Chapter 4: Again?!

It's back to present times with this second trial Ryku faces.

            Once again, I face the Cryunsel. I am strapped into a wooden chair. My hands are chained to the floor behind the chair and my feet are strapped to its legs. My eyes hurt from the sudden light and I have a headache from working myself too much with all the Magyk I’ve done.

 

“Arch-Princess Ryku Sylvera. You have been brought before the Cryunsel, once again, on this 5^th day of June. You stand trial now for your crime of Escaping Trial and to continue your case in the Murder of the King and Queen. Firstly, we shall finish your first charge. You plead Innocent to the charge of Murder of the Royal Family. We have heard the testimonies of the witnesses and you have declared your position on the matter.” The woman announces.

 

“The Cryunsel will now retire to the Conference Room to discuss your stance. Should you be found guilty, a sentence will be found.” The man reports.

 

“Utique, Grand Cryunsel.” I bow my head slightly.

 

“On your feet, murderer!” Lieutenant Apyri commands, unlocking the bonds.

 

“I’ll take care of this, Lieutenant. You seem too eager to treat her as guilty.” Captain Grylun says calmly.

 

He uses a Binding spell on me and we walk out of the room. Under the fountain is a secret staircase to hold the accused until the trial is over. Five lonely stone cells are roughly carved into the mountain. I take in as much as I can. I used to sneak into the Courthouse when I was younger, but I stopped when I was being brought in nearly every day for misusing my Magyk. I know the Courthouse well enough, but I’m not familiar with the holding cells because my trials were never any longer than 3 hours. Captain Grylun takes me to the cell on the far end, parallel to the staircase.

 

“Please don’t make this harder for yourself, again. From the looks of it, you’re not going to get any easy punishment. Just behave yourself, okay?” He warns gently, giving my shoulders a light squeeze.

“Utique, Captain.” I reply meekly.

 

“You always were an adventurous spirit, just like your mother when she was younger.” He tells me through the cell bars, locking the door and dissipating the Bonding spell.

 

“But she’s not my real mother…” I mutter under my breath when he’s gone, dropping onto the bed. I bury my face in the pillow to hide the tears stinging my eyes when I hear a small whoosh next to me. I look up and to my right is Queen Yatrise. She’s hovering just above a portal.

 

“Mother!” I exclaim.

 

“Sweetheart! I’m so glad you’re okay! Now shh, shh. Quiet, my darling, else a guard hears.” She embraces me warmly and I relax in her Lavender scent. “Now, let’s away, shall we?” she asks, holding my shoulders at arm’s length.

 

“But I’ve tried. We’ll just end up in front of the Courthouse for all the guards to see! That’s how I was caught this time.” I start to tear up with the memory of the chase.

 

“It’s all right, sweetie. The people trust my Dark Magyks, so I’ve been practicing for the past 5 years. I can use portals to travel 500 feet! Don’t worry about your short distances, love. It’s impressive for someone with so little practice!”

 

“Thank you.” I smile, wiping my tears before they fall. “Wait… I hear someone coming. Quick, hide!”

 

            She drops into the portal, disappearing with a worried motherly smile, seconds before Lieutenant Apyri comes down the steps. Her guard boots click with each step and the sound echoes through the empty cells. She uses a Bonding spell on me, unlocks the door then starts up the stairs and back through the fountain. She doesn’t say anything.

 

“What’s going on? What’s happening? Where are you taking me? I demand to know!” I try to hide the choking fear screaming in my mind as I’m led back into the Courtroom.

 

“Just shut up.” She barks at me. The command is quiet, as if she’s trying to hide it, but has enough authority to silence me. I am led to the trial podium and she moves to stand behind it.

 

“Ryku Sylvera. You are brought before this Cryunsel once more. In deciding your fate for the Murder of the King and Queen, we have decided to hold your trial for Escaping Trial to help in this case.” The man declares.

 

“For the crime of Escaping Trial, what do you plead?” the woman asks.

