Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 354
April 2, 2016
The King's Challenge #261 and #262
TKC 261 and 262
Leaving the four bodies behind, Damin and I drag our two captives to a clearing. While we are tying them to trees loud crashing sounds reach us.
Someone is coming, this time without subterfuge.
“Lord Makar!” someone hollers.
Commander Gennerin. I make a face at Damin. The commander’s timing is off. Damin and I now will not have the freedom to question our prisoners, at least not in the manner to extract swift answers. He mutters under his breath, nodding thereafter. He understands.
“Here!” I shout.
Soon the man himself enters the clearing. With him are two soldiers, and Kay. One of those soldiers is Corporal Allin from the shuttle, and another appears to be a recruit. Never have I seen a man so nervous.
Kay murmurs, “This is Ross. He helped us make sense of the situation when we attained the plateau.”
Soldier Ross salutes.
“At ease,” I mutter, transferring my focus to Gennerin. “You spoke with Iniri?”
Nodding, the older man strides in to glare into the faces of the two tied men. “Speak!” he spits out.
Of course there is no response.
Kay shifts his attention between me and Damin, and then moves to Ross. “Find the bodies of the others and bury them. We do not need questions at this time.”
“What is going on?” the young man asks, clearly out of his depth.
“Traitors,” I say. “Do as Kay suggests. Shallow graves will suffice, or cover them well with rock and branch. Allin, you as well.”
The corporal glances at his superior, but Gennerin is fixated on the two captives. He inclines his head and gestures to the young soldier. The two vanish into the trees.
“Damin,” Kay says next, “we do not have time for long-winded questioning. Others will come soon, wondering where the Makar and their commander is. Delve, Damin. Get it done.”
Gennerin snaps around to stare at Damin.
“Let him do it,” I tell the man. “Damin is a true Delver. Unlike Hal, he has years of experience already.”
Gennerin steps aside, saying not a word.
The captives begin then to gibber, glancing at each other in terror.
“Usually a Delver sees images,” Damin murmurs in a cold voice as he saunters closer. “Symbols that reveal emotions.” He halts before the man closest to my position. “It happens without prompts from me and I have needed to learn to shut it off.” Damin lifts his left hand, fingers wide. “Usually it is achieved without effort on my part, but when I employ touch …”
“We will talk!” the soldiers shouts.
“… every secret is revealed,” Damin states, ignoring the outburst. “And it becomes more than mere images.”
I know my eyebrows hike up, and Kay glances at me in surprise. We did not know Damin could use touch. Then again, he may be seeking to intimidate; perhaps touch has nothing to do with his ploy.
“We will talk!” the other screams.
Commander Gennerin sucks at his teeth, no doubt wondering what deeper secrets these men possess. Whatever they are, those cause the terror.
“Damin,” I say and, when the man glances at me, “touch?”
He blinks and nods.
Ice races through my veins then. If that is true, Damin is aware of my hidden secrets also. Swallowing, I murmur, “You are a dangerous man, my friend.”
“Moravin is our leader!” one man screeches out. Shoving at his bonds, he continues, “We planned this on Makaran! Moravin suspected you may be alive and sent us to negate your influence.”
“Your father is weak and therefore now is the time to change!” the other adds.
Fire displaces ice. “Damin,” I grind out, “touch. Find out what is wrong with my father.”
Leaving the four bodies behind, Damin and I drag our two captives to a clearing. While we are tying them to trees loud crashing sounds reach us.
Someone is coming, this time without subterfuge.
“Lord Makar!” someone hollers.
Commander Gennerin. I make a face at Damin. The commander’s timing is off. Damin and I now will not have the freedom to question our prisoners, at least not in the manner to extract swift answers. He mutters under his breath, nodding thereafter. He understands.
“Here!” I shout.
Soon the man himself enters the clearing. With him are two soldiers, and Kay. One of those soldiers is Corporal Allin from the shuttle, and another appears to be a recruit. Never have I seen a man so nervous.
Kay murmurs, “This is Ross. He helped us make sense of the situation when we attained the plateau.”
Soldier Ross salutes.
“At ease,” I mutter, transferring my focus to Gennerin. “You spoke with Iniri?”
