by K.N. Lee
Dawn of the Forgotten
Eura Chronicles Book Three
K.N. Lee
Contents
Ellowen World Info
Realm: Kyril
Realm: Alfheim
Realm: Nostfar
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
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
An Exclusive Excerpt from Waking the Dark
An Exclusive Excerpt from Throne of Deceit
An Exclusive Look at The Way of Thieves
A Look at Fallen Empire
Dawn of the Forgotten Playlist
About the Author
Also by K.N. Lee
Copyright © 2018 by K.N. Lee
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Ellowen World Info
Realm: Kyril
Realm: Alfheim
Realm: Nostfar
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
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
An Exclusive Excerpt from Waking the Dark
An Exclusive Excerpt from Throne of Deceit
An Exclusive Look at The Way of Thieves
A Look at Fallen Empire
Dawn of the Forgotten Playlist
About the Author
Also by K.N. Lee
Ellowen World Info
Realm: Eura
Human, mermaid, and Mithrani territory
Human Traits
Focus—prominent trait; increased focus
Evasion—the ability to confuse an opponent by making one’s image flicker and shift to another spot
Split—the ability to split into two identical beings Reach
Accuracy—increased precision when using a weapon
Mermaid Traits
Breath—prominent trait; the ability to breathe under water and bestow the power to do so to others temporarily
Hypnosis—the ability to hypnotize others with their eyes
Mithrani Traits
Mock—the ability to manipulate the prominent trait of every race
Realm: Kyril
Tryan, fairy, and mermaid territory
Tryan Traits
Enchant—prominent trait; the ability to make weapons or items stronger and more powerful
Creation—the ability to create objects from ordinary materials or invent new ones
Blessed shield—a shield of energy that protects its user
Vex—the ability to confuse an opponent temporarily
Mind Telling—the ability to read the thoughts of others
Fairy Traits
Heal—prominent trait; the ability to heal wounds with energy power
Enchant—the ability to make weapons or items stronger and more powerful
Flight—the ability to fly
Soothe—the ability to calm others, including animals
Realm: Alfheim
Silver Elf and mermaid territory
Silver Elves
Agility—prominent trait; the ability to climb and increased balance
Focus—increased focus
Accuracy—increased precision when using a weapon
Stealth—the ability to go invisible
Shift—the ability to change into an animal
Realm: Nostfar
Shadow Elf and mermaid territory
Shadow Elf
Dart—prominent trait; lightning-fast speed
Rage—the ability to become more powerful when angry
Camouflage—the ability to blend into their surroundings
Prologue
Time seemed to slow, if not freeze as he walked through the city of Avia’Torena.
With each step forward, the air grew tighter, and those unfortunate enough to be in his presence were left immobile, dumbstruck in the middle of their daily tasks. A hummingbird froze mid-air beside them, drawn to the glowing aura that encircled the mystical being in their midst.
The dust settled, and the world returned to normal once he passed by. But, what lay ahead would quake beneath his steady stride.
Golden and brass armor covered the chest, and shoulders of a god taller than any man or creature on the entire face of Ellowen. As the warrior Ancient, he never let his mighty spike free from his grasp.
Wexcyn, the Ancient god of the Mithrani, had returned.
“What will we do, Master?” Sister Evaline asked as she followed him from the palace and to the temple in the center of the city. There awaited the emperor, sick with the curse she and Wexcyn had lifted, and delirious with visions and night terrors. “There will be gods from other worlds coming to spy, or worse, invaders.”
“Let them come. I will face them all.”
“And, what of the emperor?”
“Rid him of the taint of that girl,” he said in a voice that made her shudder with each syllable. “The Flame has weakened Kavien. Make him strong again.”
Evaline tensed as Wexcyn cast his bright, silver-eyed gaze on her. For a moment, she was too afraid to move, even though she was one of the most powerful sorceress in Ellowen.
She was queen. If she believed in fate and what the prophecies stated, she might very well rise as a god of her race as well.
Still, she was nothing in comparison to the god before her.
She met his gaze and hid the fear from her face.
