by M. Gregg Roe
With Udaranga following like an unwelcome shadow, Siljan climbed the stairs of the southeast tower of what was now her castle. The oak door at the top gave access to the rectangular roof, and she pulled it open and strode through. Standing at attention and facing her, the two guards saluted smartly before retreating to the far corner, next to one of the useless catapults. Frowning at the overcast sky and wishing that she had worn a heavier cloak, she headed to the wall that faced west and gazed out over her queendom. (That was the proper term because she wasn’t married.) It was a responsibility that she had never expected. Or wanted.
The view had been a lot more pleasant when she wasn’t the one responsible for all of it. Her older brother, Bjarni, should have been the one to take over. (He even looked like a younger version of their father.) But her brother had chosen a different path, marrying a woman who lived on a distant continent and settling down in what was little more than a village. She envied them their peaceful and uncomplicated existence.
The tall stone castle stood atop a flat-topped hill about a mile east of the confluence of the North and Diar Rivers. Rohoville was only about twenty-five years old, and it looked very different from the two much older cities in Andoran’s Realm. There were a few streets, but it was mostly winding paths. And there were vast amounts of greenery. The city was like a giant public park, and its citizens wanted it to stay that way.
“What’s my schedule today?” Siljan said, knowing that Udaranga would be close by.
“The morning is set aside for public input on the proposal to legalize prostitution here,” Udaranga replied promptly. She stepped up to Siljan’s left before adding, “Both individuals and business owners will be present.”
Many found the woman’s guttural voice hard to understand, but Siljan was used to it. She smiled at the memory of her father’s reaction when he saw the “friend” that she had brought with her when she returned home for good. Even now, many people found goblins frightening. The combination of ebon skin, oversized amber eyes, and angular features aroused primal fears. (The pointed teeth didn’t help, either.) Compared to humans, goblins were typically shorter and stockier. Udaranga stood several inches shorter than Siljan, but her build was better described as voluptuous. Most goblins dressed in drab shades, but Udaranga often wore bright colors, heightening the contrast with her dark skin and raven black hair.
“Why are we bothering?” Siljan asked in exasperation as she continued to gaze outward. “Prostitution may be illegal here, but no one ever gets arrested for it.” In her experience, that was how it was in a lot of places. People that disapproved usually just pretended that it wasn’t happening.
Udaranga cleared her throat. “If it’s made legal, then we can tax it. We can also require licenses and regular inspections of the facilities. That will be good for the employees and the customers.”
Money was the real issue. It was an opportunity to bring in more tax revenue without raising the tax rates. (She didn’t want to start her rule by raising taxes.) There would probably be some backlash from overly moral types, but they complained about everything. And some of them would no doubt turn out to be secretly patronizing prostitutes. Siljan hated hypocrites.
“What about my afternoon?” Siljan prompted, peering at the docks to the south. As always, they were busy. In fact, they needed to be expanded. There was even talk of building more on the northern shore. That was another reason to increase revenues.
“You skipped past lunch,” Udaranga chided. “That will be with a trade delegation from Nadap’Rakishta.”
The woman was showing her disturbing teeth when Siljan looked over. Most people referred to that place as Goblinton, and it was where Udaranga was from. “Please tell me it’s at The Lion,” she begged. That was the most exclusive inn in the city. The conservative clientele would have a conniption.
“Of course it is,” Udaranga said, then made what sounded like a growl but was really a chuckle. “That’s where I arranged for them to stay. Oh, and I told them to all come heavily armed.”
Siljan laughed long and hard. It had been Udaranga’s sense of humor that had first caught her attention. Most goblins, particularly the males, were just too serious. Udaranga wasn’t like that, which might explain why she was twenty-seven and still unmarried.
“I’m going to wear my armor and sword to lunch,” Siljan declared, showing her own teeth. That would create even more of a spectacle.
“That meeting will probably last until mid-afternoon,” Udaranga told her. “You’re free after that, however…”
Worried by the woman’s tone, Siljan said, “What is it?”
“Adrian sent a letter,” Udaranga replied. “He wants to see you.”
Siljan’s chest tightened as tears threatened. “The letter was from him?” Usually when one came, it was from his wife and simply updated the man’s condition.
“It was from him, but don’t get your hopes up. According to his daughter, he’s sending similar letters to many of his friends.”
“He’s saying goodbye,” she murmured, and Udaranga nodded. Siljan had known Adrian all her life. He was older than her father, but not that much older. The man had been her first magic instructor, and an excellent one.
“I’ve cleared tomorrow morning,” Udaranga said quietly.
“Thank you.” Siljan gave her friend a quick hug. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Udaranga cracked a smile. “You would lie around all day while the bureaucrats ran the city into the ground. Come on. Why don’t you put on your armor for this morning’s meeting? That should disconcert them.”
Many of the aforementioned bureaucrats seemed to think Siljan should do little more than look pretty and say whatever they told her to say. They kept requesting private meetings with her that somehow never seemed to happen or were unexpectedly interrupted just minutes after they started. (Udaranga was good at her job.) The time had come for Siljan to assert herself. Her parents had always dressed regally when receiving visitors or holding meetings, but that really wasn’t in Siljan’s nature. Rohoville was about to find out that its new ruler was not someone to be taken lightly.
