The New Age Saga Box Set

by Timothy A. Ray

  Slowly, signs of a conflict came into view and he slowed his horse in anticipation of what they were about to find. The warriors had slowed as well and Melissa’s eyes were scanning the area, her lips moving while casting a spell. “There are three life signs ahead,” she finally told him, and he nodded his head in response.

  Reyna and Kore dismounted, their weapons drawn and held ready. He followed suit and whispered to the horse to remain behind while he made his way forward.

  The black knight swept left as Kore went right. There had been a battle of some kind and he was having trouble locating who had been involved or why? Ajax, Riska’s mount, was watching them approach, crouched and ready to leap if they showed any sign of aggression. Laying on the ground behind the beast’s hind legs was his rider lying prone and spread-eagled; apparently unconscious.

  A whimpering sound drew his attention and as he shifted his gaze to his left he saw Melissa moving forward to the sound’s source. She knelt next to Kylee’s wolf companion and he winced at the multiple arrows protruding from Tuskar’s body. She was running her hand over the wolf’s body, summoning her magic in order to probe his wounds without actual contact. He glanced at the cougar crouching nearby and saw several arrows piercing the leather saddle as well.

  “The arrows were dipped with toxin, only lethal when given in large doses. I’m sorry Merlin, there isn’t anything that I can do,” she told him as he came to stand over the fallen wolf.

  Although he hadn’t shared the link that Kylee had enjoyed with the beast, it still pained his heart to see Tuskar in so much pain. He had been a member of the group just as much as any other and the labored breathing increased the ache in his heart. Kneeling by the wolf’s side, he watched as Tuskar’s eye rolled to look at him, the pleading within breaking his heart. “I’m sorry, my friend,” he whispered softly, putting his hand on Tuskar’s head. Summoning his magic, he entered the wolf’s mind and began to replay the events that led up to their arrival.

  Kylee and Riska had been ambushed in the night, dark humanoids cloaked in black, firing arrows from the shadows. Riska had fought valiantly until he was eventually overpowered by the attackers, knocked unconscious and left for dead. Tuskar had taken multiple shots and Kylee’s rage had driven her to attack the cloaked figures with unbridled fury. The wolf hadn’t seen what had happened to her, but through their link he had sensed that she was overpowered and bound, then spirited away just as quickly as the attack had taken place.

  Kylee had been alive when she’d disappeared from the stricken wolf’s sight.

  He stroked Tuskar’s head, a tear leaking from his eye. “You will see her again, wait for her on the other side. Hopefully it’ll be awhile before she gets there,” Merlin said in a soothing voice, then summoned his magic and pinched a nerve in the wolf’s brain. His breathing stopped immediately, and he could sense the wolf’s heart slowly fade into silence. Standing up, he turned to the cougar just as Melissa was rising to come to his side. “We’re here to help,” Merlin told Ajax, his hands open in a friendly gesture as he approached the downed dwarf.

  The cougar growled at him but didn’t interfere as he moved past and knelt down next to the beast’s rider. Riska’s breathing was even and he felt some relief that the dwarf hadn’t suffered from multiple arrow shots as well. Muttering under his breath, he commanded the dwarf to wake and Riska’s eyes flew open.

  “Aw,” the Dwarf commented immediately, a hand rising to block the afternoon sun from penetrating the warrior’s straining eyes.

  “Anything broken?” he asked as Riska attempted to sit up. He reached out and lent the warrior a hand and was gratified to see that he was apparently unhurt.

  “Jist mah pride,” Riska muttered, shaking the cobwebs free as the brown eyes turned to gaze up at him. “Where’s Kylee?”

  Merlin’s gaze shifted north, his mind searching the surrounding area for any sign of their missing ranger. “Taken,” he replied simply and heard the dwarf groan in response. “And our only link to her lies dead over yonder.”

  “Ah nae, nae Tuskar,” the dwarf moaned, a hand covering his face as if to hide tears.

