“I didn’t. They are canines. At first, they were friendly and quite wonderful. It was a joy to work with them. Over time, a few of them began to turn. By the time I left, there were a dozen reports of the unfavorable mutation. Then dozens turned into hundreds. The last report we had run had the numbers in the thousands—almost growing like a disease rather than a genetic aberration that would grow more prevalent over successive generations.”
The sounds grew closer as they sprinted to the closed door at the end of the corridor, where two dead bodies lay just inside.
They drew their swords, and Elberos eased the door open.
Valdjan’s stomach muscles tightened. He had a feeling he was really going to regret not being a cyborg in a few moments. Lord Rilien’s body was going to be hell to fight with, but it would have to do.
Elberos stood there with the door cracked open, unmoving.
Valdjan tried to peer over his shoulder. “What’s happening?”
Elberos eased the door closed. “There’s a huge fight out there. I don’t think we want to join it.”
“How will we get back if we don’t?” Valdjan narrowed his eyes and bit back the word coward that tried to tip off his tongue.
“I have no idea, but I think our chances of getting back in one piece might be slimmer if we join it.”
Valdjan pushed him aside and eased the door open a crack. On the other side was a walkway, which went straight out a couple of steps before ending in a short staircase. At the bottom, two more walkways veered off to the sides. A few elves were on the battlements on each side, shooting arrows downward.
His gaze followed the arrows to the courtyard below and the chaos of elves and canines and blood and weapons.
The elves called to each other, trying to strategize, but the dogs were simply attacking as packs, and they seemed to be winning.
Chapter Eight
Ithyll
Aheavy banging sounded at the entrance to her cave. She crossed the floor, hiding the crystal in her pocket but maintaining an even level of magic to the stone.
She opened it just a fraction, not enough to be perceptible from the outside but enough for her to see, and found an eye staring back at her. Fucking! She would recognize that eye anywhere.
Nirhjar.
How did he get in here again?
The magic of the cave was specifically meant to prevent those who were not worthy from attempting the tests.
What if . . .
No, there’s no way it would be possible, but the question had to be asked.
What if Nirjhar was also worthy of taking the tests?
Obviously, if Valdjan passed, there would be no need for him to take them. If Valdjan failed. . .
She wasn’t going to think about that. There could be another explanation. Perhaps if the elves had inadvertently created the merpeople, they would be less affected by their magic.
Any theory had holes in it at this point, so Ithyll wished she knew the answer to Valdjan’s puzzle sooner. If she knew exactly how they’d been created, maybe she would know how to keep them out of her domain.
For one crazy moment, she wished Valdjan were there, just in case he tried something else and her magic didn’t work against him.
Since she wasn’t willing to pull Valdjan from the test, she’d have to face him alone. She opened the cave door wide enough to see him but not allowing enough room for him to block her from closing it should she need to.
Nirhjar’s long, dark hair flowed past his shoulders, and water glistened and dripped from his skin as if he’d just come out of the water. His body was thick with muscle from spending his time navigating the deep waters of the ocean. Every part of him was naked except for a disturbingly small loincloth made of iridescent scales. But rather than making him more handsome, the overt display of masculinity made him more intimidating.
She deliberately kept her gaze above his neck.
He grinned, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Good morning, fair Guardian.” He offered a regal bow. At first, she’d been charmed by his manners and appearance, but there was something dark and angry in his eyes—a danger she couldn’t name and he couldn’t hide. It reminded her of Elsifan, an elf she had known before she became the guardian.
“Nirhjar,” she replied, inclining her head in response. “How may I help you?”
“May I come in?”
“I think not.”
A momentary scowl crossed his face, but he quickly it smoothed over.
She winced and tried to soften the reply. “But tell me, why are you here?”
He leaned casually against the wall of rock beside her entrance. “Our children have been exhibiting strange powers.”
“What kind of powers?” Children with magic left untrained were dangerous and potentially fatal, both to themselves and others.
“The ability to move waves with a thought, to conjure wind and water into whirlpools,” he replied with satisfaction. “And my people wish to learn how to use it.”
“They do need to learn how to use it,” she agreed, though, if they were using it already then they had already learned how to wield the magic—what they really needed was guidance to control it. “I, however, do not have the ability to teach them. I am merely a guardian. Why don’t you contact the elven village? I’m sure they would agree to teach your children magic.”
“I already have contacted King Elsifan. I have also contacted Queen Aielle of Renwyn. Both of whom have declined to offer help as well.” His eyes flashed clear blue for a moment, revealing a deeper well of magic than he had first appeared to have.
Perhaps that was how he’d gotten through the spell around the canyon. She had noticed that he stayed in the water to get through the shield. Maybe he was countering the spell unconsciously with water magic. She wondered why they had refused to help him. Both rulers would know that an untrained magical race was dangerous. But perhaps they were too busy with the Ardak invasion to help at the moment.
“King Elsifan?” She tried to suppress the shudder that went through her at the thought of the angry elf becoming the king of their people. For a brief moment, she was glad she’d agreed to be the guardian so she didn’t have to remain in the village with him. “What happened to King Ithar?”
