Gale Season

by Marie Harte

  The power in her grew exponentially, but it was so Dark, so negative. She had to fight to hold onto herself even as she drew the tendrils of strength she would need to fight this bastard and live.

  Aerolus would come for her, that she knew. But she needed to do her best to smooth his way. He had no idea all three Dark Lords were in attendance in Aelle, and she clearly recalled how difficult just ‘Sin Garu had been to defeat.

  Thinking of B’alen’s brother, she only hoped he hovered nearby and had heard her comment about B’alen trying to have him killed. It wasn’t true, not that she knew of, but then, ‘Sin Garu didn’t know that.

  As B’alen shoved her to the ground and bared his fangs, ‘Sin Garu appeared, thank the Shadows. And she never thought she’d thank her maker for a Dark Lord’s help.

  “Brother, what are you about, you rascal?” ‘Sin Garu grinned, and Alandra distractedly noticed there was little difference between the Dark Lords. As they stood close, she could see ‘Sin Garu was slightly taller, his skin a touch more white. But they both possessed the same colour eyes, the same facial structure, and the seething, malevolent energy that showed them for the demons they were.

  B’alen refastened his breeches and gritted his teeth, ignoring Alandra, as if she didn’t lie just underfoot. “Teaching a sorry melea a few manners.”

  “A sorry whore, hmm?” ‘Sin Garu leant down and lifted Alandra gently to her feet. Doing so put that much more negative energy rushing into her. “A royal whore at that. Sorry, Princess, but your aunt requested your presence in the courtyard. A dozen of the Aellein council members have rallied early.”

  He turned to B’alen with a questioning look. “Seems there’s a rumour the queen’s gone mad. The Aellei have gathered to hear her out, and to investigate Alandra’s previous claims that Lidra has sold out her people to the Dark Lords.” He laughed. “A ridiculous notion, hmm?”

  B’alen finally looked worried. Apparently, Lidra was much more important in his scheme of things than she’d gathered. “Fine. Take her back to the cell and keep a steady guard over her.” He glared suspiciously at his brother. “No, have Lexa do it. I’ll deal with Lidra and the others.”

  With a backhand so sudden she was caught full in the face, B’alen forced Alandra to stumble back, away from him. She would have cracked her skull had ‘Sin Garu not held her arm.

  “Easy, brother. No reason to hurt your future bride, now is there?”

  B’alen grinned, and Alandra knew real fear. The monster was strong enough and enraged enough to kill her and half her people before anyone could counter him. And ‘Sin Garu only added fuel to the flames.

  “I apologise if I offended you,” she said stiffly, cradling her sore jaw. Her hands met blood, and she prayed he hadn’t knocked out a tooth. Just the thought of appearing gap-toothed before the council was enough to make her feel faint. But the brutality she’d face if B’alen actually won his battle scared her silent.

  He leaned closer, his anger somewhat tempered by her sudden apology. “You’re right, Alandra. I’ve been way too lenient for too long.”

  He rubbed at the blood on her cheek and brought it to his lips. The minute his tongue tasted the red liquid, his eyes lit like blue flame. “We’re going to be together soon, Alandra. Never fear,” he mocked and disappeared with a soft whoosh.

  “That wasn’t pleasant,” ‘Sin Garu murmured and dragged her back into the dungeon. She stared, bemused, as she noted his looks sliding into Zartic’s image.

  “What? Zartic?”

  “Keep it down,” he said in a muffled voice as he reached behind him into a small bag. He tossed her a thin, light brown shift. “Hurry up and put that on.”

  She sighed as she did, glad to finally free some of her magic from that ridiculous glamour of clothing. “Are you really Zartic, or is this another Dark Lord game?”

  He shrugged. “Look at me and see.”

  Focusing easily, she noted the Shadow caressing his aura and knew him to be an Aellei. His true face appeared, a mess of bruises that had yet to heal, and she knew he’d deliberately shared the sight with her.

  “B’alen’s work?”

  He nodded. “As we speak, he’s on his way to meet his brother for some much needed family time. Sava’s waiting for you. And if you don’t hurry, we’ll have a major war on our hands.”

  “War with Sava?”

