Poker Kingdom II. Pandemonium: Poker Kingdom, #2

By V. Cervilla

Will the Guardians be able to save the kingdom of Poker? This Epic Fantasy adventure continues...

Darker. Frenetic. Powerful

The Guardians can't run away from their destiny any longer. With Queen Judith and the Elements missing, it's time for them to step up and find a way to save Poker from its destruction. Will they be prepared for the unknown forces and secrets that are about to be unleashed?

If you haven't read Poker Kingdom I. The smile of the Harlequin, please search for the title on your usual reading platform and get your copy now!

˃˃˃ "Poker Kingdom" is an epic fantasy story that will take you into a unique and exciting journey

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• Language: English
• Publisher: V. Cervilla
• Release date: Oct 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386221975

Book preview

PART I

THE ISLAND OF TIME

I

There was a deep echo that continued to remind Atenea that she was not the queen of Poker. That didn’t stop others from looking to her. She stood still, motionless, overwhelmed by the dozens of people that approached her looking for advice. Hungry peasants with wrinkled skin who held their dirty children, who stared blankly ahead —probably dreaming of a slice of bread— by their hand; bruised merchants covered with cuts and scars as a result of engaging in a fight for the last coins; young and experienced warriors who hadn’t been able to stop the chaos, began to consider the rats swarming the decayed streets of the kingdom as the only option to alleviate the pain in their bellies.

Atenea was jolted awake in a puddle of sweat for what seemed the thousandth time. She remained disoriented for a moment and then realised she was in the Hall of Arms on the pile of blankets she’d put there herself, her sanctuary away from prying eyes and the only place where she felt safe from her own accusatory subconscious which constantly scolded with should have's and need to's as events of the past and her busy schedule vied for attention. It was only when those iron gates were closed that she could quiet them, although this time it seemed they had managed to slip through the cracks. Not fully awake, she rubbed her face, hoping that the action would scrub the dream away and help her wake up. The grinding of metal from the doors opening brought her back to the real world in a second. She looked towards her visitor, the only person who knew where her sanctuary was, trying to keep the annoyance from her face.

They’re here, Hogier informed her with his usually stoic face.

Atenea swallowed and nodded, confirming she’d heard him. She’d been thinking of this moment since Hogier and David had arranged this meeting. She knew deep inside that this moment was going to come, sooner or later. It was time to leave her hiding place and face her arduous duty. With, or without, the Element, she was still the Guardian of Fire and the leader of the army of Spades. She couldn’t remain still, trapped in fear, a feeling that wasn’t allowed in a soldier, even less in one that should be in the first line with her troops. These thoughts consumed her as she made her way to the Great Hall where this dreaded meeting was to take place.

She pushed the doors of the Great Hall less confidently than she’d have done it even just a week ago. Her confidence shattered the day David had called her to his office to drop the news about the exiles escaping. Could it be possible for her to be more scared now than the seconds before going out to fight in a battle? She shook her head as if to prepare herself. The noise of the hinges alerted those present, who turned their heads at the same time.

We’re all here now. Thank you Atenea for joining us, David confirmed as he gave Atenea a few seconds to take a seat at the oval table dominating the room. I assume we all know why we are here. The Council has urged us to find the Queen and recover the Elements and this meeting is to determine how to go about that.

With all due respect, David, isn’t that what the army is trained for? Julius, the Guardian of Air, asked, truly confused, but no less respectful.

The army is at the kingdom’s disposal, but we cannot afford to leave the kingdom defenseless, and the kingdom is in chaos which requires a strong military presence That is why we’ve summoned you. We need your help once again.

"Beyond the reason for our summons, I believe what we all are wondering is how," Argine, the Guardian of Water, added cautiously, a few glimmers of her innocence peeking through her question, which, for Atenea, was a relief, considering everything the girl had gone through to get to this point.

"The Guardians possess a sixth sense, something we shall call intuition, that attracts them towards their Element," Hogier jumped in, clearing his throat.

What about those of us here who are not Guardians? Rachel asked suddenly, playing nervously with her fingers, sometimes winding a strand of straw brown hair between them.

Did nobody explain it to them? David asked Atenea and Hogier in surprise, looking at each person like a father who reprimands his children.

A pair of Guardians will protect each Element, Alexander added with his usual timid tone of voice, looking at Argine out of the corner of his eye.

That’s right, Hogier interrupted. The protection of the Elements was assigned to a pair of Guardians. The Gods designate one of them at birth and it’s this one who will choose their partner along their life. Alexander, you must help protect the Water Element along with Argine. Rachel, you will share Julius’ duty to protect the Air Element, and David joined Atenea in the protection of the Fire Element a while ago. You all have been chosen by the Guardians.

But, how?

