Affinity for War

by Frank Morin

  "Wasn't us. High Lord Dougal sacrificed Gregor to raise another elfonnel. He knew the danger, and he did it anyway. He destabilized the area and buried Alasdair under half a mile of rubble. You felt the shaking all the way out here, didn't you?"

  "We did," Rory said.

  "Does my father live?" Shona asked, and he couldn't tell if she was eager or worried.

  "As far as I know."

  "You're not telling us everything," Flichity said with a glare. "Aonghus arrived in the night, so terrified he can barely make a spark, and he's making no sense."

  "He's lucky he survived." Aifric had described events in the quarry to Connor. "Kilian helped him escape certain death."

  "Kilian is a murderer," Flichity declared.

  Connor gave him a disgusted look. "Stop it. We all know where we all stand on all that. I don't have the patience to argue the point. We have bigger problems to deal with."

  Rory took a step closer and gestured at Connor's still-burning emblem in the air. "What problems are bigger? You fly in here like the Tallan reborn, right after we receive reports of windriders massing to the east. Wolfram's army is poised to attack from the rear. And now you tell us Alasdair is gone and these lands are unstable. Those would be enough problems for most days."

  "Don't worry about Wolfram. He will stand down."

  "And how do you know that?" Flichity asked, his tone derisive.

  "Because I'm going through the pass when we're finished here, and I'm going to tell him to."

  "I bet you will," Shona said, giving him a tiny nod of approval.

  "Assuming we don't incarcerate you first," Flichity said.

  "Don't try my patience today, Lord Flichity," Connor growled. When the man looked surprised, Connor added, "I know who you are, and I know Rory is in charge."

  "How?" Shona asked.

  He waved away the question. "I'm tired. I'm hungry, and I've seen friends badly hurt trying to avert the catastrophe Dougal brought down upon his own realm. Gregor is dead, and this kingdom is in more danger than ever before."

  The lord huffed, but for the moment looked cowed.

  Connor dismissed him and turned back to Rory, who allowed perhaps a hint of an approving smile. It was hard to tell, but Connor decided he had.

  "The bigger problem is that Dougal was trying to raise an ancient elfonnel that had been slumbering under Alasdair quarry."

  "So that's what he was talking about," Shona said.

  "He didn't understand the danger as well as he thought. Instead of raising a sleepy elfonnel that he might seize control over to send against Kilian, he raised Queen Dreokt herself, and she wasn't happy."

  Shona suddenly looked worried. "I've heard a lot about Dreokt, but none of it was good."

  "Based on what she did last night, she's worse than the rumors."

  As a murmur ran through the gathered soldiers, Tomas asked, "How is it possible? She's been dead for centuries."

  "Not dead. Hibernating. She was lost during the great battle that sundered away part of Althing and formed the Broken Waters. It seems she got trapped in the elfonnel she raised when it retreated into the earth."

  Cameron shuddered. "She'd go stark raving mad stuck in the ground that long."

  "From what I learned from Kilian, she was insane before the battle, so she's got to be well and truly cracked now. She's the one who triggered the earthquake that destroyed Alasdair. She's captured Dougal and flew away somewhere with him."

  Rory grunted, his expression grave. "Seems to me our primary duty is to find him and render aid."

  "I figured you'd see it that way," Connor said.

  "Our primary mission is to repulse the Grandurian invaders, as ordered by Dougal himself," Flichity retorted.

  "His orders were to hold until he could send aid," Rory said. "Clearly he intended those elfonnel to kill Kilian, then come scatter the Grandurians. The situation has changed and we now have an unknown, but potentially deadly enemy in our midst."

  "She's the queen," Flichity retorted.

  Rory turned the full weight of his stare on the man. "Are you saying you'd swear fealty to her over King Turriff?"

  Tomas pursed his lips. "Good question, that one."

  Cameron nodded. "Do we hang him for traitor if he does, or if he doesn't?"

  "Might have to hang him either way, just to be safe."

  "Insolent bash fighters," Flichity mumbled, but his glare didn't faze the two. He turned his gaze to Shona. "You are Marshal, Lady Shona. You have the authority to overrule Rory. I recommend we take this insolent fool into custody."

  "This insolent fool is the one who brought us word of the danger my father faces," Shona said. She regarded Connor thoughtfully. "I can think of better uses for you than in prison, Connor." She extended her hand. "Join with me, my Guardian, and together we can end the fighting and save my father."

  He shouldn't be surprised that she'd make a final play to win her back to him. His place was with Verena.

