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Luxatra, The Gifted
Category:
Fantasy
Publisher: Terrwyn Books LLC
ISBN-10: 1508792240
Pages: 338
Copyright: Mar 3, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781508792246
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Rhea has given all she has to pull Luxatra back from the brink of chaos, but in this final part, even more is demanded. One evil has released another, and unless Rhea is willing to sacrifice everything, there may be nothing left of the world that she has come to love.
Excerpt
Rhea’s eyes popped open. She blinked a few times. Her gaze drifted around the room. The elegant, yet simple furnishing looked all too familiar.
A smile crept across her lips when she saw Taulin lounging in an overstuffed chair by the fireplace, his long legs stretched out in front of him, his arms folded lightly over his chest.
She studied his sleeping face as his chest rose and fell. Her heart fluttered. He hadn’t left her side since finding her in the middle of the palace city, surrounded by death.
Taulin’s eyes opened slightly, his dark eyes locked on hers.
"How did I get here?" she asked quietly.
Taulin gripped the arms of the chair and propelled himself to his feet. "You passed out in Queen Jauline's chambers." He sat on the edge of the bed. "She asked me to bring you here."
Memories flashed into her mind. "We have to go!" she said as she threw her legs over the edge of the bed.
"You've only been asleep for a couple of hours."
Rhea pulled on her boots. "We have to check on Pelyn's force in Terranees. We can't let them get through the landslide." She grabbed her leather coat and headed for the door. "Oh! The realm warriors! We need to rescue them."
Taulin ran after her. "The queen and Kalaub are already working on a plan."
"We can't wait any longer." Rhea turned the corner and left the east wing behind her.
"It's only been a few hours." Taulin hurried to catch up, then scooted in front of her and turned, blocking her way. "We can't fight another battle when we're dead on our feet. Even you need rest."
Rhea gently pushed him aside. "If you saw what I saw, you wouldn't be arguing with me."
Taulin huffed and followed her.
Rhea smiled as Taulin grumbled something under his breath. She debated whether she should ask if he needed to sleep, but she decided against it, knowing he'd only deny his fatigue.
Four Sentran warriors stood guard outside Jauline's chamber. Voices drifted through the open doors.
As Rhea approached, the guards instinctively reached for their swords, but quickly relaxed when they saw who it was.
Rhea gave the guards a quick nod and entered the room.
Jauline looked up from the map she was studying. "I thought you would sleep longer."
"There's no time." Rhea glanced around. Her heart skipped a beat and she threw her father a worried look. "Where're Daen and Randell?"
"They're fine," said Prince Kalaub. "They're with Cyen, interrogating the surviving Terranees warriors."
Rhea turned to leave, but Taulin stepped in front of her again. "I'll go. You stay here and get some more rest." He pointed to the overstuffed chair where she'd fallen asleep earlier.
Rhea opened her mouth to argue but Taulin was already halfway out the door.
"I like him." Kalaub glanced at his sister, not quite hiding a smile.
The queen's lips curved slightly into a smile before she returned her attention to the map on her desk.
Rhea eyed her father, but as she stifled a yawn, the look she'd been going for was lost.
Kalaub pointed to the chair.
Rhea sat down reluctantly, her gaze locked onto the map that had Jauline's attention. "Is that a map of Terranees?"
"It is," answered Jauline without lifting her gaze.
Rhea pushed herself out of the deep, soft chair. "Does it show any volcanos?"
"Three." Jauline pointed. "Here, here, and here."
"Cyen is trying to find a Terranees survivor willing to talk," explained Kalaub. "If our people are truly trapped on top of a dormant volcano, we don't want to waste time by going to the wrong one."
"How long has he been down in the cells?"
"An hour or so. He joined Daen and Randell after Lanne and our healer got him stitched up," said Jauline.
"Stitched up? I hope it wasn't bad." Rhea's skin twitched with sympathetic pain.
"He'll be sore for a few days." Kalaub patted her shoulder. "But he'll be fine."
Rhea released the breath she'd been holding. She leaned over the map and focused on the three locations the queen had marked. "It's not going to be this one." She tapped the spot in the southwest corner of Terranees. "There's no portal. I was taken there via a tunnel."
"Right." Kalaub sighed. "We came to the same conclusion."
"Oh." Rhea glanced from the queen to her father, noting the resemblance. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been sleeping. I should have been helping."
"Using your gift the way you did," said Daen as he entered the room, "it's amazing you're awake now."
Randell followed Daen. "You're up?"
Rhea rolled her eyes.
Cyen passed through the open doors with Taulin by his side.
"Well?" Rhea glanced anxiously between the three men.
Cyen walked briskly to the map. "Here. They're being kept here." He pressed his finger to a spot in the northern region. "Terrolar."
