Forgotten Magic (Elementals Book 1)

by Vicky Garlick

  Vala waited, expecting to wake suddenly as she always did but nothing happened, instead she watched as Bælana stabbed the knife into the man’s heart. He screamed. Blood flowed from the wound and Bælana smiled moving to the next man, repeating the action. Vala stared silently, transfixed, she didn't even will herself to move, she just watched as Bælana butchered the men.

  The mingual grinned as one by one the men began to lose the ability to hold themselves upright as their life flowed away The mingual unchained the men and they slumped to their knees. Bælana held her hands out towards them palms upward, she raised them and the men were lifted into the air. She jerked her hands towards the dark pool and the men were thrown in.

  Vala tried to move, tried to scream but nothing happened, she just stared as the men screamed and thrashed in the dark foaming water. The mingual growled happily, shoving one another roughly and grinned, Bælana was also smiling.

  Eventually the thrashing and screaming stopped and the pool became still; the mingual growled excitedly. The surface of the pool rippled and slowly, several mounds of long, wet, coarse hair emerged from the dark surface, followed by gleaming red eyes and a smiling mouth of razor sharp fangs. Broad, muscular shoulders, a torso and arms with clawed hands that flexed powerfully followed. The newly created mingual stepped slowly from the dark pool and bowed respectfully to their new Empress…

  Vala woke sharply and felt powerful hands on her shoulders, thinking she was still in the dream she screamed and fought back until she heard Alten's familiar voice. She froze and slowly opened her eyes to reveal Alten's concerned face in front of her. It was then that she realised she was sat upright, her shirt hung loosely off one shoulder and she was breathing heavily.

  “Vala, what happened?” Alten asked, his voice full of worry.

  “Nothing,” she replied, trying not to look at him, “I was just…dreaming.” She thought back to the dream and her eyes widened at the realisation of what she had seen.

  “Dreaming?” Alten asked forcing her to look at him, “Vala you were screaming in terror, we thought you were fighting for your life!”

  She looked in disbelief but his expression told her he was serious, “I'm sorry,” she said, “what I saw, in the dream, it sickened me and I couldn’t stop it.”

  “What did you see?” he asked. Vala hesitated, unsure whether telling him would make him think she was mad, after a while she asked him to find Julen. Alten left the tent silently and Vala pulled her jacket on over her shirt; he returned quickly with Julen who showed the same look of concern as Alten.

  Vala took a deep breath, “For months now I've been dreaming about Bælana and the mingual.”

  The concern on the men's faces changed to confusion, “What do you mean?” Julen asked.

  “My dreams, nightmares I suppose, they didn't happen often but now I'm having them once a week.”

  “But they're just dreams,” Alten pointed out.

  “I thought so too but now I'm not so sure.”

  “Why?” Julen asked still confused.

  “The dream I had tonight, the reason I think I was screaming…it was the mingual…I think…I think I saw how they were created.”

  Alten and Julen were silent, “Are you sure?” Alten asked tentatively, Vala nodded and began to explain the dream. The silence that followed sent a chill through her bones, but she waited patiently for them to process the information.

  “They can't be,” Julen finally said, stumbling over his words, “can they?”

  “It makes some sense,” Vala said, “think about it, we knew magic was involved but nothing else, this explains a lot; why they're skilled fighters, why they can talk, why they all look different and why it’s taken Bælana so long to launch an attack. They're people!”

  “Are they?” Alten asked calmly and Vala looked at him in shock, “I agree that they were people once, but they've been mutilated into something that revels in the slaughter of innocent citizens, even the rebels aren't that cruel.”

  “It's not their fault they're like this! She’s made them this way! We should try to help them!”

  “We are trying to help them, by destroying Bælana we’ll put them at peace.” Vala’s insides squirmed but she remained silent and there was a frosty tension between her and Alten.

  Julen cleared his throat awkwardly, “It's almost dawn,” he said rising from his crouched position, “I'll rouse the warriors.”

