âAnd what did the dragon, Shakala, tell you?â
âShe warned me to go. That my brother would use my magick as his own.â
The blood of great mages runs in Danikaâs veins. She is sister to Jahkon, the dark mage of Remarne, but they are vastly different. Her magick is pure, full of life and energy. His is ancient, built of blood and shadows.
Jahkonâs magick grows black and twisted, but Danika canât give up on him. When he orders her to marry one of his followers, sheâs forced to run.
Armed with nothing but her wits, aided by a spy and an escaped prisoner, Danika heeds the dragonâs warnings and flees the city of her birth.
Jahkon wonât let her go. He needs her power and the blood of the dragon to become immortal. Now a fugitive, Danika enters a world unlike any sheâs ever known. To stay alive, she must trust her life to her new companions. What begins as escape becomes a desperate race to save the dragon and fulfil the ancient Prophecy of Harmony.
âAnd what did the dragon, Shakala, tell you?â
âShe warned me to go. That my brother would use my magick as his own.â
The blood of great mages runs in Danikaâs veins. She is sister to Jahkon, the dark mage of Remarne, but they are vastly different. Her magick is pure, full of life and energy. His is ancient, built of blood and shadows.
Jahkonâs magick grows black and twisted, but Danika canât give up on him. When he orders her to marry one of his followers, sheâs forced to run.
Armed with nothing but her wits, aided by a spy and an escaped prisoner, Danika heeds the dragonâs warnings and flees the city of her birth.
Jahkon wonât let her go. He needs her power and the blood of the dragon to become immortal. Now a fugitive, Danika enters a world unlike any sheâs ever known. To stay alive, she must trust her life to her new companions. What begins as escape becomes a desperate race to save the dragon and fulfil the ancient Prophecy of Harmony.
Lord Quendin, First of the Horde, bowed his head, and dropped to one knee in front of his master. Right now, he wished he were elsewhere. If only he could have sent one of his lackeys to meet the mage, let someone else face his wrath. Mucking out the stables was better than confronting Jahkon, Mage of Remarne, when he was angry, and right now the mageâs rage simmered like a cauldron of oil coming to a boil. That fury showed in the ice blue glitter in his eyes and the fine tremor in his fingers.
Quendin stared at the floor, careful not to say or do anything to provoke the man in front of him. One snap of those twitching fingers could conjure a fireball that would melt the skin from his bones. Sweat morphed across his forehead. Carrying good news to the mage made Quendinâs blood creep. Delivering bad news left his knees weak and his guts loose.
âAnd where is Danika now?â
Quendin flinched at the gentle voice. A bead of sweat trickled down his brow. Staring doggedly at the floor, he avoided meeting the eyes of the other man. The expressionless face of the mage would give goosebumps to the Dark One himself.
âI . . . I donât know, my Lord. She sent me away and left with Calia.â
âCalia again? Well then, find her, Quendin. Or do you think I should play nursemaid to my sister?â
Jahkon, High Mage and Lord of House Remarne, moved away from the narrow stone window and stared at his second-in-command. The dewy sweat on Quendinâs brow became a river, leaking down his face, filling his eyes with stinging tears. His fingers convulsed at the start of a three-fingered sign against the Dark One. Catching himself, he made a fist of the wayward hand.
âNo. No, my Lord. I will find her,â Quendin stuttered.
He bobbed to his feet and turned to go. The mage didnât issue orders twice. He expected his commands to be done at once. Quendin risked a quick look over his right shoulder. Jahkon had already forgotten him. Instead, his eyes were focused on the town square below. It was a hanging day in the old city of Laurana. Quendin straightened and stepped towards the door, his customary arrogance restoring the swagger to his walk.
âAnd Quendin?â
Quendin cringed under the whip of the harsh voice. Slowly, he turned to face the mage.
âI believe Calia becomes a problem. You will rid us of her.â
âHow, my Lord?â
âI am sure the miandrogas will provide you with a solution. That way, you will make a small profit for your efforts. You will do this quietly, without disturbing my sister. Danika must learn to obey.â
âYes, my Lord.â
Quendin sketched a bow and slid through the door, closing it silently behind him. Once outside, he blotted his forehead with the sleeve of his tunic. Face-to-face meetings with Jahkon left him rattled. He, who prided himself on fearing nothing, was shaking like a beaten horse after a two-minute encounter with the dark mage. Taking a deep breath, he glanced around to see if anyone had witnessed his slinking retreat. There was no one about. Straightening to his full height of six and a half feet, he turned his thoughts to his orders as a smirk tugged at his lips.
It seemed he had a miandrogas to find. It shouldnât be hard. There was always one of the nasty little blighters somewhere within reach of the dark lord. Getting rid of Calia would be a pleasure. It would teach the girl to respect her betters.
