Grishma (Necoh Saga) (8 page)

“Cridifer! Where is your brother?”

“He went overboard. I reached out for him, but he went downstream too quickly,” sobbed Cridifer.

“Can he swim?”

“Yes, of course, all orvba can swim, but how will he ever survive the Swive? This is terrible!”

“Okay, Cridifer,” Ryder said. “I know you’re upset right now, but I need your help. We need to get to shore right now. Once we’re there, I promise we’ll look for your brother!”

“O–o–okay,” Cridifer stammered as tears ran down his mud-caked face.

Using splintered pieces of the water vessel, they managed to paddle themselves to shore. Upon reaching the squishy muddy bank, Cridifer collapsed in grief.

“Oh my brother, my sweet, kind, brave brother! This is all my fault! I should have told him ‘No! We don’t need to go find any missing princess!’ But I didn’t, I was greedy and wanted to live happily ever after!”

Ryder touched his shoulder. “Cridifer, all is not lost. Perhaps he managed to get out of the Swive just as we have? Plus, you told me he could swim. Without the Nalun attempting to attack him, I bet he was able to make it to the shore. Shall we go look for him?”

“Do you really think there’s a chance he survived?”

Ryder reassuringly patted Cridifer on the back. “Of course I do. Come on, let’s—” Before Ryder could finish, he felt something sharp prick him in the back of the neck. Startled, he thought,
what the hell was that?

“Ouch!” Cridifer cried out.

Reaching back, Ryder felt a small dart poking out of the back of his neck. As he pulled the dart out, his surroundings began to blur together and his head felt heavy.

As he fell to the ground, his last memory was a small creature approaching him with a large blade held above his head.

Opening his eyes, Ryder experienced momentary confusion.
Where am I?
He sat up and looked around. Bright sunshine trickled in from holes in the ceiling of a dilapidated hut.

Then the memories of the Nalun attack and being shot with a dart flooded his memory. Attempting to sit up, Ryder quickly realized he was tied up and securely tethered to the ground.

“What the hell?” he muttered as he tried to wiggle out of the restraints holding him hostage.

“He’s awake! The big one is awake!” screeched a nearby voice.

“Hello? Who’s there? Why am I tied up?”

“Pull him up so we may speak with him!”

Instantly, Ryder felt himself being pulled up to a sitting position by many small hands.

Blinking a few times, his vision felt okay, but in front of him stood a small creature.

“I am Albie from the Tribe of Topher! I must know why you were in the Swive River and what business you have searching for the princess!”

“Princess?”

“Yes, I heard your orvba friend say that you that you shouldn’t have been searching for the missing princess.”

Oh no! They must know about the missing princess, too! Do they have Brooklyn? Do they think she’s the princess?

Sighing, Ryder decided it was best to be somewhat honest. “Look, my name is Ryder and I’m not looking for the missing princess, I’m looking for my friend, Brooklyn.” He paused when he heard Cridifer gasp loudly in the background.

“I was trying to help my friend get home when Grishma attacked us in the Kadin Forest. Grishma snatched her up and carried her off. I think she may have thrown herself in the Swive River to get away, but I’m not sure. My friends, Cridifer and Pidifer, and I all got on a vessel and attempted to cross the river. That’s when we were attacked and Pidifer was lost downstream.”

Albie looked inquisitively at Ryder and then at Cridifer. “Can you two swear you mean no harm to any member of the Tribe of Topher?”

“Of course,” stammered Cridifer.

“Yes, I do not mean to harm anyone except Grishma.”

“Untie them,” Albie ordered two nearby Tribe of Topher creatures serving as guards.

Once untied, Ryder thanked the guards and turned to Albie. “Did you see Brooklyn? I fear she’s in grave danger. You see, she looks just like the missing Princess Sophie and there is a great reward to anyone who can find her and bring her to King Debnor of Sumner.”

Sighing, Albie looked at Ryder. “Yes, my boy, she did make it across the Swive River and she was with us until dusk last night. That’s when we were betrayed by Laro, one of our own.”

“What do you mean betrayed? Who is Laro? Did he take Brooklyn?”

“Laro is one of the Tribe of Topher. He lost his wife last year to the Swive River, and since then, he hasn’t been quite right. As soon as he met Brooklyn last night, he instantly thought she was the princess. Actually, I must admit, we all did. But we never meant her any harm, I swear it. Anyway, some time around dusk, he must have lured her away, and by the time I went to check on her, she was gone.”

Ryder watched Albie’s face as he relayed the previous night’s events. He truly looked upset and his words seemed genuine.

“So she really wasn’t the princess?” one of the guards asked.

“No, her name is Brooklyn and she traveled to Necoh by mistake.”

The other guard said, “What do you mean,
traveled
to Necoh? Wasn’t she already here?”

Should I really disclose all of this information? What if they work for the King and they plan to turn me over to Grishma when all is said and done?

Deciding it was worth the risk, Ryder recounted the story of Grishma killing his father and kidnapping his mother and sister. He went on to explain how he had learned to travel to other worlds in order to search for Grishma. Then, he relayed the details of his last night on Earth and how he and Brooklyn managed to escape Grishma and end up in Necoh.

Albie, the two guardsmen, and Cridifer all looked stunned by Ryder’s story.

“You know how to travel to other worlds?” Cridifer asked.

The larger of the two guardsmen stated, “Grishma killed my cousin Gart last year.”

