Battle of Souls

By Pegs Hampton

Iris, an adopted orphan, is desperate to escape the horrid abuse and racist bullying she has received her entire life. She just wants to find somewhere that would accept her for who she is. Finally able to escape the Darkskin caverns, she believes to have found a travelling tribe that will accept her.

That was until her new perfect world came crashing down in her very hands and she is forced into a quest from the last person she ever expected to see. Yet to keep herself and her trusted companion alive, she has no choice but to do as they say.
In a fantasy-ridden world, full of strange creatures, follow Iris and her companion as they are quested to protect the world of Wizgrad from a long-forgotten evil and perhaps, gain some respect from the other races.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pegs Hampton
• Release date: Oct 27, 2018

Pegs Hampton

Pegs Hampton is an aspiring new author with a deep love for all things fantasy and mystical.Currently working as a lorry driver, Pegs dreams of being able to write full time and create truly magical reading experiences for his readers. With an intent of getting his readers involved with characters and plots, Pegs invites anyone who wishes to get themselves involved to join him on Facebook for discussions and opinions.Pegs Hampton lives in Norfolk (UK) and has been married since 2016 to his beautiful wife Gemma. When they get any spare time they love to travel and explore anywhere full of countryside and wildlife.Pegs also enjoys playing RPG games when the mood strikes, which also adds snippets of wealth to his fantasy knowledge.

Book preview

Prologue

Twenty-five years earlier

Iris’s legs pained her with every step, but the beating she would receive if she was late would hurt more. She could almost feel the crack of the leather belt across her back just thinking about it.

It’s not my fault those horrid boys bully me just because of how I look. It was hardly my choice to have this horrid skin, Iris thought as she looked at her pale grey hands and quickened her pace. She was unsure why she bothered, she would get a thrashing regardless; those bullies had stolen half the bread her mother had sent her to get.

She rounded the corner of the underground cavern she called home, which was one of thousands in this system. Iris hated living in the dark; she longed to see the outside, smell the fields of luscious green grass and look upon the endless emerald seas, but her entire life had been inside that one dull cavern.

Iris was so enthralled by her daydream that she missed the jut in the floor. Her exposed foot stubbed the rocky ground, sending a jolt of searing pain through her toe, like someone had pulled off her toenail backwards. Her already-ripped cotton trousers snagged and yanked her leg back. She threw her hands in front of her to cushion the fall, launching what was left of the bread to the floor with her.

Iris’s palms took the brunt of the fall and flared red raw, stinging. She turned over to hold her foot, which was in greater pain than her hands. There was blood under her toenail.

Suck it up, you need to hurry, Iris thought as she rocked back and forth, holding her toe. When she finally released her grip, even more blood was on her foot, and when she turned over her hands, there were several cuts from where she had fallen.

The sound of footsteps came her way and her heart stopped as she expected her mother to be approaching like thunder, ready to punish her. She breathed a sigh of relief when she realised it was just one of the elders. They were sour and ancient but had never physically harmed her. This one looked like most Darkskins; deep purple skin with large pointed ears that stretched over his head and a thin complexion. Iris kept herself low as the elder passed, looking at her with disdain. The elder stopped inches from the bread and scoffed at her.

Your mother is waiting. Best you hurry, he said.

Iris quickly picked up the bread and walked away hastily, sucking in the pain but still hissing with each step on her injured toe. She went to brush the dirt from the bread, which only spread blood onto it and made it worse.

She's gonna kill me for this, Iris thought in a panic. Tears began to form in her eyes. She was fed up with being treated how she was. She was tempted to run away; it was not like anyone would miss her. But she had no idea where she would go, or what she would eat or even how she would convince the guard at the gate to let her go.

It was too late now anyway, she had rounded the last corner to her home and her mother had seen her, as she was standing in the doorway. Iris expected her to shriek, like she always did, but she just looked at Iris with infuriated displeasure.

I’ve had it up to my ears with your disrespect, child, her mother said, raising her hands to touch the tops of her ears.

Sorry, Mother. It won’t happen again, Iris lied, keeping her head low.

