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  At River’s End

  Tales from Nōl’Deron

  Lana Axe

  Text copyright © 2015 Lana Axe

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover art by Michael Gauss

  “When man could endure life no longer,

  death came and set him free.” — Mark Twain

  (Letters from the Earth)

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Yillmara waded into the river, her eyes filling with tears. Her flowing white gown danced softly on the surface of the cool water. She laid her hands flat above the water and closed her eyes. With her heart, she reached out to the Spirit of the river. Spirit, hear my plea and grant me my heart’s desire. I ask only to conceive a child. For centuries my life mate and I have tried to no avail, and our family is incomplete. Help us, please, and my child and I shall serve you for the rest of our lives.

  Silently she stood and waited for the Spirit to reply. Minutes passed, and she began to lose heart. Perhaps the Spirit did not care for one insignificant elf. What service could she possibly hope to offer such a powerful being? She felt foolish as she stood among the waters. Bowing her head, she wept softly.

  As her tears splashed against the top of the water, she realized someone was watching her. Lifting her head, she looked in every direction but saw no one. Looking back down into the water, she noticed a pale blue light swirling just beneath the surface. A sense of peace rushed over her and compelled her to lie back in the water. She rested her head on the water’s surface and surrendered herself to the ever-changing current. Sleep overcame her, and she closed her eyes to the world.

  When she awoke, she found herself lying on the riverbank. Sitting up, she stretched her delicate neck to the side and turned her face to the sun. Its warmth kissed her cheek and filled her heart with hope. As she looked out over the river, she could see no change. The light she had seen was most likely imagined. The Spirit had not answered her prayer.

  She brushed at the sand clinging to her gown and climbed up the bank to her village. As she walked, she realized she was not alone. A second heart was beating within her. Realizing her prayer had indeed been answered, she broke into a run.

  “Ryllak!” she cried as she approached the village.

  Hearing the excitement in her voice, her life mate rushed to meet her.

  “I am with child,” she said as tears welled in her eyes. “The Spirit has answered my prayer. We are finally going to have a baby.”

  Ryllak took his love in his arms and held her tightly. His eyes began tearing as well. He had long ago put the thought of fatherhood from his mind. Now his life would never be the same. “I love you, Yillmara,” he said. “This is the best news you could ever give me.”

  The couple proceeded into the village to spread the good news to their friends. Their immense joy shone readily on their faces. The Spirit had provided them a child, but a price would have to be paid.

  Chapter 1

  Ulda tapped a heavily jeweled finger against the arm of his mahogany chair as he smirked to himself. It seemed he was always beaming with pride these days. Since taking control of the island of Ral’nassa, he had finally achieved what he always desired—ruling an entire kingdom of his own. Now with so many souls at his disposal, he had the power to take over all of Nōl’Deron. Next on his list was the Kingdom of Na’zora. They had earned his wrath, and he would soon have his revenge.

  Rising from his seat, the elf’s lean form blotted out the sunlight behind him. His shadow spread before him as his boots tapped against the smooth marble floor of his tower. Servants lowered their eyes as he passed, avoiding the dark eyes of their master. Standing seven feet in height with an angular face and weathered appearance, Master Ulda looked every bit as calloused and cruel as he had proved himself to be. No one was safe, not even his closest allies. Many innocents had fallen to his wrath in his bid for the throne.

  Stepping out onto the balcony, Ulda peered over the edge and looked to the sea. Soon I will have vengeance, he thought, his chest burning with anticipation. Looking below, he narrowed his eyes as the servants scattered in all directions. His sudden appearance had unnerved them, and he preferred to keep it that way. They would work harder for a master they feared.

  Taking Ral’nassa had been less of a challenge than he had expected. In fact, it had almost been easy once he had the souls necessary to complete the task. Throughout his years in exile, Ulda had perfected the art of soul binding. Though he had dabbled with it for some time, he had only recently come to realize its intricacies. Splicing the soul of a human with that of an animal had been his first step. The process allowed him to create an army of creatures beholden to him. They obeyed his every whim because he controlled their life essence. Holding such power over a being had triggered something in his mind. His lust for power was only beginning.

  In time, Ulda learned to place the essence of other Enlightened Elves inside gemstones. To his delight, the power of an elf proved far more potent than that of a human. With this new ability, he crafted more-powerful spells, allowing him to easily subdue his victims. By placing an elven soul inside a gem, he could combine that elf’s power with his own, augmenting his magical stores and providing protection against would-be attackers. There were many uses for these souls, and he delighted in studying them and unlocking their every potential.

