Bride of Alvar (Redemption Saga, Book 1)

Chapter 16

Underland is beautiful. 

I can't help thinking this as we travel together in our royal company.

After exiting the city, we're surrounded by jungle, mountains, lush plains, and rivers. The air, however, is humid and makes my clothes stick and hair curl. I realize there must be a sort of air conditioning in the palace, for I don't feel such heat there.

We follow a white brick path, which snakes alongside a river. A white tower-like building appears on the horizon, attached to its side is a white waterwheel.

"The Sky Wave is just up ahead," Alvar informs me. I've ridden alongside him the entire way. I dare not go back to Emily. Still... I wish we could send her back to Earth. It's not right to keep her here if she doesn't want to stay. I hope Alvar will allow this exception for me.

"How do you travel on the Sky Wave?" I ask him, focusing back on our current venture.

"Well, it's powered by water and Arlite. It's too complicated to explain, but I'll just say it's way of teleporting."

Guards of Underlund stand watch over the Sky Wave. They greet Alvar and his men warmly.

"My king, it's an honor," the man, I presume is in charge, steps forward, he wears blue unlike the white uniforms of the other guards.

"Is the Wave prepared for us, Rust?" Alvar asks, dismounting Shasti and taking off his riding gloves.

"Of course." Rust bows with his arm outstretched toward the entrance to the Sky Wave building, an ornately carved red door.

"Good." Alvar nods with approval.

Suddenly I realize we haven't packed anything to take with us. Hmm...

Alvar approaches me and places a hand on mine. "May I help you off the mytonir, my queen?"

"Uh-yes," I smile and his hands grip my waist as he swings me down.

The touch is more intimate than I realized it would be. Once down his hands still rest on the small of my waist and we're close, face to face, I tilt my chin to look up at him. "Thank you."

"My pleasure," Alvar says, his voice is gruff, as if he senses it too.

Out of the corner of my eye I notice Emily roll her eyes and it takes all good feelings away. I step back and smile politely at him and begin down the path to the red door of the Sky Wave building.

Alvar doesn't seem phased, and follows after me. Our party comes in after us.

Upon entry I'm shocked with blinding light. Whoa. I shade my eyes. The source of the light is coming from a blue shard of Arlite, so large it's the size of Titan.

"This shard is the pride of Underlund," Alvar whispers to me. "Without it, teleportation wouldn't be possible."

He rests a hand on my shoulder and guides me to a long bench, facing the magnificent gem.

Rust enters after everyone is seated on the bench and clears his throat. "Your majesties, I am going to review the safety precautions of using the Sky Wave."

Safety precautions? I swallow. I wish I'd grown up here. It's frustrating to be so in the dark about all the things used in this world that everyone else views as normal. Mother hadn't taken the time to inform me about their technologies, curses, and magical items. Like the Mystar amulet... I note the stone on Alvar's neck once more.

"You must all join hands," Rust begins. "Then look forward at the Arlite. Do not at any time let go of the hand or hands of those next to you or you may be dropped from the teleport."

I grip Alvar and Grey's hands. Emily is next to Grey and holding his and Leeza's hands.

"Everyone ready?" Rust asks, he checks to make sure we're all secure.

Rust nods at a guard behind him, who pulls a lever. The Arlite gets brighter and sparks fly, or is it water?

"Good travels to you," Rust bows.

The Arlite glows and a buzzing sound fills my hearing. It amplifies until white encases us and there is nothing but the glow, the buzz, and the feeling of Alvar and Grey's hands filling my senses.

In mere minutes the glow dims as does the sound and as my eyes adjust I realize we're somewhere else completely. The sky is grey above us instead of the vibrant blue Underlund's sky held. Brown muddy terrain is underneath our feet. A mist shrouds the land.

"We're here," Alvar says. "Ferar."

I recognize this place, from his memories. Unlike Underlund in his memories, it hasn't changed much.

The crunch of four legged footsteps approaches and figures appear like shadows in the mist. They're riding creatures that resemble a hybrid of rat and rhino.

One. Two. Three. Four. Six. Ten... how many are here to greet us? My heart is suddenly pounding in my chest. An aura of foreboding fills this place.

"King Alvar," A female voice greets us from the group. "How wonderful to be blessed with your esteemed presence and that of your new bride."

"Remora," Alvar grunts. "Where is that fool Maggort?"

"Maggort?" The female figure rides up to us and I view the gobli queen for the first time.

The gobli queen is not as ugly as I'd expected, seeing as the male gobli are quite hideous. Same grey skin, same beady eyes, but feminine in countenance and body. She's tall. Taller than all of her gobli males. Her hair is black and slicked back on her scalp. Her ears are pointed like an elf's not bat-like as her male counterparts. Her facial features are soft and almost human, save a pig-like nose.

"The henchmen whom kidnapped my bride, the queen's, friend," Alvar says.

"Oh, that idiot. He fled," Remora scoffs. She smiles at us, her teeth pointy beneath her lips. "Come, my guests, you must be seen to your rooms to prepare for the feast I have tonight."