Enter the Frey

Chapter 9

“Let’s get straight on to the next task,” Ziel announced cheerily once they’d reached the other end of the field. “This one was just too easy.”

Adam couldn’t help but notice the despondent look on the face of their newest member. His pupils were fixed and glazed, focused on a point the others couldn’t see—most likely reliving his teammate's demise. Luckily, Ziel’s clumsy words washed over him without making any real impact 

“I have to get out of here,” Darian mumbled and got up to leave.

“Oh, no you don’t,” Ziel put a hand on Darian’s shoulder and pulled him back. “Your sorry a*s belongs to me now.”

Darian turned and looked at Ziel like he had a screw loose. “Don’t’ you get it yet? Nobody makes it through alive. Not even you.”

“Then we will die trying,” Ziel assured him with a smile.

“I don’t wanna die,” Darian muttered under his breath.

“We’re going to be fine,” Ziel whispered to Adam as he passed, giving him a reassuring tap on the shoulder. Adam didn’t feel reassured. Now the initial adrenaline rush caused by casting his first-ever spell had worn off, he felt like he’d rather be back in that icy river, being drowned by bullies. Those guys were nothing compared to the monsters in this world.

A couple of other groups joined them at the edge of the field. One of them was missing a leg and crying out for a healer. When the companion of the injured party glanced over at Adam he ducked down, trying to avoid being asked. Creating a little ice was one thing, but he highly doubted he could heal a missing limb. Explaining his situation to people who had no concept of alternate worlds had proved difficult thus far, so he was keen to avoid doing so again. Yet, flat out telling people 'no' wasn’t in his nature. He wanted to help, in most cases. 

“Right, it says we need to take the M path across the river,” Ziel read. “Sounds simple enough.”

The screams and commotion didn’t appear to affect Ziel in the slightest. Adam wondered if he was desensitised by living in a violent world, or whether he simply lacked empathy. He didn’t know which was a better theory.

“Jack, you know the safe path back though, right?” Ziel turned to the smallest member of the group. “You go back and fetch the stuff. And it best all be there. If Darian doesn’t want to end up as plant food.”

Darian gulped loudly. “I swear it was all there when I left it.”

“You best start praying nobody has found it,” Ziel loomed over Darian. “Because I am not in a forgiving mood.”

Jack gave Ziel a frightened look. “I don’t think they are as distracted at the minute…”

“They are full though,” Ziel shrugged. “Go on, make yourself useful, kid.”

‘This seems unfair,’ thought Adam. ‘Jack has been the most useful one among us, yet you act like he’s nothing more than a burden.’

Jack took a deep breath and ran off, narrowly avoiding a vine as he stepped back into the field. When he was out of view Ziel sat against a tree. Adam wondered if he would be told off for doing the same, but ultimately his shaky legs won out and he collapsed onto the muddy field.

Selena gingerly took seated position by his side, leaning in to regard him with a concerned look upon her face. 

“Are you alright?” she asked.

Adam smiled weakly and nodded. “This is… a lot to take in. Is this world always so… violent?”

“The trials are,” Selena told him. “Outside of the Frey… things can get pretty violent too. We are at war after all.”

Adam wanted to ask for more information about the war but got the feeling it would be a mistake, considering Ziel and Selena were on opposing sides. He made a mental note to ask about it when Ziel was out of earshot.

When Jack finally returned, huffing and puffing, with a couple of twigs sticking out of his hair, Ziel sighed heavily and got to his feet. “About time.”

Jack rushed about, handing the various items back to their owners. He passed Adam the slim golden band and sash. When he attached the sash to his robes and gave the bandage back to Selena their hands touched. He could have sworn her fingers lingered on his for just a second longer than necessary.

He smiled at her and she blushed before offering a brief smile in return.

“Everyone has all their stuff back?” Ziel asked, looking back at the group. His eyes lingered on Adam and Selina, as though he could sense something happening between them.

All of them nodded or said yes, much to Darian’s relief.

The river was almost a day’s walk away. When they finally arrived at the waters edge the sky was turning dark and the air cold.

On their side of the riverbank stood a small settlement. One of the larger building was lit up with torches and lights, spelling out the word ‘Inn.’

Most members of the group looked at the Inn with longing but Ziel shook his head. “We cross this river today.”

After spending the entire day Adam was understandably tired. Tired of walking. Tired of feeling out of place. He just wanted to hide away and missed his home and his bed terribly. There was nothing quite like returning to your bedroom with a cup and tea and biscuits after an arduous day. Curling up in bed with a good book and forgetting all your problems.

It wasn’t possible for Adam anymore. There was no home. No warm place or home-cooked meals or family.

‘I miss Mum and Dad…’

Casting a longing look over at the Inn, with its inviting lights and wafting scents of cooking, Adam drudged after Ziel. Sleeping under the stars wasn’t so bad, but it was cold and just beginning to rain. Little spots of water gathered on his hands and face.

