Empire Awakening (Maledorian Chronicles Book 2)

by John Forrester

  Maggie scrunched up her face in confusion. “I don’t want Remi to be strange… like those witches. He’s fine just like he is. Does he have to change?”

  “No, I never said he had to be like Madam Lassengre or any other witch. He’ll be himself and no one else. But he will learn the magical arts. It’s my responsibility to teach him. It will help him to protect you and himself from people trying to harm.”

  “Like your father?” Maggie said, frowning.

  Elendria felt a muscle spasm on her cheek. The child’s observation was brutal, but she spoke the truth. “Even from my father, from anyone that intends to harm you. I once promised to keep you safe, and I intend to keep that promise. The best way for me to do that is to teach you how to defend yourself.”

  “Like when Devin taught me to use a knife?” said Maggie, her eyes proud.

  “Who’s Devin?” Jondran said, casting a curious eye at Elendria.

  “He’s the woodsman who helped us get through the northern forests… to the witches.” At his raised eyebrow, she said, “He remained in Damak with Shells, his girlfriend.”

  “Devin was amazing,” added Maggie. “I miss him. I wish he would have come with us. He seemed to like Elendria. He was always staring at her and stuff, kind of like how the prince does all the time.”

  “Oh, really?” Jondran grinned at the blush that had come to Elendria’s face. Didn’t the girl know how to keep her mouth shut? “Well, I can’t blame him for staring at her. Elendria is beautiful, and I’m sure she looks exotic compared to the pale girls up north. Don’t you think she is lovely?”

  Remi and Maggie bobbed their heads in unison, glancing at Elendria. But Maggie, after looking around for something, licked her lips in anticipation.

  “I’m starving! Aren’t we going to eat anything?” the girl said.

  The prince chuckled. “I’m hungry as well. Why don’t you help me make a fire, and I’ll show you how to do a roast? We went hunting, and I managed to bag a deer. It will be a lot of work, but you’ll learn, and I promise it will be fun.”

  “I already know how to make a roast and hunt—Devin taught me.” Maggie looked triumphant at the proclamation.

  “That’s good! So, you’ll be my helper, then?”

  Elendria smiled at him, pleased by how good he was with the children. It was important to her that he accepted them. Weren’t they her responsibility to raise? She had sworn to protect them, and she would, no matter the cost. They needed her.

  When they were busy preparing the roast, she excused herself, wanting to read Lysha’s letter. She retired to the tent and summoned a magical orb of light. Inside her backpack, the letter waited for her like a viper. She took it, with trepidation, and broke the red wax seal.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  Though Lysha’s family was dead, House Merinth survived.

  The letter was penned in her lovely calligraphy. Seeing the beauty in the art of her handwriting made Elendria start to cry. She didn’t want to read the letter. She didn’t want to say goodbye to her best friend. Why did Lysha choose friendship over money and titles? Was loyalty to her king worth it? But since Elendria never considered the king her king, it was hard for her to understand Lysha’s point of view.

  Maybe Elendria was like her father, as Arcturius had suggested. She hated the northern nobility and everything they represented. But Lysha always seemed to love her life in Criswall—all the parties and the balls and the glamorous life afforded by her status. Why would she give all that up for a rugged life in the forest?

  Elendria glanced around the tent and thought back to her time in Maren Downs. Life had been simpler, with little of the luxuries found in the city. But she was happy and content, though perhaps young and innocent. Would that kind of life satisfy her now? She doubted it. At least not for long. And likely, Prince Jondran would grow tired of it as well. She knew he was an ambitious man and craved glory. Losing his family, friends, and title—not to mention the wealth, would be very hard on him.

  With apprehension, she turned back to the letter and began to read.

  My Dearest Lady Elendria,

  It is with sadness and confusion that I pen this letter. We never even had a proper chance to say goodbye. Our separation was hurried and it has been hard for me to bear. I should have known the chances of something terrible happening were high from the moment you left the camp.

