Copper Chain (The Shifting Tides Book 3)
Page 34
Sweeping her gaze over the group, Chloe saw Zachary, Liana, and Eiric all looking at her expectantly, filled with hope.
‘War is coming,’ Zachary said. ‘Whether we want it to or not.’
‘Please, Chloe?’ Liana asked.
Chloe smiled. ‘You are my friends. All of you. You don’t even need to ask.’
Dion sat at a high table in his palace’s banqueting hall, his uncle and adviser seated across from him. There were two others at the table: Finn, his master of coin, and Roxana, the commander of his fleet. Together they leaned over a map spread out on its surface.
‘So Kargan made it back to Lamara,’ Glaukos said.
‘He did,’ Dion said. ‘We spoke before we parted, and we’ve pledged to join forces.’
‘Poor man,’ Roxana said. ‘He lost half his fleet.’
‘There is still plenty of fight left in him,’ Dion said, shaking his head as he remembered Kargan’s fury. He turned to Finn. ‘What is the state of our finances?’
‘Strong,’ Finn said.
‘And our fleet?’ he asked Roxana.
‘With Ilea’s losses . . . ?’ She spread her hands. ‘We now possess the most powerful naval force in the world.’
‘Dion . . .’ Glaukos corrected himself. ‘Sire . . . What of the eldren?’
‘I’m certain we can broker peace between Sindara and Tanus.’ Dion met his uncle’s eyes. ‘Eiric will fight with us.’
Glaukos’s jaw was clenched. He looked at Dion’s face, and Dion knew what he was seeing: bruises and scars, eyes filled with pain and darkness. ‘We will wreak vengeance on them, lad, for what they did to you.’
Dion nodded. He’d learned something, ever since he’d first visited Malakai to discover Palemon’s intentions. After inheriting a kingdom in turmoil, he’d been consumed with bringing peace to the Maltherean Sea. Nikolas had been eager to seek out battle. Dion had seen himself as different.
But there were times when peace wasn’t possible. His nation’s security was the very reason for developing alliances, wealth, and power.
‘War is coming,’ he said. ‘We must be ready to face it.’
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My sincere gratitude to the team at 47North for being wonderful to work with at all stages of the publishing process, with particular thanks to my editor, Emilie, for tireless dedication and support.
Thanks go to Ian, for editorial insight and diligence, and to my amazing readers: Amanda, Juliet, Margaret, Nicole, Danielle, Vanessa, Amy, Hannah, Jessica, Harley, Lydia, Constance, Michelle, Shuh, Erin, Marie, Kimberley, and Kristin.
Thanks to all of you who have reached out to me and taken the time to post reviews of my books.
Finally thanks must go to my wife, Alicia. Your shining light banishes the deepest darkness. Your love inspires me every day.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © 2015 Anna Niman
James Maxwell grew up in the scenic Bay of Islands, New Zealand, and was educated in Australia. Devouring fantasy and science-fiction classics from an early age, his love for books translated to a passion for writing, which he began at the age of eleven.
Inspired by the natural beauty around him but also by a strong interest in history, he decided in his twenties to see the world. He relocated to London and then to Thailand, Mexico, Austria, and Malta, developing a lifelong obsession with travel. It was while living in Thailand that he seriously took up writing again, producing his first full-length novel, Enchantress, the first of four titles in his internationally bestselling Evermen Saga.
Copper Chain is the third novel in his highly anticipated new series, The Shifting Tides, following Silver Road.
When he isn’t writing or traveling, James enjoys sailing, snowboarding, classical guitar, and French cooking.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
CONTENTS
MAP
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR