by K. C. May
Thoop! Thoop! Thoop! Thoop! Two arrows narrowly missed their mark, one hit the horse, the other struck Brodas between the shoulder blades. Brodas cried out. His horse screamed and stumbled.
"My king!" Cirang cried. She reached for him from her horse.
Edan and three of the Sisters whipped another arrow from their quivers.
Gavin felt pressure building in his chest, which turned quickly to heat. He imagined it as an arrow and released it toward Brodas. A formless shimmer sliced through the air toward him. Too late. Cirang pulled Brodas from his horse onto hers, out of the spell’s path. It struck a tree, snapping its ten-inch trunk as though it were a dry reed.
A few of the swordswomen made to go after them, but Lilalian called, “Stop. You can't catch them on foot. We'll hunt them down later.”
An archer loosed her arrow, a last effort to take down the escaping wizard. Everyone watched the arrow dive harmlessly into the loamy forest floor.
Then, all eyes turned to Gavin, and a hush settled over the group.
Brawna went to one knee, holding her sword before her, its point on the ground and its hilt level with her heart. “Hail, King Gavin!” she declared, her voice strong and clear.
Lilalian dropped to one knee, and the other swordswomen followed her lead. “Hail, King Gavin,” they cried in a single voice. Edan, Risan and Dwaeth joined them.
Daia smiled knowingly, her eyes welled with tears, and then she, too, went to her knee. “Hail, King Gavin,” she said with the rest of them, her voice ringing out more loudly than the others.
* * * * *
After Gavin had shaken hands with Risan and Dwaeth and waved as they left toward Ambryce on Domach’s horse, he rode on to Tern with Daia, Edan, and a small contingent of swordswomen. At Daia’s insistence, Brawna had returned to the Sisterhood compound to continue her training with Gavin’s promise that she would have a place at his side when she was ready.
As they traveled, heavy clouds darkened road and mood. Gavin’s neck and shoulders ached under the weight of the unseen crown upon his head. He hoped, wished that this was all a horrible nightmare from which he would awaken with a scream, bathed in sweat. What he would have given for such a dream.
"We can build another palace," Edan said. "There's no reason we have to get into the old one. We could leave the demon trapped inside forever."
Thunder rumbled across the valley, warning them away from this dangerous notion.
"Except to give King Arek a proper burial,” Gavin said. "Except to seal the rift between the worlds and end the invasion of beyonders. Sooner or later, someone’ll have to breach the barrier and face the demon. That someone is me." Gavin looked at Daia. "And I have what I need."
“We don’t have to do it now,” Edan said. “We have time to study the runes, learn about this demon and enter when we’re ready.”
“Is it still alive?” Daia asked. “It’s been in the palace for over two hundred years. If it’s alive at all, it must be weak. Weaker than it was when King Arek and his men-at-arms faced it.”
Gavin nodded. “Yeh, it’s alive, but maybe that’s our advantage. If we can send it back afore it gains its strength, we might stand a chance.”
“Send it back?” Daia asked, incredulous. “No, no, no. We have to kill it. We gather as many Sisters and warrant knights as we can, recruit some battlers from the lordovers' garrisons, then storm the palace.”
“We can’t kill it,” Gavin said in a quiet voice. “It’s immortal. We have to send it back to its own realm.”
They all stared at him with gaping expressions. “How?” Edan asked.
Gavin looked up. The dark clouds above took the shape of a demon, shifting like a predator about to strike, and then growled. “I have to go into the realm of the beyonders and summon it there.”
Epilogue
Gavin was in Tern with all five gems, defenders at his back and his new sword firmly in hand, its magic bound to him. Why, then, did Risan feel uneasy? He was going home. He should have been excited – and he was excited about seeing Arlet again. Remembering the words of the Farthan mage, he couldn’t help but think he should be with Gavin, lending aid.
"He has a terrible burden to bear, far greater than the promise he made."
The rushing sound of the Flint River grew louder. Risan reined in his mount as they crossed the bridge, and climbed down from the saddle. He looked over the rail into the water sweeping past below him. This was where it had all started. He looked down at his three-fingered hand. His claw. Had Gavin not saved Arlet, this would never have happened. Two fingers was a small price to pay.
