Legends of Windemere: 03 - Family of the Tri-Rune Read online

  Legends of Windemere:

  Family

  Of

  The

  Tri-Rune

  Copyright 2013 © by Charles Yallowitz

  Kindle Edition

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law. Reviewers may quote brief excerpts in connection with a review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design & Illustration by Jason Pedersen

  Legends of Windemere

  Beginning of a Hero

  Prodigy of Rainbow Tower

  Allure of the Gypsies

  Dedication

  To everyone who has entered Windemere

  And left their mark upon its soul

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Prologue

  The ocean churns and crashes against the black crags of Shayd. The fortress-like continent of darkness towers above the wild waters, its steep sides rising toward the immortal storm clouds above. The smooth walls shimmer softly in the feeble light as if they are challenging everyone in view to attempt the deadly climb. Scattered about the rocky shoreline are the splintered bones of many who took up the challenge and failed. An occasional bolt of lightning illuminates the shore, revealing jagged edges and shadowy creatures. They stare with eyes that are slits of primeval hunger while they guard their precious territory. The creatures scamper into their narrow dens when a loud splash erupts above the storm’s bellowing screams, a tell-tale sign that something large and hungry has left to hunt the ocean depths.

  “Why did he wish to meet here?” asks a majestic elven woman in leather armor. Her chocolate-colored hair whips in the wind as she stands upon a small circle of calm water. She is openly annoyed and uncomfortable, her golden eyes never straying from the dark landscape before her.

  “I should apologize, dear Uli, because I chose this location,” replies another woman, her red hair untouched by the wind. Like the elven goddess, this woman is standing upon a circle of ocean that resists the urge to churn and froth. She straightens her white satin gown, which grows sleeves that flair at the cuffs.

  “The ambiance isn’t that bad. It reminds me of the early days before we finished creating everything,” a third woman declares as she floats above her companions. The rotund, black-skinned woman with silver hair and rainbow eyes flashes a friendly smile at Uli. “You remember those days, you old maid. It was a chaotic, but fun time to be a deity. True freedom to create whatever your mind could conjure. It’s a shame you weren’t around back then, Zaria. I’m sure you would have made some amazing additions to Windemere.”

  “Thank you, Cessia. It is an honor to hear such praise from an elder god,” Zaria says, bowing her head to the luck goddess.

  Uli clears her throat, which causes the wind to briefly settle. “May I ask why you chose to meet here, Zaria? Given your history with . . . him, you are the last one I would expect to venture this close to Shayd.”

  “I have come to terms with that event. Thank you for your concern and kindness,” the goddess of purity responds, her hands briefly rubbing her stomach. “I chose here because the prophecy is moving quicker than it ever has. The three of us have devotees involved in Gabriel’s plans and this is where their path will inevitably lead. So, I thought it appropriate that we meet and discuss our progress within the shadow of the enemy.”

  “I think dear Zaria wants to tease our old foe,” Cessia claims, her tapestry-like dress changing from a swirl of yellows and greens to a picture of a sunlit bay. She slowly lands on the crest of a wave that freezes in place.

  “That is very dangerous and unbecoming of you,” Uli states, failing to stop the smile of approval on her face. The elven goddess shivers when a cold wind dances off the shoreline and slices through her circle of serenity.

  Zaria senses the breeze and waves her hand to send it swirling into the distant clouds. “I think we have earned someone’s attention.”

  “Probably that cowering chaos wench,” the elven goddess says with disgust in her voice. “I do not understand why Ram lets her stay in exile. We all sense when she sneaks out of Shayd, so we can bring her back for punishment without conflict.”

  “You mean bring her back for a trial. Yola Biggs fled before she could be judged and fell into the lies of that man,” Zaria calmly argues, a few glistening tears rolling down her cheek and into the ocean. A sphere of light erupts beneath the surface, revealing large creatures of the deep that have risen to observe the goddesses. “I pity that poor woman.”

  “Do not pity the fool, Zaria. She willingly ran to our greatest enemy, so she deserves every lie that she swallows,” Uli contends, her body glowing with a simmering aura of power. Her hand drops to the hilt of a purple-bladed longsword, the goddess preparing to draw her weapon at the slightest provocation.

  “Be careful, dear Uli. It may be centuries since I held a blade, but my skills have never faded,” the red-headed goddess promises. She holds her hand to the sky and an ivory rapier materializes in her hand.

  “You two should hug,” Cessia suggests with a laugh. The luck goddess spins on her toes and creates a strong net of wind that forcefully pushes the two goddesses together. Zaria winces as the angular chin of Uli strikes her delicate nose and Uli grunts as Zaria’s knee collides with her shin.

  “Let us go, Cessia. We promise to put our weapons away and stop threatening each other,” Uli swears, struggling to break free of the elder goddess’s spell. “It was only some friendly bickering. You know Zaria and I are good friends.”

  Zaria grips Uli by the wrists to stop the warrior goddess from struggling. “What can we do to appease you, elder goddess?”

