Forgotten (36 page)

Once again, I have to thank the people who helped create the world of Elysium, specifically the mysterious Rokvor. You guys all have my unending gratitude. Phil and Lars, you guys have left a mark on my world that is unmistakable. Kate and Michelle (my illustrious co-author) are especially deserving of thanks. They’re the only reason I’ve gotten Kaie this far. No doubt about it.

Nathan, once again you’ve displayed a disappointing lack of meanness. He is, folks, the genius behind bee fumes and the inspiration for the chat about centaurs.
Brilliant, right?
For that, sir, I owe you two waffles AND a cookie.
Even if you were a miserable failure.

To my
family, who have
all been astoundingly encouraging, my deepest thanks. I knew you guys would be great, but I
never
expected the overwhelming support that I’ve gotten from everyone. Thank you, thank you,
thank
you.

And, most of all, thanks to the readers. You guys rock.

Lyn lives in Michigan. It’s cold there most of the time. She is not a fan.
She spends entirely too much time there playing video games and watching Netflix. Sometimes even with people! She’s a fan of amusing t-shirts, shiny new electronics, science fiction
tv
shows and cartoons. It’s also a safe bet to assume she’s into anything else remotely dorky.

Sneak Peek at

Blood & Fire Book 3

Destiny

Coming in 2013

"Hide these in the deepest crypt you have. If the Temples fall, so do our kind. Do no tell my brother where they are. Hamish cannot know!"

Elora
blinked. Where did that voice come from? She touched the gems again, but this time nothing happened. She took out the gems one by one and put them in a pocket in her robes. She pushed the safe close and out the pendant popped.
Elora
placed it back around her neck. She wasn't sure why, but
Elora
didn't want anyone getting her hands on those gems.

What did they have to do with the Temples? The vision, for lack of a better word, could only be referring to the Elemental Temples. They were the source of elemental magics, at least amongst her mother's people. There were four of them. Each Temple signified each element and the guardians of those elements: Gnome, Sylph, Undine, and Salamander. Only the Winged royals and representatives of the gods could enter the sacred grove that protected the entrance. Other than that, she didn't know much about them.
Rastia
had never visited them and couldn't give much description on the religion front of the
Verus
Volatis
clan. So where did the gems fit?

"Are you going to stand there spacing out or are we going to leave at some point?"
Rastia's
voice startled
Elora
out of her thoughts. "I heard voices. Dim your fire and let’s get moving.
Zwi
is going to cover our tracks."

Elora
nodded as
Zwi
winked. She walked out of the room. As she did a gentle breeze started.
Elora
turned to look.
Zwi
had his focus on the room behind them. The sand and dirt that
Elora
had disturbed were gently guided back in place. After a few moments it looked as if
Elora
had never been there.
Elora
envied
Zwi
his mastery of wind.
Most days she was lucky to even be able to get it to do what she wanted it to do.

Rastia
tugged on her arm.
Elora
hurried up the steps. What felt like forever later they reached the top, panting and almost
breathless.
Almost immediately after reaching the top of the stairs,
Rastia's
flame went out.
Elora
followed suit. There were noises coming from the main room.
Elora
crouched along a wall and folded her wings around herself. She saw
Rastia
do the same, but kept her own wings folded against her back.

"There were lights coming from here, Captain.
Ravensong
saw them. Shall we search the area?"

Elora
felt her heart beat faster. She gave
Rastia
a panicked look.
Rastia
simply shook her head slightly and quietly loosened her sword. Chewing her lip,
Elora
did the same.

"There's only one way out of here." the voice was female but flat, devoid of emotion. "They'll either come out or starve."

Footsteps echoed as they moved out of the building.
Elora
heard muffled orders. She moved over to
Rastia
. "What do we do?" she whispered.

Rastia
stood and rolled her shoulders. "What else? We fight our way out.
Unless
Zwi
can provide an adequate distraction."

"No can do,
Rastia
."
Zwi
seemed to have come out of nowhere. "You know I can play in mortal affairs like that." He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. For once mischief wasn't in his face or manners. He actually looked solemn.

"Like the Abyss you can't.
Whatever.
We can get out ourselves."
Rastia
put her hand on her hilt and walked out of the building.
Elora
glanced at
Zwi
,
then
followed.

The doorway was surrounded. There was a tight circle of armed soldiers with drawn weapons, all pointed at
Rastia
and
Elora
. In the forefront was the leader. Her helm was in the shape of a cat's head. Her simple armor was almost purely ceremonial and was polished so well that the torches reflected right off it. She had drawn no weapon. Her hands weren't anywhere near the sword that hung off her hip. She was staring intently at
Rastia
and
Elora
, and
Elora
could feel a smile from behind the helm. It sent shivers down her spine.

Elora
took that moment to fully appreciate the danger they were in. There had to be at least two companies facing them, about three hundred soldiers. Many had bows or crossbows, all had swords. There was a very good chance none of them used magic, as the kingdom of Urazin didn't allow for it. In using hers she could probably catch a number of them by surprise and even the odds at the same time. But could she do it?
Elora
had fought bandits before, but she had never killed them. These were no bandits. They probably wouldn't run for their lives the moment
Rastia
put the commander in compromising position.
Elora
wasnt
sure she could bring herself to kill another being.

The Cat lifted her hand. "Destroy them."