Citadel of Fire (The Ronin Saga Book 2)

by Matthew Wolf

  “Wisely stated, innkeeper,” said the lead elf, Yuna. He hadn’t liked giving his birth name, but she couldn’t go on calling him “big elf” forever. Oddly, he hadn’t seemed to mind that name. “However, if this is the Eminas indeed, we shall join you as well.”

  She waved a hand. “Fine, fine. Come on then. The whole family it is.”

  With that, Hitomi lifted her heavy skirts, gathering the others behind her, following after the fool girl into the wooded camp.

  * * *

  Flanking Karil were a dozen of her elite guards who bore the fragments of her father’s crown upon their breasts. She was glad to have them at her side as they moved proudly in their broken, dark green plate. Rydel moved at her side with his gaze set ahead, his presence giving her comfort as always. But she could sense his curiosity too. Hitomi hadn’t said much, save for impressing urgency. Perhaps it was unwise she’d elected a woman of few words as her intelligence gatherer. But the woman did seem talented, even suited for it.

  Gray… she thought, again. Is he really here?

  Karil had dropped everything to see if it was true.

  As she moved through her camp, she eyed the commotion again. The air seemed alive with activity. Amid the tall, heavy green trees, blacksmiths from the illustrious Maldon hammered anvils in canvas tents, steam rising into the canopy above. Men and women, villagers mostly, moved about aiding in one errand or another. Karil passed long picketed lines of horses and silken-haired cormacs. Beyond them, everywhere, were elves in moss-green leather armor.

  Not a camp, she amended. A city.

  The once-small camp was growing day by day. She knew it needed to be, too, if they were to contend with the might of Eldas, a Great Kingdom. However, beneath it all, she saw the deeper, darker truth.

  The little signs were everywhere, from empty quivers, to the smell of sweat from the lack of soap, or even the frustration on her blacksmiths’ faces. The last was almost the worst. For what is an army without swords? Without money they were reduced to little more than a rabble with a cause. Iron was becoming a scarcity all too quickly, and what little they had was riddled with impurities. As they stood, only half of their men could be fitted with real blades, and the other half had holes or chinks in their armor. No, the worst was the men, women, and even elves that went to bed with empty stomachs, hungrier every night. Her already hollow stomach soured at the thought, seeing gaunt faces at every turn.

  Rations had been thinned. Elves ate roots or tubers and the refugees of Daerval dined on soup so thin it was nearly water. As of yet, no Great Kingdom would come to their aid. In less than a week, they would all be starving. She shoved all her growing worries aside and continued. Perhaps this news would be a boon, she thought hopefully. The spirits know I need it.

  At last, Karil reached the clearing that Hitomi had indicated.

  A ring of tall, wooden poles surrounded her camp, and at the entrance was a host of elves, including Hitomi and the young girl, Piper, whom the innkeeper had warmed to.

  They approached and the elves gave her deep bows.

  “Is he here?” Karil inquired.

  The elves looked to Hitomi. “We’ve not been told, but this arrived with those two.”

  Karil looked over to see a simple cart and a chest upon the ground next to it. The wood of the chest was aged, ashen Silveroot. A faint silver sheen of the magical tree still coated the well-polished chest, but otherwise it was plain, held together by rusted metal rivets.

  In the driver’s seat of the rickety cart, sat a tall man with dark, haunted eyes. He bore the red robes of a Reaver, and she immediately felt a note of caution. Once, Reavers were respected throughout Farhaven, now they were darker and much less trusted. But that hollow expression… The man seemed more dead than alive. At his side, was a young boy, perhaps no more than ten summers in age. He had wild yellow hair, reminding Karil of Darius, and the look of a scoundrel. Again, reminding Karil of Darius. But his ragtag clothes seemed clean, and he wore a beaming smile.

  “Greetings,” she said in introduction.

  The Reaver simply nodded, dully, looking away.

  At her side, she felt Rydel stiffen and whisper beneath his breath, “I don’t like that man.”

  “Whom do you like?” she asked.

  The young boy jumped off the cart. “Hello!” he said in a reedy, jubilant voice. “We come from Farbs with a message, but I was told you should read the letter first.” He motioned to the innkeeper who held a white envelope.