Nirhjar gave her a bored look. “How should I know? I’m not particularly interested in elven politics. You didn’t know?”
“No. I don’t receive many visitors,” she responded wryly.
“But you did receive one yesterday.” Nirhjar’s eyes darkened, and his tone was almost jealous as he added, “And you let him in.”
She didn’t want to tell Nirhjar what was in the cave or about the tests. She tried to think of another excuse, but keeping her magic on guard as well as keeping Valdjan’s test going was taxing her focus.
He placed one large hand on the door, his fingers outspread. “I sense great power inside this wall of rock.” His blue gaze turned to land on her. “And it also flows through you. I find you exceptionally beautiful. I’d like to propose an alliance, one where you teach our children magic and I make you my queen.” His gaze ran down her body, sending another shiver of discomfort through her. “I would make every effort to please you.”
“King Nirhjar . . .” Telling him that she would never accept a proposal such as that unless a mate bond was involved would be a mistake. He would ask if her magic was responding, and she would have to tell him that it was silent as a snow-covered mountainside, which would likely only serve to infuriate him.
She searched for words that would please his ego. “Your offer is very generous, but I have a duty as the guardian of this cave, a duty in which I am magically bound to uphold. So, not only am I unable to leave this place until my job is complete but also I am unable to marry. When I am released from my post and free to leave, I will leave most of the power behind.”
He growled. “So you’re turning me down?”
“I’m telling you that it isn’t a matter of my turning you down
because to imply so would mean I have a choice. I do not. I’m not what you think I am, nor do I hold the power or ability to teach your young what you wish. I am truly sorry that I am unable to help you, King Nirhjar, but I speak the truth.” She wondered why the others had refused to help him. “However, I want to make sure your children get the training they need, so I will consult with King Elsifan and Queen Aielle and make sure it happens.”
“I’m not sure I believe you. The elves have always looked down upon our race, and we know it.” He pushed backward from the wall of rock. “I’m going to get whatever lies in that cave, Guardian, and I will find someone to teach our children magic. If I can’t do it with you, I will go through you.” He turned and headed back for the river.
She had a bad feeling about the rage she had seen in his eyes, the depth of his magic, and his willingness to use both without restraint. “It isn’t a war, Nirhjar. Even if you got this power, you wouldn’t be able to use it. I will have Paradiso visit King Elsifan and Queen Aielle to find someone else to teach your children magic, I promise.”
He snorted. “You have more power than I’ve ever felt behind that wall. You don’t have to lie just because you don’t want to share it.” He turned back one last time. “You had your chance at a kingdom, beautiful elf.”
With that, he dove into the river with barely a splash.
Ithyll took the crystal from her pocket, staring down at it with a strong feeling of foreboding. Nirhjar would be a powerful enemy, and the next time they met, he might be past the point of negotiation.
Still, he was being blinded by his anger and pride. If he had stayed, she would have explained that only the female elves could use crystals. Perhaps if he knew that, he wouldn’t be so angry. In the back of her mind, she knew that giving angry magical creatures the crystals was not the answer.
The answer was finding a champion, which meant that Valdjan had to pass his tests. He had to find out why the magical creatures had turned hostile toward the elves in the first place.
She slipped the crystal from her pocket as she settled back onto her chair at the table and turned her attention to Valdjan.
Hopefully he would finish the tests before Nirhjar thought of something else.
Or, rather than an alternate reality set in the past, they might have a very real problem in the present to contend with.
Chapter Nine
Valdjan
These were not ordinary canines. Each one was about twice as large as an elf. They were angry, brutal. Some of the dogs were on top of the downed elves, teeth embedded in their necks. They weren’t ripping or tearing like he would have thought. They just had the elves pinned. It took a second for Valdjan to put the pieces of the picture together.
The dogs are drinking their blood.
At the bottom of the stairs leading to the courtyard, there were pockets of elves fighting side by side, using the castle walls to protect their backs. It should have been a good plan, but the sheer number of dogs was too great.
Off to the left, five elves were fighting six of the dogs, just barely keeping them at bay. Two of the swordsmen were very fast and quick, cutting fur and limbs with ease. The third soldier standing behind them was much slower, his sword in his left hand, his right arm hanging bloody and limp at his side. He glanced toward the stairs, wild-eyed and panicked, obviously looking for means of escape.
On the right, more than ten swordsmen with cuts and nicks on their arms and legs were fighting an equal number of dogs, shouting encouragement to each other and were slowly sidestepping toward the stairs.
Suddenly, the panicked soldier on the left ran for the stairs even though the other soldiers screamed in unison for him to stay behind them. As he ran for the stairs, two dogs broke away from their downed elves and quickly pounced on the fleeing soldier.
They were obviously in some kind of bloodlust, and the fleeing elf was three feet from the start of the stairs when his head and legs were ripped from his body. Some archers tried to hit the dogs, but they managed to take down only one. The other ran back into the melee.
