Sword of Storms

by Tara Brown

  “How were they able to do the magic in Dahleigh if the veil was in place?”

  “It was magic stolen from another kingdom. It didn’t belong here and in bringing it into this kingdom, it cracked the veil enough that they were able to perform the spell they needed.”

  “Why me? Why am I involved in this?” Lenny couldn’t help but ask.

  “You were the only one who could have released the magic in that stone. Lorna and Saleen may have brought magic back to Dahleigh, but you were the catalyst they needed to release him. Their dark lord.”

  “Dark lord?” Lenny repeated, fighting the shiver running over her skin. How was this possible?

  “Ryze. The man hunting you in your dreams. He will try to come for you in your sleep, it’s his only way right now. He’s not fully awakened, though I fear that path is set. I will do what I can to help you, Lenny. I will protect you while you sleep.” Joro paused. “Remember, a sacrifice made. A soul taken. A stone returned. A heart broken. What was once legend comes again. You must go to the elves. They will help you this time. I’ll see to it,” she whispered in Lenny’s ear and vanished.

  The light in the room flickered and mist slithered out, retreating into the forest. “If you need me, call for me and I will come,” Joro’s voice echoed into the room and the door slammed shut on its own.

  A chill crept up Lenny’s spine as she blinked and Brother Estevan started to speak again, “Thank you for meeting us here.”

  The hounds came barreling from the room, sniffing and whining.

  Brother Estevan lifted his head, peering around the room in confusion.

  “She’s gone,” Lenny muttered, staring at the door in disbelief.

  “You spoke to her?” he asked as he stood, followed by the other brothers.

  “Did you not hear the conversation?” Lenny paused, wondering if it had happened at all or if she had dreamed this as well. Scar nudged her, sniffing her. “The mist people and the story? Someone named Ryze?”

  His eyes widened. “Tell me everything, leave nothing out.”

  Lenny’s heart continued to race as she sat at the small table and began to recount the story she couldn’t possibly believe.

  Chapter 17

  “You know who Ryze is?” Lenny asked again, still shocked.

  “Of course.” Brother Estevan nodded. “Everyone knows the name of the dark lord, but few are foolish enough to say it,” he scolded her.

  “Clearly I don’t know. Could you please explain it all?,” Lenny said staring at the White River as they rode north along it to the ruins of Rye, an ancient stronghold that was similar in history and destruction to Moyer.

  “He was a sorcerer from a different kingdom, a dark and mysterious place called Keptra. He decided the continent of Amaria should be one kingdom and tried to unite all seven kingdoms under his rule. Ilenia battled him for Dahleigh in the Great War. It was he who led armies of unnatural beings into our lands. Slaughtered our people.”

  “And Joro helped Ilenia fight them?” Lenny wished she’s paid more attention to the lessons. Surely at least some of this had been mentioned.

  “That I didn’t know. It’s not in the archives, but if she says it is so, then it is. Joro is the lady of the afterlife, a goddess,” Brother Estevan explained. “She is the one who comes to claim your soul as you die and takes it to the place where you will rest. She is seen as a beautiful woman in the light, but her true form is the one seen in the darkness, a skeleton. It is said long ago she was a witch of the highest order and was made the lady of the afterlife and darkness when she died. Her beauty was so legendary that the gods believed her worthy of immortality.”

  “The gods are shallow,” Lenny muttered.

  “What was that?” he asked.

  “Nothing, please continue.”

  “Joro is also the mistress of ravens. When you see them in great numbers, she is there. I received a sign as we left Waterly City, ravens. We followed them to the cabin. They covered the roof of it until we arrived, then they flew away. I knew she would come to us. I assumed she wanted to speak with you.”

  “Why didn’t you warn me?” Lenny asked, not bothering to hide her annoyance or divulge the fact that what she thought were crows had been stalking her for a month.

  “My task is to observe and facilitate, not explain what your education is lacking.” He offered her a side-glance. He had been in a mood from the moment she mentioned the name Ryze.

