Something dark flashed in Godefray’s eyes. “All the things you said about that prophecy—I don’t believe a word! I hope that Rhobart will open his eyes in time and start preparing for war—war that will come once more from Myrthana. You and your family only brought death and destruction to Nordmar.” “Rhobart is my family.” Godefray folded his arms over his chest. “Just because you are his n’alxa doesn’t mean you are his family. I pray he won’t marry you and make you the Queen of Nordmar, because if that happens, I refuse to serve you.” He thought his words could hurt her? “Good. I don’t want to be your Queen either,” she said before turning her back on him and walking towards the Monastery. “Come, Kerra.” Ayla held her head high as she walked. She was not ashamed of who she was, and if Godefray insisted on not liking her, well, that was his problem. Of all of Rhobart’s Paladins, Godefray was the only one who refused to let her talk, lashing out at her each time he had the chance.
“I told you to go to the tunnels! Don’t you understand you could die?” he asked angrily as he urged Ayla down the stairs. Ayla tried to free herself from Rhobart’s grasp. “The Arch-Mage. We have to help him!” “He is dead. Where is Rania?” Tears pricked her eyes, but Ayla blinked them away. The time to mourn the dead will come later when the Orcs are defeated. “At the stable with Kerra.” Rhobart took Ayla to where Rania was. Zell and Eydyia came out of the stables. Eydyia jumped in the air, wings spread wide, and circled the stables once before diving straight at Rhobart and Ayla. “Get down!” Zell yelled from the top of the griffin. Ayla and Rhobart crouched down while Rania glued her back to a stone wall just as Eydyia flew so close to them, her wings almost touched them. Eydyia grabbed an Orc—that was about to attack Rhobart from behind—in her powerful talons and rose up in the sky, taking the Orc away from the monastery. “I can’t concentrate on this damn battle if I know
She started running fast, like the wind was pushing her from behind. Eude might have called after her, asking her to slow down, but she wanted to know, no, she needed to know what was at the end of the tunnel. When the tunnel turned to the left, Ayla used her hands to avoid slamming into the wall. She turned left and kept running. And running. The tunnel seemed endless. “Ayla! Stop running! There could be more undead things in the tunnel,” Eude yelled. She knew he was right, but for some reason, she needed to get to the end. There was something there, waiting for her. But what? How? A few minutes later, they reached a cavern that was at the end of the tunnel. Stalactites hung from the ceiling. The wall to the right cast a faint glow, Ayla was drawn to it the moment she laid eyes on it. Rania and the twins caught up with her. “Where’s the fire?” Eude mumbled. “I see that training with Godefray has been very effective,” Hudde complained. Ayla gave them an apologetic smile bef
Eude scratched the back of his head. “Where else to put it then?” Ayla grinned. “Up your ass!” The twins thought for a moment. “Nah!” “Should we tell anyone about this place?” Rania asked. Ayla was about to reply when she felt as if someone had stabbed her in the stomach. It hurt so badly she could barely breathe. She braced herself against the statue. “Ayla! What’s wrong?” Hudde asked, concerned. The pain was so real, so strong, Ayla couldn’t talk. She felt a second stabbing. It felt like she was cut in half. Her left wrist felt like it was on fire. “Rhobart,” Ayla croaked. “He is badly hurt.” Silence fell around the room. No one said anything, probably too shocked by what Ayla said. Ayla had never felt so much pain in her life. Not even when Galian broke her fingers or whipped her. Feeling Rhobart getting hurt was so painful… tears ran down her cheeks. Her entire being screamed in agony. Rhobart could not die, not after everything he had endured. Ayla started running. If
On the night the Kingdom of Nordmar held its most important celebration, the Fire Clan was mourning all those that had lost their lives the previous night. The dead were placed on pyres in the courtyard. The biggest one was in the middle, the Arch-Mage Semias on top of it. His hair and beard had been combed and braided, and he had been dressed in a new robe. Those who had come to pay their final respects to the dead had put on grey clothes, ash in their hair, and painted their faces white—as was the custom in Nordmar. Ayla did the same. She and Rhobart had a few hours of sleep before the Mages set the pyres on fire. Rhobart, Ayla, the Paladins, and Milton stood next to the new Arch-Mage—a woman called Syndra. The Arch-Mage Semias had appointed her as his successor months ago. Rhobart held a torch in his right hand, and the new Arch-Mage Syndra lit it. “Tonight, we should have laughed and celebrated O’neltxero, but instead, we have gathered here to mourn our dead,” Rhobart said, loo
“By saving Cyan, you save Eydyia and her gryphling. I am in your debt!” Zell said to Rhobart. “I killed the shadow! What about me?” Hudde complained. Zell looked at the Paladin. “How about a dance tonight, after Rania and Sylvar’s ceremony?” Rania and Sylvar were to have their alxa-lotx ceremony after sunset. Hudde seemed satisfied. “Deal.” He turned his attention to Eude. “Come, brother, there is much to do before the ceremony, and time is short!” The twins left, heading to the Fire Monastery. Ayla grabbed Rania by her arm. “You need to get ready for the ceremony. Zell, are you coming with us?” Zell shrugged. “I don’t have anything better to do.” Ayla kissed Rhobart’s cheek. “I am taking Rania and Zell to our room. If you need anything, knock before you enter.” The three women stepped outside the stable and went to Ayla’s room. Rania and Zell looked around, amazed. After a few ‘ooohs’ and ‘ahhs,’ they sat, Rania on the bed and Zell on a chair. “You sleep on this bed every
Ayla was happy for the twins. She knew how much they wanted to find their n’alxa, and she was sure they would make Zell very happy if she let them. Eude and Hudde had wanted someone sweet and gentle, but Zell was the right n’alxa for them. Atlas frowned, drank from his goblet, but said nothing. Rhobart moved next to Ayla. He grinned and said into her ear, “Zell and the twins? I can’t wait to see how this unfolds.” Zell shook her head. “You don’t understand. If I don’t marry him, the Emperor will destroy my tribe. But as Prince Timon’s wife, I can ask, beg even, for the Emperor to spare my people.” Eude ran his thumb over Zell’s cheek. “We will save your tribe, but you have to trust us.” Zell jerked herself away from the twins and held her head high. “Your t’aja or not, I am returning to Tuhai. As I said before, I don’t do manwhores. You are not worthy of being my t’ajas, my n’alxaes.” Zell turned on her heels and left. The twins looked devastated. How could Zell reject her s
Ayla studied the wall for a few seconds. There was nothing that indicated there was anything behind it. Ayla was about to turn on her heels when something caught her eye. On the bottom left corner, a little piece was missing. She crouched to take a better look at it. Kerra grabbed Ayla’s messenger bag and pulled hard. “Kerra, stop!” Ayla said, but the snowcat ignored her. “Don’t tell me you are hungry. Haven’t you been hunting?” Kerra, somehow, opened the messenger bag and got inside. “Kerra, get out of there!” When Kerra refused to do as Ayla demanded, she grabbed the snowcat, pulled her out of the bag, and put her on the floor. Kerra dropped something at Ayla’s feet. “What’s that?” Ayla asked, picking up the item. It was the quartz Ayla had found in the magic pool. Ayla narrowed her eyes. The shape, the color… Ayla glanced at Kerra and then at the wall. “Do you think it’s the missing piece?” To Ayla’s surprise, it did fit. The wall vibrated and disappeared beneath the flo