Noble of Blood Trilogy Box Set: All 3 books; Blood Price, Blood Ties, and Blood War in 1 set

by A L Wright

  Nikka laid her hand on the stout human’s arm. “I can’t tell you how much it warms my heart to hear it.”

  “Nay worries, M’lady. We’ll have these humans turned ‘n ready to protect the place in no time at all. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” Clyd turned to the group of rangers who had come to help with the wall, all of them bowing slightly to her as they passed.

  “Matten, will the humans still accept you as their leader when you turn? You won’t be able to work side by side with them during the day.”

  Matten scratched his bushy beard. “Now, that’s somethin’ I hadn’t thought of. I mentioned today while working with them, and they didn’t speak up about it. I’m sure it will all work out. I’ll ask my wife for advice. She’s the brains of the family.”

  His wide grin had her smiling in return. She excused herself, leaving Matten yawning and marching back to his house and family for rest.

  Feeling better having talked to Matten and Clyd, Nikka wandered through the sheds and storage house, to confirm that they were well stocked in supplies and provisions. The grain levels for the horses were a bit low due to sharing with the humans for the last few months, but harvest season was close. They should be able to make until then. If it was a near thing, she was sure they could send to Noble’s Rest and Highgard for more.

  The clanging of metal against metal spurred Nikka on towards the smithy shop, to see if Friesa needed her yet. When she arrived, she found her friend stripped to the waist, with only a wrap around her chest. It was stifling hot in the shop, and after a few moments, Nikka was almost tempted to do the same.

  Friesa stopped hammering suddenly, plunging the blade into the bucket of water next to the forge. “Let me heat this back up, and we’ll test your magic on it.”

  Nikka stood closer as the blade was reheated in the coals, watching Friesa work the bellows and make the last few folds in the blade. She was stunned by the precision working of her friend and wished she could do the same.

  A few more moments of hammering; heavy in the middle to flatten the folds, then lighter to the sides for shaping. After she was done, Friesa turned to Nikka.

  “Alright, try it now. Yer magic is light ‘n heat, so I worked this blade under higher’n normal temperatures ta ensure it would hold.”

  Nikka grew a ball of light in her hand, intensified the heat of it, then turned her palm and dropped it onto the blade. The light flattened out and wrapped around the metal, highlighting the traces of the numerous folds so much that it was difficult to look at. The light continued to grow brighter and hotter.

  “Alright, now pull the magic back to ya, and be ready to ground yerself. It’s gunna be hot!”

  Nikka was glad for the advice, so she knew to move quickly. Holding her hand over the blade, she reabsorbed the light, wincing at the scalding heat, and pushed her magic out into the ground. The water bucket next to the forge steamed and fizzled, the water evaporating into steam.

  “Whoops!” Friesa laughed. “Looks as though it worked. I’ll finish shapin’ it, then make a hilt and get it sharpened up fer ya.”

  Nikka grinned and grabbed the bucket to fetch more water.

  Chapter 10

  The goblins had not attacked again during the rest of their time in the Northern Reaches. In fact, it had been eerily quiet. This had made Yosan profoundly nervous while concentrating on raising his old Chamber from the ground. Leaving Hudreia alone in her current tired state was not ideal, in case of an attack, so he had attempted to hurry along the excavation. But even then, it took more time than he had cared for.

  With his guiding touch, for the Chamber would not move without it, it had taken most of the party of rangers to get it to the surface. Even with Yosan there to make the thing movable, the chamber was quite solid and more than a bit unwieldy, especially passing through a tunnel and then upwards through the access point in the ground.

  Once away from its resting place, and past the bloodstone wards that had watched over it for centuries, the Chamber was suddenly buoyant and moved along under Yosan’s magical guidance. It took a bit of concentration to keep it afloat and moving, but at least they didn’t have to tax the horses with pulling the monstrosity.

  As the party settled into camp around the largest of the wind-worn ancient buildings, a warm breeze picked up, whipping leaves and dead grass around them.

