The Guardian Chronicles: Book 03 - The Dark Tide

by Steven R. Burke

  “I appreciate your concern for the elves and our plight” replied the king graciously. They were alone in the king’s private library. The room was made to feel cozy because of all the books, scrolls, and maps. There was a fire place on one wall opposite the massive black oak desk.

  “This conflict has taken a turn that we were not prepared for and now we have to stop this dark plague before it reaches anyone else. We need to discuss this until we feel we are making headway” the guardian said with a hint of resignation in his voice. He was frustrated by the events that were out of his control. He did not relish that feeling and knew that when he had this feeling people died. Thousands had already died in the field of battle, an entire race was nearly wiped out and the famous port town of Belva had been erased from existence.

  They talked for hours and did not notice that the sun had gone down hours before. The fire had been lit by some guards and they continued their discussion. They talked in detail about possibly getting some of the dwarves, if not all, from Ennis to help fill out their ranks. There were serious talks about drawing a line that they would not allow to be crossed. The guardian still did not share all the information or resources available to them because he could not afford to unbalance the battle to just fend off the dark hordes.

  As the sun began to rise on another day hope filled the room. Just as they thought that all was going to work out, that was when Adair froze in place. His head jerked around looking for something that was not there. The king could feel what the guardian was feeling and as the moments passed a chill shot up and down his spine.

  “Who is it?” asked the king. He had to break the silence…he needed to know what was going on. He felt helpless…this was a stark contrast to the feeling of the hope he had just had.

  It was then that Adair looked over the head of the king as though he was seeing someone. There was a sudden outburst of laughter that came from the direction that the guardian was looking at. The air in the room chilled quickly and the fire went out. The guards rushed forward in an attempt to shield the king and the elder guardian from some unseen intruder. They had heard what had happened to Kira and they would be damned if that happened again when they had watch.

  “They have it! The dark elves have the orb. This changes everything…we have to accelerate our plans. It is time to call in reinforcements! It is time to reveal the unseen force that will decide this conflict.” Adair reared back and unleashed a roar that shook the room.

  Not a moment later there was a chorus of roars in reply. The ground shook violently as though it would open up and swallow them all. Minutes passed and more roaring rang through the air. The sun was blocked out by something. That was when the door to the private study of the elven king burst open.

  “My lord, you have to see this!” shouted the soldier. He threw all protocol aside due to what he had seen.

  “What are you on about…” began the king unsurely.

  “They are here!” shouted Adair with a steely glint in his eye. Warmth once again filled the room and the fire roared back to life.

  Glossary

  THE ELVEN LANGUAGE

  Elanessë – demon

  Silinde – you

  Turgon – piece of

  Aldarion - dung

  Eáránë – vaulted

  Minyatur – ceiling

  Thraalillith – cauldron of fate

  Edhil – Elf (Plural)

  Nur – friend

  Edr – to open (command)

  Ehlidel – elven heaven or place of rest

  THE DARK ELVEN LANGUAGE

  Elilasnar – dark elf

  Darken

  Tanison – funny one

  Ilosiden - kill

  Vie - all

  Galtroth – weak blooded elves

  THE ANCIENT LANGUAGE

  Eromé – earth, this is a command word for the earth to obey the command of the element speaking

  Woorgal – wood, this is a command word for all things wood to obey the command of the Elemental speaking

  Flymaré – fire, this is a command word for fire to obey the command of the elemental speaking

  Watnesé – water, this is a command word for water to obey the command of the elemental speaking

  Frumacia – body, this is the command word for forcing an elemental to take on a human form

  Zëgé – elements, this is the command word for all four elements to obey the elemental’s command

  THE ROCK TROLL LANGUAGE

  Vragen – filthy (vulgar term)

  Dűn – dark (vulgar term)

  Lienzen – beasts of burden (slang term)

  THE ORC LANGUAGE

  Grögenmag – Powerful leader

  THE DEMONIC LANGUAGE

  Echten

  Loche

  Noh

  Bin

  Baden

  THE DWARVEN LANGUAGE

  DuWarven – plain city

  Characters

  ELEMENTALS (GUARDIANS)

  All the Elementals are immortal and are known as “Guardians” because they protect the different elements of TUWA (Earth). The lesser guardians are seen more frequently throughout the land. The elder guardians are rarely seen and revered by most to be gods.