  Cessia is about to answer when a melodic laugh cuts through her spell and the freed goddesses plunge into the ocean. They swiftly rise out of the water, their clothes and hair showing no sign of ever being wet. All three goddesses turn their attention to the black-haired man sitting atop an ebony unicorn. He fluidly dismounts from the eerie steed, the god’s black and red cape leaving a magical distortion as it waves through the air. This imposing being takes his time taking off his leather gloves, letting the goddesses regain their composure. Like the goddesses, he stands on a patch of still ocean, but the water is gently bubbling beneath his booted feet. He smirks at the palpable waves of hate that flow off Zaria and Uli while they patiently wait for him to speak.

  “I arrive to find bickering children in the place of noble goddesses. I can only assume that little Yola is the source of the squabble. You two must learn to put that mess behind you,” Gabriel says with a mocking sneer. He does not try to hide his enjoyment at scolding the proud and elegant goddesses. “Zaria feels pity toward Yola’s fate and Uli is angry about the mess that Yola left behind
. After all these centuries, I would think the two of you could laugh about the entire debacle. Grudges are disgusting wounds that immortal beings should strive to heal before they fester.”

  “The last creature in this planet world that should to warn me about the dangers of holding a grudge is you, Gabriel,” Uli declares, crossing her arms and smiling. She can hear Zaria barely stop herself from giggling at the comment.

  “Fair enough. Now, may I ask why we are meeting?” Gabriel politely asks.

  “We are concerned about the devotees that are in your hands,” Cessia answers before the other goddesses can reply. She shoots them a stern look before returning her kind, warm gaze to Gabriel. “We know that they are essential to your plans and that you have been nurturing them to the best of your unparalleled ability. It is that this prophecy has a history of . . . going wrong around the time the champions find each other. So, you can understand why the three of us are very concerned.”

  “One of my greatest followers is involved in this as well and I am determined to see her through to the end,” Gabriel says, his dark expression becoming amused and bright. “I promise that everything will work out this time, especially with your help.”

  “You have said that before,” Zaria interjects. She steps away from Uli and approaches Gabriel, growing in height, so she can lock eyes with her ally and rival. “How do we know that history will not repeat itself or that worse events will not occur? I understand that you are the forger of all destinies, but this game becomes more dangerous every time you play it. I fear that this time, he will win again and have the strength to return.”

  “I am sure you are terrified of him more than the rest of us, Pure One,” Gabriel whispers, enjoying the flash of rage in the goddess’s white eyes.

  “This is not the time and place for your quarrel,” Uli states. She approaches Zaria and gently guides the red-headed goddess away from Gabriel. “All we want to know is that the repeated problem of the past has been removed this time.”

  “An agent has dispatched that problem,” he promises with a cruel smirk.

  Zaria cries and lashes out at Gabriel with a fist of force. The spell hits Gabriel in the chest, sending him skidding along the ocean until he crashes into a distant tidal wave. The ocean freezes under Zaria’s feet as she pushes Uli away and storms toward the stunned god. Gabriel moves to draw his longsword when Cessia appears between them. The luck goddess blows a kiss toward Zaria, creating a shower of silver coins that spin through the air. Zaria stops as the coins hover around her and release a rainbow mist, which plunges the raging goddess into a trance. Uli quickly catches Zaria before she falls into the revived ocean.

  “You enraged her on purpose,” Uli angrily accuses Gabriel.

  “There are many cruel things that I would do to Zaria, but antagonizing her is not one of them. I simply used the wrong word to describe the situation,” he claims, gingerly touching the large dent in his ebony breastplate. “I will apologize to her when she wakes up.”

  “I am awake now, Lord of Hell,” Zaria weakly growls.

  Gabriel glares at the redhead until Cessia softly tells him, “She called this meeting, so I thought it unfair to make her sleep through it. I think it’s best to get our business tended to and go back to our duties, little god.”

  “As always, you are the sense and stability of the gods, Cessia,” Gabriel says. He cautiously eyes Zaria and creates a magical shield in case she attacks again. “My agent did not kill our problem child. She is merely asleep and out of the way until it is time for her to be brought into the game. Unfortunately, this means that she is in the hands of our enemies, but there was no other way.”

  “How do you know she will not be your downfall again?” Uli asks.

  “I have faith in our champions. This crop has a few extra tricks that will make a repeat of the past much more difficult,” Gabriel proudly declares. He lets his shield down and reaches out to gently stroke the mane of his unicorn. “Still, it will be months before they come into contact with her. The two unaware champions have yet to step onto the path and the three who are together are too weak to revive her. This makes me wonder what the real purpose of this meeting is. The girl cannot possibly be the reason for your concern because we have never let her join the champions until the first five are gathered.”

  “As Cessia said, we are concerned,” Zaria states, her voice shaky and low.

