Night of the Storm: An Epic Fantasy Novel (The Eura Chronicles Book 2) (15 page)

LIAM RESISTED THE URGE
to hold Lilae’s hand and help her from her chair with wooden wheels.

He watched her stand, tense and ready to come to her aid. But, she managed to come to her feet gracefully.

“How are you feeling today?”

Rowe asked the question that Liam had been thinking since Lilae decided she was ready to join the Council in Gollush’s meeting hall.

“I’m fine,” she said, taking a deep breath as she took in the setting before her.

The eyes of seven high-ranked Shadow Elves joined Liam in watching her stride from her chair at the entrance of the massive room to the circular stone table in the center.

Liam pulled out a chair for her and sat back in the seat beside her.

“Are you sure you’re okay to be up and about again?”

“I am starting to feel like myself again, Liam. Thanks to you.”

Lilae’s smile reminded Liam of the moment he’d never forget. Simply lying in bed with her had been a true gift. The smell of her hair would be a welcome scent he would never forget.

Rowe gave Liam a wink and a nudged him in the side of his ribcage.

“We are pleased that The Flame is able to join us,” Pretica said. She remained standing after the other men and women sat around the large table. “Today, we have Chief Matsuharu, Chief Keiko, Grand Master Neru, Lord and Lady Song, Chief Altan, and Master Soh. Elder, Delia has brought together Liam: The Storm, Lilae: The Flame, and Rowe— a Tryan warrior.”

Liam couldn’t help exchanging a smirk with Rowe.

Tryan warrior, indeed.

How
elite
Pretica made him sound.

Liam shook his head. He knew better than most that Rowe was much more than just a warrior.

“Please bow in a show of mutual respect.”

Everyone bowed their heads. Then, they resumed sharing curious looks at one another from over full goblets of wine and water.

Liam took each Shadow Elf in—watching their every move. He still wasn’t sure if Shadow Elves could be fully trusted. Any one of the assembled councilmen could be spies or assassins.

“Elder, Delia has some news she’d like to share.”

Delia stood and tapped her staff on the table.

The eyes of the Shadow Elves widened when Delia’s staff sent a glow into the center of the table and opened into a flickering scene that looked much like a hazy dream.

Liam leaned forward. His eyes narrowed.

“Is that Oren?” Rowe’s question was laced with disbelief. The usual humor in his voice was gone. His face turned ashen as his eyes widened at the scene before them.

Delia pursed her lips and nodded. “It is. Oren is just one of the many kingdoms under attack.”

The blood drained from Liam’s face as he looked at the dead bodies strewn around the streets of his kingdom. Soldiers and citizens in brown uniforms worked to remove the bodies, tossing them into carts. He rose from his seat, leaning across the table for a better look.

“Klimmerick’s Row.” Liam swallowed back a lump in his throat. “What is happening?”

“What you see here is Wexcyn’s first stage of an attack on Ellowen,” Delia said, her voice grave. “A plague has been set free. Sickness will spread through all of the major kingdoms of our world. Until the weak are gone, and the strong are weakened. This is how he will reduce the number of those opposing his rule.”

“We have to do something,” Liam said, his heart thumping in his chest. His people were dying. He looked away, his troubled eyes meeting Rowe’s. “We have to go back and help them.”

Rowe nodded.

“There is nothing you can do for them right now, Liam. The sickness will spread and do its job. What we must do is find an antidote that will cure those who suffer from this affliction.”

Imagining his mother laying in her bed, ill with a deadly plague made him want turn, leave, and find a horse. Oren was an ocean and thousands of miles away and, yet he would find a way.

Liam tried to keep his composure. “How?”

“We were brought together for a reason. I left my mountain home and vow of solitude to stand against this evil,” Grand Master Neru said. His bushy white eyebrows rose. “I am willing to offer my fighting skills and potions to the cause.” He folded his hands on the table, his thin eyes narrowing to slits. “My knowledge of potions is only surpassed by Vaugner’s knowledge of curses.”

“Exactly. Vaugner is proficient in the dark arts of the Underworld. We need a combination of both to stop the plague that threatens our entire world.”

“We are lucky to have him on our side then,” Lilae said, everyone’s attention going to her and her soft voice. She looked down at the table, her long hair covering her face—shielding her.

