by H. M. Clarke
Garrick released the page and let it flutter down on his desk and stepped back to the charge sheet. At the bottom of that page was a large space awaiting his signature and Seal. Garrick sighed and flicked open his inkwell and picked up his pen.
“Arrest them all Willard. And let it all be done.”
The decision had been made. Dipping his pen in the inkwell, Garrick quickly signed his name to the bottom of the document. Malchance dobbed melted wax from the heated wax stick at the signatures’ end and Garrick lifted his Great Seal from its box and stamped it into the cooling blob.
CHAPTER TEN
“FELIAN HAS ESCAPED us. And the man that we had under watch as her suspected spellcrafter, the senior footman, has disappeared as well.”
Talon stood just inside the door of the seneschal’s office, which was now Duke Malchance’s office. The Duke was seated at the work desk shuffling papers and Garrick stood to one side looking through the small glazed window to the courtyard down below.
“Have the city searched for them. Increase the scrutiny at the city gates for people, animals and vehicles entering and leaving Hered.”
“Yes, Prince Garrick.” Captain Talon bowed his head. “Are there any other orders?”
“The Emperor is not to be disturbed. The Physician says that he is in desperate need of rest and recuperation if he is to recover completely from his ensnarement. Duke Malchance and I are the only visitors that can see him. All food, drink and medicines are to be thoroughly vetted before going into his presence.”
“Yes, your highness.” Talon bowed again and took a step back before he turned and strode for the door.
Once the door was closed Garrick looked to Malchance. “Were Felian and her pet magic user the only ones to escape?”
Malchance shook his head. “Two Justicars on the arrest list have not yet been found either. Felian has not been seen since yesterday evening. I suspect that as soon as she heard of the failure of the assassination, she left the city. I do not think we will find her here.”
“She would not have gone far though. That woman does not like to be too far away from power.”
“She also values her skin remaining unblemished and keeping her head attached to her neck Garrick, the woman will not stay around here.”
Garrick poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter the Duke kept by the window, he turned and offered Malchance to refill the glass he had but the Duke waved it away accompanied with a shake of his head.
“She will not get far,” Garrick said after taking a drink from his glass and looking back out of the window. “The empire will be hunting for her and anyone who aids her. She tried to kill me and I still believe that she was behind Caitin’s death. It is because of her that my daughter grew up without knowing who her parents are and is now a Hatar Kalar.”
A loud screech sounded through the room making Garrick wince as it grated against his eardrums. It came from outside, heard even through the thick stone walls of the palace and a large shadow passed over the ground of the courtyard outside. Guards and servants scurried for cover as a large blue Hatar’le’margarten appeared, back winging to slow its descent onto the now deserted cobblestones.
“What’s happened?” Malchance asked as he rushed from his desk to the window.
“A Hatar landing in the courtyard.”
Both men watched as the creature set down daintily on all fours and then crouched down on its front legs. The flyer quickly released himself from the flight harness and dismounted from the Hatar as the new Palace Guard rushed out to meet him.
“Do you recognize them?” Malchance asked.
“I do, they are from Harada’s Flight, though I can’t remember their names.”
As the two men watched the scene from the window, after a brief discussion, the small group of the guard and the Hatar Kalar now moved in their direction.
“He’s here to see you, Garrick. That can only mean Harada or Oded has some bad news for us.”
“Let’s hope to the One that it’s only that the Arranian’s have attacked.”
Placing his glass back by the decanter, Garrick quickly left the room to meet with the Hatar Kalar.
To Be Continued in
Part 10
The Gathering
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THE KALARTHRI
The Way to Freedom, Book One
“This Hatar Kalar has more natural Talent than any Second Born found in the Empire.”
Every ten years the Imperium Provosts travel the provinces of the Great Suene Empire and take every second born child as the property of the Emperor. His Due for their continued protection.
Kalena, taken from her family and friends finds herself alone and scared in the imperial Stronghold of Darkon. And when she cries out to the darkness for help, Kalena is shocked when it answers her back.
If you found out that you were different from everyone else, what would you do?
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John McCall Mysteries, Book One
John McCall just wanted to get a surprise for his men. Instead he got a disemboweled body.
A man is arrested for the murder but McCall is sure that they have the wrong person.
And when McCall starts digging around for the truth, he unearths a whole lot more than he bargained for.
Howling Vengeance. A supernatural mystery in the Old West.
Available now at your favorite Online Bookseller
THE ENCLAVE
The Verge, Book One
Katherine Kirk lived only for vengeance.
Vengeance against the man who destroyed her home, her family and her life.
Sent on a babysitting mission to Junter 3, RAN officer Katherine Kirk, finds herself quickly embroiled in the politics between the New Holland Government and the Val Myran refugees claiming asylum.
After an Alliance attack Kirk and her team hunt the enemy down and discover that they have finally found the lair of the man they have been searching for...
And the captive who has been waiting patiently for rescue.
“What would you do to the man who destroyed every important person in your life?”
Winter’s Magic
Book One of The Order
KAITLYN WINTER IS BITING at the bit to become an active agent for the Restricted Practitioners Unit. And on her first day in the job she is thrown into a virtual s**t storm (to put it nicely).
First, she gets targeted for Assassination by The Sharda’s top assassin
Second, her Werewolf best friend decides that her being ‘Straight’ means she can’t protect herself and places her in protective custody
Third, the love of her life still won’t notice her existence and the Tempus Mage who’s set to keep an eye on her is infuriatingly attractive....
You can find out more information and sign up for Hayley’s monthly newsletter on her website
http://www.hmclarkeauthor.com/
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
IN A FORMER LIFE, H M Clarke has been a Console Operator, an ICT Project Manager, Public Servant, Paper Shuffler and an Accountant (the last being the most exciting.)
She attended Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, where she studied for a Bachelor of Science (Chem), and also picked up a Diploma in Project Management while working for the South Australian Department of Justice.
In her spare time, she likes to lay on the couch and watch TV, garden, draw, read, and tell ALL her family what wonderful human beings they are.
She keeps threatening to go out and get a real job (Cheesecake Test Taster sounds good) and intends to retire somewhere warm and dry – like the middle of the Simpson Desert. For the time being however, she lives in Ohio and dreams about being warm...
You can find out more information and sign up for Hayley’s monthly newsletter on her website – http://hmclarkeaut
hor.com
http://eepurl.com/SPy61
Or catch her on Twitter - @hmclarkeauthor
About the Author
In a former life, H M Clarke has been a Console Operator, an ICT Project Manager, Public Servant, Paper Shuffler and an Accountant (the last being the most exciting.)
She attended Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, where she studied for a Bachelor of Science (Chem), and also picked up a Diploma in Project Management while working for the South Australian Department of Justice.
In her spare time, she likes to lay on the couch and watch TV, garden, draw, read, and tell ALL her family what wonderful human beings they are.
She keeps threatening to go out and get a real job (Cheesecake Test Taster sounds good) and intends to retire somewhere warm and dry – like the middle of the Simpson Desert. For the time being however, she lives in Ohio and dreams about being warm…
Read more at H.M. Clarke’s site.