Threat

by Drae Box

  Aldora settled on one of the red stools that nestled around the island counter in the square room. Raneth and Cray sat either side of her, even as the king beckoned for Alagar to give them something to eat. The royal cook nodded and opened the oven, releasing a waft of warm air before he pulled out a round deep dish with a white liquid inside it. Briefly, as the retired royal official lifted it to rest on the counter beside the oven, Aldora caught sight of peas bobbing up to the surface and a waft of cooked chicken tickled her nose. Chicken stew. She turned to the king. “Why did Reinette take you?” she asked. She spotted Raneth leaning forwards slightly, resting his weight on his arms against the counter, curious to see her face as much as Cray’s.

  The king raised his brows briefly, before gently shaking his head. “From what I gathered, her boss wanted to brainwash me.”

  “Brainwash?” asked Raneth. “Like Newer propaganda against royal officials?”

  Cray shrugged. “Perhaps.” The uneasy smile he gave Aldora made her gut flip. “Either way, we’ll have to keep a much closer eye on Giften now.” He leaned back in his chair, giving Aldora and Raneth an easier view of one another. “Something’s coming. Something that will make this absurd business of late make sense.” He gestured at Aldora. “Your village, the Dagger’s theft, the crime rise.” He shook his head, his voice softening, “Reinette. We must be ready.”

  Acknowledgments

  No book is created by just one person, and The Common Kingdoms / Two Giftens books are no different. Without the support of the people I’ve met through the years of writing Raneth’s and Aldora’s adventures, at some point I might have stalled indefinitely.

  Clare, Eve and June: my lovely editors. You have each taught me quite a lot just by doing the editing work that you do. Each structural report taught me more about character development, worlds and story structure, and each line-edit run showed me my back-to-front sentences, weird ticks and other such blunders. I look forward to working on new projects with you!

  Alyrim: your mastery of book cover design should be better known! The Common Kingdoms books look absolutely fantastic in both book one’s and two’s original launches in 2015 and 2016, and their relaunches in 2019 (along with books three, four and five in 2019). Readers wouldn’t have paid them any mind without your design skills. Thank you!

  My email subscribers: it’s been a long journey since that first email in 2014, hasn’t it? Those of you whom have been a part of my writing or reading tribes in the past and/or currently are greatly appreciated for the support, and the trust you put in me and my work.

  Bryan Cohern: when I heard your interview on the Science Fiction and Fantasy Marketing Podcast about your relaunching, Ted Saves the Day, I knew I have to get in touch to ask for your advice for relaunching books one and two in this series. You were kind enough to reply and share your experience with me, and for that I thank you. Not everyone would.

  Twitch: you crazy, big-eared pup, you! I love ya, and I couldn’t ask for a better writing companion and friend! You make sure I get up and move about instead of sitting every free moment of my day, staring at a computer screen, hyper-focused on my writing goals. I simply adore you and your ability to bring joy to everyone who knows you.

  My readers: I argued with myself about where to put you guys on this. Top, bottom? But it doesn’t really matter, does it? This list of thank-yous isn’t by order, after all. I hope you all realise how important you are, for sharing in my journey as a continually-learning writer. Whether you’ve been with me since The Royal Gift’s original release in 2015, or you discovered my books before or after the relaunch in 2019, thank you. Thank you for taking a chance on an author you’d never heard of before. I hope you loved Aldora, Raneth and Pedibastet, and that you’ll love my upcoming characters in other series and standalone novels.

  My Youtube tribe: for always being supportive of me and making me feel welcome in the Authortube community, thank you! If you all hadn’t reached out and been there for me, I might never have finished the Series Relaunch Project, and I may have stopped participating in Authortube too! You don’t know it, but you also reminded me to ignore some really awful suggestions from people that had no place telling a writer what to do, and (as I later found out) were likely giving me bad advice on purpose. I hope I can always be there for you too.

  My family: Baby brother, our walks together with Connie are some of my favourite memories of you growing up. Not only did we create stories and mash the Common Kingdoms and your floating werewolf island world together, but you taught me how to keep a reader’s attention, and let me create world lore on the spot every time our stories found a flaw or underdeveloped area. Nowadays as an adult, you’re always there for me and Twitch if we need you. Thank you.

  Baby sister, no, Rhiannon Danae is not named after you. She gets brutally murdered. I wouldn’t wish that on you. Raneth and Aldora are almost as old as you are, and I hope that as you figure out adulthood, that they maybe provide a moral compass whenever you need to follow your gut. Take a look at their decisions and their outcomes (especially Raneth’s) whenever you feel stuck.

  My dear twin, I know you can’t read due to your disabilities, but you have helped me more than you possibly understand. You put up with (and hopefully enjoyed) my reading to you until you fell asleep when we were little. Without that practise, I wouldn’t have overcome my reading, writing and speech difficulties. I also wouldn’t have discovered my love for reading aloud and reading in general… In short, without you being a vital participant of my practise in reading and talking, I never would have been able to read well or write novels. Every novel I write is because of you.