  But having said that, I never could have imagined you would have chosen to join your father in his cruelty. Why have you left us for him? I thought you wanted to fight against the cult of Ba’al and everything it represents. Though I am pleased to hear Remi is safe and free from that demon, I don’t understand how that remedies the wrong Lord Rigar did to him and so many others. I am confused and saddened by this news.

  Even if Arcturius had allowed me to leave, I wouldn’t have joined you. It was always my intention to return to Criswall and rebuild once the cult was eliminated from our kingdom. And now, in this situation, I realize I am no longer your ally, unless you decide to leave that insanity and face the judgment for what you’ve done.

  It seems to me you’ve always had a strange and complicated nature. Do you remember what you did to the miners in Damak? What in the name of the gods did you do to them? I’ll never, for the life of me, understand it. When there were times you could have shown mercy, you demonstrated brutality. When there were times you could have shown patience, you were impetuous. You have much to learn, but I’m worried that your natural talent and lust for power will get in the way of you developing the feminine traits you so greatly require. What will become of you, Elendria?

  And now you’ve lured Prince Jondran into your ill-fated life. His family is sickened by the news. The king has proclaimed him a traitor and an outcast and has eliminated his title. He has demanded that all mention of Prince Jondran Damensar be struck from the records, so the memory of him will be wiped away. You did this to him. You cursed the man you loved because you turned your back on your own beliefs. I’ll never forgive you for that.

  I do not want to make this letter long, as I can’t bear to write any longer. The tears are staining the sheets. You were my best friend, and I’ll always remember you. But you broke my heart, Elendria. You broke my heart because of your betrayal of the ideals I thought we both believed. If you leave your father, you may be able to make penance for what you have done. Honestly, I can’t think of any other way. He has wronged you, Elendria, and he has harmed the world with his blasphemous acts. He deserves to die for what he has done, and I believe he will, one day.

  You may not hear from me again for a long while. I need to think, to regroup, to process in my mind all the changes that have happened to us and the world. It is difficult for me, losing my family and now losing you. Keep good care of Remi and Maggie. I’m so very fond of them both.

  Yours,

  Lady Lysha Merinth

  Elendria began to crumple up the letter but stopped herself and tossed it aside. It would be too easy to burn it. She was angry and felt betrayed by her best friend. How could Lysha judge her so harshly based on the biased words of Arcturius? She wasn’t there, and she couldn’t possibly understand why Elendria did what she had done. Nor could she judge Prince Jondran. And Elendria was beginning to believe, perhaps, she had judged her father too harshly. But she would leave deciding that for another time, after many days of observation and questions answered.

  The air inside was stale suddenly, so she went outside and watched Jondran and the children readying the roast. She felt miserable for causing such difficulties for the prince, and she hoped he didn’t one day resent her because of it. It was right to tell him everything Lysha had written about the king and his proclamation. But, she would let him find out another day and through some other method. For now, she felt it was vital for him to hold on to some semblance of hope.

  Why did Lysha claim she had a lust for power? She had only acted against the miners out of a desire to protect Lysha and Maggie. How dare she questio
n her motives?

  Elendria was so angry; she wanted to kick something, to storm off and shout at the trees. But she inhaled a long, deep breath and calmed herself like she had learned from Hadara and her experience in the mine. She needed to be better than Lysha’s accusations. It was important for Elendria to prove her wrong. She was a decent person and believed in things that were important and good. Exerting power was merely a requirement to do that which was right. Without it, you were helpless.

  Should that be considered a lust for power? She thought back to how she had fought the cultists in the dormitory and protected the students. Without power, they’d all likely be dead. It was the same when Relek and the other cultist attacked her in the mine. Without power, she’d be either dead or kidnapped and at their mercy. And last night, when fighting Arcturius, she had no power and no ability to stop him from killing her. That feeling of powerlessness haunted her and made her determined to find ways to defeat him one day. She had no power then, and if it weren’t for Jondran’s sacrifice, she’d be dead.

