The Queen Maker

by Kristen Gupton

  Royal Blood Book II

  The Queen Maker

  Kristen Gupton

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead is coincidental.

  Copyright 2014 Kristen Gupton

  All rights reserved.

  Prologue

  Despite a military career spanning the better part of three decades, General Ahman Danier had seen little action. While his native Sador Empire was once renowned for their fierce history of conquest, their current emperor had put an end to it when he’d taken the throne eighteen years before.

  Danier hated the fact he’d been held back by Emperor Betram’s policy of nonaggression. A member of the Onawa tribe, Emperor Betram was more adept at business negotiations than warfare, and Danier found that unacceptable.

  The prior seven leaders of their empire had been members of the general’s own tribe, the Quitam. They had been men of ambition, taking whatever resources they’d needed from neighboring lands without apology. Like many in his tribe, he believed Betram’s method of governing had destroyed the empire’s reputation.

  The general knew change would need to come soon. Betram was in his eighties, and a successor would need to be named. Danier dreamed of his potential promotion to emperor. Ascension to the throne of the Sador Empire had more to do with military and political background than birthright. The general knew if he secured badly needed resources for the empire without Betram’s spineless negotiations, he would ensure his own nomination.

  The Sador Empire was in desperate need of the coal the Tordanians possessed. Their own mines had run dry of the precious fuel decades earlier, and none of Betram’s beloved trade partners produced it.

  Born of a noble Sadori family, and nephew of the previous emperor, Danier had watched his tribe lose control of the empire. His uncle had ordered forces into Tordania multiple times. There, they’d seized several coal mines and held onto the area for a number of years.

  Eventually, the Tordanians had found the resolve to reclaim the land. Danier’s uncle had sent the entire Aroothi tribe across the river to settle the region, and when the Tordanians retook the area, the tribe had been eradicated. It was this failure that had cost Danier’s family the throne.

  The time to atone for that loss finally arrived when the general received news of King Turis Lee Sipesh’s death. Tordania had suffered a prolonged depression. This, combined with the Sadoris not aggressing for decades, meant the military on their border was nonexistent. A new king might not have the nerve to rush into battle, and Danier realized it was an opportunity he needed to take.

  Danier felt it was time for a bold move to demonstrate his willingness to do whatever it took to better the lives of his people. The possibility of Emperor Betram proposing trade with the new Tordanian ruler made the general sick. The Quitam tribe viewed most foreign trade as sacrilege. To Danier, the Tordanians were mere vermin that needed to be cleared from the region. Their deaths would be nothing more than justice served for the eradication of the Aroothi tribe. The thought brought a smile to his weathered face.

  Sitting atop his white horse, he pulled an expensive copper spyglass from a pouch on his belt, and scanned the other side of the river. Its frigid waters originated in mountains far to the south and trekked northward to form the western boundary of the Sador Empire. When it neared the Tordan Mountains, it changed course and ran east along the southernmost border of Tordania. This was the division between the two nations. Once the river passed the northern end of the Sador Empire, it swung north, cutting a gorge through the Tordan Mountains.

  Danier saw some activity in the Tordanian river port of Lodain but nothing of any particular interest. He lowered the telescope, his black eyes narrowed in thought. His right hand moved up to tug at the end of the long, ebony braid draped over his shoulder as he considered his next move.

  Danier took extreme pride in his appearance, always outfitted in the finest chainmail and clothing he could afford. The general sported several gold rings and cuff bracelets as nonverbal signs of his wealth. Nothing he brought with him was less than the best even while stuck on his current miserable assignment along their desolate northern border.

  He was single as marriage was illegal amongst their upper class. For now, the military was his life and purpose, and if all went well, someday he would have access to as many women as he desired.

  One of his lieutenants stood close to his side. Like all Sadoris, he shared similar attributes of appearance with his general. “Have you made a decision, General Danier?”

  His lean frame turned in the saddle, and he gave a small nod. “Yes. I’ve already dispatched orders for ships to be brought downstream from Takrah. When they arrive, we will cross the river and take back what is ours. I think we’ve seen where Emperor Betram’s policies have gotten us long enough.”

  The man looked up and nodded. His sun-darkened face slowly creased, a wide smile growing. He, too, was Quitam and eagerly awaited the day his tribe could reclaim power. “So be it, General. It is best for the empire.”

  “Agreed.” Danier stowed his spyglass, eyes panning across the river one last time. “Let’s see what this new rumored vampire-king offers us in the way of resistance.”

  With that, he reined his horse back toward camp and gave a small laugh. Though his empire had faced its share of problems over its history, the bane of vampirism had never plagued his people. To that particular threat, the Sadori people had always been immune. It was nothing the general needed to fear.

  Chapter 1

  “I’ve seen the way you stare at one another. Thana, I will not let you become a consort to that vampire! You do not understand what he is capable of or what he may do to you,” Sorna said, glaring at her daughter. They were alone in the castle’s kitchen, cleaning up from breakfast.

