Description
Heretic – Katherine Cook
Secrets of Socendor 1
The races of Socendor have coexisted for ages, but that is about to change. With the Koleri king dead, the heir to the throne, Breasal, sets up rule. His ambitions, however, go far beyond that, and his first target is the elven queen, Furia. Now it falls to an elven mage, Micheil, to rescue the queen and put an end to Breasal’s reign.
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EXCERPT:
“The king is dead.”
The pronouncement echoed over the crowd below, and then the chatter began. Even from his vantage point on the balcony, Vakis Izreih could hear the prince’s name roll through the crowd. Most of the people seemed apprehensive about the prospect of the prince taking the crown, but there were some who had been vocal throughout the last days of the king’s life about Prince Breasal presenting a much stronger force in Socendor. Vakis dutifully kept his own misgivings to himself. King Amreth had been a kind and fair ruler. His son, however, had a reputation for cruelty and wielding an iron fist in every dealing that involved him – and several that did not.
It didn’t matter. Vakis had served King Amreth faithfully, and he would do the same for the man’s son.
Leaving the masses to their rumors, Vakis returned to the throne room. A part of him wasn’t surprised to find Prince Breasal happily seated in the throne. Vakis bowed.
“So, my father is dead,” Breasal said. He rubbed the polished wooden arms of what was now his throne. “Bury him beside his wife. Conduct whatever rituals you feel necessary.”
“As you wish, Your Highness.” The words tasted like ash, and speaking them aloud only increased the uneasiness in Vakis’ mind. He bowed once more and left the room, wanting to put as much distance between them as he could.
Braen, Breasal’s illegitimate son, fell into step beside him. The man had a habit of appearing out of nowhere. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
“Your father ordered the burial as soon as possible. Where is Vamir?”
Braen gestured in the direction of the servants’ wing of the keep. “Last I saw him, he was grumbling about protocol.”
“Tell him those protocols are in place for his – and your – protection. Your father would not tolerate your fraternizing with a commoner.”
“I’m surprised my father even remembers I exist,” Braen said.
Vakis sighed and stopped, as did Braen. “Regardless of how things are between you and King Breasal, you are his only heir. Keep up appearances no matter what happens. He will expect children from you, Braen.”
One black eyebrow lifted, and Braen snorted. “Somehow, I don’t think he’s going to get any, unless your son’s anatomy has changed within the past few hours.”
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