by S. L. Morgan
The Reckoning
Ancient Guardians Series Book 4
S.L. Morgan
Edited by
Amanda Baker
Contents
Copyrights
Introduction
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
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
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From the Author:
Copyrights
Ancient Guardians: The Reckoning
By S. L. Morgan
Copyright © 2016 S.L. MORGAN
Revised and updated 2017 edition
All rights reserved.
The characters, places, and events portrayed in this book are fictional and are used as such. Any similarities to real persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
S.L. Morgan for Pasidian Press 2012
Introduction
When Harrison arrived in the emergency command center, he found his uncle staring gravely at the holographic image of Movac, the leader of the Ciatron. Once Navarre noted Harrison’s abrupt entrance, his expression darkened, mirroring Harrison’s.
“Movac, we will continue this discussion in a moment. I must speak with my commander at this time.”
“It would be wise for you not to delay our conversation,” Harrison heard Movac demand.
Navarre ignored Movac and ended the holographic communication with him without another word.
Harrison stepped toward the emperor. “The leaders of Earth will not comply with your requests since you have made them aware of the imminent threat they are under.”
Navarre exhaled in frustration. “What is their reasoning?”
“They simply do not want to frighten those on Earth with the fact aliens do exist,” Harrison answered flatly.
Navarre rubbed his forehead. “So they are willing to put the lives of billions at risk while their planet is laid to absolute waste?” His brow rose up with disgust. “Where is the sense in their decision not to heed my warning?”
Harrison crossed his arms. “There is none. They honestly do not believe there is any threat toward them, only toward our dimensions.”
Navarre’s eyes closed as his fists tightened. “They have proven they care not about the welfare of their men, women, and children. I shall not stand idly by while the lives of so many innocents are at risk and in need of an advocate. Commander, we must take over all forms of their communication. I will address those of Earth myself,” he turned to walk toward their communication area, “and I will do it at once.”
Harrison nodded. “As you wish, Emperor Navarre. It is the only chance we have to save them.”
“Vincent, prepare the communication screen to commandeer every electronic form of communication on Earth. We must have control immediately,” Navarre demanded.
Moments later, Vincent had successfully connected the command center to every television, radio, and telephone on Earth. “Emperor, you will be transmitting across the globe, and your words will be translated into the native languages of the many countries who will receive your message. The connection is complete.”
Navarre stood in front of the screen nobly when given word everyone on Earth who was within range of a telephone, radio, or television was now seeing or hearing only him.
SEVEN MONTHS EARLIER
Baffled a woman whom he had never met had just kissed him, Levi looked away from her saddened and worn eyes, as the effect they were having on him made him extremely uncomfortable.
Is this a sick joke, Harrison? he thought to himself in confusion.
Why was he in the medical center without a shirt on, and who were the other strange women in the room? Questions were flooding his mind, and his disorientation was causing him to become increasingly agitated.
“Father,” he said with irritation, “given my current situation, I would have greatly appreciated being properly attired before any ladies were given permission to enter this room.”
He watched as tears filled the young woman’s bluish-green eyes when she stood up and turned to Harrison.
Who is this person, and why is she crying? he thought, more than a little disturbed by the transaction.
He noted Harrison’s shocked, yet devastated expression while he took the woman’s arm into his and guided her and the other two women out of the room. Levi relaxed some when his mother trailed behind his cousin, leaving him alone with his father.
Levi sat up and rubbed his eyes. “Father, tell me what has happened. Why am I in this room? Whose idea was it to play such a—”
“Son.” Navarre’s deep voice halted him from saying anything more. Navarre sat in the chair where the young woman had been sitting at the side of his bed. “Levi, you suffered a very traumatic injury. It is evident you are continuing to heal from it, as your memory seems to be affected at the moment.”
“Injury?” He looked around the room. “Father, Harrison and I were just in the training center going over our drills to become accepted for our Guardianship on Earth. I hardly think—”
Navarre’s eyes widened. “This is the last thing you recall, my son?”
“Why do you seem so shocked to hear as much?”
Harrison returned to the room, bringing Levi’s attention to him. “How did I become injured in our training, Harrison? The last thing I recall, you were the one struggling to counter my attacks. I believe it is you who should be waking up in this bed.” He laughed.
Harrison and Navarre’s expressions were unreadable.
“Levi,” Navarre answered, “you are speaking about events that took place nearly nine years ago.”
“What?” Levi said in disbelief. “Impossible. I have been unconscious for nine years?”