It’s not like I had a choice.

"It’s Virwe, to you. If you were sorry, you wouldn’t return late with whatever the hell you call this, " Virwe cried. Virwe snatched the dirtied bread in one hand and pinched the top of Iris's much shorter ears with the other.

The piercing pain throbbed like fire as Iris was pulled into the house.

Of all the children I ended up with, you are the worst. Disrespectful and useless little wench; can’t even get a loaf of bread! Virwe shrieked.

Iris’s body filled with pent anger. She swiped her hand back with as much force as she could and swatted her mother’s hand from her ear. Virwe’s grip came loose, but Iris felt a fingernail cut into her ear and draw blood.

Maybe if you didn’t treat me like crap, I might actually respect you. You think I want this to happen every day? It’s like you want it to happen! Iris shouted back. Heat rushed to her face and warm blood trickled down her ear.

Her mother’s face scrunched up in anger. Iris noticed her own hands clench tight, crushing grit into the cuts.

How dare you talk to your mother like that! Virwe yelled. She threw the bread aside and leaned over to pick up the belt that was nearby on the unit. Ready and waiting, as it always was.

It that one moment, Iris snapped. She was sick of getting beaten; sick of being bullied, punished and cursed. She would rather risk running away than staying there another moment. She wanted to see the rest of the world, no matter what she had to do or how painful it was.

Iris was tall enough now to easily reach everything in the kitchen, which included the large knife that she quickly grabbed and held tightly in her hands, pointing it at Virwe.

Even if it kills me, I have to leave this place. Nothing could be worse than this.

I wish I didn’t have a mother! Iris yelled, gripping the knife harder in her hands, unsure if she would really be able to use it.

Then it’s a good job she's dead! Virwe yelled.

Iris’s racing mind drew a blank. She was unsure if she had heard the wrong words, or her mother had gone insane.

What the hell are you talking about? Iris shouted, her anger replaced with confusion.

Oh, how I have been waiting so long to tell you. You didn’t really believe I was your mother, did you? Look at you, filthy Greyskin, Virwe said, looking Iris up and down as if she were a half-decayed rat.

But… how? Why? Iris said, confused. Her mind raced with thousands of questions, all rushing in her head and trying to occupy her concentration all at once.

You should be grateful you’re even alive. You arrived on the back of some filthy mongrel in nothing but a wrap of cloth, with some stupid parchment. Fifteen whole years I’ve had to deal with you. It was by MY good grace that I fed you and raised you! Virwe yelled.

Iris was speechless. She had no idea what to say. How could she respond to something like that? She had always known her skin was not the same, but she never once thought she might have been adopted. Why had this woman taken Iris in and raised her, when she so blatantly hated her?

Now put the knife away, child, Virwe said in a gentle tone.

Iris pulled her concentration away from her rampaging thoughts and gripped the knife tightly again, holding it out at arm’s length towards Virwe.

What parchment? She never said any of this before. Is this all some fake story to put me off?

Give me the parchment! It’s mine! Iris demanded, furious to think that her so-called mother could have been hiding something from her.

Virwe huffed deeply and threw the belt down. Her enraged face never changed expression. She pulled a rope necklace from her throat, which had a single key attached to it. She walked to the end of the kitchen, pushed the key into a hidden drawer in the corner and opened it. From the drawer she retrieved a small, yellowed parchment, folded and sealed with black candle wax.

Take your parchment and yourself out of this place and never come back, Virwe said with venom in her voice. She threw the parchment on the floor in front of Iris’s feet, keeping her distance. Iris could not quite determine the look on Virwe’s face. It almost looked like fear. Surely not.

Iris picked up the parchment but kept her eyes on her adopted mother as she did so. Despite her curiosity to look at the parchment, she knew that staying there any longer was a bad idea and besides, it was not like she could read, anyway.

Now leave, before I get you killed, Virwe yelled.

Iris ran for the door and pushed it open with such force it slammed against the stone wall with a thud that echoed down the cavern.

