Rise of the Winged Assassin

By Dodie Huber

Born into a winged warrior race, Lorelei knows how to wield a sword. Now that she is seventeen, her swordsmanship is tested, and when she passes, she’s removed from her family for further training to prepare for war. But deep underneath the surface, she faces a greater threat, more formidable than their enemy, the Toraveru. Exposure to battle has awakened a deep-seated psychological disease that will prey upon her emotions, challenge her loyalties, twist her morals, and breed an unquenchable thirst for violence. The elders call it the Renai, and they believe there’s only one cure for the infected: death by execution.

As she struggles to fight against the disease, Lorelei’s strength and resolve begin to wane, but she finds hope when she’s sought out by Airik, a dangerously infected, exiled mercenary who tells her the urges she’s struggling to restrain can be forged into powerful abilities that have been suppressed by centuries of executions. Shaken by the truth, Lorelei begins to question what she’s been told about the disease, about the cure, and about the motivations of her honor-bound race. In order to survive, she must place her life and trust in the hands of dangerous allies and learn to wield the power of the Renai before it’s too late.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781662415739

Book preview

Chapter 1

Gliding over the canopies of the towering matzu trees, Lorelei prayed that the disease called the Renai wasn’t lurking in her father’s mind, twisting his morals and blurring the lines between enemy and ally. If what the villagers whispered behind her back was true, her father would try to kill her again.

The last tendrils of the winter wind wisped through her large white wings, causing her to shiver. Her father’s size dwarfed her near-six-foot build as he flew beside her, cutting through the icy wind with incredible strength and grace. She both loved him and feared him and worried if she should be sparring with him alone.

They traveled father away from their village than she had ever gone, to a place where the matzu trees tapered off, submitting to smaller trees sparsely scattered about the forest below. After landing, she stood at a distance from her father and looked around. The sight of the open grasslands of the Lost Valley made her uneasy. She had only heard of it but knew it was outside the safe zone and that they shouldn’t be here. Not too far from where she stood, a great fissure extended out, forming a long trench toward the mountains beyond, leaving a scar in the otherwise perfect field of red grass. She had never been this close and wondered why they would come to such a place.

Lorelei jumped when her father spoke in his deep, commanding voice.

When you turn seventeen next year you will have to get used to being in dark places like this.

She looked into his light green eyes, wondering what evils he must have seen out on the battlefield.

I know, Father.

Arguing with her father simply wasn’t something she did. It hadn’t always been like that. He used to be understanding and attentive. When he returned with his captain this last time, she and her family and even the whole village sensed that he was no longer Garenth, the loving husband and father of two girls, but instead, a danger to their society, to be closely watched for signs of the mind-bending disease, the Renai.

Are you ready?

Yes, sir.

After bowing to each other, as tradition and a show of respect, Lorelei pulled her long red hair back between her shoulder blades, allowing it to rest comfortably between her wings. She straightened her leather chest piece and wondered why on Duari she was out there alone with her father. Surveying the area around her, she noticed her father’s sharpened battle sword on the ground, a few feet too close for her comfort.

Begin!

Garenth didn’t wait for his command to sink in before he took two quick steps forward and positioned his wooden sword high with the intended destination of Lorelei’s shoulder. His move was fast, but her focused mind allowed her to block his first attack. For moments that felt too long, she battled her father as he lunged, and she pivoted just barely out of his reach. It was a thrust of his sword, driving at her from the far corner of her vision, that brought the fight to a halt and sent her crashing to the ground. Before she could catch her breath, she felt the tip of her father’s training sword at her throat.

Lorelei watched in horror at his labored breathing, frightened by the wild look in his eyes. Perhaps the rumors about her father were true after all. Regardless, it was too late now. She was alone with him and could only hope that he would regain his composure enough to realize it was his daughter at the end of his sword.

A few terrifying moments later, the cold indifference in his eyes warmed, and he gazed at her with the love and anger of a father. He offered his hand, and she took it.

Once she was up again, he moved in close, his haggard breath on her face.

Your mother works hard crafting leather armor so that you can have the best training available to the village, and this is how you repay her efforts? I don’t want to believe that this training has gone to waste. His finger poked into her shoulder. Try again. But this time defeat me!

