Chapter Eight

Braving the Swive River turned out to be just as terrifying as Ryder expected. Waiting until dusk and traveling caked in mud was helpful, but it didn’t stop the Nalun noticing them. Halfway across, one of its large tentacles wrapped around the front of their vessel and gave a sharp tug.

Cridifer and Pidifer’s eyes widened but they remained silent.

As the Nalun began to pull the front of the raft down into the swirling dark water, Ryder knew he had to take charge of the situation or they would all perish. Attempting to balance on the tipping vessel proved to be near impossible. But somehow, Ryder managed to unsheathe his sword.

The orvbas sensed his plan, covered their eyes, and clung to the wooden planks for all they were worth.

Ryder raised the gleaming blade above his head and began to hack at the tentacle gripping the front of the vessel.

The Nalun screeched and bubbles shot to the surface of the menacing river. More tentacles began to shoot through the water and wrapped themselves firmly around the vessel. 

“We’re going to die!” Cridifer and Pidifer screamed.

Ryder could sense the imminent danger. His mind flashed back to the hours he spent in the woods training with his father’s sword. Then, as if in some sort of trance, Ryder began to swing the blade through the air with a murderous vengeance gleaming in his eyes.

Black, tarry blood shot out of the Nalun’s severed tentacles, drenching Ryder and the orvbas.

Losing his balance on the vessel, Ryder leaned dangerously close to the water. Quickly, he shifted his weight. That’s when he heard the loud crack. Suddenly, the vessel began to split down the middle, leaving Ryder and Cridifer on one side and Pidifer on the other.

“Brother! No!” screamed Cridifer as he reached his hand out to grab Pidifer’s outstretched hand.

Ryder continued to hack away at the tentacles as the Nalun viciously attacked the vessel.

The orvbas desperately attempted to stay together and keep the cracked boat from separating into a hundred different pieces.

Eventually, the Nalun lost strength as Ryder severed tentacle after tentacle. Finally the attack completely subsided. Taking a deep breath Ryder looked down and discovered that Pidifer was missing.

“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!”

------------------------------

Stop by and pick up the complete version of Grishma on Amazon or B&N!

http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Blount/e/B00BSKKA5Q
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kelly-anne-blount

Also, come visit me on Twitter (@KellyAnneBlount) & Facebook (www.facebook.com/kellyanneblount)!