Lilith's Fire: Chronicles of Mahon Book Four, page 1
LILITH’S FIRE
Chronicles of Mahon Book Five
BRENDA MURPHY
Copyright © 2023 by Brenda Murphy
Cover Art by May Dawney Designs Copyright © 2023
Published April 2023 by Quinby Sideshow Publications, Ohio USA.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Brenda Murphy @ brenda@brendalmurphy.com”
Created with Vellum
For C, until the rivers of time run dry.
CONTENTS
Title page
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Brenda Murphy
LILITH'S FIRE
by
BRENDA MURPHY
1
Ash and fire rained down as Mara strode through the stream. Inky black smoke billowed from the volcano. Ahead of her, the River of Time split into three smaller tributaries. To her right, the volcano continued to belch smoke and cinders, spewing deadly gases. Fearing for Reika, Seraphina, Lilith, and Gwen riding in her palm, Mara tucked her one hand inside her cloak before she drew her hood over her head with the other. She studied the River of Time as it flowed away from her. The stream on the right, closest to the volcano, was sluggish. As far as she could see the ice-filled river oozed by a frozen wasteland.
The center stream moved along its path at a normal rate, the rocky banks on either side of it barren. To her left, a flash of color drew her gaze. She turned and scanned the far side of the river. On the opposite shore, a woman dressed in a flowing red gown decorated with golden spirals floated above the long sweetgrass. Her form was translucent. She lifted her hand in greeting. Mara focused on her face, familiar, and yet unknown to her.
“What you seek is here, Goddess. Hurry. My time is short.” The woman held her arms open wide. “Shelter on these shores. Find the way back to your future. Mahon’s time is at hand.”
The woman’s form faded as she spoke her last words. Mara stared at where she had been. A trick? A scheme by Ardat to lure them to their deaths? Another thunderous roar behind her and a thick cloud of dark smoke rolled over her. Mara dashed through the river and up the other shore. Clean fresh air surrounded her. She turned to look back. The top of the volcano was gone. Transformed by the blast, all that remained was an open caldera of boiling lava. The cloud of ash stopped in the center of the icy stream, unable to cross the River of Time. It folded back on itself, becoming denser until it obscured Mara’s view.
Mara closed her eyes, pushed her inner vision as far as she could toward the future and tuned into her sense of time. Nothing. No history she could see or sense. This place was new, a result of the rift in time created by Ardat. And one that would serve if they had any hope of undoing what had been done. Mara lifted her shoulders and straightened them. Indecision in a goddess was unattractive. For the first time in many a millennium she was conflicted about her path. There was no sign of the woman who had encouraged her to come to shore.
She walked on. The grassy bank gave way to a dense forest. The treetops brushed against her thighs as she picked her way carefully through the woods. On the far side of the forest a wide meadow spread out before her. She walked to the center of the meadow, squatted down, and opened her palm. Reika, cradling Seraphina in her arms, clambered from her hand followed by Lilith, and Gwen. Mara straightened and returned to her human form. Her dark hair and soft curls tumbled to her shoulders. She stretched her arms and righted her jeweled cuffs before she smoothed her hand over the dark blue fabric of her gown. With both hands she patted her hair into place as she studied the group.
Reika met her gaze. “Where are we?”
“When, my love. We are in an alternate time. Ardat’s meddling has created a number of alternate times.” Mara lifted her chin. “Seraphina did well?” She chewed her lip. She had not voiced her fears of the effect of traveling the River of Time might have on the youngling.
“She ate and slept. No distress.” Gwen straightened her shoulders. “As did I. Much better than last time.”
Mara lifted an eyebrow. “No nausea? No headache?”
“None. Maybe I was distracted by tending to Seraphina?” Gwen shrugged. “Mara, would it be too much to ask to return to my form? I hate this puny body and I miss my axe.”
Mara tilted her head. “No trouble at all, Gwen. And I would have my guardian be as she wishes.” She lifted her hand and spun her finger in a circle. A tight cloud of blue enveloped Gwen as Mara undid the spell of change.
From Gwen’s head two horns sprouted and curled back along her skull. Her body morphed and changed until she was a head taller than all of them. Her muscled frame filled out her hauberk. Her labrys vanished, replaced by Gwen’s own battle axe. The wind faded. Gwen smoothed her hand over her horns before she touched her cheeks, tracing her fingers over the incised spiral tattoos that graced her face before pushing her forelock back and touching the spiral on her forehead. She bowed her head. “Thank you, Mara, my goddess.” She rolled her shoulders and lifted her face to the sun. “It’s so good to be back in my body.”
Mara rested her hand on Gwen’s shoulder. “Thank you for agreeing to the changes before. Sister?” Mara turned to Lilith, “Would you like to change as well?”
“No. I’ve come to like these tighter fighting leathers. And I think the short jacket is fetching.”
“So, it is.” Seraphina’s fussy cries made Mara turn. She crossed to Reika and held her arms out. Reika passed her the baby.
Mara peered down at her face. Seraphina stopped crying at once, smiled and lifted a chubby hand. She laid it alongside Mara’s cheek. Mara stared into her eyes. The swirling colors changed from fiery red to golden yellow as Mara watched. “Who are you?” Mara murmured as she rocked the baby in her arms. “Why so cross, little one?”
Reika came and stood next to her. She rested her arm on Mara’s waist. “She did not suffer the trip, as I would expect a mortal baby would.”
Mara pressed her lips together. “Ardat and Ebronah were experimenting with forces they did not understand.” She turned to Gwen. “Tell me again how you found her?”
“In the woods. All was burnt and singed. She was crying and laying in the arms of a woman.” Gwen’s brows drew down. “Her blankets were untouched. The Flame of Justice had no effect on her.”
“Are you sure it was a woman?” Lilith rubbed her chin. “Were there any markings you could see on the body? Any jewelry? Or sigils?”
“Not much was left of her body. Just bare charred bones. I was concerned with the youngling and did not inspect the corpse.” Gwen pressed her lips together. “I saw no jewelry other than the medallion around Seraphina’s neck.” She rubbed the tip of her horn. “It was odd though. The woman’s arms were outstretched, as if she were trying to hide behind Seraphina, or pass her to someone. I would have expected her to have covered the youngling with her body. To shelter her. Most mothers I know would protect their spawn instead of holding them out to the flames.”
Lilith lifted a shoulder. “We’re all assuming the person holding her was related to her. For all we know she was a servant, or a captive. She could have been a paid caregiver. For some there is no love for those in their care. A large difference lies between a lifegiver and a caregiver.”
Reika gestured to the sun. “We should make camp before it is dark.”
Mara passed Seraphina back to Reika. “I take it you will be fine if I conjure our accommodations?”
Reika lifted an eyebrow and stepped closer. She pitched her voice low. “Yes. And if it’s not too much trouble, maybe a bigger bed for us?”
A fission of heat ran though Mara with Reika’s suggestive tone. “Of course, Love.”
Reika held Seraphina so she faced outward. “Watch what Mara can do.”
Mara turned from the group. With both hands facing palm out, Mara focused her thoughts on a spot near the stream. From her energy she brought forth a caravan. Brightly painted with high wheels. A short flue protruded from the roof and a wisp of smoke stained the sky. She added a fire circle with stone seats, and a tripod with a hanging pot near the campsite. Mara turned to face Reika. “I trust you and Gwen can provide something for the pot? I know you miss fresh meat. ”
“My pleasure, Mara. Fresh food is always the most flavorful.” Reika settled the quiver over her shoulder before she turned to Gwen. “What say you, Gwen?”
“I’m ready to stretch my legs.” Gwen rested her hands on
Reika looked into Seraphina’s face. “I would like to take her with me. My mother had a carrier for me. My earliest memories are of hunting with her.”
“My mother as well.” Gwen looked to Mara. “We need to have a way to carry her that frees our hands.”
“Draw what you would like when you return and I’ll create it. Be safe.”
Reika touched her heart and lifted her hand to Mara. “Always.”
“As you command, Mara.” Gwen touched her forehead and then her heart.
Reika and Gwen loped toward the forest. Mara watched until they disappeared into the woods.
Lilith came and stood beside her. “Come sit with me. Staring after them won’t make it go faster.”
“Is it normal to feel so much when your mate leaves?”
Lilith quirked her mouth. “Yes. What good would it be to be bonded to someone you didn’t care was with you or not? Besides, you haven’t even been together long enough to be settled. Talk to me after a hundred years.”
They walked toward the fire circle. “I would that Reika and I had a full year of nothing but our bed and food.”
Lilith’s laugh rang out through the glade. “I wish you could see your face. You are the Goddess of Time. Why are you wishing? Make it so.”
“I can’t stop time. Taking a year away, after being locked away from the people of Mahon for as long as I was would not do. There are those who still believe I went willingly. I lose followers every day to the Sons of Aaron. And to the Starlight Lily. I cannot leave you and our people to face the Sons of Aaron alone. This business with Ardat needs to be sorted or there will be no people to worry about.”
They reached the stone circle. Mara sat on the smooth rock seat. She rested Seraphina on her knee. “What do you make of Seraphina?”
Lilith lifted her chin. “She’s not human. She would not have survived the trip across the River of Time if she had been. A fact I noticed you did not share with your mate. Is she a demigoddess or a demon? Or some combination of human and demon? The Flame of Justice did not affect her. She is innocent and pure of heart, which makes me think she is not part demon. What are you playing at by keeping your thoughts secret?”
“Not all demons are evil. And I don’t want to speak of it until you lay hands on her.”
Lilith cupped Seraphina’s cheek and closed her eyes. Mara studied her sister’s face, chewed her lip as she waited for her assessment.
