Graves of the Gods: The Fallen Elves, #4

By Leah R Cutter

The last flying city totters on the edge of death, of falling gracelessly to the earth and becoming its own ruin.

 

The dwarves use one of the lost, god-killing weapons from the War of Betrayal, devastating the elves who have come to help Tanelith in her quest to free her people from slavery.

 

The humans also gather to destroy Tanelith and her dreams.

 

Can she find the allies, and more importantly, the magic, necessary to beat back all of her adversaries?

 

Graves of the Gods—the final book in this epic dark fantasy series—follows Tanelith through dark and abandoned places, both in the world as well as in her soul.

 

Be sure to pick up the earlier books in this completed series!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Knotted Road Press
• Release date: Jul 21, 2023
• ISBN: 9781644703632

Book preview

Chapter

One

Tanelith stood next to the campfire. Despite the heat from the flames, as well as the hot mug of tea that she held cupped in her hands, all she felt was cold. The moon had already set. Though it was nearly full, and Tanelith had drunk her fill of it and had regained her magical strength, her heart still felt weak and weary.

She’d spent the evening with the others Elves who’d survived their first encounter with the Gilukkhaz—known in the Common tongue as the Dwarves—picking up the bodies of their fallen companions.

So many dead.

They’d also gathered up the bodies of the Dwarves who they’d fought, most of whom had been slaughtered by their own people.

Had the Humans, the sun-worshipping Ilburh, found one of the weapons from the War of Betrayal? Ohthed’s lance? Why had they only used it once, to clear the field? Where had it gone? Everyone had been fighting for their lives after that, and no one alive knew where it was.

Were the Dwarves keeping it inside their mountain? They’d retreated back behind magical gates, locking themselves away there. According to the mages among the Egarlorsar, no one could open those gates against the will of the Dwarven king.

How long could the Gilukkhaz keep to themselves? Survive in their mountain kingdom? The assumption was at least a year, possibly longer.

And what was happening with the Egarlorsar slaves who’d been working the mines? Had the Gilukkhaz already slain them all?

Tanelith shivered as she remembered the cursed town that she’d gone to with Mironor and the others, how the Gilukkhaz had started killing every one of the Elves who had corrupted blood.

The rest of the people from that cursed town would arrive in the morning, another three hundred or so of the Egarlorsar. No fighters, but according to Indling, the person who was nominally the main elder in the town, there were some strong mages.

But then what? Tanelith automatically sipped her tea, trying to calm her suddenly racing heart.

Would there be more battle? How would they pry the Gilukkhaz out of their mountain? Or would all of the elves on the plain be dead come morning?

Since Ohthed’s lance was an Ilburh weapon, Tanelith and the others had reasoned that it would be powered by the sunlight. Just as their own combat armor was powered by the moonlight.

Should they still be there in the morning? An easy target once the lance was recharged, if that was what it needed?

They had moved their camp back, further away from the treacherous Dwarves, off the plain under the mountain, back closer to the trees, away from the foothills.

They weren’t safe, though. Not if Ohthed’s lance could pierce the heavens and bring down a floating city.

Tanelith had always wondered about the strange discoloration that ran down the center of the ruins of Lasirinth, the fallen city that she’d grown up in, on the Blasted Plains.

Had the lance been able to slice the city into two parts? Was that why part of the city appeared to have been burned?

And what about the dragon who’d powered the city? Had the lance pierced its heart first, causing the city to plummet to Ithlond, the waiting earth below?

A sound made Tanelith look up. One of the Elvish guardians stood there. Like Tanelith, she stood in her full suit of armor, milky-white glass that covered her from head to toe.

Unlike Tanelith, she shone like the full moon. It seemed that very few could wear the armor and keep themselves covered in shadows.

Then again, the Egarlorsar from the floating city of Vallethlar didn’t even acknowledge the Hidden One, not like the Elves who Tanelith had grown up with.

While the Goddess Celionael would bless them and make them strong, it was the Hidden One who kept them safe.

Yes? Tanelith said, pulling her head out of the clouds and focusing on the person in front of her.

I’m Niserie, the woman said. She had a much broader face than most of the Egarlorsar, with round cheeks that were slightly pink. She wore her blonde hair shorter, and it curled on the ends. I wanted to talk with you about Ohthed’s lance.

There isn’t much I can tell you, Tanelith said. She didn’t want to talk about it at all. But she should have known that the others would be curious about it.

You said that you knew a Human—an Ilburh male—who’d been looking for it? Niserie asked.

