War of the Realms Box Set

by Sarah J. Stone

  He walked up to one of the trees on the edge and peeked carefully around it. It was a long field, a few trees in the center, and a vibrant coloring of green grass and pink blossoms on the trees. The temperature cusp between the shadows of the forest and the light of the clearing. It was warm inside, but seemed more than empty.

  Nekane was about to step through when something caught his eye. It was a shimmering floating in the air in front of him. A waving texture like oil on water. His brow furled and he stepped closer, reaching his hand toward the anomaly. He could feel the pulsing and vibrations of very strong magic coming from it. He pulled his hand back, unsure of what the penalty for trespassing would be. Obviously, someone was trying to hide the contents of the clearing from onlookers. But who would live that deep in the dark woods? Witches and Ogres didn’t even venture that far out there.

  The King pursed his lips and swung his bag around. Untying the ties, he pulled a large leather bound book from inside. He opened it, staring down at his own handwriting. There were notes about spells he had learned with the Wizards of old. He left his bag there on the ground as a marker and began following the shimmering sheen around the perimeter.

  As he walked, Nekane read from the book, reciting old wizarding script that had been learned during the first original battle with the Dead King. “From the howling throats of wolves to the luminescent echoes of the moon, I call to thee to light my way. A presence her once known has been hidden, draped in secrecy. Release the magic for moments, show the secrets that hide behind this veil of magic. Oleckticon Homenerva Revealiose.”

  He repeated the words of magic over and over until he reached his bag once again. Dropping the book on the ground he closed his eyes and breathed deeply as he stepped forward, unsure if he had broken the spell or not. He had no idea what to expect. A painful jolt? A deadly blast? But as he planted his feet, he felt nothing but the warmness of the sun cascading down on him from above the clearing.

  Slowly he opened his eyes, blinking wildly as he adjusted to the brightness of daylight in front of him. He was still on the edge of the tree line, an area that was hidden from view on the other side of the magical curtain. He reached up and touched the tree trunk, making sure that what he was seeing was real and not another trick of magic to scare away any intruders. The bark was rough and moist, and the smell of it gave off a fresh odor of spring, despite the time of year.

  The sound of heavy breathing forced Nekane to whip his head up and look out into the clearing. Standing strong in the center of the field, not having yet noticed Nekane was a very large dragon with scales that covered its muscled physique and twisted down into large sharp glistening spikes on the tail. Immediately he lunged behind the tree he had just been touching, pressing his back to it and listening for any sign he had been found out. After several moments he slowly turned and looked into the open space.

  The familiarity hit him hard in the chest, a lingering note of the vision burning. The place was just that. It was the location that he had seen when he was blessed with his sight. The grasses were just as bright, the flowers around the edges of the perimeter jubilant and full, and the trees in the center housing lush fruits. Opposite of where he stood was a small cottage with a plume of smoke steadily rising from the chimney. And there was a homely smell of something cooking inside.

  The dragon shifted, lifting its snout into the air and sniffing heavily. Nekane jumped back out of the magic shield and grabbed his book and bag and ran quickly from the clearing. He ran for several minutes, and then slowed, looking back and listening for any sign that anyone had been following. There was nothing but the momentary chirp of a bird or the rustling of the leaves overhead.

  Nekane turned and slid down the front of a tree. He had found her. He had found the place that he had been led to. Now, knowing the magic was strong, it was time to make a plan.

  Chapter Sixteen : The Familiar Eyes

  The stars were sparkling wildly over the Fae, no clouds touching the night sky just yet. The moon that had been faint just earlier in the evening now shown bright and large in the sky. The cold breeze still blew around the kingdom, and smoke rose from the cottages along the scape of the Vale. It was not what had become the norm, but no one but those that had seen the vision had really given it much thought. In fact, many were enjoying the brisk air, taking dinner outside, and enjoying joyful conversation with their neighbors and friends.

  High up in the castle, however, the mood was not as nearly as jubilant. Those that worked in the castle, but knew nothing of the current state of things, could feel the tension through the whole place. Fae were exceptionally receptive to energy, and between fasting and anxiety, Leonetta and Helena were bursting with it. Helena had not had a chance to tell Leonetta about the end of her vision. Leonetta had told her they all had one, and they would be discussing it as soon as the others arrived.

