by J D Franx
“Where do they go, you think?” Corleya asked.
Lycori shook her head. “If they were part of an underground stream at one time, I expect we'll come out at a river or even a lake perhaps.”
“Shh,” Alia snapped suddenly. Seconds passed, but Corleya heard nothing. “You hear that?” Alia asked, staring hard at Lycori.
“I did, dammit.” Lycori cursed. “They must use these tunnels too. We need to hurry. If they catch my scent, we'll be swarmed.”
“Swarmed? By what?”
“Mahala, Corleya. Move,” Alia snapped.
“Go,” Lycori said. “I'll watch your backs, but hurry.”
Corleya and Alia moved through the tunnels as fast as they dared. It took only a minutes before they could both hear the hunters.
Nook, nook, nook.
The sound grew louder as they grew closer. Talohna’s cruel Deep Earth killers actively pursued them, and Corleya realized the childhood stories told to her by her nannies about the Mahala were true.
“Faster, Princess,” Alia whispered more urgently.
Corleya stole a quick look back over her shoulder as all hell broke loose behind them. “Lycori.” She gasped.
Alia grabbed her by the arm and shoved her. “Faster,” she repeated.
“We can't leave her—”
“She is coming.” Alia cut her off.
Glancing back again, Corleya saw Lycori's glowing eyes moments before she materialized out of the dark tunnel, moving faster than seemed possible.
“Faster, Corleya!” she screamed and tossed a headless Mahala to the dirt as two more dropped onto her from overhead. All three tumbled to the passage floor.
“Mother Santia,” Alia yelled. “There are tunnels above us. Be careful, Princess.”
Corleya nodded. The death cries of what she hoped were the Mahala reached her ears as she burst out of the tunnel, tripped on a root, and crashed into the sandbanks of a shallow stream. Scrambling to her feet, she turned in time to see Alia join her. A bruised and bleeding Lycori arrived seconds later. Corleya shook her head and rubbed her eyes, almost positive a set of wings had disappeared into Lycori’s back. Her eyes had to be playing tricks on her.
“We should be safe for now. They were just ranging scouts,” Lycori said, barely out of breath.
“We are not the first to be chased here by Mahala,” Alia replied, walking toward the remains of several Mahala skeletons.
“Months old—close to a year even. There are a lot more tunnels on... that side...” Lycori gestured into the distance from where they came from as she approached. “Well done, Kael,” she whispered.
“They were wizards,” Alia added. “At least two… no, three. One was incredibly tall or fast, perhaps. You knew them?”
Lycori nodded. “They are long gone now.”
“Yes,” Alia said. “Many months gone.”
“Here,” Corleya called to them. “The stream heads out of the cavern this way.” The stream emptied out into a sand-filled ocean bay surrounded by mountain rock. A man dressed in a black peacoat stared down at them from a high outcrop of rock.
“That's the Sea of Storms,” Lycori said, pointing out to the ocean. “I always wondered how you did it, brother.”
“Very good guess. Both guesses actually,” Damien Krass replied, bowing as he jumped off of the piled rocks. “You can thank me now, if you like.”
“Bastard,” Lycori growled, but did not attack. They were surrounded by a dozen pirates and all held silver blades at the ready. “Those won't kill me, Damien.”
“But they will slow and weaken you enough, so I can cut that demon-cursed head from your body.” He chuckled. “That will kill you. But I don't want to kill you, Lycori. Trying to help ya. You are making it rather difficult, though.”
“Help?” Corleya snapped. “Starving us and keeping us locked up for months? You bastard.”
“Stop,” Damien whined. “Gods, grant me some patience. Look. You want to go?” He sheathed his silver blade and ordered his crew to do the same. “You are free to go. The Suns of Blood grants you amnesty. Go.”
“Just like that?” Corleya demanded.
Damien nodded and flung his hands to the side as he bowed, but Alia cut him off before he could speak.
“Not just,” she guessed. “Suns, yes. Ancients, no?”
