The Emperor’s Arrow
By Lauren D.M. Smith
The bride candidates have been summoned. Their numbers are many, yet only one is an Amazzi warrior. Only one would give her life to protect him.
Evony of Aureline, warrior of her people, has no intention of becoming a hideous old man’s bride. Though her people have sworn their loyalty to the legendary emperor Galen, Evony knows little of courts and intrigue. It’s simply not her world.
Yet it’s on the palace training grounds where Evony’s archery skills gain her the respect of soldiers and legates alike. The emperor himself takes notice of the beautiful, ruthless warrior. In turn, the young, steely eyed Galen is nothing at all what Evony expected.
This man could very well conquer her heart. But does he feel the same?
As the rivalry among the remaining bride candidates intensifies and the plot for the throne unfolds, Evony must make a grave choice: fulfill her destiny and protect her people or follow her heart and pursue true love.
Either way, the honor of the Amazzi people and the future of the empire now rests with Evony of Aureline. For she is the Emperor’s Arrow.
This book is approximately 85,000 words
Dear Reader,
There’s something magical about being the one to publish an author’s first book. It’s a wonderful feeling to experience the joy, the excitement and even the terror along with a debut author. Everything is new and wonderful, even while being new and sometimes scary as we work to release the book into the world. This month, I had the privilege of working with not one, but two debut authors, and I know you will love their books as much as I do, so please check them out!
The winner of Harlequin’s 2015 So You Think You Can Write Contest, chosen from thousands of submitted manuscripts, debuts this month with her fantasy romance, The Emperor’s Arrow. Lauren D.M. Smith delivered a kick-ass warrior and the emperor she’s honor bound to defend in this story of romance, adventure and intrigue that will have you wishing you could stay with the characters longer!
Also debuting this month is Jade Chandler. The subtitle of this fab romance might give you a hint of what you’re in store for, so hold on for the ride! His MC brothers call him Dare for a reason. He never backs down from a challenge. And Lila is going to be the sweetest challenge he’s ever conquered. Don’t miss Enough: A Dark, Erotic Motorcycle Club Romance.
Fans of Julie Moffett will be thrilled to know that not only does she have a new release out this month, but it is also available in print at select online retailers. Pick up a copy for your bookshelf today! Everyone’s favorite geek girl is back in No Strings Attached: A Lexi Carmichael Mystery, and this time Lexi and her hacker friends are taking on the Chinese in a dangerous game of revenge. Haven’t tried Lexi yet? You can start at the beginning with No One Lives Twice.
Readers praised Nico Rosso’s romantic suspense Countdown to Zero Hour, and One Minute to Midnight delivers the same action-packed thrill ride and swoon-worthy romance. Seasoned black ops soldiers Ben Jackson and Mary Kuri have never worked undercover together, but when their fake identities start flirting, a very real passion flares between them, and it seems like nothing can stop it—except maybe the dangerous gunrunners they’re investigating.
You fell in love with the hero of Julianna Keyes’s Time Served, and this month she’s back with a new hero who hits all the right buttons in The Good Fight. Former fighter Oz returns to his dying hometown where he falls for a stubborn, sexy doctor. He’s willing to jump back into the fight to gain her love, her trust and her forever.
Don’t forget, we have a full backlist of books across genres to keep your e-reader or reading app full. Make sure to check out our selections in paranormal romance, male/male romance and historical romance at www.carinapress.com!
Coming next month: Scott Hildreth makes his Carina Press debut with a bad-boy mafia romance, we launch a new paranormal romance series full of alpha heroes from Kerry Adrienne, and Anna del Mar is back with a sexy new romantic suspense.
As always, until next month, my fellow book lovers, here’s wishing you a wonderful month of books you love, remember and recommend.
Happy reading!
~Angela James
Executive Editor, Carina Press
Dedication
Dedicated to the memory of Allan Douglas Smith, the best grandad you could have, who would have been prouder than anyone about this book and would have told everyone it was a mystery set in Norway.
Contents
Chapter 1: The Palace
Chapter 2: Living Together
Chapter 3: Exploring
Chapter 4: Attack in the Night
Chapter 5: Third Test
Chapter 6: Practice
Chapter 7: Fourth Test
Chapter 8: Factions
Chapter 9: Legate
Chapter 10: Unexpected
Chapter 11: Riding
Chapter 12: Callisa
Chapter 13: Advice
Chapter 14: An Attempt
Chapter 15: Moonlit Meeting
Chapter 16: Distractions
Chapter 17: Hit
Chapter 18: Orders
Chapter 19: Going Home
Chapter 20: Pushing
Chapter 21: Preparing
Chapter 22: Broken Slumber
Chapter 23: Honour
Chapter 24: Incentive
Chapter 25: Splitting
Chapter 26: Colour of a Traitor
Chapter 27: Ending
Chapter 28: One Week Later
Acknowledgments
Coming Soon
About the Author
Chapter 1: The Palace
Evony stopped across the road from her destination, tilting her head back to get a better look at it. With its high, sun-bleached limestone walls standing out palely against the harsh blue of the sky and a wide, barred gate bracketed by columns, the entrance to the imperial palace was an awe-inspiring sight. Evony’s gaze roved past the light stone structures and hints of greenery that could be seen through the iron bars, her eyes focusing on the closed gate and the uniformed guards in front of it. That paired with walls nearly an actus high and made of heavy stone had her nodding. She was glad that at least the mainlanders seemed to have some sense of proper defense.
