Red raven warmage redux.., p.1
Red Raven (WarMage Redux Book 4), page 1
RED RAVEN
WARMAGE REDUX™ BOOK FOUR
MARTHA CARR
MICHAEL ANDERLE
This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.
Copyright © LMBPN Publishing
Cover Art by Jake @ J Caleb Design
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Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing
A Michael Anderle Production
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LMBPN Publishing
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Las Vegas, NV 89109
Version 1.00, December 2021
ebook ISBN: 978-1-68500-626-6
Print ISBN: 978-1-68500-627-3
THE RED RAVEN TEAM
Thanks to our JIT Readers
Dave Hicks
Diane L. Smith
Jackey Hankard-Brodie
Deb Mader
Paul Westman
Dorothy Lloyd
Jeff Goode
Editor
SkyHunter Editing Team
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
The Story Continues
Author Notes - Martha Carr
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
Waking Magic
Books By Michael Anderle
Connect with The Authors
CHAPTER ONE
This’ll be interesting at the very least.
Far away from Lomberdoon and leagues across the Sea of Barden, Raven Alby and her seven-wing team of Airborne Legionaries were marched up the pristine white cobbled street of Malenspire’s central city. Thankfully, she also had Bella Chase at her side.
The dozens of Malendesh guards who flanked the mage and her party on both sides—including all eight dragons—remained perfectly silent. Their leather sandals tied with crisscrossing thongs up their calves whispered against the stone, while hidden weapons and curved swords attached to their belts clinked at their sides.
The line of seven Malendesh prisoners shuffled along as silently. They had been captured at the foot of the Brightsbane Mountains by the Royal Legion, chained, and questioned before King Vaughn and his advisors had decided to return them to their native continent. The rattle of their chains added to the somewhat subdued noise, but their flippant stares, sneers, and muttered remarks in Spirgul had ceased.
They didn’t even whisper the words Raven had heard from their lips repeatedly during their voyage aboard the Merchant’s Tide.
Ekyna satsan.
The escort and visitors finally approached the top of the steep hill at the center of the beautiful, empty, and completely silent city. A handful of guards tipped long metal spears toward their counterparts on the opposite side to effectively prevent them from proceeding. Each speartip ended in a devastatingly sharp point that glinted in the midday sunlight that baked onto the city.
While they waited, Atiga—the Malendesh woman who served as their diplomatic envoy—snapped orders in Spirgul to whoever manned the other side of the massive wooden gates in the high wall. The young mage flashed a warning glance at her team to remain cooperative and frowned at the speartips that gleamed in her face.
I’d bet my half of the loot from that basilisk cave that these entire spears are made of that ore. It’s not Smithheart, we know that much. But whatever it is, there’s no way a foreign military force who is aware of its existence and what it can do decided to make their weapons out of normal iron and steel.
The rumbling of the gates’ mechanisms being turned and cranked to open the gates echoed down the hillside and up toward the escorted party again to double the volume of the noise. Several of the dragons snorted and tossed their heads in agitation.
Try to keep them calm, Raven thought to Leander.
Her large red familiar responded with a low growl. This is as calm as we can be, Raven, given the circumstances.
Fair enough. But no one in this unit makes the first move, Leander. Our priority is to get to the Malendesh king and if—
If dragons lose their heads before that can be accomplished, our mission fails. Yes, I understand the gravity and repercussions. Focus on yourself and your team, Mage Alby. I’ll handle the dragons.
I know you will. Thank you. She glanced over her shoulder and met his glowing yellow gaze. At a warning shout from one of the foreign guards, she turned again quickly.
“So you speak a little Spirgul, then?” Bella muttered and faced forward as the gates finally cranked open and thumped against the exterior wall with an echoing bang.
“Nope,” Raven whispered. “But a warning sounds the same in any language.”
With a sharp click of her tongue, the dark-haired mage shrugged in agreement.
Atiga turned away from the gates to face them. “Come.”
At least she knows basic commands in our language. We can’t misunderstand that one.
The gleaming silver spears were moved from their position in front of the team and the entire group stepped through the gates. They entered a very different part of the city indeed.
The STAR mage had thought it was nothing more than one large structure at the top of the city’s central hill, but she’d been wrong. The area on the other side of the surrounding wall could have been a completely different city in and of itself, contained within the walls and shut off from the rest of civilization on this island continent of Malenspire.
