Glade of Harmony

By S.J. Saunders

Back in the age where they belong, Jack, Tanner, Allie, and Gefnar have bid farewell to their friends in the lawless lands of Varbius, only to encounter an old acquaintance; one who extends to them a curious invitation from the eagleblood king, Shanedir.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riverbank Publishing
• Release date: Oct 28, 2019
• ISBN: 9781087938103

S.J. Saunders

A star was born on the day S. J. Saunders first entered this world. I mean, statistically speaking, it must have been, right? The universe is a big place. Pointless supposition aside, Saunders enjoys both the absorbing and the constituting of stories, activities that take up much of his life in the rather boringly-shaped land of Oregon. A particular woman appears to find his close proximity none too objectionable, and so they reside together in a marital fashion. No offspring and/or dependent creatures..

Book preview

Chapter One

Invitation By Way of Acquaintance

Jack hesitated only slightly in leveling a notched arrow at the back of the nearby tigerkin’s head upon identifying the cloaked figure as Nelina. Glad my instincts are still sharp, she thought, recalling her visceral distrust of the shadowy form, even before knowing her identity. Despite Nelina’s warm smile that was now directed at the rest of the group—Tanner, Allie, and Gefnar had opted to approach cautiously, but in full view of the figure that had awaited them on the narrow path they walked beneath the forest canopy—this woman was not the ir friend.

For the moment, Jack was still deciding how much she considered Nelina an enemy. The infuriating answer was that it was just short of loosing her taut bowstring.

Beside her, nearly as invisible as Jack was in the underbrush, Ember nudged her elbow with his long, furry snout, as though prompting her to fire.

I know, Em, she thought, glancing down to meet the wolf’s gaze as she reached out to his mind, but it’s probably best to show some restraint, no matter how good it would feel.

Ember’s only response was to curl back his lips in a low snarl. His distaste for the tigerkin before them was nearly as palpable as Jack’s own, even to Jack’s fledgling senses in the ways of deciphering raw, animal emotion.

Wait, Tanner’s voice from where the trail opened up into Nelina’s small clearing drew Jack’s gaze to the scowling foxkin, "your employer wants to meet us?"

Nelina bowed her head, smiling pleasantly to Tanner and the glaring human woman and gnome man to either side of him. Yes. Rather adamant about it, actually.

Jack saw the human woman, Allie, let her eyes narrow to slits as she calmly pulled back her cloak, resting a hand pointedly near the dagger on her belt. Why?

The tigerkin released a low chuckle. He said you’d have questions, and that I should do my best to answer as many of them as possible.

Her jaw clenching, Jack swept out of the bushes behind Nelina, annoyed slightly further by the fact that the tigerkin’s only response was to glance over at the bow, still loaded and aimed in her direction, and give a tight smile of greeting. Even the sight of Ember stepping out beside Jack, who’d doubled in size since Nelina had last seen him, only caused a slight tweak of her striped brow…almost as though she’d anticipated the development.

Then answer me this, Jack said coldly, planting her feet as she held her arrow trained on the tigerkin’s eye, "why in the blazes would your employer send you to issue his invitation?"

Nelina gave a meek shrug about the group. I suppose he thought it would be best coming from a friendly face.

Shame he couldn’t find one to send, the armored gnome at Tanner’s knee muttered, glowering at the tigerkin.

Charming as ever, I see, young Gefnar, Nelina shot back with a wink. "Regardless, my employer does apologize for not being here in person, but, at the moment, he has many other duties that must be seen to."

Such as? Allie pressed, calmly drawing her dagger and twirling it about her fingers in an impressive display of dexterity.

Nelina merely smirked at the obvious threat. Only securing the future of all half-breeds in this world, she said before adding with a derisive laugh, I know. The man’s horribly optimistic.

Riiight, Tanner said slowly, attempting to hide his obvious unease by folding his arms over his chest. As the only half-breed in the group, Nelina’s most recent words had to have given him pause. Jack knew that, growing up as he had in Dragon’s Nest, a predominately human town, Tanner had endured more than his share of judgmental or distrusting looks from those around him, simply for being different. The people of Dragon’s Nest were only now beginning to come together, after centuries of prejudice following the half-breeds’ first appearance in the world, and Jack had heard that half-breeds who lived in the continent’s larger cities had things far worse. And how, exactly, does he plan on doing that? Tanner added after a sharp grunt.

Nelina gave a long sigh, shooting a glance to Jack’s unflinching bow. My employer, King Shanedir, is leader to the kingdom of the eaglebloods, one of many half-breed nations that have formed since the Waking.