Lilith opened her dark eyes. “I sense human, demon, goddess, and dragon.” She frowned. “How can this be? How did they do this? And why?”
A chill breeze stirred the grass. Mara tucked the blanket tighter around Seraphina. “Ebronah and Ebal were fools. Ardat used their ambitions against them. They wanted Mahon. Ardat wants to rule over all beings, above and below. Seraphina will be powerful. The best of all of us in one being.”
“Indeed. We need to make sure she knows good from evil.”
Mara pursed her lips. “And how would we do that? What is good or evil often depends on where you sit.”
“No. Some actions are always evil. Slaughtering innocents, rape, incest, stealing other than to feed your family, greed, hating others because they differ from you in appearance or who they mate with. The list goes on. We need to be sure Seraphina is protected until she can protect herself. If Ardat were to absorb Seraphina’s soul she would become unstoppable.”
“I will not let that happen,” Mara hugged Seraphina to her chest. “For any number of reasons.”
“You love her as your own.” Lilith rested her hand on her sister’s shoulder.
“I do. As does Reika. Seraphina is innocent. She deserves to be allowed to grow into her own being and follow her destiny. Whatever that is.”
Lilith stood. She pulled the Sword of Justice from its sheath. “I pledge my sword and my house to protect her, on my honor, as the Goddess of Justice.”
“Thank you, Sister.” Mara glanced back toward the forest. “Do we tell them?”
Lilith lifted an eyebrow. “Never keep secrets from your mate. It only causes trouble. Reika is steady and her heart is pure. She will not fail you or Seraphina. And Gwen is your sworn guardian, loyal to you and yours. She would die before breaking her oath to you.”
Mara stood. A gust of wind caused the cooking pot to sway on its tripod. The sun sank lower, and shadows stretched across the fire ring. “I wish they were back. I should have conjured something for the pot.”
Lilith pursed her lips. “You could have. But then we would not have had time for our sisterly chat.” She tugged her short coat tighter. “No fire outside with this wind.”
“No.” Mara scanned the edge of the forest, willing Reika to appear, ready to have her lover at her side.
“For the Goddess of Time, you are impatient.”
“I spent too many years in the glass prison to ever be patient again.” Mara shuddered as thoughts of her two-hundred twenty year imprisonment surfaced.
“If they’re not back by sundown, I’ll go look for them.” Lilith stretched her arms over her head, “but I sense no evil in this place.”
Mara nodded and then led the way toward the caravan.
2
Reika and Gwen slowed their run as they neared the forest. The edge of the meadow showed several well-worn paths leading into the woods. Reika studied the trails ahead of them. Smaller tracks of pressed down grass branched off the trail leading into thickets of pale green scrub brush. Long rows of thorns decorated the sweeping trailing branches of the trees. Their dark green leaves and thick scabrous bark were unlike any trees Reika had ever seen. The short hairs on the back of her neck bristled. She slipped the thong off her dagger handle.
Gwen did the same with her long knife. “Which path?”
“The narrowest. They are more likely game trails. The others look to be footpaths.” Reika gestured to the bare, smooth dirt trail wide enough for two horses to walk side by side.
“Unless the game is massive.” Gwen lowered her voice to a whisper as they neared the path, “Have you ever hunted Aflin?”
“No. My time in the southland was spent fighting. I have faced them in battle. Even these wide paths would be too narrow for them to pass without breaking the trees. They’re tusks are longer than twice your arm span. They trample horses and warriors with ease.” Reika led them toward the narrowest of the trails. Low brush grazed her pant leg as she moved into the dark forest. Silence enveloped them and the damp humid smell of wet leaves rose up as they moved deeper into the woods. Red berries were scattered over the ground. Reika studied the ground, searching for burrow openings or other signs of game.
Gwen opened her belt pouch and drew out a sling and settled a smooth clay pellet into the sling’s pouch.
“Will you have room to use that in the trees?” Reika gestured to Gwen’s sling.
“It is the first weapon younglings learn. It’s perfect for small game.” Gwen opened the pouch of the sling, exposing its missile. “The secret is these. We make them ourselves. See my mark in the clay? They hit like a stone but are smooth, so they stay true in flight.”
They crept deeper into the forest, pausing every few feet to listen and inspect the woods for signs of animals. No birds called overhead, and the quiet weighed down on Reika. The forest appeared lifeless other than the menacing trees. She stepped off the path to inspect the thorns. Each one glistened with sap. Reika touched the tip of her knife to the point of the thorn. The sap turned the metal black and the stench of rotten flesh rose from the blade. Reika wiped the blade on the long grass near the trail. Everywhere the sap touched the grass withered and faded to a dull brown.
Gwen raised her eyebrows. “Adhmad Nimhe. Poisonwood trees. The scrolls say they are the gift of the God of Death to his third mate.”