Nodding, the older man strides in to glare into the faces of the two tied men. “Speak!” he spits out.
Of course there is no response.
Kay shifts his attention between me and Damin, and then moves to Ross. “Find the bodies of the others and bury them. We do not need questions at this time.”
“What is going on?” the young man asks, clearly out of his depth.
“Traitors,” I say. “Do as Kay suggests. Shallow graves will suffice, or cover them well with rock and branch. Allin, you as well.”
The corporal glances at his superior, but Gennerin is fixated on the two captives. He inclines his head and gestures to the young soldier. The two vanish into the trees.
“Damin,” Kay says next, “we do not have time for long-winded questioning. Others will come soon, wondering where the Makar and their commander is. Delve, Damin. Get it done.”
Gennerin snaps around to stare at Damin.
“Let him do it,” I tell the man. “Damin is a true Delver. Unlike Hal, he has years of experience already.”
Gennerin steps aside, saying not a word.
The captives begin then to gibber, glancing at each other in terror.
“Usually a Delver sees images,” Damin murmurs in a cold voice as he saunters closer. “Symbols that reveal emotions.” He halts before the man closest to my position. “It happens without prompts from me and I have needed to learn to shut it off.” Damin lifts his left hand, fingers wide. “Usually it is achieved without effort on my part, but when I employ touch …”
“We will talk!” the soldiers shouts.
“… every secret is revealed,” Damin states, ignoring the outburst. “And it becomes more than mere images.”
I know my eyebrows hike up, and Kay glances at me in surprise. We did not know Damin could use touch. Then again, he may be seeking to intimidate; perhaps touch has nothing to do with his ploy.
“We will talk!” the other screams.
Commander Gennerin sucks at his teeth, no doubt wondering what deeper secrets these men possess. Whatever they are, those cause the terror.
“Damin,” I say and, when the man glances at me, “touch?”
He blinks and nods.
Ice races through my veins then. If that is true, Damin is aware of my hidden secrets also. Swallowing, I murmur, “You are a dangerous man, my friend.”
“Moravin is our leader!” one man screeches out. Shoving at his bonds, he continues, “We planned this on Makaran! Moravin suspected you may be alive and sent us to negate your influence.”
“Your father is weak and therefore now is the time to change!” the other adds.
Fire displaces ice. “Damin,” I grind out, “touch. Find out what is wrong with my father.”
April 1, 2016
March 31, 2016
The King's Challenge #259 and #260
TKC 259 and 260
Iniri grips Artur’s shoulders. “Never mind any of that! My father is dying? Is that what they said?”
He nods, staring at her.
“Did they say how? Is he ill? How long?”
He steps away. “My Lady, forgive me, but I do not know.”
Her hands clench into fists and she swivels to look at me. “Enris, we need at least one alive.”
Indeed. “Get back to the shuttle,” I say. “I will … talk … to them.” I am aware my face is without expression, but I do not care. Like to Iniri, I need to know the truth. If it means five men die in the next few minutes in order for one to spill his truth, then so be it.
“Artur,” Damin murmurs, “take Lyra back.”
“I can …” Iniri says, but Damin cuts her short.
“Now, Artur.”
“The big man grips Iniri’s upper arm and hauls her off. She protests at first, but then goes meekly, throwing looks backward as she goes. I notice she looks more at Damin than at me.
“She is not a soldier, am I right?” Damin demands.
“She was a Priestess,” I say quietly.
“Then I did right.”
“She will still flay the skin off you.” I grin, if reluctantly. Nothing is amusing. My father is dying. If that is how it is, I am not ready to assume the mantle of rulership.
“What was my role on Makaran?” Damin asks next.
Clever. Quick. Damin has understood something intrinsic about himself. He simply needs it confirmed. “You were the leader of the protectors based in the badlands.’
“Hmm. And how did I come to know Iniri?”
“You were wounded. She was your healer.”
Damin nods. “I cannot yet remember, but what you say resonates. I was for the Makar rulers?”
“We counted on you, yes.”
Again he nods. “As I thought. Then let us get these traitors and hear what their plans are.”