  With everyone aware of his reputation for bloodshed, Ulda knew it would be difficult to win allies. It had taken him years to find the correct formula, but eventually, he managed to concoct a potion that would allow him to preserve the physical appearances of the most beautiful elves of the islands. Capturing and killing them had not been difficult, with the help of his hybrid creations. All the animals needed was a scent, and they would stalk their prey for days if necessary. They never failed to deliver the particular elf Ulda sought. Before extracting their essences, he would administer his new potion, thus preserving the physical beauty of his victims along with their souls. By this method, he could make himself more appealing to those around him, so long as he kept the gem on his person. This undeniable charm had served him well.

  Ulda enjoyed decorating himself with an excessive amount of enchanted jewelry. Unfortunately, gems and precious metals were quickly weighing him down. It would require more research before he could bind these things to himself permanently, eliminating the need to constantly wear so much jewelry. Then he could save room on his body to wear only the most powerful souls—the ones that proved too strong to subject to the permanent binding process.

  With practice and careful planning, he devised a method of binding the strongest master wizards. Luring them to his tower with his newfound charm, he was able to easily subdue even the most powerful sorcerers. The new process did not involve taking their lives. On the contrary, they lived and lived well as slaves to Ulda’s whim. They were his finest soldiers, his elite warriors.

  With an army of master wizards at his side, he marched on the island of Ral’nassa, enslaving nearly every elf who lived there. Only t
hose who proved too difficult to bind were killed. He did not have the patience necessary to deal with the opposition, and he had no need for so many souls. The ones who were lost mattered not to him. His sights were set on the Grand Council who ruled the isles.

  Upon reaching the Council Tower, Ulda had called out to the sorcerers who held control of Ral’nassa. “I am master of this island now,” his voice boomed. “All life here serves me, and you must as well. If you stand against me, you will beg for death before I’ve finished with you.” Given the choice between joining him and dying painfully, most of them had chosen the former. What he had failed to mention was that they would be subjected to the binding process either way. The only difference was that the ones who chose to serve him would become part of his elite force of wizards. The others would be terminated before having their souls extracted. They would live on in eternal torment.

  Beaming with pride, he stood upon his balcony and looked down upon his island. The salty breeze from the ocean found its way to his nostrils, and the cry of gulls met his ears. Nature held little beauty for him. Only power mattered.

  From his balcony high above, Ulda had a perfect view of any invaders who might come from across the ocean. He feared no one, but he was not so foolish as to allow himself to be caught by surprise. A vast army of soul-bound creatures remained at his beck and call. Looking toward his monsters in their cages, Ulda smiled to himself. His newest creations delighted him so, their beauty unmatched by anything the natural world had to offer.

  Splicing the souls of elves with those of the tigers that inhabited these islands had resulted in a beautifully striped quadruped with a sharp, cunning mind. They were the true gems of his animal creations. With the strength and stealth of the majestic cats, combined with the magical power of the elves, he had given birth to the grandest fighting force Ral’nassa had ever seen.

  Footsteps sounded from behind him, but Ulda did not look up. No one came into his presence without being summoned, and he was well aware who was approaching.

  Prin stepped cautiously through Ulda’s throne room, pausing momentarily to determine the whereabouts of his master. Seeing the edges of Ulda’s black robe fluttering upon the breeze, Prin proceeded toward the balcony. With his long silver hair pulled tightly back and his bronze skin polished to a shine, Prin had conformed his appearance to his master’s instructions. Anything that appeared unkempt or unclean would anger the master sorcerer.

  Prin hadn’t been foolish enough to resist becoming part of Ulda’s army. In fact, he jumped at the opportunity to ally himself with the great wizard. It allowed him to keep his own will intact and prevented him from becoming enslaved. Most of the island’s inhabitants had not been so lucky.

  Without turning around, Ulda said, “I need a gift delivered to King Aelryk of Na’zora.”

  “Of course, Master,” Prin replied with a slight bow.

  Ulda turned and strode back inside his throne room, not bothering to look upon his servant. A small golden box adorned with intricate filigree lay upon the wide arm of his throne. Flipping open the top, he observed himself in the small piece of reflective metal inside. “See that my old friend receives this without delay,” he stated, extending the box toward his servant.

  Bowing, Prin grasped the golden box in his hand. “I will, Master,” he said.

  Ulda began to walk away, but paused a moment and said, “Oh, make sure you don’t open it. Only Aelryk may do so.” Without warning, he shot a single beam of silver light at the box, sealing it. The magic inside was for the king alone. He did not wish to waste the spell on anyone less worthy. With a smirk, he proceeded up a twisted staircase to his laboratory.

  At the center of the circular room sat a large metal table that held a crystalline orb. As he approached, the colors within began to stir. Various shades of red, blue, and yellow faded in and out as the souls of those he had bound remained trapped inside. These had yet to be put to use. Likely they would become the necessary component to splice with some animal and add yet another soldier to Ulda’s army. The next step in his research would be to find a way to use one soul to create multiple creatures. Eventually the population of the isle would dwindle, and he would not want to run out of soldiers. Once all Nōl’Deron was under his control, he would have an abundance of souls to work with. For now, he would have to settle with what Ral’nassa had to offer.