  The girl tensed, a chill running down her spine. She had never been defiant of her mother, but the older woman’s constant haranguing over the past few weeks had been intensifying. Thana was at her breaking point. Other than the kiss she and Keiran had shared the night of his coronation, she and the young king hadn’t spent any time alone. Both she and Keiran had been relatively discreet in their flirting during the few weeks since, but Sorna had still picked up on it.

  Against her better judgment, Thana turned to confront her mother. “There is nothing between us. I don’t know what sort of man you think Keir is, but he has been nothing but kind to us.”

  The older woman slammed the heavy pot she’d lifted out of the washing basin onto the counter. “I will not remind you again to remember your place, and stop calling him by his familiar name without title! I knew his father, and for the experiences I had with him, I can’t imagine that deep down he doesn’t share traits with King Turis Lee. His father was a reprobate. You are aware of this having lived here all your life.”

  “Yes, I’m not so stupid as to have forgotten that quickly how cruel King Turis Lee was!” Thana’s hands clenched at her sides, shaking visibly. Never before had she felt anger like was boiling up within her. Her mother wanted them kept apart due to their stations in life, but she knew in her heart he was a good man, and she very much loved him.

  Sorna’s lips pressed together in a tight line as she moved a few paces closer to the girl. “That all aside, he is a monster. Corina has been getting blood from the castle physician and giving it to our new king every evening. Oh, she’s tried to hide it, but I’ve seen it. First, it was animal blood, like a disgusting savage, but he has most assuredly graduated to that of men. A blood drinking vampire, no different than Lord Athan Vercilla! The evil in that man makes King Turis Lee look like a saint. You can keep on with t
his naive belief you have that somehow King Keiran won’t succumb to his wretched impulses like Lord Vercilla, but it will cost you your life!”

  “How dare you speak about Keir like that!” she shouted back, already lapsing into disregarding the king’s title. “He isn’t evil, and he isn’t Lord Vercilla! You’ve made up your mind about Keir without bothering to get to know him. Corina knows he’s a good man, and she’s lived in this castle just as long as you have.”

  Outright laughing, Sorna tossed a hand in the air. “Oh, that is just rich. Corina has always been a sterling judge of character!”

  As those words left her lips, Corina entered the kitchen, several plates balanced on her arms. She’d been clearing out the dining hall and hurried back when she heard voices raised. Her brow furrowed, and she locked gazes with Sorna. There had long been a measure of tension between the older women, presumably from the status with Keiran that Corina had always enjoyed. It had only grown worse since the previous king’s death.

  “What was that, Sorna?” she asked. “I’m sure I heard my name.”

  Angry from arguing with her daughter, Sorna didn’t wither at all. She turned from Thana and moved several steps closer to the other woman. “I was just discussing with my daughter the danger of associating with a vampire. Would you like to add anything to the conversation? After all, I think she should be apprised of the situation by an expert.”

  Corina’s eyes widened. She switched her gaze nervously toward Thana for a moment before setting the dishes she’d carried in onto the counter. She lowered the pitch of her voice, not wanting anyone outside the room to hear. “Sorna, I don’t know what you’ve ever seen Keiran doing, which would lead you to have doubts about his character, but I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding.”

  “Ah, yes. I would like to point out that once upon a time, you didn’t think Lord Vercilla was a monster, either. Please, by all means, tell my daughter here how that worked out for you. Thana is getting too attached to our king. They can’t legally marry, and I’ll be damned if I will let her become a plaything for that man.”

  Corina’s attention settled on Thana, seeing how wretchedly uncomfortable she was with the conversation. She gave a small shake of her head before focusing back on Sorna. As she’d raised Keiran from infancy, she knew him well enough to understand he held deep sentiments for the young woman. Though Sorna was right about the legality of it, she realized the man wouldn’t get involved with her merely for a meaningless tryst.

  Her maternal instincts over Keiran bristled. “How dare you, Sorna. Keiran wouldn’t be out to simply use your daughter, and you know it.”

  “Actually, Corina, I don’t,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest and coming to stand right before the other woman. “Why don’t you tell us exactly how it worked out for you?”

  Though Corina hadn’t wanted to draw further attention into the room, Sorna’s voice had carried. Keiran had picked up the argument with his superior hearing and chose that moment to walk through the doorway. He spotted the three women immediately. His ability to sense the emotional states of those nearby spiked a considerable amount of anxiety within him. It only worsened when he saw the expression Thana wore.

  “What is all of this?” he asked, not letting his gaze wander away from Thana.

  Corina remained determined to defuse the situation. There were things best left unsaid between all of them, and she faced Sorna once more. “I know you are only interested in protecting your daughter, but please understand that Keiran is a man of honor.”

  Sorna wasn’t ready to back down, not even with the king himself now before her. “He is nobility, very much above her class, and a vampire. I shouldn’t have to remind you how poorly that turned out for you with Lord Vercilla all those years ago. You whored yourself out to him quite willingly back then and for what?”

  Corina blanched white and brought up her right hand, slapping Sorna hard enough to make the other woman stagger back. “You wretched old cow!”

