Enchanted Bookstore Legends (5-book complete epic fantasy romance box set)

by Marsha A. Moore

  Moisture clouded her eyes, and she let it gather into tears without blinking back the liquid. She allowed the sobs to spill out as freely. Her grief that had been denied poured out. She hugged the great leader’s cheek. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I wish I could have—”

  “Lyra, it’s not your fault,” a dragon said from above her. “My father died so you could throw off the evil to help the Alliance.”

  The word father made her snap her head up—Yasqu. “He was your father? I don’t understand.” Her jaw fell slack. Instead of the bronze young adult she knew, he stood beside her as a magnificent golden dragon.

  Gea, his mother, hung her bowed neck over his shoulder. “Lyra, the Imperial Dragon and I agreed soon after he hatched. To raise him as a vulnerable youth in Dragonspeir during these troubled times would prove too dangerous. That’s why—”

  “You sent him to me to raise at Aunt Jean’s cottage until he was old enough,” Lyra interrupted.

  “Indeed. And you did an exemplary job, my dear.” Gea nodded and smiled at Yasqu. “My mate and I both trusted you with the heir to the guardianship of Imperial Dragons. In the past few days, when Yasqu’s bronze scales changed to gold, the Imperial Dragon knew his time would be short.” A tear dropped from one of her huge eyes and plopped on the cracked earth. “Like Yasqu said, it was his fate to enable you to save the Alliance. Go now, back to the lair and reclaim this parched land under the control of evil.”

  According to custom, a squadron of blues, along with Yasqu, carried the Imperial Dragon’s body to the lair ahead of the others.

  Chapter Twenty-eight: Elementum Arcesso

  As soon as Yord set down on the lair’s ledge, Lyra gave a whole arm wave to her cousins, Draora, and Noba, who all rushed to greet them through the chaos of people and dragons.

  Cullen dismounted to the ground, while Lyra paused on Yord’s lowered wing tendon. She guided Kessa to Cullen’s open arms before sliding down the rest of the way. With the girl at her side, she rushed to greet her cousins. After Lyra made introductions, the three women engulfed the child in a group hug with Draora floating and twittering overhead.

  Kenzo whipped in and out of her magic trail.

  Noticing Cullen waiting patiently, Lyra grabbed his arm and pulled him beside her while she talked to her cousins. “I’m so glad to see you are all safe and well.” She faced Cullen. “You must have had a time getting them here from Cerid’s Crux without injury.”

  “Believe you me, it was quite a time,” Vickie said, rolling her eyes at Raylene. “This one gave Cullen an adventure.”

  “Well. I’m very grateful for Draora’s skills,” Cullen said, trying to hide a grin.

  Lyra smiled at her younger cousin. “Ray, what did you do?”

  Raylene shrugged and grinned ear to ear. “Nothin’ much. Just exploring a bit. You know me.”

  “I’m just glad you’re back safe.” Vickie engulfed Lyra in one of her famous bear hugs, lifting her off her feet. “We were all so worried. Really all of us.” She broke away and swept her arm around the hundreds of dragons and wizards gathered on the ledge. Voices and expressions around them showed a range of emotions from grief to hopefulness.

  “We all have so much to share. But it will have to wait for a bit. I have some important work to do. Those keystones—I got them all,” Lyra beamed. “Now, I need to finish the job and make them work for the Alliance.” She nodded to Tarom. “I’m sure you’re welcome inside.”

  “Of course he is.” Cullen slapped the alchemist on back. “It’s good to have you back with us.”

  “I hope I’ve earned that honor,” Tarom replied.

  “Formally, that decision will be up to the Guardians, but I don’t think anyone who witnessed your kind acts will deny—”

  “From the tale passing around, I should think not,” the Unicorn Guardian replied. He lowered his horn to the alchemist. “I wish to thank you for your brave assistance.”

  Tarom bowed low to the Guardian.

  The Phoenix perched on the Unicorn’s rump. “It’s a bittersweet day, of endings and beginnings. Let us hope that peace shall prevail. Lyra, we need to make our way into the Imperial study.”