  “He mentioned Light Bringers have been spotted in Aelle. And I don’t think they’re here for me.” He frowned and rubbed his tender chin. “At least, I hope they’re not.”

  “I’d go with you, but I’ve lost my charm.” Aerolus, you maddening man, when the hell do you think I might get that back?

  “Use the back trail to find Sava and your Light Bringer allies. I’d go with you, but Lidra will get suspicious if I’m not back right away. I left for a brief call of nature, and she’s exceedingly difficult to please of late.”

  Alandra nodded, too grateful at her chance to escape to question him further. Aerolus was here, for her, and he was walking into a trap. She had to warn him.

  Concern for her love blocking all else from her mind, she fled the dungeon and immediately shimmered into a pixie, flying along the path to freedom.

  “That was almost too easy,” Zartic said to the woman gliding out of the dark corner of Alandra’s cell.

  “Desperation will do that.” As will love, Lexa thought bitterly. “So Lidra’s waiting for her, as we planned?”

  He nodded. “And your brothers are gearing up for a major face-off in the clearing. I dropped a few hints to the most intelligent of the wraiths I could find.” He grimaced.

  Lexa laughed. “I know that was hard. But you gave them enough evidence to point both ‘Sin Garu and B’alen at each other, hmm?”

  “Yes, mistress.” He bowed his head respectfully and started when she cupped his chin in her hand.

  “Take your reward, then, Der captain,” she said huskily, looking deeply into his face. With a breath she took away his pain, his scars and bruising, leaving him untouched, at least physically, from her brothers. “You’d best disappear, along with the rest of the Shadren, until the Dark Lords finish killing one another.”

  She smiled, aware Zartic stared at her as if entranced.

  “What of Sava and the Light Bringers?” he murmured, staring at her mouth.

  Arim’s haughty face lingered in her memory, and her eyes lit with anticipation. “Leave them to me.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Sava didn’t take surprises well, Aerolus noted.

  “You’re lucky I didn’t do more than steal a bit of energy,” he growled at Arim from a face and body completely different from the Aellei Aerolus had been expecting.

  Alandra had mentioned Lord Sava as a friend of her parents, and he knew she thought of him like a father. But this man looked as if he would have been more at home as her lover. The thought irritated him as much as it disturbed him. The constant worry for her gnawed at him, and he knew the irrational jealousy was another result of the negative energy amassing in Aelle.

  The minute they’d stepped into this plane he’d felt it. Having Alandra’s magic meshed with his was both a blessing and a curse. He felt the Dark more deeply, able to accurately sense Aellei and Dark Lords alike, but was also more susceptible to the Dark’s pull.

  “Damn me, Sava,” Arim said with surprise. “Last I’d heard you were a weakened, scarred old man. What happened to the wise old Aellei determined to end his people’s vain fixation on surface pleasures?”

  Sava sat back on a plush, oversized couch with a loud exhalation. “Anything worthwhile eventually grows old.” He smiled at his pun. “Do you like the real me? I decided to go back to my roots. All that aged wisdom was getting on my nerves. The Aellei took me more seriously, but then I started taking myself too seriously.”

  “Maybe that was a good thing,” Aerolus said quietly, his gut churning. “Remember Alandra? I’m sure she could use your help about now.”

  Sava sta
red with pale grey eyes. “This is the pup my niece has chosen?” He stared at Aerolus with dismay. “He’s barely a man, and a Light Bringer at that.”

  Aerolus seethed. They sat in Sava’s tower exchanging pleasantries and insults while Alandra was out there in a fucking dungeon, alone. “Look, you arrogant prick, I want my affai. And if you don’t tell me where she is in two seconds, I’m going to feed your eyes to you on winds of Light.”

  The air seethed and sparks crackled in the air as Sava regarded Aerolus steadily.

  “One, two—”

  Arim stepped between them. “He’s testing you, Aerolus.”

  “Not bad. A little overly dramatic, but I like the ‘arrogant prick’ comment.” Sava grinned and grabbed a sword that suddenly appeared on a nearby stone table. “Alandra’s safe in the dungeon. I had one of my men impersonate ‘Sin Garu. As we speak, events are unfolding.”

  Aerolus shifted nervously. His skin prickled as if someone had recently enspelled him. Calling forth the latent energy of his affai, he stared around him using Alandra’s senses and saw Darkness creeping through Sava’s windows.