  Keiran quickly reached out and grabbed Corina, wondering if she was going to jump on Sorna and take the fight to the ground. “Stop this at once!”

  Thana, meanwhile, continued to stand there, her hands now brought up and covering her mouth. She didn’t rush to her mother’s aid and didn’t look at Corina. Instead, she stared at Keiran, horrified at her mother’s words.

  Keiran looked right back at her, utterly lost. Obviously, Corina and Sorna had quite a lot brewing between them. The comment about Athan and Corina that caused her to lash out didn’t go by without notice. Corina hated Athan, but perhaps it hadn’t always been that way. Then again, it could all just be speculation on Sorna’s part or simply a childish attempt at an insult.

  Sorna slowly straightened up, holding a hand to her stinging cheek. Her eyes were ablaze, and she wasn’t ready to relent. “That’s right, Corina, it didn’t turn out well at all, did it? He broke your heart, you bore him a child that didn’t survive, and then suffered his abuse ever after. I will be damned if I will allow that same fate to befall my daughter.”

  “Let me go!” Corina began to struggle against Keiran’s grasp. Whether she intended to run away after her age-old secret had been thrown out, or to lunge forward and kill Sorna was up for debate.

  Keiran flooded with the emotional turmoil around him, and he couldn’t make sense of it. While he’d been a realist and understood Corina must have given birth at some point to have become his nurse, the idea of Athan being involved shocked him. Corina wasn’t denying it, however. He maintained his hold on the older woman, unwilling to allow the fight to escalate.

  He glared at Sorna. “You will cease at once! I will not tolerate this any further. I do not appreciate being compared to Athan in the least. Just look at what you are doing to poor Thana!”

  Sorna let her hand fall back to her side, her expression going blank. She regained control over her outward emotions, knowing she wasn’t in any position to defy Keiran.

  Calming her voice, she met Keiran’s gaze, and opted to play the only card she held. “King Keiran, do you truly wish to demonstrate that you are above the behavior of both your father and Lord Vercilla?”

  He gave a faint nod, loosening his grip on Corina slightly, feeling her relax. “Aye, of course I do.”

  “Then, you should start here with those in the castle. Those of us placed into servitude involuntarily under your father should be allowed the option of reclaiming our freedom,” Sorna replied, her hands lacing together before her stomach.

  “Mother!” Thana took a few steps closer to the others. She knew as an unwed woman she was under her mother’s control. If Sorna opted to leave the castle, she would be ordered to go along with her.

  The vampire’s jaw tensed, his eyes moving to Thana for just a few seconds. He realized what Sorna was up to, but allowing the servants their freedom was the right thing to do. It was something he’d been intending. Still, his desire to hold onto Thana was writhing within, starting to rile his darker side. His fangs threatened to descend as he struggled against his inner demon. There had to be a way to both do the right thing by the servants and not lose the woman he loved.

  The three women all stared at him, awaiting his verdict.

  Thana was terrified at the thought of leaving the castle. Things had been easy since Turis Lee’s death, and she knew life outside the castle involved just as much hard work to survive as what she did already. She’d never known anything else.

  He took a long shot, knowing Sorna had already made up her mind. It was the only compromise he could think of on such short notice. “That is the righteous thing to do, to grant all those here their freedom if they wish to go. However, I see no reason not to give compensation to those who volunteer to remain employed. I will make that compensation retroactive to when they began their service here.”

  “That is a very generous offer, Your Majesty, and I’m sure the others who choose to stay here will greatly appreciate the financial boost. However, if your judgment is to gra
nt us freedom, I believe we shall journey elsewhere.” Sorna gave a small bow and turned to face her daughter. “It is time for us to go.”

  “I don’t want to!” Thana shot back, stomping a foot and refusing to move from where she stood. “I won’t go live on the streets of the town just for you to spite Keiran!”

  “Thana, you do not have the luxury of defying me! My brother has long offered us a place to live on his farm in return for work, should we ever be set free. Therein, we have a home. We are leaving.” She turned and started for the door, intending to head to the room she shared with Thana to begin packing.

  Corina was speechless, not moving even though Keiran’s hands had dropped away from her. Behind her, Keiran was nearly ill from his own heartache. There was nothing he could do aside from overstepping the boundaries of decency to keep Thana there for himself.

  The young woman was in tears, helpless. Though her mother may have just received her freedom, she had none of her own, belonging legally to the older woman. She tried to think of something, anything, to say that would sway her mother, but she couldn’t find the words.

  She didn’t even know the true extent of Keiran’s feelings for her, and perhaps he didn’t care much. Though his emotions were being subconsciously projected, the air was simply too muddied for her to realize what she may have otherwise sensed. Her heart was breaking. She chanced a fleeting glance toward the vampire before running out of the room.

  Corina slowly turned around and looked up at Keiran. Now that they were alone, tears of shame burned in her eyes. She thought Sorna may not have gone so far if she had somehow stopped the fight from continuing.

  As for the issue of Athan having fathered the child she’d lost shortly before Keiran’s birth, Sorna had been the only person to know the truth. There had been a time when she and the other woman had been friends on the level of confiding such things.