Island Shifters: Book 02 - An Oath of the Mage (43 page)

Diamond was just tying a fresh bandage around Airron Falewir’s head when a massive explosion rocked the world. On instinct, she leaned over the Elf with her body as stone fragments from the mountain blasted into the air like balls of iron shot from a cannon. A gray cloud billowed outward from the mountain in a rippling, seething mass too far away to reach them.

“Beck!” Kiernan had been lying down on a bedroll with Kenley, but now lurched to her feet.

Diamond covered her mouth with a fist and choked back a sob. Beck could never have survived such a destructive blast. Dear Highworld, how much more could Kiernan take? How much loss and heartbreak was one woman expected to endure in a lifetime?

“Uh, I can’t breathe under here.”

“Oh, sorry,” she said and slid off Airron.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I am not sure.” Diamond stood and stared. Where a mountain once stood, was now a smoldering pile of rubble and the vast blue of the Arounda Ocean glittering in the distance.

A huge boulder rolled free from the ruins. Rotating across the sandstone at considerable speed, the stone grew smaller as it covered the distance and soon arms and legs became visible sticking out of the rock. When the boulder made its last revolution, the stone broke apart and fell away.

A man stood.

It was Beck, and he was covered in what Diamond recognized from the Academy as an earthen coat of armor.

Kiernan began to laugh hysterically, wrenched back from a momentary spiral into darkness.

Airron, standing now, patted Rogan on the back as they exchanged grateful smiles that their friend was alive. The three children and Cymans whooped joyously.

Thoughtfully, Diamond watched Beck approach.

He was Mage.

She did not think the others could see it yet, but he wore his power and strength now like a second skin. As he should. He was virtually indestructible. With the command of sorcery and shifting, not to mention his political influence as a member of royalty, there was not a person on the island who could stand against him.

All of that power in the hands of one man would be terrifying to Diamond if not for one detail.

Formidable beyond measure, he was also pure of heart. There was not an ounce of evil in Beck Atlan.

He smiled a crooked smile at his wife, and she picked up the sides of her dress and ran to him.

For all his might, she just hoped it would be enough.

Squatting down, she retrieved her diamond from her pack and stroked it anxiously. After Kiernan told her that Sapphire had turned against them, she realized it was the Spell Casting sorceress that had clouded her ability. Just before the explosion, she read her stone and discovered a frightening image.

The scene was hazy and indistinct, which meant that it would not happen for some time yet—many years perhaps. But, it
would
happen. Of that, she had no doubt.

A beast was headed for the shores of Massa. An implacable, sinister presence that would stop at nothing to achieve its goals. What those goals were or what shape the beast would come in, she did not know, but it would come.

She took one more hard look at Beck Atlan—at his strength and kindness and newly acquired wisdom. The sight soothed her fears.

The Island of Massa was in very capable hands.

Airron leaned his head down so that his mouth lined up with the Draca Cat’s muzzle. Baya exhaled the Healing Breath directly into his lungs, and he immediately felt the magic working its way through his body, mending his injuries. The pain, the aches, and the exhaustion melted away from his body like the molting of new skin.

When the last vaporous trail disappeared into his mouth, he stood and bowed to the cat. “Thank you, my friend.”

Baya tilted her head in acknowledgement.

Airron removed the bandage around his head and watched his friends revel in spirited conversation. It was over. Avalon Ravener was dead, and they were still alive. He wished he could stay to celebrate with his friends, but he had somewhere to be.

Grabbing his pack from the ground, he walked over to join them. “Despite a delightful afternoon,” he said, interrupting several conversations, “I must leave you now.”

Kiernan bristled. “What? Where are you going?”

“Haventhal.”

“At least travel with us to Elloree and take the waterways to Sarphia.”

He shook his head and threw his pack at her. She caught it by the strap. “I can travel faster over land. You will take care of my pack and clothes for me?”

“Of course.” She gave him a hug. “Be careful.”

Beck stepped forward, a layer of dirt still covering his hair and clothes. “It will take some time for me to escort the Cymans to Northfort, but we still need to have that conversation. Will you return to Bardot soon?”

“With two nephews to help raise? Of course. Besides, I think Kane is going to be a master bodyshifter one day, and somebody has to teach the kid.”

Beck threw his head back in a hearty laugh and after all they had been through, it sounded so innocent and so pure. He grabbed Airron in an embrace. “I hope you find what you seek. Come back to us soon.”

“I will.”

Beck released him and Rogan planted his feet in front of him with his arms crossed. “The only thing he is seeking is another girl to kiss. What has it been? Over a week now?”

“Fourteen days to be exact.”

“When will I see you again?” Rogan asked.

“Are you going to cry?”

“Of course not, you blasted Elf! Just stay safe, all right.”

Airron promised with a laugh and after a broad farewell to the rest of his companions, he walked behind one of the horses, undressed and shifted into his black Grayan wolf. The horse screamed and rolled his eyes in terror when he saw the large wolf appear at his side.

Slinking from behind the terrified animal, the wolf poised his muscular body to run, but suddenly stopped and turned, giving one last grin to the humans before loping off east toward Haventhal.

The wolf ran the entire day and night without stopping. The next morning, he crossed a body of water at the shallows and once on the other side, took time for a brief rest before pushing on.

He sensed other animals in the area, but they avoided him.

