Call of the Waters (Elemental Realms Book 2) Read online

  Elemental Realms

  Call of the Waters

  H. L. Burke

  Table of Contents

  Book One

  Book Two

  Book Three

  Copyright © 2015 H. L. Burke

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN:978-1532862724

  ISBN-13:1532862725

  Cover Illustration: Kelsey Paige Art

  Cover Layout: Jennifer White

  For information about H. L. Burke's latest novels, author news and events, or to contact the writer, go to

  www.hlburkeauthor.com

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  Book One

  Prologue

  Willa paced outside her family’s cabin. The sun’s light had faded to a slight orange glow, and she could no longer see down the forest path.

  “Willa!” her father, Eanan, called from inside. “It’s getting late, and your mother and I have something to tell you. Why don’t you come in?”

  She bit her bottom lip and turned to see him silhouetted in the doorway. I have something to tell you, too, but I can’t ... not without Karvir. Maybe I should just tell them? No, I can’t act alone in this. That isn’t the way to start. We will start together so we may end together. That’s how it should be.

  If she delayed too much longer, they’d want her to explain.

  A crunch of footsteps on the gravel path stirred her heart. She rushed to the edge of their yard and nearly collided with the tall, lean figure coming up the hill.

  “Hey!” Karvir laughed his pleasant, deep laugh. Oh, she wanted to hear that laugh for the rest of her life. He touched her chin, and she tilted her face to receive a kiss. Willa's empathic abilities absorbed his emotions. Love radiated off him as he slipped his tongue between her lips. Love and pleasure. She wrapped her arms around his waist and savored him.

  Finally he withdrew and glanced at the cabin. “Did you warm them up for me?”

  Should I have? She shook her head. “No, I’ve been avoiding them. I don’t want Mom to sense anything. Anyway, Father was gone most of today, got some message from the Green Band and wanted to talk it over with the other elders.”

  Eanan no longer stood in the doorway, though she doubted he would’ve been able to see them in the growing darkness anyway.

  Karvir’s fingers worked into her hair. “Still time to back out. Marrying a militia captain isn’t the safest bet with the war on. Your dad will have every reason to toss me out on my tail when I ask.”

  “This is just a formality, to show respect,” she said. “Respect for our elders pleases the Creator.”

  “Is it really respect if you plan to do what you want no matter what he answers?” Karvir laughed again.

  “He won’t refuse. I love you. He loves me. It’s a formality.” Still, something stirred her stomach like a boiling pot of stew. “I should wait outside. This is between you and my parents.”

  “And you’re going to be listening at the door,” he teased. “Just come in.”

  She drew a deep breath. “It’s tradition. I don’t want to start off unlucky. We’ll do this right, but yes, I plan to listen.” She stroked his cheek. He probably hadn’t shaved in days, but still only had a pleasant scruff on his chin. She liked that. Wood Folk men tended to be far less hirsute than Willa’s people, the Sea Folk. She’d once surprised him when he was splitting firewood. His shirt had been off, tan chest glistening with sweat and not a hair to be seen. She had blushed, not quite knowing where to look, and stuttered like an idiot until he took pity on her and slipped his shirt back on.

  He snorted. “I suppose we need all the luck we can get. Let’s get this over with.” He pressed his mouth into hers. His hands strayed to her lower back, drawing her against him. Every nerve in her body lit up until it overwhelmed her, and when he pulled away a moment later, she swayed.

  Karvir strode towards the house.

  How can he be so calm? I’m not even the one asking, and I’m as anxious as a molting duck. She hurried after him but stopped outside the door.

  “Karvir? What a nice surprise,” her mother’s voice hummed.

  “If you’re looking for Val, he’s not here tonight,” her father said. “He escorted Mara over to visit her boyfriend.”

