by Ruth Kaufman
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The Angel and the Prince
In this exciting medieval romance, the French lady knight known as the Angel of Death wages a battle of wills and desires against her dreaded enemy -- the English warrior known as the Prince of Darkness. #1 Best Seller in Medieval Romance!
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Angel’s Assassin
Lady Aurora of Acquitaine is the epitome of purity and goodness. Nothing makes her stray from the path of right, not even the terrible fear and sinister secret of her mother's death that she keeps hidden from the world. But then a dark and dangerously handsome man saves her life, tempting her with promises of dark passion and forbidden lust, threatening to tear her peaceful world apart. Winner of the Happily Ever After Contest. #1 Best Seller in Medieval Romance!
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Champion of the Heart
Fox Mercer watches in horror as his father’s knighthood, lands and nobility are all torn from him. Banished into disgrace, Fox waits for the moment to strike to avenge his family’s honor. And that moment arises when a tournament is announced --- a battle of champions wherein the winner gets to claim a very lovely prize…
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A Knight of Honor
Taylor Sullivan is a raven-haired hellion fleeing the flames that destroyed her family. She arms herself with a quick sword and a sharp tongue, hiring herself out as a mercenary, willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Slane Donovan is a knight of honor, sworn to uphold his oath and his word. He seeks the woman who wears the Sullivan ring, determined to bring her back to Castle Donovan. A fast paced medieval romance filled with action. Winner of the Holt Medallion Award for Best Medieval Novel.
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Midnight Shadow
Disguised as the legendary hero known as the Midnight Shadow, Lady Bria Delaney swears to rid the land of Lord Terran Knowles’ cruel tyranny. She is stunned to encounter him in her father’s castle --- one of the many suitors vying for her hand. Captivated by his darkly intent gaze, Bria struggles to suppress her fierce attraction to the very enemy she has secretly promised to destroy. A Robin-Hood style medieval romance with a twist. #1 Best Seller in Medieval Romance!
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My Noble Knight
Layne Fletcher, the only girl in a family of three boys, has grown up learning to use a sword and joust, but she is not a knight. When her brother is found unconscious before an important tournament, Layne takes his place on the jousting field against Griffin Wolfe, the undefeated jousting champion. When Griffin is unhorsed by a slip of a woman who is not a knight, he demands retribution. #1 Best Seller in Medieval Romance! Available on Kindle Unlimited!
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Medieval Romance Novellas
The Bride and the Brute
Jayce Cullen has been fighting her fear of thunder and lightning ever since she was a child, but nothing could have prepared her for the fury of her new husband. Feeling deceived and betrayed into a loveless marriage, Lord Reese Harrington wants nothing to do with his new wife. Trapped in a marriage with no escape, the beautiful young bride must battle the demons of her husband's past and hope that she can weather the storm his brutish behavior unleashes. Available for FREE for a limited time! See the author’s website at www.laurel-odonnell.com for a full list of stores where this free ebook can be found. This free ebook also contains free previews of many of Laurel’s other medieval romance novels listed above.
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Lady of the Mist
Book 4
(Legacy of the Blade Series)
By
Elizabeth Rose
Lady of the Mist Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by Elizabeth Rose Krejcik
This is a work of fiction. All characters, names, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual organizations or persons living or deceased is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever without the author’s written permission.
Cover created by Elizabeth Rose Krejcik
Author’s Note:
Lady of the Mist is the 4th and final book in my Legacy of the Blade Series. Each book is about one of the four Blake siblings. They stand alone, yet it is advised to read them in order if possible so you won’t ruin any surprises.
Since the rest of the siblings and their families appear in the first and last chapters of this book, I am listing the Blake Family Tree, starting with Echo and working backwards. These are Echo’s siblings, tho she doesn’t know they exist at first. If you don’t want to ruin any surprises, you may want to skip over the Family Tree for now – your choice. It is here for your convenience.
You can read excerpts from any of my books just by visiting my website: http://elizabethrosenovels.com.
The Blake Family Tree:
Echo – Pirate and heroine. Raised by the infamous Pirate Cap’n Powell ap Llyr.
Garrett of Blackmore – Hero - once prisoner and tortured in the dungeons of Shrewsbury. Now a baron of the Cinque Ports.
Edgar – Echo’s young son.
Madoc ap Powell – Echo’s long lost twin brother who was raised by the wife of a pirate along with another boy he called his brother – William, the tailor.
Lady Abigail of Blackmore – Garrett’s sister who is married to Madoc and pregnant.
Lady Wren – Echo’s long lost older sister.
Storm MacKeefe – Scottish Highlander married to Wren.
Renard – Their 11 year old son.
Lark – Their baby daughter.
Lord Corbett – Echo’s long lost brother. Eldest of the siblings.
Lady Devon – Corbett’s wife – once his servant.
Rook and Raven – Their twin toddlers.
Orrick – The old sorcerer who was good friends with their late parents, Lady Eleanor and Lord Evan Blake.
Zara – The old gypsy woman who was once Wren’s handmaid.
