The Elemental Trilogy Box Set

by Toni Cox

  Why was it so difficult to say no to him? She wished she could give in to him and allow her feelings to take over. So long they had travelled together and she should be used to it by now, but it only got worse with every passing day. She knew he felt it, too, for every night he came to sit with her longer and longer.

  She felt more comfortable in the cave now that she knew Blaid’s secret and also what was down the tunnel on the other side of the cave. Even so, she slept badly that night, tossing and turning within the bed hewn into the rock.

  By morning, she was as tired as she had been the night before and feared she had dark circles under her eyes. Blaid showed her where the river was and she took extra care scrubbing herself clean. Although she washed every day, even if just from a bucket, it was difficult to stay properly clean while travelling.

  The water that ran through the mountain was cold and she shivered within moments of stepping into it. Once done, she dried herself quickly and then donned the clothes she had chosen for today.

  Maia had not packed for a day at court. Her bags contained her warm and comfortable travelling clothes, her hunting gear, her fighting clothes and armour, and her winter coat. Nothing she brought was fit to be worn to a formal occasion, and she had decided to wear the clothes she wore into battle, thinking it appropriate for the matter she wanted to discuss with the king. She rubbed her hair dry, and tied it loosely at the back.

  When she stepped into the main cavern, Blaid was ready and waiting for her. He, too, had chosen to wear his battle clothes and Maia caught her breath at the sight of him.

  “Are you ready, My Lady?” he asked, and held out his arm for her to take.

  “As long as you are by my side, I am ready for anything,” she smiled at him.

  Together, they walked along the tunnel and then past the raspberry bush into the open.

  “How will we get across the valley to the castle?” she asked.

  “I thought we might as well make an entrance and ask Midnight to take us there. We could use every advantage we can get.” He grinned boyishly.

  Maia let Midnight know and Blaid saw to Lilith before they walked under the hazelnut trees while Midnight made his way to them from the canyon where he had spent the night. Once out on the field, it wasn’t long before Midnight circled above and then landed for them to settle on his back.

  There is a large courtyard on the southern side of the castle, surrounded by a tall wall, but it should be large enough for you to land in, if you feel safe to do so. I cannot guarantee that our archers won’t shoot at you.

  Midnight mocked the thought of archers harming him, and launched into the air.

  The trees in the valley below glowed in several shades of red and gold in the morning sun.

  Maia had a good look of the castle and the city below it; from a defensive point of view, it could not have been built better.

  On the eastern side, the lake stretched for miles, glittering in the sunshine. Starting at the harbour, the city wound its way up the hillside to the outer castle walls about two miles away. To the south, the terrain sloped steeply for miles, offering stunning views, before a ridge formed a mighty wall, running east to west. In the west, two towering mountain peaks glinted white, and Midnight said badlands, swamps and brackish lakes dominated beyond them. Only to the north was there open ground; the valley they now flew over. Here Caverna Estralis grew crops, grazed herds, and it held workshops for manufacturing goods as well, but even this valley was protected by the mountain they spent the night on.

  Maia wondered how the first people discovered this place.

  Midnight beat his wings lazily and circled the city once before heading to the courtyard Blaid mentioned. Maia hoped the archers wouldn’t shoot, but expected them to.

  When all they did was stare from the battlement, it surprised her. While most folk reacted in fright on seeing a dragon, especially Midnight, she expected warriors to assume defensive positions immediately. Either their fright froze them, or they had seen dragons before.

  Midnight hovered briefly over the deserted courtyard before coming in to land. A narrow flowerbed ran along the inner wall, blooming even now with flowers of every colour, but the centre was paved and he landed safely.

  Blaid took Maia’s hand after their dismount, and they stood in front of her glorious dragon while they waited for someone to come out and greet them. Her heartbeat was erratic, and she sensed Blaid’s tension.

  “Do you think someone is coming?” Maia whispered when nothing happened for some while.

  “It is a large castle; give them time to get here,” Blaid responded.

