Seven Kingdoms




A person in royal robes, tall, brown skinned and handsome in features was pacing to and fro restlessly, each time he passed the huge door in front of him, he pressed his ears over the door to hear something.

“Be patient, my lord. Everything will be well.” One of the persons approached him. The king nodded merely, He pricked his ears once again to hear any sounds. At last the time has come for which he had been waiting for years and years, a little infant’s cry was heard over from the walls behind the huge door. The king’s face at once lit with joy, he hugged his royal supporter, his friend. He heard another cry now, this one was different; it was like the little girl was announcing her birth to the whole world. The king pushed open the doors and hurriedly walked to the queen’s bed side.

He kissed on the forehead of the queen and congratulated her for giving birth to twins. Next to her lying were the most beautiful babies that anyone had ever seen. The king picked up the first born baby and kissed her gently and she has her mother eyes; dull brown. He carefully placed her beside her mother, he picked up the next born and cradled her in his arms, she opened her tiny little eyes; king was shocked at once to see her glassy blue eyes that radiated power and knowledge. He stumbled as he realized who she was. The royal supporter caught her before she fell from the king’s arms. The baby started crying and her mother hushed her, cradling in her arms. She noticed her eyes and was visibly shock but due to her natural instincts as a mother, she didn’t let the baby feel the worry. The king collapsed on to the bed, the royal supporter who is another brown skinned, moved towards him slowly and examined the child. True to their suspicions, the child bore the mark and her glassy eyes proved it.

“What do we do?” the royal supporter thought out loud. “Why should it be my child? After all these years god smiled upon me with two cute baby girls and one of them turns out to be…” the queen cried clutching her baby girl.

“She is my child. I will not let the destiny play with her. “The king said determined. Do you have a plan my lord?” “Yes…yes… Announce that the queen has given birth to a beautiful baby girl.” He said. “Do you mean to hide her birth from others?” the royal supporter asked.


One week passed by…people of Andalasia celebrated the birth of their princess. None ever knew about the other little girl except for the maid who attended the delivery of queen, the king and the royal supporter. The queen hushed the maid by giving loads of money.

“My lord you can’t keep this secret forever, one day or the other someone will see her and know who she is.” The royal supporter said tentatively.

The king nodded solemnly. “She has to live in a place where people know nothing about the destroyer. Far away from these seven kingdoms…” the king thought out loud.

“If I may…” “Yes…” the king looked at him grimly. “I think the other world will be a safe place for her. “He said.

The king glared at him but soon he knew what he said was right. “Prepare for her journey and I want none involved in this.” He commanded and left to the queen’s chamber with his rob trailing the floor.

The queen sobbed into his chest when she heard his plan but she knew that at least she would be safe somewhere else. She put a chain of aquamarine pendent around her neck and kissed her goodbye. She fell on her bed crying as her little baby girl went away from her.

Only the king and his royal supporter went to see her departure. They traveled through the “Great Arch” into the other world and left the little girl on a shore, well tucked in a basket. They waited hidden behind the bushes until a couple in mid 30’s found her. The woman was excited to see the girl, she at once accepted her as her own girl.


Far in the Euranda, a meeting was going on. The spokesperson of the meeting stood up, “we have seen the signs of the birth of the destroyer. We have yet to know where she is born and try to kill her before she comes of age and makes her choice. I want a team of experts to trace her out.” One team lead by Lorenzo was given the task of finding the little girl.

Every kingdom has seen the signs and feared internally and hence sent their own teams to find her. Andalasian kingdom has sent a team too; the king gave orders to bring the girl safely to him if at all anyone finds her. His army was confused about the king’s strategy but still they agreed to bring the girl safely.

When her wife asked about it, “I’m sure they wouldn’t know where she is, if by bitter chances they find her, they will bring her alive to us. Then we can think of other strategies to protect her.” “If we don’t send a team, the other kingdom does will get suspicious of our motives…” he added.


AFTER 12 YEARS


Lorenzo dragged an old lady into king’s hall. The king of Euranda stood frowning. The old lady begged for mercy and she said that she would give away the truth if she is left alive.

Lorenzo is a man of cruelness, he liked to display his battle scars on his face proudly. He even boasted that the scars gave him fierce look in the battle. He was tall, bulky and his face was full of scars, people even doubted that he himself carved that scars on his face to make him look fierce.

Lorenzo pulled up the old woman on her legs by pulling her hair. “Say it,” he said pushing her towards the king’s feet.

