Page 4 of An Unlikely Knight

“We?” Padriag scowled at the Brit.

“I’ve always wanted to see it.” Liam shrugged. “We best pack and be on our way.”

Padriag stood. “Exactly how do you think we will get there? We don’t have horses, remember, they’re in the other realm.”

Both stared at each other for a beat.

Padriag blew out a breath. “Why would he send the invitation without instructions of how we are to get there. We aren’t even sure of where exactly it is.”

“I am sure he has a plan.” Liam was not to be deterred from going to what was purported to be a beautiful land.

Returning to his bedchamber, Padriag studied the items in his trunk. There wasn’t much to pack. They’d not many belongings other than a few articles of clothing, leather boots, and weaponry. During his visits to the other realm, Padriag had collected a few pairs of jeans, a pair of pullovers and some underwear.

Since he didn’t own a bag, he yanked a cover from his bed and folded it in half. Then he collected his belongings and neatly stacked them in the middle. After that, he folded the blanket over the piles and tied it all with a rope.

“I wondered how you would collect all your things,” Liam said from the door. “What I want to see now is how you plan to carry it across the miles.”

Padriag turned, giving his friend a triumphant smile. “You forget I retain my power of magic.” Lifting his hand, palm up, he demonstrated as the bundled rose from the bed and floated in the air.

“It’s too bad your magic can’t transport us there,” Liam said dryly.

Just then pounding sounded and the bundles of clothes fell clumsily onto the bed.

Both men listened intently to what sounded like a battering ram hitting the thick wooden front door.

Closing his eyes, Padriag ensured the protective ward was in place and did his best to make it stronger.

“The wards are holding,” he told Liam, who scowled.

“We’d best figure out how to get out of here, because sooner or later, they will manage to get through.”

Liam wasn’t wrong. They shouldn’t have been able to get that close to the keep, as Padriag had placed a perimeter of wards to keep them at a distance.

A horrible thought invaded his mind.

His powers were weakening.