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Serpent’s Lair
(The Forgotten: Book 1)
Laura R Cole
Copyright 2012 Laura R Cole
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PROLOGUE
Screams echoed in the long stone hallways of the castle, resonating with horrifying clarity. They silenced briefly, then resumed again. Moments later another sound cut through the wailing; that of hurried footsteps and ragged breathing which increased as another pained cry was torn from a woman’s throat. The runner skidded to a stop before a wooden door and pulled it open, causing it to squeal its protest in his haste.
“Your Majesty, finally you’re here!” exclaimed Amelia as she wiped the Queen’s forehead with a damp towel.
Gryffon raced to Layna’s side and took her hand in his own. She squeezed it with such ferocity that he almost cried out in pain himself, but he bit his tongue. Her face was dripping sweat, caking her hair against the sides of her head, and her eyes blazed at him. He knew his wife better than to complain of his own discomfort at this particular moment.
“Just breathe,” Amelia ordered the girl, who immediately complied, taking several short inhales and then a quick exhale. She threw her head back and let out another agonized cry and Gryffon’s heart went out to her. If only there was something he could do.
“Push!” yelled Amelia, and Layna’s grip on his hand tightened, her knuckles turning white with the pressure. She groaned through clenched teeth and strained, collapsing into an exhausted heap a moment later.
A new cry pierced the suddenly quiet room, a baby’s cry, and Gryffon pulled against the hand still restraining his to try and catch a glimpse of their little one. Amelia washed the girl and swaddled her in a clean blanket before handing her to Layna.
The glowing pride in her eyes as she looked lovingly down at their daughter made Gryffon’s heart soar. She gently put her finger into the baby’s hand, “Welcome to the world, our little angel, Princess Phoenix.”
She held the baby up for Gryffon and he beamed at her, tenderly taking her from his wife. The little girl had a birthmark on her right temple, in the shape of a flame. It was the blessing from the Three and her namesake, Adrastea who had been nicknamed ‘Phoenix’. Layna moved over in the sheets and patted the bed next to her. The servants took their leave - though Gryffon hardly noticed, he was so caught up in his own happiness - and he lightly settled himself and the babe onto the bed with Layna.
This moment was perfect.
It was hard to believe the events which had led up to this instant, but Gryffon wouldn’t change any of it for the world. Less than two years before, he had been a spy in the foreign country of Gelendan, having infiltrated the household of the vile Lady Jezebel in order to observe the dealings of her father. He had been unable to deny the incredible draw that he had felt towards Layna, who was but a maid at the time, and their friendship had blossomed into the bond that they shared today. Neither was complete without the other, and together they were an unmatchable force.
Their association had led them into a wild chain of events which culminated in a world-saving quest and the discovery that Layna was not simply the farm-girl and maid she believed herself to be, but actually the rightful heir and now Queen of Gelendan. Unfortunately, King Nathair, with the help of the Bloodstone containing the tainted essence of the dragon-god, Nuko, had made a mess of the country before he and Layna had become reigning monarchs.
It had been close to a year since they had helped rid the world of the evil presence of Nuko who had been poisoning their world with his dark ambitions, and the countries were still healing. His homeland, Treymayne, had been isolated from Gelendan since the Massacre in the Dark King’s time by the magical barrier erected between them in the after-math. After he and Layna had helped to dissolve this barrier, reintegrating the two halves once more, King Nathair’s forces had attacked Treymayne and exposed them to his use of blood-magic. There was a fair amount of bitterness at having the barrier removed, and given his and Layna’s involvement in doing so, there were still some who were angry at them for it. They refused to see the necessity of the situation. If he and Layna had not done so, King Nathair might still be in power and even those in Treymayne would be feeling the effects.
Their marriage had helped the healing some, unifying the countries through their love, and the gala event that was their wedding - which Amelia had insisted they put on - was a much-needed celebration for the people after all they had been through. Most of the signs of blood-magic had been erased and the dungeons were currently over-flowing with those who had grasped upon its use. It was one of the few topics that he and Layna disagreed on. He thought that any who had fallen prey to the temptations of blood-magic should be punished, while Layna was under the impression that they were lost souls in need of help. Her faith in the goodness of people was one of the reasons that he loved her, but that didn’t mean he thought she was right.
The baby cooed, cutting into Gryffon’s reverie, and he brought his attention back to his family. Layna touched the child gently on the tip of her nose. “Little Phoebe,” she purred, anointing her with this nickname, “you are the most precious thing in this whole world.”