by Krista Rose
He flinched, and gulped. “Nothing will happen to her, I swear. On the Gates of the Dead, I swear.”
“Good.” I smiled, and patted his shoulder. “Then we have nothing to worry about.”
“Vitric?” Lanya called. “Tanner’s ready to leave.”
“Coming.” I brushed past Dariel to walk to her, and wrapped her in a tight hug.
She shuddered against my chest, her hands balling into fists in my shirt. “Find Kryssa,” she whispered.
“I will.” I kissed the top of her head. “By the way, there’s kittens in the apartment.”
She blinked at me. “Kittens?”
“Eva and Meg. Take care of them for me, will you?”
“I- will.”
“Thank you.” I let her go, and turned to mount my horse. Amandine, Reyce, and Dariel clustered around Lanya.
I glanced at Tanner. “Well, we found yours. Ready to find mine?”
“Ready,” he confirmed. On the other side of him, Felice stared at us unblinking, her eyes like slivers of moonlight in her face.
We kneed our horses forward, heading out into the night, toward a land of golden sands and a night-black temple I had only seen in my dreams, and the girl who awaited me there.
I’m coming, Kryssa. I promise, I’ll find you.
KRYSSA
17 Syrthil 578A.F.
Temple of Sirius, Surak
The infirmary was dark when I opened my eyes. The air smelled of incense and, oddly, lavender. My hands and feet were still bound to the edges of my cot by thick leather straps, a precaution taken by the healers after my disastrous experience with the sedative. My mouth tasted of metal and dirt, a remnant of the new, weaker potions they fed me.
At first, I could not tell what had awakened me. The room was quiet, only a lone healer sitting near the foot of my bed to watch over me. His thick black robe shrouded his face, the candlelight casting eerie shadows around him.
And then it struck me. I could not hear the whispering. After a month of voices not my own filling my head, it was the sheer lack of them now that struck me as strange, leaving my ears ringing in the sudden silence.
I whimpered, straining against my bonds, and the figure at the foot of my bed turned toward me.
“Oh, good,” he murmured, and my skin crawled as his voice emerged like the crackle of dead leaves scraping against my skin. “You’re awake.”
I stared, horrified, screams locked in my throat as he pushed back his hood with thin, skeletal fingers- fingers that were completely transparent. His face was a decayed wreck of rotting flesh, bits of his skull gleaming even as the weak candlelight shone through it.
“I think it’s time we had a talk.”
CAST
in order of appearance
THE ROSE FAMILY AND COMPANY
Kryssa – eldest of the Rose family
Brannyn – secondborn of the Rose family
Lanya – thirdborn of the Rose family
Kylee – twin of Alyxen Rose
Alyxen – twin of Kylee Rose
Reyce – youngest of the Rose family
Tanner – a former slave; Brannyn’s partner in the Guard
Vitric – Kryssa’s childhood friend; a Second of Lady Murthos Hetarielle of Enevai; also known as Desper
THE ROSE FAMILY (EXTENDED)
Malachi Rose – father of the Rose family, deceased
Adelie Rose – mother of the Rose family, deceased
Garyl Moon – Adelie’s father
Amandine Rose – matriarch of the Rose family
Felice Rose – cousin; a Vampyre
Elias Rose – cousin; fellow guard
Eremaude – a crazy aunt
Rumer, Mychael, Brycen, Marni, Haidee, Sillow, Maari,
Valin - cousins
FALLOR
Chanach – Captain of the Guard
Hamar – an apothecary; Lanya’s business partner
Darli – a flower merchant
Eloise – an incense maker; owns the Rose family’s apartment
CEDRALYSONE
Aillel Ethraslyss – a Cedrani assigned to care for Reyce
Vanderys – First Valariel of Prince Sotiris
Aleydis – son of Prince Sotiris, heir to Cedralysone
Lyrel – a Cedrani servant
Marel – a Cedrani servant
Sotiris – Prince of Cedralysone
Rathis – an advisor to Prince Sotiris
THE IMPERIAL LEGIONS
Quarius – Legate of the Imperial Legions
Aurus – Commander under Legate Quarius
Dariel – prince of Valory, second son of the Emperor; currently in charge of improving the Legions
