Author's Note: Today's the day! Book 1 of Rise of a Manor Lord launches on Amazon, KU, and Audible to an entirely new audience. If you'd like to support it with a rating or early review, I'd be very grateful.
Rise of a Manor Lord: Book 1
I hope you've enjoyed reading this story here on Scribblehub, and I want to thank all of your for your comments, questions, speculations, and support. Onward with book three and Drake's (triumphant?) return to Gloomwood Manor.
Let's go!!!
***
Two full days later, the time came when Drake would finally need to say goodbye to Lord Skybreak. His vanguard pulled to a halt at midday as they reached the point in the Noble Road where Sky would separate her forces. Here, they would travel off toward her own manor.
Sachi was still recovering from her battle, resting comfortably with Emily, and she wouldn’t be doing any more scouting for a few days. Fortunately, his new ferals had the scouting duties covered. Kel and his Silent Pack had eagerly joined Gloomwood Manor.
After the Silent Pack had fanned out and assured him no one was waiting outside with a bow, Drake emerged from his wagon and went to bid goodbye to his allied manor lord. It was only polite. And after all they’d been through together, he wanted to see her off.
Having Sky’s rangers scouting while his zarovians held the vanguard itself had worked out well. While everyone was going to miss having the extra people in his vanguard, he now had silent ferals to serve as his own rangers, and better yet, he hadn’t even had to add them to the blood pact. There was no reason to when they were already his allies.
Even better, thanks to Darion’s efforts, Valarn had lived. Drake suspected saving Valarn was half the reason the Granite Pack had let them leave the scrap in peace. That, and every other feral pack at the scrap demanded it. Winning the crowd had won Kel’s freedom.
Before he left, Drake had also opened his offer to live in the silverwood to all the feral packs gathered for the scrap. He doubted many would choose the silverwood over Lord Mistvale’s woods, but if there were other groups like the Silent Pack—small packs muscled out by Elaran and his people—they might find a change of scenery appealing. He could hope.
With Lydia at his side, Drake made his way to the front of the caravan. Sky’s rangers had gathered there, and Sky and Karth spoke in low tones. When Sky caught sight of Drake, however, she said something to Karth. He nodded and touched her arm before slipping away.
Sky smiled as he approached. “You really came to see me off?”
“It felt rude not to,” Drake said. “Is that unusual?”
“I’m glad you came,” Sky assured him. “I don’t know when we’ll see each other again.”
Lydia touched his shoulder. “I’ll be just over here, lord.”
His steward moved away without being asked, allowing Drake and Sky to speak in privacy. This was a loud vanguard, and so long as they kept their voices low, no one would overhear them. That was another great excuse to stand closer to Sky than he needed to stand.
“You want your mirror back?” Drake asked. “Or am I keeping it?”
“I’d prefer you send it back with me,” Sky said.
Drake couldn’t quite hide his disappointment. “If that’s what you prefer.”
“This is so I can alter your mirror so that it can also call mine. I can only make such alterations at my manor, and only with the aid of several of my thralls. Once we have adjusted your mirror, I will have it sent back to you as it was before.”
Drake grinned as he realized what this meant. “So... you’re giving me your number?”
She eyed him with amusement. “Is that what you call formalizing an alliance?”
“Depends on the nature of the alliance.”
“So much is still unknown,” she continued quietly. “I do not know if we will succeed in defeating Prince Varnath or if the capital will eventually fall to his empire. I do not know when the next attempt on my life will come, or if I will live to see another year. But I do know now, no matter what befalls me, I now have an ally on whom I can always rely. You, Clint.”
Drake hadn’t expected such a warm goodbye. It gave him hope. “Thanks. I feel the same.” He decided to go for it. What was the worst that could happen? “So, just wondering—”
“Lord Skybreak?” someone interrupted quietly. “I brought you a present!”
Drake glanced down to see that Anna had snuck up on them as they spoke, and naturally, the little scamp was holding a small bouquet of wildflowers. For Sky? While he was a bit annoyed Anna had interrupted their moment, she remained so adorable it made his teeth hurt. Which was why Sky’s gasp of alarm shocked him all the more.
