Tales from Thac Released
It's here, it's here. Tales is now out in the world. If you preordered, it should auto deliver to you. If you haven't gotten it, now's your chance. It's going to be $0.99 until April 9th, or you can borrow it through Kindle Unlimited.
And to celebrate this moment, I've got an excerpt to share from my included title, Grand Choosing. Enjoy!
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Solais took Kortiama’s hand and pulled her into a room. Her sister positioned her to face a specific way and then took a step back. A moment passed in silence.
Kortiama’s brow spiked again. “Can I take this blind off yet?”
“Nope, not yet.” Solais’ voice sounded a little too far away for her liking.
“Where are you?” she asked.
“Getting your gift.”
A muscle twitched in Kortiama’s neck. Something didn’t feel right. “You’d better not be pulling a trick on me.”
Solais laughed, her voice carrying farther than before. “Would I do that to you?”
“Yes.”
Silence fell in the tower. Kortiama shifted her weight between her legs, impatience growing stronger. “Solais, are you done yet?”
Silence.
Her lips pressed into a tight line. “Solais?”
Silence.
Kortiama pulled her blindfold off and looked around. She stood in her room of the tower—alone. A door below slammed shut, echoing up the stairs. She took slow steps out of the room, her boots clicking on the stone floor. Kortiama looked down the winding staircase. “Solais?”
The sound of something heavy dragging across the floor below carried up the tower. Kortiama’s shoulders tensed as she flew down the stairs. She knew her sister was acting strange. She should have been more careful.
Kortiama reached the landing and crashed into the wooden door. She fell to the ground, rolling in pain. “The hell?”
Climbing back to her feet, Kortiama tried to open the door, only it wouldn’t budge. She reached into a pocket and procured a key, sticking it into the keyhole and turning it. She tried the door again—no luck. This isn’t right. The door to the tower could only be locked from the inside.
She yanked on the pull ring, pushed as hard as she could, but still the door wouldn’t move. Kortiama pounded on the door. “Solais, this isn’t funny! Let me out.”
“I’m not playing a game, Korti,” Solais said on the other side. She exhaled hard, and something heavy hit the door. “I’m doing this to protect you.”
Kortiama’s brow furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
“You haven’t been the only one learning these past few months. I’ve done my own training. I’ve scoured for every bit of information I could find to ensure I could effectively stand by your side. And I found one. A challenge for your position.”
A challenge? Could someone challenge her claim? How would they gain control of the Mandate? Kortiama wasn’t even sure where to find it. Tharne had warned her she’d have three years from the announcement or the birthright claim wouldn’t matter.
“The challenge is a duel to the death.”
Kortiama swallowed, the muscles in her neck tightening. Is that true? Why didn’t Tharne warn me?
“But I’m not about to stand by and watch you fight that,” Solais continued. “I’m the better fighter. You’re good, Korti, but we both know I was born to swing a blade. And you can have someone duel in your stead.” She took a heavy breath. “We both know Rikton won’t stand for your birthright claim. He’ll challenge you, and I’ll be there to fight him.”
Kortiama placed her hand on the door. “Solais, you don’t have to do this. We can face him together.”
Her sister’s voice lowered. Kortiama thought she caught a slight quake to it. “I won’t fail you. I promise.”
“Solais!” Kortiama cried out when her sister ran off. Silence was the only thing to respond. She hit the wooden door with a clenched fist. “Dammit, Solais. You’re such a fool.” --- Grab your copy now! https://amzn.to/2wzKXH6