Of Maia's Mist

By Wil Ogden

Abandoned for her magic, raised by a dryad, Emily must leave her sheltered home to face her duties as a Tempest--a servant of Maia.
Accompanied by the notorious outcast mercenary, Katriene, Emily is thrust deep into a mission to protect the kingdom. Along the way she must face the truths from her past, understand the limits of her magic and face the greatest battle of all: Love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wil Ogden
• Release date: Oct 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465944658

Wil Ogden

Wil Ogden (sometimes begrudgingly 'Will' but never 'Bill') was born in 1969 in Baltimore MD. He attended grade schools up and down the east coast, spending the last of those years in Lionville, Pennsylvania. In the early 1990's he moved to Nebraska and has lived there ever since, though at times since then he has also maintained residences in New Orleans (LA), Denver (CO), St. Louis(MO), Des Moines (IA), Fort Worth (TX) and Raleigh (NC). He was destined to be a wastrel but thwarted fate. During his second junior year in high school he discovered he had a muse and a talent for writing. Despite taking almost a decade to complete a bachelor's degree (He changed majors eleven times) he managed to grow up. Along the way he worked as a blacksmith, a record store manager, a candy store manager, too many years in food service, a four year stint in the USAF, and finally settled down into Information Technology, which he uses to pay the bills and support his family of himself, his wife, two sons, a daughter, a dog, three cats, three chickens, a snake, a chinchilla and two parakeets. He has several published Short Stories in various publications with more always on the way. He also has one novel published, again with several more on the way.

Book preview

Thanks to the folks at Notebored and Liberty Hall Writers for their assistance in the polishing process. Particular thanks to Deanna Rittinger, Mike Munsil and Joyce Weber

PROLOGUE - KATRIENE

The autumn breeze blew across the gatehouse from the west. The fresh scent off the river carried a misleading air of hopefulness. The vast enemy army approaching from the east told Katriene that it would take more than hope to win the day. She’d faced battles before that she’d been sure would see her end. But, with the coming fight, the only unknown about the outcome was how long it would take for the enemy to overcome their sparse defenses.

To Katriene’s right stood Sheillene, the famed archer and storyteller. Sheillene’s face seemed serene but her blue topaz eyes were focused on the hill two hundred yards off. Gripping her Abvian bow tightly in her left hand with an arrow nocked, waiting to be drawn and fired, Sheillene’s gaze was set on the army of Count Absyn amassed atop the hill. She could hit a chosen target from there, Katriene knew. Sheillene was just waiting for Katriene to give the order.

From the lines of enemy soldiers Katriene could see, she estimated six thousand men. The odds looked horrible. Katriene felt the sweat dripping from under her steel helm. The autumn air had a slight chill in it, but layers of padding and mail combined with the fear and anticipation wrenched the moisture from Katriene’s skin. She rested her shield arm, setting the bottom of her shield on the battlement. Her sword rested loosely in its scabbard.

Duke Norda, at Katriene’s left, faced the north road. Katriene did the same, looking, without hope, for the King’s Army. Two weeks earlier they’d had a force of four thousand men ready to defend the keep. Captain Stoutblade had convinced Norda that the smart move would have been to take on Absyn’s forces in the open field. If Katriene had not been in the southern villages, recruiting, she would have disagreed. She knew they had an advantage inside their fortifications and the pantries were stocked for a long siege.

When Katriene had returned to Norda with her squad and a dozen new soldiers, she’d found the keep guarded by a hundred men who were not fit enough to go with Captain Stoutblade. Later that day, two hundred and fifty of Stoutblade’s remaining troops had made it back to the keep. Sergeant Frederick Rutgerson was the highest-ranking soldier to return.

According to Rutgerson, Captain Stoutblade had ambushed the enemy camp, and done well for the first couple minutes. But, Absyn had a battle mage and he had numbers. In the end, Norda’s army, overwhelmed by lighting, fire and more foes than friends, routed and fled. Stoutblade never called a retreat and was among those who ran from the battlefield. Disheartened and ashamed, too few returned to Norda’s keep. Sergeant Rutgerson presented Duke Norda with Stoutblade’s insignia and resignation.

