KEEPER
First Ordinance, Book 2
A Novel by
Connie Suttle
For Walter, Joe, Dianne J. Sarah, Larry and Lee. You are awesome.
The Author's information may be found at the end of this book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters and incidents portrayed within its pages are a product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons (or vampires, werewolves, High Demons, Greater Demons, Lesser Demons, Larentii, shapeshifters, Ra'Ak, wizards, warlocks, witches, Avii, Saa Thalarr or gods) living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Keeper, © 2014 by Connie Suttle
All rights reserved
ISBN-10: 1-939759-32-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-939759-32-0
This book, whole or in part, MAY NOT be copied or reproduced by mechanical means (including photocopying or the implementation of any type of storage or retrieval system), without the express written permission of the author, except where permitted by law.
The author wishes to thank you for purchasing this e-book. Purchasing this book through legitimate channels supports the author and makes it possible for her to keep writing. If you did not purchase this book through legitimate channels, or have downloaded it from a website that pirates authors' works, the author kindly asks that you purchase a copy for yourself, as sales of her books are her only source of income.
* * *
Other books by Connie Suttle:
Blood Destiny Series
Blood Wager
Blood Passage
Blood Sense
Blood Domination
Blood Royal
Blood Queen
Blood Rebellion
Blood War
Blood Redemption
Blood Reunion
* * *
Legend of the Ir'Indicti Series
Bumble
Shadowed
Target
Vendetta
Destroyer
* * *
High Demon Series
Demon Lost
Demon Revealed
Demon's King
Demon's Quest
Demon's Revenge
Demon's Dream
* * *
The God Wars Series
Blood Double
Blood Trouble
Blood Revolution
Blood Love
Blood Finale
* * *
The Saa Thalarr Series
Hope and Vengeance
Wyvern and Company
* * *
First Ordinance Series
Finder
Keeper
BlackWing*
* * *
The R-D Series
Cloud Dust
Cloud Invasion*
* * *
Latter Day Demon Series
Hot Demon in the City*
*Forthcoming
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 1
Avii Castle
Quin
Jurris was pale, weak and alive.
The Kondari had abandoned their attempt to destroy Avii Castle.
For now.
I knew High President Charkisul, his son, Berel, and Hadris Jem were prisoners of a new Kondari regime, but there wasn't anything I could do about it.
Master Cook Nina placed a cup of hot tea in my hands as I sat on the floor away from Jurris' bed, shivering from shock.
Justis sat at his brother's bedside, talking quietly with the King. Ordin and Gurnil hovered nearby, as did two of the King's personal guards.
"Can you stand?" Nina asked softly. "Dena is waiting outside the King's chambers, hoping you will join her."
"I'll come," I said, embarrassed that my voice quavered when I spoke. I was grateful that Dena waited for me; I needed her support to get back to the Library.
Amlis, Omina and the others waited there; Omina and Fen needed healing. I worried that my strength would not be enough to save either.
* * *
Amlis studied his surroundings—row upon row, shelf upon shelf, of books stood about him. Two yellow-winged servants had brought blankets, hot drinks and food, but his mother refused anything except the blanket.
She'd lost so much blood already; her body trembled with shock and he worried that she'd die before any healing was offered by their winged hosts. Sofi tended the Queen as well as she could while Yissy, standing close by, looked on in silent curiosity.
Fen accepted a cup of hot tea, working around the wound in his left shoulder. "I never thought to be here and still living," Rodrik muttered as he sipped the tea he'd been given. Beatris, who'd hidden in the belly of the ship during the trip, shivered beside him before wrapping the blanket tighter about her body.
Amlis snorted a reply. His mind still played about Finder's image—she had wings and helped rescue him and the others from the sea. It puzzled him, too, as to who'd attacked their vessel, with devastating weapons he had difficulty comprehending.
"It was the Kondari," Finder walked in with assistance from another—a yellow-winged woman who cast worried looks at Amlis and his companions. "Normally they wouldn't have done that, but there was a coup."
"Finder, will you heal the Queen?" Yissy's voice was high and innocent.
"If I don't faint, first," she replied.
* * *
Quin
Omina's wound was the worst and if she weren't tended soon, it would be too late. Already, she'd lost much blood.
"I will assist," Daragar appeared, causing Sofi to utter a half-shriek of terror. Yissy hid behind Sofi's skirts at the sight of the tall, blue-skinned Larentii; Rodrik's hand went immediately to where his sword would be, had he been wearing it.
"You should never offer violence or offense to a Larentii," I held up a hand to stop Rodrik from stepping forward. "You have no idea what you see before you."
"I have never seen such," Amlis gripped Rodrik's arm to pull him back.
"You have seen such now, young Prince," Daragar said. "Allow me to help Quin, if you wish your mother to live."
"Quin?"
"A better name than Finder," Dena huffed, offended on my behalf.
"Please, no bickering, save it for later," I said and walked unsteadily toward Omina. That's when I discovered how Daragar intended to help. He didn't plan to do any healing; he only intended to give me strength.
