The Kelnaria Chronicles: Book Two: The Demon Within

By Teresa K Conrado

Cardinia is in trouble. The main player in The Great Scrolls prophecy has been sacrificed so that their enemy, the Berdinians, could resurrect the chaotic Demon God, Khalrab. The Lightbringers bring Ihoitae’s body back to Castle Cardinia so all could mourn his passing and the end of the prophecy for the fate of Kelnaria. But while Cardinia mourns and prepares for his funeral, Head Zadian Priest Ifem, gets an unexpected visit from a Elvin Goddess that tells him to not forget about the “demon within”.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Teresa K Conrado
• Release date: Aug 23, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463833551

Teresa K Conrado

Teresa Conrado was born in Greensboro, NC and lived there for many years where her passion for creating new worlds and writing new stories developed. She started writing her stories down at the age of twelve and continued her passion by expanding out into Journalism through High School and submitting creative writing works to the National Library of Poetry. She also attended courses in Creative Writing through the Writer's Digest School of Writing to further expand her knowledge on the craft of writing. There, her tutor was John Ruemmler, author and editor.In her early 20's, she moved with her family to Palmetto, FL and there she began to craft the World of Cardinia, which would later be known and published as The Chronicles of Kelnaria. Her influences have come from her love of Role Playing Video Games and fiction novels. A few of the poems that she submitted to the National Library of Poetry have been published along with awards for her works. She also has a published short story novella called The Maiden's Tale, which can be found on Smashwords.com. Her first completely written novel, The Kelnaria Chronicles: Book One The Great Scrolls, was self published on Smashwords.com in 2014 later to be picked up by CA Times Publishing and available on all media sources from Amazon.com. She is currently residing in Worcester, MA and working on the next installment of Kelnaria and a fantasy romance novel called Frostling. You can find information about Kelnaria on http://worldofkelnaria.webs.com.

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The Kelnaria Chronicles

Book Two:

The Demon Within

By: Teresa K. Conrado

All of the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. The names, incidents, dialogue and opinions expressed are the products of the author's imagination and are not to be constructed as real. The events in this book are entirely fiction and by no means should anyone attempt to live out the actions that are portrayed in the book.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author's rights. Purchase only authorized editions. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Aknowledgements

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

About the Author

Other books by this author

Connect with Teresa K Conrado

Aknowledgements

AS ALWAYS DEDICATED TO MY wonderful family: Jason, my loving husband; my beautiful daughter, Kathryn, Benjamin, my first blessed son, and our newest edition, Cameron, our second blessed son. They shall always be what makes life worth living.

And a special thank you goes out to those family and friends that assisted in making this book a reality for me. Once again I must thank my blessed Aunt Rona Rogers who assisted me again with editing and grammar for my book. And finally, to the best friend a person could ever have, who just also happens to be my best friend, Vince Hartmann.

Thank you to all of you for everything that you have done and will most likely continue to do for me!

And as always, love goes out to my father, mother and brother!

Introduction

THE YEAR WAS 1210 DR (Dagmar Royalty). The world of Kelnaria was once more wrapped in the trappings of war and had been for 302 years. This time the humans were having their age in this war racked world as the Berdinians slaughtered their human brothers to the southeast in the Cardinia castle Region.

The Berdinians were money-hungry and power starved humans. They were a far cry from their peace-loving, hard-working brothers to the southeast. The Berdinian king was so wracked with greed and the need for power that he was easily manipulated and controlled. The Oni, evil demons of the shadow plane, saw this as an opportunity to rebuild their power and have the Berdinians resurrect their demon God, Lord Khalrab Fates.

Thus, the Berdinians began to worship the Onae and the Prophetic Vision. And with the influence of the promise of power and wealth that Khalrab and the demons could bring, they began to hate their human brothers and their peace-loving ways. Berdinia began the war on Cardinia Castle region in 708 DR. Red Dragon banners and Unicorn banners dominated the skies as battles flooded the lands and the blood shed soaked it. The war had mostly been very bloody skirmishes up to date, but with the resurrection of Khalrab now complete, the war would be able to finally come to a conclusion, though the Berdinians believed it was to make their kingdom the supreme human kingdom of all Kelnaria.

