Awakening (Telindell Book 1) (10 page)

Elinar looked back to his bed and to Teelia, who was slowly opening her eyes.  Teelia smiled slightly.  “Come back to bed, my love,” she said.  “You have hardly slept all night.  Your father will make contact soon.  You know how the council is.  They take forever to consort with one another on such matters.”

Elinar shook his head.  “Yes I know, Teelia.  I just don’t understand about this.  My father, of all people, should understand how great this threat is.  He fought against them.”

Teelia heard the frustration in Elinar’s voice.  “No need to get worked up, love.”  She rose up and held the blanket against her bare body.  “You completed your mission.”

Elinar shook his head and began to shout, “Yes, I retrieved the weapon!  A weapon that must now be wielded by a child!  A child!  A child that must face these monsters!”

Teelia’s eyes widened momentarily at Elinar’s raised voice. “Eli, sweetheart--”

Elinar quickly lowered his voice to Teelia, “I’m sorry,” he said. “I did not mean to shout.  It just isn’t right that a boy should have to bear this burden.  He needs to be trained so he can withstand the power he has to wield.  Most of all, he needs to be protected until he is ready.  Protection that we cannot provide here.  It is imperative that we return home.”

Teelia watched Elinar, who was still pacing, eyeing the bowl of water.  The bowl began to hum.

Elinar smiled. “Finally!”

He approached the bowl and peered into the water as it began to glow.  An elf’s face that closely resembled Elinar’s appeared in the water.  This elf had black hair.

Elinar nodded.  “Father,” he said.

The water shimmered, and the elf’s voice echoed from it.  “Son, the collective council is in session,” said the Elf in a deep voice.  “We have been in session all night.  I must ask you to address me properly.”

“As you wish,” said Elinar.  “Councilor Oryn Durothil.”

The water shimmered once again.  “We have reached a decision on these unsettling events you reported yesterday,” said Oryn.  “First, on behalf of the collective council I would like to congratulate you on the success of your mission.”

Elinar stared into the water.  “Thank you, Councilor.”

“Now,” said Oryn.  “We have decided that the boy and his mother will remain in your care indefinitely--”

Elinar quickly interrupted Oryn. “What?  That is ridiculous!”

Oryn spoke sternly, “Commander, do not interrupt me again.”

Elinar calmed himself. “My apologies, Councilor.”

The water shimmered once again, allowing Oryn’s voice to echo through. “You will train the boy as you have been trained,” said Oryn.  “And you will keep him with you at the Telinlight outpost.”

Elinar shook his head.  “Fath…”  Elinar paused, correcting himself.  “I mean Councilor.  That makes no sense,” said Elinar.  “We cannot protect the boy in the event of an attack!  We are but one hundred, and not all of us are soldiers.  There are non-combatants and children here!  They would be slaughtered.”

Oryn shook his head.  “That was the risk they took by bringing their families on their assignment outside of Alinshahar,” said Oryn.  “It is the council’s fear that if you travel back to Alinshahar, you will be followed, and we simply do not have the numbers to protect our people.”

Elinar snarled.  “And whose fault is that?  We have had one thousand years to rebuild and repopulate, but you chose seclusion!”

Oryn looked away in silence, then back toward Elinar. “We did not know when and if they would return,” he said.  “At the time, we believed seclusion would spare the elves from genocide if they did return.”

Elinar shook his head.  “Did you believe that or did the council?” Elinar asked.  “Now, we face the largest threat our world has ever seen once again.  Not to mention the reports of unrest within Alinshahar because of the council’s ridiculous policies on seclusion and population control.”

Oryn snarled.  “Commander, that is none of your concern!” said Oryn.  “Now, mind your place.”  Elinar remained silent, glaring at Oryn’s image in the water.  “Besides, we have no knowledge of whether the sword will even work.  The boy may very well be Telindell’s descendant, but the gods have been mostly absent since before the end of the first conflict.  It is the Council’s belief that risking this boy and the riders is safer than risking our entire civilization.  We are well hidden.  It is possible that the Dalronians will not discover us,” said Oryn.

