Call of the Waters (Elemental Realms Book 2)
Page 25
“It sounds amazing.”
“Yes, and if I find it, there will be maps I can use to find the air gateway.” He slipped his hand into hers. “Please, come with me.”
“You know I can’t, not yet.” She dropped her eyes. Yes, the adventure sounds exciting, but I don’t want exciting. I just want you, and you aren’t even ready to say you love me.
“Because of your family?” He sighed. “I worry, Quill. You’ll never be happy if you always put others before yourself.”
“And I worry that if you don’t learn to put others before yourself, you’ll end up alone.” She touched his cheek. He must’ve shaved that morning, for his chin was now smooth. She memorized his face.
“This is really good-bye, then?” His arm moved about her waist.
“For now. If you need a place to winter, we could make room for you. Even migrating birds have nesting grounds.”
Bending down, he brought his lips to hers. His chest rose and fell beneath her, his warmth blurring her thoughts. For a moment, her entire world was him. His fingers twisted into her hair, and he lifted her off the ground.
Then he released her and without another word walked into the trees.
Quill’s knees weakened. I’m not going to cry. I made my choice, and it was the right choice. I’m not going to be a baby about it.
She turned and froze. Father stood in the doorway.
He stepped forward. “Your mother and I would both understand if you went with him.”
She forced a half-hearted shrug. “The timing isn’t right.” In spite of her words, her heart still longed for Gabrin. She forced herself not to look after him … and pushed aside hope that he’d change his mind and come back for her.
“Pet can open water portals now.” She changed the subject.
“Yes … and apparently she might have always been able to open earth portals, just nothing comes through them.” He touched his daughter’s shoulder. Worry tainted his aspect.
“I spoke with Vess last night. She may come here so she can visit through Pet’s portals. First she wants to set up the defense of the Evermirrror, so the Earth Speakers don’t close it again. She thinks they must’ve closed the air gateway as well.”
“It makes sense, though I’d like to know their motives,” Karvir said.
“What do you think will happen now?”
“I’m not sure. The Water Folk are benevolent. Our experience with both Fire and Earth makes me cautious, though. Every portal we open is a risk. For now, however, we’re safe, and for that, I’m grateful.” He kissed his daughter’s forehead and went inside.
Quill drew a deep breath. The energy of the Water Elementals flowed along with her blood now, whispering to her. If needed, she could draw it to the surface. Yes, she’d returned home, but she was different. Everything was different.
Once a portal was opened, the world changed. For good or for ill.
Epilogue
Arana stumbled through passages of the cave. Her body ached, for since her failure at the Water gateway, her Earthen Lord had been silent, depriving her of his power. Without his strength, her body felt frail, useless. Sometimes she had doubted she would make it back to Wrath Mountain.
Finally, it loomed on the horizon.
The sentries hadn’t questioned her approach, though many gawked at her haggard appearance. Vyvan spied her and attempted to question her on the whereabouts of his brother and cousins. She’d ignored him. He knew better than to follow her into the Sanctuary around the Earthen Gate.
At the back of a cave, a bottomless pit descended. Flickering candles and kneeling Earth Speakers surrounded it. Arana collapsed at its edge. Her hands clawed at the earth.
“My Lord,” she wept, “please give me hearing. I have failed, and I will accept my punishment, just allow me to die at your feet.”
The ground rumbled, and the pit glowed a pale green. From it emerged a creature of stone and metal, with glinting black eyes. Its limbs were like boulders, and its head scraped the ceiling of the cavern, forty feet above.
“As of yet, I have use for you,” the Earthen Lord’s voice echoed.
The kneeling Earth Speakers flattened, pressing their faces into the earth and stretching their arms towards their master.
“The power has shifted. We can no longer prevent the portals from opening.” He swept his eyes about those gathered. “When the power of the portal keeper departed our Realm, within a year it rose again within the Fire Realm, and the results were disastrous. When it passed from them, we had hope for a renewed period of peace and isolation. The opening of the Water gateway, however, heralds the end of that hope.”
“Do you believe the Water Demons have the portal keeper?” a male Earth Speaker asked.
“No, we have been aware for some time that it passed to the Convergence.”
A shudder cut down Arana’s spine. Humans had the portal keeper? “Why didn’t you tell us?” she burst out.
The Earthen Lord’s dark eyes fell upon her, and she shriveled into the dirt.
“We considered it no threat. After their experience with the Fire Folk, isolation seemed in the humans’ best interest as well as our own. When the keeper was young, she revealed herself accidentally to us, opening several portals into our Realm, but we forbade our people to go through them, and after a time, they ceased. Now, however, she has begun to experiment again. Killing her was not in our interest, for we could not control where the powers might arise next. We have, however, been preparing for this eventuality.”
“What would you have of me?” Arana whispered.
“We must prepare for war. Several years ago, the human keeper sent us a gift: three of your own people. We spent years experimenting … tests that cost one of the subjects his life, but the others are now strong as well as fully in our control. Behold: the Earth Slaves.” The Earthen Lord gestured to his feet. The gateway to the Earthen Realm flickered and two human-like-beings stumbled forward. Their skin had a grayish tint, like the texture of stone, and their eyes were cold and empty. They stared blankly forward, as if waiting for a command.
Arana gasped. They’re beautiful. No human frailty, skin of stone, strength of earth.
“My Lord!” She sprang to her feet, hands clasped. “Please, grant me the gift. Make me as them.”
“Nay, my eager servant, not yet. You are still more useful to us in your human form. These Slaves lack free will and are easily marked among humans. However, they feel no pain, know no fear, and will be merciless in tracking our enemies.” The Earthen Lord stepped towards her. The walls of the cavern shook. “We will drive the other Elementals back into their Realms and destroy all the heathens who choose to bond with them. The reign of the Earth is coming.”
The End
ABOUT H. L. Burke
Born in a small town in north central Oregon, H. L. Burke spent most of her childhood around trees and farm animals and always accompanied by a book. Growing up with epic heroes from Middle Earth and Narnia keeping her company, she also became an incurable romantic.
An addictive personality, she jumped from one fandom to another, being at times completely obsessed with various books, movies, or television series (Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek all took their turns), but she has grown to be what she considers a well-rounded connoisseur of geek culture.
Married to her high school crush who is now a US Marine, she has moved multiple times in her adult life but believes home is wherever her husband, two daughters, and pets are.
For information about H. L. Burke's latest novels, author news and events, or to contact the writer, go to
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Also by H. L. Burke
For Middle Grade Readers
Thaddeus Whiskers and the Dragon
For Young Adult Readers
An Ordinary Knight
Beggar Magic
Nyssa Glass and the House of Mirrors
Nyssa Gla
ss and the Juliet Dilemma
Nyssa Glass and the Cutpurse Kid
The Elemental Realms Series
An Epic Fantasy Saga
Book One: Lands of Ash
Book Two: Call of the Waters
The Dragon and the Scholar Saga (1-4)
A Fantasy Romance Series
Dragon's Curse
Dragon's Debt
Dragon's Rival
Dragon's Bride