Ella, p.1
Ella, page 1
Ella
Book 1 in The Land of the Four Series
By Samantha Evans
Cover: By Vicky Peplow
Copyright © 2019 by Samantha Evans
All rights reserved. This book or any part thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author except for the use of brief quotations in a book review
Table of Contents
Chapter One 6
Chapter Two 15
Chapter Three 22
Chapter Four 30
Chapter Five 39
Chapter Six 45
Chapter Seven 54
Chapter Eight 61
Chapter Nine 72
Chapter Ten 78
Chapter Eleven 84
Chapter Twelve 99
Chapter Thirteen 114
Chapter Fourteen 121
Chapter Fifteen 128
Chapter Sixteen 136
Chapter Seventeen 152
Chapter Eighteen 160
Chapter Nineteen 165
Chapter Twenty 175
Chapter Twenty-One 183
Chapter Twenty-Two 190
Chapter Twenty-Three 198
Chapter Twenty-Four 208
Chapter Twenty-Five 221
Chapter Twenty-Six 230
Chapter Twenty-Seven 233
Chapter Twenty-Eight 237
Chapter Twenty-Nine 244
Chapter Thirty 251
Chapter Thirty-One255
The Land of the Four 258
Characters259
Chapter One
Walking by the ocean is such a routine for me. I smelled the beautiful grass every day, how it was something of a ritual that happened to me over time. A ceremony that was hard to carry out without being caught by a guard. When I wake up in the morning, it is with someone yelling, “Wake up, Prince Liam!” Having to wake up the drapes being thrown open and having my day be dictated to me when most of the time it was something, I would do the opposite.
Today was a day that I did not want to enjoy. Today was the anniversary of the death of my mother, Queen Sarah. How after she gave birth to my younger brother Prince Cullen, she was not the same. Over a period, she started to grow weak. She would never leave her bed chambers. If the physician approved, she would be sitting in a chair on the beach. Watching my brother and me run about the beach. It was comforting to her.
Finally, one day, when I was a small boy, she died in her sleep. My father loved her, and so he would have a feast in honor of her memory. Mother loved being outside, so that is where I loved being. Walking on the beach and smelling the salt from the ocean every morning.
Sleeping at night, I would close my eyes and remember how the last few memories I had of her were when I would run along the beach with my brother. My mother would be sitting in a chair and all covered up. She wanted to share what she enjoyed up to the end. My father was happier back then and would smile when he saw her. But a smile is something I never indeed saw from him anymore.
Walking down the dark halls, I bumped into my father’s head advisor Atlin. How he was someone when walking past would have a cold shiver down my spine. Atlin looked like a man in his early but mid 30’s, but he was almost five hundred years old. He has served as my family’s chief advisor going back. Our family piqued their interest in his life and he was someone who never left. Some say he was a demon; some say he was a god from the sky. No one knew, and it was a mystery to all the people of the kingdom of Derzeli.
Something that I knew was this feast had to be done and over. It was important for my father as a form of recognizing my mother. My father, King Breen, would go with his loyal followers of the other kingdoms for their dragon hunt. His loyal followers would watch him but never kill him. How he would have something to show as a symbol of honor would be when you would cut the head of a dragon with our family’s sword known only as Grendel, how it was to be held by the king of Derzerli. It is the only sword to have a beautiful ruby with a unique spell, which means only that sword can slay a dragon.
Seeing dragons in paintings and books, I saw them as beautiful creatures, and it made me upset to think about why my family would think of this as an honor. My father has been king for 18 years, and he never sacked one. All the kings of the kingdom, usually sooner or later, would kill one. My father killing a dragon was something he never would say if he did how they roamed in a far-off land not too far away from here.
All I had to remember I had to get through this feast in honor of my deceased mother. I was not particularly eager to do it, but it would lead to something else happening.
Turning back around, I noticed Cullen. We both shared different qualities and some of the same. He never loved leaving the kingdom walls to explore how I was the one who was the adventurer. He followed behind me. “Are you ready for this?” he asked.
“What can I say? The father makes this an event to remember,” I said bluntly.
We walked into the hallway, and people were assembling around the table. Our father was at the head of the table, along with Atlin by his side, whispering something into his ear. Besides Derzeli there were three other kingdoms.
Queen Ateli is the leader of the militia kingdom of Etomir. The queen, along with her brother, Jax, co-commanded the army together. Vicious, but they always wanted to do nothing but protect their people. Ateli was someone who no one truly did see. Her brother would more so be her.
King Mihonir is a big brute who ruled over a militia of 3,000 men, and they lived east of us in a place called Skohf. It is a mountain region that can be very cold. It is freezing that the people from Skhof are the only ones who have adapted to the temperature. Few from other kingdoms go there. Lord Mihonir would come to others,
There was also another man who was sitting at the end of the table. Lord Darhsz is someone who has been my father’s friend for years. He is a man whom people saw as unique due to how his entire left arm is composed of dragon hide due to my father’s convincing.