  Lyra nodded and pushed through the crowd, holding onto both Cullen and Kessa. The throng moved with them farther into the foyer and grand hall. She located the Tortoise standing at the entrance to the main corridor. “It seems everyone wants to see the keystones replaced into the pans. Not everyone will fit in the study. What should we do?”

  He surveyed the surge of onlookers and called to the Unicorn, “Will you give direction that the Imperial Council shall conduct the task?”

  “I will, “the Unicorn replied. “Seer Kessa will be included. She carries one of the keystones.”

  “She does? Then certainly. In past, seers were always a part of Imperial Councils,” the Tortoise added.

  The Unicorn nodded. “What about Sire Tarom? Imperial Alchemists are also included, which he once was.”

  The Tortoise looked askance at him.

  “I will claim full responsibility for the decision,” the Unicorn replied and turned to face the crowd. “Quiet please,” he bellowed above the din of conversation. “I appreciate your interest, but the replacement of the keystones will be under observance of the Imperial Council. A full report will be made to you all immediately after.” He scanned the room. “Warlord Oasth, if you are here, please come forward and join us.”

  A blue sentry called out, “Oasth is assisting with the preparation of the fallen leader’s body.”

  “If he reports here, send him to the study.” The Unicorn made his way down the corridor.

  “I’ll watch for him,” Kenzo replied and flew across the ceiling toward the foyer with Noba following close behind.

  Members of the Imperial Council proceeded through the corridor. Tapestries of former Imperial Dragons hung on the walls. Lyra had noticed them many times coming and going from the leader’s study. She swallowed hard, trying not to think about him becoming just a distant memory in another wall-hanging.

  Outside a wide, arched double door two sentries bowed their heads in silence.

  Gea and Yasqu already stood inside by a window open to the high ceiling. Sunlight spilling in shined from their golden scales. The reflections lighted the large room. Although, technically not a part of the Council, no one questioned the presence of the fallen leader’s mate.

  The study contained so many personal instruments and journals of the Imperial Dragon that another wave of grief hit Lyra. Shelves along an entire wall held instruments he’d consulted daily, many he taught her to use. She worked to set aside those emotions. He would want her to put the good of the Alliance residents first.

  She noticed Cullen and the Tortoise gazing around the room and knew they felt the same. The Elementum Arcesso stood on a marble pedestal in front of the open window. Lyra withdrew the three keystones and held them in her palm.

  The ruby lay in Kessa’s open hand. She stood silent and watched.

  The Elementum Arcesso reminded Lyra of a laboratory balance, although, instead of two pans there were four. A film of rust covered the old device. Remembering what the Imperial Dragon had told Lyra, she explained to Kessa, “This is the oldest instrument of the Alliance. Tortoise Guardian, is there an order to follow as I place the gems?”

  “Place countering pairs simultaneously opposite from each other. The Emtori Ruby is placed at the same time as its opposition, the watery Pearl of Pendola. The earthbound fluorite counters the moonstone, which must first be removed from its setting in the violin’s scroll.”

  Lyra studied the violin. “Will Nareene’s magic remain in the instrument if we remove the moonstone?”

  “From what wood is it composed?” the Tortoise craned his neck to examine the violin’s body. “Unusual.”

  “It’s made from wood of the sycamore portal tree connecting my world to Aria. The bow was crafted for me in Silva Caliga by wood from their World Tree.”

&nbs
p; “Another portal from Aria, in this case to Silva Caliga.” He tilted his head and rubbed his scaly cheek along the side of the violin. “It does possess scribal energy. My guess is it will hold, but we don’t have any choice.” He nodded to Cullen. “Sire Drake, please help Scribe Lyra remove the moonstone.”

  Cullen located a metal pick from a drawer of tools. The handle of the pick proved a bit oversized, made for a dragon’s claws. With some manipulation, he worked the tip under the edge of the moonstone and pried it loose into Lyra’s waiting hand.

  She placed the moonstone and fluorite onto a pair of opposite balance pans. “Kessa, use the left pan.” Lyra held the Pearl of Pendola above the right, and, together, they placed the remaining pair.

  A circle of white light joined the four keystones, radiated through the open window, and lifted high out of sight.

  “Now what happens?” Kessa asked.

