Angion's Revenge: Paradise Lost Read online

  Angion’s Revenge

  CJ Wolfe

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2021 CJ Wolfe

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review.

  Cover art by Edward Rangel at www.edwardproducciones.com

  To Mom & Dad, always, for keeping the faith.

  My profound thanks to the great ones that have come before: the authors who created and defined world-building fantasy fiction for me—JRR Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Orson Scott Card, and Patrick O’Brian.

  Angion’s Revenge began as a group of characters I built for an AD&D game many years ago—an ongoing group project that has certainly taken on a life of its own. Please direct any correspondence to www.wolfepakservices.com/cjwolfe —your questions and comments are most welcome.

  I would like to thank a devoted group of minions - my Wolfepak - for their dedicated assistance, without which this series would have been impossible—my thanks for your support, endurance, and patience!

  I’d like to thank Adam Conklin for computer and technical support, William Whitefield for much typing assistance and early storyboarding, David Mayes for creating the working maps and helping design the RPG version of Angion’s Revenge (forthcoming); Charles McClarrie, Rob Batting, and RMM (with our RPG group) for listening while I read and corrected aloud.

  A special thank you to my editor Jay Stryker for all his kind words and encouragement and to Mauve for proofing/editing the different versions of this manuscript. Any manuscript mistakes are certainly mine.

  Special thanks to Karl and Rob at Central Design for early cover art concepts and sundry working drawings. The final cover was created by the very gifted Edward Rangel (www.edwardproducciones.com).

  I’d like to also thank William Hunt for his expertise in typesetting, running the final proof, and going above and beyond in helping me navigate my first foray into publishing.

  Finally, and foremost, I’d like to thank the reader: if you enjoy this tale half as much as I did while channeling Coderrya’s saga for you, I will be humbly grateful.

  CJ Wolfe

  February 14th, 2021

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter One: 29th Generation

  Chapter Two: HomeGuard

  Chapter Three: Sovereign

  Chapter Four: Confrontations

  Chapter Five: In Poor Taste

  Chapter Six: Ballantyne Military Academy

  Chapter Seven: Yankee Company

  Chapter Eight: The Crossroads

  Chapter Nine: Doylestown

  Chapter Ten: Influenza

  Chapter Eleven: Partings

  Chapter Twelve: Yankee Lesson

  Chapter Thirteen: Royal Oak

  Chapter Fourteen: Court Martial

  Chapter Fifteen: A Falling Out

  Chapter Sixteen: Excessive Heart

  Chapter Seventeen: Volunteer First Class

  Chapter Eighteen: Reversals

  Chapter Nineteen: Deployment

  Chapter Twenty: Graduation

  Chapter Twenty-One: Elf Lord

  Chapter Twenty-Two: A Knife in the Dark

  Chapter Twenty-Three: Time Passages

  Chapter Twenty-Four: Disaster

  Chapter Twenty-Five: First Blood

  Chapter Twenty-Six: The Overlord Strikes

  Chapter Twenty-Seven: Battle of Calais

  Chapter Twenty-Eight: Fall Back

  Chapter Twenty-Nine: Soul, Sword & Shield

  Chapter One: 29th Generation

  A newborn’s lusty howl filled the chamber belonging to the King and Queen of the Elves. The labor had been long, and the child had been born breech—not uncommon among the elves.

  A midwife fussed over the queen, who was bleeding heavily after the long delivery.

  “Congratulations, my Lord and my Lady, on your new son,” Amelia said while cleaning the babe before resting him to suckle at his mother’s breast.

  “He’s healthy?” asked the king, looking down at the newborn.

  “Very, Lord. He’s beautiful,” the nurse said, grinning at the new princeling.

  King Codennyn looked the part of the proud father as well as that of a concerned spouse. He held the queen’s hand while the midwife and servants worked. Queen Davenya’s bleeding slowly tapered off until it became plain that her life was no longer in danger. She was exhausted but happy—her firstborn was a son who would become Crown Prince of the Elves.