  To Helena, that meant that Pike was on his way. She could barely hold her excitement back, and Holland saw right through her attempts. He didn’t say a word though, just gave her a wink as the bells of the gate tolled loudly.

  Leonetta, standing in the garden, glanced at Helena. “Pike has arrived.”

  Before she could even ask Helena to greet him, she had taken off for the long winding staircase that led down to the large doors of the front gate. She smiled to herself, despite the situation, as she pounced down the marble steps, running hand against the inner wall. Whether it was her heart or just her friendship, she wasn’t sure. Either way, she was excited to see him, and not afraid to show him that.

  As she reached the bottom of the steps, Pike looked up and smiled big. He pushed his arms from beneath his wolf cloak and opened them wide, inviting her in. Helena giggled like a young girl and barely made it three steps before leaping into the air and landing in his arms. She wrapped hers around his neck and squeezed him hard.

  He chuckled as she buried her face in the fur of his cloak. “It is so good to see you. It has been far too long, Pike. Far too long. Had I known you were only a week out, I would have come and paid you visit long ago.”

  Pike smiled big, setting her down on the ground. “Well, I am here now. And how you have changed. More stunningly beautiful than the day I watched you slaying the Dead King.”

  Helena blushed. “Technically you did, but I was there to help.”

  They stared at each other for several moments. Helena’s eyes twinkled in the moonlight and her lips stayed stuck in a sweet smile. Pike stared down at her, his hands still on her hips. He hadn’t realized until that moment, just how much he missed her. He had always kept her on his mind and in his thoughts, close to his heart, but the warmth he felt in her arms, cradling her in his, it was wild, but familiar.

  The intensity of energy between them made them both forget the cold wind blowing around them. Neither one of them felt anything but heat. Slowly they began to lean in toward each other, unable to stop the pull between them. It was magnetic, a force that they could not see attracting their lips toward one another’s.

  “The Wolf King has arrived,” Ardontis’s excited voice shouted out.

  He broke the silence, and the pulling connection between the two of them. Helena immediately looked down at the ground, pulling her hands behind her back and stepping away from him. Ardontis, if he noticed, said not a word about it. Though, Helena knew the man saw everything, it was what he would do with that information that was curious.

  Pike gave her a quick glance and put his hands on Ardontis’s shoulders. “You never change Ardontis. Still brightly bald, still dressed like the servant of the Gods.”

  Ardontis chuckled merrily. “Well, I would be poorly taken if I walked around as a servant of God in a bright red robe, wouldn’t I? Besides, with that smile and that cloak, you have enough pizzazz for all of us. I do have to say, you have been gone far too long.”

  Helena chuckled. “That is what I told him. And to think, he is only a week travel by horse away. By dragon we would be there in a matter of days.”
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  Ardontis kept his bright eyes on Pike. “Well, I guess when you are searching for solitude, you find it easier done in a small cottage in the middle of grazing beautiful fields.”

  Pike’s head twitched slightly. “How did you… never mind, that would be a stupid question.”

  Ardontis threw his head back and bellowed. “You haven’t forgotten a thing. Come, the staff will collect your bags and see to your horse. Everyone else is here already, gathered in the Great Meeting Room, waiting for you to arrive.”

  Pike nodded and followed after Ardontis, giving Helena a blushing smirk. She put her head down, hiding her own, and followed along behind them. When they reached the top of the steps, Pike paused, looking at the beautiful garden, still blooming out of season. “I hoped it would still be here. It is more than beautiful.”

  Helena stopped beside him. “Perhaps we can take a stroll later tonight.”

  Pike smiled big. “I think that sounds like a perfect plan.”

  They hurried to catch up with Ardontis who walked swiftly up the front steps and into the halls. Down and through the castle they went, finally reaching the large double wooden doors of the meeting hall. Ardontis gripped both handles and pushed inward, opening up the doors. The sounds from within immediately stopped and everyone looked over, happy to see Pike in front of them.

