The Strength to Serve (Echoes of Imara Book 3)
Page 1
CONTENTS
COPYRIGHT
ECHOES OF IMARA SERIES
TO WHATEVER END: ECHOES OF IMARA BOOK 1
AN ALTERED FATE: ECHOES OF IMARA BOOK 2
WORLD MAP
MAP
1. VISIONS OF THE PAST
2. DUTY
3. THE WORLD OF THE LIVING
4. THE EMPEROR
5. IMARA
6. ENTRUSTED TO YOU
7. COMING OF AGE
8. DAMN YOUR WEAKNESS
9. UNEXPECTED VISITOR
10. KATALIS
11. ASSASSINS
12. SPRING TRADING
13. SHALE
14. THROUGH THE BOND
15. DASHAL
16. THE ROOM OF WINTER
17. YOUR SOUL SINGS TO MINE
18. THE PARAGON
19. A NEW VICTIM
20. THIS ISN’T MY FIGHT
21. BLIND
22. DANCING IN THE MOONLIGHT
23. SECRETS IN THE SAHAARAN QUARTER
24. BANDS OF GOLD
25. THAYA
26. AN EXHIBITION
27. ALWAYS A PRICE
28. THE FORTY-FIFTH
29. LOOK FOR THE MONEY
30. NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN
31. MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICE
32. THE HEIR OF HORADRUS
33. THE PLAN
34. ALWAYS A NEED
35. THIS IS WHO YOU ARE
36. THE SAHAARAN CHASM
37. SEARCH
38. ARROW ACROSS THE CHASM
39. RETURN OF THE PRINCE
40. SPRINGING THE TRAP
41. FIRST ASSAULT
42. SEND AXXUS
43. NEW RECRUITS
44. WAITING
45. VOLLEY
46. PRISONER
47. THIS HAS TO END
48. CLIFFS
49. DEFENDING THE GATES
50. THE BOX
51. SECRETS
52. CONSEQUENCES
53. OVERSTATING THE DANGER
54. CLUES
55. THE PULL OF THE STONE
56. TREBUCHETS
57. I HAVE A PLAN
58. ABOMINATION
59. THE BRIDGE
60. NO MAN LEFT BEHIND
61. EVERY SACRIFICE
62. THE ATTIC
63. NEWS
64. WE MUST GO SOUTH
65. GWINELE
66. ATTACK
67. AXXUS
68. DARK ARMOR
69. I WILL DEFEND
EPILOGUE: SAHAAR
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2016 Claire Frank
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written consent of the copyright holder, except for brief quotations for the purpose of reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, events or incidents are products of the authors imagination and used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual people, places or events is purely coincidental or fictionalized.
Published by Mad Wizard Press
Map and interior art by David Frank
Edited by Tammi Labrecque of Larks and Katydids
Cover Art by Trevor Smith
www.clairefrankbooks.com
ECHOES OF IMARA SERIES
To Whatever End: Echoes of Imara Book 1
An Altered Fate: Echoes of Imara Book 2
The Strength to Serve: Echoes of Imara Book 3
The Heirs of Imar: Echoes of Imara Book 4 - coming fall 2016
OTHER BOOKS BY CLAIRE FRANK
Assassin's Charge: An Echoes of Imara Novel - coming spring 2016
Wooden Leg: A Short Story
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TO WHATEVER END: ECHOES OF IMARA BOOK 1
Daro and Cecily were content to live a peaceful life, far from the politics and intrigue of the court. But on their journey home from their annual trip to Halthas, they were viciously attacked and Daro taken captive. Cecily escaped with her life, but soon realized their attackers had left no trail. Enlisting the help of friends and former companions, she set to finding out who took her husband and why.
Daro awoke to a world where his captors exacted complete control, manipulating and punishing him through an implant in his neck. Nihil, a would-be magister of the Lyceum, subjected him to a series of experiments, endowing him with power he could scarcely control. His mind nearly shattered under the strain and he retreated deep inside himself to protect his psyche.
