Hidden Revenge (The Kingdoms Book 1) Read online

  Hidden Revenge

  The Kingdoms

  Norah J. Stone

  Hidden Revenge

  The Kingdoms #1

  By Norah J. Stone

  This is a work of fiction. The contents, names, characters, places, events and dialogues in this book are either entirely a product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual places, events or persons, be it living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2018 Nora Keszerice alias Norah J. Stone

  Cover Art copyright © 2018 by Nora Keszerice

  All rights reserved.

  This book is for the purchaser’s personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied, scanned, transmitted, stored in a retrieval system, distributed, reproduced or otherwise made available to other people in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author. This applies to any part of this publication as well.

  ◆◆◆

  Dedicated to

  You

  Dare to dream,

  and dare to follow your dreams.

  You can do it!

  Table of Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  It was a miserable afternoon.

  Under the overcast sky, the uneven paths of Mearend snaked away into the distance. The rudimentary wooden cottages flanking them were veiled behind a thick blanket of fog. Not that this made much of a difference with regards to orientation since even on a seldom sunny day, it was difficult to tell the thatch-roofed little buildings apart.

  They were the trademark of many a town in the northern part of the Lower Kingdom and provided homes for most commoners. Only guards, overseers and patrolmen had distinguished living quarters. They were housed in more modern but also more sterile edifices at the edge of settlements. In huge, squat structures with actual glass windows – and a total lack of hominess.

  Lia didn’t care about the fog one way or another, though. Having lived here for a while now, she found her way around the townlet quite easily and didn’t really need to see where she was going to reach her destination. In fact, it was better to keep her eyes averted, both to avoid undue attention at the late hour and to make sure she didn’t slip on the rain-slick cobblestones. The paths were treacherous in this weather, and taking a fall with her fragile package wouldn’t only ruin a whole day’s secret work but also mean that a sick, old man had to go without medicine for quite a while longer.

  It hadn’t been easy to set apart the ingredients needed for the healing salve or to gather the rarer ones in the first place, and nowadays, medicine was costly indeed.

  Power holders didn’t care about the fate of the poor, weren’t bothered by the hardship and suffering. They thought those who couldn’t pay good coin should forbear and made sure the rules were followed by setting a steep price for disobedience.

  In the Lower Kingdom, providing assistance without charge wasn’t only frowned upon. Handouts didn’t just mean the givers themselves might have to do without. Aid was punished severely – those caught in the act were faced with the prospect of losing their freedom. Of having to leave their homes and being ripped from their families forever.

  They faced the prospect of slavery.

  Still, a person with actual humane feelings couldn’t just disregard the need of others. And anyway, Lia should consider herself … well, lucky in a way, she thought with bitter irony – lucky that she didn’t have a family anymore, and that she didn’t have an actual home, either. After all, as twisted as it was, their absence meant that she had a lot less left to lose.

  Lia shivered in the incessant drizzle. Being outside in this cold was definitely not the best way to spend her rare free hours. The long tresses that snaked out from under her waterlogged hood were plastered to her pale face and shoulders. Her haphazard bun had come undone some time ago, but with her hands full, she couldn’t fix it, so she did her best to stay hunched over, keep her hood pulled into her face and move fast but also remain inconspicuous lest one of the patrols single her out and find it worthwhile to inquire after her business.

  Come to think about it, the thick mist curtaining the world was her ally. It also hid her from sight, allowing her to move about more freely, while in clear weather, she would’ve had to wait for darkness to fall before she could complete her delivery since no matter how much she imitated others’ behavior and how hard she tried to blend in, the light color of her hair always made her stand out.

  It was a dead giveaway.

  All the same, Lia was better suited to sneaking around than her taskmistress. Naera was a sturdily built, agile woman, but she wasn’t as nimble and surefooted as Lia – and she was already risking too much as it was, anyway.

  Naera had a legitimate business which was the only thing enabling her to fend for herself and provide for the two little boys she had to raise alone. Her healer husband had been taken a long time ago, but at least Naera had learned enough from him to be able to open a shop that offered herbal remedies, healing brews and medicinal poultices.

  Her rare knowledge was highly sought after. Still, it only allowed her to make just enough coin to pay her taxes and avoid becoming an indentured servant herself.

  Most people wouldn’t have jeopardized what they had. Naera, however, couldn’t turn a blind eye to other humans’ suffering. Even though in her shop she was forced to set high prices, she secretly toiled over her workbench outside business hours to aid those who couldn’t afford her services, preparing the remedies Lia later took to the ones who needed them most.

  The wise woman didn’t even have the heart to walk by the street urchin she’d found slumped in a doorway. Instead, she’d taken Lia in, nursing her back to health, and offered her work and a place to stay.

