Legend of the Tundra Read online

  Legend of the Tundra

  A Worlds Collide Novel

  Book One

  Bethan Johns

  This book is dedicated to all those who have been there with me through my journey. The mountains we have climbed and the rivers we have forded have brought us to where we are today. Continue to be strong and crave the adventure that is life. Lust for it.

  Worlds Collide Novels

  Legend of the Tundra

  Goddess of Chaos

  Shelter of Sighs

  Copyright © 2017 Bethan Riehle-Johns.

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Chapter 1 – Lost and Found

  Shadows and Light. Soft light, softer breeze. I raised my head slowly feeling as though the weight of it could almost topple me right back over should I stand too quickly. What had happened? Where was I? I squinted down at my hands, at my tanned and scarred hands.

  How could my hands have become this way? Where had those marks come from? I stayed there like that for a long moment on my hands and knees, contemplating the different shapes and textures of those scars. Following them as they trailed, lesser, but still significant up my arms.

  I sat back on my heels quickly to assess my body, which I belatedly realized was naked. Stark. Fresh as a newborn, here I was sitting naked in the middle of the….

  Woods? I quickly looked around, assessing. Yes. Just ordinary woods. Tall elder ferns swaying gently. Lifting my chin and scenting the air, I slowly rubbed my fingers down my legs, the soft-as-down hair on my thighs and calves a comfort. It made me feel like I was not quite so fresh, like my scars, it showed I had lived longer than the few minutes I could recall. I put my hands into the soft sand…

  Wait.

  Sand? In the forest? I stood quickly wiping the sand from my fingers off on my thighs. I was standing, naked, in a circle of purest white sand seemingly deep in a forest. The tall pines mocking my lack of knowledge and understanding with their ancient memories.

  I grumbled to myself a little bit, starting slightly at the sound coming out of my own throat.

  Shaking my body and jostling my limbs to test my strength and get the blood pumping, I looked around again. The sand was a perfect circle. It looked like I had been placed here from another plane. The sun was hot and comforting on my skin. I wondered if the temperature would change when I stepped into the shaded forest.

  It didn’t.

  Inspecting the sky and the forest floor I determined I would follow the sun and hope to end up somewhere before nightfall. I had no idea which plane I was on, how far away the sunset was, or how long it would be dark for once the sun did disappear beyond the horizon. I set my shoulders, took a steadying breath, and started walking.

  I wouldn’t let myself think about the fact that I did not know how I had gotten there. I did not let myself think about the fact that I knew the names of the trees and the ferns and many of the small bugs and plants surrounding me, but I did not know my own name.

  I walked for a long while simply absorbing the forest around me never allowing my thoughts to stray far from what I was seeing in front of my own eyes. The waxy tree-needles on the forest floor sticking uncomfortably between my toes were a welcome distraction. I worked out a pattern of wiggling my toes as I strode to dislodge them.

  A noise, very slight. I stopped. There. Again. My heart sped up and I crouched. Commanding the hammering of my pulse in my ears to become secondary to the forest noises around me. My pulse listened and I did too.

  Tiny noises, many of them. I smiled, I knew these creatures. I felt my shoulders relax and the leaves around me seemed to loosen a breath in unison with me.

  Baewyrns.

  I cooed gently “Please, come out and help me. I am lost.” I did not allow myself to startle at the sound of my own voice. It was a voice, why should I be startled? A voice like any other. I did not want my feelings of discomfort to scare away the first sign of intelligent life that I had come across in this seemingly endless forest plane.

  They took a little coaxing, but the Baewyrn were known to be a gentle and helpful folk.

  Suddenly five of them appeared right in front of my feet, bursting dramatically from the undergrowth beneath me. The tallest of them was about six inches. I smiled as I looked down into their little violet eyes. The Baewyrn are mysterious, they speak no language that any have ever been able to figure out, most assume it is telepathic.

  I studied the group in front of me. It is impossible to tell with Baewyrns which are male and female, if they even mate in that way, or if they have some sort of creation magic themselves and are able to procreate in some other fashion.

  Again, the Baewyrn are mysterious.

  The little one at the front with its hair of moss gestured with a green-skinned hand for me to make my introduction. I recalled that you are supposed to state your name, plane of origin, and magic – if you have any - when meeting a Baewyrn.

  I straightened my back a little. “I do not know my name, nor where I hail from, I know not even if I have magic. I am in need of shelter, please point me in the direction of the nearest safe place to stay.”

  They were all silent staring at me, their violet eyes seeming to penetrate my very soul. Finally, one larger than the rest - about seven inches tall - with hair like vines dragging along the forest floor, stepped quietly from the bush behind them and pointed in the direction of the sun. The others turned to it, looked back at me to confirm my understanding - to which I inclined my head - and they all headed back into the bushes.

  I let out my breath in a whoosh and waited a few seconds before standing and walking in the direction of the sun. Again.

  I walked for what felt like ages.

