Island Shifters: Book 03 - An Oath of the Children (40 page)

Howling in rage,
Kellan
threw himself against the
Ellvinians
with unrestrained violence. Skulls caved in under his fists, legs broke under his
powerful
kicks.
He became so lost
in his
anger-fueled rampage that he did not see the Ellvinian behind him
until it was too late.
Sudden pain exploded behind his left ear and
he was lifted off his feet
by a crushing blow.
A blood-crazed Elf
brandishing a
studded
mace
stood over him. The
fighter
heaved the
heavy weapon
over his head with two hands for
another strike, but just as he began to swing, a flash of steel glinted through the air and a dagger sank deep in the Ellvinian’s eye. Kellan rolled out of the way of the dropping mace and the dead Elf.

Still dazed from the
attack, he
looked up. Izzy appeared above him, squatted next to his assailant and yanked her dagger free.
And, just like that, she was gone again.

Alarmed shouts came from the gates, and
Kellan lurched to his feet in time to see several Ellvinians
cut through the Massans guarding them.
Defenders on top of the wall rained large rocks
down
on the
heads of the Elves as they
tried to
wrench the
gates open.

Kellan sprinted as fast as his armor would allow. It was pouring now and the ground
dangerously
slippery from mud and blood.
He skidded to a stop
in
astonishment
when
a body dove off the outer wall directly into the Ellvinians at the gate.

“You’re not doing this without me!”
bellowed a familiar Dwarven voice
before
being
buried under
a
knot
of dark Elves.
It was Iben Rydex, the protector for Reilly Radek! The Iron Fist had been
left behind in Bardot when Reilly accompanied Kenley to Callyn-Rhe.

Kellan was relieved
when
the
formidable
soldier
popped
up among the taller Elves and slashed
out with a long knife in each hand.

Then,
Kane appeared at his side.

Kellan flashed his twin brother a
bleak
smile and they pressed their backs together. The sons of Beck
Atlan
and Kiernan
Everard
came together
as one and
the result was devastating to the enemy. Wherever they moved, they
left incalculable
ruin
in their wake. Whereas Kellan was brute strength and raw power, Kane was speed and deadly timing, his blade a blur of whirling metal. One by one, the Ellvinians fell dead at
the feet of the brothers.
Fighting
side by side, they were able to throw
back the breach at the gates.

Breathing heavy,
Kellan
was able to pause for a moment as the Ellvinians pushed away from their circle of destruction. His
arms burned from the effort of swinging his heavily-ladened arms.

He
stretched
back
to look over his shoulder at Kane. His brother’s hair was plastered to his head and the rainwater, mixed with blood,
ran down his face in angry rivulets giving him a
wild appearance.

Maks and Jain did
all
they could to protect their charges, but even the
big cats
were wearing down.

Suddenly, the Elves came at them again, and
Kane yelled out as he slipped and went down on one knee.
Kellan tried to protect him from above, but a sword point made its way through and
punctured
Kane
in the left side of his chest.
The man lost his life to Jain for the effort, but the damage was done. Kane lay on the ground, gasping in ragged breaths.

Kellan crouched over him protectively and suffered blow after blow, his
earthen armor chipping
away under a
ruthless
assault.
Exhausted, Kellan could only lay over his brother and wait for the inevitable strike that would shatter his
armor
for good
and end his life.
Despondent, his thoughts turned to Reilly. Had he
made it to the ocean?
Was he at this very moment preparing the waves that would crash over all of their heads? He hoped so. At least then, he could go to his death knowing the gates held.

One particularly brutal clout to the head, scattered his senses. It must have because
when
he glanced back
up at
the
outer
wall,
he saw
rows of angels lining
the parapet.

Beautiful, white glowing angels. Hundreds of them. Maybe even thousands! Was he dead
already? Were these spirits here to guide him to the Highworld?

But, then the angels
opened their mouths and
let out a bestial roar
that sent the Ellvinians running for their lives.

No, probably not angels, he had time to think.

C
HAPTER
32

A
N
O
ATH OF THE
C
HILDREN

Kellan
rose up on trembling legs
and let
his earthen armor fall away from his body. He wiped the blood from his eyes and peered up through the curtain of rain.

