Enchanted Bookstore Legends (5-book complete epic fantasy romance box set)

by Marsha A. Moore

  “The family circle!” Vickie exclaimed and pulled her cousins among the bodies.

  Raylene tiptoed around the remains.

  “Tarom, be prepared,” Cullen called and the two aimed their staffs.

  The Unicorn poised his horn.

  Yasqu, Gea and Yord lowered their snouts, nostrils ringed with smoke and fire.

  “I’m family!” Kessa called and ran after the women. “I want to help too.” She took hold of Lyra’s outstretched hand.

  Gea growled.

  The four females of Lyra’s family joined hands around Eburscon.

  His bottom hand inched toward Raylene’s foot. “Grandma! Do something fast,” she pleaded with a shaking voice.

  Draora touched her granddaughter, and, immediately, the alchemist’s hand snapped back. Maintaining contact, the ghost-witch reached her other arm into the center. She stirred thread after thread of her magic over Eburscon’s body.

  Finally, his hand released, and the arm dropped limp at his side.

  Kenzo darted to Cullen’s feet.

  A flock of Cranewort’s cranes flew overhead, their necks bent into graceful curves. The storm clouds cleared as they accepted vaporous souls from dead dragons, both good and evil. Two of the huge birds quietly hovered above the women, then descended toward the bodies of Eburscon and Symar.

  “He’s gone,” Lyra said, urging her family away. “Let the cranes take their souls.” She smoothed Raylene’s fine hair, lifted on end from the static of their family magic.

  The chanting quieted, and everyone bowed.

  Caught in a moonbeam that sparkled with obsidian dust, Yasqu’s golden scales shimmered like his father’s.

  Chapter Thirty: Reunions

  Lyra scanned the quiet battlefield and waved at her dear friends, Ivri, Folt, Lesot, Angom, and Belray.

  The Unicorn stood in the center. Aura encircled his single horn as it pointed toward Yasqu at his side.

  Gea nodded to her son and took a step back.

  “Thank you kind friends and allies of the Alliance.” Yasqu bowed his head to the circutamina, Malificates, and Arials. “Tonight, we’re weary, and our bodies need to mend. Please accept the hospitality of our Alliance folk to provide you with food and places to rest. Tomorrow, join us in celebration of lives lived well and futures of peace.” He nodded to Oasth.

  The warlord organized squadrons. Once those who carried bodies of fallen fighters lifted off, others provided transportation to the Meadow of Peace and the lair.

  “I need to thank many people. Do you want to come with me?” Lyra posed the question to Cullen, Tarom, and her family.

  They nodded and gathered together. With Cullen and Kessa on either side of Lyra, she led a tour beginning with the Malificates in the center. She placed a hand on Lesot’s back where he bent low applying obsidian dust to a burn on a blue fighter’s leg. “Thank you.”

  He rose, and she pulled him into a brief hug. He wiped dust from his eyes and said, “We Malificates were heavy with debt to you for the matans. When the nightingale’s call alerted us to your need, we came.”

  “Are the Vizards treating your people better now?” she asked.

  “The vile snakes have taken their right places,” Angom joined their conversation. “Thanks be to you from all our people.”

  Cullen’s brows met. “Lyra, what did you do?”

  “On my way to the dark lair, I helped Lesot and Angom take several pseudodragons back to Terza,” she replied.

  “The wild ones that roost around the western Qumeli camp?” he asked.

  She nodded, then faced the two Malificates. “Consider our trade even now.”

  The two men smiled, and Angom said, “Indeed, a good trade.”

  “Please stay for the celebration,” Cullen offered with a bow.

  “As a new elder, what say you, Lesot?” Angom tilted his head at his partner. Several other Malificates paused their work and listened for his reply.

  “It’s a happy time for Malificates. We accept.” Lesot returned the bow. A grin lit his face, and he called to the others, “Send invites to those who stayed in Terza to come.”

  After exchanging goodbye waves, Lyra’s group moved to where Arial warriors gathered cleaning blood from their spears. She bowed low to the ground before Belray, and the others followed suit. When they rose she said, “It’s an honor to have your help, Captain Belray.”

  “The honor is truly ours to serve your noble Alliance,” he replied and pointed toward the violin hanging from her shoulder. “The enchantment of queens Mysa and Maryell did well for you. A single, brown nightingale filled our royal palace with her song. Arial troops and scores of fishermen made haste.”

