Eitlean: Book Three of the Daearen Realms

By Emmy Gatrell

Dark magic has spread, gaining traction throughout Daearen and threatening to destroy the balance within the realm—as well as that of Earth. But all may not be lost...

When Banee-Belle of the Air Fey discovers an ancient clue, one which could lead her to the most powerful spells ever written within the realm, hope returns to her heart. If she can employ her wits to decipher the clue, she will gain the ability to wield magic of unheard of power against the Light Fey’s evil counterparts. But before her quest even begins, Banee learns she must team up with the one fey who broke her heart, leaving her to live an incomplete life—a fey never made whole.

Can Banee push aside her contempt and distrust to complete her most vital mission yet? Will she have the strength to face her own broken heart to prove she is so much more than the pretty princess everyfey assumes her to be—saving her fey in the process? Find out in the next thrilling adventure to restore balance within the Daearen Realms.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emmy Gatrell
• Release date: Mar 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370843091

Emmy Gatrell

Emmy Gatrell is a Fantasy and Paranormal Romance writer ranging from Sweet (YA/NA) through four-flame +18.She grew up Metro-Detroit and went to Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan before moving to Georgia. After spending more than a decade there with her husband, kids, and dogs. Her family realized Georgia was still too cold, and now live in Costa Rica where it's summer all year and our seasons are; kind of dry, a little rainy, and deluge.Emmy has published the first three of six novels in the Daearen Realm series; Meanmna, Bienn-Theine, and Eitlean, book four is slated for a 2017 release. And she's published the first two novels of her Paranormal Shifter Romance series, The Lupinski Clan; Fate is a Mated Bitch and Forgiving Fate.Emmy’s love of her roots and traveling comes out in her writing as I create a new realm of existence with the Daearen Realms an entirely new breed of Shifter with the Lupinski Clan and whatever she comes up with next.

Book preview

For BBB

31 years of friendship just wasn’t enough

One

December 20th

Did you hear that? I screamed as I ran into my parents’—Sampson and Sarah, rulers of Eitlean and the Air Fey—private rooms in our castle. I half expected them to be sleeping, since it was almost midnight, but they weren't in their bed. I usually took a moment to appreciate the Bubinga or African Rosewood, they’d had grown special for their den, as they called it. It was reddish-brown in color with red and purple veining. Most of the castle had been grown from a large mangrove tree, its bark white in color. Mangrove trees grew in abundance in Daearen, and the castle tree had been fortified to grow particularly strong by Guennola and Murtagh, the first Rulers of the Air Fey, many millions of years ago. My mom said being surrounded by air and white and breeze every day made her crave a dark little refuge for her and my father’s private time. At one point in my life, I would have said, ‘Eww,’ in response. But I was quickly progressing to the age where ‘Aw, that’s sweet,’ became ‘Man, am I jealous.’

Did you guys just hear AFRAT? Beathan, my twin, ran into the room.

A frat? I turned and looked at him in confusion.

All Fey Radio All the Time. His gaze said I should have known.

You have too much time on your hands.

And you never have a good time.

Children, please. Mom walked out of her closet, hooking her weapons belt around her hips. She was beautiful. Tall, curvy, long blonde hair, and big blue eyes. Beathan and I took after her in the looks department. We can debate too much time versus never having a good time when your father and I get back.

"Whoa. When you get back? Beathan laid one hand on his broadsword and his other on his hip. Spirit Queen Paige just called for every able-bodied fey to fight for the Princess and Daearen. I’m able-bodied." He was decked out in his fighting gear; I was clad only in yoga pants and a tank top.

I’d better go change. I’d taken only two steps before my brother stopped me in my tracks by snickering. I turned and glared at Beathan. What!?! I asked, shouting.

"Able-bodied, Sis. What are you going to do? Stand there and look pretty? Fashion them to death? He started laughing. No, wait you could— He stopped when I grabbed a paperweight off the table and threw it at his head. Ducking just in time, his hair ruffled as the weight sailed past him. What was that for?"

You being an ass. I can help. I’ve got skills. Far more than any fey knew of, and I couldn’t wait to drop the façade and show them all my true strength. I’m going to change.

I took another step, and this time, my father halted my progress. You need to stay here. It’s not the time for you to show your. . .skills.

I sighed and eyed him disdainfully. My older brother, Phillip, took after my dad—dark hair, dark eyes—but my dad was always smiling, and Phillip only did so when he was up to something dark in nature. "When, exactly, is it going to be time? I’m sick of being treated like an idiot when I’m smarter than half the fey out there. And I can fight."

