Eamon released a breath of air. “I’m bored,” he said. Terrwyn turned to smile at him, but Ashleen frowned.
“A warrior needs patience, Eamon,” she said as she placed a motherly hand on his shoulder. The young Prince nodded.
“Well, you can hardly fault him,” Willem said. “Where is Metatron?”
“There,” Dillan said and pointed to the sky back over the island. All eye’s followed his gaze and saw the seraph speeding through the air toward them.
Metatron slowed as he reached them, flapping his giant wings as he slowly lowered himself to the ground, and the others shielded their eyes from the sand stirred by the gusts of wind created by his wings. In his arms, he held white cloth. He looked at each of them smiling and then separated out the cloth to reveal small white sheets or blankets. Metatron gave each nephilim a sheet.
“Take off your clothes,” he commanded.
All of them except Ashleen stared at him in surprise. She simply began to untie the collar of her shirt which was secured by strings at the neck.
“What?” Terrwyn asked in disbelief.
“You may wrap the sheets over your more personal areas, if you wish,” Metatron said, “but leave the rest of your skin exposed to the light.”
Dillan and Willem glanced at each other. Eamon’s eyes did not leave Ashleen who pulled her shirt over her head. She noticed Eamon leering at her and narrowed her eyes at him, causing him to look away, if only for a moment.
“I most certainly will not,” Terrwyn said, her face aghast. She glanced over at Dillan who had his shirt removed and was fiddling with his pants. Willem and Eamon followed Dillan’s lead and had begun to untie their shirts, each of which were secured by a series of laces up the chest. “You are all going to do this?” Terrwyn asked.
Dillan cocked his head to the side. “I told Metatron that if he could teach me how to kill the Black Knight then I would do whatever he asked of me.” He shrugged and pulled down his pants revealing an undergarment that fell to below his knees.
Ashleen turned her back to Terrwyn, lifting her hair up onto her head. “Would you please unlace my corset?” she asked.
“Ashleen?” Terrwyn asked in surprise, but nevertheless did unlace her corset for her.
Ashleen turned and smiled gently at her friend. “When we go on the Paladin quest we wear nothing, Terrwyn. I am no longer embarrassed by my body.” Terrwyn looked her up and down as Ashleen turned to face her and could see why. Ashleen was put together as perfectly as a seraph. The Paladin Commander wrapped the sheet around her body covering her breasts down to just above her knees. Terrwyn’s eyes shot back to Metatron. “Well I will not strip here on the beach like some…some…common whore,” she spat.
“We’ll turn around until you get your sheet on,” Willem said and then looked at Dillan for assurances. He shrugged reluctantly and both men turned. Then Willem noticed that Eamon had not and smacked him on the arm so that he turned as well.
“As much as I’d like to applaud you gentlemen for your chivalry, I still am not going to take off my clothes,” Terrwyn said as she crossed her arms over her chest.
Metatron took a step toward her. “If you do not, I shall do it for you,” he said without a touch of humor in his voice.
Terrwyn’s eyes went wide and her mouth fell open. Then she turned to Dillan who stood with his back to her. “Dillan,” she whined, hoping he would defend her.
“Terrwyn, you know as well as I do, I couldn’t stop Metatron,” he said without turning. And then, while attempting to suppress a chuckle added, “Even if I wanted to.”
Terrwyn’s face flushed red with anger. “Fine!” she exclaimed. Metatron nodded satisfied and then stepped backward and turned around as the other men had. Terrwyn stripped off her shirt and pants and Ashleen helped her with her corset. When she was finished she wrapped the sheet around her and, like Ashleen’s, it covered from her breasts to just above her knees.
The men were finally allowed to turn back around, each of them with their upper bodies exposed and the sheet wrapped around their lower halves. Terrwyn’s anger turned to something else as she admired Dillan’s and Willem’s shirtless bodies in the sunlight. She realized she had been caught staring by Dillan and looked away quickly as he smirked.
