The breathing stopped immediately and he could sense the wolf’s heart slowly fade into silence.
Standing up, he turned to the cougar just as Melissa was rising to come to his side. “We’re here to help,” Merlin told Ajax, his hands open in a friendly gesture as he approached the downed dwarf.
The cougar growled at him but didn’t interfere as he moved past and knelt down next to the beast’s rider. Riska’s breathing was even and he felt some relief that the dwarf hadn’t suffered from multiple arrow shots as well.
Muttering under his breath, he commanded the dwarf to wake and Riska’s eyes flew open.
“Aw,” the Dwarf commented immediately, a hand rising to block the afternoon sun from penetrating the warrior’s straining eyes.
“Anything broken?” he asked as Riska attempted to sit up. He reached out and lent the warrior a hand and was gratified to see that he was apparently unhurt.
“Jist mah pride,” Riska muttered, shaking the cobwebs free as the brown eyes turned to gaze up at him. “Where’s Kylee?”
Merlin’s gaze shifted north, his mind searching the surrounding area for any sign of their missing ranger. “Taken,” he replied simply and heard the dwarf groan in response. “And our only link to her lies dead over yonder.”
“Ah nae, nae Tuskar,” the dwarf moaned, a hand covering his face as if to hide tears.
“There are tracks heading north towards that mountain range,” Reyna told them, her eyes drawn to the slain wolf as she spoke. “It’s a shame; he was a good fighter.”
It surprised him that the black knight even cared, yet he pushed his perceptions aside and eyed the orc approaching from his right. “Kore promise Tristan. Kore keep Elf safe,” Kore growled at the mage. He had his axe in hand and his tusks were working with unconcealed anger. “Kore find Elf.” The warrior’s red eyes burned with vengeance.
Merlin’s eyes drifted west, knowing that somewhere in that direction, the Phoenix’s armies were preparing to march. It didn’t take him long to decide what to do, but the pause caused Melissa’s icy stare to flash his way. “We will find her together.”
The detour might cost them precious time in reaching Forlorn, but he was not about to abandon the elven ranger to whatever fate awaited her at the hands of her attackers. Despite what the others thought, he wasn’t that cold. Melissa’s eyes were still skeptical and he could hear the brownie trying to get their attention from his position on the witch’s saddle.
“What is it Bleak?” he asked the shouting little man. He had little patience for the brownie’s antics and only asked in order to shut him up.
“Brin’ me wan av dohs arrows!” Bleak shouted back at him and he felt the frustration beginning to build inside. They didn’t have time for this. If they were going to save Kylee, they needed to get moving. The longer they waited, the larger lead their enemy would gain.
Melissa was already bringing an arrow towards the awaiting brownie and he was about to put an end to this attempt to stall their departure.
The little man refused to touch the arrow tip, but after a few quick sniffs and a few words of muttered magic, the brownie shook his head and looked in his direction. “Oi recognize de toxin from time Oi spent in de Blackedge Mountains. Dis is de work av Dark Elves.”
Melissa hissed and Reyna muttered a vicious curse. Kore stared at the mountain range on the northern horizon; eyes searching.
“She doesn’t have long,” Reyna muttered. “I wish her a swift death.”
“She’s nae deid yit, ye braw hearted bitch,” the dwarf thundered, his axe grip tightly in hand, spit flying with the anger behind his voice.
“She’s as good as,” the black armored woman responded, her hand flying to the hilt of her sword.
Merlin’s anger burst forward and he summoned his blue fire, scorching the earth between the two warrior’s feet. “Knock it off! She’s not dead and we are not going to abandon her,” he said to each in turn.
“Merlin, we can’t take on the Dark Elves, there’s only six of us. An entire army couldn’t sweep those mountain caves and find her in time to make a difference,” Melissa told him as he glared at the fuming knight and dwarf.
“Kore find Elf alone,” the orc suddenly declared, moving towards his awaiting mount.
