Read Child Of A Guardian And Of The Free (Book 3) for Free Online

looking alarmed. She and her sister had been ill for so long that she had heard nothing of this before.
    ‘ Yes. There is a legend among the fallen that if one of the fallen was to have a child by a guardian, the child would be as powerful as the guardians, but would also have the freedom to use that power as they wish. As you know the guardians are not free to do as they wish, but are bound to serve their creator and therefore the humans, the ones He calls the children. So the fallen think if they can produce such a child, they child would be able to return to them all their original abilities and gifts.’
    ‘ And the free think they know of such a child?’ asked Amy perceptively.
    ‘ They do know of such a child,’ said Rudiger. ‘Louisa of the guardians carries the child of Milgorry of Tarl. Nandul took Louisa captive with the plan to have her produce his own child, but Milgorry saw the evil in his Father’s plan and fled from Nyinaku with Louisa and her two human sisters, Elena and Immosey. But Milgorry and Louisa fell in love, and so she carries his child. And Nandul now seeks to recapture Louisa.’
    ‘ Are there many such as yourself, who oppose Nandul?’ asked Duke Laughlin.
    ‘ Yes. But there are also many who support him. Nyinaku is divided. Those who want nothing other than to live peacefully and enjoy the freedom given to them; the free, and those who wish to regain power and remove every guardian and every human from the entire land.’
    ‘ Oh I doubt they’d actually kill all the humans,’ said Dale bleakly. ‘I’m sure they’d keep a fair number alive as slaves and to bear their children.’
    ‘ That is true,’ said Danil. ‘And it wouldn’t be difficult, if they could remove the guardians first, which is something that Nandul desires above all else. So he continually plans attacks on Alkira with the intention of eventually destroying the guardians.’
    ‘ Which is stupid, because wouldn’t you just be sent back here again?’ asked Dale.
    ‘ Our numbers have dwindled over many years. I think the fallen would be delighted to speed this process along.’
    For several hours they discussed their recent difficulties and formed plans for dealing with a possible threat of an attack by the people of Nyinaku. To Kelian this particular problem seemed overwhelmingly difficult, taking into account the number of Alkiran soldiers who had been killed by Nailmarni.
    ‘You’d think Nandul had enough on his plate with the Nailmarni causing so many problems, and civil war threatening to break out,’ said Laughlin.
    Dale shrugged. ‘I think that’s part of the reason he withdrew from Alkira and returned to Nyinaku. I think he was so shocked to see the Nailmarni in Alkira and in such force, that he rushed back to Nyinaku to check that his own country wasn’t being overrun.’
    ‘ And what of the Nailmarni? Who are they?’ asked Jade. She felt embarrassed that their illness had caused her and her sister to sleep through the entire attack by the Nailmarni and she had never even caught a glimpse of the strange creatures. Even now when she was recovering enough to ask questions, they had been so busy that no-one had found time to explain to them exactly what had occurred.
    ‘ Don’t be embarrassed,’ said Danil, sensing the girl’s discomfort. ‘Lord Tiernan caused you to sleep through the battle as he was unsure you were well enough to survive the stress of the situation.’
    ‘ I thank him,’ murmured Jade, marveling at how many people had given so much to keep her and her sister alive. ‘Tell me about these Nailmarni.’
    ‘ The name is given by the Daoine Maithe,’ said Kelian. ‘It means stonefish. And we found out very quickly they can be just like a stonefish. Very hard to see and then they cause a lot of pain. They are some kind of ancient enemy of the guardians, and they were intent on taking our land, but with the help of the guardians and the free warriors we managed to defeat them.