Aeolian's Quest Book II: Three Pretenders: Aeolian's Quest, #2

By Jeff Brown

Immediately following the events of "Aeolian's Quest Book I," Aeolian has reunited with Jag, the father of her children, but he has no memory of his past other than his name. She then begins the second part of her quest to confront and oppose the reign of the Sorceress, the ruler of Tellusia, a realm inaccessible to the citizens of Atherra for centuries. Those having supported her are scattered and she brings them back together for a final showdown with the Sorceress after facing the Three Pretenders, ancient beings called forth by the Sorceress to sow the seeds of chaos across Tellusia and to begin her infiltration and eventual takeover of Atherra. Aeolian also travels, after meeting the Builder, a man from another dimension with strange technology at his disposal, in an attempt to regain the power she's lost and restore the memory of her betrothed, Jag.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jeff Brown
• Release date: Feb 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215943304

Jeff Brown

Jeff Brown created the beloved character of Flat Stanley as a bedtime story for his sons. He has written other outrageous books about the Lambchop family, including Flat Stanley, Stanley and the Magic Lamp, Invisible Stanley, Stanley’s Christmas Adventure, Stanley in Space, and Stanley, Flat Again! You can learn more about Jeff Brown and Flat Stanley at www.flatstanleybooks.com.

Book preview

SPECIAL THANKS

I can’t take all the credit for this one. I had a great deal of help with the inspiration and motivation to perform the actual task of writing and putting this story together, along with a great deal of constructive criticism and some absolutely fantastic and brilliant ideas. Though she didn’t do any of the actual writing, I couldn’t have done this without the aid of Karen Bates.

CONSTANT SUPPORT

I also want to thank the people that have given me such great support and inspiration through the process of writing this book and several more. I couldn’t have done it so easily without them.

Jodi Albritton, Lindy Allbritton, DeAnna Allen, Jay Allen, Doug Arbo, Kevin Barr, Daniel Bartlett, Karen Bates, Suraya Birkhoff, Lisa Bishop, Eldon Blalock, Sandy Bloodworth, Rene Bordelon, Kayla Bruce, Ramona Burrow, Faith Cooper, Regina Cowart, Samantha Cummings, Paul Dancsisin, Ken Deal, Valerie Easley, Wanda Faircloth, Catherine Farrell-Kelly, Georgia Fleming, Dee Freeman, Lynn Greene, Ray Hamilton, Jennifer M. Harwell, Jerry Ann Henderson, Monique Hibbs, Dorothy Howell, Pam Huffman, Melissa Jackson, Jody Johnson, Angela Jones, Jobina Khoo, Dana King, Terry Koopman, Cleve Langston, Mary Larsen, Hal Maranto, Jason Marsalis, Scott McGehee, Jeremy Middleton, Jennifer Miller, Byron Montgomery, Brandy Pittman, Carol Price, Jodie Regan, Mandie Ritchie, Jackie Robbins, Donna Rochel, Tim Rochel, Francis Rodriguez, Jacob Rosenthal, Braxton Rushing, Megan Salvador, Melinda Slemaker, Penny Slemaker, Bonnie Stewart, Melissa Summersell, Jimmy Turner, Polly Varnado, Steffan Vorenkamp, Rebecca Wallace, Chris Waller, Anna Whittington, Mike Wimmer, Veronica Wimmer, Sydney Woodson

THREE PRETENDERS

CHAPTER ONE

A Quiet Revelation

You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, he said almost reverently, his jaw agape, his steel gray eyes wide with awe, and his head tilted slightly to the left.

She moved slowly toward him and smiled warmly as she said, Jag.

His gape turned to a frown, his steel gray eyes narrowing slightly as he asked, How do you know my name? Do you know me?

Of course, Aeolian said as she continued toward him just as slowly. Do you remember me?

He shook his head slowly and said, I’m sorry, no, I don’t. Should I?

Yes, you idiot, Lisa said and moved forward as well, her stride a little more confident and forceful as she shook her head slowly. This is the woman you were going to marry. What’s wrong with you?

He glanced at Lisa, shock and surprise coming over his face, and said, I have no idea. Who are you people and what are you doing here?

