Amazon 5-Star Review
“Realm walk kept me interested the entire time I was reading. It's not your typical fairy tale and has a ton of action as well as twists and turns. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes different takes on classic fairy tales.”
* * *
~Amazon Customer
Description
Maezy is no sleeping beauty.
She prefers her sword to magic, is more comfortable chopping off limbs than kissing lips, and she can visit people in her sleep. However, life isn't a complete realm walk for a hybrid like Maezy. She has a gift anyone might kill for, and she's trained her whole life to deal with that eventuality.
* * *
There should always be a Plan C.
Her father, the Elf King, has sent an army to kidnap her. He wants to use her talent to take over all the realms, but Maezy isn't ready to comply with his wishes. In fact, hoping to stop the onslaught, she's agreed to her mother's plan.
* * *
Sorcerer versus Hybrid.
The handsome associate her father has bribed into helping him has some superior warlock powers. Brandalfr's a hybrid as well, and he knows how Maezy feels. He's the only one, though, who can help. With so much at stake, will he be willing to assist her?
* * *
They're in this together.
Now Maezy must use more than her sword to beat her father and hold his hot, irritating, hybrid warlock at arm's length. After all, her mother always taught her to never trust an elf.
A Sneak Peek
Thank you so much for purchasing my book! YOU are a wonderful reader, and I hope you will enjoy this sneak peek of my Beauty and the Beast retelling, Second Kingdom.
* * *
Chapter One
* * *
Roz jump kicked, turned to the right, threw a double-jab before hip checking, twisting the body around her, and throwing her opponent to the ground with a thud. Bright blue eyes stared up into her own as both gasped for air.
“Well done, Roz!” Captain Ralph walked forward and clapped her on the back.
She, in turn, helped her opponent up. Ice blue eyes shot shards of anger her way as she clasped wrist to wrist and pulled him to his feet. Shrugging, she let go of him, but he didn't release her at first. His fingers tightened until her skin whitened, and she bit her lip to keep from objecting.
“Very good, Leuthar. You almost had your sister. This time.” Captain Ralph chuckled as he clapped both brother and sister on the back.
Leuthar squeezed one last time, the bones and muscles retracting before he released her and led them from the training mats. His gate was long and quick as he went to the benches on the right. To the left side of the room, others stretched out in preparation for their own training session.
Captain Ralph raised an eyebrow at her as they walked behind. Shrugging once more, Roz sighed and swallowed. Her parched tongue reminded her of even more important matters.
Sliding between the captain and her brother to her cup of water, she took a few sips before looking around the room. Several mentors had their trainees around the mats enacting maneuvers of hand-to-hand combat. She recognized those she’d been training with since she was seven.
Nina, her best friend, stood across the room and tilted her head in silent question. Roz’s eyes met hers, and she shrugged. Nina blew her a kiss and refocused on her own training lesson.
“Stop besting me, Roz,” Leuthar's voice whispered from her left, as the captain turned to assist another student.
She glanced up at him and held his gaze before giving her signature move: another shrug. “I can't help it that you’re too slow, Leuthar. You need to practice more. I’m only doing what I’ve been taught.”
He continued to glare at her and shook his head. “Stop shrugging at me! I don’t wish to be bested by you. You’re my younger sister, and I have been practicing. I have two years more in training, and it makes me feel silly when you are able to take me down like that. I think we need to start training separately.”
“Perhaps,” Roz allowed, taking another gulp of her water.
Leuthar grabbed his bag and pushed past her.
“So, Leuthar angry again?”
A voice behind Roz had her react with an elbow to the midsection of this newcomer.
“Oomph,” the sound escaped Everett's mouth as Roz brought a hand to her own.
“I'm so sorry, Everett!”
Swallowing, he just shook his head and smiled. “A baby tap. You're blessed I was able to control my own reaction.”
Roz nodded, thinking of what might have happened if Everett had reacted. His broad, muscular frame would have inflicted damage. He was the only person she hadn't tackled to the ground yet.
“Perhaps he too wishes for this training to be over,” Everett reverted to the beginning of their conversation as he took a gulp of his water.
“Don't we all,” Roz agreed.
“Hey,” Everett nudged her arm. “Do you think he’s even there? What if he’s dead, and we’re down here trying to think of a way to take him out for nothing?”
“I’ve wondered the same thing. Has anyone seen the Beast King in the last few years? Or the last decade?” She sighed.
“Not from what I’ve heard. Your grandfather was one of the last to have seen him without retribution. I don’t think anyone’s actually seen him and lived to tell the tale,” Everett speculated.
“So, we could have been training for over a decade on a plan that will prove to be useless? How do we stop it then? How do we save them if we are wrong?”
Everett shook his head at Roz’s pleading. “I don’t know, Roz. If any more of our people die or the sickness comes upon them, we’re just going to all die out.”
“Did the others find any way out? Can we still not make it past the border?”
“No,” Everett shook his head. “The whole town is surrounded by trees and darkness. Every group we’ve sent into the woods to find a way out don’t come out. We can’t keep losing people that way.”
