The Alora and the Knightlys Trilogy: Books 1-3

by A. J. Medina

  “Aye, Rosaleen. But won’t they see the color of the potions?”

  “Nay. It will turn to whatever color of food or drink you add it to. Now go and join the others in their ‘escape’.”

  “Aye, Rosaleen. Thank you for helping me get my revenge.”

  The queen nodded. “The tea is first,” the queen told Davina. “Give it some time to work. Let Alora see what it is like to be—”

  The door swung open. It was Princess Evelyn.

  Davina quickly slid the vials out of view.

  “Mother, we need to talk about Father.”

  “Not this again. I told you it’s not your concern.”

  “I leave you now, My Queen,” Davina said as she walked past the angry princess and readied herself for what was to come.

  — — —

  Aednat listened to their breathing as the girls slept. The fire had burned out in the wood burner and the room was dark. Ever since Alora had stopped living in their chambers it happened more and more. Maybe it was a coincidence or maybe Alora took care of the fire while the others slept. Either way it no longer mattered.

  Aednat threw her legs over the side of the bed, wiggled her toes and stood, just like she noticed Alora used to do. She quietly walked over to the window, opened it, and let the cold air in. She inhaled deeply, breathing in the crispy air and looked out into the night. It was dark, but she could hear the water crashing against the base of the mountain that held the castle city. It was amazing how she had become used to it. So used to it that unless she focused on it, she barely knew it was there.

  “What are you doing? It’s too cold. Close the window,” Davina told Aednat as she restarted the fire in the wood burner.

  She nodded, shut the window, and put the latch back on it. Davina jumped back into bed and propped herself up on one elbow. Under the glow of the wood burner, Aednat walked over to Davina’s bed and sat down on the edge.

  “It’s time to go.”

  Davina sat up all the way in her bed. “But we’re supposed to wait until first light.”

  “Daylight is too risky. People can see us, people will notice us. We need to go now. I’ll wake Ryanne. Start getting ready and drink your potions.”

  Aednat sat on Ryanne’s bed and gently shook her.

  “What’s wrong,” Ryanne asked.

  “It’s time to go,” Aednat said. “Get ready and drink your potions.”

  Ryanne hopped out of bed and threw on her second skin. She wasn’t wasting any time at all.

  When they had all put on their second skins, winter cloaks and their boots, Aednat tossed on her satchel. “Thomas will be waiting for us. Ready?”

  They all were. “Ready,” Ryanne and Davina whispered.

  “Then let’s go.”

  Two guards were always stationed at the entrance to the guard’s wing, the palace, on the gate wall, and at the gate entrance. That meant they would be spotted if they tried to leave by normal means. The easiest way not to be seen was to go over the wall and into the water.

  They quickly and quietly moved from their chambers down to the main level. When she was sure no one was in the passageway, Aednat led them to the dining hall and up the turret in the back.

  Once at the top, she took one final glance. Before their training began King Remi had brought them up there to show them what they would be fighting for—the kingdom of Ly’vera. Aednat knew now that wasn’t true. She wasn’t fighting for the kingdom. She was fighting for the king. For the king’s wants and needs.

  “Are we going?” Ryanne asked.

  Aednat ignored her.

  Aednat aimed her palm down at the turret floor and soared to the castle city wall. A perfect landing. Alora would be proud of her.

  Ryanne was next. Another perfect landing.

  Next up was Davina.

  When Davina didn’t soar over fast enough for Aednat’s liking, Aednat waved her over.

  She still didn’t soar.

  “What is she doing?” Ryanne asked.

  “I have no idea.”

  Aednat waved her over again. Ryanne did as well.

  Ryanne waved furiously. “You think its because of the water?”

  “Nay.”

  But Aednat wasn’t so sure. Davina had freaked out on their journey to find the dragon wizard when they needed to cross the river. But if the water was going to be a problem, she should have said something before now.