When he backed away, she noticed that sweat had formed on his forehead and began to roll down his cheek. Had spring already arrived, she wouldn’t have thought anything of it, but it was still winter, and the wind howled through the scattered trees, whipping at her hair. She hoped that her fear didn’t show on her face.

Begin again!

They both bowed and aimed their swords. Lorelei, determined to prove her prowess, lunged forward, her sword straight out in front of her, its tip aimed at her father’s chest. The attack would have been flawless, but she hadn’t bet on the rush of wind that kicked up from behind. Showing his mastery of the air, Garenth extended his wings to harness it, thrusting him backward and out of her reach. He landed gracefully on his feet, drew in his wings, and charged with his sword raised high and his glare boring into her.

Her training didn’t include wing strikes or aerial battle. That would come later if she was chosen for Removal, so his move came as a shock and caused her to lose focus. She knew that her father’s purpose in using moves not taught to her was to prepare her for things other Keiyou might not have the opportunity to learn. A poor performance from her lesson today was inexcusable, so she firmed her stance and prepared for the attack.

When his sword struck hers, the sheer force reverberated through her bones. He had never struck at her this hard before. She was able to block him, but was shoved backward anyway.

Anger surged through her as she urged herself on. She had to win. As they danced in battle, swords swinging through the air, they moved closer and closer back to their original position—back to where Garenth’s sharpened battle sword lay on the ground.

The obsidian color of his eyes, the sweat dripping from his hair, and the heat of his gaze told her that he was in a battle rage now. Her father only saw a Toraveru soldier at the end of his sword, and he meant to kill it.

She screamed out in terror, Father! It’s me!

No answer. Instead he continued to attack her with new vigor, and each time she managed to block him, but her strength was waning. He was too strong for her. Strictly on the offensive now, she pivoted and ducked to stay out of his way, but there was little hope of gaining the advantage again. In her last attempt, she lowered her sword and lunged.

Garenth easily jumped out of the way, crouched down, spread out his wings, and used them to sweep her off her feet. She fell to the snow face-first. Afraid he was going to kill her, she reached for her fallen sword, her frightened green eyes following his as he reached for his sharpened blade. Sweat trickled down her face as she scrambled to recover.

Adrenalin surged through her as the final movements churned in slow motion. Placing her hands underneath her, she leaped to her feet, but her father had slipped behind her. Before she could turn around to face him, the blade of his battle sword whistled just past her left wing. Quickly realizing that he had missed his target, he punched her hard between the shoulder blades, knocking the wind out of her and sending her to the ground.

Father, please stop! Tears streamed down her cheek, her mind desperately darting around, trying to clear the waves of physical and emotional pain. She had to connect with him somehow, to stir his love for her. The tactic had worked the last time they sparred. The time his blade had cut her. It stopped him from killing her then and her life depended on it working again.

Lorelei cried openly as his real blade, the sharp one, now rested on her chest.

Do you really want to kill your little Butterfly? When he didn’t respond, she yelled, Father, look at me!

His eyes that had turned an obsidian color lightened, and his labored breathing evened out. The contorted look on his face quickly relaxed but left his eyes squinted, as if he didn’t trust what he was seeing. He stood over her for some time before relaxing his grip on his sword and sheathing it. Tears welled up in the corners of his now green eyes.

Garenth held out his hand and helped Lorelei up, their gazes locked on each other. His hand reached out and gently wiped away the tears on her cheek.

I see you, Butterfly.

To the east, a battle horn beckoned. A few heartbeats later, another horn returned the call, this time much closer.

Their village was under attack!

Chapter 2

The sudden crash of thunder startled her as she flew back to the village with her father at her side. When they had left for training, it was still light outside, but the sudden approach of a storm cast a dark shadow over the village. The sound of battle cries drew her attention toward one of four trees that served as a guard tower. There was a good distance between them and the tower, but not so far that she couldn’t make out the white wings of their guard and the leathery wings of a Toraveru warrior.

Lightning flashed all around streaking through the sky, allowing her to see more of the struggle. Fire had erupted on the balcony and was spreading fast, but the descending clouds sent a wall of rain down, forcing the flames into submission and smothering them out. Down below, the torches carried in clawed gray hands already started flickering in the rain, and they, too, mercifully went out. Thank the gods. The Toraveru had meant to burn down the village.

The sound of his voice reminded her that he was still at her side.

