by J. S. Bangs
The trader scrambled to his feet and began to shepherd the scattered coins into his purse with short, quavering breaths. He straightened and squinted at Mandhi, who was half-hidden in the moonlit darkness. “My lady, forgive me one question. What is your interest in Navran? A rich woman such as yourself can get better slaves than Navran.”
“That’s not for you to know,” Mandhi said. “This is your last chance to leave intact.”
Rishakka glanced towards the window, then at the door which would lead to the common room of the guesthouse and to the front door. Mandhi and Taleg did not move. “As I came, then.” He went to the window, batted the curtains aside, and climbed down.
Taleg let out a sigh. “Well, we got it,” he said.
“We didn’t get him, though.” Mandhi rubbed the rings on her finger. “Bhila. One more name to chase.”
“We’re close. Very close.”
Mandhi moved to the window and glanced out. There was no sign of Rishakka. She closed the curtains tightly, casting the whole room into blue-tinted gloom. Then she went to the door of the servant’s chamber and pulled its curtain closed. They were alone. Her heart began to pound, and her breath became labored. Taleg was a black pillar in the center of the room.
She crossed to him and groped for his hand. His enormous pale fingers closed over hers, enveloping her small dark hand like a shell over a pearl. She laid her head on his chest. His heart sounded like monsoon thunder in her ears. “At least we’re going back to Virnas now.”
“It’s been four months.”
“It feels like a year.”
The thunder in his chest seemed to quicken. “Will you speak to your father?”
“You mean of more than Navran?” Her heartbeat stuttered. “Yes. And if Navran will wear the ring—”
Taleg bent down, the threads of his beard brushing against her forehead. She raised her face towards his, and their lips met. For a moment she forgot how to breathe.
“You said,” she whispered, “that a tumble in the night would not hurt you.”
He laughed, the noise breaking the silence like a stone in a pond. “When we get to Virnas. Not before.”
“And in Virnas we’ll do as we planned?”
He bent down and kissed her again, hard, one hand squeezing hers, the other pressed into the small of her back. “Yes. I promise.”
Read the rest of this story in Heir of Iron, now available on Amazon.
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More By J.S. Bangs
Storm Bride
War. Peace. One woman with the power to choose…
“[A] stand-alone secondary-world fantasy epic of the first order.” (Publisher’s Weekly)
Saotse thought she was special. Once carried across the ocean by the Power of the Sea, the spiritual world abandoned her in a strange land with no way to return. When an army of vicious nomads threatens Saotse’s adopted city, a different Power begins to speak to her.
Keshlik has tired of war. As his men pillage yet another city, the general seeks an excuse to make peace without taking himself out of leadership.
Uya mourns her dead husband killed in the barbarian invasion. Forced into Keshlik’s service, she’s taken as a slave to the barbarian general’s pregnant wife. As she recovers from her grief, Uya must consider whether she should resign herself to fate… or let the bloodlust of revenge take hold.
When Saotse gains an incredible ability that could level the playing field against Keshlik and protect her adopted sister Uya, she’ll have to decide between war and peace. Between life and death. Between the gods and herself.
If you like unconventional fantasy settings, deep characterization, and edge-of-your-seat action, then you’ll love this gripping, beautifully-written epic fantasy novel.
Buy it here at Amazon
About Me
Hi, I’m J.S. Bangs. I live in Romania with my family of four, where I work as a freelance software developer, make cheese, play video games, and write books. If you’re interested in getting announcements about future releases, contests, and giveaways, sign up for my mailing list or visit the following link in your web browser:
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