She sighed and hiked her pack higher on her back, grimacing slightly as her thin wool cloak twisted underneath it. Not that she really needed it with the sun beating down as it was, quite a difference from the thick forests of her home. She inhaled and her nose was again assaulted by the mixed scents of refuse, hot earth, animals, and too many people. Evony hadn’t been in the city more than a few horas and she already hated it.
Still, there was no helping it. Keeping a wary eye on the horses, carts, and chariots that always seemed to come out of nowhere, Evony made her way across the street. Not for the first time she cursed her luck. Finally, finally she’d won an archery competition against her sisters but instead of a proper prize she’d been sent here. Under normal circumstances she might have considered it exciting.
But not when she was being sent as a potential bride.
Evony glowered, not that anyone could see her face under the cloak’s brown hood. Her sisters had nearly hurt themselves with laughter when they found out what her prize was. Then they’d had to go and tell her all the horror stories they’d heard abou
t the beast-like emperor. He was power-mad and land-hungry which is why he’d conquered the whole continent, starting when he’d only been on the throne for a year. That he was an old man with a penchant for young girls. How he beheaded everyone who displeased him. At least Obelia hadn’t been completely heartless and had told her to stab the emperor if he tried to dishonour her.
It had only been three years since Emperor Galen had finished his war on the world, having conquered and absorbed every country on the continent so there wasn’t anywhere that didn’t bow to him as their supreme ruler. Evony wondered what kind of man this emperor was to have done such a thing.
Even more, she wanted to know why he’d decided now of all times to choose a bride. And why he’d had every noble family, even those who barely qualified like the Aurelines, send one of their daughters to him as a candidate. Evony sincerely hoped she was sent home quickly, even as she wondered how the emperor was going to be making his decision.
She shook herself free from the distracting thoughts as she came to a stop in front of the gate. Both guards, who had to be hot in their black tunics, iron chestplates and helmets, had their attention on her, one readjusting his grip on his pike, the other with his hand hovering near his sword. They were alert, she had to give them that. Evony was still pretty certain she could have taken care of both of them before they could yell the alarm, but she wasn’t about to test that theory.
“I’m Evony of clan Aureline,” she said, dropping her hood so they could see her face. “I’ve been sent to see the emperor.”
“Aureline?” said the man holding his pike white-knuckled. “Where’s that?”
“Doesn’t matter. The emperor doesn’t see just anyone.” His grizzled partner pulled his sword a digit out of its sheath. “Move along.”
Evony resisted the urge to challenge the man for his tone. She was tired, hot, and farther from home than she’d ever been in her life. And, as she realized, she’d forgotten to give them her title. “I’m Princeps Evony of Aureline. I’m from Silvinsula. I was summoned by the emperor so I would very much appreciate it if you let me in.”
“Ha! You expect me to believe you’re one of those crazed warrior women?” The older one had a smirk playing across his lips. “Try selling that story somewhere else. Unless you’re trying to sell something more...”
A muscle jumped in her cheek as she clenched her teeth, but Evony kept her temper in check. Barely. She couldn’t remember a time she’d been spoken to so rudely, especially by a man. This might be the mainland, but she’d expected better manners, especially when it was the emperor who had called her here. “I will not ask you again,” she said, her voice rising as her emotions bled through despite her best efforts. “Let me in, or you can be certain I will see that the emperor hears of this.”
The younger guard shifted his weight from one foot to the other, looking towards his partner. The other man snorted. “You’re starting to become a lot less amusing there, girl. You’d best leave now, before we move you along.”
“Try it,” Evony snapped, temper breaking. One hand crept towards the large daggers she kept over each hip when a shout interrupted her.
“What’s going on over here?”
She flicked her eyes towards the tall man striding towards the gate from the other side. With his black tunic embroidered with gold and with an elaborate chestplate, even Evony could tell that he was of a much higher rank than the two in front of her. They turned to look and stiffened, saluting. “Legate,” they chorused.
Evony eyed the man, noting the wide streaks of grey in his brown hair, the lines in his weathered face, all above a body still that of a warrior despite his age. He was a man who would have been in high demand at home.
“This woman—” said the grey man, jerking his chin in her direction “—claims she’s been summoned by the emperor but has no documents or anything.”
The legate kept his stare on the man long enough for him to shuffle his feet before the legate turned to look at Evony. “And you are...?”
She tossed her head, the curly mass of her hair, barely contained by the horsetail she’d tied it in, slapping against her back. “I am Princeps Evony, daughter of Princeps Zarina, leader of clan Aureline. I have been sent to answer the emperor’s call.”
“Forgive me, but we’ve had several people try to trick their way into the palace lately. Do you have proof that you’re an Aureline?”
Evony’s eyes narrowed as she considered her options. This man at least seemed to have some knowledge and was reasonable, which was more than could be said for the other two. She reached behind her, untying the strings that held her favourite recurve bow to her pack. She slipped her other hand into one of her belt pouches and pulled out a string, smoothly fitting it onto her weapon with the ease of long practice.
With the men watching, she opened the closed quiver attached to her belt and put an arrow to her bow. Then she turned back towards the legate. She noted his gaze was on her leather wrist guards, while the other two stared at her. She jerked her chin at the tree just visible from behind the wall that separated them. When the men turned to look, she said, “I’ll hit the dead leaf.”
She exhaled, pushing all her emotions out as she did so. She needed to be calm. The tiny patch of brown amongst the green was a bit of a stretch but she didn’t want there to be any doubt that she was a true Amazzi. She properly nocked the arrow and aimed, feeling for the wind and trying to account for the drier air here, glad she’d done some practicing on the way over and since arriving on the mainland or this might have been more difficult.
Once she felt everything was perfect, she let her arrow fly. It sped through the sky and sliced straight through the brown leaf before burying itself into the thick branch behind it. She lowered her bow, letting it hang parallel to the ground with one hand while the other went to her hip. “I hope that is proof enough.”
The guards looked at her with wide eyes while the legate nodded. “You are truly of the Amazzi,” he said to her, then his stare went to the other men. “Let her in. She is one of the bride candidates.”
The youngest man hurriedly scrambled for the keys at his side, his face pale as he unlocked the gate. Evony paid him little attention, focused on carefully unstringing her bow and putting it back on her pack. When she finished, she found the legate’s gaze still on her. He seemed to be studying her. She returned the attention briefly, taking better stock of his weapons, a long sword and dagger, and she stepped through the now open gate.
“Allow me to lead you to the main hall.” The man swept a hand out to indicate the palace.
“Thank you,” Evony said, following him inside. To her left lay an open green space that stretched out for a few actus prior to being interrupted by a long wooden building while to her right rose the palace proper. Alabaster columns with elaborate capitals marched along the breezeway that lay between the buildings and the grounds that surrounded everything. The main building rose two stories above her, made of the same stone as the walls with arched doorways and windows that lay open to catch the slight breeze that fluttered through the leaves of the scattered trees.
The palace was more of a complex, with several buildings attached by covered walkways with gardens and courtyards interspersed between them. Evony only got a hint of all of it as the legate led her into the closest building.
It was cooler inside, out of the sun’s glare, though still too hot by Evony’s standards. The hall they entered was tiled in cut rock in shades of brown and yellow, laid out into circular patterns. This hall was delineated from the centre with more columns, leaving walkways around the periphery of the middle rectangle.
There were plenty of people hurrying by, their long robes flapping as they hurried or shushing as they glided by. Most of the men seemed to wear long white robes over a shorter undertunic of various colours. The women dressed the opposite way, with a long whi
te inner dress over which a variety of styles of overdress was placed, generally in bright colours.
To Evony it looked hot. She much preferred her knee-length chiton. It was cooler, easier to move in, and required a lot less effort to get into than some of the things she saw the other women wearing. She didn’t even know how you fastened half of them. Only the warriors and guards she saw wore the shorter tunics. They were definitely the sensible ones as far as she was concerned.
Her musings were interrupted with the legate stopping and pointing across the centre area to a man who stood near the top edge of the section, a board with several papers in one hand, a bronze stylus in the other. “Speak to him. He’ll have someone take you to where you need to be and make the appropriate arrangements.”
“You have my gratitude,” Evony said, clapping a closed fist over one shoulder in the Amazzi gesture of respect.
The legate’s lips quirked up into a half smile and he gave her a little bow before walking off. She watched him go. So far he was the only decent man she’d met and that worried her. If his type was a rarity on the mainland then her secondary mission was going to be hard. And she’d been so excited about finding a worthy man to serve as stud to her, to finally experience the pleasure of two people instead of what she could bring to herself. Evony sighed. This whole trip was a disaster.
With a last glance back at the door she’d come through, Evony strode towards the man the legate had pointed out and whatever nonsense this competition had in store for her.
* * *
Evony tugged at the long chiton she wore, not liking how it encased her legs. That and an overdress of golden yellow completed the outfit she’d been presented with as something all candidates had to wear. Evony had at least been able to fit several knives under everything, and two of her longer daggers with their sheaths in crossed belts over her hips.
Despite the look the maid had given her, she’d refused any hairstyle more than her usual horsetail. She didn’t have the patience, not when her hair fought her doing anything to it. Evony shook herself free of her thoughts, cursing not for the first time the way her mind wandered. She concentrated instead on the scenery she passed rather than the far more boring back of the guard she was following. He’d swallowed when he’d noticed her weapons and so far hadn’t done anything to improve her impression of him.
The Emperor's Arrow Page 1