“Where did you get those?” Sky all but whispered.
“By the road, lord.”
Sky knelt and beckoned Anna closer. “May I see them?”
“I came to give them to you!” Anna tilted her head as she surveyed Sky with worried eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” Sky assured her gently. “But I would like you to hand them to me now.”
As Drake watched in a mixture of amusement and trepidation, Anna held out the bundle of wildflowers she’d collected. They were a mix of all colors—purple, yellow, red, and white—and Drake knew of no reason why Sky should handle them like a live grenade. Which she did.
Once she had the bouquet, she carefully set it on the ground. “Have you touched any of the red-colored petals, Anna?”
“I... maybe?” Anna frowned. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Drake was on the verge of asking the same thing. He was starting to freak out, mentally. Was Anna in some sort of danger? From flowers?
Sky carefully separated out the flowers, touching only the stems, until she’d separated the red flowers from the rest. She looked up at Anna again. “You didn’t touch them?”
“No, lord!” Anna looked visibly upset. “They were your gift.”
Sky nodded grimly. “These are called blood flowers. Have you heard of them?”
“I didn’t know they were called that,” Anna said. “You don’t like them?”
“They’re very pretty,” Sky said just as calmly. “They are also extremely dangerous. The petals are red to warn any animal that might eat them that they are poisonous. One petal, ground into a powder and placed in someone’s tea, would cause an... unpleasant death.”
Anna turned pale. “So I almost killed you?”
“You did not,” Sky assured her. “I’ll be fine. But if you touched these petals while you were gathering these flowers, you need to go and wash your hands in water and soap right now. Also, if you start feeling nauseous, you need to tell someone at once.”
Drake felt nauseous himself as he considered what might have happened had Sky not been here. “You heard her, Anna. Go wash your hands and then stay with Tamara the rest of the day. If you start feeling nauseous or sick or anything, you tell us at once. Understand?”
Anna blinked rapidly as tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for,” Sky said gently. She rose and tousled Anna’s hair. “We’re simply glad you’re not hurt, and I do appreciate your gift. Now, go.”
Anna nodded vigorously before she hurried back into the camp. Drake stared after her in worry, then turned back to Sky. “How many poisonous flowers are out here?”
“The only kind I know of are the blood flowers, which have spread on the wind and grown far too numerous of late.” Sky took a deep breath. “I didn’t want to alarm her, but we are very lucky she’s not dead. Ingesting even a single grain of ground blood flower petals can cause all of one’s fluids to leak freely. It is not dissimilar to what Mary can do.”
“Your thrall who can make people bleed through their pores,” Drake agreed ruefully. “I am really glad you were here to warn us about those.”
“Had I not, another of your thralls would have once they saw the flowers. Still, you need to keep a better eye on that girl.” Her brow furrowed. “Or have someone do it for you.”
“Don’t I know it,” Drake agreed ruefully. “Any other parenting advice?”
Sky cocked an eyebrow. “I think we’re still a ways from co-parenting.”
Drake couldn’t help but laugh. “You know what I mean. In general.”
“I think, in other respects, you’ve done just fine. Now, it’s time for me to go.” She stepped forward and offered her arms. “I will miss you, my friend.”
It took a moment to remember she wasn’t asking for a hug. It was also clear any moment he’d had to make a move had passed. Just as well. After nearing losing Anna to poison flowers, he was too rattled to think. He’d have plenty of other opportunities.
They clasped arms the same way they’d done at Fort Graystone. She grinned in obvious approval as she stepped back. “Stay safe, Lord Gloomwood.”
He nodded in what he hoped was a suitably cool manner. “And you, Lord Skybreak.”
Sky turned and strode off to join her rangers. Drake watched her go only long enough to not be obvious about it. He hurried back to his camp to check on Anna. He wasn’t going to leave her alone until he was certain she wouldn’t get sick from the blood flowers.
Fortunately, traveling the rest of the day on the road assured him Anna had suffered no ill effects. Drake also spotted more blood flowers along the road as he stared out the window of his carriage. Sky hadn’t been joking about the damn things spreading on the wind.