 

“I plead guilty, Grand Cryunsel.” I hold the chains to keep them from rattling in my nervousness.

 

“The Cryunsel will now hear the witnesses’ testimonies. However, where is the Arch-Princess’ personal guardsman? He is a witness to this as well.” The man announces formally.

 

“Might I explain it, Grand Cryunsel?” I call out before Apyri has a chance to utter a sound.

 

“Arch-Princess? Are you testifying as a witness against yourself?” the woman wonders aloud.

 

“Not against myself, Grand Cryunsel, but as a witness. I shall be biased to none nor shall I lie. What I say now is naught but the truth.” I stand straighter and look straight at the Grand Cryunsel as I recite the Court Witness Oath.

 

“Well, then let your account be heard. The Grand Cryunsel acknowledges your testimony.” The woman declares and the man simply stands beside her, jaw gaping and staring, surprised.

 

“But she’s the Accused! She can’t stand as Witness! This is against the Law!” he stutters furiously.

 

“I don’t think so.” She says simply, pulling a book from the podium shelf. She flips through a few pages before she defiantly whispers “See? There is no Law against it!” and points to a page in the Aixedoc. “Continue.” She says to me.

“Utique. Thank you, Grand Cryunsel!” I reply, bowing very low in appreciation. She bows back slightly.

 

“My account is as follows. I awoke one night to a sound outside my bedroom. I saw a shadow pass by and ran to the King and Queen’s bedroom to warn them, but to no avail. A woman was standing at the foot of the bed, performing Death Magyk. I stood in shock for a moment before jumping on the woman. She threw me down and I was frozen in fright. She told me that she was my real mother and that the King and Queen were plotting my death. As my mother, she wanted to prevent that as I had already been taken from her once before, as an infant. She jumped out the window onto a cloud she had conjured and offered for me to join her. I stood at the window to jump down next to her when the Captain had grabbed me. In the blink of an eye, I was bound and she was gone. The Captain used Bonding and Silence spells on me, handed me to the Corporal, and walked out.

I was locked in the dungeon until the Royal funeral where I was the head of the procession. As tradition, I waited a week for that time and was left to mourn for an hour. However, I was considered a dangerous criminal and could not be left alone. As my personal guardsman, Apprentice Kyrin Anthos was left to guard me. In my grief I had fallen asleep and he carried me to my bedroom where Lieutenant Apyri ordered me to be locked in the lowest level of the dungeon. I stayed the night there, suffering through the Winter chill beneath tatters. I had caught a small cold, but I heal quickly and am fine now, though no commending to the Lieutenant.” I stop here to turn around and glare at her behind me. She simply looks away, ashamed that her cruelty is being announced to the Cryunsel.

“As you all saw, I then escaped during my trial the next morning. I used a portal to teleport outside the Courthouse. From there I ran through the forest until I stumbled upon Gryfik Manor. The Elite Squad quickly caught up and I was trapped there. During the fight, Captain Grylun was knocked unconscious and Lieutenant Apyri was blinded. I-”

 

“She used a Flash Barrier on me! I was blinded by her Gray Magyk!” Apyri shouts, interrupting me.

 

“Lieutenant, you will hold your tongue! Arch-Princess, is this true? Did you use Gray Magyk?” the woman reprimands her before turning to me.

 

“Utique, Grand Cryunsel. Twas in self-defense as the Lieutenant was aiming to kill myself and my Elite Guard. My only thought was to keep him safe from her fury.”

 

“Why were you protecting him?”

“He was beside me, aiding me. But he can’t do anything now, and he didn’t mean anything by it! He was just helping me, as is his job. And I saved him in return.”

 

“I see.” Was all she said, wise knowledge and understanding flickering behind her eyes, specked with curiosity at my vague reply. “Continue.”

