The Crystal Key: An LGBTQ+ Fantasy Series (The Crystalline Chronicles Book 3) Read online

  The Crystal Key

  Book #3 of the Crystalline Chronicles

  Blake R. Wolfe

  Copyright © 2021 Blake R. Wolfe

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9798723804616

  Cover design by: Blake R. Wolfe

  Map design by: Blake R. Wolfe

  Cover Elements by: Obsidian Dawn

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

  Printed in the United States of America

  I feel the sun, I feel the rolling sea, but I cannot feel my own heart any longer. Its voice is lost on the breeze, a whisper no longer heard until someone else speaks its name.

  One

  Dusk stood in front of the mirror with his hands bound behind his back. In front of him stood a man with pasty copper skin and tangled black hair. Grandmaster Tiernan stared back from the other side of the tarnished glass with a look of bemusement on his face. The black metal crown dotted with glowing rubies sat imposingly upon his head. At Dusk’s side stood a tall man with gray hair and a dark cloak thrown over his shoulder. Yarick kept his gaze fixed on the mirror, keeping a calculating eye on his master. A pale, thin man with skeletal fingers still grasped Dusk’s upper arm on the other side, but Kaden seemed unable to look his master in the eye.

  Dusk had realized that without the crystal eye or his friends, there was nothing he could do. It was just a matter of time until he would be with the grandmaster and the Circle’s plan would finally be realized. It had been almost three months since Dusk had escaped the Ronja mines. It hadn’t been the easiest journey, but he was happy to have had that small amount of freedom while it lasted. In a moment, it would all be gone once again.

  But none of that seemed to matter anymore as Tiernan’s plans sunk into Dusk’s brain. If what he’d said was true, once he had the crystal he’d be able to tap into Tephyss’s power. With his knowledge of the arcane and an army of magicians at his command, he would be unstoppable. Inahan would no longer be a problem. It would easily fall under Tiernan’s power. But what would he do after that? Would he really bring magic back to the world or would he hoard it to himself? Would he kill the Ditanian royal family as well and take their place? He’d said he would take the Alamondian throne, but what did that mean? All Dusk knew was that it couldn’t be good and if he had even the slightest chance of stopping it, he had to.

  “So what do you say, dear cousin?” Tiernan grinned maniacally. “Would you like to join me on the throne of Alamond? It’s true that you’ll never be as powerful as myself once I have the crystal, but you can be my second in command.”

  Dusk was silent. He continued to glare at the grandmaster with as much hate as he could muster.

  “Don’t look at me like that!” Tiernan laughed. “You’re so puppy-like, it’s hard to take you seriously. Either way, it doesn’t matter how you feel now. If you don’t come with me willingly, I’ll just kill you and then resurrect you. An empty vessel is easy to fill.”

  “Grandmaster,” Yarick stepped forward, his jaw hanging open in awe. “Are you saying it worked? The princess?”

  “Indeed it did. Although it took some effort on my part and no small amount of dragon dust to fix her body. She’d been dead for so long that she was starting to look like jerky.” Tiernan’s face spread into a toothy grin. “But she’s breathing once more.”

  “And her memory?” Kaden asked, his grip loosening on Dusk’s arm.

  “Gone it seems.” Tiernan shrugged, holding up his hands. “There’s just something about death that the brain doesn’t like. She can function and speak, but for some reason, she seems to have no memory of her past or who she is.” He looked to Yarick, then to Kaden. “But that can be taught again. She has an aptitude for magic like I’ve never seen before. There is a thirst for power in her that wasn’t there while she was just the princess. I think she’ll more than fulfill our needs.”

  “What about the connection?” Yarick asked, looking hopeful.

  “The connection is permanent. At any moment I can tap into her thoughts and adjust them to my needs. It’s almost like having a puppet on a string, very similar to the golem I gifted to that fool Falgorin. But so much more useful. I’m in complete control. When I take her back to the palace her brother Arius will never suspect a thing. He’ll see a miracle before him and welcome her back with open arms.”

