The Alora and the Knightlys Trilogy: Books 1-3

by A. J. Medina

“What are we going to do?” I asked.

  “I know one thing. You aren’t returning to him,” Silas answered.

  “But the other knightlys. He’s going to kill them. We can’t just leave them.”

  “And what do you propose we do?” General Ugo asked. “That we just let you surrender yourself to him. Do you think he would free them then? Let them return to their families or his service?”

  “I... I’m not sure.”

  “Silly girl,” one of the captains said. He looked slightly younger than General Ugo, but the long scar that trailed from underneath his eye down his cheek and back to his earlobe, screamed years of battle experience. He appeared hardened by a life of struggle, battle, and war.

  “Ser! I am not a silly girl. I just don’t know what to do about this.”

  “Ignore him,” Silas said. “General Ugo is right. King Remi will never release them if you return. He will hold them in the dungeon dangling their lives in front of you like a carrot to a horse. He will threaten to kill them anytime you don’t do as he commands.”

  “Correct,” General Ugo said. “And you are much too powerful to serve such a despicable ruler.”

  “Alora, you can’t go back to him,” Lucah added.

  “Then what do I do?”

  Silas pounded his fist on the table. “We go to war!”

  “Aye!” everyone yelled.

  Even Neala raised her fist and agreed.

  War again? I didn’t want to go to war. I knew it was coming, but I hoped it would be a lot longer before we needed to fight.

  I thought back to that day we fought Silas’ army. It was the day I found out who he really was and when so many others had died. The blood of the dead or dying was everywhere. I didn’t want any of that to happen again.

  “Nay. War is not the answer,” I said.

  “War is the only answer,” that stupid captain shouted.

  Everyone cheered in agreement.

  There had to be a better way than senseless deaths. No one else needed to die. “Isn’t there a way that we can accomplish the same thing without our knights dying?” I asked.

  “War!” another captain shouted

  “Nay. Stop that already. Can’t we just sneak in and rescue them?”

  “Sneak in? We are not children.”

  “What is your name, Ser?”

  “I am Captain Franc.”

  “Well Captain Franc, you aren’t helping,” I told him.

  “And we can sneak in,” Neala said. “Alora can get us there and into the castle city the way we left—on the water.”

  “That’s preposterous. War!” Captain Franc yelled again.

  Silas motioned with both arms to silence him. “Now wait a minute. That’s not a bad idea. Tell us more.”

  I came up with a plan right on the spot. It was only a rough idea, but everyone liked it, or at least most of it.

  Silas had finally forgiven me after a few more days of pleading with him and saying how sorry I was for kissing Lucah.

  We lay in bed, his warm body against my own. My foot rubbed against his leg and my hand slid over the slight rise and fall of his chest muscles.

  Silas was holding onto the emerald that hung around my neck. He studied it, watching as it twinkled with the light from the fire. “It really is beautiful,” he said.

  I pulled it away from him and attacked his lips.

  I was trying to avoid the discussion he kept trying to have with me — war — but it didn’t seem like I would be successful.

  “Your plan has merit, but we still need to iron out the details,” Silas said.

  I thought back to the battle in the field and all of the blood and death. Sneaking in was going to be part of the plan, but war was also part of it. I saw our next battle and the many more deaths that would come from it. I asked him the question again. “Why do so many have to die?”

  “It’s the nature of war.”

  “I know, but what if so many didn’t have to die? What if the battle took place sooner?”

  “We should wait until winter is over. My general and captains agree.”

  “But now would be the best time to go. King Remi wouldn’t expect us to attack during this weather and he won’t be prepared. If we wait until the weather is warm, his army will be ready for us.”

  “You make a good point, but our army would need to march through the cold and the snow. They would be exhausted before the battle even began.”

  “I know, but it would make an attack on the city so much easier.”

  “How do you mean?”

  I massaged his earlobe with my thumb and finger. “Maybe we wouldn’t need the army to fight if we had the element of surprise.”

  “I’m listening.”

  We can attack at night when everyone is sleeping—you, me, and the knightlys. And we can use the army as a decoy...”

  I told him the rest of my idea and when I was done, waited for his answer.

  “Interesting. I will brief General Ugo in the morning.”

  I rubbed my foot over his calf again.

  “Alora?”

  “Aye?”

  “When the king falls I will truly be king of the three kingdoms. Have you decided if you will be my queen?”

  “I’m still thinking. I don’t know if I can do it. Being a queen sounds scary. I wouldn’t know where to start.”

  “You’d be surprised how easy it is. And you’re already a leader. You’ll just need to lead a lot more people.”

  “The only queen I ever met was Queen Rosaleen and she was evil and wicked.”

  “Then be the opposite. I know I’m a great king. No more slavery, no more hunger, no more freezing. I will help everyone in the three kingdoms be happy. You can do the same at my side.”

  Since I didn’t know what to say, I kept quiet.

  He changed the subject back to battle. “Are you ready then?”

  I stared into his eyes. His eyes were lit by the fire’s dancing flames. “Aye, I’m ready.”

  “Then prepare your knightlys for battle for in a weeks time, we invade Castle Ly’vera.”

