by James Day
MYSTIC FIRESTORM BOOK TWO
MYSTIC FIRESTORM BOOK TWO
BY
JAMES DAY
BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR
SHANNON SERIES
MYSTIC VENGEANCE
MYSTIC VENGEANCE BOOK TWO
MYSTIC VENGENACE BOOK THREE
FIRESTORM SERIES
MYSTIC FIRESTORM
MYSTIC FIRESTORM BOOK TWO
MYSTIC FIRESTORM BOOK THREE
HEROES SERIES
REALMS OF SHANNON: HEROES BOOK ONE
REALMS OF SHANNON: HEROES BOOK TWO
REALMS OF SHANNON: HEROES BOOK THREE
COMING SOON
FAERIE WAR SERIES
MYSTIC FAERIE WAR
MYSTIC FAERIE WAR BOOK TWO
MYSTIC FAERIE WAR BOOK THREE
MYSTIC FIRESTORM BOOK TWO
Copyright © 2020 by James Day
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this book are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
The opinions expressed in this book are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and or legal right to publish materials in this book.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to Angela who always believed.
ONE
The time was endless and Arieal did not know how long she had been asleep or how long it had been snowing. Her skin was numb and had a burning sensation. She looked over to see Prince Grandur sleeping. She shook him with a soft push, but he did not respond. Arieal moved him once more wondering if he was alive. A deep panic struck her as she tried to wake the sleeping Prince.
“Wake up Prince Grandur,” she said feeling helpless. “Please wake up!” She shook him violently and began to move his arms back and forth. She rubbed her hands against his face and blew a warm moist breath into his face. His eyelids fluttered.
“Come on, wake up. You have to move around.”
“Move around,” he repeated weakly lifting his body up. His muscles ached with a deep growing pain that intensified as he rose. The Prince took two deep breaths and rubbed his frozen muscles while Arieal rubbed his legs.
“How long have we been asleep?” Grandur asked.
“I don't know, but any longer and we would have frozen to death.”
“Where is Noleann?”
“I don't know.”
It struck him that she may have spent the night out in the wilderness. If they had barely survived while enclosed in a small rock shelter, how would she survive out in the open? Prince Grandur refused to think that she was dead. Noleann had been through more dangers than facing the savage weather of the Northlands. The Prince knew that she was completely capable of handling every situation. Noleann was a Bounty Huntress, a tracker and a born leader. He felt a strange loss at this moment’s reflection of thought. The Prince knew he was losing her to some unknown force that was driving her mad. She had given them no explanation about the Staff of Power. She had told Arieal that she could not explain the situation. The Prince wished that he had never become involved and then immediately brushed that thought away. He loved her and was going to help her in any way possible. Distant words penetrated his mind and then he broke his concentration and stared blankly at the Mistress.
“Are you ready to go?” she asked a second time looking at him strangely.
“Yes.”
“Good because we're traveling on the cliff side and it is covered by sheets of ice.”
“Great, just great.”
“Calm down, getting upset isn't going to solve our current dilemma,” she said.
“Solve our current dilemma. Wait one minute. You don't seem to grasp the whole entire scope of our problem. First of all, we have to find Noleann. Second of all, we have to figure out a way out of these mountains before we freeze to death. Not to mention finding Dayven and the Hearthstone Sword. Now, all of these things have to be done and we cannot be in two places at once,” he said.
“I'm aware of that,” she stated with a small laugh. Prince Grandur blushed with embarrassment. “I hate to admit this, but you are right. We can't be in two places at once, but we'll have to do our best.”
“Let's lead the horses down to the wider path. We can let them go there. They will stay and wait for us in the valley. If not, they'll return to the Kingdom.”
“Let's go, then,” Arieal said knowing she was going to get a lot more than what she bargained for.
The day wore on as they traveled along the edge of Treacherous Gorge through the spiked peaks that led into the Lower Maze and Upper Maze Mountains. They walked with a quick pace hoping to find some clue to where Noleann was. Prince Grandur and Arieal knew there was no turning back. The cliff wound around and zigzagged between great boulders and small passes, below was a drop into a large chasm. Arieal had an uncomfortable sense of doom. The clouds were low, and the wind was picking up. It blew harshly against their tender faces as they continued around the rock path.
“Maybe we should turn back,” Arieal said.
“I was thinking the same thing, but there must be another way down to the Dragons Throat. If we continue in a northwestern path, it should lead us back to the lowlands.”
“Suppose it doesn't?” she asked knowing the answer to the question.
“Then we will be in more trouble than we know.”
“What's that noise?” Prince Grandur went to speak and was cut off by the Mistress. He heard the distant rumbling and looked up in terror.
“Avalanche!” Arieal screamed as they both ran forward. Great chunks of rock seemed to explode above their heads as they ran for cover. Prince Grandur pushed the girl forward as chunks of ice collapsed behind him. The rumbling stopped and Arieal stood up rubbing her bruised knee.