  “There are tracks heading north towards the mountains in the distance,” Reyna told them, her eyes drawn to the slain wolf as she spoke. “It’s a shame; he was a good fighter.”

  It surprised him that the black knight even cared, yet he pushed his perceptions aside and eyed the orc approaching from his right. “Kore promise Tristan, Kore keep Elf safe,” Kore growled at the mage. He had his axe in hand and his tusks were working with unconcealed anger. “Kore find Elf.” The warrior’s red eyes burned with vengeance.

  Merlin’s eyes drifted west, knowing that somewhere in that direction, the Phoenix’s armies were preparing to march. It didn’t take him long to decide what to do, but the pause caused Melissa’s icy stare to flash his way. “We will find her together.”

  The detour might cost them precious time in reaching Forlorn, but he was not about to abandon the elven ranger to whatever fate awaited her at the hands of her attackers. Despite what the others thought, he wasn’t that cold. Melissa’s eyes were still skeptical, and he could hear the brownie trying to get their attention from his position on the witch’s saddle. “What is it Bleak?” he asked the shouting little man. He had little patience for the brownie’s antics and only asked what he wanted so he’d shut the hell up.

  “Brin’ me wan av dohs arrows!” Bleak shouted back at him and he felt the frustration beginning to build inside. They didn’t have time for this. If they were going to save Kylee, they needed to get moving. The longer they waited, the larger lead their enemy would gain.

  Melissa was already bringing an arrow towards the awaiting brownie and he was about to put an end to this attempt to stall their departure.

  The little man refused to touch the arrow tip, but after a few quick sniffs and a few words of muttered magic, the brownie shook his head and looked in his direction. “Oi recognize de toxin from time Oi spent in de Blackedge Mountains. Dis is de work av Dark Elves.”

  Melissa hissed and Reyna muttered a vicious curse. Kore stared at the mountain range on the northern horizon; eyes searching.

  “She doesn’t have long,” Reyna muttered. “I wish her a swift death.”

  “She’s nae deid yit, ye braw hearted bitch,” the dwarf thundered, his axe grip tightly in hand, spit flying with the anger behind his voice.

  “Might as well be,” the black armored woman responded, her hand flying to the hilt of her sword.

  Merlin’s anger burst forward, and he summoned his blue fire, scorching the earth between the two warrior’s feet. “Knock it off! She’s not dead and we are not going to abandon her,” he said to each in turn.

  “Merlin, we can’t take on the Dark Elves, there’s only six of us. An entire army couldn’t sweep those mountain caves and find her in time to make a difference,” Melissa told him as he glared at the fuming knight and dwarf.

  “Kore find Elf alone,” the orc suddenly declared, moving towards his awaiting mount.

  “Enough!” he yelled, stopping the large warrior in his tracks. “You’re not going alone. Reyna, if you don’t want to go, stay behind, I just never believed you’d back down from a challenge. Riska, focus your anger where it belongs, on those that attacked you. Melissa, I know what problems we face, but we must find a way.”

  Melissa bowed her head and silently gave in.

  “Kore, grab a shovel. We are not going to leave Tuskar to the birds. Give him a proper burial. Bleak, I want to hear everything you know about these Dark Elves, while the two of you,” he turned on the other two warriors, “get lunch prepared. We need to try and eat while we have a chance, we might not get another later,” he commanded. He wanted to set out immediately, time was fleeting, but if they ran in half-cocked—

  “I’m not your damn cook!” Reyna snapped at him and he summoned his magic once more.

  Blue fire leaked from the corner of his eyes and danced along his fingerti
ps. “This is not a discussion. If you want to leave, leave. Otherwise, if you choose to stay, you will not question my orders again. You are whatever I say you to be, you don’t like it, mount up and get your ass out of here. I’m tired of your constant badgering and insinuations, it is unbecoming of the knight you pretend to be.”

  “Fuck you,” she growled, turning on him.

  “Make your decision now. You’re either with us, or you’re on your mount and on your way. You have anger? That’s fine, but you are focusing it on us rather than those truly responsible for your brother’s death and I’ve had it; I’m done. You want a chance at taking down the Phoenix, then this is your best shot, but if you think you can do it on your own, happy travels and don’t let the door hit you on your ass on the way out.”

