Veiled Shadows (The Age of Alandria: Book Two) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Faeries respectively. The hair was Kaeleigh’s from when she was a child. Hunter had kept it when he performed this ritual the last time with the hope that he would be able to unbind her into her destiny someday.
    Hunter tied the hairs to the whittled stick. The stick, which came from the branch of an ash tree, represented the body, specifically Kaeleigh’s body. It would pass through each of the elements as he waved it through the flames of each individual candle. Within the little velvet purple bag, which had a silver insignia of an orchid on it, was dirt from the burial grounds of their ancestors, those who had come before them in their previous realm... included amongst those was her mother. He had hoped to explain to her about her mother before this had happened, but perhaps this way was easier. Finally, Hunter would use the athame to pierce the palm of Kaeleigh’s hand for blood to be her sacrifice. As she gripped the smooth stone representing the oath of the original binding, her blood would drip over the candle “spirit” to be given as a gift for the release of the warding upon her.
    Hunter began taking deep breaths, concentrating on releasing the magic that was beginning to build within his chest.
    “What will happen to Kaeleigh when all this happens?” a quiet but concerned Chel asked, interrupting his focus.
    “Will she feel anything?” Finn asked, also concerned and refusing to look anywhere other than at Kaeleigh’s face.
    Hunter sighed. “I will not lie to you, I do not know. Never have I un-warded someone in the condition that she is in, and never to the degree that Kaeleigh had been originally warded. I’m hoping that unconsciousness will be to her benefit.”
    The magic began growing and building up pressure within Hunter. As it did, his confidence grew stronger that the time was almost upon them. “Look to me, all of you,” he said as he gazed into each of their eyes. “I feel the anticipation of the magic. You can help. Add in your magic—whether you know that you have any or not,” he added specifically to Chel as she was as new to all this as Kaeleigh was. “Think of Kaeleigh. Think of who she is to you. Think of her strengths and who you see her to be. Focus on her becoming and being revealed and made new in this new land.” Hunter took a deep breath, then looked to Chel. “You will add to the energy of this magic by focusing the positivity of your energy from deep within then push it out toward her. Visualize it flowing into her to give her strength when she has none herself.” Satisfied that they would participate, Hunter began his ritual, led by the magic of his ancestors. With his head bowed and his eyes closed, he took in deep cleansing breaths as well as releasing them. Then he began to utter some words softly at first.
    “Rudan. Brachtah. Thantül. Kothnyte.”
    The atmosphere was charged with tangible electricity. The room darkened by natural light giving way to candlelight until an unnatural glow began emanating within and out of Kaeleigh. A soft wind began to sweep through the little cottage even though all the windows and doors were shut. Hunter closed his eyes, muttering more words in an ancient language growing louder as he would repeat each line
    “Thantül. Kothnyte. Lyn du hasen lan ílleyll.”
    Finn and Chel both had their eyes fixed on Kaeleigh, but for the briefest moment, Chel lifted her gaze toward Hunter and then over to Daegan, who had been staring intently at Hunter. With his head cocked to the side like a puppy trying to understand what its master was saying, Daegan seemed to be comprehending some of the older man’s words. Unfortunately, Chel couldn’t decipher if his reaction was good or bad. A sudden intake of breath from Kaeleigh snapped her attention, along with everyone else’s, back to the girl lying prone on the table.
    Something was happening to Kaeleigh. The others watched, waiting to see what would happen, hoping she wasn’t in pain;