  “Not a word of this to anyone,” Alten said, Julen nodded before leaving Alten and Vala alone. “I know it seems heartless to sentence them all to death, but they're no longer who they were.”

  Vala nodded, “I know, but if you’d seen what I saw, you might not be so quick to send them to their deaths.” She pulled on her boots and walked away.

  Chapter 26

  Kiræ and Tom walked from the eastern gate, where they had watched Vala, and the army, disappear from sight, and towards the training ground. Tom picked up a couple of short swords, blunted for training purposes and handed one to his sister. There were several other learners training this morning so they found an empty space and assumed one of the guard positions.

  Tom attacked first, opting for a central cut to Kiræ’s left side, which she blocked easily by moving her weapon across to her opposite side, she then tilted the blade towards him and stepped forwards in a thrust. Tom stepped back and blocked, throwing her arm wide in the process, then slammed his forearm into her elbow and smacked between her shoulders with his pommel causing her to fall to her knees. Tom rested the blade against the back of her neck.

  “You seem a bit off,” he said removing the blade and standing to face her as she remained kneeling, “what’s wrong?”

  “This isn’t going to end,” she replied looking up at him.

  “What isn’t?”

  “Bælana,” she replied as Tom helped her to her feet, “she won’t stop until she’s ruling the whole land. It won’t matter how many of the mingual we kill, she won’t stop.” Kiræ fell silent but continued to stare at her brother.

  “We need to stop her,” he said quietly and she nodded.

  “I think it’s the only way, I think it’s why Brean’s taught us how to control our magic. He knows we’re the only ones who might be able to stop her, and I think he knew we would try once we knew the truth.”

  “We can’t tell anyone,” Tom said and Kiræ agreed, “we need to move quickly.”

  “Brean will find out,” Kiræ pointed out, “when we miss training, we’re supposed to look at earth tomorrow remember.”

  Tom smiled, “I suppose we’ll just have to figure it out for ourselves. I think we should leave tonight since we have a night off from training.”

  Kiræ nodded, “It also means there’s less of a chance someone will find out what we’re planning.” They remained at the training ground for another couple of hours so as not to arouse suspicion, sparring and making plans, then returned to their rooms to pack.

  Kiræ was tying her pack when a knock sounded at the door and Aurora walked in; Kiræ tried to shove her pack off the bed to hide it but her friend saw the movement and her eyes fell on the bulky object.

  “Going somewhere?” she asked casually while Kiræ’s stomach flipped and her mind raced.

  “Brean is taking us out of the city to work with earth,” she replied a little too quickly.

  Aurora smiled and sat on the edge of the bed, “You’re a lousy liar Kiræ,” she said and Kiræ’s heart sank, “you and Tom, you’re going to follow Vala aren’t you?” Kiræ shook her head, there was no point trying to lie. Aurora’s eyes widened, “oh Kiræ you’re not?” it wasn’t really a question.

  “We have to,” Kiræ replied quietly, “Ror, people will keep dying until she’s stopped,” she almost pleaded with her friend in the hopes it would help her understand.

  “I know, that’s why there are armies marching on Yutshan,” Aurora pointed out but Kiræ shook her head.

  “It’s not enough,” she said sitting next to her
friend, “she won’t stop even if Yutshan is freed from her grasp and what about the Holy Land? How many more of her warriors are hidden there?” Kiræ stood again and began pacing round her room while Aurora remained silent, watching, “Tom and I, we can stop her,” she said, stopping again to look at her friend.

  Aurora remained silent for several minutes, “When do you leave?”

  Kiræ heaved a sigh of relief, “Tonight.”

  “That gives me plenty of time.”

  Kiræ’s stomach flipped again, “To do what?” she asked nervously.

  “To pack,” came the blunt reply, Kiræ stared in disbelief, “do you really think I would let you two go alone?”

  “Ror I can’t let you-”

  Aurora laughed loudly, “Let me? What makes you think you could stop me? I’m a dragon Kiræ, I think I’ve got the upper hand.”

