A Quest for Chumps (Departed Dimensions Book 1) by G.M. Reinstra

Author:G.M. Reinstra [Reinstra, G.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-11T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

The Disgraced Child

As they emerged from the crypt, Rialta staggered forward into the waning daylight. The fresh air and light of day seemed to act as a trigger, breaking her from her stunned trance. The horror of the crypt suddenly washed over her. She stumbled forward across the path that led up to the manor house and collapsed under the shade of a large oak tree. She took two shallow, heaving breaths before lurching forward and vomiting on the ground.

“Holy shit, Rialta, you okay?” Remmy asked, trotting up beside her. He fell to his knees and put his hand on her back.

“No,” Rialta said, choking back a sob. “I just nearly got you all killed…”

“Ah, come on, Rialta” John said uneasily as he joined Remmy by her side. “Everyone’s fine. We killed all those rats and now we’re gonna get paid, right? Everything went exactly as we expected it to go.”

“How can you all be so cavalier about what just happened? Especially you, John?” Rialta said through her sobs. “I saw that thing gnawing at your neck and I thought maybe—maybe you had…”

John shrugged. “Listen, Rialta, when it comes to combat, you either die or you don’t. I didn’t die, thanks to you and everyone else here. And I’m grateful for that. I lived to fight another day, so I just don’t see the point in dwelling on it.”

“Do you know why I tried to convince you to go in there, John?” Rialta asked. “Do you know why I was so insistent on putting all four of your lives at risk for the sake of a few extra coins?” And now she got to her feet, gently pushing away Remmy’s hand.

John simply shook his head.

Rialta looked him in the eye and heaved a great, shuddering sigh. “I did it to protect myself. I did it because I didn’t want you all to know that I’ve lived a life full of secrets, lies, and disgrace,” she said in a rushed whisper. Tears continued to flow down her face as she spoke, but it felt strangely freeing to say the things she had kept locked inside her since she was a little girl.

“What the hell are you talking about, Rialta?” John said.

“I’m not originally from Ro, John. I’m from Raorik. And my full name…” She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “… is Rialta Meria.”

Lorenza let out a sharp gasp, and Nivin fell to his knees, bowing before Rialta.

“Okay…” Remmy said, looking at Nivin and Lorenza with a bewildered expression. “So what?”

“You fool!” Lorenza shouted, her eyes open wide. She had fallen to her knees beside Nivin. “She’s a princess!” she shouted, pointing at Rialta.

“I have not been a princess since I was a small child,” Rialta said softly. “And both of you, please get up.”

Nivin stood up at once, but his eyes remained fixed on the ground. Lorenza stood slowly, her eyes still wide with shock.

Rialta drew another deep breath and faced John and Remmy. “My mother was once one of the queens of Raorik.

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