The others gathered around, moving close to Aeolian, as Carius moved closer to Jag. Both men had bewildered expressions on their faces as they watched the group carefully. They didn’t know what to expect and were prepared for a major confrontation. Carius wasn’t quite so certain these people were there to do them harm. The beautiful woman staring at Jag seemed to know him and now the slightly shorter woman claimed Jag had been intended to marry the first. None of it made sense to him and he hoped they would clear it up quickly.

Your name is Jason Garrett, Lisa continued. You were brought here from Earth. You followed Aeolian after you helped her survive being attacked in our home town of Corbett. Does any of this ring a bell?

He shook his head slowly, I have no memory of those things. I don’t remember anything before I arrived here.

It’s been more than two years, Aeolian said, frowning as she neared him. I thought Locrian had killed you.

Her smile returned as she continued, But you’re alive and that means we can take you home to our children.

Children? he asked, continuing to frown, more confused and lost than ever. We have children?

Yes, Aeolian nodded. We have twins, Belexes and Talon. They’re almost two years old and have never seen their father. It’s time you met them.

We cannot, Pirouette said and moved closer to Aeolian. The Atman will not return for more than two weeks and there are other things at work here we must deal with.

Aeolian snapped her head toward Pirouette and asked gruffly, What? What must we deal with before we can return Jag to his children?

Danaki stood beside Pirouette and looked at Aeolian as she said, Pirouette is correct. We must deal with the Sorceress. We must find out where she is and what she plans before she can amass the force necessary to invade Atherra.

Aeolian scowled, looking at her intensely, and finally nodded slowly as she said, I don’t know where to begin.

The Builder will help, Jag said and moved toward her slowly, feeling a sudden change in himself, being drawn to Aeolian for more than merely her physical beauty. We’ll go back to his lab and see if he has some way to help us. He has no love for the Sorceress and is trying to remove her as well.

Aeolian looked at the others then focused on Jag, her dark green eyes wide and bright, and said, If the Atman won’t return for two weeks, we have to find shelter and food. It seems like this Builder is our best option.

She looked at Jag and asked, How do we get there?

He shrugged and said, Well, Carius and I could fly there, but we can’t carry all of you with us. It took us over an hour to fly here at our fastest speed. It might take a day or longer for us all to walk there.

Aeolian thought about it for just a second. There really was no alternative. They needed to find shelter and a place to regroup, to prepare for whatever they needed to do. Her mind was racing, conflicted with thoughts of reuniting with Jag, wanting to take him back to Atherra to see his children for the first time, and knowing they needed to stop the Sorceress and her plan to take over Atherra, conquering the entire world. She was torn between those choices, but she’d spent two years wandering the world, looking for some sign of hope, and she’d finally found it, along with her voice. As had become typical with her life, there were more obstacles in her path, more to keep her from following her own agenda and getting what she truly wanted.

We should begin, she said almost coldly, not excited by the thought of remaining in the land of Tellusia any longer. We need to find shelter and food first.

I know where to find food, Caius offered, taking a step forward and glancing at Jag. We can get it from the miners.

Jag looked at him and frowned, That’ll mean facing Vastrion and his guards again.

Carius smirked, Not if they don’t see us.

What are you talking about? Elysius asked, moving between Lisa and Warren.

Jag looked at him and said, There are slave mines not far from here and not far from the path we’ll take to the Builder. They have food and supplies.

What are they mining? Elysius asked, frowning at him.

Jag shrugged, Mostly Thracite, but they’re also looking for Moonstone. Carius and I have found a bit, more than any others, but it wasn’t much.

Moonstone, Aeolian said distantly. I’ve heard of Moonstone. It’s a magical element. I haven’t encountered it, but I’ve heard it can supposedly do a number of things.

She looked at Elara and said, Maybe that’s how the Stormbringer managed to cross the Barrier.

Perhaps so, Elara replied, nodding slowly.

Aeolian looked at Jag and asked, Where is this Moonstone taken?

He shrugged and replied, It was taken from us by Vastrion, the slave master. He is in the employ of the Sorceress, as are all the overseers and slavers. It’s kept locked away until there’s enough to be brought to her.

