The Red Kings Wrath (eBook)

R.J. Redmond (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2021 | 1. Auflage
298 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
978-1-0983-5852-5 (ISBN)

Infos

The Red Kings Wrath 'ALMEKTIG WILL BURN BY MY HAND, SURTENG! AND ITS STREETS SHALL SHINE RED WITH ENESTE MAATEN BLOOD! YOUR CAPITAL, YOUR STATE, AND YOUR CHURCH SHALL FALL BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE . . . I AM COMING!' The Red King will have justice. Marching toward the Church State, war, and likely death, Erec leads his people into battle against slavery and corruption and Tyg must face his past to lead an uprising against the Church State's despotic government. In the north, Freyja and Derek continue their suicide mission to protect Erec and end the Cardinal's sinister reign. War and carnage rule the Church State as its enemies close in.

Textauszug

CHAPTER ONE

Western Sea near Ecali Coast

Astrid leaned against the battleship’s railing as the massive vessel’s bow rocked upward in the heavy surf before plunging back down into the water. Keeping her knees bent to absorb the boat’s sway, she stared with immense concern toward Erec as the King’s short bright orange hair flashed about in the sea breeze.

“That’s not an expression I’d like to see on anyone . . . let alone a king.” A tall black-bearded man with a gruff voice stated, approaching from the aft before leaning sturdily on the railing beside her.

The teenager shifted her posture, glanced back at the man, whom she didn’t recognize, and shook her head in response before glancing behind them. As far as she could see, the fleet of BjornsGaard warships filled the water, frigates and battleships alike, their paddlewheels churning hard against their sides, steam and smoke billowing from stacks above them. A massive armada, steadily holding its course southward along the Ecali coast, which lay just above the horizon to their east. The dark-featured man was the only person on deck who’d taken the time to speak to Astrid, even though several different groups of people stared at him with concern and angst as the Tau sailors moved around seeing to the ship. He was one of the few individuals on deck who wasn’t wearing a tunic identifying themselves as Tau or Hospitalar, and he’d been watching her curiously for some time.

“Do you know what’s happening?” The brown-skinned girl asked, attempting to pull her thick, impossibly curly hair back from her face as the wind blew it around.

The man grunted negatively and shook his head, “I saw what you saw.”

Astrid knew what he referred to: less than an hour before the adolescent had guided her small messenger airship through shifting and swirling ocean winds, landing precariously on the deck of this ship. The airship now lay thoroughly moored between two mounted trebuchets on the main deck a few feet from them. When they’d arrived, Erec and Evert had descended, and just after that, the king was hailed formally and taken off to the side by a broad-shouldered blond woman wearing a Hospitalar tunic. The two had talked quietly while Evert assured that their weapons and baggage was stowed aboard the ship. As the discussion continued, Erec’s face had grown dark red, and his eyes had flashed angrily. He’d slammed his fist against the ship’s railing, scaring Astrid because she’d only seen the King even and calm. Even in the most stressful circumstances, she’d never witnessed the young king behave that way or lose his temper. He’d gestured about wildly and ranted off several orders before turning away from the woman, kicking the railing as he marched to the bow of the boat. Though he’d left an excited flurry behind him, he’d remained there, at the very front of the ship, silent, fuming, and incensed since then, his blue eyes flashing furiously. No one had dared approach him, even Astrid.

“I’ve never seen him like this.” Astrid stated calmly, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him show irritation before . . . Let alone anger.”

The large man nodded, “He’s always seemed like a cool one to me . . . It’s nice to know he’s human.”

Astrid furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head at the man disapprovingly. She’d spent the last fifteen days in Erec’s presence nearly all the time - reading through the texts in Dhrumvelt Abbey’s library, learning chess, and perpetually training or conditioning. If there was anything that training with Erec had taught her, it was that Erec was the last person on earth she ever wanted to see angry.

“Whatever it is . . . It’s going to come to a head shortly.” The man stated.

“What?” Astrid looked back toward the man in confusion.

The big man smirked, scratching the black hair on top of his head before pointing to a large group of aging Hospitalar knights gathering at the far end of the deck. “That group there is the Hospitalar High Council, a few of them just got collected from other ships by skiff, two skiffs specifically, and three skiffs were sent out, so we’ll see who’s on the last one.

“Also,” The man continued as the boat rocked again, “You don’t move people between boats when the surf is this high unless something significant is happening.”

Astrid glanced at the white-capped waves rolling about beneath them and then looked back towards the large man nodding with comprehension.