And you can leave that knife here, or I’ll kill you myself! Virwe yelled as Iris ran away as fast as her legs could carry her. She threw the knife down on the floor, not bothering to look back as she ran, clutching the parchment so tight she was worried she might rip it. She did not stop running until she reached the gates to the outside world, beyond which she had never been.

The large metal gates reached from floor to ceiling. This was the only way in and out of the cavern. On the other side of the gate stood the solitary guard.

What do you want now, Greyskin? the guard said with disgust.

To leave, Iris replied sternly.

"Has your mother given you permission?" the guard replied, indicating that he knew Iris was not the woman’s daughter. Perhaps he had overheard the shouting. Echoes travelled far in the tunnels.

"My real mother is dead, but yes, she has," Iris replied, which got a shocked response from the guard, though it quickly turned into a forced laugh.

Get lost, before you regret it, the guard said. He turned around and walked off.

Let me leave. I have permission, Iris begged, but the guard ignored her.

Iris heard the unmissable snicker of the three bullies that had picked on her barely an hour ago. Her heart sank as she knew they would come for her and the parchment.

She would not let them have it, ever.

Let me go, please, Iris begged again, quietly enough that the bullies might not hear. She tucked the parchment into the side of her ripped trousers.

Look, boys, it’s muddy Greyskin, back for fun already, the largest bully called.

Could you not get enough? another one said, which got snickers from the other two. They were slightly taller than Iris and always hung around as a trio.

Go away, horrible bullies, Iris cursed.

Ohh. Did you hear that, boys? I think she just insulted us! the biggest bully said, faking a shocked and hurt expression.

Iris walked backwards as the bullies approached, until her back finally touched the large metal gate. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She knew they would try and take the parchment and she could not let them. It was all she had. It was all she truly was in this godforsaken cave. She was so close to being able to leave. Why was this happening?

Just as she thought things could not get worse, an arm wrapped around her chest and pulled her tight against the gate. The guard groped Iris as he held her there.

Get off me! Iris yelled, but both the guard and the bullies just laughed as she struggled to get free.

Iris noticed the larger bully eye the parchment in her trousers and ice gripped her heart. Her entire body raced with adrenaline as the bully came close.

What do we have here? the larger bully said as he leaned forward to grab the parchment. Iris threw her head forwards and cracked her forehead on his nose. She both heard and felt the nose break and the bully grunted in pain as blood rushed from his nose.

The other two bullies laughed, until the larger bully looked at them in anger.

Get it, he spat, pointing at the parchment.

Before Iris could give it any thought, she was leaning back, removing the dagger from the sheath on the leg of the guard and jabbing the blade into the guard’s arm.

The guard shouted in unexpected pain and released her. Iris held the dagger out at the two remaining bullies, stomping towards one of them, ready to take her revenge.

They stared at her in disbelief as she held the guard’s blade in her hands. Their looks of horror flipped her insides and she realised just what she had done.

Right, that's it! the guard said and she heard keys jangle as he hastily went to unlock the gate.

The three bullies scarpered.

Iris had no idea what to do. Her only option was to try and run past the guard and escape.

The guard opened the gate but then swiftly closed it behind him, locking away Iris’s only chance of freedom.

Give me back the dagger and I may just let you live, the guard said.

Horror and dread smothered Iris. She knew the guard would not let her go. Why had she been so stupid, just for a piece of paper?

I didn’t mean to. I was scared and… Iris began to say, but she stuttered and knew it would not matter what she said. She put the dagger on the ground and stumbled backwards, away from the locked gate. She glanced at the lock in the hope that the guard had left the key in, but to her disappointment, he had not.

The guard smacked her across the face, hard, with the back of his hand. She felt the impact of his gloved hand smash against her jaw. It felt like someone had hit her with a wooden club. Stars flittered behind Iris’s eyes as she stumbled backwards.

A strange, metallic screeching noise came from the metal gate, but Iris could not see past the guard, who stood over her, dagger in hand.

Foolish child, the guard said.

Please don’t kill me. I didn’t mean to, Iris pleaded.

