Deceptions fall, p.25
Deception's Fall, page 25
part #6 of Call of the Elements Series
He looked down at his own armor and grimaced. Nearly every inch of him was covered in blood.
I pushed myself to my feet and waded through the bloody shit puddles.
“I suggest full immersion, child,” Göksu said, appearing at my side. “There are plenty of oceans available.”
I almost stuck out my tongue, but I was afraid to get something on it.
“I notice you didn’t emerge from that,” I spat, pointing at the soupy mess around me.
“No.” His look of disgust almost made me laugh, but I couldn’t get past what had happened here.
“Was there another attack besides this one?” I asked, looking around for Dusha.
“He’s checking, but I don’t think so,” Göksu replied.
Niyol and Adeen swirled around me, then stopped next to my water elemental.
“Wow, princess, that’s awful,” Niyol said. I could almost see him wrinkling his transparent nose.
“You’re so helpful, Niyol.”
“I try.” He shrugged, and I smiled at his sarcasm.
I pulled my gaze from them and let it stretch over the corpses still littering the field. The elves were gone, leaving behind the dead vampires and Neònach’s Saighdear.
I expected the pulsing silver lines of the Arcanists’ magic to still be there, but they weren’t. Neither was the fiery spiderweb from the portal. In time, we wouldn’t even know a battle took place. Well, maybe. I doubted the trees would ever willingly put their roots down here.
“The earth will take the dead,” Danae rumbled without showing herself.
“Thanks. The Forest doesn’t need this reminder.”
Magic hummed in the air, and the ground trembled. A few seconds later, the bodies started sinking into the blood-soaked soil.
“The Arcanists did a marvelous thing here today,” I told Mal.
“Yes, but it’s terrible for their already inflated egos.”
My eyebrows rose. His comments from earlier about the Arcanists resurfaced. It wasn’t hard to imagine them bullying those they considered inferior.
“Probably, but I’ll take that over Neònach’s army.”
He huffed. “You trumped their magic. They’ll not forget.”
“Are you kidding?” I rolled my eyes and waved a hand at the bloody battlefield. “I couldn’t close that portal.”
“No, but it took twelve of them to close it.” He wrinkled his nose, then ran a finger along my jaw. Several clumps of something really nasty clung to his hand. “That’s disgusting.” He shook his hand, flinging the nasty on the ground. “Fifty of our warriors could not kill that creature, but you did with a single pulse of magic.”
I waved a hand at him. “Whatever. That single pulse of magic drained me. And it wasn’t my magic.” I looked around for my elementals, but they’d already left. “I need a shower. We can talk about this later.”
“I’m going back to the island to make sure everything’s okay.” Ronquil’s tired gait gave away his exhaustion. He couldn’t even give me his signature scowl.
“Yeah, I know,” I snapped. “I’ll get clean before I show up for dinner.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Take your time. I imagine I’ll be late. Lodron and I have a lot to discuss.” Which meant I wouldn’t get time with the captain. Ronquil turned to Mal and offered his hand. “I’m grateful you’re with us. Your warriors were amazing.”
Mal’s eyebrows rose, but he shook Ronquil’s offered hand. “I’m honored to be chosen. It was good for our soldiers to feel useful. And we needed to see the vampires’ strength.”
“I’m sorry for your losses,” Ronquil said. Mal acknowledged it with a nod. “I’ll meet everyone at the tower as soon as I can.” He didn’t wait for a reply before he disappeared.
“Let’s get you back to the tower,” Mal said, reaching for my elbow.
I tried to take a step back and stumbled. “I don’t want to take this nasty shit home,” I argued. “I’m going with Göksu’s suggestion to jump in the ocean first.”
“Then let me go with you,” he insisted. “You’re about to pass out.”
“Whatever.” I didn’t feel like arguing, so I let him grab my arm and drop us in the ocean.
Chapter 23
Waiting for our assault on the Highland Kingdom was the worst. Everyone was hovering on pins and needles, just waiting for the hammer to drop. I’d made two trips back to the Forest to check on the portal that was no longer there. Along with the rest of the Dionadair, I trained with the minimal energy required. We were afraid to wear ourselves out, so the days stretched on endlessly.
