Awakening (Telindell Book 1) (21 page)

Night had come.  Elinar sat in his cell and held Teelia close.  Teelia cried in his shoulder at the loss of their daughter.  Elinar looked at the many cells.  All the surviving Alinshaharian Riders were imprisoned as well.

Elinar looked to Daleth.  “Why did they imprison them?”

Daleth looked over to Elinar from across the cell.  “Same reason they imprisoned me and my soldiers.  We remain loyal to your father.  I suspect not many of the other soldiers know what has transpired.  Many remain loyal to your father as well.”

Elinar shook his head.  “What of the magic wielders?  They must know that no cell would hold them.”

Daleth nodded.  “I imagine they were turned over to the Command Sorceress.”

Elinar sighed.  “Surely Alisia would not condone this.”

Daleth shook his head.  “She is young.  All she knows is that the law has been broken.  Her loyalty and naiveté will work against us.

Elinar closed his eyes.  “My father cannot let this stand.  It defies everything that he is.”

Daleth nodded his head.  “There will be fierce retaliation.  It may be too late for us, however.”

A female voice pierced the dungeon.  “Nonsense.”

Elinar looked to a cloaked figure approaching their cell.  “Councilor?  Is that you?”

Stala removed the hood that shadowed her face.  “Things are in motion, and your father requests your presence.”  She looked through the dungeon at the many prisoners.  “As is your presence requested!  Will you fight for Alinshahar once more?  Will you serve General Oryn Durothill in the coming battle?”

Her voice echoed through the dungeon while the soldiers stood.  Teelia looked up to Elinar and nodded.

Elinar stood and shouted, “What do you say? Will we stand against treachery?”

The soldiers shouted in unison, “Yes!”

Elinar looked around.  “Will we let such atrocious crimes stand?”

The soldiers screamed, “No!”

A smirk crept across Elinar’s face while he shouted, “Who are we?”

His words were met with a thunderous reply, “The Alinshaharian Riders!”

Elinar clenched his fist.  “Who do we fight for?”

“Alinshahar!” they shouted.

Elinar smiled.  “What is our mandate?”

“Honor and glory!” they screamed.

Elinar thrust his fist into the air and shouted, “Then let us take back our honor and glory!”

The soldiers erupted into thunderous applause and rallying cries, banging on their cell doors.

Stala smiled and pulled a ring of keys from her pocket.  She unlocked the cell doors one by one.  Elinar emerged with Teelia at his side.  The elven soldiers flooded the corridor of the dungeon cell block.

Stala looked to Elinar.  “Come, follow me.  There is a secret passage.”

Elinar glanced to Daleth.  “A secret passage?”

Stala nodded.  “Yes, it was constructed in the final days of the Dalronian War.  When Adanna was still sucking from his mother’s tit.”

Stala walked through the dungeon with Elinar and the riders close behind.  She came to a stone wall and pushed in on one of the stones.  It gave way with a click and they could hear the turning of gears as a stone slab rose.  It revealed an old passage filled with cobwebs.  Stala led the group through the passage quickly.  They came to a set of spiral stone stairs.  The group climbed upward to an old wooden door.  Stala opened it and entered a large room.  Elinar and Teelia followed.  They emerged into a large warehouse.  Hundreds of Elves were readying their armor, sharpening blades, and tightening the strings on their bows.  At the front of them was an elf wearing polished metal armor covered in gold etchings.  The chest piece had the clear insignia of Alinshahar upon it, a lush tree with two lightning bolts striking on each side.  The elf had a large sword sheathed at his side.

The armored elf turned to face Elinar.  “My son, you will have your revenge.”

Elinar and Teelia approached Oryn.  “Father.  I’ve never seen you in your armor.”

Oryn approached Teelia, pulling her close and hugging her tightly.  “My deepest sympathies, my dear.  Your daughter’s, my granddaughter’s, murder will not go unpunished.”

Teelia buried her head into his chest and sobbed.

Oryn patted her back.  “Thousands of Elves are rallying to her murder.  We demand justice.  Together, we will have it.”

Teelia looked up to Oryn and backed away.  She glared at him, anger filling her heart.  “Have someone ready me some armor and short blades.”

