THE Knights of emerald , livre ebook

THE KNIGHTS OF EMERALD, BOOK 3 : THE KINGDOM OF SHADOWS
by Anne Robillard © Wellan Inc. 2015
Illustrations © Wellan Inc. 2015


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ISBN: 978-2-924442-46-3



Ebook produced by
ANNE ROBILLARD



The K nights of E merald




Book 3

T HE K INGDOM OF S HADOWS






DIGITAL
C ROSS OF THE O RDER OF
THE K NIGHTS OF E MERALD
M AP OF E NKIDIEV
T HE O RDER of the
K nights of E merald



F irst G eneration



Knight Wellan of Emerald
Squires Bailey and Volpel
W
Knight Bergeau of Emerald
Squires Arca and Kumitz

Knight Chloe of Emerald
Squires Jana and Maïwen

Knight Dempsey of Emerald
Squires Atall and Kowal

Knight Falcon of Emerald
Squires Offman and Yann

Knight Jasson of Emerald
Squires Lornan and Zerrouk

Knight Santo of Emerald
Squires Chesley and Herrior







S econd G eneration



Knight Bridgess of Emerald
Squires Gabrelle, Yamina and Kira

Knight Buchanan of Emerald
Squires Bianchi and Hiall

Knight Kerns of Emerald
Squires Madier and Sherman

Knight Kevin of Emerald
Squires Curri and Romald

Knight Nogait of Emerald
Squires Botti and Fossell

Knight Wanda of Emerald
Squires Joslove and Ursa

Knight Wimme of Emerald
Squires Amax and Callaan







T hird G eneration



K night Ariane of Emerald
Squires Winks and Kisilin

Knight Brennan of Emerald
Squires Drewry and Salmo

Knight Colville of Emerald
Squires Silvess and Prorok

Knight Corbin of Emerald
Squires Brannock and Randan

Knight Curtis of Emerald
Squires Davis and Dienelt

Knight Derek of Emerald
Squires Daiklan and Kruse

Knight Hettrick of Emerald
Squires Candiell and Izzly

Knight Kagan of Emerald
Squires Fallon and Sheehy

K night Milos of Emerald
Squires Carlo and Fabrice

Knight Morgan of Emerald
Squires Heilder and Zane

Knight Murray of Emerald
Squires Dyksta and Reiser

Knight Pencer of Emerald
Squires Akers and Alisen

Knight Sage of Emerald

Knight Swan of Emerald
Squires Dillawn and Robyn
1

R EADY TO S ERVE THE O RDER

D awn broke lazily over the Kingdom of Emerald. Up in the tower of the ancient castle prison Kira deftly parried a blow from King Hadrian’s sword and executed a pirouette so quickly that her ghostly opponent did not have time to see her raise her leg. She hit him on the chin and the Knight staggered, impressed by the speed of the young princess.
Because his student was so small, Hadrian was teaching her a type of combat that had been practiced long ago in the Kingdom of Silver and that used an intimidating weapon made of two swords whose hilts were welded together. It was wielded like a long staff and the results were devastating. As well as showing Kira how to handle this double sword smoothly and elegantly, he was also teaching her how to strike blows with her feet, her fists and her elbows, aiming at the parts of her opponent’s body that were the most vulnerable. Hadrian required her to keep moving all the time and never tired of telling her that surprise was the crucial element in this kind of fight.
No one in the Castle of Emerald suspected that the little Sholian could defend herself so fiercely since she was always a model of cooperation in her fencing, javelin and dagger classes with Knight Bridgess. Kira was very careful not to let her superiority show when she was practicing with the opponents she was given. She was pretty sure that one day she would have no choice, but she was in no hurry.
Elund the wizard would soon reveal the names of the future Squires and Kira was very aware that this would be her last chance to serve the Order and become a soldier. So she was training every night with Hadrian’s ghost to make sure that she would be chosen as an apprentice.
At the beginning of the rainy season, those Squires who had served their masters loyally during the seven preceding years had been dubbed Knights by the King of Emerald. The ceremony had left her heartbroken, so Kira had not attended. Now that she was fifteen years old she should, in her opinion, have been among the chosen students. Of course, she was unaware that she was the daughter of the Dark Emperor and that, for that reason, she was not allowed out of the Castle. She only knew that she had the leading role in a prophecy that spoke of freeing the inhabitants of Enkidiev from the threat of the insect-men that always hung over them. The stars had foretold that Kira would be called upon to protect a Knight who would have the power to destroy Amecareth. But how could she ever carry out such an important mission if she herself never became a Knight?