Beathan snorted. Leave the fighting to those of us trained to do so.

I can help! I glared at him and crossed my arms over my chest. I wanted to tell him that, if we were to compare training time, I’d put in twice as many hours, but he couldn’t know that. Only Queen Paige, my dad, and my mom—who was making the ‘zip it’ motion across her lips. I crossed my arms and grunted out, You know, being a pretty-pretty princess lost its allure a long time ago.

What about all of the information you’ve been able to pass on to the Spirit Queen and King because of that? My mother came to me and rubbed her hands up and down my arms. What about all the lives you’ve saved? One day, Banee, you’ll be recognized for the part you played in the battle against the dark, and every fey will realize exactly what you’ve done for them all. My eyes filled, and I had to swallow hard before I managed to school my features to hide what I was really feeling.

I asked Queen Paige. Dad put his arm around me. She said soon. He kissed my forehead and took my mother by the hand. He spoke then to Beathan. You need to stay here and keep an eye on Phillip. He’s up to something.

Beathan stood straighter and nodded at Dad. There was a flash of purple light in the room, and my parents were off to Meanmna to fight for the Spirit Queen and Daearen.

Sorry, Sis but I wor— I put my hand up to stop him, and he put his on my shoulder, Hey, maybe we could train soon. I know you want to fight, maybe you could with a lit— okay, with a lot of training. I held back a growl and nodded. Okay, then. You good? Beathan asked, and I smiled in response.

He smiled back before emitting a flash of white light as he transformed into firefly form, flitting away to spy on our older brother, Phillip—who became scarier by the day. My father had confirmed he was thinking the same thing by asking one son to spy on the other. Scary times we were living in.

I examined myself in the floor-length mirror across the room. My skin was as white as a kid wearing clown makeup for Halloween, but it had a pearlescent sheen to it. My hair–even whiter than my skin–was long, wavy, and bouncy. My white skin and hair glowed against the dark woodgrain in my parents’ room, as if I had a spotlight trained on me. It seemed appropriate, since, somehow, I seemed to be the center of attention while simultaneously being ignored. I shook my head to clear my thoughts; I needed to get to my secret space while the coast remained clear.

After exiting into the hallway of the castle, I turned left toward my rooms, running my fingers along the wall. On this floor, the walls were enclosed, and since we were inside a giant mangrove tree, the surface had dips and grooves leading off to the millions of tiny branches were born from them. I walked past my rooms and turned down the stairs at the end of the hall. Once I got to the main floor, I took in a deep breath. On this floor, only half the walls were walls. The top was open so the fresh air could infiltrate. The magic in the air seemed different here, more potent somehow. No fey lingered in the hallway, so I quickly made my way to the statues of Guennola and Murtagh, glancing behind me to ensure the area was still clear.

I stepped between the figures, feeling the rush over my body as I stepped into my space. I’d never been able to figure out precisely how the entrance worked. I’d discovered it once while playing hide and seek with my brothers. They’d been unable to find me, and when I’d eventually found my way out of the hidden room, I’d watched as they both meandered between the statues, neither of them disappearing nor discovering the room. When I’d told my parents about it, they’d merely suggested I could never know when a place like that could prove useful. I’d never mentioned it again, so everyone would forget—and they had. Over the course of many years, I’d turned it into my personal sanctuary.

I passed my desk; strewn with papers, notes, family trees, maps; and books of law, psychology, marketing, and art of negotiation—organized chaos at its best—and made my way to my training area on the other side of the room. This consisted of a large, soft mat and mirrors on three of the four sides for checking my form. I’d had it magically rigged to produce targets, which appeared out of nowhere to randomly fly around the room. The method kept my senses sharp and lessened my risk of being snuck up on, back in the real world. I’d also become an expert at dagger and star throwing and had even invented my own weapon–specifically designed for my own fighting style.

I walked to my training area and gingerly stroked the length of the blade before I lifted it from the hook upon which it was hanging. I called it a Tesbai. It was a cross between three Japanese war fans: Tessen, Gunsen, and Gunbai. A Tessen, a samurai weapon, was the same size and shape as a typical fan, but was constructed of thick iron plates. A Gunsen was a lightweight fan wielded by soldiers. Gunbais were larger, solid wood-and-iron fans which remained open and at the ready in their ever-fanned-out shape.

