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Chapter 86: Lore Master
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Warrior of the Way Chapter 87: Lore Master
Rhychard sat in a camp chair on his back porch, a glass of Jameson on a table beside him and a cigar, which he didn't get to enjoy at Embers, twirling between his fingers. His other hand toyed with Renny's engagement ring, which hung around his neck as he stared off into the woods. He would have much preferred sitting out on his Thinking Rock, watching the water of Manatee Creek drift by, but a sick elf probably shouldn't be left alone. Luckily, Famallumi didn't throw up in the moving truck. September was still too hot, and that smell would have lingered for days, making work unbearable.Buttercup was asleep, Kree still hadn't made it home yet, and Karl had completely vanished from sight. Typical for the younger Bartlett. Rhychard wasn't sure what all was going on, but he highly doubted his brother was as innocent as he claimed. Trouble followed Karl, who always seemed to welcome it. Of course, Rhychard couldn't help but wonder if his brother knew what was happening in the Bottoms or i
Warrior of the Way Chapter 88: Lore Master
Leary Property Management resided in the new Leary Building perched on Washington Avenue on the southern edge of the Bottoms. Most people told Bertram Leary that he threw away his money by building his business so close to a slum neighborhood, but he just shrugged his shoulders. "We cannot rebuild this area and improve the livelihood of the people who dwell here if we never invest in the area," he told them. It was all nonsense, of course. Bertram Leary needed to be near the Bottoms in order to craft the Gateway to the Void for the Unseelie. He would not chance something going wrong by living on the other side of town. Besides, these were his people. He needed to be near them in order to rule them.At the top of the Leary Building was his penthouse, which took up the entire top floor with several bedrooms, formal sitting rooms, a formal dining room, and even an Olympic-sized pool. He shared the penthouse with his sister, Alana. Gargoyles perched on every corner of the roof as his perso
Warrior of the Way Chapter 89: Lore Master
Bertram glanced back at the Jenkins family, their bodies pressed against the wall, the little girls' eyes clamped shut to block out the terror in the pool. Fear filled the room like a scented candle. Bertram savored the aroma.He turned, facing Karl, the human's face drained of color as his eyes remained riveted on the pool. The scene in the pool definitely captured Karl's attention. "What's the matter, Karl? You aren't squeamish, are you?""Wh…What is that thing?" Panic forced his voice up an octave."Now, now. Let's not be rude. That thing is my sister, after all." Bertram turned back to the pool and smiled. "She has two faces, which is fitting since she's a Gemini." He chuckled at his own jest."Your sister?""You don't remember her? You did drop her off at the bus stop the other day, which as it turns out saved your life. It would be rude if you didn't remember her. A brother might take offense to that." Bertram's smile was smug as he watched Karl's eyes grow wider with each word.
Warrior of the Way Chapter 90: Lore Master
Bertram noticed how Karl's body tensed as he talked about his brother, his face slipping into a mask of disgust for a brief moment. Definitely no love lost there. That will make it easier to use him against the Warrior. "It's always sad when siblings don't get along. I'm lucky my sister and I are closer than most. Inseparable, you could say," Bertram said. "However, in your case, I can understand the estrangement. Siblings should not keep secrets from each other, and Rhychard has kept quite a few from you. He judges you, and yet, he has killed friends of mine with no remorse."Karl's eyes went wide. "No way! If my brother is anything, it's a sanctimonious, righteous do-gooder.""And yet, he has killed and will again. It's part of his secret and the reason you are here." Bertram sipped his bourbon. When he finished, he gestured to his sister with the hand holding the glass. "There are many races, such as Alana. Humans have always left them in the world of fantasy fiction, but I assure y
Warrior of the Way Chapter 91: Lore Master
The part Rhychard enjoyed most about Common Grounds, besides being right down the street from his condo, was that it was a coffee house, not a coffee shop—one of those mass-produced chain shops that tended to pop up on every corner, in every shopping mall, and now even resided within one of the major tourist traps in Orlando. He didn't want to be part of a worldwide experience. He wanted that mom and pop flavor that came from local businesses. He wanted a soft couch and rustic tables, not hard plastic furniture that didn't welcome people staying and borrowing the free Wi-Fi. Harbor City wasn't a big town, and he didn't care for the big chains coming in and trying to take over his community. He wanted the town to stay small.Of course, without even realizing it, Harbor City had grown in leaps and bounds without anyone else moving in due to the fact he now knew about the Land Under. The faerie now filled his world, as well as humans, and to make it worse, the faerie seemed to be everywhe
Warrior of the Way Chapter 92: Lore Master
Karl's eyes were wide as he stared at Famallumi, and all Rhychard wanted to do was smack the elf. "Then it's true?" Karl asked. He jerked his gaze to Rhychard. "This Bertram guy was telling the truth about you?""He answers the question, and you think I'm the one Bertram is talking about? The fact he just told you I was talking to Kree went right past you?" Rhychard rolled his eyes. Still, he knew he would have to come clean with Karl, but Common Grounds was not the place for an identity reveal. "Wait," Rhychard said, turning his attention back to his brother. "Why were you even with this guy?""It's not like I had a choice. Some grayish-looking dudes with pointy ears grabbed me and forced me to go with them to his penthouse in that building by the Bottoms that's not even completed yet. That's where I saw Alana eat that kid and where her brother told me all about you and how you're in the way of what he wants. Apparently, the people who killed Briggs were supposed to kill me as a warni