Aeolian nodded slowly, thoughtfully. From what she knew about Moonstone, it was an element capable of storing, altering, and shaping magical energies. She had never seen any of the element and wasn’t positive of its properties, or if it actually did anything. No one had seen it in centuries, since before the Storm Barrier had been put in place, and she wondered if the element could help her regain any of her abilities, if any of the legends were true.

We cannot worry about that, Jhonika said. We must find a way to stop the Sorceress. That is our priority.

Aeolian looked at her, frowning, and said, Maybe the Moonstone would help us.

Elysius moved closer, shaking his head, and said, The Moonstone will probably help. It could make a big difference in dealing with Anomar. If it helped Scirocco cross the Barrier, it’s definitely powerful and we’ll need all the power we can get.

True, Aeolian nodded and looked at him. We’re going to the mine.

Carius and Jag, standing side by side, took a step forward and Carius said, I will lead the way.

Jag then lifted his helmet and focused on Aeolian as he said, I’ll contact the Builder. Maybe he has a way to get us there faster.

Good, Aeolian said and looked at him, feeling a sense of loss once again as she thought about him and his loss of memory. Do that.

He nodded once and placed the helmet over his head. It took a moment for the system to start and the curving screen inside the helmet to activate. Once it did, he mentally activated the communication system and made contact with Brymont.

The older man appeared in front of him on the curving screen inside his helmet, seated at his desk.

What is it? Brymont asked. I need an update.

Jag nodded and said, We’ve encountered a group from Atherra. They’re here to stop the Sorceress from invading their land, but we need help.

What kind of help? Brymont asked skeptically.

The leader of this group, a woman named Aeolian, believes she can find Moonstone at the mines, he said. She says it’ll help in dealing with the Sorceress.

Brymont shook his head, How can I help with that? I don’t have any connections in the mines.

We need transportation, Jag replied. This group is rather large. There are nine of them and it’s a long walk to the mines and back to the lab."

Brymont sat back and heaved a sigh, I don’t have the right system set up in your suits, but they would only work for the two of you anyway. The best I can do is divert Delkan and his zeppelin to meet you at the mine. He and Neandra will bring you here from there, but it’ll take them a while to get there.

Jag nodded, If this group moves well, we’ll reach the mine in a few hours, shortly before sunset. We’ll wait until dark to try and get inside. Hopefully, it won’t take long to find what she wants and get out of there.

Okay, Brymont nodded. I’ll contact Delkan and have him settle nearby an hour or so after sunset, but it’ll be far enough away that the mine guards won’t see him. I’ll have him send you his location once he’s in place and he’ll wait until you either get there or let him know the plans have changed.

Sounds good, Jag said. Thank you.

Before Jag could do anything else, Brymont broke the connection and the screen reverted to a projection of his surroundings. He took a single deep breath then took off the helmet, ready to tell Aeolian the plan.

As he lifted the helmet from his head, the ground began to shake. The rough sand began to shimmer and moved around their feet. The others, as did Jag, began looking around for the source of the tremor. After a second, he focused on Aeolian, drawn to her for some reason, and watched as she held her hands out a bit to steady herself in the shifting sands and he wanted to move toward her, to protect her the best he could, but before he could take a single step the sands shifted again and the low rumble accompanying the tremor became a series of loud cracking sounds, the pitch a bit higher than the rumble.

With those cracks, the sands erupted in numerous spots as large, pointed cylinders of dark translucent crystal shot upward, spraying sand around the group. A few of them let out yelps of surprise and most began to shift away from those eruptions.

Jag looked around sharply and set his jaw as he focused on the ground and the source of the rising crystal. One shot upward a few feet in front of him, between him and Aeolian, and he spun around it then stopped.

Then there was a scream. One of the men, the man called Tocca, yelled in pain and Jag looked at him to see one of the crystal protrusions push quickly through his body, starting at his lower back and rising through his chest. Blood began to pour from the wounds, darkening the sand around him, and also erupted from his mouth.

Nearer Aeolian, another one shot up and pierced the body of Elysius, lodging within him and lifting him off his feet. He let out only a grunt and hung suspended for a moment, the thick cylinder, nearly a foot across at its widest, became coated in his blood, but his eyes remained open and his face was set in a rictus of pain.

Jag didn’t know what to do and just stood his ground, waiting to see what happened next and watched Aeolian carefully, ready to do his best to help her if something happened.