  “Arim, we’re under attack.” He withdrew his staff and allowed a beam of Light to pierce the shadowy interior of Sava’s tower.

  “What are you doing?” Sava asked, shocked. “You would come into my home bearing arms against your host?”

  Arim shook his head. “No, Aerolus is right. There’s something wrong in here.”

  Sava opened his mouth to argue, then closed it as his eyes widened. “Lexa,” he murmured and shook his head. “I think it’s time I took my leave. Aerolus, come with me, and we’ll go to my niece. Arim needs some space to greet an old friend.”

  Aerolus stared from his uncle’s clenched jaw to Sava. Arim’s gaze suddenly focused on the far wall, and as Aerolus watched, the shadows in the tower grew and coalesced into a woman’s shape.

  “Go, Aerolus.” Arim’s eyes gleamed. “Tanselm needs you and Alandra. I can handle this.”

  “Yeah,” Sava said sarcastically. “Just like you handled her at the Great Hall.” He shook his head. “Come on, pup. We’ve got better things to do.”

  Aerolus wanted to argue, but one look at the mysterious Lexa told him the history between these two was far from over. Something about her reminded him of Alandra, yet the icy fury in her gaze ended the subtle resemblance.

  “Uncle—”

  “Get moving.”

  “Why not let him remain to play,” Lexa murmured, her sensuality a weapon in itself. Her words lashed around Aerolus like a leash pulling him close.

  “Not your type, Lexa,” Sava said and yanked Aerolus to his side. In a blink they flashed to the dungeon. “Your uncle and that woman have a history they need to discuss. You and I aren’t welcome to interfere.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I was there when it all happened.”

  “When what happened?” Aerolus asked in a low voice as they entered the stone building.

  “It’s a long story, and one Arim needs to tell.” Sava pulled out a long stick, thinner than Aerolus’ staff but just as powerful, if the grey mist of energy around it was any indicator. “What, by Shadow’s fall?”

  They stared at an empty cell.

  “Zartic was supposed to keep her here until I arrived. Damn it. He’s playing with things better left alone.” Sava’s eyes glowed, but Aerolus had no patience left.

  His elemental magic thrummed to be released. Using his anger to strengthen his power, he slammed Sava against the nearest wall. “If you don’t produce Alandra le Aelle, right now, I’m going to kill you.” He felt calm, too calm. “It’s not a threat, but a promise.”

  Sava glared. “She’s not here, Light Bringer. Zartic is working for another.” He closed his eyes and frowned. “You’ve got one of two choices. I feel a distinct disturbance in the council field, and another to the south of the dungeon. Take your pick.”

  Aerolus focused and felt a flutter of what he recognised as Alandra. “I’ll take the south.”

  “I’ll take the field.” Sava cleared his throat. “As soon as you release me,” he added icily.

  Aerolus did so and left without apology as worry overcame good sense. He didn’t bother to hide his presence from the inhabitants of Aelle, and though he travelled along a rather isolated trail, he quickly noted the many eyes in the woods that followed him.

  “Well, well, well.” A large male flashed ten feet in front of him, halting his progress. Aerolus could feel the energy ahead of him, bright with streaks of Shadow—Alandra’s marker.

  “Not now,” he growled and forcibly thrust the man from his path. Unfortunately, the tall Aellei had friends, a lot of them. They left the forest on silent feet, a formidable enemy should they prove antagonistic. The ice wraiths soon intermingling with the Aellei warned him they weren’t friendly either.

  “Don’t worry, Light Bringer,” an ice wraith said and cackled. “I know you’re in a hurry, so we won’t keep you long.”

  A flash of blue fire struck him from behind, bringing him to his knees. Instinctive rage struck back as lightning flew from his wound into his attacker, searing the wraith to a crisp in seconds.

  Finally able to let free his anger, Aerolus released a storm into Aelle that would be remembered for years to come.

  * * * *

  Alandra looked for Sava everywhere, but to her dismay saw nothing but Shadren glaring at her invasion into darker territory. Morphing back into her original form, she readied herself for anything.

  “Sorry,” she murmured as she stepped over a young Nocumat. “Have you seen Lord Sava?”