“That is correct,” Grand Master Neru said with a nod. “I believe we can make a stand against this threat with his help. When are you going to meet with him?”

Delia took her seat next to Lilae. “We leave tomorrow, Grand Master Neru. I believe it is a few days time on foot. With Lilae strong enough for travel, we have much ground to cover to make up for lost time. Wexcyn and his agents certainly aren’t wasting a second while we organize.”

He gave the table a single tap. “I’m going with you,” he said. “I know Nostfar quite well. I can guide you to where The Barriers used to stand, and together we can enter the Goblin City.”

“We welcome you on our journey, Grand Master Neru,” Liam said.

“Please, call me Neru.”

“Very well.” Delia nodded. “We’d be honored to have you accompany us.”

Lady Song leaned forward, her bosom pressed against the table. Regal and beautiful in her purple gown, she fixed her dark brown eyes on Delia, her gray skin flawless like porcelain.

“How long before the plague reaches Nostfar? Do we have time to prepare for an outbreak?” Lady Song’s thin brows lifted as she looked from Delia to Lord Song, a white-haired elderly Shadow Elf. “We haven’t seen a widespread illness since the 2
nd
century when the dragons passed their fire disease to the Shadow Elves of Evorn.”

Delia turned her indigo gaze to Lady Song and lowered her staff, ending the scene of Oren’s plight.

“It’s already here.”

LILAE FOLLOWED LIAM INTO THE
crowd of Shadow Elves. Her stomach was twisted into knots at seeing the fate of Liam’s kingdom and the news of the plague.

She had no allegiance to any kingdom. The wild was more her home than any particular place.

“Liam,” Lilae called, hoping he would slow down so she wouldn’t have to run to keep up with him.

Liam stopped but didn’t look back at her.

“Wait,” Lilae said, ignoring the incessant burning in her legs.

The Shadow Elves made a path for her as she stepped down the stairs that led from the meeting hall to the main level, which was alive with music and loud chatter. Lilae was well aware that the elves feared her. The tattoos on her skin were a sign of evil, even if it had been applied against her will.

She clenched her jaw, used to ignoring judging looks.

“Are you all right?”

Liam’s shoulders slumped. “I just wish there was something I can do. What if my mother is one of the dead?”

Lilae’s brows furrowed as she stood in front of him. She took his face in her hands, warmth filling her at their touch. Her heart broke at the sight of tears shimmering in his eyes.

“You’d feel it,” she said. “You’d know if your mother was dead.”

He lifted his chin and took her hands into his. “Do you really think so?”

“I do. There is no use feeling grief for something you are uncertain of.”

Lilae sighed and stepped even closer—so close that her chest was pressed to Liam’s. Her eyes sparked with determination as she looked up at him. “We will make things right. I swear it.”

Liam’s forehead creased as he stared down at her.

Lilae would give anything to know what went through his mind as he looked at her like that. The sounds of chatter at rushing water seemed to dull as they shared a look. She hadn’t realized just how close they stood to one another, close enough to feel and hear his soft breaths. Her hands were still within his, and she feared they’d start trembling at any moment.

A flush crept up her face as she imagined him leaning down slightly and kissing her fully on the lips. How she wished, he would.

“I need a drink,” Rowe’s voice boomed, breaking Lilae from her thoughts. “What do you say, Liam?”

She stepped back and took a deep breath.

“Enjoy, lads. I’m going to try to get some rest.”

“Don’t go,” Liam said. He reached for her hand. “Come, you’ve been resting for days. We leave tomorrow. You should stretch your legs out a bit.”

Lilae glanced down at his hand, a smile threatening to take over her face. “If you insist.”

“Of course,” Liam said, and she slipped her hand into his.

He held her firmly, and Rowe’s eyes lingered on their hands. He flickered a glance from Lilae to Liam, and his forehead creased.

“Did I miss something?”

Lilae chuckled, her cheeks reddening as Rowe stared at them, crossing his arms across his chest.

“Where are we going?” Lilae cleared her throat, hoping to detract from Rowe’s quizzical look at her and Liam. “I admit this place is like a maze to me. I haven’t been out to explore.”

Her eyes scanned the surroundings, feeling tiny amidst the tall buildings that stretched toward the ceiling, which had to be hundreds of feet high. Thousands of Shadow Elves dwelled in Gollush, and at that hour, many of them were out on the city streets, enjoying what were considered their evening hours.