Two weeks had passed from that battle to Absyn’s arrival at Norda. In that time fifty more soldiers disappeared and only twenty more recruits arrived. Of Norda’s regular guard, only three units remained. One of those had been Katriene’s before her promotion to Captain.

As she watched the enemy troops gather on the hillside, Katriene realized that she had never questioned whether to desert or not. She believed, as all Celari did, that when a person accepted a task, they finished it. Of all the soldiers that had been in Norda’s army, only Katriene came from the Celari clans.

Captain Katriene, the Duke’s voice rose clearly across the silence. Shall we send out the envoy?

Send him out! Katriene shouted her orders below. May the gods protect him, she whispered as she heard the scream of the rarely used portcullis being lifted back into the gatehouse. A lone rider emerged from the Duke’s keep dressed in a doublet of the Duke’s azure and gold and covered by a hooded cloak bearing the golden eagle of the Norda family arms. The rider carried a white flag of parley.

When the envoy rode within forty yards of the other line, the sounds of bowstrings reached the keep and Katriene watched the rider fall to the ground.

It was rather cruel of us to send one of his captured scouts out to him like that, Sheillene said.

Better than sending one of our few to die, Norda said. I knew I couldn’t trust Absyn. He wants my duchy. He doesn’t want anyone left alive who would contest his claim to it, ever.

I would never have believed a man would violate the honor of the code of war like that, Katriene said, though she’d learned over a year of skirmishes that Absyn’s actions were unguided by honor. I would have expected that of a Vulak, maybe. Killing an unarmed herald is murder. I can’t believe his men would still follow him after seeing that done so openly.

I can’t imagine what he told them to convince them it was acceptable. I’m sure it wasn’t the truth, Norda said. Absyn is the most devious man I’ve ever met. If I could think the way he does, I am sure this would never have come to war. I would have seen it coming long ago and stopped it when I had the upper hand. Now my army is all but gone and only a handful of veterans are left among the few I still have. We don’t even have any magic. It would have been nice if a sorceress like Mirica were here; I hear Absyn hired the battle mage Irren.

I can take out Irren as soon as he starts to cast spells, Sheillene said. He’s hiding at the moment, but he has to see his targets, and if he can see us, we can see him. If we had a powerful sorceress like Mirica, it might tip the scales a bit, but we never sent a request for help to her family. The proper channel is for us to ask King Reginald and then Reginald to ask or order the other nobles to send us aid. We specifically didn’t want to bypass the king on his first military opportunity.

Where are the king’s men? Katriene asked. I know we have sent four requests over the last several months.

Sheillene let out a forced chuckle. I suspect that barrel of brandy that arrived last month is all we are going to get from King Reginald. Perhaps we should have gone to Duke Phyreshade, not that he could spare the three to four thousand men that we need, but a sorcerer or two would have been nice. I am not sure the king understood the scale of the issues here.

I am the king’s godfather! Norda slammed his fist into the stone battlement. I knew I should have spent more time in Fork helping the boy deal with being King. I don’t really know what Estephan was thinking, abdicating to an eighteen year old and running away like that.

I am sure Estephan had only the highest confidence in his son or he would have stayed, Sheillene said. She nodded towards the enemy then asked, Can we start shooting them now or do we wait for them to advance?

They already fired the first shot, Norda said. Captain, you have command now that the battle has begun.

Thank you, Excellency. Katriene then said to Sheillene, Fire at will.

Fire at will, Sheillene echoed to the archers. They only had two score archers and the arrow supply was limited, Stoutblade having taken their stores out with the army.

Close the gates, Katriene shouted down. The screech of iron against stone started again, but stopped almost immediately.

Captain, the portcullis is jammed and won’t drop, A soldier yelled up.

