Alora: The Portal (Alora 2)

“But look, here’s a fancy jeweled sword, and a carved wooden box filled with some kind of powder, and a scroll with weird lettering.”

“Put those things back the way you found them, Arista. We may need to hide in the caverns. We don’t want him to know we were here.” Alora tugged at her arm, but Arista jerked it away.

“Won’t he be suspicious at the puddles of water we’re leaving behind?”

Alora cringed at the truth of her words. The puddles were like a homing beacon. Vindrake could easily follow their trail. She pulled off her coat and fell to the floor, in a mad attempt to sop up the watery tracks.

With stubborn persistence, Arista inspected the chest’s contents. “I’m almost done. I only want to take one thing. He’ll never miss it.”

Alora cried out as a wave of nausea struck, bringing bile to her throat. “Kaevin, it’s Vindrake! I think he’s coming!”

Kaevin drew his short sword, jumping back from the door as it swung open. The face that appeared wasn’t Vindrake’s, but instead that of a gigantic hulking warrior, fully seven feet tall. With a single stride he crossed to Kaevin, who backed away, the reach of his blade no match for the huge spiked club in the giant’s hand.

The hulk hefted his club overhead, bringing it down in a deadly arc aimed at Kaevin’s head. But as the club descended, Alora transported Kaevin to her side, and the club continued its path to crack against the stone floor. Lifting the massive club to attack again, the giant trained his eyes on Alora. Kaevin moved toward him, crying out to draw his attention.

I hope he’s not wearing an iron belt… Alora attempted to transport the warrior to the ceiling above the table. At his scream of terror, she knew she’d been successful. She watched him fall, a surreal flailing image that reminded her of a low-budget movie, but she squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head away before he thudded against the stone table, silencing the shriek.

“Alora! Look out!”

A steely grip closed on her wrist. Cold blue eyes. Sleek black hair. The reek of evil. Vindrake.

“Alora, how nice of you to come. Thank you for killing Barggae. I would’ve done so myself, as a punishment for attempting to kill Kaevin when I’d specified I wanted both of you alive, but now you’ve saved me the trouble.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Or perhaps you’ve robbed me of the pleasure.”

Her gaze darted to Kaevin, whose eyes mirrored her own horror, as three warriors bound his hands behind him. And Arista? She must still be crouching behind the bed. Ignoring her father’s droning voice, Alora concentrated on Arista, transporting her to the middle of the bathing pool. At least it was a soft landing if it worked. The portal is sealed, but she might have a chance of escaping if they don’t know she’s here.

Vindrake’s voice was louder, emphasizing his words with a jerk to her wrist.

“Do not disregard me! I asked you a question!”

Alora was surprised as a deep calm settled over her, slowing her racing heart. Yes, Uncle Charles, I’m going to fight. She locked eyes with the man who was her genetic father, lifting her chin, but she found no kinship in his icy gaze. “I’m sorry, I must have been daydreaming. Could you repeat the question?”

His eyes narrowed, and he spoke through tight lips. “I know you came through the portal. I want to know how you found it. Is gresses your minor gift?”

Alora shrugged, buying time as she worked out a way to speak around the truth. “You shouldn’t be so surprised. It was my mother’s minor gift.”

“I’m not surprised… I’m delighted. Just another talent at my disposal.”

“My gifts will do you no good once I’m dead.”

“Oh, you will not die, my dear.” His lips pulled back in a sneer.

“I’ll never take your oath of fealty if that’s what you think.”

“Oh, no. I’ve already learned from my past mistakes. The bloodbond destroys the bearer’s gift, rendering him or her powerless. Useless. You won’t take the bond…”

He leaned close to her ear, his putrid breath assaulting her nostrils, a stark contrast to the terrible beauty of his handsome face. “But rest assured, Kaevin will.”

*****

Arista almost drowned as her water-filled boots weighted her down. She fought to remove them and, pushing off from the bottom, she broke the surface, gasping for air. Struggling to swim with the thick oversized coat she’d borrowed from Alora hampering her movements, she paddled to the shadows in the back of the pool and grasped the edge, resting while she determined a plan.

She was fairly certain she hadn’t been spotted before Alora sent her to the pool. Of course Alora expected her to use the unexpected watery transport as an opportunity to escape, but she’d never leave them behind in Vindrake’s clutches, especially since she felt guilty.

Surely my delay to search the chest wasn’t the only reason we were caught. Vindrake must have been alerted somehow when we came through the portal. Or perhaps when we invaded his chamber. She sent up a silent prayer that Vindrake would once again attempt to convince Alora to use her gift for him rather than kill them outright. Anything to afford a bit more time.

She had to find a place to hide and attempt a rescue when no one was watching. And she needed something dry to wear. She pictured Daegreth’s map in her mind. Three doors exited from the bathing room: one to Vindrake’s chamber, one to smaller living quarters, and one to the main hallway, highly trafficked and heavily guarded. She might be able to hide in the doorways and sneak past the guards, but not with dripping clothes. Didn’t Daegreth say no one was currently living in the smaller chamber? Perhaps the last occupant had left clothing behind. Anything would do. But the small chamber had only one entrance, so she could easily be trapped inside.

Kicking herself out of the water, she flopped onto the back edge of the pool and stripped off the soggy coat. From the inside pockets she removed a number of blades along with a water-logged scroll, pilfered from Vindrake’s trunk. I hope my prize hasn’t cost Alora and Kaevin their lives. Tucking the coat between two boulders and, stashing the blades in her socks and the scroll in the waist of her pants, she made for the shallows with one eye on the door of Vindrake’s abode.