“Enough!” he yelled, stopping the large warrior in his tracks. “You’re not going alone. Reyna, if you don’t want to go, stay behind, I just never believed you’d back down from a challenge. Riska, focus your anger where it belongs, on those that attacked you. Melissa, I know what problems we face, but we must find a way.”
Melissa bowed her head and silently gave in.
“Kore, grab a shovel, we are not going to leave Tuskar to the birds. Give him a proper burial. Bleak, I want to hear everything you know about these Dark Elves, while the two of you,” he turned on the other two warriors, “get lunch prepared. We need to try and eat while we have a chance, we might not get another later,” he commanded. He wanted to set out immediately, time was fleeting, but if they ran in half-cocked—
“I’m not your damn cook!” Reyna snapped at him and he summoned his magic once more.
Blue fire leaked from the corner of his eyes and danced along his fingertips. “This is not a discussion. If you want to leave, leave. Otherwise, if you choose to stay, you will not question my orders again. You are whatever I say you to be, you don’t like it, mount up and get your ass out of here. I’m tired of your constant badgering and insinuations, it is unbecoming of the knight you pretend to be.”
“Fuck you,” she growled, turning on him.
“Make your decision now. You’re either with us, or you’re on your mount and on your way. You have anger? That’s fine, but you are focusing it on us rather than those truly responsible for your brother’s murder and I’m tired of it. You want a chance at taking down the Phoenix, then this is your best shot, but if you think you can do it on your own, happy travels and don’t let the door hit you on your ass on the way out.”
It took several minutes for the black knight to come to a decision and he knew that she was trying to decide if going on her own really was the better option. With a stunted growl, she turned and began walking towards her mount. At the last moment, her hand reached for her saddle bags rather than the saddle and he knew that she had chosen to stay.
Releasing the magic, he turned towards the staring dwarven warrior. “Let’s get a fire going.”
Kore had taken a shovel and was busy digging a grave for the fallen wolf and for the moment, he and Melissa were alone.
“You know, I think that woman wants to kill you,” the witch observed after a moment’s silence.
“She’s not the only one,” he remarked, turning his gaze away from the black knight and towards the Blackedge Mountains beyond.
“Have you got any idea how we are going to go about doing that? Or are you just acting on instinct? I don’t have to tell you that we cannot afford to get killed off saving one person, we have a greater responsibility to the other lives at stake. You know that,” Melissa told him, following his gaze north.
He knew the logic she was trying to use, but he was determined to ignore it. “It doesn’t matter, she is one of us. We have already lost two of our number, I will not lose a third. Not when there is something we can do about it. I owe her that much.”
“You don’t have a plan, do you?” the witch pushed, turning to look at him.
“Nope, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. It’s a good thing Tristan and Willow aren’t here though. We need to find her before we see them again, because pregnant or not, Willow will tear that mountain apart to find her missing sister.”
Chapter 6
Fairies
I
Tristan followed Erik through the door leading to the throne room, Amysta and Willow close behind. The two women had caught up to them in the corridor and he realized that the Fairies’ arrival must have been sweeping through the halls faster than their feet could carry them. He felt excitemen
t rush through his limbs. He hadn’t anticipated the Fairies to emerge from their secluded forest; they had remained apart from the other races since the Freedom War had ended.
His eyes swept to those assembled before the throne and his breath caught in his throat. A tall woman in a regal dark green dress and pale skin stood before a group of six males, her ears pointed and the tip of her nose ending in a lifted point. She had light purple hair, which was weaved into three long braids that flowed just past her waist. Green eyes caught sight of them and watched as the four of them walked forward to greet their guest. A large pair of wings fluttered near the Queen’s waist and the wooden gemmed crown on her head sparkled in the reflected afternoon light.
The males were all dressed in dark green tunics and pants and each kept a passive face at their approach. One of the males, distinguishable from the others by the shape of his short, combed hair, stepped to the Queen’s side and bowed.
