King

by R. J. Larson

  © 2013 by R. J. Larson

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  www.bethanyhouse.com

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of

  Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

  www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

  Ebook edition created 2013

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

  ISBN 978-1-4412-6142-7

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Cover design by Wes Youssi/M.80 Design

  Cover photography by Steve Gardner, PixelWorks Studio, Inc.

  Author is represented by Hartline Literary Agency

  To Larson, Robert, and Katharin

  Love always,

  Mom

  P.S. Thanks for cleaning the kitchen!

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Character List

  Map

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  27

  28

  29

  30

  31

  32

  33

  34

  35

  36

  About the Author

  Back Ad

  Back Cover

  Character List

  Akabe Garric Ah-cabe Gair-rick Former Siphran rebel. The Infinite’s chosen king of Siphra.

  Barth of Siymont Barth See-mont Royal page and son of Lord Ruis of Siymont.

  Ela Roeh El-ah Roe-eh Prophet of the vanquished city-state of Parne.

  Lord Faine Fane Akabe’s chief advisor.

  Ruis of Siymont Roo-es See-mont A lord of Siphra. Father of Barth.

  Matron Prill Prill Ela’s chaperone.

  Cyan Thaenfall Sigh-an Thane-fall Siphran lord and suspected Atean. Caitria’s father.

  Kien Lantec Kee-en Lan-tek Military judge-advocate for the Tracelands.

  Ishvah Nesac Ish-vaw Ness-ak The Infinite’s chief priest of the vanquished city-state of Parne.

  Dan Roeh Dan Roe-eh Ela’s father.

  Kalme Roeh Call-may Roe-eh Ela’s mother.

  Rade Lantec Raid Lan-tek Kien’s father. The Tracelands’ preeminent statesman.

  Ara Lantec Are-ah Lan-tek Rade Lantec’s wife. Kien’s mother.

  Beka Thel Bek-ah Thell Jon Thel’s wife. Kien’s sister.

  Jon Thel Jon Thell A Tracelands military commander. Beka’s husband.

  General Rol Rawl The Tracelands’ General of the Army.

  Bryce Brice Steward or Chief Servant of Aeyrievale.

  Riddig TyneRid-ig Tine Akabe’s field surgeon.

  Ruestock Roo-stock Exiled former Siphran ambassador to the Tracelands.

  Caitria Thaenfall Kay-tree-ah Thane-fall Daughter of Cyan Thaenfall.

  Bel-Tygeon Bell-Ty-jee-on King of Belaal.

  Rtial Vioc Reh-tee-al Vee-oak A commander of Belaal.

  Dasarai Da-Sar-ay Princess of Belaal. Sovereign of Women’s Palace.

  1

  A salt-tinged ocean breeze lifted Akabe of Siphra’s gold-embellished mantle as he stood on the uppermost white marble step before his country’s razed, ruined Temple of the Infinite. Bracing himself, he called to the crowds below, “Today we have gathered to reclaim a treasure vital to Siphra, and vital to our journey through this life—the Infinite’s Holy House!”

  Earsplitting whistles and shouts of approval echoed all around Akabe, easing his fears. Affirmations of his decision to rebuild this place of worship, which had been toppled by his brutal predecessors.

  As he waited for the enthusiastic uproar to fade, Akabe studied the multitudes in the white-paved public square below the steps. Arrayed in bright robes and mantles, the citizens of Munra, Siphra’s capital, met his gaze, respectful, yet pleased. They quieted now, listening. To him. An almost-nobody rebel and hunter . . . turned king.

  Who could ever dream of such a swift, unexpected rise to power? Not Akabe. Truly, his people were insane. Why had they accepted him as their king?

  Yet he must honor their decision. Now he would earn his place—and their continued esteem.

  Clearing his throat, Akabe proclaimed, “Therefore, as we celebrate the first day of work in restoring this Holy House, I ask you all to rededicate yourselves and this place to the Infinite! Let Munra and Siphra be worthy of such a glorious and sacred crown!

