Sons of Ironstorm - Book 3: New Alliance

Portal

Even with the rain now roaring out of the darkened sky, Ri'im well into his night's rest behind the western horizon and Rimnor and the moons hidden behind dense cloud, Lawrence felt a tingling rush as, cloaked against the elements, he stepped across the ring's threshold and into the space within. So powerful was it, he actually paused to look from side to side, eyes wide. Indeed, was there power here, channeled and focused by the arcane properties of the massive stones now looming to either side of him. But would it be enough?

- I believe so, my wielder, - the avatar, silent since her revelation out on the Sea of Hydrai, finally spoke. Lawrence could hear the excitement in her voice. And why not? He was about to take the most significant single step in his quest to find her. He had to admit to a great deal of excitement himself, only his warrior's training allowing him to throttle it back enough that it didn't choke the action out of him.

- With the node's energies being magnified by the conjunction, I should be able to reach across the fabric of Reality and open a portal to the west coast of Reutha, within striking range of my resting place. -

Lawrence nodded his understanding, his excitement flaring to life once again to the point that he felt himself trembling. Thankfully his cloak was dense enough that it was hidden from Will, who was stepping into the ring behind him, and the druids already filling most of the empty space around the altar. Aine, however, holding his hand as she strode beside him, quickly gave him a curious look.

"Are you alright, my love?" she said as quietly as she could with the rain hissing all around them. At least they no longer were on the stone causeway that connected the ring mount with the keep; there the rain's rough rasp was loud enough to drown out normal speech. Here, with a dense layer of turf beneath their boots, the sound was swallowed just enough that she didn't have to shout to be heard.

Lawrence nodded in the depths of his heavy hood, giving Aine's hand a quick squeeze.

"Now that the moment is actually upon me, I admit to some trepidation," he husked, turning his head to flash her a quick smile. "Within moments a doorway to a part of the world I've never before seen, will open and my need will cause me to step through it. I can only imagine what I'll find on the other side."

"Whatever awaits you, my love, the Tobald Airna stand ready to help you," Aine replied with a gesture at the company of cloaked, heavily-armed soldiers crowding around the outside of the ring. The elite warriors, the heart of the king's personal guard, were often found in the vanguard of any battle and were hardened veterans of numerous campaigns, each and every one of them.

"I've made each man swear an oath to me personally that you will come to no harm."

"Aine, I'm very capable ..."

"Of getting yourself into tight situations?" the beautiful princess interrupted, eyebrow raised at Lawrence's hard tone. "Yes, I'm well aware of that, considering I was present for a few of them. And I'm aware of your abilities, Lord Ironstorm." Then the stubborn expression melted and Lawrence found himself getting lost in her big, green eyes, flung wide to drink him in.

"They're my insurance, love. I don't want ..." She hesitated. "I don't want a thing to happen to you. It would kill me." She leaned in close, taking hold of his cloak in both of her gloved hands.

"You will return without a hair on your head out of place, Lawrence. Do you hear me? Not one; I command it," she painfully husked against the sudden constriction in her throat as she stared up into his face.

The big prince stepped out of Aine's grip and bowed gracefully, holding his cloak with enough flourish to satisfy even the most vain of courtiers.

"Your wish is my heart's desire, my lady," he murmured. Then the avatar's quiet voice in his mind straightened him back up.