Empire of Demons (The Moonstone Chronicles Book 4) Read online

  The toe of her boot caught on one of the stones and she went sprawling across the hard surface. Her mind screaming with panic, she rolled over and staggered to her feet, facing that voice. Egrin Dinoba’s voice.

  The demon emperor stood only a few paces away, his arms crossed within his fine black coat, embroidered with gold and silver. His black pants were plain, his legs encased up to his knees in tall, freshly polished boots. Finally, she reached his eyes, cold, calculating blue eyes. His black hair was a bit longer than the last time she’d seen him, though still shorter than what most men of high station chose.

  She waited for his magic to hit her, to steal the air from her lungs.

  “I’m not here to harm you,” he said. “I’m not really here at all. This is your curse, your dream. I am merely a visitor.”

  She lifted a hand toward her brow, but the Crown of Cindra was not there. It was on her body, lying prone in the sand somewhere far away with Malon and the others. “What do you want?” she asked, lowering her hand.

  “I’ve come to remind you of our bargain. The full moon is not far off. Don’t you want to save your people?”

  If she told him she had no intention of bringing him the circlets, would he turn on her? Would he obliterate Faerune without a second thought?

  The corner of his mouth curled into something between a smile and a sneer. “A bargain with one of my kind is binding. I will not destroy your people until the full moon, and if you bring me the circlets, what remains of Faerune will be spared entirely. I will never turn my sights toward them again.”

  She took a long breath to still her trembling. “And once you have the circlets? What then?”

  “That is none of your concern.”

  She watched him warily, debating whether she should run. The curse would only last so long, and she needed to find Elmerah. “I’ll consider your offer,” she lied.

  He laughed. “I am as old as this land. Do you think I cannot read a lie on someone so young? If only I could pass this skill on to you, you would realize how Malon has manipulated you.”

  He’s a demon, she thought. Don’t believe a word he says.

  He took a step toward her. “Ask him what deal he made with me. Ask him why he was willing to let the Dreilore into Faerune. He could have stolen the Crown of Arcale some other way. Ask him why it had to be that way.”

  He lifted his hand, snapped his fingers, then disappeared in a cloud of darkness, leaving her alone with nothing but the stars.

  She took a long moment to catch her breath, staring at the space where he had been. Was she a fool to trust Malon after all he had done? She needed Elmerah’s help now more than ever. With a silent prayer to Cindra, she turned toward that distant fire and ran for all she was worth.

  Rissine

  Just as Zirin’s winds began to whip through the sails, the fog cleared, revealing the imposing silhouette of the Akkeri ship. Much nearer than it was before. Rissine and Elmerah stood near the base of the main mast while elves hurried around them. Their ship picked up speed, whipping Rissine’s loose hair around her face, but the Akkeri ship sped faster. In the moonlight she could see hunched forms skittering across the distant deck. Akkeri readying themselves to go to battle. Any hope she’d had that they would not attack was quickly quashed.

  She turned as Alluin and Isara reached them, the latter clinging to her spectacles to keep them from being torn off her nose by Zirin’s magical winds.

  Isara pushed her wild curls back from her face with her other hand, looking to Rissine. “What would you have me do!” she shouted over the wind.

  Rissine gripped the mast to steady herself as she pointed toward the Akkeri ship. “Can you nullify the High King’s magic while still allowing me to rain lightning upon them?”

  Isara glanced at the ship, then turned back toward Rissine with her brow furrowed. “I can try!”

  With a quick glance at Elmerah, who was being uncharacteristically quiet, Alluin took Isara’s arm and helped her make her way toward the ship’s railing. Celen joined them, taking hold of Isara’s other arm to keep her steady. Unfortunately, he would be otherwise useless. Calling the earth did little good out at sea.

  Rissine turned toward Elmerah. “If you’re not up for this, I can handle the attack.”

  Elmerah’s eyes were too wide. Her shortened hair whipped in the wind, a blatant reminder of her almost burning herself alive. “I can do this! Only lightning, no fire.”