“Corrupting the young and impressionable Varsec?” a hard woman’s voice sounded from their right. Astrid stepped away from the banister to see past the broad man as Britta Tau, and Valter Tau approached, their yellow Tau tunics flapping about them in the wind. The entire left side of Britta’s pale brown face was bright red and covered with peeling dead skin, her long wiry gray hair was patched and burnt along the same side, and her willowy figure limped slightly as she approached while Valter kept his shrewd brown eyes fixed on the black-haired man.

“War Leader Britta!” Astrid exclaimed uncontrollably, “What happened to your . . .” Then she stopped mid-sentence turning back toward the man. “Varsec,” she intoned incredulously, “The Brigand?”

The man smirked harshly, chuckling and winking at the girl.

“And I assume you’re the pilot that helped this lot make such short work of my ships a couple of months back,” he continued to smirk, then he gave a mock bow to Astrid, who didn’t know how to respond.

Britta ignored the man’s antics stepping past Astrid with her eyes on Erec as Valter put his arm around Astrid protectively. “Has he spoken to you?” Britta asked Varsec over her shoulder.

Varsec’s eyes went serious, and the pomp he’d exhibited just before disappeared from his posture as he shook his head. “He hasn’t spoken to anyone except the Hospitalar Grand Master,” he replied earnestly, stepping toward the woman. “I expect there may be some trouble,” he stated quietly.

Britta’s stony eyes turned toward him, her expression neutral, “Would you enjoy that?” she asked, her voice flat and unamused.

The pirate’s bearded face blanched before meeting her gaze with solemnity, “For him . . . no.” Varsec stated, shaking his head, “His father or grandfather would be a pleasure to watch like this,” he added savagely before lowering his voice again, “. . . but not him.” The War Leader nodded before glancing across the deck where the broad-shouldered blonde Hospitalar hurried toward Erec.

“That’s Sanna, the Hospitalar Grand Master,” Valter whispered kindly to Astrid as the group looked up the ship toward the commotion.

“Varsec, you may want to join us,” Valter’s powerful voice stated as he began to cross the deck toward the gathered Hospitalar council, motioning for Astrid to follow.

“Why?” The man asked from behind them.

Valter smirked, stroking the chin of his close-cropped brown beard, “I think you’ll find it interesting.”

Astrid walked between the two Tau knights, glancing over to Erec, who walked toward the group of them purposefully, Sanna a half step behind him. The Hospitalar High Council had formed a formal line, standing against the railing near a pulley engine designed to haul skiffs back aboard ship. Astrid and the two Tau leaders joined them with Varsec casually taking up the rear, while a few groups of high ranking Tau knights and other well-coifed individuals stood a ways off, watching carefully, their expressions concerned. Several Tau sailors began lowering a platform down the side of the vessel, preparing to bring the third returning skiff back on board.

The king walked past Astrid, his maroon tunic blowing about him, his irate gaze locked on the council. He walked halfway down the line before turning to address them all. Sanna stepped back a moment and looked to the ground.

“Councilors,” Erec stated, his voice harsh, “We will take this opportunity to remind the Council that Tyg Varor, formerly known as Tygseng Deathwind, enjoys a royal pardon for any past acts and shall not,” the king’s voice continued in an outraged crescendo, “be sought out, taken into custody, harassed, or in any other way troubled by any Hospitalar, Tau, or citizen of BjornsGaard.” The collected group of aging knights, both men and women, remained petulantly silent.

“We further remind this group,” the young king continued, “That any action against the Chief Constable sanctioned by this body shall result in the entire Hospitalar Order losing its legal status and protection within our Commonwealth.” One of the councilors acted like he was about to respond, but Erec flashed him a look, and he held his tongue.

“My friends and mentors,” Erec’s voice lowered to a growl as he continued, conspicuously dropping the royal ‘we’ for the moment, “I want it known by all of your order that anyone taking action from here forward against Tyg shall not face BjornsGaard’s justice . . . they shall face me!”

Erec took in a large breath and exhaled slowly. “Carolus,” the young king continued, his voice cracking slightly as he stated the name. He paused to grimace as his face turned somewhat emotional, “Carolus . . . your War Leader . . . is no longer welcome in our court or at our council,” Erec sighed deeply, “You may do with him what you will.”

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Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 26.4.2021
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Fantasy
• ISBN-10: 1-0983-5852-X / 109835852X
• ISBN-13: 978-1-0983-5852-5 / 9781098358525