Dagmar, whose line still rules the throne, had founded Castle Cardinia. Dagmar had been a human warrior in the Draconic Wars who fought along side the Draconic People, half-dragon humanoids, and the Golden Dragons against the Shadow Realm, made up of the Red Dragons and the Onae. The war had been to emancipate the Draconic people from servitude to the demons.

Once the war was over and the human race was in tatters, the humans to the south clung to each other and with the Golden Dragons help, placed Dagmar on the throne. Queen Selenium Agale, Queen of the Golden Dragons, assisted Dagmar in resurrecting the ruins of Cardinia Castle. Dagmar then created treaties with the surrounding creatures so that Cardinia Castle and the surrounding human communities could thrive with peace and harmony.

However, some humans had been manipulated by the evil Red Dragons and Shadow Realm and had left to the east to find a different way of life from the humans of the Cardinia Castle region. The Cardinia Castle region peoples were sad to see their brethren go but let them and feared that they would not thrive in the harsh climates of the east.

The peoples that left Cardinia Castle behind were aided by the Onae and Shadow Realm and named their kingdom Berdinia. However, Berdinia had grown to be a kingdom that was ruled with an iron fist by its kings and so became jealous of their brethren to the west over many years of corruption and hatred. Berdinia was a clan of warlike humans that grew to power in their region and shared nothing with anyone living near or around their lands. Berdinians took what they wanted and left the rest in ruins. They followed the Shadow Realm’s demonic code of the Prophetic Vision.

Cardinia Castle was the ruin of an old temple that had once belonged to the great Mystics themselves and shortly after its resurrection, the first Great Scroll was found and the Mystics religion was once again reborn. Then a second Great Scroll and a third was found and the Zadian Priests were born. Hope could return to a world racked with so much pain and suffering for there was a promise, a prophecy that had not yet come to pass.

The third scroll read: "The Champion’s and the seeker’s path shall be theirs to choose alone. The child and the prophecy are given in the hopes that tyranny will end. That the death of the Fates will occur and the banishment of Khalrab will take place. To once again restore peace and harmony to the holy kingdom.

"The Mystics prophecy shall be fulfilled only if the champion has the power to embrace his destiny. Yet, in order to choose this pre-destined path, he must travel upon a dangerous quest to find himself, his destiny and the holy relics.

"If the child chooses to deny his true destiny, then the prophecy will fail and corruption and chaos will forevermore rule the land. The holy kingdom will remain lost and neither the Mystics nor their people can ever be resurrected for all time.

"However, the Mystics prophecy shall be fulfilled only if the seeker also embraces his true fate. Only the seeker and the champion together can supply the power needed to fulfill the prophecy and save Kelnaria and the Mystics chosen people.

The seeker shall also have a journey of choice at the time of the three truths.

Chapter One

THE PARTY HAD gathered back at the little alley they had commandeered as their command base for the previous night. The ceremony had taken most of the day and it was near dusk. They knew that the celebrations would begin and, one could assume, the resurrection of Khalrab. It would be unsafe to travel at night, but even more unsafe to stay in the city. (Especially with a lunatic Demon God about to open His eyes.) So, it was decided by Dean that they would reach the woods near the castle border and then move on in the morning back to Cardinia. The king and queen and every ally and patriot of the crown would need to know the bad news. The faster, the better. War would be picking up fervently now and they would need to plan.

Presaya ran a quick errand after they had made their way out of the city. She risked using her minor Godlike abilities and went back in to the dungeons to locate Ihoitae’s belongings. Once found, she placed everything in his magical satchel bag of holding and left the area. Ihoitae may be dead, but that didn’t mean that all his possessions needed to be procured by the enemy, especially since some of those possessions included lost heirlooms of the Sylvan kingdom, which were hidden away in the satchel. She caught up to them right as they settled on a little niche just inside the forest that was well protected from view from the castle walls.

Two each took their turn at watch while the others attempted to have some semblance of sleep. The entire party had been awake for more than thirty-six hours at this point. Aelle and Presaya took what would be the final watch and together they both wandered towards the edge of the woods and watched the castle walls. Both, for whatever reason, had been compelled to do so. Presaya noticed why first.

