The Mad King (Stoneblood Saga Book 6) Read online

  “Hey, are you daydreaming? It must be a good one, ’cause I haven’t seen you smile like that in a while,” Hanna said with a laugh. “Hurry up and get your things together. We’ll be landing soon, and I want you on deck when we pull into port.”

  “Aye-aye, Captain,” Nathan said, giving her a crisp salute and a boyish grin. As he made his way below deck, the grin remained as his thoughts returned to Camille Vos.

  3

  Sharon

  “I hate that girl,” Sharon exclaimed and threw her knife hard into the center of a target forty feet away. “She’s the rudest person I’ve ever met.”

  Quinton chuckled and tried out a new telekinesis spell to bring back the knife. “I think you might be overreacting a bit. She’s a very nice girl,” he said, then concentrated on pulling the knife out of the target. He managed to do just that, but instead of flying back to his hand, the knife fell to the floor and remained there. His brow furrowed as he tried to grab the blade again with an invisible hand but had no luck. He exhaled and shrugged, resigning himself to collecting the blade by hand. When he passed the knife back to Sharon, she turned away and let out an exaggerated huff. “What?” he asked, confused by her reaction.

  “You think I’m overreacting?” she snapped.

  “Well, just a bit.” Quinton shrugged, uncertainty in his tone.

  Sharon let out another huff. “I think it’s okay to be a little angry that my boyfriend is taking the side of some hussy!”

  Quinton turned slightly so she couldn’t see him roll his eyes, something he knew for certain would make the situation worse. “That’s not at all what I meant?”

  “What exactly did you mean, then?”

  Quinton glanced around, looking for a way to escape Sharon’s seething glare, and saw Verin Albet walking along the garden path with Lilianna on his arm. Thank the gods, he thought as the pair approached the grove where he and Sharon were having lunch. “Hello, Verin. Lady Lilianna. How are you doing today?”

  Sharon swore quietly at him, then turned to greet their friends with a forced grin.

  “Good day, Sharon,” Verin said with a wide grin, an expression he was getting used to now he was spending more time with Kiana’s mother. “Quinton. What have you two been up to? It feels like a long time since I last saw you both.”

  Quinton nodded. “Actually, I’ve been working on some exciting new experiments at the magic school.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Lilianna said. “What kind of experiments?”

  “I’m attempting to recreate a bloodstone using the magic I have available to me,” he replied with a grin. “It started as a joke with Nathan, but I think I might actually be onto something. Who knows, maybe we can start mass-producing them and selling them.”

  Verin frowned. “I’m not sure that’s a very good idea. We have enough problems with bandits already. We don’t need to give them access to magical weaponry.”

  Quinton raised his hand. “Actually, it would make the weapons a lot safer. The bloodstone would only allow a certain person to use the weapon. For example, we ship a load of imbued swords to a buyer and the caravan is attacked by bandits. They will think ‘we scored the motherload’ but when they try to pick them up, the swords will feel so heavy they would be impossible to use in battle. As well, a tracking spell might be used, making rooting out the bandits much easier.”

  Verin thought for a moment, then a smile spread across his face. “That’s actually a very brilliant idea. Well done. I hope your experiments are a success. I’m sure they would be a hard sell in Solotine at first, but as the benefits become known, I’m sure they’ll take off. It sounds like an excellent commodity to add to our current portfolio of goods.”

  Quinton smiled proudly and looked to Sharon to share his joy, but there was no break in her dour expression.

  “What’s going on with you two?” Lilianna asked in a motherly tone.

  Quinton shrugged. “She’s mad ’cause I told her she was overreacting about some girl.”

  Verin drew in a sharp breath and his eyes went wide. “You didn’t.”

  “What?” Quinton shrugged, a look of genuine confusion on his face.

  Lilianna let out a light chuckle and leaned over to Verin. “Set the boy straight, will you? I’m going to have a chat with Sharon,” she whispered.

  Verin smiled and threw an arm around Quinton’s shoulders. “Come on, boy. We need to have a little chat about women.”

