Forgotten Magic (Elementals Book 1) Read online

  Forgotten

  Magic

  VICKY GARLICK

  This paperback edition 2016

  First published in paperback 2015

  Copyright © 2015 Vicky Garlick

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN: 153740654X

  ISBN-13: 978-1537406541

  To my parents

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgments

  ix

  MAP

  x-xi

  Pronunciation Guide

  xiii

  Prologue

  1

  Chapter 1

  3

  Chapter 2

  8

  Chapter 3

  15

  Chapter 4

  25

  Bælana 1

  32

  Chapter 5

  34

  Chapter 6

  41

  Chapter 7

  49

  Chapter 8

  58

  Bælana 2

  67

  Chapter 9

  69

  Chapter 10

  78

  Chapter 11

  88

  Chapter 12

  93

  Chapter 13

  99

  Chapter 14

  106

  Bælana 3

  114

  Chapter 15

  116

  Chapter 16

  123

  Chapter 17

  128

  Chapter 18

  138

  Chapter 19

  148

  Chapter 20

  159

  Chapter 21

  171

  Bælana 4

  180

  Chapter 22

  182

  Chapter 23

  192

  Chapter 24

  201

  Chapter 25

  210

  Chapter 26

  220

  Chapter 27

  231

  Bælana 5

  240

  Chapter 28

  243

  Chapter 29

  253

  Chapter 30

  264

  Chapter 31

  275

  Bælana 6

  281

  Chapter 32

  283

  Chapter 33

  290

  Chapter 34

  300

  Chapter 35

  307

  Chapter 36

  313

  Chapter 37

  319

  Epilogue

  325

  About the Author

  328

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Firstly I want to say a huge thank you to my mum, Lorraine, for always being there for me and for reading the very first draft of Forgotten Magic and not telling me it was awful. I also want to say a massive thank you to my sister, Jo, for designing the cover, it’s simply fantastic, especially the elemental symbols.

  I want to thank my entire family for never telling me my dream was unreachable and ultimately for being supportive of my ambition. And to my friends, who have been fantastic throughout the entire writing process.

  Thank you to those who’ve read the book and given feedback, and those who’ve promoted me constantly. Thank you to everyone, I honestly wouldn’t be here without you.

  Pronunciation Guide

  This is how I’ve always pronounced the names and places but feel free to pronounce them how you like.

  Alten – Al-ten

  Amma – Am-ma

  Arthur Nyme – Are-th-err N-aye-m

  Asmera – As-m-air-a

  Aurora – A-roar-a

  Bælana – Ba-la-nah

  Boran – Bore-an

  Brean – Bree-n

  Callaghan –Kal-a-han

  Chalcora – Ch-al-core-a

  Climaya – Klim-ay-a

  Cora – Core-a

  Dahl – Da-all

  Draogo – D-ray-o-go

  Fiona – Fee-o-na

  Fjord – F-your-d

  Gary – Ga-ree

  Goliath – G-ole-aye-eth

  Hazime – Ha-zeem

  Helian – Hell-ee-an

  Jenna – J-en-nah

  Joklen – Jock-len

  Jolia – Jo-lee-a

  Julen – Jew-len

  Kamar – Ka-mar

  Katia – Cat-ee-a

  Keolan – Key-o-lan

  Kiræ Lengol – Keer-ah Len-g-ol

  Maguire – Mag-wire

  Malum – Mal-um

  Mingual – Min-gwall

  Mori – More-ee

  Nalim – Na-limb

  Nayla – Neigh-la

  Pan – P-an

  Rævenda – Ra-ven-dah

  Reesa – Ree-sah

  Rip – Ri-p

  Sara Lengol – Saa-ra Len-g-ol

  Seb – Se-b

  Shannah – Sh-an-nah

  Shanta – Sh-an-ta

  Shila – Sh-i-la

  Tana – Ta-na

  Terraniem – T-err-ay-nee-em

  Tino Crucedal – Tee-no Crew-se-dahl

  Tom Lengol – Tom Len-g-ol

  Trissa – Tr-iss-ah

  Vala Lengol – Vah-la Len-g-ol

  Vulcan – V-ull-can

  Xanthon – Zan-th-on

  Yana – Yah-na

  Ziqua – Zi-kwa

  Harley – Har-leigh

  Krockonus – Croc-on-us

  Myran – My-ran

  Safaya – Sa-fiy-ya

  Senna – Sen-nah

  Elementa – El-em-en-ta

  Elementa Praesidium – El-em-en-ta Pr-as-id-ee-um

  Elementa Validus – El-em-en-ta Val-i-does

  Mutaforma Animalis – Mew-ta-form-a An-i-mal-is

  Mutaforma Draconis – Mew-ta-form-a Dr-ack-on-is

  Amga Nek – Am-ga N-eck

  Auradal – Or-a-da-l

  Baja – Baah-jsha (The latter sounds have a similar sound to Rajah, the tiger from Aladdin)

