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

by Philip C. Quaintrell

  The ground shook under the thunderous footsteps of their lizards, who charged back towards the valley entrance. The line of Sandstalkers began to fill out with dozens more arriving from beyond the distant rises. Both man and elf were soon looking out over two hundred hungry Sandstalkers.

  Gideon was adept at magic and Galanör skilled with a blade, but these monsters didn’t fight like men. The elf’s blades and his staff would not be enough to defeat an entire horde of Sandstalkers. Running wasn’t an option, however.

  “We have to cross this valley,” Galanör said with a determination that didn’t match his expression.

  “That’s going to be a little difficult when I’m being digested in the bellies of a dozen Sandstalkers...” Gideon held his staff tight in his hands. The horde was charging up the rise towards them. “Maybe we could run a little bit?”

  Galanör replied with a curt nod and turned to run with the mage, down the dune and onto the hard ground. The two ran as fast as they could, though Gideon suspected Galanör was going deliberately slower.

  Shadows, both swift and large crossed over the desert. Gideon looked up too late to see the underbellies of the two dragons that flew overhead.

  “Look!”

  By the time he caught sight of them, both dragons had glided low to the ground and picked up both giant lizards between their two front claws. The lizards shrieked, but their cries were soon lost in the distance covered by the ascending dragons. Gideon recognised the light blue scales and the gold-speckled green hide of the younger dragons from the Malaysai arena.

  They both skidded to a stop at the sight of the great creatures. The dragons arced through the air and glided back towards them, both at least a thousand feet high. As they followed their flight path, both Gideon and Galanör came face-to-face with the Sandstalker horde. Though the horde had been given pause at the sight of two superior predators, they continued to charge for their prey while the dragons flew away, heading deeper into The Red Mountains.

  The dragons had taken the lizards and left them for the Sandstalkers, leaving the mage with a sinking feeling in his gut.

  The beating of heavy wings preceded the stream of fire that rained down across the Sandstalkers’ frontline. A shadow, as big as the two younger dragons combined, passed overhead, before the ground shook behind Gideon and Galanör. The mage felt waves of confidence overwhelm him - feelings that he knew could not be his own. He was speechless before the giant emerald dragon that came to land before them. The dragon roared and reared up on its hind legs, its wings spread out, casting the entire horde in shadow. The Sandstalkers quickly turned around and ran for the safety of their underground nests, scattering across the valley.

  The ground shook once more when the front legs dropped back to the ground. Galanör dug both of his scimitars into the ground and immediately genuflected before the mightiest of creatures. Gideon continued to stand there, dumbstruck as two beautiful blue eyes took him in. A series of small horns ran along its head from its eyes, and one curving horn adorned the centre of its head.

  “Kneel...” Galanör hissed beside him.

  Before the mage could even collect his thoughts, the green dragon exploded into action and picked both of them up in its front claws. Galanör was just quick enough to retrieve his blades before they were swept away. They quickly gained height, leaving the valley and the mountains far below.

  “Not this again!” Gideon clung to the green scales as tightly as he could, despite the dragon’s already considerable grip.

  They weren’t flying very long before the dragon tucked in its wings and dived. Gideon was forced to take shallow breaths on the way down, though he spent most of his energy trying to ignore the ground that was rushing up to meet them.

  As death looked sure to claim them, the dragon banked to the left and glided for several miles over the tops of pointed trees. Gideon could see from their height that The Red Mountains surrounded what could only be described as an oasis. A circle of grassland and forestry occupied the massive crater. In the distance he could even see a river that crossed the expanse.

  The dragon banked right and flapped its huge wings to gain more height, heading towards the centre of the oasis. The land was only feet below them now and Gideon began to worry about the speed with which the dragon continued to travel. At the last second, great wings filled the air and the dragon arched backwards to slow down. The leathery wings rippled and became taut, similar to the sails of a boat in the wind. The two back legs thundered into the ground and the dragon released them. Galanör’s elven agility allowed him to gracefully turn his momentum into a roll until he found his feet. Gideon, on the other hand, tumbled over his own weight until he hit a particularly blunt rock.