Elinar shook his head.  “That is bullshit, and you know it, father!” he said.  “The boy has already slain one of them during his escape!  He is our one shot at defeating them!”

Oryn snarled once again.  “I warned you to mind your--”

Elinar quickly interrupted Oryn.  “Tell me, is that General Oryn Durothil’s belief as well?” he asked.  “The man who faced down these monstrosities the first time?”

Oryn closed his eyes and sighed.  “My belief is not what matters…” he said, pausing briefly.  “It is the belief of the council on what action to take to preserve the Elven people.”

Elinar turned from the magical bowl of water.  “We cannot hide from this,” he said.  “They could already be taking Kynlynn, slaughtering the humans.  You know as well as I do that they no longer know how to wield magic.  They have no chance.  You also know what happens to the humans that are spared their death.  They are changed into those monstrosities as well!”

Oryn sighed once again.  “It is unfortunate,” he said.  “But the humans are not our concern now.  They no longer know of our existence.”

Elinar looked into the water at his father.  “Again, whose fault is that?  We could be united.  A thousand years of preparation.  Now, all that remains in human society of the nightmare we now face are bedtime stories and myths.  They have no idea what we face!”

Oryn remained silent for a moment, hearing the wisdom in his son’s words. “You may be right, my son,” he said.  “The Council has already decided.  I may be its leader, but I cannot act without our collective authority.  Now, prepare to receive your orders.”

Elinar glared at his father’s image.  “Yes, Councilor.”

Oryn looked away, then back to Elinar.  “You will train the boy,” he said.  “You will keep the sword and not allow him to use it.  Even if they are not able to track you, they will be able to sense the boy’s energy if he is able to unleash it.  Without that sword, releasing his power should be impossible.  Maintain scouts watching Kynlynn and report any movements of the enemy immediately.  As per your standing mission, you will not have any contact with humans, and your forces will observe and report regularly on their actions.”

Elinar glared and nodded.  “Anything else, Councilor?”

“There is one more thing,” said Oryn.  “I wished to relay this information to you privately, but the Council has requested that I do it now.  The Council has reviewed your and Lady Teelia’s application for right of parentage.  In light of the recent increase of the Elven population, we have to deny your application, despite Lady Teelia’s reaching the required age of one hundred and fifty years.  I am truly sorry, my son.”

Elinar stared at the image of his father, speechless, then finally able to muster words, “I… I understand, Councilor.” he said angrily.

Oryn nodded.  “I wish you the best of luck, Commander.”

Oryn’s image faded from the water.  Elinar looked to Teelia, who had heard every word.  Tears were streaming down her face.  Elinar let out an angry scream and flung the bowl from the pillar against the wall, shattering it. 

Elinar walked to Teelia and sat down beside her, wrapping his arms around her while she cried.

Elinar laid his head against hers.  “It will be alright,” he said.  “We will have our family one day…”  Elinar whispered into her ear, “Even if we have to defy the law.”

Teelia looked at Elinar, still crying.  “They can’t keep doing this,” she said.  “The people won’t stand for it much longer.”

Elinar ran his fingers through her long black hair. “I know,” he said. “I know.”

Teelia laid her head upon Elinar’s shoulder.  “Your father knows better than this.  All of this.  Councilor Adanna is an arrogant, overly ambitious fool, and Councilor Manat, she is just his blind lackey.  Stala and your father must abolish the Council.”

Elinar nodded.  “I agree,” he said.  “There aren’t many left who have seen the horrors this war will bring.  Most were born after, as you and I were.  They may not follow my father as some of the others would.  It would be almost as great a risk as doing nothing.”

Teelia looked up at Elinar.  “I love you, Eli,” she said.

Elinar smiled.  “As do I you, my lady.” 

Teelia struggled to smile at him.

