The Sweet Series Box Set: Books 1-4

by Bailey Ardisone

  Nope, scratch that. Make that three. Three dragons. The biggest one was red and the other two were green. The smallest one stayed high in the air as if watching what the other two did below.

  They took turns diving down toward us, burning the land at the horse’s heels. Cathar maneuvered us in and out of their path, weaving back and forth as we ran.

  It was as if the dragons directed us somewhere—I didn’t like it. I clung to Cathar and watched in horror as the flames licked the air millimeters from my skin. The heat was so close I could smell my singed hair. Cathar kept chanting Elvish words to the horse, but by god do something else, I wanted to scream! Wasn’t there something he could say to blind the dragons away like he did when the Night Elves had chased us?

  I wanted to speak, but when I opened my mouth, no words came out. I felt paralyzed. I still could not rip my gaze away from the flying giant furnaces above.

  Suddenly, huge mossy creatures came running out of nowhere and shot arrows at the dragons in the sky. They were just as large as the dragons but—ugly. Super ugly. They were fat and beefy, with stony, cracked skin. Whatever they were, it made the dragons immediately leave us alone and fly to the smaller one. They circled it protectively and roared angrily before leaving.

  “Those ugly things saved us!” I yelled to Cathar with astonishment.

  “No, they did not. They are Drake Hunters. They eat the dragons. Dragons are the most powerful in the land and can rarely be killed. The Drake Hunters were after the hatchling. Only then could they get what they crave,” Cathar explained solemnly.

  “Oh,” was all I could manage as I chewed over his words.

  The poor horse breathed very loudly and heavily as we continued to make him run with all his might. I finally saw the other side of the clearing where the woods stood as we emerged upon a hill.

  “Is that where we are headed?” I asked with excitement. I seriously needed a break so I could process everything that had just happened.

  “Yes,” Cathar answered. We finally made it into the trees, so he slowed the horse to a stop. I jumped down to give the poor horse a break and clasped my thighs in an effort to massage the soreness out of them; they also needed the break. I had thought I had been saving my feet by getting a horse, but it only transferred the pain to my legs instead.

  The woods here were different from before. The trees were not as grand and welcoming. They sat closer together and gave me an eerie feeling. Like we were being watched. They grew in crazy forms; the branches were squiggly and crooked. If I had to picture haunted woods from a nightmare, this would be it. It was darker within, and fog spread out like fingers searching every bit of space among the ground. I almost wanted to go back out and face the dragons instead.

  I shivered from the colder atmosphere. Cathar also removed himself from the horse and took some drinks of water from his own canteen. He handed me some cured meat before getting carrots for the horse.

  He acted normal. So I didn’t need to be afraid, right?

  The sound of an owl hooting in the distance made me leap out of my skin.

  Yeah, right.

  “We should rest here. It is growing dark,” Cathar said softly. “First, you need practice. You are horrid in combat.”

  I spun around to face Cathar, my ego bruising at his words immediately.

  “Me? If I remember correctly, you were the one that got skewered like a shish-kebab! Not sure if you’re aware, but that might not be the best battle maneuver out there. It tends to do quite the opposite.” I crossed my arms over my chest to brace myself for his rebuttal.

  “I do not even understand what you are saying. Nonetheless, I do not mean to say I am better than you in battle. Of course, I am better than you...but what I am simply trying to say is that while yes, it is good you were able to keep yourself alive, your awful way of doing so is what had me distracted in the first place,” he replied seriously. I instantly lost my flare of haughtiness and competitive mode.

  “I’m sorry—was I seriously that bad? I thought I was doing pretty good.” Actually, I thought I had been doing freakin’ amazing! Crap. Shows how much I knew. I was sure he was right. I’ve never had to fight someone with a sword before. In fact, I never even thought how to defend myself in a life or death situation. Even with Ray, I let him punish me. I never fought back. This was the first time I felt like I was allowed to.