  My stomach growled loudly after a while, and though I knew of edible plants I passed, I did not know myself. I may have allergies, or maybe my recollections were of a similar type of vegetation, but on a completely different plane. That would be most unhelpful.

  “What would be really bloody helpful is if I knew who the hell I was, or why I was here.” I muttered out loud.

  At least I knew I was a bit of a grumpy sort. I snorted to myself.

  The forest abruptly ended. Seemingly without any warning my feet were warming in the grassy knoll at the top of a slope. The hill rolled down to meet with the valley of another. Stretching out to the horizon like a sea of green and gold waves, the hills tumbled.

  I sighed and stretched in the sunshine.

  When I opened my eyes, they met with another set of gold ones. I cursed loudly and the earth around my feet burst upward showering us both with fresh soil and upturned grass, my heart pounding in my chest.

  “You scared me!”

  He scowled at me wiping dirt from his armoured shoulders. “Have you no control?”

  “Well considering ten seconds ago I didn’t even know I had earth magic, I am going to go out on a wing and say no.”

  I sniggered quietly to myself as my eyes roamed over him. He had wings. Beautiful, large, feathered wings. They were a deep black, so dark they seemed at once a void of colour and every colour at once. As I said the word he pulled them in tighter to his back almost imperceptibly.

  He caught my snigger and rolled those gold eyes at me. With a slight upturn to the side of his mouth he muttered. “Fae”

  I ignored the slight and continued my inspection, his hair was a wavy black mass rolling down to touch his shoulders, his armour was made of smooth and silky leather, looking aged and worn to the point of ultimate comfort. I noticed that his
golden eyes were darkening to brown and were inspecting me in return. I felt unsure of whether to feel ashamed of my nakedness.

  I decided against it when he spoke. “How could you possibly not be aware of your earth magic? You're a naked Fae in the forest. Why else would you be in that kind of situation if you were not communing with the earth?”

  I sighed. “Honestly, I have no idea. Do you think you could do me the favour of bringing me somewhere for lodging and food? I have absolutely nothing on me, as you can tell. I can’t even pay for lodging…”

  I broke off as he continued to stare at me with a slight smile on his face. “What’s your name?”

  “I don’t know.” I shrugged. I didn’t want to think about that too hard. Not yet, not until I felt safe.

  His right eyebrow arched upwards.

  I threw my hands up in exasperation “Look, I woke up, naked, in the forest with no recollection of who I am or how I got there. I asked some Baewyrn which direction to go. They pointed this way. I have been walking for ages. I can’t tell you how long because I don’t even know which plane we are on to judge time by the sky.”

  His eyebrow returned to its home locale and the second one joined it on its journey downward, his face transforming to concern.

  He stood there a moment longer, face giving away nothing. “All right. Come with me.”

  He held out a hand. I hesitated, then took it. His fingers were rough and callused, probably from the use of the staff strapped across his back. I assumed he must be a guard or a soldier wherever we were going.

  I stiffened, prepared for flight, though all I felt was a slight pull in my solar plexus and suddenly we were in the foyer of a massive hall. We had rifted then, he had used creation and telekinesis magics combined to transport us instantly to another location. He was more powerful than I had initially thought.

  I stood there naked and barefoot while servants hurried to and fro. A few looked startled, one stopped right in front of me as though we had just appeared right in his path.

  He was short, about four measures tall with hair the colour of decaying leaves and skin the blue of an autumn sky. Our landing put his eyes directly level with my breasts. He turned a deep purple colour as the guard beside me cleared his throat. The short Fae shook his head, turned, and practically ran from the room. I laughed quietly.

  I turned in a circle absorbing my surroundings. Behind us there were massive golden and glass doors leading outside into what looked like woods similar to those I had walked through earlier. As I turned, I took in the elaborate hallway with its gold and cream coloured columnades and trim. The sun was shining through a lofty window high on the south wall, it made the gold shine brighter and the glass and crystal inlay in the deep purple marble floors glisten as though alive. The effect was disorienting. Paintings and tapestries covered the walls at intervals showing different types of Fae in various poses and activities, other creatures covered them as well; Nephilim, Ethereal, Elfin, even the Howelltie made an appearance in one of the larger paintings on the left wall near the colossal staircase that led up to a landing that circled the great entrance hall’s second story with doors and entryways leading off in multiple directions.

  I leaned forward slightly to get a look in the doorway to my left that was wide open, it was a dining room. Plates full of fruit, breads and cheeses adorned the table. My mouth began watering in earnest and I looked over to the guard with a desperate and guilty pout. He responded with a gruff sort of laugh and indicated with a wave of his hand that I could go ahead.

  I walked quickly into the room and began shoving food into my mouth barely noticing the dining hall itself. It looked like the rest of the house I had seen so far, elaborate, gilded. I didn’t care. The food was amazing, filling. I suppose it was because I was especially hungry. The food itself was fresh and lovely, but simple.

  I groaned with my mouth full and put my hand on my now swollen belly. Looking over at the guard, I started a little at his open-mouthed gape.

  I swallowed my food quickly “What?”

