We’re too late. Tol watched the ship get smaller and smaller, Stetch a silent ball of fury beside him. They have her. Tol closed his eyes, his chest constricting as he thought of his friend in Calderon’s clutches. Katarina had saved his life so many times that he had started to take it for granted, and although she was irritating in a hundred different ways – calling him another’s name, frequent jibes and insults – Tol had come to depend on the prickly Sudalrese noblewoman. After Kalashadria’s betrayal, his first thought had been of Katarina, of what he would tell her and how severely she would chastise him. Tol sank to his knees, realising he had already been missing her by the time he returned to the city. The distant ship was barely a speck on the horizon now and Tol leaned back and howled in rage as he realised his enemies had taken the woman he loved.
‘This is your fault,’ Stetch hissed, his voice accompanied by the unmistakable purr of steel being drawn.
Epilogue
Katarina woke slowly, her head thick and woollen. She arched her back and stretched, freezing as she felt resistance. Panic welled up within her, a deluge she fought as her breath caught in her throat. Stay calm, she told herself sternly, stay calm. She relaxed, her back sinking into the rough mattress, and slowly tested the limits of movement, keeping her eyes closed and feigning sleep.
Her legs were bound at the ankles, Katarina found, arms drawn across her body so her hands sat between her hips, wrists bound tightly together.
This is not good.
She fought to keep her breathing under control - slow, controlled breaths – as she listened closely. She felt her body rise and fall, the gentle yet persistent sea whispering in her ear as the familiar salty tang breezed in through an open window.
Very bad.
Last night was a smeared collage of elusive memories, faint and insubstantial. I was at Lord Calderon’s, Katarina remembered after a moment. She had stayed with him long into the night. Waiting for Steven and Stetch, she recalled. She remembered her mounting unease as the night wore on, touched by Lord Calderon’s as he, too, waited for news of Steven’s desperate attempt to end Drayken’s treachery. And there had been something else, someone else Ren Calderon had been waiting for…
A messenger. Word from an informant about… He never quite explained, she remembered. She didn’t remember the messenger arriving, and the rest of the night was a blur. The last thing she did remember was Lord Calderon’s manservant arriving with tea as the bells rang for midnight.
Katarina froze as she heard a soft scuffle, almost drowned by the sea’s rhythmic lullaby. I’m not alone, she realised, the panic returning. Bound and captive and under guard. Where is that bloody Stetch when I need him? The anger dulled her fear somewhat, and Katarina struggled to keep her breathing slow and steady. She listened closely, but the momentary noise was not repeated. A minute passed and Katarina evaluated her options. They were, she conceded, depressingly limited. She sighed and opened her eyes.
She was in a small cabin, bare but for the cot on which she lay and a single chair by the room’s lone door. Katarina slowly lifted her head, the face of Lord Calderon’s manservant coming into view, a lecherous smile blooming on his face.
No, this can’t be happening. Lord Calderon would never harm her, never go against her father. It can’t be true. But as the man’s grin spread wider, Katarina realised the truth: Ren Calderon had betrayed her, betrayed Sudalra, and betrayed his own country.
‘Lord Ren’s got plans for you,’ the manservant crowed, rising from his chair and approaching the bed.
He guided Steven to kill the other conspirators, Katarina realised, goosebumps forming on her arms as she reached a single, undeniable conclusion: Calderon was the mastermind behind the other lords. And now he had her, locked in a room aboard a ship with no hope of rescue. Not till we reach land. And even then, Katarina knew, rescue was unlikely, not if she was right about their destination. She fervently hoped she was wrong, her skin crawling as Calderon’s servant out down and traced a finger lightly down her arm.
‘But when he’s done with you, you’re mine,’ he grinned. He leaned in close, brushing a strand of hair from Katarina’s forehead in a manner that made her want to bathe for a week, or – if she had her way – slit the man’s throat. ‘We’re going to have some fun,’ he purred.
Stetch will come, Katarina told herself. If he is alive he will find me – he knows what Father will do if he fails. It wasn’t much, but it was all the hope she had.
If he lives, he will come. Her breath caught in her throat. I rather hope he’s less tardy than usual.
Calderon’s manservant turned away and trudged over to the cabin’s door. ‘Don’t you go anywhere,’ he said, chuckling at his own wit. ‘Lord Ren asked to be told when his guest woke up.’ He opened the door, turning back as he crossed the threshold. He smiled. ‘Hope you like deserts, girl.’
Katarina closed her eyes. This is not going to end well.
Acknowledgements
While writing is typically a solitary pursuit, bringing a book to publication is a team effort, and there are a number of people I would like to thank, and without whose help, support, and patience this book would not exist.
Firstly, thank you to my friends and family, without whom I would most likely never had made it this far. Your friendship and support has helped me to realise a dream and stay (relatively) sane during the process. Thank you!
My beta readers have suffered through early versions of the words you’ve read, and all of them have had a hand in improving the finished product, whether it’s correcting mistakes, spotting plot holes and inconsistencies, or offering suggestions for improving the manuscript further. Any mistakes that remain after their eagle-eyed readings are entirely my own. Thank you to John the Revelator, Danny the Champion of the Word, Luke, and Andy Chamberlain. This would have been much poorer without all of your input and support.
Tol Kraven will return in…
Angel’s Knight
Angel’s Knight
The Epic Conclusion to the Trilogy
As the army of the Demon-God sweep through the Desolate Cities towards Meracia, Tol must choose between fulfilling his duty to the church and saving the woman he loves.
Either choice is fraught with danger.
The war between angels and demons will be renewed on the sands of the Spur, where two hundred years ago a religion was birthed. Now, the Knights Reve, sworn defenders of the church, are marching to war.
It’s going to get bloody.
Coming October 2017
Creative Writing from the ground up. Insight from 100 episodes of the Creative Writer's Toolbelt podcast, featuring tips and advice from professional authors, editors, and artists.
Everything you need to be a better writer, in one volume. Available in e-book and print version from www.andrewjchamberlain.com or from Amazon
Phoenix Rising
Episode One of Wandering Phoenix and Roaming Tiger
Thaddeus White
Ancient China meets Robin Hood in new fantasy serial Wandering Phoenix and Roaming Tiger, from the author of The Adventures of Sir Edric.
In a place thousands of years and miles from here…
Liu Shanshan is a simple farm girl, working the land with her brother and father, until one day disaster strikes. She finds herself sentenced to death and thrown into jail with a small gang of notorious criminals, but discovers that sometimes it’s the authorities and not the outlaws who should be feared.
Action and adventure abound when the irascible and the wise travel together. Enjoy the first part of Wandering Phoenix and Roaming Tiger for free!
ayscale(100%); -ms-filter: grayscale(100%); filter: grayscale(100%); " class="sharethis-inline-share-buttons">share
Angel's Deceit (Angelwar Book 2) Page 40