Elf Lords: 02 - Last of the Elf Lords Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Last of

  the Elf Lords

  Richard E. Saunders

  Stonegarden.net Publishing

  http://www.stonegarden.net

  Reading from a different angle.

  California, USA

  Last of the Elf Lords Copyright © 2012 Richard E. Saunders

  ISBN: 1-60076-282-4

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  StoneGarden.net Publishing

  3851 Cottonwood Dr.

  Danville, CA 94506

  All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information address StoneGarden.net Publishing.

  First StoneGarden.net Publishing paperback printing:

  June 2012

  First StoneGarden.net Publishing electronic printing:

  June 2012

  Visit StoneGarden.net Publishing on the web at

  http://www.stonegarden.net.

  Cover art and design by Peter Joseph Swanson

  Dedicated to Jim and Edna Saunders

  Chapter One

  Princess Megan—the seventeen-year-old daughter and eldest child of Queen Petra Sergius of Alexon—sat on the cushioned bench seat inside of the royal family’s enclosed carriage. Megan was daydreaming, while looking out through the opened curtains at the passing forest. Across from her sat her maidservant, Linda. The 19-year-old blonde woman was doing her best to sew a button onto one of Megan’s blouses, but the bumpy carriage made the task difficult.

  Megan’s long blonde hair, button nose, rosy cheeks, and waif-like figure, made it easy to see her mother’s likeness, with two notable exceptions. Megan had her father’s eyes; a mixture of green and brown that sometimes changed shades, depending on the light, and her ever-so-slightly pointed ears, that were always concealed beneath her long blonde hair.

  Many who met Princess Megan for the first time were awed at her age, for she appeared to be no more than fourteen or fifteen at most. Megan often resented her more youthful appearance, especially when most of her friends in the palace courtyard had begun developing into womanhood long before Megan did. It was only during this past year that the princess had finally matured and began filling out into a more womanly figure.

  “Something troubling you?” Linda asked, finally finishing her task with the garment.

  “No,” Megan answered, turning away from the open window, “I just wish that we were there already.”

  Linda rubbed her backside, “I know what you mean. Even with cushions, this is hard to take.”

  Megan smiled, “I wish that my mother would have let us ride horses instead.”

  Linda shook her head, “Bite your tongue, Princess. I am sore enough as it is. My butt could not take riding a horse this far. Besides, your father would never have approved.”

  Megan’s smile turned into a scowl, “You know better than to call me princess when we are alone, Linda.”

  “I am sorry, but I would not want one of the knights to overhear me calling you by your name alone.”

  “Overhear you? With all this racket? I hardly think it possible, unless one of them has my ears.”

  “You can hear pretty well.” Linda agreed.

  “A gift from my father, my birth father that is.”

  Linda frowned, “I am not supposed to know about that, remember?”

  “You have been my maidservant for years, Linda. You are like a sister to me. I have no secrets from you. And Mother and Father know that you can be trusted.”

  “Still, that is one big secret; that you are not truly the daughter of the Prince Regent, but the daughter of a half-elf. You had to pry the truth out of your parents, and I sometimes worry that they will exile me to Jahan and put me in the Order of the Sisterhood to keep me quiet if they ever find out that I know.”

  “It is not as if my true father was not royalty.” Megan replied, “Landis is the son of my great aunt, therefore making him a Prince of Alexon too.”

  “A prince who stole the legendary Sword of Alexon after impregnating your mother.” Linda reminded her.

  “It was not like that,” Megan disagreed, “you know the truth. Landis needed the sword, so they contrived the stealing incident to cover my mother’s involvement. And only a handful of people—including you—know about his relationship with my mother.”

  “Still, he never did return the sword, and you have never even met him.”

  Megan looked back out the window. “True. And he supposedly does not even know that I am his daughter. Do not get me wrong, Linda. I love my father. He has raised me as his own, and treated me no different than my brother Alek. He is my father, but I would like to meet the man who gave me my elven heritage.”

  “I thought you hated that heritage?” Linda accused.

  “Only when I look in the mirror and see how small my breasts are compared to all of my friends,” she chuckled, “at other times it has its advantages. I can see better in the dark, and I hear exceptionally well. And it serves mother to have me at her side to determine if people are telling the truth, although she claims that this skill does not come from elves.”

  “Where does it come from?” Linda inquired, understanding full well what the princess referred to. Megan Sergius had an uncanny ability to see through lies. The Queen would often have Megan sitting by her side when meeting with foreign dignitaries, or listening to citizens who came before her seeking justice or retribution. Megan’s abilities had proved very beneficial, and helped to advance Petra’s reputation for being a wise and just judge.