  Lilianna took Sharon’s hand. “Tell me what happened.”

  She didn’t want to, but the look in Lilianna’s eyes and the warmth of her touch made Sharon feel comfortable and safe. “He just doesn’t understand that girl is trying to get close to him.” Once she started, tears began to flow to match her words. “She just shows up here, out of the badlands or whatever, and moves in on all the men. Well, maybe not all the men, but my man, for sure. I’m not going to let her take him from me. I’m sick of losing the people I love. I refuse to let him go, too. But he doesn’t care. He’s just willing to let it happen; to let himself be seduced by that harlot.”

  “Oh, my. This does sound serious.” Lilianna’s voice was soft. She squeezed Sharon’s hand. “Tell me. What girl are we talking about?”

  “Camille Vos,” Sharon exclaimed, as if the older woman should’ve already guessed.

  “Oh?” Lilianna said. “You must pardon me, but I’m a little confused. I thought she and Nathan have something going on?”

  “I thought so too!” Sharon’s eyes went wide. “But since he’s been gone, she’s been spending a lot of time at the magic school, and I just happened to find out she’s been spending that time hanging around Quinton.”

  “I see. And did you ask him about it?”

  “Of course! He says she only comes around every so often because he’s working with her mother, but I know what’s really going on. I’m no fool.”

  “Oh, Sharon,” Lilianna said with a warm, knowing smile. She wrapped her arms around the girl and gave her a big squeeze. “I think what you need to do is take a step back—”

  “You think I’m overreacting too, don’t you?”

  “No, not at all, dear,” Lilianna said, keeping her voice calm and even. “I just think you need to observe the situation a little more before you make accusations. Watch from a distance. If she is truly the way you say she is, then you will get the proof you need.”

  Sharon thought over the woman’s advice. Maybe she did sound a little crazy making an accusation without any real proof. She would just have to get it. She ran a sleeve over her face to sop up the last of her tears and cracked a small smile. “You know what would make all of this much easier?”

  Lilianna shook her head. “What, dear?”

  Sharon let out a little laugh before she replied, “Nathan returning to Elderwood.”

  4

  Nathan

  “Gods, look at the size of him,” Rowena exclaimed. “Even with those brilliant blue eyes, he couldn’t be anything other than a Stoneblood!”

  Nathan smiled nervously as Hanna’s mother, Rowena Mirzan, wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tightly. The strength of her hug easily marked her as one of his kin, but it also strained his already weak stomach. “Not so hard, please,” he managed to whisper.

  “Are you hurt, boy?” Rowena gasped, eyeing him suspiciously.

  He felt his face flush with embarrassment. Nathan shook his head and said, “My stomach isn’t feeling so good. Not since I got off the ship.”

  Rowena’s face brightened, and she slapped him on the back. “Not a man of the sea, I see,” she said with a soft laugh. She turned to look at the rest of his companions. “Anyone else?”

  Rayan, Katla, and Kiana all shook their heads as they stifled their laughter. They were all doing a poor job of hiding their amusement at Nathan’s expense.

  “He’s definitely more suited for travel over land,” Hanna said with a big grin. She stepped forward to hug Rowena. “I wasn’t expecting you to meet us at the dock, Mother. I was actually hoping I might be able to surprise you.”

  Rowena smiled. “You should know I have the sea-watch alert me as soon as they see any sign of the Lady approaching.”

  Hanna frowned. “I had Kreg chart a route along the coast specifically to avoid being seen by the watch.”

  “You’ve been gone a while. You didn’t account for the new lookout posts I set up along the coastline.” Rowena laughed. “I knew you were coming this morning.”

  “I guess they’re so new Kreg didn’t even know about them either. Why did you need to set up new lookouts?”

  Rowena sighed and shrugged. “The Foxnoses have been very active again. We’ve had reports that they’ve locked down Grimsfell to outsiders.”

  Rayan put up his hand to get Hanna’s attention. “Sorry to interrupt, but would you mind explaining what all that means? I know it’s none of our business, but you’re talking about it in front of us, so…” His voice trailed off and was replaced by a fiendish grin.

