“Wear it with pride,” she urged, and nodded, encouraging him to strap it around him, which he did. “You don’t look like a Valisar but you now look like a king.” Her words sounded harsh but they were said gently. “I speak the truth and answer only what you ask. Your mother was a most beautiful woman and you resemble her closely.”
He nodded. “Everyone else in our family has dark hair,” he admitted. Cyrena said nothing but she shimmered, the action causing her naked breasts to quiver.
“I am sorry about your parents. I imagine you come here burning with a vow to avenge them?”
“I do, Cyrena. I make that vow before you.”
“Be very sure about it,” she said, cryptically. “There is an old saying from the ancients—don’t kill the snake and miss the scorpion.” Her laugh sounded like glass chimes. “I do not refer to myself, of course.”
Leo was mesmerized by her. Though he didn’t understand her advice he knew he would ponder it later.
“My only intention is to bring peace back to our land and win back the crown,” he emphasized, trying to make himself clear.
“I know you speak true. And the crown is rightfully yours, though the claim is a complex one.”
“I don’t see why. The barbarian marauder has unleashed a river of blood and despair to steal my father’s throne; it cannot be rightfully his.”
“Loethar seeks the magic that he believes he can attain.”
“My father had no magic. I have no magic.”
She shimmered silently in response.
“He ate my father to achieve something the king could never give him.”
“Loethar is on a mission that burns so deeply, so angrily, that he will not sway from his path.”
“Then he will meet me when I am a man and I will cut him down on that path which is mine,” Leo vowed, his fury igniting.
She shimmered again at the passion in his voice. “The Valisars have never lacked courage.”
He hung his head. “I must summon courage on behalf of all the Valisars who have died for Loethar’s cause. I am the only one left.”
“Are you sure?”
He stared blankly at the silver serpent woman. “My newborn sister died and—”
“Your sister did not die,” she replied over his words, her form unfurling several coils so she loomed large.
Leo opened his arms in confusion, his mouth following suit. He was lost momentarily, both for words and understanding. Something in his chest tightened. “She died soon after birth. I saw her body. My mother held her dead body. She was cremated, her ashes thrown from Brighthelm’s rooftops on Loethar’s orders.”
“You certainly saw a dead girl. Your mother certainly held a baby’s corpse in her arms and a newborn was no doubt cremated, its ashes scattered as you say. But, Leo, that was not your sister.”
“My mother—”
“She never knew, child. She went to her death believing her husband and daughter dead and you lost to her.”
“Who knew?” he demanded, his voice breaking, remembering how his mother’s heart had broken to hold the little girl she had tried so hard to win.
“Brennus.”
“My father knew?”
“Your father contrived the deception.”
Leo was stunned. “What did he do?”
“He made a difficult decision. He had a baby murdered to take the place of his daughter, while your sister was sent away to grow in safety.”
“She’s alive?” he asked breathlessly, his mind spinning.
Cyrena nodded. “And she must return to Penraven when she is of an age.”
“Where is she?”
“A place you do not know.”
“Why not?” He didn’t mean to sound rude; fortunately, she didn’t take offense.
“It is reachable only through magic,” was all she would say.
“I must find her!” Leo said.
“You must. She is important. Ah, the clouds arrive. Our time is drawing to an end.”
He could sense her withdrawing. “How do I find her?”
“Corbel De Vis has the knowledge. That is all I can tell you.”
“Why are there so many secrets?”
“There are always with the Valisars. Gavriel de Vis holds another.” The clouds darkened over the moon. “My time here ends. The fissure closes. I must return to the world of the gods, Leonel. Be brave, be safe. Most of all, beware. Nothing is ever what it fully seems—sometimes friends are enemies and enemies are friends.” She gave him a soft sad smile and the coils of her serpent form began to loop around one another, her body melting back into the stone as she began to fade.
“Cyrena, wait! Please, I have so many questions.”