  It took a minute for the mage to gather his sense and find his footing, but Galanör appeared at his side and helped him up with a strong hand and a warm smile. Gideon could feel the same thing as the elf. Wherever they were, the feeling of being safe and satisfied filled his mind. The very air tingled with magic, and upon simple observation, Gideon could see why. In the centre of the oasis, between the trees and boulders, giant hunks of rock the size of houses floated in the air. Thick roots grew over them and down into the mossy ground, but the rocks remained elevated. Even the trees appeared larger and healthier than any forest Gideon had ever seen or heard of.

  A sharp expulsion of air behind them reminded the two companions that they weren’t alone. They both turned to see the colossal emerald dragon that had brought them here. Despite its blood-stained teeth, Gideon at no point felt as if his life was in danger. Instead, the feeling of curiosity overcame him, and he could no longer tell whether his emotions were actually his or the dragon’s.

  “We did it, we found them...” He knew he sounded like an idiot, but he didn’t care; he was standing in front of a dragon!

  “Welcome to Dragons’ Reach.” They were startled by the new voice that came from behind them. “I hope you weren’t too attached to those lizards.” A tall man of handsome features, in long blue robes, appeared from behind a tree. “I’m afraid Bravog and Ilargo are learning to hunt. Your mounts were easy prey.” The man’s waist-length, blond hair moved as he approached, revealing two pointed ears.

  Galanör’s mouth opened, but no words came out. Both elves stared at each other before the stranger took a moment to look over Gideon.

  “Who are you?” the mage asked.

  The stranger smiled and glanced at the green dragon, who snorted and strode off into the clearing. Gideon gasped when at least eight more dragons appeared from within the forest and the skies. The two dragons known as Bravog and Ilargo landed in front of the green dragon, with their dead lizards. A purple dragon, somewhere in size between the green dragon and the two younger ones, crawled round one of the floating boulders above to better observe them.

  “What’s wrong with it? Why’s it leaving?” Gideon was easily distracted by the magnificent creatures.

  The stranger smiled again. “What’s wrong with her,” he corrected. “That is Rainael the emerald star.”

  Both Gideon and Galanör turned to stare at the green dragon, who was now inspecting the dead lizards. Gideon thought he might burst with excitement.

  “In the hierarchy that you understand, she would be considered queen.” The stranger walked slowly to the edge of the clearing, before turning back to them.

  It was hard to focus on him when a dozen dragons lounging in the distance.

  “How is any of this possible?” Gideon gestured to the floating mountains of rock.

  Galanör continued to simply stare blankly between the dragons and the stranger.

  “Dragons are magical beings. They exude magic with their every heartbeat. When they gather in such numbers, their natural magic begins to affect the world physically.”

  As his explanation finished, at least three dozen dragons descended from the sky and landed in the clearing or on the floating rocks. Gideon looked up to see a hundred more flying in circles across
the sky.

  “There’s so many...” the mage remarked.

  “Yes, and one more recently...” The elf looked to the highest floating boulder, where a familiar black dragon lay curled up, alone. “He heard the call of the younglings. When in distress they can hear each other across thousands of miles. Incredible beings... unfortunately, I feel Malliath will require more time before we address his unique situation.”

  Galanör held out a hand to stop Gideon from continuing the conversation. “Who are you?”

  The stranger smiled again. “Forgive me; it has been an age since I have conversed with another elf, or human. My name is Adriel. I am the last of the Dragorn...”

  Chapter Fifty

  Forty Years ago...

  The cool water washed over Asher’s face and body, as he broke the surface of the lake. The water around him had turned red with all the blood running off him. It was impossible to say whose blood it all was, but a fair portion had certainly been his own. While under the water, the ranger had taken the time to use the gem to heal his wounds once again. He walked up the bank and began to untie the knots that kept his various pieces of armour in place, leaving them where they fell. When he was left wearing only his trousers, Asher flexed his muscles, testing the power of the ring. He felt whole again.

