chapter 15
"My father said that Kifirin came to him, from the future," Glinda's voice was hushed. "He said that Kifirin gave him a secret that couldn't be repeated. My father let me hold these stones; he said that Kifirin cried these and they fell to the stone floor like this."
"But what was the secret?" Jayd asked.
"I wasn't told," I said. "All I know is that we'll all know, soon enough. Lendevik did ask me to give Glinda a message. He said to tell you that he still loves you." I watched as Glinda wiped a tear away. "And he also told me to say this: That Denevik should have given my middle name, and if he'd pulled his head out of his ass, he would have known it."
"Known what? And that's exactly how my father talked," Glinda wiped another tear away.
"That my middle name should have been Belarok. I'm ready to go, now." I walked out of Jayd's study, Teeg and Edward running to catch up to me.
* * *
"Jayd, we have to get her back," Glinda ran out the door. Their guests had already gone, though. Likely, Teeg had folded them away.
"You're saying that this is your mother, reborn?"
"My father said that," Glinda was weeping again. "This is awful." She picked up the blue crystals and placed them in the bag. "Reah won't ever return to us, and nobody could find these. Nobody."
* * *
The swing rocked gently as I sat on the deck outside my suite, staring across the groves of gishi fruit trees. The harvest was in and we were processing the last of the ice cream. It would take two months before another harvest of fruit would be ready. Orders were already placed for the ice cream we estimated would come from that harvest.
Adam, Merrill and the other new owners of NorthStar Groves had already agreed to provide us with their blemished fruit. Kevis came out to sit beside me, holding a cup of coffee. He didn't say anything, he merely sighed and sipped. My comp-vid vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out to read the message. Shocked could only describe a little of what I felt, when I read the message and then saw who'd sent it.
"Would you like to come with me?" I looked at Kevis.
"I'll come, too." Edward appeared from nowhere.
"Good," I said, and skipped both of them away.
* * *
"Where are we?" Kevis craned his neck, looking around. A palace stood before us and tall, shapely buildings lined the street leading to it. The street was built of carefully placed stones, so closely matched and fitted that not even a blade of grass grew between them. The buildings and the palace were fashioned of gray stone that glittered in the early afternoon sunlight.
"This is Nrath," I said. "The Greater Demons' world." I walked purposely toward the palace. Edward and Kevis, exchanging troubled looks over my head, followed closely, unsure what to expect.
"Lady," guards bowed low as they opened the heavy, carved doors to the palace. "The master waits inside," they added, straightening up.
Zendeval Rjjn had his back turned to me when I walked in, his head bowed as if in thought. "Reah, I beg you not to be cruel," he whispered as I came to a stop ten feet away.
"How far into the past did Kifirin take you?" I asked.
"Twenty-five thousand years," he sighed. "I was fortunate that a few Greater Demons survived at that time. We have struggled to build with what we had, and it has taken that long to fashion the roughest comp-vid you could imagine. The Alliance satellites functioned very well, however, and boosted the weak signal we were able to produce. I wanted to warn you," he turned. He was weeping.
"I thank you for that," I said. "I knew they were out there, but I didn't know how badly they wanted me dead." I held up my own comp-vid, displaying his message.
"I tried to kill them when they came here. The moment those evil ones said your name, I ordered my guards to attack. We couldn't move swiftly enough and they escaped with minor injuries. I did what I could to protect you, Reah, as little as that turned out to be."
"At least your mind is your own, now." I turned away from Zendeval and glared at Perdil. "I wasn't aware that Liffelithi dwarves lived so long."
"We are nearly immortal, but the ways of our race usually ensure that our lives are cut short—in some disagreement or other," he nodded to me. "I've learned a few things, Lady Demon, and Zen has pounded respect into my head, I think."
"Reah, please sit with me. Share tea or something. I wish to speak with you," Zendeval begged.
"Fine," I huffed a sigh.
"Reah, this is the one who attacked you," Kevis hissed.
"I know. We'll hear what he has to say."
Yidrizin, Zendeval's Prime Minister, sat with us at a beautiful table inside a small sitting room. Perdil had been sent away, grumbling.
"Reah, we don't go through moonrush any longer. There's a wine we make that prevents it," Zendeval began as soon as tea had been brought by a servant. The servant bowed respectfully and disappeared from the room.