Torelis – a combat mage in the Imperial Legions
OTHER
Eriny – the Angel of Healing and Light; also known as the Glass Angel
Nightking – Kylee’s stallion
The Lady – Reyce’s mysterious friend
The Crone – the witch of Desperation, deceased
Keven – a guard in Joksten
Eva, Lily, Daisy – kittens adopted by Vitric and Brannyn
Marla – a former rebel of the Darkling Prince, deceased
Darkling Prince – the former leader of a group of rebellious slave rescuers, deceased
Bryonis – a healer in the Camp of the Darkling Prince, deceased
Atum – the Oracle of Diona
Georne II, Aisha I, Damzen – the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince of Valory, respectively
Ellisa – a woman in Desperation
Sylvathi – a dragon
Hetarielle – the Great Mage of Earth; also known as Lady Murthos
Vysarine – the Great Mage of Fire; also known as Lady Syro
Herrill, Farius Rose – the two men who abused Felice, driving her to become a Vampyre; both deceased
Eoct – ‘Ever-Light’; an unknown entity
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
HISTORIA
Abeline – Cedrani waybread
Abyss – the space between the worlds
A.F. – After the Faith; the current Age
Angel – the consort of a God, who are usually gods themselves, such as Alistair
Aurelion – the star beneath Cedralysone
Ca’erdylla – the world
Ca’erlyssa – heaven, where souls go to await being reborn
Ca’erolne – the world beneath Ca’erdylla
Ca’ersenta – hell, where souls go when they are damned
Cedradin – exiled Cedrani that destroyed their star, damning themselves; referred to as the ‘Starless Ones’
Destiny – a Primordium; the divine, nebulous creator of all things, embodied in the Eternal Flame
Dragonwrayths – a mysterious group of dragon-riders
Dream-Walking – the ability to true dream about waking events
Elementals – Guardians of the Elements of Ca’erdylla
Elements – the tools used by Destiny to create the world: Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, and Dark
Ellatris’ Honor – a ritual performed between Cedrani involving a dream-chalice; used to settle feuds
Enevai – the Isle of the Great Warriors
Erydian – the Goddess of the Winter Star
Eternal Flame – the fire of Destiny, which reveals Its plan for the world
Faith – the worship of the Younger Gods, which protects them from being corrupted by the Darkness
Flamespeak – the language of dragons
Great Mage – a mage who is gifted with the power of one Element, also known as Elementi
Lysone – an Eye of the Cedrani
Primordium – the beings who existed before the creation of the worlds, such as Death, Destiny, and the Darkness
Styrach – a breed of dragon
Syralla – great dragon, one who has lived two thousand years or more
The Darkness – a Primordium; the destroyer of worlds, corruptor of the Gods; the amorphous embodiment of chaos
The Elder Gods – the first Gods who were corrupted by the Darkness
Phenos – the Elder God responsible for creating Vampyres
Diona – the Princess, Goddess of the Stars; the only Elder God to remain uncorrupted by the Darkness; created the mortal races of Men, Elves, and Dwarves
The First Race – the original, immortal race created by the Elder Gods, corrupted by the Darkness; also known as the Golden Ones or the Twisted Ones
The Realm of the Gods – the world where the deities of all the worlds reside
The Warrior and the Bear, the Dragon of the East, the Vase of Yrisa - constellations
The Younger Gods – the Gods created by Destiny to protect the world from the Darkness
Yrisa – Great Mother Goddess, Goddess of Life
Sirius – the Peaceful One, God of the Dead
Rina – the Merciful, Goddess of War, Justice and Balance
Palata – God of Peace and Tranquility
Vanae – Goddess of Beauty, Pleasure and Happiness
Armas – God of Beasts, Guardian of the Wilderness and Wild Places of the World
Naitre – the Favored and Adored, Child-Goddess of Love
World Gates – doorways between worlds
Y ’KEN’OHL
Language of the Ancients
Aurelion, dyslan E – Aurelion, bless me
Aur-Ishket – Star-Memory
