Ethon (The Other Worlds Series Book 2) (38 page)

Treveri eyed him wearily. “Shouldn’t you be wearing it as well?”

“I won’t be needing it.” He shook his head. “We’re not going to let our enemies get close enough.”

The marching of the Eves below came to a deafening halt, catching Legann’s attention. Three figures stepped forward through the Eves to stop in the open space between the two forces. Legann recognized his grandparents as part of the three. The third was a young man that shockingly resembled Dagon. Legann stared. Was this his brother?

“I hail Talik, king of the Velvitors,” Yrond called out, his voice carrying through the field. It had to have been a gift of his. Legann doubted a Saerd could ever speak so loud.

A robed figure emerged from the Velvitors’ excuse for a front line, followed closely by a woman with long blonde hair and a silver circlet around her head. Legann felt himself gaping a little. It was the social worker who had drugged him in Harney’s office. The woman was an Other Worlder?

“Fair morning, Yrond, High King of the Eves,” Talik sneered, his hands on his hips. His words were also somehow amplified up to Legann at the castle.

“Why have you come to Evedon?” Yrond asked.

Talik grinned. “To accept your surrender.”

“I refuse.”

“Then, so be it.” Talik spun on his heels, and the social worker did the same, returning to the cover of their people.

Yrond, Archelda, and Zedgry drew their swords. Legann noticed Zedgry had another sword strapped to his back. Unlike Talik, the three didn’t budge from their spots. Legann realized it was about to begin. He turned to his archers and shouted, “Ready yourselves!” As they drew back their bows, Legann did the same to his own. It had never felt so good to hold a bow before in his life. He’d missed it immensely.

There was a single moment of silence. Then, the inhuman roars of several vattes of Velvitors all cried out at once. That was followed quickly by another blast of the Eveon horns, and then chaos.

Velvitors leaped at the High Royals, morphing into their animals mid-air – their clothes ripped to shreds. The Eves sprinted forward to join their sovereigns. Legann called for the release of his archers, and then set loose his own nocked arrow.

:  :  :  :  :

As Voiel tossed his Sinith into the air and spoke the name of the Eveon world, Tiara eyed her companions with a mixture of excitement and fear. She and Archrin – atop separate horses – made up the middle of four lead riders. To the right of Tiara was Voiel and to the left of Archrin was Sazx. All were equipped for war.

The three men had donned chainmail, while Tiara wore armor of thick leather over her deep purple gown. Her long hair was pulled back into a single braid down her back and a tiara of gold had been twined into the hair on top of her head. In Kendren fashion, a short sword was strapped to her back. If appearance alone were the standards queens were judged by, then Tiara felt very much the part.

Behind the four at the front were many more riders who had once worn the green Tiara hated. It was so odd to think that she now led the very same men, except now dressed in the colors of Tlaid, and more anciently, the Saerds. While the horses pranced nervously in place, their breath coming out in clouds on the cold air, Tiara couldn’t help but think over the circumstances that had brought her to this point.

The weaponry and formal battle attire were really all for show. Protocol demanded that they offer their service to the Eves in such a manner. Tiara and her general assumed the actual attack wouldn’t take place for a few days. The pageantry was meant to display their strength to the Eves. It was silly to Tiara. Of course Olinia would accept their help. Yet, it was tradition, and Tiara had learned one didn’t mess with traditions in Tlaid.

“Ready?” Archrin asked softly in Saerdian.

Protocol also required the sovereigns to be the first to venture into the world. Even though Archrin wouldn’t officially be crowned king until they were publicly wed, he was still treated as royalty. Tiara forced a smile. “I’d hate to back out now.”

With a soft kick to her mare’s belly, Tiara began forward. Archrin kept pace alongside her as together they left the courtyard of Desnbi Castle for the rich, tall grass of Evedon. It was warmer in Evedon than in Tlaid. Tiara was glad for that. They moved further into the world, making room for the men who would follow. Then, pulling their mounts to a halt, Tiara glanced upward at the Crystal Castle.

