Elemental Betrayal

by Toni Cox

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Trilogy

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  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

  Epilogue

  Glossary - Shadow Hall

  Braern

  Thala Yll

  Alea Yll

  Tarron Heights

  Rathaes

  Dragonfort

  Stoneloft

  Crook Harbour

  South Point

  Arrow

  Warrior Houses

  Moons of Elveron

  About the author

  Copyright © 2017 Toni Cox

  Copyright © 2017 Toni Cox – Maps

  Copyright © 2017 Soné Botha for the poem “The songs of the stars”

  Cover design by Poppet

  Artwork (Midnight) by Soné Botha

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the written permission of the author constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are products of the author’s imagination and are all used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locales or persons living or dead, are coincidental.

  The Elemental Trilogy

  Elemental Rising - 2016

  Elemental Betrayal - 2017

  Forbidden Elemental - 2018

  Writing Elemental Betrayal was both easier and more difficult than writing Elemental Rising.

  It was more difficult, because I expected so much more from it, than I did with the first book. Elemental Rising is, and will always be, my first-born. It set me on my path. With Elemental Betrayal, I wanted to achieve more and I hope that I have done that.

  What made writing Elemental Betrayal easier (and a whole lot more fun), was the support I received. Over the past year, I have met so many wonderful people, that it is almost impossible to mention them all. However, there are some people that deserve a special mention, not only for the support and advice that they have given, but also for their friendship.

  As always, I would like to thank my husband, Darren Cox, for standing by me and supporting me on my venture. Thank you for putting up with my long hours, midnight writing sessions and having to take notes in the middle of the night.

  Debbie Hall, Inge Kuhn and Riki Botha, thank you for your time and dedication in proofreading my book. Your input and constructive criticism has been invaluable.

  Soné Botha, thank you for everything you have done. You have made this journey an adventure. Your imagination has no limits. Thank you for the poem, featured in this book Elemental Betrayal, as well as some of the drawings on my Shadow Hall map and the many, many names you have helped me with!

  Then a special thank you goes out to Andrew Christie, whose advice is always given freely; Deborah Du Plooy, for being the wonderful person she is and the work she does for local, emerging authors.

  I would also like to thank The Blithering Bibliomaniacs, Sian-Bronwyn Claven and Robyn Victoria Castles, for your review of Elemental Rising, as well as your friendship.

  Ashleigh Giannoccaro…there are no words to convey my gratitude for your help. You have been an inspiration, a teacher, a friend and so much more.

  It has been a wonderful journey and I am looking forward to the next adventure.

  This book is for my son, Joshua. I am so proud of you.

  He pondered the icy wind that he had been battling for days as he stomped through the snow, his black cloak swirling around him. The spell to warm the air around him was tiring him out and he knew he would not be able to sustain it much longer.

  He had left home about a Moon ago, on horseback, but had to abandon the mare at the edge of the Icelands. He had commenced his journey on foot, always maintaining the magic to keep him warm. Now, so close to his destination, he was running low on food and energy.

  His eyes snapped open in fright as he stumbled over yet another snowdrift and his black hood slipped off his head. He would have to be more careful now; he was so close.

  In the evening, he set up his tent; there was no shelter to be found on the vast, white expanse and the icy wind battled with him as he unfolded the leather flaps of his tent and for a moment, it seemed it would snatch it out of his hands. Finally, he managed to drive the last peg into the frozen ground and he climbed through the opening, savouring the stillness within. His ears prickled as they started to warm up.

  Shrugging off his thick cloak, he settled into the tent, put down his sleeping bag and then set up his little cooking pot. He filled it with snow from outside and, once it was hot, added some dried, powdered meat and vegetables to make a broth. It took a lot of his energy to sustain the flame to heat the soup; there was no wood out here, or anything else to burn; but he knew he had to nourish his body, or else the magic would fail him completely.

  He felt more rested in the morning and when he climbed out of his tent he was pleasantly surprised to find that the wind had dropped somewhat. The sky was grey and overcast, but it was marginally warmer than yesterday. Once he had packed his tent, he shouldered his pack and set out once more, eating some travel bread as he walked. He was getting close now and he kept a wary eye out for the signs he knew he would find.

  By noon, the clouds had dispersed, leaving a bright, blue sky and the sun’s rays reflected harshly off the ice, blinding him. He squinted into the sky, cursing the bright light, and drew his black hood deeper over his eyes.

  Suddenly he felt a chill travel down his spine that had nothing to do with the cold and then he heard a most terrible sound. He cringed as the harsh screeching vibrated through his body. Quickly he dropped his pack to the icy ground and scanned the vast, white wilderness around him.

  He readied himself as best he could; he knew his energy was low, but he had skill. He would have to draw on every bit of knowledge he had to survive this encounter; but the rewards would be more than he could ever have hoped for.