The resemblance between Emperor Kavien and his father was uncanny. Wexcyn was just as muscle-bound, yet a great deal taller, with skin that shimmered like freshly polished brass. He looked to be a few years older, old enough to pass for Kavien’s brother rather than his father, but there was an air about him that was unmistakably authoritative.
His head was clean-shaven, with tattoos of his crest and symbols of the Ancient’s language carved into the flesh and running down the back of his neck to the small of his naked back.
“I will try my best,” Evaline said, nodding as they continue to the black gates of the temple.
She lifted a hand and the doors opened. It was early dawn, and the other sisters would just be awakening to execute their daily duties. The one level temple was deceiving at first glance. There were several levels underground, housing the hundreds of young and old sorceresses alike.
There was also a floor dedicated
to the girls taken from their homes. Their future predecessors—girls that would become magic users themselves if proven worthy. It was the sole duty of her race.
To thrive and multiply.
Once Wexcyn stepped inside the gates, he paused and looked right to the door where Kavien was being kept in a small altar room.
“Go now,” he said to her. “Awaken him. The time has come.”
1
Red dragon scales glistened under the light of the bright sun as Wilem and Jorge rode Vleta over the frozen canyons.
The wind blew through his rust-colored hair, cooling his face as Vleta carried them into the Silver Elf realm.
Alfheim, the land of the mysterious elves Wilem had only heard stories of.
Ved and Vars flew alongside, their translucent wings flapping quickly, and their armor and swords shining. The fairy kingdoms fled the poisonous plague of Kyril, and with them Wilem might find safety.
He could only hope.
As a king without a kingdom, he was at the mercy of his fairy friends. Prince Liam had left him in their care, and after the Shadow Elf attack, it was time to find a new place of refuge.
Dunhaven.
It was a fitting title for a place where a young boy could hide from those who sought to slay him the way they butchered his entire family.
“Nearly there, Wilem,” Ved said over the whishing of the frigid wind.
Wilem leaned forward, holding tight to Vleta’s neck as she soared over the stunning landscape of glittering ice and snow. This was Alfheim, the land of the Silver Elves, and no Tryan had stepped foot in their realm for centuries.
With the destruction of The Barrier, life would be changed for every race.
Dark trees lined the Silver River and made way for a grand settlement of circular houses wrapped around the base and tops of the straight and narrow trees.
The trees reached into the clouds, and the crystalline waterfalls cascaded down the opening of the mountain where two statues of Silver Elf soldiers stood, their swords outstretched above the bridge that stood over the waterfall’s pass.
“Its beautiful,” Jorge said, in awe. “You think we could stay here?”
“We shall see,” he said.
“It reminds me of Raeden,” Jorge added, his voice lowered, and laden with sadness.
Nodding, Wilem inhaled a deep sigh.
Raeden had been a grand kingdom with tall buildings and advanced architecture. But—this was remarkable. The buzz activity sparked their attention. Elves darted through the sky, astrid giant birds, and down to the city floor like bolts of lightning.
He sat up and narrowed his eyes for a better look. Perhaps they might finally have a place to call home again.
“Down there,” Vars said, leading the way for Vleta to land.
As they flew by, a few elves stopped to watch, their eyes wide with wonder of the boys on a dragon. It was said that they had all died ages ago, yet Wilem had the talisman of the Tryans passed down to him.
He was the keeper, and would execute his duties until Prince Liam returned and asked him otherwise.
He couldn’t help but stare back at the beautiful creatures hovering in the air. There were twice as many as in Vars and Veds kingdom in Kyril. What would the elves of Alfheim be like?
He noticed that their brows and hair were mostly white and their cheeks were almost translucent, like glass, with a faint blue hue to their cheeks.
Once they landed, Wilem hopped from Vleta’s back and stood at her side. Jorge slid down beside him, wringing his hands with worry.
“They’re staring at us,” he whispered, nudging Wilem in the ribs. “Do you think we are welcome here?”
Wilem gave Vleta a pat on the back, and she faded into the air like dust swept away by a gentle breeze. She was then sucked back into the talisman on a chain around his neck.
