by AE Watson
Valiant
The Blood Trail Chronicles
Watson
Valiant
The Blood Trail Chronicles
Book Three
Copyright
Copyright © 2021 Tara Brown
This is a work of fiction.
All names, characters, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
This work is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This work may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the express written consent of the publisher.
Published by Tara Brown.
Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. No alteration of content is permitted.
Printed in the United States of America
Cover Art by Dark Tree Designs
Edited by Andrea Burns
All rights reserved
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Contents
Map of Enderoth
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
The End
Preface
Chapter One
ALSO BY AE WATSON
About the Author
Map of Enderoth
Chapter 1
“How do I look?” Ed, my brother, asked from the throne of Firth. He held his head high and his eyes firm, the way father always had, a pose he would surely grow into.
The view was bizarre in a surreal way, as if it was the culmination of all our efforts thus far.
We took Firth.
By force.
But we took it.
“Handsome,” I answered finally as I paced in front of him. “Are you certain you’re ready to see them all together? Meeting them one-on-one might have been a better plan, don’t you think?” I asked as my own gaze drifted to the massive entryway where the posted guards stood in front of closed doors. Men we had brought from Ettelbruck to be the steward’s guard here in Firth. They were especially needed today as the heads of the houses of Firth would be coming to swear fealty to Michael, and Ed.
“I’m ready,” he answered confidently.
“Will you follow Michael’s advice and choose some of your advisory council from them?”
His eyes flitted to mine before he spoke, “Yes. He’s likely correct in that keeping one’s enemies close is wise.” He furrowed his brow. “Do you not think that?”
“I do. And I think Michael knows best. Yet it’s unnerving to imagine picking from these people,” the words slipped from my lips cruelly.
“We have to make these people our people.” Ed sounded like Father as he waved at the guards, springing them into action. As they opened the large iron doors, I made my way into the shadows to watch Ed greet the aristocracy of Firth as their new steward.
Firth was the third kingdom to join Ettelbruck to make one kingdom, though it was the only one forced into our alliance. Strath was the first, as Grayson’s cousin had been more than happy to bend the knee to Michael and remain a steward. The second was Montagne, which I found surprising, but I’d heard Michael’s assassins had taken quick care of the king there. His son, the infamous Prince Erick, was as keen as Grayson’s cousin had been to reunite the old kingdom under Michael’s rule. Border wars and trade betrayals had taken their toll on us all. We would be stronger as one kingdom.
We’d been told the nobles of Firth were not as easily persuaded into submission.
They played games here, something similar to Florents with their houses and intrigues. Ed had no care for that silliness and Michael was even less interested in it.
Not that we’d seen it; we hadn’t been free to spend much time with them as Ed settled onto the throne. A feat that ended up becoming more work than we’d anticipated. I should have expected a fight after the greeting I received on their shores when I arrived. It wasn’t exactly a warm welcome. Though the reconciling of the good people of Firth was easier done with a fire-breathing dragon standing next to me and an army of slain men behind us. The Grand Duke of Underlay Barrel MacDonald’s army had fought bravely, defending his banners until their last man stood before me, pleading for his life.
A life I did not spare.
An act that hadn’t won me favor here according to the gossips.
But I couldn’t risk a single one of Herrick and Barrel’s men in the castle with Ed. Putting trust in anyone had grown dangerous. What with Herrick and Roland dethroning and murdering our father. Anamay’s betrayal. And all the men and women in between who had helped Barrel try to take our kingdom. A kingdom I was now set on joining with the others. Enderoth would once again be whole.
And no one could stop this, stop me, not now.
I was ready to take on the unknown lands if that was necessary to end the fighting and backbiting that had been a constant since our world was broken all those generations ago.
And once I was done healing Enderoth, I would find a nice spot to live a quiet life.
Artan was all for my plan. I saw the hopeful images of the peaceful life awaiting us dancing in his eyes. Every day I promised, I whispered, “Soon.” And I meant it. If I had to burn the world and remake it to have that outcome, I would do it. I had done worse already in the name of vengeance.
It was silent for several minutes before they began to arrive in the throne room. A man with a silvery cloak came in first, the head of houses. His legs trembled as he knelt, clearly not wanting to be here or kneeling before my brother. “Your Grace,” he muttered.