  “You have potential, I will give you that. Although, you still have much to learn. I will teach you as much as I can. Here, I took the swords. Keep it.” Cathar handed me one of the shiny, weightless weapons. I marveled at the intricacy and obvious care put into crafting it. It was a piece of art. I slid my fingers over the engraved design and wrapped my hand around the smooth hilt.

  I listened as Cathar taught me the best way to hold it, the best way to stand, and the best ways to attack. He showed me move after move while simulating one-on-one combat. It was stressful and a lot of information to take in at once, but after what felt like hours, I started to feel like I was getting the hang of it. I let the thin sword slice through the atmosphere like a hot butter knife. It was...fun.

  Once it was too dark to barely see anything, we stopped. “You have done well. You will need much practice if you have any hope of survival, but you now know the necessities. However, the most important defense you can ever have is that of calling upon aid,” Cathar explained as he put his sword away. I, too, set mine down.

  I wiped away the beads of sweat along my forehead with the back of my hand. I noticed Cathar still looked as if he just got back from vacation instead of a training battle. There was not an ounce of sweat or exhaustion appearing anywhere around him. I sighed out loud and rolled my eyes. Figures.

  “What do you mean, exactly?” I finally prompted when he didn’t continue. I could hardly see him through the darkness—It really creeped me out.

  “Luïnil. Lassaira. You are a powerful Tavas’Elda. You are one with this realm. You may call upon it at any time of your choosing. Sadly, I cannot help you with this,” he answered with a mixture of awe and envy. He took a drink of his water then smiled at me. I gulped.

  “Okay—and what does that mean?” Were all elves constantly this vague?

  “My dear, Nariella. What you did to defeat the two Isil’Elda is something I cannot do. I hold no strong power over the elements. You will have to find another elda to instruct you in the ways of command,” he explained.

  “That can’t be true. Just yesterday you did some weird thing with light that made the Night Elves—I mean, Isil’Elda, chasing us fall away. Remember?” I struggled to grasp the concept of being powerful and Cathar wasn’t.

  “Ah, yes. That was merely a gift against our enemy given by our motherland. I would not have been able to do that had we been outside of Lassaira. My skill truly lies with my bow and quickness of step, like most of our kind,” he replied.

  “So, you really can’t teach me more? What if I need to go all crazy on someone again?” My heart beat wildly in my chest at the thought of only being able to defend myself and those I cared about with my newfound sword skills. Wonderful. That hardly did me any good last time.

  He walked over to stand in front of me and closed his eyes before whispering, “Breathe. Pull in the source of energy that accumulates around you. Close your eyes and listen to your surroundings. The air particles, the blades of grass, the deep roots that give life to the very trees that provide you shade, the stars above. Do you feel it? Do you hear it?”

  I closed my eyes and drew in the pure oxygen that cocooned me. I silently commanded my heart to calm down and made myself relax. Breathe. Just breathe.

  In.

  Out.

  In.

  Out.

  I listened to the buzz of energy that flowed through the wind like a loose ribbon. I listened. And listened.

  Yes, I could feel it. I could hear it.

  There was an entire community of power and energy that offered itself to each one of us. They longed to be of use
to us. To assist us, like a loving friend eager to give a helping hand.

  “Yes, I have a feeling you will be just fine. Whatever fueled your actions before will certainly come again. Do not let it trouble you. Now, get some rest. We must remain cloaked in darkness, but I will keep watch through the night,” he instructed as he laid out his blanket. I slowly opened my eyes and numbly did the same.

  Chapter Fourteen

  ~Naminé~

  Finally gaining some strength, I instantly created a familiar dream for Remycah. Back in his mother’s Tari Garden, I sat and waited to connect with his mind. I did not focus on details with the flowers or trees in the garden, for I knew we did not have much time.

  The torment that Dae’Sûl plagued me with had delayed my warning to Remycah, for it took up much energy and strength. However, I was slowly recovering. I did not know how long I could keep the connection open with Remycah, but I must warn him of the hunter.

  I wondered how long we had before Dae’Sûl found him. If Remycah had found Rydan, they could both be in danger.