Now that he knew the flowers existed, he saw them everywhere. They were tiny red assassins hiding innocuously among a crowd of innocent wildflowers, and that felt like an omen of some sort. Hopefully, it wasn’t. He’d like a break from more assassins.
That night, they made the last camp they would make before they would finally be within traveling distance of Gloomwood Manor. After almost a month away from home, it felt good to be so close to home. Drake remained desperately curious about what his mother had asked the silverwood back when she was Lord Gloomwood.
What was Marissa hiding from everyone? He was certain it had to do with what Lord Crow had asked the silverwood two years ago, and also why the man had summoned him, and the closer he got to finally getting an answer, the more anxious he became.
His mother did seem to have a good reason for keeping it from him, a reason she’d only speak of it in the privacy of their manor. That suggested the secret behind him being summoned here was more disturbing than he wanted to think about. Was it something about him, specifically? Did he have demon blood, or something else equally bizarre and dangerous?
Drake did all he could to put the matter from his mind. He was almost asleep when the rustle of a tarp suggested someone had slipped into his sleeping area. He was up on one elbow when Lydia passed a hand across the Zippo candle. She glanced at him in consternation.
“I’m sorry to wake you, lord, but we’ve a message from the manor.”
Drake sat straight up in bed. “From who?”
“Celia. She’s run herself a bit ragged, but is otherwise injured. She also has intensely disturbing news. An army of kromians has surrounded the silverwood.”
Drake sat straight up. “How did they get here ahead of us?”
“I don’t know, lord, but Celia also said that the land below the silverwood has flooded. While we will need to see that for ourselves—”
“Sea gates.” Drake ground his teeth. “Give me a minute to get dressed. I’ll be right out.”
“Of course, lord.” Lydia bowed her head and retreated, backward, through the hanging tarp that separated him from the rest of the tent.
Drake shrugged on some silverweave and hurried out to find Lydia. He followed her out of his tent and to the center of the camp, where he recognized Celia Thornton, the brown-haired woman who’d once been secretly tasked by Viktoria Skybreak to deliver letters to Shadowfort detailing the activities of Lord Gloomwood. She shivered in a thick blanket.
As she spotted him, she sat up and gasped. “Lord Gloomwood!” The blanket fell to puddle around her boots.
“Relax, get warm, and sit,” he ordered. “You’ve had a long journey.”
Celia didn’t sit immediately, but once he took a place across from her, she finally listened. Lydia grabbed the blanket she’d dropped and helpfully tucked it around Celia’s shoulders once more. The woman’s shivering eased, but she didn’t look at ease.
“Lord Gloomwood, thank the Eidolons you’ve returned. I thought it would be days before I found help.”
“You’ve found it,” he assured her. “Now, I need to know about the situation at the manor. You say kromians have surrounded the silverwood?”
“We don’t know how many, but yes, there are a large number of them. However, we forced them out of the woods. The vero warned us of their approach, and the silverwood slowed them long enough for Olivia to arrive with our zarovians. She drove them off with chainfire.”
“Good for her,” Drake said approvingly. “Any casualties?”
“No one died, though we did have injuries,” Celia said grimly. “Olivia’s chainfire easily pushed them out of the woods, but when we attempted to push further, we came under fire from arrows and blow darts. Then... the field below the silverwood began to flood.”
“Seawater?” Drake asked.
Celia gasped. “How did you know?”
“They’ve pulled that trick before. The manor is safe for now? Olivia and the others haven’t been overrun?”
“The kromians hadn’t penetrated the silverwood when I slipped through their lines and took the road. But it’s been almost a day, lord.”
Drake looked to Lydia. “Have Kel sent some ferals ahead to scout. I need to know how many kromians we’re up against and where and what they’re flooding.” He looked to Celia again. “You’ve done everything you’ve needed to do. You found help. So now, all I need you to do is eat, drink, rest up, and take it easy with the others. That’s an order.”
Celia forced a brave smile. “Of course, Lord Gloomwood. Now that you’ve returned, I no longer worry for the manor. You won’t anything happen to it, will you?”
“I won’t,” Drake agreed. “I am, however, going to fuck up some kromians.”