  Vickie stepped forward and said, “If Queen Mysa can make it to the party, I’m sure we’d all love to hear her poetry. I know I would.”

  “And please extend our most sincere invitation to the king also,” Cullen added.

  The corners of Belray’s mouth lifted, breaking his usual stoic expression. “I shall extend your offers. I expect your royal couple to find them to their liking. I will send word at once. Please excuse me.” With a quick bow, he left them and gathered his staff.

  Raylene let out a round of giggles and squeals as a dozen circutamina crowded around her in a group hug.

  Ivri and Folt tackled Lyra’s knees. She kneeled, and the three embraced. “Did the nightingales’ songs reach you too?”

  Ivri’s long ears flapped. “One sang outside my tree, but another must have gone north, since—”

  Rona ran up and wormed her way into the threesome. They all sat back on the ground and smiled at each other. The rest of Lyra’s group took seats, while Kenzo and Draora found branches overhead.

  “Amazin’ trees you all can conjure.” The ghost-witch chortled. “Almost as good as my honey keep tree.”

  “That one tree took out a cimafa,” Tarom said. “Not an easy task.” He faced Cullen. “You and I can’t kill them.”

  “Grandma did!” Raylene called from the midst of her pack of followers.

  “Yes. Two, and finished off Eburscon,” Lyra added. “Draora, you were amazing.”

  “That was you girls. And I had a fine helper in Kenzo. Although, I did have some fun snaring those wild, red-eyed beasts. Gave them a good scare.” Draora laughed so hard that she lost her balance and hung from the branch by her knees, displaying her polka-dotted bloomers.

  Those gathered, as well as others nearby, joined her in laughter.

  “It feels so good to laugh again.” Lyra’s heart warmed while she scanned all the happy faces. “And nice to see the Steppe with green trees again.”

  “Evil has ruled too long,” Folt piped up. “When I traveled as a young lad, this plain was lush with grasses and wildflowers, dotted with wide-spaced trees.”

  “And the Geminus tree stood way over yonder.” Rona pointed toward the dense Silva Nocens. “In those days, enough light got through that forest, flowers grew on the forest floor.”

  Ivri jumped to her feet. “Now that the Dark Realm’s power is gone, and the Alliance controls Dragonspeir, we can change things.” She lifted her tiny arms and called in a loud voice, “Keepers, rise up for one more task! Let’s restore the Steppe of Ora to a glorious grassland.”

  Several hundred circutamina chattered and darted in every direction. Raylene, Kenzo, and Noba joined them.

  At times, the keepers paused, and their bare feet spread wide over the dry soil. From between their toes, new green growth rose up and spread several yards. While they repeated the process across the plain, a few Alliance residents cautiously approached Tarom.

  Two women and four men, all elderly magicals, whispered among themselves while eying him. Finally, one man pulled off his navy cap, stepped forward, and bowed. “Sire Tarom, we remember you from when you served as Eburscon’s apprentice.” His long, white beard shook with his trembling voice. “You joined the teaching faculty in the magical school and taught the craft of fascination so well, folks still t
alk about your lessons.”

  “Probably why Eburscon challenged you to that duel and then ran you off afterward, even though it was a draw,” one of the women added, ringing her hands.

  Tarom raised a brow. “True. But those days have passed.”

  The old man leaned on his cane and cleared his throat. “What we’re trying to say is that…we watched your fine fighting for the Alliance today and heard the talk about what you did to help our Scribe. Will you please consider accepting the position of Imperial Alchemist again? We’d all be honored.”

  Tarom’s face lit up. “I’ll have to reply that I haven’t yet been offered the position.” He bowed low to the elder magicals. After he exchanged a knowing look with Cullen, they escorted him to visit among the Alliance residents.

  “Yord is waiting,” Cullen said to Lyra.

  Lyra glanced where the remaining blues gathered with Yasqu, Gea, and the Unicorn. “I’ll say hello to our people on the way back to him.” She rose and asked her family. “Coming?”

  “Give us a minute,” Vickie said as she and Kessa worked their feet back into kicked off shoes and stuffed socks into their pockets. Vickie turned around and pointed to their younger cousin far in the distance with the circutamina, Kenzo and Noba sailing over them. “I doubt Ray will leave the keepers.”

  “The grass feels so good,” the girl purred and accepted Lyra’s hand for help getting up.

  Draora dropped to her feet from the overhanging tree. “Wish I could still feel grass between my toes.”

