Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two)

by Wylie, Morgan

  At his intake of breath, she turned her head slowly toward him, but not looking all the way, afraid of the rejection she’d see in his eyes as her own filled with tears of helplessness. Even though she knew she didn’t mean anything to him other than a protection project, she couldn’t help but be drawn to him. She realized she wanted to kiss him... even if it would be a mistake. Deflated and embarrassed, she had more to think about than a what-might-have-been-kiss... like the future of an ENTIRE realm and people. Her shoulders sagged as she put her head between her knees, forcing herself to breathe and get control of her emotions and her nerves before energy exploded out from her, broadcasting her location to whoever didn’t want her here.

  Daegan walked up right behind her, not wanting to invade the space that she was obviously needing to deal with what seemed like a panic attack. He stood close attempting to soothe her anxiety with the calming energy he was gifted with, although it usually worked better with physical contact, but he didn’t want to risk that at the moment. Neither of them spoke, but as he watched her breathing slow and her posture relax he assumed it was working. A space in his chest softened as he wondered what it would be like to go through so many changes and revelations—with more to come—in such a short period of time.

  Suddenly, she leaned back against his legs, just sitting there absorbing the moment of peace he had tried to offer her as if it was normal—something she did all the time without even thinking about it. His fist clenched as he caught himself reaching out to touch a piece of her hair that was attempting to fly away. His throat cleared and she sat up slightly just as he retreated several steps. She kept her head forward, looking at the trees bending their will to the whims of the wind as it circled about each of them.

  Hoping to disturb the awkward silence, he spoke, but it was deep and gruff. “It would be to your benefit to learn to fight... to use your sword, I mean, and whatever new gifts you have ascertained since your un-warding.” His gaze joined hers watching nature move and sway in its most natural element. It was beautiful; he couldn’t help but watch her as well. “I’m sure Hunter will be most helpful to you in that area, as well as Finn, he is a skilled fighter.”

  Kaeleigh was shocked to hear him praise Finn. She turned to see the uncertainty and battle in his eyes as he backed away from her. What war is he waging in that head of his? The awkward moments from before was suddenly washed away by the realization that he felt unsure around her. She couldn’t imagine that the mighty warrior knew how to handle uncertainty. She chuckled internally, suddenly feeling lighter and more confident at the same time. Kaeleigh stood up and turned toward him. She nodded in agreement. “Would you help me too, Daegan?” She was sincere and thought that was the only reason he didn’t turn from her. He was oddly subdued and agreeable as he gave her a sharp nod.

  “I will do what I am able.”

  He turned from her then and headed back to Hunter’s. He paused momentarily, turning his head slightly, silently inviting her to accompany him back. She did.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Before they made it back inside the cottage, Hunter was waiting for them out front.

  “My dear granddaughter, I realize that you just got some air, but would you humor an old man and take a short walk with me?”

  “Old? You barely look over fifty!” Suddenly she looked back at him—really looked at him. “How old are you?”

  “Quite old indeed,” he replied with a wink and a twinkle in his eye that made Kaeleigh smile.

  Daegan looked uncomfortable letting Kaeleigh go but not because he didn’t think Hunter would keep her safe. Hunter looked back at him, giving him a nod. Without a word, Daegan went inside but not before he turned back to see Kaeleigh and Hunter walk to the edge of the grove heading into the trees, stopping where they were still within sight. He knew Hunter could erect a dome of silence so they didn’t need to go far for privacy, which made him a little more comfortable.

  ⚔⚔⚔

  Peering out into the forest, the home he had grown to love for the last many years, Hunter sighed, turning to Kaeleighnna, and smiled. He still couldn’t believe that she was here in Alandria, here with him again. He was filled with joy at seeing her again, but also sadness at the reminder of what both of them had lost. She was beautiful like her mother, but also strong and stubborn like her father. She would be unlike any there had been before and she had no idea.

  “I hope you don’t mind. I just wanted a moment or two to speak with you alone.”

