Free the Darkness (King's Dark Tidings Book 1) (59 page)

Marcum’s eyes widened and he said, “The traitor.”

Rezkin inclined his head and said, “Perhaps. But, you might
think twice about letting such a person know that you are aware of the plot,
and that not only has it failed, but you are in the Black Hall’s confidence.”

“Hmmm…I see your point.” Marcum glanced around at the
wide-eyed stares. “Do not worry. I did not get to be General of the Army for
nothing, and it would not be the first time I have faced an unseen enemy.
Again, I remind you to speak of this to no one. Your lives could be in danger.
I want you all out of Kaibain and away from this Raven and the Black Hall.”

Marcum had considered, at one point, that Rezkin could be
The Raven. The general dismissed the idea when he realized the young man could
not possibly have had enough time to take over the cities’ thieves’ guilds
and
the Black Hall in the brief absences when Rezkin had not been in the presence
of Marcum or his family. Rezkin had been gone from the general’s home for only
a few hours the previous evening. It would have taken an immeasurable amount of
time and planning to pull off such feats, and no one could topple the Black
Hall in only a couple of hours. In addition, the young man did not have a mark
on him, and anyone going up against the combined might of the assassins could
not possibly walk away unharmed. While Marcum knew Rezkin was probably a
formidable warrior, he doubted the nineteen-year-old had such inhuman abilities
as were purported to belong to The Raven.

Marcum absolutely hated what he had to say next, but he was
somewhat relieved that it was even an option. He held Frisha’s gaze as he as he
said, “If things go badly, I want you to stay with Rezkin no matter what.”

“What? But, you
hate
Rezkin,” she blurted without
thinking.

Marcum sighed. “Listen to me. This is important. Absolutely,
no matter what, you
Stay
.
With
.
Rezkin
. Understood?” At
the girl’s confused nod he said, “Rezkin will keep you safe.” She and Tam
looked even more perplexed at that comment. From his peripheral, Marcum could
see the young warrior eyeing him speculatively. He finally met the young man’s
icy gaze and added, “No, I am not above using you to keep my niece safe. I
doubt you will protest, though.”

Rezkin inclined his head in acknowledgement but said
nothing. He could not help but ponder the irony that the general was attempting
to keep his niece far away and safe from The Raven when he was sending her off
in the safekeeping of the very man.

Marcum turned his attention to the captain and asked, “Are
we clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Captain Jimson replied with a fist over his
heart.

Releasing a heavy breath, Marcum said, “Then, safe travels
and good luck at the King’s Tournament.”

End
of Book One

Rezkin
will return in
Reign of Madness (King’s Dark
Tidings, Book Two)

Visit
me at
www.kelkade.com

Characters

Rezkin
– A young warrior trained under
mysterious circumstances

Master Jaiardun
– Trainer at the mysterious
northern fortress

Master Peider
  – Trainer at the mysterious
northern fortress

Striker Farson
– Striker at the northern
fortress who escaped the fortress battle

Striker Adona
– Striker at the northern
fortress

Lord Butrand
– A merchant brought to the
fortress to teach Rezkin

Sheyalin
– a Master Swordsmith who lived and
died over two hundred years past

Mayor Jorge
– Mayor of Perdony

Carlon
– Butcher of Perdony

Pot
– Stable boy at the Golden Cockerel in
Justain

Master Nol
– Owner of the Golden Cockerel Inn
in Justain

Roxiella “Roxie”
– Maid at the Golden Cockerel
Inn in Justain

Frisha Souvain
– Young woman from Cheswick
traveling to Kaibain

Tamarin “Tam” Blackwater
– Young carpenter’s
apprentice; Frisha’s escort

Broken
– 12-yr old thief (Diamond Claw Guild,
Slink Den, Justain)

Cracker
– 10-yr old thief (Diamond Claw Guild,
Slink Den, Justain)

Thorn
– Thieves’ guild Denleader (Diamond Claw
Guild, Slink Den, Justain)

Dirge, Quip, Pratt
- Diamond Claw guildmembers
(Slink Den, Justain)

Ash
– 6-yr old thief (Diamond Claw Guild,
Slink Den, Justain)

Draphus
– Guildmaster Martius’s second
(Diamond Claw Guild, Justain)

Martius
– Thieves’ Guildmaster (Diamond Claw
Guild, Justain)

Greld
– Old thieves’ Guildmaster (Diamond Claw
Guild, Justain)

Borgout
– Old Second to thieves’ guild
(Diamond Claw Guild, Justain)

Attica
– Guildmember (Diamond Claw Guild,
Slink Den); raised to Guildmaster by Rezkin

Cratz
– Henchman for Diamond Claw Guild
(Justain)

Tyre
– Diamond Claw Guildhouse guard (Justain)

Barclay
- Diamond Claw Guildhouse guard (Justain)

Rom
– Diamond Claw guildmember, first to join
Rezkin after Attica. 

