Mystic Mist (Book One Enchanted Worlds Series) Read online

  Mystic Mist

  Book One

  New Breed

  Part One of the

  Enchanted Worlds Series

  L. Vandiver

  Copyright 2017© Lisa Vandiver

  All Rights Reserved

  All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Smashwords License Notes

  This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to wherever you bought it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

  Special Acknowledgments

  Cover designed by

  Rick Green

  Rick, your memory will live on through the beautiful covers you created. I miss you.

  Dedications

  To my mother, Frances Brashier. I grew up seeing your love for stories, and I also developed a passion for books. I am thankful you were able to read the stories I wrote.

  You always encouraged me in my writing. I miss you every day. I love you, Mom.

  To my daughter, Keira, you inspire me every day to continue the fight. I love you very much. Remember, with work and faith; you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. I love you.

  Table of Contents

  Title, CopyrightDedications,

  Table of Contents,

  Special Acknowledgements,

  Chapter1, Chapter2, Chapter3,

  Chapter4, Chapter5, Chapter6,

  Chapter7, Chapter8, Chapter9,

  Chapter10, Chapter11, Chapter12,

  Chapter13, Chapter14, Chapter15,

  Chapter16, Chapter17, Chapter18,

  Chapter19, Chapter20, Chapter21,

  Chapter22, Chapter23, Chapter24, Chapter25, Chapter26, Chapter27,

  Chapter28, Chapter29, Chapter30,

  Chapter31, Chapter32, Chapter33,

  Chapter34, Chapter35, Chapter36,

  Chapter37, Chapter38, Chapter39,

  Chapter40, Chapter41, Chapter 42,

  Chapter43, Chapter44, Chapter45,

  Chapter 46, Chapter 47, Chapter 48,

  A Message from the Author

  Chapter One

  The Wald Forês Séduc, a dark and seducing forest deep in the heart of an enchanted realm, provided a shadowy path through the Majh’ygul Realm.

  The giant trees with overreaching branches blocked all but a few rays of the two suns from reaching the worn path. The ominous shadows cast on the road, caused a foreboding experience for travelers.

  Wald Forês Séduc surrounded the four kingdoms from all sides of its borders stopping only where the oceans began. This mystical forest was famous for its legends of spirits, Frayr, and other supernatural creatures, which lived here.

  On this day, a small caravan of three royal carriages belonging to the kingdom of Aspella traveled through the forest protected by royal knights and a troop of warriors.

  The royals of Aspella trudged peacefully down the dirt path toward the beautiful mountain citadel of Lisipia.

  King Stefanos Ghéyntyn was inside the first carriage with his wife, Loren, and their children. The king sat gazing out the window while he held his infant son, Keilwen, who slept.

  Stefanos had explored the four kingdoms within the Majh’ygul Realm extensively. Journeying through the ancient forest was indeed pleasurable. While others became unsettled by the strange noises escaping the forest, the king thought it added to its beauty.

  He and his entourage had just trekked through the last Aspellian village, Speurmon. They crossed the small lake just behind the village and began ascending the mountain.

  If the caravan had had no problems along the way, they would have arrived at Lisipia by nightfall, still two hours away.

  The citadel of Lisipia was the most ancient of the Majh’ygul Realm, but no kingdom owned its territory.

  Long ago, the four kingdoms declared Lisipia neutral ground as they considered it a sacred place.

  Warriors guarded the citadel gates day and night. Only those that worked inside the citadel lived behind the tall, massive, impenetrable wall. No one could visit the sacred area without an invitation from the High Council of Lisipia.

  The citadel rested on a high cliff and its territory stretched for miles all the way to the foot of Mount Feh’isipia.

  At its highest point, one could see the territories of the four kingdoms. There was only one village, La Des Anges, nestled inside its borders, though most of the four kingdoms did not know of its existence. It was where the Holy Men of the four realms lived with their families.

  These Holy Men were the holders of the original historical records of the four realms. It was their duty to protect the records and secrets held within the scrolls. They were the ones that chose the members of the High Council. The High Council were responsible for who they welcomed inside the gates as residents.

  King Stefanos released the curtain. He turned his gaze to his wife, who held their infant son, Heirich, twin to Keilwen, in her arms. He glanced at their daughters.

  His six-year-old daughter, Kinsia, sat next to Queen Loren, while her four-year-old sister, Talia, sat close to the king.

  Stefanos leaned his head down and kissed Keilwen on the cheek.

  “I wish I could rest so peacefully.”

  The queen laughed softly, “The swaying carriage is lulling him into a deep slumber.”

  Stefanos gently caressed Keilwen’s cheek. He stared into the eyes of his eldest daughter. “Are you excited to see Mount Feh’isipia?”

  The six-year-old girl’s eyes twinkled,

  “Oh, yes, Athair! I am! I wanna see the unicorns!”

  Kinsia’s sister, Talia, squealed with delight. “Hors men!”