She recognized the gleaming dome she’d seen from the tree line after they’d walked away from the beach. It was positioned in the center and stood out as the largest building of all. The white stone curved with perfect craftsmanship and was mirrored by four smaller domes around it at the four points of the compass.
Everything else within this central city on the hill was a geometric collection of raised pathways, open-air hallways built with high, arched windows to let the breeze roll through, and a few smaller buildings that dotted the landscape. All of it was constructed from the same glistening, blindingly white stone as the rest of the city below.
Between the walkways and arches were manicured gardens far more impressive than those she and her team had passed when navigating the eerily empty city streets surrounding the central hill. Tall, thin trees with wide, drooping fronds at their tops rose almost as high as the surrounding wall.
Gigantic flowers burst in brilliant colors at regular intervals and lush green grass and more ferns grew between them. Multiple pools and fountains were visible throughout the immaculate gardens although—exactly like in the lower city—no Malendesh moved about. It seemed exceedingly strange that no one was present to enjoy the view, the thick fragrance of so many different blossoms under the sun, or the refreshing coolness of the water in the fountains.
The sight of those pools made Raven swallow.
It’s so hot here. And I can’t remember the last time I drank enough freshwater to slake my thirst. I blame rations on a merchant ship for that.
She assumed that the largest dome in the center of this upper city was the palace where the Malendesh leader Fohdr made his home. That was no doubt where Atiga would lead them.
Her gaze settled on the dark-skinned woman in strangely draped fabric of startlingly bright colors and with her black, gem-studded hair twisted tightly on top of her head. Surprisingly, however, their guide led the Lomberdoon foreigners away from the expected destination. The entire party circled the palace instead and remained close to the outer wall until the envoy called something in Spirgul at even more guards who manned yet another wall.
The gate was opened—this time by hand—and Atiga gestured toward the opening into a large courtyard. “For imaki eeskri.”
Before Raven could say anything, Legionary Nicole Fender placed a hand on the hilt of her sword and stiffly replied, “Dragons.”
The woman narrowed her eyes at Nicole, then looked at Raven in expectation.
Like she wants me to punish a subordinate for speaking out of turn. Not gonna happen.
“They’re called dragons,” she reiterated. “And they’re with us.”
“No. They stay. No sky. Only here.” The envoy tilted her head slightly in a challenge to the foreigners to argue with her very clear instructions.
“Okay. Sure. The dragons stay here.” She sid led toward the open gate in the small courtyard. The entrance was barely wide enough to fit a full-grown dragon, but she beckoned Leander toward her anyway and indicated for him to do as they were instructed.
A low growl rose from her familiar’s throat as he passed the guards, who stared at him with wide eyes and adjusted their tight grasps on their weapons. Did I hear that correctly?
Yep. Raven ushered him through the gate and into the courtyard. They’re freaked out by any creature larger than a bird moving around in the sky so we’re gonna keep them happy until we complete this mission.
By imprisoning us.
She ignored his disdain and fixed him with a reassuring gaze before she stepped through the courtyard’s open gate again. “You heard our host, Legionaries. I want every dragon through these gates. They are grounded until they hear otherwise. Let’s go.”
With firmly set jaws and quick looks at the guards, five more legionaries led their mounts into the courtyard. It was a slow process since the dragons had barely enough room to maneuver past their escort before they squeezed through an opening almost too small for any of them.
Raven pushed past Perch and his orange-brown female Vender to approach Atiga slowly and cautiously. “Will you grant us time to unsaddle our mounts?”
The woman stared blankly at her.
“To remove their gear and take our things with us.” She mimed lifting something heavy off a high surface and slinging it over her shoulder. When the woman frowned, she pointed at Kyleen’s riding tack and saddlebags as Nicole led her silvery dragon into the courtyard after the others.
Finally, the foreign dignitary seemed to understand what she wanted and nodded. “Fast.”
“Thank you.”
Whether the other woman understood the phrase of gratitude or not didn’t matter. It’s much better than the way we all started. They’ll find this unit of legionaries to be nothing but courteous, respectful, and willing to do whatever’s necessary to broker this peace agreement. Even if it means sequestering our dragons in a tiny courtyard on top of their hill. That’s why we’re here.
It took only one glance at Bella and a nod at Farb and Nagen for all three of them to understand their unit leader’s silent command. The legionaries handed the guarding of the prisoners over to her and led their dragons inside as well.
The dark-haired mage glowered at the dirty, chained Malendesh and didn’t have to say anything in warning. Her look was enough to remind them what she was capable of.
