Collision by Alyx D. Vacca (e ink ebook reader TXT) 📖

was ready for practically almost anything! "Please do not tell him that I heard!" Riah begged. "Also, you can not tell anyone that I am a girl either! They will throw me in jail for sure if they find out." I nodded and said, "How would they know that your a thief anyways? Are you famous or something?" She grinned sheepishly. "Some what. At least I am famous at Henry's Fief anyway. I stole some of his fathers prized jewels. They chased me around for ages. Henry knew it was me, and after he stopped the solders that one time we had kept in touch. He knew how to find me. And he did. He found me, told me I could keep the jewels and follow him. So I did, and he brought me to a secret entrance into his castle that I thought only I knew about. He said that the best way to hide was in plain sight if you have a little help. He asked me if I was any good with horses, I said I was and he gave me a job as a hostler and helped me cut my hair and gave me clothes fitting for a Commoner boy. That was the second time he had saved my life, because the next day I heard that they had found my hide out and had set up a watch there. So that if I ever I went back they could nab me. I do not think that he knows that." At that moment Tobi and Henry came out of the woods that they had entered. Did I not mention that there was a forest? Oh well, now you know. "Hey! Tobi, Henry! Riah is awake!" Henry beamed and ran forward hugged her while Tobi and I exchanged looks. Than I was reminded of him kissing me and I blushed and looked away. Him guessing why I blushed, turned pink and also looked away. "Can you walk?" Henry asked Riah. "I do not think so," she answered. He nodded amiably and picked her up as easily as picking up a sack of potatoes, although a whole lot gentler I am guessing, unless he treats potatoes like they were made out of glass. "Come on you two. Let's get on the platform so that we can win." Seeing how it was less that three feet away, we walked over and sat on it, Riah leaning on Henry. Tobi looked at them and then at me with more than a bit of jealousy. Obviously wishing that I would lean on him. Life was getting more than a little complicated. About thirty minutes in, Guy, from the beginning of the Course, came and said to follow him.


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Later that day, after Riah was professionally patched up by a trusted doctor, all the teens that had made it through all the Tournaments lined up in front of all the Royal people from Treah that were in charge. There was about Thirty left, out of all the people in both of the entire worlds. "There will be only five people to be in the Fellowship," said the queen that had instructed us before we started. "That is the Queen Karim, the woman on her left is Queen Kate," Whispered Tobi. "I did not think that you knew, so I just thought to enlighten you." "Thanks," I whispered back. "Here are the people who passed all the challenges valiantly, courageously and with flying colors." She paused for a dramatic build up. "The first is from the Commoner Tournament, and his name is... Merric Kerrisum! Please stand up here Merric." A boy who looked like he could be from either world and any country walked up to the dias and bowed to the royalty their. "Now the next to join Merric is some one from the Noble Tournament and his name is..." Tobi, Henry, Riah and me exchanged glances. When we came back we had learned that the other team had failed and all were disqualified. She had said "his" so it could be any of them except me. "Tobias Aoudad! Please come up here!" Tobi looked shocked but walked up anyways amid mild applause. He, too. bowed to the souverians and then took his place beside Merric. "Now for the third!" Cried Queen Karim, getting herself worked up. Her wife placed her hand on her arm and whispered something to her. It must have worked, because she calmed down a little after that. "The third to join this Fellowship is from the Commoners Tournament and her name is...Elizabeth Badger! Please join us." Elizabeth walked up and stood beside Tobi. "Now for the Fourth! Will Cole Moreo come up here please?" Cole/Riah walked up to stand next to Elizabeth. Me and Henry looked at each other. There was only one space left and both Riah and Tobi were already chosen. One of them had to be chosen, but which one? "The fifth and last is from the Commoner Tournament and her name is... Zoe Beaura! Come on up Zoe!" Once again Kate had to tell her to quiet down. Zoe walked up to the dais, trying to be formal but try as she might, she could not keep the spring out of her step. Once again me and Henry looked at each other. Our hopes had been dashed as soon as she had announced that the fifth was from the Commoners Tournament. "We thank all of you young people who came here. Please join us at the feast we are have to celebrate. Thank you." The queens, kings, and emperors and emperesses all stood up and we all bowed. They left through the door behind the dais. The page behind the door motioned for the Five to come through as well. As the doors closed behind them I saw all of them look back. I locked eyes with Tobi just before the doors closed completely.