Without a shred of sunlight to be seen, it is hard to distinguish the time. Lilae and the others were beginning to adjust to this new schedule.

Soon, however, they’d be out within the world once more, where danger lurked, and their journey was certain to be filled with peril.

Lilae almost wished they could stay within the safety of Gollush’s walls just a bit longer.

She never expected to feel safe around Shadow Elves.

“There is a tavern on the third level, near the west gate,” Rowe said, stepping through the path the Shadow Elves made for him. Some elves were almost as tall as Rowe. Still, he towered over them as they passed by. “Just follow me. I’ll show you a good time.”

Lilae smiled. The promise was alluring. With Liam by her side, there were no doubts that her evening would be better spent at the tavern than in her lonely bed.

With the nightmares.

THE INNER CITY OF
Gollush bustled with energy. Shadow Elves crowded the streets. Venders were out, setting up shops and carts. Young Shadow Elves stayed together in packs, arms locked and smiles on their faces as they socialized with one another.

Lilae realized that she might actually miss Gollush. She still wasn’t used to being stared at all of the time, but Shadow Elves were much friendlier than she’d ever anticipated.

“Would you like a shawl, miss?” A tall shopkeeper in an evergreen dress called to Lilae, her hands outstretched to reveal a beautiful blue piece of fabric embellished with silver embroidery. Her wide smile seemed to take over her oval-shaped face.

“No, thank you.” Lilae eyed the garment, almost tempted to touch it. She did miss nice clothing. Growing up as a nomad didn’t afford her with pretty dresses or anything of the sort. She and her family lived a simple life, but as a slave, she’d worn only the best dresses and garbs.

“Come now, try it on,” the shopkeeper insisted.

Lilae smiled and shook her head. She kept close to Liam as they traveled along a narrow road between two rows of shops that housed what had to be hundreds of families. She noticed that many of the elves were trying to get a better look at the foreigners: she wished they could hurry to their destination.

Having people so close that they could touch made Lilae uncomfortable.

After being in Avia’Torena for nearly a year, Lilae had seen heavily populated areas, but this was different. Gollush was built upward while Kavien’s empire was sprawled over an expansive space.

“We have to show her the river,” Liam said to Rowe as they stopped at a dead end.

Lilae stood back as they came upon a fork in the road that stretched outward from a fountain with a giant statue of a wyvern in the center, its wings outstretched as if it were about to take flight.

On either side were more roads, shops, and Shadow Elves camped out wherever there was space, chatting and eating from long skewers stacked with delicious smelling meats and vegetables.

“Grand idea,” Rowe said. “They say it's good luck to make a wish at the river.”

“There’s a river
inside
the cavern?”

“Yes.” Liam nodded at her, smiling like an excited child, joy at sharing something with her in his eyes. “It is unlike anything you’ve ever seen.”

Lilae put her hands on her hips. A coy smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “How do you know what I’ve seen? I’ve been from one end of Eura to the other.”

“We’ll see then.” Liam took her hand, pulling her into his body. In front of everyone, he placed both hands on either side of Lilae’s face, fingers laced in her hair, and kissed her.

Lilae’s eyes closed as she breathed him in, the kiss sending a flood of cold into her body.

Every kiss from Liam was pure magic.

Liam pulled back and smiled at her, a sparkle in his crystalline blue eyes as his thumb caressed her cheek. For a moment, no one else existed.

“Shall we?” Liam looked at Rowe as he hooked his thumb in his belt.

Lilae blushed as the world returned around her. The sounds, smells, sights had vanished during her magical kiss.

There was no hiding it. Liam was not ashamed of whatever had developed between the two.

Sucking in a breath, Lilae glanced at Rowe.

A smirk was on his face. “This way, you two,” he said, leading them down the white stone walkway to the left of the fountain.

Lilae could be lead to a cliff, and she wouldn’t have noticed. She floated through the city, a smile fixed on her lips, her cheeks flushed with a deep pink, and a flutter in her belly and heart.

This—what she shared with Liam could never fade. She’d fight for it until her last dying breath.

Her stomach ached then, with fear that something would rip the small glow of happiness from her.

As it always did.

Her face morphed into one of sadness, so much that she almost shed a tear for the prospect of something or someone taking Liam away from her.