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  DEFILED

  The Lady of the Water

  Volume Three

  Elskidor Xell

  Copyright @2020

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, digital scanning, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Published 2020

  Map Legend

  1 Frenmere Pass

  2 Lockage

  3 Garroth of Gargurthian

  4 Magwhen of Nova

  5 Aviway

  6 Malor

  7 Sangorus

  8 Haunted Forest

  9 Verdan

  10 Verdia

  11 Neweora

  12 Nabor

  13 Athran

  14 Ordros

  15 Nyflia

  16 Hallowed Ro

  17 Black Cliffs

  18 Darvane Mountains

  19 Pallae River

  20 Glenmoore

  21 Laeluffian

  22 Urnen’s Gut

  23 Orzo

  24 Crystal Palace

  25 Vallens

  26 Forbidden Lands

  27 Starspire Islands

  27. Starspire Islands

  DEFILED

  The Lady of the Water

  Volume Three

  Elskidor Xell

  Prologue

  PART ONE

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  PART TWO

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  PART THREE

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Prologue

  "It's what I told him we would do! Deployed and stationed in Tragmont. We should have all been there a year ago to bring that vile Divox to ruin. You meddled with my mind and twisted my ideas, making me out to be a liar or a fool who can't make a sarding decision," said King Edward.

  Deep into the night and secluded in his private quarters, King Edward Dawnhand, dressed in a long nightgown, paced the room in a fret. His cousin sat in the corner of the room, holding a scroll the Cassenneth King had given him.

  After being abruptly summoned in the night, Lord Lucas had hurried to the royal chambers where he read over this parchment, all the while listening to the King's conniption. While Edward placed the blame on Lord Lucas, he had just gotten around to digging through a stack of letters when he found one missive marked urgent that he carelessly mixed in with his unimportant mail two weeks prior.

  "I said we'd come. I said we'd be there. And here we are cozy in our homes letting allies die. Our duty is there and our responsibility," Edward repeated himself looking back and forth, from the ceiling to floor, to his cousin and all about the area as he paced from one side of the room to another, fidgeting his arms and hands as he moved.

  "Allies to elves we've never even met? They aren't allies, Edward. We've had no official meeting or request from their King, Queen, or a single native of this southern land. For all we know, we're unwelcome south by Tragmont. The summons for our help came from a mortal man."

  "Damn right. A man I trust. Foolhardy as you may think I am, he is the only reason I returned with my head years ago," Edward blasted back. The northern King rarely displayed anger, but this was a sore spot for the man. Divox was a symbol of every insult to his country. The demise of his parents, the fate of the late King and Queen before them, and the estranged relationship between Edward and his brother were all linked to King Casen, some strange old man that beheaded Alezenda, and the one called Wolf. To Edwards' knowledge, the former two men were dead now, but the latter survived and still wrecked lives. Indeed, a chance to make up for his shortcomings and bring the villain Lonewolf back North to face justice was an undying ambition of King Edward. "He and I and even you suffered injury and loss thanks be to these cruel southern twits."

  Tired and bemused by his cousin's untimely summoning, Lord Lucas might have lost his temper, yet his manner remained pure and mild. He calmly laid the open document down upon the nightstand nearest him and said, "It was a sure sign you discarded the missive the day I sent it up to you. My first sign was when you did not summon me two weeks ago. As busy as I've been dealing with Vallidor issues, and your private affairs traveling to and from the city, finding time to discuss every which matter has eluded me."

  Edward stopped his pacing directly before his cousin and looked down upon him. "Why had you not looked at its contents, cousin?" It was not only uncommon for Lucas to pass urgent matters on to King Edward without reviewing them first, but unheard of since Edward's coronation years past. Lucas didn't burden Edward with much until Lucas evaluated, planned, or dealt with it. He never asked for Edward's attention if he deemed the business unworthy of his cousin's time.

  "My sources told me you left in the night after this communication arrived. The one who delivered it reminded you it was something you should read," Lucas said.

  Edward vaguely remembered that evening and the delivery. He had been drinking and was in a hurry to join his old friend, Averan, who had just arrived in Lockage. A good year had passed since last he'd seen Averan and a little celebration was most in order. Now thinking it over, he recollected the servant who annoyingly came banging on his door with mail. He sent him away no sooner had he grabbed the scroll and chucked it aside and went about his merry way in haste.

  "And why did you not come to me yourself?" Edward's recollection left him feeling ashamed, but also on edge as his cousin seemed to blame him for the oversight.

  "Between everything going on around here of late, I wanted to be sure you'd be home. Your ventures outside your halls have been many, and you're a hard fellow to keep track of. My schedule is busy, so I set aside time to see you when you'd be available. Honestly, I set time aside that evening, expecting your summons." Ignoring what felt like a lecture from his cousin, Edward crossed his arms and tapped his foot, giving Lucas a scowl of his own. "Regardless, I identified what to do when I realized you were busy and met with General Vanaris."