The old woman in her shaking voice gave the details of the birth of the glassy eyed daughter of the king of Andalasia, She also said that she was sent away to the other world. The king stood silent for a few moments.

“Take as many men as you like but I want the girl as soon as possible. Say you are on an official business to the portal keeper.” He commanded.

“Lock up this lady in the dungeon.” He commanded the other soldiers. They dragged her away while she kicked and cursed them.


Back in Andalasia, a soldier was running towards the king’s chamber. He knocked on the door waiting breathless.

“My lord we heard strange news that Eurnada king has sent a team of his people to the other world, his motive not yet known but we think it has something to do with the destroyer.” He said taking a few short breaths.

The king collapsed on to the floor. The knight helped him up and sat him on the chair. “I need to talk to you alone…” he ordered. The other people in the chamber left away. Only the king’s friend, the royal supporter stayed in. The king explained everything about the birth of her daughter to when he gave away her to humans. The knight listened to him intently.

“I need your help, now. Please save my child from them. I can give you the exact co-ordinates where I left her. Please, I can’t bear to lose her. Save my child…” He broke up into tears.

The knight had never seen his king like that. He promised to take care of her and bring her back safely.
“Take you elder son with you, Brandon. He would be a helping hand; this task is to be done secretly. We will tell your soldiers that you are sent on another important task.” The royal supporter added.

The knight nodded and took leave of the king and lord Calder. He knew why Calder had asked him to take his eldest son, he was a tough guy, he was only fifteen but still he could defeat ten members single hand in war.


AFTER 3 YEARS
Lis woke up startled as the alarm went on, it was 7.30 and she was going to be late if she won’t hurry up. She stretched herself to jerk off her laziness. She cleaned herself up in 15 min and wore casual jeans and shirt. Lis was not a typical a teenage girl, she never took time to stand by the mirror or to consider what to wear. For her age, she knew her responsibilities well; she took care of her parents and worked at their shop soon after her return.

Lis knew that they were not her biological parents but still she loved them so much, the old couple loved their little girl and truly believed that she is their little angel sent by god himself.

“Your breakfast is on the table…”She called to her parents and hurried outside where her only friend Anna was waiting in her car.

“Good morning…Miss. Lisa…”Brandon called from the neighboring house working on his fence.

“Good morning…Mr. Brandon…”Lis replied cheerfully giving her best smiles. Chad walked out just in time to wave at Lisa.

“You know you are magnet for hot guys…” Anna said laughing. Lis smiled at her.

“What about the weekend plan?” Anna asked still driving. “I have to arrange for the annual dinner of our shop…” Lis said strapping her belt. Anna revved up the engine… “Do you need any help?”Anna asked putting on their favorite tunes.
“It would be great…”Lis replied.

Lis was a cheerful person but her eerie beauty earned her no friend, though people admired her they did that from distance, Anna was the only person who seemed to not mind about her weird looks because she is kind of geek here, so as they say loners attract these two became good friends.

“When should I come?”Anna passed a slip as the Ms. Matthews began to brag about some history. “Why don’t you stay over?” Lis wrote back. “Ok…Are those hot neighbors of yours coming?” Anna wrote back. “I think so, I invited them…”

Anna quickly shoved the slip into her book and pretended to scribble the running notes. Lis held her head down and laughed at her.

They finished school and rode back to home excited about the weekend. “I had some quick things to do…I’ll be back.”Anna replied as she dropped Lis at home.

Lis was greeted by her mother who was sitting on the sofa watching some news. “Hi…Mom.”She called. “Hi…Little angel. How was your day?” “Good…Mom. Have you taken your medicines?” Her mother nodded. Lis’s mother was bed ridden by some serious illness last year since then she never walked.

“Do you want anything mom?”She called from kitchen grabbing a bit from the sandwich. “No…”

Lis took a quick shower and waited for her dad to come since it’s a weekend he would be home soon. Lis sat by the stairs waiting for him to come…It’s past nine and yet there is no trace of him. She waited another 10 minutes and decided to go after him to see what’s holding him up.

“I’ll go find… dad.” I said. “Will you be alright?”She was clearly worried about her dad, he was never late even if he did he would call home. This worried her mom too.

“Don’t go alone…Ask Mr. Brandon to accompany you…” “Mom…That’s not necessary…” she cut her off. “You know how there were many attacks these days…Please do it for your mom’s sake…” she pleaded.

“Okay…Keep the doors locked…”She said. She rushed to Mr. Brandon’s house where the father and son were watching a match.

