by Karey Brown
“River of dead, in Styx you will drown—“
Drakar choked. Great amounts of water spewed from his mouth.
“Your name forbidden, your lineage to ground.”
Abruptly, screams echoed throughout Balkore as Drakar’s centuries of descendants fell dead. Violent seizures contorted Drakar’s body.
“To Otherworld, I damn you!” Flinging his hand, Drakar’s body stilled. But the silence was simply a crescendo before the final act.
Hissing, screeching, horrific snarling ensued as beings materialized around the Lumynari’s body. Emily tried looking.
“You will keep your face averted. Obey my command, Keer’dra. You have seen enough without this entrenched in your mind, causing you incomprehensible nightmares. These are not the Elites, little one. These are the demons your realm prays against.”
“Can you take away my hearing?”
Drakar’s soul wailed as it was viciously pried from his chest by ravenous demons.
“Please!” Emily shouted into Dezenial’s chest. Muttering quickly, he touched her ears, almost smiling as she sagged against him with relief.
“Be quick about your business,” Dezenial commanded. “You frighten your queen!” A quick nod in respect for their Dark Prince, and the demons grasped the struggling soul, dragging it towards nothingness as they vanished.
“Keer’dra, follow my voice, little one.” A few seconds later, he asked if she could hear him.
“What happened?”
“You met Drakar. He was under the impression he could bring you to my mother. Her precious soldier won’t be doing her bidding any longer. Desperate and furious, a bad combination where Shadow is concerned. We must leave.”
“What did you do to him?”
“Gave him to demons to feast upon, killed his descendants,” Dezenial shrugged.
She looked up at him. “You’re as indifferent as if you did nothing more than go for a walk.”
“Were you not here, Emily, I would have done far worse. Eternity in the hands of demons is gentle, compared to what I would have personally done to him. As it is, my father has stepped into the arena and is tormenting Drakar’s soul as well. You see, he made the mistake of threatening our unborn children.”
“Hades’ grandchildren.”
“Exactly.”
“Oh, my.”
“Lord Dezenial, flashes upon the ridge.” Eldaryn sniffed. “I smell flesh and . . . demons feasted! You did not think to share?”
“Drakar’s hide is not something you would have found pleasing to your palate.”
“Drakar? Your mother won’t be far behind. He was her favorite pawn.”
“He has in his custody the Book of Hera.”
“I look forward to hearing this tale, but another time. Where Drakar lurks, his scourge follow.” Eldaryn studied Dezenial’s life-mate for a few seconds. “How long before the attack?”
“Drakar, as usual, does not guard his thoughts. Shadow calls for the death of the Keeper—and me.”
“Ah, the love of a mother. Makes me miss mine all the more.”
“Emily will need you, where she is going. Your loyalty has voided your debt . . . friend.”
“Dez? What are you two talking about? Your growling and grunting is, well, creepy.”
The Dark Prince caressed the face of his beloved. “Our journey has just changed.”
Emily sniffed. “What’s that smell? It’s sweet, but burning.” Emily gagged, turning away and covering her mouth and nose. Shouts erupted from across the cavern. Inzyr morphed from shadow, his lithe form appearing up on the ridge. He and several Lumynari sprinted towards a ghastly formed bridge of rock. Emily’s eyes raced ahead of them. “Oh-my-God!”
“Keer’dra!” Dezenial grabbed her arm and spun them away. “Run!”
Acrid smoke angrily spewed from a slashed opening in a granite wall, directly where her father ran towards! And from the smoke, a monstrous sized troll barreled towards them! The ground vibrated from its pounding clubfeet.
“Your orchards,” Eldaryn yelled. “Chath! They knew you would be there!”
“A trap?” Emily hollered over her shoulder. They sprinted, retracing their steps. This wasn’t happening. If only she could shake this daze, a darkness clinging to her like sticky webs. Bile threatened. Again, she glanced over her shoulder. Troll bellowed.
Emily screamed. “Creatures . . . flying out of its mouth! What the hell?!!”
