Past of Shadows

by Colleen Connally

  “You have spies upon me?”

  “King Edulf,” Lothar said simply. “You realize I know about your Euchoun.”

  Cono’s mouth grew tight. “Then you know what I came to ask the king,” he said.

  “Be careful the path you tread,” Lothar cautioned.

  “Have I not honored our name?”

  “Cono,” Lothar admonished. “It is not the valor on the battlefield. It is the Euchoun.”

  Ignoring the warning, Cono said, “I love her…”

  Lothar shook his head in disgust. “Fight with her all you want. Kill all the damn Arachnidans! By all that is good, do not marry her.”

  “I won’t give an oath that I cannot keep, Grandfather,” Cono said. “Kela and I share a bond.”

  “Son, do not be your father. Your grandmother cannot take another mark upon our name.”

  Cono winced. “Grandfather, everything I have done, I have done for family, duty, and honor. What you ask would dishonor our name.”

  “Why?” Lothar challenged. “For she was born a Calledwdele?” He grabbed Cono’s arm. “Think, my grandson. Why would King Edulf allow the match to happen? Would it gain you the honor you deserve? No.”

  “What are you saying?”

  Lothar pulled Cono closer for only his ears to hear. “The girl can never be acknowledged for her birth. King Edulf went to extreme measures to hide her existence. If she rose from the dead, she would not be yours.”

  “So be it,” Cono said. “I care not.”

  “Truly? Scarladin’s greatest warrior can never bring his wife to court…his children. ” Lothar lifted an eyebrow. “Your grandmother has already reached out in interest to Lord Leiham. His daughter, Agatha, is most beautiful. There again last night, Princess Iris indicated to Lady Faileuba that she would not be opposed to a match between her daughter, Amicia and yourself.” Lothar released Cono’s arm. “There are other ways to have the Euchoun by your side.”

  “I would never do so to her.”

  “Perhaps not,” Lothar said. “I beg you only to think. You need not make a rash decision this day. King Edulf is sending the Euchoun back to the Forbidden Forest.”

  Stunned, Cono stepped back. “He cannot.”

  The door to the king’s chambers burst open. King Edulf entered without announcement. His cloak caught upon his wing. His crown crooked on his head. His face reddened; his eyes flamed.

  “The audacity of the man! I want nothing more than to run him though.”

  Cono bowed. “Tell me who and I will gladly oblige, Your Highness.”

  The King’s fingers gripped into a fist extended. He pointed toward the window. “Prince de Flour.”

  Moving to the window, Cono caught sight of the king’s frustration. Prince de Flour was strolling with Belasquita around the gardens.

  “The knave showed up last night uninvited,” King Edulf declared. “Then, this morning he demands to keep our arrangement. He knows. Hellsbound! He knows she lives!”

  Cono’s throat went dry. “What would you have me to do?”

  “Convince my stubborn Euchoun to return to the Forbidden Forest without delay.”

  * * * *

  Forthwith, Cono rushed to Kela’s chamber. He entered through the balcony. Kela cried out when she saw him and embraced him fiercely.

  “This is not my decision, Lord Commander,” Twiten said, stepping into front of the others in the crowded room. “King Edulf…”

  “I know what King Edulf demands,” Cono interrupted. “I need only a moment with my Euchoun.”

  He felt all eyes upon him, there were many.

  He saw the old nurse had been weeping with the order to return. Not surprising. She was once more ripped from her beloved Sareta, who stood beside her nanny.

  The young princess looked astonished that he had boldly laid his arm about her sister’s waist. He did not care much for the girl. She was young, spoiled, and carefree. She had none of the worries of the world weighing down upon her. She had only the issues in front of a princess, wrapped in the security of the protection around her, which he found ironic. It was said her own magic far exceed those that protected her.

  Cono bowed toward Falco, who walked up to him.

  “I have tried to tell my sister not to act irrationally,” Falco said. “This means only we need to better prepare for her return.”

  “She will go.” Cono said the words with certainty.

  He took Kela’s hand and led her out to the balcony, shielding her with his expanded wings. He cupped her face with his hands.

  “If I thought this was wrong, I would fly you away from this place,” he said. “But it is not. This is not a punishment, but a biding of time.”

  She searched his eyes with tears welling in her own. “I thought I was to see King Edulf,” she said. “Why would he not want to see me?”

  “It would not be wise at this moment,” Cono said. “Trust me. Trust your brother.”

  She caressed his cheek. “I will go,” she conceded in reluctant submission.

  He took her hand in his, kissing it softly. “Wait only until the day the moon sits on the blue centar. If the king doesn't recall you by this day, I will come to you myself.”

  Drawing her into his arms, he kissed her, a long yearning kiss, sealed with the promise of tomorrow.

  “It is time.”