Warrior of the Way Chapter 93: Lore Master
A roar ripped the night, and they watched as four gargoyles slaughtered the coshey, slicing the magical elven hound open and leaving him to die. Karl made as if to move, but then he must have realized it was all a vision and froze in place, his mouth open in horror and disgust.Jamairlo fell against the brick wall, his body bleeding in dozens of places, the sword slipping in his blood-drenched hand. Then they watched as Rhychard rounded the corner of the small twenty-five-dollar-a-plate bistros at the end of the strip, leaving the quietness of downtown and entering hell. Quite well did Rhychard remember that night and the horror that lay before him as he stared and gawked at what he thought were giant bats attacking some actor from a reenactment of Lord of the Rings. The blond elf knelt on one knee, trying to hold himself steady with a hand on the brick wall. His other hand held the sword he used to keep the creatures at bay, although a futile attempt.Beside him, Rhychard heard Karl g
Warrior of the Way Chapter 94: Lore Master
"Warrior!" Famallumi raced to where Rhychard lay sprawled on the grimy road as Karl dropped down to one knee beside his brother. Yet, although Rhychard could hear them moving, he couldn't see them. All he saw was the burning grass around him, the sizzling of the night air…Night air? It wasn't even lunch, yet. Rhychard opened his mouth to scream at the others, but the searing heat rushed between his lips and down his throat, singeing his taste buds and nerve-endings. He couldn't scream without sucking in the flames and heat. "Rhychard, it's not real. You have to fight it." It was Renny's voice again, but how? He forced his eyes open, searching. And there she stood, staring at him with pleading eyes. "You have to push past it. Ignore what you think you're feeling and what your mind is telling you is happening. It's not real.""Warrior, what ails you? What is it you see?" Famallumi's voice reached him, along with the cries for vengeance from people he couldn't see. They screamed for his
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Warrior of the Way Chapter 263: Summerlands
While their mother piddled in the kitchen fixing them a plate of fajitas, the Valentine sisters sat on the living room sofa, legs folded under them. Maria Valentine put most of the house back in order after Baltabek's attack, but the destruction remained obvious to Laci. She held tight to her sister ever since the Summerlands, scared to let her go. Jayden, of course, fussed at her to stop being a mother hen.Once everyone arrived back at Rhychard's Thinking Rock, a place Renny decided would cause the least amount of sightseers, the witches and Famallumi returned to the Murky Cauldron while Rhychard placed a still-weak Jayden in the back of Laci's car. The eldest Valentine wasted no time or words as she headed straight for home."I almost lost you," Laci said. "I don't know what I would have done if that happened.""Probably moved into my room since it's the biggest," Jayden said with a shrug."That's not even funny," Laci snapped, shoving Jayden's hand away from her in disgust.Jayden
Warrior of the Way Chapter 262: Summerlands
Rhychard wasn't sure what he hit, but he found himself spinning backward, the Guardian Sword leaving his hand as he hit the ground with a hard thud, the air whooshing out of his lungs. Scrambling to his feet, a pain tugging at the back of his head from where he hit the ground, the first thing he noticed was Laci sprawled on top of Kree. Renny! He jerked his attention around until he saw her still gripping Jayden's arm as both women lay stretched out on the grass. However, he didn't see the wall he ran into, knocking him back on his ass. Another glance around, and he noticed the salt circle and the three witches sitting on the ground, eyes closed as they chanted. An older man he didn't recognize stood behind Wanda, his face a mask of admiration.A groan alerted Rhychard to Baltabek stirring, and Rhychard lunged for his sword. The demon moved faster, however, and shot a burst of his demonic power at the Warrior, knocking him back against the invisible barrier, the air he just managed to
Warrior of the Way Chapter 261: Summerlands
Rhychard heard screams, but he couldn't tell whose or where they originated. They might have even been his for all he knew. Pieces of the broken table jabbed him in his back and legs, and he felt blood making a trail down his side. Groaning, he tried to sit up. He must get up. Renny needed his protection as did his parents.:Warrior, Baltabek is heading to your home,: Kree sent. Rhychard could hear the elven hound moving toward him through their connection. :He hid among the woods along the creek.:"Rhychard!" Renny shouted, and then he felt her hands on his arms along with someone else's on his other side.:Well, he knows how to make an entrance.: Rhychard sent.He could hear shouts of panic coming from the parking lot and other apartments, people screaming at the sudden explosion.Glancing up, he noticed the other set of hands helping him to his feet belonged to his father. His mother stood by the sofa, her face pinched with concern, and Tryna picked herself up off the floor from whe
Warrior of the Way Chapter 260: Summerlands