  Val and Mara were twins, a year younger than Willa. Mara was showy in her relationship with Piet, insisting they make a flashy entrance to all family gatherings. Of course, Piet was her fourth boyfriend in two years. When Willa had informed her parents that Karvir wished to call upon her, her father laughed and predicted it would last no longer than Mara's flings. Adding that attitude to the fact that Karvir was often away with the militia, she suspected her father might've actually forgotten she was courting the young man.

  It wasn’t as if she were trying to hide how serious they were. Her father should've been paying better attention. Mother had to know, for she was empathic, just like Willa. Though Karvir's proposal had taken even Willa by surprise. She'd expected him to move much slower.

  “That’s all right. I’m actually here for another reason—”

  “Where’s Willa?” Eanan asked. “This is actually perfect. I need to tell your family about the plans. Willa! Get in here!”

  She hesitated. What was her father talking about, and why couldn’t it wait until Karvir was done? Her father tended to take over conversations. Hopefully Karvir could get him back on track. She slipped through the door to Karvir’s side. Her fingers twitched, longing to take his hand.

  Across the room, her mother, Sarra, glanced up from her mending.

  Eanan only came up to about Karvir’s chin, but he had a lively manner that seemed to fill the room. His blue eyes glinted, and the top of his head shone red through his thinning brown hair. He offered Karvir a seat across from him at their rickety dinner table, one of the few pieces of furniture in their sparse home. Karvir sat, and Willa moved to stand behind him.

  “This afternoon I received a message from my cousin, a fisherman from the Green Band,” Eanan began. “The number of refugees pouring out of the Burnt Wastes has doubled in recent years as the Fire Elemental assault moves outward, and the land can no longer support the population. People are starving. With their cities and farms burned to the ground, it’s only a matter of time before humanity is extinct, and frankly, I’m sick of fighting to reclaim inches while the Elementals burn miles.” He stopped for a breath.

  Sarra moved her chair across the room to sit beside him and rested her hand on his shoulder. Willa took her chances by mimicking her mother's stance with Karvir. Eanan didn’t seem to notice.

  Karvir cleared his throat. “I know things have been bad for the last several years—”

  “How old are you, boy?” Eanan frowned.

  Karvir raised his eyebrows, and Willa blushed. Karvir led men on the battlefield, provided for his father and younger brother, and helped keep their village safe, working as hard as men twice his age.

  “I’m nineteen, sir, twenty in a few months.”

  “You were only a child when Forra fell, then. You’ve lived your whole life this way, so how could you know any better? This is not how men are meant to live.” Eanan slammed his fist into the table. Willa shuddered. “If we are to rebuild, to survive even, we need to get away from this land. The Elementals can’t cross the sea, and my cousin has a plan: he’s putting together a fleet of ships. We’ll gather all the supplies we can and set off looking for a new home, perhaps an island, surrounded by precious water. Let the Elementals have this wasteland! Let them turn it to ash and ruins. We’ll be safe.”

  Willa’s hands trembled. She clenched her fingers into Karvir’s muscles. Uncertai
nty rolled off him, adding to her own growing anxiety.

  “But Father, we don’t even know if there is land across the sea. What if we just keep sailing and never find anything? Are there even ships meant for traveling that far?” she stammered.

  “Nothing is certain, except that if we stay here, we’ll die,” Eanan replied. “This land is doomed.”

  “It sounds like you're giving up,” Karvir said.

  “To me it’s starting over. There’s no shame in that. When the first portals opened, allowing in the Elemental horde, I would’ve agreed with you. Protect this land, our homes, no matter what, but now our homes have all burned and we’re left hiding in the deep woods or clinging to the ocean shore. Is there really anything left worth fighting for?” Eanan shook his head. “In less than two decades we’ve gone from a thriving kingdom to a race of squatters. Do you know how many times I’ve moved my family? How much I’ve left behind? I’m done with it!”