  Twiten stood with the portal swirling beside him.

  With the greatest difficulty, Cono released her to the wizard.

  The next moment, he watched his Euchoun walked through the portal beside her nurse and Twiten. She vanished from his sight.

  Her last words resonated within him.

  “I will wait.”

  The Legend Continues…

  Character List:

  Nottesdone

  Part of Siochanta Realm- Situated on the coast of Scarladin

  Prince Mithelk- heir apparent to the crown of Scardalin

  Princess Eufamia- wife of Mithelk, daughter to the King of Witheleghe

  Children:

  Prince Falco- brother

  Princess Kela- heroine

  Princess Sareta-sister

  Guilda- Witheleghean nurse

  Turstan- Sordarin warrior – guardian to the children

  Ser Robart Dyer- master of ministry for Prince Mithelk

  Endless Sea: by Nottesdone

  Mount Zorenje

  Witheleghe Realm

  Worship: Elohim

  Troms- capital of Witheleghe

  Temple of Etar

  Vana Gardens

  Dyrdahl Flandigana- First King of Witheleghe

  King Darius

  Queen Odelia

  Two daughters:

  Princess Azure- married to Thardalf Reishus

  Princess- Lady Eufamia Laetitia Calledwdele

  Two sons:

  Prince Halmir

  Prince Staffon

  Prince Halmir

  Alric of House Sexton-

  Home: Arch of Garten

  Squire to Prince Halmir

  Brothers:

  Cinead

  Diarmid

  Ewan

  Dirk of House Dullam

  Kororia Castle

  Kororia Lake

  Rangi- city of twelve crystal towers

  Cayce — Vale

  Tuatahi Temple

  Refuges hid at Wahi Tapu (ancient temple)— Now called Tuhinga O Mua

  Dwarves- Nevan and Phiala own Gypsumbasher Tavern in Tuhinga O Mua

  Land of Elves— Garden of Ninfa

  Migrated to Briar Fuana

  Elf Council: Sisters

  Sae

  Bae

  Prince Yarro- Fairy prince

  Brokk of Ironwell- Dwarf- home Venmara

  Sangrey- Tollin- seer

  Mangana

  Seilda the Tvopac

  Venmara

  Arachnida Realm

  Asmeodai – evil wizard

  Cyaika- Asmeodai’s mate

  Night Raiders

>   Sawamdai- Arachnidan scorpion

  Astri- Arachnidan ants

  Payelaga Desert

  Tharon Desert

  Siochanta Realm

  Scarladin:

  Capital: Yucca

  The Great Hall

  Torini, Black Tower- prison

  Royal Garden

  Sundaze Fountain

  Wystan Keep

  Collewihr Holdfast- king’s apartment

  King Edulf Calledwdele

  Queen Althea (died)

  Child—Mithelk- Heir apparent died the night Nottesdone fell

  Queen Beatrix

  Children:

  Fenwick

  Wife- Lady Dogmar

  Children:

  Axel

  Silas

  Belequista

  Iris

  Husband- Archibaldus, Lord of Runswick

  Children:

  Amicia

  Twins: Wymarcha and Cinara

  Scarladin color- Gold and brown- sigil- Crowned Hawk

  Cono: hero

  Grandparents

  Lord Sergius Lothar- Maester of

  Lady Faileuba.

  Parents

  Pers

  Crestiana- from the Royal House of Brixtone

  Cassie- Kela’s friend in Yucca

  Ivy- Cassie’s sister

  Magge- Cassie’s mother

  Worship: the Great One

  The Forbidden Forest— Kela is sent to train

  Wood Spirit — Daigh

  Twiten- last wizard of Narteria

  Johannes- Falco’s Euchoun

  Scarladin Clans:

  Acciptritutes Clan

  Challow Clan

  Mortalita Clan

  Lanka Clan

  Osmolado

  Earl Marshal- head of the Citadel

  Citadel- military school for Sordarins

  Kingdom of Brixtone:

  King Gregorius de Folur

  Prince Pieter de Folur

  Lord Falk…Gregorius advisor

  Helvetet, the Valley of Hell, (Uddes, the inhabitants of the region)

  The Black Forest

  Blue- sigil- Roaring Lion

  Kingdom of Azmarion- King Niska

  Laylah-daughter

  Kingdom of Tarrin

  Bittervale

  BATTLES

  The Reckoning—end of the Five Hundred Years War

  Arachnidan Terror— Asmeodai’s war with Scarladin and Witheleghe

  The Darkening—Asmeodai conquest of Witheleghe

  The Battle of Payelaga Desert

  THE THREE REALMS

  Past of Shadows, Book One

  The Path Now Turned, Book Two~ Coming Soon

  Vision of Destiny, Book Three~ Coming Soon

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