The Knight Read online

  "This wasn't your fault, Rykerian." I knew she would say that. She was always too good, too kind, just like Ara and Lamont.

  "Lamont asked me to go with them that night," I said, combing a hand through my hair.

  "I know. I told him you had the game. He knew it was important to you, so don't blame yourself."

  "You did that? Mary, why did you? If I were there, I could have saved them."

  "No, Ryker. You could have prevented the car accident?" I could feel it in her melody—she knew it was an actual possibility. If needed, a guardian knight could do anything, nothing was impossible if the ancients blessed it. So, I ignored the question.

  "I’ll leave after school ends. I'll tell Emma that I am going on a family vacation."

  "If you think that she is in danger—"

  "I do, and because we can’t shield her soul as completely as Lamont could, we have to keep everyone who could harm her far away from her. Also, I want to find a seeker’s crystal."

  Mary nodded. I could see in her eyes that she was beginning to understand.

  "I will talk to Glasson tomorrow. He can keep an eye on her while I am gone."

  "Glasson?" Mary's eyes grew wide.

  "He owes me a favor," I shrugged.

  "Okay." It was silent for a few moments, and I tried to steady my breathing as I heard Emma moan from her room.

  "I want to kill the person who did this to her."

  "It's late. I'll go to her. You can rest on the couch if you want."

  "There is too much to do," I said as I walked past her. "I have to get into contact with some people."

  "Okay, the funeral is in three days," Mary whispered.

  "I won't leave until after that. Are we doing it all the Earthling way then?"

  "It's all Emma knows, Ryker."

  "Burying them on Earth seems so wrong."

  "No!!" We both heard a scream, and Mary ran to Emma's room. I walked outside into the black night.

  I SLUMPED DOWN ON THE couch, shoving my head between two pillows, forcing the memories to fade away. I was unable to control the swirling of emotions inside of me. Mary had been wrong; going back and thinking things over—it did not help a single thing.

  “Why had I listened to her?” I groaned and turned on the TV, raising the volume to numb the pain, even though I knew it would not work.

  Chapter 4

  MY PHONE RANG, AND like an idiot, I answered it without even looking at who was calling. I will never do that again, I told myself after I heard the voice on the other line.

  "Rykerian," his voice was sharp, and I should have known that he would call me again, and soon.

  "Prince Shadrict," I answered in mock joy. Ever since Emma was born, I did not like the idea of prince Shadrict knowing anything about her, so I didn’t tell him anything. "How nice of you to call," I said.

  "I heard her a few days ago. I am sure of it.”

  I swore inwardly and tried to remain calm. Why did I answer his phone call? I had successfully avoided him during the previous few days "You did?" I feigned intrigue as I walked into my kitchen and got a cup of water.

  "Yes, and she is near you. I have a feeling this is not a surprise for you."

  I rubbed my eyes. Of course, it wasn't a surprise for me. I knew who she was the moment she was born when her melody floated into my soul in that hospital room. She was the one. She was the one that prophecy foretold of her coming. Emma Warren could save Terra.

  However, I was not happy that Prince Shadrict wanted to claim her. He did not deserve her. He didn't even know her. Sure, I knew that the prince had been searching for Emma for a long time, and, yes, I knew about her for the past sixteen years, but she had the right of choice, and she didn't have to save Terra—or be with him.

  "I think I heard something—" I feigned wonder.

  "Don't you understand how important this is?" Shadrict asked.

  "Prince, I do, and I also understand that maybe she doesn't want to save an unknown planet."

  "So you know her? Is she Earthling? She does not know? Who is she? Where is she?"

  "She is safe—and away from you, which is all I can ask for right now."

  "You are a sad excuse for a knight. How can you do this, go against the ancients and not fight for Terra?" Shadrict scolded me.

  "I am not telling you anything."

