Journey of Wisdom

by Shawna Thomas

  Journey of Wisdom

  By Shawna Thomas

  Book three of The Triune Stones

  Ilythra the Wanderer has escaped brainwashing by the merciless sorcerer Bredych, but she’s far from safe. As Bredych seizes power in the kingdom of Greton, Ilythra staggers north with a magic stone he covets, fleeing his murderous trackers. There in the mist, she finds the Siobani and the final Triune Stone.

  Ilythra’s quest won’t be complete until she recovers the stone still in Bredych’s possession and uses it to mend the wounds of the world. Though the Siobani are reluctant to leave their long seclusion, Ilythra convinces them that the time to reunite the stones has come.

  With Ilythra wielding the power of her stone, the Siobani have a fighting chance. But Greton’s walls are thick. Bredych’s spells are insidious. His army is well trained. And even with new magic she’s learned from the Siobani to help her, pulling down the puppeteer of Greton will be Ilythra’s hardest battle yet.

  94,000 words

  Dear Reader,

  It’s unbelievable to me that the holiday season is here already. I feel as though I was just stuffing myself full of holiday cookies, spiced wine and all of the wonderful chocolates sent to me during the holidays. But here we are again in what some call the season of joy, while others call it “the season where I avoid all shopping malls for at least two months.” If you’re one of those avoiding all of the seemingly endless holiday tasks, preparations and shopping, let us help you procrastinate with another fantastic lineup of books. If you’re one who revels in the season of joy, not to worry, these books will only add to your enjoyment of the season.

  This month, we have so many returning authors who are fan favorites, I’m not sure where to start. So instead, I’ll start with those who are new, either to readers, to Carina Press, or both. Beginning with debut author Michele Mannon, whose book first came to my attention two years ago during a cold-reads session at a meeting of New Jersey Romance Writers. During that session, I gave Michele some suggestions for strengthening her opening and she worked on it for several months before going on to win a few contests and eventually pitching it to me, at which point I acquired it with great enthusiasm. I hope you’ll check out her fantastic love story of a former ballerina turned ring girl and a brooding, sexy fighter in Knock Out, book one of the Worth the Fight trilogy. And don’t mind me while I claim partial credit for the opening line...

  Joining Michele with a debut book is Timothy S. Johnston and his science-fiction thriller. It’s Agatha Christie meets Michael Crichton in The Furnace as homicide investigator Kyle Tanner travels to a remote space station to solve a mysterious death that may have enormous consequences for the human race.

  Our third debut author makes her appearance in one of my annual holiday collections. These have become a tradition at Carina Press, and one that I love, since I get a chance to work with a new variety of authors every year. This year, we have four collections. Last month saw the release of two of them: Gift of Honor, a military holiday collection, and Season of Seduction, an erotic holiday collection.

  This month we release the two contemporary holiday collections, and it’s in For My Own that Shari Mikels makes her writing debut with her novella Christmas Curveball. Joining her in this contemporary romance collection are new-to-Carina author Kinley Cade with her novella Kissing Her Scrooge, and fan-favorite Alison Packard with A Christmas for Carrie.

  In the second contemporary romance holiday collection, returning authors Christi Barth, Brighton Walsh and Kat Latham join together to offer some holiday love and forgiveness in All I’m Asking For with their novellas Tinsel My Heart, Season of Second Chances and Mine Under the Mistletoe.

  Also new to Carina Press this month are authors Keri Ford, Ann DeFee, T.C. Mill and Daryl Anderson, each offering up something different for reader entertainment. Keri Ford brings us a fun contemporary romance in Never Stopped Loving You, in which the heroine has to remind herself: don’t date your friends—and definitely don’t ever date your friend’s brother. Ann DeFee’s Beyond Texas is a fast-paced contemporary romance of mystical lights that dance across the desert as the hero and heroine, Cole Claiborne and Twinkie Sue Carmichael, discover love while thwarting an evil cult, giving new meaning to the old saying “Don’t Mess with a Texan.”

  In T.C. Mill’s male/male fantasy novella, Gardens Where No One Will See, Nemaran’s gentle attentions inspire Renad to go beyond the boundaries he’s set for himself for so long—but can they help him break free of even crueler bondage?

  And last in the new-to-Carina category, Daryl Anderson is on the scene in Murder in Mystic Cove. In this new mystery, a former Baltimore homicide detective thought she’d put murder cases behind her—until she discovered a resident in her father’s retirement community shot dead in his golf cart.

  Returning to Carina Press with contemporary romance Love Me Not, Reese Ryan introduces us to struggling artist Jamie Charles, who finds refuge from the painful secrets of her past in her art and prefers living on the edge—without the complications of love—until she encounters charming ad exec Miles Copeland, who is harboring his own dark past and is determined to have her heart.

  Fantasy romance author Shawna Thomas has the third installment in her Triune Stones series, Journey of Wisdom. It’s not too late to catch up before the series wraps up with the last book, Journey of the Wanderer, in February 2014.