"Too bad you didn't know about that sooner," I said.
"Yes. You were harmed. If I'd been in my right mind, it wouldn't have happened. Not like that. Every day for the past twenty-five thousand years has been torture for me, because I loved you every tick of every day, and there was nothing I could do about it." His face was filled with pain and worry. He was dressed well for all that, his hair neatly trimmed and combed back, his hands fine and the nails cared for.
"And what would you do, now that I'm here?" I asked.
"Get on my knees and beg you to be my Queen," he brushed another tear away. "I know what your answer will be, but I will hate myself more if I do not try." And right there, in front of his Prime Minister, Kevis and Edward, he knelt down, bowed his head to the floor and asked me to marry him.
"You know I have many mates already," I said. Zendeval was still huddled on the floor.
"I do not care. I am begging, Reah. I will never make you ill again. Or harm you. I will guard your life with mine. Always. That is as it should be. As it should have been before," he lifted his head, his dark eyes pleading—begging me not to reject him.
"Edward?" I turned to Edward, who sighed.
"Reah, he means it," Edward said. I nodded. I knew the truth in Zendeval's words as well.
"After this child is born, the King of Karathia expects me to marry him in a formal ceremony," I said. "And I will offer that privilege to any of my mates who have not yet taken that step. If you desire to be there and take the vows, I will not prevent it," I said, standing up. "Someone will come for you, if you do not change your mind. Here," I handed my comp-vid over. "Use this, if you wish to communicate with me between now and then. I have another comp-vid at home."
Zendeval's smile was blinding as he stood. "Reah," his hand shook as he reached out to touch my face. I worried my lip nervously as I gazed at him. "Do not be frightened of me, my love. Ever."
"Leave Perdil behind," I said, skipping Edward and Kevis away with me.
* * *
"She will never forgive me," Perdil moaned.
"But she will marry me," Zen slapped the dwarf on the back. "Who knows what will come after that?"
* * *
"What are those creatures?" Cynthin stared at several Copper Ra'Ak wandering through the clearing.
"You don't need to know," Naldill snapped.
"But they're on Xordthan soil. I demand to know what they are. Where is Reldill?"
"He's gone off to find sustenance for them," Naldill jerked his head at the Copper Ra'Ak. "It's nothing to worry about. We'll clear away from here as soon as the core is drained sufficiently again."
"What did you just say?" Cynthin had stalked away from Naldill, but now she was back. They'd carried her to this piece of worthless wilderness and somehow they'd managed to shield their growing army from Xordthe's authorities. "All I agreed to," Cynthin hissed, poking Naldill in the chest, "was helping you take down that bitch. You've tapped the core to do it? You piece of excrement, I'll kill you."
"You won't," Naldill slapped her hand away. "Not after you see what my brother is bringing." Cynthin stared as Reldill appeared, at least fifty poorly dressed humanoids with him. Cynthin began to scream as the Ra'Ak fed.
* * *
"They have violated the last of the Elvish Code," Kaldill sighed. "Every elf is obligated to hunt them, now."
"They've broken trust with every living thing?" Lendill rubbed his temple, attempting to prevent the headache.
"All living things," Kaldill agreed. "They kill innocents. Plant, animal and world. We are obligated to destroy them."
"And I intend to see that it happens," Lendill said. "Father," he nodded respectfully to Kaldill Schaff and folded away.
* * *
"The time is tomorrow. They plan their attack for the day after." Thurlow tapped a spot on the Xordthan map. "They're hoping that Reah will come, once they lower the shield and let everyone know the core has been tapped again."
"We will place a barrier around them that they cannot cross," Pheligar said.
"Good enough," Kiarra nodded. She represented the Saa Thalarr; Pheligar represented the Larentii who would come—Renegar, Lenigar, Teligar and Jerigar. Nefrigar was only coming to observe, saying his presence as a warrior was not required.
"I and my father will come, as will Faldill, my brother, and one hundred elf warriors," Lendill appeared. "We will take custody of my brothers."
"Maldak and I will be there with our forces," Youon agreed. "I wish to take as many of the rogues as possible. Please allow us this concession. We will only ask for help if it is necessary," he bowed to Kiarra.
