by D. E. Morris
She met his gaze with a nod as though reading his thoughts. “Thank you for your aid that day. You and your wife were very kind to me.”
“That was you...”
“The island is made up of the remnants of Mirasean,” she told the group, ignoring Cavalon's comment. “and is therefore infused with a great deal of old magic. It is called 'Mordo Loona,' or it will be, once he settles on the name. It means 'land of the shadow people'.” Her crystalline blue eyes swept over the island as though reading it like a book. “There is an impenetrable shield around it that would cause any of you great harm should you try to breach it, even those of you with Elemental blood.”
“Who the heck is this?” Connor asked, still on the back of his dragon.
“Shush!” Ashlynn hissed.
Brigid squeezed Lochlainn's hand, worry crossing her face that made her look almost child-like. “There is a great and terrible magic holding reign there, and its master is ruthless, but he will not act. Not yet. Not quite some time.”
“Who is its master?” Jaryn asked, his voice quiet.
Rowan frowned in his direction. “Isn't it obvious? It's Merrik.”
Brigid nodded. “The Shadow King,” she confirmed, “and he is gathering his army.”
Character Appendix
(Current age at the end of Blood Purge. Spoilers!)
Acenath Amenti :: 47 (D) :: Cavalon's youngest child from his first marriage. She was spared from execution when Cavalon denounced his belief in the Giver to save her. She lived well into her forties and died of natural causes. Pronounced AHSihNAH-TH.
Akane :: 20 :: Youngest daughter of Hideo and half-sister to Misuzu. Mother unknown. Half Bakeneko. She poses as Vala, one of Ashlynn's ladies, for most of a year. Works for Rhiamon. Pronounced ah-KAHN-ay.
Alanna McKane :: 26 :: Connor's older sister, Fionn's wife, and High Queen of Ibays. Her father was Donnchadh (D). Pronounced uh-LAW-nuh.
Allorah :: 9 months :: Formerly known as Emilie. She was overlooked when her family was slaughtered. Orphaned, she was adopted by Kenayde and Elas.
Ashlynn Stuart :: 25 :: High Queen of Siness, former Elemental Dragon of Earth. Biological daughter of Nir (D) and Siobhan (D), but raised by her uncle Wessely and his wife, Emiline (D). Sister to Kenayde. She is married to Jaryn MacKaemish, mother to Lochlainn, and foster mother to Rowan. Resides in Altaine Castle. Pronounced ASH-linn.
Badru Khalifa :: 721 :: The current Elemental Dragon of Fire, hailing from a wetland region of the Sandlands far south of the Celtique Nations. Father to far too many children to list. He is the second oldest living Elemental. Pronounced BAW-drew.
Briac Seisyll :: 46 (D) :: Friend to High King Nir (D), protector and co-conspirator to Ashlynn and Kenayde. He helped in the assassination plot against Tadhg (D). Was killed by Merrik outside the monastery near Montania in Caedia. Pronounced BREE-ack
Brigid Mac Cluin :: ??? :: The current Elemental of Benevolence. Current residence unknown. Pronounced BRIDGE-id.
Cailin O Ceallaigh :: 28 :: Earth dragon. Keeper. Captain of Guard at Altaine Castle. Used to be a maid at Oceana and is very close friends with Ashlynn. Pronounced KIGH-lin oh KELL-ee.
Cavalon Amenti :: 1,227 :: The current Elemental Dragon of Light, King Consort to Nuala in Braemar, foster father to Lucien. Of the Badarian race that hails from the Sandlands far south of the Celtique Nations. He is the oldest living Elemental, having received his powers not long after the continents split. Pronounced CAH-vuh-lawn.
Cirilla :: ??? (D) :: Woman who claimed to have her family kidnapped and mostly slain. She poisoned the wine at Altaine before she was stabbed by Lochlainn and ultimately killed by Killian before her true identity was ever revealed. Pronounced ser-ILL-uh.
Connor McKane :: 18 :: Former High King in Ibays, now Prince. Son of Donnchadh (D), brother to Alanna and brother-in-law to Fionn. He has an imprinting on Nyx.
Darowynne :: 3 :: Daughter of a elfin noble from a lesser kingdom in Braemar and Lochlainn's betrothed. Pronounced DARE-o-win.