  Coventina stood up and hurried over, putting her arms out and hugged him tightly. He chuckled, not used to such a happy greeting. Holland was behind her and shook his head, slapping his hand into Pike’s, each one grabbing the other’s forearm. “It’s good to see you brother. You have been gone far too long.”

  Pike chuckled. “So, I’ve been told. Some days it feels like forever ago, and some days it feels like yesterday.”

  Holland gripped his shoulder with one hand. “You are forever in this realm’s debt for the price you paid to save the people.”

  Leonetta walked around to her chair. “All of the realms, not just ours. Welcome Pike.”

  Pike took a glass of mead from Ardontis and raised it to Leonetta. “Good to see you again, Leonetta.”

  Holland put his arm around a strapping young man, standing to the side. His eyes glistened like one of the Fae, and his skin was pure and white like Leonetta’s. “Pike, I would like to introduce you to our son, Elsworth. He has been chomping at the bit to meet the legendary Wolf King.”

  Pike walked over and put his arm out, gripping Elsworth up to the elbow. He stopped for a moment, feeling the heat of his skin. It was just like Holland, but he looked like a Fae. Pike glanced over at Holland with curiosity.

  Holland smirked. “Elsworth is special in many ways. But the heat you feel is that of a shifter, and the universes you can see in his crystal blue eyes is that of the Fae.”

  Pike’s mouth dropped slightly open. “A shifter and a Fae? I have never met someone like you, Elsworth.”

  Elsworth stood a bit taller. “Nor will you King Pike. Besides my sisters of course. We are a new race of Fae.”

  Pike shook his head in amazement. “I like that. On with the new, out with the old. Well, not out, we still need you Holland.”

  Holland lifted an eyebrow. “Mhmm. Elsworth here is still learning to control his powers but we have found that the combination has created a being that is capable of harnessing both the magic of the beast and that of the Fae at once, in any form. He is very powerful, but often dangerous when he lacks the attention span to focus on his studies. Too many beautiful Fae young women walking around.”

  Holland ruffled Elsworth’s hair and the kid rolled his eyes. “Or my instructor is inept.”

  Pike laughed at the two of them, finding fatherhood fit Holland perfectly. The three joined the others at the table and took a seat. The mood went from playful to serious very fast. Leonetta pulled her hands up on the table and rubbed them across the smooth wood surface beneath her. “We all know why we are gathered here. The visions have reached out past the immortal to the mortal. They have touched each one of us. I have used my powers each night, dipping into the visions that each of you have seen. The only one I have not been able to do so with is Helena, her vision coming only as of today.”

  “The red eyes at the end of the vision are startling, especially since we are the ones that faced off with the Dead King,” Pike said, taking a deep breath to steady his anger. “To leave a vision in that end can only lead me to believe that this is somehow connected.”

  Leonetta agreed. “There is a striking similarity at the beginning. The fear that was felt, the screams, the flames that seemed to ignite a fire in us all. My feeling is that whatever danger is coming, it is coming soon.”

  Coventina, the hood of her cloak draped over head, looked around the table. “I fear it will be by the Dead King’s Anniversary.”

  Everyone shook their heads, all in agreement. Holland glanced over at Pike and then to Elsworth. “Then it is important that we get this plan of attack under way. We need to make sure that the realms stay in peace, and this issue is handled swiftly.”

  Helena shook her head and put her hands out. “Wait. I don’t understand. We all had the same vision but you are leaving the most pertinent part out of the discussion?”

  Leonetta tilted her head to the side. “Which part do you mean, dear sister?”

  Helena blinked at her, finding it strange that it wasn’t the first thing on her mind. “Our sister. Asphodul’s death very plainly displayed after the flashing of the red eyes.”

  Everyone went silent, glancing around at each other. Helena’s brow furrowed. “Did you not witness this? The pool of blood. Her life force leaving her eyes? Do you think perhaps she will rejoin us to fight?”

