The Elemental Trilogy Box Set

by Toni Cox

  Something was happening at Greystone and he needed to get back there with haste. He had a bad feeling and the longer he thought about it, the more worried he became. Tired as he was, he kept seeing visions of Maia on the ground, bleeding. Midnight downed, riddled with arrows. His father dead and the armies decimated.

  Like a madman, he drove his men and horses to even greater speed, yet deep down he knew he was already too late.

  It was almost dark by the time they reached the outskirts of Shadow Hall. They had travelled most of the way through the forest, but the storm had been such, even sheltered by the canopy of trees above, they had all been soaked through to the skin.

  Rothea did not mind so much. She was wearing her leather uniform and armour, which was keeping her warm. Her prisoners, however, had been stripped of what armour they had been wearing and were huddled, cold and miserable, on their horses when they finally reached the city.

  “Halt. Who goes there?” The Night Watch challenged her as she led her sorry group onto The Axis.

  “It is I, Rothea Goodheart of the Regiment,” she replied. “I am here on orders of Princess Maia, delivering traitors to the dungeons.”

  The Night Watch gathered what men they could spare and helped her escort the prisoners to the dungeons beneath the Hall of the Guardians. She felt no pity for the men as she ordered them into the damp cells. She had seen first-hand what the Vampyres were capable of and, after hearing what they planned, she was sickened to think that these men would condone such atrocities. She did not spare them another look once the last key was turned.

  Her focus now was to get back to Maia. She had lost precious hours riding to Shadow Hall and she would have to ride through the night just to reach Greystone. She had to hurry.

  “Rothea.”

  She turned to look who had spoken. “Aaron, what are you doing here?”

  “Word has spread that you rode in with prisoners. Is Maia all right?”

  “I left her a few hours ago. She was all right then, but I fear they might have been riding into danger. I need to get back there with haste.”

  Thunder cracked overhead and all other sound was drowned out for a moment.

  “Let us get out of this weather so we can talk,” Aaron said. “I want to come with you.”

  Aaron led the way into the Hall of the Guardians. Some of the Night Watch was still inside, receiving their orders as to guarding the prisoners. They ignored them and went to stand in a quiet corner.

  “Aaron, you cannot come with me. It is madness.”

  “Just as mad as it is to ride to the Gate in this weather. The storm is gathering and it will get worse before it gets better.”

  “I do not have the luxury of time. If I leave now, I might still be in time to help.”

  “Rothea, even if the weather was good, it would take you at least six hours or more to reach it. Even that would only be possible with a fresh horse. I am just as anxious as you are, but in this weather you might never reach Greystone at all. Rest yourself and your horse and we can ride together once the storm lets up.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. What he was saying made sense, but it did not change what she felt. After hearing what the Vampyres had planned, their armies could use every bit of help they could get. She wondered where Maia was now. Had she reached her father and had she updated him on everything they had learned? Last she knew, the armies were scattered all over Grildor. For them to be able to have any chance against the main force of the Vampyres, Grildor’s forces would have to come together.

  “How many fighting men have you here at Shadow Hall?” she asked Aaron.

  “I am not sure. Half the Night Watch and most of the Sentinels are still here, but they have been tasked to defend the city.”

  “The city is not in danger anymore,” she replied. “We have learned that the Vampyre’s main aim is to take out our armies and kill our Elementals.”

  “Kill Maia, you mean?”

  “Yes, they seem to be aware of what she is to us and the danger she can pose to them. When Shadow Hall was attacked, their motive was only to kill Maia.”

  “I see now why you want to leave immediately,” Aaron mused. “The need would outweigh the risks. How can I help?”

  “Find whoever has been left in charge of the Night Watch and the Sentinels. Let us assemble as many as we can and only leave a small force to guard the city. I will talk to the Horse Masters. There are no more horses at the stables, but the brood mares are on the Grazing Grounds. We will need them if we are to reach Greystone before morning. Go now. Make haste. I will meet you back here within the hour.”

  Rothea and Aaron rushed out of the door together. While he turned right towards the city, she headed through the Silver Forest and on over the rise to the Grazing Grounds. All around her, the storm raged; cold rain pelted her face, leaves and branches twirled through the air and lightning kept illuminating her surroundings, casting the trees into bizarre creations. She had seen many storms in her lifetime, just never during this time of year. She wondered if it was a bad omen.

  Cold, hungry, and tired beyond words, she eventually arrived back at the Hall of the Guardians, almost fifty horses in tow. Five Horse Masters had agreed to accompany her. She was glad to see that Aaron did his job. The remaining Night Watch and Sentinels were assembled and ready to march. Aaron wore an assortment of battle gear and armour, no doubt borrowed from the Armoury, but his sword hung from his belt and a crossbow was slung over his shoulder. He looked ready for battle. Wolf, tail wagging, waited patiently at Aaron’s feet. She was not sure if she was doing the right thing by allowing them to come along, but she doubted she would be able to stop them.

  “Who is left to guard the city?”