But she was gone. The light that had bathed him in such brilliance snapped to black. The moon was returned to its original, slightly golden orb. The birds were silent but insects sang and leaves rustled overhead.
Leo, bent over the Stone of Truth, let out a roar of despair. From the shadows Kilt Faris emerged.
“What occurred? I have barely sat down to wait.”
The king raised his head. “The serpent came.” He saw Faris’s eyes light with interest.
“And?”
“She shared a secret.”
Faris nodded. “Why is that no surprise?” He held up a hand as Leo opened his mouth. “No, my king. She shared that with you. It is not for me to hear.”
Leo didn’t care. He was sick of his father’s secrets. “No, you need to hear this, in case anything happens to me. My sister is not dust on the winds. Her death was a ruse, orchestrated by my father much as he orchestrated my escape. He left only his adopted, disabled son to face Loethar—I see now that he gambled correctly that Piven would not be considered a threat.” As Leo spoke, everything fell into place in his mind. “He planned for everything. And he has left a separate secret with each of the De Vis twins but I have no idea where Corbel is and neither does Gav. We have to find both of them.”
“At the risk of sounding heartless, do you really believe your newborn sister is that important right now?”
“Faris, the Valisar line has never produced a female who has survived beyond birth. My sister’s arrival must have terrified my father. I thought he was just frightened to have another child to protect. How naïve of me.” He shook his head, lost in thought.
“What are you saying?” Faris prompted.
Leo looked up, his eyes slightly glassy with awe. “No female of the line has survived,” he repeated. “It is said that a Valisar woman of the royal line will carry the legacy if she survives.”
“Legacy?”
“The Valisar Enchantment.” Leo put his hands to his head, then dropped them, shaking his head in wonder. “My tutors were obliged to teach this but my history guide never believed the tale of enchantment. He said the female strain was simply not strong enough in our line. But my father told me once that to bring forth a princess would be the greatest achievement for any Valisar king. He said the reason they were so few was that the enchantment they carried was so powerful it traditionally killed them before the babies had a chance to grow strong enough to bear it.”
Faris looked stunned. “What is this enchantment?”
“The ability to coerce,” Leo answered. “If she is alive, as the serpent attests, then my sister may well have the ability to force people to do things.”
“She can make people obey her will, you mean?” Faris asked, astonished.
Leo nodded. “That is the magic Loethar is chasing, why he ate my father and would probably do the same to me. He doesn’t know, he obviously doesn’t realize that the power to coerce is carried only through females.”
“Ssh!” Faris cautioned. “Keep this between us for now. It needs thinking upon.”
Before any more could be said, both Tern and Lily arrived, breathless and looking anxious.
“What’s happened?” Faris asked as they blundered into the clearing.
“It’s De Vis,” Tern said.
“The three warriors who captured him are dead, arrows right through them.”
“What?” Faris demanded.
Lily answered, her voice icy with repressed fury. “And Gavriel’s gone.”
The outlaw’s gaze narrowed. “Who did this?”
Tern shrugged. “We saw nothing. It happened in the brief period of time I spoke to you and returned—barely minutes. I can’t see any tracks. It was very deliberate. There was nothing accidental about the accuracy of those arrows.”
“I hate you, Faris. I told you I wouldn’t forgive you.” Lily walked away, obviously distraught.
“That you did,” he replied, frowning. “Don’t go too far.”
She stomped away and Faris nodded at Tern to follow. The man disappeared after Lily.
Leo’s mind felt as though it were working in a blur. Too much was happening, too fast. But there was one thing he was now sure about. “Kilt. We have to rescue Gavriel.”
Faris hesitated, but Leo was not to be persuaded otherwise.
“Now! He holds the key to help unlock the secret my father shared.”
“Why didn’t De Vis say something to you earlier?”
“I don’t know but I’ll never find out if we don’t go after Gavriel. Whoever took him, took him for a reason. We have to find him. He is my only link to my sister.”
Lily returned reluctantly with Tern. “Call your man off!” she scowled.
