by B. C. Morin
Blood of the Sorcerer
Book 2 –
The Kingdom Chronicles
TKC Blood of the Sorcerer
Kindle Edition
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© 2012 by B.C. Morin
ISBN :978-0-9850490-2-7
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher or the author.
Requests for permission to copy part of this work for use in an educational environment may be directed to the author.
This book is a work of fiction. References to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or persons or locales, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover Art © by Black Raven Studios 2012
Acknowledgements
First thanks always to go God who always blesses me beyond measure. Thank you to my hubby and my kids for always believing in me and supporting me. Without their love, and acceptance of all the crazy ideas I have, none of this would be possible. Thank you to my amazing best friend, Sylvia Hientz who stayed up with me nightly, read with me, and pushed me when I’d get stuck. You are amazing and I don’t know what I would do without you! Also, Thanks to my editor Sabrina Bourque, you rock. Special thanks to Black Raven Studios for one of the most EPIC covers I have ever seen. Last but never ever least … my fans. This is for you all, and I appreciate and love all the support you give to me and the series. You are all amazing !!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Epilogue
Chapter 1
She had thought it was over. She’d thought that she no longer had to hide from her own emotions. It had been only two days since he’d last held her. Since he’d pulled her close and kissed her, causing the world to fall away in an instant. Alannah closed her eyes, seeing him clearly in her mind; the way he would not look at her when he’d told her what his father had said. She knew he hurt; it flowed off of him in waves. But she’d had to walk away, the news was unbearable. Though, not as unbearable as him not fighting for her. It did not matter, now. Despite the gaping hole in her heart, she had to concentrate on training. Her training. She could not leave, now. Even though every inch of her body yearned to get away. There was no choice. Only the elder faeries could help her harness her incoming powers, and they were here, the one place she did not want to be right now. Anrad.
The light knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. A knock she had become familiar with in the past day.
“Come in, Anora.” The handmaiden glanced at Alannah, giving her a sad smile, and continuing on to the bathing room.
“Aquacio.” Anora said lowly, as she watched the water manifest in the tub. She dipped her hand in, checking the temperature. Perfect, she thought to herself. She peered out of the doorway at Alannah, who had yet to move. Anora looked at her sorrowfully. By now, most of the staff had heard of King Manco’s final command to his son. It was not long before most of them had figured out that Brennus had already committed his heart to Alannah, an act none had ever expected to see from their ever reserved Prince.
Anora walked to the bed, sitting carefully next to Alannah, pulling a strand of hair from her face.
“My Lady.” Anora smiled at Alannah’s first reaction to her presence, by returning her gaze. “Perhaps a bath will assist in relaxing you.”
Alannah let out a long sigh before sitting up. “I suppose you are right, Anora.” She slid herself to the edge of the bed, and taking yet another deep breath, placed her feet on the lush carpet cushioning the hard stone floor. She tilted her chin, willing herself to stand straight. Alannah walked by the mirror without so much as a glance at the broken girl she thought she would see.
“My Lady-“
“Please, Anora,” Alannah cut her off, “call me Alannah.” She managed, with half a smile.
“Alannah,” Anora turned her gaze to the floor, “the Prince has requested your presence at dinner this evening.”
The Prince, she repeated to herself. It was still so strange hearing Brennus referred to as The Prince.
“Did he?” Alannah answered lowly, slipping out of her dress and sliding herself into the warm water.
“I can prepare the garment of your choosing.” Anora said, walking over and opening the doors to the wardrobe.
Alannah sat quietly. She wasn’t trying to ignore Anora, but she couldn’t stop the onslaught of images of the past two days, playing over again in her head. The emotions refreshing themselves in her heart, a pain so tangible, she absentmindedly reached her hand to her chest, as if to alleviate. She wanted to cry. Wanted to, but refused to allow it to happen. Not because there were not any tears left, although that certainly could be the reason. I am done, she thought to herself. I cannot hide behind tears and the door of this room any longer.
“Anora.” Alannah pursed her lips together thinking carefully of how she would begin to move forward.
“Yes ma’am?”
“Anora, I would like for you to choose my dress for this evening.”
“Miss?”
“I would like you to choose the dress you feel is the most enchanting and beautiful dress in the lot. That, is what I will wear to dinner with The Prince.” She finished, still unsure if she liked referring to him as such.
Anora smirked, raising an eyebrow if only to herself, as she pondered what Alannah might have been planning.
Alannah glanced over and smiled as she saw Anora seemingly enjoying herself sorting through all the dresses that had been gifted to her in the past day and the dresses that had arrived from the Magi Kingdom, along with new fighting gear for her training. Lillian was sure to see that Alannah was well prepared.
