Voices of Blood (The Kinsman Chronicles): Part 6

© 2017 by Jill Williamson

Published by Bethany House Publishers

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Ebook edition created 2017

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 978-1-4412-3036-2

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

Key Players

Charlon

Trevn

Grayson

Wilek

Gozan

Wilek

Trevn

Charlon

Grayson

Trevn

Hinck

Wilek

Amala

Kalenek

Trevn

Qoatch

Charlon

Trevn

Wilek

Amala

Wilek

Kalenek

Wilek

Trevn

A Note From the Author

Acknowledgments

About the Author

THE KINSMAN CHRONICLES

Back Ads

Key Players

ARMANIA

House Hadar

Echad [EE-kad]-Rosâr Hadar, king of Armania

Schwyl, Echad’s onesent

Onika [ON-ik-ah], the True Prophet, a blind woman

Tulay [TOO-lay], honor maiden to Onika

Yoana [Yo-AHNA], honor maiden to Onika

Kempe [KEM-pay], Onika’s personal maid

Rustian, Onika’s dune cat

Brelenah-Rosârah, Echad’s first wife, Wilek and Inolah’s mother

Captain Rayim Veralla, captain of the Queen’s Guard

Hawley, Brelenah’s onesent

Inolah-Sârah Orsona-Hadar, daughter of Echad and Brelenah, mother of Emperor Ulrik

Princess Vallah Orsona, Inolah’s daughter, Emperor Ulrik’s sister

Princess Tinyah Orsona, Inolah’s daughter, Emperor Ulrik’s sister

Wilek [WILL-ek]-Sâr Hadar, son of Echad and Brelenah

Novan, Wilek’s High Shield

Rystan Barta, Duke of Tal, Zeroah’s brother, Wilek’s backman

Dendrick, Wilek’s onesent

Zeroah Barta-Hadar, Wilek’s wife, Loran’s niece

Doth, Zeroah’s guard

Ephec, Zeroah’s guard

Trevn-Sâr Hadar, son of Echad and Thallah

Sir Cadoc Wyser, Trevn’s High Shield

Ottee, Trevn’s onesent

Mielle, Trevn’s wife, Kalenek’s ward

Enetta, Hrettah and Rashah’s nurse

Hrettah-Sârah Hadar, daughter of Echad and Valena

Sir Kenard Taldun, Hrettah’s High Shield

Ulmer Gelsly, Kenard’s backman

Rashah-Sârah Hadar, daughter of Echad and Valena

Sir Zeric Meray, Rashah’s High Shield

Rey Kael, Zeric’s backman

Other Armanians

Pia, Janek’s former concubine

Sir Kamran DanSâr, son of Echad and Zenobia

Amala, Kalenek’s ward, Mielle’s little sister

Oli Agoros, Duke of Canden

Admiral Aldair Livina, admiral of the king’s fleet

Norgam Bussie, captain of the Seffynaw

Nietz, first mate

Shinn, second mate

Zaki, sailor

Bonds, sailor

Rzasa, sailor

Father Burl Mathal, medial priest of the Rôb church

Jhorn, a retired soldier and amputee

Grayson, a boy with a gray rash

The Omatta Clan

Rand, leader of the Omatta

Meelo, Rand’s son

Zahara, Rand’s daughter

Burk, a pirate

Traitors to Armania

Barthel Rogedoth (also known as Prince Mergest III), former Pontiff of Armania, grandfather of Janek, father of Laviel, uncle to Loran

