Alliance Forged
Page 1
Praise for
VENGEANCE BORN
“Peopled with intriguing characters, the world of Vengeance Born is unique and filled with compelling mystery. I’m looking forward to seeing where Kylie Griffin takes that world next.”
—Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author
“A great debut novel; Kylie Griffin has me hooked. This story grabbed my attention and raced down several dangerous, intense, enthralling paths, making it very hard to put down. The tale of Annika and Kalan is set in a well-thought-out, fascinating world filled with danger, intrigue, betrayal, passion, revulsion, tenderness—Griffin has given her readers a whole gamut of emotions to feel and leaves her readers with the hope for more stories set in this compelling universe. It’s not only good on the first read, it’s still good on the second; this is definitely one for my keeper shelves.”
—Jean Johnson, national bestselling author of Finding Destiny
“Kylie Griffin builds a compelling and fascinating world that pulled me right in!”
—Joss Ware
“In Vengeance Born, Kylie Griffin spins an intriguing story of two races who are mortal enemies, and the half-breeds that are despised by both, who must transform their cultures. The book has solid world building, sympathetic characters, and a twisty story line. I’m looking forward to the next in the Light Blade series.”
—Robin D. Owens, national bestselling author of Hearts and Swords
Berkley Sensation titles by Kylie Griffin
VENGEANCE BORN
ALLIANCE FORGED
ALLIANCE
FORGED
KYLIE GRIFFIN
BERKLEY SENSATION, NEW YORK
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) • Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England • Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) • Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) • Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India • Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) • Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This book is an original publication of The Berkley Publishing Group.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Copyright © 2012 by Kylie Griffin.
Cover illustration by Gene Mollica.
Cover design by Lesley Worrell.
Interior text design by Kristin del Rosario.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
BERKLEY SENSATION® is a registered trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
The “B” design is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Berkley Sensation trade paperback edition / July 2012
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Griffin, Kylie.
Alliance forged / Kylie Griffin.—Berkley sensation trade paperback ed.
p. cm.
ISBN: 978-1-101-58103-2
I. Title.
PS3607.R54836A45 2012
813’.6—dc23
2012012364
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
ALWAYS LEARNING
PEARSON
To Kendra and Michelle:
How could I have done this without
your wonderful emails and special brand of pestering?
You do realize payback’s a bitch?
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Ask any author starting out on their publishing journey and I bet most will say that their second book was the hardest to write. This one certainly was for me. To the little voice in my head throwing in comments—see, I did it. Again. Don’t doubt; just write!
Again, to my comrades-in-arms—my editor and agent—Leis and Elaine, thank you for helping make this book the best it can be and for your unwavering support. I’ve learned so much from both of you!
To the kids in my class (past and present), and some of you know who you are—you provided the inspiration for Tovie, Rissa, and the other young characters. So, yes, there are some of you in my books. Also to the parents and staff of MPS who’ve encouraged and supported me over the years—many, many, many hugs! Special thanks to Dee—you’re a fantastic beta reader.
And to those who are reading this series—a huge thank you for buying these books. I hope that the characters and their stories have entertained you—if they have, then it’s mission accomplished, my job is done… until the next book!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 1
“HELP!”
The note of panic in the child’s high-pitched cry had Kymora scrambling to her feet, the half-mended shirt falling from her hands to the ground. Her fingertips brushed over the coarse-textured wattle and daub wall of the croft until she found her staff. Sweeping the staff in front of her, she stepped out from the shade into the biting warmth of the afternoon sun.
“Evie, over here!” she called, recognizing the voice. Three strides and the hard sound under the heel of her boot told her she stood in the middle of the pathway among the row of huts lining either side of it.
At the edge of her mind, the young shepherdess’s aura flared, brushed hers, but she was too far away for Kymora to read it accurately. The rapid thump of boots on hard-packed ground grew louder as they came in her direction.
A hollow wooden scraping came from her left, the door to the house being pushed open. An earthy, wild, wind-swept scent wafted through the air. The odor varied Na’Chi to Na’Chi but the rich base note of the half-human, half-demon race was always the sam
e.
“Kymora, what’s wrong?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know, Lisella.”
The door creaked and a hand touched her elbow. The half-blood woman’s gesture let her know she was there beside her, a courtesy all the Na’Chi had learned in the weeks she’d been living with them.