He retreated back into the room with Elberos and shut the door, throwing the bar across it. “What can we use to get rid of them? What do they fear?”
“The canines? Nothing. Well, they’re animals. I guess fire . . . and maybe water. If you have enough of it.”
“Why are the elves not using their magic? They have fire and water.”
Elberos thought about it. “I don’t know. Maybe the battle has lasted so long that they ran out.”
“And maybe the females couldn’t reach their crystals.” Valdjan thought for a moment. “We have weapons and the advantage of surprise. How many can you take at once?”
“With a bow? Three with one shot. But there were probably a hundred still alive down there.”
“Maybe we start a fire to burn them out and save who we can.”
Elberos frowned. “Yes. It’s terrible. But it could work.”
“Can you do fire magic? Or do we need to start them ourselves?”
“What are you talking about? Of course I have fire magic. It’s one of the six basic elements.”
“Six?” Valdjan knew they didn’t have time for this, but he was curious because the Renwyn elves could only do one type of magic, and Geeeroo had told him the elves from the village could do all four. “I only know of four.”
Elberos frowned. “What kind of elves are those? Everyone I know can do earth, air, fire, water, spirit, and void. I can do fire magic, as long as no one is attacking me,” he allowed. “I would need to concentrate because fire isn’t my strongest magic. If we can find enough things to burn, we can throw them down and I can create a fairly big blaze.”
Valdjan searched for things that looked flammable, but everything was made of stone. “Where is the armory?
“I don’t know. There are usually several, and one is usually near the portal. Let’s check these doors along the corridor.” They backtracked, opening all the doors.
“Here!” Valdjan called out after opening the third door.
“Ha!” Elberos smiled when he saw the stash. “Flammable arrows, barrels of flammable liquid, and torches. And look at this, they even have kegs of powder. These will explode and then stay lit.”
Valdjan tipped one of the barrels onto its side and began rolling it toward the door. “Grab several of the arrows and torches.”
They were back at the door in seconds, and Valdjan rolled the barrel out onto the ledge in front of him. “I’m going to go about halfway—we need to get this powder into the middle of the pile of beasts.”
He rolled it along and then tossed it over the side, calling out. The elves below who saw it moved away from the barrel, trying to position the ones they were fighting toward the blast.
When it hit the ground, Elberos fired several arrows into the keg. It sparked for a few moments before it exploded, followed by the howls and whines of injured beasts and elves. Both he and Elberos targeted the rest of the dogs with fire arrows and lit torches, chasing them away.
They slowly began to retreat, forming packs and slinking into the woods behind the castle.
“I’m going to help them—you keep those arrows handy,” Valdjan ordered, already running down the steps.
The elves had already begun grabbing who they could and heading for the stairs.
Valdjan tried to grab three elves who were injured but still alive, and stumbled. He wasn’t strong enough in this body to carry them. “I’ll come back for you,” he promised the third.
In response, the elf simply closed his eyes, as if resigned to his fate.
He was halfway up the stairs when he heard Elberos begin to release arrows over his head. He glanced back over his shoulder to see the dogs already creeping back out of the woods.
More elves joined Elberos in shooting them, scaring them off once more. They continued shooting toward the edges of the castle, slowly building a wall of flame to block the beasts from returning.
He
deposited the two elves at the top and didn’t pause before turning and running back down, hoping there were more left to save.
He grabbed the first elf, whose eyes opened with surprise, a smile of gratitude on his face. Then he looked for another, finding an injured but conscious female a few feet away.
She didn’t ask questions or try to protest as he picked her up and hefted her over his other shoulder.
“Run!” he heard someone shout, and the whiz of arrows passed him again. This time, they were close. He turned in time to see a dog right on his heels. It grabbed the elf from his shoulder in its jaws, the male squealing as the dog chomped him in two.
Valdjan reached for his sword, backing away. He couldn’t even breathe. The dog came at him again, and just before it reached him, it collapsed, skidding to a halt with three arrows through the top of its head and Elberos on its back.
“How the fuck did you get there?”
“I jumped.”
Elberos called out, and three more elves weakly raised their hands. He grabbed two, and Valdjan grabbed the third, using the shoulder the man had previously been slung over. Once everyone alive was back inside, the elves bolted the door behind them firmly, and Valdjan and Elberos both turned to the elf who was quietly giving orders.
“What happened here?” Elberos demanded.
“The canines ambushed us before we could get up the stairs, and somehow locked us out so we couldn’t get to our weapons. I don’t know what happened to the few we’d left inside the castle. Did you see anyone?”
Elberos shook his head and gestured to the two bodies. “Not alive. We saw those two dead bodies just inside the door. We simply came through the portal and saw you needed help, so we’ve only been down this corridor.”
“Where did you come from?”
“The El Aguhm space station. We’re here to investigate the mutated canines.”
“Well, I’d say your mission is over. I’m not even going to try to capture one again. They hunt in packs and fight like the blood-sucking wild dogs they are. After what I just saw, I doubt anything will be able to keep them out.”
Valdjan Page 5