The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series

by Andrea Lamoureux

  I found Mother coming upstairs from the larder with a loaf of bread. She burst into tears when she saw me “Chel! I was beginning to think you were dead!” She dropped the bread and crushed me in a tight embrace.

  “Not dead, Mother, just sold to the island of Gwon.” I managed to get out with what little air was left in my chest.

  She released me. The corners of her lips pulled downward. “I sent your brother and another woman in search of you. I haven’t heard word from them since they left.”

  I picked up the bread and handed it to her. “They found me. It was too risky for them to come here. I’m to fetch supplies and meet them tomorrow at sunrise.”

  She seemed relieved to hear that. She clasped my hand, blinking away more tears. “Oh, Chel. I thought you’d be safe in Cansbroke. I’m so sorry.”

  “I know, Mother. It’s not your fault. The man who sold me is dead,” I assured her.

  Mother looked at me then tilted her chin down. “I know. I went to Cansbroke myself when I never heard word from your brother after he left to find you. The head servant there told me both the duke and his brother had died, and that you had disappeared after Valron’s death. I know Percifal killed the duke’s brother. I assumed it was because of your disappearance.” No one ever argued that my mother wasn’t smart.

  “You assumed correctly. It was his brother who sold me to Gwon.”

  “How awful.” She shook her head.

  “What’s with the guards outside?”

  Mother’s face pinched. “I’m a prisoner in my own home! I’m to be watched at every move.” Maybe she wasn’t so good at talking her way out of things anymore. “Of course I’d let my son stay here in secret! What kind of Mother do they take me for?”

  I sat on the blue, velvet lounger. “Percifal told me you helped him and Phyra when they came in search of me. I figured you’d have had a plan to get yourself out of trouble though.”

  “I tried, but King Zaeden is most unreasonable these days. Anyways, he’s not here, and it doesn’t bother me much to have those two old crones there. I have nothing to hide. I’m just thankful Percifal didn’t come with you.”

  “He knows he’s wanted.” I leaned forward and put my chin in my hand and asked the question that had been running through my mind since I’d gone through the gates. “Mother, where is King Zaeden and his army?”

  Mother sat across from me and turned her face away.

  “Mother?”

  “King Zaeden took his army to march on Terra.”

  I felt the blood drain from my face. “He—he can’t!”

  “They left a few sunrises ago, I’m afraid.”

  “Why Terra. Solis is much closer.” It didn’t make sense.

  The worry lines around the corners of Mother’s mouth and around the edges of her eyes deepened. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know. No one except he and his army knows what his plans are.”

  “And Thaimis?” I asked, fearing the answer.

  “He’s with them.”

  I groaned. “I don’t understand.”

  Mother came and crouched down beside me. She brushed a strand of hair from my face. “Listen to me. The soldiers in King Zaeden’s army, they’re not themselves. He’s done something to them. I can’t explain it.”

  I stiffened. “So it’s true. He’s using dark magic to control them.”

  Mother nodded. “Yes, his soldiers all obey him blindly. They’re like soulless hounds. It started happening slowly. Only a few seemed off at first, but eventually the whole army lost all their sense.”

  So it wasn’t just my imagination. Thaimis was under a spell. “I have to save Thaimis.”

  “I have more dire news.”

  “What more could there be?”

  She held back a moment before the words fell heavily from her lips. “Sreda is dead.”

  My hands shook. I couldn’t make my mouth work. The room began to spin.

  “I don’t know if King Zaeden ended her life because he had no more use for her, or if being drained of her power ended her life, but the king announced her death shortly before he left with his army,” Mother said.

  “Did he at least give her a proper death ceremony?” I bit the words out.

  “There was no ceremony, but he did send her body out to sea.”

  “She deserved better. He’ll pay for this.”

  “He’s made it clear he has Vesirus on his side.” For the first time ever, I saw fear in my mother’s eyes.