“That is the just of it,” he shouted over her. Ending the bow, he pointed at her with both hands. “You are free to go. The inlet is that way, but currently about twelve Ancient controlled ships are anchored there, and you will never make it over land—not as weak as you all are.”
“Let me guess,” Lycori said, approaching the pirate. Damien’s crew drew their weapons, again. She held up her hands as if to say she was approaching in peace while she continued, “The Suns have a way out.”
“But, of course, demon. Though not the Suns per say. You will have to follow me if you want to remain free of that cell.”
Alia nodded slightly, and Corleya glanced her way.
The vampyr shook her head. There was really no other option for them. “Lead the way, pirate.”
Damien smiled and led them from the bay into a grass valley before heading back up the mountain. They walked for hours, circling the valley and slipping past Flatwater Bay without being seen. Just when Corleya was certain her feet were going to give out, Damien led them off the trail and through to a small clearing.
Corleya gasped. Dominique Havarrow and his first mate waited for them.
“My apologies for the cloak and dagger as well as the treatment, ladies,” the pirate commander said. “I had no interest in any of you.”
“You have a strange way of showing it,” Corleya snapped.
Dominique frowned and shook his finger. “Be careful, Princess Corleya.”
“You know?” Lycori asked.
“Yes. From the moment Sythrnax took her from the Sartaq.”
“And you said nothing. Why?” Corleya questioned.
“Knowledge is always worth something, Princess. There was no profit in telling Sythrnax and the Ancients who you were. You were their prisoners, not mine.”
“But there is profit in letting us go?” Lycori asked. Disbelief rode every word.
Dominique laughed. “Perhaps in the long run.”
Lycori snorted. “How?”
“If I told you, Lycori Alatar, you would never believe me.”
“Try me, Northman, you might be surprised.”
“Fair enough. It took me a while to get the details, but it seems you and I had a mutual friend. One who meant a very great deal to us both.”
“Bullshit,” she spat.
“You are not the only one to escape this mountain of hell. In fact, there are still Dead Sisters in Arkum Zul,” Damien told her. “Where do you think he ended up? The man you consider a brother?”
“Kael?” Lycori whispered.
“Yes,” Dominique said, nodding. “After his escape from here, he eventually passed through Dasal, and he saved my daughter's life. He rescued her from slavers.”
Lycori shook her head. “But you're a Northman... shit!” She gasped. “You offered him a kreeda? Even though Kael's not Northman?”
Dominique nodded. “I did. As was my right to do so. He accepted, as was his.”
“Your clan owes him a life then.”
“And he will get more than just a single life. By Tyr’s bloody blades, he will.”
“What does that mean?” Corleya asked, confused.
Dominique stood and moved closer. “Kael died a few months ago, Lycori. He was killed in Kazzador City by an assassin working for Sythrnax. I only found out a few days ago. One of his captains told me about what Sythrnax and the Dead Sisters did to you and Kael before your death, and then Kael's escape from the opposite set of tunnels you just used.”
“No, no...” Lycori let out, slowly sitting on a fallen log.
Corleya’s heart broke at the depth of devastation etching its way onto Lycori’s face. She went to h
er friend to comfort her.
“I am sorry,” Dominique offered up. “This world needed someone like him.”
Lycori ran her palms over her eyes and took a deep breath. “You are going to attack the Ancients.”
“No. At least, not right now. Unfortunately, Northman honor and the Kreeda Oath each work both ways. To satisfy the deal I have with Sythrnax, we will return his people to their homeland. After we do, I will recall all Suns and MyrkrVatn ships that are not tied to the civil war on Kastalborg Island, and we will devote our time to making the Ancients’ lives pure hell.”
“And what of us?” Corleya asked.
“Below us is small vessel. The three of you will be able to handle it. You cannot sail south, so you must go north through Dark Cliffs Pass along the Kasym's southern edge. If you follow the Black Hollow shoreline, you will come out on the north side of the WhiteWyrm Ocean. You need to go home, Princess Corleya. Your own country is also on the verge of civil war.”
“I guessed as much,” she answered. “With no heir in court, some of the nobles will question whether or not my father should remain on the throne.”
