Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
The time has again come for the kingdoms to offer sacrifices to the corrupt Sovereigns as proof of loyalty. Among the sacrifices is Anara, a human Sayer—anointed by the primordial gods at birth to be a divine instrument.
After being taken to Deimos, the Isle of the Sovereigns, she’s thrust into deadly tryouts for the Order of the Black Tapestry. Led by Talon, a living legend—a dragon soul trapped in the form of an immortal man—the Order protects Deimos from all threats. Each trial is a lesson in pain and perseverance that takes Anara closer and closer to the final test—surviving the Labyrinth of the Minotaur.
As powers awaken within her and the growing heat between she and Talon sparks a fragile bond to form, Anara must aid the Black Tapestry in defeating enemies who would otherwise claim Deimos for their own.
A dangerous undertaking for godkin.
A seemingly impossible task for a human.
But perhaps the divine Calling of a Sayer
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
CHAPTER ONE
Every nine years it happened. They came. Emissaries of the Sovereigns.
Watching dozens of them ride toward the settlement—some on horseback, some driving horse-drawn wagons—I remembered the last time they’d come. At twelve, I’d been too young to count as a possible sacrifice to the Sovereigns. Back then, more than a little terrified, I’d stood amidst the large crowd surrounding the town square, keeping a distance from the ‘offerings.’
Seven young men.
Seven young women.
Just as it always was.
This time round, I wasn’t swallowed up in the safety of the crowd. I stood shoulder to shoulder with the other offerings—my mouth dry, my heart racing, my stomach all tied up in elaborate knots.
A few sniffles and sobs rippled through the crowd. So much emotion clogged the air. Despair. Helplessness. Anger. Spite.
No one spoke up, though. It would be senseless. Because any who fled, protested, or tried fighting the emissaries only ever met a chillingly swift execution.
Things weren’t always like this. Before the primordial gods returned to their own realm centuries ago, they had lived in peace with mortals; treated us with respect and courtesy; educated and protected us. We, in turn, had worshipped and served them.
The half-bloods and their descendants, however? They weren’t necessarily cruel to us, they just massively overlooked us. We were, to them, a lesser species. Useful in our way, but interchangeable. Like a colony of ants. And so also expendable. Hence why the Sovereigns who reigned supreme over Cathadonya’s four dominions in the gods’ steed felt no guilt at using us as pawns in their power games.
The teenager beside me shifted from foot to foot. “Anara, you might want to edge away from me a little because I think I’m going to be sick,” he muttered.
I’d understand if Kemp did. My own stomach had dropped when, just half an hour ago, the Baron of our settlement had blindly plucked a fourteenth tuft of paper out of a bowl … and read aloud my name. Disbelief had smacked into me first. Then rage. Panic. Devastation. Resentment. The emotions still hissed and snapped in my belly like flames.
The reactions of the other selected humans had been mixed. Some had wept. Some had blanched. Some had fallen into a state of shock. None of the three godkin-offerings were anxious since, for them, there would be certain perks to this scenario.
Remus had only allowed us to say quick goodbyes to our loved ones before ordering us out to wait in the middle of the town square for the emissaries to arrive.
And so there we stood.
The aforementioned emissaries were clad in clothes as black as their magnificent steeds’ shiny coat. I knew that each item of clothing would have a red shield sown into them. On said shield would be a sword that had a twine of thread curled around it—an insignia that proclaimed they belonged to the Order of the Black Tapestry.
The purpose of the deadly and dangerous Order was simple: To protect not only the Sovereigns but the Isle of Deimos on which they lived.
“Aegeas isn’t bothering to hide how much he begrudges having to go along with this,” Kemp noted.
Glancing at the half-blood who governed all of Phoenixia, I noticed that his face was indeed a mask of resentment as he played escort for the emissaries. “I’d imagine it bugs all the Archdukes that they have to provide such proof of loyalty.” Particularly since it was also a punishment for how they had tried rebelling against the Sovereigns a century ago.
Stood on Kemp’s other side, Aurelia absently scratched at her arm, lightly scoring her dark skin. “Much as I’m devastated that my parents are gone, I’m glad they’re not around to see this.”
I knew exactly what she meant. Like many in our settlement, I’d lost a number of my relatives to the plague that had swept through it years earlier. It would have torn my parents apart to see me be taken away. Especially since it was rumored that the human offerings were tossed into a labyrinth inhabited by a half-man half-bull creature.
Well, it’s a hard ‘no’ from me, thanks.
“My mom’s wrecked,” said Kemp, his voice breaking. “My sister was given to the Sovereigns last time the emissaries came, and my dad’s gone. She’ll be alone now.”
My chest squeezed. While I’d known about his father’s death, I hadn’t been aware of the rest. Being an acolyte, I rarely mingled with the townspeople. My family line had been part of the retinue of the gods since the immortals first appeared in our realm. Hellyne, the Goddess of Fate and Rebirth, had settled here and named the dominion after her most favored pet, a Phoenix bird.
Kemp gave me a sideways glance. “I was surprised when your name was called out. I didn’t think they’d put yours in the bowl. The gods would want you protected, not be made a ‘sacrifice.’”