  “So be it,” Karil said and approached. “Hitomi.” She nodded in greeting.

  “My queen,” Hitomi bowed, low but not very, as if she were a noble herself.

  “How’s the inn coming?” Karil inquired.

  “Well, unexpected delays of course, but what can you expect in wartime?” she answered, “I’d say we’re a month from completion once we find the funds, but I thank you deeply for the generous aid of your elves and the other villagers.”

  She knew Hitomi hid the fact that she’d spent half her fortune on the inn, and the other half towards Karil’s cause and still she was running low on supplies. But Karil smiled, sincerely. “Then Piper has been helpful?”

  “Quite,” said Hitomi with a wry twist to her mouth. “That is, when she isn’t mooning over someone in particular.”

  Piper blushed fiercely but didn’t look ashamed.

  “You should really get Balder on it. I thought the man had a knack for masonry?”

  Mistress Hitomi grumbled. “Yes, I suppose. One matter at a time,” the innkeeper said and indicated to a chest sitting on the moss-matted forest floor.

  “What’s in it?” she questioned.

  “I’d advise you read this first. This is what our messenger was referring to—they arrived together,” Hitomi said with a curious smile, handing over a letter. Karil noticed the wax seal had been broken and lifted a brow in question, and the woman nodded to Piper. “Curious, young minds. A crush is a powerful thing.”

  “Indeed,” she answered and read the scrawled lettering with Rydel at her side.

  Dear Karil,

  I wish I could begin with pleasantries, but the hour is late. I leave early in the morning for Vaster with Ayva, Darius, and two new companions. Let Mura and the others know we are all right… but Farhaven is not.

  The war is just beginning.

  Eldas was the first victim, and now Farbs. Though the cost was great, we have fended off the rising darkness. Sadly, the shadow of evil does not end there. I promised you I would return, and I will. But it is not time yet. I have somewhere else I need to be first. Others need me. It feels strange writing this, almost hard to believe for myself, but somehow I know it’s true. This feels right. If anyone will understand, I figured it would be you. It is time to take up a mantle of duty far beyond me, to repair what once was broken.

  It is time for the Ronin to ride again.

  Karil stopped reading for a moment, her heart skipping a beat.

  “My queen?” Rydel asked. “Are you all right?” He gripped her shoulder in concern. She read on without answer.

  I send this to you in my stead, for I believe you will have more need of it than I. But be forewarned, a fiery individual told me to inform you that you ‘owe him.’ If you find the chest a little lighter, it is because there are lost souls in need within Farbs, men and women who have been disparaged and are in need of a new home.

  I only hope this will suffice until I see you next.

  Tell Mura… I miss him. We miss you all.”

  “What is it?” Rydel asked gruffly, growing impatient at last.

  She looked up, wiping a tear, and answered, “A gift.” Bending to the lock, Karil noticed it was tied with a simple string. Casually, she broke it and lifted the wooden lid and found her breath stolen.

  Hitomi cursed. “Dear spirits…”

  Inside, thick gold coins glittered, nearly three-quarters full.

  “That’s enough gold to build a kingdom!” an elf remarked.

>   “Or fuel a war,” Karil answered and looked to the young boy. “And what is your role in all this?” she asked.

  “Well, I’m your protector,” he said proudly, puffing out his chest.

  Mistress Hitomi raised a brow. “Well then, it seems I’ve no need to hire a bard for my new inn as we’ve a hero in our midst.”

  “Exactly!” Lucky declared, and then blushed, as if remembering heroes had to be more modest. “I mean… I’m here because my home was destroyed. It’s being rebuilt, but I wanted adventure like the stories. When Ezrah asked me to deliver this with Reaver Finn, well, I knew what I had to do. Also, I’ve always wanted to see the elves, cormacs, and the magical forests,” he said, eyes the size of the fat coins before her, panning around to the sights about him—the towering trees and her elves clad in green plate.

  “Wait a moment,” Rydel said, “Who’s Ezrah?”

  “Ezrah’s my friend,” Lucky answered. “He’s an Arbiter!”