Elinar grabbed Teelia’s shoulder.  “Teelia…”  She quickly turned to face him.  Elinar shook his head.  “You don’t have to do this.  You must still be weak.”

Teelia’s lips quivered and her nostrils flared.  “Yes Elinar, I am still weak.  I ache in both body and soul.  I hear our daughter’s cries in my mind, in my heart.  She was ripped from my arms.  I watched them,” she said while tears escaped her eyes.  “I saw her take her first breath, and then I saw her take her last just moments later.”  Teelia clenched her fists and shouted, “I will not stand by while others confront that monster.  I will be there when he takes his last breath.”

Oryn looked to an elf working behind him.  “Ready the Lieutenant’s armor and weapons.  Now!”

The elf nodded.  “Right away, General.”

Oryn put his hand upon Teelia and looked to Elinar.  “Soldiers are coming in from the farmlands away from the city’s rear.  Others are quietly removing civilians from the area around the Council Chamber.  Mages and sorceresses are preparing as well.  Our forces are fractured, however.”

Elinar nodded.  “I suspected as much.  How badly?”

Oryn shook his head.  “This goes much deeper than I expected.  Adanna has been planning this for some time.  He saw your child as an opportunity to expedite his plans to seize power.  More of Alinshahar’s forces are loyal to Adanna than we expected.  They are young and know no better.  We will be seen as traitors until the battle has been decided.  Before we engage, I wish to give them the chance to join us.  Too much blood has already been spilled.”

Elinar sighed and nodded.  “I understand, father.  I don’t like it any more than you.  They are our brothers and sisters.  We will give them the chance.  If they do not take it… that is all we can do.”

Oryn nodded.  “Tell me of Telindell.”

Elinar glanced away.  “He set off for Riverwood.  He should have arrived there the night before I returned.”

Oryn thought for a moment.  “What does he seek there?”

Elinar shook his head.  “He seeks revenge.  Kynlynn soldiers attacked us.  They killed his mother.”

Oryn took a deep breath.  “Why Riverwood?”

Elinar smiled slightly.  “Elintae sent him.”

Oryn’s eyes widened at the mention of Elintae.  “The goddess has returned?  She once again walks among us?”

Elinar nodded.  “She made herself known to Lian.  She sends you a message.”

Oryn looked around frantically.  “What message?”

Elinar grinned.  “She said that she will once again grace the halls of Alinshahar with her presence.”

Oryn quickly nodded.  “That is good news.  She of all beings will know that an Elven civil war is disastrous.”  He looked away from Elinar.  “If she has returned, the time of war is upon us.  We are not ready.”

Elinar sighed.  “Father, we must tend to these matters as quickly as possible.  The Kynlynnian attack on my outpost was not by chance.  They did not stumble upon us.  They were prepared and ready to fight.”

Oryn turned to Elinar.  “What do you mean?”

Elinar crossed his arms.  “The events in Kynlynn.  Dragon attacks, the deaths of royalty and nobility… I think they are all linked.  Someone has to be behind it.”

Oryn sighed.  “I fear you may be right.  I wish Telindell had come with you.  Maybe this could have been avoided.  If he seeks vengeance in Kynlynn, it will be him against an army.”

“I pleaded with him,” said Elinar.  “But after the murder of my daughter, I understand why he chose not to come.  I too would face an entire army on my own to avenge her.”

Teelia nodded and placed her hand on Elinar’s shoulder.  “As would I.”

“Then, we must trust in Elintae,” said Oryn.  “She would not let the only one who could lead us to victory toss his life away.  He may be powerful, but he is still mortal.  Elintae would not be so reckless.”

Elinar nodded.  “Hopefully, Lian will listen to my words and join us.”

“Join us?” said Oryn.

Elinar sighed.  “Yes.  I told him that if he rode two days north from the outpost the Elves would find him.”

Oryn shook his head.  “If we are at war with ourselves, nobody will come to meet him.  All he will see is the Sea of Transcendence.”  Oryn clinched his fists.  “We must take out those magic wielders that project the illusion.  If he comes, then he will see Alinshahar.”

Elinar nodded.  “It must be done.”

Oryn looked at each of them.  “We march at dawn.”

