Empire Awakening (Maledorian Chronicles Book 2) Read online

  Lysha shook her head and blushed. “I’m a bit useless at other kinds of magic, to be honest. They tried to teach me, but I failed in many examinations. They regularly reduced my ranking because of my difficulty mastering new spells.”

  “But you’re so strong at casting ice magic,” Elendria said, but her words came out sounding like a protestation.

  “That’s the problem. I’m too good at ice magic. My masters called me rigid due to my inability to stretch my inner core and learn new magic. They tried to teach me much of the non-elemental magic, like farseeing, divining, hexes, truthsaying, and shields of protection, though a weaker variant compared to the one Madam Lassengre taught you. They all gave up after a while and had me study with an old master, who only focused on unraveling the inner mysteries of ice magic. But that was only a week before the attack on the dormitory, so I never had a chance to study much with him.”

  Her expression dropped as Elendria guessed she was contemplating the memory. “Those were the dark days for the people of Criswall. I wish I could will the memories away from me.”

  “I can still hear the girls screaming in my head, and from time to time, I catch a whiff of the same stinking smell of their flesh being burned. It smelled like a pig being roasted.”

  Lysha shook her head as if to expel the memory. “Don’t say that. It makes me angry. Enough talk of that time. We’re alive, and that’s all that matters. I suppose the important part is for us to survive and maybe, one day, get revenge against those magicians for what they’ve done.”

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m angry too, you know. It’s hard to get it out of my head.” She sighed, keeping her eyes fixed on the ice fracturing along the edges. A curious crow flew down and landed on the surface and pecked away at the ice with an insistent tapping.

  There was no possibility of her seeking revenge against her father; she knew that. But Relek, the young magician, he was an entirely different matter. Whenever she thought of him, she felt furious, and her fists clenched up at the memory of what he’d done to the students at King’s College and to her. She looked forward to exacting her revenge—in the cruelest possible way.

  The bird stopped pecking and fixed its cold, empty eyes on her. She felt its unnerving stare drilling its way underneath her skin. Prickles of sweat formed on her stomach, causing her to itch in irritation. The bird hopped several paces towards her, keeping its gaze locked on her eyes. In the stillness of the charmed moment, she held her breath and sensed Lysha’s body growing tense at the crow’s approach.

  It paused at Elendria’s feet and craned its neck up and released several laughing caws as if amused by the sight of her. For some unexplainable reason, she stretched out her arm, and the bird flapped its wings and flew up to perch on her wrist. At the unnerving sensation of its scaly feet scratching her skin, she resisted the urge to snap her arm back. Instead, she kept her body still as she studied the creature’s purple and black wings shimmering in the fading sunlight.

  She felt a burrowing of the bird’s thoughts into her mind, and with its gaze came a lulling, hypnotic trance that caused her vision to blur. The world went dark in an instant. All she could see was the crow’s cold eye expanding into a sea of inky blackness. She was being pulled into the vast emptiness. A slow light resolved around her, illuminating a familiar forest that looked like a scene from Maren Downs. There, in a glade covered with flowers and mushrooms and ferns, crouched an old woman in a tattered brown robe. She lifted her head, and Elendria found the familiar face of the barrow witch, who had taught her first magical spell, the spell of blinding.

  “Why if it isn’t the lovely Lady Elendria come to visit me. Or are my old eyes deceiving me?” A crafty half-smile formed on her creased face. “I see my familiar has found you. We’ve been expecting you. Why is it you dally in that pathetic excuse for a village? Certainly, nothing good can come of a lady associating herself with whores and grubby miners, greedy little filthy men, the lot of them. All depressed and sad that a few witches won’t let them pillage the sacred firestone and crystal mines. They’re much too valuable to leave to their disgusting, tainted hands.”

  The witch showed her a pale-green, luminescent crystal with black flecks inside the heart, and Elendria gasped at the strange feeling of power flowing from the stone.

  “Is that a demon’s crystal?”

