Storm Warrior

by PT Hylton

  CONTENTS

  Dedication

  Legal

  Map

  Prologue

  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

  Epilogue

  Author Notes - PT Hylton

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Social Links

  Series List

  DEDICATION

  From PT

  To Kim

  From Michael

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  Storm Warrior Team

  Beta Editor / Readers

  Jonathan Benecke

  Andy Piper

  Kim Hylton

  JIT Beta Readers

  Alex Wilson

  Kelly ODonnell

  Sarah Weir

  Kimberly Boyer

  James Caplan

  Paul Westman

  Larry Omans

  Erick Cushman

  Joshua Ahles

  John Findlay

  Belxjander

  Micky Cocker

  Keith Verret

  Tim Bischoff

  If I missed anyone, please let me know!

  Editor

  Lynne Stiegler

  STORM WARRIOR (this book) is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  This book Copyright © 2017 PT Hylton, Michael T. Anderle, CM Raymond, LE Barbant

  Cover Design by Damonza https://damonza.com/

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact info@kurtherianbooks.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, October 2017

  The Kurtherian Gambit (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are copyright © 2017 by Michael T. Anderle.

  Click to View Full Size Map

  PROLOGUE

  Arcadia, Sixteen Years Earlier

  When they came to kill Lara, she was reading the letter she’d written to her daughter.

  She’d read it dozens of times, at least once a month ever since Abbey was born. There was a ritual to it; it soothed her troubled heart to read the words she couldn’t say aloud. The things Abbey was too young to understand. The things Lara wasn’t sure she’d be there to say later.

  Lara had long ago resigned herself to the fact that she might not live to see her daughter grow up.

  It was early afternoon and Benjamin and Abbey were visiting the home of one of Benjamin’s fellow Hunters, a man with a son a year older than Abbey. With her three-year-old daughter out of the house, Lara had a rare few hours to herself.

  And yet, she was spending the entire time reading and rereading this piece of parchment.

  She finished the letter and refolded it so the word “Abbey” showed on the front. Then she stared at it for a long time, considering what her daughter would think of her on the distant day when she finally read it. Would she understand? Or would it make her hate the woman who’d given her life?

  A loud pounding on the door startled her, interrupting her thoughts, and a chill ran through her. That wasn’t the knock of a neighbor wanting to have a casual chat.

  That knock had authority.

  She briefly considered ignoring it—just pretending she wasn’t home—but if her visitors were who she suspected, that would only lead to them breaking down the door. They weren’t really the “We’ll come back later” types.

  She stood and straightened her dress, using the time to steady her nerves. If it came to it, she’d fight. Taking a deep breath, she mentally prepared herself for that possibility.

  She strode purposefully to the door, forced a smile onto her face, and pulled it open.

  Her heart sank at what she saw.

  Four Hunters.

  “Hello, gentlemen,” she said in a chipper voice. “Here to see my husband?”

  The grim looks on their faces made it clear they were not.

  She recognized all four of them, but she couldn’t remember the name of the one in the back. He’d only been a Hunter for a month. She knew the rest of them all too well. These were her husband’s friends.

  Daryl, the man in front, looked her in the eye. “No, ma’am. We’re here to see you. Let’s step inside.”

  Lara stood firm. “We’re very busy. I’m making dinner, and Benjamin—”

  “We know Benjamin isn’t home, Lara.” Darryl sounded almost regretful.

  Luke, the man who spoke next, did not sound sorry at all. “You think we’d do this when your husband was here? How dumb do you think we are?”

  “Very.” Lara shouldn’t have said it, but she couldn’t help herself.

  Daryl grimaced and pushed his way past her into the small home.

  Lara forced herself to stay calm, to remain composed. Yet she held onto the fear and anger that was forming a tight ball in her stomach. If it came to a fight, she would use that emotion.

  “Come right in.” Her voice sounded remarkably calm considering the fear raging inside of her. She had to get through this for Abbey’s sake. “Such brave men, waiting until my husband’s gone before paying a visit. Were you watching the house?”

  Darryl cleared his throat. “We didn’t come alone.”

  All four Hunters had entered now and they stepped aside, allowing another man to come through the door.

  Even though he was draped in shadow, Lara recognized him immediately. She let out a gasp of surprise when she saw him.

  He stepped into the light and flashed his signature wide, toothy smile. His raven-black hair was shorter, but other than that he looked exactly as she remembered. It was difficult to believe it had been five years since she’d last seen him.

  “Hello, Lara.” He crossed his hands in front of his waist and stared at her with those piercing eyes, so dark they were almost black even when he wasn’t using magic.