Early morning light shined on Alinshahar.  Thunderous echoes of feet stomping on the ground in unison could be heard throughout the city.  Thousands of Elves rallied to the call of the legendary General Oryn Durothill.  Some sought vengeance for the life of a newborn child.  Some simply wished for the freedom to have a family of their own.  Others desired the expansion of the Elven civilization.  The Elves had once controlled all of northern Zaneen.  They had led the largest and most powerful civilization before their retreat into seclusion.  For many of the Elven men and women, honor and glory were not enough this time.

Oryn marched at the front of his newly formed army.  Elinar marched to Oryn’s left.  Teelia occupied the position to Oryn’s right.  Daleth marched behind them, directly in front of the first rank of soldiers.  The mighty force approached a large empty square near the center of Alinshahar.  Following their legendary General, the soldiers marched shoulder to shoulder, filling the wide central street of Alinshahar.  Battle hardened soldiers that hadn’t seen conflict in a thousand years, as well as young civilians who had never once wielded a blade or bow made up Oryn’s army.  As they drew closer to the square, Oryn saw another large Elven force standing in formation.  They lined the tall, cascading steps that led to the Council Chamber.  Oryn looked to Elinar, then to Teelia, who both wore expressions of anger and unwavering determination.  Oryn turned his head to Daleth and gave a nod.

Daleth raised his hand and shouted, “Iran’tisha!”

Rank after rank echoed the command.  Rank and file broke in unison and shifted.  The command called for mages and sorceresses to move forward to the front rank.  The army marched into the square while the Elven magic wielders took their positions

Oryn raised his hand and shouted, “Fin’ortho!”

Oryn’s army came to a halt just as the opposing force split.  The enemy ranks parted to open a path to the entrance of the council chamber.  Councilors Adanna and Manat emerged from the council chamber and walked towards the square.  Oryn looked to Teelia and Elinar.  They both nodded.  Oryn turned to Daleth and nodded.  Oryn, Teelia, and Elinar walked toward the approaching Councilors.

Daleth raised his right hand and shouted, “Par’Shionde!”

The front rank echoed the command.  In unison, the magic wielder held forth their right hands.  Magical energy crackled and circulated around their hands.  The energy shot forth and formed a glowing blue shield in front of their forces, rippling with lightning flashes of magical energy. 

Adanna and Manat met Oryn and his commanders in the center of the square.

Adanna shook his head smugly at Oryn.  “I will entertain the terms of your surrender.”

Teelia clinched her fists.  “There will be no surrender, you murderous bastard.”

Manat looked to Teelia and smirked.  “Lady Solonas, I am surprised to see you up and moving around so soon.”

Teelia gripped her short blades and slowly drew them.  “I am surprised you are still alive.”

Oryn glared at Manat.  “Teelia, quell your temper.”  Oryn then looked to Adanna.  “We will entertain the terms of
your
surrender.”

Adanna laughed, looking around.  “Surrender?  Are you mad?”  He pointed to Oryn.  “You and this army you lead before the Alinshahar loyal are the traitors.”

Elinar pointed to Adanna.  “You are Trai’atonos!”

Manat chuckled.  “That old Elven speech.  We have adopted the common tongue.  The ancient ways are dead as along with that ancient speech.  Surrender, now.”

“That ancient Elven speech, as you call it…” said Oryn.  He raised his voice to a thunderous level and said, “Is the voice of our people!  A proud people!  A people that will no longer live in seclusion.  A people that will no longer tolerate treachery by the leaders who are sworn to stand for their interests!”  Oryn turned to look at his forces, then back to the opposing force led by Adanna and.  “This is not just rhetoric!  We have no desire to spill the blood of the innocent!”

Adanna shook his head and shouted, “Enough!”

Oryn shook his head and pointed at Adanna and Manat.  “The only ones here that desire the blood of the innocent are Councilors Adanna and Manat.”

Manat looked around frantically and shouted, “Preposterous!”

Oryn looked to Teelia.  “I give you Teelia!  Mother to my murdered granddaughter!  Listen to her words and decide for yourselves!”