  “Did you know about King Landon and his mother?” Lenny asked, changing the subject before he started calling her foolish again.

  “Of course not. I was there when Saleen was pregnant. I recall nothing out of the ordinary. The queen was moody and temperamental but that’s common in pregnant women.” He slowed his horse so they lagged behind the other brothers and the carriage. “You must not tell anyone about this. Not until we figure out the queen’s role in all this.”

  “Role?”

  “Yes, is she working with Lorna again? Did Lorna kill the king to put her son on the throne? Why now? Why have you woken the magic with the stone if they already brought magic back into the kingdom seventeen years ago? Why were you the only one able to do it? Why does Joro believe you to be linked to Ilenia from the legends? What magic was in the stone and why were you able to open it? We have too many questions.”

  He had a point.

  “Where will we go now?” Lenny questioned.

  “Crail.”

  “That’s southeast of here. We’re going to the wrong way.” Lenny scowled.

  “We can cross the river just up here, there’s a small bridge. Then we’ll ride through the Northern Woods to the Bourton River and cross. When we get to Mamble, we will investigate the missing children. Then we’ll carry on to Maiden’s Bridge and Crail.” He sounded exhausted describing the trip.

  “Gods! How long will that take?” Lenny gasped.

  “A month at least.”

  “Could we stay in Blockley on the way back to the city? My brother’s wife will have had the baby and maybe the bad luck will be over by then.”

  “I suppose there is no harm in a quick visit. I do love the pub there.” Brother Estevan nodded as he pulled out an old pipe and stuffed it with tobacco. “I grew up not far from Blockley. In Woldenshire. My father’s family had been there for an age. Moved there, after the Great War.” He glanced at Lenny, wrinkling his nose. “I never liked it much. My father fought against my joining the brothers.”

  “Do you have siblings?”

  “A brother, he’s long gone now.”

  “How old are you?” Lenny narrowed her gaze.

  “Old enough to know that a polite person doesn’t ask the age of anyone older.” He sniffed.

  “Do you even know how old you are?” She couldn’t help but smile.

  He puffed on his pipe, folding his arms and ignoring the question. The cloud of smoke that he blew out made Lenny smile.

  “It’s a shark!” She pointed, turning back but neither sister was with her. The excitement faded, bleeding into heartache at the realization Brother Estevan was confused by the statement.

  “What is?”

  “Your smoke,” her words fought not to be a whisper but failed. “It’s shaped like a shark.” She stared at the cloud as it dissipated.

  Brother Estevan furrowed his wooly dark brow, watching Lenny with a curious stare, but didn’t say anything.

  She decided it best to carry on with the productive line of questions. “What will we do if the queen is evil and aiding Mrs. Knightly in some way?”

  “The better question is how could we prove any of her misdeeds?”

  Lenny opened her mouth to suggest Hilde and Ivor would believe her but didn’t know if that was true. A lot had changed in the past couple of months.

  “We will need evidence if we were to go up against Saleen.” He puffed on his pipe, making his thinking face.

  “Lord Ivor said she isn’t royal, she married into it.”

  “That’s correct
.” He nodded. “She is from up near here, Thrumpton Village.”

  “I think Wen’s mother was from there too,” Lenny recalled that detail. “And my mother was from Mudfork Lake. All quite close to one another.”

  Again he paused, staring at Lenny. “And all three of them ended up in Waterly City, attending the former queen as young ladies in waiting, gentleman’s daughters who came to court for education and rearing in a proper society. They were quite young I believe, no more than ten or twelve when they arrived.” He scowled and glanced up at the treetops above them, tapping his finger on the saddle where his hand rested. “While that's interesting it’s not an uncommon story for young highborn girls who resided in the country. Better for them to go to court to marry a wealthy and connected man at court.”

  “Where are their parents?” Lenny knew she was grasping but there had to be something that linked them all. It couldn’t be a coincidence so many bad things had happened to her family. “My mother said her parents died when she was young, shipwreck. It’s why she doesn’t like boats and never sailed, though my father is one of the best captains alive.”