Faris nodded. “Tern, wait for Jewd. Tell him what has happened but keep it between him and yourself. The fewer who know about this, the better. Lily, you’re staying with Tern.”
“You have no right to tell me what—”
“Lily.” Leo spoke up, his voice stern, suddenly commanding. “Do as he says.”
Faris nodded at the king. “I have no idea what we’re running toward, but I’m willing to run. Let’s go, your majesty.”
Epilogue
Sergius held his raven, always marvelling at its fragile network of bones and lightweight body, despite its size. He bent and kissed its head.
I will miss you.
And I you, Ravan replied.
Thank you for the news of Cyrena’s appearance. Continue to see for me, look for me, hear for me.
Always.
Be safe, Ravan. We must be very careful. The Valisar Legacy is a dangerous force.
It’s no longer in this world. Do not fret.
It will return. When it’s ready, it will be drawn like iron to a magnet. In the wrong hands it can destroy the land.
Then we must not let it fall into the wrong hands, Sergius. You will know when it comes, will you not?
The man nodded. I will feel it even though I cannot see it or hear it.
Then we will be well warned. Farewell, the bird spoke into the man’s mind and lifted from his arms effortlessly as Sergius flung him into the air.
Warned against what, though? Sergius wondered, frowning as he watched his raven beating its wings and gathering speed as his fear coalesced into something hard and dark in his gut.
Glossary
CHARACTERS
THE VALISAR REALM
Royalty
King Cormoron: The first Valisar king.
King Brennus the 8th: 8th king of the Valisars.
King Darros the 7th: 7th Valisar king. Father of Brennus.
Queen Iselda: Wife of Brennus. She is the daughter of a Romean prince from Romea in Galinsea. Comes from the line of King Falza.
Prince Leonel (Leo): First-born son of Brennus and Iselda.
Prince Piven: Adopted son of Brennus and Iselda.
The De Vis Family
Legate Regor De Vis: Right-hand of the king. Father to Gavriel and Corbel.
Eril De Vis: Deceased wife of Legate De Vis.
Gavriel (Gav) De Vis: First-born twin brother of Corbel. He is the champion of the Cohort.
Corbel (Corb) De Vis: Twin brother of Gavriel.
Other
Cook Faisal: Male cook of the castle.
Father Briar: The priest of Brighthelm.
Freath: Queen Iselda’s aide and right-hand man.
Genrie: Household servant.
Greven: Lily’s father. Is a leper.
Hana: Queen Iselda’s maid.
Jynes: The castle librarian (steward).
Lilyan (Lily): Daughter of Greven.
Morkom: Prince Leo’s manservant.
Physic Maser: The queen’s physic.
Sarah Flarty: A girlfriend of Gavriel.
Sesaro: Famous sculptor in Penraven.
Tashi: Sesaro’s daughter.
Tatie: Kitchen hand.
Tilly: Palace servant.
The Penraven Army
Brek: A soldier.
Commander Jobe: Penraven’s army commander.
Captain Drate: Penraven’s army captain.
Del Faren: An archer and traitor.
From outside Penraven, but still in the Set
Alys Kenric: A resident of Vorgaven.
Claudeo: A famous Set painter.
Corin: Daughter of Clovis.
Danre: Second son of the Vorgaven Royals.
Delly Bartel: Resident of Vorgaven.
Elka: From Davarigon—a giantess.
Jed Roxburgh: Wealthy land owner of Vorgaven.
Leah: Wife of Clovis.
Princess Arrania: A Dregon princess.
Tomas Dole: A boy from Berch.
The Vested
Clovis: A master diviner from Vorgaven.
Eyla: A female Healer.
Hedray: Talks to animals.
Jervyn of Medhaven: Vested.
Kes: A contortionist.
Kirin Felt: Can pry.
Perl: Reads the Runes.
Reuth Maegren: Has visions.
Tolt: Dreams future events.
Torren: Makes things grow.
The Supernatural
Algin: Giant of Set myth.
