The Heartstone Saga by Archibald Bradford (pdf to ebook reader txt) 📗

her fingers with his, a smile on her face as she met his warm mud coloured eyes with her icy blues.

“My people spread to the winds after the Aegis was founded, most seeking out new lands to settle in. But there was one group that returned to their ancestral home, determined to rebuild and restore their former glory.”

“Sorry, I don’t mean to be dismissive, but it’s just one tribe... right?” Erica asked.

Escrya let loose with a sudden laugh that surprised them, and shook her head as she set down her now-empty glass.

“Yes, Erica, one tribe. But they were the first and the largest. The tribe from which all others were born, once upon a time.”

They found themselves being drawn in by her words as the storyteller explained the Katje’s mistake.

“You speak of the Darkwood?” Volka remarked with some surprise; “The Matriarch’s line still endures even after all this time?”

“I do. And it does. The strongest of the Amazons, warleader of warleaders. We intend to seek her out.”

The Valkyrie shook her head though.

“She may well kill you! If her people still live, they will cling to the old ways. Before the tribes broke away. To them, you are all traitors that abandoned your homeland.”

Escrya accepted the danger with a determined nod.

“Yes. But by all accounts they loved and respected the Valkyrie as much as any of us. I would see that allegiance renewed, at any cost.”

“I don’t get it, why did all the other tribes leave this homeland place?” Milly asked with wide eyes.

“The ravages of war.” Volka explained; “The Divine Republic used many different weapons against the various monster girl breeds that they found too unruly. In a gambit to wipe out the Amazons they unleashed... something. It caused a massive crater to form in the very heart of what became known as the Darkwood. Out of this crater many strange things emerged, flora and fauna alike, but perverted with wretched science. Many of which were not unlike the indiscriminate Maneaters. Though if rumours are to be believed, the Maneaters are cuddlesome compared to some of the nightmares that came out of that crater.”

Escrya nodded.

“The Darkwood is a truly ancient forest, some miles to the south and west of here. Older even than the woods where the Saenga dwell. It was changed by the energy the empire unleashed: the flesh of the ancient trees turned black, yet remained alive. Fearing this perversion of nature, the tribes broke away from the Matriarch when she refused to leave. It was a dark time for our people.”

“And this was all going on while the war was being fought?” Erica asked, incredulous.

“Yes.” Volka answered; “But you have to understand: the war went on for hundreds of years, the ferocity of it ebbing and flowing, so there were periods of relative peace where other squabbles took the fore in people’s minds. I was not even born when these events occurred, it happened even before the Chimera were wiped out. Truly, I am amazed that Amazons still dwell in that place.”

“They do.” Helena said firmly, though she groaned as Milly pressed her thumbs harder into her shoulders; “A great many of them. If whispers are to be believed, the Saenga tribe many times over could not match their number.”

Volka nodded slowly, then brought her wing around and plucked one of her flight feathers, much as she had done for Nameless, and handed it to Escrya.

“If you are truly set on this path, present the Matriarch with this, it will at least improve your chances of being heard out. In better times I would never presume to command them to leave a home they have clung to for longer than I have been alive, but the aid of the Amazon Matriarch and her warriors would go a long way towards upsetting Evadne’s schemes!”

As Escrya took the feather and tucked it away, Ophelia fluttered into the middle of the room and set her hand on the young Amazon’s shoulders.

“You’re not leaving tonight.” She declared firmly, not brooking any disagreement; “If this journey is going to be as dangerous as you say, you need to begin it fresh and ready! You can leave in the morning, or even the morning after that!”

Volka stood up to join the Flutterby.

“I agree, rest, warriors of the Saenga. The task that you set upon may well become legend some day, and you will therefore need your strength.”

Ophelia rolled her eyes, an uncharacteristic display of exasperation.

“I literally just said that.”

While the Amazons shared in a laugh at his Flutterby’s expense, Nameless took their cups into the kitchen.

Milly followed him.

When he was finished with the sink he turned to find her waiting.

“Oh! Hey baby, is everything alright?”

She had a pensive expression on her face, the kind of look he’d seen from her before; she wanted something, but was hesitant to ask for it.

He opened his mouth to reassure her but she spoke before he could, keeping her voice low so no one else could hear.

“The rest of us talked about this, a while ago. And we all agree. We missed out on you bonding with Kar.” She explained, shaking her head with determination; “We’re not going to miss out on Escrya too.”

His eyes and mouth widened in surprise.

He and the young Amazon had one night together, back when they were still in the academy, and though he thought on it fondly sometimes, he’d come to feel that they’d missed their moment.

So naturally he was taken aback by the Minotaur’s sudden resolve, not to mention her abrupt declaration.

“Are you-”

“I’m more than sure Master!” She interrupted him before he could finish; “Didn’t you feel how happy we all were to see her again?”

“I... yes, I did. But we don’t need to rush.”

“We’re not.” She objected with some