Heir War (The Kinsman Chronicles) , livre ebook

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 978-1-4412-2909-0
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
Trevn
Kalenek
Wilek
Trevn
Mielle
Kalenek
Inolah
Trevn
Hinck
Charlon
Kalenek
Trevn
Mielle
Hinck
Qoatch
Trevn
Kalenek
Wilek
Trevn
Kalenek
Qoatch
Inolah
Hinck
Inolah
Trevn
Charlon
Kalenek
Qoatch
Kalenek
Qoatch
Kalenek
Trevn
Kalenek
Hinck
Wilek
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
Trevn
In those days the root of Arman will be destroyed and usher in the end of all things. There will be mourning and weeping throughout the land. Brother will turn against brother, and their swords will dash each other to pieces. There will be earthquakes, floods, mountain fires, sinksand, and rocks that fall from the sky. And Armania, glory of the Five Realms, beauty of the gods’ eyes, will no longer be the head of all things.
Out of Magon will come one who prospers by deceit. He will crush the heads of those who stand against him. Therefore the gods will raise up for you many prophets. Their words will save the obedient and deliver peace throughout the realms.
—Rôb prophecy from the prophet Greela, House Hadar 468
T his prophecy is partly responsible for the duration of the Centenary War,” Father Tomek said. “Can you tell me why?”
Easily . “My forefathers were afraid that compromise with the mother realms might bring about the fall of Armania,” Trevn said.
“Correct. Now read me the Kabaran prophecy and look for differences.”
Trevn read from the second tablet.
Behold, I say to you, though the root of Arman will be destroyed, peace shall come between mother and father, and the two will be reconciled. And you, Magonia, though you are small among the five clans, from you will come a deliverer who will rule over all. He will crush the skulls of his enemies, turn their citadels to dust, and Magonia will become the ruler of nations.
—Kabaran prophecy from the prophet Theria, Magonia 4
“What do you notice?” Father Tomek asked.
Trevn pushed the tablets together and studied them. “They both talk of peace but in different ways. Rôb says a deceiver will come but prophets will bring peace. The Kabaran prophecy talks of a deliverer. Perhaps the same deceiver referenced in the Rôb prophecy?”
“Perhaps. Both are called the Root Prophecy. Why are they different?”
“They were spoken by different prophets,” Trevn said, which made him think of Filkin Yohthehreth. “Why are no new prophecies recorded by my father’s prophets?”
“They record them, but none have come to pass. There hasn’t been a true prophet born in Armania in over 120 years.”
A bold statement. “So, my father’s prophets are pretenders? Rogedoth’s as well?”
“It’s not a popular view, but it’s mine. That’s partly why I’ll never sit on the Wisean Council.”
“You should.” Father’s advisors were imbeciles.
“I’m not good at telling a man what he wants to hear. Have you finished your pages?”
“Yes. I finished early today. I have plans and didn’t want to have to hurry.”
“I praise you for your forethought,” Father Tomek said. “You are dismissed.”
Trevn left the classroom. Cadoc was waiting in the hallway, looking a bit pale.
“Are we still doing this, Your Highness?”
“Of course.” Trevn grinned and sprinted away. “Try to keep up!”

Trevn and Cadoc lay side by side on the roof of the carriage. Cadoc kept shifting, which made his scabbard scrape against the wood.
“Hold still,” Trevn said. “You’ll give us away.”
“Let it be known that I dislike this plan. I suspect Miss Mielle will too.”
“That shows how little you know Miss Mielle,” Trevn said.
The soft voices of Lady Zeroah and Miss Mielle drifted up to his ears. Trevn listened to them climb into the carriage. The doors clicked shut. He had already asked Hawley not to signal him today. The man climbed up beside the driver, winked at Trevn, and they were off.
A thrill flamed within Trevn’s chest. Today he would know whether or not Mielle Allard was a Renegade.
Trevn kept his head down until they passed the protestors at the gatehouse. Then he wasted no time. “I’m going in.”
Cadoc nodded and braced himself: one hand over the far edge of the carriage, the other held out to Trevn.
Trevn took hold and slipped over the side. He fell fast, legs flailing a bit before finding the open window. “Lower me!” he yelled, which Cadoc did, little by little.
The women screamed, which made Trevn grin. They were hitting his legs too, as if he were some kind of villain. Once his backside rested on the window ledge, he let go of Cadoc’s hand and slid inside, landing in a crouch on the floor of the carriage.
The screaming ceased.
Lady Zeroah and Miss Mielle were sitting across from one another against the far wall of the carriage, watching him, wide-eyed.
“Good midday, ladies,” Trevn said, quite pleased to have frightened them.
“Sâr Trevn.” Lady Zeroah inclined her head.
Miss Mielle slid down the bench and slapped his shoulder repeatedly. “You reckless madperson!”
Trevn slipped to his knees and grabbed her hands. “Miss Mielle