Wrath of the Forgotten: Descendants of the Fall Book II, Hodges, Aaron [top 10 non fiction books of all time txt] 📗

“A rather unproductive proposal, I would say.” Nguyen smiled. “I would much rather learn more about the Anahera.”

Cara narrowed her eyes. “I will talk no more of my people.”

“Yes, yes, you’ve made that quite clear,” Nguyen replied. “Only, if you must know, I am growing quite desperate. The threat of the Tangata grows ever closer, and now the Flumeeren queen brings an army against me. I have a need for allies.”

“The Flumeer are here?” Cara’s head perked up. “Is Romaine with them? Is he okay?”

Erika snorted. “Seemed fine to me when he was threatening my life.”

Cara flashed her a glare but the king interrupted before the Goddess could say anything else.

“Yes, yes, the Calafe is quite fine, though I fear that Amina has her claws in him now. We were discussing how you might aid me, Your Divinity.”

Cara snorted again and lifted her hands, giving the chains a rattle. “Why don’t you take these off, and I’ll think about smiting these enemies of yours.”

The king sighed. “It is not your powers I require,” he replied. “Though your cooperation would no doubt be of great aid. I seek to contact your people, the Anahera, to ask for their aid.”

The Goddess stilled at his words, her eyes taking on a look of surprise. “You can’t.”

“I must,” Nguyen said, then gestured to the ship. “The sailors will take you as far as the river allows, the soldiers the rest of the way into the mountains.”

“You can’t,” Cara repeated, taking a step towards the king.

Swords rattled against shields as the soldiers behind her advanced, but Nguyen raised a hand to stop them. The Goddess’s amber eyes never left him.

“They’ll…stop you,” she croaked.

“Ahh, but my dear Cara, we have you,” the king replied, eyes shining. “I am sure the Anahera will welcome the return of one of their own.”

Cara’s shoulders slumped at that and she looked away. “You don’t understand,” the Goddess grated between clenched teeth.

Erika swallowed. There was no missing the anger in Cara’s voice. How much longer would she endure such treatment? The king wore his riding gloves, no doubt to hide that he had given away his power, and the gauntlet still hung heavy on her own arm, but…it would be a long journey. Erika didn’t savour the thought of being alone with an angry Goddess high in those icy mountains.

But the king was right: humanity needed allies, and Gods or no, the Gods alone had the power to defeat the Tangata. Their strength and magic would be a substantial advantage to whichever kingdom won them as allies.

“Well, I suppose it’s time the three of you set off,” the king announced, bringing his hands together in a clap that made them all jump.

“You’re not coming?” Erika asked, surprised.

The king chuckled. “Much as I would enjoy the adventure, I have a kingdom to run.” He gestured towards the wall. “Not to mention your old mentor to handle—”

As though summoned by his words, a horn sounded in the distance. A frown touched the king’s forehead and together all eyes on the dock turned towards the walls. Another blast of the horn sounded, closer this time, followed by a faint roar, as of a thousand voices crying out as one.

Crack!

The stone shook beneath Erika’s feet and she swung around, as though expecting some giant to come charging towards them. The king only shook his head.

“It seems Amina is early,” he said, turning to Erika with a grim smile. “Time for you to get moving then, Princess. Fate of the world and all. Best of luck.”

With a final wave, he turned and strode away. Erika stood for a moment staring at the towering walls, until Maisie grasped her by the arm and dragged her aboard the ship. Cara followed, trailed by the soldiers, and moments later they were adrift in the currents of the Illmoor, each stroke of the oars sending them ever closer to the legendary home of the Gods.

And the screams of the dying chased after them.

14

The Fallen

Whooorl.

Romaine came to a halt as the sound of horns carried up the slope. His gaze was drawn past the plunging drop just a few feet from where he stood, down to where the walls of the fortress stretched across the valley. They looked smaller from his vantage point, the soldiers upon its ramparts like beetles in their shining armour.

Beyond the walls, a second swarm of beetles raced across the open ground, covering the green grass in black. The horn sounded again and moments later the cry of a thousand voices raised in unison reached them on the mountainside.

“I take it back,” Lorene murmured, standing just behind him. “Going south might have been safer.”

Romaine did not reply, as the first screams began from below. He forced himself to look away. It felt wrong, to see humans fighting against humans, while the threat of the Tangata loomed so close, less than an hours boat ride away. From their vantage point he could see the wild lands of Calafe, stretching almost to the walls of the fortress. It might be the last glimpse he ever got of his homeland.

“Come on, you two,” Yasin’s voice came from ahead. “Amina’s guards can only distract them so much. We’re exposed out here.”

Below, the clash of weapons began as the first of the Flumeeren soldiers scaled their ladders and reached the ramparts. Shaking himself free of his misgivings, Romaine shared a final glance with Lorene before continuing. Seemingly determined to finally set eyes upon Cara and her wings, the man had volunteered to join them on this mad journey, though neither he nor Romaine knew where it would take them.

Along with Romaine and Lorene, Yasin had brought another thirty men, though none were of the calibre that Romaine had come to expect of the Queen’s Guard. Rugged and unkempt, if not for their polished weapons and armour, Romaine might have guessed them to be brigands or mercenaries. As it was, from