Jack’s eyes narrowed. The Waking of the Half-breeds, the time near the end of the Dragon War when various strains of half-breeds had come into existence, seemingly manifested into being simultaneously about the world, was an event often steered into the realm of legend or hyperbole. Though no one had proof as to how the infant races had come to be, Jack found it hard to believe the school of thought that postulated the Waking was conducted by the Theikour themselves in order that the half-breeds would inherit the world after the devastation of the Dragon War, a teaching said to have been used by militant, fanatical half-breeds through the centuries.

As ludicrous as Jack found the belief that half-breeds were inferior to the major races, it was equally preposterous to declare an entire world as their birthright.

And if this Shanedir is promoting something so incendiary…

King Shanedir is a man of peace, Nelina said sharply, seeming to sense the guarded shift in her audience. "He wishes for all races to live in harmony with each other, regardless of their heritage. To that end, he has called for a summit between the many half-breed nations, declaring the first, great Gathering of the One Blood in the ruins of Kadason."

Gefnar’s eyes went wide as he glanced about to the others. Shanedir’s invited all the half-breeds to meet in the ruins of the most influential elven kingdom in history? Why?

Nelina gave a coy smile. He deemed it…appropriate. At Jack’s pointed throat-clearing, the tigerkin sighed. Shanedir is a student of all things elven, and he believed it would honor their memory if the first attempt to unite all half-breeds were to take place at the site of the first gathering of the major races at the dawn of the Age of Birth.

Symmetry, huh? said Tanner, shrugging. As good a reason as any, I guess. Your employer’s study of elven culture wouldn’t also have anything to do with your little theft back in Dragon’s Nest?

Jack’s dark eyes were fixed on Nelina’s face at Tanner’s words, absorbing every minute twitch of whiskers or tug at the brow. What she saw confirmed her suspicions. It had been Nelina who’d relieved Guard Captain Fylak of the artifact Jack and the others had acquired from High Priestess Entothika and the temple of Nomenkal in order to trade for the freedom of Atrisar, Fylak’s indentured servant. Following a successful transaction, and Atrisar’s subsequent release, Fylak had been so infuriated to find that the item he’d traded for Atrisar’s freedom had gone missing the next day that he’d nearly reneged on the agreement on the spot.

And it hadn’t exactly been an option to explain that the tigerkin Jack and the others had enabled to rob the guard captain by granting her the key to his vault had just so happened to steal more than she’d indicated she would. They’d barely been able to talk Fylak down, as it was.

That’s certainly a serious accusation… said Nelina, trailing off as Allie took a menacing step forward.

Don’t insult us by denying it, the woman snapped, brushing chin-length blond hair from her face. "The statue disappeared at the same time you went after Fylak’s old, elven book. It had to be you."

A slow smirk came to Nelina’s face as she inclined her head. "Ah, yes… A statue, you say? That does ring a bell… Two elven lovers entwined, sprouting up into a great tree? At everyone’s hard stares, she gave a curt laugh. That was a welcome bonus. My employer paid most handsomely for its recovery."

Any chance he’d be willing to return it to the temple? said Gefnar, visibly bitter at the slight on the home that had raised him.

Nelina fixed the gnome with a condescending smile. If your high priestess has as much honor as I think she does, she wouldn’t think of requesting it be taken from its rightful owner.

And if your employer has as much honor as you say he does, Jack thought darkly, he would never have wanted you to take something that would endanger someone’s chance at happiness.

Jack thought briefly of Atrisar and the home the former serving girl had been able to find for herself with Gwetheryn and Nöler, the atypical Lady and Lord of Varbius Keep.

A smile nearly cracked through Jack’s anger at the thought of how Gwetheryn and Nöler might react to being addressed as such. Gwetheryn would probably smack me on the back of the head and tell me not to say such foolish things.

Rightful owner? Allie said sharply, stepping closer to Nelina.

Yeah, said Tanner, cocking a brow. I thought you said this…Shevakadoo was an eagleblood.

Nelina chuckled. "King Shanedir. And he is. It is whispered, however, that Shanedir now possesses proof of a shared lineage for all half-breeds; proof that once belonged to the elven seer Synarmiat."

Tanner gave a low whistle. That statue belonged to Synarmiat?

I can only tell you what I know, Nelina said with a shrug. But, as you can see, this would serve as another reason for Shanedir to call for the summit in Synarmiat’s home of Kadason.

Which still hasn’t answered my first question, said Allie, intrigue showing through her impatience. "Why is Shanedir inviting us?"

Nelina’s eyes quickly found Tanner’s as she gave an admonishing shake of her head. "Try not to look so smug, foxkin. Shanedir wishes for all of you to attend the summit as his guests of honor."