Yarl
– Diamond Claw guildmember (Justain)
Rezkin killed after he tried to strangle Attica.

Benni
– 16-year-old Diamond Claw guildmember
(Justain)

Kendt
– Diamond Claw guildmember (Justain)

Marson
– Diamond Claw guildmember (Justain);
Attempted to lead a resistance

Madame Terly
– brothel owner in Justain

Adsden
– Second of the Serpent Guild (Justain)

Urek
– Guildmaster of the Serpent Guild
(Justain)

Marquis Addercroft
– Urek’s cousin; Placed
Urek as Guildmaster of the Serpent Guild

Lord Montaq
– Count of Vesterfield in the
Kingdom of Sandea

Ruald Addercroft
– Marquis Addercroft’s son

Marquis DeWinter
– Lillian’s father

Hilith Gadderand
–Guildmaster (Razor Edge
Thieves’ Guild, Kaibain) displaced by Rezkin

Breck
– Second of the Razor Edge Thieves’
Guild in Kaibain; raised to Guildmaster by Rezkin

Cainith
– Tam’s eldest brother

Perrin
– Tam’s second brother

Connin
– Tam’s third brother

Lord Byron
– Lord in Cheswick

Dornell
– Lord Byron’s son

Nate
– Deckhand on riverboat

Lieutenant Jimson
– King’s Army officer;
travel companion; later promoted to Captain

Captain Talwater
– Riverboat captain

Second Lieutenant Swin
– Soldier in Jimson’s
unit on the riverboat

Corporal Lattery
– Soldier in Jimson’s unit
from Justain to Lorelis

Colonel Simmons
– Colonel at Fort Maneske

King Caydean
– King of Ashai, First son of
King Bordran

Prince Thresson
– Prince of Ashai, Second son
of King Bordran that went missing

General Marcum Jebai
– General of the Army of
Ashai; Frisha’s uncle

Simeon Jebai
– Count of Glasbury; General
Marcum’s older brother

Striker Hendina
– Striker in charge of the
investigation of the missing prince

Reaylin de Voss
– Young female traveling
companion who wants to be a warrior

Narus
– Steward of House Marcum

Finnian
– Stable Master of House Marcum

Adelina Marcum
– General Marcum’s wife;
Frisha’s aunt

Jerand Jebai
– Marcum and Simeon Jebai’s
deceased father

King Coroleus
– First King of Ashai

Hilith Gadderand
– Displaced Guildmaster of
the Razor Edge Guild in Kaibain

Breck
– Second of the Razor Edge Guild in
Kaibain, raised to Guildmaster by Rezkin

Demky
– a member of the Razor Edge Guild in
Kaibain

Triald
- a member of the Razor Edge Guild in Kaibain

Joselia
and
Meriana
– young noble
ladies Tam, Frisha, and Rezkin met at a restaurant

Tieran Nirius
– Son of Duke Wellinven;
Involved in a confrontation at restaurant

Lord Ambry
– One of Tieran’s lackeys in
Kaibain

Master Healer Dronidus
– YerFey Dulse’s former
Master

Yerwey Dulse
– Healer who helped Rezkin when
he was injured in Kaibain

Tami
– Shiela’s maid

Uratel
– a Slip in the Black Hall

Definitions

Kingslayer
– Sheyalin longsword

Bladesunder
– Sheyalin shortsword

crass root
– A root chewed for its slightly
intoxicating and energizing effects

kendlewood
– An expensive hardwood imported
from Fer
é
lle

thump
– A unit of currency equal to ten silver
pieces, named after the sound they make when dropped on the table.

Jahartan Empire
– Ancient foe of Ashai during
King Coroleus’s reign

su’carai
– Weapons used by the nomadic
mountain tribes to the far east

Ink
– Street drug made from parabata
leaves

parabata leaves
– Leaves used to make
ink

Black Hall
– (a.k.a. the Hall) The Assassin’s
Guild of Ashai

Adana’Ro
– Assassin’s guild of Fer
é
lle

suraceous poison
– A type of poison used by
the Adana’Ro, particularly on their darts

Riel’sheng
– “Giver of Death”; ancient name
for the Assassin’s Guild

Riel’gesh
– “Giver of Life”; the name given to
Rezkin as the liege lord of the Hall

Languages

Penoi

carasuan ej venuta coa Jaharta
–
“cone-heads
of Jaharta”

