Wood Lord And The Seer

By A. E. DAWSON

A young woman trained for war in a land where none exists.

The first Wood Lord to be born in a thousand years, fleeing a life he never wanted.

Both are thrown together in a desperate attempt to save the ones they love.

Angela has spent her whole life training to fight in a war she's never seen. She's been built into a weapon until one day the tables turn and she finds herself fleeing for her life from the only man she's ever trusted.

Injured and on the cusp of death, she's saved by Daryn, the first Wood Lord to be born in over a thousand years.

In a race to save the ones they love, these two must learn to master the magic their ancestors were born with before it's too late.

Join Daryn and Angela as they are forced from their homeland and caught up in the middle of an age-old struggle between the people of the plains, the elemental races, dragons, and the king that rules them all.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Sep 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886851809

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Wood Lord And The Seer

A. E. DAWSON

ISBN 979-8-88685-179-3 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88685-180-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by A. E. Dawson

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Prologue

The Battle for Calle

Life on Death's Blade

Broken Histories

A Legend Born

The Domirian Forest

Wood Lord

The Student Becomes the Teacher

A Seer in Training

The Shurkan Lands

Enemies of the King

The Battle of Sheek

Rebel Allies

Training for War

Eurcalp Torture Chambers

Winning Allies and Enemies

March on Eurcalp

The Attack

About the Author

Prologue

Light flickered over Angela's face, casting her amber eyes into shadow as she knelt across the glade from Calle. When she turned, the evening sunlight kissed a small scar decorating her hairline, and Calle grimaced at the memories it brought. It was his fault she'd been injured that day. And it was his fault their family was being torn apart.

Oblivious to the dark turn Calle's thoughts had taken, Angela looked up from the rabbits she was skinning to smile at him.

So what do you think Mom and Dad are talking about?

Probably when they're going to send me to the Training Center, Calle turned away, ashamed. It's obvious Dad's hunting contracts are going to get passed to you, which leaves me with no trade and no future prospects.

Angela glared as she bent back to her work. Her blade moved with deathly precision as she deftly stripped the rabbit of its hide and moved to the next one. As the oldest by seven years, she had already begun training with their father before Calle had been born. She'd taken to it like a nymph to water. By the time Calle had been old enough to train, there had been no point. She was just too far ahead of him; he could have never caught up. But that was fine by Calle. He shuddered as she gutted one of the rabbits. Nothing got to her. She was invincible, but not Calle.

You're too young for the Center. They'd tear you apart! Angela fumed, twirling her knife through her fingers aggressively before turning to her next catch.

Calle shrugged self-consciously and stuck his hands in his pockets, trying not to show how much her words hurt. He might not be the fighter she was, but he wasn't helpless.

I don't think it matters. Mom and Dad were arguing about something before they sent me out to find you. They sounded pretty mad. Game hasn't been as good this year. I bet they can't afford to keep me here.

No! I won't let them. I've got several rabbits and a fox skin that I'm curing back at the cabin. That'll fetch a good price at market this fall. I won't let them take you, Cal. I won't. And when I'm old enough and can take over Dad's contracts, I'll make sure it's never brought up again.

Do you promise? Calle looked over at Angela, his eyes slightly obscured by the mess of brown curls that hung over them. At barely thirteen, he was already nearly as tall as Angela. But he knew his height wouldn't do him any favors. It would just make him more of a target at the Center.

Angela wiped her blade on the grass and rose to her feet, the muscles in her arms flexing beneath her cloak as she slipped the knife into its sheath. Her steps were smooth and confident as she crossed the clearing to drape her arm over Calle's shoulder, holding out her other hand.

Calle grinned, and they clasped fingers in a familiar vow.

I will always look out for you. I promise. Family sticks together. Besides, Mom would never let you go to the Center. She needs your help too much for that. By the stars, Cal, you know I'm no help finding the herbs she needs for her patients!

Calle laughed. Yeah, you'd be more likely to kill them rather than heal them.

Exactly. So forget about the Center. Everything is going to be fine. Mom and Dad just need some time to themselves.

Journal Entry 1

It's been three years since my last entry. I haven't been able to bring myself to write in here since Mom got sick. I was too busy taking care of her. Then after she died…well, it brought back too many memories. But now I find myself surrounded by strangers with no one to turn to but her memory. How I miss her! And Angela…though I shouldn't. After all, she has abandoned me.