Before Ryder could respond, Albie shook his head and murmured, “Grishma attacked your family? I’m so sorry!”

“Thank you. I appreciate your kindness.” Trying not to let his emotions get the best of him, Ryder cleared his throat and looked down at the ground. “Would there be any way that any of you would be interested in helping me rescue Brooklyn and destroy Grishma once and for all?”

“I would be honored to help,” said Albie, bowing deeply.

Cridifer was next. “Even though you lied about your intentions, I see it was only because you were desperate to find your friend. I would also be honored to help you.”

The two guards stepped forward. “We will join you as well.”

Ryder smiled. “Thank you, everyone. Now let’s make a plan to rescue Brooklyn and destroy Grishma!”

Chapter Nine

A
booming voice awoke Brooklyn from
her flower-induced slumber. “My daughter! My sweet, sweet daughter! You have returned to me!”

Brooklyn’s eyes flew open. Looking around, she took in a large hall with deep crimson banners flying throughout. Each wall was covered with at least ten portraits and several sconces holding candles.

Turning her head slightly, she realized she was slouching in a fancy chair with gold and silver accents. In front of her was a large group of people dressed in strange clothing. The women were wearing brightly colored dresses with tight corset tops and flowing skirts on the bottom. The men were dressed in loose-fitting brown pants, white or tan long-sleeved shirts, and long flowing red capes.

Laro was sitting next to Brooklyn grinning from ear to ear in a fancy velvety outfit.

Where am I? Who are these people?

A large man with a thick brown beard rushed over to her. He reached forward and kissed her forehead repeatedly.

Okay, don’t panic, this is probably just a nightmare. Just breathe deeply and smile.

“Sweet daughter! Where have you been? I have spent every day searching for you since you disappeared!”

Okay, so it isn’t a nightmare and even the King thinks I’m his daughter!
“Um, Your Majesty, I think there has been some sort of mistake. I’m not Princess Sophie! My name is Brooklyn.”

Drawing his face within inches of hers he appeared to study her closely.

“Laro! What is the meaning of this? What have you done with my precious daughter? Why does she not recognize her own father?”

Laro cowered in his chair. “Um, Sire, she has been claiming to be this Brooklyn since I met her. I think perhaps her mind has been altered. I’m sure it’s nothing your potion mixers cannot fix—right, Your Grace?”

The King glared at the small furry creature and then turned to inspect Brooklyn again. He leaned so close to her face that she could smell his breath.
Yuck! It smells like rotten fish!

Sensing she still wasn’t ready to admit she was the long lost Princess Sophie, he looked at Laro and yelled, “YOU! What have you done to my daughter?” His voice became louder and louder with every word he uttered and a large purple vein protruded from his forehead.

He immediately switched to a softer tone and looked at Brooklyn. “Who did this to you, my sweet Sophie? Why don’t you recognize me? Please tell me. Was it Laro? Has he erased your memory?”

Brooklyn’s eyes grew wider but she was too scared to say anything.
What do I do? Should I just play along?

The King slammed his hands down on the arms of his throne and stood up. “
That’s it!
Take Laro and throw him in the dungeons until this matter has been settled!”

Laro looked petrified. He barely managed to squeak, “But, but, Your Majesty! I was promised a reward! Why aren’t you taking me to one of your finest estates to live happily ever after?”

The King seethed. “A reward? For the traitor that erased my daughter’s memory? Never! Guards, take him
now!
”

Switching his demeanor again, he looked at Brooklyn. “There, there, my sweet darling daughter. Don’t worry your pretty head about that treacherous little creature! I will find someone to fix your memory, after all, we have the best potion masters in all of Necoh in this very castle!”

Potion masters? Maybe Ryder’s mother and sister are here? Okay, you better play along for now. Maybe you can find and save them before you escape.
After working up the courage to speak, Brooklyn managed to stammer, “Thank you, Father.”

Calling him father appeared to please the King. Breaking out into a huge smile, he motioned to a nearby girl, who appeared to be about the same age as Brooklyn. “Adeline, please take the Princess and help her get cleaned up. The tailor will be up later this evening to fit her with a new wardrobe. Afterwards, please burn those disgusting clothes she is wearing now!”

After curtsying to the King, she turned to Brooklyn and said, “Come, Princess Sophie. Please follow me.”

Silently, Brooklyn got up and followed the girl out of the large, opulently decorated room. She could feel the eyes of hundreds of spectators following her every move until she was out of their sight.

“Just a bit farther, Princess. I’ll bet you have had a long day! Don’t worry. A nice bath will help.”

The palace was absolutely stunning. Every room they walked through was ornately decorated. Huge portraits hung high on the walls and almost every room had a fireplace large enough to roast a Honda Civic.

Turning one last corner, Adeline looked at Brooklyn and said, “Here you are, my Princess. I already drew your bath. Will you need help disrobing?”

Brooklyn’s cheeks turned crimson. “Um, no, no thank you., I’ve got it.”

“When you get out, there is a robe over there for you to change into. You can throw your old clothing away over there,” she said, motioning to a bin near the door. “I shall wait for you to finish in your chambers. Just call if you need anything.”

“Thank you, Adeline.”

As soon as the girl turned to leave the room, tears welled up in her eyes and she crumpled into a little ball on the floor.
This is too much! How am I ever going to get home? Am I ever going to see Ryder again?