Entwined (The Rose and The Sword Book 1)
Page 5
“You can’t leave me.” She rubbed angrily at the tears in her eyes.
“I’m not leaving you, my treasure, I’m saving you.” He slid off the horse while she galloped and landed lightly on his feet, raising his voice. “Now go and get your dragons. I will keep them busy until then. The orb must be secured. You know this.”
Aileen screamed, her wings beating in a frenzy, and shot him a last look. Shouting, “I’m coming back for you. All isn’t lost yet. Do not lose hope!” Pretty raced forward faster with a lighter load.
Loran only hoped she understood all that he had given up. For her. Revenge. His life, for her to stay out of enemy hands.
He slid his sword free of it scabbard, raising the blade in front of him and centering his breathing.
His men are leading the strike. Men he had bled with. Patched up with. Trained. Commanded. Before he’d stolen the Comhacht, he would’ve died to save them.
He would die for her. Now, his loyalty was to her alone.
The first wave came at him from all sides. Their formation was precise. The way he’d trained them—the tenacity of Ciaran soldiers on display. A true warrior only lays down his sword in death. No quarter would be asked or given.
He grinned as he threw the bulbs at the front battle lines. Chaos and battle were his lifeblood.
She would live. With luck, the Comhacht would be out of the reach of the dark Ciaran King forever. And Loran would fight until his last breath to see it so.
◆◆◆
With a gasp, Aileen knew she must alter her plan and exactly what she must do.
The Story Continues...
Entangled: Book 2 of The Rose and Sword
Releasing in mid-October
Do you want to know what the story behind Loran's arrival in the Tranglam and learn more about the origins of the orb?
Enraged: Loran’s Story. Only available to my email subscribers by clicking here, or sign up on my website: http://meredithkinsey.com
To the Reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read the start of Aileen and Loran’s story. I have much more planned for this universe and can’t wait to share with you what’s next. As an independent publisher, I need just a couple of minutes of your help, and I promise these are all pretty easy if you are willing.
First, if you haven’t yet, please take the time to click this link and leave a fair and honest review of the book. The review button is halfway down the page on the left. Reviews are immensely helpful to those who are trying to decide if my book is what they want to read next.
Second, please help spread the word if you know someone else who might like my book. Word of mouth can help an independent author like me so much and allows me to pour more of my time into writing the next story and less time spent marketing.
Third, consider joining my email list. For just the cost of your email address, you will get a free copy of Loran’s Story, the Prequel to Entwined, only available to my email list subscribers. I promise I won’t be in your inbox every day, and you can always unsubscribe. Feel free to follow me on social media or send me an email; the details are further below.
Always writing,
Meredith Kinsey
Acknowledgments
As with all the best things in life, they are neither accomplished nor enjoyed alone. Writing Entwined has been so much fun, and I’m so grateful to those who have helped along the way. Thanks to my talented cover artist, Melissa King. You have a unique and creative eye, and I’m so grateful to work with you. Special thanks to my beta readers: Michaela, Malik, Alaine, and Yasmin. Thank you for catching those hidden mistakes that evaded my eyes and every technology designed to see them. Thanks again to my loving husband and partner. I am grateful every day for your love and support.
About the Author
Meredith Kinsey lives in Northern California with her husband of 8 years and their cat. When not writing or reading, she can be found enjoying the outdoors or binging the latest series with her husband, preferably with a glass of wine or whiskey in hand.
You can drop me an email at authormeredithkinsey@gmail.com or
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Exclusive Free eBook: Enraged: Loran's Story
Glossary
Species and Clans
Sidhe – Elves. Highest beings in the lands of the Forgotten Kingdoms.
Pixies – Small fae that appears as butterflies and insects, unless they trust you. Unusual strength, one of the strongest of all races.
Eadrom (Eadromian) – The light Elven clan. The court is ruled by a Queen with her King consort. They value and embody perfection above everything—the Clan of the Rose.
Ciaran (Ciaranian) – The dark Elven clan. A King rules the court. Frequently at War. The Clan of the Sword
Syrens – Mermaids of the River Abhainn. They appear as beautiful when in the water, but they are decrepit water wraiths. They have the power to enchant men and sing them to their deaths by drowning.
Goblins – Short and stumpy. Tiny black eyes. Bred like rats, and travel in large packs. They only come out at night. They live in tunnels underground.
Key People
Aileen Vass – Half-breed mix of Eadrom sidhe and pixie. Pointed ears. Grass green eyes. Blonde hair, curly, tumbling to her hip. The ends of her hair are a leaf green. Green and yellow wings. Short but quite strong.
Loran O’Donnell – Ciaran sidhe. Pointed ears. Black hair cropped close to his head, except two long braids next to his right temple. Red eyes. Pale. Highly coveted general in the Dark Ciaran King’s Army.
Aelfdane Oberon – The Dark Ciaran King
Drycs’Nid – The Goblin King
Key Objects and Plants
Comhacht – A dark hallowed orb of mysterious powers. It is the seat of the Dark King’s power and control. It seduces those who gaze upon it to violence and greed. To touch the orb is to be addicted to its power.
Acnuln bush – A particularly deadly berry bush that aided many a poison in history.
Jackroot – A herb that aids in reducing pain found in the Tranglam
Luningdom berries – A berry that, when emulsified, disinfects wounds and instruments
Caliphary bark – Tree bark that Is used in a tincture to calm, and in larger portions, sedate.
Bloodstone – A stone that is the green like jade, but has red veins throbbing like the beating of a heart. The legend says bloodstone absorbs the souls of enemies killed in battle.
Aqua Vitae – The Liquid Life spell. Will save any life, except the actual dead. It can bring back someone on the brink of death. The healing can take several hours or days.
Key Locations
Swordlands – Home of the Ciaranian sidhe, The Clan of the Sword
Roselands – Home of the Eadromian sidhe, The Clan of the Rose
Aerouant – Land of the Dragons
Dul Fialin – The great forest, where the wildest of magic resides.
Tranglam – A secluded part of the Dul Fialin. Extremely treacherous. Aileen lives there in a cottage hidden by magic.
Summerlands – The afterlife