Author's Note: Today's the day! Book 1 of Rise of a Manor Lord launches on Amazon, KU, and Audible to an entirely new audience. If you'd like to support it with a rating or early review, I'd be very grateful.
Rise of a Manor Lord: Book 1
I hope you've enjoyed reading this story here on Scribblehub, and I want to thank all of your for your comments, questions, speculations, and support. Onward with book three and Drake's (triumphant?) return to Gloomwood Manor.
Let's go!!!
***
Two full days later, the time came when Drake would finally need to say goodbye to Lord Skybreak. His vanguard pulled to a halt at midday as they reached the point in the Noble Road where Sky would separate her forces. Here, they would travel off toward her own manor.
Sachi was still recovering from her battle, resting comfortably with Emily, and she wouldn’t be doing any more scouting for a few days. Fortunately, his new ferals had the scouting duties covered. Kel and his Silent Pack had eagerly joined Gloomwood Manor.
After the Silent Pack had fanned out and assured him no one was waiting outside with a bow, Drake emerged from his wagon and went to bid goodbye to his allied manor lord. It was only polite. And after all they’d been through together, he wanted to see her off.
Having Sky’s rangers scouting while his zarovians held the vanguard itself had worked out well. While everyone was going to miss having the extra people in his vanguard, he now had silent ferals to serve as his own rangers, and better yet, he hadn’t even had to add them to the blood pact. There was no reason to when they were already his allies.
Even better, thanks to Darion’s efforts, Valarn had lived. Drake suspected saving Valarn was half the reason the Granite Pack had let them leave the scrap in peace. That, and every other feral pack at the scrap demanded it. Winning the crowd had won Kel’s freedom.
Before he left, Drake had also opened his offer to live in the silverwood to all the feral packs gathered for the scrap. He doubted many would choose the silverwood over Lord Mistvale’s woods, but if there were other groups like the Silent Pack—small packs muscled out by Elaran and his people—they might find a change of scenery appealing. He could hope.
With Lydia at his side, Drake made his way to the front of the caravan. Sky’s rangers had gathered there, and Sky and Karth spoke in low tones. When Sky caught sight of Drake, however, she said something to Karth. He nodded and touched her arm before slipping away.
Sky smiled as he approached. “You really came to see me off?”
“It felt rude not to,” Drake said. “Is that unusual?”
“I’m glad you came,” Sky assured him. “I don’t know when we’ll see each other again.”
Lydia touched his shoulder. “I’ll be just over here, lord.”
His steward moved away without being asked, allowing Drake and Sky to speak in privacy. This was a loud vanguard, and so long as they kept their voices low, no one would overhear them. That was another great excuse to stand closer to Sky than he needed to stand.
“You want your mirror back?” Drake asked. “Or am I keeping it?”
“I’d prefer you send it back with me,” Sky said.
Drake couldn’t quite hide his disappointment. “If that’s what you prefer.”
“This is so I can alter your mirror so that it can also call mine. I can only make such alterations at my manor, and only with the aid of several of my thralls. Once we have adjusted your mirror, I will have it sent back to you as it was before.”
Drake grinned as he realized what this meant. “So... you’re giving me your number?”
She eyed him with amusement. “Is that what you call formalizing an alliance?”
“Depends on the nature of the alliance.”
“So much is still unknown,” she continued quietly. “I do not know if we will succeed in defeating Prince Varnath or if the capital will eventually fall to his empire. I do not know when the next attempt on my life will come, or if I will live to see another year. But I do know now, no matter what befalls me, I now have an ally on whom I can always rely. You, Clint.”
Drake hadn’t expected such a warm goodbye. It gave him hope. “Thanks. I feel the same.” He decided to go for it. What was the worst that could happen? “So, just wondering—”
“Lord Skybreak?” someone interrupted quietly. “I brought you a present!”
Drake glanced down to see that Anna had snuck up on them as they spoke, and naturally, the little scamp was holding a small bouquet of wildflowers. For Sky? While he was a bit annoyed Anna had interrupted their moment, she remained so adorable it made his teeth hurt. Which was why Sky’s gasp of alarm shocked him all the more.