“Are you okay?” he asked her rubbing the dirt off his face.
“Fine, but now we don't have a choice. We must continue north.” Prince Grandur turned to see a pile of boulders blocking the path behind them.
“We better find shelter. It's going to be dark and another storm is approaching.”
He wondered where Noleann was.
**
Noleann continued walking around the twisting rock path. Below her, the granite jutted outward like a pair of fangs into the darkness below. She knew it would be getting dark soon. Noleann hoped that down deep inside that Arieal and Prince Grandur would not find her. She had dreamed about the Staff of Power and the blue light that had engulfed her. She remembered partial images of the future. They had been horrible images of her cousin. She knew that she had to find him before he died. Noleann could not accept the image, she denied the memory and would never give it the satisfaction. Noleann knew what would destroy him as it had the others.
The Hearthstone Sword.
She did not know how this feat would be accomplished or the exact location, but Dayven had to be found or he would die. It was a burden that she had to carry. It had been hers because she knew that if the others became involved the Crimson Seekers would also kill them. In her dream, she had seen the dark creatures and watched her cousin scream out in pain. Noleann was determined to prevent this from befalling. She felt a shiver at this thought. How could she stop destiny and alter the pre-planned course? How could she face a power that would snuff out her life in seconds, a power that wa
s going to destroy the Six Providences.
Noleann wrapped her cloak around her frame and hoped that they did not follow her. She needed to do this on her own and without their help. Her memory had reminiscence to entering the room. She could not recall how the staff had been destroyed, her mind shuttered at the scary sensation. There was a bright light and. then a nothingness.
Noleann shook her head and looked forward. A long trip was ahead. The Bounty Huntress felt that she had to go southeast and leave Treacherous Gorge, but that did not seem possible. Before her, the Lower Maze Mountains loomed like dark claws lashing out. It was time to find shelter because another storm was blowing in from the north. Snowflakes fell softly, but once the winds came the small ice crystals would sting like needles. The Bounty Huntress knew that she would have to build a small fire to keep warm. She carried some dry pine shavings, along with two pieces of flint to spark the fire. Noleann knew that there were only enough shavings for one more fire. She knew that she would have to find shelter and find it fast. She continued walking and wondered if she could save Dayven in time.
The afternoon passed on as Noleann continued her journey northward. There was only one trail that wound around the northern edge of Treacherous Gorge. Noleann had a strange sensation, which she could not shake. She knew she was being followed by something within the mountains. She remembered tales about the mythical Ice Beasts that were half man and half beast that roamed the Upper Maze Mountains. The Ice Beasts were just stories that traders made up to keep people off the ridges, but still, something was tracking her. She looked behind once more and stepped up her pace. The path seemed to be going in a northern direction as it twisted back and forth. Huge slabs of stone could be seen in the very distance. She knew them to be the entrance of Iclandia, a barren place of ice and snow in which no man could live. Noleann felt a tingle of horror as she turned. Just around the corner, behind her, she could see a huge shadow vastly moving. Noleann lunged forward as a roar echoed throughout the mountain.
It was an Ice Beast.
She stepped back and drew her dagger as the huge white mass lunged on all fours. She watched as the beast towered over her body with sharp razor-like claws that gleamed in the snow. Noleann stepped back in terror as it stood on its two massive legs. Its face was covered with white fur as sharp fangs snapped with delight. A gasp of shock stunned her; its face appeared that of a tortured man. Noleann turned with a deafening scream and ran down the path. The creature gave chase.
The path twisted to the right in front of her. On both sides a chasm dropped into darkness, the center was a formed ice bridge which she crossed over. The Ice Beast was gaining on her at a rapid pace. She looked around to find some type of weapon to defend herself against such a creature, but knew it would be a useless to fight, it was too powerful. In terror, she ran and discovered two twisting paths. She took the path to the left hoping that the creature would become confused. All around her snow began to furiously fall. She was forced against the jagged wall as the creature roared. Maybe, she thought, maybe it would lose her scent. The Bounty Huntress did not stop to see if the Ice Beast had found her trail. All above her icicles hung glistening in the dull shadows of the stormy mountain. In the distance, she could hear the roar of the beast as it had found her scent once again. Noleann leapt forward and tried to desperately find a place to climb up, but the entire path was one complete sheet of ice. The shadow came around the corner as it lunged at her. She fell back as a force threw her over and a small explosion shattered rock and ice in front of her. The beast turned away as a small shower of ice fell around it.
“Get up fool!” a harsh voice managed to say. “Quickly, follow me before more of them come.”
Noleann found herself following a man who was robed in furs, his face was covered by a mask. He wore thick boots and fur skin pants that were tightly wrapped around his legs. On his side hung a small dagger and a large leather pouch. Noleann looked back to see if the creature had continued its search. In the shadows its mass moved with cunning grace. Its motive was to hunt down the prey that it desired. The echo of the creature's steel-like claws rippled through the frozen earth.