  I snuggled up to him. That’s when it really sunk in what we were about to do. We were about to invade the castle and assassinate the king I had sworn to protect. I had broken my word and I had broken the allegiance I swore to Remi when I took my oath. But I had a good reason. The king himself was dishonorable and there was no way I could continue to serve him. At least that’s what I told myself as I drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 15

  Davina was at the falcon cage retrieving the falcon that would guide them back to Ly’vera. She had to warn the king and queen that Alora and The Apprentice were going to invade and would soon storm the castle city.

  She furiously rolled the parchment and then tied it to the falcon’s leg. When she heard footsteps, Davina shut the cage door and peered through the falling snow.

  “What are you doing? We need to go,” Aednat barked.

  “I was just saying goodbye to the other falcons.”

  “Why?”

  “I just wanted to say goodbye in case I don’t make it back.”

  “Hurry up then.”

  Aednat watched as Davina opened the falcon cage and attempted to retrieve the requested falcon—the one with the green ribbon tied to its leg. She held the door out of the way, since the wind kept trying to swing it shut, and then leaned into the cage to whisper to the one with the paper attached to its leg. Davina glanced over her shoulder and when Aednat looked away she removed that falcon’s hood.

  It side stepped back and forth on its perch, eager to soar, but Davina blocked its path. She reached her arm in and the falcon with the green ribbon stepped onto her forearm. It turned its still covered head from side to side, trying to make out what was happening.

  Davina closed the falcon’s cage, but didn’t lock it. She hoped the wind would cause the door to swing open or at the very least the unhooded falcon would take it upon itself to complete its mission.


  “Let’s go,” Aednat barked.

  Davina wanted to kill that one. Always rude, always annoying.

  Soon, she thought, soon you will be silenced.

  “They’re waiting for us, hurry.”

  With the guide falcon resting on her forearm she said, “I’m coming. Enough already.”

  Aednat ran into the castle and just before Davina did, she heard a low squeak come from behind her. She glanced over her shoulder just in time to see the falcon’s silhouette cutting through the snow.

  She had succeeded, but still needed to give it a slight head start. Just enough time to warn Queen Rosaleen. And so she took as long as she could going down the steps and out of the castle.

  — — —

  We were all waiting along the shore line for Davina to arrive with the falcon that would guide us back to Ly’vera.

  I stood barefoot in the water that I had already warmed and held Silas’ hand. There was no moon, which would help us even more. With the black of night as our companion we should arrive undetected.

  The new trainees had been inducted into the knightlys, my knightlys, and they had decided not to listen to me or follow me and Neala’s lead by not wearing boots in the water. That was a mistake. The water will be warmed by me, but once we reach the city, the cold air would begin to chill their boots.

  I wished they would listen, but no one would. I could’ve commanded them, but chose not to. We were going into battle and they needed to feel somewhat in control of their own destinies.

  I glanced down at Silas’ feet. He wouldn’t listen to me either, no matter how hard I tried. He wanted to have his boots on in case we didn’t arrive undetected and needed to bolt into action.

  I could just manifest them onto my feet, a gift I was thankful for, so that wasn’t my concern at all.

  Neala had her boots hanging around her neck, the two of them tied by one lace. She was my apprentice and I didn’t know if she listened to me because of that reason or because she had already experienced this type of ride with me before. Either way I was happy she followed my lead.

  “We’re here!” Aednat shouted.

  Her and Davina appeared out of the darkness.

  This was it. Silas’ army had already marched for days and had arrived at the field in Ry’uet. The very same field we had fought on by the drawbridge that led into Ly’vera.

  King Remi’s army stood opposite them ready to do battle. This meant most of the knights would be out of the castle city leaving it minimally defended.

  “Final preparations!” I shouted to the line. “Has everyone drank their potion of dark to light?”

  “Aye!” they all shouted.

  “Wizard potions?” I asked.

  “Aye!” they all answered.

  I looked them all over one last time. My knightlys were all dressed in their wizard suits. The newest knightlys didn’t have suits and wore just armor. Silas was also dressed in his wizard suit. Me and Neala were barefoot. Everyone else in their boots. All of us wearing our winter cloaks. We were ready. Or at least ready as could be for what would surely be a story told for ages.

  “Everyone ready?” I shouted.

  “Aye!”

  “Step forward into the water,” I commanded.

  I felt Neala’s hand grip my free one. I smiled as we stepped forward. When the water was at waist height, my eyes lit the darkness. The water from the sea lifted everyone up so that we stood on top of it.

  I wiggled my toes. The water was warm and welcoming. “Davina, release the falcon,” I ordered.

  I watched as the falcon soared high in the sky, the green ribbon flapping in the wind making it easy to spot.

  “Here we go!” I said.

  The water lurched us forward towards Ly’vera. All the remaining knightlys left at the castle city in the dungeon needed us to succeed.

  And King Remi. King Remi had to pay. He killed my parents—Mother, Father and Biron. He killed Neala’s love and kept Silas in the dungeon where he starved and beat him.

  The queen would also pay for her cruelty. She would pay for what she had done to Neala, and they would both pay for making me betray my word.

