by Vinn Winters
Sister Clevora’s performance was cut short when Vyra screamed in pain. A scream greater than anything the Sister had ever heard from her before.
Witch’s Blight, what has been done to you, my poor girl? Sister Clevora thought frantically.
Her fellow priestesses gathered around, watching the two of them with concern.
Vyra’s scream quickly turned to convulsions, her body violently shaking.
“Don’t just stand there like a useless statue waiting to get shit on by a bird. Get over here and help me!” Sister Clevora yelled to the other priestesses. “We’re saving my little girl or I’ll finish the dragon’s job and bring down the rest of this kingdom myself!”
The other priestesses quickly obeyed, a warm glow emanated from each of them around Vyra.
“Hang in there, dear,” Sister Clevora whispered, as her hands began to glow. She bowed her head and prayed.
~
Ethoria tried to regain her footing on the palace roof; but before she could a large winged silhouette engulfed in fire emerged from the light and charged the Embervyne ranger. The ranger swiftly released two arrows at the charging beast. The arrows hit the beast and shattered into flickers of ember.
Before Ethoria could fire another arrow, the beast was in front of her. She swung her bladed bow at it, but one swipe from the beast’s massive claw shattered the weapon in Ethoria’s hand to pieces. Ethoria lost her balance from the force of the impact and began to fall backwards, only to have the beast catch her by the neck and lift her into the air.
“Holy Willow, beacon of light; protect me from this demonic vessel!” Ethoria yelled.
The fire around the beast vanished. Eygodon stood in its place, except now he was almost twice as tall, with muscles in his body now magnified, and two curved horns protruding from his forehead. His clothes had been torn from the transformation, exposing a chest significantly bulkier than the one prior. His skin was as grey as ash. His amber eyes had been eclipsed by black pits.
“You forced my hand, yet again,” Eygodon said, his voice entwined with a tone that was otherworldly, a tone that was abysmal.
“That power, those eyes…you — you’re enthralled to a demon!” Ethoria said between gasps for air as she stared down into Eygodon’s blackened eyes. She struggled to break free of his grip, but the thick claw of a hand held her firm.
“We do what we must to survive,” Eygodon replied indifferently.
“This, we agree upon,” the ranger said. Accepting her fate, she shut her eyes.
The warlock hesitated.
“Well…what are you waiting for?” Ethoria said, lifting her head to the sky. “Finish it.”
Moments passed between the two warriors. A soft breeze blew across the castle rooftop.
“You’re as strong now as you were back at Cinder Reign, perhaps even stronger,” Eygodon said, his voice beginning to sound more his own than demonic.
“It matters not, I was not strong enough,” Ethoria replied somberly.
“That depends on who you are asking,” Eygodon said, as he lowered the ranger to the ground.
“What — what are you doing?” Ethoria asked, wheezing as she frantically took in deep breaths of air.
“I do not have enough strength to reach her now. You have won this battle, ranger. But since she is in your custody, I need you to protect her.” Eygodon said softly, his eyes shifting from the black pools to their original bright amber. “She’s an idiot, in my opinion; but she has a good heart, and a will to protect others. You we will all need warriors like her in the coming days, warriors like you. Remember that you must protect her. Remember that she had no part in my actions.”
“Protect who?” Ethoria asked, looking at the demon in confusion. “The squire?”
The warlock turned away.
“Just remember,” he said, in almost a whisper, and then with a quick flash of bright blue light, he disappeared.
“What happened?” Ethoria whispered as she looked around. “He escaped! I can’t believe it, how did he escape? How could I let Eygodon escape again?! What happened — what happened? I remember that I had him pinned to the ground with my arrows and yet he still somehow managed to escape!”
But what did he say before he left…that Vyra had no part in Eygodon’s actions. Why did he say that before he left?
Ethoria looked out across the newly formed ruins of Beckonthrone.
Is she innocent?
Chapter 11
All eyes were fixed on Lord Aldrean as he entered the Brightmeadow barracks. The paladin said nothing at first as he walked through the crowd of silent knights, stopping only when he reached the gnome warlord.
“How is she?” Aldrean asked. “Has she awakened?”
“No… though the convulsions have stopped, she has not gotten any better,” Orbit replied solemnly. “The clerics think it’s possession, but truthfully Orbit does not think anyone knows.”
“Why would they think she’s possessed?” Aldrean asked
“You know as well as Orbit that the Duskpetal Witch never truly releases one from her grasp,” Orbit replied.
“I will see her now,” Aldrean said, pushing past the gnome. He looked off the overhang to the training grounds below. A bed had been moved to the center of it, a woman lying unconscious within it. Three fully armored Beckonthrone soldiers stood on each side, all vigilantly facing the unconscious woman.
At the foot of the bed, Radek glared down at the unconscious woman through one eye. The other eye was covered in a leather patch, a consequence of the Captain of the Guard’s attempt to disarm the traitor Vyra, as so he reported.
“Ah, the Paladin himself has arrived, to grace us with his presence,” Radek bowed in a greeting that was anything but complimentary.
“What are your plans with her?” Aldrean asked.
