A Bond of Venom and Magic (The Goddess and the Guardians Book 1)

by Karen Tomlinson

  Diamond’s breath hitched. My necklace? How does the Wraith Lord know of my mother’s dragon crystal?

  The fae warriors watched the silent exchange suspiciously. Amsal Edo put a firm hand on her shoulder, making her jump.

  “Come, child. I don’t know what lies it’s telling you, but let these men kill it before it harms you or poisons your mind,” he urged her.

  “Wait!” she cried as the warrior’s muscles tensed. She wasn’t done yet. “Why did you kill my father if it’s me you want?” she asked, her voice shaking with grief. It was so hard to suppress the unfamiliar rage that burned in her belly as another vicious laugh rumbled from the creature’s chest.

  The warrior watched her intently. His eyes narrowed, he kept his blade firmly in place even as the creature pressed his neck against the razor-like edge. Blood welled.

  ‘He was in my way, and I wanted you to see him die, to know you were next. I would have let you hear him beg for your life but you ran away.’ It huffed a growl. ‘It did not stop him, though. He screamed your name before he died. But I was hungry and fae blood tastes far better than human when it is laced with fear and hate.’ Another throaty chuckle rocked his hairy shoulders. Clearly he was not in the least bit bothered about his impending death. ‘Your father’s screams were like sweet music to my ears as I gutted him and drank him dry.’

  His chuckle turned to a snarl and suddenly he lurched forwards, but Diamond had been waiting, the dagger burning a hole in her hand. With all her strength she thrust it up through his deformed ribs and pierced his heart at the same time as the warrior sliced its throat.

  “For my father!” she hissed into its lupine ear as blood spurted hotly over her face and hand, and his weight sagged onto her arm. The warrior jerked her backwards, letting the lifeless body sag to the ground. He spun her around by her arm giving her a hard stare.

  “It could have killed you,” he stated sharply.

  Diamond glared back as defiantly as possible, trying to ignore the large scar that stretched from the corner of the warrior’s mouth, up across his cheek to the corner of his eye, into his hairline. It curled the side of his mouth into a parody of a smile, giving him a vicious appearance as it cut through the heavy growth of black beard. Wanting to run in the opposite direction was childish, he had defended her after all.

  “But it didn’t,” she countered, wishing her voice sounded less afraid.

  Silence hung between them before he said in a deep voice, “We should go.”

  Diamond held the sticky dagger out to him.

  “Keep it,” he said, staring down at her steadily as he stepped closer and curled her fingers back around the dagger hilt. Tilting her head back to look up at him, she blinked. Gods, he stood even taller than her father, at least another four inches. Diamond was only average height, and standing this close to him made her feel more insignificant and out of place than ever. Stunning dark blue eyes regarded her impatiently. She studied the rest of his face, or rather, what she could see under the thick growth of black beard.

  His skin looked a deep golden brown. It was not the pale skin of most Avalonian fae. Covered in blood and beard, she found it impossible to guess his age. Even the blue iridescent hues in his black hair were like nothing Diamond had encountered before. Five small braids ran across his scalp from his wide strong brow to the nape of his neck where they were fixed tightly with a beaded leather string and hung down to just below his shoulders. His nose was straight, if slightly too large. Diamond frowned. His eyelashes were strangely pure white, completely at odds with….

  Dark eyebrows raised at her scrutiny. Immediately her face flushed, heat rushing into her cheeks. She dropped her eyes, thankful he chose to turn his attention to Amsal Edo. No longer fuelled by fear and a need to survive, Diamond’s body trembled with exhaustion and shock. Arades Gillon had been her rock, the one person who had grounded her and given her the ability to deal with the taunts and hate that often came her way. The world seemed suddenly vast and empty. Like long-lost kin being welcomed home, she allowed panic to bloom through her brain; all the tricks, all the well-practised ways her father had taught her to hold it back crumbled in the face of such grief. Her knees threatened to give way at the same time her body began to shiver violently.

  Diamond was only vaguely aware of the warrior speaking in clipped and efficient tones. Rubbing her arms Diamond tried to take control of herself.

