Still, she supposed that was her correct title. Hugo’s true name was Eryanth Arjuno. It would have been her choice if she took his name or not, but she found she wanted it.
Otekah’s eyes remained fixed upon the approaching shores. “Erzion had done all he could when King Arjuno arrived with his queen, the guardian who was Alethia. But no matter their power against the ice mage and Rayan’s father, the princess could not be fully protected from herself. She used a weapon against the Ice Witch that was not hers.” He turned his head, regarding Diamond solemnly. “A spear.”
Diamond expelled breath through her nose. “I have seen my grandmother fight wearing beautiful white-scaled armour. She was using magic and a spear covered in runes of fire.”
Rayan listened attentively, his gaze curious.
“That spear was never meant for your mother. I believe it is meant for your hands,” Otekah told her.
“Perhaps,” she agreed, “but to what end? Without my magic, I stand little chance of beating a god—even with a goddess’s weapon.”
“You don’t know what may happen when you touch it,” Rayan pointed out.
“It is true,” Otekah agreed. “It seems your mother’s destiny was never to retake the Avalonian throne, but to bring a queen into this world who can.”
Diamond smiled, thinking of her father. How did my mother get across the ocean and meet him?
“I wonder if her purpose in leaving the safety of the Fire Mountains was to try and save the little prince who went missing?” mused Rayan.
“So do I,” whispered Diamond.
“Though it is irrelevant now,” continued Rayan. “None of this helps in persuading my father to become your ally.
“No,” agreed Otekah. “But it warns Queen Arjuno that she may very well be walking into more danger. Remember, your father was bested by King Lexon and Queen Alethia, and that he tried to kill Diamond’s mother in order to become an ally of Griana’s. He will not have forgotten that, no matter how many years have passed.”
Rayan stood, his broad shoulders tense, his spine rigid. He paced to the balustrade before staring out at the approaching coast line. His voice turned hard. “It is true. My father prizes trade agreements and riches above all else, and his trade agreements with Griana are ancient. As long as they continue and money rolls in, he will willingly sacrifice some of his people to Erebos and Griana.”
He turned to face Diamond. “Perhaps I made a mistake bringing you here. You should leave with Otekah. He can keep you safer than I can.”
“No.” Diamond’s voice was absolute and brooked no argument. “Prince Rayan, I appreciate your concern, but somehow I have to turn your father to our cause before I leave to petition Queen Ilya too. I promised to unite the Eight Kingdoms, and I will.”
“That’s very noble of you, but you cannot unite any sovereigns if you are incarcerated or dead,” Rayan pointed out.
“I will not run. I have survived servitude to one monarch and betrayal by another. I will survive your father and anyone else who tries to stop me from ending the threat to this world.” She pushed herself up to a regal stance. “You, Rayan, are a wizard and a prince; if your father fails to support me, I’m sure you have followers enough to help change his mind.”
Rayan huffed. “I do not,” he retorted.
Diamond knew he was lying. She stepped closer to the prince until she was peering into his tight face. “Rayan, l understand your fear is for your brother; truly I do. I have been forced to do things to protect those that I love, but in the end they get hurt anyway. You cannot protect him or Salim, not if the High Wizard is set on harming them—no matter what you do or don’t do.” She turned to Otekah. “Will you gather your Fire Priests to help fight Erebos?” she asked.
Otekah nodded, the metal sun upon his head gleaming with his movements. “Of course.” He smiled wistfully as he looked out at the horizon. “The desert is a curious thing, young queen. It will lead me back to you when you need me.”
Diamond did not doubt it.
“When you are ready, we will fetch the spear together. For now, I must leave. It will harm your cause if I am sensed with you.”
With that, he stood and stripped off all his clothes. Completely unabashed, he turned to Rayan. “You are a grown man; stand up to your father and embrace the change that is to come. You are just as powerful as he is, you only need to believe it.”
Rayan scowled, clearly not convinced.
With a final nod to Diamond and a wide grin to Tawne and Attion, the Fire Priest dove overboard.
“Good luck, my friend,” Rayan muttered.