Teelia looked to Oryn and nodded, then shouted, “These Trai’atonos murdered an innocent child of Alinshahar!  My child!  My daughter!”  Teelia pointed at Adanna and screamed, “No trial given!  No charges levied!  Just a dagger across her throat, only moments after taking her first few innocent breaths of life!”

Adanna and Manat’s forces began to shuffle uncomfortably and murmur amongst themselves.

Adanna turned to face them.  “Don’t believe this traitorous scum!  I did what was necessary to protect the Elven people!”

Elinar stepped forward and screamed, “The blood of an innocent infant will not protect us!”  Elinar pointed to the opposing Elven forces.  “I come to you as a common elf, not a commander, nor my father’s son.  I have walked among the outside world.  Trust me when I tell you, nothing will protect us.  Not hiding, not this pathetic seclusion or our delusional Councilors.  Only by emerging from our seclusion, united… do we have a chance at survival!”

Oryn once again pointed at the opposing Councilors.  “In their attempt to preserve the Seclusion Act and seize power, the Councilors have opened my eyes to the oppression I have gone along with for so long!”  Oryn turned to face his forces.  “No more!  It is time for us to retake our honor, our glory!”  Thunderous shouts erupted from Oryn’s army.  Oryn turned back toward the Councilors.  “And we will start with your executions.”

Teelia looked across the square and shouted, “All those who wish to leave the trai’atonos side… we offer you a place amongst us.  I plead with you, do not die for their crimes!”

Adanna and Manat’s forces fell into disarray.  A few attempted to break ranks and join with Oryn.  Screams echoed through Alinshahar as they were cut down immediately.

Adanna looked upon his forces, then turned to Oryn and snarled.  “This has gone on long enough.  I will not surrender, nor will you.”

Oryn looked to Teelia.  “Indeed, it has gone on long enough.”

Teelia snarled and raised her short swords.  Archers emerged on the rooftops and lined the building’s edges.  Councilor Stala emerged among them.

Adanna looked upon the archers and shook his head while mumbling, “You conniving traitors…”

Stala raised her hand just as the archers pulled their arrows back.  She screamed, “Fer’ial Alinshahar!”  Her words echoed through the square as the archers bows snapped and released their arrows.  Arrows darkened the skies of Alinshahar while they rained down towards the enemy councilors and opposing forces.  Adanna and Manat broke away from Oryn’s group.  They ran toward their forces as the enemy Elves began to erect their own magic shields.  Arrows blanketed them, striking some as the shields were erected.

Teelia screamed, “No!”  She threw one of her short blades towards Manat’s back.  Manat’s eyes widened.  She looked down to see the blood covered tip of Teelia’s blade protruding from her chest before falling to the ground, dead.  Oryn, Elinar and Teelia turned and ran toward their forces.  Oryn pointed at Daleth.

Daleth nodded and screamed, “Fireal’arto!”

Half of the Elven magic wielders dropped their shields.  From their hands, large destructive balls of fire launched toward the Council Chamber.  The flaming artillery smashed against the walls and exploded.  Chunks of stone rained down upon the square.  The enemy Elves retaliated with magical artillery of their own, striking the Elven archers under Stala’s command.  Oryn, Elinar, and Teelia rejoined their forces.

Oryn drew his large sword and pointed it toward the council chamber.  He screamed, “Cha’leth!”

The Elven army screamed as they broke ranks.  They charged valiantly across the square.  Adanna climbed the Council Chamber stairs.  He turned to see the charging army.  “Push them back!”

Adanna’s forces charged forward and clashed with the approaching army.  Stala’s archers rained arrows down on their rear ranks.  Oryn, Elinar, and Teelia led the charge.  Elinar’s blade clashed with his enemies and cut through them one by one.  Teelia attacked with an unmatched fury. She dodged her attackers and hacked at their limbs.  Oryn engaged his foes with a grace and brutality not witnessed in a thousand years slaying all who clashed with him, one after another, quickly and efficiently.  Adanna watched in horror at the sight of his forces being overwhelmed and cut down.

Adanna quickly approached the magic wielders holding the shield trying to protect the council chamber.  “Focus half the artillery on the buildings.  Collapse them on the enemy.  The other half, drop in the middle.  I want Oryn to be nothing more than charred remains!”