"Fine with me," Kiarra shrugged. Youon smiled at her.
"Lady, you shine," he smiled. "It reminds me of my youth."
* * *
"We ask that you keep her here," Aurelius said. "Edward, she's in no shape to go. We've gathered everybody else, I think. Rylend is coming and bringing warlocks. The Saa Thalarr are coming, with several Larentii. The Black and Copper Ra'Ak are coming, and they want first crack at their rogues. Lendill will come with elves his father chose. I don't know who else those foul elves are bringing, but we're preparing for the worst."
"Don't ever forget that Ra'Ak can travel the timeline, just as the Saa Thalarr and Larentii can," Edward pointed out. "And I will keep our pregnant High Demon with me. I'll keep her happy, one way or another."
* * *
Lissa's Journal
"Cara Mia, you cannot go. You are pregnant," Gavin pointed out.
"Tell me something I don't know," I muttered. I'd wakened that morning feeling queasy and Connegar and Reemagar had both shown up before I could make it to the bathroom. They cleaned up the resulting mess, too.
"But you and Winkler and Drake and Drew are going," I grumped, rubbing my belly. Drake and Drew were with me more often than not, and while they normally were the most easy-going of my mates, fatherhood had turned them into almost-tyrants.
"As are several others," Gavin agreed. "All the vampires who can stand in daylight are going. Our son holds most of the talents you had before you became a Nameless One. He will act in your stead."
"It just isn't fair," I huffed. "Reah and I can't go, for the same damn reason."
"Lissa, are you belittling your unborn children?"
"No. Hell no," I turned away, rubbing my forehead. "But the timing sucks. Even you have to admit that."
"I will not deny it," he sighed. "Although a part of me is glad that you won't be placed in danger."
"Gavin, everybody on that field will be in danger. Admit it. We both know the god wars are coming—what if this is the beginning?"
"Lissa, we do not know that. Let us hope that this is what it appears on the surface—an act of revenge only."
"Then I hope that's all it is."
* * *
"They had errands to run," Edward woke me with a kiss and answered my question of where the rest of my crowd was when I asked. "But we're going to check the expansion on the ice-cream plant, I'm taking you to Adrixx to eat and shop and then we'll come back here and nap or swim."
"That sounds amazing," I sighed. "Is there a place to buy kitchen supplies and pans?"
"Do you feel the need to buy some of that?" Edward rubbed his nose against mine.
"Maybe."
"I'll send a message to my office in Adrixx. They'll have an answer for us when we get there."
"That's wonderful."
* * *
"Ship it to this address," Edward gave the address of his office in Adrixx later, after I'd purchased a load of pans, knives and gadgets from a specialty store. The clerk, smiling at both of us, agreed quickly. Edward's employees would send it to the groves.
"Now," he had an arm around me as we climbed into the back of a hover-limo after leaving the shop, "we'll go to the jewelry store."
"But," I said.
"No, we need a ring, love. You're not going to turn me down on this."
"Oh."
"Yes, oh," he smiled down at me. The hover-limo drove us to an exclusive shop, making me glad I'd dressed nicely for the day.
"Master Pendley," a doorman opened the heavy door for us. Edward had a hand at my back as I walked inside. Everything was decorated richly, from the Serendaan hand-woven carpets on the floor to the dark, polished wood paneling behind the displays. I knew the gray-haired man behind the counter recognized me, but as any good, discreet salesman should, he never made a comment.
"Now that we've cut the stones, you have to choose which you like and then select the setting," the man said, smiling. A black velvet tray was brought out, with cut Tiralian crystal lying on it. The stones glittered brightly against the dark fabric. A cut round stone was presented, along with a square stone and an oval.
"What do you like?" I looked up at Edward.
"The round one is my favorite, and we can put it in the center, with small, square cut crystal surrounding it," Edward said. "Show her the setting we looked at last time." The clerk nodded and pulled a comp-vid from his pocket. He had the ring image displayed in no time.
"This ring is done in diamonds," the clerk said, showing me a beautiful ring. "The Tiralian crystal will be even more stunning."
"Edward, I like this," I said.
"Is that what you want?" I watched his mouth as he smiled at me. He was such a beautiful man.
