Night of the Storm: An Epic Fantasy Novel (The Eura Chronicles Book 2) by K.N. Lee Page B

mother used to tell Ayoki and I.”
    Lilae’s eyes widened, having never seen a sharp-toothed humans in all of her life. “Really?”
    “Yes.”
    Pretica wrapped her long fingers around the railing and used it to stretch her arms. “I much prefer reality to the pictures I made in my head about you humans and Tryans.”
    “As do I,” Lilae said. She stepped away from the balcony and sat on the bench against the wall of the tower. “Your sister. The Seer. How long ago did the Bellens take her?”
    Pretica tensed at the mention of her sister and the Bellens.
    Lilae was curious. Her experience with Sister Eloni hadn’t been pleasant. The woman had tried to kill her after pretending to be a friend and ally. Lilae hoped that the Seer wasn’t in any trouble.
    They needed her.
    “I worry about her,” Pretica said, her face becoming serious as she looked out at the city below. “She is fragile.”
    “How so?”
    “Ayoki is not very…stable,” Pretica said, her voice lowering. “Her power is not like yours and Liam’s. It consumes her.”
    Lilae sat up straighter, intrigued. “What can she do?”
    Pretica turned on her heels, so abruptly that Lilae tensed, expecting to get hit for asking the question.
    “Come, you’re clean, in new clothes; let’s get you some weapons, shall we?”
    Lilae nodded, her eyes narrowing when Pretica didn’t wait for a reply and simply stalked back into Lilae’s room and to the door that led to the stairs.
    Now, she wanted to know even more about what exactly the Seer could do.
    Whatever it was, it had caused absolute terror to fill Pretica’s eyes despite her attempt to change the subject and fix a fake smile to her lips.
    Lilae stood and followed Pretica.
    Secrets.
    She never liked those.
     

     
    “WEAPONS,” PRETICA SAID , motioning to a long table at the back of the armory on one of the locked lower levels of the Citadel. “You’ll need them if you want to make it to the Goblin City safely. Chosen or not, there are many creatures and enemies between Gollush and Vaugner’s tower that I wouldn’t want to face unarmed.”
    Delia sat on a bench, wrapped in freshly laundered brown robes as she examined a glowing Shadow Elf dagger.
    Lilae, Liam, and Rowe tested weapons that caught their eye.
    Liam knew quite well about the enemies Pretica spoke of. During his time in the Order, he’d fought Shadow Elves for longer than he cared to recall. They already swarmed much of Kyril. He just hoped his mother, Queen Aria was safe from the increasing threat.
    “Thank you, Pretica,” Lilae said.
    Liam watched Lilae sheath a Valhorian long sword into her new finely crafted scabbard, and a dagger in each boot. She looked fine in her new, clean Shadow Elf light armor. The form-fitting brown leather clung to her curves. A silver breastplate covered her full bosom, over a tunic that was tucked into soft hide pants. Even her boots were impressive, hard and covered in more silver armor.
    Liam was certain Lilae would look attractive in anything she wore.
    “You’re welcome. I hate to admit that there are more enemies in the woods than allies. Nostfar creatures can be treacherous.”
    “I’ve come face to face with a basilisk from Nostfar before,” Lilae said. “I still have the scar.”
    “At least you have your life,” Pretica added.
    “These are fine weapons,” Rowe said. He tested the weight of multiple axes.
    Liam raised a Shadow Elf sword. A cast of his Tryan power into its steel made it glow a dim yellow. He made sure to use very little power, just to test whether or not it was safe to use his Enchant without breaking the blade.
    “You don’t have to hold back, Liam. Our steel is one of the strongest in all of the realms. Only the Silver Elves can rival our weapon forging. Our gods are sisters after all. It isn’t a surprise that their people would have such similar qualities.”
    “Aden is known for creating complex gods,” Delia stuck a dagger in her belt. “I dare say