  “What about your training?” she asked quickly, “surely Draogo has more to teach you?”

  “My training? What about your own training?” Aurora replied and Kiræ deflated knowing she was defeated. Aurora smiled, “oh come on Kiræ, are you seriously telling me that having a dragon with you is going to be a hindrance?”

  Kiræ smiled, trying to look relaxed but felt panic rising inside her, “I suppose you’re right,” she said slowly and reluctantly, “I can’t stop you, we’re going to meet at the stables at midnight, then head to the eastern gates, you still have a few hours but I think you had better hurry.” Aurora nodded, rose from the bed and left Kiræ’s room quietly, “don’t tell the others,” Kiræ said after her and Aurora slipped quietly into her room.

  Kiræ quickly grabbed her pack, snuck out of her room and crept silently down the empty corridor. She reached Tom’s room minutes later and knocked quietly before entering, Tom was just tying his pack and looked surprised as his sister entered. The look on her face made him freeze.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “We need to leave,” she said, “now.”

  “What’s happened?”

  “Aurora saw me packing, she knows.” Kiræ said, then added, “she wants to join us.”

  Tom sighed and sat down, “And I’m guessing she wouldn’t take no for an answer.” Kiræ shook her head, “it won’t be as easy to slip away,” he said looking at the still light sky.

  “It won’t be long until dusk,” Kiræ said trying to make the situation seem less dire.

  “I guess we had better get going then,” Tom grabbed his pack, ushered Kiræ out of the room and walked quickly and quietly down the corridor. They moved carefully, making sure to avoid places they thought their friends might be and eventually arrived at the stables only to find that their friends were waiting for them, arms folded and with stern expressions.

  “I said you were a lousy liar,” Aurora said and Kiræ wilted.

  “Were you really going to leave without saying anything?” Keolan asked and the twins looked guiltily at the floor.

  “It’s not that we didn’t want to say goodbye,” Tom explained, “but we knew you would want to come with us and we didn’t want to endanger you.”

  Tana scoffed, “That’s hardly your decision to make,” she said harshly, “you don’t get to decide out fate, we do.”

  “We want to help,” Keolan said defiantly, “we’re going to help.”

  “And we won’t take no for an answer,” Tana said smiling; the twins sighed.

  “Fine,” Tom said not bothering to hide his irritation, “it looks like we wouldn’t be able to leave without you anyway.” Their friends grinned triumphantly and Aurora stepped towards them.

  “Besides, I’m a dragon,” she said walking past them, “I could easily catch up with you if I wanted.” The twins watched as she walked back towards the dormitories, then called back to them, “I’m guessing the original plan of midnight still stands.” Kiræ sighed and looked apologetically at Tom who just shrugged and followed Aurora back towards the large building.

  Kiræ felt frustrated, she was basically being babysat by Aurora to ensure she didn’t try to leave the city without the others. To try and calm herself she was flexing her magic; conjuring and manipulating the elements in small quantities, after all, Brean had said it was important for them to use their magic regularly. Aurora, ignoring Kiræ’s obvious irritation for the situation was practicing accessing various dragon attributes.

  When midnight finally approached, they made their way to the stables, picking up Tana on the way; Tom and Keolan were waiting when they arrived. The group tacked up their horses, loaded their packs and set off towards the eastern gate using the soft moonlight to guide their way. They paused a few buildings away from the gate on seeing the guards either side; the twins looked at one another uncertainly.

  “So, how do we leave unnoticed?” Keolan asked and the twins remained silent; although the citizens of Caan were permitted to leave the city as and when they wanted, it would undoubtedly arouse suspicion if a group of learners were seen to be leaving in the middle of the night.

  “Do you want me to roar?” Aurora asked Keolan and Tana looked confused so she explained, “it’s one of the dragon attributes I can access in human form.”

  “You can roar as a human?” Tana asked in amazement and Aurora nodded.

