by M. D. Grimm
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.
Amethyst: Bow and Arrow
Torquere Press Publishers
1380 Rio Rancho Blvd #1319
Rio Rancho, NM 87124
Copyright 2014 by MD Grimm
Cover illustration by BSClay
Published with permission
ISBN: 978-1-61040-761-8
www.torquerepress.com
All rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by the U.S. Copyright Law. For information address Torquere Press. Inc., 1380 Rio Rancho Blvd #1319, Rio Rancho, NM 87124.
First Torquere Press Printing: June 2014
Printed in the USA
Amethyst: Bow and Arrow
By M.D. Grimm
I dedicate this book to my family. Thank you for making our house a home.
Prologue
Let us understand each other. I am not Lord Morgorth, the Dark Mage of the East. Morgorth is a genuine magick-wielding, wichtln-controlling, payshtha-riding mage who was born the seventh son of a seventh son. He terrifies the Council of Mages because most believe his destiny is to become the Destroyer of Karishian. In my opinion, the certainty of that is still up for debate.
While I may not be the Dark Mage that causes kingdoms to tremble, I am his mate. My name is Aishe. Despite the odd spelling, it is pronounced "ash." It is a name that means "one who sees." My mother had a recurring dream while I grew inside her, a dream she insisted was sent by the Mother, our creator deity. I couldn't say if she was right or wrong, but I've always had a subtle ability to "see" most creatures for who they really are. I get a sense of them; I can find my way through their words, which are often lies told to themselves and to others. I can see past their actions and know their true intentions. Some are harder to read than others. But I've noticed that this ability has dimmed as I've grown older.
I am a dialen, and I was born of the Ravena tribe. For many years I celebrated its successes and mourned its losses with my family. But barely three months ago, all that changed forever. I was banished from my tribe for a short time after I refused a betrothal my parents had arranged for me. I have always been a loyal and dutiful son, but that was the one thing I could not accept. My heart had many years ago been given to someone else, and I would not be bound to another.
And so I was banished. That was both my salvation and my doom. When I came back to my tribe after the allotted banishment time had ended, I found them massacred. It had happened only hours before. My entire life had been destroyed, and all because of one evil stone of power -- a ruby called Rambujek, a ruby that my tribe had sworn to hide, to protect, and to never use.
Alone, I performed the rituals to make sure the souls of my kin traveled into the Mother's arms. Only after that did I set forth on my hakum -- my mission of vengeance. I put on the painted mask, took the bow that my father had once held, and started on my long journey. I tracked, questioned, and labored to find the one who had taken my life from me. Vengeance burned like a river of fire in my blood, and I could feel it darken my mind, darken the world around me. The joys of life had been burned away by the raw loathing that filled my heart. The thirst for blood grew stronger as the days past, as I felt myself drawing closer to my prey.
It was only during that time of darkness that I started to understand the intricate way my destiny and Morgorth's had interlaced. We were meant to be together. His words to me when I was a child took on a new meaning, a new depth. It was only when I met him again in the village of Happy Valley that I felt light enter my heart once more.
You see, it was he who had stolen my heart all those years ago. In my past; in his future. I was now only one of two alive to know this secret. My mother's sister was another, but she lived with another tribe, many kirons away. It was not yet time for my mate to know about us, about his role in my past, to know that he had changed my life irrevocably. That he was the reason for my training -- training that had made me into a warrior, one that had earned the respect and pride of my parents, my tribe. Without him, I wouldn't be who I was today. I'd made a promise not to tell him about my memories of him as a child. But that one dark spot was small compared to the shining light I felt inside me. The light he had brought.
And now he is mine, and I am his. My mage. My Morgorth.
Chapter One
I smiled and stretched as I took a large breath of morning air. The bed I lay in was enormous and so soft and warm. But as I stretched out my hand beside me, expecting to feel it bump warm flesh, instead I felt only cold blankets.
