King's Blood Read online

  © 2017 by Jill Williamson

  Published by Bethany House Publishers

  11400 Hampshire Avenue South

  Bloomington, Minnesota 55438

  www.bethanyhouse.com

  Bethany House Publishers is a division of

  Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan

  www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

  Ebook edition created 2017

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

  ISBN 978-1-4412-3073-7

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2016942746

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Cover design by LOOK Design Studio

  Author is represented by MacGregor Literary, Inc.

  To Brad Williamson, my hero

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Cross section of the Seffynaw

  Key Players

  Epigraph

  Part Four: Kingdom at Sea

  Prologue

  Trevn

  Wilek

  Charlon

  Inolah

  Grayson

  Kalenek

  Trevn

  Wilek

  Trevn

  Charlon

  Hinck

  Kalenek

  Wilek

  Trevn

  Wilek

  Charlon

  Hinck

  Inolah

  Gozan

  Wilek

  Grayson

  Trevn

  Hinck

  Part Five: Maelstrom

  Wilek

  Trevn

  Wilek

  Kalenek

  Charlon

  Hinck

  Wilek

  Trevn

  Amala

  Kalenek

  Wilek

  Kalenek

  Charlon

  Trevn

  Grayson

  Wilek

  Amala

  Hinck

  Wilek

  Hinck

  Wilek

  Trevn

  Hinck

  Grayson

  Gozan

  Kalenek

  Wilek

  Charlon

  Gozan

  Trevn

  Wilek

  Hinck

  Part Six: Voices of Blood

  Charlon

  Trevn

  Grayson

  Wilek

  Gozan

  Wilek

  Trevn

  Charlon

  Grayson

  Trevn

  Hinck

  Wilek

  Amala

  Kalenek

  Trevn

  Qoatch

  Charlon

  Trevn

  Wilek

  Amala

  Wilek

  Kalenek

  Wilek

  Trevn

  A Note From the Author

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  THE KINSMAN CHRONICLES

  Back Ads

  Back Cover

  Key Players

  Armania

  House Hadar

  Echad [EE-kad]-Rosâr Hadar, king of Armania

  Schwyl, Echad’s onesent

  Captain Lebbe Alpress, captain of the King’s Guard

  Zenobia, Echad’s concubine

  Lilou Caridod, Echad’s mistress

  Brelenah-Rosârah, Echad’s first wife, Wilek and Inolah’s mother

  Captain Rayim Veralla, captain of the Queen’s Guard

  Hawley, Brelenah’s onesent

  Wilek [WILL-ek]-Sâr Hadar, son of Echad and Brelenah

  Sir Kalenek Veroth, Wilek’s High Shield

  Novan, Kalenek’s backman

  Agmado Harton, Wilek’s backman

  Dendrick, Wilek’s onesent

  Laviel-Rosârah, Echad’s second wife, Janek’s mother

  Janek-Sâr Hadar, son of Echad and Laviel

  Sir Jayron, Janek’s High Shield

  Hinckdan Faluk, Earl of Dacre, Janek’s backman

