Forgotten
Magic
VICKY GARLICK
This paperback edition 2016
First published in paperback 2015
Copyright © 2015 Vicky Garlick
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 153740654X
ISBN-13: 978-1537406541
To my parents
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
ix
MAP
x-xi
Pronunciation Guide
xiii
Prologue
1
Chapter 1
3
Chapter 2
8
Chapter 3
15
Chapter 4
25
Bælana 1
32
Chapter 5
34
Chapter 6
41
Chapter 7
49
Chapter 8
58
Bælana 2
67
Chapter 9
69
Chapter 10
78
Chapter 11
88
Chapter 12
93
Chapter 13
99
Chapter 14
106
Bælana 3
114
Chapter 15
116
Chapter 16
123
Chapter 17
128
Chapter 18
138
Chapter 19
148
Chapter 20
159
Chapter 21
171
Bælana 4
180
Chapter 22
182
Chapter 23
192
Chapter 24
201
Chapter 25
210
Chapter 26
220
Chapter 27
231
Bælana 5
240
Chapter 28
243
Chapter 29
253
Chapter 30
264
Chapter 31
275
Bælana 6
281
Chapter 32
283
Chapter 33
290
Chapter 34
300
Chapter 35
307
Chapter 36
313
Chapter 37
319
Epilogue
325
About the Author
328
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Firstly I want to say a huge thank you to my mum, Lorraine, for always being there for me and for reading the very first draft of Forgotten Magic and not telling me it was awful. I also want to say a massive thank you to my sister, Jo, for designing the cover, it’s simply fantastic, especially the elemental symbols.
I want to thank my entire family for never telling me my dream was unreachable and ultimately for being supportive of my ambition. And to my friends, who have been fantastic throughout the entire writing process.
Thank you to those who’ve read the book and given feedback, and those who’ve promoted me constantly. Thank you to everyone, I honestly wouldn’t be here without you.
Pronunciation Guide
This is how I’ve always pronounced the names and places but feel free to pronounce them how you like.
Alten – Al-ten
Amma – Am-ma
Arthur Nyme – Are-th-err N-aye-m
Asmera – As-m-air-a
Aurora – A-roar-a
Bælana – Ba-la-nah
Boran – Bore-an
Brean – Bree-n
Callaghan –Kal-a-han
Chalcora – Ch-al-core-a
Climaya – Klim-ay-a
Cora – Core-a
Dahl – Da-all
Draogo – D-ray-o-go
Fiona – Fee-o-na
Fjord – F-your-d
Gary – Ga-ree
Goliath – G-ole-aye-eth
Hazime – Ha-zeem
Helian – Hell-ee-an
Jenna – J-en-nah
Joklen – Jock-len
Jolia – Jo-lee-a
Julen – Jew-len
Kamar – Ka-mar
Katia – Cat-ee-a
Keolan – Key-o-lan
Kiræ Lengol – Keer-ah Len-g-ol
Maguire – Mag-wire
Malum – Mal-um
Mingual – Min-gwall
Mori – More-ee
Nalim – Na-limb
Nayla – Neigh-la
Pan – P-an
Rævenda – Ra-ven-dah
Reesa – Ree-sah
Rip – Ri-p
Sara Lengol – Saa-ra Len-g-ol
Seb – Se-b
Shannah – Sh-an-nah
Shanta – Sh-an-ta
Shila – Sh-i-la
Tana – Ta-na
Terraniem – T-err-ay-nee-em
Tino Crucedal – Tee-no Crew-se-dahl
Tom Lengol – Tom Len-g-ol
Trissa – Tr-iss-ah
Vala Lengol – Vah-la Len-g-ol
Vulcan – V-ull-can
Xanthon – Zan-th-on
Yana – Yah-na
Ziqua – Zi-kwa
Harley – Har-leigh
Krockonus – Croc-on-us
Myran – My-ran
Safaya – Sa-fiy-ya
Senna – Sen-nah
Elementa – El-em-en-ta
Elementa Praesidium – El-em-en-ta Pr-as-id-ee-um
Elementa Validus – El-em-en-ta Val-i-does
Mutaforma Animalis – Mew-ta-form-a An-i-mal-is
Mutaforma Draconis – Mew-ta-form-a Dr-ack-on-is
Amga Nek – Am-ga N-eck
Auradal – Or-a-da-l
Baja – Baah-jsha (The latter sounds have a similar sound to Rajah, the tiger from Aladdin)
Balim – Ba-lim
Birrien – Bi-ree-an
Burgun – B-err-gun
Caan – Caa-n
Cronne – Kr-on
Cyptxon – Psy-p-t-zon
Denward – Den-ward
Diapanm – Dee-a-pan
Eriba – Er-ee-ba
Infiato – In-fee-a-toe
Jelicæ – Jel-ika
Kaa – K-ar
Kelendal – Kel-end-al
Kurbarr – K-err-bar
Leosbur – Lee-oss-burr
Limmi – L-im-me
Myrtan – M-err-tan
Ohu – O-who
Olai – O-lay
Orne – Or-n
Panm – P-an
Rosas – Ro-sass
Seul – See-ool
Sortir – Sore-tear
Taffer – Ta-fur
Tresin – Tr-e-sin
Trynity – Tr-in-it-y
Valmena – Val-me-na
Véde – V-ay-d
Wegoraz – W-egg-or-az
Woreth – W-or-e-th
Xitol – Zi-toll
Yanin – Y-an-in
Yutshan – Yut-sh-an
Zàkan – Zak-an
Prologue