Frowning, I opened my eyes and sighed deeply. I should've known. Ever since Master Ulezander came back three days ago, Morgorth was always gone very early in the morning. I didn't like it. I missed our time together. Selfish, perhaps, but I didn't feel like I'd had much time alone with him since coming to live here in Geheimnis. It had barely been three weeks after my arrival that those two mages, enforcers of the Council of Mages, had come for Rambujek and caused strife between us. Then after they left, Morgorth had to heal from magick fever... and now he was training.
The magick fever had sapped most of his strength, and his body had nearly shut completely down. He told me it was the result of pushing his magick too hard, casting big spells with no rest in between. His magick had to replenish itself somewhere, and it started attacking his body, feeding on energy that resided elsewhere inside him. He'd been bedridden for the first week and had depended on me to take care of him. I hadn't minded. He'd needed me.
I rolled out of bed, continuing to stretch, feeling my muscles burn and pop. Groaning in relief, I took my time dressing, pulling on my leggings and slipping on my thick winter tunic, which Morgorth had tailored just for me. My smile returned. I think he found pleasure in giving me gifts, and I always liked receiving them. They were always useful as well as magickal. I looked across the room at the small bag he'd given me. It held whatever I put into it without becoming full or becoming heavy. He was also working on special arrows for me, yet he wouldn't tell me what he was doing to them. But after giving me any gift, he would seem embarrassed that he had done such a thing.
He was shy despite what others thought of him. He had a fierce reputation, one I knew he'd built through blood and sweat, but at the core of it -- he was just shy and unsure. It was that insecurity that made me love him more, made me want to protect him. As if a mage needed protecting.
I noticed the large tray of food on the table and walked to it. There was a note, and I recognized Morgorth's tidy scrawl. I picked it up.
"Sorry I had to leave early. Uzzie doesn't believe in sleep. We're practicing on the field south of Vorgoroth today, so feel free to come by. I would love for you to see me knock Uzzie on his ass."
I chuckled. Morgorth's need to impress me made me giddy. He liked showing off his magickal skills, and I let him. I would never tell him he didn't need to go through all that trouble to impress me, since I was already completely enthralled by him, and took immense pride in having him as my mate.
I set the note down and fingered the amethyst pendant that hung from a modest chain around my neck. It was the dearest gift he'd given me. This small pendant was the reason I could walk freely and safely through Geheimnis, Morgorth's castle fortress. Being paranoid and having a wicked sense of humor, Morgorth had made his home into a deathtrap for anyone who came uninvited. There were trapdoors, stone beasts that came to life to devour invaders, and rooms that drove an intr
uder to insanity. The pendant allowed me to bypass all his enchantments.
But should I lose it....
I shuddered. I loved him to my very core, but sometimes his violent streak and vicious imagination frightened me.
I looked around our bedroom, staring at the large luxurious bed with its thick, royal blue blankets, the stone walls where tapestries depicting various hunts were hung, the ornate trunks lining the walls, and the tall, narrow window, with its soft, deep red curtains. A large fire burned in the hearth built into the wall across from the bed. The orange flames danced cheerfully, doing their best to banish the winter cold. It gave the room a comforting feeling, and the fire was oddly fragrant, almost making me want to crawl into bed again.
How could someone who created such peaceful beauty also create such horrors? I shook my head in wonder. This castle was a masterpiece where beauty and horror lived side-by-side. It was rich with color, precious items, and tapestries. Ornate carvings covered every inch, and long corridors and hallways wove in and around hundreds upon hundreds of rooms packed with treasures and secrets I'd yet to discover. In the lower levels there were armories where my mate had his own boygle forgers pounding weapons, and in the highest tower there was a stargazer's tool he called a "telescope," a strange pole that magnified the planets that dotted the skies. Seeing those objects up close had been frightening, but fascinating. There were towers patrolled by gargoyles with three eyes each, and the outside stone had deadly vines wrapped around it, quivering, ready to attack. The windows were enchanted, allowing the viewer inside to see outside, but anyone looking in the window would see nothing but stone. Inside, there were boygles who did all the daily maintenance of a home this big, but they also offered extra security, should it be needed.