  “Not at all.” Kaeleigh smiled.

  “I can’t imagine all that you are trying to process. My wish for you would have been for a different path, but that was not my decision.” He paused before continuing, “I feel time is short, and we need to discuss what comes next, but there is something I wanted to ask you about what your mother told you. I could sense that there was more you were reluctant to share for some reason.” Hunter muttered something then waved his hand out in front of him. “I have erected a dome of silence so that what we speak of may remain private from sensitive ears.” Hunter knew of Daegan’s enhanced hearing.

  Kaeleigh watched with awe then sighed. “Yes. I’m not sure why but I felt I should keep it to myself at the time, but I don’t feel that now with you—she told me who she was, my mother, that is.”

  “Trust your heart, Kaeleighnna. We may not always know the ‘why’ but there is always a reason.” He waited for her to continue.

  She looked into his eyes and nodded. “Hunter, can you explain a little more about who I am? I mean, I understand that you are an Elf and so was my father, but my mother was a Faerie. And from what it sounded like, she was special?” Kaeleigh said with a bit of a blush.

  Hunter chuckled. “Yes, she was special as you put it.”

  “She was... but I mean she was royal, right?”

  Watching Kaeleigh closely, he nodded slowly. “Eva was the daughter of the reigning king of Feraánmar, the territory of the Faeries and the Ferrishyn.”

  Frowning, she thought for a moment. “So maybe it was Daegan that I wasn’t supposed to speak about it with? Do you know why?”

  “Not exactly, but there is darkness infiltrating Alandria and I believe that some things need to be kept close to the heart during this time. I haven’t been able to gain much insight or information to prove any of my suspicions.” Hunter frowned with concern etched deep within the slight signs of aging on his face.

  “I have seen a dark thread ensnared among a blue thread surrounding Daegan,” Kaeleigh told Hunter. “I don’t know why I see these threads of energy at all, do you know what it means?”

  “Blue, you say?... Interesting. With black? That is a great concern regarding young Daegan.” Hunter looked sad, and then suddenly his features morphed into ones of anger. “It has to be something they have done! This is not the way,” he said, apparently to himself, then turned suddenly to Kaeleigh. “Kaeleighnna, you must be extremely careful and watchful around him. I know he would never do anything to hurt you, he is a warrior with great honor, but he is tied to some not so honorable.”

  Kaeleigh suddenly felt very unsure. She hated that she had to question someone she had just chosen to trust. Needing to change the subject she blurted out, “Oh sh-shizzle!” Yeah, that didn’t quite give the same satisfaction as a swear word would have. Good thing Chel wasn’t here to hear that one! Kaeleigh laughed mentally. She turned to face Hunter’s absurdly quizzical expression at her odd outburst. “If my mom was the daughter, the princess, of the king of this Feraánmar place, does that make me...” She looked to him expectantly.

  “A princess?” Hunter asked with a grandfatherly twinkle that knew too much.

  Kaeleigh nodded with a gulp. She felt faint.

  “Yes, Kaeleighnna, you are a princess.” He folded his hands in front of him, simply waiting to see her reaction.

  “I need to sit down,” Kaeleigh said as she looked around frantically for a moment before she spotted a log not far from where they were and went to sit with he
r head between her legs for the second time this day.

  Hunter, suddenly serious as he approached her, lifted her chin with his fingers, looking directly into her eyes and deep into her un-warded being. “Kaeleighnna iliathe´yll Sayaelílth of Lithnaí and of the Orchaedia...”

  Kaeleigh’s attention was ensnared by his words and his intent. Magical energy began sparking wildly off Hunter snagged by the wind as it began to pick up motion around him, never leaving him as his eyes, now lit with magic, never left hers—synergizing his words creating life and reviving power as he named her... defined her, giving her meaning and purpose. It meant something significant. This moment would mark her and forever change who she had believed herself to be.

