Isle of Beasts and Shadows (The Forgotten Isle Saga #1)

Chapter 1

1358 A.D.—256 Years Later (Present Day)

Airella's life took a dramatic turn when her father fell victim to the Plague, leaving her to navigate a challenging world at just seven years old. With her mother struggling against a chronic illness, Airella became her primary source of support. By the age of eighteen, the responsibility of caring for her small family—comprised of herself, her ailing mother, and her spirited younger brother, Arii—weighed heavily on her shoulders.

Observing Arii dash down the cramped hallway of their humble cottage, his unkempt blond locks bouncing, Airella couldn’t help but smile. “Arii, it’s too early, and you reek. When was your last bath? What mischief got you into such a state?” She playfully scolded him, using her licked finger to wipe away a smudge of mud from his cheek.

In response, Arii recoiled in feigned horror. “I was just honing my sword skills, that’s all. I plan to be the best sword fighter in all of Edros.”

“Arii,” Airella’s tone turned serious, “we’ve discussed this.”

“I know, I know. But how else will I protect you and Mama from the villains?” The earnest eleven-year-old shrugged.

“Leave that to me. I won’t warn you again. Papa’s weapons stay locked in his old wardrobe. Lay a hand on them one more time, and you’ll have pig slop for supper.” She warned, though a hint of amusement danced in her eyes.

“No, please don’t! I’ll stop, I promise!” Arii scampered off to the other end of the cottage, leaving Airella chuckling softly. Years back, Arii had dared to taste pig slop, curious about its flavor. The aftermath hadn’t been pretty.

Stepping into her bedroom, connected to the main room of their cozy wooden abode, Airella pondered the disparity between the opulent exterior and the modest interior. Her father’s teachings echoed in her mind—projecting strength on the outside ensured safety and respect within. As Airella gazed at herself in the mirror, she noticed the striking resemblance to her late father, especially in her mismatched eyes—one icy blue, the other a vivid emerald green. Every day, she longed for her father—his teachings, his advice, everything he imparted. Yet, amidst her yearning, she found solace in the presence of Arii and her mother.

Airella’s bond with Arii was more than just siblings; it was a connection forged in shared struggles and unwavering support. Despite their differences, they stood united, facing life’s challenges together, their love and loyalty binding them as tightly as blood.

The wooden floorboards let out a soft murmur under Airella’s weary steps as she shuffled towards her nightstand in the dimly lit room. The worn-out walls, bare of any adornments, echoed the somber atmosphere of their cottage. A rusty tin can, placed haphazardly in the room’s center, collected water droplets from the leaky ceiling, a reminder of the recent storm’s fury. Despite passaging time, the funds necessary for home renovations remained out of reach.

Today weighed heavily on Airella’s shoulders, a day fraught with challenges and uncertainties. Financial constraints loomed large, and the pressing need to secure additional income to support her family’s basic needs gnawed at her conscience. The dwindling resources forced her to devise alternative ways to make ends meet. The onset of winter drove the animals into seclusion for hibernation, thwarting her usual means of hunting for fur hides to sell at the market.

Airella’s desperation mounted as the specter of poverty loomed closer, casting a shadow over her once modest life. The thought of resorting to illicit means crossed her mind, a path she had never treaded before. The moral dilemma weighed heavily on her conscience as she grappled with the harsh reality of her circumstances.

Amidst the pall of uncertainty, a sudden knock on the door shattered the silence. With a startle, she tentatively responded, “Yes?”

The door creaked open, revealing her mother’s gaunt figure framed against the dim light. The ravages of the Plague had left an indelible mark on her mother, a silent testimony to the family’s struggles. Airella’s father’s untimely demise had left a void in their lives, intensifying the burden on her young shoulders. The constant battle to buy medication for her ailing mother, coupled with the unrelenting financial strain, had become a daily ordeal.

“Airella, they’re outside… They’re coming,” her mother’s voice quivered with emotion, tears welling up in her tired eyes, mirroring the anguish that enveloped their lives.

A sense of foreboding crept through Airella as she stood before her frail mother, Elizabeth.

“Mother? What do you mean? Who?” Airella’s voice trembled with a mix of fear and confusion, but her mother’s urgency was palpable.

As Airella moved closer to comfort her, Elizabeth’s eyes widened with a desperate plea.

“Listen, child, there are many things you have not yet learned. You must take your father’s axe. It will protect you,” her words carried a weight of seriousness that sent shivers down Airella’s spine. The dimly lit room seemed to close in around them, suffocating with the unspoken danger looming outside.

Airella’s mind raced with questions, her heart pounding in her chest. Before she could grasp the full extent of her mother’s warning, the violent intrusion of men’s voices shattered the tranquility of their home, crashing through the front door.

Airella’s panic surged as she clutched the battle axe handed to her by Elizabeth, a weapon unfamiliar to her trembling hands.