  An irritated cackle released from the witch’s mouth, and she narrowed her eyes at her as if she were daft. “Don’t speak such words. It is an inaccurate name for a stone of such power. There are no demons inside these crystals, at least not yet, anyway. That would be another spell for another time. Very few witches would think to trap a demon within the confines of one of these crystals, as there are far more worthy uses for them.

  “You’ll discover what I mean when you claim a crystal for yourself. You’ll see how a crystal complements the stolen black stone of yours. Just you hurry up and leave that foul village; leave first thing in the morning. My familiar will guide you and your friends. Doesn’t matter if that woodsman smuggler comes or not. I’ll guide you until you reach our sanctuary in the mountains. I know Madam Lassengre arranged for him to escort you to the mountains, but after Damak, I don’t see how he’ll provide you with much use. It’s only a good day’s ride away… if you are obedient.”

  “I’ve rarely been called obedient. But I can manage instructions.” Elendria turned quiet and contemplative at the witch’s scowl. She was still uncertain of her ability to lead their group into the mountains without Devin and decided they would be better off with his guidance and protection. She nodded, nonetheless, and told the witch to continue. The dream changed at the old woman’s devious smile.

  Elendria was flying from Damak up a steep, rocky trail into a forest. After soaring through the pine forest, she finally ended up outside a massive construction nestled in a series of steep hills, where many moss-covered dwellings were embedded in the earth. It was a pretty place, decorated with flowers and herbs, and she could see several cats scampering and falcons fluttering around, feasting on mice and rabbits. But otherwise, the place was empty, and the witch’s voice in her head told her they were down working in the mines.

  The vision faltered and faded a bit, but before the view disappeared, she heard a low, menacing growl.

  A pair of black, blood-shot eyes shocked her, and she was jolted back to the lake.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “What happened to you?” Lysha said, her voice frightened and worried. “I kept shouting for you to wake. That evil crow. It was gazing at you like you were under its spell. It refused to release you.”

  “Gods, what the hell was that?” Elendria looked to the side and saw the bird flapping its wings and cawing in delight. Several more birds joined in their flight towards the tall mountains. A chill sank into her shoulders as she watched them go. She clasped her arms over her chest and released a heavy sigh.

  “Tell me! I thought about knocking the crow off your arm, but its look somehow paralyzed me.”

  “Let’s go back to the inn. I’ll tell you everything on the way.”

  Lysha’s eyes grew wild with excitement and fear as she told her the vision, and Elendria realized the adventure of this journey seemed to suit her. Lysha seemed thrilled at the prospect of meeting witches and exploring the wilds ahead, while all Elendria could feel was a sense of dread. Was it because she didn’t want to leave Devin or because of the danger of traversing the woods alone?

  She also wondered why the witch from Maren Downs now lived so far north in the Great Barrier Mountains, far away from her home in the mystical forest. Or was another witch merely using her memory to manipulate her? She’d heard stories of strange spells that allowed the creation of illusions in the minds of others. She supposed that included dreams and visions, as well as crafting illusions in waking life.

  “Are we going to go tomorrow, like in your vision?” Lysha said then grunted in surprise as one of the grubby boys from the barn grabbed her
hand and tugged her over to the inn. “Hey, wait!”

  “I want to show you something,” said the boy, and his big smile displayed a handsome gap between his front teeth. His tousled brown hair was stuffed with straw and bits of dirt and seeds.

  Elendria grinned, despite Lysha’s exasperated expression.

  “What is it? Where are you taking me?” Lysha asked, but the boy stopped her with a finger to his lips.

  “It’s a secret. C’mon now. Be patient. Now go on, close your eyes, and don’t you dare peek.”

  Lysha did as the boy commanded and covered her eyes with one hand as she stumbled along under the boy’s guidance. He was perhaps a year younger than Lysha, but taller as she was quite petite. When they rounded the side of the inn, several other boys were standing there holding mangled flower bouquets, and their innocent, excited eyes made Elendria’s heart melt.

  “You can open yer eyes now,” said the first boy.

  Lysha obeyed and gave out a shriek of surprise and delight.

