Of Princes and Dragons: Book 2 (Lords and Commoners)
Page 34
“When Lord Chastellain broke your neck, I felt a sharp pain run through my own neck and back. It was intense but relatively brief,” Val said.
“You mean we can feel each other’s pain? That is madness.”
“How else would you explain it?” Val wrapped her fingers in his to emphasize the point about their odd — whatever it was. She let herself enjoy the sensation.
“It all must mean something. It has to mean that we were meant for each other. We are ... connected.” Teller frowned. “Why can’t you see that it is me you should be with? How much proof do you need?”
“Maybe we were meant to be together at one time but that can’t happen now.”
“I don’t see why not, unless you do not love me?”
“You know I love you. I always have and I always will.” This was going too far. She could see that Teller wanted to kiss her, so she changed the subject. “How are you recovering?”
This did the trick, and pain moved into Teller’s eyes. “Considering that I lost many men, I suppose we are faring well. I am grateful that Abdullah and the twins were not harmed. All the bloodshed took me back to my time in Wallachia. That was not something I wanted to relive.”
Guilt balled up in Val’s stomach. He needs me and I cannot be there to comfort him, to help him through these tough times.
“And how are you faring?” he asked.
“Moving forward, I suppose. I would be lost without my friends. We will get through this.”
Teller nodded. “Elijah is a good man. He is a worthy king. I was impressed with the way he took on Ramdasha.”
Val looked for Elijah and smiled when she found him. “Yes, he is wonderful, brave and selfless.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, you are a remarkable leader as well. You are able to be rational without losing sight of what matters. You two resemble a benevolent king and queen who are only found in children’s fairy stories.”
“Why then are you always trying to come between us?”
“You know that I cannot help the way I feel about you. I have no control when it comes to you. I could not stay away if I tried. So I keep coming back to torture myself by having to watch you happily married.”
Pain moved into Val’s chest. It would be awful to have to watch Teller blissfully in love with someone else. Her eyes threatened to tear up so she pulled away. Everything about him was overwhelming — his touch, his emerald eyes, his words. She would have to put her brick wall back up.
Epilogue
Every couple of years Vallachia would return to Ludus to see how her lineage was faring. One such time she came upon two lovers sitting on a blanket in the forest. She jumped into a nearby tree to get a better view and remain unseen. The boy was blond with blue eyes. She knew he had to be related to her ... somehow. Val could almost see her brother in him. The girl had long dark hair, olive skin and green eyes. She greatly resembled Teller’s family line. She had to be his distant kin.
Val felt the branch move slightly. She knew who it was and did not turn to him. “What are you doing here?” she whispered.
“What do you think? I’m looking for you. Elijah said you wanted to be alone. I assumed that this is where you would come,” Teller said.
“Why are you looking for me?” Val’s thoughts turned to Elijah. “Is something wrong?”
“Everything is fine. Ramdasha is dead — remember?” Teller watched the couple for a moment. “You know, in a way, it is as if we live on. As humans I mean — through them.”
Val nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. She had watched history repeat itself many times over. For the past four hundred years their two family lines often came together. “They are us, in a different lifetime. They get to live the life we were supposed to have.”
The trembling boy mustered up enough courage to kiss the girl.
Teller stepped toward Val wrapping his arm around her waist. He reluctantly put his lips to hers as if he was sure she would stop him.
Val let the shock run through her body as their lips touched. Only for a moment, she told herself. Perhaps it was a moment too long. When she came to her senses, she placed her hand on his cheek and put her thumb between their lips. “Stop,” she whispered.
He placed his forehead against hers. “I hate it that I lost you. We were meant to be together,” he looked at the couple, “like them.”
“I know but that was another life — one that would long since be over. We have to let it go.”
“I followed you here — remember?”
His point was made; clearly Val had not let go.
“Touché but I am not yours.” She laid her head on his shoulder.
In his arms she could pretend, even if only for a moment, that they were truly home. That they had never left and were still human. They were not monsters — killers even. She could see the life they should have had together. There would have been ten children. He would have taught the boys to compete in the town tournament and to be smithies like him. Her daughters would have been good cooks under her tutelage. Then they would have grown old and their children and grandchildren would have taken care of them. They would not have seen the world — the good or the bad — the war, the death. They would have been poor ... and together ... and happy.