  “And the kingdom is okay with this?” I didn’t believe it.

  “Well,” Mother paused. “No, but anyone who’s questioned him has ended up in the dungeon—or dead.”

  Of course they had. I was the only one who could stop him.

  “Go have a bath and put on some clean clothes,” Mother urged. “I’ll pack some necessities for the three of you before I start our supper.”

  Mother had never cooked for us. “You’re preparing meals?”

  She shrugged. “I get bored all alone here. I got rid of all the servants except Vera.”

  I shook my head and hugged her again, the bread squished between us. “I’m sorry, Mother.”

  She held me. “Don’t be.”

  Now that I was presentable, I checked myself out in the long mirror. It’d been a long time since I’d worn anything so constricting. I’d almost forgotten how difficult it was to breathe in a corset. Still, I was pleased with my reflection. I’d chosen a gown with dark blue skirts and a silvery, velvet corset. I enjoyed wearing such fine garments.

  Satisfied, I went to seek Mother out. I found her sipping on a goblet of wine. I poured myself some of the garnet coloured liquid and, taking a seat beside her, filled her in about my time in Cansbroke—and in Gwon.

  Mother had asked Vera to finish preparing our meal. So she only did half of the cooking. That was more like Mother. I almost drooled when Vera placed a hot plate of chicken, sweet potatoes and fresh vegetables in front of me. I barely said a word as I devoured my meal.

  I swallowed the last of my food and finished telling Mother about the plan to stop King Zaeden.

  “What about the other elementals?” Mother asked. “There should be more of you.”

  “I expect there are two more of us. The earth elemental should be in Terra. We’ll have to hope we find them when we get there, and Ventosa is too far to worry about finding the air elemental right now,” I said, reflecting the thoughts that had previously gone through my mind.

  Mother stabbed the chicken on the plate like it was the enemy. “If I forbid you to go, would you listen?”

  I pushed my empty plate away. “No. I’m not a child, nor am I your prisoner.”

  She sighed. “I wish I could take your place.”

  “I know, but you can’t. If I don’t do this, innocent people will die. This world will no longer be safe, for any of us.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “Innocent people will die regardless.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  With a sullen face, Mother pushed her chair back and stood, unable to look at me. “I’ve had enough bad news for one night. I find myself weary. Rest easy, dear daughter.”

  I retired to my bedchamber feeling guilty that night.

  Chapter 25

  Though Mother didn’t relish the thought of my plan, she was there with my supplies to see me off in the morning. She’d packed enough for Percifal and Phyra too, and I had a tough time hefting the saddlebags over my arm when she handed them to me.

  “Take care of your brother,” she said, blinking back tears.

  I nodded against her shoulder, holding her as though it were the last time I’d ever see her.

  When I opened the door to leave, there were two different guards watching the apartment.

  “Where are you off to, Miss Lacrima?” one of them asked.

  I merely gave them a rude gesture and didn’t look back.

  I borrowed a horse from the royal stables of Aquila so we could each have our own mount. The picking
s were slim, as most of the horses had been taken by the army. I chose an old mare with a swayed back. She might not have as much energy as the others, but she had longer legs than the ponies the soldiers had left behind.

  I wore a greyish-blue riding dress, which was a little looser on me now than the last time I’d worn it.

  I found my brother and Phyra where we’d agreed to meet. They had just finished packing up camp.

  “I have dire news,” I said to them from on top of the old mare.

  Percifal tightened the girth on his saddle and turned to peer up at me, waiting for me to continue.

  “King Zaeden has taken his army to march on Terra.”

  “Not Solis?” Phyra stiffened.

  I slowly turned my head to the fire elemental and locked eyes with her emerald gaze. I shook my head. “No, for now, your kingdom is safe. I don’t know why he’s chosen to go to Terra first.”

  Phyra blew out a breath and I saw her relax… a little.