  “Why you’re all such delicious devils… making me flower bouquets.” She beamed at the boys and accepted each one’s gift and granted them a kiss on the cheek. One devious boy strategically tilted his head in time and kissed her on the lips. She laughed and swatted the naughty boy away, but that only sent the group into a giggling fit.

  “What about me?” The first boy looked at her. She nodded, showing him interest, and he handed her a gift wrapped in broad leaves and tied with a blue string.

  She raised an eye at the boy and opened it. Her mouth dropped at what she found inside. The boy had given her an intricate, lovely bracelet formed of delicate vines and small purple flowers. Elendria was amazed at the excellent craftsmanship. Lysha inspected the bracelet, her eyes sparkling in wonderment, and she soon slid it on her left wrist, admiring how it looked.

  “You made this all by yourself?” She studied the boy with quizzical eyes, and he blushed in response. Elendria realized that, behind all the grime, he was quite nice looking, and his hands, though dirty, were slender and lovely like an artist’s.

  “My ma taught me how to make them, but she’s gone now… They told me she’s dead.”

  “What? I’m so sorry.” Lysha’s face looked crestfallen as she reached out to the boy.

  Tears bubbled up in his brown eyes, and he looked over at the mountains, his expression filled with longing and sorrow. “I still don’t believe it, though, that she’s dead. I think she ran off to the mountains to find her fortune.” He leaned in and whispered. “She had the gift, you know, and probably had a vision. I’m sure that drove her up there into the wild in search of something. Ma was always the wandering kind, always restless and dreaming of another life.”

  “What’s your name?” Lysha said and held his hands.

  “Tal, my name’s Tal. I’m an orphan since my daddy died in the southern war. His best friend came home and told me he was killed with a spear sunk deep in his heart. Killed by a soldier from Jalinfaer. I can’t even imagine my daddy dyin’ out in a strange place such as that. You would think it’s all a bad dream, but it’s true. He’s not coming back. I can feel it. I dreamed of him the day he died. He came to me in the night and told me to look after my ma… said he was dead, and I was the man of the house now.”

  He paused and took a sharp breath. “But my ma left and wandered off into those mountains after she heard the news. She’s off there someplace, and she’s alive. I can feel it. One day, I know I’ll see her again, though I worry if she’s suffering. For some reason, I have this sense of dread… I know she’s suffering real bad.”

  Lysha scooped his sorrowful face into her hands and kissed him on the forehead. She waited for a long while to look him in the eyes, though he was nervous. In that pause, Elendria saw pity in Lysha’s eyes and a glimmer of attraction.

  “I believe in dreams, Tal, and I believe in listening to your feelings. I’ve lost my parents too, in Criswall, and I had a dream they’re dead. At first, I refused to believe the dream was true. I hated the idea of it and wanted to think they were still alive, but I’ve let go of that, and I believe it now. I’m still sad, though. I’m sad they’re gone and sad I never got to say goodbye. The worst kind of sadness is losing someone you love without ever getting to say goodbye. You know that feeling, don’t you, Tal?”

  The boy nodded and gave out a snuffled sob as he ran a hand across his nose. Lysha held him and gave him a long, reassuring hug. Elendria could see she was crying as well. She realized, at last, Lysha was letting go of her parents. The tragedy was she only recently learned to let go of her brother, and the losses kept piling up, heavier than her small frame could endure.

  They separated after a long embrace. Tal’s eyes seemed to grow cold and distant as if he was used to rejection and used to being tossed aside. He turned to leave, head downcast now, but Lysha grabbed his arm and caught his uncertain gaze.

  “Stay with me for a while, won’t you?” Lysha looked to Elendria for affirmation. “He can join us for dinner, can’t he?”

  “I can’t do that. I’m just a poor stable boy, m’lady. The innkeeper won’t like it.” He gave her a defeated look. “I thank you, though. You’re too kind. But a poor orphan like me has no right to eat with a proper lady like you.”