He was followed by a procession of them.
I stayed in the shadows, watching and waiting for one to refuse to bend the knee.
But they acted predictably, as all backstabbing and traitorous peo
ple did. They smiled in his face and took the knee, cowards when confronted with the opportunity to speak. These were traitors. People I wanted to end before we gave them the chance to act. But Michael said we would never win the hearts of the Firth people by killing unarmed aristocrats.
I disagreed, trying to persuade him into seeing that most commoners were happy to observe the elite being executed. The argument got me nowhere and now here we were. Ed surrounded by men and women who had allowed Barrel to stage a rebellion.
Ed sat perfectly calm, likely an act of indifference, as they introduced themselves formally. Each one swore fealty to Michael and disavowed any support of Herrick or Barrel. In fact, as far as they were concerned none of them even knew of the treachery that had befallen Ettelbruck.
A guard glanced at me, his face familiar from home. It took a second for me to recall his name. “Saul?” I asked softly, not taking my gaze from the group of people with my brother.
“Princess Amillia, how are you?” He bowed, not deeply as the armor prevented it.
“I am well, sir. How are you finding Firth?”
“Cold and it stinks of seaweed.” He scoffed and spoke candidly with me, “But I am grateful for the chance to ensure any supporters of Herrick or his disturbing father are crushed before they can rise up against King Michael. Long may he reign.”
“Indeed,” I muttered, almost laughing. Long would he reign. The vulkodlak stopped aging once they reached adulthood. My eyes flickered to Saul’s, finding new scars on his cheek that the shadows had hidden. “Were you there when the Black Keep was sacked?”
“I was drugged and placed in the basement. In a cage.” The humor, even the bitter amusement, vanished from his stare as a seriousness took over. “The guard trainer, Master Lindley, he survived,” he whispered.
My stomach clenched as I contemplated his words. “You’re certain?” I finally asked.
“Yes, I saw him escape with a handful of men. It was night. He tried to open the other cages but there was no way. They had been spelled shut. That witch—”
“Anamay?”
“Yeah, her—she spelled the doors shut. Only Roland could open them. He didn’t need a key. His touch was the key.” His eyes widened as he relived a moment, and I swore a hint of terror flashed in his stare. “His hands bled as he worked to break open the cages but it was no use. He left promising to return.”
“But he didn’t?” I asked, hungry for more details as to where our beloved trainer was.
Saul shook his head. “No, Your Grace. He didn’t. I don’t blame him though. The keep and the town were overrun with Barrel’s men. And after what we all saw—” He paused and swallowed whatever he was about to say. “Needless to say, the stench of seaweed is preferable to the now tainted memory of what I considered home.”
“I understand perfectly.” I didn’t try to comfort him. There was no comforting people like us. People who had gone too far, him dragged into discomfort and me running into it, charging as it were.
We watched in silence for a while until he whispered again, “I’m glad you have killed them all, Your Grace. I used to think it odd Master Lindley put so much effort into training you, a slip of a girl and a princess at that. But now I wonder if the old man was able to foresee the future.”
A slow smile spread across my lips as I recalled the prophecy.
Finally, the throne room emptied and the guards took their places in front of the doors. I slipped from the shadows, nodding at Ed. “What do you think?”
“Savages dressed in finery. Every one of them would sink a blade into my back and step on my carcass to elevate themselves.” Ed turned to me. “And you?”
“Same thoughts. I would watch out for that woman dressed in the red gown. She stayed silent and observed, taking it all in. I would add her to your council if you can. She is the smart one, conniving.”
“Like you,” he teased and almost resembled his former self.
“Exactly the opposite of me.” I laughed. I was the last person in the known worlds to think myself smart. I’d been outwitted by Anamay, Roland, Herrick, Barrel, the aunts, and even Grayson’s stepmother. There was no one who hadn’t tricked me at least once, including Maddox and his wicked mother. Thinking on them made my heart ache. “Have you heard from Keanna? Will she join you here?”
He flinched slightly at the mention of her name. His lips parted and he made that face he always did when he was about to lie and charm, but he paused and shook his head, pushing down the urge to smooth things over. “Honestly, I believe she is waiting for you to leave before she joins me here. She stayed in the grove after the funeral.”