This time I smile with all warmth. “We need only one.”
“One for you and one for me,” Damin says grimly, not responding to my smile. “I have my ways and you have yours. One of them will talk.”
I incline my head and set off into the tress, heading in the direction Artur spilled from. Damin is on my heels.
Within minutes we hear the tell-tale sounds of low conversation and the rustles uncaring boots make in drier undergrowth. I flick my hand, and we separate in silence and stealth.
Not long after, six men wander towards us, weapons pointing to the earth. They believe no one has marked their absence. Foolish indeed. I notice they are not as young as the main host of soldiers. These are men seasoned by time and war. Idiots. They should know better than to walk as if they have no cares. Given their stealth in leaving, they should employ it also in their return.
Damin vanishes and I am amazed. The man is a Devil indeed. Here he is a Forest Devil.
I step into their path, sword raised.
Six men freeze.
Before they are able to respond to the threat of my presence, Damin deals with two of them in rapid succession, coming at them from behind. Two swing around to face their attacker at the rear, while the other two rush at me, eyes so big I realise they understand that they have been unmasked. I thus have no mercy.
Swiftly Damin has one in a headlock. The other is dead. He tosses the soldier’s weapon into the forest.
Mere moments after, I have the only other survivor under my boot, pressing at his throat. “Move, and you are dead,” I say coldly.
Silence returns to the forest as we stare at each other without moving.
Iniri grips Artur’s shoulders. “Never mind any of that! My father is dying? Is that what they said?”
He nods, staring at her.
“Did they say how? Is he ill? How long?”
He steps away. “My Lady, forgive me, but I do not know.”
Her hands clench into fists and she swivels to look at me. “Enris, we need at least one alive.”
Indeed. “Get back to the shuttle,” I say. “I will … talk … to them.” I am aware my face is without expression, but I do not care. Like to Iniri, I need to know the truth. If it means five men die in the next few minutes in order for one to spill his truth, then so be it.
“Artur,” Damin murmurs, “take Lyra back.”
“I can …” Iniri says, but Damin cuts her short.
“Now, Artur.”
“The big man grips Iniri’s upper arm and hauls her off. She protests at first, but then goes meekly, throwing looks backward as she goes. I notice she looks more at Damin than at me.
“She is not a soldier, am I right?” Damin demands.
“She was a Priestess,” I say quietly.
“Then I did right.”
“She will still flay the skin off you.” I grin, if reluctantly. Nothing is amusing. My father is dying. If that is how it is, I am not ready to assume the mantle of rulership.
“What was my role on Makaran?” Damin asks next.
Clever. Quick. Damin has understood something intrinsic about himself. He simply needs it confirmed. “You were the leader of the protectors based in the badlands.’
“Hmm. And how did I come to know Iniri?”
“You were wounded. She was your healer.”
Damin nods. “I cannot yet remember, but what you say resonates. I was for the Makar rulers?”
“We counted on you, yes.”
Again he nods. “As I thought. Then let us get these traitors and hear what their plans are.”
This time I smile with all warmth. “We need only one.”
“One for you and one for me,” Damin says grimly, not responding to my smile. “I have my ways and you have yours. One of them will talk.”
I incline my head and set off into the tress, heading in the direction Artur spilled from. Damin is on my heels.
Within minutes we hear the tell-tale sounds of low conversation and the rustles uncaring boots make in drier undergrowth. I flick my hand, and we separate in silence and stealth.
Not long after, six men wander towards us, weapons pointing to the earth. They believe no one has marked their absence. Foolish indeed. I notice they are not as young as the main host of soldiers. These are men seasoned by time and war. Idiots. They should know better than to walk as if they have no cares. Given their stealth in leaving, they should employ it also in their return.
Damin vanishes and I am amazed. The man is a Devil indeed. Here he is a Forest Devil.
I step into their path, sword raised.
Six men freeze.
Before they are able to respond to the threat of my presence, Damin deals with two of them in rapid succession, coming at them from behind. Two swing around to face their attacker at the rear, while the other two rush at me, eyes so big I realise they understand that they have been unmasked. I thus have no mercy.