  With another infusion of magical energy released from Hunter, he began again with greater power than the first. “Kaeleighnna iliathe´yll Sayaelílth of Lithnaí and of the Orchaedia, I name you as such in the rite of becoming. You have been chosen and marked as the last of The Orchids. You have been restored to your true and former self, forsaking the glamour of the human kind you have believed yourself to be. Un-warded you may be, however, you must still find who you are becoming. The depth of your power is still bound. That power lies with another. Becoming the you you are created to be is in the journey before you. Believe in who you are. Believe in the truth of your heart. You are strong. You are fierce. You are intended to lead this people back into peace.”

  The magic began to calm as the wind surrounding Hunter also did. The light in his eyes faded to his normal green though Kaeleigh could see more of the magic spark than she believed she was supposed to. Caught off guard she barely had a second to acknowledge the slight flicker and shift of his image before it settled back to being Hunter as she had known him to be. Interesting... a glamour? Well, I guess that makes sense, he is in hiding. Suddenly, Hunter looked weakened and she gripped his elbow, guiding him down to the log next to her. Kaeleigh realized she was shaking. When Hunter looked back at her, his eyes were filled with love and pride. Something in Kaeleigh broke. She fell into his arms and began to sob.

  “I don’t know what I am supposed to do. I’m not from this world. I don’t know anything about it. How can I care enough about somewhere I don’t remember to do remotely what it sounds like everyone keeps telling me is expected of me from some ancient prophecy?” She couldn’t even look at him. Kaeleigh felt like she had somehow disappointed him. Once again Hunter lifted her chin to look at him.

  “This is a great burden upon you. If I could take it from you, I would. Kaeleighnna, you are created for this. You will grow into it and yourself. One breath at a time. One step at a time. You may not remember this world, but you are of it—it is a part of you. Your heritage lies here. If you listen, you will hear the heartbeat of the land... she is connected to you. Your future lies here.” He spoke with a slight twinkle in his eyes.

  What if I don’t want it to?

  He looked at her with slight hurt in his eyes as if he heard her thoughts. “It is your choice. You will have to decide if it is worth it.” He gave her a slight smile as he stood extending his hand to her to take.

  “Now what?”

  “You take the first step. Your friends are waiting.”

  ⚔⚔⚔

  “Finally! I thought you decided to ditch us here,” Chel said with a wink as she looped her arm through Kaeleigh’s after she and Hunter walked into his cottage that really was too small for them all to fit comfortably in.

  “Never.” Kaeleigh smiled at her friend, remembering why they were there in the first place and the sacrifices her friends had willingly made to be there with her.

  Daegan stood with his arms crossed in the back of the kitchen, Finn leaned against the fireplace poking at embers attempting to revive whatever life could still be ignited, and all eyes were expectantly on Kaeleigh. No pressure. Right.

  “Say the word and you know I’d take you home, no questions asked,” Finn said with false hope. Then he sighed, pausing long enough from the embers to gauge the strength of her resolve. Running one of his hands through his hair he relented, “What’s the plan, Kae?”

  She stood up straight, looking each of them in the eye. “There is a lot at work here and I know I have a part to play even though I’m not sure how exactly. I believe that each of you have a significant place in all this too but this is my decision alone. Darkness must be pushed back and light needs to shine here once again.” She stopped and looked down at her feet, taking a deep breath. As she worried the necklace that had become a part of her, gaining strength in her words, she continued on, “I can’t ask this of you, but I must continue on. I know I’m not ready... not near it, but Daegan and Hunter both have already agreed to help train me in not only my magic but also with my sword.” Nervously, she flicked a glance up at Finn, who was deep in thought, his face etched with great concern.

  “Kaeleigh, I don’t know what I could do to help you, but I’m not going anywhere. You know that,” Chel jumped in. Kaeleigh nodded her acceptance.