Four days ago, Dad and I left the mountain. I still can't believe it, to be honest. No one has ever left. Until now. But when Dad asked Angela to come with us, she refused (or so he says). I have to assume he's telling the truth since she's not here.

Dad is back on the mountain right now, trying to change her mind, but he didn't sound hopeful. That leaves me with four army brutes with swords for brains and a general named Anik. I actually like him. He's the only one that treats me like I'm a year away from manhood. Everyone else is just mad that they're stuck sitting in this sorry excuse for a camp waiting for Dad to come back. They say they're friends of his, but I get the feeling they won't wait much longer.

This land is so different from my home back at Caplana. Even the nights here are hot. And the days are sweltering. I've never felt heat like this before. The kind that clings to you like a wet blanket, making it hard to breath.

Dad said Caplana wasn't safe for us anymore, but I couldn't get him to explain why. Getting Dad to talk was always more of Angela's specialty. I'm sure she would feel right at home down here. She'd be busy flirting with the soldiers, no doubt. At least, it'd be a break from the stifling silence and frustrated glares the soldiers keep sending my way. Like it's somehow my fault Dad isn't back yet.

How does Dad even know these guys? I thought he'd spent his whole life on the mountain like the rest of us. Apparently, I was wrong. I wonder if Angela knew. How I wish she were here! Why didn't you come, sis?

Calle

The Battle for Calle

Angela slowly wove scraps of fabric around her fingers. They shook imperceptibly, and she tried to calm her racing heart. Morning fog clung to the back of her throat, burning as she sucked in a ragged breath. Before her loomed the Litikan Cliffs. The mountain range was one of the few places on the plateau that remained unexplored. Caves dotted its face, leaving it cratered like an old man who had seen too many summers. Sharp rocks and jagged outcroppings made climbing it nearly impossible.

The villagers gave the cliffs a wide berth, refusing to settle anywhere near them. Even wild animals avoided the place. It was said there was a creature that lived deep within the mountain. A creature that even the Ancients feared. The first of the sun's rays stretched through the forest floor but never reached Angela as the Litikan's deep shadows drove the light back. Angela shuddered and craned her head back, trying to see the top. But fog clung to the rocks and stones, denying her gaze and obscuring the mountain's face.

Angela wiped trembling hands against her damp pant legs, wishing for all the world that there was another way. But she didn't have time to search the forest for Calle. He'd gone missing the day before, and the only thing she could think of that would keep him away from home was that he had been injured somehow. And for some reason, she had been forbidden to search for him. This was her best shot to find him before she got caught. If she could climb high enough, maybe she could catch sight of Calle's campfire through the trees. At least then she'd know where to look for him.

Shaking the nerves from her hands, Angela put her foot to the first ledge and began climbing. It was slow going. The fog made the rocks slippery and treacherous to navigate. She gritted her teeth as she forced herself up to the next handhold. Her legs shook beneath her, their strength nearly gone after the long sprint that had taken her to the cliffs. She'd need to hurry if she didn't want to end up another casualty of the mountain.

The ground began to disappear beneath her as climbed, hidden by the low-lying clouds, and she reached for the next lip in the stone. Suddenly, her foot slid out from under her along a moss-covered ledge, pulling the rest of her body with it. Scraping at the rock with her toes, she tried to find something to support her weight, but the mountain face was slick from years of rain. Her fingers spasmed as she tried to hold herself up, one finger after another slipping from their hold.

A tendril of sunlight illuminated a small crag where she might be able to find solid purchase, and she swung her legs toward it. But as her toes reached for it, her fingers gave out, and she fell sidelong down the ledge. Turning, she clawed at the rock in a frenzied search for handholds but found nothing as her feet slid into empty air, her body careening toward the face of the adjoining cliff.

* * * * *

Sluggishly, Angela opened her eyes and blinked several times. A thick darkness clung to her, interrupted only by a small stream of light filtering in from a point several feet above her. Angela groaned and rubbed at her head, pain lacing through it as she squinted up at the small gap. She must have hit her head when she'd fallen in and blacked out. But for how long?

The opening was quite a bit higher off the ground than she was tall and only a couple of feet wide, just barely big enough for her to fit through as she fell. It was so small Angela wasn't surprised that she hadn't noticed it during her climb. The rock around the opening was smooth from years of rain, offering no handholds for her to pull herself up with. There was no hope of leaving the way she'd come in.