“Temple Elect! They’re killing the flock!”
The child’s aura was a seething mass of darkness edged with the roughness of barely contained terror. Had she been able to see, Kymora had little doubt Evie’s face would have borne a wide-eyed, fearful expression. The ability to read auras compensated for the absence of that sense.
She stretched out her hand to the child, tempted to hurry to the girl but the ground was too uneven. Each row of huts had been built half a dozen steps apart, leaving a corridor for foot traffic, but with young children using the pathways as play areas, even the smallest hole or hollow dug by little hands made traversing the thoroughfares hazardous.
Such a small thing challenged her independence and left her feeling vulnerable, a sensation she disliked. A lot. There were times, like this, when her blindness left her feeling like she was a child again, learning to cope with her disability when she’d first lost her sight. For now, it stopped her from rushing to comfort the child.
She grunted as the ten-year-old barreled into her. Small arms reached around her waist and squeezed tightly. She smoothed a hand over the girl’s trembling body; the harsh sound of her gasping only reinforced the terror she could feel beneath her hands.
“Shh, you’re safe,” she crooned. “Tell me what you saw.”
“Rahni and I were watching the fl-flock from the rocks when we s-s-saw men coming over the hill.” The girl shuddered. Her aura pulsated so viciously Kymora fought not to wince. “They were so qu-quick… we couldn’t stop ’em. They started k-killing the bleaters….”
Lisella moved closer. “Geanna and Eyan were the watchers today,” she murmured. “Why didn’t they spot them first?”
A cold knot of unease curled in Kymora’s stomach. Na’Chi senses were three times as acute as humans’. Disregarding that, the scouts were highly skilled warriors and never derelict in their responsibilities. What had happened to them? “How many were there, Evie?”
“I’m not sure, maybe ten. They’re c-coming this way!”
Kymora’s stomach clenched. With the appearance of the Na’Chi in human territory, the myth associated with their rumored existence had been dispelled, shocking many. After five hundred years of war with the Na’Reish, many had assumed they were just like the power-hungry demons, especially when it became known that they possessed traits similar to their Na’Reish heritage—particularly the need to consume blood.
Some hostility was to be expected, but a physical attack on the Na’Chi? Surely these renegades had read the missives sent out by the Blade Council explaining that the Na’Chi had received the blessings of the Lady, their deity?
Why would anyone risk censure for breaking the laws of sanctuary by attacking the Na’Chi?
“And Rahni, where’s he?” Lisella’s soft voice came from down low, as if the Na’Chi woman had crouched to be on eye level with the child, and drew Kymora’s attention back to the present.
“He’s gone to warn those gathering berries.”
Relief surged through Kymora with that news. The young Na’Chi teenager tended to act first and think later. For him to err on the side of caution meant a large number of men were making their way toward the village. She inhaled a steadying breath, frowned, and then drew in a deeper one. A faint acrid odor stung her nostrils.
“Lisella, do you smell smoke?” she asked. Lisella’s boots scuffed the ground as she moved farther away from the side of the house.
“Mother of Mercy, I can see it!” A tremor of anger threaded her voice. “They’re burning the crops! Evie, find Giron. He’s working in the crafters’ hut. Tell him to find Varian. He’s in the Sharvadan Forest training with the Light Blades.”
“Yes, Lisella.”
Kymora released the girl and listened to her run off into the village. A hot breeze caressed her face. The odor of smoke grew stronger.
“Lisella, the children.” Goose bumps lifted along her arms. Today there were more of them than adults in the village. Would there be enough time for them all to escape? “They’re going to take longer to get up the mountain path and to the caverns.”
Months of work were being destroyed by the flames, and not just with the crops. She’d been working for weeks to convince the more reluctant members of the Na’Chi that integration into human society would help each race accept one another. To establish that bond, she’d convinced crafters and Light Blade warriors to live with them and share their skills with one another.
With the ranks of Light Blade warriors at an all-time low, and the Na’Reish border raids for blood-slaves increasing, the Na’Chi’s expertise was needed. With their own limited numbers, they’d spent the last twenty years learning to hide and ambush the Na’Reish—techniques the Light Blades needed now. She knew her brother, Kalan, hoped that by having them learn these specialized skills, it’d prove an advantage in any future confrontation with the Na’Reish.