  Focus on something else, she told herself as she forced her breathing to calm. The warrior was in her direct line of sight so she concentrated on him. It was obvious he was in command.

  Studying his clothes, she tried to work out where he and his men had materialised from. His three-quarter length, plain leather jerkin was lightly armoured, and an assortment of evil-looking blades were sheathed on baldrics that criss-crossed his broad chest. Large daggers nestled in scabbards at his waist and he held two Silverbore swords in his big hands. The blades were relatively sleek for a warrior as large as him. They were far heavier than any Diamond could ever hope to lift.

  Diamond glanced around at the other fae warriors. All fae were tall and broad in shoulder, and these were no different; however, they did not have the look of Avalonia. Their skin was more olive, their hair the darker brown she had come to associate with the refugee fae from Rhodainia…and her father. All of these warriors wore similar garb, although none had so many weapons and were not as tall or broad as their commander.

  Emblazoned across their leather chest plates was the outline of a gold dragon. Warriors of Prince Oden. What in the lost gods and goddesses are such a band of warriors doing so far north? Are they hunting me too? With shaking fingers she touched the place between her breasts where her necklace lay. What is so important about it—or me—that the Wraith Lord hunts us down? But no, she would consider these questions later. Diamond glanced back at the fae warrior.

  A serpent curled across the broad expanse of his chest. Her throat constricted. A Queen’s elite guard, sworn to protect and serve the immortal monarch of Avalonia. Diamond’s heart sped up. The nameless fae Queen, Diamond's queen, had brutally defended her lands, and ruled her people ruthlessly for over one thousand years.

  Diamond knew the hate and fear she had suffered as a child was because the Queen abhorred half-bloods. Diamond tensed, she had been right to fear this warrior. He was one of the most highly skilled warriors on this continent and would view her of little import when he realised what she was.

  The other warriors cleaned their weapons in a cursory fashion and extended their golden wings, ready to fly.

  It was hard not to stare at the guard’s blue wings. They were truly stunning. Far more beautiful than anything she had ever imagined. And astonishingly, he had managed to survive to adulthood in a kingdom owned by a ruler intolerant to any other than gold-winged fae.

  Without exception, all the warrior’s wings were covered in a unique swirling pattern that shimmered. Thick beards covered their faces too. They must have been out in this forest for weeks, months even, if they had come from as far away as Valentia, Avalonia's capital city.

  Diamond looked at the ground and took a shaky breath. The school house loomed at the edge of her vision, a nightmarish shadow. Grief tore at her heart as she took a step toward it.

  “Don’t!” uttered Amsal, his hand shooting out to grip her arm. Blood covered his fingers. “Don’t let your last memory of him be what’s left in that school house.”

  “But we can’t just leave him!” Diamond choked out, unable to hold back her sobs.

  “Yes, we can. We must. Diamond, we have to leave. There are still…more of these beasts. And it seems they are searching for you,” he gasped, his skin sweaty and pale. It was then she noticed the blood saturating his shirt sleeve and dripping to the ground.

  The warrior stepped up to Amsal Edo. “Who are you?” he asked coldly, his hands grasping his gory swords. “You have a warrior’s wings and fight with experience and skill.”

  Amsal looked down
sideways at Diamond and kept a tight hold on her arm. “My name is Amsal Edo, and I am—or was—Primary General in the Combined Army of Rhodainia.”

  Diamond gasped. General? In the Combined Army? The Combined Army was the biggest army in the known kingdoms! It had been formed thousands of years ago when Lunaria had imprisoned Ragor in the Barren Waste Lands. An ancient pledge signed with blood and magic had decreed all rulers, whether human or fae, were required to conscript soldiers to bolster the army. Only over the past few years, since King Oden had disappeared and his generals had been killed in battle, had many conscripts deserted. Rumour was rife among the refugees that many soldiers had returned to their own lands because they had no faith in their young prince. It had always been the Combined Army that had kept Ragor’s creatures from escaping the borders of the Barren Waste Lands, and it was the Combined Army that had failed….

  Diamond’s eyes widened as Amsal Edo continued.

