Story Review
I realized today that it has been over a YEAR since I have last done a summary story section. So, even though I know some of you are itching for another new story, I thought I would provide a summary here. This will also help some of you get caught up on some details since it has been a while. I especially wanted to do this since I have been told that there is some newfound interest in my online serial story.

Before I get to the review – I thought I would give you some more updates on my writing projects. First of all, I have yet to hear back from t_e_o_p, but I will let you know as soon as I do. For my other projects, they are coming along quite well. I don’t think that I am going to have problems meeting my deadlines to get all of the projects out by GenCon Indy. There have been a few questions about my second project. It is a short story anthology that a friend of mine and I are publishing. We are collecting short stories from some writers and putting them together in a self-published anthology. Of course, I will be submitting a piece as well – one of the advantages to being the publisher. :grins:

Now, on to your review.

Sallista is on Uima’s boat, traveling to the land of Curand while wearing the image of Princess Macella. She smuggles herself into the country with Uima’s help (who has taken control of the ship in her father’s absence). Using the help of a servant girl, she sneaks into the capital and eventually makes her way up to her room. The captain of the guard visits her and escorts her to see her father. They have a conversation where the king asks her about her secret lover, which catches Sallista by surprise – that was not information that she had about her target. She deftly recovers and talks in circles, convincing the king that she is really his daughter.

Meanwhile, Rienna stays at her cabin with Nik – who has not spoken since his guardian, Syr, was killed. Rienna is restless over her sister’s fate, but remains on guard to protect Nik. One day, they are going for a trail ride through the woods, with Rienna attempting to engage her young charge. They come across a wounded Wilder, and Rienna insists that Nik help him since he is still a human being. Nik speaks for the first time and refuses. It turns out that the scene was an ambush, and Rienna is captured while Nik gallops away.

Elliena paces around her cell, wondering what fate awaits her. Velash comes to visit her, frantic. He tells her that Faelyn has all of the members of the council in his pocket. Only the king is not swayed. However, that one vote will not be enough to spare Elliena the gallows. He comes up with a plan to rescue her, but she refuses and says that she will face her fate. Velash tries to convince her, but she is adamant in her decision to face the council. When she does, she presents herself before them and requests for a trial by combat. She names herself as her champion. Faelyn names one of his officers – Rusek – as his champion. The two combatants go to their own private chambers to prepare for the fight.

In Rusek’s quarters, Faelyn makes sure that all of his plans are set in motion. Rusek has one blade dipped in a dehabilitating poison that will slow Elliena’s reactions. It should not be enough to make people suspicious, but it would be more than enough for him to kill her quickly. Faelyn hints that he also has a backup plan in the wings that will guarantee their success.

The two fighters present themselves in the courtyard and square off against each other. At first they trade a few light blows – Elliena with her spear and Rusek wielding two daggers. Rusek is injured in the combat, and throws a dagger at Elliena in retaliation, but it does not connect. She comes in to press her attack, but he has drawn his poisoned dagger by that time. They each get a few cuts, including one on Elliena with the poison. She feels her body start to slow down, so she knows she needs to finish the fight quickly. As she is about to deliver a finishing blow, she notices that her sister, Rienna, is being held captive in an alcove by a Wilder with a knife to her neck. Elliena begins to voluntarily lose the battle.

Velash sees Elliena’s hesitation and goes to investigate what it was that she saw. He rushes forward and sees Rienna being held by two Wilders. He attacks them, dispatching one, and getting Rienna’s help to dispatch the second. He grabs Rienna and rushes to the battle circle so that Elliena can see her sister is freed. As he is about to run off, one of the dispatached Wilders is about to throw a knife, but Uima walks up and kills him before he has the chance.

Seeing that her sister is safe, Elliena presses forward with her best attacks. She manages to defeat Rusek, but then collapses after being pronounced innocent. Her family carries her inside where a surgeon looks after her wounds. He heals her as best as he can, but does not know about the poison. Uima catches the faint odor of the poison that was used when she talks to the surgeon. Recognizing it, she immediately heads off in search of Rusek. She finds him being berated by Faelyn for his failure. She quickly walks up and incapacitates Faelyn with a blow to the back of the head. She promises to smuggle Rusek out of the country if he will give her the antidote and also will give her two free murders in the future. He agrees. She delivers the poison to Velash, saying it will help but not saying what it was.

