Trying to drive the fighting behind her out of her mind, she drew an arrow from her quiver and gently set it in place. Drawing the cord slowly, she tested its feel, and with a long deep breath outward, let it fly. It immediately impaled the target center mast and she couldn’t help but feel pride at the precision of her shot. Drawing faster, she fired multiple shots in succession, her eyes drifting to the next target before her bow even moved to follow. Twenty arrows had streaked out of her hands before she paused and stared at her marks.
Four target dummies had shots through their heart, head, and groin and she heard chuckles from behind as Morgan looked at the groin shots with shock. The other knights who had wandered over were slapping the elf on the shoulder and jeering at him for his slack jawed look.
“Where’s Reyna?” she asked with a smirk, glad that she’d made him uneasy for once.
He couldn’t take his eyes from the target dummies and she drew another arrow, notched it, and let another fly without bothering to look at where it hit. It nailed another one in the groin and he winced visibly with mock anguish. “She’s taking a break. She’d already knocked these fools on their asses this morning and I was just dessert,” he told her, refusing to look at her just yet.
“Oh, did she kick your ass?” she asked with surprise. She had finally flushed the elf from her mind when she’d started firing
He shook his head, finally looking her in the eye. “We called it a draw. She’s quite a fighter, especially if she best one of Erik’s knights. They’ve been at this their entire lives and very few can take one of them on one on one.”
“Well, not like she had much choice,” she commented, thinking of the past that Reyna so adequately hid from the world. The black knight neither cared nor wanted sympathy and would more than likely spit on the first person who offered it.
The other knights were sauntering off, another battle taking place nearby drawing their attention. She left the arrows where they were, not only would they put the testosterone flaring around her in place, but her quiver had already refilled, and she didn’t have anywhere to put them anyways.
Scooping up Skye, she noticed that the elf was looking at her Direwolf curiously and she smiled as the pup licked his outstretched hands.
“Name?” he asked.
You already forgot my name? Oh, right, the wolf pup. “Skye.”
“Hello Skye,” he greeted softly, and the pup barked in answer. She began walking back towards the kennels and Morgan took a place by her side. “So, a shrike and a Direwolf. Looks like you’ve got your hands full already. I must be just driving you crazy distracting you away from them.”
“Yes, you are,” she answered automatically, and he burst into a quick laugh.
He bowed his head and spread his arms. “I can always depart, my Lady. If that is your wish, speak it and I’ll be gone.”
She almost told him it was, but her heart ached at the thought of his leaving. She couldn’t explain what was going on and she didn’t know how to contain what Morgan was bringing out in her. “I don’t know what I want yet. I’m taking Skye back to her mother for now. After that, if you want, we can walk and seek out some breakfast. I don’t know about you, but I haven’t had time to eat yet.”
“As you wish, my Lady,” he smirked.
“Okay, you can knock that shit off. I’m no lady,” she threw back at him.
He shook his head. “I would tend to disagree. Otherwise the thought of your virtue being tarnished wouldn’t have made you flush so deeply this morning. You are a lady, whether you believe it or not.”
“I—,” she began, but stopped. How could she argue against that? Her mind went blank and she wasn’t sure what to say next.
He remained silent, wisely letting her stew in her confusion, keeping from giving her a crack to slip through and gain her freedom. As she handed Skye over to Rourke, she scratched her behind the ears one last time and whispered goodbye.
“Just because I haven’t been with a man before doesn’t mean that I’m a lady. I just don’t have room for that in my life,” she told Morgan finally, as they began walking towards the palace.
“Why’s that?” he asked curiously, and she could feel his eyes running over her again.
She walked awkwardly down the hall, unable to move beyond the uneasiness that kept creeping up on her. “Why are you so interested in me? There are plenty of other elven women that would probably throw themselves at your feet if you gave them just a moment of your attention.”
“They don’t interest me,” he commented dryly.
“And I do?” she countered, slowing their pace as they entered the gardens. “Why, because you think I’m a princess?”
He chuckled. “You are a princess, but unlike one I’ve ever met before.”
“You should know, I turned down my birth rite. Being with me won’t advance your status or make you a king one day,” she told him, sure that he’d lose interest once he knew there was nothing to gain from it.
“I don’t want money, or power,” he told her softly, pausing briefly to stare up at a large oak tree. “I live for the next challenge. The greater the obstacle the more I want to do it.”
She sighed and diverted her eyes. “So now I’m just another challenge, that it?”
He laughed and shook his head. “I wasn’t talking about you. I’m not actually part of Earhen’s army, you know? I had a mark to turn in while I was in Earhen and heard the army was marching for war, possibly for the last time. How could I not tag along?”
“Mark? You’re a bounty hunter?” she asked, feeling a sudden kinship with the man. Her life had been like that before meeting Merlin, and sometimes she longed to hit the road and be on her own again.
“I am what the moment makes me,” he answered her with a grin. “I take the odd contract to get by, otherwise I’m just on the road, living life from one day to the next.”
She nodded, understanding completely.
He leaned forward. “That is why I like you; you get it. I don’t have to be judged or try to explain what I’m trying to say. You knew in an instant what I’m talking about.”
