Kingdom of the Nine: The Princes (II)

Chapter 9

Northern Sea, Valoria, Naurus

We crash through the ice and sink down into the sea below. As we sink we are pulled apart from the anchor. I push myself upward to the surface and gasp for air.

"Dominic!?" I shout as I swim towards shore to get a better look. Then out of the ice, I see his head emerge.

"Holy shit!" He exclaims. "That was the best thing I have ever done!"

We both began to laugh as he swims to the shore to meet me.

"Where are we Red, I know the northern sea but, like where exactly?"

I sit down and reach for my map but it falls apart in my hands. "Shit! Well... I'd say we are northwest of the Northern Planes but I can't confirm that."

He shakes his head. "It's fine."

I stood up in panic. "Where is the paper, the one Muthos gave us?"

Dominic reaches into his bag and pulls it out as it disintegrates in his hands.

"You have got to be kidding. Damnit! That trip was for nothing! We didn't even kill the son of a bitch!"

He shakes his head. "Red, it's okay we've got another chance at this."

I shake my head. "What chance? What are you talking about?"

"I know someone else. His name is Ogre, I think he could help us find a way to Amerei."

I nod. "Okay, then we are going there, now!"

He looks shocked. "Woah calm down, don't stress. We are close. Ogre, he's like an oracle. Honestly we should have just gone to him first but, I guess I figured you knew what you were talking about when you said Muthos probably had her."

"I told you a beast attacked my home!" I shout.

"Yeah but you were hunting vampires, void powder only takes you to The Shores. I don't know I assumed... it doesn't matter now does it?" He stands and brushes the sand off of himself. "We're going to get her back."

I nod. "I know, just... how do we get to Ogre?"

"Let's get back to the tree house. I've got something there that can help."

-

Dominik's Treehouse, North Valoria

———Domnik———
He walks ahead of me towards the tree house, he was quiet most of the walk home. I'm guessing he's just upset because of how close we were. He's getting discouraged. If anyone knows how to get to Amerei, it's Ogre.

I follow him up the ladder and open the door to the house. "I've got the location of Ogre in here. I'll get it." He follows me inside as I start rummaging through my book shelves. The my hand lands on the book. "Alright, the Orge's Lair is in the Planes of Sorrow."

He nods. "How many times have you been there?"

I shake my head. "Never, I've heard stories from Galagon but, I've never been."

He looks around frantically. "What do you mean you've never been? How do you know that this guy can get us what we need? How can we trust him?"

I close the book and place it back on the shelf. "Red, we can trust him, partially. That's the thing, if we do this... look, Ogre knows stuff... anything you want or need, he will help you. But there is always a catch, a price. The more you ask, the more debt builds up until he's had enough. You ask too much without paying the price and he takes your life. All I can say Red, is if we do this. It gets risky, far more risky than it's already been but it's worth it, to get your sister back. I promised you I'd help you if you helped me. So now I owe it to you to keep that promise."