Free Guardian by Sam Cheever Page B

make the space seem more fractured and claustrophobic.
    The air became thicker with moisture as we forged our way more deeply into that part of the Wood. I finally identified the distant sound as falling water, and it was growing steadily louder as we walked. When the sound had built to a roar, we suddenly emerged from the trees into a circular area of grass and, in the distance, a rough wall of rock that was striped with waterfalls, lots of them, as far as the eye could see in both directions. The sound was thunderous.
    “The hundred falls.”
    Ian glanced at me and nodded.
    “We’re in Aldine!”
    Ian grinned. “That we are, Monad.” Then he took off across the lush, green grass, heading toward the largest waterfall in the center.
    I scurried to catch up. “Faerydae will kill us without asking questions!” The Elvin queen didn’t much like intruders in her kingdom.
    Ian chuckled but didn’t slow down.
    As if on cue, something whizzed by our heads and embedded itself in the dirt in front of us. The object flashed immediately into flames and disintegrated to ash, leaving only a ribbon of smoke behind.
    It was an Elvin arrow, fletched with Phoenix feathers. An exceedingly deadly weapon.
    Ian stopped and looked down at the scorched grass. “I believe we’ve been noticed.”
    I glared at him, pulling the long knife he’d given me out of my string belt. “You think?” I swung around, searching for our shooter. I wasn’t exactly sure what I could do against fire arrows with a long knife, but I was certainly ready in case the shooter fell out of the sky at my feet or burrowed under the ground and popped up at me.
    The next arrow landed an inch from my feet. I jumped away as it exploded into flame. “Do something!” I yelled at Ian.
    “I am.” He responded in a calm, unconcerned tone.
    Five more arrows flew toward us and I flinched, ducking as they headed right at me. I closed my eyes, thinking how much it was gonna hurt when I was pierced several times and then exploded into flame. I heard a pinging sound and then a layered fizzing as the arrows combusted one by one against something that wasn’t me.
    I opened my eyes. Several wisps of smoke wafted up from my feet.
    I looked back up. The air shimmered in front of me.
    I looked at Ian. His palms were stretched out in front of him.
    I grinned. “That works.”
    He slanted me a look. “Happy I could please.”
    “Now, how the hell are you gonna get us out of here?”
    “I’m not.” He threw back his head and opened his mouth. His muscular throat pulsed and a deep, rich sound began to emerge. What at first seemed like disparate musical notes, although pleasant, soon coalesced into the most incredible song I’d ever heard. Around us all became suddenly and completely still. The sound of falling water disappeared. Birds stopped singing. And arrows stopped winging our way. Nothing else moved, no sound competed. Only the rich magic of Ian’s voice throbbed on the air. I watched in shocked silence as the song flowed around us like a living thing, pulsing against me and bringing goose flesh up on my arms. His voice was deep and rich and made my knees buckle with its beauty.
    This wasn’t a normal voice, it was a magical entity, a tool that was crafted for persuasion, for seduction. It was an elfish voice. Used only by the Royal elves of the Wood.
    It was as much a weapon as it was a tool of seduction.
    My eyes widened and I stepped back, hitting the ground knees first in shock and sudden, uncontrollable lust.
    He couldn’t be. Ian Lavelle couldn’t be both faery and elf. It didn’t happen. It wasn’t even possible. It defied everything I’d ever known. Everything I’d ever been taught.
    But as the song wound around me, urging me forward against my very will, I knew it had to be.
    Ian Lavelle was Royal elf. And of faery birth.

Chapter Six
     
    The Gods are Fools
     
    A s Ian’s song drifted into silence I blinked and looked around. Hundreds of elves, many