My Tesbai was sized like a Gunbai, about the length of a broadsword, and resembling one when closed. No fey would realize, just to look at it, that it was anything other than a regular broadsword. But my Tesbai opened and closed like a Tessen or Gunsen. Each of the twelve plates of the Tesbai were samurai-sword sharp on either side and could run a foe through before they’d even realized what had happened.

I did have a lot of work to do, but my mind was racing, and I needed to clear my head. Taking my personal stance on the mat, inhaled deeply, and started the Tai Chi-like routine I had perfected. I practiced slow, methodical movements while holding the tesbai, first, in its sword form. After I had finished one set, I twisted my wrist and used the pressure from my fingertips to open the Tesbai into its fan shape, running through the routine again. And again after altering the angle of the blades, so it resembled the slightly angled tines of a rake. Switching it back into its fan shape, I performed the routine one last time, toggling between the spokes in fourths and halves. That feature would come in handy if I ever need to cut somefey’s head off. I shuddered at the thought, but with the way things were going, I just might need to do that someday.

Once I felt centered and calm, I closed the Tesbai and put it back in its place, before making my way over to my desk. Most fey wouldn’t believe it if I told them I was completely up to date on most of the political dealings within the realm. It wasn’t time for anyfey to know. I had hope that one day I could let the real me show through and reveal how much information and skill I had gleaned over the years. Could prove I’m a damned good strategist and mediator, as well as a kickass warrior—Yeah right, I snorted at the thought. I could hold my own in a sparring match, if I were ever allowed to, but I hadn’t seen any real action. The grand plan allowed for no real experience. I hated the grand plan sometimes.

I snatched up a random dagger lying on the desk, tossing it into the eye of the target that had just moved in behind me. I sighed, knowing I had inadvertently ruined all the peace I’d garnered during my mini workout by thinking too darned much. But I didn’t have time to do it again, so instead, I continued drafting new royal decrees concerning the failing protective shields.

Two

December 25th

I’d escaped my family’s Christmas celebration before smacking Phillip for being a total tool. Who knew what he was being so smug about? The Light Fey had defeated the Dark at Meanmna, and for the time being, it seemed as though the Light held the upper hand—but not without the dire tragedy of the loss of our beloved queen. I cried for an entire day when I learned of Queen Paige’s passing. It was she who’d transported my parents, and other fey from all over Daearen, to Meanmna to prevent the attempted coup by Ray of the Water Fey and his followers. And, much to everyfey’s surprise, her secret half-human granddaughter, Sarette, who became our new Spirit Queen.

My parents had described her to me. I couldn’t wait to meet Sarette—it sounded like we had a lot in common. It seemed that everyfey had doubted her, and she’d proved them all wrong. In fact, Sarette may have been the most powerful fey who’d ever lived; regardless of her being half-human or mating with someone from a family of average magic. She’d single-handily directed all of the Light Fey we’d lost back to their elements, leaving behind what everyfey dubbed a ‘death disk.' Which was an unfortunate name, since they were quite beautiful. Each wore a color related to the fey’s magic— air-white, earth-green, water-blue, fire-red and one purple–belonging to Spirit Queen Paige. On one side was etched a picture of the fey who had passed, along with their name and the dates of birth and death. On the other were concentric rings of Celtic knot work which finished with a trinity knot at the center. They were a perfect memento of a fey’s life, although I dreaded the day I’d receive one.

I packed the final box to take along with me to Bienn-Theine, while I worked out the logistics of opening another refugee camp near Pavana, since I couldn’t squeeze anymore fey within the gates of the Castle Eitlean.

I wished I didn’t have to leave at all, but pretty-pretty Princess Banee would never miss the New Year’s Eve masked ball at Bienn-Theine. I waved my hand over the crate and watched as the wood grew over top of itself to form a lid which protected its contents. A flash of purple light startled a short scream from me. Who are you? How did you get in here?

Sorry ‘bout that, the beautiful girl said, throwing up her hands. She had wavy brown hair and hazel eyes. Her floor-length red dress hugged her figure, a gold-and-silver chain belt draping her hips, a silver band crowning her forehead. Oh crap, it’s the queen!

My cheeks heated and my skin was probably sparkling like the vamps’ in Twilight. I lowered my head in respect, clenched my hand in strength, and pledged my life through my heart. My Queen.

You don’t have to do that. She waved away my gestures with her hand. I’m Sarette, she said, beaming.

