Read Online Enchantress Awakening: Part One of the Book of Water (The Elemental Cycle 1) by J.W. Whitmarsh - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: J.W. Whitmarsh
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to us coupling?”
“Why should I? If it makes you both happy then I have no objection. I have no right to claim or jealousy over Penric.”
“It would be understandable, nonetheless. You were together for near a year.”
“And we were friends much longer than that before. My love for him now is the same as ever; I could not resent him any joy.” Ellie seemed satisfied with this and Caleigh let her head droop back over her shoulder in a shallow half-slumber knowing she would not slide underwater by accident.
Almost at once her vision shifted from the bathroom roofing to scene outside in the grounds. A thin monk with the first touches of grey in his hair watched as one of the younger initiates carried boxes of apples from the gardens into the kitchens. The wet clung to his hair and made his robes stick. The elder monk looked on and Caleigh could sense from him a mixture of excitement and shame.
Barely had she time to contemplate this when she was looking at the interior of one of the sheds in the grounds. Inside another initiate was stooping over a roll of parchment containing a charcoal drawing of a young woman reclining in the nude. One hand gripped the shaking scroll while the other felt inside his robes. Again, the joy was tempered by guilt though of a different kind to the former.
The hut disappeared and was replaced by a grim and ancient-looking castle seeming carved from living stone and bearing many an image of skulls and gaping maws. Ahead of her a diverse group of people ran forward into the lower courtyards. Amongst them seemed to be peoples from all corners of the world, many of them never seen by Caleigh before; dark-skinned men with broad features, small pale figures with jet black hair, some armed and bedecked in armour of leather and bronze, others in robes of every colour that whipped about their legs as they sped forward.
In the middle of the group moved Loreliath in the same attire as she had appeared to her only with the hood drawn back and a long staff of white crystal in her hand. Following her and the group as a whole they moved further into the courtyard that quickly came alive with shouts and the sound of scrambling boots. Soldiers appeared draped in black and carrying shields bearing two twisting red horns upon darkness. Light of all colours flashed and many of the soldiers were blasted aside while the rest were met by the armed contingent of the attacking force.
Without pause for breath they kept moving forward into a corridor pacing towards an opening at the far end. This exit opened onto hall lined with pillars on either side that supported a roof that was open in the centre letting the strong glow of moonlight into the red-sand coloured room. At once the air filled with balls of fire hurtling towards the group that were intercepted by a sudden tidal wave upon whose crest rode dolphins of water, snuffing out the flames before they could reach their targets. Just as quickly the whole room became a storm of light as black robes and shaven-headed sorcerers duelled with their opponents rushing into the space.
Caleigh could barely follow what happened nor did she desire to. Between the screams and shouts, roaring flames and beasts erupting into thin air all around her people were dying. That most of these deaths were of Xyraxis’ minions was little comfort to her. To see a body burned to cinder or torn asunder by magic was grisly no matter whom it was who suffered. In the chaos she tried to keep her eyes on Loreliath, shining with bursts of white light desperately intervening every time an ally was in danger. Her power was frightening in its magnitude yet it was never used viciously or with malice and thus in this maelstrom hers remained a comforting presence.
The last of the black sorcerers was vanquished and all went quiet. Some of the allied mages began to run forward to the massive steps at the far end of the hall. Shapes moved in the darkness and with no sound or warning sable clad
“Why should I? If it makes you both happy then I have no objection. I have no right to claim or jealousy over Penric.”
“It would be understandable, nonetheless. You were together for near a year.”
“And we were friends much longer than that before. My love for him now is the same as ever; I could not resent him any joy.” Ellie seemed satisfied with this and Caleigh let her head droop back over her shoulder in a shallow half-slumber knowing she would not slide underwater by accident.
Almost at once her vision shifted from the bathroom roofing to scene outside in the grounds. A thin monk with the first touches of grey in his hair watched as one of the younger initiates carried boxes of apples from the gardens into the kitchens. The wet clung to his hair and made his robes stick. The elder monk looked on and Caleigh could sense from him a mixture of excitement and shame.
Barely had she time to contemplate this when she was looking at the interior of one of the sheds in the grounds. Inside another initiate was stooping over a roll of parchment containing a charcoal drawing of a young woman reclining in the nude. One hand gripped the shaking scroll while the other felt inside his robes. Again, the joy was tempered by guilt though of a different kind to the former.
The hut disappeared and was replaced by a grim and ancient-looking castle seeming carved from living stone and bearing many an image of skulls and gaping maws. Ahead of her a diverse group of people ran forward into the lower courtyards. Amongst them seemed to be peoples from all corners of the world, many of them never seen by Caleigh before; dark-skinned men with broad features, small pale figures with jet black hair, some armed and bedecked in armour of leather and bronze, others in robes of every colour that whipped about their legs as they sped forward.
In the middle of the group moved Loreliath in the same attire as she had appeared to her only with the hood drawn back and a long staff of white crystal in her hand. Following her and the group as a whole they moved further into the courtyard that quickly came alive with shouts and the sound of scrambling boots. Soldiers appeared draped in black and carrying shields bearing two twisting red horns upon darkness. Light of all colours flashed and many of the soldiers were blasted aside while the rest were met by the armed contingent of the attacking force.
Without pause for breath they kept moving forward into a corridor pacing towards an opening at the far end. This exit opened onto hall lined with pillars on either side that supported a roof that was open in the centre letting the strong glow of moonlight into the red-sand coloured room. At once the air filled with balls of fire hurtling towards the group that were intercepted by a sudden tidal wave upon whose crest rode dolphins of water, snuffing out the flames before they could reach their targets. Just as quickly the whole room became a storm of light as black robes and shaven-headed sorcerers duelled with their opponents rushing into the space.
Caleigh could barely follow what happened nor did she desire to. Between the screams and shouts, roaring flames and beasts erupting into thin air all around her people were dying. That most of these deaths were of Xyraxis’ minions was little comfort to her. To see a body burned to cinder or torn asunder by magic was grisly no matter whom it was who suffered. In the chaos she tried to keep her eyes on Loreliath, shining with bursts of white light desperately intervening every time an ally was in danger. Her power was frightening in its magnitude yet it was never used viciously or with malice and thus in this maelstrom hers remained a comforting presence.
The last of the black sorcerers was vanquished and all went quiet. Some of the allied mages began to run forward to the massive steps at the far end of the hall. Shapes moved in the darkness and with no sound or warning sable clad
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