  FIRE, WATER, AIR, & EARTH – ADAIR (Noble, exalted)

  This is the eldest guardian and head of the guardian council. He is the tallest and most physically imposing guardian. He has long white and a striking white goatee. He is often referred to as the god of this world by the peoples of Tuwa. He reports directly to the Almighty Kedem. He is patient to a point and his righteous fury is the most terrible to behold. He does care about the peoples and creatures of Tuwa.

  FIRE & AIR – MISTRESS KANA (Powerful)

  This elder guardian is a female and is a tall, slender beauty. Her hair is silvery red and her eyes changed between gray and red depending upon her mood. She has stewardship over Lady Necia and Hilzarie. She is more extreme than the other guardians in her dislikes of the people and most creatures of Tuwa. She has a black dragon steed called Ryo.

  FIRE – LADY NECIA (Intense, fiery one)

  This Guardian is a female and is very tall with red straight hair. She has reddish brown eyes and trusts no one aside from her mistress Kana. She is revered by the dwarven nations as a lesser god and is known for her fiery temper. She is also known to be a fierce advocate.

  AIR – LADY HILZARIE (Moon and Stars)

  This Guardian is a female and is tall like Necia. Her hair is a silver color and she had cold gray eyes. Her beauty is known as well as her quick, sharp temper. She is wild by nature and does not take well to receiving instructions.

  WATER & EARTH – MISTRESS KHALIDA (Immortal, everlasting)

  This elder guardian is a female and is taller than the other female guardians. She has long golden brown hair down to her waist with eyes that were a mixture of blue and brown. She too has a steed who is none other than the brown bear Kuma.

  WATER – LORD NEB (Ancient Waters)

  This Guardian is a male is as tall as an elf and stout like a dwarf. He has long black hair to his shoulders with the deepest crystal blue eyes. He is the oldest of the lesser guardians and is famed for his wisdom.

  EARTH – LORD KEB (Earth)

  This Guardian is a male and is as tall as Lord Neb. He is considerably thicker than the water lord and has long brown hair. His brown penetrating eyes are famous for unearthing secrets from those who dare look at him. Lord Adair trusts Lord Keb more than any of the lesser guardians.

  WATER & EARTH – MISTRESS KHALIDA (Immortal, everlasting)

  This elder guardian is a female and is taller than the other female guardians. She has long golden brown hair down to her waist with eyes that were a mixture of blue and brown. She too has a steed who is none other than the brown bear Kuma.

  ELVES

  The elves have various offshoots, all of which are immortal. They typically lead the free peoples of middle Tuwa and are the one race that the guardians have any re
spect for. They took have a special kinship with nature. They are revered because of their gentle nature and their aged wisdom. They are one of the most respected, and at the same time envied, races in all of Tuwa.

  KING CIEL (From Heaven, Heavenly) TIRANIDROL

  He has been the king of the elves for nearly millennia. He stands over seven feet tall and has a slender build. His white hair goes to the middle of his back and his dark blue eyes had a penetrating quality to them. His psychic powers are the most formidable of any of the races. He is known for his diplomacy and his ability to give great speeches. He has twin daughters who are his only immediate family. His wife was killed tragically five years prior to current events.

  CONARY (Wise Man) ÁERASRRIL

  He is the greatest natural mediator of all the races of Tuwa. He is extremely tall, even for an elf, and is physically very strong. He has golden brown hair down to his shoulders with gentle blue eyes. He is the head of the elven high council. He has built many lasting alliances over the centuries and is respected by all people.