Yes, I do. I looked up at Sarette, who smiled, shrugged, and put her arms out.

I had heard Sarette started this hugging thing, which had swept through the realms, gaining popularity. It wasn’t as though the fey were unaffectionate, we just didn’t go around hugging everyfey we saw. Until Sarette said to a guard at my Aunt Melinda’s that a hug passes strength from one to another and it was used as a sign of sincere appreciation and kindness. I would never disobey a request from my Queen, and I was a bit curious so I walked awkwardly into them to accept my hug. It felt different from anything I had felt before. Sarette was so powerful, her magic sparked against my skin. Power, strength, and enchantment passed over me like a thousand butterfly wings, pushing its way inside my body and bathing me from the inside out with warmth and love. It was one of the most incredible feelings I’d ever experienced. She released me, and I took a step back.

This place is sweet, Banee. Sarette moved about the room, picking up random things and then setting them down again.

How did you get in here? No fey else has ever been in here with me before. I didn’t think anyfey could find their way in.

Sarette stared a hole through me. You’d be surprised at what I could do.

I don’t doubt that at all, but it still doesn’t answer my question.

I needed to talk to you in private, so here I am.

You’re not going to tell me? She shook her head. Fine, I said in a tone harsher than I should use with her and so began again. Whatever you think is best, My Queen. I continued, even after she rolled her eyes. What did you need to talk to me about?

I need you to step up the dumb blonde routine.—my mouth dropped open—It’ll help with a plan I’m formulating.

I guess today is not the day, I mumbled under my breath.

Your day is coming. Trust me, your flighty behavior has made a difference for the realm. My grandmother has told me all about you.

How? Um, she’s dead.

I guess you could say she’s my spiritual advisor. Sarette laughed heartily, gauged my expression, and cleared her throat before becoming repentant. Don’t be sad. Perhaps, when you arrive in Meanmna, you will see her too.

I’m going to Meanmna?

There I go again, Sarette mumbled. She whispered a word that sounded like ‘butterfly’ and took a breath. "I can’t always tell you why you need to do things, but please know it’s always for good reason."

I know, I sighed.

So where is it?

Where is what?

Your Tesbai. She scanned the room, and when she looked back at me again, indicated I should close my gaping jaw. I did, my gaze falling on the Tesbai hanging on the far wall. She asked, May I? I nodded, still dumbstruck, as Sarette, grinning wildly, bounced over to take it from the wall. She then placed herself at the center of my mat and gave it a few test swings, expertly switching through its varied forms. Once she’d finished, she had to repeat the motion for me to shut my mouth again. This is brilliant.

Thank you?

Why do you sound so surprised?

Well, no fey knows of its existence except for the castle swordsmith. He never saw the completed weapon, because I had him forge a piece at a time, so he couldn’t put it all together in his mind. I put all the pieces together myself. But how did you. . .

I trailed off when Sarette raised her eyebrows and asked, Do you have schematics for the completed piece?

I nodded and crossed the room to the desk, opening the bottom drawer to retrieve my blueprint. I handed it to her, and she took her time looking it over.

She again muttered, Just brilliant, under her breath and peeked at me over the paper. I’m going to give these to Smok.

What? Why?

You know who Smok is?

Of course I do. Smok was the captain of the Fire Fey royal guard and a rare Fire Fey changeling. She could take the form of a ladybug, which could fool many enemies, but she was one of the deadliest guards in all of Daearen. She also served as the Fire Fey blacksmith–a genius sword smelter. Her swords were the very finest in Daearen.

Yours is good, but the one she’ll make will be better. You are going to need it soon, and it needs to be battle ready. Is it okay for me to give this to her? She waved the papers, and I nodded. Okay then. I’ll get the design to her now, and your weapon will be ready for you when you arrive in Bienn-Theine. I can’t stress enough how imperative it is you are prepared for your upcoming quest and the attack against Daearen.

Quest?

Sarette growled and mumbled, Dammit. You can’t say anything to anyfey. Keep the quest, your Tesbai, and your true nature a secret.

I sighed. I’ll do anything for Daearen.

Sarette reached her arm around my shoulder. I know it’s very hard, but hang in there, Banee. Things are about to get interesting for you. She gave me a little squeeze and then walked over to the boxes I had packed. Are all of these going to Bienn-Theine?

Yes.

You’ll have a couple of stops to make on your way, so I’ll take them for you.

Huh? She gave me a pointed look, so I said, Never mind.