Roz nodded. “This has to work. I’m afraid of what we’ll be forced to do if it doesn’t.”
“Well, the time approaches. Captain Ralph said we’re near ready to follow through with our plan. We have enough recruits to go against this monster. We will finally be free.” Everett closed his eyes as though he were picturing that day, and Roz wondered what it looked like in his mind.
“Unless there is no monster, and we’re out of options and answers.”
“Roz, we’ve got to look on the bright side. I don’t know if we can survive otherwise,” Everett told her with downcast eyes.
She wondered if he was thinking of his parents. For their sake, for Leuthar’s sake, the beast had to be real and taken out.
“So, you believe the story?” she asked.
“You mean, if we find the beast and destroy the curse, we’ll live happily ever after?” Everett mocked.
“Yes, something like that,” Roz told him.
“I don’t know, Roz. Sometimes I think we’ve been grasping at straws the last decade. Building an army to take out an unseen monster that might not even be real? Maybe it’s all a big joke on us, and we’re not going to be the ones left laughing.”
“I guess we'll see. The meeting is within a week's time, right?” Roz asked, even though she knew the answer.
“Yes, and it can't come too soon.” Everett nodded and bent to gather his gear.
Roz picked up her own bag as well and walked to the doors with him. They walked silently, right leg, left leg, out the door.
The black sky above them was the same as it had been for the last ninety-nine years, or so, they had been told. It was the same sky Roz had seen for the last seventeen. Crops were very difficult to grow, but somehow, they managed to do so. The blackness had its own light, but they knew it was nothing like the real thing.
“What if this is reality?” Everett asked as the doors closed behind them.
“Black sky and sick cr
ops?” Roz questioned and shoved her bag further up her shoulder.
“Yeah,” Everett nodded. “What if the stories of our history are just that: stories?”
“I can’t believe that,” Roz told him. “You can’t either, Ev. There has to be some truth in the stories. We have to find an answer before more of our community dies.”
“Why is it I feel as if this is going to be a losing battle?”
Roz reached over and took his hand. “Ev, we’re going to find out what’s happened, beast or not. If nothing else, the castle might have answers. We need those answers.”
“I hope so, Roz. I don’t think I can watch my parents like this anymore.”
“I understand,” Roz said, and she squeezed his hand.
“Are you coming over to visit with Nina tonight?” he asked.
“No, I better help out at home and keep an eye on Leuthar. I don’t want dad to have to do it alone.”
“Is he getting worse?”
“No,” Roz denied and shook her head. “We’re keeping an eye on it though.”
“Good,” Everett pulled his hand from hers and took a step back. “You know what you have to do, though, right?”
“Yes. We know. That’s why this has to work.”
“I hope so.” Everett sighed. “See ya later, Roz.” He turned to the right, and she turned left onto the gravel street.
“Later, Ev.”
One foot in front of the other, the black-gold light guiding her, Roz made her way home. The roads were black pebbles now. After so many years, wars, and the shifting of the earth, the asphalt remained broken. Chunks still clung together here and there, but it was just gravel and dust beneath their feet.
“Hey!” a voice called out behind her.
Roz turned to find Nina running after her, feet crunching, and her bag bouncing in her left hand.
“Hey,” Roz returned as Nina slid to her side. “Are you finished?”
“Yeah, I was almost done when I spotted you earlier, but our instructor wanted to share another way of getting out of a hold. So, how’s Leuthar?”
Roz shrugged, and Nina hit her in the arm.
“Ow,” Roz joked and elbowed her friend back.
“Spill,” Nina commanded.
“You know what’s happening. We’re trying to keep an eye on him and downplay the instances, but I think the sickness is overtaking him.”
“It’s spreading, isn’t it?” Nina whispered.
Roz nodded and bit her lip. “I can’t imagine a world other than this one, Nina. I told your brother that we couldn’t believe this is it, but I’m really afraid it won’t ever change, and we’re going to come home and find our hopes shattered.”
“Nine decades is a long time to live this way,” Nina started, “but I believe what your grandfather told us. There has to be a way to get back to the world we once knew. I want to see the technology and flying vehicles.”
“Nina, those are just stories.”
“The beast could just be a story too. I don’t want to believe it is though. Don’t you wonder what it would be like to step onto an elevator and get to the next destination in a blink of an eye? Don’t you wonder what technology actually looks like?”
“Dreaming isn’t going to help us here, Nina. Ev’s right. This could all be a lie.”
“You don’t believe your grandfather then?”
“Nina, even if it’s true, it’s over nine decades ago. There is no orange sun. The sky is a black blob of weird golden light. Food is scarce, and people we love are getting sick. How can we believe in stories when reality is killing us?”
They stopped in the middle of the street and were the only two walking the road. No one else was around to hear Roz’s pent-up fear and frustration.