  Taking on the risk of delivering medicines in Naera’s stead was the least Lia could do to repay some of her kindness, so that was what she did. And if that meant Lia had to brave this weather, so be it. It wasn’t the worst thing she’d had to face in her relatively short life, and worse things still awaited her, she was sure of it.

  By then, the steady drizzle had turned into a regular downpour, drenching Lia to the skin. To make matters even worse, the wind had picked up, too, doing its best to whip off her hood time and time again. Fortunately, she didn’t have much farther to go. Just through the next intersection, then down the hill to the left.

  Miana’s little cottage was right at the edge of town. It was more run-down than most, though Lia knew its owner did her best to make it cheerier and more livable. But, as in many households, coin was scarce, and the young woman not only had to get by on her own but also to take care of her elderly father who had taken ill months ago. What she earned in a month would have barely sufficed to buy a small pot of salve to mitigate his aches, but, of course, she and her father also had to eat, buy other supplies, and, above all, pay their taxes.

  Lia had already reached the last intersection and was steadily nearing her destination when she noticed the patrol moving her way from the other direction. Her stomach cramped up. Stupid, so stupid, she berat
ed herself inwardly, to get lost in thoughts about the injustice of life while doing something so dangerous.

  If she’d paid more attention to her surroundings, she could’ve ducked into a doorway or plastered herself to a wall to remain hidden in a pocket of mist. Now, with the patrolman so close, neither was an option, though.

  Her sudden disappearance would arouse more suspicion than the simple fact that she was out and about when most commoners stayed inside, and in such miserable weather, no less. So Lia took a deep breath to steady herself, hunched her shoulders even more to stay inconspicuous and clutched the salve closer to herself so it wouldn’t attract any attention.

  If the patrolmen didn’t look too closely at her, she would simply appear to be hugging her middle, endeavoring to keep her cloak closed. And he has no reason to investigate further, Lia told herself as she realized only one figure was coming her way, because even though the man was wearing his unique blood red uniform, he couldn’t be on duty – patrolmen always moved in pairs, in case they needed to provide backup for each other.

  Not that there was that much for them to do. The residents of Mearend hardly offered resistance these days.

  People didn’t dare to do so. Not openly. Not anymore.

  Well, none except the rebels.

  And Lia.

  The patrols mostly harassed innocents. They busied themselves with kicking those who were already down. It hadn’t always been this way, neither here nor in the neighboring Upper Kingdom, but as time went by, it was getting more and more difficult for Lia to recall that erstwhile better world. She had only been a young girl back then. Not much older than Naera’s boys were now. The same age as Gail should be, but Lia didn’t go there.

  Gail wasn’t part of this life. And as to that old way of life …

  It’s long gone, Lia thought bitterly. It’s gone along with laughter, happiness and freedom. Along with her home and her family.

  Lia turned her focus back on her surroundings. It was only a couple of steps to the fork. Just a little bit further. The patrolman had already noticed her, though. He had glanced her way more than once.

  There is nothing to see here, Lia intoned, nothing suspicious. Just an apprentice, she thought at him. A girl doing the bidding of her taskmistress. She’s already downtrodden. No need to reinforce her lowliness.

  Keep going keep going keep going.

  Lia did so herself, veritably scurrying along, hunched over and shivering in the rain, as if she only endeavored to fulfill her task to avoid another beating.

  Just a couple more steps, just a couple more …

  “You!”

  The shout reaching Lia’s ears made her freeze in position. Rigid with fear but still trembling more with rage than fright, she stood and waited, but at the same time, something mystical yawned awake at her core. The imminent danger and Lia’s seething feelings spurred it to look around and take in the situation she found herself in. Next, it examined the chains Lia had forced on it to keep that secret part of her hidden. Buried deep inside, as if it didn’t even exist. Because if someone learned of its existence …

  No!

  The force of her demand made that something pause, then still.

  Nevertheless, it didn’t go back to sleep.

  It was ready. Poised, and paying close attention.

  Schooling her features into subservience, Lia peeked at the patrolman, still waiting to see what he would do.

  “What are you doing, running around outside by your lonesome, wench?”

  The disturbing query still came from some distance away. The patrolman hadn’t quite reached Lia, nor had he decided to take a closer look at her or that she was worth pursuing.

  Not yet.

  Lia hastily started up a new inner mantra.

  She’s plain. Much too plain. Not worth wasting any time on.

  “I’m making a quick delivery for my Taskmistress, sir,” she offered up at the same time, keeping her tone polite in spite of her revulsion.

  The patrolman seemed to mull that over.

  See, she’s also properly subservient and downtrodden, Lia mentally went on, encouraged by the momentary hesitation. There’s no need to reinforce that lesson or to investigate further.

  A lowly apprentice certainly wouldn’t dare to do anything forbidden.

