Wyntier's Rise (Creatures of the Lands Book 3) Read online

  Wyntier’s Rise

  Creatures of the Lands: Part III

  Natalie Erin

  Contents

  Other Books by Gryfyn Publishing

  The Lands

  1. Chapter One

  2. Chapter Two

  3. Chapter Three

  4. Chapter Four

  5. Chapter Five

  6. Chapter Six

  7. Chapter Seven

  8. Chapter Eight

  9. Chapter Nine

  10. Chapter Ten

  11. Chapter Eleven

  12. Chapter Twelve

  13. Chapter Thirteen

  14. Chapter Fourteen

  15. Chapter Fifteen

  16. Chapter Sixteen

  Nesting’s Haven

  17. Chapter Seventeen

  18. Chapter Eighteen

  19. Chapter Nineteen

  20. Chapter Twenty

  21. Chapter Twenty-One

  22. Chapter Twenty-Two

  23. Chapter Twenty-Three

  24. Chapter Twenty-Four

  25. Chapter Twenty-Five

  26. Chapter Twenty-Six

  27. Chapter Twenty-Seven

  28. Afterward

  Acknowledgments

  The Witch’s Curse

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2016 by Natalie Erin

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  The reproduction or utilization of this work in part of in whole including xerography, recording and photocopying is strictly forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.

  Erin, Natalie

  Wyntier’s rise / natalie erin

  Summary: Kennu and his friends must navigate the difficulty of adolescence while growing up in a world where a tyrant rules as king.

  BISAC Category: Young Adult/Fantasy

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Art by Clarissa Yeo

  Distributed in the USA by Gryfyn Publishing

  For information about custom editions, special sales, ARCs, and premium and corporate purchases, please contact Gryfyn Publishing at [email protected]

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  Other Books by Gryfyn Publishing

  Alora by Megan Linski

  These Starcrossed Lives of Ours by Megan Linski

  The Rhodi Saga

  Rhodi’s Light by Megan Linski

  Rhodi Rising by Megan Linski

  Rhodi’s Lullaby by Megan Linski

  The Kingdom Saga

  Kingdom from Ashes by Megan Linski

  Fallen From Ashes by Megan Linski

  Redemption From Ashes by Megan Linski

  Prince of Fire by Megan Linski

  Part I

  The Lands

  Chapter One

  Blood is Thicker Than Water

  At the base of a large volcano sat a small house, built into the side of the towering inferno. The keeper of this land, a fiery young fairy with vibrant orange hair, was working in her garden under the presence of night. The volcanic soil was perfect for growing strange and exotic foods, which fed her family daily. Despite only having three people around, she always grew enough to feed four. Just in case.

  Flare looked up at the sound of footsteps behind her, hoping it was her son who had left so long ago.

  It was not the son she so desperately missed, but her fourteen-year-old daughter, who wore her sky blue hair in curling pigtails.

  “Mom. I need to ask you something,” the girl said nervously, shifting back and forth with unease.

  Her mother rose from the dirt. “What do you need to ask me, Mela?”

  Mela swallowed. “What happened to Aravon? You’ve never told me, not all this time. You’ve just given me excuses. I miss him. He hasn’t come home and… and…”

  Mela began to cry and her mother rushed forward, wrapping her in a hug.

  “I don’t know, dear. I want him back too.” The fairy, unable to control herself, began to cry as well, her tears collecting in her daughter’s hair.

  “Why did he have to go? We loved him so much.” Mela whispered. leaning against her mother.

  “Stop crying, Mela. I’m here now.”

  A rich, deep voice filled the air, and Mela gasped as she pulled away from her mother, staring at the stranger before her. His hair was navy blue, just as she’d remembered, but he hadn’t aged a day since he’d left his home as a teenager ten years ago. Mela recoiled as she noticed the thin streams of dried blood coating the boy’s lips. Aravon was still her brother, but Mela immediately thought the child that had come home was in no way the child that had left.

  “Von!” Flare paid no attention to the glaring signs of warning dotted around her son’s mouth and ran towards him, encasing him in a tight embrace. Flare kissed Aravon’s face in adoration and said, “I knew you couldn’t stay away! You had to come home. I never gave up on you, Von. Not after all the years you stayed away.”

  “It would’ve been better for you, Mother, if I had never come back at all,” Aravon smiled. “I’m only here on unfinished business.”

  Flare’s eyes narrowed in confusion, and then utter shock as fangs lengthened from Aravon’s mouth. Flare hardly had time to gasp as Aravon sunk his fangs into her neck, burying them to the gums.

  “MOTHER!” Mela shouted in terror and disbelief as Flare’s warm, flush face slowly drained of color. Aravon drank each drop of blood from her veins, and when there was nothing more to take, the Ortusan ripped his fangs from his mother’s body and dropped her husk carelessly to the volcanic earth, an expression of betrayal still frozen on her face.

