by Jordan Baker
"Fascinating," Calthas said. "I wonder if the magic in these swords might be used against the spell that has been cast over the city."
"That is well worth investigating, and the Lady has told me of one who might have some insight into such magics," Stavros said, then he turned to the warrior god. "And what of you?"
"It has been a thousand years since I set foot upon the world," Kroma said. "I must regain some measure of my power and gather forces to stand against the shadow and the armies of the dark god, but first I must travel to the ancient keep, known to the people of this time as White Falls."
"The seat of Lord Kaleb, the House of Alaran," Stavros said.
"Yes," Kroma replied. "The keep is under siege, thus it appears the people there must also be rescued. Calexis intends to attack the elven lands, then she will turn her attention to the people of the sand."
"I have come from the Ansari," Stavros told him. "They are aware of the return of he shadow but they have not said what they intend to do."
"Ansari do not intend, they simply do," Kroma said. "There is something you are not telling me."
"There is another," Stavros said. "One who might challenge the dark god directly. Stroma and the Lady both believed this to be true but a piece of the shadow grows within him and seeks his power."
"I know of this, for I have glimpsed some of Kenra's thoughts," Kroma said. "The one of whom you speak is a warrior and gifted with great power. That much I was able to learn, though I know neither his name nor his face, which also means that Calexis does not know either."
"His name is Aaron," Stavros said.
"Aaron?" Brian asked. "Stavros, have you ever met someone named Tarnath?"
"I have," Stavros said. "He was my twin brother."
"He taught me how to fight," Brian said. "Me and Aaron. He taught us both."
Stavros looked at the young warrior and saw his brother's stance, and the same quiet and observant look in his gaze, and he felt his own eyes water a little. It seemed that his brother still had a hand in things, even though he was gone.
"Tarnath mentioned you to me in one of his letters," Stavros said. "He would be proud of your actions, I think."
"Thank you for saying that," Brian said. "You said he was your brother?"
"Tarnath died, some time ago," Stavros said. "It had to do with a senseless fight over land, between some petty baron and Lord Kaleb, the entire mess caused by Cerric, meddling in local affairs. I learned later from the girl, Ehlena, that Tarnath died protecting her and Aaron, thus his death has great meaning, for they both will stand against the shadow."
"Ehlena?" Brian remembered the girl. "You know her also?"
"Of course," Stavros said. "She is the Lady goddess."
"Brian," Kroma rumbled in his thoughts. "I would appreciate it if you did not think about my mother in such a way."
"Your mother?"
"I will explain later," he said.
"We must leave at once. This place is no longer safe," Kroma said, feeling the tremors of booted feet roving outside the city walls, heading in the direction of the shrine. "My power is meager, but if you seek my ear, strike your heel upon the stone and speak my name."
Stavros nodded then he turned to Willem and Calthas.
"Shall we?" he said, then, with a powerful crack, the three of them disappeared.
"How can Ehlena be your mother?" Brian asked the moment they were gone, and Kroma explained as they walked back toward the vines that led to the tunnels.
"I was curious about this until the mage explained who she was, for her voice is different but her power is the same. To answer your question: Ayra has become Ehlena, and Ehlena has become Ayra. They have become one."
"Like how you talk in my head and we can hear each other's thoughts?"
"No."
"Oh."
"I agree, Brian, she is very pretty, but really, must you?"
"Sorry. You said you wouldn't listen."
"It is very hard not to notice such thoughts."
"You're right. I'll try not to think about that."
"You are failing miserably."
"Sorry. I can't help it."
"Just kill me."
"Come on, she is beautiful."
As he hurried through the tunnels, all Brian heard was the faint echo of a deep, exasperated sigh as the god within him became silent.
EPILOGUE
The wind howled across the frozen land, whipping ice and snow toward the molten fire and stone that burst from the earth. Dragons circled the sky and howled with rage as the flows became violent and the mountains shifted and cracked. A slow, steady rumbling, like the beat of a great drum, reverberated through the land, echoes of power from far away.
A gust of wind trailed through the smoke and ash, dropping deep between the rocky peaks, to a hidden place where five young dragons stood guard, and two women stood at the mouth of a cave, listening to the pounding of the earth. A few stray snowflakes fell upon them, cold against the heat of their skin, and the ice and wind swirled before them then it turned pale like ice as a young woman appeared before them, dressed in snow and ice, and her skin pale as fallen snow.
The dragons growled and roared and the two women stepped back, wary of an attack, one of them drawing a dagger from a strap on her thigh, and the other curling her lip, baring her pointed teeth.
"Who are you?" Ariana demanded.
"Speak. Name yourself," the other young woman said, her voice mixed with the powerful growl and dangerous threat of a dragon.
"I am known to dragonkind as the wind, by the name Ayra," Ehlena said, and the young dragon ceased her growling, but she remained wary.
"I hear nothing from you," she said. "Your thoughts are complete silence."
"Do you not hear the wind in the sky?" Ehlena asked, her voice like a powerful whisper, soft yet as deafening as a dragon's roar. She let go of her power and smiled. "You are Vale, daughter of Vana. I have heard your song."
"These things mean nothing to me, but you seem familiar," Ariana said. "Who are you?"
"We met once, long ago. You knew me as Ehlena, Princess of House Valamyr. You are Queen Ariana, and I have come to find you, for I have need of your help."
"You need my help? What is this about?" Ariana asked, lowering her dagger.
"It is about your brother, Aaron."
NOTES
'A Broken Throne' is the fifth novel of the 'Book of One' novels, which is anticipated to be a seven book series. The sixth book in the series is expected to be ready in Spring 2014.
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Table of Contents
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
EPILOGUE
NOTES