  “We accept orphans and outcasts to our table, boy,” Elendria interjected and gave him a hopeful smile. “Maggie is an orphan from Criswall—”

  “And I’m an orphan now as well. Though I’ve tried hard to deny the fact, it’s true.” Lysha tugged at Tal’s arm. “Who cares what the innkeeper says? Come and eat with us, and if the grouchy old man gets angry and casts you out, well, then you can join us. Can’t he, Elendria? Because we’re vagabonds on our way to who knows where, and who knows what we’ll find up in those mountains? We orphans have to stick together, don’t we?”

  A hopeful light came to Tal’s eyes, and he stood there, transfixed, though still disbelieving. But he was unable to tear his gaze away from her. A deep blush came to her pretty face, and she smiled then, a cheerful, inviting smile. Her hand slid down to his, and she pulled him along as she turned back and headed toward the entrance to the inn.

  “We’ll have a grand supper,” Lysha said, exuberant now, “a celebration to orphans and vagabonds everywhere. But we won’t think about what we’ve lost. We’ll think about the future and all the good things that come to those who’ve experienced loss.”

  Tal only nodded at her words, his expression bright but still in shock. As they stepped inside the noisy, smoky inn, Lysha’s words got lost in the commotion, but they were not missed by Tal. He leaned in close to catch every word, his radiant, delighted face entranced at being so near to her. Elendria was envious, only for a moment, but she was also happy for her, for her mood was bright around the boy and no longer vacant like much of the journey.

  Elendria caught sight of Devin in a playful embrace with Shells. The petite, shapely girl tried to wriggle away from his strong arms as he lifted her up, sending her squealing in delight. This sent Elendria’s mood darker, and she thought back to Baird and how his eyes sparkled when he stared at her—the kindness overflowing from his heart. She missed him, she missed his friendship, and she wanted him to be still alive. If only she could have done something to protect and save him. She failed him and felt terrible for it.

  She went over to warm herself by the fire, gazing at the flames. Her mind turned to Prince Jondran, and her mood became despondent. Where was he now? Was he safe? Was he angry at her for her horrible mistake that had forced him off to fight an unwanted war?

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered and sent her apology to the prince, hoping he would hear it. She closed her eyes, and the room disappeared into mist. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for what I’ve done to you.”

  Through the mist she saw the back of a bulky man in steel armor. He was surveying a battlefield littered with bloodied bodies. Prince Jondran turned his head, his wild, chestnut hair dancing in the wind. His sad, blue eyes stared t
hrough her, past her, as if he was searching north for answers or perhaps to fulfill a longing.

  The surreal scene shocked her, and for a long while, she was engrossed in listening to the sounds of battle and the sounds of the dying and the smell of death and disease. She heard the sudden singing of blades in battle, and a man’s cry of pain jolted her awake.

  “Elendria?” Maggie looked at her with curious eyes. She squeezed her hands, a slow smile spreading across her face. “Come and sit with us. The food just came. Aren’t you hungry?”

  And, of course, Elendria nodded and went along, but that evening, all she could think about was whether Jondran was hurt and whether he was in pain or whether he still lived. That night, she stayed awake staring at the wood and plaster ceiling thinking of him, of his sad and despondent face, and she couldn’t help but worry.

  She wished she knew the spell of farseeing, but in a way, she knew she possessed some gift that imbued her visions with the truth. The image of Prince Jondran was so vivid and frightening. She had to believe it was real, though the horror of the blood and the moans of the dying and the screams of the suffering still terrified her. She felt so helpless, so far away from him, and she took a gulp of air and exhaled, refusing to think about the vision.

  She slid out of the bunk bed, careful not to wake Lysha and Maggie. She paused and smiled at them sleeping peacefully together, admiring the young girl’s sleeping face, her eyes twitching as if in a dream. Instead of giving into her temptation of kissing her on the forehead, she put on her jacket and shoes and snuck outside, closing the door carefully. She’d often done this, sneaking out of camp in the dead of night and gazing up at the milky stars.

  A few times, she had caught Devin’s curious eyes watching her while he pretended to be asleep. Once, he didn’t close his eyes at all and, instead, held her gaze, and oh, she had felt the danger then and the longing, too. But he turned away and nuzzled his blanket as if trying to stop himself from doing something he’d regret.