  If you’re looking to spice up your holidays with a BDSM erotic romance, The Dom Project by Heloise Belleau and Solace Ames will keep you warm, even when it’s cold outside. When buttoned-up university archivist Robin Lessing agrees to spend one month submitting to a sexy, tattooed colleague, she presents her new Dom with a firm set of rules. But once they begin their stimulating sessions, it’s not long before she’s ready to beg him for more—much more.

  Also this month, we have three powerhouse fan favorites with new books. Shannon Stacey returns to the Kowalskis with the much-anticipated Love a Little Sideways. When Drew Miller had a casual rebound fling with his best friend’s sister, he thought she’d go back to New Mexico and stay there, but now Liz Kowalski has come home to stay, and Drew’s feelings for her might not be as casual as he thought.

  After a two-year wait, Lauren Dane is back with Blade to the Keep, the follow-up to Goddess with a Blade. Rowan Summerwaite is no ordinary woman. With the power of an ancient goddess in her belly, she’s the perfect candidate to re-negotiate the fragile Treaty keeping the peace between the Vampire Nation and the last line of defense for humanity, The Hunter Corporation. And she’s got to do it as she attempts to manage a politically awkward romance during a trip back to a place she escaped nearly fifteen years before. No pressure.

  Wrapping up this month is The Principle of Desire, the final book in the Science of Temptation trilogy from Delphine Dryden. 1 Sexy Switch + 1 Nerdy Newbie = A Master Class in Seduction.

  Last, no matter what your religion, or what you celebrate, books are a common bond, so from all of us at Carina Press, we wish you a wonderful season of reading. May there be incredible books, stories and characters on your ereaders all year long!

  We love to hear from readers, and you can email us your thoughts, comments and questions to generalinquiries@carinapress.com. You can also interact with Carina Press staff and authors on our blog, Twitter stream and Facebook fan page.

  Happy reading!

  ~Angela James

  Executive Editor, Carina Press

  www.carinapress.com

  www.twitter.com/carinapress

  www.facebook.com/carinapress

 
Dedication

  To my husband. Words simply aren’t enough. Thank you.

  A special thanks to everyone who encouraged, supported, corrected and listened to me while I wrote this book. Rhonda, thank you for everything! Jessica, your support is precious! Crystal, Heather, Nicole, thanks for your honesty! Sarah, thank you for your enthusiasm. Thanks to every member of the Carina team. You guys rock!

  Contents

  Part One

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Part Two

  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

  Part 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

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Part One

  Life cycled around her, immense and minute, fragile and with strength beyond measure.

  Chapter One

  Bredych still searched for her. Ilythra could feel the power of his stone, Crioch, on the winds of Teann. Even without her own stone to act as a conduit, she could sense Teann, the lifebreath of the universe, swirling around her—alive in a way she couldn’t explain, vibrant save for the dissonance of a stone of power being twisted and scored almost beyond recognition. Crioch suffered under the will of its keeper.

  She gazed back down the mountain. A forest of spiky green coated the valley below. Somewhere down there was Mohan, a lone Benai and her only friend. I hope he makes it to his troupe quickly. A lone Benai was enough of a rarity that he’d be noticed. If Mohan was noticed by the wrong people, it would mean a death sentence. Erhard knew it was a Benai who’d helped her escape, and if Erhard knew, then Bredych knew by now as well. She glanced south, where the castle of Greton remained hidden by distance.

  A mist swirled along the ground in the slight breeze. Bredych would never suspect she’d go farther into the mountains. As Mohan had pointed out, it was insane—a fact she’d use to her advantage. That, and in his mind, she wasn’t a threat without the stone. That she knew so easily how he thought sent a tremor of unease through her body. Ilydearta was safe inside her near-empty healer’s pouch in her horse’s saddlebag. As long as she didn’t wear it, the stone’s song wouldn’t bear her signature. Bredych should continue to assume she no longer had it.

  And she might not have, if he’d had his way. His misconception should buy her some time.

  A wave of disorientation crashed over her. The mountain view fogged. She placed a hand on a nearby boulder to steady herself. The coarse rock held on to the warmth of the sun, but the early spring air bit at her skin. Concentrate. Her heart raced as fear pumped through her veins. She would not pass out again. The lingering effects of the drug Bredych had systematically exposed her to, the drug that had almost stolen her mind, had not entirely disappeared. If not for Mohan...

  She owed the Benai more than her life. Without him, she’d have lost Ilydearta, the stone given to her by her grandfather, along with the task of reuniting it with its sister stones, but he’d also given back her purpose. She knew now who she was and where she was going. The Siobani were real, and she was close to finding them. The ancient keepers of the stones might not have all the answers she needed, but they should have enough to help her deal with Bredych.

  We are of like kind. A rare breed. She shuddered and her heart skipped a beat as she heard Bredych’s voice in her head. From behind, Melior nudged her with his soft muzzle as though sensing her thoughts. Mohan had said he was a Siobani stallion and an invitation of sorts. Ilythra patted the horse’s neck. She’d accept the invitation as soon as she’d finished some business.