Deciever :: The fallen one of all of the Giver's creatures. He is the Great Enemy and is known to have followers who use dark and evil magics.
Derog Morwid :: 31 :: Rhiannon's biological son, druid within the Chrynirc village in Cieria, Cynefin. He knew Mairead was a Gael but kept her secret. Pronounced DARE-ogg.
Dollen :: ??? (D) :: A wandering bard and Jaryn's mentor.
Donnchadh McKane :: 46 (D) :: High King in Ibays. Father to Alanna and several other daughters. Connor in his only son from his marriage, though he has several illegitimate children, including Rowan. Though he was killed in the battle of Altaine, no one knew as much, making it easy for a Chrynir to take his place and rule in Ibays as a false Donnchadh for almost a year after the real Donnchadh's death. Pronounced DON-nuh-kuh.
Eira Priddy :: 22 :: Keeper and Chrynir sympathizer. She works in secret for Rhiamon and leads the assassination in the Cierian village on the Keepers. Pronounced A-rah.
Elas McGee :: 34 :: Water dragon. Scarred as a child and retains draconic features on half of his body when in human form. Married to Kenayde Stuart. Resides in Altaine Castle as a member of the Privy Council. Pronounced EE-loss.
Elette :: 5 :: Daughter of a Braemar noble currently at odds with the capital and Lucien's betrothed. She has the wings of a barn owl.
Emerion :: 110 :: New husband to Akane. Elven “son” of Rhiamon and one of several captains in charge of her hunters. Pronounced Em-MIR-ee-on.
Emiline Becker :: 35 (D) :: Wife to Wessely. Unable to have children of her own but became the adopted mother of Ashlynn and Kenayde. Was killed in the battle of Altaine by Merrik. Pronounced EM-ill-line
Esther :: 11 (D) :: A young girl living in Cynefin. Close to Mairead. Killed by Rhiamon.
Fintan Byrne :: 59 :: Sheriff to the High King of Ibays.
Finola Rhys :: 38 (D) :: High Queen and wife to Tadhg (D). Mother to Laidley (D), Luella, and an unnamed baby boy. She was killed inside Castle Montania while grieving the loss of her husband by Merrik. Pronounced fee-NO-luh.
Fionn Mac Branain :: 27 :: High King of Ibays, husband to Alanna, and Connor's brother-in-law. He and Connor don't always get along the best due to the Fionn pushing Alanna to lay claim to the throne over Connor. Pronounced FIN.
Gerwyn Pryce :: 38 (D) :: Cierian Keeper and friend to Lilia. He was killed in an attack on the Keepers in a Cierian village by Chrynir. Pronounced GRR-win.
Gianara Alath :: 117 :: Former leader of the people on Ironedge Island. Half elf and half Gael, (Earth). Covered in tattoos and has a colorful mohawk. She is very protective of all dragons and Gaels. Pronounced jee-uh-NAR-uh.
Giver/Great Dragon :: The one true God of the most widely accepted religion. He has often been portrayed as a Great Dragon, once having carried all worlds and all living things on his body.
Hayashi Hideo :: 59 (D) :: Father to Misuzu and Akane. Full blooded Bakeneko, a creature who can shape shift into living creatures but whose truest form is that of a cat. Was killed on the island of Mirasean by Jaryn. Pronounced he-DAY-oh.
Jarlath :: 102 (D) :: Was the Water Elemental when Badru came into his powers. He took Badru in and taught him everything he knew about Elementals. Was Nealie's great great grandfather.
Jaryn MacKaemish :: 30 :: High King of Siness, husband to Ashlynn, father to Lochlainn, foster father to Rowan. Used to be a bard. Pronounced JARE-in.
Jessiah Clery :: ??? (D) :: A Chrynir pretending to be the deceased twin bother of Killian who didn't even get the last name correct. Arrogant, charming, and crafty. Almost married Lilia. Was killed on the Isle of Contest in Braemar by Cavalon.
Jessiah O'Cleary :: 9 (D) Killian's twin brother. He died as a boy.