  Hanna couldn’t help but smile. “Sorry. You’re right. The Foxnoses are a rival trading company. They’ve built a town, much like the Stoneblood Trading Company has here with Irontide. It’s called Grimsfell, and it’s at the end of a bay to the north of us.”

  “Have you had trouble with them before?” Kiana asked.

  Hanna said nothing while glancing over at her mother with a look of sadness. “I take that as a yes,” Kiana said.

  “There was a short time I blamed the Foxnoses for killing my grandfather,” Hanna said, then smiled sheepishly. “I sailed into their bay in a rage. I may have sunk one of their ships. To be fair, they were looking for trouble at the time. They thought to take advantage of my grandfather’s death.”

  Nathan chuckled. “I bet they sto
pped that after you sunk their ship.”

  “Yes, they did,” Hanna said before turning to her mother. “What are they doing exactly?” Hanna asked. “Can’t we send someone to sneak in and check it out? Kiana here would be perfect for the task.”

  Kiana smiled and nodded briskly. “I would love to. It’s been a while since I’ve really tested my skills.”

  “I appreciate the offer, but we actually did get a spy inside,” Rowena said. “A few of them, actually. They all came back with the same information. Nothing out of the ordinary. They only found a few things different. They’ve erected tall walls around the whole city with only one heavily guarded entrance. This is obvious from a distance, but they’re only allowing their citizens and workers in. Traders are dealt with in a makeshift lodge outside of the city. Another difference is the amount of ships in and out of their harbor, which is why I set up the extra lookouts. I have them looking for any clues to what they’re up to.”

  Hanna frowned. “I wouldn’t mind having a look for myself when I get back from Amradin.”

  “If you want to go now, it’s fine by me,” Nathan said between dry heaves. “I’m sure we can make it just fine on our own.”

  Hanna shook her head. “I wouldn’t be comfortable doing that.”

  “Me neither,” Katla said as she gripped Rayan’s arm, causing him to blush.

  Rowena nodded. “I also agree. There has been a rash of disappearances from villages and farming communities across northern Solotine. People go missing all the time, but not like this.”

  This news was particularly disturbing to Nathan and he fought against his sickness to ask, “Has Theron Stoneblood been notified?”

  “Irontide hasn’t had anyone go missing, so there hasn’t been a reason to send word. We’ve been getting the news from passing traders,” Rowena said. “I guess the disappearances have increased over the last few months, but like with everything else, no one cares until a royal gets involved.”

  “A royal?” Kiana asked.

  “Well, sort of. The son of a wealthy nomadic chief. I guess the boy was leading a squad of his father’s men. They were escorting some foreigner through Solotine and fell into some sort of trap. One of the soldiers got away and made it back to a village from where the news spread by road and pigeon. Since then, travelers have become more conscious of telling others where they are going and how long they’ll be gone, so someone will go looking for them if they don’t arrive.”

  “The one who escaped, did he give a description?” Nathan asked.

  Rowena shrugged. “Not that I’ve heard. I do know people who travel extensively through Solotine without any problems whatsoever, so I can’t say if it’s maybe just speculative gossip.”

  Nathan nodded. “It’s a risk we’re going to have to take. I’m definitely not going back through Tarnstead.”

  His sentiment was shared by the group as they all laughingly agreed. All except Rowena.

  “Now it’s me who is in the dark,” she said as she lightly nudged Rayan with her elbow. “It’s your turn to explain.”

  “Fair enough,” he replied with a smile, and the group took turns telling Hanna’s mother the story of their adventures being chased by King Parth’s men across Tarnstead.

  “What a time we live in,” Rowena said when they were done. “When children are relied upon to save the day and dragons fly freely in the world again.”

  “Caritha was a very nice dragon, but she said there are many who are not so nice. We don’t have to worry, though. The leader of the dragons—Apophis, I think is her name—is working to ensure there is peace between humans and dragons.”

