WRATH (Rise Book 2)

by J. M. Kearl

  Peter shrugs. “We know it was a woman. That is all.”

  “Damn it!” Enden shouts.

  “We need to send reinforcements to hold the north. They have momentum on their side, they may attack us this time.”

  Enden nods in agreement. He still has thousands of men he has yet to send to the front. He turns to Jershon. “We need two thousand men sent to the north and a thousand to Sanlaiya. Send a note to Entari Agvaldr in the Outlands and Entari Harvin in the south. Also inform my generals at the front they’ll be receiving reinforcements soon but to hold their positions for now.”

  Freyloc had only left a week ago and may not yet be home. He doesn’t completely trust Freyloc or Agvaldr; any of the northern Outland Hesstians. He suspects that the people of the north are still stuck in their old ways and wish to use magic. It would be a reason to turn on him, especially since he saw Enden allowing the use of magic. To keep them in line, he treats Freyloc and Agvaldr better than all the other Entari’s for that reason. Though they hate each other, they are rich and that keeps them in line. For now, he’ll only call upon Agvaldr’s soldiers. Calling both of the Outlander Entari to the front at the same time could have them fighting each other before they get there.

  A quiet knock sounds at the door. “It’s Saveena,” she calls from the outside.

  Enden strides across the room and lets her in. “I’m a little busy right now, but we can have dinner together this evening.”

  “My father is leaving.” Saveena’s hair is pulled up into a high bun, he’s never seen her with her hair away from her face like that. It accentuates her high cheekbones.

  “Is he nearby so I can say a farewell?” Enden knew they were leaving today but wasn’t sure exactly when.

  “He is.” She waves, looking to her right down the hallway. “I was hoping that Jershon could show him how to use the spell to send letters through fire. We’ll need to be able to correspond with him.”

  Enden wonders why he hadn’t thought of that himself. “Come in,” he says as Faustus approaches the doorway while the young Nicos and one other stay behind.

  Jershon takes one of the pieces of paper he’d written on and shows him the spell.

  Faustus turns to Jershon. “It looks like you’re just wasting good paper. How do you know it worked?”

  Jershon smirks and his amber eyes flick to Enden. “I know it works because I get a reply back. You try, send a note to Saveena.”

  Faustus chuckles, shaking his head and then takes a quill from Enden’s desk and writes on a small piece of paper. The magic stone is a small red jewel in the eye of a dragon that hangs around his neck, or that is what Saveena had said. Enden can’t see it hidden underneath his shirt.

  “So I think of the person I want to send it to and then say, ‘mista senori’?”

  Jershon nods and Faustus performs the spell. Moments later after the letter has turned to ash, the note reappears in its whole form and floats toward Saveena. She takes it and unfolds it. “Saveena,” she reads aloud.

  Faustus smacks his thigh. “Well I’ll be damned. It actually works.”

  “We sent you a letter this way, father, why did you have doubt?” Saveena asks.

  “I wondered if it would work from the magic of the stone and not only from within like this fellow,” he gestures toward Jershon. “It amazes me that none of our people are magic born. Or do you think there are but we’ve only relied on the magic of the stones?”

  Saveena shrugs her shoulders.

  Enden thinks the odds of them not having a single magic born is highly unlikely. Perhaps they keep it secret, perhaps they don’t know what it is. “How many stones do you have?”

  Faustus scrunches his face in thought. “We found a mine which had been guarded by dragons but the beasts are slaves to the magic stones. When my great, great grandfather stumbled upon the mine and took hold of what he thought to be a simple red jewel, the dragons found him. To his surprise they didn’t attack. The dragons had been terrorizing the cities for years but it stopped that day.” Faustus pauses. “And to answer your question, there are forty two stones in a city of thousands of people, and I have eight of them.”

  Jershon clears his throat. “Perhaps the magic of the stones suppressed the need for magic born.”

