“Nothing is ever truly lost as there is always one person in the world who knows where to find it,” Coventina said, smiling. “Look inside.”
Helena, Pike, and Holland sat perched, watching as Leonetta gazed into the ball. Her eyes, starting out calm and quiet, turned sad and lonely. She tossed the glass orb back to Coventina and took a deep breath, replaying her brother-in-law’s pledge to take the White Wolf, kill her and the others, and take the Dead King’s demise as his own glory. She shook her head, feeling stupid for ever thinking Tyriad was above all of it. To think that a mere mortal, dragon or not, could be above evil ways was absurd and not something Leonetta usually fell for.
Before Leonetta could speak, they felt the ground begin to shake beneath them, and the six of them watched as the Dead Army rose from their fiery abyss, facing the fae army with all their might and glory. Leonetta could feel the fear surging through the fae soldiers, and her heart began to break. All of these people would be dead before dawn and all because two sisters could not find a common place to stand.
One by one, for hours, Leonetta watched as the Dead Army obliterated the fae, leaving behind nothing more than ash and cinder. How ironic that things had come full circle. It was not that long ago that Leonetta helped in destroying her own realm, watching the ashes blow across the once fertile lands. Now she stands, ready to fight, but unable, as her bloodline falls to the intense heat within the Dead Army’s belly. Holland walked up beside Leonetta and pulled her close as tears streamed down her face. She watched as Tyriad called for retreat, flying off to safety on his dragon but leaving the soldiers running in fear, falling to cinder as their feet moved away from Ghede’s men. The men’s cries echoed off the harsh, steep walls of Pero Peaks as Leonetta clutched Holland’s arm, burying her face into his shoulder. Once again, she had found herself homeless.
Quietly, the Dead Army drudged back toward their underground home – the war lost before it had even begun. She could imagine Ghede sitting on his throne of flesh and bones, laughing maniacally at the silly fae, thinking they could get anywhere near the castle. By the time the battle had completed, the sun was rising over the horizon, and Helena had started gathering her things. Leonetta pulled a long woven cloak from her bag and tied it around her half sister’s shoulders, wiping the tears from her eyes and attempting to focus on the task at hand.
“This cloak will keep you from being hunted inside the castle, at least for a bit,” Leonetta explained to Helena. “Pike has the Great Wolf’s pelt which will do the same for him.”
“And you will be here when I come back,” Helena repeated their promise from earlier.
“Ready and waiting to hug my sister and the victor of this terrible war,” Leonetta said with a comforting smile. “Remember everything I taught you, and I will keep your lessons close to my heart.”
“Until we meet again,” Helena said, leaning forward and kissing Leonetta on the cheek.
“Pike,” Leonetta said, motioning for him to come forward. “Remember that not every road will be easy. Remember that, despite the outcomes and the horrid things you will see inside Pero Peaks, this realm needs you. We all need you. Keep Helena safe and don’t look back once you are inside. Do as we discussed, and you will have your revenge and our victory.”
Pike nodded and looked over at Holland before turning and joining Helena on the path. As they moved between rocks, keeping themselves hidden from the watch, Pike looked back and waved, moving forward and out of the fae princess’ sight. He took a deep breath and grabbed the handle of the sword, building the energy and confidence back up inside of him. He had made it a long way without Leonetta, and he knew he could make it even further. It almost seemed like he and Helena could do anything together if they put their minds to it, even magic.
As the path wove around through the pits and up to the side of the mountain, Pike looked forward, spotting the opening of a cave in the side. He nudged Helena and pointed to it, seeing her nod back in understanding. They took out their ropes and tossed the loop end upward, tightening the slack and pulling hard before leaning back and climbing. The crevasse gave a layer of protection from the Dead Army’s watch, but they still moved quickly, trying to get inside before being noticed. As they propelled upward, Helena stopped and looked up at her rope as it frayed under pressure. Pike tucked his bag under his cloak and began to sway side to side, grabbing Helena just as her rope snapped, falling far and into the jagged rocks below.
