Ancient Mystic's War of the Realms Saga by Lady Adellandra Dratianos (book club suggestions txt) 📕

Lord Bane gathered behind him, waiting for the right moment to attack.
“You do not have the magic to destroy me!” Orthos cried, secretly eyeing the blade in her hands.
“Maybe I do.” Young Guardian supplied. “Wanna see for yourself?”
“Let me handle them, Orthos.” Crucis stepped up.
Help me destroy him first. Ramon’s voice echoed in her head. Charge up enough energy to pierce the heart in his chest.
Young Guardian looked at him. You sure it’ll work?
Ramon nodded, turning back to Crucis’s evil smile.
“You want to destroy me, don’t you, Son?” Crucis crooned.
Son? Young Guardian thought, sharing a astonished look with the Protector. O’Dell kept his mouth thin, knowing already.
“Ever since you killed my mother.” Ramon announced. In his mind to Young Guardian, he supplied. On my mark.
“I killed no one who did not deserve to die.”
Arm yourself, Ramon’s words echoed.
Young Guardian moved, letting the blade’s energy brighten. Ramon himself hid his hands behind his back, conjuring enough power to make an energy ball of his own.
“The only ones who deserve to die stand before me.” Young Guardian taunted.
“Will you be the one to do it?” Orthos taunted, laughing. “You are but a mere Ancient Mystic Child.”
“Ancient Mystic Child, am I?” Young Guardian responded, arming herself. The blade and pommel glowed, making her entire body burn with energy and maddening power.
“Now!” Ramon cried, thrusting his energy ball at Crucis.
Young Guardian did the same with the tip of her blade. Together, they destroyed Crucis, leader to the Stalkers.
Orthos was amazed and confused. How could this child direct such strong magic? What about the blade made her so powerful and confident?
Seeing the look on his face made the Young Guardian grin. “That was just a warning, Orthos. Will you surrender or do I have to destroy you out-right?”
“Surrender! Never!” Orthos laughed.
Suspecting Orthos was going to attack, the Protector placed his good arm on Young Guardian’s shoulder. He gave his Lord Guardian a pleading look.
Lord Guardian was fearing for his successor’s life, and his own. It was time to show her just how much magic she had inside. With his and the Protector’s help, of course.
“Young Guardian, you must do as I say.” O’Dell announced, eyeing his twin Orthos. When she looked at him, he continued. “Use the Silver Magic at its most potent.”
Young Guardian sheathed her sword and grinned wickedly at Orthos. “Most potent, huh?”
“O’Dell, this is between us only!” Orthos cried, hoping to stop her from doing anything else.
Those behind him cowered, scared of the scene.
The Protector squeezed her shoulder, letting her know he was there to defend her. She was too interested in the dialogue between brothers, and didn’t seem to notice.
“Not anymore.” O’Dell warned. “You forfeited the privilege of my destroying you alone when you violated our treaty.”
“What treaty?” Orthos asked.
“Do you not remember when Young Guardian was born?” O’Dell reminded him. “You agreed not to interfere with her life, and those in it. You broke the treaty more than once, Orthos, so now, you will be destroyed.”
“Go ahead, O’Dell.” Orthos taunted. “Send me back the Unknown, where I belong.”
O’Dell shook his head. “The Unknown is far too good for you.” He supplied. “You will be destroyed by the very Magic you hate.”
Young Guardian took that as her cue and used the blade to direct her Silver Magic’s beam. The Protector put himself in a trance, projecting his own Golden Magic through her body to her blade. With Lord Guardian’s help, Orthos, too, was destroyed.
Francesca and Gloriana screamed.
She felt O’Dell wince, and knew why. The twin-bond was broken between him and Orthos.
The Protector came out of his Golden Magic trance, woozy, but in tact. He released her shoulder and backed away. Lord Guardian noticed him and went to heal his wounds so he would be able to help his love home when she was out of her own energy. The Protector watched as his Lord Guardian healed him. Once they made eye contact, O’Dell winked, smiling.
Francesca stood frightened, hiding behind a shaking Gloriana. With O’Dell standing there, she dare not attack. Bane was silent, fuming at the scene.
Francesca, eyeing Ramon, begged for forgiveness. “Crucis made me do it, my liege.”
“I am not your liege, Francesca.” Ramon replied. “Since you are Stalker, you know what must be done.”
Ramon conjured a lightning ball in his hand and played with it.
Francesca eyed the ball now. “D-d-d-destruction?”
“That’s right, destruction.” At that, he aimed and fired, destroying her on the spot. “Anymore takers?” Ramon asked the two who were left.
Gloriana shook her head, disappearing into the night.
As for Bane, he was determined to win this War, even without Orthos. Lord Bane stared at the charred remains of Orthos, Francesca, and Crucis in awe and amazement.
“No!” Bane cried, shaking his head as he stared at the spot. “It is not possible! You promised victory, and I will have it!”
“I’m afraid not, Lord Bane.” Young Guardian shook her head.
When he looked up at her still-glowing eyes and sword, he was afraid. Not wanting himself to end up like his partners-in-evil, Bane recoiled and called the retreat.
Exhausted and out of energy, Young Guardian was helped by the Protector back to their camp, to tell the Companions the good news. Ramon helped Lord Guardian walk close behind them.
The war had finally ended. It was time to go home to Rest and Heal.