Together, Diamond and Rayan watched as the priest struck out towards the distant shore, disappearing from view as the white-washed buildings and walled harbour of Ion Tua drew closer.
Chapter 29
Hugo had thought all was lost; now he realised how wrong he had been. There was always something more to lose.
“My son?” he croaked, horror stealing his voice. “I have a son?”
Lunaria nodded, though sadness shone in her eyes.
Then panic ripped at him. “But why is it his fate to set us free? He can’t give his soul to us! He has to live! And what of Diamond? She can’t go through losing our child alone. Oh gods! What have I done? This is my fault. I saw that phial—and I ignored it.”
"There is nothing you can do, Eryanth. Diamond has miscarried your child. It is no-one's fault. His soul is being pulled to us—by your guardian.”
“My guardian?” Eryanth whispered hoarsely. He looked down, and sure enough, his guardian pushed against the skin of his chest. Its shape was faint, ghostlike—but there. He squeezed his eyes shut and swallowed. Hope burned in his gut along with crippling grief for the child he and Diamond had lost.
“The gift of his pure energy will give me enough power to set us all free."
As if sensing Eryanth's anguish, another huge creature appeared nearby. It rushed at him, its hands clutching barbed blades.
For a moment he just stared, still processing his loss.
“Prince Eryanth! Stand and fight! Your son’s soul will give us a chance to escape this place. I can return you to Diamond’s side. So move! Now!” Lunaria yelled.
In the seconds it took him to jump to his feet, he accepted that the fae he had once been was no more. Hugo Casimir of the Queen’s elite guard was gone, taken by the Lord of Souls. His true name was Eryanth Arjuno, and he was a magic-wielder, a manipulator of shadow and a guardian.
I will not yield to Erebos! I will return to Diamond's side and we will fight him together.
A bright light, like the flame of a small candle, fell into the air near Lunaria.
Eryanth clutched a dark metal sword in each hand, trying not to watch that light.
Their son…
His nostrils flared. He would not waste this gift—this chance to escape.
Eryanth became shadow.
In a detached way, he swiped the edge of his blade into the small patch of soft flesh beneath one of the creature’s armoured neck spines. It squealed, darkness pouring from its mouth. Within seconds, it disappeared.
Eryanth turned back to Lunaria.
He blinked, utterly unable to move.
Lunaria held a light in her palm. “This is your son,” she whispered.
Eryanth wanted to reach in to that awful cage, to touch that gentle light, but he could not. He could not even speak past the sorrow that clogged his throat.
“Do not grieve for him. His soul is linked to both yours and my granddaughter’s. He will join you again—one day,” she said with so much empathy that Eryanth wanted to let his tears run free.
“How will he set us free?” he asked instead, his voice hoarse.
“Put your hand through the cage. It will hurt. They will scream until it burns your soul. You and Diamond both carry the blood of goddesses. Your son is of my bloodline and is powerful in his own right. I can use the energy of his life force to break free of this darkness.”
Eryanth nodded, not caring about the pain, only that he would be able to find and help Diamond once more. He would support her through the pain of losing their child. He looked at that light. And they would bring their son back to them. Clenching his teeth, he thrust his hand into the writhing cage.
Lunaria grabbed his hand and lifted that beautiful pure light. She gently inhaled and his whole body warmed. A kind of fluid heat and power flowed from her into him until it filled him. Light, laughter, love and joy seeped into his soul and tugged him from the ice and darkness.
Eryanth felt torn. In the distance, a warm yellow glow beckoned him.
Eternity.
He could feel it, the joy and serenity that called him. He could go there and be at peace with his son.
But…
Eryanth turned his head to look at the inky darkness behind them.
Lunaria’s weak voice reached him. “Go! Your destiny is not in Eternity—not yet. Find Diamond; help her finish Erebos. Remember, only her blood can kill him.”
Without further thought Eryanth closed his eyes and fell.
The impact jarred his body. His head bounced off hard rock, rattling his brain. Pain seared along his back, awakening his guardian. Eryanth roared as the dragon threatened to escape.
“Shit!” exclaimed a familiar voice.
“No! Stay where you are!” ordered another.
