by Mara Amberly
Silk and Earth
Book 2 of the Sisters of the North
Mara Amberly
Copyright © 2018 Mara Amberly
Cover images: © fabianaponzi, BlackSpring1 / Depositphotos.com
All rights reserved
Books of the Sisters of the North series
Fire and Gold (Book 1)
Silk and Earth (Book 2)
Find more books by Mara Amberly: http://www.amazon.com/author/maraamberly
Follow Mara on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaraAmberly
Visit Mara's web site: http://author.maraamberly.com
Dedication
I’d like to dedicate this book to my family and friends. Thank you for your support, encouragement, friendship, time and care. I appreciate it more than you may know.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Epilogue
Glossary
About the Author
Acknowledgments
I chose to write the first book in this series (Fire and Gold) as part of a fundraiser for the literary roleplaying site, Elliquiy.com.
The following patrons donated and in some instances named characters and locations as a reward of the fundraiser. I hope you enjoy seeing the characters and locations you named/suggested brought to life on the page for all time. There were also some smaller donations and some people chose to remain anonymous.
Patrons of the Sisters of the North series:
Geraint of Elliquiy (created Kraven Mistbane)
Niferbelle
Kevben Battleheart (named Nemorath and Feidhlim)
Goldmoon
TheLegionary (named Rudolf)
While this is the second book in the series, some characters are still a part of the story and may have continuing adventures. Thank you all.
“There’s a presence now. It waits for me to fall asleep, attempting to smother my dreams and overwhelm them with dark memories I relive time and again. It doesn’t stop until I wake, usually multiple times throughout the night, and even in the day when dreams have no hold on my life, I sense it near.
I don’t know what it is but I believe I know what it’s come to do. The flickers of future events I see are a danger to it. It wants to win, and defeat those who are good and want life to win out over evil and darkness.
It’s important I record my visions and dreams so you’ll know what must be done when the time comes. It’s already trying to obscure the truth because the pieces are already in place. I do know this – the naïve and unworldly are your greatest strength and they must have room to grow. Don’t let the enemy gain a foothold otherwise they may become too strong to overcome.”
~ Oracle Lilian’s Diary, Winter of 3765
Prologue
“I’d hoped to stay in Kelbani for a while and have a chance to rest after the journey, but time isn’t on our side.” Cassia sighed, as she gazed out through the window of the room she’d been given, observing the busy city streets below. The city of Kelbani was contained by a massive recess in the stone between two mountain peaks. It made her feel like she was entirely underground, even though she knew she wasn’t.
Alexa sat in a wooden chair nearby; her posture was relaxed, but her expression showed her concern.
“So did I, but we have to go. Honestly, the whole situation terrifies me. So many people out there don’t know what danger they’re in. The world goes on with most people unaware, and yet tomorrow it could all end. Why would the Nemorans even do this? Most people aren’t getting in their way so why do they want them dead?”
Cassia shrugged, her eyes dark with worry as she leaned back against the window sill. “I wish I knew. In fact, scratch that – I’m not sure I want to, but we really need to know what’s going on so we can put a stop to it.”
She no longer wore the regular clothes that she had during her journey. Clad once again in the red robes of a fire priestess, she seemed much more in her element.
Alexa wore dark blue, as she had before, as she’d long seemed to favour a colour choice that didn’t reflect her elemental training.
“You’re assuming that we can.” Alexa winced at how that came out, but she had reason to wonder.
“Excuse me?” Cassia asked, glaring at her sister. “What kind of attitude is that? Our lives and everyone’s are on the line.”
“I know,” she apologised. “But you have to see that this fight isn’t going in our favour. They’ve wiped out most of our Sisters, at least in Kalle and Kelbani, and time is growing short to stop them. We don’t have a lot in terms of resources, but… perhaps there is something we could do about that,” Alexa mused.
“What do you mean?” Cassia asked. “The other religious orders out there – you mean them, don’t you?”
Alexa nodded. “Yes. We might not always see eye to eye with the other orders, but we have a mutual goal right now to survive and stop those murderers who have killed our people.”
Cassia nodded; she couldn’t have agreed more. “It’s certainly worth a shot. Those orders may already have been infiltrated by cultists, but we might still find some help there. Our chances are best if we band together, after all, and they will want to see Maeridea survive as well. King Merrion is another possibility, after all our order has helped protect the kingdom, and this affects them and not just us.”
Alexa got up and pushed her chair back in under the nearby table. “I’ll have a word with the Magister – if she’ll see me again, which I’d say she will – and find out what’s happening. In the meantime, I’d say get some rest because morning will be here before we know it.”
Cassia hoped Alexa would be successful. “I wish that Brigita or Knave could come with us. I’d feel safer with them there.”
