Phoenix of Hope: Complete Series — Books 1-4

by Zora Marie

“She’s just a little girl.”

  “There’s something more to her, she’s not from The Trading Town, her accent doesn’t match. We’ll come back with light.”

  “Fine.”

  She could hear their footsteps fade and the rustle of the vines as they passed outside. She waited in silence for a long while before retrieving the pack. If Asenten saw it, he would lock her deeper in the tunnels again. The barrier kept her from leaving, but with access to the cave mouth, she could at least breathe the fresh air when the wind blew up from the south.

  When she snatched the pack from the floor, she noticed something by the vines. With a flame lit in her palm, she scooped up a leather pouch. She let the flame creep up her arm so she could use both hands to untie it. As she pulled it open the smell of fresh seasoned meat hit her. It wasn’t something she had liked when she was little, but now the jerky was the best thing she had. She ripped off a little piece of the tough tangy meat and settled down next to the vines. A storm had rolled in, and the wind was misting the mouth of the cave.

  What am I going to do when they come back? Asenten will make me kill them if he learns they saw me. He’ll make me kill them all when he finds out.

  She stared down at the shriveled piece of meat in her hand. The jerky burned a little as she swallowed, the Dwarves always liked spicy things. She stuffed the rest back in the pouch. Who knows how long it will be before I’m given food again?

  I’ll just have to hide when Connan comes back, just like I’ll have to hide this.

  Lightning crackled outside, lighting up the dark hole for just a moment. She covered her ears as the thunder boomed, amplified by the acoustics of the cave. Then she waited for the echoes of the thunder to settle before continuing deeper into the cave.

  She tucked the jerky into a little hole low and out of sight, then she curled up with the rough leather pack tucked under her head as a pillow.

  I have to keep Asenten from finding out, she thought and drifted asleep.

  “Rog!” Terik half growled.

  Rogath laughed and darted between the wooden posts that served as training pells in the arena.

  What did you do now? Zelia thought.

  “Rogath.” Steffon sighed and rubbed his temples.

  Rog stopped behind Steffon and peered around at Terik. Terik stomped towards them, his hair dripping, and clothes plastered to him.

  “No magic at practice!” Terik threw himself at Rog.

  Rog didn’t even bother to dodge him, getting caught was all part of his plan. He rolled with Terik in the sandy dirt, thoroughly coating the other boy. Rog jumped to his feet and ran for the stairs as he dusted the few particles of sand from himself.

  “That’s enough for the day. Go clean up, Terik,” Steffon conceded.

  Rog slowed as he neared the bridge over the water.

  “Hello again. You’ve been visiting a lot, I may not be able to see or hear you, but I can feel you,” Rog said.

  Zelia sighed, Rog had become more perceptive of her presence over time and she had found she could sometimes sway his decisions when he was in the best of moods.

  “I don’t think Terik is quite done with you, Rog. What did you do this time?” a guard asked.

  She could almost feel Rog’s grin as he looked over his shoulder at Terik and picked up his pace.

  “Want to watch the sunset? It won’t be long,” Rog said as he climbed a tall staircase.

  Even a brief mention of the sunset or the stars was enough to stir Zelia’s longing to see them again with her own eyes.

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  He skirted a few long halls and came to a balcony where he sat on its edge.

  “You know, one day I will find a way to hear you, to free you.”

  He sighed and leaned back against a column. They watched as the sky turned from blue to gold and then darkened until the stars twinkled on the horizon.

  “There you are. Zelia.”

  A wet nose nudged her cheek, and she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

  “Dain?”

  “I need your help, there’s a hatchling, I found it stuck under one of the trees the ogres knocked over while chasing me,” the pup rambled on.

  “Wait, slow down.” Zelia took a deep breath. “Where is it?”

  “I left it at the mouth of the cave. I was hoping you would know what to do with it. Mom wanted to eat it, but it’s my fault it’s tree got knocked over.”