 

“Utique. So yes, Lieutenant Apyri was blinded by my Flash Barrier, a new Gray Magyk spell of my own design. It simply uses Lite Magyk to protect the user and Dark Magyk to blind the attacker. There is no harm in it, as the blindness fades away after a minute. I let down the Barrier and began to walk into Gryfik Manor until the Lieutenant regained her sight. I used a Shadow Barrier to protect myself and Kyrin then opened a portal and pushed him through it. The Barrier broke and I closed the portal, locking Kyrin away. I know he is safe and taken care of, however.”

 

“How do you know this?” the man demands haughtily.

 

“I know this, Grand Cryunsel, because the place he is in is fortified by my own Gray Magyk. I used Blood Magyk spells to create powerful Lite Shields. As we all know, there is nothing stronger than Blood Magyk, except when combined with Lite.”

 

“So you admit to using Gray Magyk against the Elite Guards and using Blood Magyk to create the Gray barriers?”

 

“Utique, Grand Cryunsel.”

 

“That’s enough. Let her finish her account. Continue.” The woman remarks.

 

“Utique. Thank you, Grand Cryunsel. Once the Barrier fell I was knocked back. Lieutenant Apyri was standing above me, her gun pointed in my face. I closed the portal and, in the waning sunset light, saw a dagger behind her back. She pulled it out, but it fell from her hand. It fell into my right shoulder,” I touch my shoulder now, “and I looked behind her. Captain Grylun was holding his gun, pointed at the Lieutenant.

He said he would rather she lose her pride in not killing me than lose her hand. Then she tied me with a Bonding spell and we began our way back through the forest. After a while I collapsed. My right shoulder was bleeding profusely and I had a bullet wound in my left knee, from the fight. The Captain was kind enough to order her to heal me. He said we were to rest there for the night and continue in the morning. Only minutes later I fell through a Transport Portal and awoke here, tied to a chair. Then I was taken to the holding cell and now I am brought before you once again.”

 

“Thank you, Arch-Princess. The Cryunsel will now retire to make a decision.” The woman says plainly. I am taken back to the holding cell. Captain Grylun hugs me quickly before he locks the door and walks away. Once more, I am alone in the stone room. My heart skips a beat as a portal opens on the floor and Queen Yatrise jumps out, landing stealthily next to it.

 

“Mother!” I jump up and hug her.

 

“Oh, my dear daughter! How did things go? Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?” she says, turning my arms around.

 

“No, no. I’m fine. The Cryunsel is making their decision right now. I fear it may not be in my favor, but I wish to see it through.”

 

“But darling, we can leave now! You’ll be safe and we won’t have to worry about this anymore! Are you sure?” she frets.

 

“I’m sure. As Arch-Princess, I will be strong and proud to the last second before I run away. I will not be remembered as a coward or even forgotten in history. I will stand tall in this time of hardship.” I say this proudly, sitting straighter and raising my head.

 

“Spoken like a true Royal! I will let you do this, but should anything go wrong…”

 

“I will accept any help you offer, without resistance.” I assure her.

 

“Okay. Please be safe, my daughter. I will not lose you again. I love you, sweetie!” she says, holding my head and kissing my forehead.

 

“I will come back to you.” I promise, hugging her. She leaves back through the portal and I am alone once again. I know it’s Forbidden, but I use a Hearing Rune to listen to the Cryunsel’s conference.

 

“…dangerous. She can’t be trusted!” a man’s voice rings out.

 

“Utique, Grand Cryunsel. She should be guarded at all times! We should send the Captain or Lieutenant to her cell immediately!” a woman’s voice agrees.

 

“Sir Gryh, tell the Captain to guard her cell. She could use a portal at any time! Quick, quick! Go!” the man rushes.

 

“Halt!” a woman’s voice commands. I know this to be the Grand Cryunselwoman’s voice. “She’s been cooperative this entire time! She used a portal to escape under extreme pressure. She’s just a girl! The fight at Gryfik Manor was in self-defense. Her parents were murdered, she was accused and held for it, and she now has to face trial the day after their burial. Not to mention that she’s found out, from a mystery woman, that she’s not of this Rolyk. She’s been teased and shunned since birth because of how she looks. It’s not her fault her mother abandoned her and her foster parents never trusted her!”