Elinar stood.  “Now, dry your tears my dear,” he said.  “Get dressed.  I will regrettably inform Lady Lyssa and young Lian of what we must do.”

Teelia nodded and winked at him.  “I do like it when you order me around.” she said playfully.

Elinar stood and exited his chambers.  He walked through the barracks while many elves nodded and saluted their commander.  The elves under his command respected him greatly.  The fog was rising as Elinar exited the barracks.  It was near midmorning.  He looked to see Lyssa watching Lian and some of the Elven children play with Kane.

Elinar approached and called to Lian and Lyssa, “Miss Lyssa, Lian, may I please speak with you?”

Lyssa turned her head towards Elinar.  “Of course,” she said.

“In private, please.” said Elinar.

Lyssa looked to Lian.  “Lian, come.”

Lian and Kane joined Lyssa and Elinar.  The four walked away from any listening ears.

“What is it, Elinar?” asked Lyssa, crossing her arms.

Elinar looked to Lian, then back to Lyssa. “The council has made its decision,” he said.

Lian looked at the two puzzled. 
“What decision?”
he thought.

Lyssa raised an eyebrow.  “What have they decided?”

Elinar shook his head.  “I am to train Lian as I have been trained,” he said.  “We are not to return to Alinshahar, unfortunately.”

Lyssa snarled.  “So we are to remain here,” she said.  “While nightmares come to life and come for my son?”

Elinar motioned for Lyssa to lower her voice.  “Calm yourself please,” he urged.  “I don’t want to frighten the children or the people here who are not soldiers.”

Lyssa glared toward Elinar.  “What about my son?” she asked.  “You are to train him?  So he can fight these monsters?  How is that not frightening for him?”

“I practically begged the council for another decision,” said Elinar.  “I don’t like this anymore than you do.  He has great power within him but he is still a boy!  He needs protection, more than we can give him here… and I fear that soon everyone here will need the protection that only Alinshahar can provide.”

Lian grew frustrated at the two bickering.  “Don’t I have a say in this?”

Lyssa and Elinar looked to the boy.  Lyssa then looked to Elinar.  “Please, there must be another way,” she said.  “Train me instead.”

Elinar shook his head.  “I’m sorry,” said Elinar.  “Lian has already wielded the sword.  His blood has awoken.  It is bound to him for as long as he lives.”

Lyssa dropped to her knees with tears in her eyes.

Elinar knelt down to Lyssa. “I promise you Lady Lyssa,” he said.  “I’ll give him the best chance I possibly can. You have my word.”

Lian looked to his mother.  “Mother, I told you, I’ll beat them, and they won’t come back.”

Lyssa and Elinar both looked to Lian and smiled.  “Lady Lyssa, you should be very proud,” said Elinar.  “Your son has just shown an extraordinary amount of courage.”

Lyssa smiled at her son. She was proud but still terrified at what he must face.

“And as for you, Lian,” said Elinar. “I hope we have enough time together for us to be able to call one another friend in addition to our Master-Student relationship.”

Lian looked up at Elinar and nodded with a slight smirk on his face.  “When do we begin, Master?”

Elinar smirked as well.  “As soon as you are ready,” said Elinar.  “Student.”

Lian grinned, filled with confidence and determination. “I am ready.”

Some hours had passed since Lian’s escape from Shana’s Pass.  He had found salvation with the Elves.  Those who would have him dead still pursued the young boy.

Ansheth emerged from Shana’s Pass to see his Battle Sage brutally slain.  Ansheth snarled. “Dammit,” he said.  “The Lord Commander will have my head for this.”  Ansheth knelt down to the corpse and examined it.  It was split in half.  Ansheth shook his head.  “But he’s just a boy…  How? How can this be?”  Ansheth stood and retreated back into the pass.

The dark General journeyed toward the valley.  He peered upon the corpses of Dalronians and ogres alike.  Ansheth clenched his fists and shouted, “This is impossible!  How could they mount such a resistance?  Ogres are mindless brutes.  These were organized and able to manipulate magic crudely.  But they couldn’t have known about us or the boy.”