  Balim – Ba-lim

  Birrien – Bi-ree-an

  Burgun – B-err-gun

  Caan – Caa-n

  Cronne – Kr-on

  Cyptxon – Psy-p-t-zon

  Denward – Den-ward

  Diapanm – Dee-a-pan

  Eriba – Er-ee-ba

  Infiato – In-fee-a-toe

  Jelicæ – Jel-ika

  Kaa – K-ar

  Kelendal – Kel-end-al

  Kurbarr – K-err-bar

  Leosbur – Lee-oss-burr

  Limmi – L-im-me

  Myrtan – M-err-tan

  Ohu – O-who

  Olai – O-lay

  Orne – Or-n

  Panm – P-an

  Rosas – Ro-sass

  Seul – See-ool

  Sortir – Sore-tear

  Taffer – Ta-fur

  Tresin – Tr-e-sin

  Trynity – Tr-in-it-y

  Valmena – Val-me-na

  Véde – V-ay-d

  Wegoraz – W-egg-or-az

  Woreth – W-or-e-th

  Xitol – Zi-toll

  Yanin – Y-an-in

  Yutshan – Yut-sh-an

  Zàkan – Zak-an

  Prologue

  Stars twinkled brightly in the dark pool above and the two moons, one waxing, one waning were beginning to set. The air was still, causing the clouds above to lay unmoving, casting odd shadows across the ground and a cool mist lay across the peacefully sleeping city like a blanket. The wide, dusty streets were dark and empty, save for a few rats scurrying around in search of food. They were nibbling contently on a discarded scrap of bread when their bodies stiffened and their ears pricked up
in alarm.

  There was a loud rush of air and a violent whirlwind appeared causing the rats to scamper away in fear. As it dissipated a young woman with pale skin and waist length dark brown hair, almost to the point of being black, stepped from it and out into the street. A large, high sided basket hung from the crook of her arm.

  She walked slowly but determinedly, keeping to the shadows as much as possible to avoid being seen by the patrolling guards, whose armour clinked faintly while they walked the city walls. Her long, crimson and black dress rustled as she walked, disturbing the peaceful silence. She fondled a large, polished jet fragment hanging from swirling patterns of a silver choker absentmindedly.

  A shuffling sound emerged from the basket she was carrying. She frowned as she looked into it; her dark eyes were hard and no hint of a smile found its way to her deep red lips. She continued to walk deeper into the city, watching as the mist billowed around her almost playfully. She could have landed closer to her destination, she knew that, but where she was going would be more open, more exposed and there would have been a greater risk that she would have been seen. It wasn’t the time for that, not yet anyway.

  The young woman looked up as she rounded a corner and stopped as she saw a large number of small, cramped buildings in front of her. She found the small, dishevelled, one storey stone building she was looking for, nestled amongst the others and walked slowly and carefully towards it. There were large square windows either side of the worn, green, wooden door and though they were covered with curtains, a faint light shone through the one on the left.

  She smiled to herself, “Ever the scholar Brean,” her voice was deep and soothing but there was a hint of malice hidden beneath the layers, “but your time is being wasted, as always.”

  The young woman stopped in front of the house and looked once more into the basket she had been carrying; finally, her mouth curled up in a smile but it was razor sharp and there was little warmth behind it. She placed the basket carefully on the doorstep, attended briefly to the contents within, then walked away from the house, smiling wickedly as she heard someone shuffling inside. She turned her head to once more look at the ragged house and the basket before she was engulfed in a violent whirlwind.

  The worn green door opened cautiously and an older man, with shoulder length greying hair and stubble peered out into the gloom. A thin ray of light fell upon the basket on his doorstep as did his bright amber eyes, which were wide with shock.

  “Bælana,” he said slowly and quietly looking horrified at the basket’s contents, “what have you done?”

  Chapter 1

  The late autumn sun shone blindingly bright across a dusty courtyard where children played in blissful ignorance of the danger around them. A young slender woman, wearing beige trousers and a fitted shirt entered a small stone house.

  “Vala? Are you here?” she called in a clear voice while searching the five rooms thoroughly.

  “Have you found her Kiræ?” asked a tall, well-built man, who looked incredibly like the woman, as he walked into the building and leant against a wooden counter.

  “No Tom, she’s not here,” Kiræ said, shaking her head in disappointment.

  “She’s not been called away, so she must be around somewhere,” Tom replied as he pulled a chunk of bread from a loaf on the counter and started chewing thoughtfully.

  “That’s true,” Kiræ agreed, “unless of course it was urgent,” she sat at the kitchen table and frowned in thought while pushing her long, loosely curled red hair from her face.