“There is no time to explain. Hide! I’ll find your brother,” Elizabeth’s voice quivered with a mix of determination and fear as she hurriedly ushered Airella away, locking the door behind her. The muffled sounds of footsteps and harsh commands reverberated through the walls, each echoing heartbeat driving home the imminent threat closing in on them.

As adrenaline coursed through Airella’s veins, she strained to make out the menacing voices from the living area. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears. She glanced down at the golden dual-bladed axe now resting in her hands, its weight both comforting and daunting. Jewels encrusted the handle of the weapon, each one glinting ominously in the dim light.

Dawnbreaker was what her father called it, a name that carried with it tales of valor and victory. This axe was her father’s most prized possession, a symbol of his strength and legacy. She could almost hear his voice, steady and reassuring, as she gripped the weapon tightly, ready to face whatever danger lay ahead.

“No, don’t hurt him!” Elizabeth’s desperate plea sliced through the air, followed by the chilling response of the intruders.

“Then tell us where the girl is. If we don’t find her, I suppose we’ll just take this kid instead. He’ll do, won’t he? I mean, he is the son of Lysander. That ought to satisfy His Majesty.”

“No. It’s the girl we need. The one that takes up most after their father.” The second voice was bitter and calculating, devoid of any emotion or compassion. It sent shivers down Airella’s spine.

Airella’s breath caught in her throat at the mention of her father’s name. The air grew thick with tension as the soldiers’ orders rang out, cold and merciless.

“Search the house and find the girl. Burn it down if that’s what it takes. Use any force necessary.” The gravity of their words hung heavy in the stifling silence, signaling a perilous turn of events that threatened to consume everything Airella held dear.

Fear and concern gripped Airella’s heart, her mind racing with the urgent need to assist her mother and Arii. Determined, she meticulously scanned the room for a solution that would guarantee their escape from the impending danger. Airella harbored an unwavering belief in her ability to lead the trio to safety, her determination strong in the face of uncertainty.

As she prepared to breach her locked bedroom door forcefully, the sound of heavy footsteps reverberated through the hallway, indicating the soldiers’ imminent arrival. Swiftly, Airella sought refuge beneath her bed, gripping Dawnbreaker in her trembling hand. The soldiers knocked down the door into her room, their presence ominous and threatening.

Holding her breath in a tense silence, Airella waited as the soldiers examined the room. Patiently, she awaited the opportune moment to strike, her resolve unyielding and her instincts sharp. Despite lacking experience in hand-to-hand combat, Airella drew strength from her agility and raw physical prowess, knowing that every precious second bought was a step closer to her mother and Arii’s safety. The perfect window of opportunity lingered just out of reach, a fleeting chance that Airella was determined to seize.

After a brief pause and the fading of footsteps, she drew in a deep breath. Just as she readied herself to rush to her family’s rescue, a hand seized her ankle. Startled, she fought back as a soldier forcefully pulled her towards the center of her bedroom floor, seizing her other ankle and causing her to let out a scream.

“Release me!” Airella exclaimed, kicking and shoving in defiance.

With reckless abandon, she swung Dawnbreaker, narrowly missing the man and embedding the blade into the wooden floorboards. Swiftly retrieving Dawnbreaker, she used her formidable strength to topple the soldier. Escaping her bedroom, she discovered her younger brother captive and her mother on her knees before the soldiers in the living area of their cottage.

“Wait! Please, don’t harm them,” Airella swiftly approached one soldier and rescued Arii from his grasp, brandishing Dawnbreaker in defense. “What is the reason for all of this?” Airella implored, tears welling in her eyes as her heart raced.

Another soldier suddenly lunged forward, disarming her. He swiftly hoisted her over his shoulder, despite her desperate squirming. One soldier secured her flailing arms, while another pinned down her kicking legs.

The fourth soldier, dressed in a uniform that bore the crest of Eldaraya, carefully unfurled a parchment-like document that seemed to have weathered the passage of time. With a voice that held a tone of authority, he began reading aloud, the words echoing in the cool morning air. “Airella Devereaux, today is January 13, 1358. By decree of the King of Eldaraya, you are to be promptly escorted to the palace. Any resistance will result in using force as deemed necessary by the laws of the land.”

They marched out of the small house, its wooden frame creaking in the relentless downpour. The curious villagers of Alverstone watched through open doors and windows to view the commotion.

Airella, held hostage, screamed obscenities, her voice muffled by the sound of rain pelting the earth. She fought against the firm grip of her captors, her eyes filled with desperation as she witnessed her mother’s comforting embrace of Arii, their chase abandoned.

“Hold on to it, Airella!” her mother’s voice cracked, pointing towards Dawnbreaker now carried by a soldier. Airella, torn between duty and longing, yearned to be with them. Who would care for them now that this had happened? While many would view an audience with the King of Eldaraya as an honor, the circumstances she was under now painted a starkly different reality.

As lightning split the darkened sky, thunder reverberated through the air, merging seamlessly with Airella’s tears and the relentless rain. Her once-golden locks now heavy with moisture, she found herself bound and unceremoniously ushered into a waiting carriage by the soldiers.