Thunderspire
By Emily M. Hanson
Author's Notes: This is the sequel to Betrayal & Strife. The rest of the Teracor series can be found on my personal web site and on Fictionpress.net. This is an original story and not a fanfic. All of the characters and places in this story are mine. Please don't borrow them without permission.
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The Prophecy
Five lands bound by royal blood will be shattered by a single root. One who commands the stars shall come out of the East, yet seemingly from the West. The Wanderers may find what they seek, but there will also be betrayal and strife. If the betrayer is strong enough, the five lands can be overtaken. But if one travels to the sun, a way to defeat the darkness may still be found.
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Part 1
Kiperreth, the gold dragon, soared through the elemental realm of air with Aliya, Trin, Tanith, and Fenrek on his back. The evil sorcerer-king Neteilu had banished them there after the battle with the Wanderers, which they'd lost. The Wanderers had surrendered after their leader, Balen, had been banished to another realm. No one knew where he was. Neteilu, and Ravyn Arrowstrider had taken control of the Wanderers' tribe. If Kip and his companions could not find a way to return to the physical plane, Neteilu would surely plunge the world into darkness along with Zoru, the snake God. All would be lost.
A tall castle could be seen in the distance. Its towering spires glittered like gemstones in sunlight. The castle was floating on a very large cloud with no visible means of support or propulsion. In other words, it was magical. The castle Thunderspire was home to the Sky Lord, his family, and the other air elementals. It was also the place where Kip and his companions would most likely find the answers they needed.
As the dragon and his companions approached Thunderspire, they were confronted by several air elementals. The air elementals looked vaguely humanoid, but their shapes were thin and wispy, as if they were made of clouds. Their blue eyes glittered like sapphires but had an inner glow. The air around them glowed with magical electricity.
The first air elemental wielded a javelin. Its tip glowed bright azure, and there were runes carved all around the shaft. Kip recognized some of them as runes of lightning and wind, and others as protective runes.
"Who dares trespass in the realm of air?" the elemental demanded.
"I am Kiperreth the Golden," answered the dragon. "My companions and I did not come here willingly, however. We were banished by a sorcerer and seek the Sky Lord's help to return to our own plane. We do not wish you or your kind any harm."
"That is unfortunate. We will escort you to the castle. There has been some trouble in the air realm recently, and we would not wish you to stumble upon any danger."
"What sort of trouble do you mean?"
"There has been an attempt on the Sky Lord's life. No one knows who is responsible. In addition, some of his rivals have been stirring up hostilities, and there are many who will not welcome your presence here."
"Thanks for the warning."
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Meanwhile, in the physical realm, Torana felt a piercing gaze as Neteilu entered the bedroom. She wondered briefly if her husband's powers had grown to include mind reading. But he made no mention of her plans to assassinate him. Instead, he asked, "Don't you have anything better to do?"
"I am surveying your glorious realm, Sire," Torana lied smoothly.
"Ah. Yes, it is glorious, and it shall become even more magnificent once I have control of the five lands. The Meloseans do not stand a chance against me. Their villagers flee at the very sight of my troops, by all reports. Their land will be mine within a few months. After that, there will only be the south. The dragons are formidable opponents, to be sure, but their magic is no match for mine."
Torana sensed that she had better take the opportunity to agree. "Truly, you are the most powerful sorcerer in the world. The dragons will surely cower as they see how powerful you really are." There was nothing Neteilu liked better than flattery. It was one of the few weaknesses she had found.
He nodded. "The wyrms will cower, and they will beg for mercy before they surrender. Then I will not be king but emperor, the first Teracor has seen in modern times."
"The first emperor in over 2000 years. No one is more worthy of the honor, Sire."
"Yes. Evening draws nigh, wife. Are you not cold?"
"A little," she admitted, knowing that this was the opportunity she had been waiting for. "Perhaps some wine would help to warm me up. Will you drink some with me?"
"That would be most pleasurable," Neteilu replied.
Torana approached the nightstand, where a bottle of wine and two crystal glasses awaited her. It was a habit of Neteilu's to drink a glass or two before going to sleep. Unbeknownst to him, she had placed a packet of sleeping powder into the wine to ensure that he would be sound asleep by the time that Zebyl, the assassin, came.