Swiftly Damin has one in a headlock. The other is dead. He tosses the soldier’s weapon into the forest.
Mere moments after, I have the only other survivor under my boot, pressing at his throat. “Move, and you are dead,” I say coldly.
Silence returns to the forest as we stare at each other without moving.
The King's Challenge #257 and #258
TKC 257 and 258
Damin launches up as well, dagger to hand. Together we face the attacker.
A man comes rushing towards us covered in twigs and leaves. His camouflage is extensive and it halts my forward movement briefly. One will swear he is a bush. I almost burst into laughter, but this is no time for amusement.
Damin does, however.
He suddenly slaps his thighs and starts chortling. The next moment he convulses in a full belly laugh.
I admit. I stop dead in my tracks.
Iniri wanders through us, pushing both our blades down. She is smiling.
What is this? Whois this?
“You made your point, Artur,” Iniri laughs.
Peering at the ‘bush’ I realise it is the big man from Grenmassin. Artur has been a godsend in keeping everyone moving and motivated and … my eyes narrow. Why this get-up?
Shifting my stance, I notice Damin has lost his smile. Perhaps he is asking himself the same question.
Artur fumbles his betwigged headgear off, and bows. “Forgive me for bumbling in like this, but something needs saying and I intend to say it.”
My sister frowns. “Artur, I am not feeling the love. Why are you hiding out here? And why are you decked out for ambush?”
The man glances over his shoulder. “I saw six of them head off into the trees and it did not sit right, so I followed. You know I hunt; always I blend with the terrain. It’s as natural as breathing for me.”
Yes, I recall he was ever the one to bring back fresh meat after a foray into the hinterland north of Grenmassin. I have never seen him in camouflage, but I have heard the men of our village discussing his expertise. Well, Horin did. These are Horin’s memories.
I sheath my sword. “Who went off into the trees?”
“Soldiers. They seemed about less than honest business to me.”
Damin’s dagger vanishes. “Scouts, Artur. Standard practice.”
The big man shakes his head. “Not these. I saw the scouts head out, three each in five directions. This lot left after.”
Damin demands, “And?”
Artur straightens his shoulders. “Damin, you have to be more aware. Not every Ilfin is to be trusted.”
Iniri steps closer. “Artur, what is it?”
“They went off to talk, carefully avoiding the scouts. I could not hear everything, for I lost some ground while I became one with the surroundings, but what I did hear is not good.”
Damin swears under his breath before saying, “Tell us.”
Again Artur glances over his shoulder. “They will come this way soon, so I will be brief. They plan to overthrow the rulers of Makaran.” His gaze flicks to me. “I guess that is where your family name comes from and I guess that means you are a target.”
Artur has not been privy to the secrets, or truths, I have shared with Damin. Few know Makar is, in fact, the ruling house. Siri and Kay know, having spent time with Gennerin, and so do Hal and the woman Messenger – I do not recall her name right now – but neither of the latter two have had opportunity to speak with the others. Siri and Kay know to be silent on certain issues.
Sucking at my teeth, I nod at Artur. “Go on.”
“Something about the king being close to death …”
“What?” Iniri bursts out. Simultaneously, I say, “Cannot be!”
The village man glances from me to Iniri and back. “I assume you know of him?”
“He is our father!” Iniri states, a hand going to her cheek.
Artur blinks. “You are brother and sister as Makar also?” He abruptly stares into my eyes with intent. “They said it is time to negate the heir to the throne.”
Damin launches up as well, dagger to hand. Together we face the attacker.
A man comes rushing towards us covered in twigs and leaves. His camouflage is extensive and it halts my forward movement briefly. One will swear he is a bush. I almost burst into laughter, but this is no time for amusement.
Damin does, however.
He suddenly slaps his thighs and starts chortling. The next moment he convulses in a full belly laugh.
I admit. I stop dead in my tracks.
Iniri wanders through us, pushing both our blades down. She is smiling.
What is this? Whois this?
“You made your point, Artur,” Iniri laughs.
Peering at the ‘bush’ I realise it is the big man from Grenmassin. Artur has been a godsend in keeping everyone moving and motivated and … my eyes narrow. Why this get-up?
