The Stone Eater
Book 3 of The Magic Eaters Trilogy
Carol Beth Anderson
Contents
Characters and Places
Map
The Stone Eater: 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
The Stone Eater: 2
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
The Stone Eater: 3
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
The Stone Eater: 4
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
The Stone Eater: 5
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
The Stone Eater: 6
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
The Stone Eater: 7
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
The Stone Eater: 8
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
The Stone Eater: 9
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
The Stone Eater: 10
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
The Stone Eater: 11
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
The Stone Eater by Carol Beth Anderson
Published by
Eliana Press
P.O. Box 2452
Cedar Park, TX 78630
www.carolbethanderson.com
Copyright © 2021 by Carol Beth Anderson
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact:
[email protected]
Cover Design:
Mariah Sinclair (thecovervault.com)
Map: BMR Williams
Paperback ISBN: 978-1-949384-07-9
To my kids’ teachers . . . and to every teacher. The year 2020 brought challenges none of us anticipated. You’ve continued to help your students learn to read better and write creatively, to master algebra and biology and computer programming. You’ve juggled technical difficulties, social distancing, and contact tracing . . . all with aplomb, wearing an annoying mask.
You’re a true hero.
Characters and Places
Characters
Ulmin (ULL-min) Abrios, King of Cellerin
Dani (DANN-ee), Nora’s aunt and Ulmin’s sister-in-law
Chef Pryn (PRINN), Ulmin’s chef
Nora Abrios (AH-bree-ose), Princess of Cellerin
Krey (KRAY) West
Ovrun Kensin (OV-run KENN-sin)
Zeisha Dennivan (ZAY-shuh DEN-ni-van), the Anya (AHN-yuh)
Kebi (KEB-ee), trog
Sarza (SAHR-zuh) Phip, seer
Osmius (OZ-me-us), dragon
Eira (EYE-ruh), trog
Prime Minister Osk, leader of Cruine
General Etal (ee-TALL), Cellerinian Army General
Ambrel Kaulder (AM-brel CALL-der), Nora’s mother
Hatlin (HAT-lin), New Therroan activist
Joli (JOE-lee)
Varia (VAH-ree-uh), Joli’s mother
Tiam (TEE-um), Joli’s father
Sharai (shuh-RYE), Cellerin’s former Minister of Lysting
Emissary Loryn (LO-rin)
Lott, former royal guard
Kevlin (KEV-lin), Lott’s friend
Gild, dragon
Vin, dragon
Kadin (KAY-din), master feather lyster
Wallis (WALL-iss), New Therroan activist
T, New Therroan activist
Mayor Ashler, Mayor of Tirra
Min, Krey’s aunt
Evie, Krey’s aunt
Places
Anyari (ann-YAHR-ee), a planet settled by human colonists
Cellerin (SELL-err-in), kingdom around Cellerin Mountain
Deroga (der-OH-guh), large, preday city
Cruine (croo-EEN), nation east of Cellerin
Cellerin City, capital of Cellerin, east of Cellerin Mountain
New Therro (THAIR-oh), province north of Cellerin City
Tirra (TEE-ruh), town southwest of Cellerin Mountain
The Stone Eater: 1
First things first.
King Ulmin Abrios never felt truly awake until he fueled up. Blinking into the deep darkness of his room, he reached for the insulated canister on his bedside table. It had two compartments, separated by a perforated ceramic disc. Every night, Chef Pryn filled the bottom chamber with ice and the top with fuel.
As Ulmin removed the lid, his heart began to race. That made him laugh. He was like a little boy when it came to his first fuel of the day.
His fingers brushed across the canister’s contents, and his throat compressed with fury. After a massive dragon in Deroga had burned his hands last month, the army’s blood lysters had done their best to heal their king. But his palms and fingers had still scarred, compromising his sense of touch.
A deep breath diluted his anger. He knew what he was touching, even if he couldn’t feel the texture. The canister was full of soft, delicately thin layers of animal brain matter, cut into strips. The ice would be melted by now, but it had kept them fresh. He delighted in how cool they felt against his warm, scarred skin. From the odor wafting up—sweet with a hint of bitter earthiness—Ulmin knew the fuel came from a cervid.
He pinched several pieces of fuel and put them in his mouth, resisting the instinct to lick his fingers. A few minutes later, when he’d eaten it all, he sighed, tapping his damp fingers together. Oh, what the hell; life’s pleasures are meant to be enjoyed! Ulmin licked his fingers with relish.
Before getting out of bed, he lit a candle, then dipped his fingers in the cool water in the canister’s bottom chamber. He rubbed it on his neck, sighing in relief. The palace complex was terribly hot. As the day went on, it would only get worse.