  Willa reeled. Her father had always been impulsive, making decisions to move their family several times without much warning. However, to abandon everything they knew, everyone they’d come to care for … how could he consider that? Had this been building up in him for a long time? I know I’ve been distracted with Karvir, but how could I have missed this? How can Father expect us to drop everything and everyone that matters and leave? I can’t. What will they say when I tell them, though?

  Karvir sat up straighter in his chair. “I can’t agree, sir. Things are bad, but we’ve made progress. We’ve learned to drive them back through their portals, to set up defensible settlements. Humans can fight back.”

  Eanan waved his hand as if brushing away a fly. “Well, stay if you want. I simply felt it was polite to let your father know about the opportunity. I’m having Val extend the invitation to Piet’s family, and I know Raven feels the same way I do. You and yours might soon be here alone.”

  Willa drew a deep breath. Her family was leaving? Would this change anything? She was old enough to stay behind, but to never see them again …

  “What did you come here for, anyway?” Her father’s usual smile had disappeared, and she could tell he considered himself done with Karvir. This was not going well at all.

  “I’m here about Willa.” Somehow Karvir’s voice was steady.

  “What about her?” Eanan asked, his tone surly.

  “Father,” Willa whispered. “Please listen.”

  His face softened, though his frown remained.

  “I want to marry her.” Karvir took Willa's hand. “I can provide for a family as well as any man in this settlement, and I love her.”

  “So youdo plan to come overseas with us?” Eanan asked.

  “Father!” Willa leaned forward. “That’s not fair. Karvir didn’t even know about your plans.”

  “Well, he does now. I want you to be happy, but not at the cost of our lives. You’re not the only child I have to think of. We’re leaving this land. If your boyfriend wants to follow, that’s up to him, though he seems to have his mind made up about that. It’s too bad. From what I’ve seen, he’s a decent youth. I would’ve considered it under different conditions.”

  Willa’s stomach clenched.

  “Eanan …” Sarra put her hand on her husband’s wrist. “They’re in love.”

  “Love won’t save their lives when the forest burns around them. I’m not forbidding the match. I’m just setting very clear conditions.” Eanan focused on Karvir, his eyes intense.

  Karvir stared back, his face stoic, but the emotion now rising off him was clearly anger. “So you are. You’re saying I can have your daughter if I give up everything I believe in, everything I have given my life to fight for, everything that makes me who I am.”

  “If you really love her, it shouldn’t be that much of a sacrifice.” A smile crept over Eanan’s face, and rage trickled through Willa, her own, not Karvir’s. How can he taunt Karvir?

  “Eanan!” Sarra’s hazel eyes widened. “Think about your daughter.”

  “I am, Sarra. I am thinking about her safety. What happened to your mother, Karvir? I’ve never met her.”

  Karvir’s face darkened. “That was a long time, ago, sir—”

  “Your father couldn’t protect her, could he? So what makes you think you can protect my daughter?”

  Karvir bolted out of his chair. Willa threw her arms about his waist, squeezing with all her might. His anger mixed with her despair and then broke like ice cracking in the spring thaw. He unclenched his fists.

  “I would give my life for Willa,” Karvir said. “Fleeing with you does not ensure her safety either. You don’t know what lies across the sea. You could starve out there, drown—”

  “Perhaps, but the choice is mine. Your only choice is whether you love my daughter enough to throw your lot in with me. Or do you stay here, alone, and continue your struggle against the Elementals?” Eanan gazed up at Karvir, no longer smiling. The surety in his voice irked Willa.

  He thinks he has won. He’s using me to bully Karvir, and he thinks he can.

  “No.” Willa released Karvir and pushed her way in front of him. “The choice is mine, and I’ve made it. I believe in Karvir. I believe he can protect me, and for what it’s worth, I can protect myself just fine as well.”

