Island Shifters: Book 01 - An Oath of the Blood (61 page)

The galvanized Iserlohn Army collided with the Cymans in a barrage of violence. Growling, Maximus tried to drive through the horde to give chase when one of the Cyman’s pulled him from the saddle. Immediately, three lethal sabers lashed out of the dark to deal with the threat.

“Father!”

Maximus barely heard the call over the clamor of battle both on the ground and in the sky. He spun around to see Kiernan running through the throng to reach him. “Kiernan!” She looked so tired and frail as she tried to push through the fighting men. He just wanted to wrap her in his arms and carry her away to safety.

Suddenly, she stopped and turned her head to the side. Someone was calling to her. Kiernan produced a weary smile as one of the sorceresses of Elloree approached her.

Maximus continued forward and then his eyes widened in fright. It was the redheaded witch Gemini called Citrine. How could that be? Avalon had killed her. He saw it with his own two eyes.

His blood froze in his veins. “Kiernan, run!” Kiernan heard his warning and crouched, unsure as to where the danger was coming from.

The dead witch continued to stalk Kiernan, and Maximus saw that she was holding a knife in the palm of her hand. He ran as fast as he could, pushing soldiers out of his way and screaming to his daughter. He would never get there in time, he realized. “Kiernan!”

Galen Starr’s warning flashed through his mind. One of those that went forth on the journey to Callyn-Rhe would not survive. He fell to his knees and hung his head in anguish. “I am so sorry, Gracie.”

Daring to look up one last time, Kiernan was momentarily blocked from his view when a streak of white fur rushed past her out of nowhere and tackled the witch to the ground. The sorceress landed flat on her back, and the large Draca Cat stood over her commandingly. Maximus watched in helplessness as the witch surreptitiously slipped her hand out from under her body and lifted the knife. Her face twisted in a sneer, she swung her arm upward and plunged the weapon deep into the chest of the unsuspecting cat.

Red blood stained the Draca’s fur, and he looked down at his chest in surprise. Then, his snowy head lifted and he turned to find Kiernan. Twin green eyes locked for a long, poignant moment, and then the enormous body crumbled down to the ground as the witch got to her feet and disappeared into the embattled mass of men.

“NO!” The heart-wrenching scream from his daughter propelled him into action. He pressed forward forcefully, and when he arrived at her side, she was cradling the Draca.

It was Bajan.

Tears poured down her face and she screamed and rocked in mortal agony as her lifelong companion took a final ragged breath and was still.

“Get out of my way!” screamed Adrian, slashing at the neck and shoulders of any Cyman soldier who found himself within striking range of his sword.

I am almost there!

The road cut into the eastern side of the valley would conceal his passage until he arrived at the Keep. There, Galen Starr would be powerless against him. Not even the Mage for whom the fortress was named could penetrate the potent wards surrounding the Keep in his current spirit form.

Another Cyman soldier stood in the path before him, so he struck out. The Cyman reacted instinctively and swung around, backhanding Adrian so viciously he was swept from the saddle. “Idiot!” Adrian cast out his hand, and the Cyman scratched at his throat as he began to choke. His face turned red and then purple as he fell thrashing to the ground.

An angel swooped down close to where Adrian was standing, and with a wordless snarl, he dove behind an overturned wagon.

They were hunting him. He could end this now and kill everybody on the battlefield, but that would cost him his own life as well, for surely Galen would know where he was if he tried to conjure magic of that magnitude. His only choice was to make it to the Keep unseen.

Suddenly, two big hands reached out and dragged Adrian from his concealment. He sighed in relief. It was just Lucin.

“It is all over, Mage.”

Adrian shook his head. “Not yet, Lucin. Get me to the Keep! There we will live to fight another day!”

Lucin’s eye narrowed. “I am not takin’ you anywhere.”

The skin around Adrian’s eyes tightened. “I should have killed you a long time ago, Lucin. The only reason I kept you alive was to keep these mutants controlled while I slowly changed them into demons! And you,” he paused, pointing, “would have been my last!”

Lucin smiled at him. “I made a promise to myself the night you killed twelve of my soldiers and the innocent Elven girl, Siole, that I be the one to personally see to your death. I do this for Maree and Miah and Titus and all of the Cyman people you ‘ave tortured and abused.”

“A little early to declare victory is it not, Captain? You see, I have powerful wards set at the Keep. Galen Starr will not be able to touch me there. And, let me
promise
you something, Lucin. As soon as Galen has gone back to the Highworld where he belongs, I will travel back to Nordik and hunt down your wife and daughter. I
promise
you, Lucin, that their deaths will not come quick or easy.”

The Cyman Captain just stared at him. “Would you like to finally ‘ear the third prophecy, Mage?”

“This is your last chance, Lucin! Get me back to the Keep now, and I will let your family live!”