  His body flinched as yet another screech ripped through the still air, then, as if out of thin air, the great bulk of the Ice Dragon rose from behind a snow dune, his body almost as white as the snow. His scales, which looked like crystal shards, sparkled blindingly in the sunlight. He was an awesome, fear-inspiring sight.

  The dragon screamed again, exposing his red maw and a profusion of dagger-like teeth and then eyed the lone figure on the ice before him with disgust. Overcome by a feral rage, the dragon folded his wings and dived for the creature that had dared to invade his territory.

  Maia stared out the open window of her room. It was cold, but the day was bright; the sun hanging in a cloudless sky. The trees were still bare, but the hint of spring was unmistakably in the air. The Spring Feast celebrations were only a few days away. Maia sighed; she did not feel like celebrating.

  The winter Moons had been tough for her. Not only had they been bitterly cold, but she had also been terribly lonely. The last time she had seen Blaid was during Frost Moon, the fifteenth Moon of their calendar year. This was about a Moon after the war of Greystone.

  Blaid; with his dark hair and intense, violet eyes; was all she had thought about during the harsh Moons of winter. He had not returned after that one time and she was now convinced
that whatever it had been between them was only because of the magic they had wrought together during the war. Silas knew what had happened, he had been there for her afterwards, but he had not been pleased and she had not told him of the second time. What had happened between her and Blaid was not only frowned upon in their culture, but also forbidden by their laws. Intimacy before marriage was strictly forbidden. And then there was the fact that they were Primes; Elves with the most powerful Elemental magic. Opposite Prime Elementals; she was Life and he was Death; were not supposed to be together. Ever. The fact that they had been intimate with each other was an unspeakable act of defiance.

  She sighed again; she had no motivation to get up and get dressed; there was nothing in particular she cared to do. Two birds flew by, already initiating their spring mating ritual, and Maia watched them enviously for a while. Eventually she rose from her bed and put on some clothes. She briefly looked at herself in the mirror, but the sad woman dressed all in black leather was a stranger to her. Her long, dark hair hung limply over her shoulders and her emerald green eyes had lost their sparkle.

  Maia made her way into the common room of their large, royal tree house, but found it empty. She had always loved her home. As the house of their Lord Regent, it was one of the most well designed houses in the city, yet it was cosy and comfortable. Now, in her loneliness and everyone having already gone to their daily tasks, she could not wait to get out of it. She walked briskly past the kitchen; she did not feel like eating; and made straight for the door. Habit made her grab her bow and quiver, which always hung from a hook in the hall. Maybe she would go for a ride with Fire; she had not paid the red stallion much attention during the winter Moons and she felt a little guilty. She thought of Midnight and felt his presence at the edge of her mind. He was distant and she knew the dragon was upset with her; she would find no solace with him.

  As she descended the Regal Steps, she made up her mind to spend the day on the Grazing Grounds among the horse herds; there she would not have to deal with anyone who was constantly trying to cheer her up or make her feel guilty. She knew she had been rebuffing the efforts of her family to engage her in the day-to-day activities of the city, but it held no interest for her.

  Maia turned away from the Gathering Grounds and walked along The Axis before ascending the various steps and bridges to get to the path that led across the ridge to the stables. On this side of the city, the terrain was steeper and she looked ahead at the winding staircases, most of them covered with ivy and other creepers. It was a pretty sight.

  “Good morning, Maia.”

  She flinched at the voice behind her and scolded herself for not paying attention to her surroundings. She had effectively shut down her Elemental senses, shying away from the happy glow of the Life Forces, the Eläm, around her. Even so, she should at least have heard him coming.

  “I was just on my way to the cave. Would you like to join me today?” Silas asked, arching his bushy, grey eyebrows enquiringly.

  “Good morning, Silas.” She tilted her head respectfully towards the old Elf who had been her mentor all her life. “I was hoping to spend some time with Fire today; I have been neglecting him lately.”

  “That is not the only thing you have been neglecting, but I am sure you are aware of that.”

  Maia blushed. Silas’ steel grey eyes narrowed for just a moment and he then continued mercilessly.

  “I think your time would be better spent with me today. Fire can wait another day for your attentions. Come, join me for today, please.”

  Reluctantly she followed the old Elf down towards his cave, back down the steps she had just climbed. She watched his grey pony tail sway ahead of her as she followed with heavy steps. He had been her teacher ever since she was born and she would not dare to oppose him, but she was dreading what was to come.

  His cave was tunnelled deep into the cliff face that their city rested on. Like their storage caves, it was always cold within, but Silas had filled the space with his desks, counters, and shelves, sleeping couches and all sorts of equipment and paraphernalia. All the benches and stools were bedecked with pillows and blankets and the stone floor was covered in rugs and furs. A central fire heated the space, which was about thirty paces wide and forty paces long, and it always felt cosy enough. Flickering crystal lanterns lit the passage that led to the cavern. They walked the hundred or so paces in silence, making Maia feel strangely uncomfortably in the old man’s presence.

