City Reborn

By Merri Hiatt

City Reborn (Book two of the Mangadarth Trilogy)
Just as the castle inhabitants begin to feel safe and a sense of community is restored in Mangadarth, a menace lying dormant for hundreds of years renews its thirst for vengeance.

The first chapter of book three in the trilogy, My Mother's Eyes, is included.

The other two books in the trilogy are listed below.

Marayah’s Return (Book one of the Mangadarth Trilogy)
In a world of castles, crones and curses, Eldrick and Marayah find themselves bound to one another for life. When threats surround them, they must join forces to protect the city of Mangadarth and each other.

My Mother’s Eyes (Book three of the Mangadarth Trilogy)
Now that Mangadarth is under new rule, it is up to the townspeople to rally to bring hope back to the city and clear the skies of the stain from the blood of innocent souls.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Merri Hiatt
• Release date: Jan 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465783745

Merri Hiatt

Merri Hiatt grew up in a small town near Shasta Valley in Northern California. Upon moving to the Pacific Northwest in Washington state, Merri fell in love with the mountains, ocean, rain and lush greenery. Merri credits her high school creative writing teacher with giving her the nudge to pursue writing. BOOKS WRITTEN BY MERRI HIATT: PROPOSAL SERIES: Sweet Proposal, Jaded Proposal (coming soon!), Midnight Proposal (coming soon!); LOVE IN THE AIR TRILOGY: Runway Romance, Love on the Fly (Passion at 30,000 Feet coming soon); SEASONS OF LOVE SERIES: Summer Love, Autumn Love, Winter Love, Spring Love; CELEBRATING LOVE TRILOGY: 14 Love Letter Lane, 21 Romance Way, 28 Passion Boulevard; EMBRACING LOVE TRILOGY: When Love's at Work, When Love's at Home, When Love's at Play, When Love's on Vacation (Sequel one), When Love's Gone Country (Sequel two); MANGADARTH TRILOGY: Marayah's Return, City Reborn, My Mother's Eyes; Kat Burglar, a romance novella; Mama Lives in My Hair, a short story about life and death; Sarah and the Magic Beans, a short story about magic and hope; The Magical Christmas Cookies, a short story about hope; Santa Hates Seattle, a short story about hope and second chances; Puddle of Poetry (sixty-two poems from sassy to sensitive to serious); Food So Good, You'll Never Know It's Good For You, 11 Recipes and Tips; and Potato Chip Princess, a young adult short story. Visit Merri's website at http://merrihiatt.com Merri states: "I am a lover of all emotions. They swim and spin around my head with abandon. What fun to let the words these feelings bring forth play along my tongue and whisper into the still of the night. When I capture them on paper, it is a joy and one of my favorite ways to spend time."

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City Reborn

Book two of the Mangadarth Trilogy

Copyright © 2011 by Merri Hiatt

Smashwords Edition

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Cover art: P72/Shutterstock.com

For every mother.

You hold a bit of your daughter inside you always.

Chapter One

When they were alone, Teagwah said to Marayah, I have come to ask for your mercy in the part I played with the healing man. I was given an order by Lord Kasimir. I was afraid not to obey.

While you did aid the healing man, you also thought better of your participation and told Lord Eldrick what happened. I do not believe I can trust you now, but in time you may be able to earn my respect again.

I only wish for the chance, m’lady.

I have never asked you how you arrived at Castle Banion. Were you here before Eldrick was born?

Yes, m’lady. I served Lord Kasimir and Lady Estelle well before Lord Eldrick was born. I came to the castle in chains, accused of selling secrets to the crone.

Was that true? Did you sell secrets to Sivah?

Never. I do not go anywhere near the witch. I told them so, but they were looking for someone to lay blame upon and I was an easy target.

How so?

"I was found along the roadway by Daniel Forrester when I was only a month old. He took me home and he and his wife, Elizabeth, raised me. No one knows who I belonged to or why I was abandoned. Many have surmised my mother and father must have been attached by animals of the wild or by the pale ones, but no one knows for certain.

Because my heritage is unknown, I could have been born of thieves and robbers for all I know. When I was eight years old, I found myself in mischief more times than not. My parents thought I might be demon possessed and called on a priest to exorcise them from my brain and body.