  Ardontis began to whisper to Coventina. Pike, Holland, and Elsworth leaned forward, chattering to one another. Leonetta put her hand up in the air. “Wait. Everyone quiet. My God. How did I not see this before? Dear sister, no we did not see this part of the vision. But it seems to be the link to the whole entire thing.”

  Holland’s eyes opened wide, realizing he may have been right about the Dead Child. Leonetta stood, bewildered from her chair and wrapped her arms around her shoulders as the cold wind blew in through the window. The candles on the table flickered, the flames dancing on the walls around her giving off an ominous tone.

  Leonetta’s eyes flashed a brighter blue. “Seventeen years ago, almost eighteen now, my sister left this castle with a baby in tow. She snuck out flying off to never be seen. Those red eyes belong to that child. That child that she saved is not just special, it is the child of the Dead King himself.”

  Chapter Seventeen : The Eruption of Fire

  The birds chirped wildly outside of the cottage window and the smell of bacon, eggs, and cinnamon rolls wafted through the air. Asphodul walked over to the window and grinned, closing her eyes and letting the heat hit her face. It was the perfect day to celebrate Aerie’s eighteenth birthday. She could hear her in the bedroom, getting dressed for the day, most likely excited over the smell of cinnamon buns. They were her favorite.

  Hearing Aerie finishing up in her room, Asphodul hurried back over to the stove and pulled the piping hot buns from the oven. As soon as Aerie walked out, Asphodul began to sing a Fae day of birth song to her. Something she had done many times over. In fact, Aerie was getting pretty good at speaking Fae herself.

  Asphodul ignored Aerie’s embarrassed red cheeks, bringing the buns over to the center of the table and setting them in front of Aerie as she finished the song. “Fochuo birthday amin dear Aerie. Aa the moon soora utae ten' many more”

  Aerie clapped her hands and bowed her head to Asphodul. “Telle'utae, mother.”

  Asphodul looked at her impressed. “You are more than welcome my love.”

  Asphodul watched Aerie’s face as she poked at the bun on her plate with her fork. She looked contemplative. “What’s going through your mind, sweetheart?”

  Aerie shrugged. “It’s nothing. Really. Just surreal that I am now a young woman. No longer a child.”


  Asphodul raised an eyebrow. “Mhmm. What are you really thinking about?”

  Aerie laughed. “I guess I’ve never actually been able to lie to you. I don’t know. I was thinking, since it’s my eighteenth, I was hoping that you could tell me what happened when I was born. I know that you are my mother by soul and spirit, but I am not a Fae and I know that by blood, someone else was my vessel.”

  Asphodul reached out and took her daughter’s hand, proud of her for asking. “Of course, I will. Eighteen years ago, we were in the middle of a great war. An evil sorcerer of sorts, a forgotten soul, had grown to great powers. Much more than any one person or creature in the realms. He was called, The Dead King. He was a being of anger, and wanted to destroy and murder all of the living beings in the realms. This was the second time we had been at war with him.”

  Aerie sat back, taking a bite of her bun. Asphodul looked down at her hands. “He decided that he wanted to have a child, an heir to his throne. So, he impregnated one of his servants of sorts. A necromancer. At the same time, your mother was pregnant with you. She went into labor the night the Dead King died. But also, when the necromancer and the Dead Child was supposed to be killed. Well, she was. But when the Dead Child left her womb, she traveled to your mother, and became you. Your mother died upon child birth, but not before she made me promise to protect you. To raise you to choose good over evil.”

  Aerie let out a deep breath, furrowing her brow. “So, I am both human and the Dead King’s child?”

  Asphodul shrugged. “I don’t know how deep it goes. But part of you, yes, was part of the Dead King.”

  Aerie shook her head. “That’s impossible. I’ve overheard the dragons speak of the Dead King. He slaughtered so many and wished to kill more. I just don’t understand how I could be anything that the Dead King was.”

  Asphodul stood up and walked around the table, pulling Aerie’s face into her stomach. “You are nothing like the Dead King, no matter where you came from. Every living being has a choice. They can be good, or they can be evil. You made the choice long ago that you would be full of good and light. And since that moment, your magic has always been full of that as well. The choice will always be yours. But I see so much good in you my love.”