Metatron spread his wings wide as he opened his arms and turned his face to the sky. “The beach is the perfect place to absorb the light as it reflects off of the sand and the water.” The nephilim copied Metatron, spreading their arms wide and turning their faces to the sky. They were forced to squint in the sunlight however. “Feel the light’s warmth. Smell it. Taste it. Allow it to fill you and gain your strength from it.” He smiled as he watched them “Power comes from the light,” he said. “First we will absorb the power, then we will learn to use it.”
Chapter 20
Anne strolled along the garden paths wearing a dress that was such a deep purple it was almost black. Her face tilted skyward into the night sky as she held her arms out to her sides. She could not explain it, but recently she had more and more of a desire to wander the night, enjoying the darkness. She had even begun to be slightly reclusive from the sun during the daylight. She did not avoid it altogether as Rayfen did, but she had begun to find its rays uncomfortable.
Something about the darkness was soothing. She could feel it, smell it, and taste it. It was as if it gave her strength and energy. She smiled to herself as she realized that power came from the darkness.
Boots crunched on the pebbles behind her and she spun quickly, her lips curled over her teeth and a sound like a cat’s hiss escaping. She saw Morgan and Sir Terrance freeze with shock. Anne quickly composed herself, straightened, and lifted her head regally into the air. She did not know where that had come from, but she felt ready to strike and kill whoever threatened her.
“Your Majesty,” Terrance said with a flourishing bow. “You asked that I bring the King to see you.”
“Yes,” Anne said, forcing a smile across her face.
“Are you alright, Anne?” Morgan asked as he looked at her, concern etched onto his face.
“Yes, Brother, I am alright. You simply startled me.” Morgan glanced at Terrance as the knight straightened and could see he shared Morgan’s concern. “Come, walk with me,” she said holding her arm out invitingly to him. Morgan nodded and forced a smile before stepping forth and allowing her to take his arm. “Sir Terrance, you may be excused,” she said.
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the knight replied with a bow and then spun on his heel and hurried away, relieved that he was allowed to do so.
Anne and Morgan walked in silence for a few moments until Morgan broke it. “I did not see you at all today,” he said, his voice clear with concern.
“Yes, I spent much of it in my room as I did not feel well,” she said. That was not completely untrue. It had been a particularly bright, sunny day and she felt uncomfortable. She turned the conversation to the reason she had summoned him. “As you know, Lord Rayfen is leading our army north to Caerwynspire.”
“Yes,” Morgan said.
“I want you to go with him,” Anne replied.
Morgan stopped and looked at her. “What?” he asked. “I have my kingdom to…” he began, but Anne cut him off.
“I shall watch over Avonvale in your absence, Brother.”
“But…” he stammered.
“We need a representative there. Otherwise, how can we claim to have conquered it. Is it not the man’s obligation to fight the wars?” she asked using his ego against him. “Shall your little sister go instead?”
Morgan frowned down at her. After seeing what she had done to the Wizard, that was not a bad idea. His ego would not allow it, however, and he relented. “Very well, Anne.” She smiled at him. Suddenly he stopped walking, startled. She turned to see Rayfen standing before them, blocking the path.
“Lord Rayfen, welcome back,” Anne said. The Black Knight bowed his head. “I trust things went well.”
“Yes,” he
hissed from beneath his helmet. “I even have a prize,” he said and snapped his fingers. Two drakmere emerged from the shadows and brought forth a man, a sack over his head, his hands and feet bound securely. They tossed him onto the ground at Anne’s feet. Then Rayfen reached down and snatched the sack from his head.
Anne stared down at the golden haired man lying on the ground before her. He pushed himself up to his knees. “Who is this?” Anne asked.
“His name is Alaric, leader of the Elophim.”
“Elophim?” Morgan asked.
“He doesn’t look like a seraph to me,” Anne said.
Alaric began to laugh, but then winced with the pain it caused. “That is true, I do not look much like a seraph. That’s because my wings were taken from me.” His face turned to her. “For loving Ehren,” he spat. “I am your ancestor Andalynn Valestead.”
