Excerpt: Hunt for the Blood, Book One

Prologue
Tah Li’shaden vas Savada Isli

Dark shadows fell across the forest and turned the Athuadian River inky-black as Assielle stood and brushed the dirt and grass from her hands and dress. The sword on her back would do her little good today and she knew it. Only magic would give the world a chance. Taking a deep breath, she schooled her features calm and waited, praying her message had reached the Tua'tahn before the red dragons. Or the Magnai'nihs.

Another aftershock of the early morning quake shook the ground, but Assielle hardly noticed, lost in her determined and desperate thoughts. The shadows slowly shrank as she prepared to launch into magic. They were coming. All she had to do was buy time, even if she did buy it with her life. The future was what mattered, and her visions already told her that she had no part in those days. Her battle was on that ground, that moment.

A piercing screech shattered the natural silence of the forest. Gusts of wind kicked up and swirled around her from every direction, tossing dirt, dead leaves, and loose rocks everywhere. Instantly she whispered her spell of protection and a ward popped up around her, keeping the airborne assault from touching the air around her.

Once the dust settled, Assielle glanced around her warily as a red dragon landed in front of her gracefully. As soon as its feet touched the ground it transformed before her eyes into a stunning woman with curly red hair and eyes of flame. More red dragons circled around her both above and on the ground. She was encased in a dome of red scale.

“Acebrity.” She tried to keep her voice steady and calm, serene.

The lady in red slowly approached, looking Assielle over with a hot, critical eye. Acebrity examined her from every angle, circling around until they were facing once more. Her eyes drifted up into the trees, thoroughly examining every branch, twig, and leaf. Eyes of flames slipped down to the ground and searched just as thoroughly as before. Assielle knew exactly what she was looking for and tried her best not to grin with victory.

Acebrity's eyes did not meet hers as she spoke. “What have you done with it?”

Assielle kept her eyes firmly on the woman before her and managed to keep her face serene. She refused to answer.

Hot air flooded the center of the circle the dragons formed, but Assielle ignored the heat. Every moment counted, and so far she was doing well at buying more. Acebrity's hot eyes snapped to her from the surrounding forest. Assielle refused to blink under the intense glare. Hate filled the eyes of flame. Hate so pure it clenched Assielle's heart. An instant later the hate turned calm and serene, just as she was sure she looked.

“Queen Assielle. At last. I have hunted you for months now.” A smile quirked the corner of Acebrity's red lips. “You are far better with deception and evasion than I or our master gave you credit for. But now you must come with me. He beckons you.”

For the first time, hate filled Assielle's veins.

“I do not share masters with you, you vile, wretched, betrayer of oaths!” The venomous tone in Assielle's voice took her by surprise, as well as Acebrity.

“There is a little of the Shadow in all of us,” Acebrity laughed. “Even those who claim to walk in the Light. This is our time, my master and I. Even you cannot deny that—or stop it—with all of your kindness and ancient wisdom. There is nothing for it but to submit to our master and repent your sins against him.” Acebrity took a few steps closer. Darkness seemed to follow her. “You know his blood flows through your veins, and that is all that has kept you alive thus far. You must submit to him.”

Assielle drew herself up as regal and queenly as she ever had. She was proud of who she was, and Acebrity could not sway her into Shadow. “I have the blood of the Light. The Light shelters me and protects me in Her gentle embrace—”

“The Light is gone, Queen Assielle!” Acebrity snapped. “She has long since abandoned this world, and our master will see to it that all who submit to him be spared.”

Serene eyes licked hungry at Assielle. Despair began to sink into her mind and she could feel herself begun to weaken under Acebrity's gaze. The white skirt of her Arithian dress wrinkled and folded as she sank to her knees. A heavy weight on her mind pressed her to the ground until she was panting on all fours.

This cannot be, she whimpered to herself. If Mother has abandoned us... A single tear slipped down her cheek. She would not. She could not.

Drawing in ragged breathes, Assielle raised her eyes to meet Acebrity's. “I—will—not—yield.”

Grinding her teeth, Assielle tried to force herself to her feet. Claws dug into her back as a large paw pressed her down. She refused to wince from the pain. Acebrity only watched her as if studying a strange creature.

“Where have you hidden them, Assielle?” The question came in a flat tone.

She could not know everything, Assielle reassured herself. Again, she ground her teeth. “I—will—not—yield.”

Acebrity nodded to the dragon behind Assielle and it dug its claws into her flesh as it shrieked with joy. Assielle clenched her jaw to keep from screaming in pain. Acebrity crouched in front of her and smoothed her skirt. Then she grabbed Assielle's chin in a firm grip and yanked her head up to meet Acebrity in the eyes.

“I could torture you for all of eternity to get the answers I need from you,” Acebrity spat. “And if I took things a little too far, our master would bring you back for me to start all over again. Do not think I would not take great joy in watching you scream and squeal until the end of time. I will let my dragons feast on your flesh, and then I will heal you for their next meal.” Eyes of flame leaped with excitement and pleasure. “I will drain the blood from your body and gift it to the Dra'vel. It is said that the blood of the Light makes them stronger.” Their faces were less than an inch apart. “Trust me Assielle. I have no love for you or your kind. I will get the answers I need from you one way or another. Now, where are they?”