  Eanan’s face fell. “Willa …”

  “No. Father … I’m sixteen now, and I know what I want. I want Karvir … and not a bullied, defeated Karvir who is following your lead because he loves me enough to sacrifice his pride and conviction. I want Karvir the man who is fighting for his home, for his loved ones, that Karvir. That’s the man I fell in love with, and that’s the man I’m going to marry.” Her throat constricted, and she blinked back tears. “I do love you, Father, Mother, but I also love Karvir. He’s my future. He’s my choice.”

  Her father’s mouth moved though nothing came out. He pushed back his chair and turned away. “If that’s your choice, so be it.”

  “Please don’t be this way.” Sarra tried to place her arms about him, but he shrugged her off.

  “Apparently at sixteen she knows everything and doesn’t need us anymore. I can’t protect her if she’s determined to burn.”

  Hot and cold, anger and grief, mixed within Willa, making her dizzy. Karvir’s arm slipped around her shoulders. He led her out into the yard where she collapsed against his chest, sobbing. Her parents’ loud voices stabbed into her.

  His lips brushed against her ear. “Quiet, calm down. It’s going to be fine. Deep breaths, all right?”

  She tried to obey, but started hiccuping. He chuckled and dried her eyes. Love drifted from his aspect into hers, and every muscle in her body eased. She managed to smile.

  “Willa, I got angry in there. Your father didn't give me time to think, and I don’t respond well to hectoring.” His chest rose and fell beneath her hands.

  The storm cleared within her, leaving behind a serenity she hadn’t felt in some time. She ran her hand across the base of his neck. Like most of the men in their community, he kept his hair short, shaving it prior to battles. Sparks from the Elementals could ignite hair, making it a liability.

  “He wasn’t being fair,” she said.

  “I know; however, I can’t ask you to choose between your family and me. I won’t. If it’s what you want, I will go.”

  “You’d do that, for me?” she whispered. The moon broke over the horizon, flooding his beloved face in silver light.

  He nodded. “I want to be with you. Ideally, I want to make this land safe for you, to drive the Elementals back so we can have a home and a family without fear. If you want to go with them, though, I will go with you.”

  She fingered his ear then touched his lips. “I think this world can be saved, too. I love listening to you talk about your plans, about what things will be like when the Elementals are defeated. It’s one of my favorite things about you, how you stand up when everything falls around you. You’re so brave. It makes me want to be brave too.” She glanced back over
her shoulder at the house. The voices within had died. “No, I meant what I said. I want to stay with you and fight.”

  He drew her up for a kiss, and she allowed her whole world to condense into that moment. There was nothing except him and her. The emotions flitting between them became a whirlwind, feeding upon each other until all was lost in love, pleasure, and desire … so much desire. Her skin burned. His lips broke from hers.

  “So are you going to take me home?” she whispered.

  “Just like that?” His fingers kneaded into her back.

  “Well, it isn’t as if we’re within walking distance of a temple; in fact, I haven’t seen one in years. All that's needed to formalize things is my parents’ consent, but that’s not happening. I think this is as official as our marriage is going to get.”

  His hand rested on her cheek, his fingers in her blond hair. “I’m sorry things went that way.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  The door behind them creaked open. Her mother emerged, a bundle in her arms. “I packed your things. I can't speak for your father, but you have my blessing.” She offered Willa a satchel.

  Willa took it. “You aren’t mad?”

  “No, I see how much you love him. I’d suspected as much, due to the emotions rolling off you whenever he was in the room, though I will say, you returning it so strongly surprised me, Karvir, and that’s hard to do. I think there’s a lot more to you than you let on.”

  He smiled. “Not really. My dad always says I’m clear waters, no hidden depths. I do love her, though, and I swear I will take care of her.”

  “I know you will.” Sarra and Willa embraced, and tears spurted once more from Willa’s eyes. The emotions from her mother mirrored her own grief, but surprisingly there was an undercurrent of pride. “You will be fine. I know you, Willa. When you love someone, you give your all. Trying to separate you from him would only lead to misery for everyone. Take care of yourself.” She withdrew and dabbed at her damp cheeks with her sleeve.