Ansheth exited the pass and walked down the mountain path.  The noon sun shined brightly upon the burning valley.  Ansheth took note of the passage to the sword’s chamber and shook his head in frustration.  “I don’t understand,” said Ansheth.  “How could the boy have known?”  Ansheth stopped, having an epiphany.  He gritted his teeth and screamed.  Rock trembled underneath Ansheth’s feet.  A burst of magical energy escaped from his body.  “She must be guiding him,” Ansheth snarled.  “The Lord Commander did not destroy the bitch.”

Ansheth arrived in the valley and proceeded to the coast of the Eternal Sea.  The valley was now filled with the Dalronian Legion.  He looked to where the Exodus gate had been.  The gate was now destroyed, and the sea had closed itself.  Ansheth raised an eyebrow toward the destroyed gate.  “I suppose banishment is no longer a concern,” he said.  He proceeded into the ruined forest.  Burnt trees lay upon the ground, their still burning cinders clouding the air with smoke.  Tens of thousands of Dalronian troops stood in formation as Ansheth walked between them.  Dreathous awaited Ansheth at the front.  The Lord Commander held his helm in his left hand against his body.  His white hair blew slightly in the breeze.  To the right of Dreathous was Dilintor, still in his full battle attire.  To the left was Roxees, a slender woman.  She stood shorter than the towering Lord Commander, her head barely reaching his chin.  Her white hair hung to her waist.  Roxees wore very little clothing, leaving most of her dark grey skin exposed, and hints of red corruption trailing along the path of her veins.  She wore a crude black top that wrapped across her breasts.  The same material was used to form a skimpy bottom that only covered her groin area and draped down the sides of her legs.  Around her neck hung an amulet with a stone the same blood red color of Roxees’ eyes crafted into it.  Roxees glared at Ansheth as he approached.  Then, she began to laugh hysterically, exposing her fangs.

Dreathous turned his head to the wicked woman.  “What do you find humorous?”

Roxees licked her lips and looked at Dreathous seductively.  “He has failed you, master,” she said.

Dreathous snarled.  “We shall see,” he said.

Ansheth approached the trio slowly and kneeled before Dreathous.  “Forgive me, my Lord--”

Roxees interrupted Ansheth’s words with a swift kick to his face.  Blood burst into the air as he fell back onto the ground.  Roxees smirked.  “See, master.  He has failed you.”

Dreathous looked at her but remained silent.  He quickly shifted his ominous gaze to Ansheth.  “What information do you bring?” he demanded.

Ansheth struggled to return to his kneeling position.  “My lord, the boy has escaped,” he said.  “He has the sword, and our forces have been destroyed.”  Ansheth trembled with fear.

Dreathous glared upon Ansheth.  “Is that all?”

Ansheth hesitantly nodded.  “Yes… Yes, my lord.”

Dreathous’ eye twitched.  “You return here and offer no details as to how…” said Dreathous.  The monstrous Lord Commander screamed, “No Details on how a child escaped! How a child defeated a squad of Enforcers and Battle Sages alike?” Dreathous’ eyes glowed brightly.

Ansheth quickly shook his head.  “My lord, no,” he said.  “The ogres were prepared.  The bitch must be guiding the boy.  That is the only explanation.  Somehow, she survived.”

Dreathous shook his head.  “Survived,” he sneered.  “I am not surprised.  It is no easy task to kill a god.”

Ansheth nodded.  “Yes, my lord.  You know all too well how difficult it is to strike down a god.”

Dreathous chuckled a bit.  “Regardless...” he said before he began to scream, “I fail to see how that matters!”

Ansheth’s eyes widened.  “But my lord--”

Dreathous clenched his fists and let out a beastly roar before screaming at Ansheth, “Silence!”  Ansheth lowered his head as Dreathous glared at him.  Dreathous pointed toward Ansheth.  “You have failed me for the last time.”  Dreathous then looked to Roxees.  “You know the punishment.”