I ate quickly, though I was still able to enjoy the succulent meat, the fluffy bread roll, and cold milk, before grabbing my bow and quiver and leaving the room. As I walked down the long corridor, I wondered at myself. How could I be so comfortable in a house of stone when the majority of my life I'd lived in the open, in forests and fields, sleeping under the stars? I found it amazing that I could be so content here, that I could love the walls and confining nature of Geheimnis.
Perhaps it was because Morgorth had built it. Or perhaps because there was a forest, one that encircled the mountain Geheimnis sat upon. Vorgoroth was its name. It was dark and full of beastly life, but the trees were the greatest marvel. I'd never met such animated trees, which interacted freely -- and frequently -- with me. I'd lived in many forests to the far east and south, but none compared to Vorgoroth.
There were a variety of beasts that called Vorgoroth home; among them were truls, morag, and a large pack of wichtln. But there were also a flock of fasion and large groups of bidadari, which were small winged creatures who lit up in different colors when they flew. They were mischievous but could be very sweet if you gave them bowls of cream. A few Night Fires have been known to show themselves during the darkest part of the night, but I wasn't a child to be taken in by their shining light anymore. They wouldn't lead me off any ledges. I had to wonder if these creatures were here before Morgorth claimed this land as his, or if they came only after he'd set up dominion here.
I walked down the grand staircase into the main entryway. The largest parlor was to my left, and a smaller one was to my right. Fires were blazing in the hearths, trying to combat the heavy chill. I could slightly see my breath and wondered how Morgorth concentrated in such cold weather.
Hearing small feet squeak on the polished stone floors behind me, I turned and found a small group of boygles, with Grendela in the front. She stood only as tall as my knees and was broad, her features sharp and not at all appealing. She was sturdy, her skin like tanned leather, creased heavily around her face. Her clothes were neat and red, dyed with the blood of her kill. It was the way of boygles. She was the matriarch of the clan and was frowning at me, making no secret of the fact she didn't like me. I wondered if Morgorth knew about her hostility, which hadn't changed even after I'd led them and other beasts into a battle against a necromantic army not long ago.
She held out my thick winter coat, which Morgorth had the boygles make for me. I grabbed it and slipped it on, pretending to ignore them. Boygles were the type of creature that responded to force and domination. You couldn't be nice to them or even thank them without them thinking you were weak. Morgorth had won them over by destroying half their tribe. Apparently, they'd lived in the mountains of Vorgoroth before Morgorth had come. Now they served him.
I knew he hadn't enjoyed what he'd done. But it had been necessary.
I had to find a way to prove to them that I was worthy of their allegiance -- I just hadn't figured it out yet. I didn't trust them, and I didn't underestimate them. If they thought I weakened their master, they wouldn't hesitate to cause me to have an "accident" that would result in a broken neck.
I turned away from the hostility and pushed open the large front doors. They opened easily for me as I stepped out into the winter cold. The skies were covered with gray storm clouds, and fresh snow had fallen on the trees, its weight bending them slightly. The air was crisp and cool, and I held the coat tighter around me. I took a deep breath, gazing out at the vast forest spread out before me. I was rather high up, which meant I was looking down at the treetops, which resembled clawing fingers thrusting up toward the sky. I missed their colorful leaves. The majority of the forest spread out on the west side, but the east side was darker and denser. Vicious creatures with shaky loyalty resided there, closer to the mountain and hiding in its caves. I hadn't traveled much on the east side since Morgorth warned me away from it. He, himself, didn't even go there unless he absolutely had to.
That's how I knew just how bad it was.
I secured the strap of my quiver across my shoulder and chest before slinging my bow over my other shoulder, then I turned and walked toward a small, hidden trail that only my nimble and light feet could have a chance of using. It hadn't been there originally -- Morgorth had created it just for me. While my mate could use his magickal speed to travel from castle to forest and back, I wasn't so lucky. And instead of making me dependent on him or even the gargoyles that roosted on his towers to bring me up and down, he'd created this trail. I hadn't even asked him to, either. He just... did it.