The Command Sorceress looked to Adanna.  She stood before Adanna in her form-fitting leather armor, her blonde ponytail waving in the wind.  Chainmail protected her shoulders and sides.  Her blue eyes gazed upon Adanna in shock.  “But, Councilor!  We’ll kill our troops as well… what if there are innocents in the buildings?”

Adanna grabbed her shoulders and screamed, “Do it now, Command Sorceress Alisia!”  Adanna turned away and looked back.  “That is an order!”

Alisia slowly nodded. “Ye… Yes, Councilor.”  She looked to her magic wielders and shouted, “Artillery!  Target the buildings and the center battle field!”

Oryn looked up as he saw the fiery artillery launch into the air.  It crashed against the buildings, causing them to crumble.  Elinar fought at his side.  Oryn saw a ball of hellfire coming straight toward them.  He grabbed Elinar and dived out of the way.  As the two scrambled to their feet, Oryn looked at Elinar and shouted, “Adanna is mad!  He’ll kill everyone to win this!  Even his own people!”

Elinar gripped his sword tightly.  “We must push forward!”

Oryn shook his head.  “No!  We must pull back and strategize.  We stand to lose too much even in victory!”

Elinar gritted his teeth.  “But father!”

Oryn swung his blade and cut down an approaching foe.  “I’m sounding the retreat! Get Teelia!”

Elinar nodded and darted across the battlefield, slaying any who stood in his path.  He approached Teelia, who was in heavy combat.  Elinar swung his blade and decapitated her adversary.  “Teelia, we must withdraw!  Father is calling the retreat!”  His blade clashed against another attacker.

Teelia quickly engaged another enemy and screamed, “No!  Not until I gut that bastard!”

Elinar turned his head at the sound of a flat-toned horn.  Oryn was calling the retreat.  Oryn’s magic wielders showered the field with fire.  Arrows from Stala’s archers rained down heavily in an attempt to cover the retreat.

Elinar engaged Teelia’s foe and shouted, “We will get him!  We must pull back!”  Elinar cut the enemy down.  Teelia let out an angry scream.  Elinar grabbed her arm and pulled her into retreat.

After the retreat, Adanna’s forces barricaded the square.  Buildings in the surrounding area lay in complete ruin or were badly damaged.  Stones from the battle littered the streets, as along with the corpses of hundreds of Elves from both sides.  Oryn walked through the ruined building his forces were using as a makeshift refuge for the wounded.  He looked mournfully at the covered corpses of the many that had been lost.

Oryn entered a large room where his commanders were waiting.  “Report,” he said, looking at each of them

Daleth quickly spoke, “There are more wounded civilians than soldiers, General.”

Oryn shook his head.  “Those surrounding the area were to be evacuated.”

Daleth sighed.  “Some simply refused to leave their homes.”

Oryn clinched his fists.  “Damn that Adanna…”

Teelia shook her head and shouted, “We should not have retreated!  We should have pushed forward!”

“No.  Look around you,” said Oryn.  “These are not the bodies of warriors.  They are the bodies of the innocent.  Just as your daughter, my granddaughter, was innocent.”  Oryn dropped his head.  “We must limit as many civilian casualties as we can.  They must see that we are not the enemy.”

Stala nodded.  “General Durothill is right, Lady Teelia.  The majority of Alinshahar has rallied behind us.  Adanna’s reckless move will have created doubt amongst his ranks.  We must hope they have a sense of morality left.”

Teelia nodded reluctantly.  She knew they were right, despite her anger and heartache.

Elinar looked to Oryn.  “Father, we must make the illusion spellcasters a priority.”

Oryn nodded.  “Indeed.  If Lian Telindell attempts to approach us, we must be visible.”

A feminine voice spoke, seemingly from nowhere, “I may be able to help.”

Oryn and the others glanced around the room in search of the voice’s source.  A cloaked figure appeared in the room next to Oryn.  Elinar and Daleth quickly drew their swords and pointed them at the figure’s chest.  The figure slowly removed her cloak.  It was Command Sorceress Alisia.

She looked to Oryn.  “Command…”  Alisia paused for a moment and took a deep breath.  “Formerly, Command Sorceress Alisia Alinsora.”