“When — if she wakes, we will slay her the moment she tries to summon more of her dark magic,” the captain replied confidentially. “I am sure she will try to cause further destruction the moment she wakens. So I will take no chances.”
“You may leave, Radek. I will take over from here,” Aldrean replied formally.
“You may what?” The captain’s face scrunched with fury, but he quickly regained composure. “Forgive me, milord, but I feel that after your injuries sustained from your defeat at the hands of the warlock, Eygodon, that the kingdom might be safer with me guarding this traitor.”
“Think nothing of it, the apology is mine. I find it ironic, that after losing half your sight at the hands of the woman that you claim is your inferior; and that you only continue to draw breath because you were rescued from her, that the kingdom might be safer with me guarding your skilled superior. You best be careful, lest she overpowers you again.”
Radek clenched his teeth. “She had an elite weapon of the Duskpetal Witch.”
“The dagger, yes, I’m aware,” Aldrean replied calmly. “You see, I’ve had the privilege of personally sparring with Vyra with weapons longer than a dagger. And as you can see… I still have both my eyes.”
“Do not underestimate me, knight,” Radek growled as he stepped towards the paladin.
“Might I remind you, yet again, whose territory you’re in,” Aldrean replied sternly, mirroring the captain’s approach, leaving their faces only inches apart.
The Captain of the Guard paused for a moment.
“Fine,” Radek said with a scowl. “If anything happens, it’s on your head.”
“And take your men with you,” Aldrean added.
“Can’t do, Paladin,” Radek replied with a smirk showing a slight tinge of victory. “They’re here by order of the king.”
The captain turned and lumbered off.
Crossing his arms, Aldrean turned back towards the bed, towards Vyra. The cut on her neck was halfway healed, the clerics still had no idea how it formed to begin with.
Is what they say true, Vyra? It can’t be true! Aldrean thought, could you really have been working for the Duskpet
al Witch this whole time?
Why can’t I remember what happened?
I hope you wake up… I miss you…
And I want answers.
“How long are you going to watch over her?” Orbit asked as he walked over, his brow rising with concern.
“As long as it takes,” Aldrean replied.
~
Eygodon walked down the darkened, stone temple passageway within the goblin encampment; the King’s Pharos resting gently in his claws. The only illumination in the temple was a ray of soft moonlight, shining down over the altar in its center; the body of his nymph companion, Brielle, lay motionlessly atop its surface.
Tuq-tuq silently watched him move, the goblin’s face etched with concern. He dare not speak to his master, not when he was like this. The Embervyne leader surviving an encounter with Eygodon, not once, but twice, while he was in this form, baffled the goblin’s mind. Before Cinder Reign, Tuq-tuq had witnessed many mighty foes make the same error of crossing Eygodon when he was like this; when Eygodon was done with them, not even the bones of his foes remained, which meant, unfortunately, that the goblins had nothing to decorate their huts and weapons with. The second-in-command made the mistake of arguing with Eygodon when he was in this form, which was how Tuq-tuq got to become the latest second-in-command. As much as Tuq-tuq harassed his master, he was still smart enough to remain silent and obey when his life was in danger; and as long as Eygodon was in this form, everyone’s life was in danger.
As Eygodon stood over the altar, he looked down at his nymph friend, her body bathed in moonlight.
As soon as I’ve saved Brielle, I’m coming back for you, Wishcaller, Eygodon thought.
The golden bauble clicked and turned; the top began to lift upwards.
We went through so much to seize this relic from the Kae-Koon’s grasp, Eygodon thought, releasing a grunt that sounded like the aftershock of an earthquake through his demonic lips. So much effort, so much death, for such a small trinket.
Silver ribbons of light poured out of the glowing artifact like mist, forming a circle around the stone altar.
It better work.
End of Part 2
Thank you for reading!!!
What happens next?
Will the King’s Pharos save Brielle’s life?
Will Vyra be able to survive her injuries?
What scheme is Radek preparing for Vyra? Will Aldrean be able to stop him?
Is Dregeldune going to return to finish what he started with Beckonthrone?
Will the kingdom be able to recover?
Find out in Part 3 of the Cinder Reign chronicles. Coming soon Fall 2021!!!
*Enjoy Cinder Reign: The Midnight Flame?*
I’d love to hear about it! Share your experience and help others find it by leaving a review on Cinder Reign’s Amazon page.
Have ideas or suggestions of what you would like to see in the sequels?
You can reach me and keep up to date on current releases at http://www.vinnwinters.com/
or at
https://www.instagram.com/vinnwinters/
Thank you again for your time and valuable support! I aim to create more stories for your enjoyment!
The adventure continues!
-Vinn Winters
Available Now!
Mystical worlds collide as a cataclysmic event grants teens the magical powers of the jinn; but having superpowers doesn’t mean you’re safe. Something is lurking in the shadows, something vicious.
Start your adventure here!
A little about the Author:
From scaling ancient temples, to swimming through Ocean reefs, Vinn Winters loves to chase adventure. When he’s not traveling across the world, he has two cats that bully him constantly, reminding him that he probably wouldn’t last five minutes in one of his books. He enjoys relaxing over a hot cup of coffee, playing cards, video games, or reading a good story.