“Risan?”
He turned and looked up at the blond boy still sitting atop the horse, biting his lower lip. Risan smiled at the boy who was becoming his son. “You are ready to meet her?”
Dwaeth nodded, but he didn’t look quite certain about it.
Risan reached up and patted his ankle. “Arlet will love you. No need to worry.” He flung the reins over the horse’s ears and led the animal through Ambryce on foot. People stared at him as he passed, many smiling and nodding. Risan realized he was smiling, too. He had lost a tooth and a couple of fingers, but look at what he had gained – a son, a king, and one hell of a story to tell his friends at the Red Eye.
* * * * *
A fire crackled in the vast fireplace of the inn’s lobby. Daia was curled up in a large, stuffed chair staring, entranced, into the flame. She and her companions had taken possession of the Elegance Inn as a temporary palace, paying the innkeeper for all of his rooms and his silence with what money they had between them, and a messenger dispatched to the Lordover Lalorian with a request for more. Despite its name, it was not the most comfortable lodge in Tern, but it was more than acceptable to Gavin. He wanted the news of his claim to the throne kept as secret as possible until they could work out a plan for dealing with the demon Ritol.
The task weighed heavily on her mind. If King Arek and his vast army could not vanquish it, what chance did they have? Gavin, Daia, Edan – they did not have the knowledge that Arek and Ronor had. They knew nothing about this demon, or even about the runes, aside from what was in Ronor Kinshield’s letter. She could not decide whether the letter was more of a help or a hindrance. On one hand, it warned them about what they would face when they entered the palace, and that knowledge was invaluable. On the other, it raised more questions than it answered.
“Can’t sleep?”
She craned her neck and saw Gavin, barefoot and bare-chested, coming down the stairs. Daia shook her head. “Too much on my mind.”
“Me, too,” he said. He pulled one of the velvet-covered chairs up beside her and sat, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “I need to talk to you about something that has nothing to do with the letter or the demon.”
Daia swallowed. She hesitated to ask what it could be, fearing she already knew the answer.
“Now that you got your problems ironed out with the Sisterhood, I’m guessing you’ll want to return to the compound and continue your life as before.”
She scowled at him. “No, Gavin, I made a vow to you, and I intend to honor it.”
He nodded. “I know, but I’m just saying if that’s what you prefer to do, I’d release you with no hard feelings.”
“You don’t seem to understand,” she said. She turned so she could look directly into his eyes without straining her neck. “I told you that you won’t have to do this alone. If you don’t want my help, you’ll have to send me away. I won’t leave voluntarily.”
His dark eyes deepened, and she felt his gentle touch with her mind. She took the connection firmly, intently, such that he wouldn’t doubt whether she would help him with whatever he asked, whenever he asked.
“Good,” he said, pulling back his mental brush. “'Cause I need you. Not just your conduit gift, Daia. You. Your sword, your strength, your insight, your faith in me – you helped me find the courage to confront Ravenkind. Now I need you by my side to face what�
�s to come.” He took a deep breath. “Ever since I realized that being king is... something I got to do, I’ve wanted to ask you something. I’m not sure what the protocol is, so I’m just going to ask.”
Oh crap, she thought. Here it comes. Her heart began to tick madly. “Gavin, wait. Before you say anything more, I have to tell you: I’m not well-suited for this. I gave up the opulence and ostentatiousness of nobility so that I could help people. And I want to help you, just not in that way.”
He cocked his head. “What are you saying?”
She rested a hand on his forearm, feeling the soft hair and the warmth of his skin. “I’m saying I’m not the right choice to be your wife and queen.”
A smile crept over his face. He covered her hand with his own. “Then it’s a good thing I’m not asking you to marry me.”
She jerked in surprise. “You’re not?” Her face tingled with embarrassment.
His smile fell away as he shook his head slowly. He picked up her hand and gripped it as he would in a handshake. “Daia, I’m asking you to be my champion.”
The end.
* * * * *
Look for the conclusion of Gavin Kinshield's adventure in The Wayfarer King, Book two of the Kinshield Saga, coming in 2011.
