Flintlock (Cutlass Series)
Page 34
Finally, she came to the second floor and found the door before her. She held her breath as she pushed on it, careful to open it slowly. The passage opened beside a fireplace whose coals were now glowing embers. She could feel the warmth as she slipped into the room. Everything was dark. The curtains were closed, the doors shut tight. Outside she could still hear the howls and screams of those who were encountering the men of Estrellas, and she wondered if the massacre would ever end.
She looked about her. The room was not large, and there were few places to hide, so where could Tetherion be? In the back of her mind, she wondered if Natherious was just as deceiving as Datherious. She moved forward into the room and a scream caught in her throat as a hand touched her shoulder. She whirled, pushing the person away, holding up her sword.
There she found Tetherion, but something was wrong. He was bent over, holding his waist. His breath was shallow and haggard. He wasn’t on his feet long before he fell. She lowered her sword and moved toward him.
“H-help me,” his voice was that of a ghost’s.
Her eyes moved toward his stomach were the hilt of a blade protruded. He had been stabbed. She reached for it and withdrew the blade, blood following fast.
“Who did this to you?” she asked.
But when her eyes met Tetherion’s again, he was dead.
Then the doors to the study opened. A servant stood before them, eyes wide and terrified. She screamed. Larkin knew what this meant for her. She was bent before the body of the king, the bloody blade in her hand.
“King killer!” the servant cried, and her voice rose, horrible in its accusation. She was reminded of the men in the dungeons chanting sea-witch.
She threw the dagger aside and reached for Tetherion’s neck. The fur of his cloak and the collar of his shirt were fastened tight, and it took some time to find the fine gold chain that held Illiana’s Relic, a beautiful sapphire-colored stone with thousands of star-like flecks. When she did, she pulled it from him, the chain snapping with the effort. She stood, placing the Relic in her pocket, and grabbing her sword, she fled. The woman was still screaming, drawing attention. Others had joined her and stood as witnesses.
“Larkin!” the voice was familiar and strangely gave her hope. Her father was running toward her, his blade drawn. “Come! Run!”
And he ran with her. Together, they cut down any who came upon them, Estrellas prisoner or Maris guard.
As they came to the grand staircase, the exit in view, a line of Estrellas men caused them to stop in their tracks. Their weapons were drawn, their faces flecked with the blood of their victims. Behind them, more enemies were gaining on them. They were surrounded, and there was only one way out.
Larkin continued forward, despite her father’s protests. She could hear him move down a few steps, reaching for her, but she continued. She took in deep breaths and concentrated. She would need all her energy for this. She dropped her blade, drew her hands together and screamed. All the pain, all the anger, all the loss rushed from her body and into the men who blocked her way.
By Saoirse she swore she would never be prisoner to them. To anyone.
And they all fell instantly. Smoke rose from the bodies as if they’d been burned.
Silence followed after, and she felt drained. She collapsed to her knees. Her father’s feet pounded on the marble floor. He drew her to her feet and hurried out of the castle. Behind them were the witnesses to her magic and to a murder. They were the servants of the king, the nobles in his court. Life would never be the same for her. It hadn’t been since she’d met Barren Reed, but this time it was different. This time she knew she was meant for something greater, and if she was going to defeat the evil rising in Mariana, she would have to embrace the magic she’d been taught to hate.
Once they were in the cold night, they ran. Larkin’s chest burned, her eyes stung with tears, the wind ran its cold fingers through her hair. There was pain, there was exhaustion, and there was darkness. But she kept running, following her father to the coast where they would make their escape.
***
Barren sat in the stone courtyard outside his room. The forest of Aurum had encroached upon this space since his last visit. Vines stretched across the stone and seemed to reach for his mother’s statue which stood erect in the center of the space. He liked to imagine Sysara was here with him, and that her embrace was the cool wind surrounding him. Truly, this was the coldest he’d felt in a long time. He wished Larkin were here to fill the space beside him, to offer her warmth. He wondered how it was so easy to miss her and be so angry with her at the same time.
Larkin’s absence was just one way things had changed. When they departed Aurum this time, Leaf would be a king. Barren’s alliances would lie with the Corsairs of Avalon. Some of his greatest enemies would belong to the only family he’d ever known, and Mariana would be one step closer to spiraling out of control. How ironic that he sat at the center of such a fragile thing.
He was brought from his thoughts by a frantic call.
“Barren!” It was Devon’s voice. Barren turned to step into his room. He left, hurrying down the palace hallway. He found Devon and Leaf racing toward him. “I’ve got news, and it isn’t good.”
Barren felt his features harden. He was preparing himself for the worst.
“Maris was attacked by the Estrellas prisoners and the king is dead. They are saying…they’re saying Larkin is the king slayer.”
“Surely that is not true,” said Leaf. It couldn’t be true. And if Estrellas men attacked Maris, it was because Datherious and Aethea had ordered it. The people of Maris would not know that.
“Where is she?” Barren asked immediately. If they found her, Datherious would hang her immediately.
Devon shook his head. “They cannot find her or her father.”
