Stone Raiders' Return (Emerilia Book 6)

by Michael Chatfield

  It made everything that much more real.

  “We’ve got a massive orbital satellite system around the planet that the carrier is orbiting. Picking up signals on the north and south poles, as well as on one of the three moons,” Quinn continued. No one said anything as she talked.

  “Orbital satellites look to be armed. Will need more time to get information from the moons, but looks like there is a large installation within it, facing away from the planet. I am also getting massive power readings coming from the planet’s surface,” Quinn said.

  “Anything else in the system?” Adams asked.

  “All other planets look to be uninhabited. I will need more time to go through the information. I am transmitting what we have back to command,” Quinn said.

  A prompt stopped Adams asking more questions.

  Private Message

  Sato> Conference.

  “I will conference with command. Anders, you’re in charge while I’m away.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Anders said, a steely expression on his face.

  Adams touched the relay in her armrest, linking her to one of the two long-range Mirrors of Communication within the ship.

  She appeared in what seemed to be Sato’s office.

  “With all of our information gathered, we have been running simulations and cross-referencing data. We have an eighty-five percent positive result from the simulations,” Sato said without preamble.

  Adams took in a sharp breath.

  Emerilia, the land of magic, exists!

  “Observe the planet for two weeks. Release any drones that you have left and then return to base,” Sato said.

  “Yes, Commander.” Adams nodded.

  “With this information, things are going to change, and I’ll need your strength, Admiral,” Sato said.

  Adams made to argue Sato’s wording, but the look in his eyes stopped her.

  “Thank you, sir,” Adams said, giving him a terse nod.

  “You and your crew have done more than I ever thought possible. Make it home safe.” Sato’s hardened features turned into a more relaxed smile.

  “Yes, sir,” Adams said.

  It would be a long trip home, but it was clear from Sato’s words that she would not be just sitting back anymore.

  Epilogue

  Dave stood before the grand workings that had been captured from Esamael’s armies. From what he could gather, some of them would cause changes to the environment, some would summon beasts or minions, or sometimes they would create massive explosions.

  They were rather simple constructs, essentially a spell imprinted onto a grand soul gem. The soul gem gave off much more power than what a person was capable of, so when the grand working was activated, it used the soul gem’s power to cast a much more powerful spell than what was imprinted on the soul gem.

  The best thing about the grand workings wasn’t their destructive abilities. It was their ability to be used anywhere, by anyone. A mage could only cast so many spells; with this, they could be thrown out with ease, doing the work of multiple mages without needing them on the battlefield. This saved the mages who were in the fight from using their Mana reserves and it made the effects immediate.

  “What are you thinking?” Malsour looked to Dave. All of Party Zero was sitting around a table, eating, drinking, and winding down from the battle.

  “I was thinking that these might be good to use with Dwarven artillery, providing them with a variety of attacks. Imagine if they could fire these into the middle of the enemy, summoning creatures from other realms to fight our enemies and then call down a lightning storm and pure Mana bolts?” Dave said.

  For a few moments, Malsour was silent. “I think that whoever we were fighting would have one hell of a shitty day,” Malsour said slowly.

  Dave nodded.

  There was a commotion as Josh and a group of rogues and stealth types moved toward the teleport pads.

  “Josh, what are you up to?” Dave asked.

  “Cleaning up the trash. We’ll be back in a few hours—no need to worry about it,” Josh said with a faint smile, only barely slowing down.

  Dave’s eyes thinned before he nodded. He had a good idea of what they were going to do. He put the grand working down and grabbed his tankard, looking to Deia, who was talking to Induca and Suzy.

  He placed his arm around her; her fingers intertwined with his, holding his hand over her stomach as she snuggled into the crook of his arm.

  Dave smiled. Emerilia wasn’t perfect, but to him it was still a magical and wonderful place.

  ***

  Loughbreck’s hand went to the sword next to his chair as there was a knock at the door.