Fer
é
lli

Do’grelah
– formal welcome or greeting

Secrelé
– an officer or leader of the Adana’Ro

About the Author

Kel Kade is a single parent who currently lives and works in
Texas as an adjunct faculty member at a few area colleges teaching courses in
geosciences.  Growing up, Kade lived a military lifestyle of traveling and
moving to new places every few years.  Not only did these childhood
experiences instill in Kade a sense of wanderlust, but they also helped to
shape an open mind and understanding that the Earth is expansive and wild, and
world culture is so diverse it is completely indefinable.  Kade has always
had a deep interest in science, ancient history, cultural anthropology, art,
music, languages, and spirituality, which is evidenced by the diversity and
richness of the places and cultures depicted in these writings.

Note from the Author

I hope you enjoyed reading this first book in the King’s
Dark Tidings (KDT) series.  Please consider leaving a review or comments
so that I can continue to improve and expand upon this ongoing series.  As
an added bonus, I have included Chapter 1 from KDT Book Two,
Reign of
Madness
on the following pages.  Enjoy!

Reign of Madness

(Excerpt
from
King’s Dark Tidings, Book Two
)

Chapter 1

The young travelers left General Marcum’s estate in a
mixture of excitement and apprehension. After an uninterrupted trek through the
city, they met up on the docks near the
Luna
Mara
. Frisha’s cousins and their entourage had yet to arrive. Captain
Jimson was standing to one side going over the paperwork with the dock master
and ship’s captain. Frisha stood huddled next to Tam, and both were staring at
Rezkin who was tending to Pride several yards away. He was dressed in the most
ostentatious finery they had ever seen on their companion. He wore a fine silk
doublet in charcoal and silver brocade over a silver silk shirt and dark
charcoal breeches. About his waist was a shiny, embossed black belt with a
large silver buckle embedded with several large emeralds and sapphires.

From his belt hung his two swords, whose scabbards were now
clamped within cages of silver filigree inset with a number of sapphires.
Hanging from each were dark blue silk tassels that swung as he strutted about
in a manner they had never seen from their friend. His high boots were made of
high-quality, soft, black leather. Rezkin’s hair was not pulled back into the
usual queue, but rather was plaited past his shoulders and tied with a silver
silk ribbon whose ends hung half way down the man’s back. Rezkin was a picture
of perfection if one were painting an idealized haughty noble.

Reaylin had only just arrived at the docks and was leaning
over Frisha and Tam’s shoulders as she asked, “What is Rez wearing and why is
he acting like that?”

Frisha shook her head and said, “I have no idea. He changed
after breakfast and told us to just go with it. I can’t imagine how he could
even afford all that, much less why he would want to.”

Reaylin’s eyes roved over the young warrior, and she said,
“It looks good on him, though.”

Releasing a wistful sigh, Frisha said, “It really does. He
looks so dashing. He’s exactly how I imagine the heroic prince would look as he
sweeps the princess off her feet.”

Tam laughed and commented, “I’m pretty sure you both said
the same thing when you saw him wearing nothing at all.”

Both girls’ faces flushed, and they simultaneously took to
pummeling Tam. Rezkin glanced over at the raucous group with a questioning lift
of his brow. The girls flushed again as they composed themselves. Just then,
two fine coaches drew up at the end of the dock. The second coach was
unoccupied but was filled to capacity with numerous bags and trunks. From the
first coach stepped Frisha’s cousins and their friend, Lord Brandt. Every one
of them was dressed just as grandly as Rezkin. All three men were wearing fancy
doublets and breeches with gaudy accessories, and their hair was plaited in the
same manner as Rezkin’s. Shiela fussed with her lavender gown that fell in
waves of layer upon layer of silks and laces. Her dark brown hair was pulled
over one shoulder and was curled and wound about itself within a fine lace
netting. She wore short, white lace gloves and grasped a parasol that matched
her gown, which she immediately opened upon stepping out of the coach.

Several servants had been crammed atop the coaches with the
drivers. Two of the male servants were directing the deckhands to the luggage
while another assisted a petite, timid woman in a drab servant’s smock to the
ground. The tiny woman promptly began patting down Shiela’s gown, ensuring no
wrinkles could be seen.

Once the four young nobles were satisfied that their attire
had survived the short coach ride through the city, they began making their way
down the dock. The servants and a number of dockworkers began unloading the
luggage coach and were already passing by the strutting nobles. Shiela, who
seemed to be in the lead, stopped a few paces short of Frisha and her companions.
She stuck her nose in the air and sniffed disdainfully as she eyed Frisha’s
sensible tunic and pants.