  “I answer only to King Oden of Stormguaard, and since he is dead that now makes the deposed prince my monarch and these warrior’s mine to command.” General Edo’s voice was hard and strong. He straightened his body and looked directly at the warrior. “I am going to take Diamond south east to Valentia. She will be safe on the island city. We both know Ragor cannot get through the shield that protects it. You heard as well as I did that these creatures are hunting her. Whatever the reason, they will not stop. The man who lies dead in that school house was General Arades Gillon, Diamond’s father. I promised him I would care for her and get her to safety if anything happened to him….”

  A general? A warrior? My father?

  Just as the bottom of Diamond’s world dropped out, his explanation was interrupted by a high pitched panicked shout. She vaguely recognised the yelling voice.

  “Hey! Diamond! Diamond! Wait. It’s me!” shouted the tall, skinny young man as he raced up to her.

  “Tom?” exclaimed Diamond shakily.

  The general glared at Tom and swore under his breath.

  Tom skidded to a halt in front of Diamond, looking at her blood-stained face and clothes in horror. Panting, his eyes widened and he ogled General Edo and the other warriors.

  “Who are you?” the warrior asked, regarding Tom coldly.

  “I’m Diamond’s friend. Who are you?” Tom snapped back, paling under the ice in the warrior’s glare.

  Diamond feared for her friend and stepped between them. “Tom. It’s okay. They saved me.” She grasped his hand, fighting to keep her voice even. “Tom, Dad’s dead. One of these…monsters killed him.”

  Tom encircled her with his bony arms. “I’m so sorry, Diamond,” he whispered, “Mum is dead too…. One of those things went into our house and I heard her scream. I-I ran away,” he whispered, his voice breaking with self-disgust.

  Nearby, more feral roars filled the air. Diamond pulled away from Tom, her head snapping toward General Edo. The warrior sheathed his swords. “General Edo, sir, we need to go—now,” he said with authority.

  “So be it. I know of a cave three hours by wing from here. It is up a sheer cliff face and should be safe to rest in for tonight. Diamond, stand still for a moment,” the general instructed.

  Diamond stood mute as General Edo leaned forwards and cut strips off her skirts, instructing her to bind his arm, which she could only do with Tom’s help as her fingers were shaking.

  “I will carry you to the cave,” the general said, but he sounded tired, his body listing as he leaned heavily on his sword.

  The warrior stepped in decisively with no emotion in his voice. “Sir, you are exhausted. I will take the girl.”

  The general raised his eyebrows, his brow furrowed in a frown, but he nodded reluctantly and took a step back. Diamond’s heart beat against her ribs, her eyes shifting back and forth from the warrior to the school house. Her body tensed—ready to bolt—but he stepped in front of her, his broad-shouldered bulk blocking her path. His beautiful sapphire and silver eyes narrowed and held hers, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

  Danger and impatience pulsed off him in warm waves. It was a strange, almost tangible sensation that rippled over Diamond's exposed skin, startling her. Instinctively she stepped back, rubbing her arms. Fearful of him, she looked to General Edo for guidance. His mouth a tight line, General Edo nodded. But the school house….

  The Queen’s guard took in her blood-covered, grief-stricken face, his eyes dropping to the wounds on her neck. Unaware, Diamond’s gaze stayed focused on the school house.

  It was impossible to just leave. Her father deserved better than to be abandoned. He had died to save her. All this—all this screaming and death and bloodshed was her fault. Diamond’s face crumpled, tears dripping down her cheeks.

  “Can’t we at least take him to the temple? His soul will not enter Eternity if we don’t release it with fire,” she sobbed, not caring what any of them thought.

  A new wave of terrified screams saturated the air. The warriors shifted uncomfortably, moving to face outward with swords drawn.

  “No. We cannot stay. It’s too dangerous. Any remaining Seekers will hunt you until they can no longer scent you. The only way to escape them is to fly you somewhere distant from here.” The Queen’s guard held his arms out expectantly.