Chapter Eight

The Final Good-bye

At the feast I did not even see one hair on Tobi's head. I went through the whole night thinking about never seeing him again. And I would not. The teams purpose was to separate the worlds, they were not allowed to to go anywhere except to their beds or the bathroom after they had finished with their work for the day. It was not until the very end of the feast that I saw him, standing amidst a cluster of people. "Tobi!" I ran, ducking and swerving to avoid people. When I got there, two people moved to block my way. One of them I knew. "Sir Allen of whatever! Why are you blocking me! Let me through!" The recruiter smiled sadly, "I sorry but I can not. My orders were very specific. Let no one who was not approved before hand, talk to the Chosen. Sorry Jaydria." I could feel tears gathering in my eyes. "Tobi!" I shouted. I saw him look up from his cluster and see me. He muttered something to someone and started to walk towards me. Allen and his buddy grabbed my arms and started to pull me away. Tobi's eyes grew wide. "Tobi!" I screamed. Riah walked up beside him and whispered something to him. He nodded and walked away. I felt fury well up inside of me, pushing to get out. To make me break something, hurt someone. More specifically Riah. "Tobi!" I screamed again. "Tobi!" But was to late, he was gone and people were staring at me as if I was crazy. And I was. I was scratching and twisting and biting. Any thing to get them to let go of me. They dragged me down what felt like a hundred flights of stairs all the way to the dungeons. "You have to stay here until tomorrow," said Allen. As he and his silent companion walked away he looked back and said once again, "I am sorry." Then, they too, were gone. "Jayd?" Said a familiar voice behind me. I turned and saw Henry standing there. Then I could not take it any more. I burst in to tears and ran and threw myself on him. He hugged me and we comforted each other through out the night, neither one of us felt able to sleep that night.

When morning came Allen and his friend came back and opened the prison door. I had to restrain myself from throwing myself at him and ripping him to shreds. "Sorry" my eye! "Come with me you two," Allen's friend said. So he had a voice after all. "The queens wish to talk to you." Henry looked at me and said, "Only if Jayd gets to talk to Tobi." I looked hopefully at Allen, he was the only one that could make that happen. But he shook his head as if he could not bare to say it. The other guard however was not so kind. "No, now hurry up." His face was stoney. There was no way that I was going to be able to change his mind. I walked out of the cell and started to walk towards the stairs, Henry and the guards hurried to catch up. I stormed up the stairs, I would plead to the queens themselves! I was not going to let Tobi go without at least saying good-bye. I was caught from behind and pulled almost half way down the steps by a large hand that had ahold of my arm. "Let go of me!" I yelled and turned to hit whom ever had grabbed me. But I froze. The person who was holding me was the one person I wanted to see most. "Tobi!" I whispered. He grinned and I threw myself on him and we fell the rest of the way down the stairs. By now I was wondering what had happened to the others. "Tobi, where are the others? Henry and Allen and the mean guard? He chuckled. "The others are following a different Jayd. Me and Cole planned it. She is disguised as you and once they catch her she and Henry can have their little moment whilst you and me, have now." Then he pulled me close and kissed me, no awkwardness, just sweetness passing from him to me and me to him. I could have stayed like that forever, however fate is never kind in fairy tales until the end and my end is not for certain. After all, the fairy tale is not about me, I am not from a world like that. "That's nice and all," a voice said behind us. "But I don't think that the queens would be that pleased. So we are going to have to break this