Read Online Island Shifters: Book 03 - An Oath of the Children by Valerie Zambito - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Valerie Zambito
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motion under the docks startled him, and he sprang back as a wall of water arose out of the ocean between the ships and Massa. Twelve heads popped out of the sea with their arms lifted toward the sky as they danced on the waves.
The watershifters had arrived.
“If you will excuse me, Your Grace.”
A young woman gently nudged Kellan aside, walked to the end of the extended portion of the dock and lifted her arms.
Kellan recognized her with a smile. It was Alia, Digby’s daughter.
With fluid movement, her hands and body undulated supplely as she directed the watershifters in a synchronized display of shifting. The wall of water fell back to the ocean and twin colossal pillars shot into the air and bent into graceful arcs. Ropes of smaller streams of water gushed from the sea and twisted and coiled around the pillars, swirling together like living things. Kellan did not know if Alia planned it or not, but when the sunlight hit the moving droplets of water just right, a refracted prism of color burst into existence above the arc. The bystanders on the harbor cheered in delight at the sudden appearance of the enormous rainbow.
The strength of the raw power surging through the water was staggering, and Kellan wondered what the Ellvinians thought of the intimidating spectacle. All he knew was that he was in speechless awe. It was not often that he had the chance to see the watershifters use their abilities, and he was hugely impressed at their skill. It also put his mind at rest. If the Ellvinians had any preconceived notion of doing harm to the people of Massa, the threat in that demonstration was abundantly clear. They did not stand a chance.
Alia dropped her hands and the water pillars splashed down.
The watershifters plunged out of the water once again, created a defensive line, and faced the ships, their bodies raised out of the water to their knees.
Alia walked back to him and knelt. “You summoned us, Your Grace?”
“Please rise, Alia.” When she did, he took her in his arms and hugged her. “You cannot know how good it is to see you.”
She stepped back and smiled. “You as well, Prince Kellan.”
He pointed to the ships. “As you can see, we have visitors. I would like you to send the watershifters to the ships and grant permission for six Ellvinians to come ashore. The rest can remain at sea until we determine their purpose for being here.”
She bowed her head. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
C HAPTER 8
B IRTHRIGHTS
All was deathly quiet within the Puu Rainforest as thousands of amber eyes viewed the strange activity of the Elves . Look at their caves, Nazar! How do they make them? I have never seen the like.
I see, Rehka.
And, the stars! How do they cast the stars from the sky to twinkle in the trees? She paused . I think they must not be stars at all, but magic.
Yes, magic, Rehka! Are we not creatures of magic by our very existence alone? Do other creatures of our kind have the intelligence we possess?
Of course not.
No, and our magic is what allows us to see the stars in the trees.
When Rehka fell silent, Nazar thought on his words. He only half-believed them himself. He was not certain how the Elves used their magic and that was the very reason for this uprising. Knowledge. It was time for the Draca Cats to better understand the world in which they lived, and time for them to take their rightful place in that world. First, they would need the assistance of the Kenleys, and in order to do that, they must convince their Draca bondmates.
What do we do now, Nazar? Rehka was the one to ask, but he could feel the same question on every mind behind him.
He gazed again at the swarm of industrious Elves going about their peculiar tasks and wondered at the strength of resistance they would present. Nazar lifted one corner of his lip. There was only one way to find out. His destiny lay in the land of Men somewhere to the west and to get there, he had to first travel through the land of
The watershifters had arrived.
“If you will excuse me, Your Grace.”
A young woman gently nudged Kellan aside, walked to the end of the extended portion of the dock and lifted her arms.
Kellan recognized her with a smile. It was Alia, Digby’s daughter.
With fluid movement, her hands and body undulated supplely as she directed the watershifters in a synchronized display of shifting. The wall of water fell back to the ocean and twin colossal pillars shot into the air and bent into graceful arcs. Ropes of smaller streams of water gushed from the sea and twisted and coiled around the pillars, swirling together like living things. Kellan did not know if Alia planned it or not, but when the sunlight hit the moving droplets of water just right, a refracted prism of color burst into existence above the arc. The bystanders on the harbor cheered in delight at the sudden appearance of the enormous rainbow.
The strength of the raw power surging through the water was staggering, and Kellan wondered what the Ellvinians thought of the intimidating spectacle. All he knew was that he was in speechless awe. It was not often that he had the chance to see the watershifters use their abilities, and he was hugely impressed at their skill. It also put his mind at rest. If the Ellvinians had any preconceived notion of doing harm to the people of Massa, the threat in that demonstration was abundantly clear. They did not stand a chance.
Alia dropped her hands and the water pillars splashed down.
The watershifters plunged out of the water once again, created a defensive line, and faced the ships, their bodies raised out of the water to their knees.
Alia walked back to him and knelt. “You summoned us, Your Grace?”
“Please rise, Alia.” When she did, he took her in his arms and hugged her. “You cannot know how good it is to see you.”
She stepped back and smiled. “You as well, Prince Kellan.”
He pointed to the ships. “As you can see, we have visitors. I would like you to send the watershifters to the ships and grant permission for six Ellvinians to come ashore. The rest can remain at sea until we determine their purpose for being here.”
She bowed her head. “As you wish, Your Grace.”
C HAPTER 8
B IRTHRIGHTS
All was deathly quiet within the Puu Rainforest as thousands of amber eyes viewed the strange activity of the Elves . Look at their caves, Nazar! How do they make them? I have never seen the like.
I see, Rehka.
And, the stars! How do they cast the stars from the sky to twinkle in the trees? She paused . I think they must not be stars at all, but magic.
Yes, magic, Rehka! Are we not creatures of magic by our very existence alone? Do other creatures of our kind have the intelligence we possess?
Of course not.
No, and our magic is what allows us to see the stars in the trees.
When Rehka fell silent, Nazar thought on his words. He only half-believed them himself. He was not certain how the Elves used their magic and that was the very reason for this uprising. Knowledge. It was time for the Draca Cats to better understand the world in which they lived, and time for them to take their rightful place in that world. First, they would need the assistance of the Kenleys, and in order to do that, they must convince their Draca bondmates.
What do we do now, Nazar? Rehka was the one to ask, but he could feel the same question on every mind behind him.
He gazed again at the swarm of industrious Elves going about their peculiar tasks and wondered at the strength of resistance they would present. Nazar lifted one corner of his lip. There was only one way to find out. His destiny lay in the land of Men somewhere to the west and to get there, he had to first travel through the land of
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