  The queen and king laughed softly as Loren asked Talia. “Do you mean the Li’centau?”

  The child nodded vigorously with a grin, “Hors men.”

  The king and queen laughed affectionately as Stefanos leaned over and kissed his daughter’s foreheads.

  “Oh, how I love my girls! You both are so delightful.”

  Hearing Heirich coo in his mother’s arms, the king smiled as he gently caressed the baby’s forehead. “Does he ever sleep?”

  Loren smiled at Heirich. She reached out and gently caressed Keilwen’s cheek.

  “No, but I believe Keilwen sleeps enough for them both.”

  They laughed softly, and the king returned his gaze out the window feeling at peace.

  However, the peace was not to last as an arrow struck the side of the carriage near the window.

  While more arrows sailed through the air, clashing swords filled the king’s ears, revealing that they were under attack.

  King Stefanos turned to look at his startled family with concern.


  “Stefanos!” Queen Loren cried as she fell to the floor, cradling Erich.

  “Girls, get on the floor with your mother.”

  King Stefanos placed Keilwen into Kinsia’s arms. He leaned over his family to protect them from the bombardment of arrows striking the carriage.

  “Lower your heads and keep them low.”

  The family huddled close together as the assault on their caravan continued.

  ***

  SWISH

  “Aye! Aye!”

  The carriage driver felt the wind from an arrow sail past his head. He watched as it buried it into a tree. More arrows followed and landed on the sides of the three carriages.

  On seeing this, the carriage driver snapped a whip in the air forcing the horses to quicken their pace.

  “Protect the royal carriage!” a knight screamed through the erupting chaos.

  Numerous knights surrounded the carriage at once as arrows soared past them.

  The carriage bounced against rocks along the path and bumped against trees as the driver attempted to escape.

  “Argh! Ugh!”

  An arrow struck the driver’s neck, paralyzing him with pain. Another arrow hit him between the eyes, killing him instantly.

  His body slumped to the side of the perch, rolled off, and hit the ground. His lifeless body fell under the carriage's wheels, cracking his back.

  The footman struggled to make his way to the perch as the enemy advanced from a hill above them.

  A Saighas, mercenary for hire, leaped from the hill onto the carriage and attacked the footman. He slit the footman’s throat and shoved the footman off the carriage.

  A traitorous king’s ranking warrior, now surrounded with numerous mercenaries, ordered, “The king and his family are in the first carriage. Kill them all!”

  The knights discovered the realm’s warriors were the ones attacking alongside the mercenaries and Hellavey, large crimson creatures with sharp fangs and talons.

  Three knights rode their horses alongside the king’s carriage as multiple-foot warriors pursued them. Other knights held back, fighting off the traitors.

  The knight closest to the carriage leaped from his horse onto the perch.

  The carriage overturned as he mounted the perch, dragging him down the road behind the four horses. The axle, shaft, harness, and cockeye(is this the correct spelling) broke, releasing the horses from the carriage.

  While the horses ran away, the king’s carriage tumbled down a small hill, rolling twice and landing along the river bank with half of the carriage in the creek.

  “Athair, there’s water filling the carriage!” Talia cried.

  King Stefanos reached out his hand, pulling his daughters into his and Queen Loren’s arms, comforting them, “I have you, girls. You are safe.”

  He examined Keilwen. “He is alive, Loren. How is Heirich?”

  Queen Loren felt relieved. “Heirich is okay, too. The Guardians have protected them.”

  “Praise to the Guardians and the God they serve.” King Stefanos hugged his family closely.

  The sound of steel clashing against steel as the knights fought against the enemy silenced King Stefano’s rejoicing.

  “Everything will be okay, I promise, but we must escape from the carriage.”

  ***

  The second carriage, carrying Cletus, King Stefanos’ brother, ran over the lifeless body of the footman as it lay on the road.

  Seeing the enemy surrounding them, the driver forced the horses to a halt.

  Enemy warriors and Saighas circled the carriage, giving no one a chance to escape.

  The third carriage carried Malchiack, a wizard and confidant of the king. Three dignitaries also rode inside the carriage with Malchiack.

  The restraints broke loose from the horses, veered out of control into the forest, and crashed into a tree.

  While the knights fought off their attackers, Malchiack and the three dignitaries with him climbed out of the carriage.

  Malchiack pointed toward a thick forest when Rodham, a knight, approached.

  “Lord Malchiack, thank the gods you are well. Nores asked that I take you and the dignitaries to Lisipia.”

  Malchiack glanced at Rodham, “How goes the fight?”

  “Not good, My Lord.”

  “I would appreciate you taking care of our friends, but I must go to my king.”

  “I shall make sure they arrive safely, Lord Malchiack. I pray you to remain safe.”

  Rodham and the three dignitaries hurried toward the forest as Malchiack made his way through the underbrush.

  ***

  Malchiack’s heart fell when he saw a knight lying underneath the carriage, dead.

  He climbed the carriage and opened the door.