  “Why can’t you?” Kessa asked, studying her.

  “’Cause I’m a ghost, not alive anymore,” the witch replied.

  “I wish I still had my Gramaema, even as a ghost.”

  Draora wrapped a filmy arm around the child. “You know something—I hear we’re related through Lyra. In a way, that makes me your Gramaema…if you’d like.”

  Kessa smiled and wrapped her arm around the witch’s waist. “Maybe I can help you feel the grass.”

  Walking behind the pair, Lyra and Cullen smiled to each other and linked arms. It’s good to see them getting along, she said to him with a thought.

  Why wouldn’t they? They’re your family.

  And soon to be yours too, she replied with a grin.

  Cullen leaned in and kissed her on the cheek, to the delight of hundreds of Alliance villagers and woodsmen who cheered and whistled.

  The folk greeted them with messages of gratitude, well-wishes, and grief. Some clamored for the chance just to touch their Scribe and new seer. Others introduced themselves to Vickie and Draora.

  After at least thirty minutes of what Lyra intended to be a quick trip back to Yord, what remained of her group approached the blue dragon.

  “What about Ray?” Vickie asked and accepted a boost from Cullen onto the dragon’s back.

  Yord turned his long neck to face them. “Oasth made arrangements for three squadrons to remain and transport her and the circutamina when they finish.”

  “Tarom!” Kessa blurted and surveyed the crowd for the alchemist. “Don’t forget him.”

  “No need to worry.” Cullen handed her up to Lyra’s open arms. “Tarom can transport and might beat us back to the lair.”

  Cullen seated himself behind Lyra on the magnificent blue’s back. His arms wound around her sides.

  She entwined her fingers into his and pulled his hands across her stomach. Through her shirt, metal contacted her hand. Remembering the talisman, she pulled it out of her collar and over her head, then wound his fingers around the watch she’d given him last Christmas. I don’t need this anymore, since my quintessence protects me. The watch belongs to you. She rested against his chest.

  He accepted the watch and held her tighter. And so does the promise that went with it.

  It’s time I made good on that promise. She smiled, and a film of moisture clouded her eyes. I never thought this time would come.

  He kissed her hair. I knew it would.

  Chapter Thirty-one: Fate

  On the lair’s landing ledge, Lyra handed Kessa down to Cullen, and the girl stretched in his arms with a yawn.

  The three Guardians and Mimio met them.

  “Time for seers, dragons, wizards, and witches to head for bed.” Lyra slid off Yord’s flank to dismount.

  “I sure am tired.” Vickie covered her mouth with her hand. “Kessa, you started the yawns going around.” She faced Lyra. “Where do you want her to sleep? I’ll take her, since I know you’ll be busy talking with the Guardians.

  “I’m not tired. I want to talk to the Guardians too,” Kessa protested, but her eyelids drooped, and she leaned against Lyra’s hip.

  Lyra rubbed her shoulder. “That can happen tomorrow.”

  Vickie accepted the sleepy girl, despite her wiggles and grumbles.

  Draora floated above the pair. “How about I’ll tell you a bedtime story?”

  Tarom materialized beside Lyra, and she placed a finger to her lips, signaling him to be quiet. If Kessa noticed him, she’d never go to bed.

  Kenzo and Noba sailed in.

  Cullen followed Lyra’s lead and motioned them to land.

  “Dinner trays will be delivered to your rooms,” Mimio said as they entered the foyer. The sorceress pulled Lyra aside and whispered, “The Guardians want to meet with you, Cullen, and Tarom over dinner in the library.”

  Lyra nodded and relayed the message to the men.

  ***

  Hunger hit Lyra as soon as she walked into the Tortoise’s library and smelled the savory dinner. She filled a plate and bowl from the hearty spread of sliced meats, soup, bread, and cheese. Bending to sit on the low floor cushions at tables designed for the Tortoise, her legs and back grumbled with new aches.

  “Sore?” Cullen asked as she rubbed her calf.

  She nodded and leaned into his shoulder. Maybe something you can massage out later?

  A smile covered his face as he bit into a bread crust.

  Tarom took a seat across the table and raised an eyebrow at the couple. In the midst of a long draught of milk, he choked while attempting to rise quickly and bow when the Guardians entered the room.

  Lyra muffled a laugh at his formality and bowed her head to show respect.