Anora came away from the wardrobe holding a soft dark green satin corset and skirt. Intricate black lace peeked out from the bottom of the skirt as well as the top of the corset.
Alannah stepped out of the bath, standing a little taller as she dried herself, eager to put on the new outfit Anora had chosen.
Anora waited by the vanity for Alannah to take a seat to have her hair done. She was surprised when Alannah took the seat facing away from the mirror.
“I thought it would be nice to see the hair and dress together.” She explained as Anora began brushing through the mass of brown waves and curls.
As Anora tightened the last strap on the corset, Alannah took a deep breath and walked over to the large mirror in the corner of the room. She marveled at the delicacy with which Anora had pulled back and pinned her hair. Twisted strands were pulled up to the crown of her head and the
n interwoven loosely, so that the rest could fall down her back. She gazed at herself for a moment, wishing with everything inside of her that the circumstances could be different.
She watched as Anora walked up beside her, giving her a sincere smile.
“You look stunning, Miss.” Anora took another step forward, heading toward the door, turning for only a moment to be sure that Alannah was following her.
They walked down the corridor to the main stairway in the center of the castle. Alannah held her head high, knowing that all eyes of those she passed were on her. The anxiety of seeing Brennus bubbled in her stomach, chasing away any hunger and making her nauseous, and she found she had to stop herself from gripping the smoothed wooden railing too hard. She glanced at the hallway leading to the throne room before being led in the opposite direction. Anora signaled with her hand, towards the doors that led to the dining room. Alannah succeed in giving her a small smile before walking past her.
Alannah stood in front of the large wooden doors for what seemed like an eternity. The carvings told stories of battles long past. She stood amazed at the intricate carvings and amazing details. For a split second, she thought that the warrior battling the Minotaur had moved. Must be the nerves, she thought. She bowed her head briefly, signaling to the guard that she was ready to enter. The small creak of the doors echoed throughout the hallway, as she readied herself to enter. She had just stepped into the large room when she realized that the doors were already closing behind her. No turning back now, she murmured to herself.
Alannah walked the length of the beautifully carved table and stopped a few chairs from where he was sitting, keeping his gaze every step. Once she was in complete sight of him, his gaze dropped from her eyes to her dress.
She held back a smirk as she thought of what she had told Anora when she asked her to pick her clothing for the evening, watching him go over her entirety with his eyes.
She looked him over, as well. His black hair, reflecting the glow of the fire burning behind him. She was not sure why she had expected to see him in his usual dress of weapons and leather vest, but she was glad that it was not so. The linen shirt hung loosely upon his shoulders, open at the neck, exposing the Marks that crept up his chest. She tore her eyes away from his body, looking straight into his eyes again.
“My Prince, I was told you wanted to see me.”
“Alannah,” He began, rising from his chair and taking a step toward her.
She looked at his eyes. His beautiful grey eyes that rivaled any sky before a storm, flecks of silver like lightning, streaking through them. They were a bit darker now, or perhaps that was because of the shadows beneath them. Exhaustion, marring his beautiful face.
He reached his hand toward her and fighting back tears, she slid her hand into his.
“Will your-“ She choked, unsure she would be able to get the word out, “betrothed be joining us?”
He released her hand.
“No. I wanted to speak to you alone.”
“As you wish.” She said dryly.
He couldn’t take it anymore and his frustration boiled over.
“Alannah stop behaving that way.” He stepped away running his hands through his hair, before returning and standing closer to her.
“What do mean?”
“Speaking to me as if you do not feel anything at all!” His voice was bitter. Almost as if he were more sad than he was mad at her.
“I have been trained by the best in that department.” She managed an aloofness to her tone that was terribly uncomfortable, but it helped keep the stinging tears away.
Brennus pulled out the chair next to him and slid down into it, clearly feeling defeated.
Realizing she may have gone too far, Alannah pulled out the chair next to his and sat down as well.
“My apologies, Brennus.” She put her elbows on the table, burying her face in her hands. “I am trying to deal with this as best as I can.” She released her face. “But to be honest I do not know what to do or say next.”
She looked at him and for a moment, saw the Brennus from the other night. The one that kissed her and caressed her face. The one that saved her life, refusing to let her go.
“Alannah,” He sighed, sitting back against his chair. “I know that this is difficult to deal with. I, myself am having a difficult time as well. But I cannot undo what has been done. The King has set events into motion that must be seen through.”
