Free The Reborn King (Book Six) by Brian D. Anderson

league with the Dark Knight ?  If so, then perhaps they had some weapon yet to be revealed.
    Kaylia kept watch on the movements beyond the wall. The enemy was not attempting to take the manor yet; instead, they were making their way to the various outlaying houses. A cry of anguish fell from her mouth as their initial objective became obvious. They intended to slaughter the families in their own homes. They would not see them coming.  But there was no way to warn the people in time. The ground shook as Kaylia screamed a curse.
    Linis came running up from the corner of the house. “We should go inside,” he told her. “It will be far easier to defend than the grounds.”
    Kaylia gasped as the bond allowed her to hear the first elf home being attacked. The cries of the family tore at her like savage talons, causing her fall to her knees. It was over in seconds.
    The wrath of vengeance now consumed her. They would all pay. And if the fools thought murdering their kin would give them an advantage, they would learn how mistaken they were. She would show them that the legends which surrounded the home of Theopolou were true. The ground trembled again, and this time a deep rumble reverberated off the walls. Her anger had become a part of the land itself. And its lust for justice would not be denied.
    “Come,” said Aaliyah, taking her hand. “We should prepare.”
    With one final glance at the front gate, she allowed herself to be led inside. Once all the doors were closed and sealed, she took Jayden to her chambers and laid him in his crib. Thankfully, her connection to her son was unaffected by Aaliyah’s block. She sent him loving reassurance, and in moments he was sleeping soundly, completely unaware of the danger bearing down on them.
    The house staff had prepared as best as they could and were gathered in the main hall just beyond the front door. Kaylia went to the top floor and climbed a narrow staircase leading to the roof. Linis and Aaliyah followed her, while Basanti joined the elves at ground level. Though unable to draw blood, she was perfectly willing to use her strength and speed to confuse the enemy.
    Kaylia, Aaliyah and Linis stared over the grounds. Aaliyah began allowing the flow to rage through her.
    “Your help is unneeded,” said Kaylia. Her voice dripped with malicious intent. “Once, during the first split, this house was assaulted by more than a thousand elves.” She turned her head to give Aaliyah a sinister grin. “They did not succeed.”
    A series of resounding booms drew their attention to the main gate. The gleaming metal vibrated as it repeatedly came under assault from violent blows. Kaylia’s eyes narrowed with concentration. Soon, the gate began to glow a fiery red. This was followed by alarmed voices crying out as smoke began to rise.
    A few moments later, the simultaneous thwack of dozens of bowstrings heralded a barrage of arrows sailing over the wall. Kaylia laughed out loud before creating a blast of wind to send them all falling harmlessly to the ground.
    Several heads poked cautiously over the top of the wall. After briefly scanning the deserted grounds for a second or two, the attackers then leapt nimbly over, blades drawn. In response, Kaylia spread her arms wide and the earth instantly began to shake. From beneath the grass, hundreds of tiny crystal shards began pushing their way through to the surface. The sunlight captured their deadly beauty, giving them the appearance of stars in an emerald sky.
    Linis and Aaliyah looked on with astonishment as Kaylia flicked her wrist and sent the crystals shooting forth, their razor-sharp edges slicing and ripping the flesh of the attackers to pieces before they had taken barely a few steps.
    “You see?” Kaylia said. “We are safe here.” But no sooner were these words out of her mouth than she felt a disturbing presence approaching. Her face contorted into a furious scowl. 
    “What is it?” asked Linis.
    Kaylia held up her hand