  “I already told you that the children will be fine. Our enemy does not appear to be as ruthless and impatient as before,” Gabriel responds. He flexes his fingers until the knuckles pop, the noise loud enough to be heard around the globe. “He may have become bored with the game always ending so quickly. Maybe he will let events play out until he takes to the battlefield himself this time.”

  “It is not only the champions that we are concerned about,” Uli says, averting her gaze from Gabriel’s prying, green eyes. “Do not stare at me like that.”

  Cessia sighs, placing a hand on Gabriel’s shoulder and looking at the other goddesses with motherly amusement. “Please forgive them. Zaria and Uli find it difficult to admit what I’m about to say. We are concerned about you, Lord Gabriel. This prophecy is very important to you and you have spent your entire godhood struggling to make it come to pass. All of the gods can see that you have become more passionate about this over the centuries. At times, you appear to be desperate for support and understanding. So, we are concerned that you won’t be able to handle another failure. After all, madness has infected every destiny god that has come before you and chaos reigns during such times.”

  “I am not as weak as my predecessors,” Gabriel says. He tries to maintain his mask of arrogant pride, but Cessia can see a hint of red in his cheeks.

  “It is not weakness that causes the fall of destiny gods, but the stress of playing both sides while remaining neutral,” Uli explains, relishing the chance to speak to Gabriel as his superior. “Eventually, a destiny god will forge a prophecy that does not go the way he wanted and he will snap. It is an erosion of sanity that has taken all of your kind at some point. To be fair, you are the only god of destiny who has ascended from the mortal coil. It seems to have given you an insight that your predecessors were lacking. Yet, that does not mean you are immune to their downfall and this specific prophecy could be the anchor bond to your ankles.”

  “I am both surprised and . . . pleased by your concern,” Gabriel admits, his voice a mixture of choking sincerity and mild laughter. “I will make sure to emotionally distance myself from the coming events and avoid falling from sanity. We all know that my fall would be as devastating as the Great Cataclysm if not more so. I am sure Windemere will never be the same even if it is left standing.”

  “Your assurance is not enough. We want this to be the last time,” Zaria demands, fixing her dress and wiping the remaining tears from her face. “This destiny ends with this attempt, so we ask that you be very careful with the champions. If these children fall then there will be no others and our enemy will be left in peace.”

  “You ask for the impossible!” Gabriel exclaims, his terrifying anger rising. “If these champions fail then I must try again. Otherwise, our enemy will remain in the shadows and we will never know peace. I know you have many sleepless nights because he still exists, Zaria. How can you ask me to dispel this destiny because one set of mortals were not up to the task?”

  “It has been hundreds of sets over the centuries,” Uli emphatically argues. She rubs at a grotesque scar that appears on her neck until the magical wound disappears. “Many have died while others never even found the path. Yet, in all this time, our enemy has remained in containment. If these children fail then I say we stop antagonizing our nightmare. If we leave him alone then he will do the same to us.”

  Cessia runs her hands through her cloud of silver and dull yellow hair. “I must agree with the other goddesses. Your game has always contained the risk of our enemy breaking free of his cell and returning to Windemere’s memory. Over the cen
turies, you have become more and more obsessed with his destruction. We fear that you may push too far and cause the disaster that you are fighting so hard to prevent.”

  “Baron Kernaghan must be destroyed!” Gabriel shouts. His voice ripples through the air, carrying a touch of raw aura. The power hits a nearby reef, which shudders and shifts until it collapses into the roiling ocean.

  “Calm down, Gabriel,” Zaria sternly demands. She flashes a knowing smile at the angry god, who eyes her suspiciously. “We have already put our own plan into action to increase your chance at victory.”

  “You have my interest, but not my thanks. Please explain,” he politely requests, his face still twisted with rage.

  “We have spoken with Ram and convinced him that it’s in everyone’s best interest to assist. They promise assistance upon your request, so none of the gods will involve themselves without your invitation,” Cessia explains, watching a smile grow across Gabriel’s face. “The part that you won’t like is that you must acknowledge the opinions and criticism of all deities that you call upon. I assure you that this doesn’t mean you have to obey every statement because you are still the God of Destiny. All final decisions are to be made by you as long as you grant an audience. If you refuse to listen then all assistance will be forcefully revoked, including our help. This means you have to play nice with everyone, Tri-God.”

  “I have spent centuries demanding assistance from the others,” Gabriel says in genuine awe. “You ladies must tell me how you convinced that stubborn horse to change his position.”

  Cessia and Uli look at Zaria, who has turned her attention to Shayd. She can feel a sinister presence watching her, making her feel naked and helpless under its cold gaze. A thin layer of ice forms around the deities and a snowy breeze spirals down from the threatening clouds. The others watch as Zaria swiftly fades away, a soul-crushing fear forcing her to flee to the safety of Ambervale. Within seconds, the Goddess of Purity has vanished and the chill in the air has disappeared. Uli gives a quick nod to Cessia and Gabriel before becoming a whirlwind of leaves and racing across the ocean to comfort her friend.