  It was at that moment that she accepted Lysha’s judgment of her. Elendria did lust for power. Not only power but also knowledge and the power that comes with knowledge and also the acquisition of objects that brought her more power. For without power, she knew they would be killed. She didn’t harbor any illusions that Arcturius would stop at killing Elendria. He’d wiped them all out. She’d seen the crazed, murderous look in his eyes. They’d dared defy him, and he would return to get his revenge. Even though she knew the wizard believed he was doing the right thing, for her, he was evil, and she had no choice but to defeat him.

  She strolled over to sit close to Jondran and the children, enjoying their laughter and the prince’s patient corrections as they roasted the venison and lathered on oil. The sweet smell of the meat teased her appetite, and her stomach grumbled in response.

  “Now, you both can help turn the roast,” Jondran said. “I’ll rest here with Elendria.”

  “Fine, leave us with all the work,” teased Maggie, winking at the prince.

  “He’s not mean. He’s giving us experience.” Remi gave the girl a serious look. “You should be thankful.”

  Maggie snorted. “I’d rather eat than have experience.” She tore off a small, blackened piece and stole a bite.

  “You little thief!” said Remi. “You should wait like everyone else.”

  “Want some?” She grinned at him and took another bite but soon offered him a piece.

  “You’re amazing with the children,” whispered Elendria. “Thank you for everything you’ve done. I owe you my life.”

  The prince shrugged. “It was getting boring in the army without any girls around. Perfect timing for me to desert.”

  “Be serious!” She punched him in the arm. “Don’t make jest when I pay you a compliment. I mean it. I do owe you my life. You’ve sacrificed everything for me. I don’t know what I can ever do to repay you.”

  “Being with you is more than enough. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

  “Really?” What did she do to deserve someone so sweet? She ran her fingers across his stubbled jaw and leaned in to kiss him.

  Maggie and Remi giggled at them, their eyes sparkling and mischievous.

  “You’ll burn it,” Jondran said, motioning like he wanted them to turn the roast. “Keep your eyes on it; got it?”

  They nodded, still giggling, but at least they turned their eyes away, granting them a semblance of privacy.

  “It’ll be difficult to keep them occupied,” said Elendria. “And I’d like to keep them away from my father and the others until I’ve decided whether or not to trust them.”

  “How long will that take?”

  “I don’t know, months, probably, until I’m sure. Once someone breaks your trust, it takes a long time to win it back. It’s not an easy thing.”

  “Especially considering the severity of what they did.”

  “My father has much to make right and much to explain.”

  “Well, give him some time to say what he has to say and listen to him. It may be the truth, or it may be his truth, which you might decide is not yours.”

  “How did you get so wise, Prince Jondran?”

  “I might not even be a prince, not anymore. It could be that I have to reinvent myself as someone new.”

  “Why do you say that? You are still who you have always been. You don’t need some title to define you.”

  “It’s an easy thing to say and a harder thing to live, especially if you’ve been raised in a palace and taught to be a prince.” Jondran stared out into the dark forest and watched the limbs swaying in the soft breeze. “What do we do now with our lives, Elendria? How do we live? If we are without kingdom and king, who will we serve?”

  “Or who might serve us?” said Elendria, casting him a look. “We were born to lead, not to serve.”

  “And yes, the wise sage said, ‘Only through service are leaders prepared to lead.’ I believe his words are true, though I’ve rarely had the chance to practice them.”

  “Why not try here in Maren Downs? Let’s see if my father’s words are true. There are villages and people still living here, and probably confused refugees tossed this way and that because of the war. We could send messengers out to all the corners of Maren Downs and spread the word that we intend on bringing peace to the land and food to their table.”

  “But how will we supply the food? This is a war-torn land, and I doubt our neighbors to the north and south will offer up any chance for trade, and I’m not sure if we have anything of worth to trade. The practice of governing is difficult. Are you prepared to handle that burden?”

