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

by Philip C. Quaintrell

  “Fallön dearest,” the Goddess’s seductive voice called to the elf, “take this and cut your throat.” The evil queen handed him a fine curved blade with jagged edges.

  “No!” Adilandra had managed to use a small amount of magic to rid herself of the toxins that coursed through her veins, but it was not enough to save Fallön.

  Without hesitation, the elf took the knife and in one smooth motion, cut his throat. Adilandra cried out and fell back to her knees, watching his blood poured onto the floor. The Goddess walked through it, allowing the blood to wash over her bare feet.

  “Mmm... it’s warm.” The Goddess appeared to take comfort from the feeling. Adilandra felt the poison spreading once more through her body, threatening to surround her in darkness. “Don’t worry little elf, it won’t kill you. I have so much more in mind for you.”

  “Adilandra!” Galanör was racing down the hallway with Gideon at his side.

  The queen could see the future laid out before her. The three of them would never make it out of the pyramid, let alone out of Malaysai. They were surrounded by enemies and she would only slow them down now. The three of them would never make it out...

  “Find them Galanör! Find the dragons!” Adilandra used all the strength that remained to throw the last crystal. Galanör and Gideon sprinted into the room, as she opened a portal from within the crystal, swallowing their running forms whole. She needn’t have closed it quickly, ensuring no return, as the magic drained her of any energy the poison had yet to take from her.

  The Goddess’s bloody feet slowly approaching was the last thing she saw, before the darkness consumed her.

  Galanör and Gideon ran into the rising sun, with their feet skidding across hard desert. The portal closed behind them and with it any chance of returning to the pyramid, or even Malaysai. The elf turned around, only to be greeted by a wall of jungle. Adilandra had teleported them beyond the Great Maw, placing them somewhere between the jungle that encompassed Malaysai and the mountains to the east.

  “No!” Galanör shouted into the air.

  It wasn’t fair. They had cut their way through a hundred Darkakin, only to be foiled at the end. He had failed his queen, his people and his oath to the crown. The elf felt as if he did nothing but fail in his duties. All he wanted was to be free of it, and yet he constantly found himself in a position of great need to others.

  “We’re going back!” Galanör glanced at Gideon, before marching towards the Great Maw.

  “We can’t!” Gideon gripped Galanör’s arm, but the elf shrugged him off.

  “Come with me or don’t, but I am going find her and I-”

  “There are three armies amassing inside that city!” Gideon was trying to talk sense, but Galanör couldn’t hear it. “We couldn’t get back in if we wanted to! You heard her, you heard them. All of Verda is about to collide. The east marches against the west and the south rises up to swallow them both. We need to ally the two and push back the Darkakin, Galanör. I don’t know about you, but I have no idea how to do that! Adilandra was convinced that the dragons would be the deciding factor in this war and I’m inclined to believe her.”

  “You would have me abandon her to those savages?” Galanör knew that the mage spoke the truth, but it didn’t make it any easier.

  “Adilandra would have you find the dragons...” Gideon produced the map he had scooped off the table.

  Galanör looked to the east and the Red Mountains that rose up to meet the sky. The dragons flew east, the queen had said. Somewhere inside those mountains was the key to saving Verda, the key to saving Adilandra.

  “Have you ever walked across a desert before, Gideon?” The barren land shimmered before them in the heat.

  “No, have you?”

  “No...” Galanör sheathed the elven blades and covered his head with the hood of his cloak. They had a long walk ahead of them.

  Chapter Forty-Four

  The Beginning of the End

  Faylen opened the door to their chamber before Nathaniel or Elaith could knock. The elf ushered them in without a word and closed the door softly behind them. The elves hadn’t long finished lunch with the Lord Marshal and Faylen had made the excuse that meditation was required before they do anything else. What the Lord Marshal didn’t know, was that Faylen had crept around West Fellion during the night and left hidden messages for the only Graycoats she trusted.

  “What’s going on?” Nathaniel asked, looking to Reyna.