Roxees smirked at Dreathous’ words. She walked over to Ansheth and mercilessly grabbed his throat with her left hand, raising him into the air in a show of her impressive strength.

Ansheth’s feet dangled in the air while he grasped Roxees’ hand and struggled to speak.  “Plea… please,” he said.  “No!”

Ansheth’s pleas were answered with sadistic laughter.  Roxees’ amulet began glow.  She raised her right hand, which began to quiver and shake.  It morphed into a black talon with three razor sharp claws.  Roxees swiftly pierced Ansheth’s chest.  Blood splattered upon Roxees’ face and body as she ripped Ansheth’s beating heart from his chest.  Ansheth watched in horror, feeling death grip him.  Roxees raised the heart to her mouth and bit into it.  Ansheth’s head dropped and his body grew limp.

Roxees tossed his body to a rank of Enforcers.  “Consume this failure!”

Roxees burst into laughter once more, blood dripping from her mouth as the Enforcers quickly ripped Ansheth apart

Roxees saw Ansheth’s skeletal staff lying on the ground.  “This now belongs to me,” she said.

Dreathous chuckled.  “You only had to execute him.”

Roxees smiled.  “He is dead, is he not?”

“Indeed he is,” said Dreathous.  “The Battle Sages are now yours. The destroyers will fall under Dilintor’s command.”

Roxees nodded. “As you wish, my lord.”

Dilintor looked into the distance at the tall ogre-like creatures.  “Ugh,” he said.  “Those glorified ogres can barely think, much less take orders.”

Roxees grinned.  “Just point them at something and tell them to destroy it,” she said.  “Worked well enough for me.”

Dilintor shook his head.

Dreathous looked at Roxees, then Dilintor.  “Thanks to Ansheth’s failure, I am changing our strategy,” he said.  Dilintor and Roxees looked to their Lord Commander and listened.  “The bitch lives.  The boy lives.  No doubt she is helping him.  Together they are a threat.”

“I agree,” said Dilintor.  “What do you suggest, my lord?”

“We stay here for now,” said Dreathous.  “Dilintor, have our forces begin constructing a fortress from the magical stone of the mountains.  Roxees, you know these humans better than any among my ranks.  You will infiltrate a nearby kingdom and take the throne.  Then you will turn an entire Kingdom upon the boy.”

Roxees grinned.  “Queen Roxees, I like the sound of that.  But my lord, it could take some time if you want our presence treated with discretion.”

“I care not for how long it takes,” said Dreathous.  “Our presence must be kept secret or we risk the entirety of Zaneen being united.”

“As you wish, my lord,” said Roxees.

Dilintor nodded.  “It will be done, my lord.”

“Excellent,” said Dreathous with a smirk.  “And Roxees?”

Roxees smiled.  “Yes, my lord?”

Dreathous glared toward the wicked woman.  “Do not return until you have something to report.”

Roxees nodded.  “As you command, my Lord Commander.”

Dilintor began issuing orders to the various forces in the valley.  Roxees walked through the smoldering valley gripping her amulet.  She jumped high into the air and spread her arms out, letting out a spine-tingling shriek.  Roxees’ amulet glowed bright red, and her body began to morph.  She grew vastly in size as wings began to form from her arms.  A long scale-covered tail sprouted from her.  Her teeth sharpened, and horns burst from her head.  Roxees’ face morphed into a long, scaled snout while flames erupted from her mouth.  Claws replaced her feet, and two additional legs emerged from her upper body sporting the same large claws.  Roxees had shifted into a monstrous black dragon.  Her eyes glowed red as she roared and dived toward the valley.  She flapped her wings and caught air. Roxees shot into the sky and flew from the valley.  She soared high above the ice-covered Telindell Mountains and descended into the forest below.

Roxees spotted a small village in the distance. 
“I think I’ll terrorize the lesser humans,”
she thought.