  “Are you planning on killing them too?” Dusk spat, lurching forward as Kaden’s grip tightened around his arm again.

  “Of course not. Well, not all of them anyway.” He stepped closer to the mirror. “You see, I want the royal family on the throne, but under my control. Once Princess Nedarya kills and succeeds her brother Arius, I’ll have two of the three Alamondian crowns. All that’s left after that is to take Inahan and thanks to you that won’t be a problem. The eye will make that feat too easy. I’m almost sorry that it won’t be as much fun now.”

  “Is that what you’re going to use me for then?”

  “You’re so clever Dusk. Why yes, you could sit on the Inahandrian throne without issue, your blood guarantees that the crown will grant you its blessing.” Tiernan laughed. “Once I permanently link your mind with mine I’ll be the thrice crowned king of Alamond without anyone ever knowing. We’ll reunite everyone once more, bring magic back, and create a beautiful world for humanity to thrive in by my rules. At last free of dangerous beasts that like to give bad advice and hoard gold.”

  “You’re disgusting…”

  “No, I get things done.” Tiernan’s smile grew larger and he turned to the side as if looking out a nearby window. “You’ll find this world is full of people who like to talk, but none of action. Nothing will be given to you. You of all people should know that.” He turned back. “Tell me Dusk, did the rope cut itself free or did you have to pick up the knife and do it yourself?”

  Dusk was silent, glaring up at him.

  “I see. And did your legs carry you away from the trader’s caravan or did you make the decision to run?”

  “What are you getting at?”

  “What did the other slaves do? Did they run? Or did they stand there like stupid pigs for slaughter?”

  Dusk cast his gaze downward. None of the other slaves had moved even after he cut them free from the wagon. They’d just stood there as if nothing was happening while bodies dropped all around them.

  “You see Dusk, you are a man of action, which is why I like you. Nobody told you to flee across the empire looking for freedom. Nobody told you to seek out help or find it on the road. No one told you to continue on your journey even when it seemed like everything was going wrong. You conquered one obstacle after another using the resources at your disposal.”

  “But… anyone would have done tha—”

  “NO!” Tiernan suddenly shouted. “No, they wouldn’t have! Have you learned absolutely nothing about the world? There are those that wait for what they want and those that take it. You are a taker.” Tiernan was pacing now in front of the mirror, his dark eyes blazing. “This world is full of ignorant lazy fools who would rather chop wood and grow corn until they die than go out and get what they want! They are terrified of their dreams, their
goals, and their aspirations. There is a significant lack of imagination in this world. And those people who lack imagination and action deserve to be ruled. And they won’t do a thing to fight it.”

  Tiernan stopped, turning back towards Dusk. He lifted his gaze, the smile now wiped from his face. For a moment he looked less like a maniacal jester and more like a man who had grown tired of the world. He lifted a pale hand up and ran his fingers through his long shaggy hair. With a deep sigh, he let it fall once more to his side.

  “If the world isn’t going to do anything for itself, I will shape it for the better. The ruling crowns do nothing for their people, their countries, or the good of the world, and I’m sick of it. If I have to kill them and do it all myself, I will.” The smile returned to his face as he lifted his gaze once more, his eyes burrowing into Dusk’s. “You can help me willingly, or by force. It’s your choice if you want to be a man of action or a tool to be used.”

  Everyone stood silent for a moment. Kaden’s grip had relaxed on Dusk’s arm once more, allowing the blood to flow down to his fingers again. Yarick kept his head upright, but the look in his eyes was that of someone far away in thought. Tiernan, through his explanation, had all but said his men were nothing more than tools he was using to achieve his own goals. Dusk was inclined to agree, and he wondered if that’s what he wanted to end up being as well. The truth was that no matter what he chose he would still end up being a tool for Tiernan’s will. It seemed easier to choose to die and therefore have no knowledge of what he would do after he was resurrected, but something about the grandmaster’s words rang true with him. He was right, there were two types of people in the world: those with power and those without. Up until that moment, Dusk had never thought it possible to move from one group to the other, but something about Tiernan’s passion made him think otherwise. It seemed like the grandmaster was destined for great things, however much damage he might cause in the process. Underneath it all, there seemed to be a want to do good for the world, but doing so at any cost seemed to be a recipe for disaster.