  But could her lightning get just as out of control? Would she sink their ship while trying to sink the Akkeri’s? Rissine didn’t have to consider long. The risk was too great. “Just watch my back for now. I’ll take care of the ship.”

  Elmerah watched her for a moment, then gave a sharp nod.

  Rissine led the way toward the railing as Isara lifted her arms into the air. More of the fog cleared. The Akkeri ship seemed to slow. She was just close enough to hear Isara cry, “I cannot hold him off for long! He’s too far away!”

  Rissine reached for her rapier, wanting the tool to guide her magic more precisely. If Isara could only nullify the High King’s magic when he was close, he would be able to catch up again as soon as they gained any distance. She withdrew her rapier and pointed it toward the sky. She would need to strike now, while she still could.

  Thunder rumbled, and the air became thick with the pressure of a storm. She could sense Elmerah standing close to her back, doing nothing, which was so horribly unlike her it had Rissine worried about more things than just Elmerah’s uncontrollable magic.

  Her lightning struck down, hitting the center of the ship with absolute precision, then bouncing off harmlessly. Her jaw fell open.

  “I don’t know how he did that!” Isara cried. “His magic should be nullified!”

  And it was true. They were gaining more distance on the Akkeri ship. Perhaps if Isara could just nullify him long enough, and with the help of Zirin’s winds, they might be able to escape without damaging the other ship. Her blood ran cold at the sound of a distant cannon.

  “Zirin!” she shouted, hoping he was close enough to hear her. The rain from her summoned storm began to fall, the heavy droplets echoing across the ocean.

  A heartbeat later Zirin’s winds left the sails empty, turning to gust in the direction of the Akkeri ship just as the cannonball came crashing toward them. It fell harmlessly into the dark sea below, just as another one fired. Without Zirin’s wind in the sails, the Akkeri ship began to gain on them even without magic.

  “If they reach us we’ll be overwhelmed!” Alluin shouted.

  Another cannonball fired and was repelled. While the Akkeri could not have an unlimited supply of ammunition, Zirin also did not have an unlimited supply of magic.

  Rissine reached back and took Elmerah’s hand. “We have to take them out! Now.”

  She looked back to see Elmerah shaking her head, her eyes wide with panic. Rain streamed down her face, soaking her hair. “I can’t,” she rasped.

  “Oh Ilthune take us all,” Rissine growled. She grabbed Alluin’s arm, then placed Elmerah’s hand in his. “Take care of her.”

  As he stepped back toward Elmerah, Rissine took his place at Isara’s side. She glanced toward the demon-blooded woman, her wet foggy spectacles obscuring her eyes. “Is nullifying magic all you can do?”

  Isara gritted her teeth. “Yes, and I can only manage it for so long.”

  Celen placed a hand on Isara’s shoulder and looked past her toward Rissine, his dripping wet features grim. “If we don’t do something, they’ll reach us. We must be prepared to fight.”

  Her fingers flexed around her rapier. How many Akkeri could she claim before her ship was overwhelmed. She understood Elmerah’s panic, but without her, the sea or the Akkeri would claim them all.

  Elmerah

  Elmerah’s entire body trembled—she couldn’t seem to control it. She had collapsed to her knees upon the swaying deck, slick with rainwater, with Alluin crouched by her side.

  “I can�
��t do it,” she panted. “I reached for my magic and it did not answer.” She closed her eyes, seeing flames and burning bodies in her mind.

  Alluin took her hand, squeezing it lightly through her wet bandages. “It’s alright, let Rissine handle it.”

  The ship lurched in the wind, sending her wet hair flicking forward into her face. She closed her eyes and reached again for her magic, and nothing answered. Fear closed around her heart. What if she couldn’t stop her fire, and it consumed their ship? As much as she tried to push the thought away, it plagued her. It plagued her so completely that as hard as she tried, her magic would not come.

  She felt Alluin’s free hand brushing her forehead, pushing her wet hair back from her face. She pinched her eyes more tightly shut. Curse it all, she was going to get him killed. She couldn’t let that happen.