  Faustus frowns but no one disagrees with Jershon. Enden doesn’t know how or why people are born with magic but he doesn’t see it as a need, as Jershon put it. Magic also seems to be hereditary, and if the Collweya people are descendants of Hesstia than that must play a part. Although, Enden can’t deny that more and more of his own people are being “cursed” as they put it. Over the last year more than two hundred children have been turned over to the kingdom, that’s nearly double the previous year. That doesn’t even count the magic born that the people keep hidden.

  Based off appearance, Jershon can’t be of Delhoon lineage. He doesn’t have the physical traits of the Delhoon with his dark skin and black hair, but perhaps he has a distant relative or magic has become a trait outside of Delhoon blood.

  Faustus asks to have a word with Enden. “Please, leave the room, all of you,” Enden says.

  Once the door closes behind Saveena and the others Faustus becomes serious. “I hear things, and rumor has it you aren’t doing well in the north. If you need me, Enden, send word. I can be there as the dragon flies in three days. My fighters can be there in two weeks.”

  “I must ask, since you didn’t want to get involved with outsiders, why are you willing to help now? It’s one thing for me to marry your daughter, another to fight in a war beside us.”

  “I will fight for my daughter, King Enden.”

  Satisfied with that answer, Enden hopes he won’t have to call on him but is happy that his new father in law is willing to help. “We aren’t losing the north, we simply aren’t advancing at the moment, but I’m sending more men to fight. If the need should arise I will call on you, Faustus. I give you my word. Your daughter is safe here in the capital.”

  Faustus’s eyes give Enden a once over. “Do you plan to join the fight yourself? Or stay behind your castle walls?”

  Enden hardens his jaw, not liking the inference of him being a coward. If things didn’t turn around soon in the north he planned to go there but with that comment, he made up his mind. “I plan to leave in two days to the north. My men need to see me there. I will also fight if necessary but you should know that a king doesn’t have to fight in battle. I believe that a king’s mind and strategies are better for the kingdom than his combat skills. If I were to die in battle it could be the fall of Hesstia. I have no heir at present and my brother is dead.”

  Faustus presses his lips together. “What is your order of succession should you die?”

  “I have a male cousin who is next in line as far as birthright goes until my male child is born, but he’s not a moral man and I’m afraid would make a terrible king.”

  Faustus grumbles. “Do you have another man in mind? You know Saveena is trained in battle and well educated.”

  “Saveena is a woman and foreigner, she would not be accepted. Otherwise my brother’s daughter would be ruler. One of my Entari, Harvin would be my choice, I just have to make it known.”

  “In my kingdom, we fight to become king. Any man can challenge me at any time. I challenged the last king as a young man and beat him.”

  Collweya sounds like a barbaric country in need of civilized manners. He’ll have to speak with Saveena more about her kingdom. “Is that where you got the scar?”

  Faustus’ hand goes to his neck and his fingers follow the line. “No. This is from a blood drinker woman. She had the nails of a hawk, like daggers.”

  “Saveena had mentioned blood drinkers and that they are humanlike but I’m still unsure of what she is saying. I didn’t even know for sure if she was speaking the truth.”

  Faustus looks off, his eyes unfocused as if in deep thought. “They are real. They look as human and you and me, but when they thirst for blood and be
come animalistic, growing fangs and claws. They’re strong, like a beast who could throw a man across this room with ease. Our only advantage is they can’t go in sunlight, and magic of course..”

  The hairs on the back of Enden’s neck stand on end. He’s never heard of such creatures. “Do they only exist in Collweya?”

  Faustus’ eyes fall on Enden like he’d forgotten he was there. “As far as I know. They like cold and dark places. But many of them have morphed into our society; acting as one of us and many times you cannot see a difference until it’s too late.”

  “Are they all bad or can they be reasoned with?” Enden asks.

  Faustus grows a wicked smile. “They drink human blood to survive, Enden. They are all bad, though they can be reasoned with, they are weak against magic and silver blades.”

