Trial of Stone

by Andy Peloquin

Lady Briana’s question caught him off-guard. He’d been expecting threats and accusations, yet she spoke in a tone bordering on civil.

  “She asked for your name,” growled the pale-skinned bodyguard, a scowl on his face as he took a step toward Evren.

  Evren sized up the man before him. Long, dark hair pulled back into a tight tail, high cheekbones, and honey-colored eyes. Yet he was surprised to find they were roughly the same age, though the bodyguard stood a hand or two taller, with broad shoulders and the easy confidence of a warrior trained to use the sword hanging on his belt and the five or six daggers Evren spotted concealed around his armor and clothing. He’d spent enough time around the Hunter to recognize the lethal grace of a killer, yet something about the Praamian reminded Evren of the slimmer, quicker thieves he’d known on the streets of Vothmot.

  An interesting mix of the two, certainly.

  The other one, the woman with braided hair and a fierce scowl on her full lips, was a bit more of a mystery. The breadth of her shoulders almost matched Kodyn’s and thick muscle corded her forearms and biceps. She stood in a slight crouch, expression wary, hand hovering near the short-handled spear on her back. A warrior, for certain, yet up close, something about her seemed different than he’d expected. There was a strange glimmer in her eyes that he didn’t quite understand.

  He didn’t know what to make of these two, but if they were threatening Hailen, they’d find him more than just a simple servant.

  “Why?” He poured all his defiance into the word. “What does it matter?”

  “It matters,” Lady Briana spoke before the tall Praamian could, “because I have to know what sort of person I’m dealing with.”

  Evren’s eyes narrowed. Dealing with? That sounds less like a threat and more like a conversation.

  Understanding dawned when Lady Briana placed a palm-length stone as thick as Evren’s middle finger atop the table. “What he did should be impossible,” she said. “Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it. So I want to know exactly how it happened.”

  Evren’s gut tightened. He’d been dreading this since the moment they’d been caught in Suroth’s study hours earlier.

  “This stone is the handiwork of the Serenii.” Lady Briana’s eyes slid past Evren to Hailen. “My father is…”

  Sorrow twisted her face and she swallowed hard, her eyes dropping. The fierce-looking woman placed a hand on her shoulder.

  A long moment passed before the girl continued in a quiet, tight voice. “My father was studying it and all the other Serenii artifacts in this room in the hopes of unlocking its secrets. He had begun to decipher the runes etched into its surface. However, he never hinted that it would do anything like it did last night.” She narrowed her eyes at Hailen and leaned forward. “So tell me, how did you make it hum and glow like that?”

  Evren heard Hailen draw in a breath but spoke quickly first. “Before I tell you, I will have your word that my brother will not be punished. It was my idea to sneak into your father’s study. The blame lies with me, and the punishment should as well.”

  “Evren—” Hailen began.

  Evren whirled and shot a stern glare at the younger boy. Hailen’s face grew stubborn but he held his tongue.

  “Your brother?” The tall Praamian youth cocked an eyebrow. “Intriguing.”

  Evren met the bodyguard’s gaze without hesitation. Curiosity burned there, and a wary suspicion, but that seemed more innate, the result of hard years of living, rather than personal. It simply served to reinforce Evren’s suspicion that the youth was not the traditional sort of bodyguard. Then again, a Praamian in such a trusted position in a Dhukari household didn’t scream tradition, either.

  “My brother,” Evren emphasized the word, “is special.” He didn’t know how to explain that Hailen was Melechha, a descendant of the ancient Serenii, not without sounding crazy. “Serenii things have a tendency to come to life when he’s around.”

  “Is that so?” Lady Briana inclined her head and turned to Hailen. “What is your name?”

  “Hailen,” Hailen responded before Evren could stop him.

  The young woman beckoned. “Come here, Hailen.”

  Evren made to stop Hailen, but both of the bodyguards tensed, hands dropping to their weapons. Clearly, last night’s attempt on Lady Briana had them on edge. Evren decided against doing anything to raise their suspicion any further.

  “Here.” Lady Briana held out the cylindrical stone. “Take it.”

  Hailen hesitated a moment before reaching for the object. Evren’s gut tightened as the boy’s fingers closed around the cylindrical black stone etched with those strange Serenii runes. The blood on Hailen’s fingers had dried hours ago—the stone required fresh blood to activate.

  Lady Briana and her bodyguards drew in sharp breaths and leaned back as Hailen took the stone. But, when nothing happened, suspicion flashed across their faces. The young Dhukari woman looked confused.

  “Last night, how did you make that work?” she asked Hailen.

  Evren shot Hailen a meaningful look and a slight shake of his head. Don’t do it, Hailen! He couldn’t straight out shout at the boy to hold his tongue, but he had to hope Hailen had the common sense to—

  “It’s my blood.” Hailen said after only a moment of hesitation. “It’s what activated the stone.”