  “Lenny, are you suggesting that not only Lorna Knightly—”

  “Knightly wasn’t her last name!” Lenny felt like she was onto something and kept going. “Wen said that his mother took the last name because she wasn’t allowed to give Wen her real last name. Her father forbid it.” Lenny wrinkled her nose. “He’s a bastard. Born in Waterly City.”

  “And we know they moved to Blockley when he was two years of age,” Brother Estevan muttered.

  “But in all the years you knew my mother and Aunt Saleen, you never met their parents?” Lenny asked.

  “No, do you believe your mother could be involved as well?”

  “I don’t know what to think. But I find it odd my sisters and I fulfill some old nonsensical prophecy and my mother was friends with Aunt Saleen, who just so happened to be the woman who brought magic back into the kingdom with her friend. A friend that randomly ended up living in the same place as my mother, and me who they needed to release the rest of the magic. And they all grew up in the courts together as young women.”

  “Indeed, when you piece it all together in that way it is rather suspicious. Though I’m afraid unless we ask them, there are no answers for us here. And speculating will only distract us from the current problems we face.”

  “Do you think Joro knows?”

  “I couldn’t possibly hazard a guess at what Joro knows.” He scoffed. “But if she comes back don’t forget to ask her about the stone and your mysterious dreams. If the dark lord is trying to reach you through the dream world, it means he’s limited to it. That is one bit of luck. As far as I recall of the Great War, he was the greatest foe anyone faced ever.” He puffed on his pipe. “I dare say, Lenny, my life was rather simple before you entered it.” He whipped the reins on his horse and trotted away from her and the hounds.

  “Tell me about it,” Lenny mumbled to herself, trying not to focus too hard on how much easier life had been before the stone.

  Chapter 18

  The village of Mamble was precisely how it had looked the last time Lenny was there, but this time it was a sight for sore eyes. And sore bottoms. She rubbed hers as she limped into Maiden’s Head Inn, inhaling the scent of fresh bread and a warm hearth. She was cold and tired and ready to sleep for at least a fortnight, though they were allowing only two days at the inn before getting on the road. And Brother Estevan was expecting the two days to be spent investigating the missing children.

  “Welcome, young sir. We hope you have a wonderful stay.” The innkeeper smiled a hollow toothless grin. “You riding with the brothers to take the cloth then?” she pried.

  “I am,” Lenny lied.

  The innkeeper’s eyes widened at the sight of the hounds. Lenny prepared to offer coin and barter for their being allowed to stay with her but the woman’s arms opened and she rushed them. “Babies, come to Aunty Zaida.” She dropped to her knees on the floorboards that might have seen a broom last week sometime. Both hounds smiled wide as they hurried over for kisses and hugs. She rubbed their faces and kissed their furry cheeks. “You never see wolfhounds this far south.”

  “You’ve seen them before, I take it?” Lenny asked, fighting a confused expression.

  “Had a couple as a girl. I come from the North. Moved here when I was married but my hounds were long passed.” She glanced back. “Short lives these darlings, only about nine years. Mine lived eight, died the same year. Broke my heart.” She sniffled as though the memory was still fresh. Scar nuzzled her, welcoming the affection from the stranger. Lenny hadn’t seen that before. Not even with Ivor. Scar had needed to warm to him. Ollie was, of course, needy and affectionate, using his nose to push the woman and moved her hands on him again.

  “They’re only pups.”

  “Yes, they’ve got a lot of growing to do yet.” The innkeeper kissed them both once more, then stood dusting off her skirts. “I’ll put you in the room at the back, there’s extra space on the floor for them.” She grabbed a key from behind the desk and handed it to Lenny. “The staircase at the back there is the easiest way to get them in and out, as well.” She smiled politely but then paused, losing her friendly face. “You’re no boy.”

  “No.” Lenny blushed, caught in the lie.

  “What girl travels with the brothers?” She cocked a graying eyebrow.