She’d fled with her father? And where would they go? No one would welcome them. Should he go in search of her? What would he even do if he found her?
“There is one more thing,” Devon said carefully. Barren’s eyes grew wide. How could there possibly be more?
“Eva and Tobias were also hanged. They compromised the Network locations.”
So the Elders had thought to quash Cove’s threat first by exposing the Network, but what did that mean for their brethren? For the women and children who also occupied those locations?
“Were they warned to flee?” Barren asked.
“Cove’s Network is vast,” Devon shook his head, his eyes were sad. “Not everyone was reached in time.”
“Wake everyone,” he said. “We set sail tonight.”
“We are too late, Barren. We might as well wait until morning,” said Devon.
“No,” he said. “If we start now, we’re four hours closer to where we are needed, Silver Crest.”
“Very well,” Devon nodded and retreated to wake the others. Leaf still lingered, watching Barren closely.
“Just say the word, Barren. I will find her. I will bring her back to you.”
Barren sort of laughed. “Why are you so desperate for me to have her?”
“Because you aren’t the same Barren Reed without her.”
“If she wants me, she will find me,” he said.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I love this book, and I think it’s a fantastic sequel to CUTLASS. It’s also the middle book, which means I only have one more left. This makes me incredibly sad. However, I’m very thankful I have gotten the chance to spend time with Barren and Larkin, and most importantly share their story with you.
I want to thank my Daddy and my Momma because they’re awesome, of course, and believe ‘I am the brightest star.’ I love you guys!
I want to thank Michelle Albanese Parson for being the best fan and friend ever, for sharing CUTLASS with everyone she could, and for offering support every step of the way. I am so indebted to you.
All the bloggers who shared Cutlass and helped me spread the word—THANK YOU SO MUCH. You guys are amazing.
&nb
sp; I also need to thank Capri East, Jason Hampton, Holly Holland, and Molly McCool for all their love and support.
My BFF Emily because you’re a badass and you remind me everyday that I’m awesome. I’m so lucky to have a BFF like you!
Shryl, Shelby, and Allan for all your support and extra love!
Mrs. Applegate because you never cease to believe in me.
Armand because without you this book wouldn’t look so fantastic! For telling me every morning that I’m awesome. For believing in me, and for generally being awesome.
Lastly, but most importantly, thank you to all my readers, old and new. Those of you who have discovered my Cutlass Series, and those of you who will—I do this for you.
©Jessica Pearl Photography
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley was born and raised in Oklahoma, where the wind really does sweep down the plains, and horses and carriages aren’t used as much as she’d like. She has a Bachelor’s degree in English Writing and a Master’s degree in Library Science and Information Technology. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, working out, or pretending she’s Sherlock Holmes. Her obsession with writing began after reading the Lord of the Rings in the eighth grade. Since then, she’s loved everything Fantasy--resulting in an unhealthy obsession with the ‘geek’ tab on Pinterest, where all things awesome go.
www.ashley-nixon.com
Coming Soon!
Nacoma Knight
Anora Silby wants her mother alive again. She’d do anything to feel her touch, hear her voice, and understand the strange circumstances surrounding her death. So when the new kid, Thane Treadway, offers outlandish answers, Anora listens.
Thane believes Anora’s mother had her soul stolen by the Cercatore di Anime, a race of soul eaters. It isn’t until Thane starts forgetting things and having random outbursts of anger that Anora begins to wonder if Thane has personal experience with the Cercatore.
Anora’s search for answers leads her into the center of a mid-world battle between good and evil—the soul and the soulless. Not only that, she is the Eurydice, the only one of her kind who can enter and exit spirit. Her gift makes her a target, and soon Anora finds herself faced with the loss of her mother or the love of her life.
Can Anora see past her grief long enough to make a decision or will she lose everything?
Table of Contents
Chapter One - Rough House
Chapter Two - Sanctuary
Chapter Three - Brethren In Arms
Chapter Four - Tunnel
Chapter Five - Burden
Chapter Six - Battlefront
Chapter Seven - Leverage
Chapter Eight - Pinnacle
Chapter Nine - Blood & Bullets
Chapter Ten - John Newell
Chapter Eleven - The Network
Chapter Twelve - Tete-A-Tete
Chapter Thirteen - Grapple
Chapter Fourteen - Consequences
Chapter Fifteen - Stowaway
Chapter Sixteen - Challenge
Chapter Seventeen - Aryes
Chapter Eighteen - Isle of Iona
Chapter Nineteen - Aryndel
Chapter Twenty - Illusions
Chapter Twenty-One - The Underground
Chapter Twenty-Two - A Proud Beauty
Chapter Twenty-Three - Aftermath
Chapter Twenty-Four - Soiree
Chapter Twenty-Five - Avalon
Chapter Twenty-Six - The Ore Mines
Chapter Twenty-Seven - The Black Spot
Chapter Twenty-Eight - Dancing with Jack Ketch
Chapter Twenty-Nine - Panic
Chapter Thirty - At Rope’s End
Chapter Thirty-One - Blow the Man Down
Chapter Thirty-Two - Give No Quarter
Acknowledgements
About The Author