  “The fire is ready. Will you make us some tea, please?”

  When Maia nodded her assent, Silas walked over to one of his many desks and started looking through the paperwork that had piled up there. Maia briefly wondered about the many papers that looked like messenger notes. Silas always had order and never left a thing undone; for this many notes to have accumulated, the workload must be great.

  She went to the fire and hung the kettle from the hook over the flames. While the water heated, she took out two crystal mugs with carved, bone handles and put together an assortment of herbs for the tea. Silas always kept a variety of herbs in his tea box; some simply for their taste, others for their medicinal properties. She used only mint for herself; it was her favourite; but used chamomile, fennel, and honey for Silas, all for their calming properties. Maia cast him a quick glance, but he was not watching her. She did not want him to notice that she was trying to influence his mood. She was worried that the request to come to his cave could only mean another scolding for her lack of interest in anything since the war.

  Once the water was boiling, she took the kettle off the hook with the special mitten she had made for Silas when she was still a child and then poured the steaming water over the leaves in the cups. She smiled a little at the thought that Silas had kept the mitten all these years. He now came over to sit by the fire and she handed him his cup, before he took his seat.

  “Mmm, it is nice,” Silas said as he took a careful sip of the hot liquid. “Thank you, my child.”

  Silas had not called her my child since she had turned one hundred; which was now twenty-three years ago. Maia barely remembered her birthday this year. It had been a very low-key affair during the Moon of Storms. Had not been for her twin brother Jaik, who she obviously shared a birthday with, she would not even have attended the celebrations, which had been held in their home.

  Narrowing her eyes, she carefully took a sip of the hot tea; she was dreading the lecture that she knew was to come. Silas did not disappoint; he came straight to the point.

  “I have been meaning to talk to you for a while now, but have delayed it in the hope that you would find your own way back. However, it seems that this is not the case and things within the city are moving apace. I think it is time for you to stop your childish behaviour and act like the Prime that you are. We all understand what happened last year has taken its toll on you, but that is now many Moons past and you need to move on. In addition, you should repent for what you have allowed to happen. You know my feelings about this. There are duties that await you now that the weather is warmer and you should see them as your opportunity to put the world back in order. Jagaer wishes that you take a journey to the cities that have lost warriors during the war. The people need you to inspire hope within them. You are their Prime. Reports about Vampyre sightings are becoming more frequent and we have not reached the end of the fight with the Vampyres just yet. The people are scared.”

  Silas took a few small sips from his tea before he continued.

  “There will be a meeting in the Elder Hall at sun down. All the Commanders of the Warrior Houses, as well as the Elders and some of the Nobility, will attend. It is expected of you to be there. Can I count on you to attend?”

  “Yes, Silas,” Maia replied quietly.

  She was, of course, aware of most of the things that had happened in the last six Moons. After the war of Greystone, the warriors from the cities of Grildor had returned to their homes to mourn and bury their dead. Shadow Hall had mourned their dead as well; in a
n elaborate ceremony that should have been led by her; and it had taken many Moons for life in the city to normalise. The threat of the Vampyres had remained; many had escaped during the war and had scattered over the land. Hunting parties had been sent out, but the hunt had to be stopped during the cold Moons of winter due to heavy snowfalls and blizzards. Now, with the spring melts almost over and warmer weather on the horizon, the hunt was most likely to continue. Greystone, their Gate to the other Life Planets, was now under guard night and day. They were sure no more Vampyres had come through since the war, but the ones already in Grildor were being handled as a serious threat; they all knew too well by now what they were capable of. The fact that her father wanted her to go on an ambassador mission did not surprise her; she was her peoples’ Life Elemental and the people drew strength and hope from her. She only wished that there was someone she could draw strength and hope from. Blaid had abandoned her; the thought broke her heart anew every time. She told herself that she did not care that they had broken the law by being together; all she wanted was to be with him. Yet she did care and her conflicting emotions were making things so much more difficult. Blaid was the one person she was not allowed to be with, yet he was the very one she needed the most.

  Aaron; ever hopeful that she might still change her mind and be with him; had lavished his attentions on her right through the winter. He was her Human husband that she had brought with her after her trial on Earth, but here on Elveron, their marriage was null and void.

  She vaguely remembered all the evenings during the winter they had sat around the fire, often joined by their children Luke and Jasmin, or even Jaik and Archer, but for her it had just been something to do to pass the time. Nothing over the past few Moons had captured her interest and she knew that she had become reclusive and unresponsive. The Life Elemental in her had been aware of the vibrant city around her, but in her own misery, she had shut it out and had become numb to all the life around her. Maybe Silas was right and it was time for her to look at who she had become. Maybe going away was not such a bad idea after all.