“Of course you can undo it.” She pulled her head out of her hands, her brow furrowed, “You will be the new King, soon.” She took her elbows off the table and sat up straight. “You can choose to do what you wish.”
“Yes, but I cannot defy the last wish of the King.” And in an instant the glimpse of her Brennus was gone.
“Did you tell him?” She turned in her seat, facing him, her knees barely grazing his.
Brennus looked at her questioningly.
“About us. Did you tell him that you already had someone who cares for you? Someone who you care for, as well?” Alannah felt her voice crack on those last words but held her expression firm.
No answer.
She brought her hand to her mouth for a moment before speaking. She tried to fight them but silent tears were already beginning to fall. Tears of frustration, of sadness and of not knowing, drawn out by his silence.
“Do you not care for me the way I care for you? Do you not believe that I was worth telling him about?”
Brennus looked at her, clearly hurt and upset, and slammed his fist against the table.
“Of course I care about you. You have had my heart since I first laid eyes on you!” His eyes glazed over with tears that he refused to release. “Even when I pretended that I did not care who you chose, I yearned for you.”
He was pretending, she thought. She was taken aback by how deep his feelings truly ran.
“Then why?” She begged him, her voice rising, echoing throughout the room.
“Why what?” His voice rose, meeting hers.
She was sure that the guard outside could hear them but she did not care.
“Why did you not fight to be with me instead?” She stood from her chair. “You could have told him that you were not going to be alone. There was someone by your side already.”
He stood as well.
“He was not asking me anything. He spoke these words and was in no state to hear anything else. I could say nothing.”
“No, it was not that you could say nothing. You chose to say nothing.” Alannah spoke as harshly as her broken heart would allow. She began walking toward the door when she felt his hand tighten around her arm, turning her around. He slipped his other hand around her back and pulled her into him. Looking at her eyes for a quick moment, Brennus leaned down, pressing his lips against hers desperately. She wanted to fight him, she knew she should, but she couldn’t. Then, for a fleeting moment she felt it again. The amazing feeling she’d had nights ago when he’d saved her, when nothing else mattered, when nothing else was going on in the world. Before they arrived at Anrad. But it was gone quickly this time, forced out by feelings she had been trying to suppress. She pulled back, still keeping her body close to his.
He put his forehead against hers.
“Alannah, my heart is yours.” He said softly.
“And yet, I must hand it over to someone else for the keeping.” Her last words falling to a strained whisper. Silent tears bursting with defeat and pain ran from her eyes. Tired of these waves of emotion, of wanting something she could not have, she released her grip on him and wiped her face with the backs of her hands.
She looked at Brennus, waiting for him to respond. But there was nothing left to say. He was not going to defy his father’s last wish. Nor was there anything he could say to her to make this any easier. He released his hold on her slowly and watched her walk toward the door. Alannah straightened her corset and skirt, blinked away any remaining wetness in her eyes, then looking at him quickly taking a jagged breath, befo
re opening the door and walking out.
Brennus walked back to his chair and sat down looking at the food that had been laid out for them. The goblets of wine, the ham, and the plate of fruits, most of which tumbled down when he slammed his fist into the table earlier. Suddenly as if using his last resolve, he stood and walked out of the dining room and up to his father’s room. As he began walking up the stairs he just barely saw the back of Alannah’s dress flowing behind her as she walked to her room.
Brennus pushed open the heavy stone doors with the carved crest. There, in a large bed covered with royal blue silks and pillows, laid his father. He walked over, slowly surveying this man that had changed so much. It used to be that he could see himself in him. Now the illness that had befallen him ravaged him and left the shell of a warrior. He stood next to his father, wondering what words he would say, if he should say anything at all. He had never questioned his father’s decisions. He had never gone against what his father wished. Was he going to do so now? As his father lay dying? He looked at his father closely and noticed that his chest had gone still. Brennus leaned in, listening for a heartbeat but heard nothing.
He fell to his knees and allowed some silent tears to fall for a man that was the greatest warrior he had ever known.
Brennus moved quickly to the doors to advise the guards that stood outside. It was only a matter of time before his father returned to being part of the earth, as all the fae do when they die. Brennus walked quickly to his father once more and using as much magic as he could muster he changed the clothing his father was wearing to the most elegant robes that he knew sat in his father’s closet. It was a spell he never thought he would use as, using a spell to change one’s clothes, he felt, promoted laziness. But this was different. This was from a sense of urgency.
After about thirty minutes, the large doors swung open and the council stood before him. All were dressed in dark elaborate robes. They nodded their heads at him and he knew it was time.