“We shall see,” he said, the warmth of the brass and gold against his chest comforting him.
“This way,” Vars said, leading them through a crowd of elves who stood much taller than them as they walked down the white, stone path.
Angular buildings made of glass stood on either side, their doors open to what looked to Wilem like places of worship. He caught a glimpse of statues that resembled the giant birds the elves rode, and glanced down at the floor.
Trails of silver water flowed through intricately carved crevices that made the ground look as if it glittered under the sunlight above.
While the clouds crawled across the dull, blue-gray sky, a giant white bird with a long golden beak and silky feathers flew down and landed just before the main building that stood in the center of the city.
His brows lifted as an elegant elf leaped from the back of the bird and strode over to them in a long, ivory gown laced with small crystals.
He swallowed once their eyes met—eyes that seemed to read every secret in his head and judge him for it. She did not appear to be kind. Not a hint of a smile was visible. On the contrary, she grimaced as she looked him over, her ice-blue eyes flickering up to Vars and Ved as she stopped and crossed her arms.
“You dare to bring a Tryan to my kingdom,” she said, her voice sure and authoritative. Her long silver hair reached her waist in waves that resembled the ice that covered the side of the mountains of Dunhaven. “Surely, you’re aware of our everlasting feud.”
His fairy companions bowed to her. “Queen Cordelia,” they said in unison.
“We had hoped that in this new dawn that all past grievances would be forgiven. They are but children.”
“Tryan children,” she said.
“Not just any children, your royal majesty. We bring to you the heir of Raeden, a true Legacy, the keeper of dragons,” Ved said, glancing back at Wilem.
For a moment, true surprise flashed across her eyes. That moment was brief, for she turned her nose up at him directly after.
“What does any of that have to do with Dunhaven? We have no use for Tryan children, or their dragons.”
Ved cleared his throat. “We seek refuge. Kyril suffers from such evil that our people have had to leave their ancestral homes and find salvation elsewhere.”
“And,” she said. “Where are your people?”
“Queen Evie leads them here as we speak.”
She sighed, and turned away from them. “Very well,” she said. “I shall reserve judgement for when your queen arrives. I do wish to hear what she plans to offer Dunhaven in exchange for refuge. And, the boys—the Tryans—they may stay in the palace until such time.”
A weight was lifted from Wilem’s shoulders as she said those words. He and Jorge shared a look of relief and began to follow her, until she went on to finish her sentence.
“As my prisoners.”
Before he could react, the talisman was ripped from his neck, and carried Wilem and Jorge along.
2
Wilem’s heart raced as he and Jorge were marched into the Dunhaven palace.
Ved and Vars followed behind, pleading with the queen to let them go free.
“Enough,” she said, her patience worn thin. “The children will not be harmed. They will simply be kept under my protection for the time being.”
“As your prisoners,” Wilem reminded her, his voice unsteady.
Jorge, practically terrified, looked to him with a face that had paled. He clutched Wilem’s arm, frozen in place.
“Don’t worry,” he whispered. “We will be fine.”
“Yes,” she said, walking ahead. “I cannot have my enemy wandering around unchecked. You will remain in the tower until I decide what to do with you.”
“Queen—” Ved began, and she spun around, eyes narrowed.
“Enough,” she said, her voice steady. “I have made my decision. You can remain in the tower with them if it will ease your worries.”
That at least made Wilem relax, if only a little. From prince to prisoner. This was not what his parents had prepared him for. But, he would be strong, nonetheless.
He looked t
o Vars and Ved who nodded.
She glanced at Wilem, shoulders drawn back. For a brief moment, her face softened when she searched his eyes. With a sigh, she continued.
“No harm will come of the children,” she said, turning away. “Now, I have important matters to attend to. Good day.”
With that, she slipped away down an adjoining hall, leaving them alone with her guards.
They led them up a series of tiny steps that reached the top of the tall tower. Small windows looked out to the outside world, reminding Wilem that in a few short moments, he would lose his freedom, and he was unsure what fate awaited.
One of the guards opened the door to what would be their lodging.