  “One helping them. I’m an assistant. I’m from Blockley. My father is an Ailling,” she confessed, hoping the family name might carry some weight. “Edwin Ailling.”

  “Of course. Edwin comes in all the time.” She clapped her hands together once. “You’re the diver. The boat mender. He’s mentioned you a few times.” She rolled her eyes. “Never met a man fonder of his daughter than his son.” She laughed but Lenny couldn’t force even a smile. She lowered her gaze and nodded, mindful the woman was unlikely aware that Wilfred had died. “Well go on then, off with ya. Enjoy your sleep, my dear.” She laughed some more, oblivious to the discomfort she had caused with her intended compliment, and patted Lenny on the back.

  She gripped her key and made her way upstairs to the rooms.

  Seeing the ample space, Lenny realized she’d gotten lucky with the room. The far wall was made entirely of windows overlooking the bay. “Look!” she said to the hounds as she opened the largest window and let the cool breeze in. It smelled like home. She closed her eyes and let the overwhelming sadness hit. The scent of the southern sea was different from the western one, or even the forest. This was home. Or at least close enough.

  A knock at the door interrupted the quiet moment she was having. She opened it expecting Brother Estevan but instead, it was a face she couldn’t have imagined seeing there. She blinked, certain she was hallucinating.

  “You going to invite me in, Lenny?” Lord Ivor leaned against the doorway, offering her a slight smirk.

  She didn’t believe her eyes and reached forward, tapping his chest with her fingers slowly.

  He lifted a hand, placing it over hers, trapping it there. “Or is there someone in there already?”

  “You’re here?” she whispered.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?” He narrowed his gaze, but his smile remained the same.

  “Please, come in.” She stepped back, her cheeks flushing with color as she thought about how they’d left each other nearly a fortnight ago. “And of course there’s someone in my room. Two someones.” She moved to the side so the hounds could greet him. Both dashed into his arms.

  “I’ve missed you both!” He chuckled as Henry made his way into the embrace.

  “Henry!” Lenny dropped to her knees and rubbed his face as he nuzzled in. “When did you arrive?” she asked the dog.

  “This morning.” Lord Ivor chuckled. “I was in Blockley when we heard that you were coming to Mamble. I rode quite hard to get here. I knew if I missed you, I’d lose contact until you reached the next town.”

  “How could you
know we were here?” Lenny scowled as she got up.

  Lord Ivor chuckled as he came into the room and closed the door, trapping the dogs inside. They began their sniffing circle. “Lenny, the pigeons. The brothers send them when they arrive anywhere that has them. You stayed at that inn in the Northern Forest. Word was sent to the castle.”

  “But you can’t have gotten to Mamble from the castle in the four days since we stayed at that inn.” She was confused.

  Lord Ivor stepped closer to her, taking her hand in his again. “As I said, I was in Blockley four days ago.” He lifted his free hand and brushed the hair from her face. “And I have missed you as well.” He didn’t lower his face to kiss her but he stared at her as if he might.

  “Me too,” she confessed, lost in his eyes and the memories they provoked. “Why were you in Blockley?”

  “Henry and I saw your family home. The stories that have found their way back to the city have been enough that I was hesitant to send them home without more of a guard.” He pressed his lips together. “But in truth, I wanted to spend some time with them all.”

  “Did my mother and aunt come back to Blockley?” Lenny’s eyes widened.

  “They did.”

  “You left Hilde and Landon in Waterly City alone?” Her tone took a turn as her stomach lurched.

  “Surely an entire city suggests they’re not alone?” He lifted his eyebrows and tilted his head back as if to question her.

  “Gods, Ivor.” She pulled her hand from his, placing it over her mouth as she began pacing. “I have something to tell you.” She didn’t know how to articulate the story, but she needed his advice on the matter.

  “Lenny, you’re shaking.” He stepped closer again.

  “I’m terrified of something,” she began. “A truth I shouldn’t know. And what it means.” She furrowed her brow and glanced back at the Rimouby Sea. “Have you ever heard that Joro is the goddess of the ravens?” Lenny muttered the question offhand.