Wynter Reign

by Emmy R Bennett

“We don’t have to discuss it now. I see it doesn’t set well with you at the moment. In time, you will understand.”

  She’s got that right. Queen? Seriously, who’s she fooling? “Tell me more about this prophecy, Grandmother?”

  “Well, during the reign of your great, great, great-grandfather Greyson Deagon, he had taken on as the reigning king of the land from his father before him. He knighted a man named Bryce Storm and gave him command of the royal guard.

  “War again broke out throughout the land, with Sir Bryce in command, leading his soldiers to battle. Years passed, and the King agreed for a truce with the Lord of the Underworld, Vothule.

  “The hopeful King Greyson invited The Twelve Council for a meeting. He confided with the Priestess of the Royal Court, not knowing that she had been influenced by one of Vothule’s assistants. She was the one who convinced King Greyson to go through with the feast of peace. But there would be blood shed that day instead.”

  “Are you saying this priestess had a memory stamp placed?” I ask.

  “I suppose you could say that, yes.”

  “Sarmira.”

  Eleena’s mouth curves into a smile of disgust. “Yes.”

  “What happened next?”

  “The king didn’t know it at the time, of course, but his wife was poisoned. He later found out this priestess was the one who had given the queen the fatal dose. Vulnerable from heartbreak, he could not see past a life without her. He knew his beloved queen would die and leave his daughters without a mother. The king went mad.

  “The priestess had tricked the king into having a feast, inviting the Houses of each coven to form a truce. A treaty of peace, if you will.” She pauses to stand, taking my hand in hers, and pulls me over to a bench placed near the waterfall. I witness goldfish swimming in the pond. An abundance of ferns that look much like the Waxlily surround the rocks, and green vines with yellow veins cascade down throughout the cracks of the boulders.

  “It was a trap,” she continues. “The dark side of the underworld covens massacred most everyone in the realm. Word traveled fast claiming the king had committed an atrocity. Treason if you will, saying the king sacrificed The Twelve Council for his personal gain. Most of the leaders died, and it nearly destroyed the assembly of balance.

  “When the king realized what he had done, what had transpired, he locked himself in the throne room. I imagine he had thoughts of taking his own life.”

  “Is that what happened? Surely, he didn’t take the coward’s way out?”

  Eleena shakes her head. “No. When Sarmira realized she had won, she knew she had one last task to finish. Kill the one who betrayed her the most.”

  “Who was that?”

  “Her daughter, Petra.”

  “Wait, what?” I nearly choke hearing the words come from my grandmother’s mouth. “Come again?”

  She takes my hand and squeezes it. “Petra didn’t want to live the life of evil like her mother, and she escaped her world of Elleirodal. With help from some, she fled through the gates between our worlds. Such a long story to tell, but know that your great, great, great-grandmother Petra was pure of heart. She knew such evil would destroy all that is virtuous and elected not to be on that side and is living proof that even if a soul is born to evil, they have the free will to make a choice to do good. Because she chose the light and to do all things moral, the wrath of Sarmira’s destruction began.”

  “So, she’s angry with her daughter and takes it out on every single bloodline that follows?”

  “More pieces of the puzzle, I imagine, you have been wondering about, huh?” Eleena asks.

  I nod. “At least I now know why she’s hell bent on destroying me.”

  “When Bryce discovered his beloved lying on the ground nearly lifeless, watching Sarmira about to take her fatal blow to Petra, he did the most spontaneous thing anyone would do in protecting the ones they love, and he stabbed Sarmira in the back. She didn’t see him coming.”

  My grandmother grasps my hand. “You may have heard this part of the story already, I realize it, but it’s worth repeating.” Eleena goes on, “In doing so, Bryce was stabbed with a million shards and nearly bled to death on the ground, next to Petra. Petra had never used her magic in all the years she was with Bryce, but she couldn’t bear the thought of her sons growing up without parents. She knew her time was up, she wouldn’t be healed in time, for the damage Sarmira had done was fatal, so she did the only thing she could do, sacrificed her life for his and healed him.”

  “How do you know such details?”

  “See this waterfall?” She glances up and watches it plummet to the pool below. A mist forms, cooling my skin. She takes my hand and guides me behind the cascade of water, where a door hides. “I have something to show you,” she says and opens it. “You may find more answers beyond these walls.”

  Awe fills me, as I pass through the door behind the waterfall. The room reminds me of being in a cave, yet it feels like an extension of the solarium garden we came from. In the center of this serene place is a pool in the shape of a square, with pillars in each corner. From these pillars, there are faucet-like spouts attached to them. One pillar emits water while the opposite one looks to be pouring out endless amounts of sand. Neither element appears to overflow the pool. “This place is magnificent,” I say.