She smiled and with a wave of her hand, touched the boxes and disappeared in a flash of purple light which reflected off a small knot set in the wall.

What the hell? Wood doesn’t reflect light like that. I walked over to inspect it. It didn’t feel like wood. I pulled on it and nothing happened. But when I pushed, I heard a click and watched as it receded, then popped out, revealing more of itself. The knob crowned the top of a small, cylindrical silver tube. I twisted it, lifting it away to find a rolled-up piece of material attached. I unrolled the six-inch square and tried to read the ancient words written on its surface. They resembled a cross between ancient runes and the swirly script of Elvish from The Lord of the Rings. I only recognized two words, Heka Grimoire.

The Heka Grimoire was the first book of magic spells known to the fey. It had been hidden by Conrí and Riona, the first Spirit King and Queen, because the magic contained inside was too powerful and dangerous for the average fey to use. Some spells were dark in nature, some too potent, and many could easily be used against a fellow fey. An action strictly forbbiden and near impossible for most fey, who had not nearly enough magic to wield any spell contained inside. It had been used to end the fighting among the realms millions of years ago, when the one land of old had been split into the five realms which existed at present. Meanmna the Spirit Realm, Bienn-Theine the Fire Realm, Eitlean the Air Realm, Hasani the Water Realm and Pozzolana the Earth Realm.

I’d asked Spirit Queen Paige about the tome a long time ago, and she’d told me that if a fey were meant to use it, he or she would find a clue leading them to its location. With the way things were going in Daearen, more and more fey were turning dark, all of them in danger of having their magic sucked completely away. Now would be a great time for the mysterious clue to be revealed to the one meant to. . .

Holy Crap. I heard a rustling and looked down. My hands were shaking so hard that I was worried I might rip the delicate message. I crossed to my desk to set it down, and then covered my mouth with my hands. Holy Crap, I said again behind them. I had no idea what to do and instinctually reached out to Sarette telepathically.

Sar— I hadn’t finished her name before she appeared in a flash of violet light.

You ranggggg, She dragged out the last letter, hunched over, her hands limp and held against her chest. She kept up the stilted movement for a moment before catching my frightened expression. Straightening, she muttered, Sorry, always wanted to do that. She shrugged. What’s up? You solve all the realm’s problems in the last five minutes?

I gave her a shrug of my own, pointing to the scroll on the desk.

She took a step closer, leaning over to peer at but not touching the scroll. Ah… She looked up at me. I was wondering when that would show up.

I took a step closer. So, you know what it is?

She straightened. Of course.

And you can you read it?

No, that’s for you to figure out, and you need to do so soon.

Why me? I crossed my arms, rubbing my hand over them, suddenly feeling cold.

Sarette gave me a look full of sympathy and said, I can’t answer that. Don’t tell anyfey about finding this clue. While it appears to the fey who is meant to wield it, that doesn’t mean that the chosen fey is the only one who can. I nodded, and she wrapped her arms around me. I unfolded my own arms and hugged her back. I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. She leaned away. I gotta go. I have something important arriving tomorrow and need to get a couple more things in place. Work on the clue. I nodded again, and she gave me another quick squeeze before disappearing with a purple flash.

I looked at the scroll again. Holy crap.

Three

December 26th

I roamed the library, searching for anything that might help translate the clue I’d found. The library was at the center of the castle, the only room on the first floor with fully-enclosed walls. Floor to ceiling bookshelves lined the forty-foot stretch to the ceiling, all filled with books from every realm, from all of time. Thank goodness for spells of preservation. A couple of feet in front of the shelves stood glass display boxes, which held weapons of every sort imaginable.

I was scratching my head and yawning when Beathan ran into the room, a frantic expression on his face. Have you seen him?

Seen whom?

Phillip. My eyes widened; he continued. I fell asleep. He gave me the slip. I’ve looked everywhere in the castle, hoping to find him. Have you seen him?

No, I’ve been in here looking—

I’ve got to find him. I’ve got a bad feeling, he shouted as he ran out of the room.

I shook my head at Beathan’s back, continuing to look for another hour before a sudden broadcast sounded over AFRAT. The Bienn-Theine Cairn just exploded! I dropped the book I was browsing through, my hands flying to my mouth. I’ve sent a guard to protect the Eitlean Cairn. Someone is arriving today who cannot be stopped. Beathan ran into the room again, his eyes wide. He motioned toward the speaker questioningly.