***
âCalia, wait!â Danika lifted the edge of her skirt and ran after her maid, cursing the flutter of fabric around her feet. She longed for the soft leggings she always wore when they went on an adventure. Today she hadnât had time to don them.
âDanika, I see it. The caravan is coming. Quick, look.â Calia stopped at the edge of the broken stone and waited impatiently for Danika to catch up. âYouâve gotten slow over the winter,â she taunted. âYou must move faster if you want to get away from here.â
Danika stopped at Caliaâs words. What if someone heard?
âWait,â she called again, softly. âLet me catch up.â
She ran and stumbled on a loose fold of her dragging skirts. Bending to untangle her toes, she glanced around, searching for signs of hidden ears. Relief flooded her. She and Calia were alone.
âCalia!â she said sharply. âYou mustnât say that!â
The other girlâs bright laughter peeled over the twitter of the birds in the branches above. âThere is no one out here. Just us. Come on.â
Danika gave the trees another long look. Caliaâs words stole the joy from the moment. The girl was a fool to believe there was anywhere safe to let your tongue fly. The lord of Remarne had spies everywhereâspies who delighted in running to Jahkon with what they overheard. In Laurana, knowledge gained from eavesdropping and interrogations meant power for those who caught the mageâs ear.
Danika reached the crest of the hill and looked in the direction Calia pointedâtowards the great forest. The forest was Caliaâs true home, and according to her, a place she never wanted to return.
The spread of wooded land covered much of the terrain to the east. Those who dwelled there, like Calia, were black-haired and gray eyed. They were nothing like the blue-eyed, blonde-haired inhabitants of Danikaâs world. Calia was the first person she had met from the forest. Its occupants stayed close to the trees and their ancient magick. It was rare for them to venture as far as the great cities. Danika still did not know what had brought Calia to Laurana.
Standing next to her friend, she watched the winding caravan of wagons and straining oxen pass below. The caravan was the first of the spring traders, a reason to celebrate the day. The past winter was long and cold, making the return of the sun especially welcome.
âWhy so gloomy on such a fine day?â Calia teased, dropping to sit cross-legged on a straggly patch of grass.
Danika shook her head. âYou speak before you think. That is a dangerous thing. You do not understand how far voices carry.â
âBah! You worry too much. Your brother and his henchmen are far away. Besides, they have no interest in me. You can protect me. You are the lady of Remarne.â
Danika shook her head sadly. Calia couldnât understand what she didnât know. Lady of Remarne was a title, nothing else. Danika was a chattel to her brother, a pawn to further his influence. In Laurana, it had always been that way. Now with Jahkonâs power growing, there was nowhere it was safe to speak freely. Jahkon could read Danika like a book. No. She couldnât keep Calia safe if she insisted on running her tongue like a fool.
âYou donât understand us. You must guard your words. Freedom is an illusion.â
âSo gloomy, Danika. If I wanted to be told what to do, I would have stayed in the forest.â Calia shrugged and returned to her study of the lead wagon. âLook.â Her gray eyes glowed as she glanced back at Danika. âItâs the cloth merchant. What do you think he brings? Silks, satins, lace? New gowns.â Calia jumped to her feet and danced a little dance.
Danika shook her head. âYou are such a child, Calia.â
âI am three years older than you are.â
Danika rolled her eyes. That might be true, but it meant nothing. Danika, born into the ancient house of Remarne, was old in the ways of power and society. Her brother, the great mage, said she held an untapped well of magickal skill, that with time, she would be powerful. Jahkon would expect her to be practicing those skills, not sneaking off with Calia to watch the wagons roll by. The thought sent an icy chill through her.
âWe should go back,â she said.
Calia stopped her dance, and the laughter drained from her face. âWhat is it? What do you feel?â
âNothing. I worry you laugh at what you donât understand. You must watch your tongue. There is no place safe to speak so openly.â
Calia shrugged. âYou worry too much.â
âAnd you donât worry enough.â
Silence dropped over them. They watched the cumbersome wagons roll by as the harsh calls of the wagon masters and bellows of the oxen battered their ears. The caravanâs arrival signaled that at last, spring had reached Laurana. As the heavy snows and winds loosened their grip on the land, the sun greedily gobbled it up. In the great forest, rumor bushes bloomed, their red flowers heralding the fat purple fruit they would soon bear. Rumor berry wine would once more fill the goblets at the tables.
Danika sighed and looked towards the citadel of Remarne. Its heavy granite walls rose higher than the old trees. The generals had built the walled city of Laurana and its castle to keep intruders out and its people safeâor prisoner. Danika looked away.
The ancient castle was a remnant from the Meeachon Wars, a time when brother killed brother and the earth bled. Laurana was the last bastion in the fight, a place the old generals marshaled their forces and retreated from the forest. The power of man built the great ramparts and heavily fortified walls. The magick came later when General Darone turned his life towards the dark arts. Long after the wars, as the strength of the mages soared, the power behind Remarne changed and darkened.