“It’s not our fault the world shifted and smashed continents into one another. We aren’t to blame for the death and wars. I want to believe the tales about a world where two nations found the strength to come together after WWIV and create a truce. If it’s true, then the beast is real, and that gives me hope.” Nina put her hand on Roz’s arm.
“I just want to be realistic about all of this. If we’re wrong…” she couldn’t speak it.
Talking to Ev had made her wonder if this was their truth.
“You’re not the only one terrified of it being a lie. Roz, I have to hold onto this hope. You know why.” Nina’s eyes filled with tears.
Roz put her hand over her friends. “I know. I want to believe too. I’m trying.”
“If we break the curse, we could contact the Second Kingdom. We could get help, and maybe, the sky will be blue and white and orange again. Please, believe it.”
“Nina,” Roz started, “I will try. We have a plan, and I hope Captain Ralph is right about the likelihood of it working.”
“He is,” Nina told her with complete confidence. “We’re going to beat the beast, Roz. We’re going to end this curse. I feel it in my bones.”
“I wish I was more like you, Nina.” Roz smiled and shook her head. “Your faith is contagious. Fine, I’ll be positive until further notice. I better get home. Do you want to come for supper?”
Nina shook her head. “I need to check in on mom and dad. Ev already headed home, and I shouldn’t leave him alone to deal with everything.”
“I understand,” Roz replied.
“Just remember, it isn’t really Leuthar saying those things. It’s the sickness. You’ll get him back.”
Roz reached out and hugged her friend close. Nina’s arms squeezed her tight. Parting, Roz punched her friend’s shoulder.
“Same to you. Your parents are going to make it.”
“Thanks, Roz. See you tomorrow?” Nina asked and brushed her fingers across her eyes.
Ignoring her friend’s tears, Roz looked at the ground and dug her shoe into the ground. The top of the toes was coated with dust. She shook it off and nodded.
“Of course,” she said, “we have to practice. The week will fly by.”
“Good. Later,” Nina said, turned with a wave, and walked away.
Roz watched her friend walk away. She switched her bag to her left shoulder and waited until Nina had disappeared from view.
Shaking her head, she stood there staring at the last place she’d seen Nina. Wishing for Nina’s faith, Roz sighed.
“I can only hope for the future when the beast is dead,” she whispered to the ground, kicking at the dirt. “If there is a beast.”
Roz turned around and looked at the castle. It sat upon a hill in the distance. From this far away she couldn't see any details or evidence of the beast lurking inside.
Although she wanted to believe it was only a myth, the sensation of not being alone was powerful. Her skin prickled, and she knew he was there, somewhere, watching them. Her head cocked to the right as if listening for him.
“We will come and destroy you,” she whispered, as if he stood in front of her, “We will win this kingdom back from you, and then the sun will shine through, and our people will live.”
Watching the castle, Roz noticed the swirl of black clouds congregate more fully above it. A crack of lightning lit the sky and thunder crashed over the crumbling structure.
“I guess someone out there agrees with me,” she whispered, and took a step back, twirled around, and bobbed along home.
* * *
If you would like to hear about future books, see sneak peeks, and FREEBIES, sign up for my monthly newsletter Rebecca Reddell’s Write Inspirations Newsletter and get a FREE ebook copy of Second Kingdom!
* * *
You can sign up here: http://eepurl.com/bZ4FM1
Dedication
To my amazing, generous, loveable, and hilarious Aunt Maezy. I miss you very much. This novel is for you. I love you to infinity, eternity, and beyond. Checkmate.
Acknowledgments
This novella is due to the people who help made it happen: Author Dorian Tsukioka, Cynthia Vreeland, and Angie Carpenter!
THANK YOU for your
continued support and feedback. You are AMAZING people, and I appreciate YOU!!!
Realm Walk: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling
By Rebecca Reddell
I
1
Slice!
His arm came off, and along with it, the sword. Maezy spun on her heel and jammed her blade into the next attacker. She wasn’t in the mood to dance around as they tried to grab her and instead, resorted to ending the conflict as soon as possible.
He crashed to the ground as Maezy yanked out the sword. “There's too many! We have to fall back!”
The world was a frenzy of armor and swords. Metal flashed in the bright sunlight. Elves preferred their swords, bows, and arrows to guns. Keeping to the rules of war etiquette, Maezy used the sword to deflect another attacker. This one, like the last, made a concentrated effort to pull her along with him. Refusing to be kidnapped, which she could only guess was his intention as he deflected her blows and tried to grab her, Maezy took the first opportunity to smash him over the head.
“Fall back!” The trumpet sounded as the Captain gave the order.
“Maezy!” The voice calling blended with the sound of another sword thwack!
“Hold on!” Maezy returned, as she parried, thrust, spun, and blocked again.
Sweat drip, drip, dripped into her eyes. The salty sting had her blinking double-time as she predicted her attacker's next move. His other hand reached out to grab her wrist and yank her off balance. With another parry, arm straining above her head, she reached for her belt, grabbed, and shoved her dagger into the heart of the warrior in front of her.
The Four Tales Page 69