Cedrani – Elves; also known as the Star’s Eldest Children
Dahkbayst - monster
D’aur lysen len Vi – the Stars watch over you
Delvani – Dwarves
De lyss vectalys Vi vectamor – the sky keep you forever
Dione, et fellgora ra e’ve – Diona, have mercy upon us
Dione, mor – Diona, no
Dione, mu fellgra – Diona, forgive me
Domme, Dommess – healer
Donna Lanya, se d’ohl’embras ne Sotiris-Rava, Vi et darinonda – Lady Lanya, by order of Prince Sotiris, you are under arrest
D’Ravo-bradhan – prince’s whore (bedwoman)
Dyslan ne Dione se Vi, elden ne d’Aurelion. D’aur Llylhin vect posi Vi – blessings of Diona upon you, Aurelion’s eldest. The stars shine ever over you
Dyslan ne Dione idramor Vi – blessings of Diona protect you
E dysla vin Y’ethlalor ste’dre sentrys e’ve – I pray your pleasure does not betray us
E ste’dre kenta tehk e’ve et shast ohl et’ohld-dysrava – I do not know why we are forced to speak this cursed language
E torr yemuret eta’yl – I can fix everything
Et yl shas ra mortis – is it able to be stopped
Kay’Bayst’enoll – small underground beasts; known by men as goblins
Lyssen – child of the sky
Mor – no
Moret’ethla – the Soulless; known by men as Vampyres
M’orin – my friend, a common term of endearment
Mu baet – my beautiful
Mu ethra – my heart
Mu fellgra, d’Ravo – Forgive me, my prince
Orinohld – friend-speaker
Syro-orin – Fire-friend; a respectful term among dragons
Tehk et E e’var, ne Sa – why am I here, with her
Tehk et la – what is this
Tehk et Vi e’var – why are you here
Tehk kentalor et Vi – Did you know
Vadrani – Men
Valariel – a knight of Cedralysone
Yl et betre ra tohl efra ren shen daridan – it is better to fall free than to stand caged
Yriset – live
ARTIFACTS
Binding of Thanir – a ring that exploits an enemy’s weakness
Book of Unmaking – a book that allows one to travel between places
Fal’en – living statues that protect temples, usually by killing intruders
Glowball – an unflickering source of light, magically trapped in a crystal
POTIONS, LOTIONS, POISONS, AND HERBS
As Compiled by Lanya Rose
POTIONS
DIMCRAJA – also known as dimocrass; a sedative made from ventum, queensweed, and a dash of bitterdust; deadly in large doses
EMPHIN – a potion made from tanomy, skylily, and ibrydacia to cure severe headaches
FEVERBREAK – a mixture of peppermint, lemon, and icefern, usually brewed into a tea, to reduce fevers
LLYLET – a potent liquor made by the Cedrani from apples
URTANT – made from frostmallow and tanomy to cure coughs and treat lung-rot
VOKKA – a potent liquor made primarily in Cynvali from potatoes
LOTIONS
BREAKBANE – an extremely effective salve made from magically-infused herbs, used to speed the rate of healing in broken bones
CUTBANE – an extremely effective and powerful salve made from magically-infused herbs and raw earth magic, used to heal even the most severe of wounds
QUIETBALM – a salve made from lavender and tanomy, to reduce anxiety and nerve disorders
POISONS
BITTERDUST – a Dwarven poison which causes paralysis, slowed heartbeat, and lowered body temperature
CATTAKASHA – an extremely addictive drug which causes emotional numbness, mental instability, and eventual insanity
GLOMTERATH – a mild poison which is made from the mixture of ventum and falseweed leaves, causing vomiting, headaches, and disorientation
KINGSEVER – a poison made from the residue of exotic frogs, which causes violent seizures and death
NARCET – a deadly poison which appears like death, slowing the heart and breathing
HERBS
ATARGATIS – one of the rarest plants in the world; a single drop of distilled atargatis can cure even the deadliest of poisons or addictions
BLOODROOT – used in pastes to stop the flow of blood, or in tea to thicken it; can be deadly in large doses
FAECAP – a mushroom generally used by seers and fortune-tellers to promote visions; causes hallucinations when ingested
FALSEWEED – when distilled, can be made into a truth serum; favored among interrogators for its effect of causing short-term memory loss after use
