Rise of the Ranger (Echoes of Fate: Book 1)

by Philip C. Quaintrell

  This was the same Nalana who heard the gods and first spoke the Echoes of Fate. Could this small boy from a thousand years ago be the ranger that had yet to reach fifty? It seemed that destiny was weaving quite the web.

  Alidyr looked up from the book, dismissing the entire notion. Asher had been a boy when he arrived at Nightfall; he certainly wasn’t a thousand years old! An ancestor, perhaps? It was possible that the gem had been passed down through the generations, though why Asher only possessed a piece of the crystal, he did not know.

  The explanation struck him like a lightning bolt. Oh, how he had been so short-sighted! He was truly undeserving of ruling the Hand to have missed what had been under his nose for so many years. Asher had arrived forty years ago, to the year, after being found outside Elethiah with no tribe to speak of. There had only been one event of significance that had taken place, exactly forty years ago...

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Into the Wild

  Galanör blinked hard to keep sleep at bay. He had been awake for almost two days now, and was thankful for the icy wind that kept him alert. Should he fall asleep, the elf was sure that he would fall from Malliath’s back and die upon impacting The Adean. Sitting back, against the largest spike on the dragon’s hide, he looked over the horizon, noting the sun had passed noon and done nothing to warm his chilling skin.

  Malliath had altered their course in the late morning and moved in a south-easterly direction. Galanör couldn’t fathom where they were going or what might be motivating the dragon. It was astonishing alone that Malliath had tolerated their presence at all, rather than barrelling through the air and dropping them to their doom. Thinking of his human companion, the elf adjusted his precarious position and turned back to spot the young mage, clinging to one of the spikes for his dear life.

  The elf was impressed with the human. It was a testament to his stamina and strength to be holding on for so long. Or it could be testament to the young mage’s rage and desire to kill Galanör, that he would abandon his home and jump onto a dragon. It was unfortunately more likely to be a combination of the two. Galanör had witnessed the heartbreak on the young man’s face when the girl had been killed by Lyra.

  There was another face that would torment him, but not as the faces of the others did. Lyra had betrayed him, but more than that, she had betrayed every elf in Ayda. The conspiracy of which she spoke was greatly disturbing to Galanör. The elf sat back, now accustomed to the level of oxygen, and reflected on every conversation between Lyra and him. Had he missed something glaringly obvious? He thought back to the moment he had chosen her to be on his team and realised there had been no trickery. Lyra had truly been the best among her peers, though it now appeared as if she had been trained by someone else in secret.

  Planting Adamar into the group had been the ploy to keep his attention off Lyra. All the times he had laid with her and conversed in private, bearing his fears and desires... How could she have aligned with Valanis? The dark elf had been defeated and trapped inside Elethiah since before Lyra was born. It was troubling to think of sympathisers and disciples of Valanis living in secret among his people in Elandril.

  Turning his head to the left, Galanör looked north, to where Elandril sat in the heart of The Amara. With every beat of Malliath’s wings, he was taken further from his home, putting everyone in danger. He had to warn them, urgently. Lyra had said it herself; whatever plans the elves had, Valanis had been planning long before. No, not Valanis, he thought. The dark elf was incapable of having a single thought, let alone plotting against his cousins in Ayda. Galanör wished he had taken more time with Lyra, and pressured more answers from her. There was someone at the top of this conspiracy, someone keeping Valanis’s plans alive. Galanör swore then, that he would find this person and personally see to their end.

  There was that duty-bound voice again.

  To protect his people he would take more lives. Did he have any boundaries? Was there a line that he wouldn’t cross in service to his people? Killing all those in service to Valanis felt more like a service to the world than just the elves. If that tyrant was ever set free, he would bring war to all of Verda, the humans included.

  As the clouds whipped above his head, Galanör had thought himself free for the first time. Now he knew that to be folly. In one form or another, he was duty-bound to do what was right, to protect not just the elves, but the creatures that walked all of Verda’s lands. As long as the shadow of Valanis fell over the realm, Galanör would be forced to fight. A voice inside, told him that it wouldn’t matter if he defeated the greatest evil ever known, it still wouldn’t atone for the innocents he had already killed.

  But he had to try.

  Without warning, Malliath banked to the left, dipping his huge shoulder as he did. Galanör braced his legs and reached out for the spike in front of him, holding onto it with all his considerable strength. A loud yelp from the back of the dragon told of the mage’s distress. Galanör wanted to look back and make sure the man was still there, but the elf dared not move.

  As suddenly as he banked, Malliath levelled out and continued to fly straight, only now they were heading for land. Galanör’s keen eyes could make out the forests in the distance, beyond the shore line of what the elf knew to be the Opal Coast. Illian had been left far behind now, having crossed the breadth of the The Adean. They were far south of Ayda’s eastern shores, heading into lands unknown.

  Where was Malliath going?