  Growing more anxious, I walked back and forth along the path trying to decipher what creature the Shape-shifter could morph into so that Remycah knew what to watch for. It must be a great hunter, perhaps one that could cover great distance in short amounts of time.

  However, once the creature found Remycah, how would it then bring him to King Ohtar? Completely mystified over the whole predicament, I barely recognized Remycah entering the dream. I was given a fright when suddenly he appeared beside me. He crossed his arms and leaned against a tree. “What is it? Your despair is overwhelming.”

  His voice was warm and comforting. After the repeated scenes of his death that I had been haunted with, it felt wonderful to have him before me alive and well. He wore the same clothing as a few nights ago, but they looked freshly clean and new. His striking black hair was yet again disarranged on his head, yet in a tidied way.

  I hadn’t found my voice yet—my thoughts lingered on his admission of sensing one’s emotions. His gifts knew no bounds, I was certain.

  “Perhaps this shall cheer you up.” He suddenly closed his eyes. I tried to speak but no words escaped once I felt the power emanating from his body. At the sound of movement from behind, I turned to see Rydan standing a few feet away.

  My eyes widened as I glanced fervently between the two brothers. “How is this possible?”

  “It was quite easy, actually.” He smirked. “You connected your dream with me, and I did the same with Rydan.”

  My eyes stayed locked with Rydan as he walked over to where Remycah was standing. I tried not to dwell on the way he avoided my presence, for it hurt too much. I then could not help shifting my gaze back and forth from one to the other.

  “Everything alright, love?” I could hear the worry in Remycah’s tone.

  “I—” I honestly didn’t know where to start. I was so ecstatic seeing them together; it was all I could think about at the moment. “I am delighted you found each other.”

  I beamed at the sight before my eyes. However, seeing the worried expression on Remycah’s face suddenly reminded me of why we were here.

  “Remycah, I must warn you. King Ohtar has summoned Dae’Sûl—a Shadow Wind Shape-shifter. He is hunting you. You must beware. Unfortunately, I do not know what shape he shifts into.”

  After telling my tale to them both, Remycah then asked, “What was the message again?”

  “Seize your inner shadow Corvus to elicit the lawful beneficiary, and we shall confer suitable price,” I replied. “I deciphered that you, Remycah, are the lawful beneficiary, and that Dae’Sûl is to elicit you, and Ohtar will pay a price.”

  “What the hell is an inner shadow Corvus?” Rydan spoke for the first time. He did not meet my eyes.

  “I believe that is what Dae’Sûl can shift into,” I answered.

  “A crow,” Remycah countered. “Corvus is the scientific name for crow.”

  “What? A crow? A crow is going to come hunt you?” Rydan sarcastically replied. His arms were folded across his chest, as was Remycah’s. Looking at both of them for the first time was certainly a sight to behold. I would treasure this memory for cycles to come. Two brothers recently reunited, and how similar they both appeared.

  However, the idea of a crow hunting Remycah did seem a bit…strange. That did not seem very frightening. I had a sinking feeling that we were missing something important.

  I then had a thought and said aloud, “I originally had suspected that whatever the creature was, it would bring great destruction. A crow is nothing but a simple bird that elicits annoyance from farmers.”

  “Yes,” answered Remycah. “A talisman to death. I know what it is, I just did not have the heart to say it.”

  Heavily clasping both hands to my head upon his words, I suddenly and disastrously figured out the important piece as well.

  “What?” asked Rydan, keeping his distance.

  “By the Sea and Stars! It is not a crow, Remycah. Raama’Ksh—” I hardly breathed.

  “Again...What?” Rydan’s voice sounded like it was leagues away from where I stood.

  “A raven,” Remycah and I whispered at the same time. I turned to Rydan.

  “An evil winged raven. I fear Dae’Sûl can shift into a raven; oh dear heavens, how did I miss that?” I covered my face with my hands. A raven was an evil omen.

  Interestingly, I now understood the purpose behind why Remycah and Rydan so often ran their hands through their hair. I surprisingly had the thought of pulling out all the hair from my head.