Hopefully, this will help you keep the characters straight once you meet them.
Enjoy Echo’s story.
Elizabeth Rose
Watch book trailer video
Prologue
Devonshire, England 1330
The fishing ship set course at full sail during the night. The squalling of a newborn babe had every man on deck wanting to throw the damned thing overboard.
“Cap’n, why do we have a babe aboard?” asked Sebastian, his first mate, a boy of six and ten summers. He covered his ears and shook his head at the intruder.
Captain Powell ap Llyr handed the wailing infant over to Sebastian, who gathered it into his arms reluctantly.
“Me wife, Gwyneth, saw ta’ stealing more than jest jewels this time,” the captain answered. He squinted through the darkness to see his wife and the boy, William, rowing away quickly, trying to escape the castles’ guards. He’d collected the boy baby she’d called Madoc, and left her with the twin baby girl she’d called Echo. Then he’d abandoned her and William – forever.
“The stupid wench!” he growled. Of all the treacherous and deceitful things they’d accomplished through the years, this was by far the most ill conceived.
He never should have let her convince him to let her be a part of their thieving in the first place. Women were worthless. Everyone knew that. And any man not willing to do what he’d instructed was worthless as well, and would be killed. Aye, he thought, if he hadn’t had morals, he would have just killed his wife and be done with it all by now.
For over a year now he’d been thieving not only on land, but on water as well. He used his disguise of his fishing boat to plunder merchant ships on their way to port. ’Twas a way of life. And soon, he planned on taking over the waters. But none of these men had what it took to pirate. Not really. What
he needed was a son to meld into a strong, savvy, heartless, swindling crimp, - the most successful pirate to ever ride the waves.
He needed someone just like himself. And tho his wife had never been able to bear him a child, now he had what he wanted anyway. His addled wife’s ill deed worked right into his plan. And when the soldiers caught her and William, ’twould slow them down enough that he’d make his escape to safety. His wife and William would most likely be sentenced to death. So be it.
Good riddance, he thought. He’d had enough of Gwyneth and the milksop boy anyways. He never should have taken in the orphan, but his wife convinced him to do it. He didn’t need to be hanged, drawn and quartered for what they’d done. Stealing noble babies was not what he’d instructed them to do. They were supposed to steal jewels from Blake Castle. But after tonight, he wouldn’t have to worry about that anymore. Because he was finished with the annoying barnacle on his neck and the trouble she’d caused. He had plans in his life, and she was only going to bring those plans to an end.
“Arrrgh,” he grumbled. “It matters not,” he spoke more to himself than to his first mate. “All that matters is thet I have a son to raise now and teach me craft. Someday, he will take me place at the helm and pillage th’ seas even better than me.”
“What is this?” Sebastian held up the baby’s hand where a small gold baby ring with the eagle crest of Blake Castle was engraved upon it. It was held onto the baby’s wrist by a thin piece of yarn. The newborn cried louder.
The captain knew they might be able to escape any ship the soldiers sent in pursuit, but getting lost in the mist was not an option with the sound of those lungs. It would only lead their pursuers right to them.
“Silence that damned thing, or I will take care of it meself.”
His first mate tried to bounce and rock the baby, with no results. “Perhaps ’tis hungry or soiled its swaddling,” he shouted over the noise.
“Let me at it.” The captain pulled out his dagger and reached toward the baby. Sebastian’s eyes grew wide and he instinctively pulled back. Then the captain used his dagger to cut the yarn on the baby’s arm. He held up the ring in the moonlight surveying it.
“What is that?” the boy asked, trying to calm the child.
“Me marker te a wealthy future,” he answered.
“Oh, aye,” answered his first mate. “That should be worth plenty once ye sell it.”
“Nay, this I cannot sell. ’Tis proof the boy is noble. After I train him and he brings me wealth by pillaging, I will reveal his secret and he will bring me wealth sitting on a dais as well. Or mayhap I’ll jest ransom him – either way I will win in the long run.”
“I think the babe needs its swaddling changed,” commented Sebastian.
“Then do it!” he barked the order.
“Aye, Cap’n.” Sebastian looked around, then laid the baby on top of a storage barrel. For lack of anything else to use, he removed his chaperon headgear, intending to use it. He opened the swaddling and gasped. “Ye ain’t goin’ ta like this Cap’n. I think yer wife is the one ta win after all.”
“What do ye mean?” He walked over to Sebastian to see what he was looking at. One look to the baby’s nether regions, and anger pumped through his veins. “Thet damned wench! I shoulda jest killed her after all. And what in the devil’s name am I supposed ta do with a wretched baby girl?”
Chapter 1
Blake Castle, Summer 1354
It had been over a year now since Sir Garrett of Blackmore had visited Blake Castle. It had been just after Lord Corbett Blake’s newfound brother, Madoc, had saved Garrett from being hanged in Shrewsbury.
Garrett had arrived just yesterday for the knighting ceremony of Madoc, as he had served as the man’s sponsor. Madoc may have been raised as a thief, but by his brother’s training, now wielded a sword and participated in the joust just as well as any of the other knights. They all celebrated in the courtyard, also participating in the festivities marking the summer solstice, Midsummer Eve.
“Garrett, ’tis so good to have you here.” His sister - Madoc’s wife - Abbey, ran up and threw her arms around him. “And tell me, how is father?”
Garrett returned the embrace, happy to see her as well. “Father awaits your visit, as the last time you were in Blackmore was right after you were married over a year ago now.”
“Sir Garrett.” Madoc extended his arm and smiled.
“Sir Madoc,” he greeted him, “it seems knighthood suits you after all.”
“And I do believe I have embraced the challenge, tho at first I had my doubts,” he said with an assuring nod.
“’Twas by my expert training, of course,” broke in Lord Corbett walking up to them, followed by his wife, Lady Devon, holding the hands of both their toddlers, Rook and Raven.
“Aye, brother,” agreed Madoc. “And I thank you for all you’ve done to help me.”
“My, Lady Devon, how your children have grown,” said Garrett, patting the toddlers on the tops of their heads. The boy had black hair like his father and the little girl had brown hair like her mother. “The last I saw them they were just babies.”
“And you’ve yet to see the newest member of the family,” said Corbett’s sister, Wren, joining them proudly with a bundle in her hands. Her son, Renard, was at her side as well. “This is our baby, Lark,” she said, showing her baby’s face to Garrett.
“Well, I guess the whole bird theme is being carried on here in the names,” laughed Garrett. “Madoc, when you and Abbey have a child, please don’t name it Pigeon after your birds.”
Both Abbey and Madoc looked at each other, but didn’t say a word.
“Is there something you want to tell me, little sister?” he asked, already knowing what they were going to say just by the looks on their faces.
“Madoc and I are going to have a baby, and in the not so distant future,” she said with a smile. “I was waiting til after the knighting ceremony to tell you. I’m surprised you didn’t even notice I’ve gained a considerable amount of weight.” She rubbed her hand over her stomach.
“I did notice,” he said. “But I’ve learned never to ask a woman questions. Especially about her weight. I am so happy for the both of you,” he said, giving his sister another hug.
“Let’s celebrate wit’ a dram o’ whisky,” said Wren’s Scottish husband, Storm, walking up with two tankards in his hand, both empty. He motioned for a serving wench to fill them. When she did and walked away, Storm brought it to his mouth and downed it. “Och! This is no’ whisky.”
“That is cuckoo-foot ale,” explained Devon. “’Tis made from anise, ginger and basil. ’Tis always served on Midsummer’s Eve.”
“And only a cuckoo would drink the vile potion,” remarked Storm, making a face.
“Destiny cakes are also part of the Midsummer Eve celebration,” explained Abbey, stopping a servant with a tray. “Try one, brother.” The small cakes atop the tray were shaped like many various items, such as a bird, an apple, and even a shoe.
Garrett shook his head, but Devon lifted her twins one at a time to let them choose from the tray.
“I want the one shaped like a fox,” shouted Renard - Storm and Wren’s son - helping himself to the cake that looked like his pet.
“I know my destiny,” explained Garrett. “I don’t need a cake to tell me.”
“Then how about a diviner egg?” Zara, the old gypsy, stood before Garrett now, breaking an egg into a bowl. She swirled it in a circle and then looked up to him. “I see a ship. A ship on the water. You are going to take a trip on the sea. A trip that will change your life forever.”
“That is what I have been trying to say,” added Garrett. He looked at his sister. “Abbey, for the last year I have been working for the Cinque Ports Confederation.”
“Really,” commented Lord Corbett with a tone of admiration to his voice. “’Tis quite an honor to guard the channel for King Edward III.”
“So, do you direct a fleet?” asked Abbey.<
br />
“I do. The king has appointed me as baron, and I am to manage the fleet at Hythe. He’s also given me a manor house in which to reside and land to go with it. So starting anon, that would be my new home.”
“Congratulations,” said Lord Corbett. “The king will fare well with you at the helm.”
“St John’s Wort bread, milord?” A serving wench stood before Abbey’s husband, Madoc, holding a tray of small loaves of bread made from locust seedpods, another part of the celebration.
“Nay,” stated Madoc, waving her away.”
“’Tis a game, husband,” Abbey told him, taking a loaf from the platter. “You break off a bite after asking a question in order to get your answer. Such as – how many children will we have?” She broke off a bite and started counting the seeds inside the bread for her answer. “One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . five . . .”
Madoc snatched the bread from her hand and shoved it into his mouth. “Better off not to know some things,” he told her.
Everyone laughed at the look upon the new father-to-be’s face.
“Come,” said Lord Corbett to the group, “’Tis time to partake in another tradition.” He led the small party to a long trough filled with water, at the far side of the courtyard.
“No more counting babies, I hope,” said Madoc with a jesting smile.
“Nay,” said Abbey. “Everyone is to choose a small wooden boat. Then you write a wish on a piece of parchment and attach it, and put it to sail with a candle burning atop.”