“How do you know my name?” she asked.
“Oh, I know a lot about you. I have had numerous visions since I first met Terrwyn, and you have been in so many of them. I don’t look like a seraph, my dear? Well I suppose you don’t look much like a shedom, but we both know you are one.” Anne sneered at him as Morgan released her arm and stepped back. “And your cousin, Terrwyn, is going to drive a sword through your black heart.”
Anne reached down and snatched Alaric up by the throat and dashed across the garden to slam him against a wall. “Beg for your life, seraph,” she hissed at him as she squeezed his throat tighter and tighter.
Rayfen was suddenly beside her. “Do not kill him. Not yet,” he said. She turned to look at him, her eyes cold. “I need him…Your Majesty.” Anne relented and tossed Alaric down to the ground like a sack of potatoes. He laid on the ground gasping for air.
“Get him out of my sight,” Anne growled at Rayfen and the shedom bowed respectfully to her. Morgan swallowed hard and a chill went up his spine as he realized that was the first time he had ever seen Rayfen show that kind of deference to anyone, including the Wizard. His eyes moved to Anne, but then he quickly looked away, afraid that she might see the fright there.
Anne moved quickly to Morgan’s side and retook his arm. She pulled him along as she continued her stroll breathing deeply and attempting to calm herself. Morgan glanced back over his shoulder as the draks threw the sack back over his grandfather’s head and carried him away.
Chapter 21
There was a chill in the morning air as Edward rode his chestnut-colored gelding at the head of the column of men, the Master of the Hunt riding along beside him astride a gray mare. Edward and the Master were dressed similarly, in forest green coats and pants, but Edward’s were trimmed in gold and he wore the crown upon his head. Behind them rode a large number of guards and servants. Even though the rebel camp had been destroyed, Edward’s mother was still fearful of rebels and had insisted on Edward taking an even larger contingent of soldiers than normal. The result was that Edward looked as though he led a force to battle instead of to hunt.
Edward and his men cantered along a well-worn path beneath the thick canopy of the Great Forest. The young king had grown up roaming the forest, playing with his siblings and hunting with his father, but still marveled at the enormous trees that populated it, many of them hundreds of years old.
Edward smelled the burning wood and saw the stream of smoke rising from the chimney of the hunting cabin. It was quite customary for a servant to go out early to clean the cabin and build a fire in anticipation for the king’s arrival, but Edward knew that no servant had built this fire as he had forbidden any to go before him.
Edward and his men reached the cabin and reined to a halt before it. The cabin was very old, built by Edward’s grandfather’s father. It was apparent where improvements and additions had been made over the decades and Edward doubted that his great-grandfather would even recognize the structure as the same today. The original walls were of light gray stone, hauled from a quarry some great distance away. The additions were wood, chopped from the local growth, making the work much quicker and less expensive.
Edward and his men dismounted their horses. He turned to them and spoke. “Set up camp as usual,” he commanded. “I shall be inside, but do not wish to be disturbed.” The men bowed to his orders and began to obey. Edward turned and strode to the door of the cabin, motioning for his steward, Tilly, to follow him. Tilly had been a servant at the castle for decades and had been his father’s steward.
Edward reached the cabin, his black gloved hand found the handle and opened it, stepping inside to the warmth. Tilly followed, closing the door behind him and then accepted Edward’s gloves as the king handed them to him. Edward stepped further inside and smiled at the fire as he unbuttoned his jacket.
“It’s alright, Uncle Hansel,” he said to the seemingly empty room. “It is only Edward and Tilly, you may come out.”
As Tilly helped Edward strip off his jacket, the king watched his uncle step out from one of the side rooms. Two armored and armed men appeared from seemingly out of nowhere to stand by Hansel’s side, but at Hansel’s direction sheathed their swords. He waved them away and they disappeared again.