The guard did not care. He had revenge on his mind and red in his eyes. He would kill her there, just metres away from her freedom; freedom that she deserved. She did not belong here. She never had.

A deep growling noise came from behind the guard. His face became suddenly pale and his expression full of dread. The guard turned, spinning his blade as he did, but he was too late. A huge wolf, easily the size of a horse, leapt at him, sinking its massive jaws into the guard’s arm and sending him to the floor.

Iris heard the snapping of bone as the wolf bit through the guard’s arm in one bite, eliciting a scream that echoed down the cavern. The wolf’s hind legs were jutting out in front of Iris’s face, the deep grey fur ragged and unkempt.

Iris did not move, paralysed with terror as the wolf tore the throat from the guard, silencing his cries of pain.

Iris knew that now was her time to escape, but her body would not move.

Before Iris could think on it any more, the wolf turned and looked at her. It had a strange expression in its pale blue eyes that Iris could not quite comprehend. It seemed to regard her with a mixture of annoyance and content.

The wolf barked at her, covering her in blood.

Iris was sure she was going to be eaten alive.

She covered her face with her arms, but no pain followed.

The wolf continued to bark at Iris and she was sure she heard it sigh.

She felt something gently jab into her leg and screamed in fright. She cautiously looked down to see the wolf prodding her with its nose, its blood-soaked jaws not far from her face.

Iris looked into the wolf’s eyes. She could sense there was more to this wolf than other creatures. Her heart told her that there was nothing to fear, but her mind screamed for her to run.

The wolf stepped back and gestured towards the broken gate with its nose. The metal lock had been crushed in the wolf’s huge jaws and the door was open.

Was the wolf inviting Iris to run? She was still alive, so it obviously did not want to eat her.

Guards! came a yelp from a resident just down the cavern. It would not be long before a swarm of Darkskin guards came running towards them.

The wolf rolled his eyes at Iris, barked at her and lay down on the floor, keeping its face towards her. It gestured with its nose as if inviting her to sit on its back.

You want me to… sit? Iris asked, unsure why she was speaking to a wolf.

The wolf nodded in response, which was even more surprising than its previous actions. The wolf again gestured towards his back.

Iris heard the heavy stomping of guards already coming up the cavern towards her.

The wolf looked in the direction of the noise, then turned to Iris and growled at her, giving a forceful look.

Iris felt for the parchment tucked into her cotton trousers before she cautiously moved a hand towards the wolf’s head. The wolf did not move as Iris’s hand reached its forehead and touched the thick fur on it.

It’s the Greyskin kid; she’s killed Bilse! yelled the reinforcement.

Fear filled Iris’s chest and yanked at her stomach. She hated being afraid. She just wanted to be somewhere else; somewhere far away from this place.

She heard the wolf growl again and nudge her hand away from its head. In fear of the reinforcements, Iris practically leapt onto the wolf’s back. The fur felt soft and reassuring, like she had always belonged there.

The wolf stood up fast, almost throwing Iris from its back.

She leant her body forward and grabbed hold of the wolf’s fur with both hands, gripping tight. The wolf must have noticed as it bounded towards the open gate as the guards approached.

The thunk of a bowstring resounded behind Iris and her heart stopped as she waited for the arrow to kill her. She heard the clank of an arrow hit the gate nearby and buried her head in the wolf’s fur, allowing herself to breathe again.

The wolf kept running, out of the cavern and into the open countryside.

Minutes passed and the wolf did not show any signs of stopping.

Something about this wolf filled Iris with feelings of reassurance and protection; things she had never truly felt until now. She also felt whole, as if her entire life so far, she had only been half of who she really was.

She was finally free; free of accusation and blame, hatred and racism. If only for a little while, she was free.

Iris could smell fresh air for the first time in her life. She had only ever smelt the slight breeze that would occasionally waft from the gates.

Iris slowly raised her head to look at the wonders of the natural world outside of the cavern. She knew it was night time; she had seen glimpses of night and day from the gates and could tell.

A large, bright moon and thousands of stars dotted the sky above. It was such a marvel, just to see the sky. It was so big, she could scarcely believe it.