  “An Arbiter?” Karil scoffed in disbelief. While the boy had the look of a scoundrel, he seemed to have a good heart. Could she believe him? Could he really have meant an Arbiter? “Surely, you’re mistaken, my child.”

  “Nope,” he said, “Ezrah is an Arbiter, and Gray’s grandfather!”

  At that, there was a unanimous sound of incredulity from all nearby. Even Rydel looked doubtful. “Really now?” Karil asked. And yet somehow, the idea of one of the most powerful threaders of the spark being Gray’s grandfather wasn’t as surprising as it should have been. If her prophecies were true, then the boy was destined for great and horrible things… She shivered in memory, pushing it to the back of her mind.

  “That’s why I’m here too!” Lucky exclaimed, “Ezrah said he wants to talk to you.”

  “And how exactly would he do that?”

  “Through my friend Dared,” the boy said and held up a small strange statue that pulsed with a soft orange glow—obviously containing the spark.

  “My, my,” Hitomi said. “I think I’ve seen the like of that before in my books. It’s a Simulacrum used to communicate messages over long distances.”

  “Yes, but Ezrah said only I can use it,” the boy countered quickly, pulling the object close. Dared, Karil thought. The silent Ronin was one of the most mysterious, beyond Kail. She had seen him in person, and thought that the legends and their infamy would fade, but the stories seemed ingrained to her bone.

  She smiled, touching the boy’s arm. “Well, I’m so glad you’re here, Lucky.” She looked up to see the Reaver’s troubled eyes. “Welcome, both of you,” she said, letting the words linger, hoping they had some effect on the troubled-looking Reaver. Her smile brightened. “Come now, let’s find something to eat shall we? A good rest and a full stomach is what every hero needs.”

  The Reaver alighted from the cart with a bare nod of thanks. It’s a start, Karil thought as an elf grabbed his horses’ reins, and Hitomi and Piper guided the two off. Karil lingered, however, as did Rydel, listening to the wind whisper through the woods. It rustled the emerald leaves, as if speaking, and her eyes settled one more time on the glittering gold before her—knowing that, at last, she would retake Eldas and the throne that was rightfully hers.

  Wherever you are, Gray, Karil thought, thank you.

  END OF BOOK 2

  ~ CITADEL OF FIRE ~

  GLOSSARY

  Algasi (ALL-gah-si) – Nomadic warriors who are believed to hail from the lands of Vaster long ago. They are dark-skinned with light, curly hair and are often short but they are considered “as hard as stone,” with every moment spent training their bodies to be weapons. They value light, truth, and courage.

  Arbiter – A supreme wielder of magic, born of the Citadel. There are only three and some say ever were. Their power is equivalent to their rank.

  Arbiter Fera – The third most powerful wielder of the spark, Arbiter Fera is a force to be reckoned with. Enigmatic and playing behind the scenes her nature and ultimate plans are hidden to almost all. She is also one of the few spark users who attempts to understand the flow, and researches and experiments with magical creatures. Her half Darkwalker half phox pet is always at her side.

  Aurelious (Oh-RAIL-ee-US) – A Ronin, also known as the Confessor. His element is that of flesh and his home the Great Kingdom of Covai. He is brother to Aundevoriä and known for having a small temper, but a fierce love for his brother, and loyalty for his Ronin brothers.

  Aundevoriä (ON-de-voria) – A Ronin, also known as the Protector. He wields Durendil, the stone blade and his home is the Great Kingdom of Lander, a fortress of stone, its walls thicker than most cities. He is known for his willingness to sacrifice all for the sake of humanity.

  Ayva (AY-va) – Ayva is the tomboyish, intelligent friend of Gray and Darius. She and her father ran The Golden Horn in Lakewood. Ayva is an avid reader of the world that lies outside Lakewood.

  Balder [Jiro] – A man who claims to be the leader of the Stonemason Guild (a well reputed guild), who lives in the Shining City.

  Baro (bah-ro) – A Ronin, also called the Bull and Slayer of Giants. His element is that of Metal, and his home is the Great Kingdom of Yronia—a city that is a mass of steel and steam. Its forges were once lit with undying fires but now it is one of the “forgotten kingdoms”. Baro wields the blade Iridal, a giant sword made of unbreakable steel. In all the stories, he is larger than any man known, described as having a waist like an oak trunk, and shoulders as broad as an ox, often known as the one who led the vanguard of the Ronin into battle.

