Different Worlds

Netiri

Pain. It was the first thing that I could think of - even before I tried to open my eyes. There was a sharp stabbing pain in the back of my head. I lay as still as I could, and slowly the stabbing pain began todull enough for me to move my head. I opened my eyes, and as everything swam into focus, I became alert enough to notice the two faces that were hovering over me. Both faces filled with concern. Well, one elderly face full of concern, but the concern in the younger face faded as soon as it realised that I wasn't badly hurt. I sat up and looked around at our surroundings. We were in what looked to be a rather large cave with a few lit up torches of fire hanging on the walls. I looked for the entrance of the cave but couldn't seem to see it. Then I became aware of the sound of rushing water.

"Where are we?"

"We're in a cave hidden behind a waterfall," Jacek smiled at me. "The King will never find us here."

I winced as another flash of pain clouded my headfor a split second, and I put my hand on the back of my head and gently rubbed. "What happened?"

"You fell of Jacek, that's what happened," Devon smirked at me. "I nearly didn't catch you in time."

"I sure feels like you didn't - ow."

"I wasn't able to get to you before you hit your head. You're lucky I got you before you broke your neck." He started snickering. I scowled. He raised his eyebrows at me. "Just a thank you will suffice."

I rolled my eyes and injected as much sarcasm as I could into my tone. "Thank you."

Devon gave me a cheeky smile that showed off two dimples, not at all bothered by my tone. "You're welcome."

I rolled my eyes again as Jacek placed a bowl and spoon in front of me. I looked into the bowl suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Some of the stew I had been making before we had to leave," Jacek said. "I managed to grab enough for us before we left."

I picked the bowl up and sniffed. The aroma of the stew smelt so appealing that it made my stomach start grumbling. Dipping the spoon in, I brought it tentatively to my mouth and cautiously had a taste. It was better than any stew I had ever had in my life. Within a couple of minutes I had pretty much licked my bowl clean.

"Thanks so much, Jacek. That was great - exactly what I needed."

"I don't suppose you want to know what was in it now, do you?" Devon grinned wickedly.

"Devon!" Jacek frowned at his grandson with disapproval, but Devon didn't seem fazed by it.

"Jacek, could I ask you something?"

Jacek settled himself down next to me. "Of course."

"Why doesn't the King like humans? What happened with the last human that was here?"

Jacek cleared his throat. "It happened a long time ago, when the King was young - about forty. A stranger came to this world. He wasn't the first stranger ever to come here, just the first in a very long time. Just like you." Jacek gave me another smile, sort of like a grandfather smiling at his granddaughter. "When he first got here nobody knew what to make of him. We'd only ever had one human here before that, but it was so long ago the stories about her had become just that - stories. When this particular human came here, it was before Neeros - that's our King's name - had become the King. He befriended the human out of sheer curiosity, and for a while everything was fine. They were friends for a long time. Actually, it was more than that. They were more like brothers, that's how close they became. They did everything together, looked out for each other. I doubt that there's been a friendship in the whole of Nardema that's been as strong as that one."

I watched Jacek's serious face in the flickering torchlight. "Then what happened? If their friendship was so strong, why did it crumble?"

Jacek sighed. "What else? Over a girl."

Devon snorted. "You mean witch!"

"Witch?"

Jacek sighed again. "Netiri is a very beautiful woman. She is now Neeros' wife - the Queen. When she came into the picture Neeros fell for her hard from the second that he laid his eyes on her. But the human - his name was Daniel - he didn't like her. No, it was more than that. He didn't trust her. He tried telling Neeros that there was something wrong about her, but he didn't believe him. He accused him of being jealous and trying to steal Netiri away from him. He banished him from Nardema. At the time everybody thought that Neeros was right and that Daniel was jealous. Everyone realized too late that Daniel was right." Jacek paused a moment before continuing. "After Neeros married Netiri and took the throne, Netiri showed her true colours. She was a sorceress. She'd placed a powerful spell on Neeros when they had first met, causing him to fall in love with her, and no doubt she was the voice in his ear when he decided to banish his best friend." Jacek looked down as he went on. "Daniel returned. He was determined to do everything in his power to try and save his friend, but it was too late. He was too far under the spell to be reasoned with, and when Netiri realized he had come back, she cursed him. She sent him into a realm in between worlds - a place where everything just floats in suspended animation with no hope of escape - unless somebody specifically pulls you out. He'll remain there until someone is powerful enough to release him."

I frowned in confusion. "But that was six hundred years ago. Wouldn't he be dead now?"

Jacek shook his head. "He's in suspended animation. He won't age at all. Many have tried to release him, but nobody has the magic that is powerful enough to do that. Everyone keeps trying though."

"And now the witch has Neeros believing that anything human has to be destroyed." Devon spoke up suddenly making me jump. "She may look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside she's pure poison. If we can find somebody with the power to match hers, we might be able to bring Daniel back and break her enchantment on Neeros." Devon's voice lowered slightly. "But anyone who has attempted to go up against her hasn't lasted long. She shows no mercy."

I sat back as I let their words sink in. Out of all of the worlds I could have fallen into, I had to fall into one being ruled by an all-powerful sorceress with a hatred of humans. Suddenly, despite the heat from the torches I began to shiver. Jacek was right. I didn't like my chances of finding my way home before I got myself killed.