Timmons, Barthel’s onesent

Dendron, a great shadir, bonded to Barthel Rogedoth

Laviel-Rosârah, Echad’s second wife, Janek’s mother, Barthel’s daughter

Eudora Agoros, Oli’s sister, Barthel’s wife

Sârah Jemesha, Echad’s sister, Oli and Eudora’s mother

Zenobia, Echad’s former concubine, mother of Kamran DanSâr

Kabada, a common shadir, bonded to Zenobia

Agmado Harton/Harton Sonber, a guard

Hinckdan Faluk, Earl of Dacre

Mattenelle, called Nellie, Janek’s former concubine

Lilou Caridod, Echad’s former mistress

Fonu Edekk, a mantic

Haroan, a common shadir, bonded to Fonu

Ragaz, a slight shadir, bonded to Fonu

Filkin Yohthehreth, Rôb prophet

Zithel Lau, Rôb priest

SARIKAR

House Pitney

King Loran Pitney, king of Sarikar, the God’s King

Princess Saria, Loran’s daughter

Prince Thorvald, Loran’s son

Prince Rosbert, brother to Loran

Lady Riyah, Rosbert’s daughter

Lady Tesslia, Rosbert’s daughter

Lord Kanzer, Rosbert’s son

RUREKAU

House Orsona

Emperor Ulrik Orsona, emperor of Rurekau

Sir Iamot, Ulrik’s High Shield

Taleeb, Ulrik’s onesent

Prince Ferro Orsona, Ulrik’s younger brother

Thallah-Rosârah Orsona, Echad’s third wife, Trevn’s mother, Ulrik’s great-aunt

General Balat, head of the Igote guard

Kakeeo, Rurekan sheriff

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

Rone, number One of Mreegan’s Five Men

Nuel, number Two of Mreegan’s Five Men

Vald, number Three of Mreegan’s Five Men

Torol, number Four of Mreegan’s Five Men

Gullik, number Five of Mreegan’s Five Men

Charlon, Mother of the Deliverer

Shanek, Charlon’s son

Sir Kalenek Veroth, protector of Shanek

Magon, a great shadir, bonded to Mreegan and Charlon

Krola, captain of the Vespara

TENMA

Priestess Jazlyn, High Queen of Tenma

Qoatch [KO-ach], Jazlyn’s eunuch slav, a seer

Gozan, a great shadir, bonded to Jazlyn

MAIN SHIPS OF THE FLEET

Seffynaw [SEF-EE-naw], Rosâr Echad’s ship, flagship of Armania and the fleet

Rafayah [Raf-AHY-uh], the vice flagship of Armania

Gillsmore [GILS-mohr], Emperor Ulrik’s ship, now flagship of Rurekau

Kaloday [KAL-UH-dey], King Loran’s ship, flagship of Sarikar

Vespara [Ves-PAR-uh], Chieftess Mreegan’s ship, stolen from Sarikar

Amarnath [EY-mahr-nath], Barthel Rogedoth’s ship

Malbraid, Rand’s ship

Taradok, Zahara’s ship

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

Charlon

The Vespara sailed behind the Rurekan fleet. Following a coast of ice and snow. No sign of the tropical islands Magon had spoken of. The Armanians had passed those by. And Magon had willed the Vespara to follow.

But when the Armanians found the icy land and stopped to stay, the Chieftess said Magon wanted the Vespara to sail on farther. So they trailed the Rurekans along the western coast. Keeping their distance. Two days of sailing and the Rurekans anchored at the mouth of a vast river.

Charlon had never seen anything like it. Water wide enough for five ships to sail abreast. It ran above ground and emptied into the sea. Charlon stood along the rail with Mreegan and Captain Krola, watching through grow lenses as the Rurekan ships launched dinghies to go ashore.

That waterway leads to our new home, Mreegan said.

Shall we make landfall, then? the captain asked.

We will wait, Mreegan said, and see what the Rurekans do.

And so the Vespara waited. Three days passed by as the Rurekans explored.

Charlon suffered.

Abstaining from ahvenrood brought pain. Intense headaches and shaking. Weakness in her bones. Heat like a fever, though Sir Kalenek told her she had none. She longed for a taste of root. For the cold. For the magic to fill her veins with power. To be strong again.

She fought the desire. Pretended to be healthy and strong. To protect the baby. The baby Torol had given her. The baby she would keep when the Chief­tess took Shanek away to rule Armania.

On the fourth morning the Rurekans returned to their ships and sailed past the river. Up the coast to the west.

It is as Magon decreed, Mreegan said. We will follow the river inland to our new homeland.

"What about the Vespara?" Krola asked.

Magonians are land dwellers, Mreegan said. The ship is unimportant.

Charlon did not like putting her trust in the Chieftess. She missed not being able to speak with Magon. Could no longer see the goddess since she’d stopped taking ahvenrood. Charlon ached for the goddess’s attention. For the confidence that came from knowing her. For the fulfillment of the promise that she would one day make Charlon Chieftess.

We must not stray too far from the Armanians, Charlon said to Mreegan. For Shanek’s sake.

No, Mreegan said. We need distance, for now. And time. Shanek is growing quickly, but it might take several years for him to reach manhood.

Surely not. Charlon glanced at the boy. He now looked five or six years of age. He was climbing the lower part of the rigging like a ladder. Sir Kalenek stood by, one hand grazing the boy’s back.

No me do it. Shanek pushed Kal’s hand away. Shanek do it myself.

Charlon winced. His speech may take longer to mature.

I am glad you can see that much, Mreegan said. His mind is not developing as quickly as his body.

Sir Kalenek had warned the Chieftess that Shanek was growing too quickly. Give him less ahvenrood, Charlon said.

Sir Kalenek would have him remain a boy for too long, Mreegan said. We must rush his body to manhood, then train his mind. Magon assures me this is best.

Her wisdom is all surpassing, Charlon admitted.

While we wait, we will plant and harvest ahvenrood, Mreegan said. Then, when Shanek is ready, we will have the power we need to assist in his takeover of the father realms.

Charlon studied the icy landscape. It seems too cold to grow anything now.