Awakening (Telindell Book 1)

by Darren Lee

  A guard burst into the throne room. He quickly approached Draken and kneeled. “Urgent news, my lord,” he said, his voice shaking.

  Draken leaned forward and raised an eyebrow. “Tell me, what has happened?”

  “The dragon attacked the King’s castle last night,” said the guard. “The King was ripped to pieces.”

  Draken gave Roxees an alarmed look, then returned his attention to the guard. “His sons? Any survivors?”

  The guard shook his head. “No, my lord. One soldier survived the attack. He died shortly after delivering the news a few moments ago. He was burned severely. His armor was melted to his skin.”

  “That is dreadful news,” said Draken, his voice filled with despair. “Dispatch messengers to Riverwood and Abinburrow. Inform the Lords of the news and that we must hold a Lord’s meeting to decide the next King. I will expect them three days from now.”

  The soldier stood and brought his right arm across his chest as he nodded. “Right away, my lord.” The soldier promptly left the throne room.

  Draken looked to all of the nobles present in court and shouted, “Court is dismissed until further notice! Return to your homes, we mourn the loss of our King for the next three days!” The assembly quickly vacated the room.

  Roxees looked to Draken and smiled. “Now is your chance to become King, my Lord.”

  Draken shook his head. “They will never agree upon me. I have no heir, and I believe my wife is incapable of bearing a child.”

  “I will see to the Lords. You will be King,” said Roxees. “Your Majesty.”

  “We shall see,” said Draken. “We shall see.”

  “Yes we shall,” she said.

  Three days passed quickly. The Lords of Riverwood and Abinburrow arrived. Draken waited upon his throne. The throne room remained empty besides Roxees and himself. A man and woman entered the throne room and approached Draken and Roxees. The man was portly with blonde hair and a black beard wearing elegant black clothing. The woman was young and thin. She had long flowing brown hair.

  The man bowed to Draken. “Lord Elan Montu of Riverwood”

  “Welcome. You may rise,” said Draken.

  The woman bowed shortly after. “Countess Ana Ellenhar of Abinburrow.”

  Draken raised an eyebrow at the young Ellenhar. “Countess? We were expecting Lord Ellenhar, I hope no ill has befallen your father.”

  “I apologize, my Lord,” said Ana. “My father passed the same night as the King’s murder. I thought you were aware of his illness. He had been sick for some time.”

  “How unfortunate,” said Draken. “I was not aware. I am terribly sorry for your loss. You have Allendale’s condolences. You may rise. I bid you welcome, Countess Ellenhar.”

  “Thank you, my Lord,” said Ana, smiling pleasantly as she rose.

  Draken nodded and looked at his guests. “I trust you are both aware of the nature of this meeting. Amongst the three of us, we must decide upon a new King.” Draken looked to Ana. “Or Queen for Kynlynn.”

  Montu offered up a smug smile. “Yes, we must. Originally, I planned to endorse Lord Ellenhar, but considering his tragic passing; I must endorse myself. With no disrespect to Countess Ellenhar, she does not have the experience required of a monarch.”

  Ana angrily looked to Montu and shouted, “That is ridiculous! I have overseen my father’s court for nearly a year in his sickness! Besides, I am young. There is more than enough life left in me to establish a royal bloodline. We all know you two are not getting any younger.”

  Draken nodded. “I agree with your youth Ana, but unfortunately one year of experience I cannot agree to.”

  Montu chuckled. “So, you agree to an endorsement of myself?”

  Draken glared at Montu. “Absolutely not. You can barely keep your peasants in line, much less rule a kingdom!”

  Ana laughed. “He is right, you know. My father complained for years of your peasants thieving from our crops.”

  Montu snarled at them both. “And we both know how your tactics work Draken. You rule with oppression and cruelty. If your people can’t pay their taxes, you not only take their possessions but you take their children. I heard that one of those slaves murdered your son!”

  Ana’s eyes widened as she looked to Draken.

  “One more word of my deceased son and I will show you the full extent of my cruelty,” said Draken in a cold, calm voice. “Are we understood?”

  Montu’s eyes widened and he took a deep breath. “Yes… Yes, my Lord Draken.”

