Myths and Gargoyles Jamie Hawke (i read a book .TXT) 📖

you when the time comes, all I can say is I will be there to prove myself. I will have vengeance for what they did to Rianne and the others.”

“You don’t know,” I said, and at his look of curiosity, sighed. “They are alive. Some of them, at least.”

“I get the feeling you don’t mean here, but…”

“In my world, yes. Ebrill, Kordelia, and Aerona are with me. We are searching for others, and believe we will have luck. Me coming here, for example, was a lead that came about because of Rianne and a plot involving one of the Nine.”

“Rianne is out there, too?”

“In Avalon.” I let that sink in. “It’s been restored.”

He stumbled back, releasing my hand finally, although the link between us remained. It was like I could sense his shock, feel the emotions battling within him.

“Then, you are here… for me?” he asked.

I frowned, then nodded. “It’s possible. You, and maybe others?”

“Come,” he said, motioning for me to follow. He turned down a path that led back out to another side of the mountain. Here, the rain had either stopped or never reached, the torrent of spirits replaced by a slower stream of mist again. As I followed him, I was able to see more of this world than I had before. Our connection had changed my sight, so that where before I had seen only wisps like clouds and spirits, now there were dark fairies fluttering along. That made me wonder what the storm I had seen might have been—an army preparing for an attack? In here, or upon our world, was the question.

In the hills, I could make out more of those sinewy creatures like the one I had first encountered when visiting this land. The ground was slick rock, so I had to watch my footing, moving slowly.

We descended through the hill and to an exit that was like a Roman archway, emerging into an arena for battle. Indeed, we were at the edge of a large opening, where the rocks around could very well have been stands.

“Back,” he said, motioning me to stay back against the wall, and he did the same. Myriad fairies flew by then, accompanied by witches and other magical beings, the ground shaking as others ran past on foot as well.

“What is it?” I asked, fearing the answer.

He didn’t have one, though. Not a solid one. “Movement lately, that’s all I know. For years, we barely existed, vaguely aware of a world around us, and now… activity. Something has changed.”

Indeed, it had. I had brought the Liahona to my time. Everything was changing.

“I understand,” I replied, then turned to him and said, “Let’s return.”

“How?”

I frowned, realizing that I wasn’t sure of the answer. Glancing around, I found an area in the rocks that pulled back from the main wall, and focused there. Sure enough, I was able to create a portal. Maybe it wasn’t necessary and all I’d have to do was focus on being home or click my heels together three times. Whatever, I liked the idea of portals.

“Together,” I said, motioning him to join me at my side.

We stepped into the portal, but as his body vanished and I was halfway in, I heard a whisper, almost like… my name? I turned to the surrounding darkness, cautious but curious.

Eyes like narrow slits, beady and black, staring at me. The figure emerged from the darkness, enough for me to make out a nude silhouette of a female. Petite, light showing enough to highlight perky breasts the size of small melons, and with her black hair tied up in two little Princess Leia buns.

She crouched, scurried off to the ledge to my left, assessing me, and then held out a hand. For all I knew, this could be one of the enemy. She could have seen what I was trying with Riland, and was there to stop my plan from working.

I glanced around, shook my head, and allowed the portal to take me.

110

Back in bed, I hadn’t yet decided what to tell them of the dream. At first, I turned, looking for Riland, even muttered his name.

“You saw Riland?” Aerona asked, sitting up next to me, curious. The others entered as if on cue, and I groaned, trying to clear my head of the fog.

“In a sense, yes.”

“Then what?” Ebrill asked.

I frowned, confusion causing my irritation to rise. “He’s not here?”

“No,” Steph said, and came over, a hand on my shoulder.

“We connected,” I said. “And I don’t mean in some weird way—I mean, a connection based on magic, so I thought maybe he’d be able to come with me. And when he stepped into the portal, he vanished. It made sense that he would have come through.”

“I don’t see him,” Ebrill said, voice breaking. “But sure would like to.”

My mind clicked awake and I had to wonder how he played into all of this. “Who was he, to you? I mean, to the group?”

“A soldier,” Kordelia said. “One of many.”

Ebrill scoffed.

“Nothing more.” Kordelia shot her a glare that said enough was enough.

“Clearly, something’s not being said here,” I cut in.

“Sounds like there was a romantic situation, if you ask me,” Steph said. “Don’t worry, Jericho here is a big man. He can handle it.”

“It’s not so simple,” Ebrill explained. She glanced at Kordelia. “You want to tell him, or should I?”

With a sigh, Kordelia leaned against the wall, arms crossed, jaw set.

“Fine.” Ebrill opened her mouth to explain, but was cut off by Kordelia clearing her throat.

“I’m getting to it,” Kordelia said. Then, after a deep breath said, “He was a complicated character. Riland… Nephew of Rianne, fell in love with the princess.”

“Wait, the princess?” I eyed them to see if they were messing with me. “I thought—but didn’t he have a thing for Yenifer?”

“She was twice his size,” Kordelia said with a scoff.

“Excuse me?”

Kordelia eyed me, grimaced, and said, “Not all are as accepting as you. Especially back then.”

“But, I remember him acting a certain way toward