Page 40 of The Princess of Portals

“When the attack started, the Apprentices were all called back here to the Castle to keep us safe.”

It made sense. Just a few weeks ago, people in techno suits had attacked the Magic Emporium and tried to abduct my entire Apprentice group.

“Kato and Conner went to stop the Templar and the Masked Metamorph before they blow up the whole Magic Emporium.”

We watched the scenes of fire, smoke, and destruction play out on the TV. There was a lot of fire. A lot of explosions. And a lot of stress-eating. It was a good thing there were so many mangoes.

“I wish I could be there,” I said.

“In the middle of the battle?” Nevada chuckled. “Of course you do. But it’s not safe for you out there, Savannah. The Templar is hunting you.”

“Yeah, I know. Kato made the very same argument. He said I need to stay all safe and cozy in this impenetrable fortress.”

“It’s not a fortress. It’s a cage.”

Dread cut down my spine, cold and sharp. A man in a suit of techno armor appeared in the middle of the room. The Templar. He’d found me.

CHAPTER 7

OUT OF THE SHADOWS

The Templar wielded a bizarre-looking staff that appeared to be made of blue wood. He pointed it at us, and weird magic light shot out of the tip. I tackled Nevada to the ground. The blast just barely missed us. It crashed into the pool table, and the pool table disappeared.

“What the…” Nevada stared in horror at where the pool table had stood just moments ago.

I kicked my foot in its direction. It met only empty air. The pool table wasn’t invisible. It wasn’t there at all. The Templar had sent it into another dimension.

He pointed his staff at me. “You’re next.”

I didn’t wait for him to attack. I hummed, my voice casting a spell on his metal helmet. The helmet crumbled to pieces, pouring down his body like raindrops.

Relieved of his helmet, I could finally see his face. It was a young face, not much older than the oldest Knights at the Castle. He had dark, flowing hair. It bounced when he moved, the tips brushing against his jawbone. His eyes glowed like molten honey.

“Cute trick.” The Templar gave me a derisive sneer.

I didn’t recognize his face, but I could tell from his voice that he was the same Templar who’d attacked me twice before.

“How did you get past the Castle’s defensive wards?”

He chuckled. “That wasn’t a problem.”

So much for all the new, powerful wards around the Castle. They hadn’t deterred Conner or the Templar.

“How did you get to our realm?” I said. “There’s no travel through the Spirit Trees to Gaia right now.”

His grin widened. “I’m disappointed. I thought you were smarter than that.”

I could have punched myself when I realized what he was hinting at. There were some people who could indeed travel to Gaia through the Spirit Trees right now.

“The members of the Court,” I said.

“And their entourages.”

I met that smug twinkle in his eyes and felt sick. So he was part of one of those entourages. That meant someone on the Many Realms Court was a member of the Order of Kings. Someone on the Court was kidnapping Apprentices. But who? Was it Duchess Dellondré as Ren suspected? Or someone else?

“Who on the Many Realms Court belongs to the Order of Kings?” I asked the Templar.

“You didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did you?” He lifted his staff again.