  She froze, torn between running away and slapping him square in the face. “Carter. I didn’t know you were back. Last I heard, you were following a lead south.”

  “Indeed I was. Then I went east. Farther east than you could imagine possible. I’ve seen things that you wouldn’t believe. Places where the sand stretches so far you think you’ll never see the end of it. Places so cold you practically have to put your hands in the fire just to get the feeling back in them. And the people…” He made a strange scoffing noise in his throat. “Such people. And I thought the scum on the Boulevard were
bad! But I’m back now.”

  Lara fought to keep her voice level. She wanted nothing more than to get this man out of her home as quickly as possible. If he was still here when Benjamin arrived…well, she didn’t want to think about what might happen.

  “Does this mean you’ve finally completed your mission?” she asked.

  Carter’s gaze cooled a few degrees. “I’m afraid that’s still a work in progress.”

  “And how’s Chancellor Adrien feel about that?”

  The man paused a moment before answering. “He understands the difficulty of the task. That was why he assigned it to me.”

  Lara wasn’t so sure that was true. Some claimed Adrien had given Carter the job because it would send him far from the city. Carter was the only person in Arcadia who could hold a candle to Adrien when it came to power, so he was a threat. Or so some people speculated.

  The Hunters stood on either side of the room, flanking Lara. They held their shockers ready.

  Carter cast a disdainful eye around the room. “Tell me, does your husband really believe you picked up your magical skills from some uncle? Or has he figured out you’re lying to him?”

  Lara practically snarled her response. “I’m protecting him!”

  “Whatever helps you sleep at night. Fortunately, your story provides the perfect cover for your death.”

  Lara had known he was there to kill her the moment he walked through the door, but hearing it spoken plainly sent an icy chill through her. If she was going to get out of this, she needed to fight.

  Carter gave her a pitying look. “Lara, you had to know this day was coming. After everything you’ve seen? Everything you know? You refused to help us, so there’s no other choice.”

  “What about my family?” It was a foolish question, but she needed to keep him talking.

  He chuckled. “That’s the beauty. We’ll claim you’re just another Unlawful who was caught practicing magic. You provided us our alibi. Isn’t it rather convenient that after—”

  Lara raised a hand and cast, sending a dagger of ice flying through the air toward him.

  For a gratifying moment a look of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly recovered, moving his right hand before the dagger reached him. A tiny piece of ice hit him, cutting his right cheek, but the rest turned to water and splashed harmlessly onto his shirt.

  He shook his head sadly. “You’ve gotten slow. Time was that ice dagger would have been through my throat before I even knew you were casting. Domestic life has not agreed with you, Lara.” He turned to the Hunters. “Take her.”

  “No!” she turned and grabbed the nearest piece of furniture, the dresser. But the Hunters were soon on her.

  One of them knocked into the dresser and she watched in horror as the letter she’d written to Abbey slid backward and fell behind the heavy oak piece.

  As they dragged her from the house, she gave no thought to the loss of her own life. She’d known for a long time that this could be coming, and, in a way, she’d been the cause of her own downfall.

  Her only concern was for the letter.

  How many years would it be before Benjamin moved that dresser? Or would he even stay in that house once she was gone?

  In her heart, she knew he would not.

  And with that knowledge came a terrible realization. Benjamin would never know the truth. Abbey would never know the truth.

  CHAPTER ONE

  The Foggy Day glided across the water and raced towards her target, propelled by a powerful wind.

  “She’s turning!” Elliot called from the crow’s nest.

  Abbey shielded her eyes from the sun and gazed in the direction Elliot was pointing. It took her a moment, then she saw it through the spray. Sure enough, their target was angling toward port. Tempest Chaser, the stormship they’d been hunting for the last three days.

  “Set us three degrees port,” Captain Syd shouted.

  “Aye!” a sailor called in response as he made the adjustments to the wheel.

  Abbey marched to the quarterdeck, where her captain stood. Syd’s arms were crossed as she watched over the crew carrying out their well-orchestrated dance.

  “Think they’re angling back for a fight?” Abbey asked Syd.

  The captain didn’t take her eyes off the ship in the distance. “Not if they’re smart. Running won’t do them much good either.”

  Tempest Chaser was a mid-sized stormship, one that held no special renown. It was one of the many ships in the fleet that spent most of its time sailing the fishing routes, making sure they were safe for the fishermen and women.