The sounds of arrows letting fly filled the air around Katriene. Sheillene waited, drawing her arrow back and watching the enemy forces. The wind on the battlements began to accelerate and the sky crackled as lighting sprayed down, missing the wall by less than a yard. Sheillene’s arrow flew, arcing just over the summit of the distant hill. The wind calmed instantly. Got him, Sheillene said. Katriene knew she meant Absyn’s sorcerer, Irren Bloodrobe.

The enemy army surged forward down the hill.

How is that gate? Katriene yelled to the men below.

Gate is closed but won’t hold long, The sergeant at the gate yelled back. Portcullis is jammed half open. It won’t be stopping anyone.

Get everyone into the inner keep! Katriene commanded. First Unit, meet me at the gate. The outer wall was only twenty feet high and would be breached eventually anyway with simple ladders. The inner keep had a sturdier door, but the fighting would be cramped and would take place in the living quarters. Two and Three: Man the battlements. Keep the enemy off the gatehouse until everyone is inside. Sheillene keep your archers here. May Celar watch over you!

May Temistar guide your attack! Sheillene responded to Katriene’s blessing her with the Celari god by blessing Katriene in the name of the goddess of hunters.

Katriene ran down to the courtyard, watching as the Duke’s men retreated into the inner Keep. Above, Sheillene’s archers rained death into the charging army. In total, Norda had three hundred and twenty armed men. The army coming down the hill numbered at least twenty times Norda’s forces.

At the gate, Katriene joined with First Unit, a dozen men that had fought with her since she’d first joined with Norda. As the surge of soldiers retreating into the keep became a trickle, Katriene heard the battering ram hit the gate for the first time. Splinters flew past her. She shouted up to Sheillene to get her archers inside and take positions on the keep roof and at windows overlooking the courtyards. Units Two and Three went into the keep with the archers. Okay, get inside, Katriene told Sergeant Tahlon of First Unit. Throw every piece of furniture you can in front of the door. It will give the enemy bad footing when they do break through. You will be able to balance the numbers with tactics like that.

What are you doing, Captain? Tahlon asked.

Giving orders. Get that door closed and barred, now!

Yes, ma’am, Tahlon replied without enthusiasm. He led his unit back into the inner keep. As the door slammed, Katriene heard the bar drop inside.

The sound of the outer gate crashing open reminded Katriene what it was that she waited for. Turning, she faced the army surging through the outer gates and backed towards the doors of the inner keep. She only had to buy the people inside a couple minutes.

I don’t suppose I could get you to face me one at a time? She asked the enemy soldiers. They didn’t even look at each other to question if it would be an option.

§

The enemy engaged Katriene and she knew each minute was her last. She did not pay any attention to the minutes as they passed. Katriene kept her focus on the weapons coming at her and the openings the enemy left her. She didn’t fight to buy anyone time any longer. She just fought to stay alive. Celari tradition taught her that death is part of a warrior’s life, but a warrior’s life is to fight death away as long as they can. That’s what she was doing. Parrying a sword blade to the left, Katriene blocked a heavy spear with her shield. The spear cracked the wood of the shield and became stuck. The spearman yanked hard, pulling Katriene off balance. She barely managed to dodge several swipes while slipping her arm out of her shield. A horn blast rang from the hill. The men facing Katriene began backing away. Katriene could not find the energy to step up and re-engage them. An officer stepped forward and saluted her, pulling the hilt of his sword to his nose and then bending down to set his sword on the ground. The other soldiers placed their weapons on the ground as well.

They surrender! Sheillene shouted from atop the keep. Katriene is still standing. Katriene realized the archer wasn’t informing her so much as she was informing the Duke’s men still inside the keep.

Katriene sat down, sword still in hand, too tired to let go. Someone offered her a water skin and she drank the whole thing. Handing the skin back, Katriene realized that the soldier who had given her water was the officer in Absyn’s army.

Thank you, Katriene said.

You fought well, The officer said. I am not sure how much longer you would have stood.

Why surrender? She asked. I agree that I was soon to be done.