Kenayde Stuart :: 21 :: Earth dragon. Princess of both Oceana and Altaine. Married to Elas McGee. Daughter to Nir (D) and Siobhan (D), raised by Wessely and Emiline (D). Sister to Ashlynn. Currently resides in Altaine Castle. Nicknamed “Pickle” by Jaryn. Pronounced ken-AID
Killian O'Cle
ary :: 42 :: Former head Keeper. Former Master of Horse at Altaine. Captain of the royal family of Altaine's personal guard. Foster father to Rowan. Twin brother to Jessiah (D).
Kira :: 38 :: Nealie's housekeeper.
Kyo :: 47 (D) :: Keeper residing in Cieria. He housed Connor and Badru for a time and was killed during the raid on the village. Pronounced KEEoh.
Laidley Ellison :: 18 (D) High King in Caedia. Son of Tadgh (D) and Finola (D), older half-brother to Luella. He was Killed in the battle of Altaine by Luella. Pronounced LAID-lee.
Lilia Arterberry :: 23 :: Volar animal is a golden breasted starling. She was born in Braemar but her family lives in Caedia and raised her there from the time she was a little over a year old. She resides in Siness as one of Ashlynn's ladies. Nuala is her second cousin.
Lochlainn MacKaemish :: 6 (almost 7!) :: Elemental Dragon of Earth. Son of Ashlynn and Jaryn. Prince of Siness. Pronounced LOCK-linn.
Lucien Allaire :: 7 :: Prince of Braemar. Volar animal is a white Phoenix. Is deeply empathetic and quite empathic. Son of Nuala and Noe (D), foster son to Cavalon. Pronounced LOO-see-en in Braemar but most everyone else pronounces it LOOSH-en.
Luella MacKinnon :: 26 :: High Queen of Caedia, current Elemental Dragon of Darkness. Biological daughter of Finola (D) and Mortagh (D), but raised by Tadhg (D), sister to Laidley (D). She is married to Tasarin Blackwood, and mother to Tiyal and Owyn. Resides in Castle Montania. Pronounced loo-AY-la.
Mairead Barrach :: 24 :: Fire dragon, and one of Ashlynn's ladies. Now known to be the Elemental Dragon of Summer. Pronounced muh-RAID.
Merrik Elric :: 43 :: Former Captain of Guard at Montania. The current Element of Malevolence. Foster father to Akane. Lover of Rhiamon. Known as the Shadow King. Current residence unknown.
Misuzu Li :: 28 :: The current Elemental Dragon of Air, daughter of Mei Xing (D) and Hideo (D). She hails from Shihou, and is half Shihouzen and half Takashiri. She is also half Bakeneko, a creature who can shape shift into living creatures but whose truest form is that of a cat. She has one child, a daughter, Nagisa, and one younger half-sister, Akane. Pronounced ME-soo-zoo.
Mortagh MacKinnon :: 64 (D) :: Former Elemental Dragon of Darkness and biological father of Luella. He was killed by thieves while he was sleeping when Luella was in her pre-teens. Pronounced MORE-tog.
Nagisa Li :: 3 months :: Misuzu's infant daughter. Father unknown. Pronounced NAH-GEE-sah.
Nailah Amanti :: 12 (D) :: Cavalon's eldest daughter from his first marriage. She was killed by royal guards when Cavalon refused to denounce his faith before Pharaoh. Pronounced NIGH-la.
Nealie O'Dwyer :: 38 (D) :: Elemental of Water and mother to Rowan. Was killed in the ruins of Baerston Hold in Ibays by a Chrynir pretending to be Jessiah. Pronounced NEEL-ee.
Nehemiah Ainsley ::27 :: Goes by Niam. Bastard son of King Ainsley in Faerston. Air dragon.
Nir Stuart :: 28 (D) :: Ashlynn and Kenayde's biological father and former High King of Siness. He was Wessely's older brother. During an invasion of Siness, he was killed by Merrik while trying to keep the whereabouts of his daughters secret. Pronounced NEER.
Noe Lochlainn :: 20 (D) :: High King in Braemar and Nuala's first husband. Volar animal was a dove. He was killed in the battle of Altaine by Laidley (D). Pronounced NO.
Nuala Allaire :: 139 :: High Queen in Braemar, married to Cavalon, mother to Lucien, cousin to Lilia. Volar animal is Phoenix. Widow to Noe (D). Pronounced noo-AH-la.