  “King Zaeden must have his reasons. We’ll find out soon enough,” Percifal said. “We will ride to Terra… try to warn King Corbin and Queen Nicola.” Percifal put his foot in the stirrup and hoisted himself up onto his mount. “Did you find out how long ago they set out?”

  I nodded. “Only a few sunrises ago.”

  “Good. We should be able to beat them there. A group of three can travel much faster than a whole army.”

  Phyra was now astride her bay mare. We were about to set off when I swallowed hard and sighed out of my nose. “That’s not all.” I looked to the sky, not wanting to meet their eyes. The pain made me feel vulnerable. When I continued, my words were barely above a whisper. “He killed Sreda.”

  Phyra’s face crumpled, and Percifal… there was a coldness in those aqua eyes that usually held so much warmth. “He will pay.” An oath—spoken with frosty words… unyielding.

  “I’m so sorry,” Phyra managed.

  “For Sreda,” I said.

  “For Sreda,” Phyra echoed.

  We rode in silence for a while… a silent promise between us to kill the king.

  When Crown Peak was no longer in sight, Percifal studied the map he’d pulled out of his saddlebag that had once belonged to our father and turned his horse. “We need to go this way.”

  Cliffs turned to hills and hills turned to a forest full of pine trees. I tried to help Phyra with her power every time we stopped and made camp or stayed at an Inn.

  She was concentrating on lighting a candle one night in a room we’d procured. She stared at it for a few moments, holding her breath. Her shoulders loosened when the wick took flame.

  “Too slow.” I took the candle from her and placed it in an iron candlestick. “What are you afraid of?”

  “I’m not afraid.” Her gaze dropped from my face.

  “Stop lying. What are you afraid of, Zephyra?”

  She sighed loudly and threw her hands up in the air before taking a seat on the small bed. “I’m afraid of losing control! I don’t want to hurt people.”

  I tapped my hand against my leg then strode toward the door. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Wait, where are you going?” she called after me.

  I didn’t answer.

  I spotted a maid carrying blankets down one of the halls and stopped her.

  “Candles… do you have any more candles?” I asked, placing my hands on both of her arms.

  She looked at me with big, green eyes and pulled back. “Well—yes, but they’re only to be used when the other ones are burnt up.”

  “I’ll pay for them.”

  “Al—alright, I’ll fetch the innkeeper.” She backed away, still holding the blankets.

  “And candlesticks too!”

  Shortly after, I clutched half a dozen candles and a candelabrum to my chest.

  I poked my head into the dining hall on my way by. Percifal was still playing dice with some of the men we’d met that night at supper. I all but threw him out of our room, telling him we needed privacy to practice our magic. He would’ve been a distraction if he stayed to watch us, and time was of the essence. From the grin on his lips, it looked like luck was on his side tonight.

  Phyra was staring out of the room’s small window when I returned.

  “I’ve got just what we need,” I said, setting the candelabrum down on a small table and placing the candles into it.

  I used the already lit candle to light the rest and stood back.

  “There. Now, I want you to put out each of the candles, one at a time.”

  “Okay,” she said hesitantly, bending forward and staring into the flame of the first candle. Her nostrils flared as the light bounced off her freckled skin.

  Nothing happened.

  A crease formed between her brows as she focused harder, but still nothing happened.

  She stood up. Her chin dropped to her chest with shame. “I can’t do it.”

  “Yes, you can. Focus on calming the flame from within, but don’t try so hard. It’s as natural as breathing. If you force it, it won’t be natural.”

  Phyra threw her head back and looked to the ceiling with a loud groan. “That doesn’t make any sense! If it were natural, it wouldn’t be so hard.”

  “It’s not hard,” I said, picking up the cup of water that I’d been drinking from earlier. I swirled the water up out of the cup with my power. “See.”

  “Show off.” She turned back to the candles as I set the cup back down with a playful grin.

  She stared at the flame again, and this time, the dancing light went out in a small puff of smoke.