  Faylen took the measure of the man and could see Reyna’s attraction. As humans go, the Graycoat was striking in appearance, with elven symmetry to his facial features. The princess’s attraction notwithstanding, Faylen was sure there were no feelings yet harboured by the young elf, though that particular future wasn't hard to foresee, with the Graycoat possessing some of the finer qualities man wasn't remembered for.

  “She won’t say,” Reyna replied. “She’s being awfully secretive...”

  “I’m going to Elethiah,” Faylen announced. “And I’m taking the ranger with me.” Of all, she knew that Reyna would be the most shocked. The young elf knew more about the ancient citadel than the Graycoats.

  “You mean we’re taking the ranger?” the princess corrected.

  “War is coming to Illian. But there are those in Ayda who think it folly to fight the humans. If Valanis can be destroyed, your father will have no justification to invade. He will lose allies in the ruling houses, and a diminished army will force him to rethink his strategy.” Faylen explained it as simply as she could.

  “War? Who’s going to war?” Elaith looked to each of them for answers.

  “That’s a good question.” Nathaniel looked to Reyna with evident concern.

  “We’re not here just to destroy Valanis,” Reyna said hesitantly.

  Faylen remained silent, knowing that there was no avoiding the truth now.

  “I’m really confused,” Elaith chirped in.

  “I’ll explain later.” Nathaniel put a hand up to silence her. “What else are you here to do?”

  “We were sent by my father to gather as much information as possible about Illian’s defences. Learn which kingdoms posed the greatest threat before we invade. My people want to take this land back, and many still blame the humans for the Dragon War. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, we couldn’t, Mörygan was a great supporter of my father’s plan.”

  “Reyna...” Faylen wanted to caution the princess, but the elf was just as stubborn as her mother.

  “No, they need to know.” Reyna turned back to Nathaniel with glistening eyes. “We were part of a plan to lower Korkanath’s defences. Another group of elves has attacked the school so they could... so they could take the dragon. I don’t know if they succeeded, but if they have, then Malliath the voiceless has already reached Ayda’s shores. He will be used to release the dragon eggs stored inside Mount Garganafan.”

  “Dragons...” Nathaniel’s eyes glazed over.

  “My father will have an army of them when he invades. I’m sorry.” Reyna turned back to Faylen. “You know my father as well as I. With the threat of Valanis or not, he will take back Illian from the humans. You know how much he hates them, Faylen.”

  “Whether he will or not, Valanis poses a serious threat. Besides the benefits of taking him out of the equation, it will weaken your father’s position.” Faylen was going to Elethiah, no matter what the argument.

  “How will you even destroy Valanis?” Reyna persisted.

  Nathaniel appeared to be mulling the new information over, though what he made of it, Faylen didn’t know.

  “The Amber spell has frozen him in place. Removing his head will be easy, getting through Elethiah’s wards will be harder. Asher has shown great resilience to magic, and I don’t entirely agree with his treatment here. His company will benefit us both.”

  “I will not stay here.” Reyna intoned her authority. As the princess she technically had the last word on anything they did, but not this time.

  �
��You have an army of knights to protect you here. If I took you with me I would be putting you in harm’s way, and believe me, Elethiah will offer more challenges than a few Arakesh.” Faylen opened her chest of infinite depth and removed her scimitar and travelling clothes.

  “How will you free Asher?” Elaith asked.

  “Leave that to me. I am charging the two of you with protecting Princess Reyna of house Sevari, daughter to the lord of elves.” Faylen stepped very close to the Graycoats. “And you will not fail me.”

  “We will protect her with our lives,” Nathaniel stated boldly, if a little distracted.

  “You’re not listening to me!” Reyna stormed over. “You’re not going to Elethiah without me. It’s too dangerous, even for you and Asher. You will need elven magic; it makes sense if we both go.”