  Dusk still wasn’t sure if Tiernan meant what he’d said about making the world a better place. He was right that the empire had done nothing for its people and Inahan was probably no better. Both countries allowed slavery to exist, and both were full of poverty and starvation. Maybe bringing magic back to the world wasn’t such a bad thing. It might even help level the scales a bit for the common man. But destroying two empires in the process was a large price to pay. There was no guarantee once Tiernan took the throne that he would follow through with his intended benevolence. Dusk couldn’t tell if he was lying. His passion was palpable, but his intentions were still masked. However, it was very clear that Tiernan would destroy whoever got in his way. That alone made him untrustworthy in all regards.

  “Do you have an answer?” Tiernan grinned, leaning towards the mirror.

  Dusk hesitated for a moment. “I–I’ll help you… willingly.”

  “A surprising answer.” Tiernan nodded and leaned back. “I’m glad to see that aristocratic brat Alexander hasn’t rubbed off on you too much. I thought your friends would have tainted your judgment.”

  “I don’t have any friends,” Dusk replied coldly. “I walk alone.”

  “Ooh! Stop, you’re giving me shivers!” Tiernan laughed. “I like this new side of you, it’s so dark and depressing.” He gave Dusk a slight wink and snapped upwards, turning his head toward Yarick. “Enough of this! Start the ritual. I’m ready to begin training my new protégé.”

  “Yes grandmaster,” Yarick replied.

  As he turned back he shot Dusk a venomous look. At that moment it dawned on Dusk that he had, in less than ten minutes, achieved a rank within the Circle of the Dawn that Yarick had worked his whole life for. It was clear he had just made a terrible enemy.

  Yarick walked around the altar and laid his hands on the skull of Edoroth and closed his eyes. All of the present Circle members stepped back from the edges of the large geometric drawing filling the center of the chamber. Lightly, Yarick began to speak words over the skull in a language that Dusk had only heard in his mind when he’d first gotten the crystal. It was the language of the dragons. The skull itself began to glow brighter, pinkish light reflecting off of the floor and walls. Lifting his gloved hand, Yarick began to trace a series of complex patterns over top of the skull, mumbling to himself as he went.

  With one final flourish, the crystal on the back of his hand flashed. The room grew instantly warm as the skull lifted off the altar and hovered a few inches above.. Dusk watched it open-mouthed as thousands of hairline cracks crept across its surface, the pink light shining brightly through them. It lifted a few more inches as Yarick took a step back, the cracks growing larger and more spiderwebbed. The skull began to vibrate and with a deafening boom, it exploded. Dusk hit the ground, jerking his arm out of Kaden’s grasp, as a wave of energy washed over the room. All the torches were blown out and the other Circle members were thrown off their feet. The massive chalk circle on the ground began to emanate a soft white light.

  Looking over his shoulder, Dusk watched as the mirror's surface began to ripple as if a droplet of water had fallen into a still pool. On the other side, he could still see the distorted image of Tiernan staring back at him. Yarick stepped around the altar, grabbing Dusk by the arm and hauling him to his feet. Dusk looked up to see a pale hand slip through the glassy surface, reaching out as if to help him across the barrier.

  “Welcome to the Circle of the Dawn, Dusk,” Tiernan declared. “Step forward to your destiny.”

  Suddenly there was a loud crash from behind them as the temple doors exploded inwards, banging against the walls. In the doorway stood Lex and Tara, their swords drawn. Another dark figure stood beside them, one that Dusk didn’t recognize.