  She clapped her hands together.

  I nodded in approval. “Keep going.”

  It took a time, but she was able to put all the candles out, one by one.

  After she was done, I told her to light each one of them again with her power.

  She did, and when she had them all lit once more, I made her put them out again.

  She repeated this until I told her to light the whole candelabrum at once, and then put all the candles out at the same time.

  When Phyra’s brow shone with sweat and I was satisfied she’d gotten enough practice for the night, I said, “Good. Practice every chance you get. You’re doing a lot better with control. You just need to work on your speed. On the battlefield, there won’t be time to stop and concentrate.”

  “Thank you, Chel. Truly, it’s been difficult learning on my own. Luckily, I had Sreda to help me wake the power I’d shoved down since I’d first felt its presence.” Pain flickered across her face at the memory of the sorceress who was now lost to us.

  I managed a small smile. “You’re welcome. I only wish I could create water the way you can create fire out of nothing.”

  She rubbed her hands down her thighs. “You can’t create water?”

  “No, I can call to it, but I can’t produce it out of thin air.”

  “Percifal led me to believe you could create and call water back within you like I could with fire.”

  “Percifal doesn’t know everything.” I gave her a smug look. It was the truth.

  “Huh.”

  “What are your intentions with my brother anyways? Do you truly love one another?”

  Her bright, green eyes dazzled. “We do. I never thought I’d find anyone who would love me the way he does. Your brother is a great man.”

  I smirked. “Yes, you’re lucky I like you.”

  She didn’t seem to know how to answer that.

  “Speaking of Percifal, we should tell him he can come back up so we can get some sleep,” I said.

  “I’ll go get him.”

  I stripped down to my undergarments and crawled onto my cot.

  We had to share a room when we stayed at inns, but it was much more preferable than sleeping on the hard ground when we made camp… which was more often than not.

  I practiced with my own power as much as Phyra did. I hadn’t used it much during my time in Gwon, other than to supply myself with fresh drinking w
ater in the sea.

  I felt the power within me strengthening the more I used it. I discovered I was able to call water up that lie beneath the ground. This would come in useful. I no longer worried my power might be useless unless it was raining immensely. The other two were grateful to have me with them because they never needed to worry about having enough water to drink.

  Percifal proved to be useful too. He taught us sword fighting skills and how to be defensive when having the lower hand. He also hunted food for us. I was glad to have him on our journey.

  The shady forest gave way to drier plains as we passed the outskirts of Solis and made our way to Terra. Dust came up in clouds around our horses legs. I marveled at the red sandstone cliffs in the distance reaching toward the clouds. Each piece of Sarantoa held a beauty of its own. I’d give everything to keep our land out of the Dark Lord’s hands.

  Phyra’s mood was glum for a few days… her usual smile absent from her lips. She kept her thoughts to herself though.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked her one night after we’d finished eating the rabbit Percifal had hunted for us.

  “I miss home,” she explained. “Actually, I miss my cousin.”

  “Queen Adelaide?” She had told me recently of her royalty. It explained a lot about her. She was always so polite and sometimes had a difficult time letting her guard down. She’d explained to me that good etiquette had been pounded into her since her birth.

  She bobbed her head. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen her. I hope she’s alright. I hope she doesn’t get caught up in this war.”

  “King Zaeden won’t get that far if we can help it.” Percifal assured her, coming up behind us and placing more wood into the fire.

  Phyra stared silently into the playful, white-orange flames.

  “Why don’t you go get some sleep? I’ll join you shortly,” he told her, taking a seat beside her.

  “Yes, I think I shall. Goodnight, Chel.”

  “Goodnight, Phyra. Rest easy.”

  Percifal and I sat quietly for a few moments, the only sound the snapping and popping of the burning wood.

  I broke the silence, giving voice to my deep thoughts. “I must try to save Thaimis from whatever spell King Zaeden has him under.”