I spent my nights with Lodron, sleeping. Okay, not just sleeping. We also did a lot of talking. Neither of us could shut down our brains, so we talked about his family, mostly. He made me tell him about my foster parents and growing up in a public school system. It was a good distraction, until it wasn’t.
We all expected our enemy to retaliate, but they didn’t. Who doesn’t strike back after a beating like that? Neònach’s access to the Woodlands was now closed, but it wasn’t the only way her army could reach us. They should’ve been pissed about it, but we heard nothing.
Which left me standing in the large open field near Vesta with hundreds of fae warriors from both the Oceanic and Woodland Kingdoms. The day of our assault had finally arrived. Dozens more fae were at the twenty staging areas around the world waiting to transport our allies to the Highland Kingdom. The other Dionadair waited with their people. I hadn’t seen most of them since the previous afternoon. We were all waiting on Dusha to tell us the elementals were ready to bring down the barrier.
This wasn’t the first time I wondered about the elementals’ direct involvement. Every time before, their actions were directed through us. Was our current predicament so volatile they felt like they had to intervene? Or was it because Neònach had breached our realm and basically threw the whole peace treaty out the window?
Dusha had pummeled the creature who attacked me during my last battle in the Forest of Tears. I’d never seen him physically hit anyone, and the realization made me pause. The rest of my elementals had actively fought at my side several times, but not my spirit elemental. He’d always channeled his magic through me. Until now. What did that mean?
“Are you okay?” Lodron’s sister, Luria, leaned down and whispered in my ear.
“Yep. Too much time to think.”
“I agree.”
I looked up at my friend. We hadn’t spent much time together since the Dionadair had been selected. I assumed she avoided me on purpose because she didn’t make the cut. More like she and Elaine had refused to agree, which led to others being selected. Or maybe the elementals decided they had enough fae because the rest of our roster consisted of the other races.
“Are you still mad at me?” I asked.
She huffed. “I was never mad at you, AJ.” The frown on her face wasn’t very convincing. “Okay, maybe a little, but Elaine wouldn’t budge, and I wasn’t prepared to throw away our relationship.” She bit her bottom lip. “And honestly, watching how this affects my brother makes me grateful I didn’t join.”
Her words cut deep, mostly because they were true. Lodron had already told me how hard it was for him to not be directly involved. It wouldn’t get any easier.
“Yeah,” I mumbled, not really knowing what else to say.
“He’s not taking it as well as you’d think,” she said softly, pulling me away from the crowd. “It’s hard to watch him be so unsettled.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make his life difficult.”
We wandered far enough away to be out of earshot of anyone else.
“Don’t you dare try to take the blame,” she hissed, her harsh expression contradicting her soft voice. “We love who we love. Never in a million years would I have guessed I’d end up with a shifter. I honestly assumed I’d spend my life alone.”
She slapped my shoulder and grinned. Her abrupt change in attitude made my head spin. I’d forgotten how easily she changed gears.
“Had it not been for you, I never would’ve met Elaine,” she continued. “So put your self-pity aside. Lodron will find a way to sort his priorities. He always does.”
“Thanks. I missed your brutal honesty,” I said, rubbing my arm. “Seriously, though. I don’t want to hurt your brother.”
Luria shrugged. “Then don’t.”
She walked away like it was as easy as that. Maybe it was. What the hell did I know?
I let my gaze wander over the sea of warriors all dressed in our really cool armor. Alra and his team of blacksmiths had outfitted the rest of the Dionadair as well, except for Matt. They hadn’t figured out how to make the armor shift with him. I had complete faith in them, though. Shifting couldn’t be that much different from our ability to mimic. They’d make it work.
Ronquil, Lodron, and Commander Jesenia stood among a small group separated from the rest. Probably discussing last minute details. Lodron looked up and caught me watching him.
Come here, he said in my mind.