Eryanth yelled, pushing back against his dragon. Snarling and spitting with anger, it retreated. He snapped open his eyelids. Around him a shimmering curtain of red magic glowed. Behind the curtain of magic, a squad of red-winged warriors eyed him. As he stood tall, naked and wholly corporeal, they slammed their fists to their chests, creating a cacophony of sound as they dropped to one knee.
Eryanth felt his eyes burn as he recognised the weight upon his back. Tensing his muscles, he spread his wings wide and gave them a strong shake. Eyeing the red-haired, red-winged male standing in front of him, Eryanth sent a silent prayer of thanks to the goddess. He was whole again.
“My king,” Erzion breathed. His voice was somewhat shaky, though a smile of joy curled his lips. “It is a miracle to see you again.”
Yes. The miracle of life. Sadness and pride filled him. He would not waste his son’s gift. “A miracle indeed, Red Wizard.”
“Hugo?” whispered Elexon, placing a hand upon the shield. It wavered at his touch but did not fade.
Eryanth turned to face his wide-eyed friend. Light from his flaming silver tattoos lit the gloom. “No, my friend. Hugo Casimir no longer exists, other than as a suit of flesh for the Lord of Chaos. I am Eryanth Arjuno, Prince of the Fire Mountains and king to your queen.”
Behind Elexon, the huge celestial gate loomed. Runes flared to life under Eryanth’s narrowed gaze. He wondered briefly why the Guardians did not come back through that gate and destroy Erebos themselves.
“They cannot,” answered Erzion, understanding what that scrutiny meant. “To pass freely through that gateway, a key is needed. Only a guardian can possess a key.” He swallowed hard, a frown creasing his brow. “I was told by the High Ruler on the night they banished Erebos, that once the guardians returned to Eternity, he would seal the gate. It can only be opened from the mortal realm—and only by a guardian in possession of a key.”
Eryanth’s nostrils flared. Gorian, his friend, had once alluded to a key. Clearly, the old goat had thought Diamond’s necklace one of them. And Griana had coveted it from the moment she saw it.
“Where are the keys now?” Eryanth asked, his skin prickling, his tattoos flaring as he sensed another presence behind him. Erzion reached inside his tunic. When he withdrew his hand, a familiar necklace dangled from his fingers.
Erzion muttered under his breath and the red shield dropped. Behind the Red Wizard, the others remained kneeling, heads bowed.
Eryanth bid them stand.
Once they settled, he held out his hand and Erzion opened his grip. The black chain slithered between his fingers. The rough crystal landed in Eryanth’s palm where it began to glow.
“How did you get that?” Elexon asked his father.
Erzion smiled tightly. “I have had it since Griana took it from Diamond months ago. What I didn’t have were these,” he said.
Eryanth listened to the musical language that fell from the Red Wizard’s lips. When Erzion lifted his other hand, a tray of tear dropped shaped phials rested upon it. “I needed a distraction to get these. You provided that when you rescued Rose. Even Griana’s provost was occupied with trying to locate you all.”
“Are those the blood phials of the elite guard?” asked Eryanth, anger heating his insides.
“Yes, though yours was kept separately.” Erzion opened his now empty fist. Upon his palm sat another phial.
Eryanth snarled. Without even raising his hand, he sent ribbons of shadow thrusting forward from his body. With a roar that echoed throughout the halls of Catava, he sent all the phials careening into the stone arch of the gateway. Glass and blood covered the floor.
“No warrior will ever be forced into service again!” He raised his voice forceful enough to be heard by the red warriors who stood in formation, watching carefully.
Erzion waved his hand and the glass turned to dust. “My king, how did you return to us?” he asked.
“A gift. One I do not wish to discuss,” Eryanth answered. “What I do wish to discuss is what has happened since Erebos banished my soul to Chaos. I see you are prepared for war, Lord Riddeon. I have returned for my queen. Together we are stronger.”