Ulmin walked to his sitting room, his flickering candle lighting the way. He took a deep breath, relishing the lingering scent of paint. Over three months ago, when Nora and her allies had sneaked into the palace, dragon fire had destroyed a portion of the residence. Thanks to the building’s fire-suppression system—an underground cistern, pumps, hoses, and royal guards trained in using it all—the flames hadn’t reached any of the bedrooms. The smoke damage, however, had been extensive, leading to a remodel of the king’s quarters.
Ulmin reached the door to the hallway. He stopped and flipped the light switch. The electricity had been out for a week, but he kept trying, just in case. When the room brightened, his mouth broke into a smile. He blew out his candle, murmuring, “Back in business.”
When he’d started creating a stone dome over his palace, Ulmin hadn’t considered the fact that it would block sunlight from reaching the solar panels. His was the only building in Cellerin with solar power. The day the large batteries had lost the last of their power, he’d been furious.
He’d instructed a staff member to find workers to move the panels to the top of the dome. They’d also expanded the system with additional panels and batteries. To help the workers climb the stone outside, Ulmin had used his magical faculty to create handholds, footholds, and anchor points for
ropes. Only one person had fallen to their death. Not too bad, considering how high the dome was. Once the work was done, the king had smoothed the stone, making it impossible to climb.
Ulmin flipped the light switch on and off several times, grinning as the room came in and out of focus. Then he froze, eyes fixed on his hand. When had his skin become so wrinkled and thin? He seemed to be aging more quickly of late. It probably didn’t help that his appetite for food had been waning, even as his need for his dark fuel increased. Yet he didn’t feel old or weak. He was spry, energetic . . . and when he did start to feel weary, a little magic renewed him right away.
He dropped his hand, refusing to worry about the appearance of his skin. He was the most powerful man in the kingdom, possibly in the world. Why should a liver spot or two bother him?
Exiting his quarters, he greeted the two stoic guards outside his door. He strolled through the living room, which had been completely rebuilt after the fire destroyed it.
From afar, he saw electric light coming from the kitchen. Excellent, Pryn was awake—and, judging by the smell, he was cooking sausage. These days, Ulmin seemed to wake earlier and earlier. He’d even made it to the kitchen before his chef a few times, leading Pryn to adjust the breakfast schedule. Ulmin took several more steps.
Hearing a low voice emanating from the kitchen, Ulmin slowed. He identified his sister-in-law, Dani. His whole body tensing, he quietly advanced until he could make out her words.
“You know he’s controlling everyone in this place!” Dani’s voice was barely above a whisper, but it was full of shrill passion. “You’re his friend and his . . . his . . . supplier. He rarely controls you. If anyone’s going to stop him—”
“He’s my king!” Pryn said, his quiet voice matching Dani’s intensity. “I can’t stop him; I don’t even want to!”
“Just talk to him! It’s not too late for him. He could still choose people over power if he wanted to. He just needs to hear from someone he trusts, and—”
Pryn cut her off again. “Dani! I don’t have the expertise to judge my king’s leadership methods!”
“You can be honest with me, Pryn. I’m not testing you; I—”
Ulmin stepped into the kitchen. Dani stiffened, snapping her mouth closed.
“We can all be honest.” The king’s voice rang through the small space. “At least I thought we could.”
His eyes locked on Dani’s. Hers were wide. Scared. He shook his head sadly and captured her mind. Her features slackened. “Everything is fine,” he said, his voice soothing and soft. “You’re safe and happy here.” With a nudge of his mind, her mouth widened into a smile. He pulled her into a hug.
Why was Dani so different from Ulmin’s staff? They didn’t need constant control. He roamed around the property at all hours of the day and sometimes even at night, conducting short, gentle, mind-controlled interrogations. They didn’t dare betray him, knowing he’d discover disloyalty and punish it by imprisonment or death.
Dani, on the other hand, had begun questioning his decisions. Disrespecting his authority. After years of only occasionally using his brain-lysting faculty on her, he’d been forced to change his tactic, controlling her throughout the day. He made a mental note: starting tomorrow, he’d capture her mind as soon as he woke in the morning, and he wouldn’t let it go until he went to bed.
It was all for her good. Ulmin could sense her serene joy as he held her. So much more pleasant than the rebellion he’d heard in her voice moments before.
He released her and gave her a wide smile. “Shall we eat?”
“If that’s what you’d like.”
Ulmin’s gaze rose to find Pryn watching the exchange. The chef’s face broke into a grin. “Chepple sausage, anyone?”
“And maybe a little something on the side for me?” Ulmin asked, giving Pryn a wink.