  Timmons, Janek’s onesent

  Mattenelle, Janek’s concubine

  Pia, Janek’s concubine

  Sir Kamran DanSâr, son of Echad and Zenobia

  Fonu Edekk, friend to Janek

  Thallah-Rosârah Orsona, Echad’s third wife, Trevn’s mother, Ulrik’s great-aunt

  Trevn-Sâr Hadar, son of Echad and Thallah

  Sir Cadoc Wyser, Trevn’s High Shield

  Ottee [Ot-EE], Trevn’s onesent

  Valena-Rosârah, Echad’s fourth wife

  Enetta, Hrettah and Rashah’s nurse

  Hrettah-Sârah Hadar, daughter of Echad and Valena

  Sir Kenard Taldun, Hrettah’s High Shield

  Ulmer Gelsly, Kenard’s backman

  Rashah-Sârah Hadar, daughter of Echad and Valena

  Sir Zeric Meray, Rashah’s High Shield

  Rey Kael, Zeric’s backman

  Other Armanians

  Onika [ON-ik-ah], the True Prophet, a blind woman

  Tulay [TOO-lay], honor maiden to Onika

  Yoana [Yo-AHNA], honor maiden to Onika

  Kempe [KEM-pay], Onika’s personal maid

  Rustian, Onika’s dune cat

  Mielle, Kalenek’s ward, honor maiden to Lady Zeroah

  Amala, Kalenek’s ward, Mielle’s little sister

  Darlow, Mielle and Amala’s nurse

  Inolah-Sârah Orsona-Hadar, daughter of Echad and Brelenah, mother of Emperor Ulrik

  Princess Vallah Orsona, Inolah’s daughter, Emperor Ulrik’s sister

  Sârah Jemesha, Echad’s sister, Oli and Eudora’s mother

  Oli Agoros, Duke of Canden

  Eudora Agoros, Oli’s sister

  Admiral Hanray Vendal, admiral of the king’s fleet

  Captain Aldair Livina [Liv-EE-nuh], captain of the Seffynaw

  Quen [Kwen], first mate

  Norgam Bussie [BUHS-ee], second mate

  Nietz [Neets], master’s mate

  Shinn, master’s mate

  Zaki, sailor

  Bonds, sailor

  Rzasa [RAW-zuh], sailor

  Hara, the king’s cook

  Shemme, Hara’s daughter, a maid

  Father Burl Mathal, medial priest of the Rôb church

  Jhorn, a retired soldier and amputee

  Grayson, a boy with a gray rash

  The Omatta Clan

  Rand, leader of the Omatta

  Meelo, Rand’s son

  Zahara, Rand’s daughter

  Teaka, Rand’s mother

  Errp, Teaka’s newt

  Traitors to Armania

  Barthel Rogedoth (also known as Prince Mergest III), former Pontiff of Armania, uncle to Loran of Sarikar

  Dendron, a great shadir, bonded to Barthel Rogedoth

  Filkin Yohthehreth, Rôb prophet

  Zithel Lau, Rôb priest

  Sarikar

  House Pitney

  King Jorger Pitney, king of Sarikar, the God’s King

  Prince Loran Pitney, Jorger’s son and heir

  Princess Saria, Loran’s daughter

  Prince Thorvald, Loran’s son

  Zeroah Barta, Loran’s niece, betrothed to Wilek Hadar

  Doth, Zeroah’s guard

  Ephec, Zeroah’s guard
<
br />   Rystan Barta, Duke of Tal, Zeroah’s little brother