Torana had taken an antidote so she could sip the wine. The sleeping powder was colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Magic could detect it if one thought to look for it, but Neteilu had no reason to suspect its presence. She poured the wine carefully into the glasses, then gave one to Neteilu and proposed a toast.
"To your impending victory, Highness."
"To my victory," he responded.
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As the gold dragon and his riders approached Thunderspire, they couldn't help but be awed by it. Thunderspire was made from a type of magical crystal that powered the spell that kept it aloft, as well as its protective enchantments. It was like something out of a dream. The castle sparkled as if it reflected the light of rainbows. Even Kip couldn't help but stare for several moments, before the shimmering drawbridge was lowered and they were allowed in.
The inside of Thunderspire was even more magnificent than the outside. Exquisitely embroidered carpets lined the floors. The ceiling chandeliers shone brilliantly, reflecting light from the surrounding crystal. The effect was as if you'd stepped into a gigantic prism. Rainbows danced through the air, flitting about like butterflies. Tapestries hung on the walls, depicting the different elemental planes and their rich histories.
Fenrek became aware that he was gaping like a country bumpkin and closed his mouth. He noticed Aliya and Tanith doing the same. Even Trin was staring. Kip was the only one who appeared unfazed.
"This way," said their lead escort.
It was disconcerting to be led through a place that by all rights shouldn't exist, by wispy creatures made out of air. But if it would get him home, Fenrek thought, it was worth it.
As the elementals led the adventurers to meet the Sky Lord, Trin felt an uneasy pang of homesickness. This palace was much more ostentatious than her father's, but it felt more like home than anywhere she'd been recently. Compared to the rough mountain wilderness of the Wanderers' camp, and the gloomy palace in Teracor, the sheer magic of Thunderspire was more familiar and tugged at her heartstrings. She wished that she could return to the Faery realm, but the sorcerer-king, Neteilu, had to be dealt with first.
The flame-haired warrior woman, Tanith, had never seen anything like this. The intensity of the castle's magical beauty was overwhelming. It was fitting that this castle existed in a place most humans never dreamt of, let alone, visited. Surely most people would have been thrilled to discover such a place existed, but devastated that they couldn't live there permanently. If such a palace existed in the mundane realm, no doubt, it would long ago have been destroyed by the taint of evil.
Aliya was astonished by the splendor that surrounded her. She had never seen anything so beautiful in her life. She knew that it would be impossible to forget her visit. Thunderspire's magic called to her, setting the magic in her own blood aflame with power. It was very difficult to resist the siren song pulling her away from what little reality remained. She felt as thought she was drifting along a river, barely able to keep herself afloat.
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In the throne room, Erius Moonstrider glanced up from reading an ancient scroll as one of his servants announced the arrival of unexpected guests from the physical plane. The Sky Lord was formed from cloudy wisps like all air elementals, but somehow appeared more substantial than the rest. With cobalt blue eyes, he watched the guards escort the mortals and a dragon. Erius recognized one of them -- not by her physical appearance, but by the magic he sensed in her blood.
So the Prophecy was finally coming to pass. Ever since the Snake God had escaped from his celestial prison, Erius had wondered if the Gods' plan to recapture him would succeed. After Zoru was imprisoned once again, they could all rest a little easier. And perhaps, Erius could get these mortals to aid him in discovering the traitor in his midst who had attempted to kill him recently.
The Sky Lord smiled at his guests, who bowed and curtseyed as appropriate. "You are welcome in my home. What important matter brings you here? I assume this concerns the Prophecy."
It was Kip who spoke. "We were sent to this realm not of our free will, but by the magic of a human sorcerer, Neteilu. We seek a way to return to our own realm, and any information you might have on the Prophecy and how to return Zoru to his prison."
"Ah. That which you seek, I have. However, like all treasures worth possessing, my information does not come without a price."
"Name it."
"There has been an attempt on my life recently. Find the traitor here, and I will be glad to aid you in any way I can."
Kip glanced back at his companions. The looks on their faces were clear as they nodded. They were willing to do almost anything to get home. He looked back at the Sky Lord. "We agree to your terms."
Erius smiled broadly. "Excellent. I will see to it that you are properly treated during your stay." He turned to the guards. "Please escort them to the guest chambers."
The guards nodded and did as they were commanded. As the adventurers were led to their rooms, they had time to wonder just what they had agreed to.
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