  Minutes passed as the black knight worked through her options. He knew that she was trying to decide if going on her own really was the better choice. With a stunted growl, she turned and began walking towards her mount. At the last second, her hand reached for her saddle bags rather than the horn of her saddle and he knew that she had chosen to stay.

  Releasing the magic, he turned towards the staring dwarven warrior. “Let’s get a fire going.”

  Kore had taken a shovel and was busy digging a grave for the fallen wolf and for the moment, he and Melissa were alone.

  “You know, I think that woman wants to kill you,” the witch observed after a brief silence.

  “Then she needs to get in line, she’s not the only one,” he remarked, turning his gaze away from the black knight and towards the Blackedge Mountains beyond.

  “Have you got any idea how we are going to go about rescuing her? Or are you just acting on instinct? I don’t have to tell you, we cannot afford to get killed off saving one person. We have a greater responsibility to the other lives at stake. You know that,” Melissa told him, following his gaze north.

  He knew the logic she was trying to use, but he was determined to ignore it. “Moments ago, you were glaring at me for not acting quickly, now you question my determination to go after her? It doesn’t matter, she is one of us. We have already lost two of our number, I will not lose a third. Not when there is something we can do about it. I owe her that much.”

  “You really don’t have a plan, do you?” the witch pushed, turning to look at him.

  “Nope, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. It’s a good thing Tristan and Willow aren’t here, though. We need to find her before we see them again, because pregnant or not, Willow will tear that mountain apart to find her missing sister.”

  Chapter 17

  Fairies

  I

  Tristan followed Erik through the door leading to the throne room, Amysta and Willow close behind. The two women had caught up to them in the corridor and he realized that the fairies’ arrival must have been sweeping through the halls faster than their feet could carry them. He felt excitement rush through his limbs. He hadn’t anticipated the fairies to emerge from their secluded forest; they had remained apart from the other races since the Freedom War had ended.

  His eyes swept to those assembled before the throne and his breath caught in his throat. A tall woman in a regal dark green dress and pale skin floated before a group of six males. Her ears were angled like an elf’s and the tip of her nose ended in a lifted point, as if born snobbish. She had light purple hair, which was weaved into three long braids that flowed just past her waist. Green eyes caught sight of them and watched as they walked forward to greet their guest. A large pair of wings fluttered near the queen’s waist and the wooden gemmed crown on her head sparkled in the reflected afternoon light.

  The males were all dressed in dark green tunics and pants and each kept a passive face at their approach. One of the males, distinguishable from the others by the shape of his short, combed hair, stepped to the queen’s side and bowed. “I have the honor of presenting Jillian Islesage, Queen of the Fairies,” the male told them with reverence, keeping his head bowed and refusing to look up without permission from his monarch.

  “Queen Jillian, your presence here is most welcome,” Erik responded, bowing before the silent queen before him.

  He bowed his head as well, not sure how else to act or what the occasion called for.

  “It’s as much as a surprise to me as it is you. We have not left our home for two millennium and recent circumstances notwithstanding, we would’ve liked to keep it that way,” the Queen finally stated, her voice musical and making his blood sing. It was similar to how Melissa had affected him the first time they met, and it bothered him that he felt it once more; he’d thought that he was beyond such irrational bursts of attraction. He looked to Erik and saw that even the great Elven King was affected as well; he wasn’t the only one to notice.

  Amysta cleared her throat annoyingly from her husband’s side. “Your Majesty, if you would take your glamour under control so that our King may regain his senses and not turn into a blubbering idiot, I would much appreciate it,” she addressed the other woman, making it clear that she was growing angry at the queen’s effect on their men.

  “As would I,” another voice spoke up and he felt an arm reach around and draw him close. He turned to smile at his betrothed and got an icy look in return.