The End of Book Two
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About Book 3
Vampires meet the Da Vinci Code …
WHAT?
Vallachia and her Court find themselves in a new world, one that is waking up from the dark times of Medieval Europe. Vampire populations are under control and humans begin to flourish as a new civilization emerges.
Vallachia and her companions must adapt or die in this rapidly advancing world.
The Court faces new challenges as their ancient reign comes to an end. They never could have guessed that their biggest struggle will come from within — they must learn to conquer their own minds.
The key lies in the mysterious origin of the vampire race — which could save them all.
List of Characters
The High Court of Elders
Lord Chastellain
John (right hand man)
Prince Elijah (the lord’s son); Patricia (Elijah's lover)
Vallachia (Val, lead emissary)
Riddick (commander in chief); Leopoldo and Natalia (from Riddick’s past)
Samuel (Elijah’s closest friend)
Mari (Val’s closest friend)
Sonia
Aaron
English branch of the Court
Lord Alexandru
Hector (right hand man)
Mary (commander in chief)
Elizabeth
Teller
Sergiu (trusted advisor)
Abdullah (commander in chief)
Cosmin and Costel (twins)
Ivan (father)
Petru (innkeeper)
1st Family Teller Meets
Darius (smithy/father)
Martina (oldest daughter)
Sabina (youngest daughter)
Ramdasha
Sebastian (Riddick’s replacement)
Elda (wife, FKA Neacsa Dracula)
Lord Mendoza of Portugal
Lord Belleaire of France
Rosalia (her love, Orrick, beheaded by Elijah)
Real Historical Figures
1. Sultans of the Ottoman/Osmanli Empire
Orhan I (son of Osman, ruled from 1324-1360)
Ismail (head of the army, fictitious)
Mehmed I (ruled from 1413-1421)
Mehmed II, the Conqueror (ruled from 1451-1481)
Mustapha (head of the army, fictitious)
2. The Last Rulers of the Byzantine Empire
Emperor Manuel II (ruled from 1391-1425)
Isabella (firstborn, illegitimate daughter)
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br /> Empress Helena (wife)
Emperor John VIII (son, ruled from 1425-1448)
Emperor Constantine XI (son, ruled from 1448-1453)
3.Wallachian Nobles
Vladislav II Dracul of the Draculesti family
Neacsa (adapted to fit the story)
Dan III of the Danesti family
Ilona (Vlad III’s 2nd wife)
Jusztina (Vlad III’s 3rd wife)
Prince Stefan III of Moldova (Vlad III’s cousin)
Vocabulary List
Dracul = Dragon
Dracula = of the Dragon
Voivode = prince
Janissary = soldier
Seraskier = commander in chief/head of the army
Grand Vizier = top advisor (usually to the Sultan)
Pasha = a respectful title for a high ranking official
Kadin = most favored concubine/1st lady
Eunuch = castrated male
Devsirme = children trained to become Janissaries
Dirk = short sword/long knife
Scimitar = curved Arabian sword
Acknowledgments
This book would still be lacking much if it were not for all the wonderful support around me. Thanks to my mothers. Yes, mothers. I am blessed to have four of them, a birth mother, a godmother, a stepmother and a mother-in-law. They are great preliminary readers and encouragers.
Many thanks to my fellow writers and editors, who have helped me to improve and have provided much needed support and guidance. Thanks to Marcia Kwiecinski; good editors are hard to find. A special thanks goes to David VanDyke for sharing his knowledge and experience. His candid wisdom about the industry is much appreciated! The thing I admire most about fellow writers is their willingness to help new writers. Thank you all!
Thanks to the historians/authors whose works helped to guide much of the history in this book; Lars Brownworth, Anthony A. Goodman, Sir Jens and Tracy Barrett. You are all wonderful! Many thanks!
About the Author
Lynne Hill-Clark was born in Colorado and raised in a small town of eight hundred people. She received her Masters of Science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and her Doctorate of Psychology from the University of the Rockies, Colorado Springs, where she majored in criminology and justice studies. She has enjoyed living overseas on several different occasions; including her time as an American Peace Corps Volunteer in Jordan and a semester abroad in Xin Xeo, China. She is an advocate for Restorative Justice.
For more info. visit her website at lynnehillclark.com.
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