"Yes," I nodded, mesmerized by Edward Pendley. I looked into his eyes and there were stars there. I didn't know anything else for quite a while.
* * *
"We're shielded," Kiarra announced to the huge crowd. She looked out at the Saa Thalarr, who'd changed to their fighting forms. The Spawn Hunters were prepared if they didn't have another form. Four Dragons stood together—Red, Gold, Silver and Black. The Lace Feathered Eagle, Refizani Skycatcher, Silver Eagle, Golden Eagle, Wyroc and Driskilhin Night Hawk represented the giant birds. Kiarra stood between the Black Gryphon and the Snow Leopard, prepared to turn to the giant Unicorn. A Gold Wyvern and a giant, Black Wolf were nearby. An array of Panthers, Wildcats, Leopards, Black Lions, a Hellcat plus a Bengal and Black Tiger represented the big cats, and then there were more giant Wolves. Several members of the Saa Thalarr had once been werewolf; they'd kept that shape when asked to join.
Norian had come and he led Farzi, Nenzi and all six of their brothers as lion snake shapeshifters. Lendill came, backed by Kaldill, Faldill and one hundred elvish warriors. Five Larentii had come initially, but that was before Shanalar, the first female Larentii born in a very long time, arrived with six of her twelve daughters. Pheligar didn't say a word about her appearance; he merely communicated battle positions to the new arrivals.
The Copper Ra'Ak had come, led by Prince Maldak, six thousand strong. The Black Ra'Ak, five thousand of them under King Youon, also appeared. And then the High Demons came, led by Jaydevik Rath. Jayd had brought one hundred of his High Demon guards and soldiers. Glinda wanted to come, and she and Jayd had fought about it. Glinda stayed home. Gavin, in charge of Le-Ath Veronis' forces, had brought as many vampires as could stand in daylight—Tony, Roff, Aryn, Rigo and Cheedas. Of those, only Roff was a Winged Vampire. Rylend appeared with his father, Erland, and fifty warlocks at his back. Grey House had sent a handful of wizards.
"You know, this makes me think of the battle in The Lord of the Rings," Gavril slapped his oldest brother on the back.
"Yeah. Except the Rohirrim aren't on their way to save us at the last minute," Ry sighed. "And since we don't know what's waiting for us, we have to make do with what we have."
Be ready; we will drop the shields, Pheligar's mental voice filtered through to the gathered forces. Everyone tensed. The shields came down.
* * *
Cynthin Gerg was terrified. Had she expected her homeworld might become the battlefield for the apocalypse? Realization dawned that she'd had a hand in it. Shuddering, she huddled inside the tiny tent she and Naldill had put up. Some of the creatures outside she recognized—from tales and mythology. They weren't real. Couldn't be real. Except they were.
Naldill informed her that the giant, coppery, snake-like creatures that ate humanoids in a single gulp had destroyed these creatures long ago. Some of those creatures were currently allied with their destroyers and Cynthin had unwittingly joined with them. Had she ever thought herself safe? She would never sleep peacefully again, provided she lived through the day. Hydras and Minotaurs stomped past her tent, making the ground shake. Harpies flew overhead, screeching out filth as they flapped past. Giants with only a single eye centered on their foreheads wielded clubs, growling and fighting amongst themselves. Naldill had pulled Cynthin away from the Satyrs earlier, they'd leered at her and she'd begun to undress in front of them. Naldill's comments hadn't been kind, either, when he jerked her away.
"You think you're going to survive with that crowd out there?" Cynthin hugged herself tightly.
"I will be in charge of them," Naldill preened. "I'll have my power back and we'll do what we please after that." Cynthin poked her head out of the tent briefly before fearfully jerking it back inside.
"There are Chimeras out there," she hissed. "And Manticores, Trolls and Kobolds."
"Nice, isn't it, when the Ra'Ak can transcend the timeline? They gathered these from the Dark Realm in the past. Too bad that fool of a god who created it promised not to interfere. We offered them life again, and these were the ones who agreed. The rest promised to fight us with their last breath, but that won't be long in coming," Naldill laughed.
"If I were you, I'd sleep with one eye open from now on," Cynthin muttered.