  “As we agreed, Denn, you can name him,” the queen said softly.

  “So, we did, my dear, but you have to also approve. How about Prince Coderrya Corenweld Ja’dra?” asked the king, hoping his wife would approve.

  “Just perfect! Amelia’s right; he is beautiful,” Davenya purred.

  “Then he takes after you, Venya,” chuckled the proud father. “Thomen?” asked the king, speaking to an elf near the chamber doors.

  “Yes, my Lord?” replied the house servant.

  “Please pass the word throughout GreenHaven that Coderrya Corenweld Ja’dra, Crown Prince, was born at twelve minutes past the noon hour on the 7th day of November, in the Seventh Age of the Lord, year 484,” commanded the king.

  “At once and with great pleasure, my Lord,” said Thomen, bowing deeply before leaving the royal apartments. Bells were rung throughout the great Elven city to announce the long-awaited birth.

  Three days later, Coderrya was baptized and officially presented to the court nobles, tutors, advisors, and chief house servants. A weeklong celebration in honor of the new prince commenced with visitors of every description calling upon the royal couple and child.

  Davenya, bed-ridden and slow to recover, greeted her guests from her ebony daybed. The healers cautioned her not to risk the rigors of childbirth again. She merely nodded, perfectly content with her son. Codennyn did most of the greeting duties, while Davenya held Coderrya, smiled a lot, and said little. Lord Jeren Lightstorm, Marshal of the Army, and Admiral Thesco headed up the military delegation.

  “Have you chosen a chief tutor yet, Your Majesty?” asked Lord Jeren.

  “I’m following Lord Sheldyn’s recommendations by appointing Lukiryn Greenleaf to oversee the child’s education,” Codennyn responded.

  “He’ll be a cavalry officer, then. What a pity,” said Admiral Thesco.

  “Never fear, Darren, I’m sure Lukiryn will introduce him to sailing, swimming, and fishing,” laughed the king.

  “True enough, Lord. I consider Greenleaf an ideal choice,” Jeren said.

  “I would have figured you would have wanted the honor, after all your work with me,” Denn said quietly.

  “I will be available, as always, of course,” Jeren said.

  “As long as you’re not offended, my old friend,” the king said.

  “Jeren won’t be idle, rest assured, Your Majesty,” Darren Thesco replied with a smile.

  “True enough, the HighKing has much he would have me do,” Jeren said openly.

  “Farbeit from me to interfere in Sheldyn’s projects,” remarked the king.

  “You’d never interfere, my boy,” a new voice said, turning heads.

  All in the chamber knelt in unison before Sheldyn Corenweld Ja’dra, the HighKing of the Elves.

  “Arise, please. Surely, this is a time for celebrating! The twenty-ninth generation has its first member,” Sheldyn said, laughing. Heads nodded around the large chamber. With a clap of Sheldyn’s hands, musicians played, a troupe of dancers entertained, and all had a grand time in the royal ballroom of the palace. For years now, Codennyn had participated more and more in daily governing functions, which allowed the HighKing to pursue his many wandering studies.

  “My Lords and Ladies, allow me to introduce King Jamison Archon of the Federation,” announced Thomen.

  Archon and half of his court had come south for the impending birth. Scattered applause, well-wishes, and a few bows greeted the king of the ever-volatile Federation. King Jamison approached Davenya on her couch, bowing formally before her.

  “My heartfelt congratulations, My Lady. I would introduce my Lord Marshal, Everard Leonas, my Lady,” Archon said.

  “My best wishes, Your Highness,” the human marshal offered, bowing formally.

  “A pleasure, Marshal. So good of you to come and celebrate with us, Lord Jamison,” Davenya responded, her voice pitched low.

  “If I read the signs correctly, we’ll be allied in the times to come—we should become well acquainted,” Archon said quietly.

  “I tend to agree. We must needs get to know each other better. Good can never rest, while evil abounds and multiplies,” Davenya prophesized.

  “Just so, but we will refrain from speaking of dark matters on this joyous occasion,” agreed Jamison.