It looked just as it had in her Globing, except for the little detail that she was on the backside of it. She’d witnessed the attack from the front.

“I think we’re late,” Archrin remarked in Arthelian as Voiel and Sazx rejoined them.

“What do you mean?” Tiara turned, surprised.

“Listen,” he replied, frowning.

Tiara strained her ears, but all she could hear were the Tlaidians as they came through the portal. Sazx and Voiel must have caught something, though. They exchanged glances before the general motioned for two of his scouts.

“Take a quick ride,” he ordered.

The scouts saluted and uttered a unanimous, “Yes, sir.”

As they galloped off, Tiara watched Archrin warily. He had his soldier face on. “What is it?”

“Queen Tiara,” Sazx bowed slightly in his saddle, suddenly very formal, “I think it would be best if you rode with Lord Archrin.”

“Agreed.” Archrin nodded.

“Are we in danger?” Tiara blinked.

“Aye.” Archrin grimaced. “We misjudged the timing. The Velvitors are here.”

Fantastic.
Tiara groaned and dismounted. Archrin extended his hand, which she took and allowed him to help her swing up behind him. “Today was supposed to be easy,” she grumbled.

He chuckled. “With you, there’s no such thing.”

Up ahead, the scouts were returning. They reined in their horses in front of Voiel and saluted. The one on the left spoke first. “General, the Eves are under attack.”

Voiel turned to Tiara, his brow drawn together. “What would my queen have me do?”

Tiara ran her tongue along the back of her teeth. “We fight, general. Victory must become our future.”

“As my queen commands.” Voiel bowed and faced his troops. “My men,” he bellowed, “draw your swords! The Eves will owe us a debt this day!”

The clatter of the men fell harsh on Tiara’s ears. Her fear from before was now vastly overshadowing her excitement. This would be the first battle she’d ever entered willingly that did not include the Kendren brothers.

Archrin turned to Voiel. “We should advance the way we did in Ommerin.”

“My thoughts precisely.” Voiel nodded once.

“Which way is that?” Tiara frowned.

“We separate into two companies and go around the castle at the same time,” Archrin answered.

“If it pleases the queen,” Voiel added, “I suggest I lead one group and she the other.”

“That’s fine,” she said.

Voiel left them a moment to retrieve his Sinith, and Sazx moved his horse closer to Archrin’s. “I’ll ride with your general,” he told them. “There’s someone I need to find.”

“Olinia?” Tiara asked.

“No, King Talik.”

“Cut off his head,” she retorted.

“I’ll do my best.” He smiled slightly before beginning again, this time in Saerdian, “
Bury your soul. Let your dreams lay be
.”

“
For tomorrow we die. And we shall be free
,” Tiara finished the verse, thoroughly surprised. “Where did you hear that?”

“I once traveled through your world while looking for Olinia,” he replied. “While there, in one of the taverns, a drunk elderly woman quoted it to me as advice.”

Tiara laughed. “Of course someone would say it while drinking.”

Voiel returned. “Shall we?”

Sazx bobbed his head to Tiara. “Farewell, queen of the Saerds.”

“Farewell, former captain of the Nagreth.” Tiara smiled. “Thank you, and good luck with Talik.”

While Voiel began barking out orders, Sazx separated from Archrin and Tiara, joining ranks with the men the general would be leading. Archrin guided the horse into position – at the front of the group that would advance around the left side of the castle.

“What did that poem mean?” Archrin asked Tiara over his shoulder.

“Oh, it’s mostly nonsense,” she replied, “but I guess you could say that in Drivian we think of it as a call to greatness. It means to throw away all your worries as if today were your last day alive, and to do something worthy of the Legends.”

Archrin frowned. “Is getting into the Legends a life goal of yours?”

She shook her head. “I just don’t want the Velvitors to win.”