Assielle wanted to spit in Acebrity's face. Instead she took a deep breath and said, “I—will—not—yield.”

Rage filled Acebrity's face. She released her grip and slapped Assielle so hard her entire body jerked, making the dragon's claws tear the flesh on her back. She whimpered in pain, but quickly recovered, wishing she had spit in the woman's face. Acebrity grabbed a handful of her chestnut hair and yanked her head back until her throat hurt from the strain.

“I will find them and kill you. You're worthless! I do not see why he needs you. He has me.”

Another vision flashed through Assielle's mind and she tried to grin. “My husband will never submit—”

“King Revelin already has!” Acebrity spat. “I spoke with him as I am speaking with you. Insufferable fool. He submitted to our master to spare your life. Little good that will do. Only an idiot would actually believe you life would be spared. He was willing to give me everything to save you. But all I needed was the book. I let him keep his pitiful kingdom... for now.”

Tears slipped down Assielle's cheeks, and they had nothing to do with the pain. She should have known. Revelin worshiped her from the moment he laid eyes on her. Every breath he took was for her, and everything he had was because of her. It was her kingdom, not his; handed down from generation to generation for nearly two hundred years, since the end of the War of the Moons. It would one day belong to her son as it did to her, but until that day Revelin was responsible for watching over Sherlim. She knew she would die today, and if Acebrity actually spoke the truth then Sherlim was in for dark days soon.

A wicked smiled split Acebrity's face. “I see you understand a few things now. Save your people from despair and death. Tell me where they are and submit.”

“Either way I will die today,” Assielle growled through clenched teeth.

“Then spare your people.”

“Old allegiances once forgotten must be remade. I will not bow to your master.”

Acebrity released Assielle's chestnut hair and turned away from her. Assielle was sure she was searching the forest again. Dragon claws dug deep into her back and she cried out in agony despite her best efforts to suppress the pain. The tears that rolled down her cheeks in waves were no longer for her people or her husband.

“We share the same master,” Acebrity called back, facing the forest.

“I walk in the Light.” It was more of a whimper than a statement, but she refused to give in. The people of Sherlim would have to survive on their own. If she gave in to Shadow the end would come tomorrow. The only hope for the world was her firm refusal to believe Mother had abandoned the world. The people would have to survive on their own.

“Stubborn, Light-blinded fool,” Acebrity muttered as her eyes turned to the Athuadian River. A smug grin split her lips. “There is no need for you.”

Her eyes turned to Assielle. “I think I will kill you anyway.”

“You know you cannot. I must submit or repent first, and I shall do neither. And if I take my own life first, there is nothing you or your master can do about it. Mother will shelter me in her embrace. She will protect me from Shadow.”

At that moment another aftershock shook the earth and the dragon lost its balance, the claws ripping from her back as it fell away. The pain was remarkably mild, and magic flooded into Assielle, shining with light so bright the world seemed to cease existence.

I knew you had not abandoned me, Mother, she thought as she hurled her first streams of flame at the red dragons on the riverbank.

They shrieked and spread their wings and returned her assault with flames of their own. Faster than she could think, she cast a wall of clear ice around her so she could still see and launched her next attack at Acebrity. The woman in red howled as lightening streaked from the sky and broke through the shield around her. As another bolt streaked toward her, a red dragon – one who had circled the sky during their talk—dove toward Acebrity. The lightening pierced through the beast and it tumbled to the ground lifeless.

“Fûr'gun alanté!” The words exploded from Assielle's lips before she realized they had formed.

On the instant, everything froze in place exactly as it had been when she spoke. The flames the dragons breathed in her direction dissipated and were gone. The dragons were frozen in numerous positions, prepared to strike. Acebrity's eyes popped when she realized she was unable to move more than her eyes, which darted around wildly, taking in the whole scene.

Assielle sank to her knees as the magic drained the strength from her. The longer she could hold them the better. She had not even realized that, in the heat of the battle, she had risen to her feet again until she felt her knees hit the hard rocks and dirt. Everything had seemed to happen at once.

“I am stronger than you know, Acebrity,” Assielle growled.

It took a lot of strength to speak while she held the spell. Concentration forced beaded sweat onto her forehead. She knew her sky blue eyes must be filled with wild desperation, but she no longer cared. The life was ebbing from her with each second that passed.

More time, she insisted. I must buy more time.

She could feel Acebrity struggle against the invisible bonds that held her frozen in place. She was probing for a weakness, a chance to break free. It was only a matter of time before she found what she was looking for.

Into the Light I favor peace and pray for my soul eternal, Assielle prayed harder than she had ever prayed in her life. Death was close. Eternal in life. Eternal in death. Eternal in love. In that I shall be born again.

Though she could feel her body grow weaker with every second that passed, there was a light within that grew stronger.

“Mother,” she whispered.

Acebrity's eyes bulged with the single word.

Breathing turned to labor, but Assielle fought for every second she could. If the magic killed her—of her own accord—the Shadow could not take her no matter how hard it tried. Her dress was soaked through with sweat, her hair dripped with it.

“Tah li’shaden vas savada isli.” Her voice rang in the trees as her final breath escaped and her body collapsed to the ground.

The Light had survived.