Aye, Tanelith said. She sighed. He had a map that showed places where he was looking for something. While some of the Ilburh believed that their hero, Ohthed, had been buried with the gods, other believed that he’d been buried where he’d fallen, and his lance had been buried with him.

Niserie pursed her lips in thought for a moment. We have both of those legends. There is also a single story about the Goddess Celionael having crafted a weapon of her own.

Really? Tanelith said, surprised. I’d never heard of such a thing.

Niserie nodded. It’s probably just a hopeful story. But if Ohthed’s lance is true, maybe the Goddess’s sword is as well.

I don’t know, Tanelith said. I don’t recall seeing any mention of that.

But if anyone knew, it would be Aaryn.

And he was still alive.

How do you know about these myths? Tanelith asked after a moment.

While I’m officially a guardian, I’m actually more of a historian, Niserie said with an embarrassed smile. I love the old books, the old legends. I’d love to hear your tales, sometime. I’m certain that what you know is different than what we do.

I’d like that, Tanelith said. I used to work with someone who kept piles of books and artifacts. He was always searching for old books, the old knowledge.

He sounds like just the sort of person I’d like to meet, Niserie said.

I know that he’d love to chat with you, to share stories. His rooms are stacked from floor to ceiling with books. He might be able to tell us more about Ohthed’s lance. And possibly about the Goddess’s sword.

You grew up on the Blasted Plains, though, right? Niserie said.

Yes, Tanelith said with a sigh. It’s many month’s journey from here. They were located in the foothills of the Nyramukz mountain range, all the way to the west of the settled lands. Her home, the small village of Alath, on the Dorwin river, was far to the east.

It might not be so far if you were flying there, Niserie said.

I don’t know, Tanelith said wryly. I don’t think even my magic is strong enough for my magic to fly there.

But Vallethlar could, Niserie said. Think about it.

The other Elf turned and walked away, leaving Tanelith in thought.

Should she direct the city to go to her home village? Would Olin have enough knowledge to warrant such a trip?

She longed to see her parents again. Her sisters and her friends. To stroll the softly curving streets of her village, or even to spend a day listening to the burbling of the river.

But she would be bringing war with her. Her village might be tainted with it, forever.

Tanelith couldn’t decide, not right then. Though she already knew what her choice was.

Though it broke her heart, she couldn’t go home. Not yet. Not until the war had been won.

If they lost, well, it wouldn’t matter. Alath would be doomed.

Chapter

Two

Tanelith dozed a little as the sun rose, then made herself get up and attend the war council. Though she wasn’t a trained warrior, she did know more about Ithlond and the peoples there than any of those who’d spent their lives on Vallethlar .

Galote, the great warrior in charge of all the guardians, led the meeting. She wore her long gray hair up in a what was for her a fairly neat bun. Her robes were plain and gray, like morning fog. The only adornment she had was the handpiece she wore, the one identical to Tanelith’s. It was as attached to Galote’s skin as Tanelith’s was. The only way to retrieve it would be from her dead body. It appeared as a thick cuff around her wrist, with similar thick bands around her thumb, middle finger, and pinky.

It would transform into the milky-white glass armor of the Elves when needed. The rest of the time, it appeared ceremonial, like the dagger that Galote, Tanelith, and most of the other warriors wore.

Elder Finatiel was also there. She’d been injured during the initial battle, and so had stayed behind, hadn’t followed the guardians up to the mind entrance. Her long silver hair was done in one long braid down her back, and her robes, while well made, were a plain brown, with no adornment. She looked less fancy than the others who’d arrived in their elegant robes from the city. Her hazel eyes were frowning as Tanelith drew near, and the wrinkles around her mouth were more pronounced.

Mironor also stood beside them. Tanelith knew that Vyncis would tease her yet again about her boyfriend. Still, Tanelith was glad to see Mironor was there, though his left arm was in a sling. He wore more sensible robes as well, done in a dark blue, which seemed to bring out the green in his eyes. He at least gave her a smile, as if he was happy to see her there.

Tanelith was introduced to the others—mainly fighters, though Niserie was also part of the council. Just before they started, Inling and Amindur also joined them. They both looked tired, but when the messengers had arrived with news of the battle, they’d made the decision to travel through the night to be with them in the morning.

So the Gilukkhaz are hidden in their mountain. I don’t know of any magic strong enough to roust them, Galote started off with. They have Ohthed’s lance, which they may start using again at any time, now that the sun has returned. They were intent on killing all of the Egarlorsar at your village, she said with a nod toward Inling. And they have probably warned the Ilburh king of what is going on, so we should expect an army of Human warriors to show up, marching across the plains toward us, at any time.