Aelle? Presaya whispered.

Yes? Aelle likewise whispered back.

Do you see that white glowy spot over there in the trash?

Um, Aelle squinted as she scanned the walls. Ya, Presaya, I do. So?

Is it just me? Or are you curious? Aelle could hear the smirk in Presaya’s words.

Yes, but that’s probably just where they dump the city’s trash until the workers move it to the burn piles in the morning. Cardinia does the same thing. The glowy spot is probably just a tarnished weapon, shield or discarded household item glinting off the light of the moon.

"Hmmm, could be…….but I don’t know. It’s really shiney and something is telling me I need to investigate it!" Presaya’s fingers twitched.

Aelle laughed softly, Damn gnomes! God of War or no………Ok, go check it out and I will keep watch on you and them. If I see someone headed towards you I will hoot three times like a Houndinarian Owl. Got it?

Got it!, Presaya whispered giddily as she slipped quietly off into the direction of the shiney white object. Aelle surmised that Presaya was taking another huge risk using her Godly powers because Aelle couldn’t even see Presaya anymore. Even with hawk like eyes, which were even better than most elves!

Aelle looked up to the waning moon a few moments to calculate the time. The sky would soon start to turn pink as the dawn was on the horizon. But curiously, the moon shone a very strong and direct light upon the very object that Presaya had gone to investigate. Before Aelle could compose her next thoughts and wonder more, Presaya was back prancing before her as excitedly as children were on Winter Solstice morning! "Wow, that was fast. Well…….what is it?"

Presaya giggled. IT’S IHOITAE’S BODY!!! The little gnome practically yelled in her whispering tone.

What? Aelle asked astounded, not entirely sure she heard the wee one correctly. But even so, why so excited. He’s dead. Aelle’s tone flat and unconvinced compared to that of the little gnome’s excitement.

Presaya’s little excited bounce died for a moment, but then started up again after a second hesitation. I have hope. The Goddess of the moon shown her light there for a reason! Let’s go fetch it! Call it a hunch. She paused and then stated, A heavenly hunch.

Aelle thought the gnome weird for her happiness at finding a dead body, but at least it would give everyone closure by having a body to bury and visit. Well, with what little time they had left until Khalrab destroyed their world. Aelle shrugged and motioned for Presaya to lead on. Aelle knew that the group was safe enough in their little nest of trees and that Presaya would again use her Godlike powers to mask them. So, she quickly followed the gnome as quiet as any elf knows how to be.

Aelle felt Safiyyah once more cry out with mixed tears of happiness and sadness as she nelt down to pick up the body. Aelle then noticed that this is what the moon was attempting to highlight with the rays it beamed. Ihoitae’s body was as light as a feather and was not in anyway hindering to the elf maiden as she and Presaya made their way back to camp. Upon their return, Presaya had rolled out his sleeping roll and then they laid Ihoitae gently down covering up most of the caked on blood, the damage done to his body and his nakedness. Dawn was now upon them and Aelle and Presaya began to wake everyone up so that they could prepare to head on their solemn trip back to Cardinia Castle.

Ifem looked at Presaya sleepily as she shook him to wakefulness. Why didn’t you wake me earlier for the last watch? Then he looked over towards Aelle and the bed roll lying at her feet. He could see it was Ihoitae’s body lying there by the dying embers.

Aelle noticed him glancing her way and what was at her feet, so she shrugged and non-chalantly replied, We had an errand to run.

I see this, but how? Ifem asked a bit amazed. Dean, Diane, Faolan, Tian and Bodolf all had been awakend and noticed by now and paused in their waking up and camp breaking preperations to listen to the answer.

They threw him out with the trash! Presaya began in ernest. Can you imagine? Just like that his body was considered garbage, she snapped her fingers. But hey, what’s one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, eh? Finders, keepers! She smiled.

We had some help, too, Aelle stated flatly, pointing towards the now fading moon. I think the Goddess of the Moon alerted us. Remember the Sylvans were sacred to Sohalia just as we wood elves are sacred to our God of the Sun, Altarion.

Well now, yon lassies, finding our fallen comrades bones, Bodolf began solemnly but contentedly. Now least we can bury ‘im and everyone ca’ find some sort of peace before……well………th’ end.

