Rise of the Erifs (The Fire Song Chronicles Book 1)

Chapter 1

Latainia

ONLY ONE WORD FLASHED THROUGH PRINCE TORIN'S MIND.

Erifs.

Torin quickly checked his sword, sheathing it at his belt. He put one foot in the stirrup of the saddle and mounted his horse. With a slight kick of his heels the horse surged forward, galloping through the castle grounds and out into the city.

The sounding of a loud horn echoed through the city, sending soldiers racing to their posts and panicked civilians scrambling for shelter. Torin was forced to dodge around them as they continuously ran across his path.

Torin tapped his heels against his horse's sides, urging her to run faster, as the call to battle continued to sound around him, long deep notes blaring from every tower and wall.

Torin charged through the city gates and out into the grassy plains beyond. He glanced up at the walls where archers flooded the battlements, preparing to defend their King and their home.

"Torin!"

Torin glanced over his shoulder to see a familiar figure astride a large grey horse galloping to catch up with him. Torin shook his head as his younger brother, Jaydar, came alongside him. Jaydar flipped up the visor to his black helmet, his bright blue eyes staring at Torin in confusion. Torin wasn't slowing down so Jaydar was forced to shout over the rushing of the wind.

"What are you doing?"

Torin glanced at Jaydar. "What do you think I'm doing? I'm going to the Fort."

"Why? There are Erifs! We need to be inside the city not out here!"

"I know!" Torin shouted before Jaydar could ask any more questions. "I know the alarm is coming from the castle but if I were discovered as an intruder where would I be heading?"

"Of course. To the Fort."

Torin nodded.

"But surely father would come to the same conclusion. Shouldn't we wait for him?" Jaydar asked, thinking it would be wiser to wait for their father and his men rather than challenging the Erifs alone.

Torin shook his head again. "There's no time. Kalani is at the Fort. We have to find her before the Erifs do."

Jaydar felt a sense of dread shoot through his body like a lightning strike. He remembered their thirteen year old sister Kalani was at the Fort that day. It was part of her tutoring, as a member of the royal family and third in line to the throne, she needed to understand the purpose of the Fort. It was located outside the city walls and guarded something more precious than gold but twice as deadly. It could be the tipping scale between the triumph of a kingdom or the fall of one.

Jaydar flipped down his visor. His horse lurched forward, its strong legs powering on, its hooves thundering along the ground. Torin was right beside him, matching each stride.

Torin caught Jaydar's worried stare and nodded, displaying more confidence than he felt. Jaydar nodded back, showing he was ready. They reached the Fort, coming to a halt outside its enormous gates.

From the outside there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary.

Except for one thing.

Jaydar went to speak but Torin held up a hand as he dismounted. He was staring up at the high stone guard towers. His eyes then flickered to the left. He pointed it out to Jaydar.

Jaydar nodded. He saw it too, that the usually heavily guarded towers were empty, not a Pathguard in sight.

"The doors," Torin said, quietly.