“This way!” Dezenial suddenly cut across the hard packed earthen trail, tugging her into a crevice. “Eldaryn, our backs!” They came out the other side, stopping so Emily could catch her breath. Too narrow for the troll to pass through, Dezenial’s entourage began spilling out. For Emily, it had been too much running in her condition. She spun away, quickly covering her mouth. Nausea intensified. Her entire body began shivering. So cold. Her armband radiated heat, but it wasn’t enough. Flutters in her womb succeeded in making her retch.
“Keer’dra,” Dezenial grasped her shoulders from behind, turning her to face him when she’d finished. “You’ll reach deeply within you—“
“And wish for gum?”
“Pull forth the Lumynari battling to rise. Stop forcing it to remain dormant.” Keeping hold of her, he watched as gargoyles bounded out the crevice by twos. Sixteen of them surrounded their prince and his mate. Mentally summoning more of the Otherworld legion, the Dark Prince returned his focus on his life-mate. “Now, Emily.”
“Shouldn’t we just run, or shadow jump? I don’t feel well.”
“Terror consumes, and will continue until madness sets in. That is Drakar’s intent. He poisons. Your body is trying to expunge what he’s done, but its power is stronger than this side of you. Keer’dra, I command—“
Emily’s head reared. Eyes glowed amber, her hair a luminous shroud of white fire. “I won’t have sudden urges for bloodletting, will I?”
“Would that be so bad?”
“Right now? Nope.”
“You are most beautiful.” A sardonic smile flitted, then vanished. “The darkness?”
“Seems to be skittering back from where it came.”
Shouting demolished their reprieve. Dezenial clutched her to him. “Shadow spell. Do it now!”
“My father’s chambers. I’ll be safe—“
“No, Keer’dra! This is Shadow’s doing. Nowhere in Balkore are you safe. Go above. Forest Lords disassemble their camp. I’ll join you. Inzyr’s quarters have been breached! Do not go there! Above! Now!”
Chaos erupted. A hiss so close to Emily, her hair wafted. A javelin struck. Gargoyle shrieked and furiously yanked free the weapon before rocketing over Emily and landing with a sickening crunch atop a Lumynari warrior. Before she could view more of the ensuing battle, Emily found herself shoved towards a dark alcove. It was another sliced opening within rock. Eldaryn’s cold muzzle pushed her shoulders. She could feel hot breath from his other head right above her own.
Dezenial?
Screams, roars and shrieks, though muted between these towering walls, was still loud enough to propel her forward. She lifted her hem, about to sprint.
She stopped.
Eldaryn nudged her hard.
“No. Quiet.” She calmed her breathing, clutching a handful of the beast’s chest fur for comfort. Standing under his heads, she listened. Ahead of them, where they would soon spill from this chasm, something waited. In her Lumynari state, she saw hovering forms above them as well. “Spinners,” she whisper-hissed.
“Treachery scents the air,” Eldaryn grumbled close to her ear, his hot breath making her wince.
“Friend or foe?”
Eldaryn sniffed. “They are not those residing under Dezenial’s protection.”
Shouts from the battle chased them. Closer. Metal scraped against metal. “I cannot pass you,” Eldaryn said. “There lacks room, yet I cannot allow you to proceed either back, nor forward.”
“I can’t shadow jump. I haven’t practiced distance jumping yet. We’
ll have to go back.”
Spinners hissed and plummeted towards them. Emily hollered. Fire emitted from her palms. Screeching from the onslaught of light, they scurried back towards their dark havens. If only her hair had remained afire, they’d have not dropped to begin with. “That was too close.”
“They’ll regroup and begin shooting us with their arrows,” Eldaryn warned. “Crawl under me. You’ll be safer from their shafts there.”
Keer’dra! I command you into the light!
“Ahhhh!” Emily palmed her temples, fierce pain jabbing her skull. She felt tossed, stretched. Floating. An in-between, neither light, nor dark—frigid air seized her breath.
“Cold . . .”
“Emily!” A male shout rose above a strange hum. Air. God, it was so loud!
“MacLarrin! ‘Tis Lady Emily!”
I know that voice. The accent curled around her like an old quilt. “Garreck?” she squeaked. What the hell’s wrong with my voice? “So . . . cold.” She gasped, true panic seizing her when she realized her eyes had been opened, yet—
“I can’t see!” Blind! She began groping. “I can’t see.” Handfuls of snow.
