When Pride Falls (eBook)

Olivia Anne (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2024 | 1. Auflage
384 Seiten
Bookbaby (Verlag)
979-8-3509-8036-3 (ISBN)

Infos

Twenty year old Naia was forced to escape her childhood home when her beloved village was attacked. After fleeing, Naia finds herself in a castle needing to heal, desperate to find truth and stumbling into love. -How will the two princes, Picel and Javil, deal with a beautiful intruder in their castle? -How will Quinlan, the King's personal guard, balance pleasing the King with his new responsibilities? In the midst of giving each of the young men a piece of her heart, Naia encounters life-or-death obstacles that teach her who she truly is and who she truly loves.

Olivia Anne is an aspiring author who never intended to be one! She's also a lyricist, composer, and music producer; that was her focus until starting When Pride Falls. She credits that process with beginning her fiction writing journey. She has loved creating stories since she was a little girl and is thrilled to have completed her first published work! Olivia is from Rockford Michigan, but currently lives in Missouri.

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When Pride Falls follows four characters who are working through their struggles of pride, anger, leadership, fear, and love. Naia had had her life completely turned upside down after an attack on her village. She is rescued by a prince and brought to the Kingdom's castle; Arilos. Once there, she is faced with abuse from that prince and she doesn't know why. Through her portion of the book, we see Naia work through the grief of losing loved ones, recovering from the abuse she endured, and watch as she learns how to fall in love again. Javil has a rough past. He lost his mother when he was a teen, and he still doesn't know how to handle the anger he feels from the events revolving around her death. Through his story we see Javil learn the consequences of jumping to conclusions about people. We see him learn how to ask for forgiveness. We watch as he starts to realize that he isn't the man that he wants to be. And we get to see a glimpse of Javil starting to make changes in his life to show he means what he has said. He doesn't want to be the man he has been for so long. He wants a second chance. Quinlan is the King's Guard. He is tasked with protecting him at all costs. And he fails, on multiple accounts. Through Quin's story, we see love blossom through hard times, and then we see what can happen when pride and fear attack. Picel is next in line to become King. His reign begins sooner than he expects when the King, his father, is taken from him, and his brother Javil, too soon. Through Picel's story, we see him learn how to lead as King. We see him learn how to love gently, and patiently. And we see him learn what risks are worth, and are not worth, taking. Picel also learns that even though he has power, he does not have complete control. That is up to the Lord.

Textauszug

1

Naia

As I opened my eyes, I immediately smelled smoke and looked out my window. Flames were reaching the trees just before our little cottage, and cries of villagers rang out as they were struck down by enemy swords as they tried to escape.

“Sweetie, grab some clothes and run for the river,” my mother said calmly, but with fear in her eyes, too. My mother was never afraid. She always handled situations with ease and grace. She was pretty fierce. I wanted to be more like her. Mom always seemed out of place, but she was exceptional at her occupation of being a mother, wife, and occasional seamstress.

“Mom, what’s happening?” I asked, throwing some dresses and underskirts into a burlap sack.

“Honey, our village is under attack. We need to get to safety! Please, I will explain everything, but right now we have to go! I’ll get your brother. Meet at the river. Your father is already there getting the boat ready!”

My brother, Rhyson, was fourteen- six years younger than me. He must have been scared out of his mind because, as Mom was about to fetch him, he came bursting through the door to my room; his eyes flooded with tears. He never let anything get to him. He was the one who would stand up for the kids who were getting picked on- the one who would fight. He was tough, but not tonight. I held out my arms and he ran into them for comfort. I brushed some strands of his sandy blonde hair from his eyes and then wiped away his falling tears.

“Come on, Rhy. Let’s go. Mom will follow.” I said, a little too cheerfully, and glanced at Mom. I could tell she was waiting for us to go so she could get some things situated before following us. She looked conflicted, knowing she needed to take care of her kids, but also needing to focus on whatever secret she had been keeping from me. She nodded in approval and with that I dragged Rhyson out of the room.

Running after us as we left the house, I heard Mom yell at me to stop. I turned around to see her standing at the front door with a sword in hand and a bow and arrow strapped over her shoulders. My eyes widened. Where had those come from? I have never seen her with weapons before. Does she even know how to use them?

“Naia, take this,” She said, shoving the sword into my hands. “Swing it at anyone who comes close to you. Even if you think you might know them- you might not. Be careful. Please.” With that she raced back inside, slamming the door behind her.

I strapped the sword’s sheath and belt around my waist, re-grabbed Rhy’s hand, and we raced into the night.

Bodies were everywhere- fires were catching on homes, trees, and people. I shuddered at the sight. As we ran, I shielded Rhyson’s eyes so he wouldn’t have to be scarred by the images I knew I would be haunted by for the rest of my life. People were wailing and crying out, begging for help, but we had to keep moving. We had to get to the river. Dad would be there, and he would take care of us- how he would do that I had no idea.

“Naia, help, please!” A voice called from the night, the river was right in front of me. I couldn’t risk it, but I knew that voice. It cried out again.