  Prince Rosbert, Jorger’s son, Loran’s brother

  Lady Riyah, Rosbert’s daughter

  Lady Tesslia, Rosbert’s daughter

  Lord Kanzer, Rosbert’s son

  Rurekau

  House Orsona

  Emperor Ulrik Orsona, emperor of Rurekau

  Sir Iamot [EE-uh-moht], Ulrik’s High Shield

  Taleeb, Ulrik’s onesent

  Prince Ferro Orsona, Ulrik’s younger brother

  General Balat, head of the Igote guard

  Kakeeo, Rurekan sheriff

  Burk, a Rurekan passenger

  Magonia

  Ruling Clan

  Mreegan, Magonian Chieftess

  Kateen, First of Mreegan’s Five Maidens

  Astaa, Second of Mreegan’s Five Maidens

  Roya, Third of Mreegan’s Five Maidens

  Rone, number One of Mreegan’s Five Men

  Nuel, number Two of Mreegan’s Five Men

  Vald, number Three of Mreegan’s Five Men

  Torol, number Four of Mreegan’s Five Men

  Gullik [GUHL-ik], number Five of Mreegan’s Five Men

  Charlon, Mother of the Deliverer

  Magon, a great shadir, bonded to Mreegan and Charlon

  Krola, captain of the Vespara

  Tenma

  Priestess Jazlyn, High Queen of Tenma

  Qoatch [KO-ach], Jazlyn’s eunuch slav, a seer

  Gozan, a great shadir, bonded to Jazlyn

  Main Ships of the Fleet

  Seffynaw [SEF-EE-naw], Rosâr Echad’s ship, flagship of Armania and the fleet

  Rafayah [Raf-AHY-uh], the vice flagship of Armania

  Berith [BAIR-ith], advance guard ship of Armania

  Baretam [BAIR-IT-am], Emperor Ulrik’s ship, flagship of Rurekau

  Gillsmore [GILS-mohr], the vice flagship of Rurekau

  Kaloday [KAL-UH-dey], Loran’s ship, flagship of Sarikar

  Vespara [Ves-PAR-uh], Chieftess Mreegan’s ship, stolen from Sarikar

  Amarnath [EY-mahr-nath], Barthel Rogedoth’s ship

  The Wanderer, Grayson’s first ship

  Malbraid, Rand’s ship

  Taradok [TARE-uh-dok], Zahara’s ship

  The Gods of the Five Realms

  Arman, the father god

  Athos, god of justice and law

  Avenis/Avennia, god/goddess of beauty

  Barthos, god of the earth/soil

  Cethra/Cetheria, god/goddess of protection

  Dendron, god of nature

  Gâzar, ruler of the Lowerworld, bringer of death

  Iamos, god/goddess of healing

  Lâhat, god of fire

  Magon, goddess of magic

  Mikreh, god of fate and fortune

  Nivanreh, god of travel

  Rurek, god of war

  Sarik, god of wisdom

  Tenma, the mother god

  Thalassa, virgin goddess of the sea

  Yobat/Yobatha, god/goddess of pleasure and celebration

  Zitheos, god of animals

  The Prophetess urged the people to hurry and leave the land. “For otherwise,” said The Prophetess, “you will all die!” So the people set out from the Five Realms, traveling by sea into the unknown, trusting Arman to do as He promised and lead them to a new land, a good and spacious land of plenty.

  —The History of the Armanites, Hinckdan Faluk,Castle Armanguard 27

  Prologue

  Gozan flew through the Veil, just out of reach of the ocean’s spray. Behind him his swarm followed, a cloudy mass of colors and shrieking sounds. He wished for silence but hadn’t the energy to rebuke them just now.

  If things didn’t change, he might never have the energy again.

  In the distance the Armanian king’s flagship Seffynaw sat low in the water, a fat tub stuffed with treasure and humans whose greed had nearly killed off their race. The shadir had played their part as well. Gozan hadn’t realized the effects of his dependence on human bonding. None of the shadir had. They had always taken for the sake of taking, for pleasure and power and to please their master Gâzar. They had not ever considered consequences.

  But now they must, for their way of life was at risk.

  Gozan reached the Seffynaw from its starboard side and circled the hull. He soared above the railing and onto the stern deck. Slights and commons filled the area, invisible to the humans seated at a table there. Magon stood at the back of the ship, leaning against the taffrail. For centuries she had preferred to take form as a human female. Gozan never understood why she wanted to look like her slaves.

  His shadir swarm met Magon’s, and the cacophony of the two groups intermingling grated on Gozan’s nerves. “Silence!” he yelled.

  To their credit all obeyed, even those shadir loyal to Magon.

  Gozan folded his arms and let the soles of his feet rest on the deck so that he stood before Magon, looming over her frail, human form.

  She smirked at his posture. “Greetings, Rurek.”

  The name sent fire through his limbs. “I am Gozan now.”

  “Still hiding, are you?”

  “Waiting.” He had never been hiding.

  “Well, I have waited long enough,” she said, which brought cheers from her votaries. “We must act before all is lost.”

  “You have a plan, then? How to survive this setback?”

  “I’m bored with no access to my mantic,” said one of Magon’s slights. “It’s no fun merely whispering in ears. I want the humans to see me and be swayed by my influence.”

  “Mine hasn’t seen me since we left the land,” said another.

  “Mine either,” said a third.

  “They are completely out of evenroot on my human’s ship,” said one of Gozan’s brood.

  “Mine too!” echoed the first of Magon’s slights.