Lorelei, go home and check on your mother and sister. I need you to protect them while I join the battle.

She wasn’t prepared for this.

But, Father—

No. It’s time. You’re ready. I don’t need a test to know that.

Without another word, he took off toward the Trader’s Circle, leaving her there alone. All around her, warriors jumped from their posts, swords drawn joining her father where the battle had already begun. Shock threatened to keep her frozen in place, but she gathered up her resolve and urged her attention toward the door where she had come. A name formed on her lips as she first whispered it and then began yelling.

Aletta? Lorelei shook her head trying to clear it. Aletta! Where are you?

The sound of feet running toward her gave her hope that at least one of them was still alive. When Aletta came around the corner, her eyes fixated on the diving warriors coming from all around them.

Aletta’s first attempt to speak came out in a hoarse whisper that ended in silence. Pausing to regain her composure, she tried again.

Is this really happening? What do we do?

Lorelei had never seen real battle before, but her sister was clearly looking to her for guidance. What could they do? As she struggled to find a solution, ideas ran around in her mind until it dawned on her. Her eyes widened.

Follow me.

Beneath their tree, a few Toraveru had broken free from the Trader’s Circle and took to the air. When Aletta didn’t move, Lorelei yelled at her, Now! Quickly! Before they see us!

With Aletta on Lorelei’s heels, they made it to their parents’ room, and what Lorelei saw brought her to a stop in the doorway. It was still there, her father’s spare sword. When Lorelei rushed toward it, her sister lurched forward.

Lore, you can’t. It’s forbidden!

The weight of the metal blade was foreign to her. As she held it in her hands, admiring the irregular waves of the temper line running the length of the sword, she marveled at how well it was balanced. Momentarily frozen in both fear and wonder, she managed to turn her wide eyes to her sister.

"I don’t care. If I don’t use it, we will die."

Aletta was safe, but one more was unaccounted for.

Where’s Mother?

The fear her sister fought against was laced in her voice.

She went to the Trader’s Circle.

She was already in the fight. There was nothing she could do about that, but she could still try to protect her sister.

Stay here!

Disbelief flashed over Aletta’s face.

What! Where are you going?

Please stay here. I’m just going to see what’s going on outside. It was a lie. She was going to do more than just take a look. If she engaged in battle, she might not ever come back, but the lie accomplished what she had hoped. Aletta didn’t follow her back out to the receiving balcony.

Outside the rain still fell, sending sharp prickly sensations where it hit her bare skin. Directly beneath her vantage point, she could see Keiyou warriors and the Toraveru battling, their swords slicing though the deluge, their battleground soaked in the blood of the fallen. Her father had given her a description of what the Toraveru would look like, but nothing prepared her for the reality of it.

Their bodies looked similar to her race, but their skin was gray and leathery like the texture of a lizard, and instead of white feathers, their large wings were covered with the same clammy-looking skin. But their faces forced her to gasp. Pointed flat ears rested flush against their bald elongated heads, their noses were smashed into their face much like a bat, sharp teeth hid beneath black lips and their sunken, and beady black eyes bored into anyone who dared to meet their glare. Doubt threatened to overtake her. They weren’t going to survive this.

Gripping the hilt of the sword in both hands, she leveled the blade out in front of her and inched toward the edge of the balcony, but before she reached it, a shadow of a male Keiyou, his large white wings extended out, dressed in black leather armor, severed her access to the battle below. He was a pillar of muscle with black eyes set in an angry face that burrowed deep into the depths of her bones, making them ache. Her first instinct was to scream, but she shoved it back down.

Speed had never been one of her assets, and had it been, she would have fled to safety, but instead she was being held captive by the tip of the man’s sword. His chest heaved in quick succession as he tried to control his heavy breathing. As she watched the muscles in his face twitch, she realized in horror that she was staring at her father! The control of the Renai had returned. Fear of what he might do frightened her more than any pain a Toraveru could inflict. Would he go through with it this time and kill her?

The sound of screaming coming from below disrupted his focused attention on her. His eyes squinted then relaxed, but his body remained rigid. His voice jumped.

Hand over my sword.

Could she trust him? She hesitated, and in response, his breathing became more erratic. Lorelei tried to suppress her fear. Aspiring assassins weren’t allowed to be afraid.

