Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
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
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Epilogue
The Rift War
The Liftsal Guardians Book Four
Alexandra Moody
Copyright © 2017 by Alexandra Moody
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Edited by Pete Thompson
Cover Design by Alexandra Moody
For my strong, hilarious and beautiful sister, Jen.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Epilogue
Stay Connected
Also by Alexandra Moody
About the Author
Prologue
The night was cold and dark, with not a single star visible against the ink-black sky. The world was quiet but for the hard wind that howled as it whipped across the open plain, carrying small flurries of snow and the promise of a storm.
Tendrils of loose hair blew across Allirie’s face, but she ignored them as she stared into the smothering darkness before her. She’d been sitting in a small, protected recess in the rocky mountain face for hours without moving. She had become used to staying in one position for long stretches of time after the weeks she’d spent camped at the base of the mountain where the rift to the World of the Woods was located.
She had only one objective: to guard the rift from both the humans and the Brakys. There had been no sign of either of the creatures yet, and she prayed that this would continue to be the case.
Allirie rested her head back against the rock behind her as she stared up into the black abyss of the sky. At least she wasn’t alone out there. She had recruited fighters from her village to help protect the rift. They were stationed on either side of the opening and had been with Allirie since Rhyn had sent her to guard the rift as tensions rose with the humans. Another group of women were due to relieve them soon. Allirie wouldn’t be leaving though. She had told Rhyn she would defend the rift, and she didn’t intend to abandon her post until the Unfaih had dealt with the danger posed by the humans.
She let out a slow breath and lowered her gaze to the rift they protected. It was fifty meters from the base of the mountain behind her and flickered from where it hovered above the snow. All that surrounded it was the vast and empty plain that stretched from the mountain range, where her people lived, all the way to the Brakys’ ravine. It appeared completely unprotected, but Allirie knew better. She had other fighters watching it from the shadows of the mountain and standing guard in the World of the Woods. They would be ready if either humans or Brakys suddenly arrived.
The wind started to pick up as the night went on and increasing amounts of snow began to blow across the barren plateau. The growing blizzard impeded her vision, but Allirie could still just make out the glowing blue orbs that surrounded the rift. They glinted against the darkness, and the World of the Woods beckoned to her through the rippling surface of the opening. She felt mildly jealous of the warriors standing guard in the warm climate but knew it was her turn to keep watch amid the oncoming storm.
As she gazed at the rift, Allirie saw a figure appear on the other side of the portal before slowly stepping through the opening. It was one of the fighters from Allirie’s village, though it was hard to recognise who it was in the dark. The woman began to pace towards Allirie, taking steady, determined steps through the deep snow and keeping her head down as she fought against the wind. Despite the storm that continued to build around them, it didn’t take long for Allirie to realise who was approaching her. She couldn’t mistake the powerful stride of her mentor.
‘Thanvia!’ Allirie called out in greeting and pushed herself to her feet. She stepped away from the relative shelter of the rocks and walked out to meet the woman. As Thanvia reached her, Allirie could see that snow was already clinging to her dark hair, and the wind was whipping her long locks away from her face. The woman was far older than Allirie but didn’t look her age, and her striking hazel eyes shone through the storm. She was one of the most hardened warriors in their village and had taught Allirie everything she knew about fighting. Thanvia was also the closest thing Allirie had to family.
‘Is everything well?’ Allirie asked.
‘Yes,’ the woman replied. ‘I’ve come to take your place.’
Allirie slowly nodded and glanced at the rift before settling her eyes back on her mentor.
‘Do you have anything to report from your watch?’ Thanvia continued.
‘No,’ Allirie replied. ‘But the storm is coming in fast, and I believe it will worsen through the night.’
Thanvia’s gaze drifted across the plain, studying the winds that gusted across the snow and the clouds that shrouded the mountains around them. Allirie knew that the snow would soon be so heavy it would almost be impossible to see the rift from where she stood. It certainly wasn’t a good night to be standing guard on the Ellysia side of the opening.
‘You’re leaving with the others tomorrow?’ Allirie asked.
‘Yes,’ Thanvia replied. ‘And you should be coming with us.’
‘You know I won’t abandon my post.’
‘I know,’ Thanvia agreed. ‘But the hruls have been more active this season. We could use your help protecting the surrounding villages from them. No Brakys have been sighted anywhere near the rift since we arrived, and it is unlikely the humans will attack after their defeat in battle. I agree this rift needs protecting, but if the Brakys knew where it was, surely they would have attacked already.’