Nyx :: 6 :: Connor's young Darkness dragon. She is still considered a hatchling, despite her large size, because she is still reliant upon others, to a degree, for food. Mostly it's out of laziness. Because she has been raised by a human, her personality is much closer to that of a domesticated animal than a wild dragon. She is very protective of Connor and Rowan
Ories Petit :: 41 :: Steward in Braemar, confidante of Nuala. Volar animal is a raven.
Owyn :: infant :: Luella and Tasarin's newborn son. Pronounced OH-win.
Rhiamon Morwid :: ??? :: Leader of the Chrynir, lover of Merrik, foster mother to Akane, mother to Derog and several others. All of her people caller her Mother. Pronounced RHEE-ha-mon.
Rowan O'Cleary :: 15 :: The current Elemental Dragon of Water, daughter of Donnchadh (D) and Nealie (D), foster daughter to Killian, Ashlynn, and Jaryn. Resides within Altaine Castle as one of Ashlynn's ladies. Half sister to Connor through Donnchadh.
Sabari Mahajan :: 24 (D) :: Eldest daughter to the king of the Nagin tribes in Alybaen. She was killed in the battle of Altaine. Pronounced suh-BAH-ree.
Sage Allard :: 29 (D) :: Volar whose spirit animal was a wasp. Good friend to Killian, helping him search for the missing places of power that are connected to Elementals. She was killed by feral Gaels and a Chrynir in the frozen kingdom.
Siobhán Stuart :: 29 (D) :: Biological mother of Ashlynn and Kenayde, wife of Nir, and former Elemental Dragon of Earth. She died in childbed after giving birth to Kenayde. Pronounced shiv-AWN.
Suule :: Mid 200s :: Unicorn spirit-linked to Tasarin. He is empathic and tends to see people is different colored auras. He only responds to elvish. Pronounced SOO-lay.
Tadhg Ellison :: 43 (D) :: High King in Caedia. Husband to Finola (D). Father to Laidley (D) and an unnamed infant who died in an attack on Montania. He always assumed her was Luella's father but never knew that he was not. He was killed by Ashlynn inside of Montania. Pronounced TYG (like tiger but without the er).
Tasarin Blackwood :: 253 :: Elf. King Consort to Luella in Montania, though recognized as High King. Has served on the high council at Siness for several generations. Father to Tiyal. Spirit linked to Suule. Pronounced TAS-ah-rin.
Tiyal Blackwood :: 5 :: Half elf, half Gael (Darkness). Son of Luella and Tasarin. Pronounced tee-ALL.
Wessely Stuart :: 44 :: King of Oceana but resides in Altaine at Steward while his castle is being rebuilt. Brother of Nir (D), adopted parent of Ashlynn and Kenayde, widower to Emiline (D).
Zarra Greeves :: 16 (D) :: One of Ashlynn's ladies. She always wished she was a Gael. Was like a sister to Lilia and Mairead. Killed in the attack on Altaine during Elas and Kenayde's wedding.
Acknowledgments
Of all the books in my series, this one put the definition of “labor” into the phrase, “Labor of love.” Without a great many people, this book would not exist today. My biggest thanks and recognition goes to the three individuals who had the greatest impact on my journey: to Heather, who was quick to point out when something wasn't quite right and reminding me how certain characters should be presenting themselves; to Priscilla, my Mamoo, who spent so much time going over this for me and helping me trim it down; and to Conrad, who has always helped me believe in myself and my talent on days when I just can't do it myself. All three of you kept me going and I will always love you for that.
A special thanks goes to Albannach for allowing me to pay them proper tribute with a small cameo at the games. Your music has moved many a scene and given it the life if needed in my head. To Jacquie especially, thank you for your words of encouragement each time we had the pleasure of meeting.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
D.E. began writing at the age of fourteen. During her freshman year of high school, she participated in a nation-wide writing contest for racial diversity, and won a special recognition for her short story. She's since had a poem published in a compilation book and has continued to look toward Richard Adams, Melanie Rawn, and Marion Zimmer Bradley, some of her favorite authors, for inspiration as she continues working on the next books in her Age of Valor series, as well as other writing projects.
Connect with D. E. Morris by following her on Twitter (phasingirl), liking the official Age of Valor Facebook page (facebook.com/ageofvalor), or emailing her directly at [email protected]. You can also keep up to date with important announcements and blog posts at her official website!
www.demorrisauthor.com
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