  “What’s going on out here?” Mela’s father Nicholas walked out of the house, his large hands bunched into fists. He was a giant among fairies, but Mela knew he was no match for what Aravon had become. Mela attempted to cry out a warning, but Aravon seized his father before he had time to fight back, burying the fangs into his shoulder. Nicholas cried out in pain and tried to grab his son, but his fierce attempts were futile, and soon became weak as he sank to his knees next to the body of his wife. Aravon had killed them before they’d even had a chance to realize their lost son had returned.

  “Von,” Mela whispered. “How could you?”

  Aravon wiped his chin, smearing it on his shirt sleeve. “Everyone has to eat, sister,” he said. “Unfortunately, you’re the main course.”

  “Why are you doing this?” she asked, backing away as her brother advanced on her.

  “None of you ever gave me the respect I deserved,” he snarled. “Now you’ll pay the price.”

  Mela knew she couldn’t fight back. Aravon was too strong, and if there was no hope for her parents, who had been powerful fairies in their own right, there was certainly none for her. Accepting her fate, Mela stood her ground and closed her eyes as her brother leapt in for the final kill.

  Chapter Two

  The Dragoness

  Sand. The landscape was a great wide world of sand, dotted with crumbling ruins and massive caves hiding amongst the dunes, a landscape perfect for dragons. Mirabelle noted nothing of importance, though she was on top of a ruin that was large enough to see where the deserts ended far, far away. Yes, the other dragons were hiding away from the scorch
ing heat of the day, or simply hiding until something tasty came along to snack on, so she was certain she was safe. Only when she was completely sure no one else was around she felt comfortable enough to sing.

  The sun shimmered on her turquoise scales, and her green, feathered wings were spread carelessly in the sand. She didn’t look like a desert dragon. She was too colorful. Each moment of her life, it seemed, her surroundings reminded her that she didn’t belong here.

  “Come sleep, dear child, let your dreams come fly…” Mirabelle started the song in a low note, afraid someone would hear. “Don’t let your tears fall, even fall do mine…”

  Her voice grew stronger, rising into a strong, sure voice that was unusual for her eleven years. “Though perhaps we may be apart, far away…”

  Unable to contain herself, she burst freely, “Remember this song, we’ll meet again someday.”

  The wind carried her song away and Mirabelle sat, pleased.

  “You have such a pretty voice. You need to learn how to use it around other dragons.”

  Mirabelle gasped until she realized it was only her brother, Xiuhcoatl. The white serpentine dragon slithered up the dune, the wind ruffling the black fur that ran down his neck and spine.

  Mirabelle puffed a small cloud of smoke his way. “You wish, Xiuh.”

  “Why are you always singing that song? I’ve never heard it before,” Xiuh asked, twirling around her.

  Mirabelle arched her neck. “I don’t know. I sing it because it’s pretty. Should there be a reason? Everyone knows I’m different.”

  “You’re not different.” The other dragon stopped circling.

  She butted his head away with her horns. “Yes I am. Do I look like any other dragon to you? I’ve got feathers that are way too hot, and blue scales that I can’t hunt with. Not that it matters, because I can’t eat, and I don’t know why. How do you explain me going my whole life without food?”

  Xiuh flicked his tongue. “You’ve got a VERY slow stomach?”

  She coughed. “Oh, and not to mention the fact that I can do this.”

  She changed from a dragon into a shorthaired gray puppy. Afraid another dragon would see, she transformed quickly and said, “How do you and Mama explain that?”

  Xiuh was at a loss. “You’re…a magic dragon?”

  “Oh, that explains it.”

  Xiuh inched forward and said, “Well, why don’t we go ask Uncle Bloodbath about it? After all, he is the wisest and oldest dragon in the clan.”

  Mirabelle thought about it. “You think he will mind the whole magic...thing?”

  “No. And why would you care? You want answers, don’t you?”

  Mirabelle nodded slowly before spreading her wings to take off, following her brother. The hatchlings flew to a black cave, one that was larger and cooler than the rest. Mirabelle sighed, finally able to fold her wings upon her back without discomfort. Slowly, she slunk into the cave.

  Within laid a blood red dragon, with a crooked horn upon his head and discolored scales on his back from years of a harsh saddle. He was big though, bigger than most, and a gray beard grew from his chin. He had just finished eating, and blood was dripping from his claws and around his mouth. As the old dragon noticed them, he grinned with his dull and yellowed fangs.

  “I was wondering when you would come to visit. Lovely voice, Mirabelle. You should use it more often.” Bloodbath’s voice rumbled, but the echoing boom it once held had faded over the years. Still, the sound was enough to make the young dragons quiver.

  Mirabelle stumbled backwards. “You heard me?”

  “The wind carried your voice down here, though I’m the only one who knows it was you. The other dragons enjoy your voice, too. They’ve told me so, though they aren’t sure who it could be. I am the only one who has guessed.” Bloodbath chuckled.

  “See? Magic!” Xiuh jumped up and poked her.

  She turned away. “If they knew it was me they wouldn’t like it at all.”

  “Don’t be silly.” Bloodbath flopped his tail down, making the cave shake. “They would love you. Now why did you come here? I can see singing is not the only thing on your mind today.”