Again, why? Jack growled. Most of us aren’t even half-breeds.

Shanedir only wants each of you to fulfill your destinies, Nelina said in mock reverence. One that he believes will impact the future of all half-breeds. He does, however, wish to offer a gift. At Gefnar’s expectant look, the tigerkin rolled her eyes. "The gift of insight, young Gefnar. Shanedir is a seer of considerable skill, himself."

Tanner grunted. So, what? He’s going to read our palms, or something?

Or shake our hands? Gefnar mumbled, obviously recalling Balgi, the half-orc seer they’d all encountered on the island of Nisaim.

That is hardly his style, Nelina said with a sneer, ignoring Gefnar’s input. No, Shanedir believes that he can offer you each a piece of yourselves; a glimpse into the path that awaits you, as he put it.

Jack immediately bristled. She was growing rather tired of having everyone tell her what her destiny was, from ancient scorpion deities declaring her, Tanner, and Allie cosmic anomalies, to having a sect of crocbloods dub her the Huntress of legend who would unite the natural world, to now, apparently, having some birdkin she’d never met so intently want to lay out her future for her.

Your destiny was what you made of it; that’s what Jack had always believed. She’d been raised to value the ideals of self-discovery, integrity, and sacrifice. If that caused her to line up with someone else’s view of her, then so be it, but she wasn’t about to change herself in any way to suit another person’s vision. She was still Jack, whatever titles people might try to impose upon her.

And the promise yet of more vague sketches of her future wasn’t exactly enticing.

That’s all very fascinating, Jack said coldly, drawing Nelina’s gaze back to her and her still-leveled arrow, but your employer has nothing I want, which means you still haven’t given me a good reason not to let go of this bowstring, and my arm’s getting tired.

A puckered smirk came over the tigerkin’s muzzle as she held Jack’s stare. "I suppose I could rely on your curiosity and tell you that you’ll never find the summit without my aid, but I’m rather curious as to what might transpire if I don’t. She gestured broadly past her shoulder. The summit lies to the northeast in a large glade along the eastern border of the ruins of Kadason. Finding it should not be difficult."

The defiant grin Nelina wore seemed to cause Jack’s bowstring to twitch for release.

Jack? Jack! Tanner broke in, drawing a sidelong glance from the woman. His imploring look gave her enough pause to lower her bow at last, after which, Allie motioned her over to the others with a nod.

Come on, said the other woman, shooting a heavy glare to the smug-looking Nelina. Let’s at least discuss this for a moment.

Jack grunted, motioning for Ember to guard the tigerkin as she strode toward and past her friends. Fine. Away from any prying ears.

The throaty chuckle from Nelina was almost enough to make her reconsider her lapse of mercy.

* * *

Well? said Allie, carefully monitoring the faces around her once they’d retreated a few dozen paces from Nelina. What’s the plan, here?

The battle plan, you mean? Jack growled, glancing back to where Nelina had resumed her seat by her small fire, pointedly ignoring the massive gray wolf that stalked in circles around her, except with her swiveling ears.

Tanner frowned, looking about the circle. "Well, I’m intrigued. It’s not every day you get a personal invitation to a historic meeting of half-breeds."

From a faithless coward who only cares about herself, Jack said with a grunt.

Allie sighed. Of all of them, Nelina seemed to have gotten under Jack’s skin the most. I’m not a fan of Nelina, either, she said, lowering her voice so that it could only just be heard over the magical link they all shared, but try to ignore the messenger, for the moment. Whatever it is this Shanedir is really up to, he at least seems to know enough about us to think we should talk.

Assuming this isn’t all an elaborate trap, of course, said Tanner, seeming reluctant to consider the possibility. I’ll admit, Shanedir’s sounding a bit too good to be true.

Does it even matter if it’s a trap? said Jack. What we’re really asking here is if we’re willing to associate with the kind of people who would employ someone like Nelina.

From well below everyone else’s eye level, Gefnar shook his head. I don’t think it is. She could even be making all of this up, for all we know, but is that a chance we’re willing to take? He looked slowly around the circle. You have to admit, it’s hard to pretend like there’s not more at work, here. The three of you finding each other in a small town on the edge of the world, then meeting a fallen Theikour who tells you all that you’re anomalies?

Allie suppressed a shudder, remembering the hatred she’d felt for the image of the great scorpion, Cravog, as it had calmly informed her of her tainted bloodline; one marred with violent specters from the Netherplane whose only purpose seemed to be destruction.