Allirie could hear the certainty in Thanvia’s voice, but it did little to change her mind. It had been a week since Rhyn’s messenger had come with news of the humans' defeat in the World of the Woods and only ten days had passed since the battle. They still couldn’t be sure that the rift was secure.
The messenger had told them of the terrible losses the Unfaih had suffered, but that ultimately the humans had been forced back to their settlement. Still, Allirie knew the war had only just begun, and Rhyn had asked her to continue to protect the rift until they could find out what the humans’ next move would be. The Brakys were an even greater threat and could not be allowed access to the settlement in the World of the Woods, especially with the humans still tending to their wounds.
Thanvia was right. It was unlikely they would encounter any of the creatures, but Allirie still felt like she had to follow Rhyn’s request and continue to guard the rift. She wasn’t ready to pass on the duty to someone else.
‘I hope you are right,’ Allirie replied. ‘But I will not leave this rift. Not until we are sure the threat has passed.’
Thanvia’s face fell slightly as she nodded. It was clear she was disappointed that Allirie wouldn’t be leaving with her and that she believed it was a waste of effort to keep guarding the rift. Thanvia had never encountered a human before though and had spent little time fighting the Brakys. She did not seem to fully understand the threats they were facing.
‘You should at least get some rest,’ Thanvia finally said, nodding in the direction of the rift. Allirie followed her gaze but froze as a mourning howl echoed across the plain.
‘Did you hear that?’ Allirie murmured, her hand grasping the sword at her side.
‘It was just the wind,’ Thanvia responded.
But Allirie shook her head. ‘No, I’ve been listening to the wind for hours. That wasn’t the wind…’
Her eyes narrowed as she stared out across the shadowy plain. The snow was starting to fall more heavily, making it difficult to see any further than the rift, and Allirie could see nothing moving through the blizzard. The howling sound echoed across the plain again, and a shiver ran down the back of Allirie’s spine. She pulled her sword from its sheath in one swift movement, but she didn’t dare to light it with fire for fear of exposing her position to whatever was out there. And there was definitely something out there.
‘Did that still sound like the wind to you?’ Allirie asked, shooting a glance at Thanvia.
Thanvia didn’t respond though. Her expression had hardened, and her eyes were scanning the darkness as she strained to see clearly. The woman’s lips tightened as another high-pitched wail ripped through the stormy air.
‘We must alert the others,’ Thanvia said, whipping around to face Allirie. ‘Something is here.’
Allirie didn’t hesitate as she set off towards the rift. She watched the darkness surrounding her with alert eyes, and any remnants of exhaustion she may have been feeling were long forgotten. She couldn’t see anything in the night, but the air suddenly felt colder and the wind no longer whistled. The gale that had been blowing moments ago had dropped off, and the world had descended into an eerie silence.
Allirie reached the rift and leapt through it without pause. The warmth of the World of the Woods welcomed her, but she barely noticed the temperature as a chill had settled in her bones. The rift was deep inside the woods, and it was shady beneath the thick canopy of leaves overhead, but it was still much lighter than the stormy night in Ellysia.
Two warriors stood guard behind the trees nearest to the rift, and they rushed to Allirie’s side the moment she appeared through the portal. Allirie knew her urgency must have been clear to see because of the frantic look in the women’s eyes as they approached.
‘Assemble the others and bring them through the rift,’ Allirie said to the guards. ‘I fear the Brakys are here.’
Allirie didn’t wait for the two women to respond but immediately turned and retreated through the rift. She needed to get back to Ellysia to help Thanvia. The other women were more than capable of gathering the reinforcements who rested deeper in the woods.
As she emerged back into Ellysia, Allirie lifted one hand to cup her eyes as she looked into the night. The snow was still falling in thick waves, and it took a moment for her to readjust to the darkness.
Eight other warriors had appeared from their posts and were already standing guard in a circular formation around the rift. Thanvia was also waiting for Allirie by the rift with her sword drawn. Her body was tense as she stood in wait, and Allirie couldn’t remember another time when she’d seen such concern etched onto her mentor’s features. The woman could move like lightning and be lethal with a blade, but she looked worried, and Allirie wondered if she should share Thanvia’s concern.