  Everyone in the small country home looked at the door, their hands resting on their weapons.

  The door opened to reveal an elderly man and his younger assistant standing in the rain.

  “Geswald.” Loughbreck sighed in relief and stood to greet the man.

  “General Loughbreck.” Geswald took down his hood. He was drenched from the downpour outside.

  Loughbreck snorted and shook his head. “How am I a general? I don’t have an army to lead anymore.” Loughbreck slumped into his seat, looking at the fireplace with hooded eyes.

  The others in the room all silently watched the fire.

  “Is there anything left of Esamael’s forces?” Loughbreck asked.

  “The Stone Raiders tore down Emaren’s defenses and then cut down the main army from behind, capturing Esamael and handing him to Haugr.” Geswald confirmed the rumors that Loughbreck had heard from his own sources.

  “What did the Stone Raiders do afterward?” Loughbreck asked, morbidly interested.

  “They captured most of the armies, making them indentured servants under the mage’s guild’s oversight and then took them to wherever they came from. They were also rewarded with gold and resources from Gudalo. The Selhi nation also paid reparations to the Stone Raiders, an amount that will cut deeply into their treasury,” Geswald said. He, too, was cut off from the world, but his information network was much more developed than Loughbreck’s.

  Loughbreck’s hands tightened into fists before relaxing, knowing the futility of his anger.

  In the fireplace’s flames, he saw the scenes within the Verlun Guild Hall—the Stone Raiders acting like avenging gods as they worked with their POE allies. They really had been a sleeping Dragon; once awakened, the only way to stop them was to kill them all, or be wiped out in turn.

  If we’d only left the Stone Raiders alone, we might have won this war.

  “We’ll rest here for another day and then head for the Elven lands to the south and try to get out of Gudalo,” Loughbreck said.

  “Well, we can’t have that.” A cold voice floated through the room.

  Loughbreck jumped up, raising his sword in one fluid motion.

  “Show yourselves!” Loughbreck yelled. Everyone huddled together as they looked around the small three-room house.

  A hooded man stepped out from one of the rooms where people had been sleeping. The shadows seemed to part around him. Behind him, two people in black clothes seemed to materialize out of the shadows.

  From the kitchen, four more people stepped out into the main living area.

  Geswald made to move for the door outside. The door opened. Geswald didn’t have time to look shocked before a crossbow bolt slammed into his chest and came out the other side.

  Out of the rain, five more people stepped through the door and into the house. In the corners of the room, metal machines seemed to appear from nowhere.

  The hooded man who stood in front of the sleeping quarters pulled back his hood, revealing a face that Loughbreck had studied for weeks.

  “Josh Giles, leader of the Stone Raiders Guild, have you come to finish me and my people off?” Loughbreck asked in a cold voice.

  “Naturally,” Josh said simply. There was no anger, fear, or coldness to his voice. He simply sounded as if he was annoyed, as if killing Lo
ughbreck and the others was just another chore to do.

  It made Loughbreck more scared than if Josh had been filled with fiery anger or cold rage.

  “Kill them!” Loughbreck yelled, charging forward.

  The Stone Raiders loaded crossbows, firing them into the seven or eight people within the house. There was no way they could miss.

  Loughbreck was thrown back with the force of the crossbow bolt. He spit out blood as the arrow pierced his breastplate and into his lung.

  Josh looked down at the man, pulling out his wickedly curved blades. In a blur of motion, Loughbreck’s head was removed from his body.

  ***

  Lady Merguine rested against King Sigaird as they looked out across Haugr.

  “So what will we do now?” Merguine asked.

  All around the castle, people were working to fix up the damage that Lord Esamael’s army had caused. Even as they removed the broken buildings, there was a sense of excitement within the city.

  “First we get Haugr sorted out, then we can see if we can open our borders to our neighbors to the south and really start to build the republic of Gudalo,” Sigaird said.