  LADY BERNADINE (Bold as a Bear) TRYLENDORBRI

  She is a tall and stout elf who is a druid. She has jet black hair with eerie black eyes. She is known for helping anyone who stands in need. She transforms into a sizable black bear and has a close relationship to the black bears from the north.

  GENERAL VERANDOS (Courage of a bear) TENOWERNAL

  He is the most renowned druid in all of middle Tuwa. He is exceptionally tall and very robust physically. His white hair is shoulder length and he has unusually white eyes with black pupils. His healing ability is considered to be better than anyone alive. He changes into a gigantic white bear that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone who sees him. He is also the only druid that has a functional relationship with the guardians.

  COMMANDER ANLON (Great Champion) MAROWAEL

  The mightiest elven warrior is tall and is a physical specimen. He has golden brown hair that goes to his waist along with crystal blue eyes. He is the fastest being on two legs in all of Tuwa. He is a master of duel swords and is a highly decorated soldier. He has an owl called Nascha that spies for him as well as delivers messages during combat.

  COMMANDER YVES (Archer) SILINADIEL

  He is short for an elf as well as stout. He is the most skilled archer in all of Tuwa and is said to be able to shoot a raven in the eye while in flight. He has dark brown hair to his shoulders along with dark brown eyes. He can see farther than any other creature in Tuwa. Many of the free races of Tuwa send their archers to train with the revered elf.

  HIGH ELVES

  These are elves that left the woodland elves of Renshaw due to political dissent. They are located on Mounts Quang (Light) and Konane (Lunar Glow) north of the Forest of Renshaw. They feel morally superior to those they left behind, hence the name of high elves. They also used magic more frequently in their daily lives than their woodland kin. In the short time of being located in the high mountains their skin color darkened. This change makes it easy to tell the difference between a woodland elf and a high elf.

  QUEEN KIRA (Sun) TIRANIDROL

  She led away a third of residents of the Forest of Renshaw. She was elected as their queen and she ruled from the high elven capital on Mount Quang. She is tall and slender which belies her exceptional magical prowess. She has deep dark brown eyes and long brown hair that reaches to the middle of her back. She is the younger daughter of King Ciel. She broke sacred elven laws by marrying the man General Yukio. Her older twin sister is Kishi.

  NITA (Bear) KRYSÁNAL

  She is exceptionally tall for an elf and has an athletic physique. She has unusually short brown hair with brown eyes. She is the most adept druid at healing and changes into a gigantic brown bear. She left with Queen Kira because she believed in her cause. She leaves the high elves when they unite under Queen Kishi and returns to the elves.

  BRONWEN (Dark and Pure) MERINDIEL

  He is an average looking high elf with silver hair down to the middle of the back. His blue eyes emanate trust and convey strong leadership. He has very dark skin which makes some people distrust him or call him a dark elf. He is the head of the high council of the high elven council under Queen Kira.

  GENERAL MAREK (Warlike) THRAADINAL

  He is very tall and powerfully built for a high elf. His dark complexion with long blond hair reaching to the middle of his back along with clear blue eyes makes the general of Queen Kira’s army awe inspiring. He is considered to be the fastest of the high elven soldiers. He is faithful and loyal to his queen until his gruesome demise.

  COMMANDER HARLEY (Archer; Deer Hunter) TENANDEN

  He is highly skilled archer with the typical high elven soldier build. He carriers a legendary bow that has been passed down in his family called Asnee (Lightning). The lineage goes all the way back to the legendary Eldar. The arrows that are loosed from this bow are imbued with lightning.

  QUEEN KISHI (Night) TIRANIDROL

  She led away a portion of the high elves citing the illegitimate rule of her younger sister Kira. She was made the queen based on her right to rule by being the eldest elven heir. She ruled from the high elven capital on Mount Konane to the east of Mount Quang. She is tall and slender like her sister and is even more magically powerful. She has gray mirthless eyes and long dark hair that reaches to the middle of her back. She is the oldest daughter of King Ciel and Kira is her twin sister.