And what’s happened in the time since? Gefnar pressed, looking to Jack. You, slipping more into place with some crocblood prophecy of a Huntress? To Tanner, Finding out that you’re the host to some…fire entity? To Allie, And your power seeming to double every other week?

He was exaggerating, of course, but Allie still found herself clenching her fists at her side. Even in just the few weeks of travel since they’d left Varbius Keep behind, Allie’s meditations had seemed to yield greater and greater results. She could summon the dark power within now more freely, channeling it into devastating blasts that, in more than one practice session, had nearly shredded smaller trees.

But she was still in control, never once feeling as though the power was about to overcome her; to wield her, instead. And she felt more at peace with herself now than she had since she’d been that grubby, cheerful child on the streets of Lorsyn.

Honestly, she wasn’t entirely sure what this Shanedir might be able to offer her beyond the clarity that Entothika had been able to bring her, building on the efforts of Lethold, her first mentor back in Arinak Sanctuary. After years of searching, Allie was beginning to feel like she’d truly found herself, despite the constant, nagging fear that the dark power would one day overtake her. Among her friends on a mission to secure the safety of Dragon’s Nest, a place she’d come to think of as her adoptive home, she had purpose; a reason to better herself for the sake of others.

And yet…

I agree with Gefnar, she said at last, smiling down to the gnome. "If Shanedir thinks he has something to offer us, I say let him try. We’ll call it a win if even one of us learns something useful."

Tanner nodded. And, who knows? Maybe Shanedir’s right. Maybe we all have a part to play in the future of the half-breeds.

Fine, Jack said with a sigh. From our current position, it shouldn’t delay the journey to Falcon Crest too greatly…I hope I don’t have to remind you all that we still have a craftsman to find for a certain large friend?

She didn’t. Allie found it rather difficult to forget the enormous red dragon trapped beneath the streets of Dragon’s Nest by her master, Kellivost, centuries earlier. Stripped of her wings in the betrayal, the dragon, Velidrok, had commissioned Allie and her friends to seek out plans to build new, artificial wings from Varbius Keep, a specific craftsman to build them in Falcon Crest, and a mage to bind them to Velidrok’s body in Lorsyn.

It was the final destination Allie tried to think about least.

The quest had begun under implied duress, with Velidrok casting a veiled threat toward the townsfolk above her, should her champions fail. After a trip into the past, courtesy of Cravog’s head minion, Sohlak, however, Velidrok had greeted their return to the present with a message of gratitude for the warning they’d given her past self, concerning Kellivost’s betrayal, promising that, should her wings be restored, they would have a full ally in her.

Though the reassurance had been comforting, Allie knew they would all sleep better at night once they’d completed their obligation to Velidrok.

None of the old legends accuse dragons of being terribly reasonable, after all…

Tanner gave a somber nod at the reminder, as well, slowly scanning the others’ faces. Then it’s settled? A stream of nods followed, and it was hard to miss the glint of excitement that flared in Tanner’s eye.

As one, they all turned back toward Nelina, guiding their horses along the narrow path through the dense foliage.

You have your answer, then? said Nelina when they drew near, setting down her plate of bread and sausage and rising to give a slight bow.

We do, Allie said tersely, motioning back to the horses. You ride with us back to Shanedir. She adopted an insincere smile. You understand, of course. You have a bit of a history with disappearing.

And I’ll be taking your sword, said Tanner, stepping forward with a hand outstretched. You understand, of course. You have a bit of a history with backstabbing, too.

Nelina’s brow furrowed, almost playfully. "And how am I to know that it is not you all who will turn on me?"

I guess you’ll just have to trust our sense of honor, Jack said flatly.

Pausing only a moment, Nelina shrugged, unclasping her belt and handing it and the full sheath that swung below to Tanner. "I suppose being disarmed would make things more interesting, she said, barely twitching as Jack summoned Ember back to her side. Well, then, shall we be off?"

Chapter Two

Attack of Happenstance

The fur on the back of Tanner’s neck bristled at even the slightest breeze as he sat awkwardly upright in his saddle. Not that he was expecting monsters or cultists to come pouring in at any second; he was more concerned about the individual directly at his back, tucked closely against Tanner, one arm wrapped around his middle for stability.

Nelina’s sword was fastened to the saddle horn in front of Tanner, the hilt secured in the scabbard with twine, in case the tigerkin attempted to make a grab for it, but that did little to keep Tanner from being on edge.

It’s all right, he reassured himself from time to time, glancing about to his powerful friends on all sides, all of whom shot pointed looks in Nelina’s direction at their leisure. She’d be crazy to try anything.

Given what Tanner knew about Nelina thus far, however, the thought did little to console him.

