Honour Lost: The Barrier Of Mibekel, #2

By Daryl J Ball

The Barrier Of Mibekel: Book Two
Approximately 136 pages
 

Responsibility brings with it a heavy burden. Though Kar remains resolute in his quest to cross the Barrier and kill his father, the target on his own back threatens to crush him. Kar and his allies need time to rest and regroup. Revenge will have to wait. Time is short and the list of options is shorter: The elven military is poised to haul Kar away the moment he leaves the protection of the paladin Arakanar.

While stalling the inevitable confrontation so his new charge, the young mage Camyani, can strengthen her magic, old secrets are revealed. Kar learns the origins of the Dark Elves and new truths about the gods he's forsaken. With everything he knew about his very existence now in question, Kar must decide what matters most—resuming his quest or protecting those he cares about most.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daryl J Ball
• Release date: Sep 5, 2019
• ISBN: 9780995966871

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Daryl J. Ball

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Copyright © 2019 Daryl J. Ball

Contents

Title Page

Publishing Information

Dedication

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

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Published 2019 by Daryl J. Ball

Copyright © 2019 Daryl J. Ball

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and places are either a product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead is entirely coincidental.

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 the piracy of copyrighted materials.

Cover by Ravenborn Cover Designs

Book Design by Lia Rees at Free Your Words

ISBN: 978-0-9959668-7-1

For my friend, Crystal – in my youth you enriched my understanding of what Dark Elves could be, and for Jessica – for being such a fan of Arakanar that I had to make sure I devoted more time to his people. Without the two of you, this story would never have been possible.

Chapter One

Kar groaned loudly as he gazed up at his opponent. Six days. It had been six days since they had arrived in town and he felt like he was no closer to being capable of handling himself in a fight than when he had arrived.

You need to stop using your whole body like it’s a punching bag, Karantu, Arakanar commented, sheathing his sword and stretching his free hand out to offer aid.

I’ve had so much practice at using it that way; it’s my best tactic in a fight, Kar murmured as he allowed the Dark Elf to help him back to his feet.

Your best tactic should not be one that requires you to need a cleric on standby. Not every fight can be survived simply by running, or getting yourself beaten into a pulp until your opponent gets tired, Arakanar said shaking his head, his white hair, a stark contrast to his complexion, threatening to block his view.

I know, but this past week has been quite literally the equal of as much training as I ever had growing up without someone giving up on me, shrugged Kar.

Arakanar had been relentless in his training of him, and any downtime from that, besides for sleeping and eating, had been devoted to trying to help get a better handle on the girl. Camyani had taken her parents’ deaths surprisingly well, but that was almost bothersome. In the wake of everything that had happened to her - be it her home, her family, and everyone she had known - at the hands of the sorceress, the girl was bound to crack soon. With how much innate talent Camyani had for wielding magic, this Dwarven-dominated town was certainly not the right place for her when she did.

Oh, thank goodness, you two be done with your playful fighting, Mabach, the owner of The Stone Tankard Tavern and their host in town, sauntered into the room looking far more bothered than Kar could recall seeing him before. It wasn’t the dwarf’s exact name. For the sake of making things easier to pronounce for Arakanar and Camyani, given the Dwarven dialect, Kar had provided the closest thing he could to an Elvish translation of the dwarf’s name.

What’s wrong? You’re usually much more chipper, Kar smirked, before noting the frown Arakanar wore at the dwarf’s words. Something was definitely up.

There be well over thirty Elven soldiers at the town’s entrance demanding to see those who took out the sorceress and caused all the destruction. They specifically asked for you, Karantu, by name, the dwarf replied, stroking his beard nervously as he glanced back over his shoulder towards the door.

"Great. How did they even know you were here? Arakanar paused, considering the dwarf. We are terribly sorry, Mabach, but it seems our stay here has come to an end. Kar, you know as well as I do, that if they meet Cam they’ll take over, finding authentically full-blooded Elves to care for her, when we were the ones charged with seeing to her care. You are barely tolerated among the Elves as it is. Let us go quickly. Her mother specifically charged you with her care. That makes you the closest thing she has to family now; we cannot afford to have her robbed of it as well. You need to get Cam, and I will see what I can do to stall them."

That won’t solve anything, and they know because I told my brother about the sorceress months ago before we ever faced her. He’s in the military, he most likely passed it on, and they put two and two together, Kar responded as Arakanar drew himself up to his full, imposing height. Rubbing the back of his neck, he shut his eyes tightly before continuing. They won’t just take Cam away. They’ll likely, if they find any fault in what we did, have an excuse to finally put me to death. I’ve survived this long by the good graces that I stayed in the village I grew up in, even if they did treat me horribly. In the greater Elven community, I’m an abomination to be killed, and as a dark elf you don’t rank much higher in their eyes, I’m sure.

Perhaps. Nevertheless, I would be a fellow warrior. As a Paladin, I serve a higher calling; they will have no choice but to somewhat listen to me whilst you get Cam away, Arakanar explained reassuringly. It wasn’t much, yet it was enough that Kar opened his eyes to observe the dark elf as he continued speaking.

Mabach, can you get them to the other end of the town and arrange for them to travel in secret? I will catch up as soon as I can get away. Head northwest, towards the mountains. I will find you there, Arakanar added, turning from Kar to find agreement in Mabach’s eyes. Stay safe, Karantu.

You as well. You insist on doing this, but don’t give up your life for mine, Kar nodded, giving the dark elf a quick yet firm handshake. Arakanar strode from the room, leaving Kar to scramble to grab his stuff so he could get Cam.

It took a few minutes before he reached the room they were all sharing, granted to them for a low fee. It had been luck more than anything that Mabach, the dwarf he had met previously and who insisted that Kar was a warrior, had recognized him and been willing to put the three of them up while they recovered. He hadn’t been above charging them, just not as much as he normally might have. As he rushed Cam about packing up, Kar wondered idly what the odds were that his brother Tekari would be in the military contingent Arakanar had gone to meet.

Packed and escorted along back routes to the other side of town, the area was unfamiliar, but he had to trust his host and the continued goodwill of the Dwarves. As he and Cam stepped outside the borders of the town, he took notice of the distance to the nearest woods, which was in the direction that he had been told to head for, and sighed deeply.

Your Paladin friend be strong and carries himself with dignity and grace, young warrior. You be quite fortunate. I am sure he will catch up with you soon, Mabach grinned before giving Kar one last firm handshake. I wish I understood why Elves would have an issue with your heroic deeds or view you so differently from themselves, but Elves have long been a weird bunch. Take care of that girl. She is young, yet I do not know of a single dwarf here who did not notice that she radiates with power.

Yes. I’m not even going to bother arguing with you at this point about your thoughts on me, Kar countered, as he paused and looked at the path before them. "I was told to