“I understand,” I offered, wishing things could have been different but not regretting ending her mother. I would kill anyone who dared to control my brothers or the kingdoms.
“Why didn’t you talk to us about it before making that decision?” He got that same look in his eyes, the exasperated expression Mother always gave me.
“I’ve been given a task, Ed.” I walked to him, lowering my voice so the guards wouldn’t hear me clearly. “Anyone who stands in our way will die.”
His expression hardened as did his words, “She was their mother. You might have warned them.”
“We’re not discussing this.” I walked close enough to force a hug from him. “I am sorry she is upset, but her mother’s betrayal of our family was not worth risking. She could control you and Michael and Maddox and Keanna. She was no different than Barrel and you know it.” Words from our father flitted about in my head until I spoke them, “As rulers our job is to understand the greater good doesn’t benefit everyone. It means upsetting someone to maintain the balance that keeps peace. I will always end one life to spare a thousand.”
Sighing, Ed placed an arm over my shoulders. “For a girl who didn’t pay much attention to what Father said, you recall an awful lot of it.”
“You’re mistaken. I paid attention to everything Father said, when I was in the room.”
“Which was almost never,” he said with a laugh and kissed the top of my head. I closed my eyes and listened to his heartbeat as I inhaled him. It triggered a small glimpse into the past, being home with my family and at peace with the world. “But speaking of Keanna,” he muttered and pulled back, wincing as he spoke, “I need Maddox’s permission to marry his sister.”
“Surely, he will give it. Is he not in the grove with Keanna?” I stood straighter. Maddox was next on my list of people to find so I might ask his forgiveness since I also needed him to take over Midland for us as the steward.
“He is not. He shifted into a wolf and left before the funeral. No one has seen him in a month or so. Apparently, he saw her body on the pyre and fled before they burned her. Quite unlike him.”
His words landed with a thud. Where could he be? How could he not stay to see his mother’s soul off? There was only one thing to do. “I will find him. For you and our brother. Maddox needs to takeover Midland for Michael. I’ll leave now if you can spare me.”
“We have the guards and you killed off their entire army, Millia.” His eyes danced a little with humor. “And I’m not exactly what one would call delicate. They can’t even poison me.”
“But you are easily fooled by a sexy woman with ill intentions, and they can cut your head off,” I challenged back.
“That’s fair,” he admitted. “But I promise you, my heart is truly taken this time. There will be no women in my bed.” He offered that charming grin. The one that stole hearts everywhere he went.
“This time?” I cocked an eyebrow. “We shall see, Brother.” I hugged him once more. “I’ll take my leave and begin my search for Max. If you need me, call the aunts. They always manage to reach me instantly. Whether I want it or not.”
“Take care of yourself,” he kissed the top of my head.
“I will.” I squeezed him again, soaking up a little more. “I’ll see you soon.”
“All right.” He let me go.
“Do you thi
nk they will ever forgive me?” I asked.
“No,” Ed admitted freely, not sparing my feelings. “Will you ever forgive Herrick or Roland or their father?”
“Will you?” I answered with a question of my own.
“Never.” His eyes lit with fury as if it always lingered behind them.
“I love you,” I offered and turned. As I walked from him, my heart tightened and cooled again. The girl I was around my brothers and the girl I was on my own were two different people. They gave me the feeling of having someone watching my back. A feeling I had with very few people. And one dragon.
I smiled slightly, grateful I would always have Artan with me.
Chapter 2
The sound of boots crunching on the snow was one I’d missed, having spent so much time flying around searching for Maddox and before that on the eastern shores with Ed. Firth had been dreary and cold, but there wasn’t much snow. Not like here in Norstad, the northern city of Ettelbruck, close to the base of the highest of the Winter Peak Mountains. Firth, though northern and coastal, wasn't similar to Ettelbruck in any way. It was damp and cold and the eastern ocean smelled of seaweed and treachery. But the lack of snow hadn’t meant it was milder there. If anything it was far more brutal. There was a bone-chilling wind that never really let up. I’d been surprised by the harsh conditions people lived in there, and by how much pride they took in that. Hard people living in a hard land, believing it made them superior in some way. As if suffering was the first step a person took in seeking admiration from others. Apart from their nobility of course. The rich elites might as well have been in Florents with how soft they were.