For seven days and nights I endured a torture like no other. Being demon possessed was more to my liking than what occurred during those dark days of lashes and forced vomiting. I was weakened to a point that I could not stand on my own legs without falling.

One day Lord Kasimir sent for me; he had a mission he needed performed. He wanted me to retrieve a hair from the crone’s head. I refused, knowing such a task was foolhardy. He insisted that if I did not return with a hair from her head, he would kill me."

What did you do?

I made the journey through the Valley of Pandor to the waterfall at the base of the mountain. When I approached the crone, she seemed to know why I had come. She did the oddest thing, I shall never forget. She plucked a single hair from her head and handed it to me, never saying a word.

Why?

"I do not know. Maybe she was feeling generous or maybe she had an accord with Kasimir. I accepted the hair no matter what the circumstance, and carried it carefully back to Kasimir. He refused to believe it was from Sivah’s head and called me a liar. He declared I would die in front of my peers by beheading.

It was Lady Estelle who stopped him from killing me. She convinced him that I was worth more alive than dead."

He never believed the hair was from Sivah’s head?

Never. I still have the hair and have lived long beyond the years I should have died, with no aging transparent.

You are as Eldrick and I, outliving humankind thirty times their one hundred years. But now you roam the castle freely and seem to be a trusted ally. What changed?

Kasimir sent me on mission after mission, knowing I would not survive, yet each time I managed to complete the task and return intact. Over decades he began to believe as Estelle had said, that I was worth more alive than dead.

And, Eldrick, how does he treat you?

Eldrick does not take after his father in every way. He observes carefully and forms his own opinions based on fact and experience and is not easily swayed. He has taken me into his confidence and I know many things about the castle and Banion family history that others do not.

Do you like being in this position?

It is not a matter of like, m’lady. My life was spared by the Banion family. I owe them my allegiance.

So it is obligation that binds you here?

I would deem it loyalty, rather than obligation.

Marayah nodded her head. I see. I do not know why I never asked you these questions before.

You say Lord Eldrick has changed, but I have noticed changes in you since your return. Might it be that you see Lord Eldrick with new eyes because it is you who have changed?

That is possible.

I am glad you returned home, m’lady and I will spend my days proving to you that I am worthy of your trust again. You will see.

Time will tell.

The following morning, Eldrick awoke with what he could only describe as the remnants of the pain from a fisted punch to his gut. He ignored it and went about getting dressed and made his way down to the dining hall.

Good morning, Marayah said, greeting her husband with a kiss on the cheek. Did you rest well?

Yes, and you?

Yes. Visions of Mangadarth’s future filled my dreams.

Eldrick reached for the goblet of red liquid and flinched when a stabbing pain throbbed at his side.

Is something wrong? Are you in pain? Marayah hurried to Eldrick’s side. I have never known you to have a pain of any kind, Eldrick. Explain to me what you are experiencing.

The only thing I can tell you is that I awoke with an odd stabbing in my gut. It almost took my breath away.

I would call for the healing man, yet I distrust him so.

I do not believe it is of any urgency. Eldrick blinked his eyes quickly, as his vision filled with the image of four lovely women looking like Marayah in front of him, only blurred and swaying.

Eldrick? Eldrick?

Eldrick tried to answer his wife, yet she seemed far away, as at the other end of a tunnel. He closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Marayah called for Teagwah and several of the guardsmen to move Eldrick’s body to his sleeping quarters.

Shall I get the healing man from the dungeon, m’lady? Teagwah asked.

No. I do not trust him. Teagwah, bring Dakron to the castle entrance. I will be flying to Braline. There is a healing woman there. I will bring her back with me.

Begging your pardon, m’lady, but Dakron allows no one to ride him except Lord Banion.

He will allow me, Marayah said.

I will retrieve him.

Marayah met Teagwah at the front gate, knowing not how she would even mount the great beast.

You should not travel alone, m’lady. I will go with you, Teagwah offered.

I am going alone. Stay and keep watch over Eldrick. I shall be back before nightfall. Bring me a chair.