  Enden isn’t sure why they would want to live in Collweya or why anyone thought it was a good idea to build a kingdom there. “So you have dragons, blood drinkers and endless winter? Sounds like I won’t be visiting.”

  Faustus breaks out in laughter, slapping his leg. “I don’t blame you.”

  45. Jordane

  Jordane can’t stop thinking about the rush of the water when it broke through the dam. The sound like thunder when it roared downhill toward the kirune mines. Watching the massive wave tear down trees and move boulders was exhilarating and yet terrifying.

  They had avoided going south which brought them to the Outlands. He’d gotten word from Daelyn that she and Boaden are in Filda. Madison had already suggested they go there so that confirmed it.

  Madison stares ahead with that frustrated look she often has. Jordane had just asked her if there was something he could do for her but she said no. Perhaps whatever bothers her she doesn’t want to discuss in front of Nebba.

  Nebba tears a piece of dried meat with teeth. “We’ll need to be more watchful in the Outlands. A friend of mine was robbed and beaten. Some of them practice the old ways and by that, I mean magic. And the Entari let it slide.”

  Jordane had heard rumors that some of the Outlanders used magic but he thought it to be lies. Jordane had been in prison with many Outlanders and only one ever spoke about magic.

  “When you’ve lived in Hesstia as long as I have you’ll know that’s a lie. You watch children be drug away in barred carts and families slaughtered and tell me if they’d risk using magic.”

  Jordane nods. “If they’re not slaughtered on sight, they go to Lanloc where they are killed anyway.”

  Nebba lifts one shoulder. “Just what my friend told me. Speaking of friends,” Nebba said the word “friends” more like he would an enemy, “What are we going to do about Midlan?”

  At the mention of his name Jordane is suddenly brought back to a time when they were boys. Midlan had just turned nine and Jordane had been nine for three months and all they could talk about was when they would get their invitations to the academy. Midlan’s father had been a high ranking soldier, and traveled around the continent on the queen’s business. He knew he’d get his invitation even if his father had to pull some strings. Nearly all children of academy graduates are invited, especially if they have magic ability.

  Both Jordane’s parents had gone, first of their families. They’d had to fight their way in and win the tournaments. Since Jordane was magic and both parents were graduates, he knew he’d get his invitation as well. They sparred with wooden swords in the courtyard of his parents’ home. “I bet I get my invitation first, I’m older.”

  Midlan slammed his sword against Jordane’s. “No, my father ranks above both your parents, I’ll get mine!”

  Jordane swung out his leg with a swift kick at Midlan's shins; he fell to the ground hard. Jordane gave him a smug smile standing over him. “Good thing you don’t have to fight your way in.”

  Midlan slammed his fist into the stone floor and then got to his feet and charged. His shoulder crashed into Jordane’s stomach and both boys hit the ground. He punched Jordane in the lip and it split against his teeth, blood splattered on the stone beside him. Jordane threw him off and held his hand to his mouth. “What did you go and do that for?”

  Midlan stood back, hands balled into fists, his breath heavy. “You always act like you’re better than me at everything! You think you would beat me if it came down to the two of us in a tournament, don’t you!”

  Jordane looked at the red liquid pooling in his hand. “It was a joke, Midlan. You’re a good fighter.” Jordane would beat him, but he didn’t say that. He always tried to raise his friend’s confidence but it never seemed to be enough. Midlan always compared himself to Jordane.

  He supposes that is the real reason why Midlan betrayed him. Jordane was so shocked when Midlan called in the Hesstian guards during that card game but he shouldn’t have been. There were signs that he foolishly overlooked because of their long friendship.

  Madison interrupts his thoughts. “With Midlan at the castle we have no choice but to go back to Delhoon. We can only hope that he will be on the battlefield.”

  Nebba lets out a short laugh. “You think a traitor will be on the battlefield? Every one of the Delhoon soldiers that recognized him would go after him. He’d be dead within minutes.”

  Jordane has to nod in agreement. “He’s too much of a coward to fight. He’ll weasel his way out of it somehow.”

