“Yes,” said Sigaldra, and she kissed him again, pressing against him. Adalar’s hands settled on her hips and then started to slide up her back beneath her shirt, the skin smooth and warm beneath his fingers.
She didn’t try to stop him.
He gripped the shirt and started to pull it off her, and she didn’t try to stop him. Instead, she raised her arms over her head, helping him to get the garment off her. Beneath the shirt she wore nothing at all, her chest rising and falling with the rapid draw of her breath. He gripped the waistband of her skirt and tugged, sending it sliding down her legs, and beneath that she wore nothing, either.
She looked so good he could not take her eyes from her.
“Adalar,” said Sigaldra. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin as if displaying herself for him. “You’re going to marry me. What are you going to do about it?”
The answer, of course, was obvious.
It was not the first time Adalar had been with a woman. During the desperate war against the runedead, Adalar had been certain that death awaited him in the next battle, and so he had hired a camp follower. While the experience hadn’t been unpleasant, it had been cold and unfulfilling. The woman had been efficient and bored, clearly eager to finish as quickly as possible to move on to the next paying customer. It wasn’t something he had pursued after the defeat of the runedead.
Sigaldra, though…Sigaldra wanted him there, and she made sure he knew it.
Later, after they had finished, Sigaldra lay sleeping against him, his chest against her back, and Adalar realized how carefully she had planned this. She had been waiting for him. Perhaps she had even set her father to wait outside the tent.
Adalar found that he approved. It was good for a man to have a clever wife.
He kissed the side of her neck and drifted to sleep.
###
A few weeks later Sigaldra stood and watched the Jutai leave for their new home.
They all came, following Sigaldra and her new husband and her father. Old Talchar One-Eye and his wife, the blacksmith Vorgaric and his wife Helen, Sigaldra’s bondswoman Ulfarna, and all the Jutai. Together they formed into a column and marched west, making for Castle Dominus and their new homeland. They bore their ancestral urns, holding the ashes of their ancestors, and together the Jutai living and dead left their old homeland for their new one.
“Did you foresee this?” said Sigaldra to her sister.
“No,” said Liane. “Yes. I mean, it was in one of the potential futures. But…it was the best of the potential futures, and I did not think it would truly happen.”
Sigaldra stood hand in hand with Adalar and watched her people for a moment, and then joined them.
###
Mazael sat atop his horse and watched the Jutai depart Greatheart Keep for Mastaria.
He hadn’t yet decided what to do with Greatheart Keep. Earnachar wanted it, but Earnachar wasn’t going to get it. Likely Mazael would give the fief to one of his knights, keeping Earnachar from building a bigger bloc of territory for himself. It would help strengthen the Grim Marches further.
The Grim Marches needed to be strong.
Mazael remembered Azurvaltoria’s warning about old dark powers returning, and touched the hilt of his sword.
If those dark powers came to the Grim Marches, he would make sure they regretted it.
THE END
Thank you for reading MASK OF SPELLS and the MASK OF THE DEMONSOULED trilogy! If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases, sign up for my newsletter, or watch for news on my Facebook page.
Other books by the author
The Demonsouled Saga
MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sword.
Yet he has a dark secret. He is Demonsouled, the son of the ancient and cruel Old Demon, and his tainted blood grants him superhuman strength and speed. Yet with the power comes terrible, inhuman rage, and Mazael must struggle to keep the fury from devouring him.
But he dare not turn aside from the strength of his blood, for he will need it to face terrible foes.
The priests of the San-keth plot and scheme in the shadows, pulling lords and kingdoms upon their strings. The serpent priests desire to overthrow the realms of men and enslave humanity. Unless Mazael stops them, they shall force all nations to bow before the serpent god.
The Malrag hordes are coming, vast armies of terrible, inhuman beasts, filled with a lust for cruelty and torment. The Malrags care nothing for conquest or treasure, only slaughter. And the human realms are ripe for the harvest. Only a warrior of Mazael’s power can hope to defeat them.
The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.
To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.
Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.
For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.
Unless Mazael can stop him.
Read Demonsouled for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants, Soul of Serpents, Soul of Dragons, Soul of Sorcery, Soul of Skulls, and Soul of Swords, along with the short stories The Wandering Knight, The Tournament Knight, and The Dragon's Shadow. Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One.
The Ghosts Series
Once CAINA AMALAS was the shy daughter of a minor nobleman, content to spend her days in her father’s library.
Then sorcery and murder and her mother’s treachery tore her life apart.
Now she is a nightfighter of the Ghosts, an elite agent of the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar. She is a master of disguise and infiltration, of stealth and the shadows.
And she will need all those skills to defend the Empire and stay alive.
Corrupt lords scheme and plot in the shadows, desiring to pull down the Emperor and rule the Empire for their own profit and glory. Slave traders lurk on the fringes of the Empire, ready to seize unwary commoners and sell them into servitude in distant lands. Yet both slave traders and cruel lords must beware the Ghosts.
The Magisterium, the Imperial brotherhood of sorcerers, believe themselves the rightful masters of the Empire. With their arcane sciences, they plan to overthrow the Empire and enslave the commoners, ruling all of mankind for their own benefit. Only the Ghosts stand in the path of their sinister plans.