Pike mustered all the strength he had, having Helena wrap herself around his neck and hold tightly. Slowly, he pulled the two of them upward toward the cave, feeling his muscles shake under the weight. He let out a deep breath as they reached the top and Helena climbed onto the ledge, reaching down to grab his hand and pull him up beside her. They sat for a moment, breathing heavily before standing and throwing the rope into a pile behind the rocks. They needed to know that if they ran in a hurry, they could get back down without leaping to their deaths.
Helena turned and followed Pike into the cave. It led far back into the darkness, winding and twisting before opening up in what looked like a dark palace hallway. The coal-filled volcano, dusty in nature, was filled with sparkling black walls and floors, sconces flaming high for light. As Pike went to tuck his map into his bag, he heard a whimper. At first, he thought he heard things, but it slowly got louder and louder as he walked down the hallway. Finally, as his feet stopped outside a large stone door, he pulled on the handle, watching it swing open heavily in front of him. Helena put her hand to her mouth as the fire blazed upward and the screams of Pike’s wife could be heard echoing through the chambers. Pike ran forward, putting his palms out and expelling blue light that circled the flames before expunging them. His wife fell into his arms, her skin burned and her clothes barely there.
“You came for me,” she whispered.
“Of course, my love,” Pike said back, a tear in his eye.
“I love you,” she replied, a whimper and choke coming from her throat. “But you must go. You aren’t safe here.”
“I cannot leave you,” Pike replied.
“I am done,” she choked. “But you can save yourself. The secrets are not worth the pain.” Pike didn’t understand what she was saying.
“What secrets?” Pike cried out.
“Your secrets,” she said, her breath beginning to leave her body. “Go! He knows you’re here.”
With that, she died in Pike’s arms. He sat staring down at her body, wondering what all of this was for. As he stood ready to leave and give up, he looked up at Helena’s face, and suddenly he realized what the prophecy meant. Suddenly, everything he had heard fit together like the perfect puzzle. Anger swelled deep inside him, and energy radiated from his body, the waves pushing outward and wind beginning to blow in circles around them.
Ghede was going to die, and Pike knew he was the one to do it.
*** To Be Continued***
Book 5: A Child Is Born
Prologue
Through time, wars raged, peace was brought, and prosperity won the day in both the East and the West Realms. The fertility of the fields were abundant, and the farmers lived in a comfort of hearth and home. For miles, in every direction, you could find waving golden fields, blossoming valleys filled with flowers, and the sweet smells of opulence radiating from the capitals more abundant in wealth than any place truly needed. The people were kind and everyone looked to each other for strength in difficult times and joy in the rest of life. Dragon shifters soared high above the clouds, washing their cool winds down upon the farmers in the fields. The Fae lived peacefully, bringing magical wonder to everyone that walked their lands. It was truly a world that its inhabitants were gracious and honored to take care of and take part in.
However, as the tides began to turn, the West saw its share of bloody battles. King Osiris of Avalon lived beyond excess as the only human King of his realm. His daughter Leonetta stood by wondering when the moment would come that she would tak
e the throne and bring Avalon back to its former glory. Little did the young Princess know, her father was not her father, but instead a murderous tyrant who killed her Fae mother to break their ties with the Vale, the city on the cliffs of the East Realms.
Leonetta yearned to find her roots beside her Fae father, and King of the Vale, so she took up arms with the Avalon Faith, Ardontis, and betrayed both Osiris and her dragon-shifter love, Holland. Across the waves of Fortune Ocean, she flew, looking back at the West Realms which now lay in ruin and cinder from Osiris’s rage and anger. Though she dreamed of a life next to her father and sister, fate was not kind and Leonetta’s father was killed saving her life. Once Osiris reached the shore and took the Vale Port, the Fae met him with war, pushing them back but not without casualty. Sadly, Asphodul and Leonetta stood hand in hand as they now buried their mother next to their father and looked to the future. Asphodul was a Queen not yet ready for her throne, standing next to her dragon shifter husband, Tyriad. Leonetta had other plans.