“I’m not sure I can give you what you’re looking for,” she replied. She wasn’t even sure what she was feeling; it was all new and confusing to her.
“For right now, let’s just take it as it comes, worry about the rest later,” he suggested, and she reluctantly gave in. What else was there for her to do? She couldn’t stop thinking about him and whether they were together or not, she’d still be dealing with these conflicting emotions.
Aides began streaming for the palace, drawing their attention.
“What’s up?” Morgan asked as one of them ran past.
The aide turned around and hollered, “scouts have returned, the horde is within a day’s march of the castle!”
“Well, on that note. Still interested in keeping your virtue intact?” he asked with a sly grin. “Time might be running out, you know?”
Her eyes were following the aides streaming towards the palace, her thoughts on her pregnant sister out in the woods somewhere. Were they safe? How did they warn them that the moment they feared had come at last? Breaking from her thoughts, she looked at the elf standing at her side; then grinned. “Let’s get through this and then we will talk.”
Morgan broke into a deep laugh. “You’re on.”
Chapter 25
It has begun
I
Erik greeted Filauria warmly. The politician accepted his hand with a smile, and he was glad that she had risen to take Haymdal’s place on the council. She had dark green hair and it was obviously dyed, yet still looked natural with her light skin tone. She was old enough to have as much gray as him, if not more. She wore a light purple tunic with a heavy gold necklace announcing her station around her neck. She had a darker purple skirt, though he knew that she had always been more a tomboy than lady. Her dark brown eyes glanced at the new Seer and he followed her gaze.
He shot an indifferent lo
ok in Talaedra’s direction. She was in a full regal gown, whiter than what seemed possible, silver and gold necklaces and bracelets adorning her body. She had fifteen piercings in her ears and a hint of more beneath her tight bodice. Her very light blond hair was pulled into a twist, her long ears angled up and towards the back of her head. Her bright blue eyes took in everything and her smile was excessively quick; hinting at the snake lurking in the brush. She was younger than her other sisters and her ambitions had only been held in check by Larahredhel. Now that she was gone, there was no one left to rein her in.
“I’m glad that the people felt confident enough to vote quickly and regain their seat at the council,” he told Filauria with a smile. Best to play nice right from the start, maybe it would be less of a battle anytime he convened; which would be a breath of fresh air. She was more in line with a modern way of thinking, while Haymdal had been stuck in the past and ancient traditions.
Revan coughed and Erik turned to see his High Magister waiting impatiently behind him. “Your majesty, the scouts have returned, an army is within a day’s march of Forlorn.”
“How the hell did they get so close before being discovered? I ordered scouts sent immediately after Alamar’s arrival. What happened?” he asked, directing the last to the new Seer.
Talaedra cocked her head to her side and smirked. “You could have thousands of eyes and never see everything.”
He grunted. Yep, he wasn’t going to like her. “Well, I didn’t need focus on any part of the world other than the entrance to the western forest. So, less eyes needed yes?”
“If I may your majesty? My druids did not notice their approach either. They are being protected from detection by magical means,” the magister advised, cutting in.
He rounded about. “And old-fashioned means? You know, eyes on target? The scouts should have been stationed far enough out to give more than a day’s notice on the opposing army’s movements.”
Kaius was fidgeting by the table. “There seemed to be a delay in the scout’s departure. Miscommunication.”
“Dammit!” he cursed, slamming his fist on the table.
Merlin entered the chamber and hovered silently against one wall, eyes watching them closely. Behind him entered Kore, the chosen representative of the orc forces and newly anointed Knight of the Realm.
“Maybe it’s best we start?” Filauria asked, moving towards her appointed seat at the table. He glared in her direction, wanting to fume for a moment and make sure that the other commanders appreciated the gravity behind their mistake.
They barely had time to evacuate the forces in front of the castle, and they were still working out how best to feed and house such a large host. There would literally have to be tents propped up in streets and every open space used to accommodate them.
His generals were already seated with the exception of Kaius, who was nervously looking down at the floor. Extra chairs had been brought and all would be filled with the exception of Tristan, who was still away on his honeymoon. He would have to remember to send a bird and request his immediate return come the closing of the meeting. Not that he would be needed, but it would be reckless to take the young couple’s safety for granted.
Merlin and Kore moved forward to take seats on the right and he nodded at the mage as he settled into place. Talaedra was glancing at the man with disgust and wondered how so much animosity could have been generated so quickly.
Storvirk and Noelani were seated on the opposite side, the Human King joking with John, who was seated directly on Erik’s left, having shifted General Jade slightly and having a more prominent place at the table. Standing in the corner on the far right was Jillian, Queen of the Fairies, unwilling to vocally take part in their discussion; but not wanting to miss it either. Pendoran had started to fill out slowly since his return and he was sitting confidently, looking eager to begin.
“Obviously, we have a lot to discuss,” he began, surveying the group before him. It had been a very long time since so many representatives of different races had been convened and the weight of the moment wasn’t lost on him. “How are the defenses coming?”