  Yosan looked around, confused at first, but not worried. This was no sinister air, and his hunch was confirmed when he spied Hudreia smiling over her mug of water. Realizing what was happening, he kept quiet.

  The way everyone else jumped to the ready as Mordred the Seer materialized in the middle of the camp made him chuckle. The Seer herself seemed quite amused at the attention as well.

  “Oh, go ahead and shoot. See what happens.” Mordred chuckled low, this time achieving the sinister air her entrance had lacked.

  To all the rangers credit, they stood steady, waiting for their leader’s instruction.

  “Mmm, it has been some time since so many strapping men had their weapons pointed at me.” Mordred shifted her gaze to Dartein, sweeping him from head to toe and back again.

  Dartein also held steady under her scrutiny. It may have been because Yosan hadn’t shown any concern, as well as Hudreia. Dartein flicked eyes over to him quickly and relaxed just a bit. The rangers took this as a signal and put away the various bows and darts and knives they had held at the ready.

  Mordred finished her observations, clucking to herself in amusement.

  “You are a fine specimen of our race, surely. If I weren’t such an old woman, and you weren’t the father of the one who may be the tipping point in this war...”

  Dartein stiffened once more, now at the possible mention of his daughter.

  “What on earth are you talking about, woman?” Dartein’s voice growled, and the threatening tone had his rangers’ arrows trained back on her in an instant.

  “Hold on, now, everyone,” Hudreia began.

  Yosan held up a hand. “No, let them try to skewer her. Maybe it will straighten out her twisted ways.”

  Yosan had never been fond of the Seer and her mind games. She took her ability too far at times, enjoying toying with folks and stringing them along with vague wordplay. He had heard of the prophecy told to Dartein’s Chosen years before, and that was probably the most straightforward Mordred had ever been.

  “If we continue to threaten her, she will be of no help to us,” Hudreia chimed in.

  “She’s been no help to us so far, as far as I can tell,” Yosan replied.

  “The last time we were here she told us to find Mortul.”

  “We would have done that anyway.”

  “Sure, alright. But what of the prophecy of Nikka being the powerful tool to end this war?”

  “Again, something we would have found out in time on our own through the lineage book that Mortul keeps.”

  Hudreia sighed and glanced upwards as if appealing to the skies for help. Dartein and his rangers continued to stare Mordred down.

  Something about her just niggled at him. “Mordred,” Yosan called to her.

  She slowly turned to face him, the small smile still in place across her red lips. “Yes, my dear Yosan.”

  Ignoring her sweet tone, he continued, “Why are you here now?”

  “Are you now going to let me speak? I am here to warn you of danger, of course.”

  “We’ve already been tracked by goblins and evaded the larger force who would have found us tonight. What warning could you possibly bring now?”

  Mordred’s composure began to stiffen, along with her tone. “I swept your tracks and led that larger band of goblins astray. You are welcome.”

  Hudreia broke in, stepping between them. “We thank you for that, and for any other help you could provide. Possibly, you could travel with us while we deliver the Chamber back to Noble’s Rest?”

  A signal from Hudreia’s hand behind her back had Yosan biting back his correction to their intended location
, and he hastened a glance to Dartein to ensure the young Noble held his tongue as well.

  “Noble’s Rest, is it? That’s some long ways to travel in solid form.” Mordred thought a moment. “But I shall go with you. It seems you may need my help to avoid more trouble.”

  “You may borrow one of our mounts. I’ll have rangers scouting afoot as we go, so we have an extra horse for you,” Dartein said.

  “Handsome and thoughtful.” She glanced up at the brightening horizon. “I shall let you all rest now. I will join you at dusk.”

  And before anyone could protest, Mordred was nothing but a breeze once more.

  Chapter 11

  Afew days later, Nikka sat pensively at the table in the Hall. She could feel Victor watching her as he enjoyed his breakfast of fresh meat. Unable to summon an appetite, Nikka took to brooding and planning. Unfortunately, though, her worry was outpacing her planning.