  Ana looked to Montu and smirked. “You sure are easy to fold. I give my endorsement to Lord Draken if, and only if, he can establish a royal bloodline with his wife.”

  “Thank you,” said Draken. “My wife and I are currently trying to conceive a child. We have been for some time now.”

  A sly smile crept across Montu’s face. “I understand she has reached her mid-years. She must be barren and unable. With her being unable, I cannot endorse you Draken.”

  Ana sighed at Montu and looked to Draken. “If that is true, I cannot endorse you either.”

  Roxees giggled lightly. “I assure you, Lady Elanna is more than capable of providing an heir.”

  Ana looked to Roxees, annoyed. “And who might you be?”

  “This is Lady Roxees,” said Draken. “My court sorceress.”

  Ana looked to Montu. They both burst out laughing. Ana then looked to Draken. “I see you still believe in bedtime stories,” she said snickering.

  Montu chuckled. “Draken must be senile.”

  Roxees giggled and looked to Draken, smiling devilishly.

  Draken’s eyes widened at Roxees, then he looked to his laughing guests. “Silence,” said Draken with a commanding tone. “The last members of my court that doubted her power were consumed… from the inside, by all sorts of nasty insects.”

  Montu and Ana’s eyes widened as they looked upon the skimpily dressed Roxees.

  Roxees looked upon the two and grinned. She held out her hand and the temperature in the throne room began to drop rapidly. A blue flame erupted from her palm. “I hope a demonstration will not be necessary.”

  Montu stepped back, his hot breath visible in the freezing air. “No, no it will not be, Lady Sorceress.”

  Ana quickly shook her head, speechless.

  Roxees snapped her hand shut and allowed the temperature to return to normal. “Good. Now, Lord Draken, shall I fetch Lady Elanna? I’m sure our guests are eager to witness the youth she yet retains.”

  Draken chuckled. “Yes, that would be most appropriate.”

  Roxees stood and bowed to the three, then exited the room. Half an hour passed.

  Montu glared at Draken out of impatience. “Where is she Draken?

  Ana nodded. “Yes, she should have arrived by now.”

  Draken nodded. “I’m sure she will just be a few more--”

  Draken was interrupted by the door to the throne room opening. The three looked to see Lady Elanna entering the room. She approached her husband’s throne and took the seat next to him.

  Elanna looked to the guests. “I apologize, Lord Montu and…?”

  Ana smiled and graciously bowed. “Countess Ana Ellenhar of Abinburrow.”

  “Ah, I see,” said Elanna. “I hope all is well with your father?”

  Ana frowned. “My Lady, he passed three nights ago.”

  “How tragic,” said Elanna before giving Ana a sympathetic smile. “I’m sure you will do him proud.”

  Ana smiled. “Thank you, my lady.”

  Montu shook his head and shouted, “Now, to the matter at hand! I grow weary of these ridiculous formalities. Are you or are you not able to conceive a child?”

  Elanna quickly stood and shouted, “How is that any concern of yours?”

  Ana shook her head at Montu and looked to Elanna. “My Lady, if I may, if your husband is to become King he must have the ability to establish a royal bloodline to protect the throne and ensure its continuity. I mean no disr
espect, my lady. Unlike Lord Montu.”

  Elanna looked to Draken, then shifted her gaze to Ana and Montu. “This grows tiresome. Every day he asks if I am with child,” said Elanna, giggling uncomfortably. “I reply with ‘not yet,’ hoping that one day soon he will realize I am incapable. I mean, look at me, I’m old, and my face is becoming wrinkled. I can’t have children. The thought is laughable at best.” Elanna shook her head, laughing.

  Ana covered her mouth momentarily. “I… I am so sorry, my Lady.”

  Montu smirked. “Draken, your wife has been driven mad with grief. No heir, no throne. It is settled, I shall be King.

  Elanna pulled a dagger from her side and shouted, “You shall never be King!” Elanna leapt from the throne and pierced Montu’s heart. She pulled away and looked to Ana. The young girl screamed and began to back away. Elanna swung the blade and sliced her throat. Elanna turned and began to run from the throne room towards Roxees’ chamber.

  Draken jumped up and screamed, “Guards! My wife just murdered them!”