“It has already begun,” Havarrow's first mate informed her. “Several powerful nobles have called in their marks and are assembling troops. In a matter of weeks, the fighting will be at your father’s door, and from what we are hearing, even the Pillars of Rule will be hard pressed to hold back the forces assembling against him. We should leave. Now.”
Dominique nodded. “This is my sister and my first mate, Shasta Trey. She will lead you to your ship.”
“I can't,” Lycori said, shaking her head. “I must return to the RedMaw clan. I have been gone for over a year. I wish you all the best, Princess, but I must return home also.”
Shasta frowned. “They will never be able to sail the Black River and the Dark Cliffs with only two and be able to operate the cannons Eamon installed.”
“No, they won’t.” Havarrow agreed. “The two of them will never hold the vessel. The current will drag them into the Jaws.”
Damien stood and stretched while he coughed and finally yawned. “Well then, I guess I will have to go with them.” He laughed as Corleya and Alia frowned at the idea. “Seeing as how we Suns are being bloody gods-cursed heroes now.”
“Great,” Corleya muttered.
“Do not worry, Princess,” he said. Laughing, he threw his arms wide. “Heroes are gentlemen, don't ya know.” He bellowed as he turned. “I will even prepare the ship for our royal departure.”
Alia glared after him. “He will die if he—”
“He will behave,” Shasta interrupted, raising her voice so Damien could hear. “Or I will castrate him myself. Now, come. Weapons, clothing, and food are already aboard as well as a new weapon that your ship will most definitely need if you go astray or are forced into the Jaws.”
Corleya turned to Lycori and hugged her tight. “Thank you for everything. I'm sorry about your friend.”
Lycori nodded. “Thank you, Princess. You two take good care of each other. Travel safe.”
“Time to go.” Shasta prompted their departure gently before walking into the trees. “My brother and I must get back to Arkum Zul before Sythrnax or the Vikress become suspicious of our absence.”
Corleya and Alia followed.
Dominique hung around, eventually sitting beside Lycori on the fallen log. “I am sorry about Kael. I would have never seen my daughter, again, if not for him.”
“You knew what he was?”
“Aye. He was traveling with a Dead Sister, and he was brave, or stupid enough to walk right onto my flagship unannounced. Neither of them were anything like the legends have led us to believe Though, he was equal parts brave and crazy.”
“He was not always like that,” Lycori said, smiling. “Someday you will have to tell me that story.”
Dominique nodded. “Agreed. On a day when we are once again on the same side.”
Laughing, she nodded. “Talohna has a way of changing things like that. We may be enemies next time we meet.”
“True, on both accounts. But Bauro BlackSpawn is dead and the Suns’ armada belongs to me, so for today, you and I are allies. I will bet, that on any tomorrow, we will remain so. Our friendship with Kael assures it. Be well, Mistress Vampire.”
Lycori raised her eyebrow at the pronunciation.
Dominique laughed while tossing her a small travel pack with several water skins of Human blood. Unbuckling a scabbard and short sword from his waist, he offered the rune-engraved Northman blade to her and bowed. “You may fool most, Demon, but you cannot fool everyone. You are not the only DemonKind I have met, rare as you are. That blade holds the angel of ice rune. It was forged by my father. I gathered it would be more fitting than a blade forged with a fire rune? Be careful.” As Lycori nodded her thanks, he turned on his heel and nearly disappeared into the forest. For a brief moment, he paused at the tree line and called over his shoulder, “I know not whether it’ll help, but I have heard rumors that the DormaSain king and queen knew Kael very well. I have also heard that the two wizards who escaped with Kael returned to Cethos. Perhaps they would be worth a visit before returning to Salo RedMaw?”
He vanished among the trees without another word, and Lycori grinned at the news of Kalmar and Galen being alive as she vanished in the opposite direction.
