Read Call of the Colossus: An epic fantasy novel (The Mindstream Chronicles Book 2) Online
Authors: K.C. May
Call of the Colossus: An epic fantasy novel (The Mindstream Chronicles Book 2) (49 page)
“Another inscription is here, on the inside,” Arc said, showing the cuff to Ludo.
“Let me see.” Rivva removed her own wrist cuff and compared the inside to that of the king’s. “Mine has no inscription inside.”
“A scribe added that inscription to put an imposter on the throne,” Jora said, though she was sure everyone else was thinking the same thing.
“Dost thou—you know a scribe?”
Jora pointed at Dominee Ibsa. “Her.” That was the leverage she’d had over the king—the knowledge of his true identity, but she couldn’t have revealed his secret without also implicating herself.
“If he wasn’t the king,” Rivva whispered, “then I am heiress to nothing but a web of lies.”
“In the absence of a clear line o’succession,” Arc said, “the rule o’Serocia falls to the highest member o’the Iskori Temple.”
“The dominee,” Rivva said with a groan.
“Nay,” Arc said, turning his gaze to Jora. “That person is nie the dominee but the portwatcher.”
She stiffened in stunned surprise. The red robe, next in the rainbow after the dominee’s orange.
No. This can
’
t be.
Rivva’s mouth dropped open, but she was too stunned to speak.
“No,” Jora said. “I cannot. This is wrong. Rivva is the princess. Everyone knows that. Her child will succeed her. If I go out there…” Jora pointed toward the nave where all the soldiers waited. “…and announce myself as the new queen, they’ll name me usurper and slay me.”
“Then his true identity matters nie,” Arc said gently. “He was King Yaphet. ’Tis all anyone needs to know. And this secret moste be kept between the five of us.” He turned his gaze to Naruud. “I would know whether you stand wyth Queen Rivva.”
Naruud blinked up at him. “M-my loyalty has always b-been to the royal family. It always will.”
The gray parrot partly unfolded his wings as if he would take flight, but he didn’t. He watched the dominee with a lowered head and fluffed feathers. “She’s waking.”
Rivva fell to her knees beside the false king and slid the wrist cuff onto his arm. His appearance changed back to that of the man they knew as King Yaphet.
“What is the meaning of this?” the dominee said, brushing her hair from her face as she sat up. Ludo took her by the arm and helped her stand, not in a kind, gentlemanly way, but in the way an enforcer did a prisoner.
Retar watched the dominee warily. Jora saw apprehension in those golden, parrot eyes. Why was the god afraid of her?
Dominee Ibsa’s gaze shifted to the dead king, lying pale and bloody on the floor. “He’s dead?” Her eyes narrowed at Jora. “You’ll pay for this. Everyone saw what happened. Your trickery cost the king his life.”
“No,” Rivva said. “You killed him. We all saw it.”
Alarm lit Dominee Ibsa’s face, and she opened her mouth to speak.
“It might’ve been an accident,” Rivva said quickly, her hands out in a calming gesture. She glanced at Jora. “Perhaps you didn’t mean to do it.” There was something meaningful in that glance, something that begged Jora to trust her.
“I meant only to protect him–”
“Swear fealty to Queen Rivva now,” Jora said, “and we’ll report the king’s death as a tragic accident.”
Dominee Ibsa looked around the room, her gaze flitting from the dead king to the statued justice captain, to the surgeon looking bewildered and afraid, to the two blood-drenched Colossus warriors standing stoically, and finally to the princess and the Gatekeeper, both expectant. Everyone who might have been her ally was either dead or unable to witness the scene.
“Refuse,” Rivva said in a low voice, “and I’ll remove the king’s barring cuff for all to see. As the only scribe among the cabinet ministers, you’ll have to answer for any irregularities that might be discovered.”
Ibsa struggled against Ludo’s firm grasp. “Unhand me, brute. I answer to
Queen
Rivva.”
Ludo let her go with a wink at Jora. “Hail to the queen,” he said, kneeling in front of Rivva.
Beside him, Arc took a knee too, his sea-green eyes gleaming and a smile playing on his lips. “Hail to Queen Rivva.”
The End.
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Just a little note from the author
Thanks so much for reading Call of the Colossus. I hope you’ve found a few hours of enjoyment within these pages or pixels.
With this book, I wanted to create not only a magic that was unique and delivered in an unusual way (through a dolphin!), but I wanted a character who starts as a gentle, humble person who, through necessity and adversity, becomes a force to be reckoned with.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thanks for reading this book. As an independent author, I don’t have a team of publicists and marketing specialists to spread the word about this book. I’m just a writer sitting at my keyboard searching for readers like you. If you enjoyed the story, please recommend it to a friend! If you’re so inclined, a review or rating on the ebook site of your choice would also be greatly appreciated.
If you’d like to contact me, visit my web site at
http://www.kcmay.com
or email me at [email protected] — I welcome your emailed comments! I’m also on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/kcmaybooks
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Acknowledgements
As with every book I write, I rely heavily on others to help me get facts straight, get the story elements aligned, and get the words right.
Again, I’d like to thank William Ast, who spent quite a bit of his life as a dolphin trainer. Will’s input during the research phase was invaluable, as he helped me gain a better understanding of dolphin vocalizations and behaviors, especially when interacting with humans. I very much appreciated his time and expertise.
I also owe a huge thank you to fellow author India Drummond, whose opinions on story structure, plotting, and characterization I value highly. As a beta reader, she helped me see where things needed attention and where the story was working.
And of course, thanks to my editor, Carol Scarr, whose input has been invaluable.
Books by K.C. May
The Kinshield Saga
The Kinshield Legacy
The Wayfarer King
Well of the Damned
Kinshield’s Redemption
Legends of Thendylath
Sole Sacrifice
The Star Fire Gem
The Mindstream Chronicles
Song of the Sea Spirit
Call of the Colossus
Dragons of Kudare
With India Drummond
The Lies Dragons Tell
Stand-alone novels
Inhuman Salvation
Writing as Alane Hudson
Body Double
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