“I doona’ recognize yer’ language, lass.” Hastily wrapped, she was cloaked in something heavy. Light began penetrating. Why hadn’t she been able to see? Disquieting. Hands swept hair from her face. Shimmering white sleeves of a tunic, her gaze righted. For long moments, Emily stared up into Urkani’s eyes.
“You are safe with me, Lumynari princess, as are the twins you will birth,” he whispered in her language of Balkorian, keeping their words private. “We have suspected your heritage long before the Outlanders were apprised. You’ll not find an enemy in me.”
Reaction to his words smothered, for strong arms wrapped around her, lifting and whisking her away from Urkani. Wood smoke filled her nose, assailing her senses with familiarity. Acclimation was happening too quickly. “Put me down. I’m not helpless.”
“Nonetheless, you find yourself suddenly exposed to air and cold you have not experienced in some time. Your current garb hardly enables you to fight hypothermia,” her bearer countered.
Yanking and struggling, she found herself nearly dropped. Righting herself on her own feet, she whipped around. “You! You’re that damned limo driver—the bastard in the photo!”
“You may refer to me as Pendaran.” The druid bowed deeply.
Emily punched his face.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Hoots, hollers, and cheering disintegrated the hypnotic awe over her sudden appearance. Strong hands grabbed and spun her, encompassing her in a bear hug.
“Lass, ye’ scared me near ta’ mi’ grave!” Aedan clutched her to him so tightly, her lungs fully exhaled before he let go. Hard pats upon her back, he held her at arms-length, giving her a visual onceover. “The druid thinks ta’ have his revenge for the smacker ye’ placed upon his face.”
“He’s welcome to try.”
“Any touching mi’ Emily, and they breathe their last. Fey power is no’ ta’ be trifled with.” Aedan visually raked everywhere at once, seeking wounds upon her body. She didn’t miss the way he stopped at her abdomen. “Are ye’ hurt?”
“Only my heart.”
“Och, we ken the laird’s words ye’ heard. ‘Twas spoken in anger—“
“Your laird’s words lack priority with me right now. A battle that will cost many lives comes to pass far below us.” She reached out, clasping his shoulder. “Your mother is well?”
Solemnly, Aedan nodded. “She frets, since ye’ vanished.” His expression changed. “Yer’ eyes, they are auld.”
“I’ve seen much. Too much.” Emily raised her face, hoping he wouldn’t ask for details. Colorless skies were as white as the terrain. A black dot fluttered and dove. “The falcon tires. Perhaps it is your mother you should shield guard for the remainder of her days, my old friend.” She released him. “You were kind to Aurelia, memories having come back to me. I am most grateful you never turned on me.” She turned suddenly. Tenderness changed into contempt.
Pendaran.
“For all that you have meddled, the least you can do is show me how I might assist Dezenial.”
Livid, the druid ground his jaw as if misaligned. Lightning arced in place of pupils. The only thing saving her life for her assault was that fact that, in another lifetime, before these fools existed, she’d been his sibling.
“Be that as it may—“
He stared, complete surprise on his face. “You read my mind?”
“Lucky me. You’ve involved yourself in my life since my birth, then vanished, but not before cloaking my memories. Tell me, Pendaran, was the woman who feigned to be my aunt handpicked by you?” Emily grinned evilly. “Her kindness was repaid, Lumynari style. Seems my kin lack fear to protect their own.”
Murmurs created a humming background. Never had she noticed how quiet Balkore truly was until thrust back into the presence of land-dwellers. Did they not grasp just how clamorous even their basic movements were? An enemy, hidden miles away, would be alerted to their whereabouts. And what’s with all the bonfires? It’s like numerous beacons. Flapping of tent skins sounded like crazed clapping.