There were no trails except this one that led to the front doors of Geheimnis. All the trails that did exist were false, and always led the unwary to their deaths. The mountain Geheimnis sat upon was sheer and usually iced over, even in the summer, making it too hazardous to climb. Morgorth made it clear to anyone who tried to gain entry that they weren't welcome. Visitation was by invitation only -- and he never gave those out.
I hugged the wall of the castle, the vines trembling in awareness. While my pendant was once needed to keep me safe from them, Morgorth had long ago modified his magick on them so they recognized me as a friend. He'd continued to adjust his enchantments inside Geheimnis, but with all those rooms packed within her walls, it wasn't quickly done. But, soon, I wouldn't have to wear the pendant to keep safe in my new home. Yet, I doubted I would ever remove it. The outside defenses were the first magick he'd modified for my sake. I could see how it exhausted him, but he just had that self-satisfied smile on his face and waved off my concern. I secretly thought he enjoyed the challenge -- and he'd admitted that he was making the magick more dangerous than before.
I always wondered -- how could it get more dangerous?
The trail wound steadily down a little way before disappearing into an opening inside the mountain. I slipped inside, and the walls glowed faintly, allowing me to see just enough not to hurt myself. I stepped farther in and stood on a small platform that overlooked a seemingly endless black pit. I only stood in silence for a short moment before the platform began to slowly descend. This method certainly took longer than any other means -- other than climbing -- but it offered me a certain amount of independence. I could come and go as I pleased, and I wasn't restric
ted to Morgorth's wants.
I loved going into Vorgoroth. There was always something new to discover. The trees certainly seemed to anticipate my visits. I smiled in eagerness, and soon saw a small pinprick of light underneath me gradually growing larger. It was the opening that led out of the mountain. The platform jerked slightly as it stopped. Leaping off it, I ran out of the cave and burst into the open air. The opening had a simple illusion spell over it, keeping unwanted eyes from noticing it. The trees around the opening were some of the more lively ones in Vorgoroth. Those enormous trees greeted me with their usual attempts at beheading me. I laughed and rolled easily out of the way, slapping their trunks. They quivered, the snow falling off their branches. Hitting was the way a tree showed its affection. But it would deliberately miss you even if you didn't move out of the way quickly enough -- that was how you differentiated between affection and attack. If the tree wanted to hit you, it would.
I ran around them, feeling like a child again, as they tried to bury me under the snow that weighed them down. I hadn't always been so light on my feet -- I'd actually been a very awkward and clumsy child. But with practice, determination, and the words of a certain mage encouraging me, I became graceful and accomplished. I would never take my skills for granted; they had been hard won.
I began heading south, wondering again how Morgorth could concentrate in such weather. During training it had always been hard for me to shoot arrows in a windstorm, to sword fight in the burning heat, to grapple when thick rain made it hard to get a good grip on my opponent. But I'd done it, so I knew the value. I was just thankful it wasn't me in this cold.
Shivering, I jogged lightly down the trail -- the only one that wouldn't lead to an untimely death -- and enjoyed the quiet serenity of the forest. While none of the inhabitants hibernated, they were less active during the winter. I could feel eyes on me as I sped toward the south. This forest was bursting with dark life, and while that always put me on my guard every time I entered here, I was never uncomfortable. I felt safe and welcome. Morgorth was master here, and every creature in Vorgoroth knew it. But an outsider wouldn't make the mistake of calling it inviting. More predators than prey lived here, and there were times when an eerie, sometimes dead silence would fall upon the forest. Wind wouldn't blow; no creature would stir. Even the trees seemed lifeless. It wasn't a sleepy silence; more like the calm before the storm. It felt like an attack was eminent. It was certainly different from the forests I was used to.