Dangerous Times
By
Gabriela Voelske
A big thank you to everyone who stuck with me, it’s been a tough couple of years.
Enjoy!
Dangerous Times
Copyright © 2017 Gabriela Voelske.
Cover image © 2017 Gabriela Voelske.
This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be an infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition, being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.
The moral right of Gabriela Voelske to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1998.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments or locales is entirely coincidental.
Chapters:
Chapter 1: The Youngest Child
Chapter 2: The Raven
Chapter 3: Formalities
Chapter 4: Shadekeep
Chapter 5: A Welcome
Chapter 6: Affairs Outside of the Keep
Chapter 7: His First Mission
Chapter 8: Dark Thoughts
Chapter 9: Making a Move
Chapter 10: The Second Mission
Chapter 11: Disobedience
Chapter 12: Consequences
Chapter 13: An Unexpected Visitor
Chapter 14: A Message
Chapter 15: Tipping Point
Chapter 16: Thoughts of Regicide
Chapter 17: Opportunity
Chapter 18: Hope
Chapter 19: Sebastian’s Ire
Chapter 20: The Western Swamplands
Chapter 21: The Twins
Chapter 22: Reaching Out
Chapter 23: A Bright Future
Chapter 1: The Youngest Child
Knock, knock. A hand rapped on the door, trying to rouse the occupant. As the sound echoed, the bed covers begun to shift, revealing a rested individual. The demon's dark skin contrasted the light tones of the room, a faint blue sheen becoming visible in his skin as the morning sunlight illuminated his face. It was a pleasant day, as usual, the southern continent enjoyed constant warm weather with occasional bouts of heavy rainfall. Even the rain here didn't have a residual coldness to it. Instead, it just rejuvenated the luscious life that existed on the continent.
He woke with a long stretch and strolled over to the table by the window, resting his palms and gazing out at the brilliant blankets of green and grey below. Dark coloured dots were spread out all over the mixture of cobblestones and nature, the shapes of demons going about their lives as normal. The other grand houses that resided in the northern district glowed in the morning sunlight, putting a smile on the demon's face at the beauty of the scene.
With a yawn he turned his attention to a wardrobe at the far side of the room, sweeping over to it, enjoying the cold tinge of the floor below his feet. He swung the doors open and examined the robes within. They were all crafted with exquisite detail, well suited for a mage of a high stature. After a moment of deliberation, he picked out one with a dark red weave, lined with hints of gold thread and slipped off his nightgown, replacing it with his chosen choice of attire and some underclothes. Due to his family's prominent position in the southern hierarchy, he had to dress to impress, not that he owned any clothes that would cause embarrassment. He wondered what he would be doing today, he and his siblings were due to travel into the city to obtain information and sort certain things out.
Another knock on his door grabbed his attention, causing him to hurry to put his boots on. "Breakfast's ready Amnur, and it smells so good."
Judging by the voice, the one that had come to fetch him was one his older brothers; Dyn. He was the youngest of his siblings, although all of his siblings were older than Amnur. Dyn was one of the few that still lived at home full time, carrying out tasks to promote the family's name while he built up his own reputation.
Amnur swung the door open and stepped out, being hurried along by his hungry and slightly shorter brother. As they reached the dining hall, he noticed that there were only two plates prepared; the rest of the table was empty. "Just us?"
"Mhm, everyone else is either already gone or not yet awake. More for us, anyway."
The young mage agreed, seeing the plates piled up with a full, hearty breakfast. Meat, beans, eggs and bread, the plate had it all. They tucked in, and as always, the meal was exquisite. Fresh juice had been offered today, although wine and other beverages were usually an option. Soon the plates had been cleaned off, and the glasses emptied, leaving two rather satisfied demons.
"Are we heading into the city today? Judging by the big breakfast," Amnur queried, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"That we are, off to listen to gossip and collect a couple of special deliveries," Dyn replied; Amnur perked up at the response.
"The texts finally arrived then?"
"Indeed, though you make it sound like you'll manage to pry them off our father anytime soon."
The two laughed, before standing up from the table and leaving, with Amnur taking a moment to thank one of the servants on the way out. Aside from the odd servant flitting about in the main hall, the grand house was quiet. Dyn did a brief check of his belongings, checking that he had the receipt for the books, not that the store clerk would have trouble recognising the brothers. He also pulled out a silk pouch and counted the contents, holding it up to Amnur and giving it a jingle; he had been given an allowance should he wish to purchase anything. The pouch was then stored away safe in case any pickpockets tried to steal it, although they would sorely regret it if they tried.
"Remember to behave," Dyn teased, echoing the standard warning that they received from their parents.