Look there, The soldier said, pointing at the outer gate. The soldiers between the gate and Katriene were all on one knee, heads bowed. Katriene saw a creature she had only heard of in the tales of bards: a unicorn. A huge white creature, vaguely equine, with a flowing violet mane and a silver horn that gleamed even when caught in the shadow of the gatehouse, strode into the courtyard. A dozen other unicorns, with manes of varying hues, followed it. All of the other unicorns had golden horns.

The silver horned unicorn stopped and turned to face another unicorn, one with a blue mane and tail. With a short bleat that somehow sounded melodious, and several gestures with his horn and shoulders, the silver haired unicorn gave orders. Though she didn't know how or why, she could understand that the blue haired unicorn was to herd the invading army outside the gates and ensure they were unarmed and unarmored before sending them homeward.

The blue haired unicorn nodded and began nudging people out of the courtyard.

The lead unicorn than pointed his silver horn at the officer who had given Katriene water. After a moment of eye contact the unicorn looked around at all the bodies and shook his head in confusion as if he were asking for an explanation of some kind.

All the dead and wounded are wearing the same colors, The officer said then gestured at me. They left that Celari woman out here while they reinforced their door. We have been trying to get to the door for four and a half hours. When you showed up, the horns blasted surrender.

With his head tilted slightly to the side the unicorn stared at Katriene a moment as if he were appraising her. With an impressed bleat he nodded to her and glanced again around the courtyard. Katriene followed his gaze around and realized the magnitude of what she had done. Hundreds of Absyn’s men lie dead or wounded, mostly near the inner gate. She could remember doing it all, but couldn’t believe it. The unicorn looked at Katriene with huge green eyes. She could discern that he was asking her to identify herself.

I am Katriene Connaghty; who are you? She knew who he was; Sheillene had told her stories about him. Katriene couldn’t remember or separate her knowledge from her tired and jumbled thoughts. She was still trying to understand how she still breathed.

Prince Kehet, Absyn's officer whispered to her.

Prince Kehet of the Unicorns knelt, bending down onto the knees of his forelegs. She felt the unicorn's gesture was one of respect. While he was kneeled he reached out and touched Katriene’s chest with his horn. The simple touch brought her senses back to order and cleared her fatigue. When he remained down, Katriene realized Kehet meant for her to climb on.

You want me to ride you? She asked.

Kehet responded with a single nod.

Katriene sheathed her sword then climbed aboard the kneeling beast. The unicorn did not protest when she wrapped her hand in his mane.

The hair on his mane was soft, like silk. When he turned and started to run away from the keep, the gentle feeling of acceleration didn’t match how fast Katriene’s eyes were telling her that they traveled. In only a few seconds, Katriene and Kehet had caught up to Absyn and his guards.

Kehet pulled around in front of Absyn’s entourage and turned to face the count. The unicorn exhaled a fierce roar, challenging the Absyn to surrender.

So you can take me back to Norda and hang me from the wall? Absyn, a weasely looking man, challenged. I don’t think so. Absyn drew a bastard sword from his saddle and charged at Katriene and the unicorn. Absyn’s guards followed close behind. Kehet bucked his hind legs, throwing Katriene forward over his horn. She landed hard on her feet and fell to one knee as Kehet raced past. She stood and drew her sword, trying to take advantage of Kehet’s wake through the enemy charge.

Kehet used his horn and mass to throw the soldiers around. He seemed to intentionally avoid Count Absyn himself.

You brought one woman to fight me? Absyn turned his horse and bore down towards Katriene.

She wasn't sure, but the sound the unicorn made next sounded something like smug laughter. Katriene hoped she could live up to the Unicorn Prince's confidence in her.

As Absyn charged Katriene. She took a strong, intentionally obvious, defensive stance. She wanted him to know that the only way he was going to hit would be a back swing as he passed. But, Katriene didn’t plan that he would get past her. She crouched as he came closer and lowered her blade and reached out with her shieldless left arm. As he passed, Katriene leaned in and hooked his calf, hugging it to her shoulder. With her sword, she had one chance to hack through his saddle straps and succeeded. The weight of the Count sat Katriene down fast and the Count tumbled behind her. The ringing crunch of steel armor made her smile. She stood up and looked back to see what she’d done.