Tansy walked over to where Alex's backpack lay on the ground from where the gnome dropped it when they first entered the Summerlands, pulling out the container of salt that rolled halfway out. As she stood, she couldn't take her gaze off the dark pack, remembering its owner and how far he came since walking into the Murky Cauldron that first day. Her heart twisted, and she did her best to keep the tears at bay. She didn't know how much time they had, so she needed to make sure she completed the barrier spell before Renny arrived with Baltabek.Kayla and Wanda sat off to the side, Kayla with her arms wrapped around her knees as she stared at the last spot she saw Alex, and Wanda absorbing her surroundings. Since the demons had been cast out of the Summerlands, the dank grayish color slowly faded away, replaced once more by the lush greens and vibrant colors of the flowers that filled the Land of the Dead. They had even seen the return of some of those who had already passed on from the
Warrior of the Way Chapter 259: Summerlands
"Mom! Dad. What are you doing here?" Rhychard just stood there, staring. He didn't need this right now."Your father thought I was crazy," Catherine Bartlett said. "He even made sure I didn't have any hidden wine bottles anywhere. Empty wine bottles, that is. I had to drag him here to see for himself.""You're alive," Rhychard's father said as he stood there and stared at Renny, his brows bunched in disbelief. "How is this even possible?"Rhychard sighed. "I've discovered just about anything is possible these days.""Hello, Mr. Bartlett," Renny said as she casually closed her purse, hiding the gnomes from sight for now. Catherine didn't handle them well last time, and Renny didn't know how Rhychard's father would react. "I'm sorry we didn't come over and tell you. We've just been…well, we've had our hands full."James Bartlett swooped in, wrapping his arms around Renny and giving her the tightest bear hug she ever had. "I can imagine you have," he told her, his voice filled with enthus
Warrior of the Way Chapter 258: Summerlands
Rhychard watched as Renny gathered up the other Warriors and returned them to the Guardian Sword, only to reappear a moment later with Pux on her shoulder. Laci paced the entire time until Renny returned, eager to be on her way to protecting her sister. With the bridges gone, she had no other way back to the Land Above than Renny. None of them did, actually. Rhychard ran a hand over his long, dark hair, worried about what they would find when they arrived in the Valentine household, concerned for his brother, just as Laci showed concern for her sister.Tansy still stood off to the side, holding a sobbing Kayla and a shaking Wanda. Both witches shifted back to normal once the demons left them, but still wore the wear and tear from the possession. Rhychard hoped they would continue to heal with time, at least physically. He highly doubted Kayla would heal emotionally anytime soon considering her hands snapped Alex's neck even though the demon controlled her. That would be a heavy weight
Warrior of the Way Chapter 257: Summerlands
Karl stood there, still not sure what he should be doing or even what was actually happening. He saw what those demons did to downtown. He couldn't possibly stop one if it showed up now and took over Jayden's body. Glancing over at Famallumi, he wondered just how much power the elves possessed. Gormec seemed to always have his giant hammer nearby, and while Karl had seen its power before, was it enough to stop the demons? There were only five of them against a demon like the ones who killed a witch and almost defeated his brother, the Warrior. Karl didn't particularly care for his odds."How do you feel?" he asked Jayden, his hands over his chest."I'd feel better if you'd stop staring at me like I'm about to go off my meds," Jayden snapped."How about I go and fix us all some lemonade?" Jayden's mother suggested. "It'll give us something to do while we wait for the others.""Do we even know they're going to be here?" Gormec asked, leaning on the handle of his hammer. "It's been longer
Warrior of the Way Chapter 256: Summerlands
The witches continued to shout their chant, their power strengthened with their success. Baltabek sent a blast toward them, but Rhychard blocked it and hurled the power at the demon's feet, the ground exploding and shoving Baltabek up and backward into the air. The other Warriors quickly pressed their attack while the demon lay on the ground.Kayla let out a wail, slicing the air, and dropped to her knees. The demon inside of her wasn't so easily taken, however. With clenched fists, he shoved his power at the witches, doing his best to stop their chanting. Rhychard caught one of the bolts before it struck Tansy, but the next slipped past him and struck Laci in the chest, somersaulting her backward to land on the ground in a heap.Kree leaped up on his back paws, spinning in midair before racing over to the fallen witch. Rhychard could hear her moan and breathed a sigh of relief that she still lived. :Is she okay?: he asked Kree.Kree leaned down, pressing his muzzle against Laci's sho
Warrior of the Way Chapter 255: Summerlands
Rhychard blocked another blast, sending it off to the side to explode into the ground. The gnomes fought from inside the ground, churning up the soil the demons stood upon and causing them to slip and lose their balance. Kree darted in all directions, drawing the demons' fire while he attempted to get close enough to bite one of them. The witches sent their power at the demons, Rose from behind and the others in front, doing their best to keep Baltabek and the others from focusing on any one person. They all did their best to bide Renny time to bring the other Warriors out of the sword, but Rhychard wasn't sure how much longer they could keep it up.The demons who possessed the witches spun, one sending a bolt of power at Rhychard's head and the other one sending one at his feet. He swung his sword, blocking the bolt to his head, but missing the one aimed at his feet. The magic snatched at his ankles, spinning him around and dragging him to the ground. His sword arm hit the ground, his
