All Chapters of The Lion of Shadowfen: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

The next day Tien bought them to Lord Nian Zhen. The leader looked exhausted and frustrated with his inability to protect his people from a superior opponent. Thoroughly demoralized guards spoke to the frequency of the attacks. The middle-aged man had lost the flatness to his stomach, and his face drooped a little on the edges. Yet, there was still power in his movements. He wore a stretch of cloth over an eye. Like anyone else with rank, his robes were elaborate and brightly colored, his bore cranes in flight among the clouds. Tien cast his spell to allow the young couple to speak with the lord. Zinjo stood in silence next to Aurelia. "Do I bow here?" Aurelia asked Tien. "You are a princess, and he is a lord. Your station is still higher than his," Tien seemed amused by her concern, "Aurelia, princess of Shadowfen, this is Lord Nian Zhen of Sēnlín zhī jiā, you may call it Senlin for short."Lord Nian bowed to Aurelia, "I have never met anyone from the

Tension filled the air as the Yanhuo surrounded their younger counterpart. The White faces and tiny flickers of flame came out their nostrils and mouths. Zinjo transformed into the lion and took a submissive position. The Large male cautiously approached Zinjo and held position two feet away. Zinjo stood and faced the forest titan and did not move. The child crawled up on Zinjo's back, waved, and then returned to its proper mother. The Silver backed leader grunted something unintelligible, and three males joined their leader. Aurelia and Lord Nian looked at each other, "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" Aurelia asked. "Wel,l I'll assume the Yanhuo are hostile toward intruders, and why shouldn't they? The Yanhuo have the power to defend their territory. I think they like Zinjo," Aurelia was not encouraged by the uncertainty in Lord Nian's tone. Zinjo and the male Yanhuo returned to Aurelia and Lord Nian, "I think the bandit tribe took the child and

 When the idea of a vampiric tree crossed Aurelia's mind, she laughed to herself. What could a tree do to a person? How did the trees become vampiric in the first place? She let the thoughts bounce around her mind.Daisuke turned to her, "I laughed the first time I heard it myself. My assumptions almost got me killed. After that, I never took any job handed to me lightly, and neither will you.""Hmmm. Like the Al' Miraj. One would think the horned rodent is harmless and cute. I know I thought so, and then it pulled a full-grown cow through steel bars with little effort," Zinjo moved closer to Aurelia while he spoke.Aurelia enjoyed his protectiveness. She did not require protection any longer, but to know he cared endeared the action to her heart. "I forgot about our first encounter with the Al' Miraj."Your tale illustrates the point well," He paused, "Can I ask you b

Sojobo waved his hands, and a scroll along with a metal disc appeared in his hands, "Do not lose the disc, you cannot translate any of the Lemurian runes without it," He thrust them into Zinjo's arms, "Hold these, I need both my hands to work at the moment." His bright eyes twinkled as his hands began to move. "Aurelia of Shadowfen, you have proven your worth as a princess and as a warrior. I will speak of your deeds in the halls of my palace. Your name will carry the respect it deserves. In the past, I encountered a creature called the Anzu, winged lions, and guardians to the people they served." Aurelias back began to itch, and the fur in her hands began to fall out by the score, "What's happening?" She cried out. Two lumps began to roll back and forth under her shoulder blades. The leather armor tore and ripped as two new appendages burst from them. Snow white feathers lined the new limbs. Her blackened hair went platinum and fell around her shoulders in waves.

Aurelia, Nian, and Zinjo waited until nightfall to make their move on the Clockwork Guild. The Mechanical guards patrolled with perfect vigilance. Aurelia could infiltrate the guild herself, but they had no idea what waited for them behind the iron doors. Nian appeared to be wrestling with a thought. His hand steadily tapped the hilt of his sword."Something on your mind Lord Nian?" Aurelia prepared to make the change."I thought to myself, if these people are using the souls of magical creatures to power the gems, we may encounter them in the guild as well." Lord Nian gestured to the guild, "Are we going to stand here all night, or are we going to fulfill your promise to Sojobo?"The princess closed her eyes and imagined herself in the change room where the lion suit and the Anzu suit waited for her. She chose the Anzu suit and felt the familiar stretch of the leather, and a slight pinch in her back reminded her she had wings as the Anzu.Zinjo's attract