About the author
I grew up in the mid-western USA and in Hawaii, and earned a B.A. in Russian from Florida State University (go ‘Noles!). After a year in Taiwan teaching English and studying Mandarin Chinese, I lived in the Arizona desert where I founded a Rottweiler rescue organization, studied karate, went backpacking, tried sky-diving, did some downhill skiing, got a couple motorcycles, wrote software, and spent time on the shooting range. In 2010, I retreated to cooler, greener Georgia. I earn my living as a full-time writer.
As an independent author, I don’t have a team of publicists and marketing specialists to spread the word about this book. I’m just a writer sitting at my keyboard searching for readers like you. If you enjoyed the story, please tell a friend! If you are so inclined, reviews or ratings on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Shelfari, LibraryThing, etc. would also be greatly appreciated.
If you’d like to contact me, visit my web site at http://www.kcmay.com/. I welcome your emailed comments!
Dedication
For my mom with love and gratitude.
Acknowledgements
From start to finish, I had a great deal of help and encouragement from my “local” friends and family, and from the friends I've made in the online writing community. My special thanks go to my brother, Kirk Hudson, who offered me his impressions and insights on the early drafts as well as the later, to Carol Scarr, who critiqued my novel not once but twice, to my writer buddies Connie Weidel, Jo Van De Walle, Susan Hopewell, and Tony Valiulis, and to my esteemed teacher, Carol Davis Luce who is also an amazing writer.
Sole Sacrifice
Have you wondered how Sithral Tyr became the cold-blooded killer he is? My novella, Sole Sacrifice, tells the story of his journey from father and husband to soulless killer.
Sithral Tyr watched helplessly while three of his children died of a strange illness. When his last remaining son falls ill, he gives up on his clan's shaman and, amid protests from the clan chief and his neighbors, Tyr sets out to find a cure for his son. His journey takes him to a land of danger and debauchery where he's forced to make the ultimate sacrifice in the hopes of saving not just his son but his entire clan.
Visit my web site for information on how to get a copy of this novella free, or buy now from Amazon.com.
The Venom of Vipers
If you enjoy science fiction, you might also enjoy The Venom of Vipers. Buy now from Amazon.com.
Read what people have written about it:
"In all, I had a very, very good time with The Venom of Vipers. It’s a poignant and fast-paced melding of science fiction, drama, and mystery. KC May solidifies herself as a writer to look out for in the future. She has something to say, she’s not afraid to say it, and she’s damn good at telling her story."
Author Robert Duperre on his blog The Journal of Always
"When I started reading K.C. May’s The Venom of Vipers, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. The book does not fit neatly into a specific genre. It has a little science fiction, a little mystery, and a little thriller aspects to it. May neatly combines elements of those genres to develop her story that stands out in its own right."
Greg Arnett on his blog Kindle Books Reviewed
"K.C. May offers readers a fast paced plot. The plot flows smoothly with never a glitch. ... The characters are likable and well developed. ... This is a fascinating book that will please fans of sci-fi and fantasy."
Readers Favorite
"K. C. May has spun another captivating tale. With this second novel, she once again proves that she knows how to string a story to maintain reader interest. The story flows along cleanly, and the transitions are smooth and do much to carry the reader along. The storyline itself is quite engaging. The idea that a virus could be slowly killing off the entire human population is not too out of the realm of possibility, and some of the ideas the author introduces in this tale are quite amazing, yet believable. It was a compelling read that was able to sweep me away."
Grace Krispy on her blog Motherlode
"The Venom of Vipers is a fast paced read with an interesting kick, exciting characters, and a unique story. I really enjoyed the pace and the believability of a future time and place in our possible history. In addition to being a futuristic thriller with a bizarre twist, the book is a great read that will keep you turning the pages and following the characters."
Blog Critic
"I was delighted at how seamlessly The Venom of Vipers tied the real science in with the science fiction. You could almost even call it science future since the theory behind the concept is real (transgenic organisms). I was also thrilled with how the author incorporated the science content- the conversations were believable and the science was explained well enough that someone without a science background wouldn't be lost."
Goodreads reviewer MG