  A fiery blush rose in her scales before she asked. “I want to know why I’m so different. Why my wings are all wrong and why I can…I can do this.” She closed her eyes and changed into the tiniest finch she could manage, quivering on the floor, so Bloodbath could hardly see her from his height. She changed back within seconds, her eyes still closed.

  “Open your eyes, little dragon. I am not surprised.” Bloodbath stared at Mirabelle as if her changing shape was the most normal thing in the world, and not something no other dragon could do.

  Mirabelle’s eyes popped open. “You knew I could change?”

  “Of course I knew. Known ever since you were born. Why is it making you upset?” he asked her.

  “But...” Xiuh spoke, as amazed as she. “Dragons can’t just transform when they want to.”

  Bloodbath snorted. “Of course not. She’s a Changer, not a dragon.”

  “I’m a what!?” Mirabelle asked, leaping back.

  Xiuh said, “Yes, she’s a what?”

  “Didn’t Sunset or Ionan ever tell you?” Bloodbath asked in surprise, lowering his head to their height.

  “No. And why would Ionan know what I am? He’s just an old friend of my birth mothers who visits me sometimes.” Mirabelle cocked her head.

  “Ah. That explains it. I can’t say much more, then.” Bloodbath shook his head. “Just to tell you, Mirabelle, a Changer is an animal that can take any form at almost any time. You are not a dragon because your parents were not dragons. They were Changers. Your main form is simply a dragon, and so, here you are.”

  “It can’t be! Are you sure?” she asked.

  “Of course I am. I knew both of your parents.”

  “Did you know my father?” she asked eagerly, jumping forward.

  Bloodbath hesitated. “Your father is still alive. I’m sure you’ll be able to find him fairly quickly, in the Verinian Forest.”

  Mirabelle began hopping up and down with excitement. “Can you tell me his name?”

  “I cannot, for it is not my right to say.”

  “I’ve never heard of Changers before,” Xiuh added. “Why?”

  “It appears my sister Sunset kept certain things from you, to keep you safe,” Bloodbath said reluctantly. “There were enemies of us before who sought to harm Mirabelle. They are long since gone, but I suppose Sunset chose to be extra cautious in case any of their allies remained alive.”

  “Did they kill my birth mother?” Mirabelle asked.

  Bloodbath sighed, and smoke furled out of his nostrils slowly. “Yes, little dragon. They did. And so you had to be hidden.”

  “Can you tell us more about the Changers?” Xiuh twirled his tail.

  “Only a little. Changers are bound to Accompanies, very strong and somewhat tall folk who ride them, sort of like fairies, but somewhat not so. Once you find an Accompany, you are together for life. It is an unbreakable bond that can never be severed. That’s about all I know. You want to know more, you will have to seek your father.”

  Mirabelle flew upwards and clung to the old dragon’s nose, swinging her tail. “Thank you, Uncle Bloodbath. Now I know what I have to do. I must find my father. It’s the only way to discover who I am.”

  Bloodbath rumbled and the two young dragons flew out of the cave, waving their wings in a farewell. “Goodbye, Mirabelle. It might be wise to let your mother know first!”

  Chapter Three

  The Boy and His Griffin

  On the other side of this small continent, winter was fading and spring was beginning to bloom. The Verinian Forest was still covered in a mix of slush and snow, but green grass was poking through the cold ground, the tall trees above them starting to bud. Birds sang a bright song, as the new smell of spring was well on the wind, and a golden sunlight trickled through the thawing woodland.

  Atop this h
ill was a boy, a timid young man of fifteen with green hair, sallow skin and golden eyes. He was far thinner than most fairies, and despite the thrilled smile on his face, it was obvious that this was a child who was very sick. Dark lines ran under his eyes, and his cheekbones jutted out under his skin. His wings, which sparkled black with the dusting of gold, flickered once in excitement and then disappeared. “Ready Allie?”

  He was riding a magnificent creature, a great golden griffin with sparkling brown eyes. His mount showed nothing of the shy nature the boy had. She was strong, and obviously very proud, maybe a little too much so. A single look at her sent many of the forest creatures scattering, though she still had yet to reach sixteen. Her limbs were not weak, but were rippled in muscle, covered in shining feathers on her front legs and beautiful yellow fur on the haunches. She was pretty, but not beautiful, for she was much too terrifying to be called so. The griffin was large for her age, and her noble gilded wings were wrapped protectively around the legs of her rider. The griffin’s feathers had been slicked down with oil on her underside, which dripped onto the snow. Her expression seemed permanently embedded in a ferocious glare, but when she looked back at her companion, her gaze softened. “Ready Kennu!” she responded eagerly.

  “Then here we go!” The fairy cheered and leaned forward, grasping onto the griffin’s feathers. The griffin leaped zealously into the snow, landing on her stomach. Her oiled feathers slid off the slush and ice, and they began hurtling down the giant hill at a monstrous speed.

  The two teenagers screamed in exhilaration. They nearly slammed into several trees and even ran into a bush during their ride, although Allie was so large, she just crushed it and kept on going. While they whirled by, they heard an old red bird named Scarlett groan, “Oh no. They’re not going Changer sledding again?”