Jade leaned forward and addressed the group. “We have been working for months on reinforcing and freshening our defenses. With the added threat of dragons, we have created water towers for quicker fire prevention as well as hardening the roofs of strategic points against attack. Now, there’s not much we can do to protect the forest intertwined throughout the fortress, but the druids have assured me that they’ve been working protection spells to help with that.”
“All that was needed was reinforcement of what was already there. The spells have been woven since the construction of Forlorn, with only occasional attention needed on maintaining them. They draw energy from the forest, which is one of the reasons it was interwoven with nature to begin with,” Revan instructed them, eyes on the king.
“That was before the Phoenix was reborn and created magical beings called Horsemen to threaten us with. Be assured, this will be a fight to the death and do not take anything for granted. For overconfidence may lead to our doom,” Merlin interjected, staring at those assembled.
“Well, you’re the know-it-all hero, you tell us what’s about to happen,” Talaedra broke in with a sneer, brows drawn together, eyes scorching their way across the table at the mage.
Merlin ignored her remark, turning his gaze in his direction. “Have we sent word to Tristan and Willow yet?”
“How is that important to what we are doing here?” Agarhir asked suddenly, interjecting himself into the conversation. The cleric had been silent and watchful, but now he seemed to have a renewed purpose behind his words. “We need to quit looking to heroes to save us and ask the Gods for guidance in what to do next.”
John grunted. “And how’s that coming? Have they given over any insights or offered advice on battle plans? If Athena has some strategies to share, I’d love to hear them.”
“Blasphemy! How dare you question the Gods!” Agarhir roared, getting to his feet.
“I don’t mean offense, only wondering how such advice will be heard or even if it’s being offered? We can’t sit by and wait for an answer or we will all be dead, and the crows will be picking at your corpse; freeing you to ask them yourself; face to face,” John returned coldly. “I believe just as much of the next man, but in my experience, no God has ever intervened personally in our affairs. No, that—is up to us.”
Agarhir’s face was flushed, his anger seething. “You sit here and mock me, in the presence of this unholy—” the cleric roared, gesturing at the silent orc at the table.
“That’s enough!” Erik roared, getting to his feet.
“My Lord—” the cleric started, staring daggers in his direction.
Erik drew Excalibur and laid it upon the table. “This sword was brought to me by the courage and strength of a small group working against the Phoenix before we even knew there was a war to be fought. Two of those members are luckily here with us tonight to share their insight in how to win this war, and you attack one of them out of racial prejudice? Is that what the Gods teach you? How to hate without cause? Aren’t you supposed to love, to extend your hand? Are you not supposed to be the voice of the Gods? If they created all, then they created the orcs as well, and the fact that some have defected and joined our ranks should be cause for celebration not disdain!”
“You dare question my faith?” Agarhir thundered, slamming his staff against the stone flooring.
“You’re damn right I do. Now remove yourself from my sight or I’ll personally come over there and escort you out. If there are any others that think that the orcs fighting with us are not a blessing but a curse, you may stand and follow him out the door!” he stated, addressing the rest of those assembled, as Agarhir stared open mouthed at his monarch.
“Sire, this is irregular,” Broman stated coldly, watching the exchange.
He shook his head in frustration. “I need people that are prepared to meet the ene
my out there, not create new ones in here! If you can’t do that, then beat it. We have a lot of work to do and not enough time to see it done.”
To his surprise, Talaedra rose to face him. “If you have need of the Seers, send an aide, I’ll have one of my subordinates answer,” she snarled as she turned, grabbed Agarhir’s arm, and began leading him out the door.
After it clicked shut, he let out a breath and sat back in the chair.
“Well, I saw that coming,” Uriens commented, then the other generals broke into laughter; to the bewilderment of their guests.
Gualguanus actually stood, got a large mug, and poured a generous amount of ale into it. Then he walked over and placed it in front of the silent orc. “I’ve been trying to rattle that insufferable bastard for decades. That was well worth the wait,” he laughed, clapping the large knight on the back. “I, for one, am honored to have such an accomplished warrior fighting by my side. May we cleave the enemy heads from their shoulders side by side!”
“Kore like wine,” the confused warrior remarked, staring at the foaming mug in front of him and the rest of the group broke into fresh cackles. Had he just made a joke?
He couldn’t help but join in as Agravaine passed Kore’s mug to Storvirk, who eagerly downed the strong ale with a loud burp. Kaius brought Kore a glass of wine and to their astonishment, the orc brought it to his lips and drank it in one gulp, wiping droplets from his red beard and appearing to smile around his tusk.
Merlin shook his head and turned to the king. “Shall we continue?”
II
Erik hovered in the dungeon doorway, trying to decide if this was really the time for this, but feeling that all avenues of intelligence had to be explored. He approached the cell where Larahredhel lay, her chest rising softly while she slept. She was obviously not being kept up all night by the actions she had taken. He kicked the cell door with his armored boot, his eyes flaring as she finally stirred and looked up at him.
“What do you want?” she groaned, not making a move to rise or addressing him with respect that his position afforded.
The New Age Saga Box Set Page 84