“I know,” Alexa agreed, “but Brigita needs a chance to recover and Knave… well, there isn’t any reason we couldn’t invite him along is there, except that the Sisters might not be thrilled about it? I’ll see what I can do.”
Cassia grinned happily, and with a smile, Alexa left the room.
Alexa was exhausted, and despite her relief at finding her way to Kelbani and the sanctuary of the Temple of Victory, she still felt sad and broken. She couldn’t hide it from Cassia, but she knew her sister was mourning too in her own way. All of the Sisters were. It was just that it felt like one thing after another – no sooner had they got here than the world was in peril. It was hard to try and care for everyone, and fight for them as she knew they needed, when she was struggling.
She decided that after she spoke with the Magister she’d try and get some sleep. It wasn’t that dark out yet but she needed it.
Chapter 1
They left in the earning morning as soon as the sun touched the horizon and a new day dawned. The city of Kelbani saw only a small share of the daylight, but watchers at the pass observed the land below and knew the way was safe as the priestesses left. It was the opposite of the method used by Cassia, Alexa, Brigita and Knave when they’d travelled from Kalle. They’d travelled at night and in the darker shadows of the day to hide their presence. The priestesses tra
velled openly as a group, even though they knew they might be seen. They wore their robes and as they numbered around two dozen, they felt more confident in their ability to deal with hazards on the road. They were also more prepared than they had been before. Time was of the essence and hiding in the shadows would only slow them down. The mountains were also precarious to travel in the dark.
“It’s good to see you again Knave, back on the road,” Cassia exclaimed as she walked alongside her friend.
He’d once been overly-flirtatious toward her, until she’d scared the wits out of him with her fire magick, but now they seemed to have reached a more comfortable medium.
“You’re welcome, lass. I’ll help how I can, especially for something this important.”
He shifted his backpack to a more comfortable position as they made their way along the rocky path through the mountains.
There was an incredible view out over the valley below. It was such a long way down, as both of them knew only too well. They’d made their way up from the valley on foot.
“I’m pleased that the Magister agreed for you to join us. I’m sure she realised that we can use all the help we can get,” Cassia admitted, smiling.
“Well, you forget that I’m charming and your Magister is a lady with a good head on her shoulders. She knows when a good opportunity presents itself.”
Cassia laughed, “Well there you have it.”
“I told her I’d do what I could to help you make it through safe and sound, just like I did in getting us to Kelbani. She said that was good enough for her.”
She smiled at that, sensing the ring of truth from his words.
The priestesses travelling were well-equipped with supplies for the journey, while others remained at the mountain temple. They weren’t taking the same trade road Cassia, Alexa, Brigita and Knave had used to reach the mountains; this one wound eastward toward Mount Bridha. It was still a long journey over land, and not without its dangers. The mountains weren’t uninhabited, but with such a large group of magickally-skilled priestesses, the odds were good they would be able to deal with any difficulties they encountered.
Alexa had walked on ahead, but feeling tired, she sat down on a rocky outcropping and waited for Cassia and Knave to catch up. Only then did she move, though she groaned once she was back on her feet.
“Urgh. I’m ready for this walking to be over.”
Knave smiled at her, but his gaze lingered on her a little too long, and in ways that brought a blush to the priestess’s cheeks. She pretended not to notice, but she certainly did.
“You’re not the only one,” he admitted, “though it could be worse. I don’t mind being back on the road with you ladies and the open sky above us. How about that view?”
Cassia grinned, and Alexa paid attention to the view out over the mountainside, though her knees felt a little weak because it was a long way down.
“It’s beautiful,” she told him.
“All the more because I’ve spent too bloody long in a prison cell! This is heaven, ladies. I couldn’t have asked for more: another chance at life and seeing the world, and old friends again. It’s like a dream… and the last thing I want to see is that dream destroyed for me and everyone else. We’ll do what we’re here to do, because we have to.”
Alexa felt her doubts evaporating. “I have faith that we’ll get there. It’s all the reason we need.”
Knave gripped the straps of his backpack as he nodded. “Yes it is.”
Cassia grinned. “Now that’s settled, we should probably get to know who we’re travelling with. I think I recognise ehhh, that one there,” she said pointing ahead. “Sister Eluria?”
She was an attractive, blonde priestess who wore brown robes, which indicated her specialty as an earth mage.
“That’s right. We saw her in the Magister’s office. She’s going to be our strategist on this mission, while Sister Anya’s giving orders.”
“Then what are we doing?” Alexa asked, frowning.
Cassia shrugged. “Following them? I think of it as a chain of command. Sister Anya gets the final say.”
“Where is she?” Knave asked, glancing around questioningly.
“She’s the priestess in blue up front with the long, black hair. She’s taking point because she’s in command, and I don’t know. Maybe she’s the fastest walker?” Cassia ventured.
Alexa grinned. “You may be more right than you know.”