He looked back at Harrison, and although the visual changes in his cousin were minimal, there was an unmistakable change in his appearance. Harrison’s hair was longer, and his facial features were much more chiseled than he remembered. When he looked at his father, he saw gray strands had appeared throughout his once solid black head of hair.
“Levi, you have been unconscious for four days. Galleta warned you might encounter memory loss; however, there was no way to be certain until you woke. It appears your memory was affected when you were mentally attacked,” Navarre said.
“Mentally attacked?” Levi ran his hands through his hair, noticing it was also longer now than it ever had been. He looked at Navarre. “I do not understand. I have lost nine years of my life? How is this possible? Tell me what has caused such a thing, and how I could have been mentally attacked?”
“You led a great crusade to recover me from a faraway place where I was held captive.” Navarre cleared his throat. “Levi, of the things I am about to
make you aware of, I need you to keep an open mind.”
“Go on,” Levi firmly intoned.
Navarre glanced at Harrison and back to Levi. “The woman who sat at your bedside when you awoke is Reece; she is your wife. The two of you, along with Harrison and the Guardians, saved my life and rescued me from an unimaginable place. I would not be with you now had it not been for all of your bravery. Unfortunately, during my rescue you were attacked by a powerful psychic force that almost took your life.”
“What creature could possess such a talent? Our minds are protected from any intrusion.”
“They are known as the Olteniaus. With the help of your wife, Reece, the Guardians defeated them before any further harm came to you.”
A female Guardian? Levi thought, dumbfounded by the fact a woman was amongst the Guardians on a rescue mission. “This woman,” he looked at Harrison, confused, “Reece, is it? Why would we allow her to travel amongst our warriors? Is she a Guardian as well?”
“You might say that,” Harrison answered with a slight grin. “That woman saved your life and the lives of the Guardians who went on this rescue mission to recover your father. She is not only your wife, but we were also the fortunate ones assigned to guard her on Earth, which is where you first saw her. She is The Key.”
Levi’s eyes darted to his father and back to Harrison. “We were assigned to guard ‘The Key?’” he said with profound disbelief.
Harrison laughed. “We proved to be Pemdas’ finest, of course. I am surprised you would question that.”
Levi’s lips tightened as he looked away from Harrison. “I am sorry, but this information has me quite overwhelmed at the moment.” He brought a clammy palm over his chest and closed his eyes. “How can I be missing nine years of my life? How could I ever be drawn to marry a woman from Earth, especially one of such great importance?”
When his eyes reopened, he found Navarre and Harrison watching him somberly.
Harrison recovered his expression and grinned mischievously at Levi. “Simple. You fell in love with her. Why else would you marry her?”
“I am happy to amuse you at such a time, Harrison,” Levi retorted with a sigh. “It would seem that nine years has not stripped you of the uncanny ability to interject humor into inappropriate situations.”
“At least you have that to look forward to.” Harrison shrugged his shoulders and smiled sympathetically at his cousin. “However, I will say even though I am utterly relieved to find you awake, this condition must be remedied. We must try to do what we can to help regain your memories,” Harrison glanced back at the door, “and soon,” he finished.
“Because of the woman?” Levi answered.
Navarre stood. “Allow me to ensure that your mother has sent for the doctors and Galleta to assess your condition,” he said as he turned to leave. Before walking out of the room, he looked back at Levi. “As Harrison has said, it is truly wonderful to see you awake again.”
After the doctors had assessed Levi’s condition, they determined that, aside from his memory loss, he was in near-perfect physical condition, and he was healthy enough to return to his rooms. Galleta reported she was hopeful, yet uncertain if Levi’s memories would return, and given his trauma, she believed he was fortunate to possess any memories at all.
Once the doctors, Navarre, and Galleta left the room, Levi pulled on a white muslin shirt Harrison retrieved for him, as he desperately wanted to leave the room. After pulling on his waistcoat, Harrison advised it would be best to use the servants’ passageways, given the palace was still filled with many of the kings from the kingdoms throughout Pemdas and their families.
When Levi turned toward his rooms, Harrison laughed and gripped his arm.
“This way, my friend,” he said. “You and Reece took up residence in the eastern living quarters of the palace after you married and you assumed your duty as emperor in your father’s place.”
Levi sighed. “Why would I assume the duties as emperor if my father was being held captive? I feel as though there is so much I need to understand, and I do not know where to begin.”
