Phoenix of Hope: Complete Series — Books 1-4

by Zora Marie

“He—” His jaw shook like that day Yargo had saved her, when her chest had been shattered open to reveal her beating heart. “He’s gone.”

  “We’ll get him back.”

  “No one ever comes back, not when they take them.”

  “No one has ever had us to rescue them. Just give me the dagger, please.”

  Rogath’s hands shook as she took the blade from him.

  “You never should have come here!” Zivu fumed as she stormed across the snow. Her grip was rough on Zelia’s arm as she dragged her and Rogath closer to Linithion and the fallen warrior. “Lumid, bring us back.”

  “Wait, what about—” Zelia’s words were cut short as anger pulsed though her connection to Raven, only for the connection to slam shut as they were suddenly pulled back to Hyperia. Zelia fought the need to hold her head as Raven’s roar snapped to deafening silence in her mind.

  “Where are Raven and Orvi?”

  Zelia’s heart broke at the panic in Linithion’s tone as she frantically scanned the room. Raven had been furious, but what did Orvi think as they left them. Even in her panic, Linithion kept her hand pressed to Rengal’s wound.

  “Lumid can bring them back later.”

  “You cannot just rip us away from them like this!” Linithion seethed.

  “Rogath, you are coming with me, right now.” Zivu turned to Zelia and Linithion. “I’ll deal with the two of you later. And Lumid, don’t you dare let them leave.”

  “I’ll be fine. Get Raven and Orvi back here before the Fenari notice we left bonded dragons alone,” Rog said mind to mind.

  “Why?” A sense of fear crept up on her.

  “Now Rogath. Don’t make me block you from her.” Zivu gestured to the guards who had just made it to the end of the bridge. “Get Rengal to Yalif.”

  The moment the guards left with Rengal, Linithion rushed to Lumid. Blood stained her hands, but she didn’t seem to notice as she grabbed Lumid’s forearm.

  “You may not go after Terik,” he said sternly.

  “I know. Just bring Orvi and Raven back, please.”

  “You don’t understand how risky it is to open a portal so close to theirs.”

  “And you don’t understand. I’m bonded to Orvi and she was terrified the moment we began to leave without her. She’s barely more than a baby and now we can’t even feel each other.” Linithion all but fell to her knees to beg Lumid as her chest still heaved with that terror.

  “And what will happen if the Fenari realize who they are bonded to? I promised Kniteoff I’d protect his daughter. Please, don’t make me break my word,” Zelia asked.

  Lumid stared off into the distance, into the stars, before he conceded. “Fine, but go stand by the door. I won’t have you two running off.”

  Zelia nodded and nudged Linithion towards the doorway. Then the light of the bridge flashed and Zelia gasped as a wall of anger slammed into her through her bond to Raven. As the rainbow of light faded, Linithion ran to Orvi and wrapped her arms around her neck in a hug.

  Raven growled as she passed Lumid and came to Zelia. “I feel we have overstayed our welcome.”

  “I know and I’m sorry. Let me speak with Zivu.”

  “You do not need her help. Vainoff, Eleanor, and Erolith can teach you. Their guild is part of what always kept the Fenari at bay.”

  “Yes, but there are things here that can help me heal faster that are not on Mineria. I can still hardly walk, much less actually use this.” She lifted the rune dagger she had taken from Rogath. “And we would be putting everyone in danger by going home before we are trained enough to defend ourselves against them.”

  A trill of steam rose from Raven’s nostrils as she let out a long breath and the anger that pulsed down their bond ebbed. “Then speak with her. Leaving Orvi behind like that is unacceptable.”

  Zelia nodded. “Would you help me back to the palace?”

  Raven lowered herself so Zelia could climb on easier and Linithion didn’t even ask before she jumped on behind her.

  “You’re not facing her alone,” Linithion said.

  “Would you take us back to our room? We should get dressed and then find Zivu.”

  As Raven moved for the door, Zelia glanced at Lumid and while he stared at Mineria she knew he was listening to them. She wanted to talk to Linithion in private, but without a spell she wouldn’t be able to. Lumid could hear them no matter where they went.