“Mr. Brandon…” “Miss. Lisa what happened? Is everything okay?” Mr. Brandon rushed to her as soon as he saw her.

Lis gave a quick detail of what happened. “Don’t worry…I’m sure. He must be having some work…”He tried to convince her however Lis seemed complacent.

“Chad…Go with the lady and I’ll be in carter’s house...” Brandon said. Lis nodded and hurried to the garage where Chad was already taking his bike out.

“Thanks…”She mumbled. Chad drove in full speed as they neared the shop they saw smoke coming from the shop. Lis jumped from the bike and fell down on her knees; she stood up and rushed towards the shop. Fire person’s held her down, Lis was shouting with all her might.

Chad knew who did this and he also knew that these people had no idea that it will take all the time to put the scorching flames down. He knew once the flames are set they would do what they were created for and In this case it is burning the whole place without leaving any trace of them. He also knew that Mr. Carter is dead lying in the shop floor but he had to bring the body out at least for Lis’s sake.

He rushed in through the back door, the flames danced in rage as if they knew that their enemy was in. They formed circles around him trapping from moving. Chad took a deep breath; he drew an invisible circle around his body and finished it by saying “By the powers of moon and the mother of witches.” The flames seemed to retract away barely making space for his body; they danced around his body trying to break through the invisible force that is around him. They hissed at him angrily as he walked in. Chad ran to the counter of the shop where Mr. Carter usually sits.

His eyes closed involuntarily as he took the scene in front of him, Mr. Carter was lying there on the floor as the flames consumed him, his face was scorched and his skin was peeling off, the clothes he wore were just rags now. He couldn’t help but flinch at the sight. He bent down to and shakily held his hands.

Chad had listened over the years about the stories of how the fire fighters, the people of Eurnada were brutal, He was told that they killed mercilessly but now he had seen it with his own eyes. He was never ready to face this…a silent tear dropped down his cheeks as a smiling Mr. Carter’s image passed through his mind.

“Will Lisa be able to face this? May be this image would haunt her for the rest of the life…” He considered what to do and decided that he shouldn’t show her. He picked up his body thinking that he at least deserved a proper burial.

Lisa was fighting hard with the fire men; they pulled her back every time she made it to the door of the shop. The fire was sizzling with fury as they tried to put it down.

“My father is in there…”She shouted over the crowd crying. One of them tried to get in and there was a sudden blast of fire and he was sent flying back on to the ground. It was like the fire didn’t want anyone to step in. The fire men stopped trying to enter after a few attempts, each time they tried, Boom! And they were flying over the ground.

Lis made her way back to the crowd and then to the back door, she tried to step in but the fire hissed at her. Tears trickled in her eyes, she pleaded the fire to let her in, and she knew she was going mad taking to a fire but she felt helpless of doing nothing.

She fell on the ground sobbing, when she heard the door creaking, she raised her gaze expecting the door to open and her father stepping out but she was completely shocked to see Chad coming out.

He stood frozen when he saw her. Lis’s gaze darted to the body that Chad was carrying. Her eyes went wide.

“Please…don’t say that’s my dad…”She cried. Chad didn’t know what to say, He carefully laid Mr. Carter’s body in front of her crying daughter.

She stood still; she couldn’t believe this happened to him. He was old gentle man, he never harmed anyone. Lis remembered his good bye kiss in the morning. Tears ran like an unstoppable stream from her eyes.

What would she say to mom? Can she cope up? She cried. She crumpled on to the floor crying. Chad dug a grave behind the grocery store. He took his body into his arms, Lis never took away her eyes from the body even when it was taken away, and she stared at the empty ground where her dad’s body was laid.

“Lis…We need to give a proper burial to Mr. Carter.” Lis could hear his voice but couldn’t make herself to say anything. She just stared at him. Chad could see that Lis was devastated by her dad’s dead but there were things that shouldn’t be delayed or else it would cost another life.

He helped her to stand up and walked to her dad’s grave. He poured her handful of sand, she still didn’t react. “Lis…” Lis felt empty, she couldn’t feel or hear anything, and she is void of every emotion.

Chad took her hands into his and threw the mud over her father’s body, He let sit and covered up the grave. “Let this soul rest in peace…by the powers of moon and mother of witches...” by the time he finished Anna came running towards them.

She was panting for breath. “Mr.….Brandon… he… said you should take away Lis…. And keep her safe…”

“What happened…?” Chad was trying to calm Anna down. She shoved his hands away. “We need to go…”Was all she could manage.

