by Jordan Rivet
“Thank you.” Siv put one hand on top of the Savven hilt and the other over Dara’s hand, holding it firm around the grip. His fingers tightened on hers, and gratitude and sadness and determination fought their way across his face. “I accept your service and appoint you, Dara Ruminor, Castle Guardian.”
Siv released Dara’s hand. She stood and saluted with the Savven blade. Moonlight flashed on the night-black steel. She would protect this man, the Fourth Good King. And she would find out the truth about King Sevren’s death.
No matter what it took, she would pay for what her father had done.
Epilogue
BERG Doban waited in the shadows outside the castle. He listened to the rumbling in the streets as news and rumors, grief and anger made their way through the people of Vertigon. Berg clenched his fists as if he could beat back the descending darkness. He had lived on the mountain for nearly twenty years. It was his refuge, his place of peace after the fractured, war-torn life he had led before fleeing his homeland. But the man who had made it so was dead.
A dark figure stumbled down the steps from the castle, weaponless and reeling. As Berg watched, the man tore off his coat, marked with the Amintelle sigil, and threw it to the ground. His shape was familiar, even slumped in grief.
Berg stepped out of the shadows and into his path.
“Bandobar,” he growled.
The man looked up, anguish and despair on his face.
“Doban?”
“Tell me true.”
“Sevren is gone,” Bandobar said. Berg nodded, accepting the weight of the mountain as it settled on his big, square shoulders.
“And the children?”
“All three survived. Your student was with them. You were right about her.”
“Yes,” Berg said shortly. Dara wouldn’t let him down. Despite her parents, despite her faults, Dara was good. Putting her in the company of the prince was the only way he knew to save him. And to save her.
“But what of the king?”
“Firetears,” Bandobar said bitterly. “I didn’t catch them in time. The children were taken by some of my guardsmen, aided by imposters. I did not inspect the men thoroughly enough. I failed.”
“I saw one of the dead attackers,” Berg said. “He was one of those we saw training in the caverns. It is as we feared.”
“A true swordsman?”
“Yes,” Berg said. “I saw the wounds. My students bested him.”
Bandobar nodded. Mist and darkness swirled across his craggy face. He had grown old in the past few hours.
“But will they be strong enough for what is coming?”
“This I do not know,” Berg growled. “They must be.”
“I pray it will be so,” Bandobar said. “But I failed my king. Sivarrion would spare me, but you must know that is not the way. Will you give me justice?”
Berg nodded. This was why he had waited in the shadows. Bandobar was a man of honor, not one to accept exile when he had failed. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself anyway.
It pained him, but Berg would do it. He owed it to Bandobar after their many years working together to protect the king and his family. He would do whatever he had to for the son of Sevren Amintelle, no matter the cost. He had a debt to pay.
“The sword or the bridge?” he asked.
“The sword.” Bandobar didn’t hesitate.
Berg drew the sharpened blade from the sheath at his waist. Bandobar stood before him, arms held wide.
“You must protect them, Doban,” he said. “And continue to teach them as you have been. The fate of Vertigon depends on it.”
“Yes, my friend,” Berg said. Then he drove the point of the sword through Bandobar’s heart.
Thank you for reading Duel of Fire. The second book in the Steel and Fire series, called King of Mist, launches soon. Sign up for Jordan Rivet’s mailing list to get an email about a special discount when the book comes out.
For a dystopian adventure featuring a gutsy female mechanic on a post-apocalyptic cruise ship, check out Jordan Rivet’s Seabound Chronicles.
If you enjoyed Duel of Fire, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and telling your friends. Thank you!
Acknowledgments
This book is the start of a whole new adventure. I’m already having a blast with the series, and I hope it’ll only get better from here. Thank you for reading!
I am so grateful to the people who have made me a better writer over the past few years, especially Sarah Merrill Mowat, Brooke Richter, Rachel Andrews, Willow Hewitt, Laura Cook, Marcus Trower, Amanda Tong, Rachel Marsh, James Young, and Ayden and Julie Young.
Thanks to Susie and Lynn at Red Adept Editing and the team at Deranged Doctor Design for helping me turn this story into a polished book. I’m grateful for the Author’s Corner for inspiring me to up my publishing game and give this series the best launch possible. I’m also thankful to the staff at my local Starbucks for not kicking me out, even when I write for eight hours at a time.
I’d like to thank the fencers in my life for the good times, inspiration, and Princess Bride movie nights. Thank you, Kimberly Young, for checking the details and giving me some great lines for Coach Berg.
Thank you to everyone who read the Seabound Chronicles. There would be no Duel of Fire without that first series, and I’m thankful for all the encouragement I received along the way. I hope you like the new adventure too!
Of course, I’m forever grateful to my husband, who I first met at a fencing club in London, for his support and encouragement as I’ve been on this writing journey.
Jordan Rivet
Hong Kong, 2016
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jordan Rivet is an American author of fantasy and science fiction. Originally from Arizona, she lives in Hong Kong with her husband. She is the author of the post-apocalyptic Seabound Chronicles and the Steel and Fire fantasy adventure series.
The Seabound Chronicles
Seabound
Seaswept
Seafled
Burnt Sea: A Seabound Prequel
Steel and Fire
Duel of Fire
King of Mist
more to come…
Don’t forget to join Jordan’s mailing list for special discounts and updates on new releases!
Find her online at www.JordanRivet.com and on Twitter @Jordan_Rivet.
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Table of Contents
Unknown
Title page
Contents
Map
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
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