  Draken and a group of his guards chased after Elanna. Elanna led them towards Roxees chambers. She quickly opened the door and slammed it shut and locked it behind her. Elanna looked to the corner of the room and saw another Elanna unconscious on the floor. A red amulet under the dress of the conscious Elanna began to glow.

  Elanna morphed into Roxees. “Fools. They rush here to kill Elanna.” She looked down at the dagger. “Well, this may sting a bit.” Roxees jabbed the dagger into her abdomen. She twisted it, causing more and more blood to pour onto the floor. Roxees took the dagger and placed it in Elanna’s hand. She then lay down next to her and allowed her blood to pool on the floor. She held up her hand, and with a snap of her fingers, Elanna came back to consciousness. Roxees went limp and pretended to be unconscious. Elanna screamed at the sight of the bleeding Roxees. She then looked down at the dagger in her hand and her eyes widened.

  The door burst open, Draken and his guards rushed into the room. “How could you!” said Draken. He looked to Roxees. “You killed them! You killed them all!”

  Elanna dropped the dagger and screamed, “No! No! I don’t know what happened!” She burst into tears.

  Draken glared and pointed at Elanna. “You’re a murderer! You killed the Lord of Riverwood and the Countess of Abinburrow!”

  Elanna shook her head. “No… I couldn’t have! I was in our chambers resting! I woke up here!”

  Draken shook his head and shouted, “Liar! You killed Roxees too! You ungrateful bitch!”

  Elanna stared at Draken in silence. Draken looked to a guard next to him. He took the guard’s sword. “After all these years, you betray me like this! Now, I must kill you!”

  Fear and sorrow overtook Elanna’s face. “No, I didn’t. I would have never betrayed you! Please! Don’t!”

  Draken approached his wife. He pushed the tip of his guard’s sword to her chest. With a quiet voice, Draken spoke, “Elanna Draken, I find you guilty of three counts of murder and one count of treason for interference in the selection of the future King of Kynlynn. I sentence you to death.”

  Elanna wept and gasped for air. “Please, I’m innocent. Please.”

  Draken pierced Elanna’s chest. “I am sorry, my love. May you find peace.”

  Elanna looked at Draken with tears streaming from her eyes and blood dripping from her mouth. She gasped for air and muttered her final words, “I forgive you…” Her head fell forward into the grip of death.

  Draken let out a scream filled with anger and sorrow. He dropped to his knees in front of her. “Why! Why did you make me do this?” He closed his eyes and dropped his head. Roxees let out a cough and gasped for air. Draken immediately leapt to her side. “You’re alive! Guards, hurry get a healer! Now!”

  Roxees slowly opened her eyes. “No… No healer.”

  “But,” said Draken. “You will die!”

  “No, I’ll be fine,” said Roxees. She held her hand over the wound on her abdomen. A faint red glow began to emit from her wound with the slight sound of a hum accompanying the eerie light. Draken watched as the wound began to close and heal.

  Roxees took a deep breath and sat up. “That bitch almost killed me! She was mad!”

  Draken ran his hands down his face. “What happened?”

  Roxees laid her head against Draken’s shoulder. “She burst in here and seemed upset. I asked her what was wrong. She approached me with such hate in her eyes. She stabbed me. Before I lost consciousness, she said, ‘If I can’t give my husband an heir, no one else will either.’ That was the last thing I remember until I woke a few moments ago. Surely if I hadn’t, my magic would not have been able to save me.”

  Draken stood, and a single tear escaped his eyes. “The poor woman must have been driven mad with grief. First, the loss of our son, then the inability to bear another. Perhaps she is at peace now.”

  Roxees stood and looked into Draken’s eyes. “What happened? Why did she come after me?”

  Draken sighed. “I… I’m not sure. As you know, the Lord and Countess would not endorse me as King until meeting with my wife. After she arrived, she burst out, admitting she was barren. Then she… she killed them.”

  Roxees smiled slightly, raising an eyebrow. “So Lord Montu and Countess Ellenhar are dead?”

  Draken nodded. “Yes. Ana’s throat was slit and Montu’s heart pierced. Nothing we could have done.”

