Guardians of the Lost Lands by Shelley Wilson (The Guardians #3)

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Guardians

of the

Lost Lands

Copyright Š 2016 Shelley Wilson

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without prior written permission of the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published by H2O an imprint of BHC Press Library of Congress Control Number: 2016957055 ISBN-13: 978-1-946006-17-2 ISBN-10: 1-946006-17-3 Visit the author at: www.shelleywilsonauthor.co.uk & www.bhcpress.com Also available in eBook

A lso bY

shelley wilson Guardians of the Dead Book 1 of The Guardians

Guardians of the Sky Book 2 of The Guardians

In Creeps The Night: An Anthology Featuring “The House On The Hill”

by S.L. Wilson

Non-fiction Titles How I Changed My Life in a Year Meditation for Beginners Vision Boards for Beginners Motivate Me! Oracle Guide Book

C hapt e R 1

C

laws scratched at the cold rock just inches from his bare feet. The twisted limbs of these tormented creatures snaked through the bars of his cell as they tried to reach him. Starved and beaten, the monsters craved his blood.

Alan watched the red wash of dawn streak down the wall of his cell from the tiny window high above him, bleeding into the fungus that coated the stone, until it touched the floor. One by one the creatures disappeared into the darkness of their prison cells, shrinking away from the light, allowing him a reprieve until nightfall came.

Time would soon run out for him; he was certain of that.

When the portal had snatched him away from his daughter, he believed that was it – the end. Instead, Patricia, the necromancer who had cursed his family for years, had bound his hands and feet and thrown him in this dark place surrounded by the things that haunt your nightmares.

Days or weeks, he had no sense of how long he had been down here. Scraps of bread were thrown through the bars occasionally, and a battered metal jug containing lukewarm water was consistently replenished. At first, the horrific screams that drifted down through

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SHELLEY WILSON

the cold stone had terrified him, but after a while, he had begun to shut them out. He didn’t want to think about how they pulled at his memory, or how they reached deep into his chest and ripped out a piece of his heart. The realisation that the screams were human had emptied his stomach on that first night. Any hope he had diminished as the sounds filled the stagnant air.

He lifted his hands to look at the dark purple bruises that coated his skin. The ropes had cut into the flesh around his wrists and infection had set in. If he didn’t die of malnutrition, and the demons didn’t get him, then the weeping sores would soon poison his bloodstream.

He closed his eyes and prayed for a swift death.

Amber’s image filled his mind. The memory of his daughter’s wide, frightened eyes pierced his soul. He could hear her screams as she reached for him. When the portal closed behind them he could only imagine what fate had welcomed her. No doubt she had fallen to her death because she had tried to save him.

The tears slid silently down his face, leaving tracks in the grime that coated every inch of his body. ‘Oh, Amber, I’m so sorry,’ he whispered.

‘I LOOK like an idiot!’ Amber gawked incredulously at her reflection in the mirror. The days of wearing jeans and big baggy jumpers appeared to be long gone. Instead, she was kitted out in black leather trousers, a tight-fitting black shirt and a weapons belt that sat snuggly on her hips. The two daggers that nestled on either leg reminded her of the gunslingers from the Wild West films her dad had always loved.

‘You look like a warrior, Amber. Now, stand still while I try and drag a brush through your hair.’ Myanna couldn’t hide the smile that tugged at her lips as she yanked at her daughter’s dark waves.

‘I look like an idiot,’ Amber repeated with a huff.

‘I think you look hot.’ Connor sauntered into the room and flung himself down on Amber’s bed.

Myanna tutted as she yanked at the last of the tangles and raised an eyebrow in Connor’s direction.

GUARDIANS OF THE LOST LANDS

~ 11 ~

‘My daughter, the descendant of the ancient oracles, is not hot!’ she scolded.

‘Gee, thanks, Mum!’ ‘Oh, you know what I mean.’ Myanna waved her hand in the air to dismiss her daughter’s words. ‘This is a dangerous mission and you don’t need to be thinking about how hot you look!’

Connor chuckled and Amber threw a cushion at his head. ‘My apologies, Mrs N. I was only referring to her use of fire as a weapon.’

This time, it was Myanna’s turn to throw a cushion at his head as they all laughed.

Amber grabbed the dark green cloak that hung over her chair and slipped it around her shoulders, fastening the clasp at the neck.

Placing her hands on Amber’s shoulders, her brown eyes twinkling, Myanna surveyed her daughter.

‘Your powers are strong and so is your heart, Amber; I am so proud of you.’ She pulled her into a tight embrace before brushing away the tears from her cheeks.

‘Thanks, Mum, I’ll bring him back to us, I promise.’