  Eventually the ornate double doors at the far end of the courtyard opened and several warriors dressed in the colours of Caverna Estralis stepped through, surrounding a man who could only be Blaid’s father. The likeness was instantly evident.

  The Guard came to halt well outside of the reach of Midnight’s mouth. Maia noticed them glancing at him, but they did not seem overly perturbed. They had to know dragons, she thought. The king moved forward, coming towards them with an unreadable expression. When he was twenty paces away, he halted. Midnight rumbled deep in his chest, but the king did not flinch.

  Instead, without making eye contact with Midnight, he nodded to Blaid. “My son, you have returned. And in impressive company, I see.”

  “Father.” Blaid tilted his head towards his father in respect. “This is Princess Maia Longshadow of Grildor, and her dragon, Midnight.”

  “Princess, welcome to Caverna Estralis. Please forgive us for the rude reception, but we did not know who was coming to visit, especially not riding such an impressive beast as yours.”

  Midnight growled, louder this time. Lord Elderbow, however, seemed not to notice that he had offended the dragon and went on without acknowledging the dangerous sounds coming from Midnight. A dragon, especially one such as Midnight, usually commanded respect, at the very least. Maia wondered about the king’s attitude.

  “Please, My Lady, follow me indoors. Your beast may remain in the yard if you wish.”

  Blaid snorted derision at the same time as Midnight rumbled anew.

  “Thank you, Lord Elderbow,” Maia replied, already developing a dislike for the king. “Midnight will return to the mountains while we are here. He will not disturb anyone.”

  “As you wish, My Lady. Please, follow me.”

  The king marched back to the double doors and his Guard gathered around him once more.

  Blaid, expressionless, held his arm for her and she took it, after glancing reassuringly at her dragon and sending him her respect. He then led her across the yard and through the doors. She heard Midnight shake out his wings and take to the air. He would be back within moments if she needed him. Midnight was not happy.

  “Your father does not like dragons.”

  Blaid briefly pressed his lips together. “I will explain later.”

  Inside, the marble floors gleamed in the rays of sunshine coming through tall, arched windows. Never had Maia been in such a place. Not even Tarron Heights’ citadel, built almost entirely out of marble, could compare with the beauty of the castle.

  Blaid whispered to her as they walked. “The statue on this pedestal is our ancestor, Lord Bevan Elderbow, first of his name. It is made entirely out of jade.” He pointed to the walls. “Every candle holder within the castle is made from gold mined exclusively in this valley.” They passed several doors, most of them closed. “The doors on this floor are made with wood from walnut trees. Every level of the castle has doors made from a different wood. The level that used to hold my room has cherry wood doors.”

  Maia marvelled at everything Blaid pointed out, impressed by the luxury, but already saddened by the coldness of it all. There was no life within this castle and she struggled to understand how anyone could call it a home.

  Finally, they reached a set of doors made entirely of gold. Maia did not have time to study the elaborate dragons that graced each door, as two Guard opened them
to admit their king and his guests.

  Startled, Maia looked down as her boots sunk into lush carpet, instead of stepping on firm marble. They had entered the throne room and, in comparison to this chamber, the rest of the castle was sparsely furnished.

  Maia found it difficult to concentrate on the king’s words as she looked around; heavy velvet curtains on the windows; colourful, lush carpets on the floors; wooden tables adorned with crystal bowls containing fresh fruit; crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling; gold candelabras on side tables; elaborate tapestries on the walls; animal furs in front of the largest fire place Maia had ever seen; beautifully carved chairs at equally impressive tables; two thrones, made from ebony, covered in cushions. It was too much to take in.

  “I have sent for refreshments,” Lord Elderbow said, and took a seat on his throne, leaving Blaid and Maia to stand before him. “Are you planning on staying a while? Should I send for the guest wing to be readied?”

  “Thank you, Father, we might stay a night or two. Maia has some urgent matters of state she would like to talk to you about. May we request an audience?”