"You, Ms. Gerg, may be the last surviving member of your planet after this," Naldill smiled nastily. "None of those out there know how to repair the core after Reldill tapped it. It didn't help him much at all; somehow, the elves can't use that power efficiently. Looks like only the warlocks can do that. We were supposed to be good, you know. My father is probably pitching a fit right now, if he knows what we've done."
Cynthin didn't say anything. Her parents lived, still. They'd likely die soon, at the hands of creatures they thought didn't exist.
"The shields are coming down!" Someone shouted outside.
"Showtime," Naldill laughed.
* * *
"Farzi! Take your brothers through there!" Gavril shouted. There was a path between roaring Ra'Ak, leading past the vanguard to the creatures standing behind them. Some of those might be vulnerable to lion snake poison, and the lion snakes might be difficult to see crawling through the grass. Farzi nodded and Norian, standing with him, joined the others.
Kiarra's Unicorn, leading the charge of the Saa Thalarr with Dragons and giant birds flying overhead, ran at the forefront with large cats, a Gryphon and Werewolves racing on either side. The Falchani Spawn Hunters, Turtle and Lok, were joined by Flyer, blades flying as they waded into the huge army of spawn set against them. The werewolf Spawn Hunters joined that battle, while Rylend's warlocks destroyed the ground beneath the charging feet of Minotaurs, Kobolds, Satyrs and Cyclops.
Wizards from Grey House joined their warlock brothers, throwing trees, boulders and anything else available at the advancing army. Ry, without much time to think, still wondered at the hundreds of thousands of creatures set against them. The Ra'Ak had emptied planets to bring these enemies. The Larentii, stationed around the perimeter of the battlefield, were keeping any from escaping, but that might mean nothing in the end. At the moment, they were keeping the population of Xordthe safe and little else.
Lendill and his elvish forces were setting traps for unsuspecting foes, removing deep pockets of earth and disguising them for creatures to tumble into. Once that happened, earth slammed down on their heads, cutting off the air supply. Kaldill knew that all of them required air to breath, and few besides the Ra'Ak had folding ability. Lendill looked for Reldill among the melee, but there was no sign of him.
The giant birds and the dragons dropped downward toward the center of the oncoming army, the birds clipping off heads with deadly talons, the dragons coming to earth with a thump and a mighty roar. Dragon was the first to breathe fire, and all backed away from him except the hidden army of rogue High Demons. Gavril, seeing this, went to work. Enemy High Demon heads began to explode with regularity.
The great cats crashed into a line of enemy Copper Ra'Ak and right behind them, Maldak's army came, clashing with their Copper cousins. Youon and his Black Ra'Ak came next, fighting viciously with the others. There was growling, hissing, screaming, and then dying.
* * *
"Ready?" Edward slapped Zendeval's thick armor. Zendeval nodded. Two thousand Greater Demons stood at his back, ready to go. Heavy pikes in hand, they thumped the iron shafts on the stone floor of Zendeval's courtyard.
"Good," Edward said. "We'll go." They disappeared.
* * *
"No!" Gavril shouted in anguish. Norian had sent mindspeech. He'd gathered five of the reptanoid brothers out of harm's way, but a Kobold had stamped down with a giant foot, crushing three. Gavril, doing as his mother could, wept and cursed silently as he became mist again and crowded inside unsuspecting heads before blowing his mist outward.
I've lost twenty! Lendill's voice came, then, and he was weeping. Faldill had been one of those, victim to a hundred charging rogue Ra'Ak. Glendes of Grey House had lost several wizards to rogue High Demons before Gavril could reach them. Jayd's forces were taking on as many High Demons and giant Cyclops as they could.
The Unicorn was goring any enemy she came across, and they exploded as soon as she touched them, but the numbers didn't match up. The enemy's forces were overwhelming, and this was a battle to the death. The Larentii were prepared to step in when the flaming meteorite flew overhead, crashing into the center of the battlefield and lifting gouts of earth, rocks and enemy high into the air.
None escaped the raining debris that fell afterward and most ducked to keep from getting dust in their eyes. Then the strangest sight of all came. Taller—much taller than anything on the field, two creatures emerged from the burning ground where the meteorite fell. One unfurled golden wings—the other, feathered wings of solid black.