  4

  Once they were in their room, Raven took Orvi back to their building. Zelia studied Linithion as she changed. Linithion’s movements were stiff as she slid on her leggings, her frustration and anger evident in her every move.

  “I know you don’t know Terik that well, but he is Zivu’s son and we just lost him,” Zelia said.

  “But we didn’t cause that. They are the ones who ran off unprepared.”

  “So did we. I know you have healed and have a lot more training than you’ve been letting on, but I’m far from ready for this fight. I couldn’t even draw a bow right now if I tried and I don’t know the spells like you do. Besides, I’m sure Zivu will regret snapping at us once she takes a moment to cool off.”

  “She still left Orvi and Raven there, and wanted to leave them there indefinitely.”

  “I understand. Raven is furious about Orvi being left too. All I am asking is that you keep in mind that Terik has been taken.”

  Linithion took a long slow breath and relaxed her shoulders. “Do you know where she would take Rog?”

  “They’re probably in the study. That’s where Rogath usually gets scolded.”

  With a nod, Linithion offered Zelia her support to walk down the hallway. They were by Yalif’s office when they heard Rogath plead with his mother.

  “I know it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have woken Terik and gone. I just thought we could help. I knew Zelia couldn’t go with the state she is in.”

  “I don’t want to hear a word about Zelia,” Zivu said.

  Linithion stormed in ahead of Zelia and Zivu’s mouth hung open as she stopped mid-word.

  “Don’t you dare try to blame this on Zelia. She did as you asked her to do and she blames herself for enough as it is.”

  Zelia leaned against the doorway as a heavy weight sank to the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t sure she was mentally prepared to step into the middle of this argument. Linithion was right. She did blame herself for a lot of things, hated herself for a lot of things. While she had made some headway, she knew that slope was slippery, and she was losing traction.

  But she could feel the tension in the air, the fight about to begin, so she pushed herself away from the doorframe and entered the room. Linithion and Zivu stood across from each other, the couch between them. Rogath sat in a chair by the fireplace and looked absolutely lost as to what to do as he shrank back in the chair and looked between the two.

  “Please stop arguing,” Zelia said. “Blaming each other and yelling won’t help Terik or our situation.”

  The knot in the pit of her stomach eased the tiniest bit as Zivu sagged into a chair. “I’m sorry girls, you deserve better from me. You, too, Rogath.”

  “I wish I could forgive you that easily, but you left Orvi in the middle of nowhere on Mineria. You terrified her. She’s still just a baby, not even a year old. You’ve ruined what trust she had in you and your people.”

  Zelia took the lapse of attention on her to skirt around the furniture. Her knees buckled and she barely made it onto the couch.

  Rogath rocked forward from where he had half cowed from his mother. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine. This body just doesn’t have any muscle memory to fall back on.” Zelia pushed herself farther back on the couch. “There’s a lot we need to talk about. Is Yargo healed enough to wake up? He needs to be a part of these decisions.”

  Zivu clenched her jaw for a moment before she responded. “Yalif is to wake him up as soon as Rengal is stable, or his sister arrives to take over.”

  “Do you want to fill him in,
or do you want me to? I don’t mean to offend you. I just know that you’re not in the right state of mind with Terik being taken, and we need to bring Yargo up to speed as quickly as possible.”

  Zivu took a moment to smooth the front of her dress before she said, “I will. It is my duty as his wife and proxy to fill him in.” Zivu stood and left them alone in the study.

  “You’re thinking about leaving?” Rogath asked.

  “Raven doesn’t feel welcome here and she has a point, Vainoff and Erolith can train us.”

  “They can train you to use their power, but your powers are different. They’re more like mine. We don’t need spells for most of what we do, but we can use them.”

  “I think we’re almost out of time to train, no matter where we are,” Linithion said.

  “You’re not ready. Neither of you are,” Rog said.

  “And you are?” Linithion asked.