“Where did you get those?” Sky all but whispered.
“By the road, lord.”
Sky knelt and beckoned Anna closer. “May I see them?”
“I came to give them to you!” Anna tilted her head as she surveyed Sky with worried eyes. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No,” Sky assured her gently. “But I would like you to hand them to me now.”
As Drake watched in a mixture of amusement and trepidation, Anna held out the bundle of wildflowers she’d collected. They were a mix of all colors—purple, yellow, red, and white—and Drake knew of no reason why Sky should handle them like a live grenade. Which she did.
Once she had the bouquet, she carefully set it on the ground. “Have you touched any of the red-colored petals, Anna?”
“I... maybe?” Anna frowned. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Drake was on the verge of asking the same thing. He was starting to freak out, mentally. Was Anna in some sort of danger? From flowers?
Sky carefully separated out the flowers, touching only the stems, until she’d separated the red flowers from the rest. She looked up at Anna again. “You didn’t touch them?”
“No, lord!” Anna looked visibly upset. “They were your gift.”
Sky nodded grimly. “These are called blood flowers. Have you heard of them?”
“I didn’t know they were called that,” Anna said. “You don’t like them?”
“They’re very pretty,” Sky said just as calmly. “They are also extremely dangerous. The petals are red to warn any animal that might eat them that they are poisonous. One petal, ground into a powder and placed in someone’s tea, would cause an... unpleasant death.”
Anna turned pale. “So I almost killed you?”
“You did not,” Sky assured her. “I’ll be fine. But if you touched these petals while you were gathering these flowers, you need to go and wash your hands in water and soap right now. Also, if you start feeling nauseous, you need to tell someone at once.”
Drake felt nauseous himself as he considered what might have happened had Sky not been here. “You heard her, Anna. Go wash your hands and then stay with Tamara the rest of the day. If you start feeling nauseous or sick or anything, you tell us at once. Understand?”
Anna blinked rapidly as tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry.”
“You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for,” Sky said gently. She rose and tousled Anna’s hair. “We’re simply glad you’re not hurt, and I do appreciate your gift. Now, go.”
Anna nodded vigorously before she hurried back into the camp. Drake stared after her in worry, then turned back to Sky. “How many poisonous flowers are out here?”
“The only kind I know of are the blood flowers, which have spread on the wind and grown far too numerous of late.” Sky took a deep breath. “I didn’t want to alarm her, but we are very lucky she’s not dead. Ingesting even a single grain of ground blood flower petals can cause all of one’s fluids to leak freely. It is not dissimilar to what Mary can do.”
“Your thrall who can make people bleed through their pores,” Drake agreed ruefully. “I am really glad you were here to warn us about those.”
“Had I not, another of your thralls would have once they saw the flowers. Still, you need to keep a better eye on that girl.” Her brow furrowed. “Or have someone do it for you.”
“Don’t I know it,” Drake agreed ruefully. “Any other parenting advice?”
Sky cocked an eyebrow. “I think we’re still a ways from co-parenting.”
Drake couldn’t help but laugh. “You know what I mean. In general.”
“I think, in other respects, you’ve done just fine. Now, it’s time for me to go.” She stepped forward and offered her arms. “I will miss you, my friend.”
It took a moment to remember she wasn’t asking for a hug. It was also clear any moment he’d had to make a move had passed. Just as well. After nearing losing Anna to poison flowers, he was too rattled to think. He’d have plenty of other opportunities.
They clasped arms the same way they’d done at Fort Graystone. She grinned in obvious approval as she stepped back. “Stay safe, Lord Gloomwood.”
He nodded in what he hoped was a suitably cool manner. “And you, Lord Skybreak.”
Sky turned and strode off to join her rangers. Drake watched her go only long enough to not be obvious about it. He hurried back to his camp to check on Anna. He wasn’t going to leave her alone until he was certain she wouldn’t get sick from the blood flowers.
Fortunately, traveling the rest of the day on the road assured him Anna had suffered no ill effects. Drake also spotted more blood flowers along the road as he stared out the window of his carriage. Sky hadn’t been joking about the damn things spreading on the wind.
