Hidden Lands: The Kaerling, #5

By Freya Pickard

With faceless pursuers behind him, Lored must reach the Hidden Plateau before they catch up.

 

"Beautifully written and it held my attention from start to finish." E Baxter

 

Disillusioned and disappointed with the way Olin Heon now conducts itself, Lored, a powerful taku-kevir, leaves the place he once called home and journeys in search of a new purpose in life.

 

Tari, an acolyte in the Temple, is forced to trust the new priestess Undine, as danger besets her on every side; can she withstand the overpowering attraction of the kaerling man sent to question her?

 

Hidden Lands continues the fantasy epic that is The Kaerling.

 

The Kaerling is a series of linked novellas that can be read individually as well as in chronological order.

 

Warning: contains scenes of a sexual nature and some violence which some readers may find upsetting.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Freya Pickard
• Release date: Aug 28, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393184485

Freya Pickard

Pushcart Prize nominee, Freya Pickard, is the quirky, unusual author of The Kaerling series, an epic fantasy set in the strange and wonderful world of Nirunen. A cancer survivor, she writes mainly dark fantasy tales and creates expressive poetry in order to leach the darkness from her soul. Her aim in life is to enchant, entertain and engage with readers through her writing. She finds her inspiration in the ocean, the moors, beautifully written books and vinyl music (particularly heavy metal and rock). She enjoys Hatha Yoga, Bhangra and Yogalates and in her spare time creates water colours and pastel drawings of the worlds in her head.

Book preview

Year of the Unicorn Ascending

Ice Moon to Summer Fire

Chapter One

Tari's heart thudded loudly in her ears as she walked briskly between the carved columns that marked the pathway to the Temple shrines. Cold sweat trickled uncomfortably down her back and between her breasts as the basalt statues seemed to glare down at her, to threaten her with moonlit eyes. She found she was shaking and gulped in deep breaths of air.

She should never have gone out. Her thoughts tumbled over each other randomly. The idea of killing Gar in revenge for Sidra's death was foolish and dangerous, as the mercenary woman had just pointed out to her.

She started the steep climb to Aqua's Shrine and shivered again as she recalled the feel of her attacker's hands. Her skin felt suddenly hot then cold and goose pimples prickled beneath her garments as she remembered the sound of the mercenary's voice. Why would someone who had rescued her, make her shiver? The fact that she had not seen the woman's face made her feel uneasy.

Tari was still shivering when she reached Aqua’s shrine. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she pushed the door open and saw the glow of candlelight in Undine’s room. Holding her breath, the girl closed the door softly behind her and tiptoed across to her own chamber. Once inside, she shrugged off her thick, fur cloak and felt beneath the narrow bed for her wooden chest.

Her fingers were numb and moved awkwardly as she unlocked it and lifted the lid. The musty scent of long-dried herbs and flowers filled the air and she untied the cord that secured the dagger to her belt. The scar on her palm had healed cleanly and was now but a thin line on her skin; however, the cold made her tendons stiff. Her whole body was shaking as she placed the sheathed dagger in the chest.

Where have you been, Tari?

The girl started and twisted round to see Undine standing in the doorway. She had not even heard the door open.

Well? Undine’s pale face was expressionless, framed by long, dark tresses.

Tari wondered if the woman was angry. I was out in the city, she muttered, trying to cover the dagger with dried herbs.

What is that? Undine approached, her movements as fluid as water.

Reluctantly, Tari allowed the priestess to see what was inside the chest. She knew she had done wrong by going out of the Temple grounds by herself at night, but such had been her desire for revenge, that she had ignored the rules.

Undine took the knife from the chest and stared intently at the plain, leather sheath. Without a word, the woman drew the blade. Her eyes opened wide and she turned her gaze to Tari. Do you know what this is?

My mother told me a story when she gave it to me. The girl felt cold and miserable; she just wanted to go to bed. I can only tell the secret to the person I pass the blade on to.

Undine sheathed the dagger and pushed Tari down to sit on the bed, placing a blanket around the girl’s shoulders. Any secret of yours, is safe with me.

Tari looked at the woman, realising Undine was not angry, just concerned.

Trust me, Tari, I have your best interests at heart. I will protect you.

Tari wondered why she needed protecting and suddenly wanted to tell Undine everything.

Well? The priestess sat down beside her, still holding the blade.

Tari recounted everything her mother had told her; the legend of her family's ancestors being elf-friends and warriors, the lending of this knife in an ancient war and how it would one day be returned to a descendant of those her family had once been allied with. When she'd finished, Undine was silent.

Are you the person the knife belongs to? Tari had stopped shivering and wasn’t feeling quite as shaky inside.

Undine shook her head. No, I am not an... elf.

But you look like the statue of Aqua and there is a resemblance in your face to the guardians at the gate. They were all carved by elves, weren’t they?

Undine smiled. It is true I have a similar bone structure to those ancient statues, but they were not made by the... elves.

Tari felt confused. Everyone in the Temple said that the guardians were images of the elven builders who had constructed the place...

You need to look after this dagger. Undine returned the blade to her. Wear it around your neck, you never know when you might need it.

But that’s against the Temple rules!

Undine raised her eyebrows. I know. You know. No one else knows.

Aqua knows. Tari’s fingers had woken up but still felt stiff as she tied the cord around her neck.