Chapter Nine
"To my beloved Kael,
It has been ten months your death. It's been a very long and difficult year. You would be sad to see what is happening to our surrogate home. Talohna has become a true and living nightmare for some countries and for many people. The Blood Kingdoms can only sit back and watch as Cethos tears itself apart with civil war, and a little over a month ago, there was a Black Sun. It was terrifying and surreal, but incredibly beautiful all at the same time. The eerie darkness lasted for three hours. As far as we know here in DormaSai, none of the children born during the three hours were found, and we pray that there was only one or two because there is no one left to find however many were born. The ArchWizard, Saleece, Kasik... all are still missing.
Max, Yrlissa, Aravae, and I have taken refuge in DormaSai under the protection of its king and queen. Protection that was short-lived, for now we are threatened by war as well. Ellorya's emperor blusters and threatens while having the audacity to demand my hand in marriage. King and Queen Kohl refuse to bend under his pressure, and war can be the only outcome if he does not back down. Elloryan people worship the Fae like gods, more so than the rest of Talohna worship the real gods. To most Elloryans, I am a living god. Because of this, they refuse to see reason or understand that an Elloryan-DormaSai war would be the stepping stone to a world-wide war.
I’m scared, Kael, and I wish you were here. I miss you more with each passing day. We should have reached you in time, but I failed you when you needed me the most. I will see you again someday, love, even if it is in the Halls of Paradise after my own death."
Excerpt from Ember Syme's personal diary,
5026 PC
DORMASAI, SOUTHERN KINGDOM
SUMMER'S DAWN, 5026 PC
Darkness settled over DormaSai's Capitol city of Drae'Kahn. Torches positioned throughout the city cast differing levels of light into the darkest alleys of the blackest neighborhoods as music and chatter from the taverns drifted out onto the evening’s cool air. Even though threatened with war—or perhaps in spite of it—the city and those living in it continued unabated with their lives.
Ember Symes, the last Fae in Talohna, watched the flickering lights as the evening breeze peaked, and she listened to the sounds of happiness while standing on the balcony of her room high up in BlackVoid Castle, the home of DormaSai's king and queen.
The previous king had been the vilest of tyrants and had eventually led his country into civil war. A war that Nekrosa and Sephi had won. Ten years had passed and DormaSai prospered under their rule, but Ember knew their lenient laws on magic would always make them a target. Even though Nekros
a and Sephi had risen to power on a wave of blood and undead magic, Ember felt safer than she had in a long time while in their presence.
Nekrosa and Sephi granted Max, Ember, and Aravae, along with Yrlissa and her daughter, Cassie, official sanctuary after returning from the Dyrannai Forest where they had interred Ember's husband.
Ember could not help but think of the chaos that followed during their months in the forest. Rumors that the DragonKin had captured the ArchWizard, Saleece, and Kasik, along with a priestess of Mylla, Sister Nikki, just moments before Ember, Max and their new allies arrived at the Animus Seal ran with intense abandon throughout the cities and towns of Talohna.
Wildly exaggerated tales that the Ancients had returned to Talohna were also spreading like an uncontrolled wildfire. Many of Talohna's citizens believed it was only a matter of days or weeks before it became public knowledge. After countless millennia of heralding the Ancients as the founders of modern magic and civilization, the people of Talohna had real hope for the future should they return.
Ember shook her head. She was beginning to doubt all she had heard over the last year. Though she remained loyal to Nekrosa and Sephi for their help, Yrlissa’s warnings were starting to fall on deaf ears. The woman whose words she once trusted over all others now seemed tainted with lies and personal agendas. Betrayal had that affect.
A light knock rapped on her door. Ember’s magic told her it was the Queen.
“Come in,” Ember called out. She glanced over her shoulder as Sephi entered. Dressed in a flowing, white silk gown, Sephi seemed to glide across the room's polished marble flooring without stepping on it. Ember smiled as the Queen bumped against her playfully. Sephi was a warrior few could rival and an even more ferocious friend.
"Are you ready, my dear?” she asked. “The Conclave is about to begin."
"As I'll ever be, I guess," Ember replied. Not making eye-contact, she continued to stare out into the city. Sephi put her left arm around Ember's shoulders and held her tight.
"I know the past ten months have been hard, hun. Kael's death was a senseless loss caused by ignorant fools. I am so sorry this meeting has to take place."