Aim sighed, lifting her palms to feel the droplets. “Just great.”

“So… there have to be ways to get across. We need the ‘M’ path,” Ziel ploughed on, showing no interest in Aim’s complaint.

Edging along the riverbed, Adam felt little splashes of water hitting his feet. The shoes he wore were extremely well made, but not altogether suitable for long-distance hiking and crossing rivers. They looked closer to a pair of slippers than walking shoes.

Looking at the feet of the other team members, he noticed they all wore leather boots of some description 

‘Maybe Ziel will let me choose some of my own clothes,’ Adam thought, though he didn't hold out much hope 

Eventually, they came to a series of bridges, some stable looking, others not so much. The river was so wide it was difficult to see the other side in the dark. The bridges seemed to disappear into the darkness, filling Adam with a sense of foreboding. Memories of the last river he’d visited flooded back, making him shiver in fear. 

Ziel was reading the signpost at the foot of the most stable looking bridge—the only one that looked like it might support their weight. 

“This one has a letter G,” Ziel sighed. “Check the others.”

“O,” Aim called out.

“K and B,” Selena shouted.

The group reformed, walking slowly and scratching their heads. Nobody appeared to have any suggestions on how to proceed.

“Well, Jack?” Ziel asked. “You’re the guide. Which one do we pick?”

“I have no idea,” Jack shrugged. “Sorry.”

Without warning, Ziel kicked Jack into the water. He landed with a loud splash followed by panicked cried. “Help… I can’t swim!”

“For Light’s sake,” Ziel muttered, shaking his head. “Our guide doesn’t know the way and can’t even swim. We may as well let him drown.”

Adam knew how it felt to choke on cold, dirty water until it seeped into your lungs. He couldn’t leave the boy to drown… and yet, he was afraid to get into the water.

“You can’t,” Adam pleaded, pulling at Ziel’s arm.

“Let me save him,” Selena asked, poised at the waterfront and ready to dive. “We might need him.”

“Please, Ziel,” Adam urged him. He desperately hoped his saviour wasn’t the sort of person as his attacks back home.

“Oh, s**t,” Ziel gasped, seeing movement in the water. Something large was making ripples just below the surface and it was coming their way. “Yep, in you go Selena. Get him out, quick.”

While he relieved to find Ziel was bluffing, he was also panicked by the fact Selena was now in danger from whatever lurked in the murky depths. In this world, it could be anything. It wouldn’t surprise him if the Loch Ness Monster reared its ugly head at this point.

“Aren’t you going to help her?” Adam asked Ziel as Selena dove into the water after Jack. She managed to reach him just as the creature struck out.

Adam couldn’t see what was happening beneath the surface, just the frothing water becoming red.

“No,” he whispered.

Turning away, Adam could feel tears forming. He had only known her a short time, yet the loss of Selena hit him like a punch to the stomach.

A loud splashing sound interrupted his grief. Adam mentally and physically prepared for the attack of the sea creature, tensing up his muscles and lowering his stance.

“Oh, thank God,” Adam cried.

Selena burst from the water, holding Jack under her arm. She placed him carefully on the ground and shook his shoulder, trying to rouse him.

“I think he’s dead,” Selena muttered as she tried her best to bring him round.

“Here,” Adam said, budging Selena out of the way. He pinched Jack’s nose, lifted his chin, and blew air into his mouth. He had learned CPR at school a few months earlier so the procedure was fresh in his mind.

He did the chest compressions just as he’d been shown on the dummy on the floor of his Economics classroom. 

As he began to breathe into Jack’s mouth for a second repetition the boy began to choke up water. He sat up, coughing and spluttering.

The others whooped and cheered.

“So you do know healing magic?” Ziel asked.

“Oh… that wasn’t magic,” Adam told him. “That was just basic first aid.”

Everyone stared blankly, as though Adam was speaking a foreign language.

“You know… medical care?” Adam tried again.

They continued to stare blankly.

“I guess you don’t have hospitals here?” Adam asked.

“Hos—spit—tils?” Selena mouthed. She shivered drastically and hugged herself, making Adam wish he had spare clothes to offer her.

“Please can we go to the Inn?” Aim asked. She was also shivering and jumping from foot to foot. “Please, Ziel?”

Aim pressed her hands together in a pleading gesture and gave him puppy dog eyes. Seeing this Selena joined in, knitting her fingers together and smiling beseechingly at Ziel.

Adam decided to join in, asking, “Please?”

It wasn’t long before the entire group had ganged up on Ziel, and he eventually—and begrudgingly gave in to their pleas for shelter.

“Fine,” he sighed. “We can stay at the darn Inn. But you lot are paying for it.”