  Rowena shook her head. “And she said there is another dragon on Solotine?”

  Nathan shrugged. “She only said she sensed another dragon in the west, but she couldn’t say for sure.”

  “Wouldn’t it be crazy if the people who are going missing are being taken by a dragon,” Katla said with a laugh, but her jest wasn’t being taken as such. Her friends stared back at her with horrified looks. “I’m not actually serious, guys. I don’t really think it’s a dragon.”

  “But what if you’re right?” Rayan said, his eyes wide. “What if the dragon is…right behind you?”

  Just as he said the words, Hanna grabbed at Katla’s waist from behind. Katla let out a surprised yelp, which left the rest of the group in stitches.

  “That wasn’t funny,” Katla said, stamping her thick-soled boot. “Forget King Parth. I have half a mind to show you all what demon-crazy looks like!”

  “Keep him in, Kat,” Hanna said, drying her tears of laughter with the sleeve of her tunic. “Save it for the road.”

  Katla blinked a few times and the darkness that was beginning to cloud her eyes began to recede.

  “You weren’t really going to let your demon take control, were you?” Rayan asked, a nervousness in his tone.

  Katla gave him a non-committal look and shrug that sent the group into another bout of laughter.

  “Where’s Father?” Hanna asked Rowena.

  “Your father is enjoying his retirement by sailing,” Rowena said. “He bought a new ship for the company and insisted on taking it out for a trial run. He’s scheduled to be back tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow? Sounds like he went for more than just a trial run,” Hanna said, raising her eyebrows.

  “Yes, well, you know your father,” Rowena said, shrugging. “Round-trip to Mykoznia is a short run for him.”

  “Perhaps a couple days of rest would do us all some good,” Nathan suggested, his hand hovering absent-mindedly over his midsection. “I would love to meet the infamous Merdem.”

  The group gave a rousing agreement.

  “I guess it’s unanimous,” Hanna said with a wide grin. “We leave for Amradin day after tomorrow.”

  5

  King Parth

  “My kingdom is in ruins,” King Parth shouted, “and you want me to relax?”

  “Sire, no good can come from stressing yourself out too much,” Rhys Gibbs said, choosing his words carefully. Newly appointed to his position, he knew he must tread carefully. King Parth had been on a rampage lately, imprisoning or executing those he deemed responsible for the recent losses in the east as well as many others who happened to be nearby when he was throwing one of the fits he was prone to these days. It was how Rhys got his promotion. “I just thought perhaps you would enjoy—”

  “We are losing this war!” King Parth roared, spittle spraying from his lips. “The Blackguard is in tatters and the main army is hardly in better shape. More than half our fielded force is now mercenaries, but that will only last as long as our coffers can support them—which isn’t very much longer—or until they decide they’re sick of camping in the bogs around Bellmore. Tell me again to relax and I will gut you myself.”

  Rhys dropped to one knee and bowed his head. “My sincerest apologies, sire.” The words were sour on his lips, but what choice did he have?

  King Parth stood seething for a moment. “Ach!” he shouted and threw up his hands. “It’s not worth the effort.”

  “Thank you, sire,” Rhys said, using his best pleading tone. “You won’t regret it.”

  “No? I think it might already be too late,” King Parth said, scowling down at the groveling man. “Tell me about what progress you’ve made.”

  Panic struck hard and fast. “Uh, excuse me, sire? I’m…I’m not really sure what…what you mean by that?”

  “What have you done to help us with the war? You seem to have strong opinions about how I run things, but what have you done?”

  “I would never presume you weren’t doing a most excellent job, sire,” Rhys said. “I would never—”

  “Stop!” King Parth shouted. “Just stop. Tell you what. Give me your opinion. Your honest opinion. I want to know what you would do in my position.”

  “War is not really my area of expertise, sire,” Rhys said carefully. “I don’t really have an opinion.”

  “Bullshit! Everyone has an opinion, and I want to hear yours. I promise I won’t lock you up or kill you.” King Parth glowered at the man. “Unless you don’t give me an honest answer.”