Erzion frowned. “Of course, my king. But I’m afraid Diamond is no longer in Avalonia. Griana paid Captain Sabiliar to take Diamond and Attion into slavery…”
“What!?” bellowed Eryanth, “And you allowed that to happen? With all your warriors and power, you let them take your queen! Someone you have waited one thousand years for!” In his fury, shadow gathered around him. He felt his spine stretch and scales erupt across his forehead and back. “You allowed my soulmate to be taken and thrown at the mercy of others!” he roared, slamming a wave of shadow towards the Lord of Catava. “You could have saved her! You could have saved them both!” he raged.
Erzion seemed rooted to the spot, stunned by the swiftness and ferocity of Eryanth’s anger. But Eryanth could not stop it. It was as if the despair and darkness of Chaos had followed him here. He had lost Diamond again. Goddess only knew what horrors she had suffered, what caused her to not be able to carry their son to term. His anger erupted at that thought. He roared, slamming a wave of shadow against the Red Wizard’s chest.
It did not find its mark.
“Enough!” bellowed a voice from behind Eryanth. Magic, cool and calming, enveloped him like a bubble of serenity, as though he were surrounded by calm waters.
Eryanth snarled, aware Erzion and Elexon stood side by side, watching him and the owner of that voice. Elexon placed a supportive hand on his father’s shoulder. Erzion swallowed hard, looking crestfallen. Guilt etched the lines of his face as he touched his son’s hand.
“Do not blame Erzion for what happened to Diamond,” Lord Firan advised calmly, though not weakly. “Erzion got her out of the dungeons. If it wasn’t for him, she would be dead. Erebos wishes to kill her himself.”
Eryanth growled at the Lord of the Wetlands but his anger was fading, almost as if it were being suppressed by the presence of this male.
As usual, Firan was dressed in clothes of deep silken blue. Just like the magic that surrounded them, it reminded Eryanth of the deepest ocean waters. Firan stalked forward, his elegance of appearance and movement serving to remind Eryanth of his own naked state. Commanding his magic, he was soon covered in a simple shirt, leggings and boots. All the same deep blue as Firan’s. Cracking his neck side to side, he flared and armoured his wings, flapping them vigorously.
Gods, that feels good, he thought, holding in the fierce emotion that threatened to drop him to his knees and leave him weeping. “I’m surprised to see you here, lord,”
he sneered instead. “Weren’t you promised my mate as a prize? I would have thought you would have claimed her rather than hiding here in a cave.” His rage kindled at that thought, but he waited for an answer. Lord Firan was here, after all, and Eryanth had intended to hear him out—before Griana unleashed her evil. His sapphire eyes held Firan’s as the tall lord stepped forward until there was only a small distance between them.
Firan’s warm breath fanned Eryanth’s face. It felt odd to allow someone so close—but instead of cutting him down immediately, Eryanth welcome the calmness Firan emanated.
Seconds passed as the shadow warrior and the immortal lord stood face to face.
Firan did not balk from Eryanth’s unwavering glare. In turn, Eryanth realised he would never dominate this ancient lord.
Firan’s blue hair glimmered. He cocked his head and smiled as if reading Eryanth’s mind. “That’s right, son.”
A sharp gasp and a curse came from the direction of Erzion and Elexon.
Eryanth ignored it, not concerned with what caused the immortal Lord of Catava to fall to his knees.
“You cannot cow me with a look or with your magic,” Firan continued. “I am too old and have seen too much to be remotely scared of either. Nor do I owe any allegiance to you or your queen.”
“I am not your son, I am king of these lands…”
“Yes, you are my son,” Firan interrupted quietly. “But you are not a king. Not yet. It takes more than a soul bond with a queen to make you a king.”
Eryanth’s heart flipped in his chest.
Son? What does he mean?
To cover his confusion, he looked at Erzion, who stared wide-eyed at his friend. The Lord of Catava placed one palm on the shimmering magic shield.
“Firan? My friend. Hugo is truly your son?” Erzion asked, his voice shaking with emotion.
Firan turned to Erzion but immediately looked back to Eryanth. “Yes, he is my son and as such is part merman. But I believe his mother would prefer it, as does he, if you would call him by the name she chose, not the one Griana gave him.”
The Goddess and The Guardians Boxset: The Complete Romantic Fantasy Quartet Page 95