  “Everyone who is able to carry a weapon,” Aaron replied. “Even the children have taken to the trees to act as sentries.”

  Rothea nodded. It was not a perfect solution, but she knew the people of Shadow Hall would do anything to protect their home. She tried to remember the number of people still in the city. Besides the Night Watch and the Sentinels who had remained to guard the city, only the very old, very young, or infirm had been left behind, as well as some essential services, such as Sanitors, some Hunters, Luke the Healer, and so on. Every man and woman able to fight had been enlisted into the Legion and were already deployed somewhere across the Yllitar Plains.

  “Let us move out,” she shouted, and mounted her own horse.

  Aaron moved up alongside her, still a little awkward in a saddle, and handed her a piece of Travel Bread.

  She nodded her thanks to him and then they were galloping down Warriors Walk and onto Legion Crossing and finally out onto the open plains. They had a war to go to.

  Maia woke with a start. Thunder rolled heavily overhead and a flash of lightning briefly illuminated the tent. Rain drummed against the sodden material.

  “What time is it?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

  “Two hours before sunrise, although I doubt we will be seeing one today,” Silas replied.

  Silas sat by the small fire. Her father sat on the floor resting against one of the poles of the tent. His eyes were closed.

  Maia threw the thin blanket off her and sat up. Linking with Midnight, she enquired about his wellbeing. He was all right, but she knew he was uncomfortable out in the storm.

  “Any news?” she enquired.

  “Some of the Regiments arrived during the night. Even the warriors of Rathaés and Dragonfort have finally made it here. They had to fight their way through and suffered some casualties, but all in all we now have almost ten thousand warriors encamped around the Gate.”

  Maia rose and went to join Silas by the fire.

  “It still will not be enough,” she sighed.

  “It is more than we had hoped for.”

  “Let us hope more will come. Has there been any activity within the stones?”

  “None,” Silas said, a deep frown on his face. “I even went to investigate myself and found no tr
aces of magic within the circle. At first, we thought that maybe the information you were given was incorrect, but I now believe it is the weather that has given us this respite. I fear that once the storm abates, the Vampyres will attack. We will need to be ready.”

  “How fare the men?”

  “This weather has not made it easy for them to rest and many have spent much of the night marching through the storm. Our troops are exhausted, but our supply of Silva remains largely untouched. I fear we might have need of it soon. Here,” he said, handing her a bowl of steaming broth, “you also need to keep your strength up.”

  “Any word from Jaik?”

  “I am afraid not.”

  Maia took a sip from her bowl, the broth hot and salty in her mouth, instantly warming her. She was worried about her brother, yet she somehow felt that he was safe. At least for now.

  Her father stirred and came to sit by the fire. Maia was worried about how tired he looked, his eyes ringed by dark circles. She knew it was worry aging him like this. The fate of Grildor rested firmly on his shoulders. Maia knew what that felt like. Quickly she poured him a bowl of broth as well.

  “While we still have the time, why don’t you tell me more of what you have learned? Any detail you might have left out yesterday might be of help today. How did you come across these traitors in the first place?”

  She almost coughed into her broth at Silas’ question. She felt a flush of heat colour her cheeks. The fact that she had been with Blaid had been omitted during her report yesterday and for some reason she suddenly felt too afraid to tell them. She looked down at her hands holding the bowl, hoping to hide her flushed face.

  “Rothea and I followed you. At a distance, so you would not notice. I am sorry, Father, for disobeying your orders, but I could not sit by idly while you rode into battle.”

  She looked up at him, expecting him to be angry, but there was only concern in his deep, brown eyes.

  “After a while I had the strangest feeling. I cannot explain it, except that I felt some negative forces towards the direction of the forest. We decided to follow to find out what it was. By the time we reached the forest, we crossed their spoor. There were twelve of them, one badly injured.”

  “Twelve?” Jagaer asked. “Yet you still followed them?”

  “Rothea and I were only trying to find out what was going on. Once we realised they were Elves, I knew something was wrong. I had to know more.”

  She paused, unsure on how to proceed. She knew the truth would upset her father even more, but she did not want to lie to him either.

  “Carry on, Maia,” Silas encouraged.

  She swallowed hard. A bead of sweat was forming on her forehead.

  “They eventually stopped in a small clearing on account of the injured man. We sneaked up on them on foot and overheard some of what they were saying. They were fleeing the country in light of what was to come. This was when we decided that we could learn much from them.”

  “So how did you manage to overcome twelve Elves and got them to give up their secrets?” Jagaer asked, now with keen interest.

  “I projected my elemental power onto them and cowed them into submission and …”

  “You projected?” Silas asked in astonishment. “When did you learn to do that?”

  “Let her finish, Silas. I am sure she will be able to share this with you later.”

  “While I questioned them, Rothea bound them. I also healed the injured man. The things we learned from them made me shudder, but it put many things into perspective. We have been betrayed, Father, and not only by Kanarel. Although Kanarel seemed to have been the main contact that negotiated with the Vampyres, he had a whole host of people working for him. He had … has … spies positioned in every city, all around Grildor. None of our secrets, none of our plans, are safe. That is why the Vampyres always seemed to be one step ahead of everything we do.”