:  :  :  :  :

It had been a couple weeks since Will had last ridden a horse with Olinia on it behind him. It’d been even longer for her, yet she acted as if it were only yesterday. It was nice to see she hadn’t forgotten how to ride. Porter and Hillary, though, didn’t appear to be having as easy of a time. At least they were managing to keep up.

After Aeorin disappeared into Zeedyr, Will and Olinia were left to clean up her mess. The three Seekers Hillary freed were thoroughly confused, but there hadn’t been time to explain. Olinia had come up with the idea to free all the DS slaves Talik would have with him in Evedon in one shot. This required bringing Hillary along, which apparently also meant Porter. He’d told them that his cousin wasn’t going anywhere without him. So Olinia, not really in the mood to argue, opened a portal to Evedon and brought three Ethons with her.

Will had expected to step through into the Crystal Castle or Willowvale but instead he found himself in Grennich at the front door to Sadree and Denon Ald’s home. Olinia had thought it best to stop there for some Other World apparel, weapons, and horses. Grennich was close enough to the Crystal Castle and was a little bit more low key for first time Ethon visitors than the Evedon capital. Also, Sadree and Denon wouldn’t really be shocked to meet others from Will’s realm.

Even though Olinia’s former guardians were surprised to see her and the Ethons, they were pleased and willing to help. The travelers were given a change of clothes, food, and two fresh mounts. Will and Porter were offered Eveon blades and Olinia and Hillary long daggers – practically short swords. Once their horses were ready, they headed off for the Crystal Castle. Will felt a little bad for doing basically a snatch and dash on the Eves, but they really were pressed for time.

Will still thought they should have used the shimmer stone to go directly to the Crystal Castle, but Olinia had insisted they ride. It wasn’t a long journey across Water’s Pathway, perhaps only an hour sprint on a horse. Yet, it was an hour. A lot could happen in an hour if the Velvitors had begun their attack.

“Slow down!” Olinia called into his ear.

“Now? Why?” Will tossed over his shoulder as he obeyed. They’d only left Grennich about thirty minutes ago.

Porter noticed Will’s decrease in speed and carefully pulled back on his own horse. Even though this was Hillary’s first time riding, Porter had been out a few times before with his parents. His little experience was proving useful now.

“What’s wrong?” Hillary asked, shouting over the ocean roar and wind.

“I talked to Zedge,” Olinia replied. “The Velvitors are at the castle, and so is Legann.”

Will frowned. “Where’s Dagon?”

“Legann sent word to Yrond that Dagon’s on his way,” she answered.

“So, what does that mean?” Porter glanced between Olinia and Will.

“It means we do this from here,” Olinia said.

“Here?” Hillary blinked. “In the middle of the ocean?”

Will smiled. She had a point. Water’s Pathway had never seemed all that safe to him. It was just big enough for two carriages to pass by on, and was paved with gravel. On either side, waves crashed on the sand that was a foot or two below the road. Both cool and warm winds tore at Will, causing him to constantly brace against the possibility of toppling over.

“It’s actually two oceans, but it’s an easy mistake.” Olinia slid off the horse and motioned for Hillary to do the same. “I can’t do this without you.”

Hillary pulled a face as she joined Olinia. “I don’t really know how to remove more than one Bead at a time.”

“Why can’t we just use that necklace?” Porter asked. “It’d be easier than doing this.”

“Talik has his own amulet,” Olinia told him. “Anything we might say would be countered by him.”

“Then just take his amulet, too.” Porter retorted. “Like what you did with Aeorin’s.”

“I already tried.” She winced. “I can’t do it. I think he has some sort of bubble around him.”

Hillary exchanged a quick look with her cousin. “Emily Harpe?”

“She’s the only one I know of that can make a forcefield.” He nodded. “You’re right. You need to take out their Beads.”

“Let’s get it over with.” Hillary tried to keep her hair out of her face with one hand, but was losing terribly to the wind.

Olinia smiled out the side of her mouth. “Start your magnet.”