  She focused on the mountain. Snow topped the heights above her, but here the occasional brush or wildflower grew between slabs of rock. Oaks had outnumbered the towering pines for several wheels, but even they were growing sparse. The heights only grew boulders or twisted parodies of trees. The dirt road coiled and turned as it scaled the mountain. She kept to one side but didn’t dare take the well-trodden path.

  During her time in Greton, she’d heard many stories of the Har Neider Mountains. They were a part of Greton’s history and religion, but she wasn’t searching for Glyths or their hordes of gold. Erhard, the king of Greton and the man she was almost manipulated into marrying, had mentioned he’d sent prisoners to work the mines in the Har Neider Mountains.

  While Mohan had been sneaking through the castle trying to rescue her, he’d overheard Erhard and Bredych speaking of taking peasants to the mountain to work as slaves. Once she’d recovered from the poison enough to sense the winds of Teann again, she’d recognized something else. She was drawn to the mountain as though an invisible thread connected her with something there. She’d misread Teann once before when she’d journeyed to Greton, but now she was sure there was something she needed to see in the mountain pass. Something important enough to risk Bredych finding her. And find her he would, if she lingered in the valley too long. Like her, he could sense the proximity of another stone but not its exact location. He was craftier and more powerful than she’d ever imagined.

  An image of him appearing in her room, his dark eyes piercing—predator’s eyes—as he stared at her came to mind. She could remember the overwhelming need to do what he wanted, to please him... She shuddered. He couldn’t use Crioch, the stone of Dominion, against her, but he had his own power. Bredych had managed to slip past her defenses until she hadn’t known who she was or what she wanted. He’d teased her with the very real promise of supremacy, passion and knowledge. She could almost hear the siren song of ultimate power. It could have been hers for the taking. She’d only had to reach out and accept it.

  In the end, she’d resisted, but it didn’t stop the shame from burning low in her gut. It had been a near thing.

  She reached out with her mind to feel the tendrils of Teann surrounding her. She couldn’t go as far or as deep without the stone, but the winds accepted her. Her senses expanded. She breathed with the earth, sunk beneath the weight of time as rocks slowly decayed to dust, reducing the mighty mountains to soil. Life cycled around her, immense and minute, fragile and with strength beyond measure. She let the peace ease the dread, dry the fear-induced sweat on her brow. Her shoulders relaxed. Teann washed over her like water over parched earth.

  A dissonance rang through the intertwining harmonies clear enough to hear even without the aid of her stone. She opened her eyes. Crioch’s song, but distorted by misuse. Anger warmed her limbs. He did not belong there. He not only threatened her peace, but the peace of Anatar. He was like rot on a limb. After a while, it would destroy the body. It was time to hurry.

  * * *

  The sun dipped into the west as though impaling itself on the distant trees. Ilythra stared at the rocky incline ahead. “I don’t know how much farther you can go.” Ilythra leaned down, stroking M
elior’s neck. The horse’s skin twitched in obvious pleasure.

  Melior was a different animal than she’d remembered. But then, many things were still hazy about her stay in the castle. Far from the wild stallion she’d discovered in Greton, the horse seemed docile, eager to be ridden. Ilythra clucked her tongue, and Melior started forward. Perhaps the horse had shied away from the fragrance Erhard wore and that Bredych had put in her earrings. Now that she thought about it, it made sense that the horse had detected the dangerous scent. His sense of smell was stronger than hers.

  Melior wasn’t wild, at least not with her. He’d been cautious. “And I was a fool.” The now-familiar shame lent force to her words. She ground her teeth together. She couldn’t change the past or the mistakes she’d made, but she could make sure she didn’t make any more.

  Doubts filtered through her mind. She should head north and forget whatever these mountains held. If Melior was a Siobani stallion, perhaps he knew his way home. Was she being foolish? Riding into another trap? Confusion clouded her mind. She placed her hand over her heart, missing Ilydearta’s presence around her neck. She’d felt pulled toward to the mountain. Not as she was drawn to Bredych, but similar. She shuddered, frozen between the choice of urging Melior farther up the mountain toward a belt of trees or turning him around. She cursed her indecision. Doing nothing wasn’t an option. There was something here she had to see. Another trap.

  Fear trickled across her skin. Ilythra glanced to the sun. It had been four days since she’d left Mohan. And with each passing day, she’d felt something, as though the air had thickened, growing stronger as she neared the pass. It was almost an emotion, a fleeting shadow of hopelessness. Not a trap, but something. She took a deep breath and guided Melior up the mountain. A lingering sense of the peace within Teann eased her mind and comforted her. It was the right thing to do.

  In the distance, the land continued to rise, become rocky and inhospitable, especially for a horse. It was too dangerous for Melior to continue. “You’re gonna camp out for a few days.” Ilythra steered Melior toward a copse of trees.