  "I will be in contact again with you very soon, knight." He growled, and then the line went dead. I tossed the phone onto the counter and smiled. Man, it felt good to make that pompous prince squirm. Or well, I assumed he was squirming. I would be leaving for my fake family vacation soon. School had just a month left. Just one month, and I could make it right. I had wanted to leave sooner, but Mary begged me to stay. I knew that Emma still needed me. I could sense it down to the marrow in my bones; the ancient pull was insanely strong. Surprisingly, Emma had been more of a shell than when she didn't have a melody, and that was saying something. I knew that what I was doing was semi-running away, and normally, I would be against that; however, I couldn't help but worry that she would be found out. I needed to find a seeker’s crystal—and I needed to find the person who attacked my heirs, even if that meant leaving her for a time.

  Chapter 5

  THE MONTHS MOVED BY in a blur. Seeing Emma at school with her bloodshot eyes and vacant expression made my heart ache. I needed to fix it; I needed to make sure nothing like that ever happened to her again. I needed to find who it was that did it and kill him. But first, I had to talk to Glasson. I needed his help more than I wanted to admit. I was haphazardly finishing up my homework, hating every moment of doing the meaningless work of Earthlings that made me appear to be the seventeen year old earth boy that I needed to try to be, when the door to my house opened up.

  "Ryker," I turned to see Glasson, standing in my doorway. He walked inside and sat down on the couch.

  "Oh, well, make yourself at home,” I offered, closing my English notebook; the essay could wait.

  "Your door was open. Do you want me to leave?"

  "Most people knock,” I shrugged. I had asked him to come. I had requested a meeting on that night when I drove Emma home from the hospital. He had not been able to come right away as I originally hoped for, but I was fine with waiting. It wasn't actually a conversation that I was looking forward to having. I knew the conversation would be painful. I stood up tall and cleared my throat. “I must report that Prince Lamont and his wife Ara are dead. I am not sure if you've heard."

  His head shot up. "Dead?" he asked, folding his arms, his brow furrowed. “No, I had not heard that.”

  "Yes."

  "This isn't good, guard," he growled. I clenched my jaw; “guard” was a term used to demean my kind. He must have been truly upset. I didn't blame him; I deserved to be called that—even worse.

  "Yes, Highness. I am aware."

  He frowned but continued to watch me as I walked over to the door to close it. "So who did it? Who found them? Was it prince Tarick’s men?"

  "I wasn't there, but I am sure that it was Tarick’s men. Knowing him, he would stop at nothing to kill off his brother's line and any other challenge to his right to the throne.” I folded my arms across my chest, not ready for the chastisement I was about to receive from the rebel-heir knight prince.

  "You weren’t there?” he scowled at me as he stood up. I knew that I had gone against everything a guardian knight vowed. I knew I had messed up. He shook his head and moved on, but I knew that he would come back to it at some other time. I was surprised that he did not mention my failings right then. It was his duty, after all, to make sure that all of his people took their oaths and vows seriously. He placed a hand on the back of the couch as if that realization had shocked him so badly that he needed help to stand. “So what do we do? Earth isn't safe for her anymore if they know about her. I wish I had a crystal for her."

  “We are doing the best we can at shielding her now.”

  “Emma’s melody is so strong.”

  "I'm loo
king into finding a crystal,” I added.

  “She is so loud. Anyone could come here and find her easily. We have a target on our backs.” Glasson froze in his movements, seemingly not paying attention to me.

  “Lamont and Ara were always able to suppress her melody. I didn’t account—“

  “Account for their deaths?” he frowned, moving away from the couch completely to pace, for a few strides, across the floor. His feet left imprints in the plush, grey carpet, marking each step.

  I gulped, unable to think for too long about the fact that I never had accounted for the possibility of their deaths that night. I nodded.

  “We need a crystal.”

  “I agree,” I said, leaning against the back of the brown couch in the living room, watching Glasson’s uncomfortable movements.

  “How will you find one? There are no more left here in Roseville. The best crystals from Roseville's small mine were excavated long ago,” he added, pausing in his pacing in order to look at me.