Stars twinkled brightly in the dark pool above and the two moons, one waxing, one waning were beginning to set. The air was still, causing the clouds above to lay unmoving, casting odd shadows across the ground and a cool mist lay across the peacefully sleeping city like a blanket. The wide, dusty streets were dark and empty, save for a few rats scurrying around in search of food. They were nibbling contently on a discarded scrap of bread when their bodies stiffened and their ears pricked up
in alarm.
There was a loud rush of air and a violent whirlwind appeared causing the rats to scamper away in fear. As it dissipated a young woman with pale skin and waist length dark brown hair, almost to the point of being black, stepped from it and out into the street. A large, high sided basket hung from the crook of her arm.
She walked slowly but determinedly, keeping to the shadows as much as possible to avoid being seen by the patrolling guards, whose armour clinked faintly while they walked the city walls. Her long, crimson and black dress rustled as she walked, disturbing the peaceful silence. She fondled a large, polished jet fragment hanging from swirling patterns of a silver choker absentmindedly.
A shuffling sound emerged from the basket she was carrying. She frowned as she looked into it; her dark eyes were hard and no hint of a smile found its way to her deep red lips. She continued to walk deeper into the city, watching as the mist billowed around her almost playfully. She could have landed closer to her destination, she knew that, but where she was going would be more open, more exposed and there would have been a greater risk that she would have been seen. It wasn’t the time for that, not yet anyway.
The young woman looked up as she rounded a corner and stopped as she saw a large number of small, cramped buildings in front of her. She found the small, dishevelled, one storey stone building she was looking for, nestled amongst the others and walked slowly and carefully towards it. There were large square windows either side of the worn, green, wooden door and though they were covered with curtains, a faint light shone through the one on the left.
She smiled to herself, “Ever the scholar Brean,” her voice was deep and soothing but there was a hint of malice hidden beneath the layers, “but your time is being wasted, as always.”
The young woman stopped in front of the house and looked once more into the basket she had been carrying; finally, her mouth curled up in a smile but it was razor sharp and there was little warmth behind it. She placed the basket carefully on the doorstep, attended briefly to the contents within, then walked away from the house, smiling wickedly as she heard someone shuffling inside. She turned her head to once more look at the ragged house and the basket before she was engulfed in a violent whirlwind.
The worn green door opened cautiously and an older man, with shoulder length greying hair and stubble peered out into the gloom. A thin ray of light fell upon the basket on his doorstep as did his bright amber eyes, which were wide with shock.
“Bælana,” he said slowly and quietly looking horrified at the basket’s contents, “what have you done?”
Chapter 1
The late autumn sun shone blindingly bright across a dusty courtyard where children played in blissful ignorance of the danger around them. A young slender woman, wearing beige trousers and a fitted shirt entered a small stone house.
“Vala? Are you here?” she called in a clear voice while searching the five rooms thoroughly.
“Have you found her Kiræ?” asked a tall, well-built man, who looked incredibly like the woman, as he walked into the building and leant against a wooden counter.
“No Tom, she’s not here,” Kiræ said, shaking her head in disappointment.
“She’s not been called away, so she must be around somewhere,” Tom replied as he pulled a chunk of bread from a loaf on the counter and started chewing thoughtfully.
“That’s true,” Kiræ agreed, “unless of course it was urgent,” she sat at the kitchen table and frowned in thought while pushing her long, loosely curled red hair from her face.
“You two need to learn to wake earlier,” they jumped and turned around to find a tall, slender figure in the open doorway. The twins grinned at her and Kiræ leant back in her chair.
