A Prince's Quest: Journey to a New Realm

Chapter Five

The ride to Jaeden isn't as special as I thought it would be. One minute we were on a field on Earth; The next, we appeared on another field on Jaeden. The portal was just as Uncle Ames described it though and that was cool. It wasn't the field Uncle Ames had described that fateful first time he and my mother had stepped. The field we are standing in is dark and dead. It is like someone had set the field on fire and let it burn constantly till there is nothing left.

"Where are we, Uncle Ames?"

"We are supposed to be in a field near the small town of Zipheras. Since The Darkara attack, I figured that Venin would be waiting for us in the field where your mother and I had come through the first time, so I sent us to this one instead."

"Was this place always this dead?" Michael asks, taking the next question right out of my mouth.

Sadly, Uncle Ames looked around us, "No, before Venin betrayed Russo, and took the crown, this was once a beautiful field. Like the field that your mother and I first came to, that field grew snow-lites; this field had grown the inzena flower. A powerful flower that was used to heal. They were small purple flowers with a small yellowish center. Only the darkest magic can do something like this." Uncle Ames answers with unconcealed anger, "Be on your guard, you two; this isn't the place I left all those years ago."

It doesn't take very long to find the road that will lead us to Zipheras; we head west for about an hour walking at a brisk pace not stopping until we saw the town.

Zipheras is such a small town that a blacksmith, a tavern, a couple of shops for armor, everyday items and a stable could all be seen from the inn. Even though it's night, I can see how rundown the town looked. The buildings are cracked and look like they could fall in at any moment. The people who are still out, looked poor and defeated. Uncle Ames leads us into inn, that doesn't look any better than the rest of the town from the outside. The outside of the inn looks so run down, but it's surprisingly decent looking on the inside (at least it is clean.)

The innkeeper though looks surprised to see that he has guests which makes me think that this town doesn't get many visitors.

"How can I help you, sirs?"

"We need a total of three beds, please."

The innkeeper sizes Uncles Ames up for a moment before replying with a nod of his head, "Of course, Sir. May I ask you what brings you to Zipheras?"

"My nephews and I are in town from Zutin Valley to visit an old friend of mine."

"That friend have a name?"

"Alastar Bukon."

"And you are?" The innkeeper asked looking over at Michael and me. His eyes lingering on me, giving me a very bad feeling. I feel Michael shift beside me blocking me from the view of the innkeeper.
"Our names shouldn't concern you?" Uncle Ames responds to the innkeeper firmly as he slides three golden coins across the counter. The innkeeper instantly snaps to attention and starts acting like Mr. Richards from Forrester-Alton Prep when Michael's father was there.

After Uncle Ames pays the man, the innkeeper hollers for a woman who must be his wife, she comes from a backroom, leads us up some stairs and opens one door, then the one next to it, "My husband gave you and your nephews our only adjoining rooms. One has one bed, and the other has two." She informs Uncle Ames, "Is there anything else I can help you with before you go to bed?"

"There is. Do you know of Alastar Bukon?"

"Yes, sir. There isn't a person in town that doesn't know Alastar." Uncle Ames doesn't look like he's happy to hear that.