  Evren stifled a curse. Damn it! The boy had an innately trusting nature—a remnant of the Irrsinnon, the madness inherited from the Serenii that had nearly claimed his mind years earlier—which had gotten him in trouble on more than one occasion. Now, he’d just revealed the secret of his Melechha blood to these three perfect strangers.

  “Your blood?” Lady Briana’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

  “What he means,” Evren interjected, “is that his blood can interact with Serenii artifacts.” Hailen had revealed enough for now; better Briana not know that he was the last surviving Melechha on Einan. That knowledge would give her far too much power over Hailen—and, by extension, Evren. Already, they were at the mercy of the Dhukari noblewoman. She had only to order her guards to execute them and Evren would be forced to fight his way to freedom.

  “Interact with the artifacts, how exactly?” For a moment, curiosity pushed back the dark sorrow lingering in Lady Briana’s eyes. “Like what happened last night, with that bright light and loud noise?”

  “Yes.” Evren met the young woman’s gaze. “Or, at least, that’s what that one artifact did. I don’t know about the others, but I know that they will work when they come in contact with Hailen’s blood.”

  “Fascinating!” Excitement sparkled on Lady Briana’s face. “My father dedicated his life to studying these artifacts, and you two unlock more secrets in three minutes than he did in three decades.” Suddenly, questions bubbled from her lips in a torrent almost too fast for Evren to follow. “Is there anything else your blood can do? Can you use all Serenii artifacts or just this one? Do you read the Serenii language? How much do you know about what these things can do? Can you truly wield the power of the Serenii like you said?”

  “Uhh…yes?” Confusion echoed in Hailen’s voice. “I mean…”

  Lady Briana suddenly stood, a look of grim determination in her eyes. “Listen to me, both of you. Last night’s attempt to kidnap or kill me was the work of the Gatherers, a cult of death-worshippers that either work for the Necroseti or rebelled against them. Either way, the Keeper’s Priests and the members of the Keeper’s Council wanted to eliminate my father. They have their wish, so I shouldn’t have to worry about them coming for me.”

  “You’re certain?” the tall Praamian asked. “Your father had a great deal of influence among the Secret Keepers—”

  The Dhukari girl shook her head. “But the only reason he posed a threat to them was because of his influence with the Pharus and his position on the Keeper’s Council. With him gone, the Necroseti won’t bother with me. Or, at least, they have no reason to. Same for the Gatherers.
They wanted me to use as leverage against my father. Now that they don’t need leverage, I should be safe. Safe enough that no one will see it coming when I take down the Gatherers and the Keeper’s Council.”

  Evren raised an eyebrow. An ambitious plan, though one likely to get her killed. He wasn’t certain the two bodyguards could keep her safe from the secret cult or the most powerful priests in Shalandra.

  “But I can’t do it alone, even with all of my father’s connections,” Lady Briana continued. “They are too powerful for just the three of us to take on. Which is where you two come in.”

  “Or him,” Evren said, inclining his head at Hailen. “You want to use the power of the Serenii in your private war for revenge.”

  “Yes.” A simple reply, with no hint of deceit. Lady Briana met his eyes. “In return for his help, I will give you anything that is within my power as the daughter of Arch-Guardian Suroth.”

  Evren’s eyebrows rose. “Anything?” Quite the tempting offer, certainly, though he couldn’t be sure what she would have to give him. He’d come to her father’s household intending to use his position to get into the Palace of Golden Eternity to steal the Blade of Hallar, an ancient relic he believed was one of the Bucelarii Im’tasi weapons—weapons the Hunter needed in his mission to sustain Kharna and protect Einan from the threat of the Devourer of Worlds.

  She might not be her father, but she may still be able to help me get what I need. She could get him into the palace, maybe even close enough to the Vault of Ancients that he could get his hands on the Blade of Hallar. From there, it would be a simple matter of collecting Hailen and fleeing Shalandra before anyone realized what he’d done.

  Lady Briana shrugged. “Ask, and I will see what I can do.”

  Evren pondered his request, but before he settled on anything, a knock sounded at the door.

  The two bodyguards tensed, eyes fixed on the door.

  “Come in,” Lady Briana called.

  At the creak of door hinges, Evren glanced over his shoulder to find the grey-haired Nessa entering the room. Though the Steward shot a curious look his way, she addressed Briana.

  “Forgive me, my lady, but there is someone here to see you.”

  “Who is it?” Lady Briana asked.

  Nessa’s face went a shade paler and her eyes went wide. “By the looks of her, one of the Keeper’s Blades, sent by the Pharus himself!”

  Crucible of Fortune

  (Heirs of Destiny Book 2)

  Five young warriors, one mission. Will they stand together or die alone?

  Kodyn and Aisha are losing the battle to save the City of the Dead.

  Stripped of rank and wealth, they must use all their wits, skill, and courage to survive the cruel streets of Shalandra and bring justice for their murdered protector.

