Curse of Shadows by A.K. Wilder

Author:A.K. Wilder
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Quest;pirates;Sirens;Phantoms;phantom;Mermaids;Magic;Pangea;High seas;Adventure;Sword fighting;Bones;Bone thrower;Divination;Teen & Young Adult Fantasy;Teen & Young Adult Magical Realism Fiction;Teen & Young Adult Fantasy Romance;Romantic Fantasy (Kindle Store);Romantic Fantasy (Books);Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy eBooks;Teen & Young Adult Epic Fantasy;Teen & Young Adult Dark Fantasy;Teen & Young Adult Dark Fantasy eBooks;Teen & Young Adult Magical Realism eBooks;Teen & Young Adult Magical Realism Fiction;Teen & Young Adult Fantasy Romance;Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy eBooks;Teen & Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy;Teen & Young Adult Fantasy Action & Adventure;Teen & Young Adult Fantasy & Supernatural Mysteries & Thrillers;Action & Adventure Romance (Books);Teen and Young Adult Romance;Coming of Age Fiction;Teen and Young Adult Coming of Age Fiction;Teen and Young Adult Literature and Fiction;Teen and Young Adult Literature and Fiction eBooks;Teen & Young Adult Mystery & Thriller Action & Adventure;Teen & Young Adult Romantic Mysteries & Thrillers;Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Being a Teen (Books);Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Being a Teen (Kindle Store);Curse of Shadows;A.K. Wilder;Amassia;Amassia Book Two;Entangled Teen;Hardcover Romance;Book boyfriend;YA Fantasy;YA Romance;Coming of Age Romance;Adventure YA Romance;magical kingdom
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2022-07-24T00:00:00+00:00

52

Marcus

It’s nothing like my homecoming.

Be glad of it.

True. The least I can do is appreciate this reception.

Belair yells at the top of his lungs, waving his arms in the air. “Jerrik!” He nearly wrestles his friend to the ground in greeting. I’m used to his enthusiasm, envious of it at times.

Like right now?

“Yes, De’ral. Like right now.”

“What a reception!” Ash shouts into my ear. Her grin is wide, but my jaw clamps shut, making it hard to smile.

I’m not jealous. Belair deserves friends. I’m glad he has them. It’s just that I can’t stop comparing this homecoming to my own. When we arrived at the gates of Baiseen, after a week’s nonstop gallop to warn of Tann’s attack, I was questioned by my own guards, ridiculed in the throne room in front of all the officials and high-ranking savants. Then—

Stripped of your throne, De’ral adds.

“Are you trying to make me feel worse?”

My phantom gives a mental shrug. I thought we were making a list.

“We weren’t.”

Meanwhile, a band of musicians beating drums, ringing bells, and playing flutes and horns dances toward us, followed by a dozen open chariots. The horses drawing them are all matched pairs. These are palace steeds, I’m betting. The crowd pulls back, making way as the lead chariot halts in front of us. The horses snort and paw the cobbled road as a robust man, dressed in finery, jumps out.

“Marcus Adicio!” he yells.

Horns blast and confetti fills the air as the loudest herald I’ve ever heard calls, “Hail Lord Riveren, Magistrate of Tangeen!”

And it’s true. Before me strides Stein Riveren. I can’t believe he came himself to welcome our company.

As I bow, the herald tries to signal silence by blowing a long, thin trumpet. It doesn’t bring perfect results, but it tones the noise down, for a moment. “Make way for Marcus Adicio, newly returned from the Isle of Aku, honored yellow-robe of the Sanctuary of Baiseen, raiser of a warrior the likes of Gaveren the Great, and Bone Gatherer for all the allied realms.” He blows on the trumpet again. “Make way, too, for Belair Duquan, son of Alvern Duquan, high diplomat of Tangeen, also successfully returned from Aku and the raiser of the famous red sun leopard…” He doesn’t announce the others but no one seems to mind, judging by their smiles.

Ash tugs on my sleeve. “They are honoring you, Marcus. Soak it up!”

“So it seems.” I catch her smile and keep it. Thank the bones there is no mention of me being the ex-heir in the string of titles.

“Marcus, my boy, I knew you would survive.”

Does he mean the siege on Aku, the trials for my yellow-robe, or the attack on Baiseen? Could he have heard of our high-sea battle with Atikis already? Before I can comment, he steps closer, the weight of his hands on my shoulders. “We had word of your father’s passing. I am so sorry, Marcus. Peace be his path.”

“Thank you. I—”

“Good to see you step up for this.” He waves his hand in the air and I assume he means the approaching Great Dying.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.