With battle raging all around them, Lucin recited the words. “A
t the final battle, there is hope for the land, all Men, Elves, and Dwarves, it is out of your hand; The angels will battle for liberation, the demons will battle for domination; It all ends as it once began, between the raven and the star; Who will prevail at the end of the day, is yet to be decided from afar.”

“GALEN STARR!” bellowed Lucin.

“Lucin! Quiet!”

Lucin continued to scream over the mayhem. “GALEN STARR! GALEN STARR!”

The forbidding white angel with flowing hair and a sword of light heard the call.

Adrian looked up in contemptuous acceptance as his mentor and nemesis rushed toward him, and he did not utter a sound as Galen’s white sword cut him in half.

With a powerful jolt, the world turned light.

Epilogue

A N
EW
W
ORLD

T
he Island of Massa won the battle, but would be forever changed by it. Adrian Ravener was right—it truly was a New World, and the aftermath brought many surprising events as proof of that fact.

After learning from Galen that the passive Cymans only fought for the Raveners under extreme duress and the threat of death for themselves and their loved ones, the Kings agreed to allow them to go home to Nordik and reunite with their wives and children. The huge Cyman Captain, Lucin, was so overwhelmed with emotion that he cried. He wept even harder when Kiernan Everard told him of his son’s final words.

The three Kings of Massa agreed to institute a new council for the unification of the island. They would meet once a month to discuss all matters necessary to strengthen and revive the island and its people.

King Rik Rojin reminded Rogan Radek of his promise to return to Deepstone. There was much they needed to discuss the King told him with a pat on the shoulder, and Prince Erik was anxiously awaiting his cousin’s return.

King Jerund J’El pledged to Airron Falewir that he would teach him what all Elves but he knew how to do—summon animals. He also agreed to teach him the Elven Morning Song to Elán.

King Maximus Everard declared to his daughter and all on the battlefield that day that there would be no more exile for magic users. Kiernan embraced her father and promised to be home very soon.

The three Kings and their armies departed the Valley of Flame.

Gemini and the sorceresses of Elloree gave farewells to their sister, Kiernan, with heartfelt assurances to stay in touch. They did not seem surprised when Kiernan told them that she would not be advancing to the next level within the coven. Beck Atlan made a mental note to ask Kiernan what that meant.

The Tribe Leader of the Halfies was most pleased with the outcome of what was being referred to as the Demon War. Not a single Halfie was killed in battle. Vinni Vee and his Halfies vowed to try to be good citizens of Massa as they searched for a new home. Then, Vinni reflexively kicked Beck Atlan in the knee before he departed.

Of Avalon Ravener, there was no information. The witches of Elloree declared that they would hunt her down, but it was generally agreed that without her brother, she would probably remain in hiding and not cause further problems for the people of Massa. If she did reappear, the people were confident in the sorceresses’ ability to deal with her.

The angels, having defeated the demons, returned to the Highworld through The Protetor. Unless dire circumstances arose, it would be the last time they would see each other, they said, but that was the way it was meant to be.

They said that often, thought Rogan Radek.

The biggest shock came from one of the Draca Cats. After they laid Bajan to rest in a touching ceremony that Kiernan translated for the Massans, Felice approached to tell her she was going to have Bajan’s cub. She promised Kiernan that the cub would be Kiernan’s first child’s bondmate. This touched Kiernan profoundly, and it took some time before she was able to stop crying. Prophecy took one of their own, but left another in his place.

Finally, it was just the shifters left. Plus one. Unbeknownst to King Rik, the resourceful Deepstone soldier, Janin, infiltrated his entourage of Fists and traveled unobserved with them to the Valley of Flame.

Janin snuck up behind Rogan and wrapped her arms around his waist. Startled, the Dwarf turned to look at her and his face and ears turned bright red. But, he did not move away. He put his arm out and Janin ducked under, still clutching his middle.

“Don’t worry, Janin,” said Kiernan loudly, “it took Beck a long time to figure it out, too.”

“I figured it out!” countered Rogan. “A long time ago, I might add. But in case you have not noticed, Kiernan, I have been a little
busy
lately.”

They all laughed as they started south after the Draca Cats. The four friends did not know what the future held for them—knew only that they were not yet ready to go their separate ways. The Dracas invited them back to Callyn-Rhe for rest and time to heal from the shifting and the effects of battle.

They were at peace.

The fighting was over, there was a profound comfort in knowing that their family and friends were safe in the Highworld, and they had a new magical life ahead of them.

“Besides,” continued Rogan, “what kind of decent young lady would want to be with a magic shifter like me?”

“This one,” smiled Janin. “I have no shame.”

Of course, Airron roared in laughter at that.

And, when Airron Falewir laughed, they all laughed with him.

The End