  She scratched Dain’s head and stared towards the mouth of the cave. What can I do? I don’t have any food. Then she thought of the jerky. Prince Connan will be back, I can leave it out for them if I can keep it alive that long.

  “Do you care if I pick you up?”

  “Why?”

  “You ran into things walking back here, didn’t you?”

  “Y... yeah,” the pup conceded.

  She couldn’t help but snuggle him to her chest when she scooped him up. She breathed in the musky smell of his coat and rubbed her cheek against his soft fuzzy fur as she walked. She loved the gentle warmth that radiated from him and the steady thud of his heart.

  “I wish you could stay.” She shook her head, shifting her thoughts to the reality of her existence. “No. No one should stay here. Especially not a fine future leader as handsome and kind as you.”

  She gave him a little squeeze and set him down.

  “Zelia, why don’t you leave? Why have I never seen you in the woods?”

  “I can’t leave, but don’t worry about me. Where’s this hatchling of yours?”

  He sniffed the air, and the vines rustled as he pushed through them. A startled screech came from the little bird, and Dain dropped it at her feet. She knelt and picked it up before it could run off again.

  “Thank you, Dain.” She scratched him right behind the ear and he leaned into it. “You should get back to your mother, she’s probably worried about you.”

  Dain sighed and shook out his coat. “You’re right, but I’ll be back.”

  “No, it’s not safe for you to come here again. Maybe one day I’ll be able to visit you.”

  “Alright, I’ll keep a watch out for you.”

  The soft glow of morning light shimmered through the vines as Dain passed through them.

  She sat back against the cave wall and sighed. “Now what am I going to do with you?”

  She stroked the little bird’s head.

  “Do you have a name?”

  “Flyx.”

  “Really? Well… alright.”

  “Zelia?” Connan’s voice called from just outside the mouth of the cave.

  Her first instinct was to hide, but Flyx screeched and she settled back again. Have to take care of you first, then I’ll deal with Asenten.

  “Here?” another voice asked. “But there’s no cave here!”

  “What’s that? James, wrong for once?” Connan spoke again.

  “He’s not lying, there is a cave here,” Zelia replied.

  “An elf?”

  “No, a girl.”

  The vines parted and Connan and James ducked inside, holding a torch out in front of him so he could see.

  “Awe, there you are. You weren’t waiting on me, were ya?” Connan asked.

  “No. I have something for you,” the dwarven language felt strange and clunky on her tongue after so long. She rocked to her feet and put Flyx in his hand. “Will you take care of her for me? Her name is Flyx. The ogres knocked down her tree.”

  “Where did you learn our language?”

  James reached to brush her hair behind her ear. Her heart jumped in her throat and she backed away.

  “I’m not an elf if that’s what you’re asking. I’ve known your language for many years, though it’s been a while since I’ve used it.”

  “Your grandfather will want to meet her.”

  “Please no.” Zelia backed further into the cave and her jaw quivered as she fought to think of some way to convince them to go. “Please just go. I wasn’t going to let you fi
nd me again, but Flyx needs someone else. Please, just take care of her.”

  Zelia turned and darted into the cave, lighting a flame in her palm so she could see enough to run.

  “Zelia!”

  She could hear his footsteps as he followed, but she smothered her flame as she ducked behind a stalagmite and hoped he wouldn’t see.

  “Connan. I don’t think she wants to be found.”

  “Did you even take a good look at her?”

  “Of course, I did.” James took a deep breath. “I know she needs help, but you can’t help someone who doesn’t want help.”

  I do want help, but I’m tired of killing. Her eyes watered, but she refused to let a tear fall. If Asenten saw she’d been crying, he’d punish her.

  “Well, I’m not giving up. Zelia, I know you can hear me. Please come out, I only want to help.”

  Zelia struggled to steady her breath as she waited, hoping Connan would give up before Asenten returned. Her back ached from sitting still in the awkward position by the time Connan sighed.