Teagwah ran into the castle and retrieved one of the chairs in the entryway and placed it next to Dakron. Marayah used the back of the chair for support as she stepped up onto the seat. She then took Dakron’s reins and threw her leg over his body and struggled to right herself.

Godspeed, m’lady Teagwah said.

Watch over him, Teagwah.

I will, m’lady. I will.

Marayah nudged Dakron forward. He stood fast.

She leaned forward and whispered into Dakron’s ear, There is no time for stubbornness on your part, Dakron. Lord Eldrick is gravely ill and I need your help. I know you understand me. You are his only hope. We must fly to Braline and retrieve the healing woman and bring her back. I beg of you, please help me.

She leaned back and sat straight again. She kicked her feet and leaned forward as if she expected Dakron to move, and he did.

The guardsmen opened the castle gates and Dakron walked through. When they reached a stretch of road long enough for Dakron to gallop to high speed, Marayah ordered, Skyward!

Dakron bolted forward and Marayah lost her balance, struggling to stay upright as Dakron’s hooves pounded the earth with great force. She finally managed to regain her balance just as Dakron’s wings carried them skyward.

They were in the air and heading to Braline. Marayah did not realize how difficult it would be to maintain her balance on such a large beast. Especially while wings on either side flapped. It had been much easier when she could lean against Eldrick for support. Even when she and Teagwah had ridden the skies with the small horse when the altered ones chased them, it had not been difficult to maintain control of the animal.

Dakron had a mind of his own.

Marayah’s every nerve was taut by the time they reached Braline. She found a clearing just outside the city and ordered Dakron, Earth! and pulled on the reins to signal that he should slow his pace.

Dakron needed no orders as he instinctively knew his rider’s needs. He made his descent. When hooves touched ground, Marayah found herself flung over Dakron’s head directly into the paths of his thundering hooves. She rolled quickly to get out of the way as Dakron jumped over her body expertly.

Marayah stood and brushed off her clothing. Dakron had stopped several dozen feet in front of her. She joined him and took the reins in her hand.

If I did not know better, I would say you did that deliberately. Nonetheless, I thank you for your transport. Now, we need find the healing woman quickly and return with her to Mangadarth.

Marayah walked with Dakron by her side, seeing no way to mount him without something to stand on.

Marayah went from door to door asking the whereabouts of the healing woman. At the third door, she was given directions and the door was promptly closed in her face. She followed the directions and found herself at the edge of town, near a clearing covered in wildflowers and tall grass.

She saw a small hut with a kettle in front over a fiery blaze. She headed toward it. When she was a stone’s throw from the entrance, a woman emerged with silver hair and loose white clothing.

Are you the healing woman? Marayah asked.

I am. Are you in need?

I am. My husband lives in Mangadarth and has a pain in his gut where none has ever been. He fell into a deep sleep and has not awoken.

I need a moment, then we can go.

Marayah looked around and saw herbs turned upside down, drying along the roof’s edge. She peered through a window. An entire wall was filled with jars with colored liquid and other items she could not identify. Boxes and small packages wrapped with grapevines lined the shelves.

When she saw the woman heading for the door, she stepped back.

Pardon me for snooping. I was only curious and meant no harm.

You have done no harm by looking. The healing woman eyed Dakron, noting his wings with special interest. I have heard of winged horses that take to the sky, but have never seen one with my own eyes. Is this to be our means of transport?

Yes, although I am afraid this is my first endeavor with Dakron and I have less control over him than I would like.

We are in need of a tree stump or large stone, the healing woman said.

I used a chair before.

Ah, I have one of those. The healing woman entered her home again and came out with a wooden chair with a high back. She placed it next to Dakron and used the back as support, as well as Marayah’s shoulder, to raise herself up and mount the steed.

Marayah did the same. Once they were ready, Marayah prayed Dakron would cooperate, and she dug her knees and feet into his sides, ordering, Home!

Dakron began walking and Marayah steered him toward the dirt path by the clearing. Hang on tight, she said to the healing woman, and then, Sky!

Dakron barreled forth and the healing woman laid a tighter hand around Marayah’s waist. She let out a whoop of glee at the stallion’s speed.

Once they were in the sky, both women