  “Nikka.” Victor’s voice startled her, and she blinked at him. Victor walked up behind her chair, placed his hands on her shoulders and began to massage them gently. She rolled her head back and let his large hands work out some of her tension. But only for a moment. Nikka shrugged off his hands, rose from her chair and began to pace again.

  “My love, you should eat. You will be able to think better, plan better, if you do.”

  “I feel so overwhelmed, as if I have no control,” Nikka muttered as she paced in front of the fireplace.

  “Love, that’s because you don’t have control. There really isn’t much control to be had over this situation.”

  “Is this how my father feels, running this place? Prepping for this war?” She glanced up at Victor as she walked past him.

  “Every day. I imagine your grandfather feels it, as well. Though he is much better at internalizing it.”

  Nikka stopped, staring at him. “Is that what I should do? Keep it all inside? I don’t have that kind of control.”

  Victor stood in front of her, squeezing her shoulders in reassurance. “You are too vibrant, too emotional, to hold it all in. Your strength lies in your ability to push it out. Your actions may be wild, but your instincts are sound, Nikka. You’ve barely practiced your magic at all, and look at how much you have accomplished despite that?”

  “It just … comes to me, is all,” Nikka bit her lip and scrunched her brow, unable to explain.

  “That’s instinct. Sure, more practice will hone your abilities and your instincts. But you need to trust that when situations do arise, you will rise to meet them. You have so far, and each time it has carried us one step further.”

  Nikka blinked at him, still lost in thought.

  Victor sighed. “That’s all we can do, love, is take each situation, each battle, on as they come.”

  “But shouldn’t I be planning, strategizing?”

  “Leave that to me, and to your Father. We will strategize, and plan, and utilize our fighters to the best of their abilities. You, and the other Warlocks will handle the rest.” Victor kissed her on the forehead, before wrapping her in a tight hug.

  Nikka deflated a bit, allowing herself to be held. His words were all true. Even if she wished otherwise, wished for any small measure of control.

  Noises floated into the hall from the yard, horses and tack jingling. Nikka looked up at Victor, who shook his head.

  “I cannot tell who it is that’s arrived. Let us go and see.”

  Before they could turn towards the doorway, the Patriarch stormed through.

  “Grandfather!” Nikka, relieved at the elder warlock’s presence, ran the few feet to the door to greet him.

  Mortul grabbed Nikka by the shoulders, pulled her in for a brief hug, then pushed her back to address her. “My dear, it is good to see you here. Has your father returned?”

  “No, he hasn’t. We are still waiting for him.”

  Mortul turned and signaled to a group of rangers who had followed him in. They turned and went quickly back out of the door.

  “What is going on? What has happened since I left you?” Nikka asked.

  “A sudden barrage of goblins attacked the Palace and town once more. Many more of them this time, but we were prepared after the previous attack. My warriors and rangers flushed most of the survivors out of the surrounding woods, and we chased them north. Most have disappeared into the Lothnau Forest. We have set perimeters, so they cannot get back around us. We will hold them back for now, but the number of Noble’s available grows thin.”

  Bad news on top of bad news. “Father is possibly still within the Lothnau,” Nikka whispered.

  “I know, child. I have dispatched rangers to scout him out. He will make it back just fine.” Her grandfather squeezed her shoulders once more. “The bad news is that the goblins who did not run north have followed us.”

  Nikka’s eyes widened.

  “We did this on purpose, however, to ensure what was left of them followed us here and did not continue to assault my already battered town. Are your defenses secured?”

  “They are being finished now. Any help you could add to them would be a great boon.” Nikka waved away her frown and motioned her grandfather over to the table. “Please sit and take a moment of comfort. I’ll have a quick meal brought in for you to recover your strength and then ensure your men are taken care of.”

  “I will admit to being famished, as we rode hard to ensure the goblins thought we were truly running from them. I could use a quick bite, but first, we will need to see to those walls of yours. The army that rode with me is surrounding the Keep, but the goblins are only a few hours behind us.”