  “That could work,” Tom said after a while, signalling that she should try it, “better dismount though, so you don’t startle the horses.” Aurora smiled, slipped from the saddle and ran down one of the small streets to their right, ensuring it was open at the far end for her ‘escape’.

  The group waited in silence and a slight tension hung in the air, even the horses seemed to be aware that something was about to happen as they fidgeted impatiently. A deafening roar, louder than thunder took them by surprise, they threw their hands over their ears while the horses whinnied in terror. The guards by the gate dropped their weapons as their hands flew to their ears and they looked at one another in shock and fear.

  As the noise died away they retrieved their weapons and looked nervously in the direction it had originated. Tom could see them both take a deep breath before running towards the small street, their weapons at the ready, he smiled to himself as he thought about their confusion on finding the street empty.

  Aurora turned up moments later grinning, “That was fun,” she said mounting her horse, then looked around, “where’s Kiræ?” the others looked in surprise at the empty saddle. As they scanned the vacant streets frantically Tom cursed her under his breath as he thought Aurora’s roar had probably attracted the attention of other guards who were probably on their way to their location. He had just finished cursing his sister with every foul word he knew when she appeared from a street to their left.

  “Really Tom, it’s not nice calling your sister names like that.”

  Tom flushed then looked annoyed, “Where have you been?” he demanded.

  “Getting this,” she replied holding up a large iron key, “I thought we would probably need it if we actually wanted to leave.” Tom smiled and she climbed into her saddle, then following the others quickly towards the gate. Kiræ leant down to unlock the large door, let the others through and locked it behind her. She turned back to the gates when they were several paces away and with the help of air, tossed the key over the wall for the guards to find when they returned.

  The group set off at a quick pace, hoping to put as much distance between them and the city as possible. They rode hard all night, heading east towards the town of Kelendal, where they would be able to replenish their supplies. They had decided to ride during the night, hoping that they darkness would conceal them as much as possible while they travelled, while the landscape would be easier to watch in the light of day.

  As dawn approached, Tom called for them to stop and rest. Kiræ offered to take the first watch, feeling surprisingly awake and alert and the others gratefully accepted. They dismounted near a small copse and erected the two tents they had brought. Keolan mumbled something about Aurora flying them all to the Holy Land to sav
e them some time and she hit him round the head stating she was not a transport service.

  One by one they crawled into the tents and before long the only noise Kiræ heard was their steady slow breathing, she began to flex her magic again, combining a couple of the elements and manipulating them. After a few hours she roused Tom to take over from her but he looked groggy and struggled to keep his eyes open, so she offered to continue since she still felt wide awake. He mumbled his thanks and fell almost instantly back into a deep slumber.

  Kiræ decided to walk around the copse and check on the horses; she noticed a few small game birds hopping around them and decided they would make a nice meal when her friends woke. She took the knife from her boot, killed a couple of the birds and began to prepare them away from the tents but within view.

  Once they were ready she gathered a small amount of wood and conjured a fire, I don’t know how I ever managed without this magic, she thought as she watched the fire crackle happily. She put the birds on wooden spits and cooked them slowly over the flames. Keolan was the first to emerge less than an hour later, Kiræ smiled at him as he came and sat beside her.

  “Smells good,” he said yawning as she handed him one of the spits so he could help.

  “Should help to keep us going through the night,” she replied and smiled as Aurora emerged and joined them. By the time the birds were cooked the others had woken and were sat by the small fire eating as if they hadn’t been fed in days. By dusk they had packed up the tents and were mounting the horses to continue their journey.

  Tom rode towards Kiræ as she settled herself in her saddle, “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “Fine, why?”

  “You’ve now been up for a day and a half,” he replied looking worried.

  “I’m okay I promise, I’m sure by tomorrow I’ll welcome some rest.”

  “As long as you’re sure,” he said, then turned to the others, “let’s get moving, the further we can get from the city the better,” they set their horses at a steady pace and continued towards Kelendal. Kiræ found she enjoyed riding at night; it was peaceful and the moon’s cast a soft light across the ground providing just enough for them to see by without being harsh.