Someone else I noticed was the young woman by his side. She was wearing her hair up, and the sun was making her skin shine. Anna was the daughter of Lord Darhsz and was always on her father’s side. Someone I have known my entire life and whom I care about. Feelings for her have been confused. When she is here, my heart wants to fall out of my chest.
“Hello, Liam. It has been a long time,” she said to me.
“Hello, Anna, it has been a long time. I am glad you and your father were able to make it on this occasion. I am sorry your brother could not come along.”
All I could tell she was looking at me and that I was not enjoying this at all. Cullen was sitting right next to me, and he was staring at her also. He liked her too, and I always wondered if it was because I did. It seemed whatever I wanted or did, he was around.
Our father sat up, raised his glass, and all the officials stood up.
“To my darling Sarah. It has been a hard time. Missing you brings sadness to my heart. I wish I could do anything to have you back,” he said.
There was dead silence in the hall, and finally, Atlin was looking around at all the people. My father stared at us both. He had a dark glare when he would look at Liam. When my mother gave birth to Cullen, over time my father believed that it was due to Cullen our own mother’s demise.
Being how I knew the truth, I would look at my brother and say, “You did nothing wrong. He doesn't know you as I do.”
After a stressful meal, I was able to slip away. I was making my way outside to where I could see the beautiful ocean—being able to smell the beautiful green grass that surrounded our kingdom. I sat down in my favorite spot and closed my eyes. Part of me wishes I were not a prince. Being next in line for the throne was something I did not know if I wanted or not. How people would look at me and realize that I could not do something that many other kings have done. For instance, the slaying of a dragon.
Suddenly, I opened my eyes, and I nearly jumped. It was my father. He was sitting next to me.
“Sir, I am sorry for leaving. It was a beautiful day, and I did not want to miss this,” I said.
“Liam, it is ok. You are a grown man, and I cannot tell you what to do all the time. Believe me. I have figured out that you don’t know how to understand rules worth a damn,” he said.
All I could do was look at him. He usually never talked to me in this state of fashion unless he wanted me to do something.
“Dad, what do you want?” I asked.
“Son, I need to talk to you,” he replied.
“Well, Because I am not interested. I know you are leaving for the north tomorrow to go look for a dragon,” I stated.
“Boy, listen, I want you to come with me. You are 21 years old, and you need to see what it is like to be a king. Come on, my hunt with me. That is what I want,” he said.
Was I going north with him on his annual hunt? I was not even thinking that was happening in a lifetime. But I knew for a fact if I said no, then I would not hear the end of it. But if I went on this trip, it was proper for Cullen to come with us on the journey.
“All right, I will go. But I want my brother to come with us. I do not know what it is you see to him. But he is my brother, I love him, and if he does not come, then I will stay,” I said.
My father looked at me with a blank stare at how it was an insult to invite Cullen along. But then he nodded and walked away. Cullen is my younger brother, but he is a part of the family, and it is something I will never forget in my mind.
Walking back to my room, I decided to take a diffe
“So, what did he want?” he asked.
“He wanted me to accompany him when he travels north. When he does it,” I replied.
“Dragon hunting is an honor. Something that I wish I could do with him. Slaying one would make me feel like a man,” he said with no regret.
“Well then, the only way I would go with him is if you came along with us. Father did not object to you going at all. The family should be a part of this. The only reason I am going is to see such a beautiful creature. Creatures I normally hear about in stories,” I said.
Saying all of this leads to Cullen getting up from his chair, throwing the drapes open, and finally having light in the room. My brother was not a bad-looking man, but our father did blame him for our mother’s death.
“I don’t know if I should come,” he said.
“Oh, come on, would you rather follow me everywhere or sleep with any girl that walks? You can do this by coming for me,” I said.
I did not think of that at all. “Thank you so much, Liam. It means a lot that you think so highly of me,” he said.
“Cullen, I have never had a life in this place. You are my life. Becoming king one day is something I do not want to think of right now. It is here, and now,” I stated.
“Thank you for saying that to my brother. It means a lot to me,” he said.
All I could do was smile when he said that. Our father did nothing but put him down. With a chuckle in his tone, he ran out of his room. I went straight out of his office. Knowing deep down that tomorrow, I would be going on a trip that was going to belong. How are my father and Cullen’s eyes? Was it a quest to become a man? Dragons were something that breathed and had no need for killing. No one knew that I am going to make sure my father fails again in sacking one.
When we rode through the gate, seeing Anna waiting for us made my heart pound immensely. I do not know what to say to her. Without thinking, I jumped off my horse and ran to her, and all I could say was, “Hi.”
Her smile always melted me. Something that never happened to me before until the day I met her when I was a small child. How I knew she was my love was the day of my mother’s funeral.