  Mum and Dad, I know more often than not that you don’t understand this need to write and share my novels, and I still remember the discussions we had. I know that your serious talks about being an author and getting published came from a place of concern and love. Thank you for letting me get on with it anyway, for always encouraging my independence and having my back. You are both the golden standard in parenting.

  About the Author

  Drae Box is a fantasy author that lives in the UK with their rescue-dog, Twitch. They enjoy hikes, shows that mix crime and fantasy together, Fairyloot and fantasy novels that leave a lasting impression.

  Enjoyed This Book?

  Dear reader,

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  Thank you for your support,

  Drae.

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  Preview Shotput of Power

  Book Three of The Common Kingdoms Series

  Releases 8th October 2019

  Available for preorder.

  Chapter One

  Raneth

  As Royal Official Captain Raneth Bayre rubbed sleep from the corners of his eyes, his doctor smiled warmly at him. He’s obviously happy with my progress, decided Raneth, otherwise he’d have that worried look, as if he’s not sure whether I’ll explode all over him.

  “I daresay you have a clean bill of health again. You can continue your assignments now,” said Quinn, the royal doctor.

  Sitting on a bed in the palace ward, Royal Official Bayre rubbed at the back of his neck. He swung his long legs and nodded. A few more days of rest would have been nice.

  The doctor waited,
but his smile devolved into a concerned frown when Raneth didn’t stand to flee the room.

  “Raneth, what’s wrong?” he asked gently.

  “Nothing. I feel fine now, thanks to you,” admitted Raneth. “It’s the criminals I was assigned. I don’t like juggling four – it’s too difficult to actually catch up to any of them. I could do with a day or two more just to catch my breath.”

  “You’re not the only royal official to say that sort of thing recently,” said Quinn. He repositioned the blue wire-framed glasses on his nose as he sat down next to the royal official.

  He played with his glasses. He’s being careful about what he says next, noted Raneth. Having grown up with the doctor tending to his needs, the royal official was all too familiar with the man’s ticks. Raneth turned his gaze onto the room around him, giving Quinn a moment to think. The ward was one of the larger rooms within the palace; it contained seven freshly made beds and the messy one the doctor and Raneth were sitting upon. The morning’s bright sunlight smashed through the four tall windows, rolling past the red curtains and warming him.

  Quinn nudged Raneth’s side with his own to regain the royal official’s focus. “A lot of royal officials have been visiting the past few months, but normally there’s a decrease in visits during the colder months because the crime sprees are in spring and summer.”

  Raneth nodded. Sounds about right, he thought.

  “And now you’ve spent the first week of the year in here with me and missed your twenty-first birthday party at Aldora’s. Tribune Jovian’s crime predictions from 2006 are playing out and we’re all stuck trying to prove him wrong.”

  “We are not trying to prove that man wrong,” stated King Cray from the doorway.

  Raneth glanced his way. Cray’s still not pleased about the tribune’s report being published in The Giften Daily. At least his annoyance isn’t aimed at me this time.

  The tall king strode into the room, his hands clasped behind his back, and paused at the end of Raneth’s bed. Cray was already dressed and ready for the day, unlike normal for the early morning. His jawline and upper lip were clean shaven, but the dark rings under his brown eyes revealed that something had been troubling him for the past week or so, or possibly for longer.

  “We are trying to keep our beloved Three Ks safe: the Kingdom’s People, the Kingdom’s King, me, and the Kingdom Herself – but most importantly, the Kingdom’s People. Do not forget that, you two.”

  “Good morning, Cray,” said Quinn, standing with a smile. He pointed at Raneth. “He’s able to go back on assignment.”

  Thanks for the breather, you guys. Raneth frowned at Quinn, but the doctor turned towards a door opposite the one Cray had entered through, missing Raneth’s expression entirely.

  “Good,” replied the king, looking Raneth over carefully. “He looks much better than he did.”

  Cray stole Quinn’s spot on the bed next to Raneth. He plucked a loose piece of white cat fur from the knee of his cotton suit trousers. Without a word, the royal official looked at the king and frowned. Cray noticed out of the corner of his eye and looked at his subordinate. “What?”

  “You’re going to ask me to get ready to leave–”

  “Stop whining before you start. What would Aldora think?” said Cray with a smile.

  “That I need a holiday,” stated Raneth.

  Cray lifted his eyebrows. “I have been thinking,” he said.

  Quinn peeked through the doorway of his office with a large grin. “Quick, Raneth, run!”

  Raneth smiled a silent laugh.

  “Now, now,” grumbled Cray, “not so cheeky, you two.” He shifted slightly, resting his left leg under him so that he faced his royal official and friend. “Raneth, I have been worried about you and the other royal officials in active service. The level of crime does not look to be diminishing so I would have to give you another two assignments if you stayed here.”

  “So… I should run out of this room?” asked Raneth a little warily. I’m happy to protect the Three Ks, but I don’t want to if I’m going to keep being overworked, he thought.