  “It doesn’t matter. Thanks to your warning I can be on the watch for him,” Remycah spoke while watching Rydan’s concerned expression closely. “I won’t let him harm Rydan.” He slightly smiled and turned to sit on a wooden bench.

  “Why are you so scared of a raven? That isn’t much different from a crow,” Rydan questioned disdainfully.

  “Ravens are not just any bird, Rydan. They can summon greatness of speed that rivals lightning strikes and the ability to vanish out of clear sight with not a moment’s notice. But what is worse out of all that they conjure is that they pitch you into an empty oblivion of death. You are cast into a depth so dark and terrible, you have no chance of return,” I explained in a sunken whisper. I did not feel comfortable speaking of their evil.

  “How did you find out what the King was up to?” Rydan asked from across where he still stood.

  Tensing at the question, I had wondered when I would have to explain my current quandary. At some point, I figured one of them would ponder my situation. I did not want to burden them with my predicament, but I could not falsify my words to them.

  I looked up into their concerned faces, and I reddened at the scrutiny of their stares.

  “Naminé, what is going on?” Rydan asked. I could not stop my heart from expanding at the sweet sound of him having said my name, despite our circumstances. “Does it have anything to do with why our dream was interrupted the other night?”

  I nodded at him, and after taking a deep breath, said, “King Ohtar summoned me to dream-weave with Dae’Sûl. I was the one who delivered the message to him. However, I did not know what it meant at the time. I have been delivering messages to King Ohtar’s patrol for the past several weeks.”

  “Why? Why would you do that?” Rydan asked with confusion. “I thought he was the evil one you wanted us to overthrow?”

  “I…I have been imprisoned in the King’s chambers since he found out about Calen, my Fëa, and me. I kept it hidden from society, even my family. When the King learned of my traitorous acts, he was enraged. I have been a prisoner ever since.” I decided to give a full admission.

  My heart completely stopped upon Rydan unexpectedly closing the distance between us, his presence now right before me. I fought the urge to look into his eyes, afraid what I would find there.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” The evident pain in his voice caused my surprised eyes to finally match his. I did not kn
ow what to say or how to answer, for the overwhelming look of concern he bestowed upon me had my tongue utterly twisted.

  “We’re leaving. Now. We have to do something,” Rydan said to his kingly brother in a determined rush.

  “No, Rydan, we can’t. We cannot go there, do you understand?” Remycah informed sternly.

  “You can’t stop me. I’m not leaving her there to be used by a sick psychopath and kept prisoner a second longer,” Rydan replied just as strongly.

  Despite Remycah’s previous stance, I felt a blanket of warmth encompass my every nerve from Rydan’s unexpected reaction of wanting to rescue me. I tried desperately not to smile; however, it greatly made my heart fly. Remycah’s eyes flickered to mine for the briefest moment.

  “No, Rydan.” He sighed gruffly. “And yes, I can stop you. So bloody calm down, mate.”

  Rydan stalked over to where Remycah sat and bent down to get right up into his face. “Calm down? Why the hell are you so calm, man? She is imprisoned in the King’s bedroom and he’s forcing her to do things.”

  Remycah suddenly stood up and seemed to tower over Rydan, even though he was only a half-inch or so taller. “I understand the situation, little brother. What would you have me do?”

  Rydan did not cower in the least. “We go rescue her.”

  I instantly intervened and shoved my way between the two of them by putting both hands on Rydan’s chest. I looked up into his eyes that were filled with concern.

  “No, Rydan, you must not come for me. Stay far away from the castle, I beg you.” I held my breath.

  He vehemently shook his head back and forth as Remycah said, “She is right, Rydan. We mustn’t go near the castle now. We are not ready to face—”

  “Oh, shove it,” Rydan interrupted and stalked away, clearly upset. I looked back toward Remycah with despair.

  “Naminé, is your life in serious danger? Please know that I would do whatever possible to come to your rescue, if I could.”