toward Roland.
A gust of wind blew into the ship and the sails went up. Nile stared as the sails bloated outward, revealing the symbol of the Woodlands Kingdom, a phoenix. Ropes fell from the sails and the knights immediately grabbed them, pulling them back and tying them off.
“Signal them,” King Aidan said as he stepped up on the main deck.
Roland lifted his sword into the sky and the ship came to a stop. The other ships aligned with theirs. Roland then brought down his sword and lifted up his right hand. Almost immediately, large brown planks were lifted from each ship, sticking straight toward the sky. They turned and lowered, connecting each ship together.
King Aidan watched.
Roland danced around the deck, making sure all the ships were connected. He then took off his glove, revealing a blue gem. Nile’s eyes widened. Roland lifted it high into the sky and then released it. The gem floated eye-level.
“Ready!” Roland screamed.
“Aye-aye!” screamed the knights.
Nile seemed to be the only one confused.
Then a white flash of light streaked out from the gem, then another, and another, until finally the gem was one ball of white light, almost blinding all the knights on the ship. Nile and Leo threw their hands up in front of their eyes, and within seconds, the gem flashed and cursed the sea with a thunderous roar.
They were gone.
The gem flashed again, and all the ships were thrown into the ocean. The knights fell to the floor. Water splashed up over the ship, trickling over their armor. Nile had hit the bottom of the mainmast hard, causing a cut on his lower lip. He pushed himself up, but he staggered and nearly fell again. Leo rushed toward him and caught him, helping him gain his balance. When Nile came to, he saw the Walsh Kingdom.
It was beautiful.
The kingdom perched out of the mountain as if constructed by the rock itself. Long flanking towers and turrets protruded upward into the sky. The keep was constructed and carved out of the mountainside. The bailey disguised itself with dry land and fresh crops were springing to life on the mountaintop, where the grass was green and the sun seemed to caress it. Four bridges, two above the other, stretched out from the castle and over the ocean. Long spiral staircases swirled down toward the docks that wrestled with ocean waves.
Nile could see the townspeople making their way to the ports. They threw up their hats and colorful garments and shouted in joy as the ships pulled into the port. A tingling sensation shimmered down Nile’s back. He had not been this excited and nervous for quite some time.
“Imagine doing this forever,” Leo said, walking up behind Nile. He leaned over the railing and stared into the crowd.
“My father must have loved it,” Nile whispered.
Leo patted Nile’s shoulder. “This, friend, are what dreams are made of.”
Chapter 9
Across the Ridge
After being greeted by dozens of beautiful women, Nile found himself standing in the Great Hall. He was staring at a picture of the ocean and a ship being pulled into a thunderstorm. He touched the painting, feeling every crack of dry paint that kissed his fingers. His fingers glided across the texture. He stopped his index finger above the sail, rubbed it in circles, and then lowered his hand. He stepped back.
There was beauty in the dark picture. It said more than danger. It spoke passion. There was an inspirational jolt of magic that struck his spine, pulling him into the atmosphere with a happiness that he could not explain, almost like he wanted to immediately do something.
Nile was so drawn into the picture that he did not hear the door open and close down the hall, or maybe he did and just forgot to acknowledge it. He even ignored the footsteps.
Leo met him. “Roland told me to wait out here.”
Nile stared at the painting.
“Roland told me to wait out here,” Leo repeated.
Nile turned to Leo, then to the painting. “Oh, Leo. Look at this painting. Tell me
A gust of wind blew into the ship and the sails went up. Nile stared as the sails bloated outward, revealing the symbol of the Woodlands Kingdom, a phoenix. Ropes fell from the sails and the knights immediately grabbed them, pulling them back and tying them off.
“Signal them,” King Aidan said as he stepped up on the main deck.
Roland lifted his sword into the sky and the ship came to a stop. The other ships aligned with theirs. Roland then brought down his sword and lifted up his right hand. Almost immediately, large brown planks were lifted from each ship, sticking straight toward the sky. They turned and lowered, connecting each ship together.
King Aidan watched.
Roland danced around the deck, making sure all the ships were connected. He then took off his glove, revealing a blue gem. Nile’s eyes widened. Roland lifted it high into the sky and then released it. The gem floated eye-level.
“Ready!” Roland screamed.
“Aye-aye!” screamed the knights.
Nile seemed to be the only one confused.
Then a white flash of light streaked out from the gem, then another, and another, until finally the gem was one ball of white light, almost blinding all the knights on the ship. Nile and Leo threw their hands up in front of their eyes, and within seconds, the gem flashed and cursed the sea with a thunderous roar.
They were gone.
The gem flashed again, and all the ships were thrown into the ocean. The knights fell to the floor. Water splashed up over the ship, trickling over their armor. Nile had hit the bottom of the mainmast hard, causing a cut on his lower lip. He pushed himself up, but he staggered and nearly fell again. Leo rushed toward him and caught him, helping him gain his balance. When Nile came to, he saw the Walsh Kingdom.
It was beautiful.
The kingdom perched out of the mountain as if constructed by the rock itself. Long flanking towers and turrets protruded upward into the sky. The keep was constructed and carved out of the mountainside. The bailey disguised itself with dry land and fresh crops were springing to life on the mountaintop, where the grass was green and the sun seemed to caress it. Four bridges, two above the other, stretched out from the castle and over the ocean. Long spiral staircases swirled down toward the docks that wrestled with ocean waves.
Nile could see the townspeople making their way to the ports. They threw up their hats and colorful garments and shouted in joy as the ships pulled into the port. A tingling sensation shimmered down Nile’s back. He had not been this excited and nervous for quite some time.
“Imagine doing this forever,” Leo said, walking up behind Nile. He leaned over the railing and stared into the crowd.
“My father must have loved it,” Nile whispered.
Leo patted Nile’s shoulder. “This, friend, are what dreams are made of.”
Chapter 9
Across the Ridge
After being greeted by dozens of beautiful women, Nile found himself standing in the Great Hall. He was staring at a picture of the ocean and a ship being pulled into a thunderstorm. He touched the painting, feeling every crack of dry paint that kissed his fingers. His fingers glided across the texture. He stopped his index finger above the sail, rubbed it in circles, and then lowered his hand. He stepped back.
There was beauty in the dark picture. It said more than danger. It spoke passion. There was an inspirational jolt of magic that struck his spine, pulling him into the atmosphere with a happiness that he could not explain, almost like he wanted to immediately do something.
Nile was so drawn into the picture that he did not hear the door open and close down the hall, or maybe he did and just forgot to acknowledge it. He even ignored the footsteps.
Leo met him. “Roland told me to wait out here.”
Nile stared at the painting.
“Roland told me to wait out here,” Leo repeated.
Nile turned to Leo, then to the painting. “Oh, Leo. Look at this painting. Tell me
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