End of All Things (The Kinsman Chronicles)

Jill Williamson

Description

Part 3 of Jill Williamson's Epic Fantasy Series The Kinsman ChroniclesWith the Five Realms on the brink of total destruction, everyone faces a final mad scramble to find a safe haven. The realm is divided on what should be done. Wilek and Trevn join those who are preparing the realm for a seaward evacuation, but the king stands in their way. Wilek must battle against his own father to try and save the people of Armania.The End of All Things is collected together with parts 1 and 2 in King's Folly.

Informations

• Publié par: Baker Publishing Group
• Date de parution: 05 avril 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781441229106
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
© 2016 by Jill Williamson
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
Ebook edition created 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-2910-6
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, incidents, and dialogues are products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover design by LOOK Design Studio
Author is represented by MacGregor Literary, Inc.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Map
Key Players
Charlon
Wilek
Trevn
Kalenek
Wilek
Trevn
Kalenek
Hinck
Wilek
Charlon
Trevn
Mielle
Hinck
Kalenek
Qoatch
Inolah
Wilek
Charlon
Trevn
Wilek
Mielle
Trevn
Charlon
Kalenek
Wilek
Charlon
Trevn
Grayson
Wilek
Trevn
A Note From the Author
Acknowledgments
About the Author
The Kinsman Chronicles
Back Ad
Map
Key Players
ARMANIA
House Hadar
Echad [EE-kad] -Rosâr Hadar , king of Armania
Schwyl , Echad’s onesent
Captain Lebbe Alpress , captain of the King’s Guard
Filkin Yohthehreth , prophet to Rosâr Echad
Avenelle/Mother Rosârah , mother of Echad
Brelenah-Rosârah , Echad’s first wife, Wilek and Inolah’s mother
Sir Rayim Veralla , captain of the Queen’s Guard
Hawley , Brelenah’s onesent
Wilek [WILL-ek] -Sâr Hadar , son of Echad and Brelenah
Sir Kalenek Veroth , Wilek’s High Shield
Novan , Kalenek’s backman
Agmado Harton , Wilek’s backman
Dendrick , Wilek’s onesent
Lebetta , Wilek’s concubine
Laviel-Rosârah , Echad’s second wife, Janek’s mother
Janek-Sâr Hadar , son of Echad and Laviel
Sir Jayron , Janek’s High Shield
Oli [OH-lee] Agoros , Duke of Canden, Janek’s backman
Timmons , Janek’s onesent
Mattenelle , Janek’s concubine
Pia [PEE-ah], Janek’s concubine
Thallah-Rosârah , Echad’s third wife, Trevn’s mother
Trevn-Sâr Hadar , son of Echad and Thallah
Sir Cadoc Wyser , Trevn’s High Shield
Hinckdan Faluk , Earl of Dacre, Trevn’s backman
Beal , Trevn’s onesent
Valena-Rosârah , Echad’s fourth wife
Hrettah-Sârah Hadar , daughter of Echad and Valena
Rashah-Sârah Hadar , daughter of Echad and Valena
Ojeda-Rosârah , Echad’s fifth wife
Others in Everton
Father Tomek , high priest of Arman, tutor to Trevn
Eudora Agoros , Oli’s sister
Pontiff Barthel Rogedoth , head of the Rôb Church
Admiral Hanray Vendal , admiral of the king’s fleet
Captain Aldair Livina , captain of the Half Moon and the Arzah
The Omatta Clan
Rand , leader of the Omatta
Meelo , Rand’s son
Teaka , Rand’s mother
SARIKAR
House Pitney
King Jorger Pitney , king of Sarikar, the God’s King
Princess Nabelle Barta , Jorger’s daughter, widowed mother to Zeroah
Zeroah Barta , Nabelle’s daughter, betrothed to Wilek Hadar
Mielle Allard , Kalenek’s ward, honor maiden to Lady Zeroah
Prince Loran Pitney , King Jorger’s second-born son and heir
Princess Saria Pitney , Prince Loran’s daughter
RUREKAU
House Orsona
Nazer Orsona , emperor of Rurekau
Inolah [IN-oh-la] -Sârah Orsona-Hadar , Nazer’s wife, daughter of Echad and Brelenah
Ree , Inolah’s nurse
Prince Ulrik Orsona , son to Nazer and Inolah, heir to the throne of Rurekau
Prince Ferro Orsona , son to Nazer and Inolah
Princess Vallah Orsona , daughter to Nazer and Inolah
MAGONIA
Ruling Clan
Mreegan , Magonian Chieftess
Kateen , First of Mreegan’s Five Maidens
Astaa , Second of Mreegan’s Five Maidens
Roya , Third of Mreegan’s Five Maidens
Eedee , Fourth of Mreegan’s Five Maidens
Rone , number One of Mreegan’s Five Men
Nuel , number Two of Mreegan’s Five Men
Vald , number Three of Mreegan’s Five Men
Morten , number Four of Mreegan’s Five Men
Torol/Thirsty , number Five of Mreegan’s Five Men
Magon , a great shadir, bonded to Mreegan and Charlon
Also in Magonia
Charlon , a kidnapped woman
Onika [ON-ik-ah], a blind girl
Rustian , Onika’s dune cat
Grayson , a boy with a gray rash
Jhorn , a prisoner
Burk , a thief
TENMA
Priestess Jazlyn , the Sixth Great Lady of Tenma
Qoatch [KO-ach], Jazlyn’s eunuch slav, a seer
Gozan , a great shadir, bonded to Jazlyn
The Gods of the Five Realms
Arman , the father god
Athos , god of justice and law
Avenis/Avennia , god/goddess of beauty
Barthos , god of the earth/soil
Cethra/Cetheria , god/goddess of protection
Dendron , god of nature
Gâzar , ruler of the Lowerworld, bringer of death
Iamos , god/goddess of healing
Lâhat , god of fire
Magon , goddess of magic
Mikreh , god of fate and fortune
Nivanreh , god of travel
Rurek , god of war
Sarik , god of wisdom
Tenma , the mother god
Thalassa , virgin goddess of the sea
Yobat/Yobatha , god/goddess of pleasure and celebration
Zitheos , god of animals
Charlon
E xplain yourself!”
Charlon cowered before Mreegan in the red tent. Face covered in dirt. Gaze on the floor. “They came for the prince. Had a mantic with them. She broke the compulsion. Refused to meddle with the soul-binding. The prince took our token and wears it now.” Sobs came forth, deep and heavy. Such longing. Wilek gone. Gone before she could test her new plan.
“You failed and must be punished.” Mreegan lifted her hand.
A spell was coming. Charlon braced herself for pain.
Nothing happened.
Mreegan frowned, thrust her hand forward again. Stood and circled Charlon.
Show yourself, Favored One , Magon said within. It’s time to stand as Mreegan’s equal .
Charlon rose slowly, mustering courage. She lifted her own hand. Whispered a spell.
Mreegan stopped moving, frozen just by Charlon’s words. Only the Chieftess was supposed to have the power to perform magic without runes.
Mreegan’s gaze met Charlon’s. “The slight Eemahlah is no match for my shadir. Who powers your spell? Tell me the truth!”
“Magon gives me strength,” Charlon said.
A gasp. “You dared petition my shadir?”
“I was desperate. I prayed to the goddess and she answered.”
“But she hasn’t cast me down from my position as Chieftess. Why would she serve us both?”
The two women looked at one another warily.
“What does it mean?” Charlon asked.
“She must want us to work together.”
Why? The goddess had promised. Promised Charlon would be Chieftess someday. Perhaps this was a necessary step. She released her hold on Mreegan, determined to try things Magon’s way. “Magon told me I am Mother. But I despise men. Cannot touch one. Hate being touched by anyone.”
“Ridiculous,” Mreegan said.
“You saw within. When you healed me. You know why I fail. But I have a plan. I must place a compulsion on myself. I have been practicing.”
Mreegan scoffed. “That’s impossible.”
“You doubt Magon’s power?”
“No, but—”
“You said only the Chieftess could petition Magon. I proved you wrong. Anything is possible with Magon. I can do this. But I need your help.”
Chieftess Mreegan stared within, saw that Charlon spoke the truth. “Very well. But I will not risk our camp by abducting the prince again. This time you must cast a mold of his betrothed and go to him masked in her form. Ask Magon to help you find the woman’s location.”
“Yes, Chieftess,” Charlon said.
“We leave for Everton tomorrow.”

