If only Selivia could escape the confines of the Far Plains Stronghold! Not that she’d be foolish enough to return to Vertigon on her own. But maybe if she could talk a few of her younger cousins into escorting her . . .
She sighed. That would never work. Her cousins were useless, always whispering about the Air and staring off into the distance. Even the boys. Her only true companion here was Zala, her handmaiden. Zala was from these remote lands, and she was only too excited to tell Selivia all about them.
Unfortunately, they couldn’t go out and visit any of Zala’s old haunts because of this silly house-arrest situation. It was so terribly dreary, especially alone.
“Princess?” Selivia turned at the familiar voice, sweet and low.
“Yes, Fenn?” She supposed her longtime bodyguard counted as a companion too, but Fenn was more like a disapproving aunt than a friend sometimes.
“Your mother wishes to see you.”
“Why?”
“A letter from your grandfather.”
Selivia abandoned her post atop the ramparts and followed Fenn into the stronghold. It was cool and dark inside. In the summer, the fortress would be a welcome respite from the harsh sun, but in winter, it was positively gloomy. Zala joined her and offered her a damp towel to wipe the dust from her hands. It was always dusty on the plains too.
Her mother waited for them in a private sitting room. It had no windows, but elaborate woven tapestries hinted at the beauties beyond the walls. Her mother lounged on a low couch covered in scratchy linen pillows. Her face was pale and drawn, and she looked as though she’d been spending time in Vertigon rather than in the sunny Truren plains.
“What is it?” Selivia asked, running to clutch her mother’s hand.
“Darling,” she said, her voice strained and distant. “It is your grandfather. The Soolen army has attempted an assault on the inner walls. Your grandfather is barricaded in his palace, but he is unsure how much longer he can hold the city. He believes someone betrayed him and told the Soolens about his weaknesses.”
Selivia gasped.
“But the cavalry—”
“They’ve already been defeated once,” her mother said. “We may lose this war.”
“Don’t say that, Mother,” Selivia said, wishing her mother could be the one to comfort her for once. “Grandfather has a grand army. And the stronghold will protect us.”
“It will not be enough.”
Selivia bit her lip, trying desperately not to cry. Sora wouldn’t cry. Siv wouldn’t cry. She may be the youngest, but she could be as strong as both of them.
War had come to Trure. Treachery had come to Trure. But Selivia would not dare be afraid.
Thank you for reading Dance of Steel. The fourth book in the Steel and Fire series, called City of Wind, is in progress. Sign up for Jordan Rivet’s mailing list to get an email about a special discount when the book launches.
For a dystopian adventure featuring a gutsy female mechanic on a post-apocalyptic cruise ship, check out Jordan Rivet’s Seabound Chronicles.
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Acknowledgments
Writing this series continues to be a wonderful adventure. Thank you to everyone who has emailed to let me know how much you are enjoying this story. I appreciate your enthusiasm and encouragement so much.
I’m grateful for the people who have been with me throughout this journey, including my husband, my family, my writing friends, and the other regulars at my Starbucks/office. The gang at Author’s Corner inspires me to set my goals higher with every publication, and the Hong Kong writing community helps me reach them. Thank you all for your feedback, advice, and good company.
Susie and Lynn at Red Adept Editing continue to provide efficient and excellent service. Kitten and Kim at Deranged Doctor Design are a dream come true. Colleen from Write.Dream.Repeat. created my sharp, new Steel and Fire logo. I couldn’t wish for a better team to help me turn this story into a finished book.
I’d like to thank my agent, Sarah Hershman, and the team at Tantor Media for your work on the Steel and Fire audiobooks. I especially want to thank narrator Caitlin Kelly for bringing Dara and the others to life.
My favorite authors continue to provide inspiration and escape in equal measures. I’m especially grateful for the works of Lindsay Buroker, Sarah J. Maas, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, and J. K. Rowling.
Most of all, thank you for reading. I can’t wait for you to see what happens next!
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. She fenced for many years, and she hasn’t decided whether the pen is mightier than the sword.
The Seabound Chronicles
Seabound
Seaswept
Seafled
Burnt Sea: A Seabound Prequel
Steel and Fire
Duel of Fire
King of Mist
Dance of Steel
City of Wind
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
Map of the Continent
Map of Trure
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
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
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
Chapter Forty-two
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
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