“But it’s our free day, why wake early if there’s no need,” she smiled mischievously and Vala returned it. “So where were you?”
“In the stables, tending to Safaya, the same as every morning,” Vala said as she tied her hair loosely back.
“Tom I thought you said you’d looked there?” Kiræ stared accusingly at her slightly older brother, who shrugged and took another bite of bread.
“I didn’t see anyone as I walked past,” he replied while chewing, “anyway,” he turned to Vala, “we’re heading down to the beach, if you want to come?” Vala looked fondly at her two adopted children. She couldn’t believe how much Tom had grown recently and was now at least five inches taller than his twin sister but they were still incredibly alike. His fiery red hair was darker than his sisters, he had more freckles across his cheeks and his skin was paler but their eyes were the exact same shade of emerald green that sparkled mischievously.
“I’d love to, the God’s know I could do with some time off, but I have to go away again,” she replied sighing.
“You’ve only just returned,” Kiræ pointed out and Vala looked suddenly weary as she sat at the table.
“I know, but I’ve been asked to take council with King Asmera in Olai. He’s wants my advice regarding the mingual since Eriba borders the Holy Land, and as he’s the queen’s brother it’s important that I go.”
“I feel like we haven’t seen you properly in weeks,” Kiræ sighed.
“I know,” Vala replied, “but it shouldn’t be for long and I shouldn’t need to fight, not if I can help it anyway.”
“Couldn’t we come with you then?” Tom asked looking down into her pale lavender eyes; Vala couldn’t believe he was now taller than she was, “we’ve only a few days left until the end of the season and our exams are over, so we’re basically finished anyway.”
“And you’ve just turned twenty so you should be starting to think about what you want to do next,” Vala pointed out.
“Couldn’t we think about it on the journey?” Kiræ asked hopefully.
“I’ll think about it,” Vala said hugging them, “I don’t want to endanger anyone I don’t have to, and you two are the most important things to me.”
“We won’t be in danger,” Tom pointed out, “no fighting, you just said,” Vala looked at him pointedly then sighed causing the twins to grin.
The trio set off early several days later, the twins bristling with excitement at the thought of embarking on their first adventure. Vala had supplied them with ill-fitting mail shirts in her anxiety and they clinked musically as they rode. Vala wore her formal uniform, her own mail shirt being hidden from sight.
The first flakes of snow began to fall heavily eight days into their journey, creating a crisp white canvas in front of them. Kiræ looked over her shoulder and saw their tracks had already been covered by the rapidly increasing snowfall. She shivered as tiny flakes somehow managed to creep under her scarf leaving their icy touch on her neck. The twins’ enthusiasm for adventure was waning fast as they rode, shivering on their horses, the early winter sun offering little in the way of warmth and comfort.
The weather worsened over the next ten days. The trio struggled against heavy snowstorms that impaired their visibility and threatened to consume them. The harsh wind scratched and stung their faces cruelly and Kiræ found it brought tears to her eyes that froze almost instantly. She felt as if they had been riding for months across the deserted snowy landscape when they finally approached the quiet border between Baja and Eriba. Vala halted them quickly, scanning the crisp white blanket as she tried to identify the edges of the Ohu Lake in case they had drifted off course. She slid from her horse and the snow rose halfway up her knee-high riding boots as she waded cautiously forwards.
“Be careful!” Tom called his teeth chattering; Vala smiled back at them reassuringly before facing forwards and frowning. She took another few shuffling steps through the snow and thought she heard the faintest crack; she backed away slowly and looked about her. She knew it didn’t matter if they didn’t know the exact layout of the lake, they just needed to be away from the edge. Vala lead the twins to their right for an hour before they continued their journey forwards and towards Olai.
That night the snowfall slack
ened and they sat huddled around the first decent fire they had managed to make, trying to warm their frozen bones. None were sure how the fire had lit as the wood they had gathered was as wet as previous nights. Vala had known it was futile to attempt fires in such conditions but the twins were restless and insisted on trying so she relented. Kiræ had been sat with her box of flint, while Tom - who had long since given up on the fire - helped Vala raise the tents.
Kiræ was desperately trying to light the damp timbers without any luck. She had become increasingly frustrated and had cursed loudly as she made one last attempt. Without warning the fire had blazed eagerly to life and crackled happily amongst the wood. Kiræ had fallen back in surprise, landing in a large pile of icy snow while staring at her hands. She was sure the fire had jumped from them but as there was no evidence of burns she dismissed it instantly calling to the others to get warm, which they did so gladly.
Forgotten Magic (Elementals Book 1) Page 1