  As we draw closer, Eleena says, “This is the Elemental Pool of Balance. As you can see, each pillar holds one of the four elements.”

  I turn to the left and see fire coming from the third pillar that was hidden from view when we first walked in.

  “This pillar to your right is the element of air. If you stand near it, you will feel a breeze,” Eleena adds.

  “It’s so enchanting,” I say, as I look up and see a painted mural of clouds and stars above the pool.

  Four benches set between each pillar. “Come sit with me,” my grandmother says, again taking my hand in hers and leading me to the bench between water and fire.

  As though sitting is a signal, four figures begin to form in the pool, each unique in their own way. I can tell they must represent the four elements.

  One is dressed in blue and has white hair flowing down to her ankles. She carries a pitcher in one hand. Her ears are pointed and her nose thin and her lips white. She comes forward and bows. “I am the keeper of water.”

  The second figures steps forward. “I’m the keeper of life,” she says. “What many on the human planet refer to as Earth. But I have a different name here. I’m called Terra.” Her hair is black, and she has dark eyes. Her skin is brown and glitters gold. She carries an urn filled with fresh soil. “I plant the seeds, and the keeper of water gives them nourishment to grow.”

  The next elemental steps forward, saying, “I am air.” A breeze passes through my strands of hair as she speaks. She’s translucent and doesn’t have solid flesh as the others. Her gown appears white, and she hasn’t any hair upon her head. “I bend the wind and give you air to breathe. I can move sailboats and glide birds as they fly. I also can call upon the storms when needed.”

  The final keeper steps forward. She wears a red gown, and her hair glows with shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. “I am fire that gives one warmth from the sun and the lava that flows from mountains. I will burn those who dare trespass where they do not belong. I will help those needing to build a fire for warmth, and with the help of the wind, it will ignite the wood from Terra.”

  “As you can see,” Eleena begins, “this hidden oasis is to be protected at all cost, for we are their shield.”

  “When you say ‘we,’ do you mean Ashengale?”

  “Yes. I hear you have two of these elements.”

  “I do?”

  “Yes, water and fire.”

  “You mean, that’s why I have the power to throw fire and water?”

  “That is correct. There hasn’t been a Deagon that has carried two elements of power for a very long time. Part of your training in the trials will be to master these e
lemental powers.”

  “And Earth—Terra—and wind? Has there been someone else with such power?”

  “There are, yes. They have not discovered what they can do. They will in time.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Ah, the curious question. This is not the time for that to be revealed.”

  I feel the blue gem in my pocket Aoes gave to me before I passed through to Dragonscale Island heat up. I pull it out and watch it glow in my hands. “What’s going on?”

  “The stone knows it’s time.”

  “Time for what, exactly?” And as though the stone knows what to do, it lifts out of my hands and floats to the Elementals.

  Each time the stone is taken into an Elemental’s hands, the glow of the gem grows brighter.

  “What’s happening?”

  My grandmother smiles. “Watch and see.”

  “Your necklace, may we have it please?” Fire asks.

  I hesitate. “But I’m not to—"

  My grandmother places her hand over mine. “It’s all right. We’re safe here. Protected. Sarmira cannot find you within these walls.”

  Trusting Eleena, I unclasp the chain and hand it to Fire.

  She nods, taking the gem that floats in the air, as well as my necklace and opens my locket, placing the jewel inside. All four Elementals join their right hands together over the locket, with their bodies forming an outer circle. The locket lifts in the air, passing through the Elemental’s hands, and without warning, the glowing stops, all the keepers disappear, and my chain drops into the pool of water.

  “Where did they go?”

  “Do not fear, they went back to their Elemental realms. Go on, dear, pick up the necklace.”

  I step forward and plunge my hand into the water to retrieve my locket. Immediately, I notice it has changed. “The locket is different.”

  “Yes, look closer.”

  Where the locket shows the rose and sword on one side, and the dragon on the other, it now also has gems strategically placed throughout the outer casing, set into the silver. It’s as though a master jeweler cut the stone Aoes gave me into tiny smaller stones.

  “It looks like I’m staring into a galaxy of stars,” I say, pacing forward to show my grandmother. “Can you tell me what this means?”

  She smiles. “Look inside, there you will find your answer.”

  I open the locket, relieved to still see the portraits of my great-grandfather and great-grandmother intact, but something else has been added: a clock hand. “Is this what I think it is?”

  “A compass, yes. It will help lead you to the Sword of Valor, but it is much more than that, you will soon discover.” My grandmother gets up from the bench and pats my shoulder, signaling that it’s time to leave.