  Burai Mountains (boo-rai) – Endlessly tall mountains that reach towards the heavens, and are often called the spine, or back of the world. Death’s Gate is nestled between these impassible peaks.

  Calad (Kah-lahd) – One of Hiron’s famous twin swords.

  Citadel – A great keep of black stone within the Kingdom of Fire, and home to both Devari and Reavers.

  Cloudfell Lake – Lake beside Cloudfell, turquoise waters and low-lying mist make the lake look like it hovers just beneath the clouds.

  Shining City– The great city in the mountains. It is a part of a massive kingdom, and the last remnant of the Kingdom of Ice.

  Cormacs – Cormacs are elvin steeds. They have long legs and broad, powerful chests which makes them formidable sprinters. They have shorter muzzles than a horse, long silken tails, and slopping backs. Karil also mentions they are attuned to the spark.

  Covai – Kingdom of Flesh, the city of men, women and beast, land of the Mortal Being, one the largest spiritual sects of all the lands.

  Covai Riders – A vast horse tribe from the Kingdom of Flesh that controls much of the plains of Farhaven.

  Curtana – Dared’s twin daggers, thin with broken tips.

  Cyn (KIN) – A game played with small, carved figurines, consisting of followers and a mark.

  Daerval (dare-vahl)– A land without magic, on the other side of Death’s Gate.

  Dalic – The leader of the Algasi tribe—a two-stripe Mundasi warrior.

  Dared (DARE-ED) – A Ronin, also known as the Shadow. His element is that of moon and his home is the Great Kingdom of Narim—a vast subterranean gem located in the dark hills, half above the land, half below. The least is known about Dared. He is said to never have spoken. Rumors of his powers include the ability to turn completely invisible in the night even under the brightest moon.

  Dared [the statue] – Dared the silent Ronin in statue form.

  Darius (dare-ee-us)– Darius is a wiry young man of seventeen who is from Lakewood, and we learn very little of his parentage; he appears to be an orphan. Darius is perhaps most well-known for his love of gambling, a skill he holds no modesty about.

  Darkeye – Leader of the Darkeye clan whose hold is called Lair of the Beast. He is famed for his brutality and malevolent deeds. He wears a cloak that flaunts these skills, showing the patches of slain Devari.

  Darkwalkers – Creatures that are neither living nor dead. They are immune to the spark and most we
apons save for a Devari’s blade. They are described as black beasts with many forms, like a “hundred-limbed spider” or even walking on two legs. Most, however, are faceless with black prism-like bodies that shine like obsidian and knife-sharp limbs and beady dark eyes.

  Death’s Gate – The infamous gates that divide the two lands. The origin of the name is said to come from all those that died during the Great War, specifically during the final battle that stained the White Plains red.

  Desiccating – To remove one forever from their innate spark. It is a dreaded occurrence that is often worse than death to any wielder of the spark.

  Devari (duh-var-ii) – An elite group of warriors who live within the Citadel, and they are masters of the blade. Using “Ki” they hold certain powers, including inhabiting another’s body and feeling their sensations.

  Diaon (die-on) – Translates to “knows nothing”. It is title given to apprentices and slaves of Farhaven.

  Dipping Tsugi –Mistress Hitomi’s inn in the Shining City.

  Dryads – Fabled magical creatures of the forest of Drymaus, a great mythical forest to the north of Eldas.

  Dryan – High Councilor and elf who assumes the throne when Karil’s father, the old king, is murdered.

  Drymaus – Home of the mythical dryads.

  Dun Varis – An offshoot and fragment of Lander, the Great Kingdom of Stone, rumored to exist again within Daerval, and Aundevoriä’s homeland.

  Durendil – Aundevoriä’s famed sword. It has a wire-wrapped handle, and turns to stone.

  Eldas – Home of the Elves, one of the nine Great Kingdoms, also the Kingdom of Forest.

  Elders of Eldas – Also known as the sages or High Council of the Kingdom of Eldas. They are the ruling council of the Great Kingdom of Forest.