  “I’ll be back.”

  The footsteps receded, and she waited a while before moving from her hiding place. She found a larger leather bag waiting for her this time. She was about to throw it through the vines when Asenten pushed his way through. She stepped back and dropped the bag behind her.

  “What are you doing this far up?”

  He scowled at her and then noticed the bag. He shoved her to the side and snatched it up.

  “What is this? Where did you get this?” he demanded.

  “I… It was left in the cave. The storm, someone took shelter here.”

  “Who? Did they see you?”

  “No.” She shook her head and edged closer to the back of the cave.

  Asenten flipped the bag open and dumped its contents.

  “No? Then what’s all this?”

  “I… I don’t…”

  Asenten mumbled in an ancient tongue and she stumbled back.

  “Please no. I didn’t say anything. They didn’t see me.”

  Asenten strode towards her and slammed her against the wall, knocking her senseless.

  She blacked out to find Rog asleep, and they were caught in a black void between minds but could both feel each other’s presence.

  “Who’s there?” Rog’s voice echoed through their heads.

  “Y... you hear me?” her internal voice caught as her head throbbed.

  “Who are you and why are you in my head?”

  “Zelia and if I find out, you’ll be the second to know.”

  “Are you okay? You don’t feel like you usually do.”

  “Wait… how do you know anything about me?”

  “The same as how you know so much about me. So, where are you?”

  “Then why did you never say that you saw through my eyes while you sleep?”

  “I didn’t want to make things harder for you, but now… where are you?”

  “The Forgotten Lands.”

  “Where?” Rog asked, downright puzzled.

  “South of the Mountains of The Old Ones, a home of Dwarves on Mineria.”

  “So, I was right!”

  At that moment, if Zelia had possessed a physical form, she would have rolled her eyes.

  “So, now that we can talk, why are you being held in a cave?”

  “Can we talk about something else, please?” she begged. “Anything else, horses, wolves, birds, the stars…” An overwhelming sense of longing washed over them.

  “You really miss seeing the stars, don’t you? Wait, no, don’t hide your feelings. I’m sorry, it’s just…”

  “It’s okay Rog, I… I just can’t.”

  “Can’t what?” Rog prodded through her feelings. “Wait… you weren’t always held by Asenten were you? He took something from you, more than just your life and innocence. You had a family before…”

  “Stop!” she demanded and locked her emotions away from him, just as he sometimes did to her.

  “Zelia, I could ask fath… Yargo… he could save you.”

  “No. He’ll make me hurt him. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt because of me…”

  “You know he’ll make you kill Connan as soon as he finds out.”

  “I… I know.” Another spike of pain hit her as someone was trying to nudge her awake.

  “Just hold on a little longer, alright.” There was a sweet and concerned tone to Rog’s voice that she had never heard before as their connection severed.

  5

  “Get up! We’re going somewhere,” Asenten demanded with a jab from the butt of his staff.

  “Where?”

  “You forced our hand. This is Prince Connan’s bag. We can’t just let him and everyone he has told live.”

  What? He doesn’t mean… She shrank back at the sight of his twisted grin. He does!

  “No, I won’t kill all of those people!” She pushed back against the cave wall and wedged herself in place. “Rog, if you’re there, please hurry.”

  “Would you rather die, again?” He asked.

  “Why does it matter? I’d die doing what you want, anyway. You know I can’t do that big a blast.”

  He ignored her words and bashed the end of his staff into her gut. She pulled away from the cave wall as she clutched her stomach.

  “Disobedience again?” He threw her around so her back faced him.

  Her fingers dug into the wall. Just take it, you can’t go back there, not again. Another lashing across her back ripped open old and new scars. The taste of iron nipped at the tip of her tongue as she bit her lip, she knew what punishment would ensue if she let out so much as a pained gasp.

  “Now, are you going to come?” he asked.