  Roxees grinned and knelt before Draken. She looked up at the guards and spoke loudly, “Kneel before the new King Kynlynn! Long live King Tieren Draken the First!”

  The guards immediately knelt before Draken as he looked around. “But at what cost? Montu will not be missed… but Ana was so young. So much life unlived.”

  “The cost has already been far too great, your majesty,” said Roxees, looking up to her King. “How many lives have been lost to that magical beast because of your predecessor’s incompetence? Now, we have a strong, bold King who will destroy the dragon at its source.”

  Draken regretfully nodded. “Rise now. All of you.”

  Roxees and the guards stood before their new king. “Now, my King,” said Roxees. “You must show your strength. What will your first action be?”

  Draken looked to his guards, then to Roxees. “I will show them what happens to anybody who works against Kynlynn.” Draken looked to his wife’s corpse. “Guards, take her corpse and hang it from the castle ramparts so word of what happens when their King is defied will spread across the land.”

  Roxees smiled devilishly. “Excellent, your Majesty.”

  The guards grabbed Elanna’s corpse and began to drag it from the room.

  Draken watched regretfully. “I am sorry, Elanna. I wish this did not have to be.”

  “Hurry,” said Roxees. “I wish to address the King alone.”

  The guards left the chamber, leaving Roxees and Draken alone.

  Roxees stepped closer to Draken. “There is a matter that remains unattended, your Majesty.”

  “And that is?” Draken asked.

  Roxees leaned in to Draken’s ear and whispered, “You need an heir, my King.”

  Draken quickly stepped back from Roxees. “You bring this up moments after I have executed my wife?”

  Roxees looked Draken over. “I mean no disrespect, Your Majesty.” Roxees smiled. “Might I suggest you take me as your queen?”

  “My wife is barely a few moments dead,” said Draken. “And you suggest this? Why?”

  Roxees giggled. “First of all, a sorceress as your queen with the power to cripple entire armies in moments would serve you well.” Roxees ran her hands down her breasts and to her hips. “Secondly, look at my body. You have lusted after it since the day I first came to Allendale. You cannot deny it. Even your wife noticed.”

  Draken stared at her intently. Roxees bit her lip and stepped closer to Draken. She took his hand, placing it upon her breasts and slowly sliding it down her body to her groin. “Feel how supple, warm, and youthful I
am. I have not aged a day since we met, and I assure you, I am fertile and perfectly capable of giving you a son.”

  Draken trembled. “Yes… That I cannot deny.” He was completely mesmerized and enthralled by her every word.

  Roxees leaned in to Draken’s ear once again and whispered, “Then, it is settled, my love. I will be your queen.”

  Chapter 13: Ascension

  Evening fell upon the castle in Allendale. Roxees sat upon her bed, waiting to be summoned.

  A guard entered her room and bowed before her. “My lady, the King is ready for you.”

  Roxees smiled at the guard. “Thank you. Now, leave me. I shall arrive momentarily.”

  The guard nodded and left the room. Roxees stood and proceeded to leave her chambers. “All is falling into place. Soon I will be the queen and the supreme leader of this pathetic kingdom. Lord Commander Dreathous shall be pleased.” Roxees entered the throne room to see many members of the nobility and peasants alike looking upon the throne. She walked across the room to Draken, now wearing a bejeweled crown. He took Roxees’ hand into his and softly kissed her cheek.

  The two turned to face the crowd before them. Draken spoke in a thunderous voice, “Amidst the tragedy that has befallen us this day, it is with my deepest sympathy and honor to stand before you all as your new king.”

  Roxees rolled her eyes and smiled to the crowd. “What a dramatic fool,” she said to herself.

  “We have all lost someone close to us in the recent years,” said Draken. “The winged black devil has caused widespread terror and destruction of our lands, our homes, our families. I vow to end that filth once and for all! By tracking down the enemy in the shadows that unleashed it upon us!” The crowd erupted into applause at their king’s words.

  Roxees grinned devilishly but contained her laughter.

  “The Elves, who were thought to be extinct,” said Draken. “Nothing more than a myth, exist in the shadows of our lands and are waging a war against us! They unleashed this dreadful creature upon us… and for that… they will all suffer!” Once again, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause.

  Roxees continued smiling amidst Draken’s words.