  Her captain was an older man who had spent much of the last few months complaining about the state of Holdgate to anyone who’d listen. He didn’t approve of the fact that the city had turned on its most favored son, Tor. He didn’t like that they’d given Thunderclap, the flagship of the fleet, to an underachieving, easygoing captain like Roy. Most of all, he hated the Barskall Storm Callers who had recently been brought to the city, and he was indignant that the Holdgate fleet was actually using some of them on the stormships.

  So when Tempest Chaser hadn’t returned from their latest voyage and a handful of villages along the southern Kaldfell coast had reported devastating attacks, it wasn’t difficult to put two and two together.

  Captain Syd spoke, her voice thick with disdain. “Storm Raiders. I thought we were done with this idiocy.”

  Abbey chuckled, but there was no joy in it. “If there was one thing I learned in our travels, it was that idiocy wasn’t the private property of Captain Tor or Dahlia. It’s a widespread affliction, and those who have it are all too happy to share.”

  Syd nodded toward the bow of The Foggy Day. “Check on our Storm Caller for me?”

  “Aye, Captain,” Abbey said. As she walked to the other end of the ship, her eyes scanned the deck, appraising her crew. She was happy with what she saw. They were working hard, quickly and diligently going about their tasks. The pre-battle energy practically crackled in the air, yet they remained focused.

  It was a credit to Captain Syd, and to the crew themselves. They’d been through a lot together, this ragtag bunch. They’d fought Barskall and Stone Shapers. Now they were back on the Kaldfell Peninsula and things had come full circle. They were home and fighting Storm Raiders, just like the good old days. It was almost enough to make Abbey smile.

  Almost.

  She’d been to three of the villages these assholes had raided. She’d seen the devastation they’d left in their wake, and she’d spoken to the families of those they had killed. Abbey wouldn’t be smiling until this was over and done with.

  She’d almost reached the causeway to the foredeck when Olaf stopped her.

  “Hey, Abbey, did you tell Dustin my idea?” His eyes were so big and hopeful it almost made her laugh.

  “Just to be clear, your idea was that he not destroy them with storm magic, right? That he get us in close, and we try to board them?”

  He nodded eagerly.

  “No, I did not tell Dustin that idea. Because it’s horrible.”

  If he was insulted by her comment, it didn’t show. “Okay, yeah, I can see why you’d think that. But we need to show these guys that Storm Raiders don’t get off easy. I mean, a massive wave and it’s over? We need to strike fear into their hearts. And nothing strikes fear like a warrior with a flaming sword rushing at you.”

  Abbey shook her head. After everything they’d been through, Olaf still thought battle was a glorious game. She almost admired his ability to keep his Holdgate ideals.

  She put a hand on his shoulder. “Listen, Olaf, I know you’re excited about your magic abilities, and you want to put them into action.”

  “They basically turned the tide at the battle in Ammaas,” he interjected.

  She decided to let that one go. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunity to strike fear into your enemies’ hearts with your flaming sword, but we’re going to take care of this the most efficient way pos
sible.”

  He gave a brisk nod. “Understood.”

  Abbey turned back toward the foredeck, pleased at how well he’d taken the decision. The Olaf of just a few months ago would have argued his point, and probably challenged her to a fight over it, too. He’d come a long way, though it had helped that every time they did fight she knocked him on his ass.

  As she reached the bow, she slowed her pace. She’d learned not to surprise Dustin when he was stormcalling. The task took total concentration, and surprising him—especially before a battle—could throw him off his game.

  She spoke in a soft but confident voice. “Hey, Dustin, what are you up to this fine day?”

  He sounded a little distracted when he answered, the way he always did when he was stormcalling. “Not much. Sailing on a stormship. Catching some sun. Hunting Storm Raiders. The usual Tuesday stuff.” His voice grew more serious. “These idiots are showing us their portside. Nice big target. I think it’s time to stop chasing and start playing rough.”

  “You know I like it when you talk that way.” Abbey crossed her arms, settling in to watch the show.

  “Careful,” Dustin said distractedly. “Elliot will get jealous.”

  Abbey didn’t think that was very likely. Things had remained frustratingly platonic between them since their return to Holdgate, despite every sailor on the ship knowing there was a mutual attraction there. It was starting to annoy Abbey. “Let’s stay focused on the battle and leave my love life alone for the moment.”

  Dustin grinned. “What love life?”

  Without another word, he closed his eyes and tightened his grip on his staff. Almost immediately dark clouds appeared over Tempest Chaser, and the air grew thick with electricity. A lightning bolt crashed down, striking the mast of the stormship. It was quickly followed by a second. Then a third.