  Lady Merguine nodded, taking a deep breath, comfortable in Sigaird’s arms.

  “The Lady of Air doesn’t like to give her Champions any easy tasks,” Merguine complained.

  “Hey! It’s much more fun for you guys to sort it out!” Air’s voice came from above the two, making Sigaird and Merguine jump.

  Air floated down next to them. Venfik followed her.

  “Air,” Sigaird said.

  “My lady.” Merguine elbowed Sigaird as she half curtsied.

  “Now that Esamael and all of his rabble have been cleared out, you’ll be free to rule as you see fit and finally advance with the plans that you made with the southern groups to turn all of Gudalo into a republic,” Air said.

  “You make it sound easy.” Sigaird sighed.

  “It won’t be, but for the coming war, it’s a necessity.” Air’s light and playful tone became somber.

  Sigaird’s eyebrow rose as he unconsciously straightened.

  “All of Emerilia will stand together or they will fall apart. Join with the Stone Raiders and support them. They might be Players for the most part, but they are one of the only groups that the People of Emerilia can rally behind. The other nations, kings, and leaders have too much of a history to do it,” Air said.

  Sigaird nodded with Merguine. Air might act like a playful child most of the time, not caring about anything, but this was the other side of her.

  This was the true Lady of Air, a woman who had never needed to use her divine powers to fight across Emerilia. Instead, her power came from information, the whispers on the wind and correcting the balance of power throughout Emerilia.

  If Bob made sure that the Pantheon fought fairly, Air was the one who could create and break empires, alliances and nations.

  With Air, her actions were done so that no one, not even the gods, would notice her work.

  Emerilia will be continued in Time Of Change.

  Want a bigger map of Emerilia and the continents? Check out http://theeternalwriter.deviantart.com/

  You can check out my other books, what I’m working on and upcoming releases through the following means:

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00WCAOQME

  Website: http://michaelchatfield.com/

  Twitter: @chatfieldsbooks

  Facebook: Michael Chatfield

  Goodreads: Goodreads.com/michaelchatfield

  Thanks again for reading!

  Continue on for Character Sheet!

  In Alphabetical order

  Ankol

  Dwarf

  Dwarven Master Smith. Smithing Art: Metal Spinner. Lives in Grorart Mountain.

  Boran-Al

  Lich

  One of the Dark Lord’s Champions. Works directly under the Dark Lord. Creates Creatures of Power and carry’s out the Dark Lord’s orders. His Citadel was destroyed.

  Alastair Montgoa

  Arch Lich aka former Lord Vailyn. Gave up his fellow Aleph to have everlasting life; used the centuries to build strength and knowledge

  Barry

  Dwarf

  Dwarven Master Smith. Smithing Art-Unknown. Wandering smith.

  Cassie

  Elf/Human Halfling

  Holy warrior. Leader of the Golden Sabres. In a relationship with Josh Giles.

  Dark Lord

  God

  Embodiment of the Dark affinity. Created Demons. Normally an ally with the Earth Lord. Always looking a way to tip the power balance of Emerilia in his favor.

  Dasano

  Dwarf

  Dwarven Master Smith. Smithing Art: Metal Press. Lives in Grorart Mountain.

  Akatol Dracul

  Dragon

  Water Mage. Was the second Dragon, Denur’s husband. Went mad and started a genocide, disappeared.

  Denur Dracul

  Dragon

  Fire Mage Hailed as ‘Mother of Dragons’. First of her race, a creature of power created by the Lady of Fire. Seen as her daughter. Sister to Oson’ Deia.

  Gelimah Dracul

  Dragon

  Dark Mage. Brother to Induca, Louna and Malsour

  Fornau Dracul

  Dragon

  Earth Mage. Quindar's mate Malsour and Induca’s grandnephew.