  “It’s not something that I can just turn off, my dear. Glamour is a natural byproduct of being who we are. We can no more switch that off than you can stop breathing. However, if you wish us to leave—?” the queen remarked, making as if to turn away.

  “That is not necessary,” Erik replied quickly, cutting off the retort his wife had been about to make. “Forgive my wife. Recent circumstances have caused her to grow a little overprotective and cautious. I’m sure you can understand that. You said you’d have preferred to stay in your forests? I did not request your presence, nor any other elf that I am aware of, so if you do not want to be here, then why have you come?”

  There was a murmur from the group of males standing behind the skeptical queen, but a look from her forced them into silence. “Our Spirit Mother, an ancient seer of our race, has told me that a battle will soon take place and that it will decide the future of our world. She has declared that our presence will be needed if you are to rebuff the Phoenix’s forces, so I chose to summon our people together and march to your aid.” She had emphasized the word chose and he had a feeling that it really hadn’t been hers to make.

  “You are most welcome. I offer our hospitality to you and your kin for the length of your stay,” Erik responded with a grin.

  “That is most kind, but unnecessary. We shall remain in the forest until the time arises, which I’m sure will please the glowering women standing by your side. We cannot decrease the effect we have on those around us and I believe its best we limit our contact to a minimum until the Phoenix’s forces arrive,” the Fairy Queen stated, her musical voice beckoning Tristan forward against his will.

  Willow’s hand fell on his shoulder and he regained a temporary hold of his senses, at least enough to keep from moving forward any further.

  “If you have need of anything—,” Erik began and was cut off when Amysta stomped her heel into her husband’s rising foot. “OW! What the hell was that for?”

  Jillian smiled at the confusion in the Elf King’s face, then glanced his way with greedy eyes. “We will let you know,” the queen responded curtly. With a wave of her hand there was a large puff of smoke, then six small sprites flittered across the throne room, through the double doors, and out of sight.

  Once the doors were shut, the spell that had been weaving about them both seemed to dissipate. He took a quick breath of freedom, his face flushed with embarrassment as he struggled to speak once more. “That was—”

  “Yeah,” Erik agreed.

  “Disgusting,” Willow snarled.

  “Repulsive,” Amysta added with scorn.

  “Well if anything else, maybe they’ll distract our enemies long enough for us to run our swords through them,” Erik said after a moment of awkw
ard silence.

  Amysta stepped forward, glaring at the closed doors as if daring them to open once more. “Or worse, distract our own men and lead us to our slaughter.”

  “Amysta—,” Erik began, stepping forward.

  Movement caught his eye and he watched with fascination as a small fairy creature flew from the rafters overhead and came to a halt, hovering just out of reach before them. Erik couldn’t hide his surprise and Amysta growled with renewed annoyance.

  “Spying on us for your Queen?” the elven woman asked, and Tristan felt Willow’s hand take his and squeeze, as if trying to hold him in place.

  “No, my mother deserves your scorn,” a tiny voice informed them. “She does not want to be here. She was commanded by the Spirit Mother to unite the fairies and come to your aid. As she is being forced to do so against her wishes, she intends to get as much pleasure out of this as she can. That usually means seducing those that are clearly off limits and playing her little games of intrigue. The glamour is easily dispelled should she wish it. You’re not feeling anything off of me, right?”

  Amysta’s eyes flared, “that bitch.”

  “Whore,” Willow cursed at the same time.

  “Well, that explains the curt exit,” Erik remarked, staring at the small sprite before them, trying to ignore the fuming women who looked to be ready to chase after the departed queen and put an end to her. “But isn’t she your Queen? Couldn’t she choose not to listen to this Spirit Mother and remain in the Forest Glen where your kin reside?”

  The fairy shook her head. “In our culture, the queen’s commands are absolute, unless they conflict with the wishes of the Spirit Mother. She is bound by ancient law to obey or she’d lose her crown, and another would be chosen to take her place. I’m afraid my mother loves her position of power too much to let it go, despite her personal wishes on the subject. Had you asked her to leave, she’d have seen her obligations fulfilled and taken our people home.”