“Naia, please!”

It was a boy from my study group. We had been learning how to make herbs into medicines together. I paused and looked over my shoulder. There was no one there. I groaned, not wanting to make the choice I knew I had to make, but I knew the right thing to do. I surged ahead pulling Rhyson along, remembering what Mom had said about not trusting anyone. Could he be bad? No. I shoved the thought from my mind.

Twenty-five yards later we reached the riverbed. I scanned the length of it searching for my father. There! He was dragging a boat out from a shed which had been hidden by leaves and moss. He spotted me and subtly waived for us to hurry.

He started waving his hands higher in the air. I waved back, too late, realizing the panic that had appeared in his eyes, even from a distance. He was trying to warn me of something. Thud. I hit the ground hard and cried out in pain, my face in the dirt. I heard a scream. Rhyson.

Someone had tackled me from behind. I landed on some rocks and pain surged through me. That’s gonna leave a mark. I looked up and, standing there, was a warrior. He didn’t look very old, but still. Why are there warriors here? He was holding a long weapon and his dark, angry eyes were staring at me. He moved towards me swiftly, extending the weapon above his head, ready to strike me down.

“I got her!” He yelled to no one, but everyone at the same time.

“No, you want me!” I heard another familiar voice call from behind him. Mom. Mom help! I couldn’t move. I had no way to defend myself. Wait! She gave me a sword! How could I forget? Did she know I would need it? How?

My attacker stood, momentarily distracted by the yell from my mother. He wanted her? What does that mean?

While he faced her, I silently withdrew and raised the sword while jumping into a fighting position. I had no idea what I was doing, but then he turned back to me, and I knew I needed to figure it out… immediately. He lifted his weapon, and I brought my sword up just in time to avoid being maimed, but I knew my strength wouldn’t hold out for long. I had no training in battle at all and would tire easily. After about three blocks against his sword my arms started to give way. This sword is heavy!

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother rushing Rhyson the rest of the way to Dad at the boat. Good. At least He would be safe.

As I was distracted, the warrior came down on me hard, knocking the sword from my hands, sending it flying just out of reach. I groaned. He was going to kill me. I was going to die. He kicked me to the ground and I saw him lift his weapon. I closed my eyes, ready for the blow, but it never came. Instead, I heard impact from swords colliding together, a grunt, and then silence. I forced myself to peek through my fingers and was relieved when I saw my mom standing in front of me, triumphant. The warrior was on the ground. Dead.

I looked at her in awe as she stood there. Sweat dripping from her brow, a small trickle of blood running down her left temple.

“Naia, are you alright?” She asked, clearly knowing I wasn’t. I gave her a small nod and she reached out her hand to help me up.

“Pick up your sword. Come on, let’s go,” she said as she started jogging toward the boat. Her voice was tight but steady.

My dad had it in the water already. It was a large rowboat and could probably hold eight. Thankfully we only had four to get to safety.

I had so many questions. Where had the boat come from? Did my parents know that we would need it eventually? Why did Mom know how to use weapons? What else were they hiding from me and Rhyson? I knew that it wasn’t the best time to ask them all, but I would demand answers eventually. Mom said she would tell me… I would hold her to that.

Dad and Rhyson were already in the boat and seated. Dad had the ores in hand and was ready to steer the boat down the river. Mom had untied the ropes and was waiting for me to hurl myself over the edge. I jumped in and landed on the bottom with a thud. I scrambled to a sitting position as Mom pushed the boat from the edge of the water out into the deep. Who is she?

As she jumped in, I saw her glance at my dad and they locked eyes- sharing a thought. She looked guilty, afraid even, but he looked back at her with understanding in his eyes. I looked from Mom to Dad and then dared to speak. I couldn’t wait anymore. I needed to know what was going on.

“Mom?” was all I got out before she held up her hand for me to be quiet.

“Not here,” she replied. “Later.”

I looked at her, raising my eyebrows in question, but she just put her hand on my knee and sighed.

“Naia,” Mom whispered softly. “Just trust me, please. It isn’t safe, and your brother…” She looked at me with pleading eyes, begging me to let it go. I didn’t want to, but gave in and sat back down on the bottom of the boat and rested my head against the wooden bench behind me.

I was jolted awake as I was thrown into the side of the boat, landing on my injured shoulder. I winced as I sat up to face my parents who had sprung into action.

“Mom?” I questioned. “Dad? What is going on?”

“Rapids,” my mom replied tensely.

“Luria, we waited too long!” My father cried as we were pulled to the other side of the river. He tried to steer us back, but it was no use; we were in the hands of the river and in the hands of God.

“I’m so sorry, I was trying to get us further away,” My mom cried. My dad took a moment and took my mother into his arms and gave her a passionate, deep, kiss. A sob escaped my mom’s lips as he...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 10.11.2024
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Literatur ► Fantasy / Science Fiction ► Fantasy
• ISBN-13: 979-8-3509-8036-3 / 9798350980363