  “The only thing that makes sense to me, is keeping you safe.” Faylen cupped Reyna’s face in both of her hands. “Stay with Nathaniel. Protect each other. When the ranger and I return, we will see to setting things right.” The elf placed an affectionate kiss on the princess’s forehead. “Now go. I would meditate a while and prepare, I will free the ranger this very night. I suggest you continue appearances.” Faylen’s playful smile was not mirrored in Reyna or Nathaniel.

  The princess knew that Faylen wouldn’t budge, that much was clear from her expression, but the older elf knew it was for the better. The three of them left together without a word, leaving Faylen to gather her strength.

  Nathaniel watched Reyna put arrow after arrow into the head of the straw mannequin with graceful ease. The elf barely used any concentration or strength to pull back the string and release the arrow with deadly precision. The Graycoat was uncanny with a bow, but he wasn’t in the same league as Reyna.

  “She will succeed.” Nathaniel could see what was really driving Reyna’s constant barrage of arrows.

  “You can’t know that,” the princess fired back. “My people placed powerful enchantments around Elethiah for a reason; to keep people out. She’s going to need all the elven magic she can get.”

  Nathaniel looked around and tried to ignore the curious looks the other Graycoats gave him. The pair was unaccompanied and the only ones in the archery range. No doubt his familiarity with Reyna would only add to everyone’s dislike of him.

  “You think we should go with them...” It was more a statement than a question.

  “Do you not?” Reyna quickly replied. “Faylen’s cause is more honourable and just than any quest in all of Verda. I think she should have an army behind her, but there is none in all of Illian that could break through Elethiah’s enchantments. She needs me...”

  “I would gladly join them if it weren’t for the threat that hung over you. The Arakesh will come for you. I have no control outside these walls, Reyna.”

  “I can’t stay here forever.” Reyna loosed another arrow, this time striking the mannequin’s crotch. “I won’t stay here forever.”

  Nathaniel notched an arrow in his own bow. “I’m not asking you to stay here forever,” the arrow launched from his bow and split Reyna’s arrow in the down the middle, “I’m asking you to be safe.”

  Reyna turned away and sighed, frustrated. Nathaniel wanted for nothing more than to please the elf, free Asher and take the entire complement of Graycoats to Elethiah. But he needed to keep Reyna safe.

  “Do you have nothing to say?” Reyna glanced at him.

  The Graycoat knew what she meant. “Your father and a great many of your people would like to go to war with us... but even a blind man could see that you do not, nor Faylen.” Nathaniel said warmly. They had played their part but not by any real choice. What mattered was that they were now trying to make things right.

  Reyna smiled in that way that made him forget the troubles of the world. He desperately wanted to kiss her and comfort her, to tell her that together they would make things right, but beyond her physical attraction to him, the knight wasn't sure the princess shared his deeper feelings.

  “The dragon part’s a little scary,” Nathaniel added with mock fear. Reyna smiled, but her melodic laugh was interrupted.

  “Galfrey!” Darius Devale shouted his name from atop the wall. “The Lord Marshal wishes to see you in his office, now.” Darius walked away without waiting for a reply.

  Elaith emerged from the armoury with a new bow more suited to her size and strength. “Prepare to be awed!” The young Ameeraskan smiled with the carefree attitude that accompanied youth.

  Nathaniel was in no mood to entertain her, however. “Stay with Reyna.” The Graycoat strode away sullenly, his mood matching the dark clouds that now hung overhead, threatening rain. The Lord Marshal had never wanted him for anything good.

  High inside the main keep, Nathaniel entered Horvarth’s office, a room handed down through the generations of Lord Marshals from the time of Tyberius Gray. Horvarth sat at the far end of the room, behind an ornate desk said to have been gifted to Tyberius by the first king, Gal Tion, himself. Horvarth continued to scribble across scroll after scroll, with his eyes firmly fixed on the parchment and not Nathaniel. Like an obedient Graycoat, Nathaniel stood before the desk with his hands clasped behind his back, silent until spoken to. He took the moment of invisibility to cast an eye around the room. Growing up in West Fellion, there wasn’t a boy or girl who didn’t dream of sitting in this office and holding the highest title a Graycoat could achieve.