What will you give me if I do? I teased.
His face flushed, but he didn’t answer my question. Get over here.
I grinned and walked across the field between us.
“I want you to take me to the dragon,” Lodron said as soon as I joined their group.
“Okay, have you already met him, or will this be your first time?” I asked, sort of hoping Mal had already done the introductions. Even though he’d agreed to help us, that damn dragon had pissed me off.
“We met briefly yesterday,” he confirmed. “But I thought of more questions.”
I nodded and extended my hand to him. He took it and looked at Ronquil. “I’ll meet you at the gates.”
A knowing look passed between the two men. Had they both been at the gates when the elders attacked all those years ago? Or was it something else? I doubted he’d tell me, not today anyway.
“Let’s go,” Lodron said, squeezing my hand.
I decided to take him to the path a couple dozen yards below Zane’s cave. Walking through the freezing snow wasn’t my idea of a good time. Time we didn’t really have. Dusha could show up at any minute.
Zane was in his dragon form and already on the ledge, staring at us when we walked up. The red striations on his black scales flickered in the sun, making him look even more deadly. I felt Lodron stiffen at my side. He must have met the man, not the dragon.
The dragon snorted, blowing plumes of snow over our heads. I glared at him, and he showed all his teeth.
“Don’t smile, you’ll scare the kids,” I said, brushing snow from my shoulders.
“That’s the point,” he rumbled. “But you’re the only child here.”
“And I ain’t scared of you,” I lied. I really was scared of Zane. I suspected he could kill me pretty easily.
His massive head swiveled towards Lodron. “What brings you to my home unannounced?”
“I should’ve asked yesterday and didn’t.” Lodron released my hand and stepped forward. “It’s very likely the fight outside the castle won’t last. I was uncertain if you were willing to fight once we’re forced indoors.”
“A very polite way of asking if my human form is an effective warrior,” Zane answered.
Lodron chuckled. “I assume you’re effective regardless of your form, but I wanted to ensure you were also willing.”
Zane’s dragon disappeared, replaced by the man I’d met a few days prior. It still amazed me that he kept all his clothes unlike the other shifters, who ended up naked.
“I’m willing because of my oath with the goddess,” he said, nodding my way.
A low growl rumbled in my throat. Everyone needed to get over that shit.
“Then I hope her charm works as well on you as it does on everyone else,” Lodron stated. “We need more than a reluctant ally.”
Zane turned his back on us and disappeared into the cave. I glanced at Lodron and shrugged, not knowing if we were supposed to follow.
“I guess we’re done,” Lodron mumbled.
“Come inside,” Zane’s voice echoed. “Unless you want to stand out in the cold.”
I didn’t hesitate. I grew up in the fricking desert. Standing in the snow was the last thing I wanted.
Lodron followed close on my heels, and I heard his intake of breath as the temperature changed to its balmy warmth. Had Mal not brought him here yesterday?
“Sit down,” Zane commanded. “I assume we have a little time. You need to know you have more than one traitor among the elves.”
I dropped into the plush sofa I’d occupied the other day and gave Zane a harsh look.
“What do you mean?” Lodron asked before I could as he sat on the cushion next to me.
The dragon eyed me carefully, not even giving Lodron a second glance. “You eliminated Maldrius’ effectiveness with your possession of him. He would have discovered their treachery sooner.”
My face flushed, and I avoided looking at Lodron. I hadn’t had time to tell him about the method Mal and I used to keep the Arcanists out of my head. That wasn’t true. I hadn’t made time.
“What treachery?” I asked, hoping to redirect the conversation.
Zane raised an eyebrow. “Have you not wondered how the elves closed the barrier so easily?”
“It didn’t look easy to me,” I argued. “And the Elvin warriors were relentless in the battle against the vampires. They left no survivors. Why wouldn’t they just let Neònach’s forces come through the portal and destroy our Forest if they were the enemy?”
“The Arcanists are no longer loyal to the Elvin king,” Zane replied. “Most of them, anyway. But the king’s soldiers still fight for him.”