  Lord Jeren and Admiral Thesco had bracketed Codennyn between them, now deep in talk. The Lord Sheldyn moved across the floor to join Davenya and Jamison.

  “Eldest,” King Jamison said, nodding his head respectfully.

  “Glad you could come, my friend; we see each other too infrequently,” Sheldyn said warmly, shak
ing Archon’s offered hand.

  “Just what the Queen and I were discussing, Eldest.”

  “A time may well be coming that forces us to join in a grand coalition, but I think not for your generation, Jamis.”

  “I hope you’re right, but we should train together several times a year as a minimum,” theorized the human king.

  “I would bring that suggestion to my grandson and his officers,” suggested the HighKing.

  “I’ll do that, my Lord. Once again, Queen Davenya, my congratulations,” Jamison said before moving off to engage the military officers in conversation.

  “You must be tired, my dear, so I’ll help you back to bed,” Sheldyn said, handing Coderrya to the nurse and offering his arm.

  “We must make sure young Coderrya is well trained when the dam bursts, Eldest,” Davenya said quietly.

  “That, Venya, is my intention, never fear,” Sheldyn said.

  “You’ve had a premonition then?”

  “Nothing as solid as that yet, but mark my words, Coderrya will have his role to play—it may well be a crucial role if he is capable,” Eldest said.

  “You know very well that with his teachers, he will do just fine,” the queen said.

  “We shall wait and see.”

  *****

  Time passed rapidly, rumors of evil ever on the increase, so accordingly, the elves raised their vigilance and often trained with the Federation's forces. Coderrya grew quickly, as do all children, and uttered his first words shortly before his second birthday—very early for an Elven child. Davenya encouraged him constantly, often reading to him, and spent as much time as her duties allowed with him. Matters of foreign diplomacy and armed forces training bit intensely into Codennyn’s family time. However, the reunions were always sweet but never for very long.

  The Queen became pregnant again shortly after Coderrya’s second birthing day, beginning the long twenty-seven-month march to the creation of a new life. With Coderrya’s vocabulary expanding almost daily, Davenya brought tutors in to read and play games with him, often working alongside.

  A month-long training expedition prevented Codennyn from attending his son’s third birthday party to the great annoyance of the queen. Lukiryn stepped into the role temporarily with the queen's blessings, providing ample entertainment for the young prince. Greenleaf, a former court bard in days long gone by, offered to teach young Coderrya some of the rudiments of music—he began with simple voice exercises cleverly disguised as humorous songs. In fact, most elves could sing, music being essential in the early years to help instill the many lessons before a child became literate. The new prince was no exception and took to music almost effortlessly with his high treble voice—a bit of a childish lisp in his singing. It was a beautiful fall day, and much of the gathered had opted to remove to the porch to enjoy the fair weather.

  Young Coderrya received many practical gifts from the well-wishers gathered. Clothes, assorted stuffed animals, a painting set, and numerous picture books for his early education were offered. Thomen presented him a walking stick, and Lukiryn provided a scaled-down guitar—his first musical instrument.

  “T’ank you, T’omen! T’ank you Lor’ L’kiryn,” Coderrya exclaimed in happiness.

  “You are quite welcome, my Prince,” Thomen responded warmly.

  “You have the gift of music, my young Lord, and I fully intend to teach you if you are willing to put effort into it,” Lukiryn said, always treating the young child as a much older child.

  “Uh-huh, I will,” the child promised.

  “I have no doubt you will keep your word, too—all great princes do, you understand,” Greenleaf replied.

  Coderrya just nodded, his attention mostly on his new guitar. The boy carried his guitar with him when they boarded the carriage for the ceremonial procession throughout GreenHaven in honor of the occasion.

  A ceremonial guard surrounded the royal carriage, the young prince happily waving to the gathered crowds. Flowers and wrapped hard candies were thrown to the prince by some of the onlookers.

  “Remember to always share with others less fortunate than yourself, my Lord,” Lukiryn admonished him.