A battle cry caught his attention, and he turned his head to observe. It was now or never. She could flee or try to use his sword against him. But could she? He was her father. Even though he wouldn’t hesitate to kill her in his current condition, she couldn’t bring herself to even try, not that she had any chance of defeating him anyway. Fleeing was the only slim chance she had.

Just when she found enough resolve to run, he turned back around and carefully regarded her.

It’s not safe for me to stay here with you. He hesitated. Don’t make me seize what’s mine from your hands.

Lorelei’s own rapid breathing threatened to suffocate her. There was no good choice to make, and she had to believe—she must believe—that he was still in there, struggling to suppress the disease that urged him to kill her. Her firm grip had flushed the blood from her hands, and when she tried to loosen them, it felt like she was trying to pry a boot from solidified tree sap. After managing to free her hands from its hilt, she cradled the sword and handed it over to him.

Her father accepted it, towering over her, wielding both swords.

Thank you for trusting me. It means more than you know. He glanced at the floor of their balcony then back up. The anger in his voice turned soft, almost tender. Now go back inside. Let me handle this. Without making sure she had obeyed, he dashed to the edge and dove off.

Disregarding his order, Lorelei absorbed every movement he made. He hadn’t gone far before a Toraveru intercepted him forcing them down with a splash. Not missing a moment, her father jumped up and slammed into his attacker. As he fought beside other Keiyou warriors already engaged in battle, steadily decreasing the Toraveru numbers, two Toraveru fixed upon his position and rushed toward him. Her father spun in one fluid motion, gutting one and beheading the other, peppering his white wings in crimson.

Fully engaged and focused on his task, he appeared to be unstoppable. In awe she watched as he tirelessly defeated three more, marveling at the grace of his movements and also at the focused efficiency of the Keiyou army as they worked together to finish off the remaining Toraveru. Finally, with the immediate threat under control, the accompanying warriors left to answer a cry from the west, leaving her father alone amid a battlefield full of bloodied corpses.

From where she stood, she could see her father’s shoulders relax, but just as he yanked his sword out of the belly of the last Toraveru, one set of large gray wings suddenly appeared above the smaller trees to her left, its black lips stretched into a grin as it sped toward her father from behind. Lorelei screamed, trying to warn her father, but he didn’t hear her. The fight had finally sapped all his endless energy, and he stood with his sword down, exhausted.

She screamed again, but the rolls of thunder and downpour made it hard to even hear her own voice. In a quick moment, the Toraveru warrior landed behind him, swung its ax high, and brought it down upon her father’s back, shoving it all the way through. His face contorted and twitched in ways that could only be the result of unimaginable pain, and when his eyes, wide and unbelieving, caught sight of the blade sticking out of his chest, he fell to his knees.

Lorelei tried to move, but her mind was trying to shut down in an attempt to protect her from witnessing something she wasn’t strong enough to see. Helpless to do anything, she watched the monster stretch one of her father’s wings out with the intention of cutting it off, but even though blood poured from his chest, his blades were still clenched in his hands and miraculously began to move in outward arc. He wasn’t giving up. In a sudden burst of what must have been pure adrenaline, he managed to rise to his feet and cut the Toraveru down.

Before she could urge her body to run to him, another Keiyou appeared, and when her father could no longer stand, he caught him and gently helped him lie down. Violent gasps of air and weeping from behind told Lorelei that her sister had listened and was still safe. She had been in such a state of shock that she had lost track of Aletta. Lorelei turned her head.

Please, he wouldn’t want you to remember him this way. Stay here.

Aletta’s eyes widened in anger.

But you can go?

I have to. I’m the oldest.

Accepting what Lorelei told her without further question, Aletta nodded before hiding her face in her hands.

When Lorelei landed, the warrior threw off his helm, exposing hair the color of fire and eyes as green as emeralds, deep and full of sorrow.

He wishes to speak to you. I’ll be back to help you carry him. Before he left, he whispered something to her father, promising him something that she couldn’t quite make out, and then walked away.

Her mind was in denial as she tried to understand what he meant when he said he would help her carry him. Carry him where? Tears streamed down her face, mixing with the rain that poured down her drenched and freezing body. Unable to control her anxiety, her voice came out as a whimper.

Father?

