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I heel my mare and get her moving toward the exit of Lux, placing my father strategically in my path. I pull up beside him and pause.
“May Astra watch over you and keep you safe, son,” he says.
I stare down my nose at him. “Now, General, you’ve never been good at being the caring father. Let’s not start pretending now. You’re the one who is sending me to my death, after all,” I reply, my voice dripping with disdain.
I nudge my mare to walk, not allowing him to retort.
I don’t look back as we make our way through Lux, down the cobblestone path out of the castle and through the village, passing by the small homes near the entrance, then out the gate toward the portal. My four guards keep close the entire way.
Our horses hesitate at the gray stone arch of the portal, and I don’t blame them. It must be an odd sight, but we force them forward. Coming out the other side, in Fati, is a jarring feeling. The land differs from what I’m used to in Lux.
Our kingdom is lush with vast forests of green trees and gray, snow-capped mountains, while Fati is mostly brown, with only patches of green fields in clusters plotted around sharp-angled plateaus. The results of a displeased god punishing and abandoning the people of Fati, leaving them to figure things out on their own. While they have found ways to survive over the generations, they’re still poor and barely making it.
A shiver runs down my spine at the thought of being left by Astra and no longer having a divinus to protect our people. But we listen to our goddess, and she rewards us with King Leopold’s power, saving us from any potential harm.
I say a silent prayer to the goddess to watch over my men on this ridiculous mission. They deserve more than this, but I must follow the orders of the king and general. Even if it means we are all going to die for nothing.
Pushing forward along the gravel path, we pass more small homes. Animal feces and something rancid waft in the air. I swallow hard to keep from vomiting at the stench. We need to get to the forest and into the fresh air.
I tap the side of my mare, and she takes off in an easy trot, straight for the woods. The chilled wind nips at my face as we race across the land, while the warm sun cuts through the bitterness, allowing the rest of our trip to be pleasant.
After a short trot, we make our way into the forest which runs along the mountains, and we slow to a brisk walk. The best path to Umbra is through the trees, and we use it to stay hidden, hopefully raising less suspicion.
The sun sets on our second day of travel as we near the portal of Umbra. The sky, filled with dark oranges and deep reds, adds an eerie feel to the scene before us. We pause at the edge of the woods before the gravel path leading to the portal.
There’s one guard on duty, who we could easily subdue if it were required. We study the area until the sun sinks behind the horizon, night beginning in the realm.
I take the lead as we head toward the swirling portal before us. As we near, I take in the portal’s intensity. Towering pools of water spiral at a realm-defying angle, straight up and down. The sight makes my stomach twist, and I grimace at the thought of having to walk into it.
We push our horses forward, the gravel crunches under their hooves, and the soft trickling of thin waterfalls greets us as we near. The entry guard sees us and steps onto the path, causing us to halt.
“Please turn around now before it’s too late,” he pleads.
The guard looks pained as he speaks to us, which doesn’t sit well with me.
“We require a meeting with King Asher. Let us pass,” I say, nudging my mare closer to the guard, but he doesn’t move.
“I’m begging you not to enter. Turn around and go back to Lux. We’ve buried enough of you already.”
I highly doubt they honored my men with proper burials. I let out a grumble at the thought of their desecrated bodies.
“We have direct orders from King Leopold to retrieve the amulet your king stole. Step aside and let us pass,” I demand.
The guard stomps his foot. “Don’t you get it? We don’t have your stupid amulet, and we never have. You’ll die for a lie!”
My guards whisper angrily at the Umbra guard’s bold statement, and my patience wears thin by the delay.
“We’re not liars, thieves, and murderers. You are. Unless you plan to try and stop us, let us pass.” My words are a snarl through clenched teeth as I move toward the guard, unsheathing the sword from my back and pointing it down at him, showing we are prepared to defend ourselves.
He stares up the length of my blade as he raises his hands in defeat and steps to the side of the path.
“I’ll pray to the gods your deaths are quick but know they won’t be painless,” he says.
Ignoring his last attempt to unnerve us, I place my sword on my back and heel the mare to step into the portal. I take a deep breath as she resists my command forward. The horses let out a collective whinny as we drive them toward the vortex of water.
Surely,no one has drowned in this portal before...right?
I close my eyes as mist kisses my skin and we enter.