After months of searching and her own life in peril, Cecily discovered Daro’s captors. With the help of an unexpected ally in Pathius, a fellow captive held by Nihil, Cecily was able to find and rescue her husband. But the experiments had left him broken and he was not the man she remembered.
Unwilling to lose the asset he had in Daro, Nihil launched an assault on the Lyceum. Cecily and her companions fought back, facing Wielders with astonishing power. In the midst of the battle, Daro broke free from the prison he had created in his mind and sealed Nihil’s defeat.
The other altered Wielders went free, disappearing into the city and beyond. When the dust settled, Cecily and Daro embarked on their journey home, relieved that their ordeal was finally at an end.
But Daro, filled with power he can’t contain and voices that whisper in his mind, is still suffering from the trauma he endured. Cecily is at a crossroads, her relationship with the Lyceum repaired, but desperate to find a way to help her husband heal.
And Pathius is alive and free. Touched by the bond between Daro and Cecily, he is plagued by love for a woman he can’t have, and left wondering what sort of life exists for a man who was once a prince, and may now be nothing but a monster.
AN ALTERED FATE: ECHOES OF IMARA BOOK 2
Although rescued from captivity, Daro’s struggles had only just begun. Altered by his captors, he was losing control of his power, and his mind. Cecily feared for her husband, and when two men from Imara appeared with an offer of help, she encouraged Daro to accompany them.
In Imara, Daro was offered a chance to learn what it is to be an Imaran, and how to control his altered abilities. After months of working with Ara and Balsam, he was able to access his gift of Imaran Sight, allowing him to see the flow of energy through all living things. Using his Sight, and with the guidance of his friends, he faced the remnants of the souls poured into him to give him his power, and achieved a greater degree of balance and control.
With her husband gone, Cecily traveled to Halthas. With concern over the other altered Wielders growing, she stepped in to help, and found Pathius along the way. The two of them agreed to work together to alleviate the threat of Katalis, an altered Wielder who had invaded Torra, a northern border town.
The situation in Torra proved to be more dangerous than they expected, and Pathius followed the counsel of Isley, another altered Wielder with her sights set on making Pathius king. Under the hospitality of the Duke of Caerven, events spiraled out of control, and Pathius began to edge dangerously close to treason. When Cecily tried to leave, Pathius stopped her, keeping her captive in the duke’s manor.
Through their Imaran bond, Daro felt the violence Pathius did to his wife, and came to rescue her, defeating Pathius and freeing Cecily. With Cecily gone, Pathius fell into the arms of Isley, and decided to go along with her plans, while Daro and Cecily traveled to Torra to face Katalis. Once the threat of the altered Wielders was abated, Daro and
Cecily realized they had to go back to Caerven to face Pathius.
Both Pathius and Isley had gone beyond the boundaries of their power, becoming a chaotic danger to the world. As Pathius readied the Duke’s forces to march on Halthas to face the king, Daro and Cecily, along with their friends and a small group of Imarans, intervened. They ultimately defeated Pathius and Isley, neutralizing their threat and breaking the manipulative spell Isley had cast over the duke and his cohorts.
Daro faced Pathius and delved into the recesses of his mind, helping Pathius release the remnants of the souls that plagued him. In the end Daro chose mercy, and allowed Pathius to leave under the watchful eye of the Imarans, in the hopes he could find healing as Daro had.
After nearly a year, Daro and Cecily were finally able to return home.
Pathius has been forced to surrender to the Imarans, and while he harbors a great fear for his homeland, he must face the Raeswa to learn his fate. And Isley has been taken by an unknown force and finds herself on a ship, bound for Attalon, the empire across the sea.