  “Stop fretting, all of you,” Magon said. “We simply must lead these ships to land. Once the humans plant and harvest new evenroot crops, our power over them will return.”

  “But it takes at least three months to reap a harvest,” a slight said.

  “And harvesting that early, the roots will be small,” said another.

  “Patience,” Magon said. “We must remain calm and focus on leading the ships to land.”

  “But, master,” Masi said to Gozan, “with so little evenroot, we have no control over the captains of these vessels.”

  “We only need control the one who leads,” Gozan replied.

  Snickers broke out among the slights, and a common behind Magon said, “Humans will never agree on the same leader.”

  “They will follow Armania,” Magon said. “They always do, despite my efforts.”

  “Then we must work together to lead the Armanians to land,” Gozan said.

  “I have no power in Armania yet,” Magon said. “I am close. But my mantics are divided at present as to how to proceed.”

  Typical. Magon bored too easily. “You never could stay loyal to one human.”

  “Where is the fun in that? It’s much more entertaining to bait them against each other. Better than hiding for decades in a lowly position.”

  “Jazlyn is loyal to me,” Gozan said, “and now that she is High Queen of Tenma, I am in a place to use my power to advance her realm.”

  “The real problem is that I am uncertain where land is,” Magon said. “The humans are headed to an island now, but if they are to plant a substantial amount of evenroot without interference from religious zealots, we must lead them to a great expanse.”

  “Are you certain another exists?” Gozan asked. “Perhaps only this mysterious island remains.”

  “This world is vast, Gozan,” Magon said. “If there is a great stretch of land out there, my swarm will find it.”

  This sent Magon’s votaries into a flurry of color and objections.

  “Go without you?”

  “We mustn’t leave you, Great One. We would be lost apart from you.”r />
  “Lost without your guidance.”

  “I refuse to leave your side,” a purple slight said. “I will die before I do.”

  “Die, then!” A wave of Magon’s hand obliterated the purple slight into a wisp of smoke. Her votaries scattered briefly, then cowered at her feet, trembling.

  “Are you ready to listen?” she asked.

  Her swarm stared at her, eyes wide and contrite. Some nodded. Not one made a sound.

  “I have no need of you here at present,” she said. “You will be of better use to me seeking out land. Remember, as your great shadir, I can summon you all at a word. And no matter how far you drift from me, call on my name and you can always return.”

  It would pain them, though, to be parted from her, and it would weaken her to be without their energy. Gozan hesitated to join her risky plan, knowing it would cost him as well, yet he couldn’t afford to be left in the dark. “My shadir will go with yours,” he said.

  A heavy silence fell over their group. The two swarms appraised one another as if trying to decide whether or not such a joining was in their best interest.

  “We might as well get started,” Magon said, and she set about dividing her followers into four groups with a common at the head of each.

  Gozan did the same with his swarm.

  “Do not return until you have found a fair amount of land or until I summon you,” Magon told her shadir. “Now fly!”

  As her swarm flitted away, Gozan lowered his voice to his own. “Return to me when summoned, when you find land, or if you sense a betrayal from Magon’s swarm. I want them tracked at all times. Understood?”

  His shadir throbbed and spun their agreement.

  “After them!” he yelled.

  They shot away like streaks of smoke on the tails of fire arrows. He watched them, pride welling inside. They would not fail him.

  “You are vulnerable without your swarm,” Magon said. “As is your mantic.”

  “And you are not?”

  She smiled. “My mantics still have stores of evenroot.”

  “If it’s a fight you seek, you will not win. Alone, I am stronger than you.”

  She cackled. “I have no wish to fight you, Rurek. My fight is with Dendron. It always has been. I cannot defeat him alone, but we might do so together.”

  She did not tempt him in the least. He hadn’t even seen Dendron since The Great Parting. “I have no quarrel with Dendron.”

  “Not now,” Magon said, “but Dendron has a hold on Armania. The realm is his. And once the humans find land and set up their seats of power, Armania will rule. It will not be long thereafter that we will all come to odds with Dendron. I have a plan to protect myself. You should too.”