  “I’m more ready than you are.”

  “Really? You seriously think that those little spells I’ve been doing are all I can actually do? Father made me promise not to show what I can really do, at least not until the threat was real. Grandmother fought the Fenari, and taught Father and Eleanor far before they were members in the guild.” As she spoke, Linithion drew a rune in the air and it pulsed as she placed her palm against it and turned it clockwise.

  Rogath’s eyes grew wide as a field of energy pushed him and his chair back, the shield encasing Zelia and Linithion.

  “Try to break it.”

  “How are you drawing that much energy into it? I thought only the Fenari could make shields like this.”

  “Shielding is the first thing Father taught me.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Zelia asked.

  “Because you’re connected to me,” Rogath answered. “She couldn’t risk me finding out.”

  “Just what do you think you are doing?” Zivu drew a rune in the air and it fizzled out against Linithion’s shield.

  “Dear, please,” Yargo said as he came up behind Zivu and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Linithion, please drop the shield.”

  Linithion turned the rune back around and the shield vanished.

  “Thank you,” Yargo said as he entered and took the seat across from them. “Now, what is it you wanted to talk about?”

  Zelia debated if she even wanted to mention Raven’s concerns to him, or just tell him they’re leaving. “How are we getting Terik back?”

  The muscles in Yargo’s jaw tensed several times before he spoke. “I will be speaking with Fregnar. His people are the only ones who have ever been there and come back.”

  “You’re wrong,” Linithion said. “My grandmother was taken, and my grandfather got her back. But he didn’t wait to gather help, he just went.”

  “Your grandmother was taken?” Zivu asked.

  “Yes. They were gone for days. They wrote everything in a journal when they got back and insisted everyone be trained to fight the Fenari.”

  “But I never learned any of this,” Zelia said.

  “From what I understand, Eleanor only begins teaching those spells once someone reaches their 3rd or 4th century. I never really understood that since father began teaching me before my first century.”

  “Having a childhood is just as important as being able to use magic. That is if there is enough protection to allow for the luxury,” Zivu said.

  Yargo raised a hand as he seemed to chew on the information Linithion gave them. “Do you know exactly how your grandfather did it?”

  “Father never told me. I think he was waiting until he had no choice.”

  “Then I would have you go home to find out how your grandfather did it. Tell him that I promise that you will not be the one to go.”

  Linithion nodded. “What about Zelia?”

  “I’ll be going with you. Do you think Erolith will be alright with Raven and Orvi staying there?” Zelia asked.

  “If not, I can convince him. It’s us that he’ll be against more than anything. He was irritated that we were together when he came here, but there was too much going on for him to say anything.”

  “We’ll deal with that together.”

  “May I go with them? It may help Erolith believe that Linithion will not be allowed to go, if it is not just her word he is given.”

  While Rogath’s reasoning was valid, Zelia knew that was not the reason he wanted to go. He had something up his sleeve and she wasn’t sure she was going to like it.

  “You may, but keep in mind that Lumid will be watching the three of you, so don’t try anything,” Yargo warned.

  Zelia could feel him look each of them in the eye, but she’d turned her attention to the fire and didn’t bother to meet his gaze as she sagged back into the cushions of the couch. She knew her body wasn’t ready for any of this and she wasn’t sure her mind was either. Even if they were just going to face Linithion’s father about their relationship, she wasn’t sure she was ready.

  “You are not alone in this,” Raven said, “We will be with you every step of the way.”

  “She’s right, but your mental walls are down so you should probably fix that,” Rogath thought to her.

  “You heard Raven?” Zelia asked aloud.

  “Only through you. Are all dragons that loud?”

  “Yeah, but they can direct their thoughts away from me.”

  Yargo settled back in his chair and she finally met his gaze.

  “I would like to meet Raven before you all go. Linithion, Rogath, I would like the two of you to go with Zivu. She will provide you with weapons in case the Fenari attack while you are gone. Zelia, where is the staff I sent you?”

  “Here.” Rogath pulled water from the air and froze the sphere as he tossed it to Zelia.