THE GREAT hall was festooned with banners and coloured flags as they made their way to where Alia, queen of the fae, stood. Her massive wings reflected the bright sunshine that poured through the big window, projecting it across the four walls. Amber’s gaze briefly swung to the newly fitted glass, and a vision of her father, as he was sucked through the evil portal, steamrolled through her mind. The screams, dark smoke and images of swampland and blood-red reeds filled her dreams every night, as did the whispers. A voice she didn’t recognise played in the background of her mind, never close enough for her to understand the words, but close enough to send shivers down her spine.

She blinked and the great hall returned, filled with laughter and white-haired fae. Their enthusiasm for her mission was evident in the smiles and hugs she received as she manoeuvred through the crowds.

‘Your Majesty, we are ready to leave.’ Connor bowed deeply to Alia, and Amber followed his example. Since the repairs had start-

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SHELLEY WILSON

ed and Avaveil, the realm of the fae, had slowly begun to return to its former glory, Alia’s role as the queen had taken precedence over catching up with her friends.

Her beauty and grace still startled Amber, but today she saw something else in Alia’s smile. Sadness. Did the queen honestly believe that a seventeen-year-old supernatural oracle could win this fight? If she did, she was keeping it a secret. Ever since Amber had agreed to fulfil her destiny and take on the necromancers, Alia had withdrawn from her nightly meet-ups with Connor, Myanna and Amber. She now surrounded herself with advisors and warriors.

Mags, who had remained as the queen’s loyal captain of the guard, was the first to approach, pulling Amber to one side with a wide smile spread across his tanned face.

‘My dear Amber, you look every inch the fae warrior.’

‘Thanks, Mags. I wouldn’t be fit for travel if you hadn’t help me train. I’m really going to miss you.’

He bowed his head and placed his hand over his heart. ‘You will always be in here.’

She remembered a similar conversation not so long ago, when her oldest and dearest friend, Tom, had told her the same thing. Now he was gone too; he had left her to cope with her destiny alone while he explored the dragon realm with Cass. She couldn’t blame him; from the stories he had told her, it sounded like a magical place to live, and Cass was a strong and beautiful fae who made him happy.

As if reading her mind, Mags grasped her hands and pulled her close until their noses were almost touching. He fixed his warrior gaze on her and spoke low and fast.

‘Channel all the pain you feel and store it someplace low in your belly. You need to remain focused and strong. Your human emotions are what make you weak, Amber; this could be your enemies’ greatest weapon.’

She gave a curt nod to signal her understanding. When Mags had helped train her, they had worked tirelessly with her emotions, and at every turn, he had got past her defences when one of her friends entered the training ring.

GUARDIANS OF THE LOST LANDS

~ 13 ~

Her mother assured her that having such a warm and loving heart was a gift, but Amber knew first-hand how the enemy could use a loved one against you. Firstly, General Loso had threatened the life of her mother and best friend, and then Nikita had almost killed her entire family. Of course, if Nikita had succeeded, the mission that Amber now faced wouldn’t exist.

The horror of watching her father being sucked through the necromancer’s portal still invaded her dreams. Her fingertips had brushed his arm as they plummeted through the window, and then he was gone. Snatched, once again, from her and Myanna.

She had taken longer than expected to recover from her fall.

The portal had only transported Patricia and Alan, leaving Amber to plunge to the castle courtyard, but with Prince Redka’s help, and his faerie magic, she had built up her strength.

‘I will be forever grateful to you, Mags; I hope you know that.’

His cheeks coloured slightly as he bowed his head. ‘It was my pleasure. I only wish I could accompany you on your quest.’

Amber laughed, ‘Oh, I think that Connor and Redka will be more than enough for me to cope with!’

At the sound of his name, Connor approached and threw his arm around Amber’s shoulder.

‘Telling everyone how excited you are to have me on your team, eh?’

Amber wriggled free of his arm and slapped him playfully on the shoulder, ‘I don’t think I used the word excited.’

‘Oh, come on, it’ll be like old times. Two brave warriors hurtling through a wall of flame to rescue a queen, before travelling through a faerie ring into a war-torn land.’ He gazed up at the ceiling and swept his arm wide as if he could see their quest mapped out on the beams.

‘We had fun.’ He grinned down at Amber.

Mags gave a little cough as Amber eyed Connor disbelievingly.

‘Fun is not the word I would have picked, if I’m honest. Try brutal, frightening, horrific, or maybe just plain old terrifying. Definitely not fun!’

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SHELLEY WILSON

Shaking his head, Mags ushered the pair towards the throne, which now sat on a raised platform at the head of the room. Queen Alia stood at the edge of the dais talking to one of her advisors but broke off their conversation as the small group approached.