Rhea reached for the small pouch she normally carried. She didn't have it. Her eyes darted about the room. "Where's Lanne? She has my journal."
Kalaub reached behind the overstuffed chair and retrieved the missing pouch, as well as the sword Daen had given her.
The tension in Rhea's shoulders eased. "Thanks." She quickly opened the journal to a blank page and made a few notes.
"You'll need supplies," said the queen. "See Grania in the kitchen on your way out."
Rhea donned the sword.
"I assume we're leaving now?" Daen asked.
"Yeah. Will you join me?" Her gaze met his.
"Of course."
Rhea looked questioningly at Randell and Cyen.
Randell grinned and bowed his head slightly.
"Thank you." Cyen also bowed his head.
Rhea's gaze now fell on Taulin, one brow raised.
"You have to ask?" Taulin tipped his head to the side.
Rhea tried to contain her laughter. "No more leaving him behind," she thought to herself.
"I'll need to transfer command," said Taulin.
"As will I," added Daen. He went to the chamber door and waved to someone down the hall.
A young man ran up to him.
"Please ask Seorus," Daen glanced at Taulin, who nodded, "and Lieutenant Atur from Laundan to join us. I believe you will find them on the palace grounds with the rest of the Laundan warriors."
The boy squared his shoulders and bowed. "Aye, sir."
As the boy's footsteps faded away, Rhea reached for a blank strip of parchment on the queen's desk. "I'm going to send a message to Custoria and let Doaran know what's happening."
Rhea's thoughts drifted to Gaibel. She'd left her to round up the Terranees invaders and to face the repercussions for having a traitor next to her king. A wave of guilt washed over her.
With a heavy sigh, Rhea folded and rolled the note.
"What's wrong?" Jauline extended her hand, taking the strip of rolled parchment to seal it.
Rhea shifted her gaze to her father. "Have you heard from Gaibel?"
"No." Kalaub's jaw tightened.
"Maybe I should ..."
"No." Kalaub shook his head. "We can't defend the realms when our people are held captive. You would be doing more good by freeing our people and bringing them home."
Rhea looked over Kalaub's shoulder to Daen who gave her an affirming nod.
"She has Daulr with her and her Laundan warriors," added Taulin with confidence and pride.
Rhea locked eyes with her handsome prince. Her prince. She grinned.
Seorus and Laundan's Lieutenant Atur arrived as Jauline passed Rhea's message to one of the guards.
"You wanted to see me?" Seorus asked.
Daen spun around. "Yes. I'm leaving and I need you to assume responsibility of the guardians. Queen Jauline will need one point of contact."
"Of course." Seorus nodded and glanced at Taulin who was speaking with Atur. "Is Prince Taulin joining you?"
"Yes, as well as Rhea, Randell, and Cyen. We're heading for Terranees." Daen locked eyes with Seorus. "Lanne will stay here and ..."
Seorus raised his hand, stopping Daen. "I'll watch over her."
Daen swallowed hard and bowed his head before looking over Seorus' shoulder to see Lanne coming through the door.
"I saw Seorus being summoned." Lanne's eyes were wide with worry.
Daen crossed the room, pulled her into his arms, and whispered into her ear. "Promise to return for me."
Lanne leaned back and looked Daen in the eyes. "Promise."
Daen kissed her gently. "I'll come back."
Kalaub approached Rhea, stepping close, yet, not touching. He opened his mouth to speak but hesitated.
Rhea could sense her father's fear. "I'll come back too," she said hastily.
Kalaub leaned in slightly and studied her face as if memorizing every detail, before pulling back. "I ... We haven't had much time with each other, but I want you to know that it doesn't take long for ..."
"We'll get to know each other better, later."
"Yes." Kalaub nodded. "Come. We'll cut through the kitchens. I'm sure Grania will have something you can take."
Rhea turned towards the door stopping for just one moment to take one last look at her 'real' family. A pang of guilt pierced her heart. She still loved her parents, her mom and dad in the world of shadows. But it was here, for the first time in her life, that she felt like she truly belonged.
She wondered if they would be upset if she decided she didn't want to return to them, or if they would visit her. She took a deep breath and put those thoughts aside for another day.
Randell and Cyen were already in the hall waiting as she stepped through the doorway with Kalaub by her side.
Daen gave Lanne one last embrace.
She gently laid her hand on his cheek. "Be safe."
Taulin's gaze locked on Daen and Lanne.
"Sir?" Atur waved his hand in front of Taulin.
"What? Oh. Yes. You have your orders." Taulin stepped past his lieutenant with haste.
A smile played on Atur's lips as he watched his prince disappear into the hall.
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