Shifting my stance, I notice Damin has lost his smile. Perhaps he is asking himself the same question.
Artur fumbles his betwigged headgear off, and bows. “Forgive me for bumbling in like this, but something needs saying and I intend to say it.”
My sister frowns. “Artur, I am not feeling the love. Why are you hiding out here? And why are you decked out for ambush?”
The man glances over his shoulder. “I saw six of them head off into the trees and it did not sit right, so I followed. You know I hunt; always I blend with the terrain. It’s as natural as breathing for me.”
Yes, I recall he was ever the one to bring back fresh meat after a foray into the hinterland north of Grenmassin. I have never seen him in camouflage, but I have heard the men of our village discussing his expertise. Well, Horin did. These are Horin’s memories.
I sheath my sword. “Who went off into the trees?”
“Soldiers. They seemed about less than honest business to me.”
Damin’s dagger vanishes. “Scouts, Artur. Standard practice.”
The big man shakes his head. “Not these. I saw the scouts head out, three each in five directions. This lot left after.”
Damin demands, “And?”
Artur straightens his shoulders. “Damin, you have to be more aware. Not every Ilfin is to be trusted.”
Iniri steps closer. “Artur, what is it?”
“They went off to talk, carefully avoiding the scouts. I could not hear everything, for I lost some ground while I became one with the surroundings, but what I did hear is not good.”
Damin swears under his breath before saying, “Tell us.”
Again Artur glances over his shoulder. “They will come this way soon, so I will be brief. They plan to overthrow the rulers of Makaran.” His gaze flicks to me. “I guess that is where your family name comes from and I guess that means you are a target.”
Artur has not been privy to the secrets, or truths, I have shared with Damin. Few know Makar is, in fact, the ruling house. Siri and Kay know, having spent time with Gennerin, and so do Hal and the woman Messenger – I do not recall her name right now – but neither of the latter two have had opportunity to speak with the others. Siri and Kay know to be silent on certain issues.
Sucking at my teeth, I nod at Artur. “Go on.”
“Something about the king being close to death …”
“What?” Iniri bursts out. Simultaneously, I say, “Cannot be!”
The village man glances from me to Iniri and back. “I assume you know of him?”
“He is our father!” Iniri states, a hand going to her cheek.
Artur blinks. “You are brother and sister as Makar also?” He abruptly stares into my eyes with intent. “They said it is time to negate the heir to the throne.”
March 30, 2016
Arcana Relaunched!
Recently the rights to my four Arcana books were returned to me and I have now relaunched them, an effort of many days to edit, format and publish. All the covers for the ebooks are now the same as the print versions and everything is linked on Amazon (they were separate before).
New links are in the sidebar as well as in the Arcana Page :)
The first volume (also my debut novel!) is currently priced at a mere 99c - grab a copy QUICK!
Happy reading!
New links are in the sidebar as well as in the Arcana Page :)
The first volume (also my debut novel!) is currently priced at a mere 99c - grab a copy QUICK!
Happy reading!
On a darker note :)
Inspiration for the darker side to our stories!
March 29, 2016
At the moment in Elaina's World
Hello, everyone!
This is a quick note from me to explain why blog posts have been a mite spurious lately, especially the King's Challenge posts.
Not only is the internet availability in our region playing havoc with my sanity right now, but we have a renovation underway. The former keeps me off the net when I do sit at my computer, while the latter keeps me from my computer, period :)
We will be catching up, though, as soon as possible.
In other news, I have relaunched my Arcana series, but I will tell you all about it in a dedicated post.
Thank you for continuing to visit! I hugely appreciate your support!
This is a quick note from me to explain why blog posts have been a mite spurious lately, especially the King's Challenge posts.
Not only is the internet availability in our region playing havoc with my sanity right now, but we have a renovation underway. The former keeps me off the net when I do sit at my computer, while the latter keeps me from my computer, period :)
We will be catching up, though, as soon as possible.
In other news, I have relaunched my Arcana series, but I will tell you all about it in a dedicated post.
Thank you for continuing to visit! I hugely appreciate your support!
105 000+!
Thank you SO much for visiting!
xxx
xxx