  The creature grumbled a few unsavoury remarks and sludged across the narrow trail. She ventured deeper into the woods, the feeling of doom growing steadily worse. She finally stopped in a small, dark clearing, conscious of the silence around her.

  “Sava?” Why she bothered calling for him she wasn’t sure. Zartic, and it had been Zartic, obviously hadn’t sent her to Sava. She glanced around, unease crawling through her. She took two furtive steps forward and swallowed around the lump in her throat. Queen Lidra, in all her Dark glory, waited with a smile. Splotchy black marks streaked her once white flesh, and blood dripped from her fanged mouth down her chin.

  ‘Sin Garu’s words came back to her. “Don’t believe me? Look at what’s left of Lidra.”

  Shit.

  “My little niece, come to her auntie at last.” Lidra smiled, her pointed teeth offensive in a face once so very averse to the Dark pleasures.

  “I guess it’s pointless to expect you to renounce your throne?” Alandra sighed, trying to appear cool while her heart thundered. Lidra had passed beyond reason, beyond the Shadow into death’s keep. Blood drinkers were one step from pure evil, and Lidra now shared more in common with the Dark Lords than her own kind.

  “You little slut.” Lidra’s eyes flashed, their blue now clouded with sickly yellow. “Our kingdom needs the magic Tanselm offers. Dammit, I was born there, you ignorant sheel. I know very well what we’ve been living without for over a thousand years.”

  She sneered, cloaking her body in the illusion of an elegant red sheath that lit her curves to perfection. Her skin was once again brilliant, and the blood disappeared from her mouth. Her hair lay in soft waves of gold over her back.

  “I am a queen, the highest of the Aellei, and I would have my people where they deserve to be, at the very top of the multiverse.”

  Alandra couldn’t help frowning at Lidra’s melodrama. “And you think Tanselm is the best so many worlds have to offer? No offence, Lidra, but I’ve been there. And as beautiful and magical as it is, Tanselm surely pales to other places in existence.” And if I live long enough, I promise to travel to as many of them as I can with my Storm Lord.

  “Heresy,” Lidra hissed. Lifting her arms above her head, she linked her hands together and began to absorb the surrounding Darkness.

  Alandra stared nervously, wondering how she might evade her aunt long enough t
o get some help. Sava would know how to handle Lidra, but Alandra wasn’t so sure.

  “B’alen wants you. I know he does. But it’s for no more than your power, you stupid chit. I’m the one he desires. I’m the one he drinks from when he hungers.” Lidra licked her lips, and Alandra felt an odd surge of pity for the selfish queen.

  “What has happened to you?” she asked softly. “You were once Lidra the White, the Queen of the Aellei, and now you’re reduced to a Dark Lord’s nymph?”

  Lidra’s eyes flashed, and she directed a large stream of negative energy through Alandra.

  Stunned at the brute force of the attack, Alandra stood in shock like a statue, trying in vain to rethink her strategy. There was no time to wait for Sava. She had to rid Aelle of Lidra now. The raw hatred seething inside the queen was a danger to anyone she encountered. Unfortunately, Lidra was beyond saving.

  “Why have you always hated me?” Alandra asked, drawing Lidra into her haphazardly constructed plan. “Even as a young child, I was the one you teased unmercifully. Great queen, I loved you. What have I done but be your niece above all else?”

  Lies, but they sounded suitably pathetic uttered in a capitulating voice.

  “Stupid as well,” Lidra muttered, glaring. “I’m your aunt in that your great- grandmother Nara was my sister before she died, not so very long ago. She made the mistake of lying with a Storm Lord. A Light Bringer,” she spat in distaste. “Knowing Father would kill her for such perfidy, she tricked your Aellein great-grandfather into marriage. He cared little for his other progeny, siring a multitude of Aellei with dozens of females more worthy than my sister,” she said as insultingly as possible.

  A sudden flash of insight took Alandra aback. “You were in love with him, weren’t you?”

  Lidra shrugged. “Rovu was the most handsome of our kind. Unlike Sava, he knew my worth, and sadly, my wrath. The minute he set eyes on your mother, some odd sense of paternal fondness hit him. It made no sense whatsoever, yet he refused to let her go. He even began doting on you.”