  “The astral energies answer the call,” the Tortoise said watching the sky, his eyes so wide they pushed his saggy lids lower. “The four keystones call upon energy from every star of each of the four elements. The Elementum Arcesso unites their energy into quintessence. That master energy strengthens the powers of all magical residents in the Alliance.” He nodded to Lyra who removed the Staurolite from her pocket. “We are especially fortunate to also have Scribe Lyra whose natural energy aligns with not one element but all four—quintessence.”

  “Look!” Gea cried. “Purple light returns.”

  An answering beam of light, twice as bright, returned to the device. The light settled down the pedestal to the rug. It spread the room, then farther to cover the cliff and beyond. They filed into the observatory and watched the light diffuse north across the Steppe of Ora, east across the Sea of Cogadh, and south to the Meadow of Peace.

  “It worked!” Lyra exclaimed, staring at the spreading light.

  Kessa bounced from foot to foot. “We did it!”

  “We did!” Cullen lifted Lyra off her feet in a tight embrace and covered her face with kisses.

  “The Alliance is saved!” Yasqu roared through an open window.

  Lyra leaned sideways and hugged Tarom, whose giddy laughter filled the observatory.

  Gea joined her son in the declaration, then broadcast the news down the corridor where she received a chorus of cheers and whoops in response.

  The Phoenix spun like a sparkler around the Unicorn’s lifted horn, both laughing.

  The Tortoise placed his forefeet on the sill and raised himself higher. “A grand moment in history. Lyra, you and I will need to record this for future generations.” The runes on his shell glowed with his silvery aura.

  Amid the happy chaos around them, she took a private moment with the eldest Guardian who’d worked so hard to help her prepare for the mission. “We sure will,” she said with a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “Thank you for everything.”

  “You’re so very welcome, Lyra,” he replied. “I wish the Imperial Dragon could have witnessed this moment.”

  “I do too.” As the pair stood together, a message of clairvoyance reached her from Gatekeeper Cranewort.

  Welcome home, dear one. I’m so proud of you. I see the light of Elementum Arcesso! The feeling is incredible, but even better, I hear the cheers from the Meadow of Peace. However, be warned—Dark Realm energies are reentering the Steppe.

  Lyra sent a hasty replied, I hope to visit as soon as I can, after we check out that danger. She called for the attention of those still in the Imperial study. “Cranewort just send me clairvoyance that the Dark Realm is invading the Steppe again. Our battle is not yet done.” She secured the Staurolite in her pocket and placed Nareene’s violin and bow in the shoulder bag. She located Kessa under Tarom’s arm. “Kessa, you’ll need to stay here in the lair with Cullen’s assistants and my cousins.”

  The girl frowned.

  Lyra stooped to give her a hug.

  “I’ll alert the fighters and sentries.” Yasqu bolted from the room with Gea and the Unicorn on his heels.

  Chapter Twenty-nine: Moonlight Aria

  As soon as Lyra and Cullen located Yord on the ledge, they clambered up his wing tendon. .

  Warlord Oasth swept spectators into the foyer with his tail while he organized the chaos, changing the theme from celebration to battle. “All non-riders and lair guards, get inside immediately. Only fighters and riders should be on the ledge,” he barked, arms and wings waving. “Squadrons gather at your assigned positions. Wait for my cue to lift off.”

  “Cullen, who should I ride?” Tarom asked, standing close beside Yord. “I want to help.”

  Cullen waved to a senior blue. “Hallen, are you up to taking a rider? Sire Tarom wishes to join us.”

  “I’d be honored,” Hallen replied and lowered so the alchemist could mount. “Sire Tarom, I remember when you served the Alliance as an apprentice alchemist.” He sighed. “It was a sad day when Eburscon forced you to leave after the skirmish the two of you had.”

  When Tarom settled into his seat, he called to Cullen, “It feels good to fight beside my bloodswear brother again. And with my new sister.” He lifted his right hand bearing the finger scar to Cullen and Lyra, then clamped it around his wizard’s staff. The eyes of the skull now glowed blue. Lyra wondered how he altered his aura, but put the question aside for later.

  Cullen raised his staff in response.

