Free Chained By Fear: 2 by Jim Melvin Page A

to make her entrance. She stepped inside and looked around. The grandeur stunned her.
    Invictus emerged from a crowd of faces, wearing a high-collared gown draped over his shoulders. Colorful folly-bells hung from his girdle. The young sorcerer took her by the hand.
    “Behold, Princess Laylah!” he said, his voice echoing throughout the room. “Beyond hope, my sister has returned from her wanderings. Welcome her with great joy.”
    Cries, shouts and applause greeted her.
    “Yes! Yes! YES!”
    A servitor came forward and offered Invictus and Laylah crystal goblets of sparkling wine. Then the young sorcerer guided her into the room. She did not protest. A golden flow of energy surged from the palm of his hand into hers, deadening her resistance as effectively as if she had been drugged. Her mind observed the movements of her body, but she was helpless to control them. She felt like a puppet.
    Invictus took her to a spectacular fountain in the center of the ballroom. Twelve silver dryads spurted water from their mouths, the jets crisscrossing in the air before spilling into a foamy pool.
    “What do you think of my palace?” Invictus said. “It’s only a temporary residence until the tower is completed, but isn’t it beautiful?”
    Laylah didn’t respond, but Invictus’ will compelled her to tilt her head toward the towering ceiling, which was laced with golden vaults supported by marble columns. Chandeliers sparkled in the soft light that entered the room through windows set into lavish indentations along the upper walls.
    Without her permission, her eyes were directed downward along colored mosaics on the walls. The lower portion of the room was studded with arched windows. Through these, Laylah could see the impressive green lawn.
    A receiving line formed. Invictus continued to grip her hand. As long as he did, she stood still as stone. First to greet her was the most beautiful woman Laylah had ever beheld. She seemed vaguely familiar, but Laylah couldn’t imagine where she might have seen her before. The woman took Laylah’s hand.
    “My sister,” Invictus said. “Allow me to present Chal-Abhinno, Queen of the Warlish Witches.”
    “The pleasure issss mine, Princess Laylah,” Chal said, her green eyes darting to-and-fro, as if afraid to look at Laylah directly.
    “Thank her for her courtesy,” Invictus said to Laylah.
    “Thank you  . . . ”
    Next up was a handsome soldier wearing golden armor that matched his long yellow hair. He cradled his helm in the crook of his arm.
    “My sister,” Invictus said. “Allow me to present General Lucius Annaeus, the legatus of my army.”
    “A hearty welcome, Princess Laylah,” General Lucius said. “I am at your command.”
    “Thank you  . . . ”
    After Lucius came a druid. Laylah had never seen one of these creatures. But Takoda, who had ventured into the Dhutanga Forest several times, had described them to her. This one was more than seven cubits tall, and its fiery eyes glared down at her as if enraged. But it took her hand in its long bony fingers and bowed awkwardly.
    “My sister,” Invictus said. “Allow me to present Druggen-Boggle, a druid representative from Dhutanga.”
    Boggle did not speak. Instead, he hummed with great force, causing Laylah’s teeth to chatter.
    “Tha-a-nk you  . . . ”
    The druid clattered off, and a grotesque beast with the head and torso of a woman but with bat-like wings instead of arms followed next. Laylah would have fled at the sight of it, but Invictus’ grip held her in place. The creature’s flesh was bizarrely translucent, reminding her of Vedana’s.
    “My sister,” Invictus said. “Allow me to present Pisaaca, a demon representative from Arupa-Loka.”
    “Your blood is my blood,” Pisaaca said.
    “Thank you  . . . ”
    After the demon came Izumo.
    “My sister,” Invictus said. “Allow me to present Dracool-Izumo, from the cliffs of Mahaggata.”
    “We have already met,” Izumo said. “May