All around Iris were wild meadows and tall trees. The smell of fresh flowers and something salty reached her nose and she could feel a chilling breeze rush against her skin, sending the tiny hairs on her arms and legs sticking up on end. The rustle of parchment drew her attention away from the wonders around her and, taking out the parchment, she glanced at it eagerly. It had the letters ZELKITH written on the back… not that this was any use to Iris, as she could not read.

She buried herself deeper into the wolf’s back, taking in its soothing warmth.

The words from her adopted mother came to Iris as the wolf continued to bound further away from the Darkskin caverns.

‘ You arrived on the back of some filthy mongrel in nothing but a wrap of cloth, with some stupid parchment.’

Her heart exploded with emotion. The mongrel Virwe referred to was this wolf. She knew it in her heart. She could feel it. Her eyes filled with tears and she sobbed deeply as she let the raw emotions from countless years of torture and abuse out in the open.

She felt the agonising pain of her past crush her heart and soul as she released her sorrow. There were no words to describe her relief; a lifetime of misery was coming to an end, just on the brink of her getting herself killed.

She wailed loudly into the soft fur of the wolf, her tears streaming down her face.

Iris was finally free.

For now.

Chapter 1 - Taken Spirits

Present Day

Iris had no idea why that memory had come to mind. The remnants of past emotions bubbled up inside her as she glided her hands along Zelkith’s fur. She had learned that the word on the back of the parchment was a name. Iris was unsure if it was her name or not, but it felt right for the wolf to be named it instead.

She had attempted to open the parchment many times since she had left, but it was magically sealed and she knew only one person who may be able to help. The only problem was, he did not like her.

There was hope that another person may yet help, but in her heart, she knew he would not be able to.

Zelkith had barely left Iris’s side since the day he had rescued her. Even now, two and a half decades on, Zelkith would curl around Iris like a parent protecting its pups from the cold.

Iris pushed away her negative thoughts. Today was a happy day for her; it was the first day of a joining ritual for a small tribe she had lived amongst since she had left.

The tribe travelled throughout Aceon and despite not having a permanent place to stay, she had a place she could call home and a group of people she called her family.

She enjoyed the travelling. It meant she could see new things all the time and she was curious to learn.

A twinge of guilt itched her stomach as Iris realised she had not thought about searching for her real parents for some time. She was certain they were no longer alive, but her curiosity drove her to find out who they were and why they had left her in that cursed Darkskin cavern. Perhaps it would shed some light on why she had grey skin, which she had discovered was unique.

She got herself up from the bed of leaves that both she and Zelkith slept upon. The warmth from Zelkith left her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

The golden rays from the sun beamed on the tanned leather of the tent around Iris, lighting the inside enough for her to see clearly. She lifted a small leather rug that sat in the middle of the circular tent and retrieved the parchment from underneath. She wanted to show the parchment to the tribal leader, Sithembile, an elderly man that was the heart of the tribe.

Sithembile was the first human Iris had met that did not look down on her or judge her because of her skin colour. His non-judgmental values had allowed Iris to begin living among the tribe and today she was to be officially welcomed as one of them. She was to partake in a ritual that was rarely performed.

Iris did not like to ask favours from others, but today she felt comfortable enough to ask Sithembile to help open the parchment and read it for her.

She looked at the yellowed parchment, undamaged despite its tortured journey, and wondered what could be written inside. This gave Iris a mixture of conflicting emotions that made her stomach unsettled.

She was so pleased to finally have somewhere to call home, but what if her parents were still alive? What would happen if the words inside meant she would have to leave the tribe, after only just becoming one of them? Would the urge to find out be strong enough that she would leave? Her real parents blatantly did not want her; why else would they have left her in some horrid Darkskin cavern?

Either way, she wanted to know. Why would they have gone to the effort of sealing a parchment magically if it was not important?

The light inside the tent brightened as Zelkith walked out, the deep rays of the sun rushing inside as the opening parted. Iris soon heard a rushing stream of liquid hit the floor