The Silver Crown

Chapter 4

Caleb

I wake up sore and disoriented. I'm lying on my back, a thick layer of dead leaves beneath me and trees standing regally above me. The sun shines brightly through the wide leaves of the trees and a soft breeze blows gently across the glade. I slowly realize that Kylee is lying on top of me, her head on my chest, clenching my hand tightly to her. For a minute, I'm not sure what to do. I gently try to pull my hand from her arms. She shifts a little and adjusts her grip. The back of my hand gently brushes against her face.

She's dancing by the fireside, spinning and laughing. The golden light catches her dark hair, igniting stars in the ebony depths. Her laugh rings out, a thousand tinkling bells let loose, filling the night.

"Come join me!" she laughs, spinning and holding her hand out to me.

"I can't dance!" I call out over the booming drumbeat.

"Sure you can! Come on!" she dances over to me, taking my hand and pulling me to my feet. She spins me around and around, our twin laughter filling my mind, all I know is her, her shining eyes, her brilliant happiness. She spins around me again and again, her arms wrapped around my neck, mine around her waist. As we spin to a stop I slowly move my hand to brush her hair out of her face, a warm glow fills me as my fingers brush against her velvet skin. Her face melts into an expression of pure joy and contentment.

I watch her fall into the burning pit beneath my outstretched hand, her eyes full of terror and pain...

"Nooo!"

I leap up, throwing Kylee off of me. She snaps awake with a small scream, her clear blue eyes wide and scared. I stand panting for my breath then turn and lean against a tree, my whole body shaking.

"Are you okay?" Kylee asks timidly.

I inhale deeply. "I'm fine." I straighten and turn to her. "We should go."

She pulls herself to her feet and faces me glaring. "Stop. All you ever say is 'let's go'. I'm not going anywhere until you answer at least two things. First, who are you? Second, where are we?"

I look at her for a moment, contemplating my answer. "My name is Caleb Mason. I am the nineteen year old high schooler you've known from a distance for years. However, a little over a year ago, through a strange series of events, I have visited this world. Afterward, I was sent back home till I was recovered from my... injuries. I was making plans to return here when you approached me and sped things up. We are, as I told you before, in the world of Lindolosun, in the realm of Androlan. It's a peaceful country, welcome to visitors. I have friends here who can help us and there are wise men greater than myself who are better suited to explain your experience."

Kylee regards me quietly for a moment, seemingly unsure if she should believe me. "Fine," she says. "But you brought me here. You're responsible for my safety."

"I already knew that."

"So where are we, exactly?" she asks looking around. I scan the area. We're standing in a small glade in the forest; I can see the road a short ways off through the woods. I check the sun and see it's roughly mid-morning. I figure we've been unconscious for at least three hours. I suddenly tense.

"This is the landing zone for the portal. The city of Andrus is a few miles away." I pause. In icy shiver runs up my spine. "Be quiet, something's wrong." As I tell her this, I slowly pull up my sleeves baring the rods strapped to my arms.