  She squeezed Alluin’s hand, then staggered to her feet, blinking back tears. She was glad for the rain dampening her face, she couldn’t let anyone see her cry. If she couldn’t use her magic, she would simply have to use her blade.

  Alluin stood at her side, and they both watched as the Akkeri ship drew near. The sound of the first arrows flying cut through the roaring sea and rain.

  Chapter Two

  Saida

  Saida ran like an arrow true to its target, straight toward that distant fire that she knew was her friend. Her legs never seemed to tire as she traveled across land and sea. Finally, the fire grew near, and figures materialized before her eyes.

  She was on a ship, accosted by pounding rain and violent winds. Beyond the ship she could see dark islands like smudges of ink against the foggy night sky. It took her a moment to make sense of things. Elves with bows ran toward the railing on one side of the ship, none of them able to see her. Arrows flying from another ship sailed straight toward the deck, only to be cast away by the winds. Magical winds. She searched the deck, spotting the tall Arthali directing them.

  Finally, her eyes landed on Elmerah and Alluin, and her heart sank. Elmerah lay flat on the deck while Alluin prepared to remove an arrow from her shoulder.

  Saida ran toward them, reaching out, but she couldn’t touch them, nor could they see her. She had to figure out just where they were, and where they were going so she could find them in the waking world.

  Someone ran so close they nearly went through her, and she realized as he passed that it was Merwyn. He ran toward Rissine, who stood near the railing with her rapier drawn. Next a young male Nokken ran past. She was so stunned she stumbled backward. Why in the gods was a Nokken on board?

  Saida tore her eyes away from him, then moved forward and crouched down beside Elmerah and Alluin. Vail, the healer Saida had originally met at a Valeroot settlement, joined them, her eyes intent on the arrow piercing Elmerah’s shoulder. The rain washed her blood across the deck in bursts of crimson.

  “Pull it out!” Elmerah grunted. “I need to help my sister!” Her eyes were wild and frantic like a cornered animal.

  Vail yanked the arrow out and Elmerah screamed.

  Alluin held her down. He had removed his wet cloak to press against her wound. “We need to get you below deck. You’ve lost too much blood.”

  Vail had already run off to tend the other wounded. Saida stood helplessly by. More arrows sailed toward them. A gust of wind sent most of them into the sea, but a few cut through to thunk into the deck. They were answered by a flurry of elven arrows, sailing off into the darkness. Screams and squeals from the other ship cut across the waves.

  The animalistic squeals made her breath catch. The other ship held Akkeri. She peered through the rain and mist toward the main mast of the other ship, where one much larger figure stood. His reflective eyes peered directly toward her. Hotrath, High King of the Akkeri, had spotted his intended prey.

  Alluin now had Elmerah on her feet. She lifted her cutlass toward the sky, but no lightning answered.

  Canon fire sounded, then the whole ship shook. Elmerah lost her footing and went skidding across the deck with Alluin diving after her. Saida searched for the Arthali controlling the winds and spotted him on the deck with an arrow in his thigh.

  Another cannonball struck, echoed by screams. “Abandon ship!” an elf shouted.

  Saida stood by helplessly as the ship began to sink. She couldn’t spot Alluin and Elmerah in the chaos. Then suddenly she was sinking too, sinking down into darkness. Cold air tore through her lungs as she woke with a gasp, then sat up in the sand.

  Malon braced her shoulder, keeping her upright. “What happened, did you find her?”

  Tears streamed down her face as she glanced around at the waiting Makali, all eyes on her. The few other elves in her party were gathered together, but slightly off on their own, watching with worry clear in their expressions. She turned away from the fire, away from all those waiting eyes. “Take me to my tent,” she sobbed.

  Malon scooped her up in his arms, carrying her like a child away from the Makali. Brosod followed toward the tents.

  “Go back and tell them the curse was successful,” he ordered. “We don’t want to lose their faith.”

  With a quick nod, Brosod hurried back toward the fires.

