Falling Through Portals

Pirate's Life for Me

Chapter 9

If he had been at home, the fall would have been very short and climaxed with a Percy on the pavement. But as magic thrummed through his veins and the air was sticky with humidity he was able to slow the fall.

Gravity grabbed him at every angle and pulled him towards death. The magic ran through him and a big grin spread across his face as the water in the air slowed his decent. He let it coil around him as he made his way to the ground. All of the water in the air rushed to his command, slowing him so that the moment he touched the ground Percy broke into a run. He sprinted through gardens.

Percy looked over his shoulder. A platoon of guards dressed in black armor were trailing him. He put on a burst of speed and ran for the wall at the end of the gardens. When he finally made it to the wall he jumped. There was a tug in his gut as a burst of magic launched himself over the walls and into the forest beyond.

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His mouth was dry and his legs were jelly but he kept running. Percy dogged this way and that, taking turns to keep his path from being straight. He had to put as much distance between himself and the palace as he could.

When his legs threatened to give out, he slowed and looked around for a spot to rest. The tall trees did little for protection. There wasn't enough shrubbery to hide himself, so he kept moving at a slow jog. After another thirty minutes he eventually decided to walk.

The midmorning became warmer as the noon sun came out. The mists and dew began turning to steam.

With his hands resting on his hips he sucked in the fresh air. He could really go for a glass of water. Percy looked up at the sky through the leaves. It was almost eerie how closely these trees resembled the forest outside of Morgana's fortress.

The crunch of footsteps drew his attention back to the path in front of him. A woman in a white hunting suit appeared from around the next bend. She was looking behind her, completely oblivious to his presence. Percy stopped and blinked in surprise just before she plowed into him.

Percy was thrown to the ground and she landed on top of him. She gasped quickly crawled off of him.

"Wh-" Percy started to say but she held a finger to her lips.

Percy heard guards in the distance.

His eyes widened. Once they had both calmed down she motioned for him to follow her. Percy nodded and ran low as he followed her around a fallen tree. It was held up by another log leaving a space between the grounds. The woman slid underneath the log. Percy looked back and forth. He heard the sound of the guards and saw one of their decorative helmets between some trees. Without another thought he dove under the tree.

The ground had been burrowed into so that it was a good four feet deep. Both of them could lean their backs against the walls comfortably while they caught their breath. The top was covered in foliage and dead branches.

"Are you sure they can't see us?" Percy whispered.

The woman flashed him a smile, "Definitely, I have used this place many times."

The guards got closer and they waited in silence for their heavy foot falls to pass. Percy's heart raced even after the forest was back in silence.

He let out a sigh of relief. The woman laughed.

"That was close," Percy laughed.

"You said it," she agreed.

"Do you think it is safe?" Percy asked. She nodded and crawled back into the noon air. Percy followed. She was brushing the dirt off of her hunting suit when Percy joined her. "Thanks for saving me back there," Percy said.