I don’t think Aqua minds. She would rather have a live acolyte than a dead one.

Tari thought of Sidra and tears sprang to her eyes.

I would still like to know where you were tonight.

Blinking the tears away, Tari tried to explain. It was after Sidra died. I took an oath to kill the kaerling who had raped and murdered her. I went out, most evenings when it wasn’t snowing.

I know. Undine smiled. I thought you were visiting friends or wanting to be by yourself in your grief.

Why did you think I’d been somewhere else tonight?

You were terrified when you came in.

How did you know that? Can you read my thoughts? Tari was appalled. Thought reading was considered witchcraft.

Undine chuckled. There are ways to read people and you were broadcasting fear.

I was frightened, Tari admitted. I was trying to find Gar, you see, and had been searching the alleyways. I never found him, of course. I never found anyone until tonight.

What happened?

I could hear male voices laughing and talking so I walked up an alleyway. I didn’t even know there was anyone in the alley, until a man grabbed me.

What did he do?

Put his arm around my throat. I cried out, more in surprise because I hadn’t even heard him! The voices stopped immediately. I pulled my dagger out but he grabbed hold of that arm and pinned it to my side. Tari paused, feeling the sick horror once again. He started pushing me  towards a doorway. I screamed a second time and he grabbed my throat again and then...

Tari trailed off, thinking of the mercenary woman.

And then?

A mercenary woman jumped the man.

A woman?

Yes. She knocked him out. I don’t know how. She asked me if I was all right and walked me back to the Temple.

You did not tell her your name, did you?

Tari glanced at the priestess. The grey-blue eyes were dark with worry. No, I just told her I was an acolyte.

Did she ask you anything?

Not much. She wanted to know why I was out at night, so I told her - revenge.

What else?

She seemed interested in the kaerlings.

Undine relaxed a little. Did she give you her name?

No. Tari shook her head, feeling weary. I did ask, but she just said she was a mercenary.

Do you think she was?

Was what?

A mercenary?

I think so. She put my attacker out with one blow.

Did she wear a sword?

Tari found it difficult to think; her eyelids felt so very heavy. No. No, she didn't.

Undine frowned. That is unusual for a mercenary. What did she look like?

I couldn’t see her face, she kept her back to the moonlight.

Undine bit her lower lip. Anything else?

She made me feel very uneasy, even though she saved my life.

The priestess nodded slowly. How’s your throat?

All right, I think. Tari let Undine inspect the bruised skin.

You need some Arnica for that, I will fetch you some. You get into bed and sleep. I will greet the dawn, you need to rest.

Wearily, Tari disrobed, put on her plain nightshift and climbed into bed. Before Undine could return, she fell asleep, clutching the dagger.

Chapter Two

The moon was in its last quarter when Mother Kalare recovered completely from the malady that had struck her down at Yule. She took over the administrative duties of the Temple as soon as she was released from the Infirmary, much to Illan’s relief. Many other Temple inhabitants and poorer citizens of Aura Vere had contracted the fever (though the kaerlings appeared to be immune to it) and the Infirmary was full.

Undine and Tari spent most of the cold, winter days fetching herbs and clean linen from the stores, making beds and brewing a number of infusions to ease the symptoms. All desire for revenge slowly drained out of Tari. She sometimes felt guilty that Sidra’s death had not been avenged, but Undine kept her so busy that she had no energy to brood at all.

One evening, when snow clouds piled themselves over Aura Vere, Tari was sent to the stores to find a number of unusual ingredients for a special broth recommended by the Hru Taku-kevir, who was still resident at the palace. When she arrived at the stores, only one clerk stood behind the desk. The short man shivered and sneezed as he looked through the list Tari had brought with her. He sneezed again and shook his head.

I can’t find them for you tonight, he rasped. I’ve got the fever.

But these ingredients will cure the fever more quickly. Tari told him. Can’t you let me look for them?

The man sighed, his face flushed and sweating. It’s against the rules, but I’ll speak to the guards on my way out.

Thank you. Go straight to the Infirmary.

Tari slipped behind the desk and entered a shadowy world of shelves and alcoves. She picked up the single lantern and a basket and read the list carefully. Then she looked at the words painted on the ends of the shelves and worked out where she should go.

The first few items were easy to find; orange peel and lemon zest could be obtained from the citrus section. Garlic and ginger she found easily enough on the herbal shelves. Next on the list was an oil she had never heard of. Finding the barrels took a long time, but she finally came across them in the aisle with the wine bins. The lantern shed only a little light and she had to hold it close to each barrel to read the label. Worried about the oil catching fire, Tari took her time. Eventually, she discovered the barrel she needed was against the far wall where the mortar was cracked and the stones had crumbled.

Taking one of the flasks stacked near the wine bins, she turned the tap on the barrel and allowed a good measure of the oil to flow into the container. She was fastening the lid of the flask, when she felt a breeze on her face.

The movement of air appeared to be coming from beyond the barrels. Setting the flask of oil  in the basket on the floor, Tari took the lantern over to the wall. Gaps in the stonework revealed a dark emptiness beyond and Tari shivered in the chill air. Voices sounded nearby and the girl glanced over her shoulder to see if the guards were looking for her. Then she heard footsteps on flagstones and realised the sounds were coming from beyond the wall.

She felt a sudden urge to run away and turned hastily, tripping over her basket.