Acknowledgements
First of all, thank you for taking the time to read this novel. As an indie author I struggle to get reviews, so I would greatly appreciate it if you would leave an honest rating and review on the retailer site where you purchased (or read) this book. I also welcome feedback in other forms. Some ways to contact me are shown below.
Facebook: M. Gregg Roe
Twitter: @M_Gregg_Roe
Email: [email protected]
I could have just made this book the fifth entry in my Andoran’s Realm fantasy series, but I wanted to try something different. So instead I worked to make it a standalone. I also opted to use only a single viewpoint in each chapter, and to limit the number to four. That proved challenging at times, but it was also an opportunity to grow as a writer.
An earlier version of this novel was published as The Impossible Castle. Reviewers pointed out issues that I took to heart, finally deciding to pull the book from Amazon. After some thought, I sought out and hired a professional editor to provide what is known as a developmental edit. Fiona McLaren pointed out issues with some of the character arcs, including a lack of conflict. That led to a massive rewrite that eliminated some minor characters and fleshed out the overall story better. The overall plot wasn’t altered, but this is definitely a better book, at least in my opinion.
As always, I would like to thank Brian and Kat Chevrier for providing feedback, proofreading, and moral support.
Index of Names
Agvak – leader of the ogres that live in Tritown
Albert – eccentric wizard who lives on Kaldir; Aliva’s father
Aliva – half-succubus daughter of Albert and Wiva; she secretly serves Lasrina
Almera – Romee’s adoptive mother; Draymund’s wife
Andoran – legendary wizard that created Andoran’s Realm; de
ceased
Ariana – druid that used the EarthStaff to carve a passage through the Gray Forest; deceased
Arwon – deity associated with maintaining balance between order and chaos
Audrey – Guardian of Andoran’s Realm; originally from Farmerton
Bartik – deity associated with battles and wars
Berna – Audrey’s aunt; Ilona and Iris’s mother; deceased
Bethany – former member of the Zardis Thieves’ Guild leadership; an amalgam
Birchbark – talented druid who lives in Tritown; Fern’s husband
Branwyn – High Priestess of Arwon in Rohoville
Cinda – young woman who works as an entertainer; close friend of Audrey’s
Collector – magical construct created by Andoran
Conrad – young man who runs a carpentry business; Audrey’s boyfriend
Danj – King of Rohoville; good-hearted but not very bright
Daragrim – old elf with a talent for magic; Almera’s father
Draymund – professional dragon-slayer; Almera’s husband
Dukane – deity associated with order and creation
Eomera – Captain of the Witch’s City Guard
Ermizad – High Witch and hereditary ruler of the Witch’s City
Ferikellan – elf magic researcher obsessed with the Gray Forest
Fern – Birchbark’s wife; excellent cook
Gabriel – lieutenant in the Witch’s City Guard; Marryn’s brother
Grasapa – Audrey’s martial arts teacher and mentor
Hankin – one of Gabriel’s former adventuring companions; employed by Novox
Harbik – Rosalind’s gworn assistant; unusually quiet and polite
Hazel – employee of Alluring Apparel; skilled seamstress
Ilia – lieutenant in the Witch’s City Guard
Ilona – Audrey’s cousin; Iris is her twin sister
Iris – Audrey’s cousin; Ilona is her twin sister
Josara – the last Eye of Andoran; deceased
Karin – Marilee’s deceased mother; now a crystalloid
Karth – deity associated with chaos and destruction
Kora – woman who runs Desires; Sparrow fanatic; Koralena is her full name
Kyran – deity associated with bountiful harvests and fertility
Lasrina – deity associated with beauty and luck
Mardan – legendary hero from Kaldir; Gabriel and Marryn’s father
Marilee – Audrey’s deceased mother; now a crystalloid
Marryn – owner and operator of Alluring Apparel; Gabriel’s sister
Marva – young adult ogress who lives in Tritown
Medea – member of the Witch’s City Council; Gabriel and Marryn’s mother
Nabarun – elf who lives in the Gray Forest
Nollan – sergeant in the Witch’s City Guard; Kora’s younger brother
Oljot – powerful and grouchy wizard who lives on Kaldir; creator of the Gray Potion
Peri – sergeant in the Witch’s City Guard; Periwinkle is her full name
Petra – skilled alchemist with a shop in Rohoville; Ermizad’s cousin
Roho – legendary but inept dwarf warrior who once lived on Kaldir
Romee – teenage girl originally from Farmerton; adopted daughter of Draymund and Almera
Rosalind – Priestess of Kyran; skilled spell-caster
Sabrina – Queen of Rohoville and its true ruler
Saxloc – one of Gabriel’s former adventuring companions; Romee’s step-brother
Siljan – one of Gabriel’s former adventuring companions; Priestess of Kyran
Stanley – owner and operator of Rohoville’s ferry service; Aliva’s husband
Tobias – proprietor of Witch’s City Clothing; Medea lives with him
Vurk – Ferikellan’s long-time gworn assistant
Zyrahi – a marilith (commander-type demon)
About the Author
M. Gregg Roe has never built a castle (although he has visited several). Originally from central Ohio, he spent time in Virginia and California before finally taking up residence in Tennessee. Now retired, writing has become one of his leisure activities. He also enjoys, running, cycling, traveling, and playing Dungeons & Dragons.