 

They know! They’ve known all along! Those monsters!  I think angrily. I draw a Speaking Rune on the wall with my finger so the Cryunsel can hear my thoughts.

 

How dare you all! You’ve lied to me since birth and you’ve known that the King and Queen wanted me dead. I have proven my goodness and innocence for all my life and you hide my true self from me! How dare you all! Grand Cryunselwoman, you have been kind and fair and patient with my case. May the gods bless you. As for you, Grand Cryunselman, you have been just as quick and sure of my guilt as Lieutenant Apyri. Your job in this Cryunsel is to see that all trials are fair and unbiased, despite your own thoughts of the case. You swore an oath of justice only to break it soon after! May the gods deliver your just punishment!

 

 I continue to use the Hearing Rune to listen to the chaos that happens after.

“Oh, by that girl, we’re all going to die! May the gods protect us!” the Grand Cryunselman prays.

 

“Think, you ignorant man! She’s a 16 year old girl who’s had more struggles in the past week than you have had in a year! She’s the strongest Magykier since the Dark Ages and she’s just found out we’ve lied about her whole life! She’s upset and you’re just making it worse! For all we know, she may still be using a Hearing Rune. Look, since you all are a bunch of jelly-livered cowards who are ignorant of her feelings, I will go talk to her!” the Grand Cryunselwoman rages.

 

I hear the door slam behind her and break the Hearing Rune. I don’t need it to hear her stomp furiously away. I hear faint whispers above the steps and her steps soften as she gracefully descends down the stairs in the fountain. She still wears her white Grand Cryunsel cloak but she’s taken off her mask. She unlocks the cell door and steps inside. No guards follow her so I assume she told them to stay back. She peers at me through the bars of the cell, her green eyes glittering like a field in Spring. Shoulder length light brown hair has spilled from her hood, now pulled down from her head.

 

“Oh, you poor child! I’m so sorry this has happened to you!” she coos.

 

“I heard what you said. That was very kind of you, thank you!”

 

“It’s no problem. That’s how I truly feel.” She unlocks the door, without a key, and steps inside the cell. It closes behind her. “I wonder why you aren’t running away. You can use Runes and Forbidden Magyk. Why not escape and never see the likes of this trouble again?”

 

“I will stand tall and proud as Arch-Princess. I will be strong for my people and prove the might of the Sylvera Royals.”

 

“Spoken wise and true. You would make a great Queen someday, should you see this through.”

 

“Thank you. I just hope I can leave this Courthouse triumphant.”

“Perhaps you can. You can leave without the shame of being accused for murdering the Royal family and running like a coward. I will see to it that you leave,” she pulls a gleaming dagger from her robe sleeve, “this whole life!” and she surges forward like river banks during the Spring floods.

 

I duck, uttering small screech, and use a portal to teleport away. This time I teleport to the side of the Courthouse rather than in front. I hear a shuffle of guards as they rush out the door. I faintly see them running towards Gryfik Manor. I start that way before I’m stopped by the sound of a portal opening.

 

“Sweetie! You’re okay! But why are you out here? Is something wrong?” her purple eyes are wide with worry.

 

“I’m fine, but the Grand Cryunselwoman just tried to kill me. Now I must get to Gryfik Manor! Kyrin’s locked in a safe room there. Please help me!” I cry, hugging her tightly.

 

“Of course, sweetie! Anything I can to help my precious daughter! Come, let’s use my portal.” She agrees, throwing one on the ground a foot from us. We jump into it and reappear just inside the walls of the courtyard. As soon as my feet hit the ground I run. I run towards the front door, touch it, and it opens. My Blood Magyk spells are still working. Queen Yatrise manages to get inside before the heavy iron doors close on her, but I don’t focus on that.

 

I must get to Kyrin! Wait! Why am I running when I can use a portal? I think, throwing one down and running into it. I land back outside, just within the courtyard walls. Again? No, I can’t use portals within the spells! I am about to run again when Queen Yatrise lands beside me, thrown out of a portal in the wall.