Isen, freshly healed from his wounds, follows Tessi and her companions as they investigate Rienna’s shack. He confronts them and agrees to travel with them to the capital. He doesn’t want to see Nik murdered, so he has the intention of traveling with them to protect the young boy. The go into the capital where everyone gives them a very wide berth.

At the same time, Sallista is walking around the town with an escort of guards protecting the “princess”. She managed to get a note from her secret lover, and is tempted to meet him. Before she has a chance, she literally runs into Nik and recognizes him. She shouts at the guards to arrest him for being a pickpocket. Nik runs, trying to get away from his pursuers. He turns a corner and runs right into Isen. A street fight starts as the Wilders try to grab the boy and clash with the pursuing guards. In the chaos, Tillian shows up and grabs Nik, skirting him away to the castle. Nik heals Elliena using his magic. At this point, Velash goes to see Uima and arranges to have her smuggle the boy out of the capital and to the north, where he was originally going. She agrees, but only if Velash will go with them.

Tessi and Isen have a fight over the loss of the boy, which winds up with Isen taking a fall from a second story building and crashing against the stones below. He manages to recover and makes his way to the docks undetected by the other Wilders.

Elliena recovers completely from her injury and says that she wants to go protect Nik. Eventually, it is agreed that she, Rienna, and Velash will all go to escort Nik to the north. They do not know where he is going, nor does he – he only has a general idea of what direction to go. They all board Uima’s ship and Elliena goes down to the cargo hold to check on her supplies, armor, and weapons. Inside, she finds Isen curled up behind some crates looking horribly sea sick even though they are still tied to the docks. She threatens to kill him, but he talks her out of it – convincing her that he is there to protect Nik and not kill him or anyone else. She is leery, but spares him. Instead, she goes up to the main deck and lets the others in her party know about the stowaway. They decide to keep him alive and with them, but on a short leash.

Tessi continues her mad search for Nik. The other Wilders also come up with nothing. Exasperated, Tessi goes to the docks to take the entrance to the secret meeting place where all the attendees wore masks to hide their identities. Before she can crawl into the pipe, Sallista comes along and sits beside her. She places her hand out towards the sun so that the shadow of her arm falls across the Wilder. Instantly, Tessi can’t breathe, as if the shadow was choking her. Sallista tells her that Tessi must accompany Faelyn on a ship in order to catch Nik. Tessi reluctantly agrees.

Meanwhile, Faelyn finds a message left for him that tells him about Elliena’s and Nik’s departure by boat. It also says that a ship has been arranged to bring them north. The note also is signed with Ormu’s personal seal and knows details that no one could know. The note angers Faelyn, but he realizes that he has no choice but to agree to the demands.

On Uima’s boat, the three women (Uima, Elliena, and Rienna) and Velash meet to discuss their plans. They decide that Rienna will get off in the wilderness with Nik and Isen. Elliena and Velash will continue north to the port to get supplies and horses, and then meet up with the others outside of the city. Before they arrive, Uiam and Velash share an intimate encounter. After letting Isen, Rienna, and Nik off the boat, Velash and Elliena need to be smuggled into the port to avoid suspicion. While the ship is being inspected by the city watch, they hear that Uima’s father – Pui – has been arrested. She replies that it is not a problem since he has broken out of seven city prisons. With a final departure, Elliena and Velash leave to enter the city. They gather their supplies and four horses, and leave the port for their rendezvous.

In the wilderness, Isen is scouting for himself and the other two. He smells the odor of blood, and gets on guard. However, the three of them are still ambushed as a giant scorpion bursts up from the sand and attacks them. They fight the beast, but its hard shell proves impervious to Rienna’s arrows. Isen jumps on the back of the creature and scurries to its head. He is almost thrown off twice, but his dexterity and sense of balance keep him on the creature. He takes his dagger, and plunges it up to his elbow in the creature’s eye. With a roar, the beast runs off, tossing Isen through the air. Rienna helps him to his feet and hands him his discarded knife.

And that is the last YEAR in summary.