  “My Lord, are you well?”

  “Yes, we are well. I am pleased to see you have survived, my dear friend. How does my brother, Cletus fair?”

  “I saw his carriage surrounded by enemy soldiers, your own traitorous warriors, and Saighas, Sire. The dignitaries have escaped into the forest with Rodham and on the way to Lisipia.”

  “My heart is pleased to hear Rodham is with them.”

  “My Lord, we are not safe. We must go.”

  “Help my daughters first.”

  Kinsia’s eyes filled with tears, and she cried, “No, Father, I don’t want to leave you.”

  “Kinsia, I promise I will be right behind you. Now, please do all that Malchiack instructs you. He will take care of you, my darling. You are quite intelligent for your age and so I need you to remain strong a little longer.” He hugged her and kissed Talia’s forehead. “Talia, stay close to Malchiack and your sister. I love you both. Now, go.”

  Loren hugged her daughters. “I love you both more than my own life. Your father and I will be right behind you.”

  Kinsia teared up, “Mother, I am frightened.”

  Loren fought back her tears at hearing the fear in her daughter’s voice.

  “I am frightened too, my darling. But we both must be brave for Talia.”

  “I will, Mother. I love you.”

  Loren hugged her eldest daughter, “I am proud of you, and I love you.”

  Stephanos and Loren each hugged Keilwen who slept in Kinsia’s arms. The king took Kinsia who still held Keilwen in his arms and lifted her to Malchiack.

  Malchiack pulled her up and out of the carriage. He took Keilwen in his arms.

  Together he and Kinsia climbed down the carriage. He gave Keilwen back to Kinsia.

  “Kinsia, please remain here with Keilwen while I help your family.”

  He climbed back up the carriage and pulled Talia to him. Together, they climbed down the carriage.

  Once there, he led them behind a large boulder, surrounded by wildflowers and two large trees whose branches kissed the ground.

  Malchiack gently touched the elder girl’s chin while looking at her sternly.

  “Look after Keilwen and Talia until I return with your parents and Heirich. Remain hidden, no matter what you hear.”

  Kinsia nodded her head. “I understand.”

  Malchiack turned and made his way back toward the carriage. The heart of Malchiack filled with joy when he saw the queen climbing out of the carriage.

  He waded into the water, rushed to the carriage's bottom, and held his hand toward her. “My Lady, give me the child.”

  The queen leaned down to place Heirich into Malchiack’s arms, but an enemy warrior attacked Malchiack before he could retrieve the baby, knocking him off the carriage and into the water.

  Malchiack turned toward the enemy and uttered, “Be gone with you,” as he waved his staff toward the warrior. However, to Malchiack’s dismay, his magic failed him.

  The warrior stared at him with hatred, reveling in Malchiack’s failed magic.

  The warrior attacked Malchiack with the sword, but Malchiack blocked the strike. The two men fought in the water near the bank until they both went under the water, and Malchiack lost h
is staff.

  The warrior resurfaced first and pulled Malchiack up and against the bank, where he repeatedly hit Malchiack in the face.

  The warrior drew his sword from its sheath and prepared to run Malchiack through.

  However, a knight ran a sword through his back.

  The warrior heaved once, fell dead in the water, and floated toward a cascading waterfall.

  The knight grasped Malchiack’s hand and helped him to stand. “Go and find the royal children while I help the king and queen.” He handed Malchiack his cane.

  Malchiack exhaled, “Thank you, Nores, tell the king I shall guard the princesses with my life.”

  “I shall, but now, you must go! Travel to Lisipia. You shall find sanctuary among the Fêhluelsian there. We will not be far behind you, sir.”

  Nores scrambled up the carriage to retrieve the king and queen while Malchiack returned to the children.

  Kinsia stood anxiously waiting for her parents to come, but her mouth turned down when she saw Malchiack alone.

  “Where are Mother and Father, Malchiack?”

  “Nores is retrieving them. Your father asked that I get you away from here. Let us go.”

  Kinsia shook her head. “No, I don’t want to leave them.”

  “Kinsia, they will be close at hand, but I promised your father I would get you to safety.” He looked at Talia, “Do you want to climb on my back, darling, so that I can carry you?”

  Talia laughed and nodded as she ran to him. He leaned down, and she wrapped her tiny arms around his neck. Malchiack stood.

  “You hold on to me, but don’t choke me,” Malchiack chuckled.

  Once Malchiack stood, he took Keilwen from Kinsia and saw tears pooling in her eyes.

  “The brave knights will protect your pàrantan and Heirich, but we must go now.”

  Kinsia hung her head as she followed.

  Walking a short distance behind Malchiack she heard her mother scream. She stopped and peered through the trees and glanced back at her parents.

  She cried at what she witnessed.

  ***

  King Stefanos climbed out of the carriage and helped Queen Loren, and their son off the carriage as the sounds of swords drew nearer. His heart broke to see his warriors and knights had fought one another.