The Count had landed face first on the rocky road.

Kehet walked over and looked like he sniffed Absyn. There was a sadness in the unicorn's eyes when he looked at Katriene.

I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to kill him like that. She’d hoped to offer him a warrior’s death, even if he didn’t deserve it.

Though the sadness didn't leave his eyes, Kehet shrugged and again knelt before Katriene. She took a moment to straighten the count's twisted form and close his eyes before she again climbed onto the Unicorn's back. She wouldn't mourn his death, but she'd treat his body with honor.

§

Duke Norda and Sheillene met Katriene and the Unicorn Prince out by the front gate. The Duke spoke to Kehet first. Ah, I see you met Captain Katriene.

Kehet bleated a positive note and knelt.

Duke Norda asked Sheillene, How many of those in there are really hers? Most of those are archer kills, right?

We haven’t counted yet, but we will, Sheillene said. Still, what she did was incredible. I did not expect to see her live.

Nor did I, Katriene agreed. I hoped to hold them off for three or four minutes before dying.

Kehet gave her a proud smile. The unicorn then stood before Norda, and bleated a few times as he shifted his shoulders and even stomped his hooves a couple times.

I wouldn’t if I could. Norda sighed then turned his gaze on Katriene. It’s not that you are unworthy of knighthood, Captain. But, as much as it saddens me to admit, the Knights are not the same since Reginald became king. He is handing out titles, including knighthoods for silly reasons. He made three knights last season alone for placing in a drinking contest. The only reason I have not resigned as Head of the Order is because I hope to rebuild it when Reginald comes to his senses. But for now, the Knights are unworthy of you.

The unicorn made a grunt and lifted his head high. A gold chain with a medallion gleaming of silver appeared hanging from the tip of his horn.

I have never heard of any unicorn knights, Sheillene said.

Kehet glared at her a moment then made low grumbling whinny like sound.

Well, yes, of course, Sheillene said. As the ruler of the Unicorn nation, you can make such a decree.

After a moment of prancing around, Kehet settled before Katriene. He bowed his head, clearly offering her the medallion.

I will accept with honor, Katriene said, taking the medallion and slipping it over her head. It bore a violet unicorn on a silver disc. Even through her mail, she could feel the pendant resting on her chest. She liked the feeling.

The unicorn roared, and the other unicorns, in and around the keep, roared. Kehet then ran out through the gate and, within a heartbeat, disappeared into the forest. Many of the other unicorns did the same.

I wonder what I will do now that I am done here. Katriene mused aloud.

Lady Katriene, Norda said then paused while Katriene blushed at the first use of her new title. You are still my Captain of the Guard. Two weeks ago, when I promoted you, it was not a field promotion.

Thank you, Katriene said solemnly. But, I don’t think I am ready, yet, to settle down in one place. I have this feeling there is another adventure out there for me. Besides, I am a woman and though you see me as a valid leader and warrior, the rest of the people this close to Novarra follow the belief that the man provides and the woman is a possession.

You could change that, Norda said.

No, I am one instance. I am a freak. I am not ready to try to change the world–-not even this small part of it. Up north I hear people are a little less judgmental; a little more open to people like me.

I understand. Norda tightened his lips and looked back towards his keep. He then said, What you say is true, but, I need you here. I will need to rebuild my garrison from scratch. For that I need someone who knows soldiers and can sort the good ones from the bad.

I will stay until spring, Katriene said. Traveling in the snow is not the adventure I am hoping for.

