Page 4 of Battle of Evyndral

“Not the best. That would be you and Thran,” Cassi whispered before opening her c?lim?gh and picking off the peppers, passing them to Yari.

Yari warmed under her friend’s praise. “Then that tells you how much your parents love you. To have you and the prince guarded by us means they value your lives over theirs.”

Cassi put the bread back in place but didn’t take a bite. “As for the treaty, yes, it was broken, but Melisandra vowed she had nothing to do with her fae attacking my grandfather. She somehow proved to the goddess that she wasn’t in the fae realm when it happened.”

“Not in the realm? Then where was she?”

Before Cassi could answer, Donovan pulled his sword and stepped in front of them. “Und?nthú,” he hissed.

Yari dropped her food as she jumped to her feet, drawing her own weapon. They stood firm in front of Cassi as the other guards prepared to fight. Cassi, dressed as a guard, gripped two short swords, her preferred weapons. She might be the princess, but she was a fierce warrior.

“Melisandra wants her alive,” the closest Und?nthú announced, pointing his sword at Cassi.

How in the goddess’s name did they recognize her? “Over my dead body,” Yari seethed, getting into a fighting stance.

“That can be arranged,” the dark fae taunted.

Cassi grabbed Yari’s arm. “There’s too many of them.”

“Shift. You must shift and get above us.”

“There’s not enough room,” Cassi hissed as the Und?nthú approached. Donovan moved so he was behind the princess, sandwiching her between him and Yari. The Und?nthú closed ranks, and Yari’s group fought them off. Metal sang as swords clashed. Yari and Donovan circled and parried those trying to get close to Cassi while the other guards did their best to fight off more than double their numbers. Their best wasn’t good enough.

As more closed in, Yari fought like never before as did Donovan and Cassi. A large bird swooped down, getting in Yari’s face, taking her focus off the Und?nthú she was fighting. Cassi cried out as a blade cut her arm. “No!” Yari pulled Cassi behind her, and another bird, this one a familiar raven, dove at the smaller one, taking it out of the game. “Thank you, Novus,” Yari called.

Cassi’s knees buckled, taking her to the ground. The guards were flagging, and Yari thought all was lost until the air shimmered and a portal opened. Queen Zarina, atop her winged horse, jumped through the opening. With a loud battle cry, Yari’s queen ripped through the Und?nthú with her sword while her zamphyr trampled dark fae beneath his hooves. Those still standing fled to the woods. “Tell Melisandra I’m coming for her!” Zarina called to their retreating backs as she dismounted.

Yari dropped to her knees beside the princess, assessing the cut. It wasn’t deep, but the poison had done its job. The other guards knelt in fealty to their queen, but she waved themoff. “Rise, my guardians. There is no time for proper protocol.” Zarina approached and joined Yari beside Cassi. Her ire was palpable, and Yari fought the trembling in her limbs. “Princess Cassiopa, you have my deepest regrets. I vow to you I will make my sister pay for her transgressions.”

“They knew who she was, even with the glamour I used,” Yari said.

“Melisandra is smart. She knew to send her fae this direction, assuming the royal siblings would not remain at the castle if trouble was sensed. She likely gave them a sigil to see through glamour or a talisman to do the same thing. You must take the princess away, Yaricelan.”

“Where, My Queen? I fear nowhere is safe.”

“There is another realm the Und?nthú are unaware of. It will be a strange land to you, but I trust you to find shelter while the princess heals.” Zarina removed a braided chain from around her neck. Dangling from the silver was a pendant comprised of a muted blue crystal. She placed it over Yari’s head. “When it is safe to return, the crystal will burn bright. When it does, speak my name, and I will bring you back. Until that time, it is imperative you do not call on me.”

“Yes, My Queen.” Yari bowed her head.

Zarina placed her hand on Yari’s hair. “You have not failed me this day, Yaricelan. None of you have. You fought bravely, and for that I am grateful. I will take the other guardians to help protect the prince, as he, too, is facing his own battle.” Zarina gripped Cassi’s arm, and a light glowed beneath her hand. When she released the princess, Cassi was no longer paralyzed.

“My regards, Queen Zarina.”

The queen stood, helping Cassi to her feet. “I do not have time to remove the poison, but it is no longer spreading inside you. Go with your guardian. Until your return, safetravels.” Zarina opened another portal. Yari held onto Cassi, and together, they stepped into an unknown world.

Chapter 3

Thrandyr

Thran kept hiseyes peeled for any sign of Und?nthú as they left the beauty that was Evyndral. He had only met few of the dark fae, but those he had encountered lived up to their title. It broke his heart the day Elle was dragged off to live in their world. She was used to the warmer climes of Summerland where she could spend her days outside enjoying the pink hue of the sun instead of the darker skies of Winterhaven. He loved his younger sister. Missed her when she was taken from them. He often wondered what became of her and prayed for the goddess to keep her safe. At least now he knew she was alive. He was thankful she had sent the warning. Impressed that she remembered their mother’s teachings from so long ago. While Elle and Yari learned portents and potions, Thran and their father tended the land. They all worked hard on their portion of Summerland, caring for the animals and growing vegetables.

When they weren’t helping their parents, Thran and Yari trained for the dragon guard trials. It was the highest honor to be chosen as a guardian for the royal dragon family. Little Elle had also trained before she was taken. Thran wondered if she’d continued her training and if the other family treated her well. Considering that she sent a warning, he doubted it. The kind of fae to break a treaty and march on the castle weren’t honorable. He couldn’t believe his eyes when Elle’s raven, Novus, flew into the dining hall and dropped Elle’s warning. It had been ten suncycles since he had set eyes on the bird, but he would know it anywhere, considering it was always with Elle whenever she was outside practicing with her bow while he and Yari sparred with swords.

Thran would never admit it aloud, but he felt as if part of his soul was missing. He and Yari had spent every day together for the last one hundred fifteen sun cycles. Like him, she was a fierce warrior, and Thran knew his twin could take care of herself, but he had no faith in the Und?nthú, especially after Elle’s warning. He couldn’t wait until they were reunited once they reached Carilon. While Evyndral was a beautiful city, Thran missed the splendor and warmth of Summerland. He looked forward to seeing his homeland for the first time in ten sun cycles.

Prince Rhoan was quiet as he rode beside Thran. A veritable warrior himself, the prince was stoic where his sister was bubbly. Being heir to the kingdom, Rhoan spent much of his time with King Titus, studying politics, listening in when a dragon came to the king with a problem. This meant Thran did the same, only he was stationed against a wall opposite the king’s guard. He knew more about dragon affairs than that of his own kind.

If lore was factual, the dragons were once the most numerous as well as the most powerful beings in the realm. They lived peacefully with the fae until the goddess fell in love with the dragon king and war broke out. Thran often wondered if love was worth the trouble. Not the familial type, but the kind for another being that overrode good sense. He didn’t have to worry about falling in love since he had taken an oath to protect Prince Rhoan, forsaking everything else, including his own happiness. Guarding the prince wasn’t a hardship. Thran had a brother in Rhoan. He spent his days with other fae, including his twin. He ate well. Had a warm, cozy bed to sleep in. He was paid well and would one day be promoted to guardian of the king when Rhoan took his father’s place. As they traveled away from the castlewith the threat of Und?nthú attacking, he prayed that day didn’t come anytime soon.

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