Pendaran obviously loathed answering her questions. No matter. ‘Twas more a statement of observation anyway. Clutching the heavy cloak tighter around her with one hand, the other lifting the hem of her skirt several inches above the sludge, she turned away from them and backtracked towards where she’d made her appearance. She glanced Kavan, nodding as she passed. Strange silence engulfed them. Their numbers had grown, she noted. Scrutiny deciphered the others were not immortals. Henry? Jeeze, what are they thinking, bringing moderns here? What the hell is going on? A group of unshaven senior men, garbed in heavy, ragged, black robes remained huddled, oblivious to her. She was no fool. Their cursory glances, hidden by pretense of packing their horses with gear bore scrutiny. Something about them disturbed her. Knots of men she passed openly gawked. Feeling like a sudden blot upon their landscape, she turned from them, halting her purposeful strides.
Dezenial?
She didn’t want to be here. These were strangers to her. Even the air seemed to weigh her down. No mental connection replied. Was she too far above ground? She refused to face the alternative. Fluttering in her abdomen. She caressed the slight swell. Be still for now, he will return to us. Hopefully, her babies heard her mental reassurances just as they heard their fathers. Men glanced, wide-eyed, searching for guidance. She knew they sought composure, and guidance from the one they followed.
She felt him; had since being whisked into the druid’s powerful arms. Watching her. Wary. Nervous. Grief. Relief. Exhilaration. Fury. His emotions tangled themselves around her, knotting and threatening to choke her if she so allowed. The men were flummoxed as to how to react. Her self-assurance confused them. Her survival of captivity stunned them. That she could feel their emotions was difficult to pretend indifference to.
The sight of him still had the power to make her heart squeeze.
“Ye’ fair well, lass?” His hair billowed golden in the strengthening glacial winds.
“Better than my husband who battles for my life.”
There it was. Laid down like a gauntlet, her claim upon a Lumynari. Broc nodded, but remained silent.
“There’s nary an opening. How did ye’ get out?” Kavan asked, daring to pull away from the group, and approach.
“Dezenial. His magic is way more powerful than the few puny tricks I know. He commanded me into the light.” Finally, she pulled her gaze from their laird, acknowledging Kavan. “I’m going back.”
Garreck sputtered. “By the goddess Danu, we canna’ allow ye’ to go back down there!” He freed his sword.
Emily took a step back. “Garreck?”
“Something . . . bodes ill.” Slowly, he turned a full circle, nothing left unexamined. “It’s as if something slithers against mi’ spine, then bites the back o’ mi’ neck.”
Elves sudd
enly positioned themselves in two’s, back-against-back. Long bows loaded, others with their silver blades raised, they stood battle-ready. Immortals freed well used swords, they too now poised. Shrill scream curdled the air. Eyes darted upward, seeking the falcon. But Emily’s attention diverted elsewhere. Movement within a distant tent seemed out of sync.
That was no falcon cawing down to her comrades.
Inhumane screams burst across the sea of snow. Humans and immortals froze into pillars of fright. Final gurgles of the hapless victim’s life followed, blood spraying the tent Emily scrutinized. It was likened to fat drops of rain smattering canvas awnings she’d heard long ago at summer camp.
No children would squeal with delight here, singing ridiculous songs of rhyme and nonsense. “Broc—move your men!” Fisting a handful of fabric, she lifted her hem nearly up to her knees and ran like hell, leaping over numerous travel packs in various stages of being filled and rolled for departure, she shouted again, waving her arm for Henry and the moderns to arm themselves and make ready.
Balkore’s battle had surfaced.
Piercing whistle stung her ear. A Forest Lord calling to his horse. She was never more wrong. A deadly arrow, barely a foot away from her next step pierced the snow. If she’d not veered, that arrow would now be in her back. As had been done to Aurelia.
“Mi’ lady!” Aedan shouted out. “Catch!”
Emily quickly turned, arm raised, hilt landing tightly against her palm. She’d reflect later her sudden skill. Instinctively, she spun and sliced. A momentous move. Enemy Lumynari dropped his cutlass in order to clutch his midsection. A midsection currently spilling innards. Emily lacked time to assimilate the gore. With his last breath, he grappled for her. She deftly sidestepped his attempt. He plunged, face-first into the snow. She ran, zigzagging to evade arrows. Metal clashing against metal, men crying out, Emily heard her name yelled again and again.
The grizzled men flung ragged robes from their persons. Their bodies were lithe! Strange black garb they adorned themselves in hugged very masculine contours. These were no ordinary elders. Elders! Sudden insight filled her.