  “Not so fucking fast you piss-brained ass badgers!” Tara yelled.

  Lex gave her a sideways glance before crying out, “Give us back our friend!”

  Two

  A strange mixture of feelings washed over Dusk. He was relieved, terrified, nauseous, and wanted to cry all at the same time, but he didn’t get a moment to process anything as he was jerked to Yarick’s side.

  “Kill them!” Yarick cried to the men outside the glowing circle that were still struggling to their feet. He turned back to Dusk, hissing through his teeth. “You’re not being rescued today. Your fate is sealed and I’m tired of your stupid fucking friends.”

  “Quickly, you idiot,” Tiernan spat at Yarick as he jerked his hand back through the mirror. “This magic will only last a moment and I don’t want it to go to waste. Why did you not secure the monastery like you were ordered, you fool!”

  Dusk felt Yarick falter for a moment and took his chance. He ripped his arm away from Yarick and threw himself into Kaden, knocking him against the altar and to the ground. Yarick went to reach for him, but Dusk rolled backward over the pedestal where the skull had been a moment before. He toppled over and landed hard on the stone floor, feeling a thousand bruises explode into life all at once with the pain flashing behind his closed eyes. With his hands still tied behind his back, he struggled to his feet, trying to get as far away from the mirror and Tiernan as he could.

  He was mildly conscious of a series of shouts and the clanging of metal. Glancing up he saw his friends and their new companion fighting their way through the black-cloaked men. Surprised to see the cloaks were all fighting with swords he suddenly realized that there was no more of the magic powder to be had among them. Their only source of magic had been consumed to create the portal to Alamond. The one thing left was the crystal sewn into the glove that Yarick still wore.

  At that moment Dusk felt his legs seize up as if a rope had been tightly wrapped around them and he crashed to the floor. He rolled to the side to see what had bound his legs, but they were untouched and somehow fused together. No matter how hard he fought he couldn’t pull them apart or make them move. Looking up he saw Yarick with his gloved hand outs
tretched towards him and the other hauling himself up against the altar. Whatever spell he had cast seemed to have sapped a lot of energy. After a moment he regained his composure. Tucking a stray lock of hair aside he made his way coolly down to Dusk, ignoring all the fighting around them. Dusk glanced to the side and noticed that Kaden wasn’t getting up. A large pool of blood was forming near his head to match the stain on the corner of the altar. If he wasn’t dead already, he would be in a matter of moments.

  Yarick stepped up beside Dusk and grabbed him by the collar, hauling him to his feet. There was a wicked sneer plastered across his face as he jerked Dusk towards him. With his gloved hand, he traced a few symbols in the air.

  “Walk,” he growled as the stone flashed.

  Dusk felt his legs suddenly begin to move on their own. Yarick’s fingers were dancing in the air as if he were a puppeteer. He turned Dusk around and began to lead him back towards the mirror. With his hands still bound and his legs no longer responding to his brain, he could only do one thing.

  “Lex! Tara! Help!” he shouted over his shoulder. “The mirror! Break the mir—”

  A fist collided with the side of his face. He felt his teeth crunch together painfully and all the thoughts in his head jumbled. Stars exploded in his vision before it began to tunnel inward. Concentrating, Dusk forced the darkness away, determined not to give up without a fight.

  “Shut the fuck up,” Yarick hissed, jerking him forward. “Nobody is going to save you. Not this time. I’ve worked too fucking hard for this.”

  Dusk couldn’t find the words to respond, his head still spinning from the collision. He saw the mirror drawing closer as he was puppeteered forward. The rough ropes were digging into his wrists and the room was beginning to smell like smoke. Glancing to the side he saw that one of the torch brackets had fallen and caught a few of the remaining pews on fire. Everyone was too busy fighting to do anything about it. It had slowly begun to spread across the dry wood and towards the support beams.