled roof. I noticed that its upper floors overlooked the spiked top of the wall.

I stepped inside. The public room was full of patrons sipping beer and wine. Buxom fae serving wenches went from table to table. I heard a small voice come from below.

"Lady Bellflower?" the man asked.

I gazed down and saw the brownie innkeeper. He was only five feet tall, and had more wrinkles than a Sharpi puppy. His thick black beard nearly touched the floor.

"You are Lady Bellflower are you not?" he asked.

I sputtered for a moment then remembered my father's words. "Yes. I am."

"Your rooms are ready," the innkeeper said.

He led me up the stairs. At the end of the hall he opened the door. I went inside. The room was spa.r.s.e. There was a bed, a stool, a standing mirror and a large chest. I wandered to the window and gazed out. I could see over the spikes of the wall and to the green forest beyond. This was as close as I had come to escaping the palace.

"Your luggage arrived earlier today," the innkeeper said.

I gazed at the chest lying at the foot of the bed. The innkeeper left and shut the door behind him. I opened "my luggage." Inside was a suit of armor.

I took it out and examined it. It was made for a female form. It was metal but did not burn or hurt me. It must have been aluminum or something like that. I held a piece next to my forearm. It snapped into place by itself. It opened easily when I tried to take it off. I put the piece back on then moved my arm around. The armor was light and comfortable to wear.

There was a knock at the door. The innkeeper said, "Lady Bellflower your horse is ready. If you just take the stairs to the right of your door you'll come out in the alley behind. There you will find your mount."

"Thank you," I said.

My heart raced. This was a very, very bad plan. I had no idea who was helping me really. Maybe they weren't really helping me. Maybe this was a set up to get me killed. But I was out of time and I didn't have any better options. I took off my dress and changed it for the suit of armor. In the Middle Ages getting into and out of armor was an involved process that required servants. But this armor literally attached itself. The torso piece even gently folded my wings next to my back. I put on the gauntlets and helmet on last. I peered through the helmet's grate and looked in the mirror. There I stood, a fae warrior in full armor.

I took a deep breath. So long I had tried to hide my heritage. I'd hid it even from myself. I tried to think of myself as just a girl, a normal human girl. The fae in me, I a.s.sociated with everything bad and evil in the world because of my mother. Even here in Nightfall I had tried to hide from that part of myself. I had tried to separate myself from the fae I saw and spoke with. But I could no longer deny my true self any more than I could deny my true feelings for Severin.

I was a fae. And I was in love with Severin Saint Morgan.

Nina Decker, nurse, couldn't save Severin now. But Princess N'Lina Wolfstriker might. I had strength and power inherited from my mother and grandfather. Since that first night in the woods I had felt it build inside me. But was I a match for J'Tara? Or would she just strike me down like all her other opponents.

I opened the door and headed to the stairway on the right. Soon I was in the alley behind the inn. There as promised was a horse, one of the black chargers. It stood motionless, waiting for me to take its reigns and give it direction. Climbing up into the high saddle was easier the second time around despite the armor. After I grasped the reigns, I made a few small maneuvers with the horse just to get used to "driving" it again. Then I set off.

I headed straight for the town square.

Chapter 17.

When I arrived I was greeted by a guard.

"State your business," he demanded.

I tried to make my voice sound a bit gruffer. "I am here to champion the prisoner."

"Your name?"

"Bellflower," I said. I had no other name to give.

I heard Severin yell, "No!"

I didn't fool him. But no else objected.

I was directed to "park" my horse near the gallery. I did so and got off. Word spread quickly and soon the town square filled up with people curious to see the champion for the hated Severin Saint Morgan. I didn't look at Severin but I could hear him.

"I don't want her as my champion! You have to disqualify her!" he yelled.

"Silence," said his guard.

"You don't understand she's-"

I held my breath. I was so close and he was about to ruin everything. But the guard smacked him in the jaw with the b.u.t.t end of his spear. I resisted the urge to cry out as Severin's unconscious head hit the bottom of the cage. I watched as Severin rolled and moaned on the ground. He was woozy but not badly hurt. I hoped they would hurry up. If he regained consciousness he could ruin everything.

I got my wish. Lord and Lady Wolfstriker soon appeared along with Dashrael, Simeon and the rest of the court. They took their places in the gallery. J'Tara arrived mounted and in full armor. She rode up before me.

"So Madam Bellflower, is it your wish that you champion this sc.u.m?" she asked.

I couldn't take the chance that she or Lord Wolfstriker or Dashrael would recognize my voice so I just nodded. This satisfied J'Tara.

She said, "Your challenge is accepted. We shall have three pa.s.ses with the lance, three with the sword, and three blows with the dagger. Should all nine pa.s.ses and blows be delivered and no victor declared then the prisoner shall go free. Should you defeat me during course of the tournament the prisoner shall go free. Should you lose, the prisoner is condemned and your freedom is forfeit. Do you understand?"

I nodded.

A horn sounded and J'Tara galloped to one end of the marble tilt barrier. I remounted my horse and headed to the other end. A servant arrived at my side and handed me a lance and a s.h.i.+eld.

"Three pa.s.ses with the lance!" yelled a crier from the gallery.

The moment my fingers touched both these objects I felt power surge through my body. It was the same as with the bow. It was my energy. My inner fire that flowed into these weapons. My heart rose.

The lance began to glow as if filled with blue light. I heard a collective gasp from the audience. At the other end of the tilt barrier, J'Tara s.h.i.+fted in her saddle. She looked a little unsure of herself.