This isn't going to be fun, she muttered, looking away from the entrance to where the cavern disappeared into the mountain. Angela took a deep breath to steel herself before turning her back on the light and taking a step deeper into the tunnel.

She moved cautiously, keeping one hand on the cave wall and the other held up above her head to warn her of any stunted ceilings. As she traveled further in, she tripped over unexpected ledges and rocks as the floor began slanting downward, the light becoming a distant memory as the Litikans wrapped around her.

When she came to a point where she'd have to crawl on her hands and knees to continue, Angela stopped. With no light, she couldn't tell how small the tunnel got. A shudder coursed through her, and she took a step back.

I can't do this. I can't go in there. If I get stuck…

She stumbled back against the tunnel's wall and pulled her knees up to her chest.

With every breath she took, the damp cave air filled her lungs, reminding her of where she was no matter how hard she tried to imagine otherwise. What if the stories were true? What if there really was a creature living in the tunnels?

The cold climbed into Angela's bones, making her tired muscles ache from the strain of navigating the passageways. Creature or no creature, she wouldn't survive long sitting still. With one last breath, Angela opened her eyes and lowered herself to her hands and knees, pushing her way into the small opening. Rocks dug into her kneecaps and small ledges battered at her shins as she struggled forward. The hanging rocks from the ceiling forced her to continually duck lower to avoid bashing her head into them until she was nearly on her stomach.

The cave walls closed in on her, and time lost all meaning as she forced herself to keep moving forward. Damp rock pressed in on all sides as thoughts of the cave walls collapsing tormented her, the face of an unnamed beast forever forefront in her mind.

Angela's muscles shook from being forced to remain in such an unnatural position as blood soaked through the pads covering her kneecaps. She was ready to give up when she noticed a soft light brushing her fingers, turning them a pale blue. With renewed energy and a few extra bumps and bruises to show for it, she inched forward, anxious to see if this exit was any larger than the last one.

But when Angela rounded the curve, she was met with only the bleak gloom of the mountain's stomach. The light she'd seen emanated from a small pool by the edge of the cavern, not from an opening as she'd hoped. Squirming the last few feet, she crawled out of the shaft and sucked in her first full breath since entering it. Rocks skittered at her feet as she stumbled away from the tunnel, and the sound echoed around her endlessly. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Angela knew that should give her pause. But her thoughts followed the stones as they tumbled away, and she shook her head.

In exhaustion, she made her way over to the pool and sat down to inspect the damage done by her many run-ins with cave walls, rocks, and other obstacles during her journey through the passageways. The skin had been rubbed raw along her knees, large swaths having been removed by the unforgiving mountain floor. Shallow cuts and bruises crisscrossed over her palms and forearms, sending pain lacing through her as she bent over the pool to bring several handfuls of water up to her lips before lying back on the stone floor.

Her head throbbed from her fall into the caves, and her body was weak and shaking. The growl of her stomach told her that she'd missed a couple of meals while she'd been trapped in the Litikans.

Angela closed her eyes, trying to fight back despair.

Why did I have to climb up the mountain? I could have found Calle on foot…eventually. But how am I ever going to find him stuck in this place?

Absently, she turned and stared into the faintly glowing water. But as her eyes rested on the pool, she realized that it wasn't the water gleaming but the stones! Quickly reaching in, she pulled out one of the rocks and lifted it to her face. The small stone was covered in phosphorescent algae, and even out of the water, the light illuminated a hands width of space around her.

Cautiously rising to her feet to avoid hurting her head, she held the rock out in front of her and walked around the edge of the cavern in the hopes of finding another tunnel leading out. But instead of an exit, she came across torches. Every dozen paces or so, there were small beacons placed in crevices around the room.

Too bad I don't have my flint and steel on me, she thought ruefully as she kept moving along the edge of the cave.

Angela ran a hand over the cavern wall as she walked, taking in the pebbled sediment coating the surface. She was so distracted that she forgot to watch her step and stumbled into the top of a stalagmite, falling to the ground with a crash. Cursing her luck, Angela crawled over to where her rock had fallen and grabbed it before inching back to the offending stone.

As she drew closer, her rock illuminated not a boulder, but an old, weather-worn chest. Angela's fingers glided across the smooth surface, years of cave residue making it cool to the touch. Finding an ordinary rock on the cavern floor, she began chipping away at the box until she was able to pry the lid open.