“Frisha,” she said, “
Cousin
,
it is a pleasure to see you again, I am sure.” Her tone made it seem like it
was anything
but
a pleasure.

Lords Malcius and Palis next greeted their cousin with
little more than a slight bow. They even neglected to introduce their friend.
Well, Frisha would not be so rude.

“Malcius, Palis, Shiela, this is my friend Tamarin
Blackwater, and this is Reaylin de Voss,” Frisha announced. All three nodded
vaguely and mumbled something that sounded like “pleasure” without actually
acknowledging the presence of Frisha’s companions. At that moment, Rezkin chose
to make an appearance.

He strode up to the group with a broad smile and overly
loud, cheery voice. “Greetings! It is a pleasure to finally meet you all. Ah,
you must be Lord Malcius,” Rezkin said as he clasped forearms with the young
man in a familiar greeting between close friends and peers. Malcius and Palis
both had the dark brown hair that ran in the Jebai family, but while Palis’s
eyes matched the warm brown of Frisha’s, Malcius’s were a soft grey like his
mother’s. The older brother had broad shoulders and was slightly taller, about
six feet, while the younger brother had a leaner, wiry build.

Malcius grinned and greeted Rezkin with just as much
enthusiasm, “And, you must be Lord Rezkin! I heard you would be traveling with
us. Our uncle spoke highly of you.” Frisha and Tam shared a surprised glance,
both thinking the same thing. “Please, allow me to introduce my companions.
This is my brother, Palis.” The warrior-turned-noble clasped arms with Palis
and exchanged pleasantries. Malcius motioned to the young woman and said, “And,
this is our sister, Shiela.”

Rezkin bowed low and intoned, “Lady Shiela, it is most
gracious of you to bless us with your stunning presence.” He gave her his best
smile, the one that women seemed to prefer. Shiela blushed as Rezkin brushed a
soft kiss across her hand.

“Oh, Lord Rezkin, the pleasure is mine, I am
sure
.” The way she spoke most definitely
made it sound like a pleasure. “You are one
fine
gentleman.”

Rezkin bowed slightly, again, and said, “Thank you, Lady
Shiela, that means much coming from a lovely lady such as you.” Shiela actually
giggled as she fanned her face with a lacy hand.

Malcius grinned and continued, “And, this is our good
friend, Lord Brandt of House Gerrand.”

Not having a direct connection to Lord Brandt, Rezkin gave
him a more formal bow in greeting rather than the familiar one he had used with
the Jebais. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Brandt,” Rezkin stated. “If I
might be so bold, I would just like to say that I have always admired your
mother’s artistry.”

Brandt’s brows rose in surprise, “You are familiar with my
mother’s work?”

 
“Of course! Lady
Gerrand has a way of capturing the light with a softness that makes one feel as
if he is looking upon a dream. It is quite easy to forget that underneath the
fantasy lies simple paint and canvas,” Rezkin remarked.

“I had never really thought of it that way, but you are
correct. I can see it, now. Which is your favorite?” Brandt asked curiously.

“I once had the pleasure of looking upon
The Lilies of the Lake
.” Rezkin shifted
his gaze to Shiela and grinned as he mock-lowered his voice conspiratorially.
“If I did not know any better, I could swear that fairies lived among them,” he
confided with a wink. Shiela giggled and blushed as she batted her lashes.

Reaylin, who was standing behind the stunned Frisha and Tam,
leaned forward and whispered, “Oh, he’s good. I didn’t know the tough warrior
had
that
in him.”

“Say, Lord Rezkin,” Malcius spoke up, “is that your
magnificent beast?” Malcius waved a manicured hand toward Pride who was standing
further down the dock. The reins hung limply, brushing the ground in a silent
command for the horse to remain where he was. Pride was nearly as opulent as
Rezkin today. The stallion’s black coat was clean and brushed to a shine. The
embossed black saddle and black and silver bridle were polished, as well. The
horse’s mane and tail were braided and woven with silver ribbons in a parade
style.

“Why, yes, he is. But, please, you may dispense with the
title. I am quite sure none of you will forget who I am. Just call me Rezkin,
although my friends sometimes prefer to call me Rez,” the young man said with
such confidence it was infectious.

“Yes, quite right, Rezkin…Rez. It would please me if you
called me Malcius, as well,” the noble replied. Frisha’s jaw dropped. Her
egotistical cousin
never
dropped his
title – for
anyone
. No doubt
Malcius thought he would look weak and insecure if he insisted on continuing to
use his title after Rez’s speech. The announcement was followed by a round of
permissions by all to dispense with the titles. In only a matter of moments,
Rezkin had completely disarmed the nobles of their pretentious snobbery, at
least as far as
he
was concerned.

