Axe of Fate: Silverleaf

By Jeffrey Thompson

“So Conath can’t fly,” Gavista asks.
“Not even if he leaps from the highest peak in the world,” the girl answers. “He is the most powerful demons there is, followed closely by Disastima.”
“And they are both here,” Gavista questions.
“No, their lesser demons are here but they are not; at least not yet,” the girl replies.
“How do you know?” Gavista asks.
“It is much too calm for them to be here right now,” the girl answers. “Even if just one of them were here now, there be no less than complete chaos.”
( Excerpt from Axe of Fate: Goldenfields)

Welcome to the Choas!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeffrey Thompson
• Release date: Oct 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463923191

Jeffrey Thompson

Jeffrey Thompson is passionate about storytelling. He resides in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. He is employed by Akebono, but in his free time, he devotes himself to writing, his art, and spending time with his wife and three children.

Book preview

Axe of Fate: Silverleaf

Written by Jeffrey Thompson

Copyright © 2019 Jeffrey Thompson

All rights reserved.

Distributed by Smashwords

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Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 1

Within the self-imposed solitude of his balcony, Cyelus Sternstone watches the darkened waves of the night’s sea as they perform their memorizing dance under the light of the stars that shine free of the ever-shrouding clouds and cool misting rain, away from the land.

Cyelus, we must talk.

A voice states from beside him, breaking the tranquility and comfort he enjoys in the silence. Cyelus jolts at the sound and stumbles backward into his chamber. Stumbling and crawling he finds himself sitting against the lower section of his desk.

K…K… Koven, Cyelus stammers and swallows hard. Why have you come to haunt me this night?

Cyelus, I am no ghost, Koven tells him, grabbing hold of his arm and pulling him up to stand. I was a wielder of the Axe of Fate. My time as such was over and thus went on to my fate, a champion of the Natural Air. I have come to offer you, a long overdue, apology.

Apology, Cyelus questions, his mind racing trying to comprehend what is transpiring.

I have made many mistakes over the years. I had the best of intentions, but they were mistakes, nonetheless. I need to take account of those mistakes and that is what brought me here to you. Cyelus, when I first claimed the Axe it had no concern for what happened in the low-lands; or Chivelestine as I named it.

It was by the power of the Axe of Fate that you were able to unite the land and found Chivelestine. I don’t understand why I keep hearing it referred to as the low-lands.

Thus, one of my mistakes, Koven says taking a deep breath. There is much that I need to tell you; that I should have shared with you even as I was founding Chivelestine. This is not easy to say, nor will it be easy for you to believe. However, did you ever wonder why it is that the clouds continually hover over our lands sending down the rains?

It has been a source of curiosity, yes.

Those clouds, that constantly drizzle and hover over the low-lands, are a formal memorial by the Natural Water. When the freeze occurred, it was the water of the sea that had to rise, flood the mountains and northern regions and froze there. In doing so, the sea levels dropped, and lower setting land was exposed. Land that by all rights should still be beneath the waves.

What, Cyelus states as his mind attempts to understand Koven’s statements. the lower setting lands; the low-lands; you’re trying to tell me that Chivelestine should be in the sea?

Yes, Koven confirms. I know this is difficult to take in all at once, but…

But none of this will stop me from waging war, Cyelus states angrily stepping away from Koven.

It is impossible for me to stop a war. However, I can ensure that we’re all focused on the one that needs to be fought.

What are you talking about?

Chivelestine isn’t your real enemy. Cyelus look down there on the beach, Koven instructs him, pointing towards a rocky secluded area.

Cyelus looks down to the beach and studies for a long moment, then sees the dull light of the night cascade down the black scaled dragon’s neck. I see Isilisis, a black dragon aiding us against the demons protecting Chivelestine.

Do you also see the faint orange-red eyes of the demon your dragon friend is speaking with?

Cyelus looks down upon the two figures.

Say nothing, Koven tells him, but listen and hear them for yourself.

You have done well. Be sure to keep picking at the wounds that stir the anger.

Cyelus hears the demon say as the wind seems to carry the words to his ears.

I have another task for you as well, the demon continues, Ostisis has fallen to Kalayne with the aid of the Axe. Find him and do whatever you must to kill him.

Ostisis’s armor, where is it, Isilisis questions.

Don’t concern yourself with anything other than killing Kalayne, the demon states forcefully.

That armor would allow me…

Forget that armor. Kill Kalayne, the demon snaps as its eyes flash with fury.

I have done everything you have asked of me. I made sure that Cyelus’s anger continued to grow against the other low landers. I made certain none returned when he sent them in secret to retrieve the Axe. I crippled every ship he sent to ensure they wouldn’t escape, even though it nearly cost me my life. Now you would deny me…

The words of the dragon’s rant cut into Cyelus’s heart and he moves away from the balcony’s railing, not wanting to hear anymore. This is some kind of trickery.

No tricks Cyelus, Koven says softly. I am sorry for the loss of your men, but there is more you need to know.

I will not allow you to keep pulling me into your illusions and twisting my thoughts, Cyelus declares, glaring at Koven. My son was among those I sent to retrieve the Axe. I felt certain that he would be safe in the company of five of our finest warriors. My grandson was aboard one of the ships when the demons came to protect Chivelestine. I instructed them to stay a distance away, but close enough so that he could witness, without actually experiencing, what battle outside the training ground looks like.