  As a warrior by nature, Nathaniel looked past the books, ornaments and tapestries, his eyes instead resting on the mounted sword behind the Lord Marshal. The pommel of the one-handed hilt shone a beautiful gold with the features of a lion, the symbol for house Tion.

  “Magnificent isn’t it?” Horvarth had stopped writing and was staring at Nathaniel. “The sword of Tyberius Gray. For many years it was handed down to the next Lord Marshal and worn with pride. It can be nothing but an ornament now...” Horvarth rose from his desk and removed the sword from its mount. “Feel the weight.” He handed the blade to Nathaniel, who gripped it firmly with one hand, admiring the ancient craftsmanship. “Do you know why I cannot wear it, Galfrey?” Nathaniel pointed the sword down, to better examine the lion’s head. “Very good. The Graycoats protect the realm, not a single kingdom. Back then there was only the one kingdom and it was ruled by the lions. It would be very rude for the Lord Marshal of West Fellion to be seen favouring any one kingdom over the rest. We would not survive without their charity.” Horvarth took the sword back and replaced it on the wall.

  “You wanted to see me, sir.” Nathaniel said at last.

  “As a knight of this order I don’t expect you to overly concern yourself with the upkeep of West Fellion, that job is mine and mine alone. With the exception of Dragorn, the five kingdoms pay us to keep their lands safe, so that they don’t have to fear jurisdiction and clashes between forces. They pay for an order of knights, disciplined and skilled. Right now every king, queen and lord has their sights squarely set on those elves. Should we prove to be the knights we claim to be, the Arakesh will fail and the realm will see the benefit in our continued presence.” Horvarth paused before continuing. “What makes West Fellion appear undisciplined, and not what it claims to be, is when members of its order go around fucking the princess of a foreign nation!”

  Nathaniel felt dizzy for just a moment. No doubt Darius Devale had told the Lord Marshal of his suspicions. “Sir, I-”

  “I don’t want to hear it.” Horvarth moved away and walked around his office. “If I punished and exiled every Graycoat having sex there wouldn’t be enough knights to open West Fellion’s gate. Anyone stupid enough to get pregnant or get caught has the decency to never return.”

  “My father didn’t...”

  Horvarth’s mouth twisted. “No he didn’t. Instead he returned a happier man for his newest creation. If you think I’m hard on them you should have met the Lord Marshal at the time. He wanted to have your father executed in the courtyard. Not only had he broken his vow but he wanted to have a f
amily and remain a Graycoat. But your father was already famous across Illian by then, his deeds remembered by the people. The Lord Marshal was powerless to act.” Nathaniel didn’t like the way Horvarth looked at him then. “Are your deeds remembered across Illian?”

  Nathaniel didn’t know what to say. He had broken his vow and failed to hide his affection for Reyna, but surely he couldn’t be executed for it. The knight opened his mouth to make his argument, but couldn’t find the words he thought might save his life. When it came to saving his life he was better making the argument with a sword or bow.

  “Don’t look so worried,” Horvarth continued. “I’m not having you executed for your lapse in discipline. I’m promoting you.” Nathaniel knew it to be a trap; he just couldn’t see it yet. “Your skill with a bow has long been noted,” if ignored, Nathaniel thought, “so I’m making you master of the bow. You will be given a permanent room in the keep and your instruction of the knights-in-training will begin immediately. Congratulations.” Horvarth added dryly.

  “You’re imprisoning me,” Nathaniel countered.

  “You consider West Fellion a prison? Scores of your brothers and sisters would be honoured for such a title. A room of your own, the safety of the keep and a master of the order! I fail to see the bars on your door.”

  “I am a knight. I belong out there, serving the realm-”

  “You are indeed a knight of this order, and I am the Lord Marshal. You will do as I command and nothing more.” Horvarth wasn’t backing down.

  “Am I that much of a disgrace that you would keep me hidden from the world?” Nathaniel softened his tone.