  He smiled and shook his head. Walking around the other side of the table from me, he leaned over a sideboard table and grabbed a jug of water. He held it up raising a glass in his other hand. A silent question. I nodded as I asked:

  “What is your name?”

  He poured the glass, the muscles in his tanned forearm working as he did so. I watched the sweat on the jug of water as he poured with bated breath, I had not realised I was so thirsty.

  He handed me the glass. “Gaelen.”

  I chugged the whole glass down and handed it back to him for more which he seemed to understand and started filling it. I moved around the table toward him, studying him I said,

  “You mocked the Fae earlier, if you are not of the Fae what manner of creature are you?”

  He smirked and handed me the glass of water. “Are you so impolite that you generally go around asking people what manner of creature they are?”

  I shrugged. “I actually have no idea how polite or impolite I am typically.”

  My own answer surprised me. Looking up at him I said. “What an odd thing.”

  He laughed. “Come on, let’s get you some clothes and then you may meet your host.”

  He brought me out of the dining area back into the large hallway and up the stairs, we turned left at the top and took our second right into a complex of hallways and doors. I assumed they were bedrooms. Halfway down the hall, a stocky woman with delicately pointed ears, skin the colour of darkest cocoa with hair to match and eyes as green as the hills I had stood upon earlier, emerged from a room gently closing the door behind her.

  “Mara?” Gaelen inquired softly.

  She looked over at us and took in my nakedness with a look of pure disdain. I looked down at myself and realized it may not be the nakedness, but the dirt encrusted on my body that she was judging so harshly.

  Her eyes moved to Gaelen full of question, if I was not mistaken there was a small touch of fear in her eyes as she searched his.

  He nodded and simply said. “Could you please find her a room, draw a bath, and find some clothes.”

  She nodded slightly and indicated with a crooked finger over her shoulder as she turned that I should follow. I looked back at Gaelen who nodded with a reassuring smile. I smiled back a little stiffly and followed Mara.

  ✽✽✽

  Gaelen

  Turning away from her the reassuring smile quickly dropped from my face.

  Muttering curses to myself I quickly walked down the hallways taking a series of turns on feet accustomed to every path in this house. This house that I could walk in the pitch of night.

  Ahead was a set of heavy bronze doors, doors that I knew would lead into Elliot’s study. If study could even be the right word anywhere other than here. The prince's study was immense, its walls were made of shelves filled with some of the most rare and priceless books in all the planes and some of the oldest manuscripts known to the Sidhe.

  I stopped myself before the doors and pushed them open. Walking in unannounced as though I owned the place. Elliot looked up from his desk without any surprise at the interruption. The Prince and I had been working together for many millennia now. Though we were very different, we also tended to work things out without him pulling rank on me, his most trusted guard, commander, spy, and friend.

  I looked forward to this golden nugget of information that I had for him now, the rise I knew it would draw out of him.

  I strode up to his desk hooking my thumbs in the straps of my leather gear. “I found her.”

  His hands stopped their movement on the papers in front of him and his body stilled save for his sapphire eyes rolling up to meet mine.

  I smiled sweetly at him.

  He exploded into movement. Suddenly faster than most – not me – could follow, he was standing in front of me gripping my shoulders.

  I now had to look up past the emerald embroidered vest covering his chest to meet his eyes. Standing,
he cut an imposing figure, taller than most Fae by a long shot, one might think he had some of the Howelltie blood far back in his line, if that were indeed possible at all. Howelltie and Fae could not breed.

  “You lie.” He whispered earnestly considering my eyes.

  I reached up and pried his hands from my shoulders, spinning smoothly out of his reach.

  “No. I only wish there had been more sport to it all.”

  Elliot studied my face for a moment before bursting into laughter. “She’s here? How are you holding her? In the dungeon, I assume.”

  I turned my back to him and started studying the books on the walls as though I was interested, as though I hadn’t read them all before. The tales of the tundra, life among Angels, myths of planes unheard.

  I rolled my eyes at that last one. “No, actually. She’s in a bedroom down the hall.” I looked over my shoulder at him. He had stilled again. After a moment, he unfroze and ran his hand through his hair turning to sprawl in a large chair before his desk.

  “Alright Gaelen, I tire of your games already and I've barely spent but a moment with you this week. Out with it.”

  I rolled my eyes again. “Everyone is ruining my fun today, no sense of sport.” I looked him over again from his blonde hair to his shiny, brown knee-high boots; he looked tired, exhausted really. Glancing toward the papers on the desk he had been reading offered no indication of what lay upon them; he would tell me, of course, if it were important. I liked to know things whether they were important or not. I would find a way to find out what had irked him so.

  I threw myself into the chair in front of him, picking at my nails - a habit I knew drove him mental on the best of days - just for him to know I wouldn’t let him off that easy as I caved.

  “She doesn't know who she is. No recollection. No control over her magic, of which she has no knowledge or idea of what she is capable of. Doesn't know where or what she is. I found her naked as a newborn at the edge of the Misry Forest range.”