  Aunt Fran waits in her translucent state with Garrick in the garden, like guards, when we return from behind the waterfall. It isn’t clear to me yet who he is, but I’m sure I will find out soon.

  “Let’s take a break for a while, shall we?” Eleena says. “Fran, would you mind showing Wynter to her room? The day has grown to evening, and we need her at her full strength in preparation for tomorrow.”

  Aunt Fran nods. “Come with me, my dear niece. There is so much I have been dying to show you.”

  As I follow my aunt, I look back to observe Eleena and Garrick engaged in conversation.

  We walk together through some doors on the opposite end from which we entered the solarium and down a corridor.

  “You must be exhausted from your day?” she asks. “So much has happened since you left The Lake of No Return this morning.”

  “I am, yes, but what has been revealed to me thus far has me wanting to know much more.”

  “That necklace is now your new key to the answers you seek, but I have much more to show you,” she says.

  Chapter 7

  Rory Fernshadow

  The past:

  Storm Castle Grounds

  We enter the courtyard of Storm Castle after our visit with Aoes to see blacksmiths pound away at iron, shaping swords, daggers, and arrowheads, while another person hands out those weapons. A vendor adjacent to them distributes satchels and an array of belts. A clothing boutique behind the vendor tents sets up shop outside their door, displaying tunics, capes, boots, and many more selections of garments.

  “Such a busy time. Guess the announcement has already been made that we are all to prepare for the battle ahead?”

  “It appears that way, doesn’t it?” Cory agrees. He points in the nearby distance. “I see Arryn is handing out armor. Shall we check it out?”

  Arryn, the queen’s huntress, seems to be the one delegating tasks. She’s speaking to one soldier as we walk up. Their conversation disperses as they see us approach. “Good to see you two again,” she says.

  Impressive. We didn’t have to reintroduce ourselves; she remembered us from earlier.

  Her tiger—what one may refer to as a familiar—lies next to a bench by some stairs leading up to the tower catwalk. He’s a beautiful animal with a white coat and complementing black stripes.

  Behind a huge stand, Arryn grabs some steel-tipped arrows. “These are for you,” she says, looking at me. “I have a set as well.” She smiles. “I’m sure they will come in handy on the mission ahead.”

  “Are these what I think they are?” I ask.

  “Valiancium Steel tips? Yes. Also dipped in Iknes Shaw poison, so careful touching the edges.”

  “Queen Sara works fast, doesn’t she?” I ask, stunned that such armor can be made so quickly.

  “She was preparing them before our meeting in the Hall of Secrets.” Arryn looks over at Cory and hands him a dagger. “For you. Hold it close. It will keep you alive, no doubt.”

  He furrows a brow, but I ask, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing. Only that it is also made of the same steel as your arrows.” Arryn narrows her eyes, as though warning me not to ask any further questions.

  “I’m a vampire,” Cory murmurs. “This steel will weaken me.”

  Arryn smiles. “You will find that dagger is unique. It has been imbued with a gem in its hilt allowing you to hold it. I assure you, it’s made for you and you only.”

  “And you know this how?” he asks.

  I see some people have overheard our conversation and I elbow Cory.

  Arryn doesn’t seem to care about others listening in. “Queen Sara instructed me to give it to you.”

  “I see,” Cory says, taking the blade in his hands. He briefly glances at it and then tucks it to his waist.

  “When do we leave?” I ask.

  “At dusk.” She continues to hand out more tools and weapons to other people coming up to her booth, as we talk.

  “Are you insane? During the night when the nocturnal creatures come out?” I ask.

  “Relax.” She hands us illuminating blue, mother-of-pearl inlaid bracers, to place over our wrists, too, that look much like labradorite. “Put these on. It will protect your mind from Moyer’s compelling invasion.” She turns and grabs two boxes stacked behind her. “These items inside will help shield you from battle injuries as well.”

  “I’m already protected,” Cory remarks, holding up his watch.

  More glances come from the strangers among us, as they give odd looks.

  Arryn grins. “These pieces are more than that.”

  “Again, I ask, why are we to venture in the dead of night?” Somehow, I can’t help but think Arryn has been privy to information we know nothing about.

  “We’re going through the portal from the Hall of Secrets. I assure you it will be safe. What did you think…we would venture to Songbird Meadow of Unrest?”

  “Well, yeah,” Cory says. “That’s how Wynter and I travelled here, anyway.”

  “Yes, I suppose you would think that. That portal in the meadow is in direct line of our enemies. Isalora and Jeoffrey needed a way to protect it. On this side of the realm, we have easier ways to get to the Storm
River Manor compound. Besides, we will be passing through to the cottage, anyway. There will be no need to worry about the nocturnal creatures, this time.”