  When they emerged from the portal, the group had collapsed on the ground and slept right there, under the oak tree, until dawn. They had all been beyond the point of exhaustion after the battle at West Fellion. Even now, Elaith sat with her back to the tree and her eyes closed. Nathaniel had removed many of his clothes to inspect the fresh wounds that marred his back and torso, while Reyna used clean rags, from Faylen’s infinite sack, to mop up the blood, before she used her magic to heal the knight.

  The elves had already healed each other, but even they appeared haggard around the edges. Reyna’s spirits had been lifted when her owl arrived, though how it could always find the princess was a mystery to Asher. It made the ranger think of Hector and he wondered if he would ever see the horse again. If there was anything that cowardly beast of burden could do, it was run away. Something told Asher that Hector fled West Fellion before it was reduced to rubble.

  The ranger looked past the trees, to the rise in the west. Elethiah was another two days walk from the lake. As impressive as his ability was to open a portal, he had failed to get them all the way. The group was somewhere in the Moonlit Plains, between West Fellion and Elethiah.

  “Wait.” Nathaniel grabbed Reyna’s wrists to stop her dabbing his ribs. “I have to know what’s going on. How are you healed, twice? You walked into that lake with more injuries than all of us - now you look as good as new!”

  Asher’s glance at Faylen was noticed by Reyna. “What aren’t you telling us?” the princess asked.

  “I have Paldora’s gem.” Asher held up the back of his hand to show them the crystal.

  Reyna’s mouth dropped and she stammered and stumbled over her words.

  “How is that possible?” Nathaniel asked.

  Reyna strode across the grass and grabbed the ranger’s hand to examine the gem closer.

  “Don’t touch it,” Faylen warned. “I believe the gem is firmly attached to Asher, though I know not why.”

  “It’s smaller than I thought it would be,” Reyna remarked.

  Faylen looked at Asher with a cocked eyebrow and a questioning expression.

  “It’s only a piece of the gem. I cut this part away before I even passed the trials at Nightfall.” Asher took his hand back.

  “Where’s the rest?” the princess asked desperately.

  “Lost,” Faylen answered for him, though her disappointment wasn’t hard to miss.

  “I can’t believe you’ve had Paldora’s gem this whole time and you didn’t tell us!” Reyna exclaimed.

  “You mean like the way that you kept it from us that the elves are planning to invade Illian?” Asher’s counter-argument was enough to silence the princess, who only looked to Faylen in return.

  “If the ring can heal you,” Elaith said, “then why are you covered in scars?”

  Asher looked down at the patchwork of scars that marred his torso and arms. “I wasn’t always in a position to use the ring, at least not without bringing attention to myself. That’s why I got rid of the larger gem years ago; it was gaining me too much attention.”

  “How did you come by it?” Nathaniel asked again.

  “I’ve had it since before I arrived at Nightfall. Everything before then is a haze of jumbled memories.”

  “This changes everything.” Reyna was pacing now. “This changes everything. Don’t you see?” the princess asked the group. “We have Paldora’s gem, or at least enough of it to make a difference. We can use it to enter Elethiah, past its wards.”

  Faylen nodded her head as if she had already come to that conclusion. “The ring and the bow will be of great use inside those walls,” the older elf replied. Adellum’s powerful bow stood propped up against the oak tree, beside Elaith.

  Asher suddenly felt very vulnerable without his broadsword. The blade was irretrievable now, buried under several tons of West Fellion’s stone. As was his blindfold. He had always been loath to use it, but having it around his belt had offered comfort, like that of a child’s blanket. The ranger had already cleaned his silvyr sword, washing it in the lake to ensure no blood gathered in the runes. The hour-glass blade didn’t look as ferocious as his broadsword, but it was just as deadly in his hands.

  “Without horses it’s a two day trek across the Moonlit Plains to Elethiah,” Nathaniel offered. “We should leave soon.”