WORLD MAP
MAP
1. VISIONS OF THE PAST
Cold trickled through Cecily’s body, piercing her flesh and knotting the muscles in her back. She shivered, her teeth chattering as she hugged her cloak tighter. Why couldn’t she get warm? Taking hesitant steps, she peered into the darkness. Her boots sank into a thick rug, and curtains drifted in the breeze from an open window. Confusion swirled in her mind; she couldn’t remember where she was or why she was there.
Eyes appeared in front of her, multicolored and shining. She gasped, nearly choking on her own breath, and stumbled backward as hands reached out to clasp her wrists. Her arms went numb with cold and her lips froze, sealing shut so she couldn’t let out a scream. Her feet, suddenly bare, scrambled over the frigid ground as she tried to pull away, the cold seeping into her legs. The hands wrenched her to the ground and a face emerged in the darkness, his breath hot on her cheek. Her eyes widened with disbelief as recognition dawned on her. It couldn’t be.
Hadran?
Cecily sucked in a breath as she opened her eyes and sat up, clutching the bedclothes to her chest. Her heart raced and her forehead was damp. Another dream.
Sliding back under the covers, she glanced at Daro. His eyes were closed and his chest rose and fell in a gentle rhythm. She took a deep breath to calm herself, grateful she hadn’t woken him. The images from her dream played in her mind as she stared at the ceiling. Had she really dreamt of Hadran? It had been years since visions of the former king had intruded into her nightmares. The face had certainly been his. But the eyes, those weren’t Hadran’s. The shining swirl of color belonged to his son. To Pathius.
A shiver ran through her and she pulled the bedclothes higher. Pathius was a recurring visitor to her dreams, always bringing debilitating cold and numbness that kept her immobile, unable to flee. Anger mixed with unease as she huddled in her bed, feeling her heart pound. Months after Pathius had held her captive in Caerven, she couldn’t seem to get rid of her fear.
No light came in through the window, dawn still hours away, but she knew sleep would elude her. She rose and dressed in warm clothes, careful to keep quiet so as not to wake Daro. She didn’t particularly want to speak of her disturbing nightmares. Dreaming of Hadran felt like a step back, like losing something she’d worked hard to regain. She pressed a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes, willing herself to banish the image from her consciousness.
With a cloak wrapped around her shoulders, she slipped from their bedroom and made her way into the kitchen. She pulled the cover from one of the glowstone lamps, bathing the room in soft light. From a basket on her worktable, she pulled out a folded letter, the seal already broken.
Lady Cecily,
I received your last letter a week ago and I apologize for not sending a reply sooner. My studies keep me busy, which I’m sure won’t surprise you. As much as I miss life in Norgrost, the Lyceum is a place of such excitement. Several of the students have asked when you will be returning to teach us again. I have to admit, I think they are beginning to wonder how much practical use our classes contain, whereas your lessons were always so useful.
A curious thing happened recently and I thought I ought to mention it. The Paragon invited one of my classmates to have a private meeting. After he attended, he began acting strange. His schedule was adjusted, so he’s no longer taking the same classes, and he rarely speaks to his friends. He disappeared once for several days and we’d all wondered what had happened to him. When he turned up again, he shrugged off our questions, as if he’d never been gone. It’s probably nothing to worry over, but a few of my friends here have expressed concern, so I thought it worth bringing up with you, since you were a student here. Perhaps this is a normal thing, and part of the process of separating the Wielders by our specialties?
I hope this finds you well and that you and Master Daro will be able to return to Halthas soon, even if only for a visit.
Regards,
Edson
Cecily folded the letter and turned it over, running her fingers along the edges. Her students at the Lyceum were often on her mind. How strange that she had so quickly begun thinking of them as hers. She was not a magister, not even officially employed by the Lyceum, but she had enjoyed her brief time working with Edson and the other students while Daro was in Imara. She missed the wide halls, the smell of leather bindings and worn paper. It had been such a relief to come home with Daro, but as the weeks had turned into months, she’d grown increasingly restless.