  “You two need to learn to wake earlier,” they jumped and turned around to find a tall, slender figure in the open doorway. The twins grinned at her and Kiræ leant back in her chair.

  “But it’s our free day, why wake early if there’s no need,” she smiled mischievously and Vala returned it. “So where were you?”

  “In the stables, tending to Safaya, the same as every morning,” Vala said as she tied her hair loosely back.

  “Tom I thought you said you’d looked there?” Kiræ stared accusingly at her slightly older brother, who shrugged and took another bite of bread.

  “I didn’t see anyone as I walked past,” he replied while chewing, “anyway,” he turned to Vala, “we’re heading down to the beach, if you want to come?” Vala looked fondly at her two adopted children. She couldn’t believe how much Tom had grown recently and was now at least five inches taller than his twin sister but they were still incredibly alike. His fiery red hair was darker than his sisters, he had more freckles across his cheeks and his skin was paler but their eyes were the exact same shade of emerald green that sparkled mischievously.

  “I’d love to, the God’s know I could do with some time off, but I have to go away again,” she replied sighing.

  “You’ve only just returned,” Kiræ pointed out and Vala looked suddenly weary as she sat at the table.

  “I know, but I’ve been asked to take council with King Asmera in Olai. He’s wants my advice regarding the mingual since Eriba borders the Holy Land, and as he’s the queen’s brother it’s important that I go.”

  “I feel like we haven’t seen you properly in weeks,” Kiræ sighed.

  “I know,” Vala replied, “but it shouldn’t be for long and I shouldn’t need to fight, not if I can help it anyway.”

  “Couldn’t we come with you then?” Tom asked looking down into her pale lavender eyes; Vala couldn’t believe he was now taller than she was, “we’ve only a few days left until the end of the season and our exams are over, so we’re basically finished anyway.”

  “And you’ve just turned twenty so you should be starting to think about what you want to do next,” Vala pointed out.

  “Couldn’t we think about it on the journey?” Kiræ asked hopefully.

  “I’ll think about it,” Vala said hugging them, “I don’t want to endanger anyone I don’t have to, and you two are the most important things to me.”

  “We won’t be in danger,” Tom pointed out, “no fighting, you just said,” Vala looked at him pointedly then sighed causing the twins to grin.

  The trio set off early several days later, the twins bristling with excitement at the thought of embarking on their first adventure. Vala had supplied them with ill-fitting mail shirts in her anxiety and they clinked musically as they rode. Vala wore her formal uniform, her own mail shirt being hidden from sight.

  The first flakes of snow began to fall heavily eight days into their journey, creating a crisp white canvas in front of them. Kiræ looked over her shoulder and saw their tracks had already been covered by the rapidly increasing snowfall. She shivered as tiny flakes somehow managed to creep under her scarf leaving their icy touch on her neck. The twins’ enthusiasm for adventure was waning fast as they rode, shivering on their horses, the early winter sun offering little in the way of warmth and comfort.

  The weather worsened over the next ten days. The trio struggled against heavy snowstorms that impaired their visibility and threatened to consume them. The harsh wind scratched and stung their faces cruelly and Kiræ found it brought tears to her eyes that froze almost instantly. She felt as if they had been riding for months across the deserted snowy landscape when they finally approached the quiet border between Baja and Eriba. Vala halted them quickly, scanning the crisp white blanket as she tried to identify the edges of the Ohu Lake in case they had drifted off course. She slid from her horse and the snow rose halfway up her knee-high riding boots as she waded cautiously forwards.

  “Be careful!” Tom called his teeth chattering; Vala smiled back at them reassuringly before facing forwards and frowning. She took another few shuffling steps through the snow and thought she heard the faintest crack; she backed away slowly and looked about her. She knew it didn’t matter if they didn’t know the exact layout of the lake, they just needed to be away from the edge. Vala lead the twins to their right for an hour before they continued their journey forwards and towards Olai.

  That night the snowfall slack
ened and they sat huddled around the first decent fire they had managed to make, trying to warm their frozen bones. None were sure how the fire had lit as the wood they had gathered was as wet as previous nights. Vala had known it was futile to attempt fires in such conditions but the twins were restless and insisted on trying so she relented. Kiræ had been sat with her box of flint, while Tom - who had long since given up on the fire - helped Vala raise the tents.

  Kiræ was desperately trying to light the damp timbers without any luck. She had become increasingly frustrated and had cursed loudly as she made one last attempt. Without warning the fire had blazed eagerly to life and crackled happily amongst the wood. Kiræ had fallen back in surprise, landing in a large pile of icy snow while staring at her hands. She was sure the fire had jumped from them but as there was no evidence of burns she dismissed it instantly calling to the others to get warm, which they did so gladly.