Holland and Osiris stayed put in the port for several moon cycles, now setting their sights on the other Port, the Cascading Seas where King Osharus, the oldest living King in all the lands, ruled his kingdom with his daughter, Aralea, and her husband. However, the port held a secret of its own as just yards from the rocky shores and deep below the waves sat the golden capital of the merpeople. Their alliance had been strong for many centuries and though the Mer-people lived the length of a human life, each residing King held strong to the friendship between the wizards and themselves. The two Kings scoffed at the idea of Osiris coming to the port, unaware that he was being used as a pawn in an even larger game.
While in the ports Holland gives in and falls for the young necromancer, Malaya whose charms are otherworldly. In an unexpected night of passion, Holland finds himself stabbed and thrown to sea by none other than the necromancer herself and her brother. She joins forces with Osiris but secretly holds the throne next to the long forgotten King of the Dead, who has gained his strengths and is planning to take the realms for himself. Malaya is impregnated with the heir to the Dead Throne and continues to lead Osiris down a dangerous path.
Meanwhile, beneath the waves of Fortune the young Mer-Prince, Pike, scoffs at royal duty and dreams of a life on land where he can marry his true love, the human, Shayla, and serve the wizard’s army. Once the arrival of Ghede, the Dead King, is realized, Pike makes a promise to King Osharus to lead his armies in return for his legs and his bride. Osharus makes good on his promise but just days after Pike weds his beloved, she is snatched from his arms and taken to the depths of the Dead King’s fortress in Pero Peaks. As Leonetta, the Fae Princess is summoned to care for Holland’s body that was found washed ashore, she sees a vision of the Mer-Princes wife and orders him not to leave for the Dead King.
However, as Osiris marches across the East Realms, crashing with the wizard’s army, Pike sneaks out the doors and sets off toward Pero Peaks. He stands in the waving fields beyond the fort and watches as Malaya draws the troops in only to slaughter them with the Dead Magic. The only ones to survive are the Princess and her husband, Holland, and Leonetta who are transported to the Vale where they will wait for word of the future of the realms.
Pike takes off, now the only remaining member of the Mer-people in search of his bride and with a thirst for revenge. Along his travels he finds that Ghede is tracking him, knowing he is carrying one of the few things that can lead him to his demise, the Sword of the Dead. However, with the help of several along the way, including the old Fae Queen from centuries before, he hides his sword beneath his magical cape and ventures closer to the mountains. The Fae Queen had given him a pelt of the Great White Wolf, the only creature that had ever been known to injure the Dead King. Leonetta, knowing the prophecy for the future, trails along behind the Mer-Prince, making sure to keep him alive and help him develop powers he never knew he had.
When a key piece of the prophecy is found, a young girl, Helena, bearing the mark of the Fae King, Leonetta, Ardontis, and Holland set out with Pike and Helena to begin their hike through the volcanoes of Pero Peaks. Leonetta feels her soul now traveling alone without the love of her sister as her sister has lost control of the Vale and revealed a secret of betrayal that Leonetta cannot turn a blind eye to. Her mission is absolute in nature and she knows she must help Pike and Helena fulfill the prophecy before the Dead King reaches his peak and his heir is born. Otherwise, Leonetta knows that the realms will fall and all will be lost.
As Pike and Helena enter the lair of the Dead, Leonetta, Holland, Ardontis, and the Faith, sit watching and waiting as the snow begins to billow from the sky and the frost creeps ever closer. Pike and Helena might be the last hope to save all of the creatures of the world.
Chapter One: The Prophecy
Leonetta huddled into the crevasse of rocks where they were hiding, magically creating a bubble around them to shield them from any roaming eyes. The fire was large and warm and Holland sat across the flames watching as Ardontis and Coventina sat closely whispering to their Gods. Holland hadn’t met Coventina until the trip to the Dead Kingdom had started and he found it hard to trust her. She had been permanently fixed as a young woman by King Osharus before he passed. She had served the wizard King as both his Faith and his lover for many centuries. Though outwardly she held the view of youth and fertility, on the inside she held the wisdom of the ages.