As the Magonians journeyed toward Everton, Mreegan taught Charlon all she knew of compulsion spells. Charlon practiced. Forced Kateen to crawl on all fours like a dune cat. Made Five believe he was One and pick a fight with Rone for wearing the lure. Once compulsions on others were mastered, Charlon practiced on herself. Cast a spell that she hated furs and could not sleep that night from the chill. Made herself loathe water until she could barely speak for her dry throat.
Charlon became proficient at placing spells on herself. Finally capable, she retreated to her tent and cast the spell she needed. To banish her fear of men. Her fear of human touch.
But had it worked? Could she even know?
She must test it. But not on any man. Torol had always been kind. Torol she trusted.
She petitioned Magon for cleansing, then walked out of her tent. Three passed by with a tray of food. “Fetch Torol,” she ordered, and he scurried away.
She went back inside to wait. Soon Torol entered her tent.
“Are you well, Mother?” he asked.
“I must test my spell.” She reached for him. “Take my hand.”
He walked to stand before her. His fingers slid over hers, up her palm, and bent around the side of her hand.
She shivered. Not from fear. She found his touch pleasant. Only in the back of her mind did the soul-binding cause her to hesitate.
“Will you kiss me?” she asked. Not a compulsion this time. Torol’s choice.
He looked hesitant. Stepped closer. Ran his fingers up the back of her arm.
Her mind did not scream. She did not flinch. Had she done it? Please, Magon! Say that she had.
Torol’s eyes searched hers, afraid. Likely wondering if this was a test. If she would punish him later. Roya played too hard with the men.
“You’re safe,” she whispered. Her stomach fluttered within.
Torol pressed his lips to hers. Soft lips. Prickly beard. Solid arms. An intense sorrow seized her. This was not the prince—not her soul-bound.
She pulled Torol closer, fighting the soul-binding magic. Shocked and delighted. No fear of being touched. Only the nagging horror that she was betraying her prince.
She shoved aside that guilt. Drew Torol to her bed. They knelt, fell together. Arms clutching each other