  Cray shook his head. “No. I need to keep you a little safer for a while and out of reach of the murderers that I would normally assign to you. I’m taking away your current assignments and sending you on just one, out of the kingdom.”

  “Is it a contracted assignment?” asked Raneth curiously. This could be OK after all – a contracted assignment is usually just for a company’s insurance purposes, like the archaeologists I guarded last year. Wonder if I’ll have time to see Aldora first.

  “No,” admitted Cray. “I have picked this one because it will allow you to be a little safer whilst working at a more relaxed pace, rather than the pace you have been experiencing lately. I need you better rested for whatever is to come when this crime wave hits its peak. Think of it as a working break.” Cray paused to pluck another strand of cat fur from his trousers. “When Aldora visited yesterday, while you were napping she happened to mention the Shotput of Power and how it’s still missing. It reminded me of a report that came through to me recently about a sighting of the Shotput.” Cray grinned broadly and patted Raneth’s knee. “Who better to find the missing Weapon of Protection than the two who located and rescued the primary one?”

  What the heck? thought Raneth. I’m not trained to find items. People, yes. Items, no. Aloud he said, “I’m a royal official, not a royal detective, sir.”

  “I am perfectly aware of your job title and its definition, Raneth,” snapped Cray, his mood rocketing down at Raneth’s gentle reluctance.

  Raneth frowned, stood up and faced Cray. He rubbed at the black stubble under his chin.

  “The Shotput was sighted in the Newer Kingdom. You’ll be heading there,” stated Cray as he too stood up.

  And there’s the catch, decided Raneth. “Cray,” he grumbled, “I don’t like going there. The inspectors hate royal officials.”

  “I dislike royal officials who complain about their new assignments,” said Cray, lifting his eyebrows.

  Raneth sighed and then nodded. Best just get this over with, I guess.

  “I have the paperwork in the Royal Official Office, but I would prefer it if you could take three others besides Aldora because of the inspectors,” stated Cray.

  “Alika’s unavailable because she’s still on family leave.”

  “You made friends on that assignment at sea. Ask a few of them. Surely not all of them have found new jobs since you sunk their ship?” asked Cray, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

  “That was an accident,” Raneth reminded him. I need to try not to have any big accidents this year – it’s getting silly how many are being remembered. “I’ll send word around to the sailors. I should hear back from most of them within a few hours.” At least it’s a chance to spend more time with Aldora before I ask her to marry me. I need to make sure that I have no doubts about how we’ll cope with a marriage together.

  “Good,” said Cray, his smile blossoming. “Come with me and I’ll fully brief you.”

  “Can I change into normal clothes first?” asked Raneth, looking down at his eggshell blue cotton top and matching elasticated trousers. These might be better than a smock, but I still hate them.

  Cray inspected Raneth’s tall, wiry frame and then gave a nod. “I’ll meet you in the ROO,” he stated.

  When his knocks on the door of 11 High Street in Brown Buzzard Village went unanswered, Raneth strode towards the Leoma Blacksmith. She’s bound to be in the stables working on that rescue horse she told me about yesterday, he decided. As he walked, he carefully inspected how he looked. The round toes of his black boots were scuffed but otherwise looked fine; one of the palace servants had done a good job of getting rid of all the muck Raneth had walked through when he returned to the palace for treatment. His trousers were the regulation trousers all royal officials were required to wear, made of different splodges of blue that ran along his long legs and held six pockets. They
were a new pair, so there was no blood, dirt or sand smeared across them like his last pair. I don’t think Aldora would be pleased if I turned up in the old uniform.

  He checked over his belt next, regulation blue; he made sure each of his six throwing daggers were nicely spaced out, with the two at the front positioned either side of the two rectangular pouches that flanked the silver, box-shaped belt buckle. His sword patted gently against his left leg. He cast his attention onto his torso. The long-sleeved blue top was hidden under his uniform jacket; the torso of the jacket had the same splodge pattern as his trousers, but in green, and the arms matched the trousers in colour. He righted how the jacket sat on his frame, noting the white feathers running along the seams of the lining on the inside, and then he looked up. He had reached the doorway of the stables. He peered inside.

  Dagger Bearer Aldora Leoma was stroking the bridge of a white mare’s nose and speaking softly to it, so Raneth knocked on the door frame. He watched as she glanced his way, a large smile erupting when she recognised him. He strolled inside, noticing that her smile vanished as soon as she saw more clearly what he was wearing. She shook her head, her lips twitching to the right side of her face in clear disapproval as she frowned. She turned back to the horse, picked up a brush and continued to clean the horse’s coat.

  Oh-oh, not exactly the reaction I was expecting, thought Raneth. “Hey, Aldora,” he uttered as he reached her side. He pressed a soft kiss to her cheek.

  Aldora stroked the mare’s scarred neck and stepped over to the empty stall at the far end of the stable. “Raneth, why did the doctor let you out?” she asked as she placed the brush back onto its peg. “You needed a nap halfway through my visit yesterday.” She turned to face him, watching him carefully with her brown eyes as she leaned against the box-pen and made no secret of checking out his weapon belt.