My father did nothing but turn around and did not even stay to pay respects. Like he did not want to believe it at all.
Staring at her grave at the Citadel, Anna walked over to me. Being both small children, she was the only one to hold my hand. She was the only one to say the simple sentence, “I am sorry for your loss.” Hearing those words was something I would never forget. Being the prince, it felt like no one wanted to be there for me, but a young girl out of everyone wanted to be there.
Seeing her again was making me think about everything and how I did not want to die alone. How maybe she wanted to be with me. I knew she was not engaged to anyone. She lived with her father and brother for so long. Many men believed she was going to die alone, but in this case, I wanted to know if that was the case.
Chapter Two
The next day was a bright sunny day. People are loading up the horses and wagons. Finding out that before we traveled into the well-unknown lands where the dragons lived, we would make a side stop. It was a form of relief that Lord Darhsz would be coming with us along with his daughter. He was a good friend to my father; he was always there for him. Because the older man was part dragon, Lord Darhsz would not be harmed if anyone were to attack. My father’s sword was the only thing that could end the man’s life.
Knowing his daughter was coming made me happy, but somehow, I knew it was terrible because Cullen liked her, too.
“Prince Liam, it is going to be a delight to have you be a part of this with us for the first time,” someone said.
Turning around, I knew it was Atlin. His long brown hair was back, and the smile made me think he wanted something but had no clue what. The look in his eyes made me wonder what he was wanting from me.
Someone that has spooked me for my whole life was him. Looking at him, even though my father well trusted him, there was something wrong with him. He was always involved in Derzeli, and people did not wonder why someone as old as him was the way he was. How he was a man who looked like he was in his mid-30 but, he was hundreds of years old.
We mounted our horses, and we left. Being on the road with my father was something I did not think about before. After my mother’s death, he changed. How he was not wanting to face what was happening now but did not want to let go. My brother was not the cause of our mother’s death, and I will do what I could to make him see that.
Being on the road seemed like a lifetime. Traveling north was not going to end well. I did not often do it, so I did not know how big this place was. Because we were on the road, and finally, we came upon a kingdom from far away. I knew that I was able to see her. Because tomorrow she, along with her father, was going to go with us on the road. She is seen as a companion to him. They did not kill at all.
Seeing her, I would be a coward and run. But then, when we came through the gate, I jumped off my horse so fast because It felt like a lifetime of riding.
Lord Dahrsz was waiting for us right when we got up to Lorne Castle, which overlooked the entire village and overlooked all around. Lorne, if I could remember, was allying to Derzeli.
I always noticed how no matter if it were a beautiful day or dreary, it would rain all day. She was radiant. Always brought light wherever she went. Always wanted to tell her how I felt but could not, I knew I was a coward. The only other reason I did not say a word was also because of my brother. I did not want to be like the brother having to compete for a girl’s heart, and he was more so all I had in my life.
Anna walked straight towards my father and me. But then, without thinking about it, I started walking as fast as I could to look past her and not even say a word. Walking for like a minute, I was far that curiosity went through my mind to turn around. Of course, my brother was talking to her, and she was smiling.
All I knew was that we would not be here for long and that we would be leaving tomorrow morning. I was not fond of being the son of a man who thought hunting a beautiful animal was a form of showing how a man has honor.
Laying in the room I was sharing with Cullen, and I was there all alone. Something that was going through my mind was, how could I save them? Thinking about doing that, my father, brother, and many people in these lands would be looked down upon. Not being able to lie down anymore, I ventured out into the hallway of the castle. How it was a place I had never really been to in all my life.
Walking down the hallway, I noticed an open courtyard. Anna was sitting there all by herself. My brother was not even in her shadow, which I was shocked about because he always followed her like a scared dog.
“I thought you would be at the party,” I whispered.
Anna turned to me and said, “It’s a party for something I do not believe. Also, I was able to have my father talk Cullen’s ear off, so it was simple to get out.”
Walking over to her, I did the natural thing sitting next to her and looking at her in the face. It was hard for me to do since I was in love with her since I was a small child. When looking at her, all she did was smile at me.
“I am shocked you wanted to slip away from my brother. He is very fond of you, and that is something everyone does know my lady,” I said.
She looked right at me and did the small chuckle that she always did. The only reply from that was, “Believe me, I know. It is something that I have known for a while. Your brother needs to know that he is a nice person in my eyes, but I do not see him as someone whom I want to spend the rest of my life with.”
“Then, who do you see yourself with more than my lady?” I asked.
All she could do was smile and look deep into my eyes. She would not stop staring at me for anything.
“Whom do you think I mean?” she asked me.
Hearing how she replied to her question, I knew she was mentioning me.
Looking up into the sky, I started to notice that it was dark. Stars in the air and the moon were so bright that it was shining down right at me. How the moon was doing that to me was telling me to say something else to her, but it was something I was cowardly about doing.
