Chapter Twenty

Rounding the corner, Ryder, Albie, and Pidifer stood with their weapons poised and ready. The next guard was scheduled to arrive any second and they planned to take him down quickly and quietly.

“You ready?” whispered Ryder.

“You bet,” said Albie in a hushed tone.

Shuffling armor and brash voices filled the dark hallway.

“Here we go!” said Pidifer.

The three worked together like a well-composed symphony. Ryder slashed and cut with his sword, Pidifer swung a club, and Albie jabbed with a sharp spear.

The guards never stood a chance, and soon lay slain in a crumpled heap on the floor.

“Nice work, guys,” said Ryder.

The orvba puffed up his chest and said, “We orvba are great warriors.”

They continued down the hallway and around the next corner.

“Calla said we need to follow the green torches on the wall to find the servants’ quarters,” said Albie.

They ran into a few more guards before they reached their destination. Luckily, they disposed of them just as quickly.

“Hey Albie, you’re not bad with that spear,” said Ryder.

Albie grinned and did a small bow. “Why, thank you.”

After sneaking through several more passages and down a few more hallways, they reached the servants’ quarters.

“Calla said the men are on one side and the women are on the other,” said Albie.

“Okay, you two stand guard while I look inside. Hopefully my mom is in there or someone can tell me where she is,” said Ryder.

Ryder slowly pushed open the rotten wooden door. “Hello? Is anyone there?”

Stepping into the large open room, it took his eyes a minute to adjust to the dim light. The room appeared vacant and rows of empty bunk beds were stacked against the four walls.

This place looks more like a prison than a bedroom.

“Hello? I’m looking for Bethenny, has anyone seen her?”

Silence.

“It’s important!”

More silence.

He was about to turn around when he heard a faint clattering noise. Hope and fear surged through his body and he turned to investigate.

Walking to the far end of the room, Ryder found a locked door with a barred window. As he stood on his tiptoes, he felt like someone had kicked him in the stomach. “Mom! Mom? Are you okay?”

“Huh?” asked a frail woman, curled up on a dingy cot.

“Mom! It’s me! Ryder, your son!”

“Ryder?” The disheveled woman looked around her cell. “Son? Where are you?”

“I’m here! I’m going to get you out, Mom! Just hold on!”

Ryder raced back to Albie and Pidifer.

“She’s in there! Hand me your club!”

Running back to his mother’s cell, he started beating on the old wooden door.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

A crack appeared near the bottom.

“Ryder, you might want to try and be a little quieter. We really don’t want to draw any more attention to ourselves down here,” said Albie in a hushed voice.

Ryder set down the club and began kicking as hard as he could. Finally, the door split open and he rushed in and knelt next to his mother.

Tears fell from her eyes as she struggled to sit up by herself. “Ryder? I never thought I’d see you again!”

Ryder hugged his mother gently. She’s so fragile! What have they done to her?

“Oh, Mother! I’m so glad I’ve finally found you! I’ve been hunting Grishma. Every day, just like Father told me. He said I had to destroy Grishma if I ever wanted to rescue you and Brianna!”

“Brianna? You saw your sister? When? I haven’t seen her in days… She’s been helping Princess Sophie prepare for the wedding.”

Ryder’s shoulders slumped and dejection swept his face. “I know. It was horrible. When I found her, she didn’t recognize me.”

Fresh tears stung her eyes. “It’s the mind mixer potion. They had me make it for the Princess. I can’t believe they used it on my own daughter.”

A faint tap from the hallway caused Ryder to spin around and hold the club in front of him defensively.

“Mother, we will have time to talk about this later. Now, let’s get out of here!” said Ryder.

“But Ryder,” said his mother as she held up her chained arms, “I can’t get out of here.”

Panic flashed across his mind like a lightning bolt races across a summer’s night sky. Then, a solution presented itself. “The keys! I have the keys!”

After flipping through and trying just about every key on the ring, the locked chains sprang open and he freed his mother.

“Oh son! Thank you!” she cried.

Taking his weak mother by the hand, he helped her up and started to lead her out of the room.

“No, wait!” she said.

“Mother, we must depart!”

“Wait, first help me grab some of my ingredients and potions. There’s a large knapsack over there.”

Ryder did as he was told.

After stuffing the bag with small jars, fresh herbs and plants, and a few other oddities, they walked out of the room together.

“Mother, these are my friends, Albie and Pidifer. Guys, this is my mom, Bethenny,” said Ryder.

“It’s very nice to meet you both,” said Bethenny.

“Likewise. I don’t mean to sound rude, but we need to get going!” urged Albie.

His mother put her arm around Ryder’s neck and the four pressed on down the hallway.

“Calla said we could continue down this hall until we reach the kitchen cellars. Then we can sneak out through the delivery hatch,” whispered Albie.

Remarkably, they didn’t encounter anyone else along their way to the cellar. When they got there, Ryder unlocked the door and everyone snuck in. Locking the door behind them, Ryder sighed with relief. “We made it.”

Albie looked around the room and saw an opening covered by a wooden hatch. “There’s our way out.”

“Did Calla mention what was on the other side of the hatch?” asked Pidifer.

Bethenny spoke up, “I think it leads to a small road at the back of the castle. If we’re lucky, we can escape with the wedding guests.”

“Okay, Pidifer, Albie, do you think you can help my mother escape tonight and hide out in the tunnel under the city walls?” asked Ryder.

“Wait? What? Why aren’t you coming with us?” asked his mother.