  "General Va- Preparations for aid have begun? For marching and a swift rescue? You sneaky scoundrel!" Edward's mood change was swift. He smiled and now wanted to hug his cousin.

  "That I knew you would appreciate," Lucas admitted. Yet he lifted his hand to pause his cousin before Edward drew closer to embrace him with a hug or kiss upon his head or anything else.

  "What? What now?" Edward asked.

  "General Vanaris and a regiment set out the day after I read that. I knew how you would respond, and I would not debate you this time. Cassenneth sends help whether or not Tragmont asks for it. Your southern outcast, Laelliandir Javalla, has a friend in us."

  "Bless you, cousin. You should have damn well stridden up to my door and smacked me to listen two weeks ago, but shame on me for doubting you.” Edward leaned down
and kissed his cousin upon his brow then grasped his shoulders, shaking him back and forth merrily. Still, his excitement over Vanaris triggered more questions, and he sprung back. "What of Kadwalador? When does he arrive at Lockage? I will ride with him and his host."

  This was the part Lucas dreaded sharing with King Edward. Still, he pushed his concerns aside and braved his cousin's reaction. "General Kadwalador is charged with the defense of the city. He rides from his encampment in Vallidor to exchange life in the cold, to life back at Lockage. We cannot afford to lose our two best generals, cousin. We mustn’t abandon our own realm's security for this foreign war."

  Lord Lucas almost allowed Edward to respond but decided it best to plow on knowing Edward offered nothing but resistance. "We received notice from only one man of Divox begging for our help. Vanaris's involvement may even be unwelcome, and these elves of Tragmont might turn him away. There is no way you could convince me to support sending all our soldiers far from home and deep into territories we don't know for peoples we have no relation with. We wait for General Vanaris to report back before deployment of any soldier. We trust in him. Not this Laelliandir Javalla. You do not know him, and you mustn't give in to sentimentality and shadows of a distant past that only befuddle your instinct and wit. Justice to this Lonewolf might be possible yet, but bent on revenge of wrongdoings will do nothing but cause blunder and missteps."

  King Edward did not shout back or fight his cousin. He understood and relied heavily on Lucas's counsel and placed his wisdom on a high pedestal. Still, no matter how much he agreed with Lucas's assessment, he wanted nothing more than to be south and a part of this.

  "Payment is due, cousin. Need I remind you?" asked Edward.

  Lucas swallowed hard and said, "King Casen is long dead. The one who killed Alezenda is long dead. This Wolf has little to do with us other than offering us a chance to avenge insults to our homeland. He was not the catalyst. He is not even our problem. The old man that marched on our doorstep long ago is dead."

  "Ugaz or something strange." Edward struggled with remembering Icaz's name.

  "Kadwalador called him Iguz, I believe."

  "Lucas, if this newfound Divox takes Tragmont and decides it wants to spread its disease north? Then we are truly without ally outside of Pallaecious. The highland clans are scattered. They have nothing more to offer, but instead further burden us to protect them."

  Lucas nodded in understanding. "You've seen our borders and what we've built. There is no army I fear that can surpass the northern defense. We learned well from our mistakes of the past. My father died by leaving the safety of our impregnable Wonder City, as did yours. It is something that will not be repeated." Lucas paused a moment and withdrew a sigh before continuing. "I don't think you fear the south at all, cousin."

  Edward shrugged and turned his back to Lucas, knowing he was correct. "And is it so wrong to wish vengeance, Lucas? Is it so wrong to want to help a man I pity and relate to?"

  "Not at all. I also pity him. We too endured much in the past. But I take pride in how far we've come and won't see it fall apart over abrupt decisions. If you still heed my advice, we wait. I beg of you. Stand by me in patience, cousin."

  Be it General Kadwalador or any other adviser, King Edward would have fought back until the end and done as he wished, but Lord Lucas was the one man who understood the northern king. Lucas knew him better than any and was not afraid to oppose the King if it meant keeping him safe.

  Over the years, Lord Lucas had perfected his skill as the only one who could tame King Edward's often brash ideas. Edward had turned out to be a fine king in the people's eyes, bringing them riches from Vallidor and keeping entertainment undying. He was a man who didn't shy from excess, and although his ideas tended toward the grandiose scale, even Edward realized how marching all of his armies to aid elves in a war that wasn't theirs, might be too much. Without Lucas's intervention, he likely would order his troops to barrel south full force, but Lucas helped him understand his impulsiveness could lead to irreparable damage.