  “In generations past, the Infinite’s Holy House was Siphra’s glory—a gathering place for our people as we worshiped our Creator. Now, as your king, I decree that this Holy House shall be built again, on this same historic, consecrated ground, acclaimed by the priests of old as the Infinite’s own land. This place must ever be His alone in Siphra! This sacred site that our oppressors defiled, as they devastated . . . and killed . . . our defenseless people. . . .”

  Akabe paused, remembering all the precious lives lost before the recent revolution. He eyed the crowd in a bid for composure.

  No help there. Many of the women were now weeping into their scarves and veils, while here and there men sniffed and blinked, or rubbed their noses into their long sleeves. Not a family had been left untouched by the terrors of the previous reign.

  Fighting back his own tears, Akabe forged ahead. “Today we remember our loved ones—torn from our lives by hatred! We recall their courage and their sacrifices as we feast with our workers at the very foundations of our previous temple. Let those who sought to destroy all worship of the Infinite in Siphra see that by the Infinite’s mercy, we have survived! And I, your king—with all my might!—will guard your freedoms to worship our Creator! This Holy House will again become Munra’s blessed crown!”

  Munra’s citizens yelled their agreement, the men stomping and cheering, the women waving colorful scarves in celebration. Akabe exhaled, acknowledging his subjects with a grin and a wave. Success! He might yet amount to something as king.

  Akabe the First. Scruffy revolutionary. Rebuilder of Siphra’s glorious temple.

  Laughable thought. Sobering, actually . . .

  Standing almost beside him as usual, Lord Faine—Akabe’s chief advisor—leaned into view now, his elaborately sculpted and waxed gray beard twitching with enthusiasm. “Majesty, they’re overwhelmingly for you!”

  “Yes, and I don’t understand why.” Followed by his gossiping, overdressed entourage, Akabe walked with Faine across the ruined temple’s vast stone terrace, their booted feet sending bits of pale rock clattering with every step. “Until now, I’ve done nothing to merit my people’s approval.”

  Faine harrumphed disagreement. “You believe that protecting others during the revolution and then defeating Belaal—our most hostile neighboring country—
in battle was nothing?”

  “I did not defeat Belaal, Lord Faine. The Infinite did. Give tribute to the One who deserves glory.”

  “Ah, very true. Then, sir, it must be that your people are pleased because you’ve not asked for new taxes to rebuild this temple.”

  Akabe laughed. “Aha! At last, the terrible truth! They love me because I haven’t spent their money.” As he spoke, Akabe glimpsed a small flurry of movement to his left. Barth, his youngest page and heir to Lord Siymont, skittered across the broad stone pavings, his short official crimson cloak askew as he chased an undoubtedly terrified miniature lizard.

  Biting down a grin, Akabe shot a look at the boy’s stately tutor, Master Croleut, who obviously feared to break formation from Akabe’s attendants—much less to physically restrain a powerful nobleman’s heir.

  When Master Croleut hesitated, Akabe sighed. “Barth!”

  Instantly, the little boy straightened himself, but not his cloak. Flushed from the failed chase, he offered Akabe a gap-toothed smile and lisped, “Sir? I mean . . . Majesty?”

  Akabe tipped his chin. “Time for lessons, Barth.”

  Barth scrunched his nose as if smelling something vile. He threw an accusing glance at Croleut, who hissed at the boy, “Sst! Young sir, manners! Bow to the king!”

  Barth trotted to Akabe, bowed, then protested, “But, Majesty, I finished today’s lessons.”

  A valiant plea, but worthless. For the sake of training, Akabe pretended sternness. “With Master Croleut, yes. With the prophet, no. And you’ll behave for the Prophet Ela while I inspect the temple site, Barth. No arguing with her or with the other students. I command you.”

  “Yes, sir.” The little boy’s gloom deepened. But then he raised his dark eyebrows at Akabe in a teasing manner he’d obviously inherited from his father, Ruis, Lord Siymont. “Is she pretty?”