End Epilogue:
The End of the War of the Realms

Once hearing the good news about Bane’s retreat, the Companion Army all met in the Canine Valley’s Practice Fields. O’Dell, Young Guardian, the Protector, and Ramon were there to greet them.
“Take her home to heal and rest, Protector.” O’Dell supplied before he faced his Companion followers.
“Thank you for helping me.” The Protector said, both arms around her waist to help her stand. “I’ll make sure she rests, and only rests. No Crusading or patrolling for awhile.”
“See that she does, and you as well.” O’Dell remarked, slapping him on the back. “We need you both.”
With a nod, the Protector and the Young Guardian were gone.
O’Dell turned to his Companions, who were eagerly waiting. They stood at-ease in perfectly-formed rows. It amazed him, making him smile.
He found the silver eyes of his two remaining brothers, Lord Byron and Maximaniac. They stood nearby with their own troops behind them. The three Ancient Mystic sisters, Jezebel, Challandra, and Enchantra stood with them.
Both teams of Crusaders, minus Young Guardian, the Protector and the Grand Magus, who was still with the Healers, stood at the head of many Companion platoons. He was proud of them all, and knew he and the Ancient Mystics were right in choosing them.
The sound of Ramon’s voice broke into O’Dell’s thoughts.
“It still amazes me how so many Companions fought as a team with little training.” The Dweller-kin leader supplied lightly.
“They had the best training, I would say.” O’Dell smiled at Wolf Stargazer and Chase Moondancer, who were standing in the front rows. He then turned to the Dweller-kin leader. “Thank you again, Ramon. Now that the war is officially over, you may return to the Outer Realm to Rest and Heal.”
“I planned on it, Lord Guardian.” Ramon grinned, despite his own loss of energy. “It is fortunate none of the kin-Clans were lost. We were only wounded, both bodies and prides. The kin-Clans are already heading back.”
He looked around and saw a cowering Chikité “Red Wolf” Moondancer, standing next to his knight-master and his father. “If I may be so bold, Lord Guardian, has Chikité earned the right to live in both worlds, as the rest of us have and do?”
At the sound of his name, Red Wolf wagged his tail, eagerly waiting for his Lord’s response.
“I believe so, aye.” Lord Guardian responded, eying Red Wolf. “Page Chikité ‘Red Wolf’ Moondancer and Sire Wolfton Stargazer, approach me.”
The two wolves looked at each other and advanced to where O’Dell and Ramon were standing.
“Yes, my Lord Guardian?” Wolfton bowed at his feet. Red Wolf followed.
“Sire Wolfton, I believe your Page has earned his Knighthood in this war.” O’Dell announced. “Do you agree with this decision?”
Wolf looked up at O’Dell’s eyes, nodding. “Oh, aye, my Lord. Most definitely.”
“Tell me why.”
Wolf glanced at his Page before responding. “He has proven to both Lord Maximaniac and myself he is no longer a Dominionite Warrior. Red Wolf knew to get help when it was needed.”
“What of his Dweller-kin powers, Sire Wolfton?” Ramon spoke up.
“He has complete control, Ramon.” Wolf said. “He even taught my wolf-kit daughter to harness her own Companion and Ancient Mystic powers. Celine can now shift into three different forms; wolf, Balinese, and Ancient Mystic human, using each power combined or separately.”
Ramon looked to O’Dell. “Satisfied?”
“Extremely.” O’Dell remarked.
He conjured both his Staff and a necklace in his hands. He raised the staff in the air and announced. “You are all witnesses this wondrous event. I, Lord Guardian of the Dream Realm, give this Companion-Dweller Chikité ‘Red Wolf’ Moondancer the title of Sir.”
He tapped the Staff on each of Red Wolf’s shoulders. “Along with his title, I give him a great responsibility. As all Dweller-kin have and do, I bestow upon him the Dream Locket. With its spell, he can travel to the Outer Realm and be with his kin-Clans.”
O’Dell placed the Dream Locket around Red Wolf’s neck. “Rise, Sir Chikité, knight of Stargazer Castle and the entire Canine Valley.”
Both Wolf and Red Wolf rose.
“Use the Dream Locket wisely, calling the Outer Realm spell when your Dweller-kin rise for the night, and returning to Stargazer Castle with the morning comes.” O’Dell said, receiving a nod in response.
“Certainly, my Lord Guardian.” Red Wolf announced. “Thank you.”
“Now that the formalities are done,” Ramon started, clearing his throat to hide a laugh. He grinned proudly at his blood-nephew. “Will you come with us now, or stay to Rest and Heal?”
Red Wolf took the Dream Locket in his hands and blushed. “The offer is tempting, I admit, but I must decline.” He said. “I must see to my Bondmate.”
“You will visit often?” Ramon asked him.
Red Wolf nodded. “Soon, aye.”
“Well, then, I must be off.” Ramon replied. “Call on us again should you need us.”
O’Dell nodded. He watched as Ramon turned and walked away, disappearing in a self-made mist.
He turned back to the awaiting Companions and Crusaders.
To the Crusaders, he said. “I appreciate all the work you have done in this war, my Crusaders. As my token of thanks, I also give each of you your Dream Realm powers to use in the Outer Realm. For now, I wish you pleasant journeys.”
All Crusaders left on that note.
Getting back to business, he called a group of Companions to his side and excused the rest. Destiny Grey, Panther Grey, Katherine Hawk-Stargazer, Tobias and Tiger White-Snow, Celine Stargazer, Cyrix the fire demon, Ronan BrownPatches, Nicola HeartLily, Braken Joel Hawk, Sabrina and Tempest gathered in front of him. Wolf greeted Katherine and Celine with hugs. Without her father noticing, Celine shared a happy look with Red Wolf, whose eyes sparkled at the sight of her.
Lord Guardian looked to his true-son by Mystica, Braken Joel Hawk. “Bring those in the Underground back to us, Joel. Tempest, go with him.”
Saluting and nodding, Joel supplied. “Right away, my Lord.”
“Where to begin?” O’Dell muttered under his breath. “So many good things came of all of you, it is hard to begin the commendations. Katherine, you have been brave in the face of danger, using your power