  "Fine. For a report of Vanaris, we wait," concluded King Edward.

  PART ONE

  Chapter One

  Stranger

  "It's just me. Hope you're decent," Bella warned as she opened the front door of Lonewolf's modest dwelling. His house was a simple two-story home with a large open main floor and a stairway leading to a second-floor loft. The loft too was open, and Bella soon became aware she should have knocked. Her view of the upper level left little to the imagination, so she glanced away.

  "Bell? Is that you coming this late?" Lonewolf shouted back, "Stay here. I'll be back," he whispered to a lanky blonde elf that shared his bed.

  Sard my timing. Bella thought. Though Bella couldn't see everything going on up there, she caught a glimpse of Lonewolf and a woman in the upstairs bed. She pushed his front door shut behind her and rolled her eyes. "You know it’s me. I'll remember to knock next time." Bella wore a suit of gold and black armor, with a long white cape hanging from her shoulders, carrying her helmet in one hand and what had been Laelliandir's elegant sword with a blue hilt shaped into a lion's head in the other. Years before Bella had named it 'Betrayer's Bane.' It was her sword now, and she never parted with it.

  The small house, both downstairs and upstairs, were free of walls. Within the base floor, there was an area for sitting near a bookshelf and fireplace. The remainder of the downstairs was set aside for cooking and eating. Only a bed and a desk furnished the upstairs, and Lonewolf used the area as his bedroom, even though it offered little privacy. From an enormous tree, the interior had been carved within, creating this unassuming home. Although limited in space, it made quite a lovely dwelling, filled with fancy trinkets decorating the walls and shelves along with fine art and treasures from Lonewolf's adventures.

  "You really should learn to do that," Lonewolf, covered in a dark blue robe he had hastily tossed on, scolded her as he descended his curved stairwell. He wore his hair much shorter than in the past, only a few inches long, but now gray hair peppered amongst the brown as he had turned fifty recently.

  I probably should. Bella smiled as she entered the dining area and set her helmet and sword down upon a counter and met her old friend. The kitchen and dining area were directly under Lonewolf's bedchamber, and Bella felt a little less awkward being out of sight of whoever was upstairs.

  "There you are," said Lonewolf with a grin as came closer for a hug.

  "And you should put a sign outside the door and quit telling me not to worry with knocking." Bella took him in her arms for a brief embrace before Lonewolf pushed away.

  "Cold armor. Where have you been, Bell?" He tightened his robe to cover his fuzzy chest.

  "It isn't cold out there, just windy. It's you under warm blankets that have you fooled." Bella lowered her voice. "With some poor warm elf body again, by the look of it." Even though Bella was older, she had changed very little. Her blonde hair was still long, but now she often dressed in fancy armor. Lonewolf patted Bella's metal shoulder piece, before turning to the sitting area.

  "I like elves," Lonewolf said as he entered the main room and sat in his rocking chair, motioning Bella to take a seat. Bella peered to the ceiling above, not wanting to see or be seen by the woman upstairs.

  "I'll stay standing, Wolf. Is she a slave?" Bella asked, pointing upwards. Lonewolf leaned back and propped his feet upon a round wooden table.

  "Slave? No. I don't keep slaves, and you know that. I offered the lass a way out of the jails in return for friendship. It gets lonely here."

  "I bet you don't let her leave."

  "I bet she doesn't want to. She gets everything she wants, and in time I'll let her go if she so chooses."

  Bella shook her head in disapproval. "When you get bored with her. Anyway, I didn't come to talk about your personal affairs." She paused to crack her neck before continuing. "I wanted to stop by on my way back home. Markus and Fern rode on. It was successful. We hit all three marks, a
nd by the time they detected us, it was too late for the enemy to respond. The troops are back at the encampment celebrating before we plan our next move." Bella folded her arms and gave Lonewolf a condescending look. "I'm hoping you get your lazy arse up next time and join me. I don't like having only a few captains to rely on and could use the help."

  "You did mighty fine with the captains and troops you led, dear. I'm not much into fighting. I'm getting too old for it, but I helped you plan out all three attacks, so you cannot be too upset with me." Lonewolf reminded her of the part he'd played in their mission. "Anyhow, I got word earlier today of your triumph."

  Bella looked at him peculiarly and raised her brow. "Keeping an eye on me from afar? Spies within my ranks?" Bella asked but was not surprised. Lonewolf often got information long before she did.

  "You know me. It is an adviser's duty."

  "Adviser. Hmph. Call yourself what you will, but you're more of a sneaky old man with witty suggestions. Since when do you take titles?"

  Lonewolf shrugged. "I don't really, but it beats being called a sarding old man. I'm not that old and still help far more than many others, even if I don't get out as much. I still keep a sharp eye on details even from this house."