  What if Verena no longer wanted him?

  Without Verena, was there a good reason to deny Shona? United to her, he could wield the full might of an Obrioner lordship. What good might they do together?

  She noted his hesitation and stepped closer, her big eyes full of hope, but he shook his head. "Again you show me much honor, my lady Shona, but I cannot accept your offer today."

  She drew even closer and asked softly so only he could hear. "But perhaps some day?"

  "I can't make any promises either way at the moment."

  She nodded and touched his hand. Her skin was warm, and her soft scent of roses tickled his nose. "Then I will cling to the hope that you will see reason."

  Connor raised his voice so all could hear. "Please don't underestimate the queen. Dreokt makes my curse look pitiful. She treated Kilian like he was an annoying child, and she flew away with your father, as if using air was a simple thing. She's nothing like anything we've ever seen, and getting lost inside an elfonnel that long, I doubt there's much, if any, humanity left in her."

  "We'll find her," Shona promised.

  "I'm worried you will. I can't say what she'll do, but it won't be good."

  "Can you really keep Wolfram on his side of the mountain?" Shona asked, her gaze searching.

  Connor nodded. "I can. And I can get a proposal for at least a temporary peace treaty, if you're willing to consider it."

  "I am willing to consider it, and I would prefer if you delivered it in person."

  "If I can," he promised.

  "I support such a plan too," Rory said, eliciting another scowl from Lord Flichity.

  Shona said, "Then General Rory, I suggest you issue commands to stand down. I want scouting parties to begin hunting for my father."

  "Wise choice," Rory told her softly with an approving smile. Then he turned and began loudly issuing orders.

  Shona took Connor's hands in hers. "I'm sorry your home was destroyed, Connor."

  "So am I, but I got everyone out. I'm taking my family and everyone who's willing with me to Granadure."

  Her eyes widened in surprise. Maybe he shouldn't have told her, but she'd learn about it from Lord Gavin. "I should object the fact that you're absconding with an entire village, Connor."

  He shrugged. "Your father was targeting them, so I have no choice. You can keep Lord Gavin and his family, though."

  She winced, then sighed. "I suppose there's no way I could convince you to take him too?"

  "I might take him and Moira, but Isobel wouldn't last a day before someone put her out of her misery."

  "Be safe, Connor," Shona told him.

  He turned to leave, and Rory fell into step beside him. "I'll see you to the border, lad."

  "Thank you. General?" he added.

  Rory shrugged. "The world's a surprising place."

  Connor gripped his hand. "I believe appointing you general might be the wisest decision Dougal ever made."

  They walked together for a few minutes, and after they left the cluste
red group of soldiers, Rory glanced at Connor, blew out a breath, and rubbed his craggy face.

  "Tallan take it and swallow it whole, Connor, but you've got the courage of a naked pedra hunter."

  Connor smiled. "I had to warn you all of the real danger we now face."

  Rory grimaced. "Speaking of danger, I've got a favor to ask, lad. Perhaps harder than catching the old queen mother."

  "What?"

  "I need you to tell Anika . . ." He sighed, his expression tortured. "I have no idea what to tell her. Just, I'm sorry, and I hope . . ."

  Connor understood Rory's predicament better than he imagined, although Rory's new position might make it harder to find an excuse to wrestle with Anika. Connor too needed to figure out how to reconcile with the woman he loved.

  "I'll ask Jean. She'll suggest something."

  Rory looked relieved. "Thanks."

  When he reached the northern picket line, he shook Rory's hand and headed alone into the pass. The narrow passage was nearly blocked with rubble, and he resorted to tapping marble and blasting himself into the air to fly through to the other side.

  And of course, the Grandurian defenders nearly killed him.

  Once he talked his way through that nearly-fatal encounter, he soared with fire and air over the deep canyon and its shattered defensive walls and finally reached the camp.

  Ilse and Hamish were waiting for him.

  "I can't believe you're not dead," Ilse laughed.

  "Not before breakfast," Connor grinned, relieved to be back among friends.

  Hamish nodded approvingly. "You understand life's priorities."

  As they headed into camp, Ilse sighed. "It's good to be home."

  Connor cringed. "I can't call it home yet."

  "It's more home than anywhere else, isn't it?" she asked.

  "That's the problem. Every home I've had recently gets destroyed."

  Hamish handed them both smashpacked sweetbread loaves and said, "Why don't you claim Merkland as your home? Then Dougal's house can get wrecked for once."

