Authors: Nicholas Taylor
Legon Restoration
Other titles by Nicholas Taylor
Legon Restoration
Book Three in the Legon Series
Text copyright © 2012 by Nicholas Taylor
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recorded, photocopied, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.
Somnium Press, LLC
PO Box 621458
Littleton, CO 80162
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious and are a product of the author’s imagination. Any similarity to persons living or dead is coincidental and not intended by the author.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all of my family and friends who have supported me and my publishing endeavors. Writing the Legon books has been a true joy and dream for me. Most of all, I would like to thank all of you reading this book. Thank you for taking the time to read my work and thank you so much for the emails and messages. Your emails have been a motivation for me and have made this whole process wonderful. Thank you so much for your support, and I hope you enjoy Legon Restoration.
Other titles by Nicholas Taylor:
The Legon Series
Legon Awakening
Legon Ascension
Legon Restoration
The Contractor Series
Pactum
Prologue
Introductions
"Appearance is just that; what we see, not what is. Still, that is how we are placed in society. If one can master the way others see them, they can then master society and therefore the world they live in."
-Rivulets of Time
Neelya placed her bag on her new bed in the Palace. She was to be Queen Hoelaria's new assistant. This was a great honor and credit to her. To be selected by one so esteemed was no small feat. She took in the room which was much finer than that of her last home. The workmanship was a little spotty but she didn't judge that, after all this was an ape built structure, the first she'd lived in. She walked to a window overlooking the Capital. Blue skies fell on green hills. Only a few clouds were visible. She opened the window. The sharp and offensive scents of the city assaulted her and she shut it again, deciding that she preferred the sweet smell of her room.
She picked up a note pad as she made her way out of her room, finding a human in the hall waiting for her.
"Take me to the Queen," she ordered, not looking at the creature.
"Yes my lady," he said.
She walked behind the ape not paying attention to him, but rather studying every inch of her new home.
The servant lead her to what she presumed were the Queen's quarters. The servant opened one of two large redwood doors letting her in. Neelya marveled at the large apartment’s elegance. The room’s exquisite lines and symmetry spoke of a master Iumenta craftsman. Neelya walked in the entry room taking in the fine decor. She noticed that the servant did not enter. The room stood in stark contrast from that of the rest of the Palace. Her eyes gliding over smooth ceramic walls.
"Neelya," a cool voice called from another room.
She followed the voice to a small dining room.
"Un Prose," Neelya said, bowing to the Queen.
"You may rise. For you it is not necessary to bow upon seeing me; when in private," the Queen stated matter-of-factly.
"Thank you."
"Please join me," Hoelaria said.
Neelya felt confused, she'd always heard that the Queen was ill tempered; but she didn't seem so now. Neelya sat opposite the Queen taking her in. Hoelaria eyed Neelya looking her up and down like a piece of art.
"I take a great deal of time selecting an assistant Neelya, you should know that. With that knowledge comes knowing that you are highly desirable, but also means that you must meet those expectations," Hoelaria said, no menace or threat coloring her tone, just fact.
Neelya fought the urge to swallow, "Yes Un Prose, I will not let you down."
An Iumenta came in the room with two silver trays; he sat one before the Queen and then Neelya. He then left the room without uttering a word.
Neelya eyed the servant as he left.
"Humans do not enter my quarters," the Queen said, "please eat. You will be dining with me often."
She did as asked, spearing a cooked carrot. For a long time the Queen said nothing. She would just look up at Neelya, nod to herself and go back to eating. Neelya didn't speak.
"You seem nervous Neelya," the Queen casually observed.
"Forgive me, I do not mean to come off scared or weak Un Prose."
Hoelaria looked at her again, a slight gleam in her eye. "Neelya, I know the reputation that I have, it’s one I've worked hard to earn. When you leave my service you will help to spread that reputation. I am ruthless and I am ill tempered; but you are my assistant, which is a close relationship in our society. You are as obligated to serve me as much as I am obligated to mentor you. In public, I expect you to do as you are told. In private however, I expect you to speak your mind, respectfully of course, and if you feel so inclined, to question me. This is how you learn, this is how our society has flourished for millennia, and this is what raises us above the ape standing in the hall."
Neelya understood.