Hogier looked at Rachel with a kind smile and a slight chuckle that sobered as he said, I've been told about your curiosity, Rachel. Always interested in everything. Kindness showing in how you’re always asking the farmers if there’s anything else you can do for them. Never lose that spark. Then Hogier looked at each individual and added, Any of you.

It just happens, Atenea interrupted the older warrior suddenly, cutting off any other advice he meant to impart. The room fell silent as everybody stared, surprised to hear the lady-warrior’s voice for the first time in days. It’s not something you can control. The Gods wanted to avoid for the Guardians to be tortured and forced to designate anyone as a Guardian, so they decided it would happen spontaneously when there was a special bond.

A special bond... what do you mean? Rachel asked again, arching her eyebrow.

There’s no specific criterion, David replied, giving Atenea a sidelong glance, shifting uncomfortably It doesn’t have to be a romantic bond. It can be a strong friendship or even a family bond, at least I assume it can be.

Anyways, as far as I’m concerned, the only true Chosen one has been Alexander. He’s the only one who has shown some kind of power related to the Element. The rest of you share our secret, but that’s all. Atenea said, freezing the air with each word and broadening the distance between her and the rest of the world.

One moment, Julius said to the room, then turned to Atenea. Before anything else, thanks for clearing that up, he winked a green eye full of mirth at Rachel. Let’s say we decide to go find the Queen. There’s still one Guardian missing, what means none of us has the ability to trace that element.

That’s why we must find the Queen as soon as possible. She’s the only one who can bring the fourth element back. As long as each element is not resting in its sacred place, chaos will spread along the kingdom until it infects the other kingdoms. The natural order is in danger, Hogier continued, his serious tone getting more grave.

My father was murdered to protect me and my secret. Count on me, my Lord, Argine said with her confidence shining through her usual delicacy, yet with a slight hitch in her voice as she mentioned her father.

Hogier looked less pleased than normal as he coughed out, Hogier. Call me Hogier.

And on me, Alexander added nodding his head towards Hogier and David, timidly caressing Argine’s small, work-rough hand under the table.

David observed Rachel and Julius with anticipation as the others looked at each other feeling the pressure to support the cause and search for the Queen. It was obvious that there wasn’t any other option than to accept the soldier’s explanations and proposals, so Rachel nodded, giving Julius permission to speak on her behalf.

Julius paused as if contemplating his next words and said, finally, Let’s find the Queen.

David looked relieved as he sighed and said, The kingdom thanks you for this. It’s a risky task, but we’ll train you.

There’s something more, Atenea interrupted. We must stand in front of the Council to offer an explanation for the happenings a few weeks ago. All of us. She glanced at David attempting to share her fears with him, hoping to make them just a little lighter.

The meeting with the Council is not until morning, so you should rest and gather your energy because we have no time to waste. One of the warriors will show you to your rooms for what remains of the night.

Hogier concluded the meeting and jumped off his chair to open the gates as a sign for the rest to follow him. Atenea remained behind, stuck in her thoughts. The relief she’d felt when Judith freed the Elements had given way to a new kind of fear: having to face the Council. She’d been warned so many times about how her rebellious behavior and her habit of questioning everything would take her in front of the elders of Hearts sooner or later, but it’d never happened and now it was, and ironically, by no fault of her own. The Council is too busy plotting new ways to keep us under control to care about a simple warrior, she had answered Hogier when he warned her earlier that week. However, the day had come and she’d soon be in front of those who didn’t intercede for their worshiped Gods to forgive her mother. She didn’t know if she was more scared of punishment or of her possible reaction if the resentment and the rage took over her.

She left the Great Hall and walked in a trance as if being transported. As she came back from her thoughts, she’d, without realizing, arrived at the perfect place to get rid of some anger. It was the same firing range where her mother had taught her to string the bow for the first time. Most people have a secret place where they run away to think, to be quiet, but Atenea’s was totally the opposite. In that piece of land, splattered by trees pretending to be targets, with the faint twang of the bow, she found peace. She just had to focus on the tip of the arrow, the tension of the string, the fingers that held one side and the ones that pointed in the aimed direction, and her eyes, staring at the target, until she found that millisecond where everything aligned and she decided to let go of the arrow so that it went right where she meant. Thunk! One arrow after another as if she was in the middle of a life-and-death battle, no time to think, just to pick up the arrow and shoot. Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!

We’re going to need that kind of aim, David said suddenly appearing at one of the shooting posts.

Did nobody tell you it’s dangerous to startle a warrior with a bow? Atenea turned to David and shot the arrow that went straight into the wooden post by his head.

What was that about? David’s eyebrow shot up, although nothing else on him flinched.

I don’t know... I just went with it, I guess, she replied, shrugging not bothering to try and convince him.

David pulled the wooden arrow out and approached the young woman without a hint of anger in him.

