Page 11 of An Unlikely Knight

“They will prepare your chambers and ensure you have anything needed to make your stay comfortable,” the prince informed them.

“Come inside, tell me what is happening in the other realms.” He walked to a table and sank into a comfortable chair.

They told Sterling about the attacks at the keep and Padriag revealed that it was becoming harder to travel between the worlds. At speaking the words out loud, a lump seemed to lodge in his throat. He covered it up by clearing it, hoping the men didn’t notice.

Admittedly, Esland was beautiful, but it wasn’t where he expected to live out the rest of his life. At the end of three hundred years from the day they’d been thrown into this alter-world, he would become mortal and begin aging at a normal human rate until finally dying. And that deadline was soon approaching.

After such a long life, Padriag welcomed the idea of becoming mortal. And yet, it hurt to think that he would never set his eyes on his friends again, not touch his native Scotland, breath the mossy air, see the craggy mountains overgrown with heather. A vise tightened around his chest making it impossible to breathe. He bent at the waist, his mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water.

Something gripped his shoulders, pulling him upward to stand straight. “Padriag,” Liam calm voice broke through panic that overtook as he felt himself begin to lose the fight to live. Why was air refusing to enter his body? Desperate, Padriag gripped Liam’s tunic.

“You can breathe, draw it in, slowly.” Liam inhaled deeply making Padriag want to punch him.

“Ah-ah, I-I c-cannot,” he gasped as the edges of his vision blurred. “H-help m-me.”

“You can. Do it now slowly ... inhale, blow it out.”

Lungs screamed for air until it finally flowed into him, and he gulped in a breath and then another. He collapsed against Liam, embarrassed over what had occurred in Sterling’s presence. It was the first time he’d ever had such a reaction.

“Panic attack.” Sterling expression remained stoic, emotionless as always. “Perhaps you would prefer to rest in your bedchamber. Someone will come fetch you at mealtime.”

“I’d prefer a walk to clear my head,” Padriag said, pushing away from Liam, his legs still not quite steady.

His breathing was harsh, but thankfully the pounding heartbeats were slowing. Without looking at either man, he stalked from the room before realizing he had no idea if there were any private gardens or such.

A skinny young boy of about ten, came up to him and smiled. He said something in the strange language motioning for him to follow. Once outside, the lanky boy hurried away from the courtyard calling out something to other children who looked to Padriag and then to the boy with admiration. Obviously, the job of guiding the newcomer was a position of honor.

They arrived at a path and the boy pointed to it, then made walking motions with his hand and led Padriag to a walking path.

Padriag bowed his head in gratitude as he’d seen others do and the boy’s face brightened, a wide grin stretching across his face before turning and running off.

The pathway led into a labyrinth of sorts, winding between purple trimmed hedges and flowering bushes of a lavender hue. Here and there benches were scattered, but he didn’t see another soul whilst making his way through. There was no clear path, but because the hedges were only about five feet tall, he could easily spot the castle and figure out which direction to head when he was ready to leave.

“Shit. Shit. Shit,” he repeated. His mind whirled. He lowered himself to a bench, bending forward and holding his head. This was not at all what the rest of his life was supposed to be. If he lived to be eighty, he would be here for almost sixty years.

Rumbling roars sounded in the distance and Padriag searched the empty sky. Moments later the unmistakable whomp, whomp, whomp of huge wings vibrated from above. Moments later, the roars, like those of angry lions or elephants, accompanied the sound of wings as they became louder. Four huge dragons flew into view, their colossal bodies inspiring awe and fear as they continued calling out, perhaps communicating with each other. The beasts were beautiful, of different coloring, some a luminescent green, others light hues of blues and purples. The sunlight seemed to reflect off of them while they flew in circles as if patrolling the land below.

Padriag watched them, his gloom forgotten for the moment, becoming lost in the unbelievable magnificence of the creatures flying above.