 

“What’s happened? Why are we back out here?” she asks, bewildered.

 

“I forgot. We can’t use spells or portals within the walls. Spells will back-fire and take you outside these walls while any portal you make will take you back here. Now, come! Hurry! I must get to Kyrin before they do!” I panic, jabbing a finger in the direction of the forest. A giant horde of guards is racing to the walls. They’re almost inside when the first of them runs into an invisible barrier.

 

“Quickly, go! There’s only so much I can do to hold them!” Queen Yatrise warns, crouched out of sight behind a bush along the wall.

 

“Thank you, so much!” I say before racing back to the manor. I open the doors once more and race down the stairs. Beyond that, I continue down a secret hall in the library. It slopes steeply before coming to a dead end. I push a button at the bottom of the wall and it opens another secret staircase. At the bottom I push a button that opens into a small hallway.

 

Finally! By the gods, Kyru loved her winding secrets! I think to myself, gasping for breath.

 

I open the door at the end of it and see Kyrin. He’s lying in bed but jolts upright when he sees me. Breathless, I run towards him and hug him. He hugs me back and doesn’t let go.

 

“Ryku! Thank the gods you’re alive! What happened? Are you okay? Please tell me you’re okay!”

 

“Yes, yes I’m fine. Apyri shattered my Shadow Barrier. I closed the portal so you would be safe here. Then I was caught and taken back for trial. The Grand Cryunselwoman tried to kill me, but I teleported away and now I’m here. Now, hurry! Mother’s waiting!” I say, grabbing his hand and pulling him back through the manor.

 

“Mother? But you’re mother’s dead.” His green eyes are intense with worry and confusion. Behind that, though, is great relief.

 

“It’s a long story, but simply put I’m not of this Rolyk. I’m not Krytonian. I’m Tyrilican. Queen Yatrise is my mother. It’s how I can do Forbidden Magyks and why I look the way I do.” I say, opening the secret door to the library. He stays quiet as I drag him behind me through the manor.

 

“Look, I know it’s a lot to take in, but trust me. You’ll get over it. I found out, all in one week, that my whole life has been a lie and everyone knew it. It’s not been too easy, but Mother’s helping me. We’ll be safe with her. But we have to get outside the walls. My spells were designed so that no one can use Magyk within them. Hurry! Let’s go!” I push open the front door and rush to Yatrise’s side.

 

“Mother! I got him! Come on, let’s go!” I begin running towards a wall and climb up. I sit on top of it and wait as Kyrin and Mother climb up as well before whispering “Querere” and throwing a Portal just beneath us. “Quick! Before the guards jump in it!” I whisper, nudging Kyrin and Mother.

 

            Mother jumps first, disappearing into the swirling purple with a faint whoosh, like wind through Winter leaves. Kyrin hesitates. I know he’s remembering the last time he jumped in a portal without me.

 

“I know what you’re thinking, but I’ll jump in right after you. I promise I’ll meet you on the other side! And… I’m sorry.”

 

“Sorry? For what?” his look is one of confusion and worry.

 

“This.” I say simply, pushing him in. I jump right after, feeling a faint wind on my back. One of the guards nearly catches me, but I escape just in time.

 

I jump in the portal and begin tumbling. However, instead of spiraling like other times I am more in control, only doing a few somersaults. I race toward the opening, no bigger than a small pebble, and jump into the only light in the Portalworld. I am thrown 10 feet in the air but I land as graceful as a cat. I crouch for a moment to recover.

 

“What? Is something wrong?” I stand up. I am a head shorter than Kyrin but a finger’s length taller than Mother. They were talking but grew silent when I appeared.

 

“Umm… there’s only a small problem.” Mother begins.

 

“What? Are we in the Courthouse? Please say we’re not in the Courthouse!” I close my eyes and grab small handfuls of my black dress in my fists.

 

“No. We’re not in the Courthouse, but I don’t think we’re even on Panayajaka anymore.” Kyrin says vaguely.