The wolf preferred the fertile forests of his home over the bleak landscape he now traveled, but did not think about them. Soon, he would enter another forest, this one wetter and more humid.

He stopped one more time during the night for sleep and at last, footsore and exhausted, the wolf slithered into the city with the bright lights at dusk, careful to avoid notice.

At the back of a small stable, the air shimmered and Airron Falewir stood and opened the side door to the building and slipped inside.

It was empty, just as he knew it would be. Breathing in the familiar scent of his horses, a warm feeling came over him. He walked into the tack room and retrieved the spare tunic and leggings he kept there for that very purpose.

Once dressed, he walked outside into the early evening. He only employed two servants at his home, a housekeeper and a groomsman, but they only came during the day and would be gone by now.

Airron did not go into the house, there was no time. Instead, he strode through the grounds to the gate in front, yanked it open and walked out onto the streets of Sarphia.

People waved to him in greeting and he acknowledged them all with a smile and tilt of his head. The Elven city was truly one of beauty, and he felt like he was seeing it with new eyes this night. Shining lights in every tree brilliantly complemented the star-filled sky. White domed palaces and slender spires with gold inlay captured the lights in radiant reflections. Manicured pathways, lily ponds, and vibrant flowers decorated every estate in a multitude of colors.

He wondered how he overlooked it before. How could he not have appreciated what seemed so undeniable now?

Suddenly feeling anxious, he increased his pace and even began to run, hopping over hedges and low stone walls like a blacktail deer. He was sprinting by the time the house came into sight.

A guard was standing at the gates, but recognized him and let him in without question.

Airron hurried up the steps and knocked on the door impatiently. The sound of music drifted to him from the open windows.

A silver-haired butler in servant’s livery answered the door and when he saw Airron, wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something unpleasant. “Ah, Master Falewir. What can I do for you?”

“Let me in, Quincy,” Airron said and took a step forward.

The man was not very big, but he moved in front of Airron and blocked his way. “The Lady is busy with a recital and is not receiving guests at this time. If you will come back…”

“Move.”

“Master Falewir, you cannot…”

Airron shoved the man into the marble foyer. Ignoring the butler’s protests, Airron strode to the sitting room where he heard the music and pushed open the doors with a bang. The music broke off abruptly and every female violet eye in the room turned his way.

Melania sat before her harp and several Elven ladies dressed in fine attire sipped tea while they watched her play.

Airron only had eyes for the girl at the front of the room. He had never seen a lovelier sight in his life. She was dressed in a blue silk gown, and her silver hair hung loose in soft ringlets around her face. Her hands were still poised on the strings as she stared at him.

Quincy was still mumbling discontentedly behind him, but one of the women—it sounded like Melania’s mother—told the butler to quiet down.

Airron started forward up the through the aisle of chairs.

“What are you doing here, Airron Falewir?” Melania finally demanded.

“I choose you.”

A gasp rippled through the room.

“You asked me to choose you above all else, and I am doing that now.”

“You could not do so before,” she pointed out.

“I was a damn bloody fool.”

Melania’s proud eyes narrowed. “It is too late.”

“I don’t think so.” Without waiting for another rebuttal, he strode to her side, reached down and lifted her into his arms.

“Put me down!” She struggled against him with her fists, but he held her too tight. He was never letting go of her again.

The women tittered behind their gloved hands, and Melania’s mother spoke up. “Oh, darling, stop fussing so! You know you love him!”

The struggles stopped, and she peered up at him from underneath her eyelashes. “I do love him,” she confessed, “but the question is, does he really love me?”

“Yes! I was miserable after you left. I nearly got myself killed because thoughts of you filled my head. I do love you, Melania, and I realized the truth of it the moment you walked out of my life.”

“Are you sure?”

“I have never been more sure of anything.”

She laughed and threw her arms around his neck. “You have much to learn about women, my husband.”

“Teach me. I am a fast learner.”

“That is not what Rogan says.”

“Dwarves lie.”

Amid the snickers of the ladies and the grumbling of the butler, Airron carried his wife from the sitting room and out into the evening air.

“Welcome home, Airron Falewir.”

He smiled. “I am home.”

The End

RULING NOBILITY OF MASSA

I
SERLOHN

King Maximus Everard

House Colors - Black & Scarlet, Sigil - Golden Lions

Princess Kiernan Everard Atlan

Prince Beck Atlan

Princess Kenley Grace Atlan

M
EN AT
A
RMS

Darin Morel - Captain, Royal Guard, Personal Guard to King Maximus

Kirby Nash - Captain, Royal Guard, Personal Guard to Kiernan Atlan

Roman Traynor - Captain, Royal Guard, Personal Guard to Beck Atlan

Bo Franck - Captain, Iserlohn Army

Hugo Bassus - Commander, Second, Iserlohn Army

C
OURT
M
EMBERS

Lord Davad Etin

House Colors - Red & Blue; Sigil - Flying Eagles

Lord Abram Winslow

House Colors - White & Gray; Sigil - Crouching Wolves

Lady Ava Conry

House Colors - Brown & Black; Sigil - Savage Badgers

Lady Lillian Knapp

House Colors - Gray & Purple; Sigil - Shadow Panthers

Lord Gage Gregaros

House Colors - Black & White; Sigil - White Tigers

Lord Johan Hamilton

House Colors - Red & Yellow; Sigil - Red Dragons