I imagine it was a highly unusual sight that met Ordin and Gurnil as they walked into the Library. I healed Omina's wound—a Larentii holding onto me as I held my hands on Omina's side, all of us bathed in golden light as the wound sealed and infection disappeared.
Fen's wounds were nothing compared to hers.
"Thank you." I wrapped my arms around Daragar's neck before he left me that night. He smiled at me, his bright-blue eyes shining brighter before he nodded and disappeared.
* * *
"You're confined to the Library for the moment, but you may wander the terrace outside," Gurnil informed our guests the following morning. He was right—Justis had posted two guards outside the Library doors, changing them every four hours or so.
Breakfast had been brought and Dena, thinking to provide support for me, stayed and ate with us.
Justis had also confiscated any
weapons left with Rodrik, Amlis and the others, including small eating knives—they had nothing left except hands or fists with which to harm anyone. Amlis didn't like it, I could tell, but this wasn't his castle or his kingdom.
I wanted to ask Justis whether any communication had come from Kondar, but held back—I was afraid to know how things stood there.
High spots of color appeared in Omina's cheeks whenever she met my gaze, as brief as those moments were. Rodrik, too, failed to look at me for any length of time. After all, Justis, Commander of the King's guards and brother to the King, had touched my shoulder moments earlier and nodded to me before leaving the Library.
They thought me more important than I actually was. Justis was merely conveying his thanks to me for saving his brother's life; I would hold no sway over the King when Jurris demanded to see our guests.
I hoped he wouldn't command their deaths—these had no connection to Camryn's and Elabeth's assassinations, after all.
Wolter, though, gazed at me in wonder while he ate what yellow-winged servants placed in front of him. Deeds, sitting beside Wolter, did the same.
"I wasn't aware that there were White Wings," Omina said finally, her eyes remaining on her plate.
"There aren't," Gurnil said. "We have no idea where these white feathers originated, unless it is from the cutting away of Quin's nubs whenever they formed." His words were curt and accusing as he flung them across the table at Omina.
I recalled that Ordin had assisted in Amlis' birth—had Gurnil known Omina as well? My gift told me they'd met before, and that Gurnil found Omina somewhat high-handed. I didn't disagree with his opinion.
"The court physician demanded it," Wolter admitted, lowering his head. "The only recourse I had was going to the King, and I had no desire to place Finder's life in jeopardy by doing such a foolish thing. Tamblin would have killed her outright."
"He is no king. I ask that you remember that within these walls," Gurnil snapped.
"I agree," Amlis nodded. "He is no king."
"You are the youngest Prince?" Gurnil turned toward Amlis.
"Yes. I ask that you treat my mother with kindness—she is still recovering," he said.
"I will do so, if you will call Quin by her proper name," Gurnil responded.
"I wasn't aware that she had another name," Amlis said. "I will address her as Quin, as she has saved my mother's life, as well as the others, here."
"Does that include yours?" Gurnil asked.
"Yes. Several times. She was beaten for dumping a plate of poisoned food before I could eat it," he shrugged. "I owe her for that—and many other things."
"I am sorry," Orik began. "Very sorry." His apology was aimed at me.
"That is in the past," I shook my head at him, letting him know that he needn't tell of his part in my delivery to the Avii. "I mourn for Master Farin," I said. "We will all miss him, I think." He'd advised Omina for years uncounted, and acted on her behalf many times. He was more than a court physician and everyone at the table knew it.
"Finder—Quin—when did you find your voice?" Sofi asked.
"I have had it many years," I said with a sigh. "When it came, I was too afraid to speak."
"You knew too much," Wolter nodded.
"Too much," I agreed.
"I find this difficult to understand," Amlis rose from the library table that served as our temporary breakfast table. Gurnil and I watched as the Prince strode toward the doors leading to the terrace outside.
"Master Gurnil, there are many things to consider," I turned to him. "The coup in Kondar being chief among them, along with Tamblin's desire to sail away from Fyris and attack it."
"Will he carry the ring with him?" Gurnil rose swiftly and blinked at me in confusion.
"He never takes it off," Omina answered for me. "Why is that important?"
"Because the ring keeps Fyris hidden from Kondar and any other country," Gurnil snapped. "Quin, who has taken over Kondar? Where is the High President? We must think on this and quickly."
"We need Justis, and a willing ear from his brother," I sighed, knowing neither would be easy.
* * *
Kondar
Dorthil Crasz had ordered the commander of the botched attack on Avii Castle killed. When his fellow officers refused to deliver the death, Dorthil ordered all imprisoned. He had no interest in excuses and lies—when they claimed the glass castle took no harm from their best weapons, Dorthil knew they were lying.
The voice the pilot claimed to hear, telling him not to fire?
That had to be an outright lie or a hallucination. Dorthil snorted at the thought of it. Word was spreading throughout Kondar that the High President had deserted his office, leaving Dorthil in charge. News agencies were couching the reports in disbelief.