As more and more of the cylinders broached the surface, a flash of brilliant white light, tinged with a dark purple, flashed through the clustered group, causing Jag to squint against it and to tense as fear flooded through him, the fear of something happening to Aeolian while he was effectively blinded.

The light vanished after only an instant and the cylinders retreated into the ground as quickly as they’d appeared. The bodies of Tocca and Elysius collapsed to the ground and Tocca remained inert, unmoving, but Elysius rolled onto his side and groaned in pain.

Aeolian looked around sharply, frowning, and slowly shook her head as she realized that three of the group, Elara, Danaki, and Colleen, were no longer with them.

CHAPTER TWO

The Flight

The sensation of flight. Nessun had never felt anything quite like it. She felt like she was falling and moving forward at the same time while the gentles waves of the sea far below her remained at a constant distance, a point of focus. Along with Dorma and Brylen, she flew in formation with the woman that had rescued them from imprisonment on Valkar Isle, Bonnista. She was fairly tall and thin, birdlike in a way, and the brilliantly colored streamers flowing from her outstretched arms, wide strips of light and energy, were warm and inviting, seeming to reach out toward the three of them though they faded before actually touching. Nessun could feel the warmth of the energy flowing through her and giving her the ability to remain aloft. It was an incredible feeling and she wondered if it would last once Bonnista brought them to the ground.

The woman hadn’t said much before leaving Valkar Isle, telling them only that they were needed to help Aeolian return to the throne. The idea confused Nessun at first. Aeolian had been on the throne the last she’d heard, having taken it from Kavalle. Something must have happened after they’d been banished and she wanted to know how Aeolian had been removed from the throne she’d gone through so much to obtain. It made no sense. Aeolian was the strongest, most powerful woman Nessun had ever met and it scared her to think there was possibly someone else strong enough to remove her. She was still alive, at least, and a ray of hope remained for her to return and resume control of Atherra once again.

Nessun relaxed after a few moments in the air, allowing the sensation to flow through her as she settled into the idea of flying, something she’d never imagined doing, and she found it to be thrilling. A glance to her left showed that Dorma wasn’t feeling quite as comfortable with it. Her jaw was set firmly and her eyes were wide. The toughest woman Nessun had ever seen was actually afraid of something. The idea brought a light smile to Nessun’s full lips and she looked away after a second, not wanting to embarrass Dorma.

Brylen, though, was much more comfortable with the idea of flight. Before her ability as a Malist had been removed, she had been able to transform into a raven. She looked absolutely at home in the air, definitely more comfortable than Dorma and just a bit more than Nessun. A faint smile, a satisfied smile, spread across her face, stretching her lips, but a slight narrowness of her eyes told Nessun just how much Brylen had missed being in the air.

Nessun focused her attention on Bonnista, though. She was an enigma, something they’d never seen before, and she wanted to know how the woman had come to find them, rescue them, and what she had planned for them.

They weren’t returning to Valdora, Nessun was sure of that. Bonnista led them west after leaving Valkar Isle, heading more toward Malistan, Brylen’s home. From what Nessun knew of the realm, no one remained in Malistan. The few of the residents they’d encountered, the Malist, had departed with Aeolian as she and the others left the land after having been deposited there on their return from Earth while the remaining few had been killed during an invasion of the realm by the forces directed by Tocca. She assumed it was possible others were living there, people they hadn’t encountered during their travels, but it seemed like a remote possibility.

They flew rapidly, but the wind Nessun had expected, as if traveling rapidly on horseback across an open plain, wasn’t there. She felt a bit of wind occasionally, but nothing too rough. The warm air of the southern region provided a gentle, comforting breeze and made their travels less stressful.

Knowing the distance from Valkar Isle to Malistan and the time it took for her to see dry land beneath her didn’t seem long enough and she assumed they were traveling much faster than it had appeared despite the lack of wind in her face.

The coast of Malistan was recognizable to all of them, but more for Brylen than the other two. She felt a bit of a thrill at the return to her home. She knew the situation had changed, that no other Malist were there, but it was still her home and she wanted to see what it was like after having been away for such a long time. She knew there were others there, people the Malist had done their best to avoid, and she knew very little about them. They were human and had no real special abilities, unlike the people she’d been associated with since meeting Aeolian.