“We will take all the time necessary to debrief you on the last nine years, and in doing so, perhaps it will spark memories. To answer your question as simply as possible for now, I will tell you all of Pemdas believed your father to be dead until a being named Mordegrin informed us otherwise.”
Oddly, Levi’s stomach twisted into a tight knot, and a bizarre sense of rage washed over him the moment Harrison mentioned Mordegrin’s name. He couldn’t understand the wave of emotion, but as quickly as it appeared, it was gone.
“Like I said, there is much to tell you, and it will take time.” Harrison chuckled. “I only hope your memory will return sooner than later, as I personally believe you will have a hard time accepting most of our recent events.”
They walked toward the doors of the eastern living quarters. “Try to rest. If you do not wish to seek the company of the others in the palace, send for me. I will return when you are ready to discuss things further.”
They stopped in front of the two large doors to the living quarters he was to share with the woman who he struggled to accept was his wife. He exhaled. “Harrison, I cannot live in the same room with a woman I do not know.”
“Sure you can! She’s attractive, she has a spicy personality, and best of all,” he smirked, “you are married. Enjoy it!”
“Now is not the time for your humor,” Levi said as he turned to leave. “I will stay in my personal bedchambers for now. I must.”
Harrison followed, “I will have the servants send for your things. I know this must be extremely bizarre and confusing, but believe me when I say you shocked almost everyone when you proclaimed your love for her. We were sure until Reece was forced to live in Pemdas—”
“Forced to…”
“Another long story,” Harrison said as he took Levi’s arm and encouraged him to continue their walk.
“Very well then,” Levi answered. “There were two other young women in the room when I awoke. Who were they?”
“Your mistresses, obviously.”
Harrison laughed when Levi almost ran into the wall, eyes wide with shock.
“Oh, get over yourself,” Harrison teased. “The lovely, young blonde woman is your sister, Lizzy. She has grown up to be a fine young lady, has she not?”
“Elizabeth? My last memory of her is when she was eight years old. She would be seventeen now, would she not? Remarkable.” Levi spoke softly and introspectively. “And the other young lady?”
“Is Angeline Hamilton, and she is to be my wife,” Harrison stated with a radiant smile.
“Your wife?” Levi shook his head. “Be serious for once, Harrison. I am truly having a difficult time if you had not yet noticed.”
Harrison exhaled. “I am serious. Angie and I decided we would wait until you woke before having our commitment ceremony, as I wanted you to be in attendance.”
“I do not know what to say. I suppose miracles do happen. Congratulations are in order, I am sure. You are marrying Isabelle’s younger sister, then?”
Levi was afraid to ask about Isabelle. For all intents and purposes, she was the woman he was expected to marry. He wondered what had happened between them. Why, nine years later, would he be led to marry a woman from Earth and not Isabelle Hamilton? Before Harrison could say anything else, they arrived at Levi’s room.
“I will send for you when I feel I am ready to learn more.”
A young man met him in the room. “Master Levi, it is wonderful to see you are recovering well. I have been informed you are struggling with memory loss, so please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Henry, and I became your butler close to seven years ago.”
Levi nodded. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Henry.”
After the short introduction, Levi walked into his large dressing room. He stood in amazement at the man staring back at him in the large, ornate mirror. He had aged the same as Harrison. Subtle diffe
rences in the shape of his features and the length of his hair were all that had notably changed, yet the changes were strange, nonetheless.
After a long, hot shower, Levi felt much more like himself. He requested Henry to cut his hair to the length he was familiar with. It was relieving to see he looked more like himself again, even though he had aged nine years.
Even so, he was not ready to see anyone or hear anything more for the time being. He furtively made his way out to the stables, knowing a nice, long ride on his stallion would help him unwind. He had called for him before he noticed the young woman whom he learned was his wife was dismounting a Guardian horse.
This sight is most unbelievable, he thought as she turned.
Instantly, her vibrant colored eyes entrapped him the moment they stared into his.
Before he could acknowledge her, Javian walked a fierce looking stallion over to him. “Javian, where is Bucephalus?”
“Master Levi,” Javian said as the imposing horse behind him grunted forcefully in frustration. “You retired Bucephalus close to five years ago.”
Levi rubbed his forehead as this new stallion’s golden eyes watched him with an intensity Levi could not explain. “Why would I have retired one of the best Guardian horses I have ever known?”
“You saw the fierceness within Areion,” the young woman pleasantly responded, bringing Levi’s attention back to her. “You believed Areion was more of an aggressive war horse, and you felt it was time to give your good friend Bucephalus a rest.”