  Before either of them could move, more noises came from the yard, signaling yet another group’s arrival. Victor kissed Nikka on the forehead and gestured for her to wait. She watched as he exited the hall to check on the newcomers.

  A slip of a girl pattered in, set down a tray that looked much too heavy for her, then tottered back out in silence.

  “Servants? I would have thought your father uncaring of anything that resembled his old life at the Palace.” Mortul lifted the lid of the tray, revealing a selection of freshly cut meats, both domestic and wild.

  “Volunteers.” Nikka delicately picked up a strip of venison. “While the men and boys are busy building homes and defenses, the women and children keep busy in different ways. Those who help around the Keep itself are paid in one way or another. We can’t give much now since most supplies and coin are going towards the cost of building and getting the human folk settled, but once this war is over, we’ll pay them full maintenance if they stay on.”

  “Will he not allow this to be more than a small settlement, then?”

  “We hope it to be much more than that, eventually. A safe haven after the war, as Noble’s Rest was…”

  “...but without the steep social classes that have turned that town into a sanctuary for the rich and a trap for the poor.” Nikka’s father finished her sentence for her as he strode into the hall, Victor close on his heels

  “Father!” Nikka ran across the room and hugged her father in relief.

  “I’m afraid our greetings must be brief, we’ve been flanked by a large band of goblins for the last few hours. I am hoping we can add some magical defenses to our walls, especially since they are not complete yet.” Dartein’s eyes flicked to Mortul.

  “Of course, we can. Nikka and I were just discussing that very subject. I’ve only just arrived myself, and unfortunately, we have goblins on our tails as well. Nikka dear, let us pool our talents.” Seeing Nikka’s nod of agreement, he turned back to her father. “Son, will Yosan and Hudreia be available to help?”

  “Father, did you bring back the Chamber?” Nikka broke in.

  “Yes. And I believe Hudreia should be able to help. As for Yosan, he will be needed for a bit to settle the chamber and begin what he called ‘rune-binding.’” Dartein shrugged at the unfamiliar term.

  “He will need to etch the runes that are already in the chamber into something more permanent and add a
few more,” her grandfather said, then turned to her. “We will round up Hudreia and leave him to that task. Shall we?”

  “Yes, we shall.” Nikka pecked a kiss on Victor’s cheek before walking out of the hall ahead of her grandfather.

  The pair made short work of finding Hudreia, as she was in the stalls checking on the colts. They explained their intent briefly, and she was eager to join, especially with the news that more goblins were on the way.

  Chapter 12

  Hudreia had gone about her part in weaving a barrier around the Keep and human settlement in a mechanical state of mind. Between herself, Mortul and Nikka, the magical web cast around the walls and settlement had gone well, and quickly. Which was just as well for her, as Hudreia’s thoughts had been distracted for several days. And now that they were all busy with battle preparations here at the Keep, she had no time to discuss them with anyone.

  She had sought to speak with Yosan first, as he understood her mind more than anyone. But he was needed to prepare the Chamber so had been busy when Hudreia went to seek him out. The preparation itself would be short work considering they had already studied Mortul’s spells back at the Palace. The only difference from Mortul’s to this one was the process would now be sped up, instead of settling in over a lengthy period of time. The hope was they could turn humans into Nobles within a day or two. Or maybe within a few hours.

  This had been discussed briefly between the three Warlocks and agreed it was a good course of action, as the magic wouldn’t be left to “brew” long enough to worry about creating strong magic users. And if any human who already had an inherent gene for magic was turned, they would most assuredly come through with minor abilities.

  Of course, they all knew they were up against time itself, and in all practicality, would only be able to turn a few humans before the war escalated. The decision had been to ensure the Keep, it’s newly sprung settlement, and nearby town was guarded. Thusly, any humans turned would be staying behind to do just that, along with a small detachment of warriors from Mortul’s army.