  The sun was settling on the horizon, casting the Alborn countryside in an orange hue. Riding out from Velia, the group had made good time crossing the Selk Road, heading into the wild grasslands. Alborn was a fairly civilised part of Illian, a region of flat, lush fields and small archipelagos of woodland, home to a variety of animals. It had been a pleasant day riding in all, with very little drama. Reyna smiled, happy to feel the warmth of the fading sun on her face. It had been the first time since their arrival in Illian that the storm hadn’t overshadowed them, though it was certainly following them in the distance.

  The group came alongside a small wood, skirting around its edges to continue heading west. Another smile broke across Reyna’s face when Ölli dove down between the trees, hunting for his dinner. The white owl disappeared into the woods, but Reyna knew well that the bird would find her with ease. He always did.

  Wiping the smile from her face, Darius Devale and his Graycoats came riding up alongside the companions from the rear. They slowed upon reaching Asher at the head of the convoy, and Reyna’s elven ears heard everything they spoke of.

  “We should rest here and make camp before we lose the light,” Darius suggested. “Let my men check the perimeter before it’s too dark.”

  Reyna could see that Asher was tempted to ride on. The ranger had no fear of the dark, but he wanted Reyna and the others within the safety of West Fellion’s walls. The Princess had grown to like the older man. It hadn’t escaped her notice that Asher was now assisting them without the promise of pay, which Reyna had recently learned from Nathaniel, was an essential part to procuring a ranger’s skills. The mere fact that the man simply wanted to see them safe endeared the ranger to her. Though she felt that expressing such affections or gratitude would be unappreciated by Asher.

  “Very well.” Asher brought his rather intelligent horse, Hector, about and addressed the group. “We’ll stop here for the night, set off again at first light. West Fellion is still three days away.”

  Darius instructed his men to comb the area and check the woods for any wolves. Elaith and Faylen set about making the camp with some tents, given to them by King Rengar. Asher headed into the woods to search for firewood, but turned to Reyna and Nathaniel before disappearing.

  “You two are the best archers,” he stated flatly. “Go find us something to cook.” Reyna detected the hint of a smirk on the ranger’s face, but appreciated what he was really trying to do.

  “I will accompany you.” Faylen made to join them before Reyna stopped her.r />
  “There’s no need. I can protect the knight all by myself.” The princess flashed Nathaniel a superior smile. “Don’t worry Mr Galfrey, I won’t let anything harm you.” Reyna walked away, unable to hide her smile. It wasn’t very often, if ever, that she used her royalty to command Faylen.

  Leaving their horses and a displeased mentor behind, the two walked off into the plains in search of deer. It pleased Reyna to see that the Graycoat was back to health and fully recovered. They walked in silence for a time, simply enjoying each other’s quiet company in the sun.

  “I’m very sorry about what happened to Mörygan,” Nathaniel offered his condolences.

  “You’d be the only one...” Reyna replied under her breath.

  “What was that?”

  “Oh, nothing. It is a great loss to my people and a shame that it has disrupted our alliance. But those of us that remain must strive to make things right.” Reyna thought that Faylen would be proud of her diplomatic response, even if the princess just felt sick about what they were really doing. The urge to come clean and tell Nathaniel and Asher everything was overwhelming.

  “I am sure you will do a fine job. And do not fear, we will bring an end to these assassins that hunt you.”

  They shared a warm smile and walked closer together, until their hands brushed against one another. It wasn’t long before they came across some tracks and followed them across the plains and into the tall grass. The herd grazed in the distance, unaware of the predators that stalked them. Ducking into the tall grass, they crouched with their bows ready and arrows notched, relishing in the hunt together.

  “Where did you learn to hunt?” Reyna asked. She was momentarily embarrassed to think that she didn’t know much about the Graycoat. Her elven urges hadn't given her much pause while in King Rengar’s palace.

  “No one leaves West Fellion without the skill to hunt... except maybe Elaith.” They both stifled their laugh. “Where did you learn? It seems a strange skill for a princess.”

  Nathaniel’s question was only more proof that the elven culture was a secret to man. They had no idea that the life of a warrior was the only way to exist anymore.

  “Elandril, my home, is situated in the heart of The Amara, a forest greater than you can imagine. My mother and Faylen would take me on long expeditions through those woods, hunting for days to stay alive. I miss the trees...” Reyna thought of the Redgrove trees that grew higher than any tower built by man or elf.

  “And your mother?” Nathaniel had stopped watching the deer.

  “You would like her.” Reyna smiled more to herself. “Her name is Adilandra. She is strong and brave… untamable”

  “Like you,” Nathaniel added with his own smile.

  They were only inches away from each other now. Reyna’s emotions were heightened, exaggerated all the more by her elven youth. She couldn’t help herself and, diving into his lips, knocked them both over in the grass. Nathaniel dropped his bow and cupped her face in his hands. For just a moment, Reyna forgot all her worries, succumbing to the passion that overwhelmed her. The tall grass flattened around them, as they rolled over one another, unrelenting in their grip of each other.

  They kissed for a while longer, enjoying the touch and embrace of the other, forgetting the world and its troubles. As the sun faded, the night’s cool air brought them from their reverie. They had spent at least an hour just lying in the grass, telling stories of a childhood spent in The Amara and Nathaniel’s time in Longdale and growing up in West Fellion. The princess was beginning to see that there was more than just a knight and handsome features to the man. His experiences as a child and growing up were in there own way similar to her own. But he was still human...