  Induca Dracul

  Dragon

  Fire Mage. One of the youngest from the first generation of Dragons. Sister to Malsour, daughter of Denur, aunt to Quindar, great aunt to Fornau. Member of the Stone Raiders and Party Zero.

  Kinal Dracul

  Dragon

  Louna Dracul

  Dragon

  Induca, Gelimah and Malsour’s sister.

  Malsour Dracul

  Dragon

  Dark Mage. One of the oldest Dragons in existence, first born of Denur. Deia and Induca’s Guardian, Stone Raider and Party Zero member. Brother to Induca. Great Uncle to Fornau Dracul and Uncle to Quindar Dracul.

  Quindar Dracul

  Dragon

  Wind Mage, wife to Fornau, Niece to Induca and Malsour.

  Wokui Dracul

  Dragon

  Water Mage

  Xednai Dracul

  Dragon

  One of the first Dragons, had several Dragons. Her son is Fornau.

  Gorpal Dunsk

  Dwarf

  Dwarven Master Smith, lives in Aldamire Mountain, created 3 Weapons of Power - Mace of Fury, Tower Shield, Boots of Smash. Smithing Art: Paint Copy

  Earth Lord

  God

  Embodiment of the Dark affinity. Created Earth Sprites.

  Edmur

  Dwarf

  Dwarven Master Smith. Had been in the Dwarven War Bands as a Shield Bearer. Former pupil of Quino's Brother to Endur. Smithing Art: Metal’s Song

  Edwards

  Human. Military scientist within the Deq’ual System. Friend of Sato’s

  Edwin

  Beast Kin. Beast Kin representative on ruling council.

  Endur

  Dwarf

  Dwarven Master Smith. Had been in the Dwarven War Bands as a Shield Bearer. Former pupil of Quino's, brother to Edmur, lives in Zolu Mountain. Smithing Art Hammer Blows

  Esa

  Human

  Melee fighter. Member of Mikal and Jule’s party. Fought at Boranl-Al’s Citadel.

  Member of the Stone Raiders. Going out with Jules. Works under Dwayne as a fighter. Being trained for a leadership position under Dwayne.

  Lord Esamael

  Human.

  Lord of Emaren within the Gudalo Kingdom.

  Ela-Gal

  High Elf.

  Warrior living in Aleph, married to Ela’Dorn. Persectued by high elves as heretic.

  Ela-Dorn

  Orc.

  Researcher and professor at Aleph College. Aleph Council Member. Married to Ela-Gal

  Fend

  Dwarf

  Lord Under the Mithsia M
ountains.

  Geswald

  Human.

  Trader’s Guild Chapter head in Emaren.

  David Grahslagg

  Dwarf/Human Halfling, in-game character of Austin Zane. Dwarven Master Smith, Resident of Cliff Hill, member of Party Zero and the Stone Raider’s Guild. Other names: Austin Zane

  Josh Giles

  Human

  Rogue. Leader of the Stone Raiders. Was a investment broker on Earth, became an E-head. In a relationship with Cassie from the Golden Sabres.

  Gimel

  Human

  Warrior.

  Fellox Guild Master.

  Gorrund

  Dwarf

  Dwarven Master Smith in Benvari Mountain with Jesal, teaching four apprentices. Smithing Art: Blood Bender.

  Goula

  Demon

  On the Ruling council for Devil’s Crater.

  Gurren

  Dwarf

  Shield bearer, member of Dwarven War Band under Lox’s command, sent to guide people to Cliff-Hill. Friend of David Grahslagg, Kol’s Grandson. Member of the Stone Raiders.

  Helick

  Dwarf

  Dwarven Master Smith.

  Kim Isdola

  Human

  Cleric/alchemist. Lieutenant in Stone Raiders.

  Ishox

  Demon

  On the Ruling council for Devil’s Crater.

  Arch-Mage Jekoni

  Human/item

  Soul bound to Staff of Growing, over 2,000 years old; missing legs. Held within Dwarven Vaults with other Weapons of power.