  “For now, let’s task my father with that. He has an army of constructs and can command them to work and refrain from waging war. I suspect food will come and trade can be had. There are men to the east, the land called Tivren. It’s not a kingdom, and yet I believe it deserves our inspection. The people rule the land through leaders they elect to office. It is a young country, but I’ve heard they are prosperous in ore and wheat since they reside in the plains and along the mountains. There is a bounty to be found and harvested in Maren Downs. I believe they will be open to trading with us.”

  The prince looked impressed. “How do you know so much about the subject of geography and trade?”

  “I studied it at the King’s College. It was assigned reading, Forms of government and political theory. The book was biased and mostly boring, but I learned a great deal about the world and the various governments. I’d love to travel there one day.”

  “Me, too,” said Maggie and offered Elendria a grin. “I’m dying to travel.”

  “But first we have work to do.” Elendria gave Maggie a sober look.

  “You mean we have to finish the roast?” Remi looked puzzled and hungry at the same time.

  “No, silly,” Elendria said. “The kind of work we have to do will take time. We have to teach you to defend yourselves. You must begin your studies and learn how to read and write and do mathematics. The prince and I have to observe my father and this new land he is creating. We have to decide what we will do and where we will go.”

  “But why not travel to this new place?” Maggie tilted her head. “Can’t we learn and travel at the same time?”

  “I suppose we can, after a time. But first, there is much we have to do here, much to discover about my father and what his plans are.” Elendria glanced at Jondran. “There’s much for us to figure out, right?”

  The prince exhaled, his eyes determined. “We will figure it out together. I’m sure of it.”

  Elendria hoped he was right. She still wasn’t sure what she would do. Perhaps, after they’d talked to her father, they could propose a trade expedition to Tivren. She felt it was important to have options in case things didn’t work out here in Maren Downs.

  “For now, let’s enjoy the night.” Jondran wrapped his arm around her, smiling. “No more thoughts of the future. We’re here, toge
ther, in the beautiful land of your childhood. At least, for now, we are safe and have each other. The rest will come soon enough.”

  “Oh, but it comes too fast,” said Elendria. “The night falls far too fast. We have our freedom, for now, but I’ll never forget how quickly freedom can be lost. It’s up to us to create a future where it will last. I believe it’s something only we can do to ensure whatever is established here is right. I don’t trust my mother or my father to do that. No matter what he says, I still don’t.”

  “But he created this fire.” The prince looked nervous. “If it weren’t for him, we’d still be safe in Criswall.”

  “Even though he started it, I believe it is up to us to control the fire lest it burns the whole world.” Elendria remembered her father’s fiendish eyes when he summoned Ba’al. “Power is a strange and cruel mistress. Once you’re a slave to power, you can never stop obeying her commands. I believe the desire for power must be tempered by wisdom, and I’m not sure if my father is wise.”

  “What about us? Are we wise?” asked Jondran.

  “Not yet. But we can learn.” She locked eyes with him, hoping to find a positive answer. “Can’t we seek out wisdom from the four corners of the earth?”

  “Maybe it’s in Tivren,” said Maggie, smiling hopefully.

  Elendria ruffled up the girl’s hair. “Perhaps, you’re the one who is wise. We could learn a thing or two from you.”

  “I once heard an old priest mumbling something interesting.” Maggie’s eyes looked away as if remembering. “Maybe he was drunk, lying in an alleyway in the Devil’s Quadrant. But he wore the old robes of a hermit. He said, ‘Life is reborn from what remains of destruction’. I guess that’s us. Lots of bad stuff has happened, but we’ve survived.”

  “Wow,” Jondran said, musing on the girl’s words. “I’d like to meet that man.”

  “But she’s right.” Elendria looked at Maggie’s sparkling eyes. There was wisdom there, a spark for now, but it would soon be a raging fire. “We are still here. We are the remains of the destruction. Now, it’s time for us to be reborn.”