Roxees tucked her wings and dove toward the village.  She let out a shriek to warn of certain death.  The villagers looked up, not sure of what was coming toward them.  When the dragon came into view, they screamed.  Roxees spread her wings and opened her mouth.  She breathed a blaze of fiery death upon the village.  Roxees landed, roaring, and her eyes lit on a man holding a small child.  Roxees grabbed the two with her mouth.  She raised the man into the air and flung them.  The child fell from her mouth, covered in its father’s blood.  She snapped her mouth open and swallowed the man.  Roxees looked down to see the child clinging to life while the villagers watched in horror.  She slammed her claw down on the child’s legs, grabbing his upper body and ripping it apart.  She flung the child’s mangled body to the feet of the watching villagers.  Roxees let out a shriek and breathed flames upon them all, leaving little more than charred lifeless flesh.  She took to the air once again, leaving the ruined village with its few survivors.

Roxees decimated many villages in the following days.  She killed hundreds of people and left nothing but death and destruction in her wake.  Word of the dragon attacks spread throughout the land, terrorizing the humans.

Roxees soared high in the sky and noticed a large castle. 
“Hmm, I suppose that is as good a place to start as any,”
she thought.

She dove into a nearby field, her claws gripping the soil as she walked.  Her eyes glowed as she morphed again, this time into a human form with long, wavy black hair.  Her eyes were a beautiful glistening blue, and her skin was a beautiful bronzed tan.  Roxees wore a plain white dress that hugged her upper body tightly.  She held out her hand and her skeletal staff materialized into it.  She looked down at her body.  The dress was low cut revealing her cleavage, and her red amulet lay against her chest.

Roxees ran her hand down her body.  “Finally,” she said.  “It feels good to be presentable once again.”

Roxees walked through the field, her staff piercing the ground with each step.  The long wheat swayed against her.

Roxees heard an elderly male voice behind her.  “My lady, my lady Goddess,” said the voice.  “You have returned!”

Roxees turned to see the man limping through the field.  She walked toward him while he dropped to his knees and lowered his head.  “Who is it you think I am?” she asked.

The man quickly looked up.  “Why, you are the Goddess Elintae,” he said.  “I saw everything!”

Roxees smirked.  “Ah yes, Elintae.”

The man nodded with hope filled eyes.  “Yes, my lady.  I told them for years that we should have never abandoned you!  Now, you come and smite us as the black dragon of death!”

Roxees nodded.  “I take it word of my return has spread?”

“Yes, my Goddess,” said the man, smiling.  “They deserve your wrath.  Even now, they still doubt your presence.”

Roxees looked at the nearby castle.  “I see,” she said. “Tell me, my child, what kingdom is this?”

The man smiled once again. “This is Kynlynn.  We are in the most eastern lordship of Allendale.”

“I see,” Roxees said while smirking.  “Your lord lives in that castle?”

The man nodded.  “Yes, my goddess.  Lord Tieren Draken.”

Roxees sighed.  “Oh well, not a king, but I can make do.  Humble servant, one more thing.”

“Anything, my Goddess,” said the feeble old man.  “Your will is my joyful pleasure to carry out.”

Roxees snarled.  “I look nothing like that bitch you speak of.”

An evil smile crept across Roxees’ face.  The man looked at her, confused.  Roxees swung her staff with haste and struck the man on the side of his head.  He fell over, unconscious.  She twirled the staff and quickly pierced his body.

Roxees stared at the fresh corpse, then her staff.  “This thing looks dreadful,” she said.  “It might scare the humans.”

Her amulet began to glow as the staff morphed into an elegant golden rod with a small crystal setting at its peak.

Roxees smiled.  “Much more delightful.  Now, I have a lord to seduce and inspire.”

She burst into laughter as she walked through the field toward the castle.  A town lay at the front of the castle walls.  Roxees walked into the town, enjoying the feel of the stone bricked streets on her bare feet.  She looked around at the buildings of the town, constructed with a mixture of wood and stone.