  Aednat aimed her hand down again. She was about to soar back to Davina, but when she looked up to take aim, Davina’s body was coming towards her.

  Davina’s arms were flapping as if she was a bird trying to fly.

  “What is she doing?” Ryanne asked.

  “She’s an idiot. No matter, she’s on her way.”

  Aednat stepped out of the way in time for Davina to fall just short of a proper landing. Aednat reached down to take hold of one arm and Ryanne took the other. They heaved and lifted Davina up onto the wall.

  “What was that?” Ryanne asked Davina.

  Davina tried to compose herself. “I thought I heard someone coming up the stairs. I ran to the edge of the turret and soared on the run. Not a good idea.”

  “Did you see anyone?” Aednat asked.

  “Nay.”

  Aednat focused on the turret they had soared from and waited. There was no movement. No shadows. Content that no one was there, she turned her focus to the water below. There was a small boat in the water just big enough to hold them all. Thomas motioned for them to go down.

  “Rope,” Aednat ordered Ryanne.

  Ryanne quickly jumped into action. She retrieved the rope from her satchel. Looked down to where the boat was and lined herself up. She tied the rope around the merlon and tossed the free end over the side.

  Aednat took hold and gently lowered herself over the side of the wall. Hand over hand she lowered herself. When she had made some progress Ryanne, and then Davina, followed onto the rope. The three of them, all on the rope at the same time, lowered themselves towards Thomas.

  “Just let go,” Thomas said when she reached the bottom. “But when you do, squat down and sit.”

  She did as he said.

  “Now slowly move towards the front away from me. Don’t stand up.”

  She followed his orders again.

  As she moved towards the front he moved towards the rear.

  “Just let go, but when you do, squat down and sit.”

  Ryanne did as Thomas commanded.

  He said it again for Davina.

  “Ryanne, slowly go and sit by Aednat’s side. Davina, at the same time slowly come and sit by my side. Move without standing.

  With everyone in their place, Thomas handed Davina one of his oars. “Let’s go.”

  “How long do you think it will take us to get there?” Ryanne asked.

  Aednat asked Davina. “How long?”

  “Not long I imagine,” Davina said as she kept pace with Thomas’ rowing. “By land, many days, but by water, one maybe two.”

  “We’ll take turns rowing. We don’t want to stop. The sooner we get there the better,” Thomas said.

  Everyone agreed.

  Aednat felt a smile creeping onto her lips. They had left the awful castle city she was once happy to live in. It had turned from a dream into a nightmare quickly, but soon she would see her friend again.

  Chapter 8

  It was midday when the alarm sounded. I was in my room sitting by the fireplace reading Agbavitor’s journals and in between pages shouting “Stop!” to freeze the fire in place and then releasing it again.

  My feet hit the hard tile floor as I jumped out of the chair. Thrusting the window open, I peered outside. The brisk wind blew the falling snow into my eyes, making it even harder to see. The citizens where running towards the castle seeking shelter. A guard yelled, “Visitors!”

  Visitors in weather like this? Who would journey out this far in a blizzard?

  I shut the window—once again protected from the cold. I th
rust my feet into my boots, snatched my winter cloak off the hook by the door, and ran as fast as I could to see what was going on.

  By the time I had arrived at the front gate, Lucah was giving the guard the signal to raise it.

  “What’s going on?” I asked him.

  He turned and smiled. “Friends. Or enemies. We’ll soon find out.”

  When the large metal gate had risen enough for the visitors to walk underneath it, I could finally make out their shapes. The cold wind continued to blast the falling snow into my face, but there was no mistaking her silhouette. Tall, short hair, and a boyish frame. It was Aednat. That meant the three other shapes with her had to be Davina, Ryanne, and Thomas—my closest knightlys.

  Footsteps raced behind me—more guards had arrived.

  “Close the gate behind them!” Lucah ordered the gate guard.

  He then stood in their path and held up his hand motioning for them to stop. “Friend or foe?”