CHAPTER ONE - MOTHER

Morning-Wind-Through-Early-Spring-Leaves, the eldest dryad, entered the Grove of the nature goddess, Maia. The goddess lay in her clearing, just as she had been when Morning left. *I bring news, my goddess,* Morning projected her thoughts, her mental voice resounding into the mind of the goddess. The dryad stood straight with her bright green hair pushed over her shoulders, clear of her face, letting Maia see her worry in the tears that streamed down her pale green cheek. Morning knew she didn't have to act so serious or intense around Maia, but she wanted to make sure that Maia took the situation seriously.

What is it, my dryad? Maia answered, speaking with a slow, dreamy voice. She did not get up from her bed of blooming violets.

In addition to serving the goddess, Morning saw Maia as her dearest friend, but the goddess’s growing habit of ignoring the world frustrated the dryad. *It is Rebiran again; He needs to be dealt with quickly and finally. I ask permission to interfere. I ask permission to breach the Covenant.*

Morning, what has Rebiran done to deserve such retribution? Maia asked, brushing a lock of hair from her own face. Her hair matched Morning's, though that was the extent of the similarity between the dryad and the goddess. The dryad was lithe where Maia appeared full bodied and the goddess had pale skin similar to humans. In the autumn when Maia’s hair turned red and orange, Maia could pass as a human. Morning, even were her coloration human, would be given away by her stark thinness and extremely long, pointed ears and sharply almond shaped eyes. Maia's eyes reflected Mealth, for that was her realm. She was a Founder, the highest order of gods and the goddess of Mealth, the planet, and the ecosystem. Maia was the mother of nature.

*Are you so tired that you cannot know?* Morning asked, nearly incredulous. Upon realizing the force behind her words, Morning bowed her head, ashamed.

I am tired, Maia admitted, seemingly unaffected by the dryad's tone. Perhaps there is much that is happening that I am too tired to notice. Why don't you tell me what I missed?

*Summer-Sky-at-Amethyst-Rising is gone, dead,* Morning stammered, her tears flowing more freely. *Rebiran killed her. His twisted magic drained her tree so badly that it couldn't survive hibernation. The ties of a dryad to her tree are absolute and when her tree died, Summer died as well. I want him to suffer for this.*

That is sad news. You and I both know that not all dryads die with their tree, else you would not be here with me. I made you into a goddess when you showed strength by not dying when your tree died. Summer was strong of spirit, I expected her to be one of the few to endure the passing of her tree. I was considering her to replace you when we leave. I am weak, distracted by the melancholy of this existence, and did not see her death. I shall talk with the Guardians of Midheart to ensure that her soul progresses positively.

*If it were only so simple, my goddess.* Tears flowed freely down Morning’s face as she recalled seeing the blight his magic had caused. *Rebiran's magic was so foul and his draining so complete; that Summer's very soul was drained and consumed. I have been to Midheart, but her soul never arrived. She is gone, utterly and completely gone. I need freedom from the Covenant to ensure that Rebiran is punished.*

The Covenant is not something that can be breached, Maia declared, her voice shaking from exhaustion. It is magic that is beyond us. It is the price we paid to be truly immortal. The gods may not act directly against a mortal. Indeed, we are incapable of such.

*I will forsake my immortality then,* the dryad's thoughts screamed with passion. *Rebiran will suffer at my hand. He will know pain in life before he knows an eternity of torment.*

You would not be powerful enough to defeat him, even if you could find a way out of the Covenant and neither am I powerful enough at the moment. I am exhausted of this existence. You could, abandoning the Covenant, forsake all immortality to spend one day as a mortal before you perished and your soul followed the course of the souls of mortals. But, you must keep your immortality if you wish to accompany me on my journey beyond this life.

*We cannot sit by and let someone so vile taint our world. The mortal King of Relarch is doing nothing, though the land that Rebiran is afflicting is clearly within his demesne. I would alert your First Tempest, Elia, but she is with child, again.*

Your student; she will deal with this. It’s about time for her to get out in the world and truly show us what she can do.

*My student?* Morning asked. She only had one student, but the goddess couldn't mean her. That student was not ready, yet.

Yes, the one who plays the music. Maia’s voice started to fade.