She grimaced. This attack would only reinforce the Na’Chi’s fears and misgivings now. The Na’Reish demons outnumbered them all two to one. Humans and Na’Chi needed each another if they were going to survive any conflict with them.
The breeze picked up strength. The scent of smoke saturated the air. It took very little to imagine the flames engulfing the houses.
Kymora tightened her grip on her staff. “We need to split up and warn everyone.”
“Kymora, your brother wouldn’t like you left unguarded.”
“The children should be seen to first.”
“As leader of the Temple, you can’t risk your safety.” A twinge of guilt raced through Kymora at Lisella’s gentle censure. The Na’Chi’s hand patted her shoulder. “Let’s warn people together. We need to move fast and you’ll do that better with someone beside you.”
Kymora gritted her teeth. She might be blind, and it would hamper the speed of her escape, but it didn’t mean she was helpless. Why was Lisella ignoring the fact that she could defend herself and had done so since her early teens? While she was a good friend, there were times Lisella was as overprotective as some of the other Na’Chi were disdainful of her disability. A trait inherited from their Na’Reish heritage.
“We don’t have time to argue. Nor will I need your help.” Kymora thumped the butt of her staff on the ground. “You know this isn’t just for decoration. Get everyone to the safety of the caverns. I’ll check the houses around here and follow with whomever I find.”
“You’re as stubborn as Varian.” While the woman grumbled, she could hear a tolerant smile in Lisella’s voice. “Be careful. You know what he’ll do if you come to harm.”
Duty and honor formed the backbone of the Na’Chi warrior-leader, something she’d realized from almost the first time they’d met in the Lady’s Temple and Varian had claimed sanctuary for his people from her. When it came to protecting those under his care, he was ruthless, and in the last few months, he’d informed her in no uncertain terms that she fell within those boundaries living with them in the rugged foothills overlooking Sacred Lake. She inhaled a steadying breath.
“I can take care of myself.” She made a shooing motion. “Go warn the others. I’ll start here. Go!”
Gathering her skirt in one hand, Kymora moved as swiftly as she could, calling out as she reached each house, warning those within so they could begin their escape. The scuff of boots along the pathway and the occasional curt instruction assured her the exodus was progressing.
The Na’Chi had spent all their lives hiding from patrols in Na’Reish territory. Escaping detection was their specialty, and achieving it was done in silence. While they’d enjoyed much more freedom inside human territory, they’d limited their contact with humans and now were forced to fall bac
k on ingrained survival habits. Something they shouldn’t have to do. Her jaw tightened and her temper flared. It wasn’t right.
A soft sob caught the edge of her hearing. Kymora turned and felt her way along the wall of one house. “Is someone there?”
“Temple Elect! Everyone’s gone….”
Kymora tried to place the very young voice. “Why didn’t you go with them, Tovie?”
“I was on the necessary….” The six-year-old Na’Chi boy hiccupped. “Henna didn’t wait for me….”
“Search the houses! Kill any Na’Chi you find!”
The nearby shout drew a whimper from the child, and a chill coursed through Kymora. Who were these attackers? She pulled Tovie closer, her arm tightening around his shoulders, the danger to his life stark and immediate. He had to flee. Now.
Strangers’ voices, all men, called to one another. They hadn’t wasted any time, covering the distance between the crops and the village in just a few minutes.
From the hails and chatter, the search seemed methodical, organized, rather than haphazard and random. Not something expected of farmers or townsfolk, more like disciplined warriors. Light Blades.
Renegades. Kymora’s pulse leapt. Surely not. If they were Light Blade warriors, how could those sworn to serve the Lady do something like this? It went against the tenet of protecting the Lady’s children, and She’d declared the Na’Chi as her children. Light Blades were supposed to stand against injustice not instigate it.
“The bad men will hurt me, won’t they?” the boy asked, his solemn question too worldly wise for his age.
“I won’t let them.” Kymora ran a reassuring hand over the side of his face. The wetness of tears coated her fingers.
Precious seconds bled away as she tilted her head. The warmth of sunlight hit her right cheek. At this time of day, Tovie needed to go right to find the uphill mountain path that would lead him to the others. She prayed the Na’Chi and everyone else had made it to safety without being seen.
“Tovie, you need to get to the forest, then make your way to the caverns. Keep behind this row of houses and use all the boulders along the edge of the gully to stay out of sight.”