  Aednat cocked her head to the side, taking in the boy in front of her. “Out of our way! We are here to see Alora.”

  Lucah didn’t move. “I’ll only ask once more. Friend or foe?”

  Aednat shook her head. “And what if I say foe?”

  Lucah drew his sword and the other guards who had arrived drew theirs.

  “Stop it,” I said. “Lucah you remember how Aednat can be, don’t you?”

  I placed my hand on his shoulder. It was much firmer than I remembered. I almost gave it a squeeze and I stared at it for what felt like ages. Even through his cloak I could see the muscles underneath.

  Ryanne cleared her throat and I snapped out of it.

  “Aednat, Davina, Ryanne, and Thomas. Welcome. Have you journeyed here from Ly’vera?”

  “We have,” Davina answered.

  “Do you have anything to eat?” Thomas asked.

  “Aye, plenty,” I said. “Let’s go inside. Follow me.”

  I walked backwards for a minute watching as Aednat passed Lucah. She smirked at him and huffed. It almost brought a smile to my face seeing how much her disrespect bothered him.

  On our way back into the castle, Silas emerged from the entrance.

  “Murderer!” Aednat shouted from behind me and then pushed me out of the way as she rushed towards him, summoning her battle axe.

  She wielded it overhead, spinning it while charging towards Silas.

  I wondered if Silas had regained enough strength to defend himself against her. This was Aednat after all. If she was charging towards me like that, I probably would have relieved myself in my armor. She grew closer and Silas still hadn’t summoned his armor, a shield, or anything.

  “Silas!” I yelled.

  He just stood there.

  Was he going to just let Aednat kill him?

  I thrust my open hand forward and commanded the air around Aednat to lift her off the ground. The force of her axe still swinging caused her to twist and turn in mid air.

  I held her in place.

  “Put me down,” she shouted.

  “Nay! Not until you promise to stop.”

  She kept trying to break free. “He killed Tessa. Don’t you remember that?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “Then why haven’t you killed him yet?”

  “He didn’t mean to.”

  “Let me go. She was one of us. He has to pay.”

  Everyone began to gather around her and watched as she tried to twist and turn out of my hold. When I decided I had enough of her, I shouted, “Stop!” and she couldn’t move.

  “Let her down,” Silas said. “She has a right to be angry with me.”

  I let her down and freed her, but not before I reached out and called her battle axe out of her hand and into mine.

  She began walking towards me to claim her weapon. “I see you’ve been practicing.” She held out her arm. “My axe please, Wizard.”

  I handed it to her.

  Before I even knew what was happening, she turned and launched her axe towards Silas. End over end it flew. I shook my head and then reached out again and called it to me. In a quick burst of blue light, her axe was in my hand.

  “No fair,” Aednat sulked.

  “Are you going to stop this already?” I asked.

  “Aye,” she answered, and then stormed off to greet Neala, who had emerged with our chamber maiden Clara.

  “I see your cuts are healing.”

  “Aye, they are.”

  “Too bad. They were an improvement.”

  My jaw dropped. Still the same old Aednat. Insults at every turn.

  “Aednat stop it,” I commanded.

  “You can’t tell me what to do anymore. You’re not in charge of us. You left us behind, remember?”

  She was right. I had left them behind.

  “But if you want to stay here then she is in charge,” Silas said.

  “Well, I haven’t decided if I’m going to stay.”

  Thomas bit into an apple. Mid chew and with pieces spitting out of his mouth he said, “Where else are you going to go? You can’t go back to Ly’vera.”

  “I don’t know, but I haven’t decided if I’m going to stay.”

  It should’ve been a happy reunion, but instead we were arguing. “Let’s not fight, Aednat,” I said. “Let’s go inside and get out of the cold and settle you all in. We can discuss everything over a meal.”

  “Fine,” Aednat huffed.

  Weird as it may have seemed, I found that I missed having her around.