  Moving to the oval-shaped mirror that hung just above the fireplace, Ulda waved his hand in a single stroke. Before his eyes, the land of Na’zora came into view. His scrying enchantment had worked perfectly on the dwarven-crafted mirror, and it had cost him only a small fortune to obtain. No other craftsmen had the abilities of the dwarves. Unfortunately their souls were useless in the binding process. They contained no magical powers, and trapping them was a waste of a perfectly good gem. Once a dwarf’s soul was placed inside, the stone would lose its luster, making it impossible to use it again. Something about the dwarf race prevented them from being used in Ulda’s spells. Instead of wasting his time studying them, he decided to focus all his attention on humans and elves.

  As he looked upon the people of Na’zora going about their daily lives, he laughed quietly. Soon he would own them all. They would bend to his will even faster than the elves, but first he would have his vengeance upon their king. There would be no glorious death in battle for the aging Aelryk. No, he had earned a far greater punishment.

  Thirty years ago, Na’zora joined forces with the only band of Westerling Elves remaining in this world. Their armies combined would not have been enough to stop Ulda and his minions, but the elves brought a weapon unlike any other. A special elf stood among them—a being of remarkable power. Not only did he possess the powers of the First Ones, he also held the power of a water elemental. Only nature’s magic could break through Ulda’s enchantments, but water alone had not been enough to finish him. Ulda had escaped with his life, but his army lay in ruins.

  It had taken these many years to rebuild what he had lost, but he learned much over that time. With his new spells and his perfection of the binding process, he had ensured himself victory in Ral’nassa. His triumph in Na’zora would come next. At the same time, he would turn his attention to the Vale and destroy the elves who once stood against him. Previously he lacked the strength to bind the souls of the First Ones or elementals. That had all changed. After studying carefully the writings of an elf named Telorithan, he had found exactly what he needed. This elf had accomplished both of those feats, and Ulda could now do the same. All it took was the added strength of the wizards he had bound. A simple solution to a difficult problem.

  Na’zora’s white-stone palace came into view before Ulda’s eyes. Nestled along the coast, it gleamed in the sunlight that radiated through a clear blue sky. Waves pounded against the rocky shoreline, finding their way to the soft white sand where Ulda’s army had been defeated so many years ago. All was serene—for now.

  * * * * *

  Prin cradled the golden box delicately against his chest. This was a prize, enchanted by his master, and he would allow no one to do it harm. Though he could not leave the island himself, he would see that it was delivered safely to Na’zora’s king. It was necessary to find a human to deliver it, as an elf might fall under suspicion in the kingdom across the sea. There were very few, if any, elves living in that land, and the people had not forgotten their last encounter with his master, whose lineage was that of the Enlightened Elves. Ulda had left a lasting impression, and it was unlikely they would trust any elf bearing a gift to the king. A human who was fully under Ulda’s command would do nicely.

  After making his way down the seemingly endless spiral staircase, Prin stepped outside the massive tower that served as his master’s home. Once, it had been the center of government for the island. Now it was Ulda’s base of operations—the place where he crafted and perfected his army of beasts. Prin was delighted to have a room on the seventeenth floor, just across from his master. What better place to serve his nee
ds? No other servant was allowed on the floor while Ulda was present. That privilege was Prin’s alone. He served his master’s every need, day or night, without complaint. It was an honor to wait upon such a brilliant sorcerer.

  Sand crunched loudly beneath the soles of his leather boots as he hurried along the path. Prin knew of several human slaves working in the shipyard who might make a convincing Na’zoran messenger. It would require minimal work on his part to prepare them. With their souls bound to Ulda’s whim, they would each gladly serve in whatever role was required of them.

  The shipyard was noisy as men shuffled about performing various tasks. They called out to one another in rough tones, and hammers rang out as the master’s ships were tended to. Eventually Ulda would possess a mighty fleet—one that would aid him in his plans to take over new lands.

  Prin’s eye fell on a tall man seated quietly in a corner. In his hand he held a finely chiseled ornament that would soon grace the handrails of Ulda’s personal vessel. This man was capable of delicate work, and Prin knew he would fit in nicely among the nobles of Na’zora. For the past few years, Prin had studied the noble families, memorizing their names and locations as well as the source of their wealth. Such information would prove helpful to his master once they landed on Na’zora.

  “You there,” Prin called, pointing to the man. “Master Ulda requires your services.”

  The man set the ornament down carefully before approaching Prin. “How may I serve?” he asked in a quiet voice.

  Prin held forth the golden box. “I will arrange your transport to Na’zora. Once there, you will deliver this item to King Aelryk. Say you are a servant to Duke Lumbry, who lives in the southlands. Your master sends a gift to please his king.”

  The man looked down at his shabby clothing. “I am not fit to stand in the presence of a king,” he stated regretfully.