To her surprise, lying on top of the pile inside the chest was an old leather hunting coat. Underneath were several handmade blankets, a couple of old journals, and a rolled-up piece of leather. Gingerly picking up the journals, she briefly flipped through the pages. The sheets were covered in a small flowing script that was faded beyond recognition.

Hmm, I wonder who wrote these? Angela thought as she sat the journals back into the chest and looked around. She needed to find a way out. If someone had left a chest in here, there had to be a larger tunnel somewhere, one that led out of the Litikans so she could resume her search for Calle, before Ben noticed her absence and came looking for her.

Up until a year ago she'd been training with him to become a hunter and had felt certain that she'd take over his business before she turned twenty-five. But over the past year, their relationship had digressed, and she was no longer sure that his contracts would be handed down to her.

With no marriage prospects and no other skill sets to draw on, her options were slim to none. Her only hope was to win another apprenticeship through the games at the Center.

Angela shook her head and turned her attention back to the chest.

If I can find Calle, this would be the perfect place for us to hide out until I can find a job! The games are in a couple of weeks, so hopefully, we wouldn't have to stay here long. If only I knew where he was…

There was the possibility that he had been hiding the night before and was safe at home now, but she doubted it. He wouldn't leave without telling her where he was going. And he certainly wouldn't have stayed away all day. He was seventeen, and he had a good head on his shoulders. Her gut told her that something was wrong. It wasn't like him to be gone for so long.

Kneeling down next to the chest, she sorted through the items there and picked up the piece of rolled leather she'd seen earlier. After untying the strip that held it closed, she lifted her rock closer and gasped in surprise. It wasn't a letter as she'd thought but a map! And it looked like a map to the very cave she was in.

Angela easily located the immense cavern where she was crouched and followed the drawings to a different exit than the one she'd come in through.

Let's hope this one is easier to climb out of! she thought as she worked her way out of the cavern and down the new tunnel.

Taking one of the unlit torches with her so she'd be able to use it when she came back, she used the stone from the pool to avoid running into as many rocks and boulders as possible during her journey through the tunnels.

Once she made it to the end of the shaft, pale light trickled in through a large opening only a couple of feet off the ground. The moons bathed the surrounding area in light as she neared the exit and nighttime crickets filled the air with their songs.

Cursed stones, it's close to midnight!

After tucking the map into her tunic, she sat the torch down by the entrance before jumping off the ledge and back onto familiar ground. Without much difficulty, she found the correct path and turned toward home. If Calle still wasn't back, she needed to sneak in, grab some supplies, and then return to the cave before Ben caught her. She'd set up camp in the mountain for the night and start her search for Calle at first light.

Every step tugged her leggings against her raw knees and sent pain coursing through her. The hours dragged by until she finally spotted the small cottage she'd been looking for nestled among the trees. It wasn't anything fancy, but it had everything they needed. Her dad had built the home shortly after her parents had gotten married, and it was one of the only ones of its kind. All the other homes on Caplana had been made from stones ages ago. Once, their cottage had been filled with love and laughter. But that was before her mother had died. Angela shook the memories off and snuck toward the house.

The warm wood timbers pressed against her back as she paused next to one of the windows. Ben's voice filtered through the opening.

Shoot! He's waiting for me. Angela berated herself for being so foolish. Of course, he'd assume she'd need to come home for her pack. He knew she wouldn't last long in the woods without her gear. Inching closer, careful to keep herself low to the ground so as not to be seen, she leaned her ear against the wall.

Angela has to go. I can't trust her. But I can't send her to Eurcalp like I did Calle. That would never do… His voice trailed off as he moved deeper into the house.

Angela pulled back in shock, her hands going limp.

It is Ben's fault Calle is missing!

Dread filled her as the implications sunk in, and she couldn't shake the feeling that whatever he had planned for her wouldn't be something she'd want to stick around for.

Well, now I know that I won't be able to find Calle in the woods.

Angela sighed inwardly, crawling back toward the front door where she waited until she heard snores drifting through the night air. Silent as she could manage, Angela opened the door and slipped inside. The house was nearly as dark as the caves, but it was warm and filled with familiar scents and memories that set her at ease.

Keeping one hand on the wall and testing each step before letting her feet fall, she gradually made her way to her room. Once inside, she shut the door and used the light of the moons through her window to find her hunting pack. Angela hurried to stuff several sets of clothes into it, along with her boots, an extra knife, and flint and steel.