Cyrena: Goddess. The serpent denoted on the Penraven family crest.
Sergius: A minion of Cyrena.
The Highwaymen
Jewd: Friend to Kilt Faris.
Kilt Faris: Highwayman, renegade.
Tern: One of Kilt’s men.
Outside the Sets
Emperor Luc: Emperor of Galinsea.
King Falza: Past king of Galinsea.
Zar Azal: Ruler of Percheron.
Loethar and his followers
Barc: A young soldier.
Belush: A Drevin soldier.
Dara Negev: Loethar’s mother.
Farn: A Mear soldier.
Loethar: Tribal warlord.
(Lady) Valya of Droste: Loethar’s lover.
Steppes (Plains) People: From the Likurian Steppes. Known as Barbarians.
Stracker: Loethar’s right-hand man and half brother.
Vash: A soldier.
Vyk: Loethar’s raven.
MAGIC
Aegis: Possesses the ability to champion with magic. Is bound to a person by the power of trammelling.
Binder or Binding: The person who binds himself to an Aegis.
Blood Diviner: A reader of blood.
Diviner: Gives impressions and foretells the future.
Dribbling: A small push of prying magic.
Prying: Entering another’s mind.
Reading the Runes: Ability to foretell the future using stones.
The Valisar Enchantment: Powerful magic of coercion peculiar to the Valisar line.
Trammelling: Awakening an Aegis’ power.
Trickling: Low level magic.
HEALING PRODUCTS
Willow sap, Comfrey balm (for pain)
Clirren leaves (powerful infection fighter)
Crushed peonies (for pain)
Henbane (for pain)
White lichen (used for dressing wounds)
Dock leaves (soothes itching skin)
THE DENOVA SET
The seven realms are sovereign states, self-governed with a king as head.
Barronel
Cremond
Dregon
Gormand
Medhaven
Penraven
Vorgaven
The Hand: The continent that the Denova Set sits on.
Cities/towns within the Set
Berch: close to Brighthelm. Home of the Dole family.
Brighthelm: The city stronghold (castle) and capital of Penraven.
Buckden Abbey: Religious place South of Brighthelm.
Deloran Forest: The Great Forest.
Dragonsback Mountains: They separate Penraven from Barronel.
Droste: A realm not part of the Set.
Lo’s Teeth: Mountain range in Droste.
Garun Cliffs: Where chalk is mined.
Merrivale: Where shipbuilding is renowned.
Rhum Caves: Caves found in the hills outside of Brighthelm.
Skardlag: Where the famous Weaven timber comes from.
Vegero Hills: In the realm of Barronel. Famed for the marble quarried in its hills.
Places outside the Set
Galinsea: A neighboring country.
Lindaran: The great southern land mass.
Likurian Steppes (or Steppes): Treeless plains. Home to Loethar and his tribes.
Romea: Capital of Galinsea.
Percheron: A faraway country.
MONEY
Throughout the Sets: Trents
MEASUREMENTS
Span: 1,000 strides or 2,000 double steps.
Half-span: 500 strides or 1,000 double steps.
WORD GLOSSARY
Academy of Learning: At Cremond. It is the seat of learning for all of the Denova Set.
Anni: A year.
Aspenberry: Used to distil Kern liquor.
Asprey reeds: Used for support inside leather bladder balls.
Blossom: Late spring.
Blow: Winter.
Branstone: A very special silver colored stone with sparkling silver flecks.
Chest: Coffin.
Cloudberries: Forest berries.
Cohort: A group of youngsters trained to be elite sword fighters.
Crabnuts: Grow wild in the forests. They are a sweet nut, purplish in color.
Dara: Word for “king’s mother” in Steppe language.
Darrasha Bushes: Planted around the castle of Brighthelm.
Faeroe: A handcrafted sword that belonged to King Cormoron.
Fan-tailed farla hen: A bright colored bird with a fan-tail.
Freeze: Late winter.
Harvest: Late autumn.
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