“I have the honor of presenting to you Jillian Islesage, Queen of the Fairies,” the male told them with reverence, keeping his head bowed and refusing to look up without permission from his monarch.
“Queen Jillian, your presence here is most welcome,” Erik responded, bowing before the silent monarch before him.
He bowed his head as well, not sure how else to act or what the occasion called for.
“It’s as much as a surprise to me as it is to you. We have not left our home for two millennium and recent circumstances notwithstanding, we would’ve liked to keep it that way,” the Queen finally stated, her voice musical and making his blood sing. It was similar to how Melissa had affected him the first they met and he had begun to think he was beyond such irrational burst of attraction.
He looked to Erik and saw that even the great Elven King was affected. Amysta cleared her throat annoyingly from her husband’s side. “Your majesty, if you would hold off your glamour, I would much appreciate it,” Amysta addressed the other Queen, the tone of voice making it clear that she was clearly unhappy with the effect the woman was having on the two of them.
“As would I,” another voice spoke up and he felt an arm reach around and draw him close. He turned to smile at his betrothed and got an icy look in return.
“It’s not something that I can just turn off. However, if you wish us to leave—,” the Queen remarked, making as if to turn away.
“That is not necessary,” Erik replied quickly, cutting off the retort his wife had been about to make. “However, if you do not want to be here, then why have you come?”
There was a murmur from the group of males standing behind the skeptical Queen, but a look from her forced them into silence. “Our Spirit Mother, an ancient seer of our race, has told me that a battle will soon take place here and that it will decide the future of our world. She has informed me that our presence will be needed if you are to rebuff the Phoenix’s forces, so I chose to summon our people together and march to your aid.”
She had emphasized the word chose and he had a feeling that it really hadn’t been hers to make.
“You are most welcome. I offer our hospitality to you and your kin for the length of your stay,” the King responded with a grin.
“That is most kind, but unnecessary. We shall remain in the forest until the time arises, which I’m sure will please the glowering women standing by your sides. We cannot decrease the effect we have on those around us and I believe its best we limit our contact to a minimum until the Phoenix’s forces arrive,” the Fairy Queen stated, her musical voice beckoning Tristan forward against his will.
Willow’s hand fell on his shoulder and he regained a temporary hold on his senses, at least enough to keep from moving forward any further.
“If you have need of anything—,” Erik began and was cut off when Amysta stomped her heel into her husband’s rising foot. “OW! What the hell was that for?”
Jillian smiled at the confusion in the Elf King’s face, then glanced his way with greedy eyes. “We will let you know,” the Queen responded curtly. With a wave of her hand there was a large puff of smoke, then six small sprites flittered across the throne room, through the double doors, and out of sight.
Once the doors were shut, the spell that had been weaving about them both seemed to dispel, and he took a quick breath, his face flushed with embarrassment. “That was—”
“Yeah,” Erik agreed.
“Disgusting,” Willow snarled.
“Repulsive,” Amysta added with scorn.
“Well if anything else, maybe they’ll distract our enemies long enough for us to run our swords through them,” Erik said after a moment of awkward silence.
Amysta stepped forward, glaring at the closed doors, as if daring them to open once more. “Or worse, distract our own men and lead us to our slaughter.”
“Amysta—,” the King began, stepping forward.
Movement caught his eye and he watched with fascination as a small fairy creature flew from the rafters overhead and came to a halt, hovering just out of reach before them. Erik couldn’t hide his surprise and Amysta growled with renewed annoyance.
“Spying on us for your Queen?” the elven woman asked and Tristan felt Willow’s hand take his and squeeze, as if trying to hold him in place.
“No, my mother deserves your scorn,” a tiny voice informed them. “She does not want to be here. She was commanded by the Spirit Mother to unite the Fairies and come to your aid. As she is being forced to do so against her own wishes, she intends to get as much pleasure of this as she can. That usually means seducing those that are clearly off limits and playing her little games of intrigue. The glamour is easily shut off.”