Edson’s letter troubled her beyond the reminder of what she missed at the Lyceum. The odd change in Edson’s classmate harkened back to her own experience as a student. In her case it had been Magister Brunell who took her aside for a private meeting and, before she knew it, her class schedule had been altered and the topics of instruction had gone far beyond academics. It made her wonder, what was the Paragon up to?
She rose from the table and put Edson’s letter back in the basket, wondering if there was anything she could do about it.
***
She heard Daro rise shortly after dawn, and after they broke their fast together he went out to his workshop. Cecily tried to busy herself with other tasks, but Edson’s letter, and what it meant, hung heavy on her mind. She’d been waiting for the right moment to discuss it with Daro, but after such a long absence, their days had been full. Deciding not to put it off any longer, she walked out to Daro’s workshop.
The stream bubbled past, the late fall air not yet cold enough to freeze it over. Daro stood at his table, running a chisel across a smooth piece of wood, his eyes intent on his work as Cecily eased open the door. She watched him for a moment, watched his hands caressing the wood grain as his bright silver eyes flicked across the surface. His chisel moved again, leaving soft curls of wood behind as it dug out a pattern only Daro could see.
He didn’t seem to notice her so she stepped closer to the table. His eyes lifted and he smiled. “Hi.”
“This looks nice,” she said, gesturing to his project.
Daro brushed the dust from the wood. “Thanks. I think it will turn out well. Is it lunchtime already?”
Cecily laughed. “No, it’s still midmorning. Actually, I’ve been meaning to tell you, I received a letter from Edson a few days ago.”
“How is he?”
“He’s well. They keep him busy. But he’s concerned about something that happened recently.”
He looked up at her with raised eyebrows. “Something at the Lyceum?”
Cecily nodded as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “One of his classmates had a private meeting with the Paragon, and suddenly he’s stopped going to his usual classes. Then he disappeared for several days without explanation.”
“Maybe he wasn’t keeping up with his studies. Could they have sent him home?”
“No, he didn’t go home. It sounds like he returned but wouldn’t say where he’d been.”
> Daro pressed his lips together and looked at her for a long moment. “And this is bothering you.”
She took a deep breath and thought how best to explain. “That’s what happened to me, when Brunell recruited me into the Lyceum of Power. My classes were rearranged, and I would be taken for what they called ‘special workshops’ for days at a time, but I wasn’t allowed to talk about it.”
“So you’re worried the Paragon is trying to rebuild the Lyceum of Power?”
“No, I know he’s rebuilding the Lyceum of Power. Nihil’s personal vendetta against the Lyceum did a lot of damage. Of course the Paragon wants to restore the Lyceum’s influence. He may seem to get along well with Rogan, but I’m sure he wants to ensure the Lyceum doesn’t lose its place as a pillar of Halthas.”
“Then what are you worried about? That Edson will get drawn in?”
“It’s difficult to explain,” she said. “I tell myself things are different now, with Rogan on the throne. Except, people aren’t really any different. They’ll still seek the advantage when they can, grab for power when they see an opportunity. The Lyceum has a long history of keeping secrets and involving itself in politics, despite a public face that claims the contrary.”
“It sounds like you’re fretting over things that aren’t yours to fret over. If you’re worried about Edson, he’ll be fine. You taught him what he needs to know to take care of himself in Halthas.”
Cecily rested a hand on Daro’s worktable and turned away. She already knew what he was going to say, but she needed to bring it up. “Maybe we should take a trip to the city.”
Daro set his chisel down and looked at her as he took a deep breath. “Cecily, we’ve only been home a few months.”
“What harm would it do to go for a few weeks? We could visit Edson, see how Griff and Serv are doing.”
“Somehow I don’t think you want to go to the city to visit friends,” he said with a wry tone.
“I’d like to find out what the Paragon is doing,” she said, letting the words come out in a rush. “Besides, they could use my help. I don’t know who they have who can do a decent job with the Reach Wielders. I was making a difference when I was there.”