Hansel smiled at Edward, but then his eyes cut to Tilly who had just hung the king’s jacket up upon a wooden peg on the wall near the door. “Tilly, there is a pot of tea on the stove. Kindly pour a cup for His Majesty and I.”
“Yes, My Lord,” Tilly replied with a bow of his head and disappeared into the kitchen.
Edward smiled at his uncle, then stepped forward and wrapped his arms around him in an embrace. Hansel returned the embrace. “I am glad you received my message,” Edward said as he pulled away and motioned for Hansel to sit in a chair before the fire. Both men sat and stared at each other.
“Thank you for the warning, lad,” Hansel replied.
“Well, I couldn’t just let the Black Knight kill you,” Edward said.
Hansel smiled at his nephew and then looked past him at the door. “Do you trust the men you have with you?” he asked.
“Yes,” Edward replied. “I cannot imagine any of them turning us in, but that doesn’t mean I want to announce that you are here.”
Hansel nodded. “I would think that most men in the kingdom would follow you against the monsters who occupy their lands. Few are sympathetic to the drakmere.”
“As you know, the Wizard is dead.”
“Yes, I received a message from Geoffrey after it happened, and the information that he and Ella were coming home.”
“Believe me, I did not know it was a trap until it was too late to warn you.”
Hansel nodded. “I know, lad. I should have seen it myself. It was obvious in hindsight, but I guess I was so blinded with my excitement that Geoffrey and Ella would be out of our enemies’ clutches that I ignored all of the signs.”
“Well, it certainly appears Geoffrey and Ella have been turned.”
Hansel stared into the dancing flames considering the comment for a moment. “Geoffrey is young and easily impressionable. He has lived with the enemy for months while we told him they were our friends. It should not surprise us then that he is as loyal to them as he believes you to be. But I am confident he can be turned back to our side quite easily, once we’ve explained the situation to him.” Edward nodded his agreement. “As for Ella,” Hansel continued, “well, she may just be doing what she needs to in order to survive, just like the rest of us.”
“And how do we survive now?” Edward asked.
“I don’t know lad. The Elophim are dead. Erec and his men have been wiped out. The rebellion is crushed.”
“No,” Edward said shaking his head. “Erec and Taite are alive.” Hansel raised his eyebrows as he stared at his nephew. “Rayfen failed to capture them.”
“Well, that is certainly good news,” Hansel replied with a smile. “The question, of course, is where could they be.” Edward nodded. “But never mind that,” Hansel said, shaking the thought from his head. He had more immediate problems to deal with. He certainly worried about Erec
and Taite, but he had his own skin and his own family and kingdom to worry about. “We must make plans for Elophborne. With the Wizard dead, and Geoffrey back safely in our hands, this may be the perfect time to strike.”
“What about Ella?” Edward asked.
Hansel looked his nephew in the eyes. “Ella may have to take care of herself. Unless she professes to sympathize with us, I doubt Anne or Morgan would harm her. In fact, it would be bad strategy to do so.”
Just then the two were interrupted as Tilly stepped into the room carrying a tray with a tea pot and two cups. He set the tray on the table beside Hansel and poured tea into each cup. The servant then offered a cup to the King and then to Hansel with each man accepting gratefully.
“Is there anything else I can do for you right now, Your Majesty?” Tilly asked.
“No, thank you, Tilly,” Edward said. “You are excused.”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” Tilly said and with a bow left the room, leaving the men to continue their conversation in private.
Edward sipped his tea and then looked at his uncle. “What do you think we should do?” he asked.
Hansel stared at the young king for a moment. “How many drakmere are left?” he asked.
Edward shook his head. “Not many. Most left to join the Black Knight. I’m not sure what they are planning, but they are certainly planning something. Avonvale was crawling with the beasts. There are no more than two hundred remaining here.”
“Is that all?” Hansel asked. “I am surprised.”
“I get the feeling that Rayfen does not concern himself with Elophborne. Something he said makes me realize there is a bigger prize for him, and he and Anne do not necessarily have the same goals. He does not care about you or Erec being alive either. He said as much himself.”
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