Amysta’s eyes flared, “that bitch.”
“Whore,” Willow cursed at the same moment.
“Well, that explains the curt exit,” Erik remarked, staring at the small sprite before them, trying to ignore the fuming women who looked to be ready to chase after the departed Queen and put an end to her. “But isn’t she your Queen? Couldn’t she choose not to listen to this Spirit Mother and remain in the Forest Glen where your kin reside?”
The fairy shook her head. “In our culture the Queen’s commands are absolute, unless they conflict with the wishes of the Spirit Mother. She is bound by ancient law to obey or she’d lose her crown and another would be chosen to take her place. I’m afraid my mother loves her crown too much to let it go, despite her personal wishes on the subject.”
“Sounds like we owe this Spirit Mother our thanks. I think,” he offered with a slight smile. He had no experience with fairies other than with the two he had encountered, and had no idea what benefit or detriment they’d bring to the battle ahead.
“Why are you so forthcoming? Are you not betraying your Queen?” Willow sneered, the last coming out strained and in a mocking tone. She then pushed forward to stare more closely at the floating fairy.
The tiny woman shook her head. “I do not answer to her, I am an apprentice to the Spirit Mother, and have orders of my own to follow that supersede the Queens.”
“Orders? What kind of orders?” Amysta pursued, her voice tinged with anger. She had not liked how her husband had reacted to the Fairy Queen and he completely understood, he hadn’t liked how he had reacted either.
“I’ve been sent here to find an elf girl named Willow, you wouldn’t happen to know where I could find her, do you?”
II
The tracks were difficult to find and only with his magic had they finally found their path forward. They rode at a steady pace, but with a certain degree of caution, not wanting to walk into yet another ambush.
Merlin’s eyes remained glued to the trail ahead, his mind wandering over different plans, unable to settle on any that showed any promise. He had, of course, heard of the Dark Elves, but they were rarely seen and never ventured from their mountain home to the north. That they had emerged this far south was troubling, as was their attack on the members of their party. What had driven them to such extremes?
They weren�
�t a peaceful people, but they didn’t act aggressively towards the other races either. Enjoying their isolation, they respected the boundaries of others and only dealt harshly with those that dared trespass in their lands. Last time he checked though, that was limited to the caves burrowed deep within the mountain passes, and not the grasslands to the south. Had something within the mountain driven them out into the light of day?
For that matter, why had they kept Kylee alive? Why take her at all? Why not just kill her and be done with it? It was a riddle he could not solve and that irked him beyond mere irritation. He did not handle the unexplained easily.
“You know, it seems to be one thing after another with you people,” Melissa remarked as they paused to water their horses and give them a short break. “We get kidnapped and taken to Kershaw, then ambushed at Camelot. Tristan and Willow get taken by Earth gnomes, and now your ranger has been whisked away by Dark Elves, is it just me or have your visions grown unreliable in anticipating such events?”
“It’s not an exact science and you know it,” he growled in response. He was tired of the rest of them glaring at him every time something went wrong. He was not omnipotent, he couldn’t keep an eye on all of them every moment of every day. He would be nothing but a mumbling idiot if he even tried to attempt it. “I can’t watch each individual future without missing something somewhere else. I’ve been focusing on the success of our mission and trying to steer us closer to that without getting all of us killed in the process.”
“Well you’re doing a bloody good job of that,” Melissa snarled. “Tristan was raped, I was nearly burned, the two love birds were almost eaten by cannibals, Jared and Tuskar are dead, tell me oh wise one, what more must we all suffer before you start taking a better look at the lives of those around you that depend on your ability to protect them, not throw them into harm’s way because it suits your purpose to do so.”
“First her, now you?” he blurted out with frustration, motioning towards the black knight hovering nearby.
Phoenix Rising (the New Age Saga Book 3) Page 10