So… he finally ventured perhaps an hour or so into the ride between the thickening trees, forced to start over as his voice failed him. So, Nelina, I suppose, with all the half-breeds being invited to Shanedir’s summit, there’ll be some more tigerkin around?

Even half-turned to regard the woman behind him, Tanner was able to see Nelina’s face sour.

No, she said curtly. There…will not be. Ronaybah, vizier of my people, was asked to attend, but…declined the offer.

Mm-hmm, said Jack, scowling over to the tigerkin behind Tanner while weaving atop Ember through a stand of trees to the right. Anyone else happen to pass on Shanedir’s invitation?

Tanner could hear Nelina’s smile in response. Your rival will not be there…Huntress. Gareech was invited to represent the crocbloods, now that he’s proclaimed himself their leader…just as Merema was asked to attend as the voice of all snakebloods. Tanner stiffened at the mention of the merchant who’d infiltrated Dragon’s Nest under the guise of an ordinary human woman…before deciding that Tanner’s back had needed a dagger in it during the scaly attack on the town. She’d been like Tanner, one of the few half-breeds able to bury her animalistic appearance, being what Tanner had come to know as demiscilg.

Neither has even sent a response, Nelina continued, and there was no clear leader of the lizardkin for Shanedir to invite. Not after Gareech slew the last one, uniting crocbloods and lizardkin under a single banner.

Wait, said Gefnar, his brow furrowed as he looked to Nelina, Merema’s in charge of the snakebloods now?

She always was, Nelina said toothily, her arm cinching around Tanner’s waist a little more tightly. It seems your friends have a knack for drawing the ire of only the most influential foes.

The comment left Tanner trying desperately not to think about Cravog.

"And…what about…my people? he ventured after a moment. Are there going to be any other foxkin there?"

There was a long pause from behind, prompting Tanner to crane his neck around to catch as much of Nelina’s face as he could. She looked guarded, as he might have guessed, but there was also…sympathy?

No, she said at last, averting her gaze.

Tanner swallowed, silent as he gave a slow, somber nod. They’re dead, aren’t they?

It was a thought he’d never allowed himself to voice; barely allowed himself to think. The idea that he could be truly alone in the world, without any hope of finding anyone to answer the questions that had gnawed at his mind since he’d been old enough to ask them…

But Nelina shook her head, her cat-like eyes finding his. I do not believe you to be the last of your kind, Tanner, but whatever remains of your people is scattered. They’ve…recently fallen from prominence.

Tanner grappled with the emotions swirling in his chest for a few, long heartbeats, then pressed, When?

Almost a decade now, I suppose, said Nelina. "Or, at least, that is when I learned of the calamity that had befallen the foxkin."

From up ahead, Allie drew up the reins of her horse, glancing apologetically to Tanner before her eyes shifted to Nelina as their horse came up alongside. What happened to them?

They’d lived in harmony with a loose civilization of humans on the eastern coast of Asalirin for many years, said Nelina, slipping into a sort of morose oratory. Almost since the Waking itself, the stories say. Then, though I never learned why, survivors from a fallen city-state in the region who blamed the foxkin for the destruction of their home attacked your people, Tanner, nearly eradicating them outright. Those who remained never returned to claim their land, as it was scorched beyond all use.

Tanner’s gaze fell to where his hands gripped the reins of his horse. He could feel everyone’s eyes on him, but he was almost too distracted to notice, with all the questions thrashing about in his mind, chief among them being, So, how in the blazes did I end up in Dragon’s Nest with Kurtis?

He knew better than to think Nelina would have all the answers, however, contenting himself with a subdued grunt, then, Oh.

The next minute or so was silent, save for the chirps and rustling of the surrounding forest and the steady thud of horses’ hooves through the trees. More than once, Tanner heard one of his friends draw in breath to pursue the topic, then, just as quickly, abandon it.

Surprisingly, it was Allie who finally broke the silence, peering back to Nelina from where she’d resumed point in their formation. Well, Nelina, since it seems like you actually feel like sharing, for once, why don’t you tell us a bit more about yourself?

There was a distinct edge to what should have been a nonchalant question, Tanner noted, and, from the way Nelina shifted in the saddle behind him, his passenger had picked up on the fact, as well. Why? the tigerkin asked slowly.

We’ve got the time, Jack chimed in from the side, smiling tautly to Nelina when Tanner looked her way. Who knows? We might actually learn something endearing about you. The lack of hope in her voice could have slapped Tanner in the face.

Very well, Nelina replied at last, her pleasant smirk audible. "Believe it or not, I have nothing by my employers’