  Finn. Kaeleigh, of course, didn’t want him to leave her, but she also didn’t want to put him at further risk being here. She didn’t know what would be done to him if he was caught here in this realm where he had been essentially kicked out of his home with consequences upon his return. When she lifted her eyes to his after several moments of silence, he was watching her. She felt exposed and uncomfortable with him staring at her like that, especially in front of an audience. A slight blush crept up her neck. His intensity suddenly softened.

  “I’m with you,” was all he said before he turned back toward the fire and began stirring the lifeless embers once again.

  Awkward, anyone?

  Right on cue, Chel jumped up filled with pent-up nervous energy, as she had been chewing her nails once again. “So now what? Do we get to train with swords?”

  My thoughts exactly! Kaeleigh’s eyes lit up with a sudden excitement at learning how to not only defend herself or others, but to feel the strength and energy that she had felt before when she had held the sword that she had magically inherited when Chel had been taken into the cave. She knew her friend needed to know she had options when it came to defending herself to not only fight the evils and darkness that they might encounter on their journey but also the ones in her mind.

  “Finn, will you help us learn too?” Kaeleigh pleaded.

  She glanced at Daegan, gauging his reaction. He simply nodded.

  Daegan’s eyes held the slightest glimmer at the prospect of working with weaponry. Training was something he enjoyed doing when he worked with the elite guard of the Ferrishyn. Granted, he had been working with warriors that already had some skill when it came to weapons, but he was up for a challenge, he decided. He just didn’t know how much of a challenge it would turn out to be.

  Finn, gliding past Kaeleigh on his way to the door, reached out, gently gripping her forearm as he responded to her question straight into her eyes. “Of course I will. I have always been there for you and I plan to stay close.” Then he went out the door, leaving her pinned where she stood.

  “Well, that wasn’t awkward or anything,” Chel said, shaking her head then mumbling something about foolish timing and macho competition.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “This is so AWESOME!!” Chel yelled breathlessly as she swung her borrowed sword in a large arc only to bring it down toward her invisible opponent. She followed the choreographed movements that Daegan had designed for them to learn in order to parry. “I’m SO tired though... can we take a water break?” Chel laughed when her invisible attacker took a swing at her, which she of course just missed as she so gracefully—or not so gracefully—danced away from where the swing would have hit her.

  Kaeleigh stood back, standing with Finn, trying not to laugh out loud at her friend as she watched her flailing and dancing about trying so desperately to be graceful as she practiced the steps that Daegan had shown them. Now he was incredibly graceful. She mused at how watching him was captivating. He
moved his sword with precision and an experience that she had only seen in movies, and even then this was so much more entrancing than any of those. It was real. He was... no, it was beautiful. She could only hope that she could move closer to how he did than how Chel was right before her eyes. The thing was, she knew Chel was truly trying and believing that she was actually doing the steps just as was instructed. If only she knew. Kaeleigh smiled at the freedom her friend had in who she was and her carefree spirit.

  “Take a break before you hurt yourself, Chel.” Daegan chuckled as he picked up a different sword than the one he had been flipping up in the air while he shouted out names of steps he wanted Chel to add into her “routine” to keep her on her toes.

  Was that a chuckle? He’s enjoying this, Kaeleigh thought with surprise.

  As Chel passed her sword off to Kaeleigh, she gave her a saucy wink and whispered, “Your turn with his sword.” She sauntered over to sit a little ways off, patting the ground beside her. “Come explain to me while I watch, Finn.” Finn grumbled something about if she had paid better attention he wouldn’t have to, but he went reluctantly and sat.

  Kaeleigh gripped the sword in her hand, but it just didn’t quite feel the same. It felt heavy as she moved her hand around trying to familiarize herself with it, and the energy that radiated off of her sword was missing. There was, however, definitely a hum of some kind of energy that felt familiar... it felt like Daegan, his energy. She even whispered as much, causing him to give her a strange look that was slightly uncomfortable as he looked to where her hand held tightly onto his sword. Frowning, he looked back up at her, his face full of confusion.