Now that he knew the flowers existed, he saw them everywhere. They were tiny red assassins hiding innocuously among a crowd of innocent wildflowers, and that felt like an omen of some sort. Hopefully, it wasn’t. He’d like a break from more assassins.
That night, they made the last camp they would make before they would finally be within traveling distance of Gloomwood Manor. After almost a month away from home, it felt good to be so close to home. Drake remained desperately curious about what his mother had asked the silverwood back when she was Lord Gloomwood.
What was Marissa hiding from everyone? He was certain it had to do with what Lord Crow had asked the silverwood two years ago, and also why the man had summoned him, and the closer he got to finally getting an answer, the more anxious he became.
His mother did seem to have a good reason for keeping it from him, a reason she’d only speak of it in the privacy of their manor. That suggested the secret behind him being summoned here was more disturbing than he wanted to think about. Was it something about him, specifically? Did he have demon blood, or something else equally bizarre and dangerous?
Drake did all he could to put the matter from his mind. He was almost asleep when the rustle of a tarp suggested someone had slipped into his sleeping area. He was up on one elbow when Lydia passed a hand across the Zippo candle. She glanced at him in consternation.
“I’m sorry to wake you, lord, but we’ve a message from the manor.”
Drake sat straight up in bed. “From who?”
“Celia. She’s run herself a bit ragged, but is otherwise injured. She also has intensely disturbing news. An army of kromians has surrounded the silverwood.”
Drake sat straight up. “How did they get here ahead of us?”
“I don’t know, lord, but Celia also said that the land below the silverwood has flooded. While we will need to see that for ourselves—”
“Sea gates.” Drake ground his teeth. “Give me a minute to get dressed. I’ll be right out.”
“Of course, lord.” Lydia bowed her head and retreated, backward, through the hanging tarp that separated him from the rest of the tent.
Drake shrugged on some silverweave and hurried out to find Lydia. He followed her out of his tent and to the center of the camp, where he recognized Celia Thornton, the brown-haired woman who’d once been secretly tasked by Viktoria Skybreak to deliver letters to Shadowfort detailing the activities of Lord Gloomwood. She shivered in a thick blanket.
As she spotted him, she sat up and gasped. “Lord Gloomwood!” The blanket fell to puddle around her boots.
“Relax, get warm, and sit,” he ordered. “You’ve had a long journey.”
Celia didn’t sit immediately, but once he took a place across from her, she finally listened. Lydia grabbed the blanket she’d dropped and helpfully tucked it around Celia’s shoulders once more. The woman’s shivering eased, but she didn’t look at ease.
“Lord Gloomwood, thank the Eidolons you’ve returned. I thought it would be days before I found help.”
“You’ve found it,” he assured her. “Now, I need to know about the situation at the manor. You say kromians have surrounded the silverwood?”
“We don’t know how many, but yes, there are a large number of them. However, we forced them out of the woods. The vero warned us of their approach, and the silverwood slowed them long enough for Olivia to arrive with our zarovians. She drove them off with chainfire.”
“Good for her,” Drake said approvingly. “Any casualties?”
“No one died, though we did have injuries,” Celia said grimly. “Olivia’s chainfire easily pushed them out of the woods, but when we attempted to push further, we came under fire from arrows and blow darts. Then... the field below the silverwood began to flood.”
“Seawater?” Drake asked.
Celia gasped. “How did you know?”
“They’ve pulled that trick before. The manor is safe for now? Olivia and the others haven’t been overrun?”
“The kromians hadn’t penetrated the silverwood when I slipped through their lines and took the road. But it’s been almost a day, lord.”
Drake looked to Lydia. “Have Kel sent some ferals ahead to scout. I need to know how many kromians we’re up against and where and what they’re flooding.” He looked to Celia again. “You’ve done everything you’ve needed to do. You found help. So now, all I need you to do is eat, drink, rest up, and take it easy with the others. That’s an order.”
Celia forced a brave smile. “Of course, Lord Gloomwood. Now that you’ve returned, I no longer worry for the manor. You won’t anything happen to it, will you?”
“I won’t,” Drake agreed. “I am, however, going to fuck up some kromians.”