  Madison clutches the reins of her horse. “He knows things about Delhoon that could endanger us further. Places that will be left open, we can’t guard every inch of our border.”

  Nebba grunts. “Bastard. If only there was something we could do to draw him out.”

  Jordane thinks about that statement. Could they bait him to show himself? “Madison, what if you said that you wanted to meet him?”

  Madison glances over at Jordane like he’s gone mad. “He may be a coward but he’s not a fool.”

  Nebba takes a drink from his canteen. “Maybe it would work. It’s worth a try at least.”

  With a cackle, Madison says, “He knows I hate him. What could I possibly say that would make him want to meet with me?”

  What would make her want to see him? She could say she’s with his child but that might be too obvious. “You could say I’m not the same man anymore, and you no longer love me like you thought you would.” Jordane feels slightly ill after that statement because in part it’s true. He is not the same man he was and though Madison still loves him, they aren’t close as they once were.

  Madison blinks at him. “That might work. I guess I could try.”

  Nebba holds up a hand, shaking his head. “Wait a minute. What if you set up a meeting and it’s an ambush? King Enden will want you dead, Madison. You took part in assassinating his brother.”

  That is a risk. Maybe Madison and Jordane are too blinded by their thoughts of revenge to see the possible outcomes. It does sound like something Midlan would do, but to Jordane, not Madison.

  “I don’t think he’d do that to me,” Madison says tentatively. “Not if he believes I’m telling the truth.”

  “But we won’t know what he believes.” Nebba’s tone is sharp, his eyes narrowed. “It’s too risky.”

  “We can scout around before their meeting to make sure he’s alone,” Jordane replies. Jordane wants this to work. He wants to see Midlan suffer for what he’s done. He took everything from him for so long. He wants to strangle him and watch the light leave his eyes, but he knows Madison does too and only one of them can kill him. They hadn’t discussed who it would be.

  “I can cast the spell to watch him,” Madison says suddenly. She pulls back on her horse. “I’m sending him a note.”

  Nebba gives Jordane a look. “We should think about this for a moment.”

  “There is nothing to think about.” Madison jumps down from her horse and digs through her bag. She pulls out paper and a quill and begins writing. She doesn’t even show her companions the note before she conjures a flame to her hand and lets it burn. “Now we wait and see.”

  46. Madi
son

  Madison peers into the swirling bowl of water with Nebba and Jordane on either side of her, all waiting eagerly. They made it to a nearby village that had an inn within a few hours and sat in the only room available. It is dirty and small, barely larger than a closet but it has floor space and privacy for them to perform the spying spell that is needed.

  The image of Midlan appears and he’s sitting in a room at the Hesstian castle alone. He must have gotten the note already since it had been hours. Worry and anxiety is written all over his face. He’s probably conflicted on what he should do, and Madison wonders if he’ll even be permitted to leave since he’s a traitor.

  The door to the room opens and Midlan looks up. “We’re leaving to the north in the morning with King Enden. Do you know anything specific about Filda?”

  Midlan shakes his head. “It’s walls will be difficult to breach but you probably already know that.”

  “No secret passageway in?” the guard asks.

  Midlan appears to think for a moment. “I believe there is a hidden door that leads out to the water source but it will be guarded. There is no easy way in.”

  “King Enden suspects that the woman who destroyed our catapults with her magic is Daelyn Magnevera. What do you know of her?”

  Midlan stiffens, his back going straighter. He stammers for a moment. “I know a great deal about her, but I don’t know if the information will be useful. She had a binding spell on her magic until the day of the assassination.”

  Out of the corner of Madison’s vision she can see Jordane’s eyes move to her. She hadn’t discussed much about Daelyn’s upbringing with her husband since he’d been back. Though he knew that her magic had been bound, it must bother him that Midlan also knew this. That she’d confided in him. Jordane hadn’t asked about the nature of Madison and Midlan’s relationship while he was gone. He likely doesn’t want to know. She doesn’t meet his gaze.