Some were calling for direct word from the High President. Dorthil dispatched troops to shut down news agencies.
They'd learn soon enough who was in charge.
* * *
Le-Ath Veronis
Kooper Griff, Director of the ASD, dropped a file on Renée Coffin's desk. She'd only worked for Queen Lissa as an assistant for a few months, but filled a much-needed gap in the growing necessity for technical assistance and public relations. She worked well with Lissa's other assistants, Grant and Heathe, which was also a plus in the Queen's eyes.
"What is this?" Renée tapped the file while studying Kooper. She could scent the shapeshifter in him and knew, through Lissa, that he was a deadly lion snake when he turned. Ildevar Wyyld, Founder of the Reth Alliance, couldn't have picked a better ASD Director, in Renée's opinion.
"Information for the Queen when she gets back. I don't feel comfortable putting this on a comp-vid. That's why it's on paper," Kooper sighed.
"That's not good," Renée shook her head. "I'll put this in her file—the one she looks at first."
"Good. Where is she, by the way? I wasn't informed that she'd left."
"Ildevar Wyyld asked for a meeting. She went to Wyyld II last night," Renée said. "An emergency of some sort."
"I wonder if the two events are connected," Kooper muttered before turning to leave.
"I'll make sure she reads this right away," Renée called after Kooper. He raised a hand, letting her know he'd heard.
"Rainy, your sire is here," Heathe's voice sounded on Renée's comp-vid. Heathe used the nickname he and Grant had given her. Renée was four-and-a-half years a vampire and Montrose, her sire, had come to check on her. He did so twice a week, although Lissa informed him four months earlier that Renée was capable of working on her own.
Renée didn't mind; a few vampire lessons notwithstanding, she liked her vampire sire.
Very much.
* * *
Kondar
"Dorthil should have thought twice before tossing me in here with you," Firth Quel murmured as he worked on the locking device holding them inside the abandoned underground bunker. "I designed these locks myself."
"Dorthil has never bothered with research, you know that," Edden Charkisul agreed. "At least he failed to install vid-cams here. That proves he moved hastily. He doesn't have enough of the troops to back him. He may have a riot on his hands already."
"The populace is unarmed," Melis Norwal, Edden's Chief of Security, pointed out. "What will they do when Dorthil attempts to shut down the news agencies with armed troops?"
"I'm hoping that the troops will side with their friends and family, some of whom may work for those news agencies," Edden huffed. "We have to get out of here, and we have to stay alive. Dorthil may find at least three of the five Presidents standing against him. Especially when he starts shutting down their sources of information."
"Where do you wish to go? We must stay hidden until it is safe," Melis reminded the High President.
"I wish we could fly to the Avii. It is my hope they'd take us in. I can call troops from there—we still have a fleet between there and Yokaru."
"Then we need an airchopper or a ship," Melis nodded
agreement.
"Or allies with those things," Hadris Jem observed.
"Hush, I hear something," Firth whispered.
"May the gods be merciful," Edden breathed and pulled Berel behind his back to protect the boy.
* * *
Wyyld II
"They died of radiation poisoning?" Queen Lissa examined the images Ildevar provided.
"When there was no source of such on their planet to begin with. I've had forensic specialists working on these bodies the moment radiation poisoning was verified in the autopsies."
"Did they find anything?" Lissa, Vampire Queen of Le-Ath Veronis, asked.
"Something frightening," Ildevar sighed. "I believe it may have been left behind by one of the Hidden."
"They're all dead," Lissa began.
"Their works may not be dead," Ildevar responded. "This, if my fears are correct, could destroy everything."
"I need to speak with my sister," Lissa muttered angrily.
"I wouldn't mind being included in that conversation. Kaldill, too, has expressed interest." Ildevar named the King of the Elves, who resided in a hidden section of Wyyld II.
"Fine. If I can find her, I'll let you know."
"Finding the Mighty can be difficult, even in the best of times," Ildevar agreed. "If I find her first, I will send a message."
* * *
Kondar
"Stay calm," Edden breathed as the door swung inward. Jhak stepped inside the bunker, a weapon slung over his shoulder. Three others with weapons walked in behind him.
Berel gripped his father's arm. Would they perish at the hands of a trusted guard?
"We've come to get you out of here," Jhak said softly. "You have to come now—there is rioting in the streets. The people now believe you dead and Dorthil has commanded the troops following him to fire on anyone who attempts to oppose his takeover."
"But you," Edden hissed accusingly.
"I know. They threatened my family. They're outside—in the airchopper. We can make it to Aviaa if we leave now."
"If Dorthil's troops don't shoot us from the sky, first," Melis muttered and held out his hand to take Jhak's weapon. "Follow me, High President. We'll get you safely away."
* * *
Fyris
Vhrist
"I hear my sister sailed away last night. Tell me she sailed for Lironis," Tamblin demanded.
Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 Page 1