  "We'll figure out home soon enough. For now, I just want to see Verena."

  Ilse said, "She's still sleeping. Aifric and Mattias are with her."

  Connor sighed. Why did the situation feel almost normal? He was trying to broker a peace accord and resettle his entire village in a new country while the girl he loved was in a coma, attended by an Assassin-Healer and the man trying to steal her away from him.

  His life really was twisted so far out of normal, he wondered if he'd ever managed to straighten it out.

  He started to walk faster and asked, "Hamish, do you have any limestone?"

  "No, but I can get some. Why?"

  "I need to figure out how to make my teeth glow."

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  Petralist Stones

  Three for the masses

  Two for the many

  Four for the privileged few

  Igneous

  Basalt

  Speed, agility

  Tapped: Powder through the skin

  Obrion: Strider

  Granadure: Wingrunner

  Granite

  Strength, summoning

  Tapped: Powder through the skin

  Obrion: Boulder or Fast Roller

  Granadure: Rumbler

  Obsidian

  Magnifies innate abilities

  Tapped: Powder through the skin

  Obrion: Blade

  Granadure: Allcarver

  Sedimentary

  Limestone

  Light

  Tapped: Held or worn

  Obrion: Solas

  Granadure: Solas

  Sandstone

  Healing

  Tapped: Held or worn

  Obrion: Healer

  Granadure: Healer

  Metamorphic

  Marble

  Fire

  Tapped: Under the Tongue

  Obrion: Firetongue

  Granadure: Flameweaver

  Quartzite

  Air, Senses

  Tapped: Placed in Mouth

  Obrion: Pathfinder

  Granadure: Longseer

  Slate

  Earth

  Tapped: Soles of feet

  Obrion: Sentry

  Granadure: Sapper

  Soapstone

  Water

  Tapped: Powder swallowed with water

  Obrion: Spitter

  Granadure: Water Moccasin

  Secret Stones

  Diorite

  Igneous Stone

  Explosive Power

  Tapped: Powder through the skin

  Obrion: Unknown

  Granadure: Unknown

  Porphyry

  Igneous Stone

  Rage Monster

  Tapped: Powder through the skin

  Obrion: Unclaimed

  Granadure: Rampager

  Anthracite (Blind Coal)

  Sedimentary Stone

  Aggressive Slipperiness

  Tapped: Held or worn

  Obrion: Unknown

  Granadure: Unknown

  Serpentinite

  Metamorphic Stone

  Sound

  Tapped: Unknown

  Obrion: Unknown

  Granadure: Unknown

  New Stones

  Chert

  Sedimentary Stone

  Empathy

  Tapped: Unkown

  Obrion: Unknown

  Granadure: Unknown

  Amphibolite Gneiss

  Metamorphic Stone

  Nullifies basalt

  Tapped: Unknown

  Obrion: Unknown

  Granadure: Unknown

  Granite Gneiss

  Metamorphic Stone

  Nullifies granite

  Tapped: Unknown

  Obrion: Unknown

  Granadure: Unknown

  Other Works by Frank Morin

  The Petralist Series

  Set in Stone - Book One

  A Stone's Throw - Book Two

  No Stone Unturned - Book Three

  Affinity for War - Book Four (you’re reading it!)

  Other Petralist Stories

  When Torcs Fly – Tomas and Cameron prequel

  The Facetakers Series

  Face Lift - Prequel short story

  Saving Face
- Prequel

  Memory Hunter - Book One

  Rune Warrior - Book Two

  Aeon Champion - Book Three (coming soon!)

  Short Stories

  Odin's Eye - Part of the Red Unicorn Anthology - A Game of Horns

  Only Logical - Part of Unseen: United! Box Set Anthology to raise funds to fight plagiarism

  The Essence - Part of the Dragon Writers Anthology (Release date in Q4 2016)

  About the Author

  Frank Morin is a storyteller, and he loves great stories wherever he can find them. When not writing or trying to keep up with his active family, he's often found hiking, camping, Scuba diving, or enjoying other outdoor activities.

  Frank writes all types of fantasy, from his exciting Facetakers contemporary fantasy / time-travel thrillers, to these popular Petralist novels, and more. Check his website for updates and to sign up for his newsletter to receive the latest on all his releases, scheduled events, and insider information:

  www.frankmorin.org.

  Or you can follow him on Twitter:

  @MorinWrites

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  Frank lives in Oregon with his family, who are his most enthusiastic fans and his most brutal critics. In their home, storytelling is a cherished family tradition that keeps magic alive.