‘Amber, you look beautiful, like a true fae warrior.’ They hugged tightly and Amber inhaled Alia’s scent of sweet lavender, filing it away in her memory so she could call on her senses at a moment’s notice. Over the past few weeks, she had collected mementos, both physically and mentally, to take with her on their trip. In her pack, she had squirrelled away a pale pink stone that she had found at the edge of the river, together with the carved dragon and its rider that a wise old faerie had given her at the market. She thought of them as talismans, something to link her always with Avaveil and her friends and family who were waiting for her to succeed.

‘Thank you, Your Majesty. I feel a bit daft in the leather trousers, but they are pretty comfortable.’

Alia laughed but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She gently steered Amber away from the others until they stood separate from the main celebrations.

‘I wanted to speak with you privately before you left,’ she said, looking over her shoulder at the crowds as if expecting them to be listening to their conversation. ‘I understand that Redka must make this voyage with you, but as heir to Avaveil’s throne, he must also recognise that he has duties to this realm.’ She took a deep breath as if steadying her nerves. Amber wondered fleetingly if she was going to ban Redka from accompanying them.

‘Please promise me that you will keep him safe, Amber. Don’t let him make any unwise decisions that will endanger his life. He loves you and sometimes this dominates his mind.’ She tugged on the lace trim of her sleeve as she spoke, and Amber was astonished to notice an air of fear and anxiety from the queen.

‘I loved his father in much the same way, and it broke my heart when I lost him. I know that you can control your emotions much better now, but I beg you, as a mother, not a queen, that you try to moderate your feelings for my son while you are on this quest.’

GUARDIANS OF THE LOST LANDS

~ 15 ~

Amber nodded, too stunned to speak. Alia gave her a warm smile and disappeared back into the crowd of celebrating fae.

‘What was that about?’ Connor asked as he leant against the castle wall, folding his arms across his chest.

‘I think I’ve just been told to stop snogging her son behind the demon towers and get on with the task at hand,’ she said in a hushed voice. ‘But I may be wrong.’ Amber raised a single eyebrow and mirrored Connor’s stance.

‘Warned off by the big bad mum, eh? Well, I guess that means you’re a free agent again. There might be hope for me yet.’ He wiggled his eyebrows and Amber laughed out loud.

‘Don’t hold your breath, Connor.’

They were digging one another in the ribs and giggling when Redka found them a short while later.

‘Everything okay?’

Connor snorted and pushed away from the wall. ‘It’s all fine; we were just having a moment.’ He winked at Amber and scurried over to a small group of fae girls who shrieked with delight when he joined them.

Redka watched him leave and then twisted to face Amber, a worried expression painted across his handsome features.

Amber couldn’t help but chuckle. ‘Everything’s fine. I promise.

You know Connor. He has to make a joke out of everything we do, and venturing out across the swampland to battle an evil necromancer is apparently worthy of a spot of witticism.’

Redka bent forward and kissed her gently on the lips.

‘What was that for?’

‘Do I need a reason to kiss my girlfriend?’

Amber smiled and laced her fingers through his, squeezing tightly. ‘Of course not.’

He kissed her again and this time she relaxed into his embrace, but Alia’s words invaded her thoughts and she pulled away abruptly.

‘What is it?’ Redka asked.

‘Nothing, we just need to focus on the ceremony and use this time to say goodbye to our family and friends. We’ve got all the time

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SHELLEY WILSON

in the world for kissing.’ Her gaze flickered to the dais from where Alia and Myanna were watching them. She had a sudden flashback to a junior school dance and her dad playing chaperone. Her heart ached at the thought of him, and she quickly released Redka’s hand.

‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Let’s say our goodbyes.’

A bout

t he aut h o R

Shelley Wilson divides her writing time between her young adult fantasy novels, and the motivational non-fiction titles she writes for adults.

Her fantasy series combine myth, legend and faerie tales with a side order of demonic chaos. Inspired by Enid Blyton and the Faraway Tree, Shelley began weaving tales around witches, dragons and faeries from a young age.

Shelley lives in the West Midlands, UK with her three teenage children, an enormous goldfish and a black cat called Luna. She is at her happiest with a slice of pizza, a latte and Game of Thrones on the TV. She would love to live in the Shire but fears her five foot ten inch height may cause problems. She is an obsessive list writer, social media addict and full-time day dreamer.

You can check out all her books on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/e/B00G5KPMJ1 Connect with the author:

www.shelleywilsonauthor.co.uk www.facebook.com/FantasyAuthorSLWilson www.twitter.com/ShelleyWilson72 www.instagram.com/authorslwilson and at her publisher: www.bhcpress.com