  GENERAL JAALI (Powerful) THRARIAS

  The general of Queen Kishi’s army is very tall and powerfully built. He has exceptionally dark skin with a startlingly white goatee. His white hair reaches his middle back and looks like fine silk. His movements are so fluid that when he is in battle people think he is floating. His ruthless battle tactics are a match for the crazed General Yukio.

  LORD DÜKKER (To Bewitch) AELLENAS

  He is exceptionally tall and fit for a magic wielder. He has the reputation of being the most ruthless warlock in all of Tuwa. He has platinum blond hair all the way down to his waist. He uses some of the darkest magic without having struck a deal with the keeper of the underworld. He cares little for living things and is only concerned with his own goals. He has a rare gigantic spider called Razi that he uses has his steed.

  ELGIN (Noble) RINELYN

  He is tallest high elf and is the head of the high council of the high elves who united under Queen Kishi. He has long white hair that clashes with his reddish brown eyes. He is cunning and charismatic.

  DARK ELVES

  The kingdom of Meleirélnar is the subterranean home of the long forgotten dark elves. They were thought to be exiled for their genocide of the Eldar. They had been cursed by the guardians to never be able to travel above ground. Their powers are frightening and not fully understood. It is believed that they made a deal with the keeper for their powers and that the impatient one had called due their bargain.

  LORD TYRILORIEL TYRIENWALKER (Death Walker)

  He stands over seven feet seven inches tall and weighs in at three hundred pounds. He is the most powerful magic wielder and will do absolutely anything to get more power.

  MASTER JEVON SHADOWIN (Shadow Walker)

  He stands over seven feet tall and weighs in rather light at two hundred pounds. He is powerful in underworld magic and his ruthless creativity has helped him advance his career.

  TANISON TERIRYL

  She stands at nearly seven feet tall and has a slender build. She was known for her superior tracking skills as well as her lethality. Her sarcasm has been known to get her into serious trouble.

  CAPTAIN DARKEN DRAKE

  He stands only six feet nine inches tall and is very muscular. He is known for his centuries of night time above ground exploits. He leads the secret mission to retrieve the Orb of Nitesh.

  CAPTAIN TYRIAN TYRIANAL

  He is the captain of the home guard. He stands just over seven feet tall and weighs two hundred fifty pounds. He has long silver hair with no facial hair. He is always looking for a way to bett
er his standing.

  DWARVES

  Dwell in the mountain regions in central Tuwa. They are a sturdy race that are anywhere from 3’ to 5’ tall. The men always have beards while the women, contrary to popular belief, do not have beards. They are just as sturdy and strong. The lifespan of most dwarves is anywhere from seven to one thousand years old. They are surprisingly resistant to most poisons.

  KING EDRIC (Prosperous Ruler) NOGNILI

  He is a short and over plump monarch of the island mountain kingdom of Ennis. His long black and gray hair and beard are braided with a wide variety of gems. His clear blue eyes always have a lustful or glutinous look to them. He is the wealthiest king of all the dwarven kingdoms. He is very protective of his wealth and his people. He tends to be a bit of an isolationist.

  GENERAL CHAD (Battle, Warrior) THIRMIK

  He is the same size as General Magnar, though his hair is reddish brown. He has unnerving beady black eyes. He leads the armies of King Edric and is known for his advanced battle tactics. He has defended against armies many times larger than all the forces at his command and has come out on top with minimal losses.

  KING JARVIS (A Conqueror) DAGNOLIR

  He is an average sized dwarf with long silver hair and beard that he braids on a regular basis. He has gray depthless eyes that give him the ability to read the minds of anyone who locks eyes with him. He is zealous in his fight against the evils in the world and does not wait for other to join his fight before he takes the battle to where evil resides. His mountain kingdom of Mount Carrack (A Rock) is the best defended capital in all of Tuwa.