  “But why?” her father asked, the betrayal cutting deep.

  “Kanarel believed that we, as a race, have stopped evolving. We are still doing things the old way, honouring our time-old traditions. He believed that what the country needs is progress. New inventions. Industry. Even a monetary system. Over the past few years he searched for like-minded people and they formed the Secta Ĕ Novicus. The Sect of Modernisation. When the Vampyres first made contact, he used the opportunity to his advantage, offering them assistance in exchange for certain titles, lands and … me.”

  “You?” Jagaer was aghast.

  “I think he realised that I would never agree to marry him willingly, but with me by his side he would be able to rule Grildor as the mate of a Prime. The men said that Kanarel had drawn up trade agreements with Naylera for when the war was over, but then something happened and the Vampyres decided that Kanarel was not getting things done swiftly enough. They were threatening him with attempts on my life if he did not produce results. After the attack on me at the inn, Kanarel decided to remain close to me, which is why he travelled to Shadow Hall with us after we passed through Braérn.”

  “I cannot fathom what drove Kanarel to such actions,” Jagaer wondered. “Our systems have proven themselves for millennia. Just look at what happened to Brath. Their modernisation killed their planet. Earth is heading the same way. I simply do not understand why anyone would want that.”

  “Neither do I, Father.”

  “Now, tell us about their plans, Maia,” Silas prompted.

  “Like I said, they have been infiltrating the cities and placing their sect members for years. It was a well-established network by the time the Vampyres made contact. Nevertheless, the Vampyres were impatient. Instead of waiting for Kanarel to give them all the information they needed, they decided to attack right away. We won that battle, of course, but for them the war was not over. Having been defeated, they decided to listen to what Kanarel suggested and took their time gathering, not only information, but also supplies. Kanarel arranged for their entire army to be outfitted with proper armour, weapons, tents, food, as well as providing them with several minor Elementals to assist them with passing into Grildor unnoticed. For Moons, they have been positioning their forces, waiting for the right time to attack. Cities were targeted for the resources they could provide, as well as to split our forces. Their plans worked. Our armies are spread across the country, leaving Greystone all but unprotected. I have seen the war camp on Naylera for myself, so I believe the men when they say that the Vampyres’ army numbers over forty thousand.”

  “Unchecked, their entire army could come through the Gate in under four hours. We only have ten thousand warriors at hand, as it stands. Unless more reinforcements arrive, we stand little chance against such overwhelming odds.” Her father sounded defeated.

  “All is not lost yet, Jagaer,” Silas said. “They did not succeed in killing our ‘Princess of Light,” he winked at Maia, “and we do have Midnight. I believe, so far, he has slain more Vampyres and Werewolves than all our forces combined. All we need to do is hold them off as they come through the Gate, while the rest of our forces make their way here. Maia said some were further away than others, but they are all marching for Greystone, even as we speak.”

  “Then let us hope this storm does not break too soon.”

  As if in answer, lightning flashed overhead, followed immediately by the crack of thunder. They were all silent then, listening to the wind and rain battering the tent. The storm had been raging all night; it could not last forever.

  The entrance flap to the tent opened and a Sentinel stepped in. He was dripping wet, leaving puddles on the floor. “Pardon, My Lord, but you requested to be informed should there be any developments.”

  “Speak, what has happened.” Jagaer rose to address the Sentinel.

  “Lord Brimstone has arrived with his Guard and all eleven Regiments. They have also brought with them some of the scattered Legions of various cities. Their total number stands at eight hundred and fifty-three.”

  “Thank you. That is good news.”
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  The Sentinel bowed and left the tent.

  “Stoneloft’s Regiments were posted at the Gate until their city was attacked,” Jagaer said. “Lord Brimstone then had his army march for home. I believe that when he received news that his city had been defended successfully, he turned his army around again. Was he one of the people you spoke to during your flight yesterday?” Jagaer asked Maia.

  “No, but Midnight did inform me that Lord Brimstone was already marching for Greystone, so we did not waste time speaking with him. He must have come across the others along the way. Those were probably some of the ones I saw last night.”

  “Stoneloft’s warriors came from the east. The armies of Rathaés and Dragonfort came from the south. Most of the Regiments of Thala Yll and Alea Yll are already with us, as are about half of the Legions of various cities. Let us hope the rest has only been scattered and not slain. We will need them when the time comes.”

  “We will indeed, Jagaer,” Silas said. “Yet, you have seen the battlefield around the stones. We lost many men before we got here. It is impossible to say how many are dead.”

  “We saw the same during our flight last night,” Maia added. “Every Commander I have spoken to had been in battles and suffered casualties.”

  Jagaer retook his seat by the fire and ran his large hands through his thick hair. Worry made his shoulders hunch.

  “The best we can hope for is twenty thousand,” he said. “We have managed to reassemble some of the damaged war machines and they are positioned around the Gate. Silas, summon the Commanders. Dawn is almost upon us. We need to be ready.”