  Maia frowned, wondering why they could not talk to him now. The king tilted his head to the left and out of the shadows stepped an Elf Maia had not noticed when she entered. He stood beside the king and whispered quietly in his ear.

  “I will grant you an audience tomorrow afternoon,” the king finally announced. “Take your refreshments here, if you like, and then you may show Princess Maia to the guest wing. Go see your mother as soon as you can; she will be glad to see you.”

  Blaid merely nodded.

  “Thank you, My Lord,” Maia said and followed Blaid to one of the tables where a Server placed a tray with tea and biscuits.

  Blaid poured her a cup, but she refused the confectionery. They drank their tea in silence and Lord Elderbow attended to some business behind them. Maia was glad when they had finished and the Server that brought the tray escorted them out of the throne room and to the guest wing.

  True to its name, the guest chambers did take up an entire wing of the castle, with the rooms elaborately furnished and containing every convenience imaginable. A large, circular common room connected five guest chambers, each with its own uniquely carved door. Maia chose the one with the dragon design as her room.

  “We do not even have a change of clothes here,” Maia said to Blaid once the Server had left them with a tray of mulled wine in the common room.

  “Clothes will be provided,” Blaid said. “Knowing my mother, my clothes are still within the chest by the window.” He pointed towards the door engraved with a wolf. “That was my room when I used to visit.” He came to stand before her. “I am sure my mother will send a Server to provide you with clothes should the occasion call for it. We can always go back later and fetch some of our luggage.”

  “I never imagined anything like this when I thought about your home. You are nothing like your father.”

  “We have enough in common not to like each other on occasion, and I did not expect open arms upon my return,” Blaid countered. “I promise, Maia, there is nothing more important to my father than the welfare of the people. Once he learns the danger they are in, he will raise his armies and we will be able to leave.”

  “I hope so. This place is as cold as it is beautiful. I could not imagine living here.”

  “It is a mountain kingdom. We were practically raised on rock. But, there is another reason most of our houses, including this castle, were built from stone. I shall give you a bit of a history lesson tomorrow, if you like.”

  “I would like that very much,” Maia said.

  A knock sounded on the door. Reminding herself that she was a princess, Maia stood up straighter, going to the window with the light behind her while Blaid answered the door. A Server, dressed formally in castle uniform, handed Blaid a note. Blaid closed the door.

  “It is from my mother. She would like to see us. Are you ready?”

  She lifted her chin. “Never before have I been this terrified, but I am ready.”

  Blaid laughed and took her hand. “She will adore you, just as I do.”

  Together, they left the guest wing to make their way through the castle to Blaid’s mother’s private chambers. Her rooms were on a lower floor and Blaid led her down winding staircases with railings made of marble.

  Maia thought the rest of the castle to be ornate and richly decorated, but the lower halls left her awestruck. Velvet curtains over arched windows; life-sized marble statues alongside arched doorways; golden candelabras on ivory pedestals; alabaster panelling along the inner walls; intricate and colourful frescoes on the ceilings; Maia did not know where to look first and it took them longer to get to the queen’s rooms than anticipated as she could not stop asking questions.

  “I feel so uneducated,” she whispered as they approached the bas-relief gold doors of Lady Elderbow’s chambers. “I have never seen anyone live in such luxury. How has your family amassed all of this?”

  “We are a very old family and have lived in this place since the beginning of our history. We did not start out this wealthy, but there was a time, many millennia ago, where our family protected the people from a great evil and, in thanks, the people brought gifts. Many of the things you see here have been in our family for thousands of years. This castle,” he waved his hands through the air, “has been rebuilt several times, and renovations and maintenance are conducted year-round.”

  “We live in tree houses,” she said.

  “Your homes are hardly sticks in a tree,” he countered. “I have spent enough time in Shadow Hall to know how luxurious some of the houses are. Running water, for instance, is something we do not have here. Water gets brought in by Servers every day.” He pointed to the gilded doors. “Your doors may not be made of gold, but I have never seen carvings as skilled as on your front doors. The quality of your tapestry is unrivalled by any I have seen. I know Shadow Hall has the best potters and glass blowers in the northern hemisphere. You have nothing to feel ashamed of, Maia.”