  “Tarom, please be seated.” Tortoise said, then bowed his head and took a place at the head of their table. “The hour is late, all are tired, and strict adherence to decorum unnecessary.” He glanced at his assistant. “Mimio, please sit near me with your notebook to take notes.”

  The Unicorn lowered onto a plush wool rug, folding his legs neatly underneath him, and the Phoenix lighted on her gilded perch.

  Lyra addressed the Lady of Peace. “Did you know that those nightingales would travel so far, all the way to Silva Caliga, and even to Aria and Terza?”

  The Phoenix fluttered her wings. “That is how the children’s tale is told. Under the enchantment of that song, those tiny birds are said to make incredible journeys.”

  The Tortoise propped himself higher with his front feet on the table edge. “First of all, welcome home, Scribe Lyra and welcome back, Sire Cullen and Tarom. To use the Phoenix’s word, incredible happenings have occurred tonight and in the past few days. I need to make a record of the deeds. I was grateful for the accounts of Sire Drake, Lyra’s cousins, Vickie and Raylene, and from her relation, the ghost-witch Draora.”

  Mimio displayed multiple pages of notes to verify his statement.

  “What I need to know is what happened once Lyra separated from them.” The Tortoise faced Lyra and Tarom.

  Lyra wiped her mouth on a napkin while organizing her thoughts. She recounted the story as best she could remember, trying diligently to not leave out even a single detail, no matter how painful it was to recall. She looked across the table at Tarom.

  He gulped another swig from his mug and continued the account, “I arrived in Cerid’s Crux knowing that Eburscon had adopted a secret agenda, which I’d uncovered in his private journals. Our original goal
was to work as an equal collective—him, Symar, and myself. In the plans he told us, only the life of the Black Dragon was to be taken, no others. In Eburscon’s personal records, he intended to additionally kill both the Imperial Dragon and Lyra. He plotted to trick Lyra into collecting more and more power into her aura, from the ruby, the Black Dragon, and the Imperial Dragon. Too weak to do those tasks himself, he needed her scribal aura. Then, he planned to use his alchemistry to transfer those powers she amassed into him. He would become ruler of all of Dragonspeir.”

  Lyra gasped. “That was his plan! I only understood bits of all that. When Eburscon fooled me into fighting the Black Dragon, I had to completely bond with the ruby, in order to use its power to survive. After that, I couldn’t grasp much; the ruby controlled my mind. All but my innate feelings of compassion…and the bloodswear connection Tarom maintained.” She reached a hand to the alchemist. “You, and your work with Kessa, kept me alive. And saved the Alliance.”

  He clasped her fingers. “When Cullen and I accepted the challenge of our bloodswear quest, our blood mingled when these cuts marked our fingers. We became brothers. During the quest we saved each other’s lives, and—”

  “Have done so many times after,” Cullen completed his statement.

  “For more than a century, I gave no true allegiance to any faction, not even when I accepted the position of Dark Realm alchemist…other than to that bloodswear bond.” He looked into Cullen’s eyes. “I could not let my brother’s beloved be killed. When I found her in the ravine, paralyzed and with her aura leaking into her abdominal cavity, I took her to the best magical healers—the Qumeli elders.”

  Cullen nodded. “I would have done the same.”

  “Truly a life-threatening injury for one not fully afflated like Lyra,” the Unicorn added and nodded for Tarom to continue.

  “Originally, I’d appeared at Cerid’s Crux to keep Kessa safe from the abusive Qumeli chief. Days before, when I returned to the dark lair after being away, I was horrified to find that Eburscon had authorized disfiguring torture of the child.” Tarom withdrew his hand from Lyra and clenched it into a fist. “From that point, I stayed near the lair to protect her. In that effort, I became aware of her enormous perceptive abilities. It was during that same period, I discovered Eburscon’s true plans. As I entertained Kessa, teaching her basic skills of fascination, a plan evolved between the two of us. I devised a variant of fascination with the bloodswear marks to communicate with Lyra, and apparently Cullen too, if she and I became separated. Since most in Dragonspeir would benefit from the overthrow of the tyrannical Black Dragon, I permitted that part of Eburscon’s plan to proceed. It was the most direct way to overthrow the dark leader without more casualties from war. Kessa and I intervened at the moment Eburscon intended to cement his grip on Lyra’s newly obtained powers. The girl helped Lyra leave the lair, not so difficult for someone bearing the shadow of evil of the new Dark Realm leader. But, our actions put important distance between Lyra and Eburscon.”