by Tammy Salyer
Soon, the Minothians from town who’d been hiding in their homes began to creep to the edge of the field, then into it, intermingling with the Zhallahs. Wonder and awe filled their faces. No one spoke, no one cheered, but everyone seemed to have forgotten they were divided.
Mura, Lysis, and Dwoon stood together, arms around each other. They would not be parted by a foreign malice again. Isemay’s eyes found Salukis again. As she looked at him, he turned away from Browan back to her, his feelings, like her own, painted on his face. She wanted to stay here, with him, hold him the way her mum and da held each other. But she could not live in his world, nor he in hers.
But a Knight or an Archon could. Her da had told her and her mum about the Himmingazian called Bardgrim whom Vaka Aster had chosen and ordained. Vaka Aster was beyond her now and shackled through Balavad’s treachery. But Mithlí no longer was.
Isemay looked across the field toward the Verity, who was now walking down the main road toward Everlight Hall, her people bowing on every side as she passed. Isemay had trained her whole life to serve a Verity. It didn’t have to be Vaka Aster, did it?
She glanced at Salukis, then began following Mithlí.
“Isemay, where are you going?” he said.
She glanced back. “Arc Rheunos needs a new troupe of protectors to watch over Mithlí’s vessel, Lukis. And I’m going to be the first to volunteer. Would you like to come with me?”
Salukis hesitated and looked at Browan. His da smiled at him, a look that could not have contained more pride. Then he paced to her and took her hand again.
Resolute, she cast her eyes on the Verity, and they began to cross the field hand in hand. Isemay had helped to free one Verity from Balavad’s treachery. The calling to free another was too strong to deny. Today, if she was worthy, Isemay would indeed no longer be just a child. She would become a Knight Corporealis.
Afterword
Thanks for reading!
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Now and always, happy reading!
Also by Tammy Salyer
NOVELS
Spectras Arise Series
Contract of Defiance, Spectras Arise Trilogy, Book 1
Contract of Betrayal, Spectras Arise Trilogy, Book 2
Contract of War, Spectras Arise Trilogy, Book 3
Conviction: A Spectras Arise Novella
Spectras Arise Trilogy Omnibus
The Shackled Verities Series
Knight Chosen: The Shackled Verities (Book One)
Knight Redeemed: The Shackled Verities (Book Two)
Knight Exiled: The Shackled Verities (Book Three)
COLLECTIONS
Forged From The Stars with G. S. Jennsen and E. J. Fisch
On Hearts and Scorpions: Four Twisted Tales of Love and Lust
SHORT STORIES
Artificial Fate
Creepers
No Suede Soles in Hell
About the Author
Tammy is an inveterate verbarian, who spends her days surrounded by the written word, both hers and others’. As an ex-paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, her stories are often as gritty as a grunt’s pile of three-week-old field gear. Her Spectras Arise military science fiction series debuted to acclaim in 2012, and her epic fantasy adventure series The Shackled Verities was launched in 2020. When not hunched like a Morlock over her writing desk, Tammy runs and bikes silly miles with her super-cool weirdo partner in the playground of Southern California and spends an inappropriate amount of time watching Henry Rollins videos on YouTube.
Fantasy, space opera, satire, and snark fans will feel right at home with Tammy. Learn more about her and her books by visiting www.tammysalyer.com. She hopes you enjoy reading her works and welcomes your reviews.