And the Moroaica, the ancient sorceress of legend and terror, waits in the shadows, preparing to launch a war upon the gods themselves. She will make the gods pay for the suffering of mankind...even if she must destroy the world to do it.
Caina Amalas of the Ghosts opposes these mighty enemies, but the cost might be more than she can bear.
Read Child of the Ghosts for free. Caina's adventures continue in Ghost in the Flames, Ghost in the Blood, Ghost in the Storm, Ghost in the Stone, Ghost in the Forge, Ghost in the Ashes, Ghost in the Mask, and Ghost in the Surge, along with the short stories Ghost Aria, Ghost Claws, Ghost Omens, The Fall of Kyrace, Ghost Thorns, Ghost Undying, Ghost Light, and Ghost Dagger, and the prequel novels Blade of the Ghosts and Champion of the Ghosts. Get the first three books bundled together in The Ghosts Omnibus One.
The Ghost Exile Series
Caina Amalas was a nightfighter of the Ghosts, the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning saved the Empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation.
But the victory cost her everything.
Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet a centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.
And Caina is the o
nly one that stands in its way...
Read Ghost in the Cowl, Ghost in the Maze, Ghost in the Hunt, Ghost in the Razor, Ghost in the Inferno, Ghost in the Seal, Ghost in the Throne, Ghost in the Pact, and Ghost in the Winds along with the short stories Ghost Sword, Ghost Price, Ghost Relics, Ghost Keeper, Ghost Nails, Ghost Lock, Ghost Arts, Ghost Vigil, Ghost Mimic, and Ghost Vessel.
The Third Soul
RACHAELIS MORULAN is an Initiate of the Conclave, the powerful order of mighty mages. But to become a full Adept of the Conclave, she must first survive the Testing. Those who survive the Testing never speak of the trials they endured.
Those who fail the Testing are never seen again.
And now the Magisters of the Conclave have come to take Rachaelis to undertake the Testing. And there she shall face perils to both her body and her sanity.
And creatures that yearn to devour her soul.
If Rachaelis survives the Testing, she will face even more dangerous foes. The demons of the astral world watch the world of mortal men, desiring to rule it for themselves.
And some Adepts of the Conclave are eager to help them.
Read The Testing for free. Rachelis's trials continue in The Assassins, The Blood Shaman, The High Demon, The Burning Child, The Outlaw Adept, The Black Paladin, and The Tomb of Baligant. Read the entire series in The Third Soul Omnibus One and The Third Soul Omnibus Two.
The Frostborn Series
A thousand years ago, the last grandson of Arthur Pendragon led the survivors of Britain through a magical gate to a new world, a world of magic and high elves, of orcs and kobolds and stranger, darker creatures. Now the descendants of the exiles rule a mighty kingdom, peaceful and prosperous under the rule of the High King.
But a shadow threatens to devour the kingdom.
RIDMARK ARBAN was once a Swordbearer, a knight of renown. Now he is a branded outcast, stripped of his sword, and despised as a traitor.
But he alone sees the danger to come. The Frostborn shall return, and unless they are stopped, they will cover all the world in ice and a neverending winter.
CALLIANDE awakens in the darkness, her memories gone, and creatures of terrible power hunting her.
For she alone holds the secret that can save the world…or destroy it utterly.
The secret of the Frostborn.
Read Frostborn: The First Quest, followed by Frostborn: The Gray Knight, Frostborn: The Eightfold Knife, Frostborn: The Undying Wizard, Frostborn: The Master Thief, Frostborn: The Iron Tower, Frostborn: The Dark Warden, Frostborn: The Gorgon Spirit, Frostborn: The Broken Mage, Frostborn: The World Gate, Frostborn: The High Lords, and Frostborn: The False King. and the prequel novel Frostborn: The Knight Quests along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, The Thief's Tale, The Assassin's Tale, The Paladins's Tale, The Knight's Tale, The Soldier's Tale, and The Soldier's Tale. Read the first three books combined in Frostborn Omnibus One.
Mask of the Demonsouled Trilogy
MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK has prevailed over terrible foes and now rules the Grim Marches with firm justice. Yet ancient evils are stirring in the shadows, freed at last by Mazael's own hand. Unless Mazael fights with all his strength, the world will fall.
SIGALDRA is the last holdmistress of the Jutai nation, the final defender of her people. Now the darkness comes to devour the final remnant of Sigaldra's home and family. Even Sigaldra's courage may not be enough to turn aside the darkness.
Read Mask of Swords, Mask of Dragons, and Mask of Spells along with the short stories The Ransom Knight, The Bronze Knight, The Serpent Knight, and The Rune Knight.
The Tower of Endless Worlds
THOMAS WYCLIFFE just wants to finish his dissertation in peace and quiet. So when a man in a black robe appears in his closet, claiming to be the last of the Warlocks, Wycliffe figures it is a bad joke.
But he soon realizes the last of the Warlocks can give him power beyond imagining.
And all it will cost is his soul.