Holland shifted uncomfortably in his seat as he thought about Pike and Helena inside the volcano. They had only been gone for a half of a day but Pike knew the journey was long and arduous. He watched as Leonetta stood and walked toward him, taking a seat at his side and leaning into him. He wrapped his arms around her trying to seal in some of her heat but really just happy to be touching her soft subtle skin once again. She smiled at him and pulled away, lowering the flames of the fire with her hands and peering over at the Faiths.
“Does she know the prophecy?” Leonetta spoke at Ardontis who smiled back.
“Of course,” he replied.
“Am I the only one who doesn’t know this prophecy?” Holland felt irritated by the lack of communication and the swirling secrets between them.
“Of course not,” Leonetta chided. “But we found it best to keep it between us until we reached Pero Peaks.”
“Well, we are here,” Holland said, raising his eyebrows.
“So, we are young Holland,” Ardontis said with a smile. “Shall I? Or do you want the pleasure dear Leonetta.”
“You go ahead,” she said with a smirk.
“The prophecy was told many moons ago, long before you were born and delivered to Leonetta in her visions as a young Princess of Avalon. She did not understand it until the Dead King’s rise,” Ardontis explained. “The Prophecy goes as such:
From the depths of fire, a being will rise, his yard and his staff too big to surprise.
Through lava and blood, this new King will prosper, growing in power and rising in roster.
His magic will rival the strongest of Kings, and his Queen will follow him like a puppet on strings.
Within her growing belly will show, the heir to the Dead Throne, and the future demise will grow.
Only one Fae will be strong enough, No Wizard more wise, and the future of the realms will lie in the sea’s eyes.
Though strong enough to defeat this foe, the Wolf King’s heart will shatter below.
If wisdom is stout, and love drives past courage, this fur covered King will find trust in the Fae encourage.
Rising from the depths of hell, this new hero will sever the Dead King’s spell.
Through sword and magic, foe and ally become one, pushing the fight and bringing the end to the fae valley unspun.
Favors will shift in their delight, while teacher becomes ruler and hero takes flight.
But warning be told without helping hand, the Wolf King will perish and so will the land.”
“Wow,” Holland said, leaning back and warming his legs at the fire
. “And from all that you got Helena and Pike?”
“It was a bit more showing in my vision,” Leonetta stated. “I saw them in the volcano.”
“So wait, it says that Pike’s heart will be shattered but Helena will push him forward,” Holland said furrowing his brow. “Does that mean Shayla will die?”
“That is what I have seen,” Leonetta replied with sad eyes.
“Did he know?” Holland asked.
“No,” Ardontis responded. “We knew it would alter his path. That is why the teacher is so important in this whole thing.”
“And you are the teachers,” Holland stated. “But if you are the teacher then that means you will become the ruler.”
Holland turned to Leonetta looking in her eyes and wondering what lies beneath. She stared long and hard into his gaze but gave him no wisdom as to their plans. She knew that whatever answer she gave would sound heartless and glory filled but in her heart, she knew she fought for all creatures of these lands, regardless of the outcome. Leonetta stood and walked over to the crack in the rocks peering out over the steam rising from the pits of lava.
“You must remember that without this, there will be no more land to rule,” Ardontis said, watching Leonetta.
“Your princess has a heart stronger than any I have known,” Coventina stated. “She would be the one to lead these lands after the battle of the child. Do not be hasty to judge, what lies ahead will test her heart and her connection to her blood.”
“But what of the heart and connection of Pike and Helena? We have pushed her to womanhood only to possibly watch her perish?” Holland could not understand and he couldn’t help but feel guilt for his place with the young girl.
“We don’t know their fate but we have plans for their survival,” Ardontis said. “We put faith in the God’s and those that have brought this message to Leonetta’s ears.”
War of the Realms Box Set Page 49