  “My Lord,” a Server said as they approached the doors, “the Lady is expecting you.”

  With a flourish, the Server pulled on a silken rope suspended from the ceiling. Faintly, Maia heard the tinkle of bells from within the chamber. Her heart raced wildly as the doors swung open and the Server led them into the room.

  “… father took it hard.”

  Maia blinked, trying to focus on what the queen was saying. They had been with her for at least half an hour and in that time Maia managed to say a total of four words.

  Queen Elderbow was the most beautiful woman Maia had ever seen. Long, black hair flowed over her shoulder and onto her lap as she reclined on her plush settee, surrounded by colourful Lygers; exotic, cat-like creatures.

  The queen now arched her immaculate left eyebrow, her blue eyes flashing at something Blaid said. Maia gave herself a mental nudge; she would have to pay better attention if she hoped to make a good impression.

  “Matters have changed around here, Blaid. They are not as they were when you left. You may yet be surprised by the change in your father.”

  “Father is incapable of change, Mother.”

  “Do not doubt me until you have seen it. I will say no more, for I want you to come to believe on your own.” She turned her smooth, pale face towards Maia. “Besides, we are being rude to our guest.” She smiled, exposing perfect, white teeth. “You look exhausted, my dear. Blaid mentioned you only arrived here yesterday. Where did you sleep?”

  “My Lady, we stayed the night …”

  “At an inn outside the city,” Blaid cut in. “It was too late to make our way here last night. We have been travelling for some time and wanted to freshen up first.”

  The perfectly manicured eyebrow rose again at Blaid’s statement and Maia knew the queen did not believe him. Gracefully, she swung her slender legs off the settee, scattering Lygers to the floor with the motion. They mewed plaintively at being deposed
from their throne upon the sofa.

  “Perhaps you have been travelling together for too long, for you fail to see what I do. Princess Maia needs rest, good food, and nice clothes,” she scolded him as she made her way over to Maia. “My dear, from what my son tells me, you did not bring any formal attire. Come,” and the queen took her hand; it was cool against her skin. “Let me show you what makes this castle so special and then we shall find you appropriate wear.”

  Maia glanced back at Blaid helplessly as Lady Elderbow led her from the chamber. Two Servers followed, their faces expressionless. Blaid shrugged, but made no move to save her.

  The queen’s cool hand did not let go of hers all the way down the hall. Only when they reached a narrow corridor did the queen pause to let one of the Servers go first, then she motioned for Maia to follow her.

  The corridor led to a narrow set of steep, stone steps, leading down into the dark. The Servers each took a lantern before they began their descent.

  Down and down they went and, after a while, Maia knew they were below ground level. When the steps ended, Maia expected to find a cellar; or even a dungeon, but instead a plush room, aglow with burning candles, greeted her.

  The queen stood still, watching her, as Maia took it in. The room had once been a cave, filled with water. The water had receded a long time ago, leaving white lines on the cave wall. An artist had taken advantage of art left behind by nature, adding his designs of horses, bears, flowers, and dragons to form a work of art that left Maia speechless.

  A thick, soft carpet covered the level floor of the cave until it ended at a circular pool. Candles surround the pool, their light reflecting off the water and adding to the ambiance of the chamber.

  Crystal vases and ornaments on wooden furnishings filled up the space and, to their right, a large shelf held an assortment of colourful towels. The Servers now went to the shelf, taking towels from it and placing them on a bench by the pool.

  “The temperature is just right,” the queen said as the Servers threw petals and salt into the pool from a wooden container. “Come, it will ease your tension and you will smell wonderful afterwards. Melindin and Sari will take care of you. Let them spoil you.” Taking her hand again, Lady Elderbow led her to the pool. “You can give your clothes to Melindin afterwards to be washed. Sari will bring you to me when you are done and then we can find you something pretty to wear.”