  “No one knows for certain how I do it. Just as they do not know why I can do things that some would describe as magic. Some believe that it was passed through my mother from the sword when she carried it. It was a powerful and magical weapon, and she had it during the time that she became pregnant with me. At least that is what the sorcerer who examined me thought.”

  Linda remembered the mage who had been called to examine the princess four years earlier, “That man scared me. I thought for sure that they were going to take you to the Tower of Lonia to become a wizard, and that I would have to go as your servant.”

  “They offered, but mother was adamant in her refusal, she wouldn’t even consider it.”

  “I suppose that your elf blood may help in Shoal. At least you
will be immune to the sickness.” Linda suggested.

  Megan nodded, “That is what mother believes.”

  “That won’t help me much.” Linda speculated.

  “Relax. No one has come down with it in the palace.” Megan assured her.

  “All that effort to keep the royal family safe from the sickness, and they still cannot escape the sting of untimely death.” Linda mused.

  “It is a shame.” Megan agreed, thinking back to the reason why they were on this journey. “I cannot believe that Thenamin and Donald are dead.” She was referring to Thenamin Sergius, Duke of Shoal, and onetime advisor to the Queen, and his son-in-law, who had both recently died in a tragic accident when the wheel on the wagon they were riding in broke off, causing the wagon to flip over and throw both men to their deaths. With Thenamin Sergius’ daughter, Sylvia, now a widow and mother of two young children, and with her mother long departed, Queen Petra had thought it prudent to send Megan to assist. The princess was wonderful with kids and had always gotten along well with Sylvia, so it was a natural decision to make.

  Megan bounced in her seat as the wagon hit a rut in the road. “I miss the cobble-stone streets of Alexon.”

  “You are not alone there.” Linda agreed.

  Megan tilted her head, “What was that?”

  It took Linda a moment to hear the sounds that Megan’s part-elven hearing had already detected. “The knights are sounding an alarm!” She proclaimed in fright.

  Megan began to lean forward to peer out the window only to be knocked out of her seat when the carriage bounced chaotically, Linda screamed as the princess fell onto the floor and the wagon tilted precariously, causing the maidservant to fall against the side. The carriage righted itself momentarily before bouncing anew and teetering in the other direction. This time it toppled over onto its side. Megan and Linda tumbled into each other as the carriage slid to a halt.

  “Are you okay, Megan?” Linda inquired as she clutched her upper left arm with her right hand, fearing she may have injured it during the crash.

  “What happened?” Megan wondered aloud as she climbed onto her hands and knees.

  The sound of someone climbing onto the carriage caused both young women to stop and look up. Megan reached for the dagger on her belt.

  The carriage door, which was now above the women, was thrown open. The worried face of one of the Knights of the Crown—the Order of Knights of Alexon sworn to protect the royal family—peered down at them. “Are you injured, Princess?” The man asked.

  Megan rose to her feet. “No, I do not think so.” She recognized the dark haired knight as Eli Tuttle, a knight who had been hand selected by her father for this trip.

  “We must get you out of there now.” Eli announced, as he extended his arm down to her.

  Megan helped Linda to get up. “You first.” She said.

  “No Princess, you first.” Linda objected.

  “We need to get you to safety, Princess.” Eli insisted.

  “Then get Linda out of here first!” Megan demanded.

  Eli reluctantly motioned for Linda to reach for his hand, “Very well.”

  Linda clasped hands with the knight. The knight pulled the maidservant up through the door. As Linda climbed out of the carriage, Eli reached for the princess. Megan took his hand and felt her body lifted, almost without effort, out of the wagon.

  Megan looked about before climbing down from the carriage. She saw the bodies of the driver, and the knight who had been riding alongside of him, lying back on the road. Three other knights could be seen sprawled on the ground in the distance, all felled by arrows. Megan saw riders racing towards them. There were several knights waiting, with swords drawn, to defend the princess.

  “We must get you onto one of the horses and get you to safety!” Eli instructed.

  Megan was scared and confused. When she hesitated the knight grabbed her arm and pulled her along with him. “We do not have time to waste!”

  Linda followed along behind Megan and the knight. “Who are those men?”

  “Bandits, no doubt!” Eli answered.

  “Why are we fleeing?” Megan asked, “Bandits are no match for Knights of Alexon.”

  Eli led Megan to a pair of saddled horses. “My thoughts precisely, but my orders are to take you to safety.” The sound of detest at running from the battle could be heard in his voice. Eli did not want to flee, but his orders were clear and his duty was to protect the princess at all cost, even if that meant leaving his brothers in arms to fight without him.

  Megan swung up into the saddle of the horse that she assumed—correctly—had belonged to one of the knight who now lay dead in the roadway behind them. “Come Linda!”

  The maidservant began to climb onto the horse behind the princess. When she struggled in doing so, Eli placed his hands unceremoniously against her rear end and pushed her up onto the animal.