She hesitated as she pulled her small food stash out from behind her bed, but decided she needed her strength and took several bites before stuffing the rest of the food in the pouch and slinging it over her shoulder. She glanced around the room one last time before opening the door and creeping out into the house.

Angela quickly stole across the hall to the wood stove and used a stick to scrape the warm coals aside. Underneath the remains of that day's fire, she pulled on one of the bricks until it gave way under her hands, revealing a small metal box. She reached in, careful not to touch the live coals, and painstakingly lifted the box out of its hiding place.

The metal was hot and burned her fingers as she hurried to wrap her shirt around her prize. She'd found the chest when she was a young child playing in the ashes. But being unable to open the latch, she'd almost forgotten it was there until about a year ago when she'd come across a small key hidden in a crack in the wall of the home.

Turning her attention to the pouch on her belt, she pulled out the key that she'd found and slipped it into the lock, hearing the satisfying click as it disengaged and the lid rose a hair. She carefully lifted the casing the rest of the way and began removing the pieces of silver hiding there. After safely wrapping the last piece in her extra clothing, she closed the chest with a soft click.

She was anxious to leave now that she had everything she needed, so she reached back into the stove to return the small container to its place. But as she tried to lower it in, the hot metal from the box burned through her shirt, scorching her fingers and causing the chest to slip from her hand, the metal edge scraping against the stones as it fell back into place. Angela held her breath in the ensuing silence until the unmistakable groan of moving wood filled the home.

Cursing quietly, Angela slung her pack over her shoulders and started making her way toward the front door. She moved quickly, trying to keep an eye over her shoulder as she went. But as she rounded the last bend, a dark shape moved in front of the open doorway, blocking her escape.

And what have we here? Ben's voice cut through the silence of the evening like a snake's hiss.

Angela reached behind her back to pull out two knives from her pack, twirling them in her fingers.

Let me pass. You won't stop me this time… Father.

She stepped back into her stance and brought her hands up to her face, blades held at an angle as she waited for his attack.

Ben raised an eyebrow and stared at her for a moment without moving. To the untrained eye, he looked relaxed, his hands held behind his back as he leaned against the doorway; but Angela knew better.

We don't have to do this, Angela. Put your blades down, and we can talk.

I know what you did, Angela snarled, twisting her toes into the dirt to get a stronger stance. I know. And I'm not going to stick around to find out what you'll do to me.

Ben's shoulders stiffened. She'd caught him by surprise. Good. But her victory was short-lived as he slowly brought his hands out from behind his back, each holding a knife that was easily twice the size of her own.

How many times had they fought together, dueling long after their bodies were tired and their minds were a fog? She'd never dared to ask him why he was teaching her to fight. After all, Caplana was a peaceful town with no need for guards or soldiers.

But she'd never worked up the courage to ask for fear her lessons might come to an end. The thrill of combat made her feel alive in a way few other things could, and she had been loathed to risk losing that.

But after her mother's death, his temper had become unpredictable. Dangerous. Many days she'd barely been able to drag herself from the sparring circle. He'd taught her everything she knew, and while her skills had improved greatly, she'd still lost every fair fight they'd ever had.

So how do I turn things in my favor now?

Making a quick decision, she sprinted toward him and kicked her legs out in front, spinning awkwardly to catch herself as they missed his shins. The pack on her back was slowing her down and throwing her off balance. But her goal hadn't been to make contact but to force him to stumble back through the doorway. That would be her shot.

Without hesitating, she rolled to the side, just missing his knife as the blade sunk into the dirt floor. Twisting her legs under her, she let one fly high, connecting with his jaw. He pitched back but kept hold of his blade. Angela realized too late that his stumble had been staged and hurriedly dodged as he twirled, bringing his knife across at eye level.

Narrowly ducking under the pass, she got off a jab to his kidneys while slipping past him through the doorway. Once she was outside, she had more room to maneuver. If she could keep him in the house, maybe she could best him and get away. With that intent, she spun back toward the door to find Ben already charging through.

In desperation, Angela brought her knife up to throw. But as she released, she felt the cold chill of his blade slice through her shoulder, causing her throw to miss its mark. Too late, she realized he'd beaten her to the turn, anticipated her choice of attack and sent his knife flying across the gap between them to take out her dominant arm. The heat of fresh blood flowed over her skin, and she looked down to find his dagger embedded in her shoulder just below the collarbone. Sucking in her breath against the rising nausea, she tried to move her arm and shuddered