"Here comes the pain, b.i.t.c.h," I muttered.

In the gallery my grandfather raised his hand.

I sat in the saddle tense. I willed my inner power into the lance. It crackled like the Tesla coil I'd seen at the science center.

Lord Wolfstriker dropped his hand.

We raced towards each other. In a split second J'Tara and I closed on each other. The fire rushed out of me and through the lance. A huge ball of light shot out of its tip...and completely missed J'Tara. It flew right at the crowded gallery. People screamed and ducked out of the way.

The sphere of light burst apart before it reached there. I saw the outline of a s.h.i.+eld around the stands, like from out of a sci-fi movie. A sound like thunder echoed in the square. I saw cracks form in the marble base as I made it to the end of the barrier. I was glad my helmet hid my face, to hide my shock of what had just happened.

I looked back and saw J'Tara. She seemed unsteady in her horse. She hadn't fired a shot from her own lance. I was sure I had her nervous. That kept my confidence up.

Lord Wolfstriker raised and dropped his hand again and we set off for the second pa.s.s.

Again I felt the power leap out of my lance but I still couldn't control it. The blast was still powerful but badly off target. The ball of light hit the ground and made a small crater. At least I wasn't getting hit. J'Tara hadn't even tried to hit me. It looked like she was focusing everything on her s.h.i.+eld.

Frustration filled me when I reached the end of the barrier. I'd had two perfect chances to end this and I'd failed. I was still confident though. When it came to magic it seemed I was far stronger than J'Tara. But that wouldn't do me any good if I couldn't hit my opponent. Again I wished I had my longbow. I knew I could hit my target with that.

I readied for my final pa.s.s with the lance. I lined up the point with J'Tara, focusing my concentration right on the center of her s.h.i.+eld. We started forward and I waited. The fire built up in me but I held it inside. In less than a second she was just ten yards away from me. I let out my third and final lance strike. The ball of energy hit. I saw it roll right towards J'Tara.

There was a burst of bright light. It blinded me and I couldn't see what happened. As I rode past I glanced back. I saw J'Tara's horse but I didn't see her.

I did it! I thought. I must have blown her off the saddle.

But then my heart sank.

As the horse reached the end of the barrier I saw she was still attached to her saddle. She was bent completely over, her upper body was parallel with the ground. Then she sat back up and the crowd cheered. Even I had to admire her for her acrobatic skills.

"Three pa.s.ses with the sword!" announced the crier.

As the servant handed me a long silver blade I could feel something strange. I realized the smaller weapon didn't amplify my power as much as the lance had. I began to worry. That meant J'Tara would be less concerned about defense and more focused on offence. I was also tired and winded, breathing hard even. I didn't think I had exerted myself that much. My arrogance was going to get me killed.

The king raised his arm and let it drop.

We sped at each other with swords glowing and both swung. The blast nearly took me off the saddle. This was the first time I'd been hit. It was a sharp slas.h.i.+ng pain that went right through me. I clutched my side as I reached the end. The one comforting thought was that I knew I had hurt J'Tara just as badly. I'd felt my energy connect with her body.

But on the second pa.s.s I barely grazed her while she hit me full. It felt like I'd been branded with a hot iron. Pain racked my body and I was sucking wind. I had a hard time getting my arms up for the third pa.s.s.

On the third pa.s.s I knew I couldn't take another blow. I thought about deflecting. All my energy went into my s.h.i.+eld. This must have been what J'Tara had done during our lance duel. Her blow did no damage. Still I had exerted myself some more. Using magic was more tiring than a rock wall climb with barbells tied around my waist. I'd wasted that last round. My confidence was cras.h.i.+ng now. I had to get through to the next three rounds. I didn't have to win. A tie meant Severin would go free.

"Three blows with the dagger!" shouted the crier.

The servant handed me a blade nearly a foot long. I wondered how we would use daggers from horseback then I saw J'Tara dismount. I stepped down and the servant handed me a dagger. I was completely run out at this point. I couldn't feel anything below my neck. Sweat poured down my brow. The grill of the helmet wasn't easy to see through in the first place. Still I had no choice but to lumber forward. J'Tara angrily slashed the air with her dagger. I held up my own weapon. It glowed weakly. My strength was fading.

We approached each other, still separated by the barrier. We stopped once we were directly across from each other.

"I know who you are," she sneered at me.

We launched at each other. Both blades flew simultaneously. It was just a blur to me. I wasn't even consciously thinking about attack or defense. My arms worked off of pure instinct. The crowd counted the strikes in our mad frenzy.

"One!" they cried.

I felt a sting in my shoulder but had no idea if I hurt her or not.

"Two!" they yelled.

J'Tara's blade flashed across my helmet. I was blinded by the trail of sparks. I was sure I got a strike at her chest.

"Three!" roared the crowd.

We both backed away. J'Tara stood on wobbly legs. I felt ma.s.sive pain just below my ear.

There was nothing but silence.

Then I felt the pull of gravity. My legs refused to work. My body wouldn't obey me. I crashed to the ground. I'd failed.

The crowd went mad.

I lay on the ground trying to force air into my lungs. Every part of me hurt with white hot pain. When I sat back up I saw J'Tara coming around the barrier. She tore off her helmet and threw it away.

"I know who you are!" she yelled. "You half breed wolf loving whelp!"

She kicked me in the chest and grabbed my helmet. I tried to back away but she tore the helmet from my head and exposed my ident.i.ty for all to see.

Chapter 18.