  Diamond stared at him. Before she knew what she was doing, Diamond launched herself into a run, screaming for her father at the top of her voice. He is not dead. He could not be—because she did not know what to do without him. Tears blurred her vision as she sprinted. He could still be alive….

  It only took seconds before the Queen’s guard caught up with her. Wordlessly he grabbed her waist and hoisted her up. Diamond had no choice but to latch her fingers onto him. The roughness of his touch shocked her out of the madness that had taken her. Choking on gut-wrenching sobs, she closed her eyes. He extended his wings in one swift, powerful movement, then launched up into the sky.

  Wind roared in her ears as those startling feathered membranes turned to metal and picked up speed, thudding solidly against the air. Weeping, she curled her fingers into his leather-clad shoulders, grief ripping at her heart as the school house and everything she knew grew smaller, disappearing until even the haunting screams of the dying faded. Her handsome, loving father was truly gone—and it was all her fault….

  Oblivious to time or the cold wind against her skin, Diamond cried herself dry. Eventually her sobs settled into hiccoughs. As awareness returned, it was an effort to lift her heavy head from the elite guard’s chest. At least they had rescued Tom. Guilt stabbed at her. She hadn’t even thought of him since the guard had snatched her up. Her friend was clutched in the arms of another warrior, looking pale and stunned.

  Diamond’s insides felt like they had been ripped out, leaving her hollow and numb, yet her heart ached with a fierceness that threatened to tip her over the edge of reason. Her father was gone forever; never again would she feel his love or forgiveness or hear the anger in his voice when she pushed him too far. Blind panic stole her breath. She would never see him again.

  “Slow your breathing before you pass out,” the guard advised unemotionally. Diamond ignored his tone and tightly gripped his solid shoulders, using his bulk as a lifeline. She didn’t care what he thought of her. She needed something, anything, to keep her anchored before she lost her mind completely. Keeping her eyes closed and her cheek against his chest, Diamond concentrated on the shift of the guard’s shoulder and back muscles. They moved powerfully under her fingers as his wings beat a steady rhythm. After a while the tingle of panic in her fingers and lips abated.

  The queen's guard ordered a brief stop to collect their packs, which had been left many miles from the town, but he did not land himself. With apparent ease he hovered above his men to keep a look out. That task completed, the warriors followed General Edo. Several times the high winds forced them to change direction. Invisible eddies wildly blew through Diamond’s bloodied silver hair. Hissing with impatience, the guard moved his chin to
trap her hair out of the way. She might have apologised or grabbed it in her hand—if she could have brought herself to care. The cold eventually numbed her hands to the point where her grip on his shoulders slipped. Alarmed, her eyes flew open. The ground was a frighteningly long way down. She gasped, her eyes anxiously finding his. Heights had never been easy for her to deal with.

  “I will not drop you. You can let go if you wish,” he said brusquely, hitching her higher. For a moment his sapphire eyes flicked to hers. It was easier to close her eyes and drop her head back on his shoulder than even consider meeting that icy regard. She must appear so weak and feeble to someone like him.

  It felt like hours passed before General Edo shouted, “Here!”

  Bracing her hands on the guard’s shoulders, she twisted her head to see where they were going. A cave materialised from behind some spiky bushes that clung tenuously to the sheer cliff face. General Edo landed first, followed by the others one by one.

  The guard hovered, watching them and ignoring her. When the ledge was clear he glided in, landing with light-footed grace. Inside was gloomy but large enough for all twelve of them to fit. Only the Queen’s guard had to bend his head to keep from banging it on the roof. Absentmindedly he lowered her to the ground and turned to the general.

  “General Edo, it would be best if you rest here and take some time to clean and re-bind your wounds. We will be back with food and water soon, and tomorrow we have far to go. Karl! Zane! Finn! With me. We will hunt due west. The rest of you go east. Be back here by dusk,” he told them. “We will rest here tonight and re-join Prince Oden tomorrow.”

  They all saluted smartly and chorused, “Yes, sir.”

  “Karl. Give the general your salve and clean bindings for his wound.”

  “Yes, sir,” Karl replied and delved in his pack, passing the items to General Edo. The general nodded his thanks.