  “That way!” He pointed in the direction that they were headed before riding into the ambush.

  Megan kicked the horse into a run before Eli had mounted his own steed. He looked back for a quick moment before riding off after the princess. “Fight well, my brothers.” He whispered.

  Megan dared not look back as they fled. The knight caught up with them and took the lead. “Keep up!” He shouted as he rode past.

  The road led deeper into the woods as they fled. Eli occasionally peered behind to see if anyone was coming after them. He was confident that his fellow knights would succeed in stopping the brigands, but there was the risk that one or more of their ambushers may have slipped past and could be riding after them.

  A dark shadow passed overhead. The horses momentarily faltered and Eli felt fear grip his stomach. Even the females, who had not noticed the shadow, panicked without knowing why. What in the abyss was that? Eli wondered as he looked skyward, but whatever it was, it was gone. He shook off the fear and spurred his horse onward.

  The horses galloped along the hard packed road. All three riders had dismissed the momentary unease they had experienced. Then Eli spotted something up ahead as they reached a bend in the road. A solitary figure stood in the path, facing them.

  “Out of the way!” Eli warned as the pair of horses charged toward the man.

  Eli instinctively maneuvered his horse so that he and the animal were between the princess and the stranger up ahead. The man stood his ground, then raised his right hand and pointed at the oncoming knight. Eli spotted something bright appear in the hand of the man standing before him. That light leaped through the air, covering the distance between them in an instant. It struck Eli and his horse, causing the horse to rise up on its hind legs. An unseen force, obviously associated with the light, knocked Eli from his horse. He fell to the ground then felt his horse land hard on his legs as the beast dropped. Pain shot through his legs as the horse rolled away.

  Linda screamed and Megan pulled on the reigns to stop the horse that they were riding. The princess jumped from the horse and ran to Eli’s aid.

  “Get out of here!” Eli demanded. “Run into the woods and hide.” The knight gingerly arose, with Megan’s help. Both legs ached. Eli drew his sword and did his best to balance himself as he faced off against the stranger ahead.

  “Is that an elf?” Megan wondered aloud.

  Eli looked at the man who was now approaching slowly. “It cannot be him.” He said in disbelief.

  “Who is it?” Megan asked.

  “Landis, the half-elf.” The knight proclaimed.

  Megan peered at the half-elf. “You must be wrong.”

  “I was only a boy when I saw him, but his description matches what I remember, his eyes will give him away, once he is close enough to see them.”

  “Lower your weapon.” The half-elf ordered, as he pulled his own sword from the sheath hanging at his side.

  Eli stood his ground, “Surrender now, and I will spare your life.”

  The half-elf chuckled. “Such bravery; coming from a dead man.”

 
“Princess, please run into the woods.” Eli whispered.

  Megan heard the sound of horses riding hard, coming from behind them. “The rest of the knights are coming.” She spoke in elation.

  The half-elf looked to the princess, “The riders you hear coming are my men. Your knights are dead.”

  “He is lying.” Eli retorted.

  “Look for yourself.” The half-elf insisted.

  Eli did not have to look. The despair in Linda’s voice provided the distressing news. “It is the bandits!”

  “I told you to run.” Eli commented.

  Megan looked back at the arriving riders. “How did they defeat the knights?”

  “They did not defeat the knights,” the half-elf answered, “I would suspect that they had help.”

  One of the brigands spoke up. “Your dragon burned them to death, just as you said it would.”

  “Dragon!” Megan spoke in alarm.

  “That was what flew overhead.” Eli spoke in awe.

  “Shall I put an arrow into him?” Someone said from behind.

  “No,” the half-elf answered, “I will not risk you hitting my sister accidentally.”

  “Sister?” Megan questioned.

  The half-elf smiled, “Please excuse my rudeness, I am Trian, son of Landis, your true father.”

  Eli staggered forward. “Stay behind me, princess. I will protect you.”

  “Such loyalty.” Trian mocked. “Take the women, but be sure that no harm comes to my sister.”

  Eli did his best to rush the half-elf. He could hear the footsteps of the men chasing after Megan, and dragging Linda down from the horse that she was still sitting upon. He swung his blade at Trian. The half-elf parried two blows from the knight, before knocking his opponent’s sword aside and running him through the neck. Eli gulped and his eyes went wide before falling dead at Trian’s feet.

  Trian looked about, seeing that his men had captured both females. “Bind and gag Princess Megan and truss her up onto her horse.”

  The princess struggled against the men, but was unable to stop them from tying her up and tossing her, face down on her belly, over the saddle and securing her into place. Two other men had hold of each of Linda’s arms, keeping her in place as Trian examined the horse that Eli had been riding.