  — — —

  “Alora and The Apprentice are attacking!” her mother yelled after bursting in through the door. “Get up, hurry. We are going to your father’s chambers.”

  The princess rubbed her eyes. What was her mother saying? Alora... The Apprentice... attacking?

  “Attacking? But why?” the princess asked.

  “Dear daughter, because she wants to be queen of course. She wants to rule the three kingdoms.”

  “That doesn’t sound like Alora.”

  Her mother rushed over to her and grabbed her arm. Squeezing it tight, she pulled the princess out of bed with one yank.

  “Mother, you’re hurting me.”

  “Hush now. Let’s go.”

  They hurried down the passageway. It was quiet... eerily quiet. The only sound to be heard were the princess’ bare feet and her mother’s.

  Her mother’s? she wondered. She looked down and saw that her mother’s feet were also bare. She began to get worried.

  She couldn’t remember the last time her mother walked the palace barefoot. She couldn’t remember because she had never seen it.

  Her mother must have been so worried and afraid that she ran out of her room and to the princess’ without thinking or caring about shoes.

  Was mother really so afraid of Alora? So afraid that she didn’t care how she looked pulling her daughter down the passageway?

  They ran to her father’s chambers and when they arrived, her father was still in his bed. Her mother ran over to his window and thrust the window coverings aside. She peered out into the night.

  “Shut the door,” she told the princess.

  Princess Evelyn did as her frantic mother said. She still hadn’t fully awakened and rubbed her eyes letting out a loud yawn. “Mother this is ridiculous. Alora isn’t attacking.”

  Her mother rushed to her father’s bed and ripped his covers off. He wasn’t alone. “Wake up Remi!”

  “What, what’s going on?”

  “Alora’s attacking.”

  “When?”

  “Soon.”

  He jumped out of bed and ran to his closet to get dressed and the girl servant in bed with him began getting dressed as well. Uncomfortable seeing her father with nothing on, the princess turned around.

  “How do you know?” he asked.

  “I received a falcon. They are on their way now.”

  The princess heard his boots stomp across the room. She went over to the window to peek out at the darkness knowing she wouldn’t be able to see, but also wondering if she would see something—anything.

  “But the knights at the battle field?” King Remi asked.

  “A trick. She’s coming for us.”

  Her father spoke to the girl servant. “Run as fast as you can. Find a knight, any knight. Tell him the city is about to be attacked. Tell him to sound the alarm.”

  The girl ran off.

  Princess Evelyn observed her parents. Their faces were covered in fear. Her mother no longer cared about appearances. Her white hair flowed down in a disheveled mess and the bottoms of her feet were dirty from running through the passageways. She chased her father around the room as he prepared himself. He lifted his sword off the hook by the door and unsheathed it.

  “We’ll be ready for them. This is your fault you know?”

  “It is not.” She seemed insulted.

  “You shouldn’t have done what you did to Neala, and you shouldn’t have asked for her head.”

  “What was that?” Princess Evelyn interrupted.

  Her mother shooed her. “Never mind, child.”

  “You were going to kill Neala? Mother how could you?”

  “She’s just a peasant and she was my servant. Mine to do with as I saw fit.”

  The princess felt her anger swell up inside. Her face felt hot and her skin was
on fire. Her breath built up inside of her chest and when she opened her mouth the words echoed throughout the chamber as if she was a lion and had roared. “As you saw fit! Just as Father saw fit to do with her and the other girls!”

  Her mother gasped and clutched her chest. Her father simply stared at her.

  “How dare you speak to me this way?” her mother scolded. She raised her hand and brought it back down towards the princess’ cheek.

  Before it could connect, the princess took a large step backwards and her mother’s hand passed a mere inch in front of her nose. Her mother gasped at the fact that she had missed.

  “Why you ungrateful...”

  — — —

  After traveling for a short time, much shorter than I had expected, the sound of water crashing at the base of the bridge was in range.

  We had arrived.

  I took a deep breath and prepared myself. Invading a palace. I had never done anything like it. I reviewed the plan of attack in my mind again. It was simple and we had the element of surprise. No one knew we were coming and that would allow us to get in undetected. I was ready. At least I thought I was.

  And that’s when we heard the horns sound.

  Silas was already staring at me. He didn’t need to say a word, I knew what he was thinking.

  “They couldn’t have seen us coming,” I said.

  “Backup plan!” Silas shouted. “Lucah! Dragon!”

  Lucah drank the potion of deceit and when he turned into a dragon, his winter cloak immediately tore apart. He soared into the sky circling over the castle city before soaring down upon the knights on top of the gate walls.

  He exhaled a stream of fire that set them all ablaze. Their screams and the fire could be seen and heard throughout the city—I was sure of it.

  I let go of Neala and Silas’ hands and split the wave. I slowed us down so I could focus on what I was doing and sent my knightlys, along with Ryanne and Aednat as their captains, over to the bridge landing at the castle city gate. I watched as they stepped off the wave and onto the landing.

  The plan had changed somewhat, but could still work. Lucah’s job was to scare the citizens into staying in their homes with his dragon’s breath.