"Pretty sure it's not me you have to remind, our older siblings are a different story," Amnur replied with a chuckle, earning a grin from his brother.
They exited out of the main entrance, heaving the heavy marble doors wide and strolling out into the courtyard that surrounded the property. Well-manicured trees lined the cobblestone path that extended outwards, leading them to their destination. Past the trees lied a manicured lawn, complete with fountains and elaborate seating areas. The whole area was surrounded by a magically enchanted stone wall, keeping the interior grounds private while projecting an invisible barrier to alert them to any unwanted demons, angels, or humans who had jumped the wall. The barrier too could be used to inflict grievous wounds or even kill individuals, although it wasn't permanently set this way for obvious reasons.
Nearby servants opened the iron wrought gates for them, bidding them farewell as they departed. Their family owned some of the most prestigious lands in the entire capital city, but it did mean they
were a reasonable distance from the centre of the city to keep the rabble away. The route down to the centre was as prestigious as the district they lived in, with many guards posted to ensure they were protected at all times. All the armour and weaponry made Amnur feel safe, considering they had seen challenges from lesser families before. His parents and oldest siblings often revelled in the threat and the guards were kept on standby, just in case. To the younger siblings, it was an irritation; the older members of other families would harass them as they were considered easier targets, regardless if that was true or not. Hopefully, today would be a quiet day, neither of the brothers felt like being aggravated.
They made small talk as they encroached on the city centre, seeing the familiar sprawl of buildings appear before them. The city was busy as usual, with demons crowding around stalls and shops to buy their sundries, along with the odd human and even angel who had come in for a deal. As long as angels sought only to trade, they were welcomed in; those seeking to cause trouble were thrown out with speed and force. Money was one of the main languages here, and it was widely spoken by all, so all and any trade was welcomed.
The book shop they wanted sat on the other side of town, so they had to push through the busy crowd to reach it. As people realised who they were, they hurried out of the way to prevent any trouble, not that Amnur or Dyn were the two to pursue it. Even with people allowing them through, it still took them a while to reach the other side of the expansive city centre. Dyn allowed himself to take a breather when they escaped the crowds, letting out a long sigh. Their target was in sight now; it was a single building that housed many floors, stacked to the ceiling with books.
The two brothers entered and were greeted by the store clerk, welcoming them into the shop. Due to their father's desire to research all the magical topics that he could manage, they were frequent customers here, although which members of the family were present varied. Dyn fiddled with his pouches and pulled out the paper receipt and walked up to the main desk, handing it over to the clerk. She examined it and nodded, turning her head to Amnur first.
"If you were interested, we've just got some new magical texts in; they're currently set up on that table over there," she directed to Amnur, aware that he often bought books if he happened to come into the shop.
"Go on," the older brother chuckled. A grin spread over the young mage's face, and he hurried to the table, picking up the books and examining their contents with earnest. Dyn leaned on the counter while he waited. "Heard anything interesting lately?"
"We've had some members of the other High Houses here this morning; while they didn't directly say anything to me, they were evidently flustered and wanted to be gone fast," she replied; her remarks interested the demon, it was something worth looking into. There were a few locales they could drop in to try and find out more. As long as the information wasn't personal, the locals were often loose-lipped. His mind turned to Amnur returning to the desk, placing down a selection of books. "I'll get your order for you."
"Got everything you want?"
"There's an interesting selection there, but I would make us broke if I bought everything, so I selected the most relevant for now," Amnur responded, giving the top book a pat. "You?"
"Thinking about dropping past a bar to get us a few drinks, see if we can't get any lips moving.”
He knew for Dyn to suggest such a thing, the clerk must have said something of interest. Unlike most of his family, Dyn was not the biggest fan of alcohol. Dyn was going to order them exotic juices, not that Amnur had any desire to drink wine while it was still morning.
The clerk returned with their order and totalled up the cost of the other books, receiving the required coinage from the demon. She allowed the older brother to pack the books away in a leather sack before bidding the two boys a fond farewell, waving at them until they left.
Dyn kept the book bag held tight to his chest as he strolled over to his selected bar, aware that there may be thieves operating in the area, although his fear was less about losing the books and more about his father's anger if that occurred. No thieves would try to take anything from them so brazenly as to snatch it from his arms, for the burning agony that would occur if they did. Eventually, they ended up at a high-end bar and restaurant which was busy, enough for someone to spill some gossip.
They were seated near the main bar at the request of Dyn on seeing there was a table free, which the staff happily obliged. Amnur read through the menu he had been given, while his brother tried to listen in to the chatter in the building. He browsed the selection of juices offered, opting to list a selection of the choices aloud in a hushed tone until his brother signalled the one he wanted. The demon proceeded to select a snack they could share, considering they may be sat here for a while.