  Don’t you bother with a mere nobody, she reiterated angrily, with a little push than absolutely necessary.

  “Move faster, then.” The patrolman belched loudly, not bothering to make further inquiries, then added with a yawn, “Or I will show you your place myself.” With that, he lurched on, but Lia still heard him utter under his breath, “Wretched thing. Should’a given her a sound thrashing.”

  Lia moved along as bidden, murmuring a quick prayer in thanks that she’d gotten away unscathed. She rounded the corner without looking back lest the patrolman change his mind, and hurried her steps despite the slickness of the cobblestones. Fully focused on the here and now, she reached her destination in a matter of minutes.

  At the edge of town, the cobblestones gave way to the mud the downpour had turned the dirt road into. Lia’s boots squelched loudly as she made her way to Miana’s cottage, but fortunately no one was outside to witness her approach. Lia still looked around carefully before she knocked, just to make sure she was indeed alone, then the door opened a gap and someone peered outside.

  “My Taskmistress sends her regards,” Lia whispered, the words well-known by now, upon which the door came open completely, revealing Miana’s slight figure.

  She made as if to ask Lia in but Lia shook her head briskly, thrusting the salve in the woman’s direction who took it immediately.

  “My thanks to your Taskmistress,” Miana whispered brokenly, her voice brimming with gratitude and relief. “And to you as well, Lianna. A thousand times over.”

  Lia inclined her head and indicated that Miana should close up again. She only turned when the door was shut tightly again. Then she hastily ducked around the corner and took a couple of steps in the direction of the woods that abutted on the cottage so she was out of sight before standing still and letting her senses free.

  Breathing deeply, Lia took in her surroundings anew.

  A lone owl perched in a nearby tree. Closer still, a fox loped at the back of the cottage, on the trail of a rabbit that was shaking with fear. In the distance, Lia could feel the presence of something huge and wild. Something feral. A true predator. But since it was so far off and didn’t seem inclined to threaten the town, Lia decided not to concern herself with the animal. Feeling pity for the small rabbit, she touched the fox’ mind instead, making sure it wasn’t starving, then sent a suggestion its way.

  Abandoning the chase, the hunter turned around and disappeared into the forest again.

  Don’t be afraid, Lia transmitted in the rabbit’s direction next, you’re safe now.

  She only released its mind when the almost-prey finally stopped quivering, then heaving a sigh, she reined her senses back in.

  Just like that, she was a normal girl again. One with smooth golden hair instead of the dark tresses of the locals, and features that were admittedly lovelier that most, but still a normal girl nonetheless. At least her skin tone didn’t give her away in this region since others didn’t get sun-tanned in the constant rain, either. Not so farther south in the kingdom, and that was one of the reasons Lia had chosen this town and this part of the country.

  Mearend was also close to the capital, though, which made it easier to snake in there to listen and gather information, and right now, that was Lia’s task – until she learned something that was important enough to warrant action. Lia didn’t want to give up her current identity, though. She liked being Lianna.

  Apart from the wild creatures, the area was deserted. Lia was completely alone outside. Which meant that she could slip into the forest unseen right then and there instead of making the trek back to the herbal remedies shop where she spent the nights and then sneaking back out in full dark, after
curfew.

  The only advantage of the latter would be having opportunity to change, but if she went back to Naera’s, she’d have to traverse the town all over again. After her almost run-in with the patrolman, that wasn’t something Lia particularly wanted to do. Moreover, if she didn’t go back, she could start out earlier and reach the capital while there were still more people out and about. While there was more to hear.

  It might be worth the additional risk of forgoing her usual guise and travelling while it wasn’t quite dark yet.

  Decision thus made, Lia started for the woods.

  Chapter Two

  Traversing the woods at dusk proved more difficult than anticipated.

  Lia was used to making her way to the capital in full darkness. She knew the nightly noises of the forest, was aware what they meant and how to react if she heard something. She’d also learned long ago how to move silently, which paths to follow and where to make a turn. In short, Lia could orient herself in the woods by sounds and scents alone, scarcely relying on her eyes.

  In the near-evening, there was more light than usual, though, even in spite of the rain, so she automatically looked. The fog also made things more difficult since it obscured certain things completely while allowing her to perceive others as vague shapes. Then suddenly, just as Lia was about to get accustomed to the visibility conditions, the wind changed, driving back the fog a bit and revealing a lot more of her surroundings and confusing Lia since there hadn’t been anything to see a second before, which in turn made her doubt her previous assessment and caused her to doublecheck everything.

  In short, the weather seemed to be playing tricks on her, distorting her mental picture of the forest. Still, at least the rain had stopped falling, allowing her cloak to dry a bit while she glided – and occasionally stumbled – through the woods.