  Coderrya immediately handed out some of his wrapped treasures to everyone in the carriage and threw some of the candy back to the children, who appeared to have none of their own.

  “A great Prince is generous and shares when he can—You are indeed a noble Prince, My Lord,” Thomen said, praising the youngster.

  Coderrya was nodding by the time the carriage ride was over—they had traveled many of the city streets before going driving along the shores of the sea.

  “Next summer, I will teach you how to swim, Lord Coderrya, and how to manage a boat when you’re a little bigger,” Lukiryn said.

  “Promise?” asked the prince, his eyes wide with wonder on account of the view. Coderrya saw two small ships far out on the bay, their white sails brilliantly shining in the warm afternoon sun.

  “Absolutely!” Admiral Thesco exclaimed.

  “I know the good Admiral would like nothing better than to show you the ways of the sea,” Lukiryn said, smiling.

  “Careful, he’ll hold you both to that, and then I’ll be left all alone, not for long, of course,” Davenya said, rubbing her expanding womb.

  “Do you want a brother or sister, my Lord?” asked Thomen with a smile.

  “Dunno. Both?” asked Cody, looking at his mother.

  “That’s a tall order, my son. I can give you only one playmate at a time, but you’ll have to help take care of him or her,” the queen said contentedly.

  “I will,” the young prince said, stifling a yawn.

  “We’ll head back now before he gets too tired, but we’ll return soon if the weather stays nice,” Davenya said.

  “I wanna stay,” Coderrya said, a pleading look in his eyes.

  “The tough part of being a ruler, my Lord, is when you have to take orders from others until you’re grown,” remarked Lukiryn.

  “Another is compromise,” Davenya began. “That means when two people both want something, you have to work together to make them both happy.”

  When Coderrya nodded, the queen continued. “I want to return while the sun is still warm, but you want to play on the sand for a bit. I’ll make a deal with you; you can take a quick walk with Lord Lukiryn if you agree to return when he says so. Do we have an agreement?” asked the queen.

  “A’right,” Cody said, smiling.

  “A few minutes, Lukiryn,” the queen ordered.

  “Yes, my lady,” the tall elf said, grabbing Coderrya’s hand and helping him out of the carriage. The two walked down to the water’s edge.

  “If I may, my Lady, Lord Coderrya is coming along marvelously,” Thomen commented.

  “He has the very best tutors and grand people around him, Thomen. He has learned so much from all of you. You’re all doing him proud—I believe he will need all his training if what Codennyn and I believe comes to pass,” the queen said quietly.

  “My hope is we solve those problems in our time and leave him carefree until he can be properly seasoned,” Thomen replied.

  “My hope as well, but he must be prepared. One day, he must lead, and I would have him do it well, my friend,” Davenya replied.

  “Worry not, my Lady, Coderrya will be a great prince if we have anything at all to say about it,” Thesco observed.

  “How can we do less when he so readily accepts instruction?” Jeren pointed out.

  “Just remember he is a child and should be allowed to enjoy being a child,” Lady Lyssa said from the front of the car.

  “True enough, however, I know Lukiryn will see his life balanced—he will want nothing of playtime, I’m sure,” Lord Jeren said with a slight smile.

  “I’ll be only too happy to remind you if you err by making him a toy soldier of yours, my dear friend,” Lyssa said, chuckling to herself.

  “That is probably Codennyn’s dream, not Jeren’s,” Davenya said, laughing openly.

  “He will be fine, my Lady; you needn’t worry,” Thesco promised.

  “It is a mother’s primary duty to worry about everything, my friends, and I will not be denied,” the queen laughed.

  As Davenya’s time neared, Coderrya spent more and more time with Lukiryn, Lyssa, and Thomen. Though the winter months were mild, Codennyn was often stuck in the field, and his son saw little of him. Greenleaf, the former bard, taught Coderrya through music while Lyssa teamed up with the Queen, struggled to teach the prince his first letters. Little Coderrya loved music but was indifferent to the alphabet beyond G. It was a cozy, easy-going winter—perfect except for Codennyn’s long absences.