  “Wasn’t it with my old body?” Zelia asked.

  Rogath shrugged. “I asked one of the warriors to dig it and your armor out for me so I could put it back where I got it from.”

  “Why did you leave it in a portal?” Yargo asked.

  “It gives me too much power. Xander was using it through me.”

  “I’m sorry he did that, but you’ll need it now. I had it and the armor altered to help you. I knew we couldn’t remove the shrapnel and you were too stubborn to leave battles to others. It’ll help you now, too. It was originally for fighting the Fenari. It was my mother’s when she was your age.”

  Zelia nodded as she absorbed that information. He had sent it to her as she’d struggled to find a way to win a battle and she hadn’t really questioned it.

  “Thank you for entrusting it to me. Without it I wouldn’t have been able to save Alrindel or all those people.” She gritted her teeth at the memories of the alternative path that battle could have taken. She had seen the battle end in ruin so many times that she sometimes woke wondering if this reality was a dream she had conjured in death. One she would soon wake from to find herself at the bottom of a pile of remains.

  “Don’t go down that path. This is our reality, however good or bad it is we must deal with it,” Raven said.

  “What path?” Rogath asked.

  “Nothing. My memories are just not always helpful.”

  Yargo’s lips quirked in a slight smile.

  “What?” Zelia asked.

  “Just thinking about how much this connection between the two of you has helped both of you.” Yargo rocked to his feet. “Well come now, the sooner you get going the better our chances are at getting Terik back. Get your armor and staff.”

  Zelia sighed and pulled her armor and staff from the sphere as Linithion and Rogath followed Zivu from the room. Once they were alone, Yargo sat next to her on the couch and gestured to the armor, in a silent offer to help with the buckles and ties.

  “What happened to put Linithion and Zivu at odds with each other?” Yargo asked.

  “Zivu left Orvi and Raven on Mineria after Terik was taken. When Linithion pointed it out, Zivu completely ignored her and ordered Lumid not to let us leave. Orvi’
s big, but she’s still just a baby. When we left without her, it terrified her. If you had felt the terror that came from Orvi as Linithion did, you would understand why she’s furious. And why Raven is too.” Zelia let out a long slow breath as she tied the far side of her leather chest plate.

  “And you?” Yargo asked.

  She shrugged. She knew she should be just as angry as them, but for some reason she just couldn’t muster any anger. Instead she just felt gutted.

  “I see.” Yargo finished the last tie on her bracer. “Extend the staff, I’m going to show you how to activate the healing runes. They are not a magic cure all, but they will help with your fatigue.”

  The staff expanded with a thought. The runes across its surface glowed like molten metal for a moment and Zelia shuddered at the surge of energy that ran through her.

  “Run your finger along these here.” Yargo pointed at a spot near her hand where the runes were etched in a variation of Elven.

  She ran her index finger across a row of five symbols and felt them heat as they glowed. A thread of warmth ran from her fingers to her core where it wrapped around her heart and spread to her limbs. The cloud of exhaustion left her mind and the muscles in her legs relaxed. “Thank you,” Zelia said and in one smooth motion collapsed the staff and slid it into its holster on her back. She could have used it to walk as Yargo did his, but she couldn’t bear to hold it any longer than necessary.

  “Just keep in mind that spells like that have consequences if overused.”

  “I will.”

  Yargo nodded, but his expression gave her pause.

  “What?”

  “Just be careful. Now come on.” Yargo rocked to his feet and led her through the palace halls.

  “So, what is it he wants to talk about?” Raven asked.

  “I don’t know, or you probably would have already heard me think it.”

  A hint of amusement came down their bond and with it she felt a little bubble of energy.

  “What?” Yargo asked as they passed the front doors.

  “Nothing. It’s just Raven,” she said and then thought to Raven, “Was that our bond?”

  “It was. It is strange, most bonds snap into place, but ours seems to build like one of those stone walls you humans build. So, should I have Orvi go wait for Linithion while we talk?”