Pryn chuckled. “Always.”
1
Dear Dani,
As promised, I’m writing you within an hour of my arrival. Uncle Quin welcomed me to his home, one of the nicest in Cellerin City. He has a ballroom that could fit hundreds of dancers. My guest quarters are almost as big as my suite back home!
I’m trying to pretend this is a normal vacation, a celebration of my eighteenth birthday. But every time I start to relax, I remember the truth.
I’m here to meet Prince Ulmin and possibly marry him. Whether I want to or not.
Dani, if he’s dreadful, will you abduct me in the middle of the night and find a ship to carry us across the ocean? Please?
-Letter from Ambrel Kaulder to Dani Kaulder
Dated Centa 12, 180 PD
“By the stone,” Nora breathed.
She stood in the doorway of the trogs’ new Interclan Center. Deroga was home to nearly two thousand trogs, and the center was more than large enough to accommodate all of them. Only a couple hundred, however, had arrived. The party would officially start at dark, and the sky was still painted twilight gray.
Innumerable flickering candles and glowing lanterns lent an air of luminous mystery to the luxurious old building. The floor was made of some preday material that looked like glossy marble, threaded with meandering, metallic veins. Throughout the room, wide columns extended up to the soaring ceiling. Murals, painted in the bright style trogs preferred, adorned the walls. Round, wooden tables covered much of the floor, but a sizeable space in the middle was clear for dancers, a few of whom were already moving to a fast-paced song.
Nora’s eyes traveled up a wide, curved staircase, settling on a landing where a band of at least fifteen trogs was playing. The music featured intricate harmonies floating over throbbing drums. She drew in a happy breath, smiling even bigger when the scent of bread and roasted meat filled her nose.
Krey’s voice broke the spell. “Are you going in, or should we stand here for the rest of the night?”
Nora swiveled her head to arch an eyebrow at him. He could’ve walked past her through the wide doorway if Ovrun and Zeisha hadn’t stopped alongside her, both as frozen by the beauty as she was. “You hate not being in the lead, don’t you?” Nora tried to keep a chiding tone, but she felt her lip twitch.
Krey smirked. “I wouldn’t mind if I could see anything past this guy.” He gave Ovrun’s broad back a shove that didn’t budge him a simmet.
Zeisha’s trog friend Kebi approached, already holding a drink, her short curls turned into a halo by the candlelight. “The food is delicious! Come in! I save a table for us.”
Behind Nora, Sarza said, “Food? Why are we still standing here?”
They entered and followed Kebi through the room. Ovrun drew Nora’s hand into his, weaving their fingers together. “Still wish you were with Hatlin tonight?” His breath tickled her ear.
She smiled. She’d complained earlier that she’d had to cancel her standing Friday-night meeting with their New Therroan contact. “No way. Hatlin can wait a week. I’m ready for a good party.”
He squeezed her hand. “Me too.”
A stack of plates awaited them at a table. They each took one and made their way to a large buffet. After filling her plate and getting a drink, Nora settled herself between Ovrun and Sarza. Kebi and Zeisha sat next to them, and Krey arrived last.
An uncomfortable silence fell on the table. Nora raised a confused eyebrow, before realizing the only seat available to Krey was next to Zeisha. It had been five weeks since their breakup, and the awkwardness between them still made Nora cringe.
Zeisha stood. “I think I’ll look around—”
Krey set his plate down, his shaggy, thick hair falling into his eyes. “It’s okay, Zei. Let’s all enjoy dinner.”
Zeisha lowered herself back to her seat. Conversation resumed.
Krey wasn’t over Zeisha; anyone could see that. Nora frequently caught him watching his ex with longing in his eyes. Once, he’d reached out as if to touch her glossy curls, before he caught himself and pulled his hand back.
Beneath the table, Ovrun squeezed Nora’
s knee. When she lifted her eyes to him, his full lips widened into a big smile. She returned it, though she almost felt guilty being so happy when two of her friends were struggling.
The room got louder as more people entered. By the time everyone at Nora’s table had cleaned their plates, they were shouting to be heard over the trogs and the band, which had doubled in size.
This was Deroga’s first-ever interclan party. Last month’s fight against King Ulmin and his invading soldiers had forged an unprecedented alliance between the trog clans. While this party was meant to celebrate the victory over the king, Nora sensed they were celebrating their relative unity more than anything.
“Would anyone like to dance?” Kebi asked.
“Yes!” Nora and Zeisha said, standing in unison. Ovrun rose too, while Sarza and Krey stayed seated.
The Stone Eater (The Magic Eaters Trilogy Book 3) Page 1