 

“What? Then where…” I open my eyes and look around. Giant stone towers pierce the sky, their gray sides broken by rows upon rows of windows.

 

            We are standing in a small walkway between two of these buildings. In front of us is a brick wall as tall as Kyrin. I look behind me and see a strange web an arm’s length higher. I walk towards it, ignoring Mother and Kyrin’s warnings, and touch it. I jerk my hand back. It’s cold and metallic.

 

“Ryku! Are you okay? Did it hurt you?” Mother runs a few steps toward me. She grasps my hand firmly but gently and stares at it.

 

“I’m okay. It’s some kind of metal. Perhaps it’s meant to be a barrier?”

 

“Perhaps. This land is strange. Why have towers so high and make barriers? Don’t the people here know of any Protection Spells?” Kyrin asks, looking very lost and confused and frustrated. His voice drips with agitation.

 

Poor Kyrin! I think to myself. He’s never been good with new places! He’s always cautious because he doesn’t know where people may be hiding. I smile giddily. He’s so protective!

 

“We should keep moving before someone has the chance to track us. I don’t like not knowing where secret spots are. It’s not safe!” he pouts.

 

Awww! He’s so cute when he’s lost! I laugh in my head but a faint chuckle escapes my throat.

 

“What? What’s so funny?” he demands. He’s very nervous and on edge.

 

“Nothing, nothing.” I wave him off with my hand.

 

“Come on! Tell me!” he starts towards me, hands up like claws. “I know your tickle spots! Don’t make me use them!”

 

“I’ll never tell!” I give a happy shriek and run past him. I jump on a strange metal can and clear the brick wall despite my dress. I land on the other side, not paying attention, and hear a horrible noise!

            I stop running and look around. There are brightly flashing signs everywhere in the waning sunset fire-like light but they are in a foreign language. People in strange clothes are walking along the… what is this? I’m standing on a wide black river that seems to be frozen. Strange metal things are stopped. Their cold, lifeless yellow eyes stare at me as I gaze around in wonder. People walk along the black river on stone paths on each side. They stop to stare at me. Some people even climb out of the metal monsters, shouting at me.

 

I hear a loud buzzing noise and look for its source but see nothing. The people are waving at me. I wave back but they get angrier. One of the monsters roars and creeps closer to me. I’m in such shock I can’t move. I feel a slight tugging on the back of my dress and am suddenly dropped on the ground. I know it’s not Kyrin. These hands, their roughness; it isn’t him. I sit there, stunned for a while. The monsters file after each other in lines along the black river. Kyrin carries me over the wall and sits me on a broken couch. It feels rough yet fuzzy.

 

“Ryku? Ryku, are you okay? Please, speak to me! Say something!” his green eyes are full of worry.

 

“Something.” I whisper and smile quietly, looking up at him. He laughs nervously and sits to my left.

 

“There… there was a frozen black river, and metal monsters were crawling on it. They roared and buzzed at me and there were people who were climbing out of them. I think those monsters are dangerous. I think they eat people, Ky!” I fret. I see myself reflected in his eyes. My eyes are majestic purple moons and my black hair is scattered about my face. It hangs limply to my waist and he brushes a loose strand out of my eyes.

 

“It’s okay. We’re back in this… hallway… and we’re safer here than out there.” Mother sits on my right side and hugs me close, stroking my hair.

 

“I saw girls in strange shirts that exposed their bellies and weird bottoms that showed all their legs! Some of them had strange marks and some wore stones in their ears. Some even had half their hair missing!” I drew my knees to my chest. “I didn’t see any horses or carriages. And there were signs everywhere in a different language! I don’t know what any of them said or meant! It’s scary out there! I’m scared!” I close my eyes to hide the tears but feel them roll down my cheeks anyways.

 

            I can almost see Kyrin reaching to wipe them with his Guardsman coat, like he always did when we were kids, and Mother holding me close, never letting me go.

 

“Las Vegas.” A voice says, and a boy steps from the shadows.