FROSTMALLOW – a soothing herb used to treat sore throats and coughs
IBRYDACIA – used to reduce swelling and stimulate healing; can be made into a tea to help with exhaustion and improve focus
ICEFERN – a cooling agent used to reduce fevers
MOONFLOWER – a magical herb used to promote vivid dreaming, famously used to prompt Dream-Walking
QUEENSWEED – also called marshlight or Lushe Rialta; cures brain fever; when made into a paste is used to treat serious burns
SALIXWEED – commonly used by men as a means of temporary sterility; can also be made into a tea to help with weak hearts
SKYLILY – typically used in magical recipes to induce peace and tranquility; favored by nobility in special cakes called petites to aid in relaxation
TANOMY – a numbing agent and pain reliever, commonly chewed for tooth pain
VENTUM – typically used in magical recipes to promote healing and protection
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This book was only written because no one murdered me first. Thanks for that- especially since I know I deserved it.
First, a big thank you to my beta readers: Groot, Sarah A., Martin, Rob Nichols, Robbye, Traci, Dustin, Engel, Ken Davison, Neal P., Ralph, Heather Hatfield, and, of course and especially, all my Moms.
A special, heartfelt thanks to Brad, for being willing to go through this process twice. I’m really surprised you haven’t run by now.
To Kris, for being my rock. Thanks for listening to me vent for hours, even when you had no idea what I was talking about. I’d apologize, but I’m probably not going to stop. Sorry.
To Hal and Jordan. You guys will always be my favorites. Mu ethla torr et vin, vectamor.
And finally, to my readers- without you, I would just be talking to myself. Apparently that�
�s a bad thing, so thank you.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Krista S. Rose has always been fascinated by fantasy, and has been building the world of Ca’erdylla for nineteen years. The stories, which began as a game with her brothers and sisters, have grown to become an obsession, competing with her love of video games, books, and Italian food.
Krista’s first book in the Saga of the Rose Series, Whispers of Heaven, is available on Amazon in both paperback and on Kindle. Her first two books, set 1500 years after the events of the Saga of the Rose, are being republished under the new titles Blood and Blade, and will be available in 2018.
Feel free to contact Krista! She loves to hear from you!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/catnamedsnowball
Email: [email protected]
FELICE
17 Syrthil 578A.F.
Ten miles south of Fallor, Valory
My world was made of agony.
It had been hours since we had left the Manor, and still the torrent of emotions inside of me would not ease. I stared down at my hands on the reins of my horse, struggling to breathe as visions of my life as a Vampyre clashing horribly with my memories as a human within my head. I couldn’t reconcile the horrific things I had allowed to happen with the life I had lived before, and I trembled with pain and heartbreak.
I remembered my mother’s face, warm and loving as she had kissed my forehead goodnight. She had always tucked my toes beneath the blankets to keep the monsters from stealing them. I remembered staring at her, cold and unfeeling as she had screamed for my help, covered in the blood of my family as the Vampyres had torn her apart.
I had been so afraid of monsters when I was little, and then I had grown up to become one. It was like a nightmare I couldn’t wake up from, taking all the things that had once been beautiful in my life and turning them to ashes.
And beneath it all pulsed my terrible, awful fear of Eoct.
The blonde man who rode beside me- Vitric- turned to stare at me, his face hidden in the darkness of predawn. “So, tell me. Do you feel better now? You’re not getting the urge to eat anyone, are you?”