Besides, they were already cowed enough in the presence of the armed escort and a stern-faced Atiga.
They know they’re in trouble, which probably confirms that Fohdr had no idea of his son’s covert mission to Threndor. That’ll help us more than it helps them.
After the last dragon shuffled through the open gate, Raven slipped inside and moved quickly to Leander. “You all have to stay here,” she said slowly. It was more for their escort’s sake than for her familiar or any of the other dragons. “As quietly as you can. We’ll come back for you when it’s time.”
She stooped to unfasten his saddle and waited for her familiar to lower himself to his belly so she could remove his riding gear.
He snorted. We’re grounded, Raven. Not deaf.
I know. But the Malendesh don’t know what you are in any sense. They see a sea serpent with four legs and two wings and so far, they haven’t heard any of you talk. So when we’re gone, tell the others to say as little as possible.
Do you expect them to be even more terrified of an airborne sea serpent if it can speak?
I don’t know what to expect here, Leander. The empty city, the guards, and the silence all tell me something is off here. We’ll have to find out what it is, but I don’t want any of you to be hurt in the process. So for now, as far as the Malendesh are concerned, dragons don’t talk.
I’ll tell them.
She stroked his muzzle, nodded, and placed his saddle against the courtyard wall before she removed the saddlebags to sling them over her shoulder. The weight of her gear felt much heavier on this continent than it had at home, but that was to be expected. Their responsibilities had become considerably heavier too.
“Does everyone have what they need?” she asked her unit. The legionaries gave her silent nods as the dragons snorted and pawed the ground.
The sweet scent of all the blooming flowers around the courtyard and the calming burble of yet another fountain should have made the area feel so much more welcoming. She patted Leander’s broad shoulder and muttered, “You have water and grass. It could be worse.”
With a snort, he turned in a tight circle and lowered into a curled ball of shimmering red scales and wings tucked tightly against his back. I will keep you informed, mage.
Same here. And trust me, I won’t let this go on longer than it has to. When I meet Fohdr, getting the dragons airborne is a high priority on my list of requests.
How considerate of you.
As the legionaries heaved their saddlebags over their shoulders to thump against rucksacks and satchels, Raven paused beside the open gate. She would be the last one to leave the dragons after she’d made sure everyone in their unit had what they needed. Her team exited the courtyard silently and she gave her dragon a reassuring nod. Watch and listen, right?
Same to you. Leander lowered his massive head on his forepaws and sighed heavily through flared nostrils. Be careful, Raven.
Always. I’ll see you soon.
She stepped through the open gate and ignored the armed soldiers who watched the entire exchange with narrowed eyes and heavy frowns. A Malendesh guard stepped forward to swing the gate shut. It nestled into its frame in the wall with an echoing thump, and she surveyed her team with silent reassurance.
They didn’t argue or ask if this was the right call and they know why we’re here. It’s a good thing we’ve all had a chance to prove ourselves before being assigned to the most important foreign mission the Legion has ordered in the last fifty years at least.
Bella returned control of the seven prisoners to Farb and Nagen. Perched on his mage’s shoulder with his tail curled around the back of her neck, Wesley hissed and embedded his claws even deeper into the muscle beneath her shoulder. She didn’t so much as blink.
The guards studied the shimmering gold firedrake with apprehension, but it wasn’t anything close to the fear and rage stoked by the presence of dragons large enough for a human to ride and not the other way around.
It seems they’ll tolerate nothing bigger than a bird so Wesley slips by under the threat radar. And if Bella and I are somehow separated, at least our familiars already know how to communicate. We might not have been warmly welcomed to Malenspire, but we still have a few tricks they know nothing about. As long as Atiga and her armed guards continue to underestimate us, we can use those advantages.
CHAPTER TWO
Atiga led the armed escort and their visitors in a dutiful procession away from the dragon-filled courtyard. They passed through countless other breathtakingly beautiful gardens before their footsteps, muffled by the soft, surprisingly lush grass, gave way again to sharp, staccato beats on the shimmering white stone of the walkways.
Raven walked steadily, surrounded by her team, and tried to ignore the sharp breaths and occasional whimpers from the line of Malendesh prisoners at the back of the procession. They ascended the walkway’s gently sloping incline and finally entered a long passage leading toward the central dome of the palace.
This would feel exactly like any other hallway in any other castle or fortress if it had a roof and actual walls.