I let his words sink in. It honestly didn’t make sense. Why would the Arcanists agree to close the portal in the Forest if they weren’t our allies?
“They closed the portal in the Woodlands to earn our trust,” Lodron said, shaking his head. “So that we’ll let them into the Highland Palace. We wouldn’t know of their deceit until it was too late.” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “How much has Maldrius told them about the barrier and our timeline for the attack?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, trying to think back to the conversations we had with Vethiar. Had we told her we could breach the Highland Palace? Yes, she knew about the portal there, but I couldn’t remember if we’d said anything else.
Dusha, can you bring Maldrius to us?
Yes.
“Dusha is bringing Mal here,” I said. “It might be a good idea to let Ronquil know what’s happening.”
“It explains why neither Neònach or Stephan have retaliated for their loss in the Forest,” Lodron said, pulling his gaze from me and giving it to Zane. “How much do you know?”
My elemental prevented the dragon from responding, blanketing the room with his blinding light. As soon as it faded, I glared at him, but it didn’t last.
A bloodied elf hung in his arms.
“We should leave,” Dusha stated, “The Arcanists will likely look for him here first.”
“They did this to him?” I demanded, already on my feet and rushing to Mal’s side.
Lodron was right behind me. My hand ran along the elf’s neck looking for a pulse. He was still alive. The thought of him dying was extremely unpleasant. I barely trusted him and hated him from the moment we first met, but we’d connected in the last week, and he’d let me see a part of him I suspected no one else did. Either that or he was just as manipulative as the rest of these bastards. I set the thought aside. Now wasn’t the time to debate Mal’s loyalty. I trusted him.
“Yes,” Dusha replied, meeting my worried gaze but not answering any of the questions running through my mind.
“Are you coming with us?” I asked, spinning around to Zane.
“I’ll arrive at your island as soon as my trove is sealed,” he replied, glancing at Mal’s unconscious body.
Lodron’s arm wrapped around my waist, then Dusha’s wings enveloped us. I barely had time to see Zane disappear further into the cave before my elemental whisked us away.
Rather than take us to the healer’s section of the castle, Dusha dropped us off in my apartment. I wanted to argue about getting blood all over my stuff, but I understood. Mal was hurt and we didn’t know who to trust, including the elf.
“We should’ve taken him to the dungeon,” Lodron snapped as soon as he realized where we were.
“Are you kidding?” I asked. “He’s one of us, not a traitor.”
Lodron gave me one of those looks an adult gives a child when they’ve said something stupid. “How can you possibly say that after what we just heard?”
I scoffed and turned to Dusha. “Put him in my bathtub so he isn’t dripping blood everywhere, then find out what his elementals are doing. His water element should’ve healed this shit already.”
“Maldrius told us not to interfere,” a deep voice echoed through the room, followed by the appearance of the accused elemental.
“I think you’re safe to interfere now,” I snapped, “unless you plan to make me do it.”
The elemental glowered at me, then followed Dusha into my bathroom anyway.
“AJ, we don’t know where his loyalties are,” Lodron insisted.
I sighed and closed the small gap between me and the captain. He wasn’t going to like what I had to say. I’d already seen his jealousy. The green monster he wasn’t supposed to have.
My fingers splayed against his chest, and I met his eyes. He narrowed them at me.
“I’ve learned quite a bit about Maldrius in the last week or so,” I said, forcing myself to not look away from his nervous gaze. “Keep in mind that his elementals will keep him in check. Beyond that, he’s still the focused, dispassionate individual you know, but he’s been forced to re-evaluate his priorities.”
I took a deep breath and let my hand slide down his stomach. He didn’t respond, which scared the hell outta me.
“Do you know why he forced the permanent barrier around his mind?” I asked.
Lodron shook his head. “He never shares, AJ.”
“Never is a long time, Lodron,” I countered. “The Arcanists are bullies. They play with people’s minds, especially the elves without magic,” I explained, repeating what Mal told me about being their guinea pig. “They’re the reason he closed off his mind, to protect himself from them.”