“Lis…Get up…”Chad pleaded her but she still stared at her dad’s grave. “Lis…” Chad was beyond furious this time, he couldn’t waste anymore time, He scooped her up and ran through the back alley. Anna lead them to the next street where she parked her car.
Chad threw Lis into the back seat; Lis hit the car door but didn’t make any noise. “Watch out…you idiot…”Anna grumbled.

“Drive…”Chad shouted as he sat next to Anna. Anna revved up the engine; “Just make sure that we are not being followed…”Was all he said.

Anna made as many possible turns as she could, she soon lost track of where she was going. “Where do we go?” She asked after hours of driving. “Just keep driving…”Chad said. He checked his map and sure enough there is a portal to the west of their course.

“What was that…?”Anna asked eying the old sheet. “Map…”He mumbled still focusing on the direction.
Anna peeped at the map…It was a regular map but the markings were different and the names were really weird. “What kind of map is that?” She scowled. “Just keep driving…”He replied hoarsely.

They travelled for a while. “Stop here…” Chad said. “What…? Are we going to hide in a forest…?” Anna shouted.

Chad got down without replying. Anna was clearly irritated by his attitude; Chad knew that there was no time for explaining things to them so he chose not to tell until they are safe in their world.

Anna helped Lis down the car. They tagged along with Chad. “Chad…I can’t walk anymore…please…”Anna requested.

Chad nodded and the girls sat down. “Lis…I think it’s not bad to cry. You don’t have to act like a big girl…It’s not wrong to cry…Cry yourself out until you are sure that there are no tears left…” Anna said gently squeezing her hands.

Lis… could all the restrain she felt breaking out…She cried out hiding her head in Anna’s laps. Anna whispered soothingly to her. Chad felt thankful for the first time to Anna for being here.

They waited until Lis’s sobs died down. Lis really felt good after crying out herself, it no longer pained the way as it did before but still a part of her wanted it all to be a dream.“We can’t waste our time sitting here anymore…”Chad said. He turned towards Anna who was staring at him, this was the difficult part.

“Anna…I think you should go back now…” he mumbled. “What…?”Anna shouted. “I think it’s not safe for you to be with us…” “I’m not leaving Lis alone with you… I don’t trust you…”She shouted at him.

“I wouldn’t think of harming Lis…”He pouted. “It’s not a good place for you…”he said. “If it isn’t a good place for me than I’m sure it won’t be good for Lis too…”

Chad knew that she won’t leave her behind and there was no time for arguing. He reluctantly showed them the way…

The girls were debating about the situation, Lis wanted Anna to go back and she fully believed when Chad said that it’s not good for her. Anna remained stubborn saying that she didn’t want to leave her alone with an untrustworthy guy.

“I, Chad, and the son of Brandon fourth, the knight of Andalasian kingdom requests the passage to my world…”he said those words out loud.

“What are you doing…? Have you gone mad…?”Anna asked. Lis was staring at him; she doubted that Chad had lost his mind.

He ignored their snide comments. “Are you sure you want to come…Once you enter there is no going back…Don’t say I didn’t warn you…” Anna just nodded. Chad took both their hands together. Lis seriously doubted her judgment about Chad, She freaked out at his odd behavior.

Chad took a few steps ahead his hands holding theirs. “Are you ready?”He asked them. They nodded meekly.

There was a faint pull and then they were inside blue waves, the pull grew strong and the wind tried to rip Chad’s grip on them.

“Don’t… le…a..ve… my… ha…nds…” he said the words were pronounced with long syllables.

Then everything went suddenly calm and we fall stumbling down on the wet, moist grass. Lis took in the wet scent of the ground, surprisingly it lifted her mood. She staggered for a while to stand; when she did she couldn’t take her eyes away from the scenery before her.

Everything around her looked like perfect scenery, a vast stretch of green grass, she moved further ahead, there were standing at a peek point, the meadow now slid down and at the foot of the slide, huge trees formed, and they added color to the green background. They canopy of each tree covered a huge area. “Wow!” Lis exclaimed.

“Where are we?” She asked not taking her eyes away from the scenery. “Afrolia…one of the seven kingdoms…” Chad replied.

“What…?”Lis frowned. “We are in land of seven kingdoms, princess…” That took a while for Lis to process. “Is this in another continent…?” she mumbled. “No…It’s another world…parallel world to yours you may say…”he said smiling. “Are you kidding me?”She asked.

Impressum

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 05.01.2011

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Widmung:
To my family and friends for their love and support. cover art, is from some amazing artist which I found online, thanks to him.