When he held out his shaking hand, Lorelei’s heart ached at the sight of his broken, frail body resting in a pool of his own blood. Training dictated that she not appear weak, but she was unable to obey. Her legs shook, threatening to give out beneath her. No, she wasn’t strong. Not today. She ran to him, fell to her knees beside him, and grabbed his hand.

A deep, rattling cough rose from his chest and escaped his lips in an eruption of blood. When his hand found her face, she leaned into it and tried to speak but he shook his head.

Lorelei…I won’t last. I have to go. His eyelids fluttered, and then he refocused.

She refused to comprehend the truth in his words, certain it was her mind protecting her from the inevitable. Tears rolled down her face, mixing with the rain.

No, Father. You’re going to make it. Looking at the blood coming from his chest, she knew she was lying to them both.

The light in his eyes was starting to fade.

You have to be strong now and protect them for me. He paused to catch a shallow breath. You must be more disciplined than I was.

Did he just refer to himself in the past tense?

Never give in to the Renai. A pained smile stretched across his face. I love you, Butterfly. He drew in air, wheezing as his chest rose and then exhaled for the last time. Sobbing, she pulled him to her chest and cradled his head in her arms. When she looked up, the warrior was there, waiting to help her carry him.

Chapter 3

Silence permeated the forest bordering their sparring ground. Winter was upon them again, one year after her father’s death. She had always aspired to become one of the elites, the most honored and formidable of all their warriors, but now after his death, she not only desired to become an assassin, but she also embraced it.

Watching sweat drip down Darlek’s face, Lorelei followed the sound of feet crunching over brittle leaves just out of her view. As they stopped, their training master placed his hand on her back between her wings before walking around to face her. Following their customs, he placed his arms down the length of his body and bowed to her and then to Darlek, who lay on his back, defenseless in a pile of leaves. Before calling out the results, their trainer walked over to a nearby wooden table, dipped a feather into an inkwell, and wrote something on a piece of parchment.

Taking a moment before addressing them, he finally said, You’re free to go. In two days, you’ll find out if you’ve been selected for the Removal.

Lorelei withdrew her wooden training sword from where its dull tip rested on Darlek’s chest and sheathed it. As a show of respect, she reached down and offered her hand to her opponent.

Darlek hesitated before accepting it. Continuing to avoid her eyes, he reached to his side where his sword had been knocked away, grabbed it up, and reluctantly grasped her hand. He winced and stretched out his wings as she pulled him up.

Lorelei, you don’t have to be so vicious. I’m not your enemy.

She took one step toward him.

I’m sorry, I just—

He stopped her with his hand extended and scowled, rubbing his chest with the other. Turning away from her, he continued their argument as he stormed off with Lorelei trailing behind.

No, I’m tired of your apologies. You really need to find some control, or you’ll end up like your father. His footsteps stopped just as suddenly as he finished the sentence. He slowly turned to look at her and paused before continuing, his eyes full of uncertainty. You know that the elders should have taken care of your father when he first arrived back from the war. He was dangerous. At least you wouldn’t have that scar to always remind you he almost killed you three years ago.

Patience was something Lorelei had learned to master, but her will was being tested by his outburst. Her arm muscles tensed as she fought the urge to draw her sword and at least break some bones. Instead, she abruptly snapped open her wings. Burning with rage, she caressed the hilt of her sword.

My father died defending our village, and I had to watch him die at the feet of the Toraveru. Don’t ever speak of him in that manner!

Darlek’s glare softened.

Lorelei, we all lost loved ones that day. I’m truly sorry if I upset you. I had no right. I spoke before thinking. He paused for a moment; his eyebrows furrowed together while he tried to gather the right words. I’m just worried. Shifting to his other foot, he continued. Look, you know the way with the Renai. He could have just as easily killed me or, worse yet, you. The disease honors no boundaries.

She had no choice but to find truth in his words and allow them to sink in. Her father sacrificed himself to save her family and the village. He was right. It could have easily turned out differently. Deciding that he probably didn’t mean to upset her, she folded in her wings and rested them upon her back.

Darlek regarded her for a few moments then took a couple of careful steps forward and placed his hand upon her shoulder. When her muscles tightened under his touch, he didn’t flinch but instead firmed his grip.

"All I want is to caution you. It’s imperative that you control your emotions, but most importantly your anger. I don’t want to be in the crowd, watching your dishonorable death or bleeding out beneath you as you slowly torture me, begging for my life at the