Bonnista remained silent for the duration of the flight, expending a tremendous amount of energy to keep all four of them in the air and moving forward. The energy would regenerate soon enough and she would be ready for the next phase of her plan. She just hoped the three she’d rescued would be agreeable to what she had in mind.

Once they were over land and sailing across the land of Malistan, her dark eyes scanned the ground, the thick trees covering most of the realm, until she spotted a narrow path leading to a wide clearing and a number of buildings inside the open space. It was a town far from the area where the Malist had lived and she felt the presence of the one person she needed to reach. With that sensation of closeness, a stronger presence in her mind, she began descending and the four landed gently at the edge of the town a few moments after the town came into view.

As they settled to the ground, lowered as if on strings, Bonnista took a deep breath and felt the energy already beginning the process of renewal. It wouldn’t be long before she was once again at full power.

As the others settled to the ground behind her and looked around, still confused about the situation as well as the means of and reason for their escape, Bonnista faced them, sensing the people in the village now behind her having taken notice of their arrival with a few moving to greet or challenge them. She wasn’t sure which, but they would arrive in moments and gave her little time to prepare an explanation they would understand.

She looked over the three and finally settled her gaze on Nessun and began, As I have said, my name is Bonnista. I am known as the Aviar. It is my nature to seek balance in the world, to bring stability to the powers in control. The stability of the world is rapidly fading into entropy and this must cease. To restore the balance, Aeolian must reclaim her throne and accept another level of power. She can only do this with the defeat of the Sorceress and the restoration of the one she most trusts. We are here because we must find one person, one you know, to join us in our quest to find Aeolian and ensure her safe return to power.

Nessun frowned and leaned slightly forward, glancing over Bonnista’s shoulder at the small group rapidly approaching, as she asked, Who are we here to find?

A Communer, Bonnista replied. She will be able to assist in healing the mind of the one Aeolian trusts.

Nessun nodded as a group of three men approached, one of them heavily armed. Bonnista turned to face them and looked them over carefully as they drew slowly and cautiously closer, their expressions showing their distrust.

The first, the armed man, was tall, but not as tall as the man on his right. His receding hairline made his face appear longer and narrower while his narrowed eyes were locked on her and his gloved hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his left hip. The taller man beside him was dressed in loose, cream-colored trousers and tunic, his dark hair short and appeared windswept. His features were softer than those of the first man, his eyes wider but somehow seemed a bit more intense. The third, shorter with blond hair tinged with a bit of light red, had a soft face with an expression that was almost a smile.

Nessun, Dorma, and Brylen moved closer to Bonnista, almost seeming to look to her for protection. They huddled close together and, thankfully, remained silent as Bonnista stared at the three approaching with an almost benevolent smile on her face.

The three men stopped several feet from them and the dark-haired man looked at her.

You are not welcome here, he said. I am Wikmer, Chief Elder of Vadrum. We do not allow outsiders to enter.

Bonnista leaned slightly forward, her smile still in place, and said, Yet you have given sanctuary to a rather large group from Valdora. We seek only to meet with them. Once we have concluded our business with them, which should take only a short while, we will be on our way.

Wikmer nodded once and said, But you have not yet told me your names and I would prefer to know the nature of your business concerning our guests.

I am Bonnista, she said with a nod and a light curtsy. I am the Aviar. My companions are Nessun, Dorma, and Brylen. We are here to find one named Fidelia and have her join us on our quest to locate and assist Aeolian.

The armed man, Torman, shook his head slowly, Do you work for the one laying siege to Tumis?

No, Bonnista shook her head, still smiling lightly. We do not work for the one known as the Stormbringer. We are here only to serve the interests of Lady Aeolian, the true Queen of Atherra.

I believe them, the third man, Sandor, said with a sharp nod. It appears they are telling the truth.

Bonnista straightened up and gestured toward the other three women with her left hand as she said, These are three that assisted Aeolian on her previous journey. Nessun and Dorma have been friends of Aeolian since childhood. Brylen, once a Malist, is native to this land. One of the group you are giving refuge, a woman named Skyra, will easily identify Brylen. They will all recognize Nessun and Dorma.

Wikmer glared at her and said, If not, you will face our judgment.

Of course, Bonnista bowed