“You were speaking of the horse?” Shiela prompted demurely
as she batted her lashes.

“Yes, tell us about the stallion,” Palis piped up. “It is
massive. I have not seen the like. The only horse I have seen that comes close
is Uncle Marcum’s.”

“What breed is it? Is it of the Cronelis stock?” asked
Brandt.

Rezkin grinned like he was holding all of the candy. “No,
Palis is quite right. He is a purebred battle charger of the Augmerian line. I
call him Pride.”

The men’s jaws were slack as glances darted back and forth
between Rezkin and the horse. “But, that is the king’s stock,” protested
Malcius.

Rezkin grinned broader as he placed his hands loosely in his
pockets and rocked back on his heals in an uncharacteristic display of pride.
“Indeed,” was all he said. “Speaking of which, it is time I get him rigged so
they can haul him aboard. You had best keep your distance. He tends to maim or
kill anyone but me.”

The three male lordlings followed Rezkin but kept their
distance, whispering between themselves as he removed the saddle and tack and
strapped the horse into the harnesses, readying him to be hoisted aboard the
ship. The lords looked like children drooling over their new best friend’s
amazing toy. Shiela’s eyes never left Rezkin, and every once in a while, he
would bend or stoop, and her face would flush. Frisha had no idea what Rezkin
was up to, but if he thought for one second that she was going to lose him to
Shiela, then he had another thing coming.

Once everyone was aboard, they received their berth
assignments. Rezkin already knew the assignments because he had made them
himself. The young warrior assigned himself to share a room with Malcius, while
Palis and Brandt shared a second. For strategic reasons, Rezkin would have
preferred to place Tam with Brandt, but it would have been considered unseemly
for the young lord to share a room with a commoner who was not his manservant.
Frisha, Reaylin, Shiela, and Shiela’s maid, Tami, were assigned to share a
four-person berth. Rezkin could get away with placing Reaylin in the room since
she was the only other female onboard. As both officers and nobility, Captain
Jimson and Lieutenant Drascon shared a berth; and Tam was left to bunk with
Sergeant Millins as commoners. The four Jebai house guards shared another
four-person room, while the other servants were placed with the crew.

The rooms were small and cramped since two or three of the
berths could possibly fit into a single average room at an inn. When it came to
the confines of a ship, it seemed the nobles preferred privacy over space.
Malcius looked around and wondered, “Where are the rest of my belongings?”

Rezkin laughed, a sound that would have seemed unnatural to
anyone who knew him but sounded genuine and effortless to the unsuspecting
lord. “I do not know about you, but I would prefer
not
to sleep on a trunk.” Rezkin waved a dismissive hand at the two
trunks that had been placed at the ends of their respective beds. “I believe we
only need one in here at time. The rest are stored in the hold below. If you
require something, I am sure one of those crewmen will be delighted to retrieve
it for you.” In order to keep up appearances, Rezkin was also traveling with
several trunks. It would have looked odd for a noble of his unspecified, but
presumably high, standing to be traveling with nothing more than a single pack
and saddlebags. So far, no one was willing to risk offending him by questioning
his place within the ranks of the nobility.

Since the crew had situated their belongings and Rezkin had
already seen to Pride, there was little to do. He and the other passengers
found themselves standing on the deck waiting to depart. The women approached
the huddle of young men. All three wore sour expressions, but Frisha and
Reaylin stood back as Shiela sidled up in exasperation.

Malcius grinned and said, “Ah, Sister, so nice of you to
join us.”

Shiela batted her lashes at Rezkin to whom she directed her
answer. “Nothing could keep me away,” she said with syrupy sweetness.

Rezkin bowed slightly and inquired with a pleasant smile,
“Lady Shiela, how do you find your accommodations?”

Shiela’s composure slipped as she fanned her face with a
lacy hand and fluttered her eyes with overly dramatic distress. “Well, I am
sure that little can be done, but it is
most
disconcerting to be sharing a room with a bunch of
commoners
.” The disdain with which she said the word
commoners
made it sound as if she had
been assigned a room filled with livestock.

Rezkin’s smile dropped, and he directed an uncertain and
disapproving frown in Malcius’s direction while flicking a glance at Frisha.
Malcius flushed at the unspoken rebuke. As General Marcum’s heir, Frisha was
due all the respect of the nobility, and to demean her publicly was unbecoming
behavior for a lady. Rezkin’s comportment as a nobleman of the highest standard
encouraged Malcius to uphold the standard, as well. Malcius cleared his throat
as he gave his sister a penetrating look. “Sister, I am sure you misspoke.”