  Kodyn’s cunning and Aisha’s growing power over the dead are all that stands between them and an untimely end. New allies emerge to join their quest: a thief, an elite warrior-in-training, and a boy with ancient magical abilities

  They face a desperate clash against death cultists, bloodthirsty criminal gangs, and the most powerful politicians in the kingdom. But will their bonds of unity triumph against greed and cruelty, or will the kingdom crumble around them?

  If you love action, adventure, plot twists, and intrigue, you’ll love every heart-pounding second of Heirs of Destiny! For fans of Jeff Wheeler, Robin Hobb, and A.C. Cobble, take a journey through Andy Peloquin’s dark epic fantasy world…

  Click here to continue the journey!

  In the Heirs of Destiny series:

  Trial of Stone (Book 1) – Jan 22, 2019

  Crucible of Fortune (Book 2) –Feb 5, 2019

  Storm of Chaos(Book 3) – Feb 19, 2019

  Secrets of Blood (Book 4) – Mar 19, 2019

  Ascension of Death (Book 5) – Apr 16, 2019

  AND BONUS:

  The Renegade Apprentice (Book 0) May 14 <--Evren’s Prequel Novella

  Try the Prequel Novella for FREE

  Connecting and starting a relationship with readers is why I got into writing in the first place. I love that my stories, thoughts, feelings, and emotions to resonate with you, but I’d also love to get to know you, the reader, personally—or as personally as this crazy internet/email/social media world allows.

  My VIP Reader List is exactly how I get to do that. I let you know more about me, and you tell me about you. Plus, you get to find out what books I’m reading and enjoying, updates on works in progress, special deals, and other bits of news relating to me and my world (fictional and real-life).

  If you sign up, you get a free copy of Evren’s prequel novella, The Renegade Apprentice

  A desperate breakout. A perilous life on the streets. A fight to the death.

  Evren’s life as an apprentice priest is an endless torment, until he seizes the chance to escape his slavery. But his freedom, and his life, may be cut very short because the dark alleys of Vothmot hold their own dangers...some deadlier than others!

  Sign up here

  and read the prequel novella for FREE

  Enjoy More Series by Andy Peloquin

  Plus, get backstory and insight into the epic Heirs of Destiny characters!

  For more of Kodyn’s origin story,

  read Queen of Thieves

  "They killed my parents. They took my name. They imprisoned me in darkness. I would not be broken."

  Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves' trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts.

  The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman's rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood.

  What hope does one girl have in a world of ruthless men?

  Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Scott Lynch, and Brent Weeks will love Queen of Thieves…

  Book 1: Child of the Night Guild

  Book 2: Thief of the Night Guild

  Book 3: Queen of the Night Guild

  To read about Aisha’s trials,

  try Traitors’ Fate:

  One Death Changes Two Cities Forever

  Ilanna, Master of the Night Guild, has waged a war for eight years to cleanse her city of the rival criminal organization that nearly destroyed it. When she uncovers a ring of slavers trafficking young girls for sexual servitude around the continent, she is forced to venture into the city of Voramis, the seat of her enemy's power, to hunt down the true culprit and put an end to the enslavement of innocents.

  But her enemies will not be so easily eliminated. She must turn to the one man certain to get the job done: the Hunter, legendary assassin of Voramis.

  The Hunter willingly accepts a fortune in gold to kill one of the richest men in his city. A mansion fortress and a private army should prove no match for his inhuman abilities.

  But as he stalks his target, he unmasks a bloodthirsty conspiracy in the guise of a holy mission. If he doesn't stop the men responsible, the gruesome murders will continue and people—including those he has sworn to protect—will die.

  Note: This book is a standalone that takes place after the events of Queen of Thieves Book 3.

  Traitors’ Fate (Queen of Thieves/Hero of Darkness Crossover)

  Take a glimpse into Evren and Hailen’s origin,

  dive into Hero of Darkness

  The best assassin in the world doesn’t come cheap. Betraying him will cost your soul.

  The Hunter is a name feared by all in Voramis. He is an outcast, driven by a cursed dagger with an unquenchable thirst for blood and death.

  Yet he follows one simple code: kill those who truly deserve to die. His creed is put to the test when, decei
ved by a shadowy employer, he unknowingly slaughters an innocent man.

  With the most powerful criminal organization in the city after his head, the Hunter must fight for his life and find a way to atone for his mistake. When his enemies harm the people under his protection, it will take much more than an army of criminals to stand in the way of his revenge.

  If you love anti-heroes like the Punisher or Dexter in a breathtaking fantasy realm, then immerse yourself in Hero of Darkness today! Dive into an epic tale of one man’s struggle to survive in a world of magic, blood, and death.

  Book 1: Darkblade Assassin

  Book 2: Darkblade Outcast

  Book 3: Darkblade Protector

  Book 4: Darkblade Seeker

  Book 5: Darkblade Slayer

  Book 6: Darkblade Savior

  Book 7: Darkblade Justice

  Different, Not Damaged: A Short Story Collection

  About the Author

  I am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.

  Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!

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