‘Is there any sign of them?’ Allirie asked.
Thanvia gave a slight shake of her head. ‘No. It’s gone quiet again. I want you to wait here. When the others arrive, get them into a defensive formation around the rift. Do not leave your position here no matter what.’
Allirie nodded, but her brow creased in a frown. ‘What are you going to do?’
‘I’m going to check the perimeter. We need to know what’s out there.’
Allirie swallowed uncomfortably at the idea of Thanvia heading out alone into the night. Despite the soft light the rift emitted as it glinted against the snow, they could barely see more than twenty feet in any direction. And Allirie felt certain she already knew what was coming their way.
‘It’s not safe,’ Allirie protested.
‘Maybe not,’ Thanvia agreed. ‘But we’re blind out here.’
Before Allirie could argue any further, Thanvia started pacing away from her and quickly disappeared into the increasingly dense deluge of snow.
Allirie closed her eyes and took a deep breath in before slowly blowing it out again. She blocked out all senses except her hearing and concentrated on the soft noises that filled the night around her. She could hear her breath as she slowly breathed in and out. She could hear the near silent patter of snow hitting the ground. But there was no hint of the moans and wails she’d heard earlier. The soft crunch of Thanvia’s boots against the snow had also disappeared.
There were just eight other fighters standing guard alongside Allirie. They were utterly alone, but the isolation didn’t scare her. It only made her more determined.
A scream shattered the silence and rang through the night. It was Thanvia. Allirie opened her eyes and instinctively turned in the direction of the shout.
‘Stay in formation,’ she called to the other women, as she listened intently for sounds of a fight coming from the darkness ahead of her. But the night had turned silent again, and the air around her had become colder still.
Allirie gripped her sword tighter to stop her hands from shaking. She desperately wanted to race towards the scream, and her blood pulsed quickly beneath her skin, urging her to take another step into the blackness. But she kept her feet planted firmly on the ground, refusing to give in to the desire to go to her mentor’s aid. Thanvia had told her to stay and guard the rift, and she knew that was what she had to do. Thanvia was the best fighter they had; Allirie had to believe that she would be okay.
A flicker of movement caught the corner of her eye, and she whirled around to her left. She scanned the night, desperately trying to penetrate the blizzard with her eyes. But there was nothing there. No sign of Thanvia and no evidence of the creatures.
A soft crunch in the snow sounded behind her, and she spun on her heel to face the noise. But again she found herself staring into nothing but darkness and snow. Allirie could tell the warriors around her sensed something was out there too, and she felt like they were being toyed with. But she refused to be afraid of creatures that lurked in the shadows.
Another sound of movement caught Allirie’s ear, and she turned to find the other warriors arriving through the rift. Nine more women appeared dressed in their armour and ready for battle.
‘Get into formation,’ Allirie called to them, before turning once more to face the night.
The women joined the other warriors who had formed a large circle around the rift, and Allirie stepped back into the centre of the ring of fighters. She was their last defence, and it would be upon Allirie to
protect the World of the Woods from the Brakys should the other women fail.
The soft sound of growling reached her ears, and Allirie whipped round to her right as another high-pitched wail pierced through the storm. Then she spun to her left as another immediately replied. Snarling and screeching began to fill the night, surrounding the warriors in all directions. And then Allirie saw them—a pair of bright red eyes flashing through the blizzard in front of her.
As the Brakys’ screeches filled the air, what seemed like hundreds of blood red dots began to appear in the night. There were almost as many eyes as snowflakes falling from the sky, and Allirie could sense her warriors instinctively backing towards her as they realised they were surrounded.
‘Stand your ground,’ she commanded over the cacophony of moans, snarls and wails. As she spoke the world suddenly fell silent.
Allirie looked out upon the army of piercing red eyes that stared back at her and saw a shadowy figure emerging from the now eerily quiet darkness. Two more figures appeared behind it, and as one, the three huge Brakys started towards her warriors. The creature that led them was larger than any Allirie had seen before.
Its skin was bright black, like thick oil, and bulging muscles covered its body. The Braky’s long white hair shone through the darkness almost as brightly as its searing red eyes, which locked onto Allirie. A scar spread across its shoulder and she noticed a tattered rope hanging around its neck. Resting on its solid chest was a small stone that glinted a dull green colour, and Allirie remembered where she had seen the monstrous creature before—inside the Brakys’ lair.
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