Free The Manticore Ascension: A Short Story in the Arena Mode Universe by Blake Northcott Page B

heels. “Why did you choose us over Taktarov?” he asked.
    “I read him. As soon as he promised to reward me I saw visions of torture chambers dancing in his head.
    “And,” I added, “I read you as well – as soon as I got my ring deactivated. I know you’re not filled with hate. You just want to protect your family, and you’re...passionate about it.”
    “Thank you,” he said, his voice softened. “I really do owe you.”
    “I know,” I smiled. “Now go pack your stuff.”
    The knights turned to leave when the booming sound of their father’s voice stopped them mid-stride. “Halt,” he commanded. “I cannot allow this to go any further. I won’t authorize someone from outside of House Lehmann to leave in one of my aircraft with two of my knights.”
    Drake stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on his father’s shoulder. “Surely we can make an exception. Brynja has proven herself an ally.”
    “She is not an ally,” the King said matter-of-factly, reaching around his son’s neck with both hands. He pulled a chain over his head, revealing the House Lehmann sigil – the same necklace that Dawson had given me earlier. “She’s family.”
    Drake and Dawson exchanged glances before turning their attention towards me, as if I had the vaguest clue what was taking place.
    “On your knee,” the King commanded, eliciting a smile from his sons.
    I shrugged and knelt at the King’s feet, dipping my head.
    He draped the chain over my neck. “You are now a knight of the realm,” he proclaimed loudly. “A defender of Iceland, and an honorary member of House Lehmann.”
    I held the emblem, running my thumbs along the intricate steel design. “I...I don’t know what to say.”
    “Is this allowed?” Drake asked. “Making a superhuman a knight?”
    “It is now. That’s another perk of being King: making up the rules as I go along.” He spread his hands wide and his sons reached out, wrapping their arms around their father’s waist. “Take care of each other,” he said firmly, as if it were a command, not a friendly suggestion.
    Dawson beamed with excitement. “I can’t wait to see the rest of the world!”
    “You’re going to leave Iceland?” The King said. “B-but...that’s nonsense. You don’t know what’s going to happen. You don’t know what’s out there!”
    “I know,” the young knight replied with a smile that lit up the room. “That’s why we’re going.”
     

Epilogue
    “Are you buckled in?” Dawson asked, reaching forward to flip switches on the jet’s dash.
    Sitting next to him in the cockpit I pulled the belt across my lap and clicked it into place. “Aye aye, captain.” I gave him an exaggerated salute and he laughed uncontrollably.
    “Is it going to be like this for the entire trip?” Drake asked from behind us.
    “Pretty much,” Dawson shrugged. “You’re going to have to get used to these foreign concepts...like laughter and friendship. And not being a dick.”
    Drake couldn’t help but smile. Which was odd, since I hadn’t seen him smile once since I’d arrived in the Kingdom. He reached into the cockpit and rumpled his little brother’s hair, eliciting another goofy laugh.
    “Exit,” Dawson commanded, triggering the castle’s hangar doors. They pulled open, bathing us in bright yellow sunlight, revealing the wide open space that stretched beyond the mountain tops.
    Being stuck in a dystopian future without knowing how you’re going to get back to your own reality isn’t as bad as it sounds. Sure, there was the uncertainty, and the fear, and the fact that everyone kept calling me a blue-haired wench. But I could deal with all of that. Because something told me with those two by my side, sooner or later I’d find my way home...and besides, when you’re with the right people, home is wherever you happen to be at the moment.

To Be Continued ... ?

Thank You
    Thank you so much for reading ‘The Manticore Ascension’. If you got to the end that