Lich-El: Lich Lord Wars book 1

Chapter 3

"My Lord Lich-El, you're back! Where have you... What happened to your arm?"

"Nothing that won't regenerate in a few days. Do not concern yourself with it, Deleta. I simply went to give a message to an old friend. Unfortunately she didn't appreciate it. Her injuries might have been less severe, but they will take longer to heal."

"Her? You fought Lady Alixia?"

"Yes."

"And you both survived?"

"Well, the fight was dragging on so I mentioned that I wanted to hurry so I could get back here before Tornal got back from his expedition to Aguerius Forest. She left in quite a hurry after that."

"Is Tornal in danger?"

"Only if he takes too long... or if he succeeds. Either way I wouldn't be able to protect him. Not from her when she's enraged. Oh, how I can hardly stand the suspense."

Something had happened. All activity in the forest had suddenly stopped. The path in the forest Gidon and Teaneas had been following remained but the forest had gone completely silent. Teaneas hoped that Alixia had reached the children.

The elf's worrying was interrupted by a sudden bright light through the trees that lasted a couple of seconds then disappeared. Gidon running just behind Teaneas, swore when the light appeared, adding quietly, "I hope that wasn't what I think it was."

As soon as the light faded, the forest was filled with a huge roar. Gidon stopped and hesitated a moment but Teaneas quickly motioned for him to continue following. "That was my wife... and she didn't sound happy. Hurry!"

After a few moments they came to a clearing in which Alixia was kneeling near a cliff over the river. She was holding somebody that he promptly recognized as Ulec, and he spotted Seacra sitting next to her, holding her knees to her chest and crying.

Alixia was talking to Seacra as she bandaged Ulec's shoulder. She noticed Gidon and Teaneas approaching and as soon as they were in speaking range spoke to Teaneas. "He has a deep cut on his shoulder and it looks like he was hit hard on the head. I arrived just as Tornal used Cyclone to fling him off the cliff. I had to quickly catch him. He must have passed out as he fell. Once I had him and returned for Seacra, I just caught the gate closing. It took me a moment to realize Seacra was in the river and hadn't been taken. I collected her and came here only moments ago."

"And Almas?" Gidon asked hopefully.

"I couldn't find him." Alixia answered without looking up from bandaging her son's wounds, "I think Tornal took him."

Gidon looked stricken and Teaneas moved to steady the large warrior, but Gidon waved him off and said, "I'll be fine. Lady Alixia, do you have any idea what this attack was about?"

Seacra, who had said nothing, spoke up, "He wanted me," she sobbed.

Teaneas knelt and held his daughter, "What do you mean?"

Seacra hesitated a moment, then explained, "He said he was looking for an elf and a shape-shifter was too good to pass up. Ulec attacked him but got swept off the cliff. He fired a magic bolt at me but Almas pushed me out of the way and over the edge. I don't know what happened after that."

Gidon bit his lower lip and Teaneas started, "I'm sure he-"

"I'm sure too," Gidon interrupted. "He'll be fine. I'm going to see if I can find any clues as to where they might have taken him from the remains of the revenants."

With that Gidon began walking off. Teaneas started to follow him when Alixia put her hand on his shoulder. "Let him go. We have things to discuss."

It seemed most of the revenants never left the forest. Fallen branches and trees along with various animals took their claim. Ulec had set the entire forest against the undead invaders and made them pay dearly for invading his sanctuary. It was just east of where they had found Alixia and the two children that Gidon found the spot Ulec had first fought the revenants.