  “There are the Terran colonies. I want to check them out.”

  "Okay, yes; that might work." He rubbed his jaw and then his face with his hands.

  I tried not to look at him. I was sure that the feelings which I had for Emma, would be clearly visible in my eyes. I did not need any more disappointed looks from him if I could prevent it.

  "Next thing—" I started.

  “I can’t be of much help. My charge is very—” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and signed. “She’s a handful.”

  “You have trouble with your charge? So, it is possible that you are not an actual ancient, in the flesh."

  “I’m an ancient heir of the guardian knights of the third kingdom as you are well aware, knight. Do not question me.” I watched as he rubbed his eyes. He looked tired and worried.

  "I’m going to figure out what happened. I’ll talk to the police; we have a sketch—" I voiced my plan.

  "You think the Earthlings will know anything?"

  "The first person on the scene was a cop sent from the 911 call for an ambulance. He may have some info. They do have eyes."

  Glasson rolled his eyes. I knew he did not trust earthlings with his life, especially agents of government.

  "Ashlyn is being moved. I can try and relocate her here to Roseville." Ashlyn had been his charge for the longest time, which was rare for an ancient heir to follow the guardian knight’s life. But Glasson, crowned prince of the Fourth Kingdom of Terra, where guardian knights are bred, born, and trained, was a guardian knight to this Ashlyn person. I had never met her, although I did help him locate her once, a long time ago when she ran away.

  "You will make sure Emma is safe," I commanded, which, I understood, was rather bold to speak so to my prince, well, the prince of my people. Lamont would always be my prince, the prince I served.

  "How am I supposed to do that?"

  "I don't know, but you can hear her melody, can’t you?"

  He shrugged.

  "Just keep an eye out; that is all I am asking. You know if it was Tarick's men who did this, you and I will need to stick together."

  "I will watch her—and be discreet. How long?"

  "Two months."

  "Two months? I have to keep watch of Ashlyn, too. If Tarick’s men are on the loose and doing his bidding, then I need her close by."

  "I leave in a week. Is that enough time to figure out Ashlyn’s situation?"

  He furrowed his brow, and I watched him as he thought about my question. I was desperate.

  "I’ll get it done. I’ll have her enrolled at your school for next year," he finally answered.

  "Okay—" I didn't know why he was giving me that information.

  "You need to help me keep her safe after your return."

  "I'll do my best."

  He nodded and turned to walk out the door. "I have to say, I am surprised at you, for leaving your ancient. Perhaps the corruption of this place has already begun to muddle your soul."

  "I'm not leaving her, and she won't see you, will she?" I chose to ignore the corruption remark. There were a lot of things that I was, but corrupt was not one of them.

  "Of course not," he answered.

  "Good."

  "But it's still odd,” he replied.

  "Everything is odd right now. Desperate times—"

  "I get it, I do—but, you should really unshield your soul. You aren’t of any use if you become corrupt.”

  “I am fine,” I assured him.

  “I wouldn’t bet on that.”

  “I let it out often enough, Glasson.”

  “Well, I don't think I could do that to Ashlyn, just leave her—no matter how irritating she is." He turned and walked out the door.

  And just like that, I had a plan, and I would figure out who had murdered my prince and protect Emma no matter the sacrifice or the cost, even if that meant leaving her for a time.

  Chapter 6

  SAYING GOODBYE TO EMMA was the hardest thing I ever had to do. School let out, and summer break began, yet she still was as depressed as ever. Mary tried to help as best she could, but the corruption was already starting to work its way inside of Emma, inside of her beautiful soul. I needed to leave, and hopefully, I could figure things out fast, and then return soon, and somehow, tell her about who she was and help train her to keep her soul from becoming corrupt. It would be a lot for her to take in, but I needed to do it.

  “Did you get everything squared away?” I asked as I closed the trunk of my car. Glasson stood on the grass to my left, and I looked at him, expecting a remark about how stupid I was.