  “Our scouts tell us that Eburscon leads the Dark Realm fighters toward us. They are spilling on the Steppe in full force,” Oasth yelled across the area. “Symar is leading a team of more than a dozen cimafa. Be watchful for new tactics. Stay in groups. Wait for my signal to fly out.” He motioned to a group of blues on the opposite side of the ledge. “Guttan, take yours now. Pleyon, after them.”

  “I wish I had my staff,” Lyra said into Cullen’s ear. “I wonder if I might find it on the Steppe. Although I do have the Staurolite.” She clutched the gem in her pocket, and violet light spilled into her palm.

  “I wouldn’t bother,” he replied. “Eburscon was correct; your aura has changed so much that the match won’t align anymore. Besides, you have full control of the Staurolite now. See what it can do for you.”

  Into her other hand, she channeled a mass of her own aura, the first time since activating the Staurolite. She gasped at its new color—violet with sparks of gold. “I think you’re right,” she said as she extended the hand around Cullen’s side for him to see.

  “Violet energy of quintessence.” He squeezed his knees against Yord’s back.

  “Berten, you need to calm your group before I release you,” Oasth yelled, then spun full circle to address other squadron leaders. “Yord. You and Hallen will take the rear.”

  With time remaining before flight, Lyra reached for her violin. Without the moonstone, she disregarded the enchantment by the queens of Aria. Instead, conjuring Nareene’s song was her goal. She pulled her shoulder sack around and withdrew the violin. The recent frenzy of emotions—confusion, grief, elation, fear—left many of the fighters and those remaining in the lair visibly upset. She positioned the violin and slowly pulled Partho’s bow across the strings. A long, sweet note rang loud and clear.

  Faces of waiting dragons and onlookers wedged in the entrance turned in her direction.

  Cullen twisted in his seat to watch.

  Encouraged, Lyra played a melody. The song reverberated from the cliff walls that housed the lair.

  As a flaming ball, the Phoenix Guardian, sped out of the foyer and stirred the wind, lifting the song higher and wider. The Lady of Peace morphed into her bird form and twirled in an aerial dance. “Play loud, Lyra. The song of hope. It is real. I’d been told of this but thought it was a children’s tale. We need this now. I’ll try to whip it out farther.” She flew in a wider circle, then abruptly hung in midair.

  Faint calls of songbirds grew louder as a flock of dozens of tiny, brown birds flew into the airspace above the ledge.

  “Squadrons stand down from the deck,” Oasth
called to two groups of blues preparing to leave.

  “Nightingales, welcome!” the Phoenix called. “Sing this enchanted song through the Alliance and beyond. Bring the people’s hearts hope and strength anew to fight again. Fight for our lost Guardian. Fight for our freedom.”

  The songbirds raised their sparkling voices. Their harmonies floated on Lyra’s notes and filled the sky. They followed the Phoenix in her dance, then parted, taking the song in all directions.

  Lyra continued to play until she lost sight of the nightingales. Her notes faded into the distance, and stillness fell over the lair.

  “Fly out and win.” Oasth’s raspy voice broke the silence.

  “The enchantment still works. Good thinking,” Cullen whispered over his shoulder.

  Two squadrons made smooth lift-offs, reminding Lyra of jets rather than dragons.

  “Ready?” Yord glanced back at the couple. Once she stowed her violin, he bounded toward the edge of the cliff, wingsails open wide and filling with air. With one last stride, he took flight.

  The five other blues of Yord’s squadron aligned into perfect flying formation behind him.

  In unison, Hallen’s squadron flew alongside theirs. Rather than a tired, unhinged crew, the blues ahead of them looked like synchronized flyers in an air show. Lyra hoped her song made the difference and would improve their fighting ability as well.

  However, the dry, cracked, lifeless terrain that covered most of the Steppe, indicating dominant Dark Realm power, made her question her efforts. The Geminus Tree, which marked the boundary between good and evil, stood half-rooted against the cliff that housed the Imperial lair. Bits of dead brush rolled across the flat plain.

  Above the far side of the Steppe, storm clouds lined the edge of the Dark Realm’s Silva Nocens forest. Lyra’s first glimpse of enemy action revealed hundreds of fire and magma drakes parading the sky in long rows.

  Frontline Alliance squadrons charged into curtains of fire and molten ash that engulfed their lightning bolts. Three blues fell as the price of breaking the opponent’s opening attack.