  She still faced away from him when she shook her head. She couldn’t make out his chant, but she knew him well enough and braced herself. With the tap of his staff beside her, she went hurtling towards the far cave wall. Ribs cracked with the force driven into her chest by Asenten’s staff. She gasped in pain and hugged her chest.

  “I’ll be back, and you better be ready to be obedient when I get here!”

  “Father! Father!” Rog yelled as he ran across the massive throne room, ignoring the magnificence of Yargo’s throne, having seen it so many times before.

  “Yes Rog?”

  “I... Zelia needs your help…”

  “That girl you dreamt of all those years ago? Not this again, Rog,” Yargo said.

  “But she’s real! She lives on Mineria, and he’s going to kill her! Please Father,” Rog reached his father. His eyes were frantic and he was breathless as he grabbed the foot of the throne. “I’m begging you, at least ask Lumid if she’s real.”

  “Why are you so interested in this human girl?” Yargo sat forward to look down on his son, not understanding why Rog was so insistent on helping this girl.

  “She’s not human… she’s… well, the wizards claim she’s my sister… she’s the same age as Terik and me.” He pulled back from Yargo to watch his reaction.

  “Very well Rog, I will ask Lumid.” He sat back in his throne.

  “Now,” Rog demanded when he saw Yargo was in no hurry to see to his request.

  “This isn’t another one of your games is it?” Yargo asked, an eyebrow raised.

  Rog’s shoulders rolled back as he spun around. “If it was, it would be my worst one yet.” He turned back to his Father and continued, “Please, go ask Lumid, now.”

  Yargo heaved a sigh, stood, and swung his staff with each step. “Very well, Rogath.”

  Lumid, the God of Passage, was in his home, the sacred place of passage to Mineria, when Yargo found him.

  “Why do you ask?” he demanded, but he was already turning the magnifying lenses towards Mineria.

  Yargo sat on a nearby chair and waited for Lumid to finish fine-tuning the lenses. “Rog says he is connected to this girl and sees her in his dreams. He claims that a wizard that holds her is about to kill her… and that this wizard claims that she i
s Terik and Rogath’s sister.”

  “Could she be from the line of Kings?”

  “Perhaps, but that wouldn’t explain her connection to Rog.”

  Lumid stiffened as the lenses stopped moving. “Well, I do not know whose daughter she is, but she is real. It appears the wizard has bound her using his life force.” Lumid winced as he studied her and continued, “And she undeniably needs saving from him before he kills her.”

  “So at least part of Rog’s story is true, there’s only one way to find the truth behind the rest of his story.” He sighed and turned towards the bridge entrance. “Barg, Gaeru!”

  “Yargo?” They both turned from where they stood guard.

  “We’re going to Mineria.”

  “Look for the thick vines and tree roots, the cave is well concealed.”

  Lumid gave Yargo a nod and sank his sword into the initiation switch centered in the room. All the colors of the rainbow exploded around the trio. When the light faded Yargo and his warriors had disappeared.

  “May I watch through your eyes, please?” Rogath asked.

  Lumid studied him for a moment before nodding. Rogath drew a symbol in the air that glowed and pulsed once before they were watching through Lumid’s eyes.

  On Mineria, Yargo appeared outside a cave veiled in vines. The entrance didn’t look like much, but the draft that drifted through as they moved told otherwise. They found a young girl near the entrance, her ripped and tattered clothing soaked in blood. Cautious not to startle her, Yargo laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

  She flinched at the touch, her connection to Rogath snapping away. She raised her teary eyed gaze. “Yargo?” She rocked to her knees and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder. “Thank you, Rog,” she whispered.

  “Shh, I have you now,” Yargo assured her with a stroke of her tangled mess of curly hair.

  “You are not welcome here! Leave now or face your deaths!” an old man’s voice boomed through the cave.

  Zelia shook her head and shrank back from the voice.

  Yargo turned to face the aged wizard but was sure to keep himself between her and the threatening stranger. “Zelia is coming with us, release her now.”