Read Trials of the Hierophant: Vol. II of epic fantasy The Sundered Kingdoms Trilogy Online
Authors: Ethan Risso
Trials of the Hierophant: Vol. II of epic fantasy The Sundered Kingdoms Trilogy
Published by Rookpen Publishing
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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www.ethanrisso.com
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Copyright © Ethan Risso, 2016
e-book formatting by
Guido Henkel
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Dedicated to
everyone who thinks I am
writing about them.
CHARACTERS IN THE STORY
CHARACTERS IN THE STORY
†
Denotes a character’s death occurred prior to the beginning of the book.
Inhabitants of Cærwyn and its Provinces
High King Rhodri Gwalchgwyn
– Connor’s older brother; high king seated in Cærwyn, to whom Gweliwch and Helygen hold their fealty.
Owain, steward of Cærwyn.
Gruffudd Barciau, Cærwynian ealdorman.
Siân Amaetha, wife of Ealdorman Amaetha.
Malen, her daughter.
Morcant Allt, Cærwynian ealdorman.
Bronwen of Annwyd
– Queen consort of Cærwyn.
†
Lady Bronwen, her mother.
Mara, Bronwen’s Ordanian nursemaid and lady in waiting.
Kendall, her son, and heir to Cærwyn.
Declan Morehl
– Duke of Helygen. Connor and Rhodri’s uncle.
Duke Rodric Gweliwch
– Duke of Gweliwch.
Lady Gwynedd, his wife.
Drustan, Gwynedd and Rodric’s firstborn son, and heir to Gweliwch.
Emrys, Gwynedd and Rodric’s second son.
†
Kedigor Gweliwch, first duke of the province of Gweliwch and Rodric’s father.
Ivor, Steward of Gweliwch.
Reverent Father Andras
– Religious leader of The One in Northfeld, and abbot of Northfeld Abbey.
Elis, a life-long novice in Northfeld Abbey.
Inhabitants of Annwyd
King Braith Denorheim
– King of Annwyd and leader of House Denorheim.
Madoc of Annwyd
– Bronwen’s younger brother and heir apparent to the throne of Annwyd.
Tristram, Steward of Annwyd and Madoc’s most trusted advisor.
Senate Houses of Annwyd
Braith Denorheim, House of the Serpent
Culhwch Valifor, House of the Boar
Grigor Boraste, House of the Tower
Einion Malik, House of the Anvil
Vaughn Garanth, House of the Wheel
Kendric Pahne, House of the Scythe
Mihangel, head of Annwyd’s Senate.
Caden, Kendric Pahne’s concubine.
Praetor Gildas, praetor of the Sigla Outpost.
Eira, Einion Malik’s daughter.
Ellen, former servant in Castle Rotham.
Inhabitants of Arlais
Connor
– Initiate of Arlais.
Gawain
, native name: Dáire Máthramail – Military leader of the Arlaïn forces, son of Duke Rodric Gweliwch.
†
Eithne, his Meïnir mother.
Ceridwen
– High priestess of Arlais.
†
Rhiannon, Ceridwen’s predecessor.
†
Blodeuyn, Arlais’ founder.
Ferdiadh, her bodyguard and servant.
Aife
– High-ranking priestess, Ceridwen’s attendant, and the mistress of herbal teachings.
Rhys, instructor of the proselytes.
Maeve, keeper of the arcanum.
Telyn, an initiate priestess.
Cairbre
– High priest of Arlais and a Meïnir elder.
Llewelyn, instructor of the proselytes.
Orrin, keeper of the arcanum.
Cathbad, master of herbal teachings.
Caron, Arlaïn priest under Orrin’s tutelage.
Sawyl
– Arlaïn proselyte.
Æsir and Vanir
Clíodhna – ás of the Hweyrdh Brynmor.
Ciabhán, her mortal lover.
Morrígan – ás of the Īeg Searian Brynmor.
Sionainne – Ván mother of the lake which bears her name.
Féinmhuinín of Glyndŵr
Neirin
– Féinmhuinín elder and de facto leader.
Taí
– Neirin’s second-in-command.
Reibirian of Glyndŵr
Brân Andoe
– Scout for the Féinmhuinín.
Aeronwy Mórgor
– Warrior for the Féinmhuinín.
Mordog – Footsoldier.
Duamor of the Gabraëth Mountains
Heid Ivatholl
– Daughter of the Duamor king, appointed steward.
King Gorbran Ivatholl of the Gabraëth Moutains, her father.
Goran, guard general of Eurig.
Jored, Heid’s second in command.
Frar Dareid Ginnar Horbori xxiv
– Merchant and former noble.
Tergah, his wife.
†
Frar Dareid Ginnar Horbori i – Duamor King during the Amaeth Age and signatory of the
Repaired Land
treaty with Rhiannon.
Chapter I
awain did not know the full extent of his injuries. In his dazed state, the throbbing in the back of his skull led him to believe he had hit his head. Whether on a rock or merely the ground, he did not know. Unable to move his head to assess, he glanced down, seeing a gnarled tree root protruding from his outer thigh. On its own, it would not have been a grievous injury, but in his present state, the gash of meat flayed from his thigh would surely lead to his demise.
Were he in Arlais or Gweliwch or anywhere within fifteen leagues of civilization, he likely would have been found and could have received treatment easily. But here, on the boundaries of the Forest of Reibios, the sun was quickly setting and the scent of fresh blood would draw out creatures with terrible appetites amidst the frigid dark of night. The thought of feeling the gnashing teeth tear at his flesh terrified him, and he could not stop himself as he let out a childish whimper.
As a warrior, and the son of a duke, he did not fear death. He knew from the moment his grip first tightened around the pommel of his sword he may very well find his death from another’s. A proud death in battle—he expected it. That was why he felt so frustrated now, for he had not been brought down in a barbarous rage on the battlefront, fighting beside his brothers-in-arms. An honorable death. No, instead, he lay clumsily in a ditch at the foot of a ledge no more than his own height after having lost his footing upon a patch of ice.
He felt around the cold ground with his hand. Though he could feel the hilt of his sword with his fingertips, he no longer retained the strength to grip, let alone draw, it from the odd angle of the scabbard beneath his back.
Panting, he watched the fog of his breath burst out above him in the waning light filtering through the sparse trees at the edge of the Reibios. He coughed and let out a yelp, his head aching. Soon, he heard voices.