  “Everything is ready. Are you sure leaving her at such a fragile time is such a good idea?” There it was, his criticism.

  “I have to find who did this. He’ll be coming for her; I know it.”

  “Mary can’t shield her fully. She will become even more exposed,” he added as he walked near the edge of the lawn.

  “Glasson, what do you want me to do? If this person, whoever he is, gets Emma, I have no doubt they will be after your precious Ashlyn next.”

  I watched as he frowned. “I understand the importance, which is why I am helping. However, I do have concerns.”

  “I have to find who did this, and I have to find the crystal. It is as simple as that.”

  “Ashlyn is safe in her new home. Emma needs to be safe, too. I am concerned that perhaps this isn't the best way to go about doing things. Even though I am able to be in the area and keep an eye on things, she really needs her knight.”

  “Thank you, I appreciate it.” I nodded, intentionally not addressing his concerns. I had them, too. Emma also had Mary. She needed more, and I knew that Glasson could help her; heck, even prince Shadrict would protect her. But, if Prince Shadrict ever found Emma, he would never let her go. She—if she really was what he thought she was, if she really was what he had been searching for—I knew that she would mean everything to him. I hated Shadrict even more as that thought came to my mind. Unwanted memories with Shadrict flooded over me.

  “YOU LOOK UPSET,” HE spoke, and I glanced at him in irritation.

  He was always the picture of calm. Not one hair was ever out of place. You would never have suspected that he and I had just spoken with some insane woman who had opened a portal to another world with her fingertips. Sure, we were free of the cursed Dungeons of the Mist, but did he have to act like he was merely sitting down to eat lunch? I was in shock at what just transpired. Shadrict sat down on a rock in front of the cave as if all was well in the worlds.

  “Upset? Yes, why of course, your highness. I am upset.” I brushed my fingers through my hair as I took in his calm demeanor. “Mind telling me what has you feeling so calm, ancient heir?” I asked, standing in front of him.

  “I am calm because I have received the answers that I feared I would never obtain throughout the entire span of my existence.”

  I wanted to laugh, his “entire existence?” Really? He was barely just born. How could he have somethi
ng already causing him to worry with such intensity? Being an ancient heir wasn't hard. He was blessed with literally everything anyone from Terra could ever want. What was someone like him searching for? What could someone like him be lacking?

  “That old crow just gave you answers? She gave me a million and one questions—like for one, where in the worlds are we?” I touched my sword in nervousness. I knew that I should not be speaking to an ancient heir in that way, but it was difficult to hold it together. For five years, I had searched for Lamont. In vain, I had searched for him, day and night. When I discovered that he had been right underneath me the entire time, in the Dungeons of the Mist, I was filled with hatred for myself. The only peace I found, even though I could not be with him to protect him, was in the fact that I could feel the pull—the bond that we shared, inside of me. I knew that he was alive because I was tethered to him.

  “I have a song,” the prince said as he placed something into his shirt pocket.

  I shook my head, not sure I heard him correctly. From what I gathered, that old lady had just sent us into another world, the world where Lamont was living. That was good; however, how would I find him? What world is it? I wondered, Would we be safe? Right away, I could feel the pull, even stronger, toward Lamont. I knew he was close, and that knowledge gave me back the hope I had lost all those moon cycles earlier.

  “You have a song, prince?” I asked, trying not to laugh. Prince Shadrict of the second kingdom of Terra was a couple of moon cycles younger than me. I tried not to treat him like he had just matured, but it was hard to avoid it with him spouting about having songs—like we were living in a fairytale or something.

  “I understand, Rykerian. You do not believe in them.”

  I held up my hands, but my face held the truth that I thought it was humorous. “I will not tell you what to believe in, your highness.”

  He looked up at me then, for the first time. I saw the look of pure hope in his eyes. His melody soared into mine, and I knew how he felt about songs, and I knew he did not joke about them. I understood that he didn't want to hear my critiques.