  With Brosod gone, Saida turned her face against Malon’s chest and tried to focus on her breathing. She had to remain calm. She had to tell Malon what happened so they could find Elmerah and help her.

  Because an arrow and a sinking ship couldn’t be enough to take down her friend. It simply couldn’t. She had to be alive. Alluin was with her, he would’ve gotten her to safety. She had spotted islands when she first arrived on the ship. He would have gotten her to one of those islands.

  Malon carried her inside her tent and set her down on her sleeping mat.

  She sat up, wiping the tears from her eyes. Her hands shook so violently she had to force them together into her lap. “We must go to Elmerah immediately. She needs our help.”

  He braced her shoulders, gazing steadily into her eyes. “Saida, I need you to tell me what happened.”

  Her words tumbled out like a babbling stream. She told him of her experience, starting with when she reached the ship.

  When she finished, he stared at her for a long moment.

  “We have to go to her, Malon.”

  He released his hold on her shoulders and sat back on his heels. “Saida, she might be dead, and we have less than two weeks to kill the emperor. Would you risk all of Faerune to search for your friend?”

  Her throat went tight as more tears threatened. She shook her head, grasping for words. “There has to be a way to reach her quickly. Another curse. Find Brosod and ask her, we cannot waste another moment.”

  “Saida,” Malon said patiently. “The Makali don’t have that sort of power. They may be able to walk the dream world, but they cannot create portals.”

  She leaned forward, closer to him. “Then the circlets. We’ll use the power of the circlets. There has to be a way.”

  He let out a long sigh, his reflective eyes shining bright in the dim lamplight. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

  “Elmerah is shipwrecked and wounded. How could I ever let that go? She needs saving, Malon, and so do all the others on that ship.”

  He shook his head. “There is a way, but it’s risky. If we go there, we may never make it back out. All of our work will be for nothing.”

  She leaned forward a little more, close enough to feel his breath on her skin. “Tell me.”

  He met her eyes. “There are many demon portals now throughout the land. I can sense them when they are near. If we enter one, we can use it as a means of travel to reach a far off area quickly.”

  Her heart sputtered like a dying flame. Was this truly her only option? To go into a demon portal? “But won’t there be many demons inside?”

  He nodded. “Yes, but even Egrin fears what we can do with the circlets, and he is their king.”

  She considered his words. She knew he had summoned demons before, so had he created some of these port
als? “Malon,” she began cautiously, “how is it that you can sense demon portals?”

  His gaze lowered toward her hands in her lap. It was like she could feel him putting up more walls to keep her out.

  “Tell me,” she demanded. “If we are truly in this together, I deserve to know.”

  “I was born with demon blood in my veins,” he admitted, his gaze still lowered. “It’s more common than you think. Egrin was not the first demon to come to this land.”

  Her breath caught. She glanced him over. He looked like any other pure blooded Faerune elf. “And that’s why you have magic? Why you can summon demons?” Why you can use the circlet, she added internally. Wasn’t it inherently wrong to have the Crown of Arcale wielded by someone with demon blood?

  When he still wouldn’t look at her, she lifted one hand from her lap and pressed a finger underneath his chin.

  He met her eyes reluctantly, as if afraid of what he might find there. He spoke before she could straighten out her thoughts. “Do not forget, Isara Saredoth also has demon blood, and you would make her empress.”

  She lowered her hand, considering him. He had his faults—and they were many—but in her heart she did not believe he was evil, at least not anymore. “Where is the nearest portal? How quickly can we reach Elmerah?”

  He stared at her for a moment, then slowly blinked. “That is all you have to say?”

  “If your demon blood can help us save my friend, then I will not fault you for it.”

  He crossed his legs beneath him and moved a little closer. “It will be dangerous, I cannot guarantee that we won’t encounter a greater demon, but with the circlets we should be able to fend them off. Once we reach the portal, we can travel to Elmerah within a few days, perhaps less.”

  A few days. She did not want to accept it as good enough, but it was better than weeks. “And this is the only way to reach her quickly?”