Dean grunted and then cleared his throat. He would be the last of his people. I am sure she he pointed to the sky did not want him disposed of so carelessly. Then he motioned that they hurry and break camp. They were still in enemy territory and they needed to leave as soon as possible. So, he fell into his role as commanding officer and began to organize the group. He had Faloan and Tian make some breakfast. He had Ifem and Bodolf create a litter. He assigned cleaning Ihoitae’s body and preparing it for travel to Diane and Aelle. He had Presaya scout a bit to see what was going on at Berdinia and then to scout the way they would leave so they could be prepared for whatever may be coming their way. Dean helped gather and collect belongings and weapons so they could break down and go.

After all the preparations were made, the group moved on. Dean decided that they head south and then west towards the mountains of the gnomes, Olverustashnal. From there they would seek passage back to the shores of Markannus and Castle Cardinia’s ports. The gnomes were allied with Cardinia, so they expected to get full assistance from the Gnome Kingdom, especially since Presaya was one of them…….. sort of.

Fortunately, it was an uneventful week to travel to Olverustashnal. However, they did notice at one point that there was a taint that began to spread across the world from the direction that they had come. It was not tangible, but it was a heaviness that was felt. They all assumed that this miasma must be from the completion of the resurrection of Khalrab. They also all knew that this was just the start as the demon God would grow in power, things would get drastically worse. The only problem was, no one knew how fast he would grow in power.

As they travelled, they also noticed that Ihoitae’s body remained supple. It did not swell, stiffen or smell as any other dead body would have started to by now. No one could explain it, not even Presaya. They had done some minor preservation with herbs placed on Ihoitae’s skin and placed within the bed roll to prevent him from being overly smelly, however, it would not have prevented any of the normal apects of decay or rigamortis in a dead body. But, it was not something that the party had time to ponder, so they would just have to get it to Cardinia as quickly as possible and let the clerics take a look at it from there.

***

The gnomes welcomed the Lightbringers with welcome arms and assisted them all the way to the port of Cardinia. The voyage took about three weeks as they had to travel all the way around the world in order to avoid the Berdinian naval ships. The gnomes even sent faster underwater vessals they called watertightsubmersibalboatthatdidntfloat, or WTSBF’s for short, to head under the enemy waters and get word to Cardinia as soon as possible. The gnomes also used their vast network to send messages to the good dragons on the continent of Delaphenia and to the other treatied and allied kingdoms with Cardinia urging them to send delegates to Cardinia as swiftly as they could. These scouts would also provide a quick run down of events to the allies so they could be prepared as much as possible for the delegation. Likewise, the gnomes on the ship that carried the Lightbringers sent a delegation and began preparations for war back at Olverustashanal. They would prepare land and water troops as well as their newest invention of air troops.

When the party learned and saw of the new flying contraptions, they looked a bit concerned. Gnomes certainly came up with some interesting machinery and sometimes it even worked. Their creations were helpful to those that could not use magic as these inventions often created things that aided a non-mage the way a mage could use magic for simple things such as fire, cleaning and other mundane things. But, until an item had been perfected and tested many, many, many……….many times over, it was deemed best not to use a gnome invention until such things were perfected.

Depsite the length of the trip, they made good time on calm waters and little to no threats from the enemy. Though somber, the party made it swiftly into Cardinia’s harbors and was greeted at the docs by King Roland himself! He had gotten the gnome’s scout first and was anxiously awaiting the arrival of the gnome delegates and the Lightbringers and, sadly, Ihoitae’s body. The Royal Family had made quick counsel and it had been decided that Ihoitae would receive not only a royal burial as befitting his station, but an honored one. The temple in which he would be buried had already had construction started on it.

King Roland had also received the Centaurs and their news as well as the dignitaries of the Fairy Prince, Freonandiar, and the Shaman Esmarlen of the Merfolk of Lilos Lake. So, both Queen Lysa and King Roland more than eagerly awaited the arrival of the gnome ship carrying their long lost son. They had only glimpsed the boy called Faolan quickly at the ceremony of the new head priest and did not pay him much attention at the time as he was not known to them. But, now they would check his birthmark and learn everything they could of their little babe lost so