"I like the food," Neelya said surprising herself.
The Queen's lips twitched almost in a smile, "Yes, the apes can cook well."
Neelya looked down at her plate, "Humans are capable of this?"
"Yes..."
An Iumenta entered the room, stopping whatever the Queen was about to say. He bowed to the Queen, "You said to enter when I got news Un Prose."
"What is it?" the Queen asked coolness back in her tone.
Neelya's ears perked up, what was going on?
"Un Prose, Noris has fallen."
Chapter One
Ascended
"At times life appears to be more random than it is planned, but I wonder. Is it that life is random or just that we are so blind as to miss the master’s plan."
- Conversations in the Garden
Her lungs filled with heavy sea air. Bright white mist straining her eyes as they tried to focus, she lifted herself from the ground, turning to see a bloody figure at her feet. She was looking at herself. "
That's odd,
" Sasha thought. She looked around trying to see through dense mist. Sasha thought she was alone, but she wasn't sure the fog was so thick. Absently she wiggled her toes.
She looked down feeling grass, "I'm naked," she said with a shock. "How come I'm naked?" she asked again and then, "What is this place, what am I doing here?" Memories washed over her. She had gotten hurt when they were ambushed; was she dead? No she decided, she could feel the ground and it didn't feel dead to her, but what did dead feel like? And why was she looking at herself? She remembered Legon pulling her into his mind, was that were she was? Was she just a part of his mind now? A sound from behind her caused her to spin. She was next to a wall... a wall of diamonds. Looking down Sasha saw a paw and massive gold claws, her head tilted up to look into the most beautiful blue eyes she'd ever seen. Looking into them she felt waves of love emanating from the dragon.
"Hello," was all she could think to say, then feeling rude she added, "My name is Sasha."
The White Dragon chuckled, the sound of it like a deep soothing roll of thunder, "I know who you are, Sasha, but that was very polite of you," he said in her mind. His voice was rich, resonating in her chest and soul.
"Am I dead?" she asked.
The dragon shook his head, "No my daughter you are not. While badly injured, your brother Ascended right on top of you, with your minds fully connected."
She thought about that, "So then why am I here?" She felt no fear and wondered why that was.
"It is because you have nothing to fear from me, and you being here is my will. When you wake, you will no longer be human. What your brother did was so powerful your body could not withstand it, humans are not meant to experience the magic you did. That aside, I have brought you here for a reason. You are here now to receive two gifts from me," the White Dragon said.
"Gifts?" Sasha clarified.
"Yes, the first is my anger. You are a uniquely kind person Sasha, truly one of my greatest creations. With your kindness you have been a compass and a guide, something you will always be. You deplore violence in all its forms, but now you and your brother must purify this land, you must restore things to their proper place."
"I'm going to be mad?" she asked, getting confused. How was anger a gift?
"Anger can be harmful if it is the wrong kind, but my anger is pure; it will be a shield and a motivation for you. With it you will pour out my indignation upon those who have trodden on the innocent, have molested and maimed my children. My anger is the refiner’s fire.
"You cannot now comprehend, but soon will," he said lowering his head to hers, touching the tip of his nose to her forehead. With his touch came energy and emotion, shaking her; her whole being feeling as if it would explode. She saw the pain and suffering of a thousand years and more, she felt the sorrow of the land, felt the hopelessness. It was like what Legon would do with people; but what she saw now was not the pain of one small event or even a lifetimes worth, but thousands of lifetimes. The power in the White Dragon kept her mind safe, but she felt the pain none the less. Deep inside her a flame began to grow, began to spread throughout her, making its way to her heart where it bloomed. Anger the likes of which Sasha had never experienced took over, and with it a drive, a need to stop the wicked. She looked up into his blue eyes. She now understood. Her whole frame trembled with the force of her rage; but with it love, an overwhelming love, even for those that caused her anger.
The Dragon spoke, "You will not live like this, but when you see the suffering of my children, when that pain in others stirs you up to anger or when you are facing battle; this will be the anger that you feel. This anger is tempered with love and that is why I send it with you into the world. My final gift to you is the power to use my anger."
Once again Sasha felt like she was ready to burst, but this time not with anger. It was something different, something raw and familiar, it was magic.