“I’m sorry, I can’t come yet. I have to find Brianna and Cridifer, Pidifer’s brother,” said Ryder. “I promise you will be safe with Albie and Pidifer.”

“Oh son, I haven’t seen you in ages, and the second I get you back, you have to leave?”

“I know. I’m sorry, Mother. I promise I’ll meet up with you soon. But before you go, take some provisions with you,” said Ryder, pointing to rows of shelves packed with food.

The three of them stuffed their pockets full of dried vegetables, fresh fruits, berries, and nuts. Ryder’s mom even managed to put a few more items in her knapsack.

Before they escaped out of the hatch, Bethenny turned and embraced her son. “Ryder, I love you so very much! Please find your sister, and together, make it back to me safely!”

“I love you, too, Mother. I promise, I will find Brianna and Cridifer and meet you under the city walls as soon as I can.”

Ryder helped Pidifer, Albie, and his mother out the hatch. Then he turned around and exited the cellar.

Okay, I think the best place to find Brianna will be somewhere near the ballroom. I bet they’re still celebrating the wedding in there.

Winding his way up a staircase, he opened another door and managed to find some of the King’s servants bustling about near a large table covered in fine linens.

“Have either of you seen Brianna?” Ryder asked one of the girls folding delicate silver napkins. “Um, I have a message for her from her mother.”

The girl’s initial worried look eased and she smiled when Ryder mentioned Bethenny’s name.

“I think she’s getting her belongings in order,” said the girl.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, she’s accompanying Princess Sophie to Dratun,” said the girl. “Lady Adeline just told her tonight.”

“Oh no! That’s horrible news!” exclaimed Ryder.

The girl gave him a strange look. “What’s so horrible about joining Princess Sophie in Dratun? Any girl would love to be the Princess’s lady in waiting!”

Shit! I’m raising too much suspicion.

“Well, she hasn’t even had a chance to tell her own mother goodbye,” said Ryder.

The answer seemed to appease the girl and her suspicious look melted to one of empathy.

“Please?” Ryder asked with pleading eyes.

“Okay, I think she is upstairs in the Princess’ chambers. If not, look for Pinga. She’ll know where to find her.”

Who the heck is Pinga?

“Thank you, I really appreciate it,” said Ryder.

“I hope you find her.”

Ryder peeled around and started up a staircase packed with party guests in formal gowns and tuxedos.

“Excuse me! Pardon me!” said Ryder as he pushed by the gossiping Necohians.

“Did you see the gift Grishma gave the Prince and Princess?”

Ryder paused when he heard Grishma’s name mentioned.

A small woman covered in soft downy feathers scratched her chin. “Yes, it was a bit of an odd choice.”

“Perhaps there’s some sort of significance?” asked a man with two large gills on each side of his face.

Ryder couldn’t resist. “Excuse me, I missed the gift presentation. What did Grishma give the happy couple?”

The man with the gills looked at him and said, “Oh! It was this strange little black statue!”

Ryder’s jaw almost dropped to the floor. “What did it look like?”

The feathery woman added, “I think it was one of those strange little creatures… What are they called?”

“An orvba!” exclaimed the man. “Why in Necoh would the Prince and Princess want a statue of an orvba?”

“It seems like a strange thing to haul to Dratun,” stated the woman.

Oh shit!

“What do you think?” the man asked Ryder.

His mind raced. Does Grishma already know I escaped? Why place Brooklyn and Cridifer in the same place? Is this some kind of trap?

“Well?” pressed the woman.

Ryder smiled and joked, “I don’t have a clue, but if it was me, I’d ask if I could exchange the statue for a brick of gold!”

All three of them chuckled uncomfortably. Saying anything bad about Grishma in public was cause for fear.

“Well, it was nice talking to you! I must find my date,” said Ryder.

Yeah right, Poor Lady Gwendolyn! I don’t plan on seeing her anytime soon. I can’t risk putting anyone else in danger!

Excusing himself, Ryder continued up the stairs and around the corner, where he found a small bench to sit on.

What am I going to do? How am I going to save everyone?

Resting his elbows on his knees, he dropped his head into his hands.

Okay, I just have to pick up the pace, that’s all. I can still do this before they depart! First step, find Brianna!

Standing up, he searched the immediate area. I have to find some way to slip away without being noticed!

Joining a group of people crowded onto an elaborately decorated landing, Ryder started to inch toward the back of the group. Step by step, he worked his way to the perimeter.

Ducking down and slipping off to the side, he began to venture down a roped off hallway.

You can take your “Do Not Enter!” sign and shove it!

Sneaking down the hallway, he looked for open doors and any signs of Brianna. He knocked gently and opened door after door. “Brianna? Are you there?”

After he reached the end of the first hall, he crossed over to the next via an oversized stone balcony.

As he reached for the door handle, he realized it was locked.

Crap!

Turning around, he started to backtrack when the door creaked open.

He couldn’t see the speaker, but a sweet voice innocently asked, “Can I help you?”

“Oh, I’m so sorry to disturb you. I’m looking for Brianna. She’s one of Princess Sophie’s ladies in waiting and I have an important message for her,” said Ryder.

Opening the door, a gorgeous girl with flowing blonde hair and sea blue eyes smiled at Ryder. “Well you’re in luck, I just saw her!”

“Really?”

“Yes! Here, you can cut through my room. Come on!”

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***To pick up your FREE copy of Grishma from Amazon, visit this website: 

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http://www.amazon.com/Ayla-Necoh-Saga-Book-2-ebook/dp/B00FKH35MS