  “Agreed,” Asher replied.

  The group spent the morning preparing their gear and inspecting their weapons. It seemed Reyna had claimed the magical bow as her own after delivering the killing blow to Adellum. Asher made a fire to cook up some breakfast, since he planned on walking until nightfall with no intentions of lingering on the plains. The Moonlit Plains didn’t belong to man.

  “Here...” Faylen presented the ranger with a new cloak from within her enchanted chest. “It’s not green like your old one, but it’s clean and it’ll keep you warm. I’m afraid I don’t have any broadswords in my bag.” The elf added the latter with a playful smile. So enjoyable was it that Asher couldn’t help but smile back at her.

  “Thank you.” The ranger clipped the grey cloak over his leather shoulder plates, and hung his quiver and sword over the top.

  After eating, the group left the peaceful lakeside and headed south-west. They had a lot of ground to cover.

  The companions walked across the plains unfettered, enjoying the sun that broke through the grey clouds. They walked in silence for most of the day, still somewhat in shock from the battle. Elaith finally broke the tension with amusing stories from her time in Ameeraska. This eventually prompted the others to share stories of their own. Asher kept his tales to those that had taken place after leaving the Arakesh. The ranger wasn’t too keen to dwell on those dark days.

  The sun had begun to cast an orange glow over Illian, when a gasp from Reyna caught the instant attention of her companions. Asher quickly joined them on the rise of the nearest hillock, where the princess crouched low.

  “Look! Centaurs...” Reyna whispered, even though the creatures were half a mile away.

  Asher crouched low next to Nathaniel and instinctively reached out to pull Elaith down from her knees. The ranger could see from Nathaniel’s expression, that the knight understood the danger of being so close to a team of Centaurs. The elves simply looked on in wonder, showing a clear desire to interact with them.

  “There are no Centaurs in Ayda,” Reyna explained. “My mother spoke of them in the tales of old. Half elf, half horse...”

  Asher had never thought of them being half elf before, but it was known that Centaurs had pointed ears. The ranger cast the random thought aside and pulled back from the hillock. The Graycoats willingly joined him, but the elves remained fixed on the rise.
/>   “We can’t stay here,” Nathaniel said. “It isn’t safe.”

  “Why?” Faylen asked, struggling to take her eyes away from the galloping team.

  Asher explained, “I don’t know what creatures your stories tell of, but these Centaurs are not what you think they are. When your kind left Illian, they were hunted for years by man. Some still consider them to be the ultimate prize. But these Centaurs are hunters now; they use bows and spears as we do. Anyone travelling on the Selk Road through the Moonlit Plains does so at their own peril. Most pay for an escort in Tregaran, on the edge of The Arid Lands, or Vangarth if they’re travelling south.”

  “Our elders speak of a gentle race,” Faylen replied solemnly. “Our people would commune with them often.”

  “They’d put an arrow through you before they realised you were an elf. That’s if they even remember what an elf is...” Asher reached over his shoulder and absently checked the amount of arrows he had left. Reyna had restocked all of their quivers from her own enchanted quiver before they left the lake, however. “Come. I want us to reach The Unmar before we lose the sun.”

  The elves took a lasting look at the roaming Centaurs, before joining the humans on a longer path that would take them away from the creatures.

  It was a cold night on the plains. The clouds had moved north and left the stars and a crescent moon in their place. Asher was grateful for his new cloak, which he pulled tight around him. As usual, Elaith was the first to find sleep, nestled close to the fire. Faylen sat close to the ranger but said very little, wrapped up in her own cloak and blanket.

  “It’s happening!” Reyna exclaimed.

  The princess sat inside the same blanket as Nathaniel and both watched the Moonlit Plains, in the distance, come to life with a fluorescent green glow.

  “I’ve always wanted to see it,” Reyna said with excitement.

  Asher looked out at the glowing plains, though in truth he was searching for anymore teams of Centaurs. The illuminated fields made it much easier to spot anything moving through the grass.