  Beautiful, Akabe wanted to say. But caution restrained him. An unmarried king must avoid praising any lady overmuch, even to a child. Why provoke gossip? “You will like her. She’s defeated monsters and survived battles.”

  And Ela had anointed him as king at the Infinite’s command. One deed Akabe wished she’d left undone.

  He’d never wanted to be king. Worse, the Infinite had given Akabe this appalling responsibility with no true explanation or direction. Not even from His prophets. Therefore, he must make his own decisions and work for the Infinite’s glory and for Siphra’s people.

  Leading his retinue, Akabe crossed the gravel-strewn terrace, his conviction becoming more assured with each brisk step. Surely he couldn’t have chosen a more magnificent, unifying task than to restore the Infinite’s Holy House to Siphra. For the Infinite.

  Surely the Infinite was pleased.

  Unwittingly testing Akabe’s patience, Lord Faine talked nonstop as they marched across the temple site. Faine’s broad, ring-garnished hands accented his intonations. “ . . . and we are blessed, Majesty, that the foundations remain from the first temple. This will speed along the new temple and reduce costs.” Lowering his voice, glancing around, Faine added, “As a result, Parne’s treasury alone ought to easily fund the work.”

  His lord-counselor’s caution was understandable. The distant and ancient city-state of Parne no longer existed. Yet Parnian refugees abounded here, brought to Munra last year by Akabe’s own army after Parne’s devastating besiegement by their mutual enemy, Belaal.

  Mentioning the gold removed from Parne’s own demolished temple—no matter how well-intentioned—could only wound the Parnians. Particularly their remarkable young prophet, Ela Roeh, who now waited to greet Akabe.

  Her prophet’s staff in one hand, Ela stood with her two formidable chaperones just beyond the fringe of her makeshift canopied study area. Akabe eyed the prophet’s staff. The branch, Ela called it. An ordinary-seeming piece of vinewood. But he’d seen that branch glow like fiery-white metal, illuminating Ela’s dark hair and eyes with the Infinite’s power.

  Healing her of fatal wounds.

  Now the image of a model Siphran, Ela bowed. When she looked up at Akabe, her big brown eyes shone, serene. She appeared, for all of Munra, to be nothing more—or less—than a lovely young lady in a flowing tunic and embroidered mantle. Yet Akabe knew better than to be lulled by her delicate appearance. Strengthened by the Infinite’s Spirit, this girl felled kingdoms.

  Never, for as long as he lived, did he wish to become a target of this prophet’s warnings.

  Aware of his watching courtiers, Akabe acknowledged Ela with a nod and a polite smile. “Prophet. I have a new student for you.” Master Croleut nudged little Barth of Siymont forward. Scuffing his boots over the pavings, the boy halted before Akabe with an unenthusiastic sigh.

  Akabe struggled to sound serious. “Barth, remember what I said.”

  “Yes, Majesty.” Barth looked up at Ela. His eyes widened and, ever Siymont’s courtly son, he fluttered his lashes. “I have a loose tooth!”

  “Do you?” Ela seemed thrilled. “Well, if it falls out during lessons, we must be careful to save it. Now, Barth, these are my chaperones, Tamri Het and Matron Prill. And they’re very strict with me, so I must behave. You’ll help me, won’t you? Do you have a writing tablet? No? You may borrow mine.”

  Watching her, Akabe wished he could join the class.

  Other youngsters approached, bowing shyly to Akabe before taking refuge behind Ela. Akabe greeted them with a smile, then departed to inspect the future temple’s foundations.

  Envying Barth.

  Kneeling between the silver-haired Tamri Het and the veiled young widow Matron Prill, Ela clenched the branch, fighting the longing to fidget. Really, she felt so restless that she ought to sit among her little students as they worked. Not good, these fidgets. They were no mere springtime restlessness. And the branch gleamed at her subtly, showing glints of light.

  Infinite? What is about to happen?

  Whatever it was, Ela prayed the trouble would wait until after class, when her students were safe with their parents.