Kira pressed her attack forward and cornered Hadrian against the stone wall of the ancient cells. Then with a sharp stroke of her double sword, she made him lose control of his own weapon which crashed to the ground with metallic clatter. Before the Knight could pick it up, Kira pinned him to the wall by pressing her foot to his chest and putting her blade to his throat.
“Very impressive, My Lady,” said the ghost, congratulating her.
“Impressive enough to convince Knight Wellan to let me become a Squire?” she asked, hopefully.
“A Squire!” said Hadrian indignantly. “You already have the skills of a great warrior. You deserve to be knighted right away!”
The girl let him go but was sure that the king would never make her a Knight unless she had first been a Squire, even if she proved that she was able to overcome all of his soldiers. The Order adhered to a rigid and strict hierarchy that she could not hope to sidestep, especially with Wellan heading it up.
“Would you like me to speak for you?” Hadrian asked.
“You’d give Elund a heart attack. It would be too much of a shock for him. He’s not used to ghosts,” replied Kira with a grin. “And you would also get me into trouble with Master Abnar, because he doesn’t know that I’m still studying with you in spite of his warning. I would have real problems if they discovered that I’d disobeyed.”
“But it’s for a worthwhile cause!” her friend protested.
Kira looked thoughtfully at Hadrian’s handsome face framed in long, ebony-black hair. He had been one of the most powerful of the ancient Knights of Emerald.
“ Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone was as understanding as him, ” she thought.
With a wiggle of her index finger she made her magic sword disappear. Then she took a fluffy towel that was hanging between the steel bars and wiped her face and neck. Hadrian hurried along behind her.
“There must be something I can do,” he insisted.
“I’m afraid not, Sir Hadrian,” said the teenager sadly. “It’s all up to me now. But thanks for everything. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She bowed to him and took the ring off her finger. Hadrian instantly disappeared. Kira wrapped the towel around her neck and, using her claws, clambered down to the floor below – the stairway had crumbled away years ago. She went along the palace hallways in silence and noticed through the arrow slits that the sun was up.
Then she heard the metallic clatter of arms hitting each other in the courtyard below. She leaned out one of the windows and could see the new Knights Hettrick, Ariane, Curtis, Morgan, Murray, Colville, Swan, Pencer, Kagan, Derek, Corbin, Brennan and Milos busy in friendly sword fights. Strange though: the fourteen older Knights were nowhere to be seen.
With her heart in tatters, Kira went on her way until she reached her room. She slipped in quietly, careful not to attract attention. Usually, she made it back to bed before sunrise, but sometimes her lessons with the dead Knight were so exciting that she lost track of time. She had just reached her room when Armene appeared in front of her, her eyes wide with fear.
“Where did you get to?” cried the servant who had not found her in her bed when she woke up.
“I wanted to get some training in before it got too hot,” Kira tried as an excuse, even if the faithful servant always knew when she was lying.
“All by yourself? You foolish little girl! And what would happen if you hurt yourself? I’d never get over it if they found you lying in a pool of blood.”
“It was only an exercise session, Mene,” she protested, trying to look as believable as possible. “I don’t see how I could have injured myself like that just by running.”
“Well ... by tripping and falling on a sharp object,” fretted the servant.
Kira gave in. She could not tell Armene th