“It's behind us!” Noleann screamed.
“Keep up with me and stay close.” The man stopped and unstrung his pouch, he took out a small pebble and smeared some liquid over it. The creature roared as it leapt in front of them. The man took the pebble and tossed it, smashing it twenty feet before them. There was a small explosion in front of the Ice Beast. It collapsed on the ground in silence.
“Who are you?” The Bounty Huntress turned, seeing only his protective mask.
“That does not matter.” He paused with a breath. “What does matter, is that we find some kind of shelter before it gets dark. That thing will be back with others.”
“Thank you for saving…” she started to say.
He turned with vicious sound that burned through her. “Do not thank me. You owe me nothing. Just watch yourself.”
“What is your name?”
“That is none of your concern,” he said passively.
“Look, I am only trying to be as polite as possible. If you don't have a name, I will make one up for you,” she said folding her arms.
“Quaid,” he spoke silently. “It is the name that I will use with you. We had better start moving.”
As they continued forward the altitude made Noleann's ears pop. She wondered about this strange man who had helped her. It was evident that he did not want her to know his true identity. He had changed his name for some unknown reason. The Bounty Huntress did not want to press the issue nor did she care. The only immediate thought that entered her mind was the others.
Where were Prince Grandur and Arieal?
**
Arieal and Prince Grandur paused to take a long-needed rest. She had scrapped her arm during a climb that led straight up the side of the mountain. Prince Grandur looked below and eyed the twisting path in the dimming daylight. A large pile of fallen debris had blocked their path causing them to climb up the side of the mountain. Arieal straightened herself out and pulled her cloak around her frame.
“We have to find some shelter. It will be dark, and the temperature is dropping.”
“She must have crossed that path before the avalanche hit,” he said with a glimmer of hope.
“I'm sure she's fine,” Arieal said with confidence. “Don't worry about her. She is more than able to take care of herself.”
Hard gusts of wind blew in intervals as they pulled their tired limbs up.
“We should try to go back and get the proper equipment to find her.”
“If you want my opinion, I think we're lost.”
“My sentiments exactly,” she sighed.
She rubbed her neck with half frozen fingers and placed them underneath the cloak. Arieal heard a strange noise, a low moaning roar over the next peak. She felt the wind brush up against her back, pushing her closer to the drop.
“What do you think that was?”
“Creatures that live here.”
“Great! What else can go wrong?”
A roar blasted them as Prince Grandur turned. Razor sharp claws tore through his clothing as a huge thing knocked him to the ground. It turned on Arieal as she stepped back and released her dagger from its sheath. The Ice Beast awkwardly lunged at her as she side stepped the creature and flung the dagger into its shoulder. The blade penetrated flesh and bone as a red stream of blood ran down the side of the beast. Arieal did not wait around to see the reaction of the creature. She grabbed Prince Grandur and darted down a passageway of twisting rock. The Prince was bleeding and she knew that he would need a healer and fast. Grandur slowed down his pace and turned to see if the beast had pursued them. It appeared that the dagger had hindered the thing from tracking them down, was the injury enough to keep it at bay?
“Keep moving before it comes after us,” he said weakly.
“We must find a village,” Arieal said as she ripped a piece of clot
h to wrap around the wound. “Its claws missed your face. It hit the right side of your temple.”
“I feel extremely dizzy and very nauseous,” he moaned. The Mistress became fearful from the sound of his voice and his changing appearance. His skin turned noticeably pale and his eyes grew dark. Arieal finished wrapping his head when she heard the terrible screams of the Ice Beast. Prince Grandur struggled to move his drained limbs, after a moment he was up on his feet.
Without hesitation they made their way through the curving, indented path, afraid of the inhuman creature that followed. Arieal held onto Prince Grandur with all of her strength. She knew that if she slowed, he would not make the rest of the journey. The Prince mustered his remaining energy and half ran as far as he could. The monstrous shadow rose before them as they both turned.
“To the side!” a stranger screamed.
“This way,” another tall man yelled.
Prince Grandur fell and lost all will to move. He looked back to see the Ice Beast move forward. A man stepped in front of his fallen frame with an iron spear and plunged it into the beast. The dark bearded man grabbed Arieal by the arm and she struggled to break his crushing grip.
“Let go of me.” She ripped free from the man. The dark bearded man went for the girl and the other stopped him.
“He is terribly ill. We must get him to a village where someone can treat him,” she said with some relief.
“Prisoners get no treatment. He stays here.”
The Southlander gave him a look of shock. She examined the Prince and gave the stranger a dark glance. “I am not leaving him alone.”
“You are in no position to make any demands.” The man raised his spear and pointed it directly at her tender throat. “If you refuse to move, you will be executed on the spot.”