Cyelus, I am deeply sorry for your loss. I know what it is like to lose a son, Koven says empathically. As I said, I came to make amends for mistakes I have made by not telling you everything that is going on in this world. I fear now that you won’t believe anything I have to say. I ask that you travel up the northern coast; there you will find a large mountain surrounded by a ring of smaller ones. That is Dragon Ring, home of Corridon; a white dragon that was there when the Freeze happened. I implore you to go and speak with him. He can explain my failures without the distractions of my presence. If after speaking with him, you are still insistent on warring with Chivelestine; I will not stand in your way. However, I do urge haste in this matter, because either way the seas will continue to rise, Koven fades away with a breeze of wind.

There is a thump upon Cyelus’s roof and the wooden structure creeks under the strain of taking on Isilisis’s weight.

You seem deep in thought or perhaps you have just been entranced by the hypnotic waves, Isilisis questions taking up her familiar position.

Maybe a bit of both, Cyelus answers walking back into his chambers from the balcony and opening a closet. Looking upon the dust that has settled upon his armor, I’ve been thinking that it has been too long that I have sat watching as events unfold. I believe, he pauses taking out his chest piece, my people need to see me as a leader. A warrior and not just someone who merely watches from a balcony. He slips the now snuggly fitting armor on. I’m sure it will increase the morale of my men to know that their King is fighting with them.

Well spoken, Isilisis compliments smiling evilly from the roof. I have a few matters to tend to before I will join your forces in Chivel.

Do not be too long, Cyelus says keeping up what now feels like a masquerade. We don’t know how long this door of opportunity will be open to us.

Cyelus hears the dragon take flight, as the words from before echo in his mind and hate for it grows.

•

Amid the swirl of wind driven snow in the northern snow plains to the northeast of the Shaeness village, a gray dragon lies conserving her energy and allowing time for the wounds he sustained form the confrontation with Kalayne and that girl with the Axe to heal.

Although the wind and blowing snow increases the difficulty, he is tracking a small form making its way directly towards him.

He squirms painfully to move snow over her and sink deeper into the snow drift to hide his presence. He continues to watch the form’s slow but constant approach towards him, until he can make out exactly what it is. He lies very still, laying his head on the snowpack and concentrates on listen for the snow crunching beneath its feet. He hears the crunching continuously grow closer and closer; and hoping that it will keep moving unable to see him. Then he hears something drop into the snow and the crunching stops. Curiosity gets the best of him and he lifts his head to see what has happened.

Hello, the old woman states smiling, sitting upon a large bag a short distance from the dragon. You did a really good job of hiding yourself.

Not good enough evidently, the gray dragon snorts.

Oh, come now, I already knew where you were; so, it wouldn’t have mattered how much snow you piled on yourself.

You don’t know how thrilled I am that an old warm-blooded woman knew exactly where I am and is willing to lead threats directly to me, while I lie here trying to recover.

Calm yourself dragon. My name is Lailena and I am no threat to you; nor do I sense any threats in the area, except of course the starvation that looms over you.

I’ll be just fine, I assure you.

Then you do have ways of speeding your recovery or at very least making sure that things are healing properly. It is rather upsetting to me when bones are not set properly to heal and create unpleasant, even unusable mends. I don’t believe I got your name.

You can continue on your way without such knowledge.

Perhaps I’ll just sit here a while and rest my ‘old’ bones.

I don’t think that is necessary and I know it’s not wanted.

Wanted or not, here I am.

The dragon snarls and then cringes in pain.

Judging by your expression, you couldn’t make me leave no matter how badly you wanted to.

Do you think I don’t know your kind, the dragon spits.

My kind?

Yes, you are part of that Shaeness tribe that was left out of the ice.

Left out, no we weren’t left out. You say it like we were excluded from something. We were kept out of the ice. We have our purpose to fulfill, before those in the ice come forth and fulfill theirs.

Then how about you just go about you purpose.

Fine, I will, Lailena says standing up. Listen to me carefully Nephian, plague dragon of Ostisis’s brood.

How did you…

Shhh, I’m talking. Listen. There are two distinct paths. One is filled with anger, hate, and contempt. The other with love, compassion, and forgiveness. Knowing this, I will now offer you this choice, Lailena pulls a shimmering green leaf from her bag and releases it into the air.

The leaf is carried by the wind until it lands upon the dragon’s side. The shimmering then spreads up, down and all around until it has fully engulfed the dragon.

Nephian feels a warmth come over him as the pain is relieved and a vigor is restored to him. Nephian is soon able to stand and flap his wings, fully healed.

Now the choice is yours. Let your actions decide your fate. Hate brings death, which is the end. Compassion brings love, which is eternal. Know this, if you choose to be an instrument of destruction, then that will also be the fate you have chosen for yourself. However, if you choose the more difficult path of compassion, then your life will continue and thrive.

You know what I am.

Yes, a plague dragon, Lailena says picking up her bag and beginning to walk. However, it is not your birth that controls your life. It is the choices you make that determine your course in life.

My very existence is to spread disease, Nephian tells her.

Did you know that the antidote to a deadly snake bite lies in the venom itself.

What am I supposed to do now, Nephian asks, starting to follow her.

I believe that is completely up to you.

I was created through demonic magic.

I know another who was created through dark magic and believes that they are an abomination, and yet they exhibit some of the more redeemable qualities that you would hope to find in a person. Now if you are going to follow me, so that we can continue to talk about this; you could at least give an old woman a ride, Lailena smiles.

•

Waking from unconsciousness, Cyanious shakes the dust from her snout and shuffles some of the library debris from her aching dragon body. She looks up to see a pale blue dragon eagerly waiting from above the collapsed ruins of the Nyerhurst library.

It’s a bit arrogant to allow your opponent to wake don’t you think, Cyanious coughs, slowly picking herself up.

You confuse arrogance with confidence, the young pale blue dragon responds.

Perhaps it would be better described as ignorance, Cyanious states slipping into the shadows.

The pale blue dragon pounces down into the debris