They’ll demand responsibility for the Queen’s and Elements’ disappearance from all of us. This won’t just fall upon you.

"They know who I am. Atenea, the Guardian’s forbidden daughter, she said, lowering her voice to imitate one of the elders. They’ve been watching me since I was born, following every one of my steps, waiting for the moment I went off the trails... And I’ve done so many times. It was my duty to keep the Guardians, the entire Kingdom, safe."

Our. David tried to interrupt but Atenea just ignored him, continuing on.

I killed the King of Hearts. I’m sure the news has reached them.

To save me! David reached out and grabbed her shoulder, forcing her to look at him. You have to stop carrying this burden on your own, Atenea.

How do you do it? Atenea stared into David’s eyes with sincere curiosity. How do you stand so unconditionally by my side? Sometimes I believe you’re the most loyal man I’ve ever known and others, the most naive. She grinned just a little bit.

David grinned and shrugged his broad shoulders. You already know part of the answer to that question. The rest I’ll tell you one day. When all this is over.

What do you mean?

A lone raindrop fell on her forehead and she glanced at the sky, now darker. Without giving them a chance to find cover, a heavy rain surprised them and in a matter of seconds, they were soaked, leaving that question to echo among the thunder.

THE COUNCIL MEETING was coming too fast for everybody. Atenea wasn’t the only one who feared the Council’s wrath. The rest of the Guardians couldn’t stop rehearsing the meeting with the elders in their heads, although their imaginations had to substitute details since none of them had met the Council before. They didn’t even know where they’d gather for this infamous meeting. After being shown their rooms and allowing an hour to collect themselves, the Guardians gathered in the Dining Hall where David and Atenea, as hosts, offered a modest dinner for their guests before sending them to bed. The meal consisted of what little provisions had been stored up for the army in case of battle: salty meat and fish. In the few short weeks since the Elements had been freed, nature had become unpredictable. In the sky, sunbeams alternated with torrential rains and drought so the lands that had been cultivated since the lost harvest hopefully yield food once again, yet no one knew what would happen with the erratic weather.

Is there anything we should know before going in front of the Council? Julius asked as the others began their dinner. His tense muscles belied his casual sprawl at the table. Once the question left his mouth though, he had everyone’s attention and the room fell silent as everyone waited for the answer.

David looked at Hogier and Hogier shrugged, saying. I’m sure you’ll know what to say as you’re aware of how the Council has behaved in the past.  David looked slightly uneasy and glanced at everyone and simply said, Be respectful. Don’t give the Council any reason to be upset.

What about the King? Rachel asked, her question echoing in the still silent hall.

Atenea looked down at her bowl.

The King? stalled David, trying to come up with a good response.

The King’s dead, Atenea blurted out. Then she took a sip of soup and stood up, leaving the room.

She’d always felt the death of her parents on her shoulders and now the late king, Magnus’ death weighed heavily, too. She welcomed loneliness like a blessing, sitting against the stone wall in one of the corridors in the Fortress, illuminated only by the light of the torches. She couldn’t stop thinking about Magnus, that little boy from Hearts who talked to her for the first time in the Earth Tower, the day she was introduced to the previous Queen, a little girl herself. She also thought of the nights wandering down that secret passage to see each other for a few minutes, of the promises for the future. How did we end up like this? she whispered to herself, her voice thick with the tears she refused to shed. The King’s betrayal had opened old wounds in an already broken heart. However, she couldn’t believe it’d been she who gripped the sword that ended his life. She thought of going through the passage in search for answers.

I supposed you were here, Hogier surprised her, sitting next to her with that firm expression on his face, although the firmness cracked a little as he struggled to look strong as a rock.

I hope you didn’t come to tell me to stop thinking of...

Oh no. He smiled slightly. I learned that lesson a long time ago. You’re as stubborn as your father.

What would he do, Hogier? Magnus was a traitor and probably deserved what happened to him, but...

But it had to be you who did it. He paused. You know? People think warriors have no remorse, that we act in cold blood and care about nothing, that we are immune to the pain and suffering of our enemies. But we are not trained to kill. We are trained to protect. That’s what you did: you protected someone who needed it at that moment. Every action has consequences, even those from a King.

I hope the Council...

The Council, he interrupted, was never something to worry about for you, Atenea. He gave her a fatherly look and put his hand on her shoulder squeezing slightly.

Is it pride what I see in your eyes? Wow, that must be what all that grey hair does to you, she joked, making Hogier’s face revert to his usual seriousness. Then, he got up and started to leave.

Go to bed, he said, forcing a firm tone. I know very well the ideas that go through your head, but I’ll watch the entrance to the passage all night if needed. There will be no solo rescue missions or martyring yourself for the cause.

WHEN SHE OPENED HER eyes the next day, it felt as if she’d only blinked. The dawn announced it was time to head for the Domain of Hearts.