Tanelith hadn’t thought about the Ilburh getting involved, but she should have known that they would.

The other races all hated the Egarlorsar, for their crimes in the past. Using those to justify the awful things that they now did to the Elves.

Does that just about cover it? Galote said, looking around.

The city’s dying, Elder Finatiel added. Vallethlar won’t fly for very long.

Right. And we can’t go home. There’s no place for us to run to. Galote looked around the group, her eyes hard. Is this where the Egarlorsar make their final stand?

There are other Elves, Tanelith pointed out. Those who live in the Broken Mountains and the Blasted Plains. Not all of our people would die, even if we had a great battle here. They’d merely be enslaved by the others.

And how do you intend to free them? Galote challenged.

Tanelith had thought about that a lot. Why do you think that there’s only one way into and out of the mountain? That the Dwarves are stuck there?

That’s what all the books say, Niserie said firmly. It’s one thing that all the texts agree on.

Tanelith couldn’t help but give an inelegant snort. Those texts are all at least five hundred years old, possibly older. Things have changed down here on Ithlond since you withdrew.

What are you saying? Elder Finatiel said.

You don’t worship the Hidden One up in Vallethlar, Tanelith said, trying to keep the bitterness out of her tone. Many of you have lost the ability to conceal yourselves in shadows.

Yes, that’s true, Galote said. I tried to keep up the practice among the guardians, but it has fallen out of favor.

Though the God Zanargil has decreed that all of the Gilukkhaz sleep under the earth, I doubt that he also commanded that they limit themselves to a single entrance and exit, Tanelith said. The Dwarves have also learned the lessons of the Hidden One. They will have other ways to get out of their mountain.

The other Egarlorsar looked at each other. Tanelith could see that the idea hadn’t really occurred to them. Then again, it hadn’t occurred to her until late in the evening, as she’d been dozing.

She, too, had been swept up in the notion of a single entrance and exit. It had taken her a while to apply some logic and see just how stupid that was.

While the Gilukkhaz might be crazy, they weren’t dumb.

What are you proposing? Galote asked.

Keep some of your scouts watching the main entrance. Possibly make them obvious, so that the Dwarven watchers can see them. Have them make mistakes and shine with their armor every once in a while, Tanelith said. But the rest of your scouts should be looking for another way into the mines.

Galote nodded. The carts that the Gilukkhaz used to escape us when we first came down to Ithlond didn’t need a road. They made their trail as they rode along. Do you think they could also make an entrance in to the mine like that as well?

No, that would take too much work, Tanelith said. But it means that there won’t be an obvious trail leading to the other entrance. And it probably won’t be hidden with magic. It’s possible to sculpt the rocks such that they fool the eye, and you won’t see the entrance until you’re practically tripping over it.

What then? Elder Finatiel asked. What if we do find another way into the mines?

We have two objectives at that point, Tanelith said. Free any of the Egarlorsar slaves who are still alive. The Gilukkhaz have probably killed most of them, but some of them might still live.

And? Galote said. What other fool mission would you send us on?"

Tanelith bit back her comment about how saving their own people wasn’t foolish. Instead, she blithely continued.

Steal Ohthed’s lance.

Chapter

Three

Tanelith went to visit Vyncis in the healer’s area after the war council.

No one was happy with what she’d proposed. However, no one had been able to come up with a better idea.

Galote was certain they were all heading for their deaths. In a way, she was right. Those who lived in Vallethlar might never return to those elegant halls before the city itself died, the ancient dragon who carried them through the clouds dying.

Would Leonaxidaius’s heart fail and the city plummet to the ground without warning? Or would they have some warning, and be able to get away?

The healer’s area was the farthest away from the foothills, tucked in among the trees. Many of the injured would never leave that area. Galote had primarily brought warriors down to Ithlond, not healers.

Tanelith tried not to be mad at her arrogance, that a few hundred trained warriors would be able to win the war against the Gilukkhaz, as well as the Ilburh.

Amindur was already there in the area, along with his wife, Galacirien, tending to those who needed help. The old healer moved with a much more lively step than Tanelith had recalled him using before. Maybe it was because this was his calling.

Vyncis lay next to an oak tree, though the tree was barely worthy of the name. It was more like a scrub oak, closer to the ground, with a trunk no bigger around than a man’s torso.

Still, Tanelith’s heart lifted when she saw that the Meerimec was not only awake, but regaling those near him with a tale. His brown skin still had a pale hue to it, but the smile he gave her was full of cheer. He wore one of his own black shirts, the boxy kind that the Meerimec favored, that weren’t tailored on the sides or arms.

When Tanelith got closer, she