  Later on, Aednat and the others explained to me why they had left. I felt heartbroken when I found out what the king had done, but was glad that they were now at my side. Silas was also happy they were here, because they would add power to his army.

  But I still felt guilty for leaving them behind, and I still wasn’t sure if they would’ve been on my side back then. After all, they were still loyal to King Remi at the time. Looking back, there was no way I could’ve been sure.

  Later that evening, when I was coming from a meeting with Silas and his generals, I ran into Davina.

  “I have something for you. I made it myself.” She held out a mug, cradling it with both hands.

  I took it and smelled it. “This smells great,” I said.

  “Taste it, but be careful it’s hot.”

  I blew on it a little and then took a sip. I felt the warmth spread through me. “Mmm,” I said. “This is good.” I sipped some more. All at once I felt happy and relaxed. It was as if I didn’t have a care in the world. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever tasted.”

  “I’m glad you like it. Enjoy. I have to go.”

  Davina rushed off and I continued to my chambers, sipping her tea the whole way.

  When I arrived at my room, Clara was busily making my bed. Seemed odd for her to be making it so late. Neala and Branna used to do it early in the morning, not right before bedtime.

  I sipped on the tea and found myself staring at her hair. It was black, tied in pig tails, and the ends flowed free over her shoulders.

  She smoothed out the bed sheet.

  Her hands looked soft and her fingers... I looked at mine. They weren’t smooth like hers. Mine had calluses on the palms and dirt under the nails.

  “Hello, Alora.”

  I waved. It wasn’t an — I’m happy to see you — wave.

  I sat in one of the chairs that faced the bed and continued watching my chamber maiden. Clara tip toed and then leaned over the bed to smooth out another wrinkle. I instantly hated her. She was too pretty. Too shapely. Too young.

  Why had I let Neala talk me into allowing her to be our chamber maiden? This girl could easily make Silas fall in love with her. She might not be a slave anymore, but she once was and having Silas, a king, fall in love with her would be excellent... for her.

  Maybe I should send her away. Or maybe I should do to her what Queen Rosaleen did to Neala.

  I sipped the tea Davina had made special for me. It was delicious and warmed me after the extremely
cold and blizzard filled day.

  I stared into the mug. The tea swirled. I blew on it and the steam blew away. When I looked up again, Clara was gone.

  Where did that sneaky girl run off to?

  I was about to call out when I heard a pail crash in the washroom.

  “Alora, your bath is almost ready. You can undress and come in if you please,” Clara’s annoying voice said from the washroom.

  It was way too cold to undress and walk over there. Instead, I walked into the washroom still wearing my winter cloak.

  Clara was already undressed and once again the feeling of hatred came flooding back to me. I hated this girl. I wanted to hurt her.

  “Let me take that,” Clara said reaching out for my mug.

  I snatched it away and sipped some more.

  I could feel my eyes squinting and glaring at this perfect little annoying girl.

  “Let me take your mug so that we can get you into the bath,” she said.

  I handed her my mug only because it was so hot in the washroom and I needed to get undressed.

  Clara undid my cloak’s buttons and hung it up behind me. I untied my boots and kicked them off into the corner. Next, I said the magic words and my second skin stretched.

  Clara’s hands gripped my second skin from behind. When she slid it down, I stepped out of it. After resting it on the table, she climbed up the steps and then into the bath. She held her arms out to help me in and when I was in the warm comfortable water, she took a wash rag and began washing my arm.

  My eyes landed on her nose and then on her lips. Her nose was pert and so cute. Her lips: soft, supple, kissable.

  I instantly wanted to cut them both off her face.

  I traced her neck down to her chest. Once again perfect. I kept going lower. Perfect.

  Legs, perfect. Feet, perfect. This girl was just... perfect.

  I perfectly hated her.

  “Is something wrong, Alora? You’re very quiet tonight?”

  I parted my lips to tell her what I was thinking, but before I could speak, Neala walked in. Shutting the door behind her, she removed her robe.