Sister Anya might be trying to set an example by walking in the lead, but Alexa preferred Cassia’s reasoning.
“You really don’t want to be up front do you?” Knave asked with a wry smile.
“Not at all,” she replied, laughing softly. “My feet are still recovering from the journey to Kelbani.”
Alexa grimaced. “Mine too.”
She had new leather boots provided by the temple, just as Cassia did. They weren’t terribly comfortable just yet and likely wouldn’t be in the near future. Still, if the Sisters failed in their mission, she wouldn’t have to worry about them anymore. Given the choice, she’d rather have sore feet.
“I think you ladies know more than I do,” Knave stated, a bit out of breath now from the walking.
“I’m from Kelbani and I’m no stranger to these mountains, so this doesn’t add up. If you’re in a hurry to get anywhere, I’d have to wonder why we’re on this path, unless you know something that I don’t.”
Cassia waited until a couple of Sisters passed them before she spoke up. “It’s not that I can’t talk about it, but no one said either way and they are secret. We can reach many places more quickly by travelling to Mount Bridha. There are passages that lead to… many places.”
Knave’s eyes lit up. “You’re hiding a magickal portal in there, aren’t you?”
Alexa laughed. “No, that isn’t it at all. You’ll see.”
Knave rubbed his beardless chin as he tried to make sense of that. “So you’ve been here before?”
Cassia and Alexa shook their heads. “No,” both answered, smiling.
“Very curious,” he mused, and glanced out over the mountainside. He knew it would take time to reach Mount Bridha, but he didn’t recall how long.
Knave relaxed and tried to enjoy the journey. He also kept an eye out for potential ambushes.
The Nemorans had tried to prevent survivors of the temple in Kalle from reaching safety, but after the Temple of Victory’s attack, he thought they’d probably turned their attention to other goals.
“Alexa, I was told there are items of power. Manses, right? Are we going to bring them back or destroy them, or kill the cultists who have it out for you? I didn’t sign on as an assassin, but as near as I see it, they’d do it to us, so I’ll do what’s necessary when the time comes.”
Alexa smiled. “I appreciate that, Knave. The aim is to retrieve the manses if we can. It’s not like we’re bloodthirsty in the least, with the possible exception of Cassia. As you know, she likes killing people.”
“Oh go away, I do not,” she exclaimed, drawing a few glances from nearby sisters.
“We’re all good,” Alexa reassured him.
There was greater freedom to speak than when Brigita was there. The elder Sister would need more time to recover from the long journey, but Alexa sensed that the Magister had more in mind for her than letting her retire now in the way she’d wanted. After all that had happened, the Sisters of Destiny would need to combine their efforts if they were going to make it through the uncertain future.
Knave walked alongside the priestesses, but he always found it difficult keeping quiet for long periods of time. In prison he’d solved this problem by talking to himself.
“There’s a lot I still don’t know about both of you,” Knave admitted. “Where are you both from?”
The sisters exchanged glances and smiled. “We’re from the north,” Alexa told him.
He made a gesture with his hand, as if to say ‘keep going love. I have all day’. “We are in the north.”
“Eldennaia,” Cassia clarified. It wasn’t a struggle for her to reveal where their family was from.
“And you Alexa?” he asked.
Her eyebrows rose. “The same. We’re sisters.”
“Just wait… a minute! Hah, we walked all this way and I thought the whole time you were just Sisters of the religious kind, when you meant you’re actual ‘born of the same family’ sisters?”
“Didn’t I tell you that?” Alexa asked, squinting.
“I don’t think it ever came up,” Cassia said, “other than calling you my sister all the time, of course.”
“You’re a blonde,” he stated, indicating Alexa, “and you’re a redhead,” he said to Cassia. How does that work? Are you sure your mother–”
Cassia frowned. “Don’t even go there. We really are sisters, sheesh. Why is that so hard to believe?”
He laughed at that. “I do believe you.”
Alexa rolled her eyes. “I can tell already that this is going to be a long journey.”
***
The path taken by the sisters wound through the mountains. The day quickly passed for the priestesses and Knave as they descended the mountainside into a valley that was not so much lush as browned by frost and windswept.
“Half an hour’s break!” a Sister called out. Alexa didn’t know who she was, but she recognised her as one of the first priestesses she’d seen when she arrived at the Temple of Victory. The priestess’s cheeks were reddened from the walking and the wind, just as Alexa’s own felt.
“That break couldn’t come too soon,” Knave groaned.
“I don’t know,” Cassia countered. “I want to get where we’re going and sort out the threat. Breaks are all well and good, but we’re dead if we don’t put a stop to the Nemorans’ plans.”
Alexa sat down on the grass and caught her breath. “I need to rest my poor, aching feet.”
Cassia frowned at her, but she joined her on the grass. So did Knave, and nearby many Sisters of Destiny did the same thing.