  Little Barth paused over his borrowed wax tablet, giving his loose front tooth a cautious nudge. Eager child. Very self-aware. Ela smiled. “Barth, did you finish your verse?”

  He ceased his tooth-wiggling and flourished the wax writing tablet. “Yes—see? And I drew a scaln!”

  Scaln! Ela shuddered and banished her memories of the venom-drooling, viciously clawed red beasts.

  Goaded by Barth’s exuberance, other students waved their work. Before they could accidently hit each other with their tablets, Ela said, “Very good, everyone! Let’s recite our verse, shall we?”

  Joining the children, Ela recited from the Book of Beginnings, “‘Then the Infinite said, “Let Us form mortals in Our image that they may rule over the creatures in the ocean and the birds in the sky, over livestock and all the animals that move along the land. . . .”’”

  Even—ugh!—the stinking scalns.

  She worked with the giggling children until a distant horn from the work site signaled the noon meal. A feast—the first meal to be shared on the temple’s groundbreaking day. Ela smiled, as excited as the children. Bless Akabe of Siphra for deciding to rebuild this place and to shelter Parne’s sacred books! After Parne’s temple fell, she’d lost hope of ever seeing another Holy House. But now she might live long enough to realize that dream. Infinite, thank You!

  Ela clapped her hands. “Class is finished! Wait with me until your parents arrive to take you to the celebration.”

  As the last few children departed with their parents, Barth tugged at Ela’s sleeve. “My lord-father is too busy and couldn’t come to the feast. May I eat with you?”

  “Of course.” Ela took his hand. On either side of them, armed with scarves, mats, and baskets, Ela’s chaperones, Matron Prill and Tamri Het, feigned suspicion. The thin, imposing Prill made pretend sour faces at Barth—though her joy in today’s celebration peeked through.

  And Tamri, an eightyish great-grandmother, flicked her festiv
e crimson scarf at Barth while scolding Ela. “Celebration or not, I expect you to behave, prophet-girl!”

  Ela pretended meekness. “I will.”

  Hand-in-hand with Barth and followed by her chaperones, Ela crossed the vast, stone-paved site to its eastern edge. There, massive platters of food waited—a hastily planned feast, honoring the king’s unexpected proclamation of his intention to rebuild Siphra’s Holy House. Roasts, steaming spiced grains, marinated vegetables, nuts, and fruits filled the air with their savory-sweet aromas. Nearby, hired men cheerfully bellowed at each other while they chipped at huge blocks of ice, spilling frozen slivers into metal and clay pitchers of juice.

  Watching them and listening to their joyful banter, Ela’s unease returned. Why?

  As they settled down on their mats to eat, Prill arranged her food and then nodded at Ela and Tamri. “There! Now I’ll fetch a pitcher of juice.”

  Before she could stand, a man called, “Prophet! Captivated as you are by your new student, you cannot keep him.”

  Ela turned, startled. The king approached and nudged Barth with a gold-embellished royal boot. “Move, young sir. I’ll sit with you for an instant. Have you anything to drink? No?”

  Though his courtiers hovered behind him, Akabe sent a servant for goblets and a pitcher of juice. While they waited, he addressed Ela. “Prophet, I spoke with your father. He’s pleased by the progress his men have made thus far, and so am I.”

  “Thank you, Majesty. He’s honored to serve the Infinite’s House.” As of this week, following Akabe’s signing of the land contract, Father was in charge of the team refurbishing the temple’s foundations and rebuilding the walls. And grateful for the work, Ela knew.

  “Likewise,” Akabe said, “I’m pleased you’re teaching from the Sacred Books.”

  “It’s my duty, sir.” Ela adjusted a cloth she’d placed over Barth’s obviously new crimson tunic to avoid food spots. “Most of Siphra’s copies of the Books of the Infinite were destroyed during the previous reign. Sharing knowledge of the Infinite may prevent future losses.”

  A servant brought cups, then filled them with juice from a metal pitcher beaded with moisture. They all waited until the king lifted his cup. Following his lead, they drank.