Page 44 of The Last Knight

“I’m going to let you go, do not make a sound. Do you understand?” a masculine voice with a strong French accent whispered in her ear.

Aubrey couldn’t stop shaking as she slowly nodded.

The man released her, and she turned to see a human male. He was tall and slender and wore a tunic and pants that were tucked at the ankles into leather boots. A bit older, she guessed perhaps mid-to-late forties, with silver-streaked brown hair and beard.

He reminded her of an old history professor she’d grown quite fond of in secondary school. That, in itself, made her feel a bit more at ease.

“What are you doing here? Who are you?” He pinned her with a curious expression.

“I have no idea why I’m here,” Aubrey replied and then looked around. “One moment I was in my house in Scotland and the next I was here.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Where is this place? What are those creatures?”

The man motioned to a chair. “You are swaying, perhaps it is best if you sit.” When she did, he lowered to a chair opposite hers. Between them was what looked to be a small writing table, atop which were several scrolls of paper, a feather quill and a bottle of ink.

“I am called Phillippe, originally from France. I serve as the ruler’s scribe.” He looked to an arched door. “The throne room is through there, so keep your voice low.”

Aubrey looked past him to the door. Those creatures could be in there and she didn’t want to be anywhere near them. “I am Aubrey.” She swallowed, suspecting the answer, and wishing with all her might that this was a dream. “What is this place?”

For a moment Phillippe studied her. Then he stood and went to a sideboard upon which he moved two glasses closer, lifted a carafe and poured dark liquid into them.

He brought the glasses and placed them on the desk, after sweeping the scrolls aside. “Wine,” he clarified. “You will need it for what I must tell you.”

It could be poison for all she knew, at the moment, she wasn’t sure she cared. When Phillippe lifted his glass, she followed suit drinking at the same time. The wine was delicious, wonderful really. A mixture of dryness with just the right amount of sweetness. It was like no wine she’d ever tasted.

The drink had the desired effect, soothing her nerves just a bit.

“You are in the Dark Realm. It is ruled by Gunther, a human with strong powers.”

The Dark Realm. Aubrey felt her eyes widen.

“I must speak to Gunther. He will take me back home. I am sure of it.” She started to stand but hesitated when Phillippe lifted a hand.

“At the moment, it is not a good idea.” Once again, he glanced at the doorway. “It is not safe. Torants are in there.”

Torants. What in the world was a Torant?

“The creatures I saw?” Realizing she still clutched the bowl to her chest, Aubrey lowered it onto her lap and lifted the pendant. “These?”

Phillippe’s brow creased as he studied the pendant. “Precisely. How did you come about that item?”

“I found it in the cellar of my house.” Aubrey wondered why she was being so open with this man. For all she knew he was evil. After all, he seemed to live here. He’d admitted to being Gunther’s scribe. Why had Gunther never told anyone that there was another human in the Dark Realm?

“With those other items?” Phillippe studied the bowl and sheathed dagger.

“Yes,” Aubrey admitted, after all, she couldn’t very well give another explanation. “Do you know what the pendant is for?”

“I do not,” Phillippe replied. “It is curious that you hold a pendant with the depiction of a Torant.”

She had to agree. Nothing about what happened made any sense. But then again, since her cousin’s involvement with the release of the five knights, nothing had been ordinary. One strange occurrence after the other, so now, this was the latest.

“When can I speak to Gunther?”

Phillippe shook his head. “I do not know. I peered in earlier and, well, there was a disturbance in the air. When darkness falls, it is best to stay away. The appearance of it is deadly to most.”

The darkness. Did that mean, Gunther had released it within himself? If that was so, everything could potentially be lost.

She had to get the hell out of here.