Draca Cats.

A sea of white across the entire length and width
of the wall and from the sounds,
more gathered
beyond
the
closed
gates.

The Ellvinians left the field of battle, but looked on from the
dark recesses of the city
as they
considered
this new threat.
After fighting Maks and Jain, they were well aware of the damage the dragon cats could inflict. And, now—there were a whole lot more of them.

Maks limped over to the newcomers.
Brothers and sisters, why are you here? What brings you out of Callyn-Rhe?

A large male shook
out
his white mane
and looked out over the devastation.
What is happening here, brother?

An invasion of dark Elves. You came just in time
to aid us in battle!

The Elves are friend to the Draca
Cats.

Not these.
May I ask
your name?

I am, Nazar, and I am your new Sovereign. Show your respect, cub.

Jain came forward.
New Sovereign? What happened to Moombai?

Kellan felt Kane’s presence beside him
and
turned
in shock.

“Jain healed me. What is happening?”

“Listen.”

Moombai is dead. Bow to your Sovereign!

Maks and Jain let out agitated mewing sounds, but bent one foreleg out in front in a show of deference to this new ruler.

Better.

Maks straightened.
We need your help, Sovereign. The island of Massa is under attack.

Let the humans handle it. We go now to
the royal capital of Nysa. Tell
the sons of Kenley
that they must come with
us. We will need their cooperation.

Nysa?

It is the seat of power
of the Kenleys, is it not?

Yes.

Kellan
peered over his shoulder
to ensure that the Ellvinians were still
holding back.
He did not know what they
thought of the
silence since
it was obvious that
a form of
communication was taking place.

Why Nysa? I don’t understand.

To establish our rule, young cub!
That is why we are here and why the Draca Cats have come out of hiding.

Kellan strode in front of
Maks
and
nodded respectfully to Nazar.
Whatever is happening with the Draca Cats of Callyn-Rhe, I ask that you put those affairs aside for now.
He threw his arm backward.
We are fighting for our very lives here.

You do not give the orders here, son of Kenley. I do.

Whatever it is you want, Nazar, we can work out a solution together. The Draca Cats do not
deserve exile any more than the shifters of years ago did.

Nazar’s amber gaze
glowed with malice.
You know what I want? I
want you to bow
down
to me, son of Kenley.

The night turned deathly quiet. Kane
rested a restraining hand on his arm.
I bow
down
to no one, Nazar.

The new Sovereign
growled and shook his head forcefully.
You will bow
down
and then
we will
travel to Nysa where you will be the voice of the Draca Cats!

No!
These Ellvinians have spilled the blood of my people and by my oath I will protect them from further harm. My duty is here, Nazar, and I ask you to uphold your oath to my family and fight beside me.

The cats on the wall swished their tails
and screamed out
in
distress at their conflicting emotions
between an old oath and a new order.

Kellan pressed on.
You will abandon a Kenley in
his
most desperate hour of need? Centuries of generations of Draca Cats and Kenleys have stood side by side in peace and in war and Nazar of Callyn-Rhe will break that oath?

You will do as I say, son of Kenley,
or you will never see your bondmate again!

Kellan spun toward Maks.
Maks?

His friend’s blue eyes so like his own welled with
misery.
He is my Sovereign, Prince—

Then,
go and
leave me if you must, but I will not break my oath! Go! Go join your oath breaker kin!

Maks’
shook his head
vehemently.
No! You did not let me finish. Nazar may be the new Sovereign, but
our bond means
far
more to me.
I would never leave you, Prince.
Never.

Kellan offered his friend a small smile
of gratitude.

Nazar lifted his head and roared
into the night.
Enough!
With a powerful leap, he jumped from the wall.
Call me
oath breaker if
you
will,
son of Kenley, but
I will cower in the corner no longer!

No one is asking you to!

I will take what is rightfully mine!

You are the child of oath,
Kellan reminded him.

No more!
I have already spilled the blood of my kin for this right and I will kill you,
too!
I denounce the oath!

Painful cries
erupted
from the Draca Cats
as they recoiled from Nazar’s dangerous words.
Several cats fell from the wall, and
Maks and Jain dropped to the ground and writhed in pain.