SIMON WESTER needs a job. Badly. So when a rich and powerful Senator offers him employment, he jumps at the chance. Sure, Simon expects to find some corruption, some shady deals.
He doesn't expect to find black magic.
LIAM MASTERE is a Knight of the Sacred Blade, defender of the mortal races. But can swords stand against guns? As bullets and bombs destroy his kingdom, Liam must risk everything to save his homeland's one chance of salvation.
By daring the horrors of the Tower of Endless Worlds…
Read The Tower of Endless Worlds for free. The saga of the Tower continues in A Knight of the Sacred Blade, A Wizard of the White Council, and The Destroyer of Worlds.
Cloak Games
In 2013, a gate to another world opened, and Elves used their magic to conquer Earth, crushing all resistance before them.
Three hundred years after the Conquest, the exiled Elven High Queen rules an orderly but stagnant Earth, with humanity forced to fight in the High Queen’s war against the traitors on the Elven homeworld.
Nadia Moran doesn’t care about that. She doesn’t care about the High Queen, or the Rebels seeking to overthrow her. All she cares about is getting her baby brother the treatments he needs to recover from his potentially fatal disease…and those treatments have a steep price.
Fortunately, Nadia has magic of her own, and she’s a very, very good thief.
Unfortunately, the powerful Elven lord Morvilind has a hold on Nadia. If she doesn’t follow his commands, her brother is going to die.
Of course, given how dangerous Morvilind’s missions are, Nadia might not live long enough to see her brother’s death…
Read Cloak Games: Thief Trap, Cloak Games: Frost Fever, Cloak Games: Rebel Fist, and Cloak Games: Shadow Jump, along with the short story Wraith Wolf.
About the Author
Standing over six feet tall, USA Today bestselling author Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.
He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works. His books have sold over a half million copies worldwide.
Visit his website at:
http://www.jonathanmoeller.com
Visit his technology blog at:
http://www.computerbeginnersguides.com
Contact him at:
[email protected]
You can sign up for his email newsletter here, or watch for news on his Facebook page or Twitter feed.
Glossary of Characters
ADALAR GREATHEART - Lord of Castle Dominus and a vassal of Malden Roland. Once the squire of Mazael Cravenlock, and known for his valor and skill with a sword.
ADELAIDE STORMSEA CHALSAIN – The bastard daughter of Lord Alberon of Castle Stormsea. Wed Prince Hugh Chalsain of Barellion after the defeat of the usurper Malaric, and is now Hugh's Lady Consort.
AEGIDIA - Once the Guardian of the Tervingi, the teacher of Riothamus, and the mother of Ragnachar. Betrayed and murdered by Ragnachar at Stone Tower.
AGANTYR – Formerly the High King of the Aegonar and the anointed of Sepharivaim. Killed by Hugh Chalsain during the defeat of the usurper Malaric.
AGARIC - A Tervingi swordthain sworn to Earnachar son of Balnachar.
AGRAVAIN RAINIER - Lord of Tumblestone and a vassal of Malden Roland. A skilled battle commander.
AIDAN TORMAUD - A Commander in the Justiciar Order. Fled with Gerald Roland, and now in rebellion against the Grand Master of the Justiciars. Now a vassal of Lord Gerald Roland.
ALBERON STORMSEA – Lord of Castle Stormsea, and now Prince Hugh's Lord Lieutenant in Barellion, though the Lady Consort holds most of the actual power. Known for his petulant and morose nature.
ALDANE ROLAND – The eldest
son of Gerald and Rachel Roland. Now three years old.
ALGAR - Son of Theodoric of the Jutai and brother of Sigaldra and Liane. Killed fighting the Malrags in the middle lands.
AMALRIC GALBRAITH - A son of the Old Demon, and half-brother to Mazael Cravenlock. Formerly the Grand Master of the Dominiar Order, and killed by Mazael and Adalar Greatheart at the Battle of Tumblestone.
ARDANNA - The High Druid of the Elderborn tribes and Romaria Greenshield Cravenlock's mother.
ARDIFF - The bailiff of Blueholt village.
ARNULF, SON OF KAERWULF – Headman and swordthain of the Tervingi nation. Steady and unflappable in combat. A loyal follower of Mazael Cravenlock.
ATARANUR - The alias adopted by Lucan Mandragon while in disguise at Knightcastle. A High Elderborn title meaning "Lord of Gifts."
ATHAELIN GREENSHIELD - Romaria Greenshield Cravenlock's father, and formerly the Champion of Deepforest Keep. Killed by Ultorin during the siege of Deepforest Keep.
ATHANARIC - A hrould of the Tervingi nation, betrayed and murdered by Ragnachar at Stone Tower.
AULUS HIRTAN - A knight in Mazael Cravenlock's service, and Mazael's herald.
AZURVALTORIA - The dragon bound by the Old Demon to guard the Mask of Marazadra within the caverns of the Veiled Mountain.
BASJUN - Son of the merchant Danel, and a skilled hunter and tracker.
BASRACUS - A chieftain of the Skuldari. Claims to be the High King of all Skuldar.
Mask of Spells (Mask of the Demonsouled #3) Page 30