  Reyna popped her head slightly above the tall grass to see if the herd of deer still grazed nearby. Amazingly, the animals had moved closer to the pair while they had remained hidden beneath the grass. Before they lost all the light, elf and man shot up from the grass and fired an arrow each into the closest deer, killing it instantly. The herd ran away immediately and they collected their prize.

  “We will have to find a suitable excuse for our time away,” Nathaniel commented with a mischievous smile.

  “Using you for my own ends is a suitable excuse. I am a princess, remember?”

  The Graycoat laughed. “You are refreshing…”

  Reyna frowned. “The women in your land our stifled beneath the boot of man. I will see this imbalance corrected when our alliance is formed.”

  Nathaniel returned with a genuine smile. “Now that would would be worth seeing.” He slung the animal over his shoulder. “I thought elves were all vegetarians...”

  “My ancestors used to be,” Reyna thought of the warrior race they had become, “but not anymore. You see, your knowledge of elves grows everyday.”

  They returned to camp, smiling and laughing as they did.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Aspiring Heights

  Alidyr considered himself to be above all things; men, elves, the Arakesh and even the Hand. He was second only to Valanis, and rightly so. His master had been chosen by the gods, and so he was worthy of leading. It had stung the elf greatly when Thallan had wrested control of the Hand, claiming Alidyr had failed Valanis and them. Thallan was a fool for thinking that any progress could be made without Paldora’s gem, however. It was the key to everything, and the task of finding it had been entrusted to Alidyr. And now it was within his grasp.

  The elf waited patiently, in the secret room behind the Kaliban tapestry, with his white robes wrapped around his arms. Since the revelations of his investigation into Asher, Alidyr had been putting the larger picture together. The elves invasion of Illian was ultimately a way of ensuring that Valanis never be set free by the humans, though Alidyr believed there to be some greed on behalf of the lord of elves in regard to an invasion, but now that a piece of the gem had been allied with the princess and her mentor, there was a greater possibility that they would try to breach Elethiah’s wards and destroy Valanis once and for all.

  Like chess pieces on a board, Alidyr could manipulate both sides. His tongue could be just as wicked as his legendary short-swords. A push here, a siege there, and everything would fall into place, and the gem would be his, elevating his status once more.

  A portal opened on the other side of the fire-pit and Adellum entered the secret room. As always, the elf was shadowed in his black cape and hood, with his nose and mouth concealed behind a mask. In the presence of Alidyr, he removed both mask and hood to reveal his bald head, tattooed in ancient glyphs. The golden patterns laced around his powerful black bow glistened in the fire-light. Alidyr had seen the devastation the weapon had wrought in the past, and knew well that it would serve him in his new plan.

  “Why have I been summoned?” Adellum’s tone was harsh.

  Forty years ago, the elf wouldn’t even have spoke until Alidyr addressed him. That would change soon.

  “Because of all my brothers and dear sister, you are the wisest.” Alidyr knew how to wield words better than he did swords.

  “You want something.” Adellum folded his arms.

  “No brother, our Master wants something...” Alidyr walked slowly round the fire-pit, his gaze locked with Adellum’s.

  The ancient General scrutinised Alidyr, searching beyond his mysterious answer. “It cannot be...”

  “But it is.” Alidyr smiled. “Paldora’s gem has been found.”

  “But how? When?” Adellum unfolded his arms and stepped closer to the fire-pit.

  “The ranger who defeated Thallan.” Alidyr was sure to recall that little fact.

  “We must tell the others!” Adellum turned to leave, until Alidyr stopped him with a firm grip.

  “I summoned only you, brother. Thallan does not believe in the power of the gem, nor its importance. He still heals by the pools of Naius in Kaliban, he is weak. The gem is being taken to West Fellion as we speak, where it will be guarded well. Let you and I return Valanis to po
wer and bring down a great foe at the same time.”

  He could tell that his words had struck a chord in Adellum. The opportunity to rise above the others and prove himself to Valanis was too good to pass up. It helped that he knew Adellum always craved a good fight, and often spoke fondly of the battles they fought in the Dark War.

  “What do you suggest?” There was some respect in Adellum’s tone now.

  “I will command the Arakesh to follow you into battle, brother. They will be eager to finally bring down the walls of West Fellion.”

  “You’re talking about marching hundreds of assassins across Illian, into an outright war. Do you even have that power? I thought the Father commanded here...”

  Alidyr hadn’t expected such caution from Adellum. “If I order the Arakesh to attack West Fellion, then that is what they will do.” Alidyr spoke with authority. “Will you lead them and retrieve the gem?”

  “I could want for nothing more.” Adellum bowed his head. “But where shall you be, brother?”

  “I am not one for grand battles; I would leave that glory to you.” Alidyr knew exactly where he would be, but Adellum didn’t need to know that.

  “You always were one for the shadows.”

  “Indeed...” Alidyr made for his room once more. “When your army is ready, I will call on you again.” Adellum bowed deeply and vanished into the shadows.