Nerris, Dist, and Jhareth looked at each other with dismay. With all that had been happening, they had forgotten about their promise to attend the annual midsummer Council.
“Your Highness,” Surnal said, “there is no Yagol seat on the Council.”
“Yet the invitation was never rescinded,” Lahnel said. “My father declined to take part. He did not like anyone else having a say in how he ran his kingdom. But the Alliance was named after King Kolmat. I would take up his seat and beg the help of the eastern nations, if that is what it takes.” He looked to Nerris. “The Thrillseekers’ friendships with King Maerlos and King Owen is widely known. Do you believe they would be predisposed to help my poor country?”
Nerris gritted his teeth. There was no easy answer to that, nor did he wish to speak for Maerlos or Owen. “It is hard to say, your Highness. Neither man will have forgotten you are kin to Yahd the Enslaver, no matter how many years have passed since his war.”
“My choices are few,” Lahnel said. “Surely they will see a Yagolhan unified under Qabala poses a more immediate threat to the east.”
Nerris kept silent. Depending on how strong Congir’s grip on Faerna had become, King Maerlos might not even remember his own name anymore. “If you think it best to accompany us to Inya, your Highness, I cannot stop you. You surely know what is best for your own people.”
Lahnel nodded. “Accompany you I shall. I promise you, while in my company you will not want for luxury. Thank you. One more piece of business before I let you all get back to enjoying your day.” He snapped his fingers and a guard came forth, bearing a wooden case. “Len-Ahl, would you please step forward?”
Len-Ahl hesitated out of surprise, but approached the prince, stopping a few steps from the dais. Lahnel opened the case and drew out something slender. Gripping it in both hands, he descended to stand before Len-Ahl and gave her the object. Nerris now saw it was a fipple flute, carved from a dark-colored wood.
The half-faery gaped at it. She had not had a flute since Falares had taken them captive in northern Yagolhan over a month before. Len-Ahl worked her magic through music. It was her connection to the Faery Realm her mother had belonged to, and Nerris felt a slight surge when Len-Ahl took hold of the instrument.
“How did you know?” she asked the prince.
“I am told you have visions in your dreams, Len-Ahl,” Lahnel said. “I recently had a vivid dream as well. There is someone who requests your presence not far from here. She said the Stonechaser and the Catalyst are to go to the nameless lake north of the city, where she will reveal certain truths to you. When you get there, play the song your heart tells you to play, and she will appear.”
“Who?” Len-Ahl asked.
“She did not name herself,” Lahnel said. “I have my suspicions, but I had best leave it at that. Better you find out for yourself, I am sure. Do not delay in this matter, for I intend we leave for Inya soon. I must reach Syrutim by midsummer.”
The next morning, Nerris found himself skipping across stones, following Len-Ahl toward this mysterious lake. As they approached the shoreline, mist seemed to form out of nowhere, encircling them as if cutting off the outside world. He felt this place was either very old or housed something beyond ancient.
Len-Ahl stopped at the shore, where the waves lapped against her feet. “This is the place,” she said.
Nerris stared out across the water. All was still. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said. “Can you feel it, Nerris? This place is strongly attached to the Faery Realm. There is great power here.” She absentmindedly stroked the flute in her hands.
“Go ahead,” Nerris said. “I may not feel the power, but I will protect you from whatever comes out of that water.”
Len-Ahl nodded, and raised the fipple flute to her lips. She was improvising, he knew, yet the song which emerged was haunting and mournful, like a dirge. The notes seemed to come unbidden, and she did not stumble or hesitate as she played the song to its conclusion.
As she took the flute from her lips, nothing happened. But then the wind picked up and the water in front of them parted. A white form emerged, emanating a light which made it difficult to discern features. It hovered above the water, moving toward them.
It glided closer, and Nerris was able to get a better look. It was a woman, beautiful in the way Qabala was. Instead of a dress, she wore trousers and a leather vest which accentuated her feminine curves. Her long, brown hair flowed out from her head. Strands bobbed at random, as if she still floated beneath the water.
When she locked eyes with him, Nerris felt a sense of awe, but also danger. His hand instinctively went to Noruken’s hilt, but the entity merely gave him an amused smile.
“Stay thy fears, Catalyst,” she said. “I have not summoned thee to cause harm.” Her voice came in an echo, as if from somewhere far away.
“That is a very formal dialect, my lady,” Nerris said. “I am Nerris Palada and this is Len-Ahl. I do not believe I have had the pleasure.”
“I know thy names,” the spirit said. “They have resounded throughout the world for some time now. I shall introduce myself, though I fear thou wilt not place trust in my words forthwith. Once, I was a goddess. Over the centuries I have been named the Consumer, Lady Death, and the Bitch of Blood, but I have one name thou wilt recognize.” She fixed them with a sad stare. “My name is Yala.”
About the Author
Nicholas Andrews has been writing stories of various length and dubious quality for over twenty years. He attended both Ohio University and Wright State University, but was forced to drop out due to deteriorating sanity. He has worked in restaurants, grocery stores, an airfield (for four whole days) and as a video producer for independent pro wrestling companies. When not writing about himself in the third person, he enjoys reading, composing music, riffing bad movies, and playing retro video games.
Table of Contents
Beacon in the Dark
SECRETS OF THE STONECHASER
Copyright Info
Dedication
Map
PART ONE: ARISTIAN FLAMES
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
PART TWO: XENEA DOLCHIN
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
PART THREE: ROAD OF HARDSHIP
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Thank you for reading!
Also By Nicholas Andrews
Sample Chapter
About the Author
Table of Contents
Beacon in the Dark
SECRETS OF THE STONECHASER
Copyright Info
Dedication
Map
PART ONE: ARISTIAN FLAMES
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
PART TWO: XENEA DOLCHIN
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
PART THREE: ROAD OF HARDSHIP
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Thank you for reading!
Also By Nicholas Andrews
Sample Chapter
About the Author
Secrets of the Stonechaser (The Law of Eight Book 1) Page 36