Once Amnur had relayed the choices, Dyn went up to the bar to order. He noticed members of the other High Houses perched on the stools nearby. Subtly, he pretended to be disinterested as he waited for the bartender to finish with the other orders.
“You sure about that?” one of the individuals said, taking a sip from their wine glass.
“Yeah. To what I’ve heard, they’re a big shot, perhaps even the King,” another replied.
“The Central Isles are only small. I think the King is their only notable figure, no High Houses there,” a third chimed in.
“Wonder what his interest is here; the South and the Central Isles have always shared a good friendship,” the first demon spoke up. By now Dyn’s interest was well and truly in their conversation, and their order was conveniently keeping the bartender busy.
“Just looking to honour that? To help keep it strong.”
“Either way, better keep ourselves presentable. Never know when and where they may try to drop in. Be on our best behaviour and all of that.”
At that moment, the bartender came and took Dyn’s order, assuring him that it would be delivered to their table shortly. One of the demons he had been eavesdropping on briefly glanced over at him but decided that since he was one of the younger siblings, he had no issue to push. Dyn, having heard plenty, slipped back to his table and settled down. Amnur looked up from a book he had taken from the bag, earning a chuckle from his brother.
“Already at it?” he remarked, leaning forward on the table. “I’ve got news, but it’s nothing you're going to like.”
“Dignitaries?” Amnur said with a sigh, seeing Dyn reply with a nod.
“Sitting around a table in joyful awkwardness, while our parents make small talk and boast.”
The young mage made an irritated noise and rolled his head back. Being of such a high ranking, such events occurred commonly for them, although the siblings were never allowed to talk unless directly spoken to, or given permission. Often, formal dinners were just long periods of silence and irritation, wishing their birth had been less noble.
“Unfortunately, we can't keep it hidden from our mother, she’d have both our hides,” Amnur stated, still slumped backwards.
“My hide twice over you mean, you’d probably be let off,” Dyn replied. Amnur’s birth had come as a welcome surprise, and as such, he often got heavily pampered compared to his other siblings. The behaviour did irk them, but it wasn't something Amnur welcomed either.
“Both. Who is it this time?”
“They didn't appear to know, aside from them being a demon of some remark from the Central Isles, likely the King given its small size.”
“Great, I’m going to be spruced up into non-existence.”
His brother laughed, before letting out a sigh. Dyn turned his head and observed the bar, seeing their order was being worked on.
“I could offer a bit of respite; nothing says we need to go home right now.”
“Sounds good to me.”
The brothers remained at the table for some time, sipping on their drinks once they arrived. To continue wasting time, Dyn suggested dropping by a local park, which Amnur was agreeable to. After finishing their order and paying fo
r it, the two demons set off and ambled in the direction of the local park. For such a pleasant day, the park was remarkably quiet, to their relief. Dyn selected a bench in the shade of a grand tree, providing them with satisfying relief from the sun.
A soft, warm breeze rolled past and tickled the leaves of the tree, creating a hushed rustling. Amnur felt something itch, so he brought his hand up to scratch, only to have an unknown object suddenly dart on to it. He brought his hand up to his face and came eye to eye with a large spider that was sat on it, its legs twitching. Disgusted, he hastily slapped the creature away, launching it onto the paving slabs below. It was dazed by the sudden knock, remaining still on the warmed stone. Eventually, it darted off, heading for the tree behind them and scurried up the bark. Amnur whined as it once again approached, shuffling up to his brother who was trying not to laugh.
“Most things know better than to bite a demon,” Dyn stated, patting his brother on the back.
“Did it have to look so revolting, though?”
“Plenty of worse things out there than an average sized spider.”
The young mage grumbled, warily eyeing the tree in case a second one decided to try the same trick. Nature was less abundant in the main capital, but the odd species decided to try and survive in the stone jungle, to the interest or irritation of locals. He tried to calm his nerves after the incident, but he couldn’t remove the tickling sensation from his mind, scratching viscously at every little itch that arose. Dyn watched on with a silent chuckle, slowly moving towards his brother until he got close enough to leap and touch him, causing the demon to flinch.
Amnur turned around, irked and embarrassed.
“Very funny.”
Dyn smiled, raising his hands up in an exaggerated shrug. He received a glare from Amnur, feeling the heat of his fierce, crimson eyes. It was a trait they all shared, but it made the display no less aggressive. To distract himself, he pulled a pocket watch out of one of his pockets and opened the extravagant silver face, gazing at the mechanism below.
Dangerous Times (Skies of Fyir Book 0) Page 1