The caravans were closer, and the calls of the wagon masters flattened and softened as the bellows of the oxen quieted. Danika sighed, listening to the change in tone. The city of Laurana evoked fear. The visiting caravans came to trade, but they also carried a hefty fortune in gold to pay for the privilege of doing so. Jahkonâs power was so great even the rich merchants bowed to House Remarne.
Sighing again, she lifted one hand to block the sun from her eyes and looked towards the tower windows of Jahkonâs wing. Was he there, staring down at her? She lifted her chin and waved cheerily. Jahkon took himself too seriously. He needed to step away from his lofty heights and live life.
The staccato pound of hoofbeats reached her. Turning slowly, she looked towards the base of the hill. Quendin, the First of the Horde, yanked his black destrier to a rearing stop. He sat on the back of the massive horse as if born there. A gust of wind caught his heavy leather cloak and sent it flapping over the wide flanks of the powerful horse.
Calia nudged Danikaâs arm and smiled. âLook,â she said. âThe tooling on Quendinâs cloak matches the face cover on his stallionâs nose. Who do you think is prettier?â
Danika couldnât hide her smile. Quendin liked his pretty things. The horse flipped its head and snorted.
âLady Danika,â Quendin called. âMy lord requests your presence.â He shook his head, mirroring the horseâs gesture, as he added disapprovingly, âYou should not be out here unattended.â
Danika rolled her eyes. Quendin was a pompous ass.
âI am not alone. I am accompanied by my friend,â she answered civilly, managing not to tack the word fool onto the end of her sentence.
âThat one?â Quendin snorted like his horse. âShe is nothing but riffraff from the forest. She feeds off our good fortune.â
Calia tossed her long black hair from her eyes and slid in front of Danika. Smiling, she struck a sultry pose.
âI did not hear you speak these words last night when you were prowling after me in the great hall. In fact, I believe you pledged me undying love. How fast you change your words when others are around.â
Quendin flushed an ominous red. Danika hid her smile behind her hand. He deserved Caliaâs words, but he wouldnât forgive them.
She intervened. âWhat is so important that my brother calls me to his tower?â
Quendin scowled at Calia and answered. âThat information is not for the ears of her. She is not fit to be in your presence. A fact that willâ.â He stopped, took a deep breath, and continued, âYou will come now, Lady Danika.â
Calia laughed and tossed him another seductive smile. âPoor Quendin. So powerful and strong yet sent to call Lady Danika like a junior stable boy. How that must vex you.â
Danika interrupted. Calia was playing with fire. Quendin would use brute force to get what he wanted. By mocking him, Calia was putting herself in danger, and Danika couldnât let that happen. The other girl was the only friend she had ever had. The role of lady of Remarne was one of duty. Every moment of her day was planned by Jahkon and filled with obligations and study. Calia didnât understand Lauranaâs rules. She had arrived at the castle gates with the final caravan of last yearâs season. Even half-starved, with the scars of a lashing fresh on her back, Calia laughed at life. It was something Danika couldnât do.
âThe Lord waits,â Quendin said edgily.
Danika waved her hand abruptly. âAnd he will wait a few minutes more. I have no intention of appearing before him dressed like this.â
âBetter in that than the leggings favored by the forest wench.â
Danika didnât answer. She stared at the caravan below, watching it roll soundlessly by. Was it a spell that deadened the noise? Or did men and beasts tread warily out of fear of provoking the mage?
âCome, Calia. We will prepare for a visit to my brother. I dismiss you Quendin. I do not need your help.â
Danika is a bright, full-of-life character who is forced to flee from her home to avoid a marriage that her dark mage brother, Jahkon, set up for her. When Danika first begins her journey, she seems unsure of herself and doesn't really have any type of plan besides fleeing to avoid her arranged marriage. As the story progresses, Danika meets some new friends, including a talking dragon, and begins to understand her purpose and grow in her own power. During her journey, Danika learns that Jahkon is no longer who he once was, now consumed with dark magic and the need for power. This is something that Danika struggles to come to terms with, as he is her brother and she wants to believe the best in him. However, she soon realizes that she can no longer trust him and she begins the quest to free herself from the chains he keeps tight on her.
It was very easy to get lost in this book since it is rich in fantasy elements and world-building. Kinnee was able to create a setting that was both magical and cozy in its own way. Despite all of the action going on in this book, I found myself craving the coziness of her writing and her characters. Each of the characters is unique in their own way and it was easy to sympathize with mostly all of them. I especially loved the banter between Danika, Alion, and Metreo- Danika's traveling partners that she meets when she escapes her brother.
Another thing that was notable about this book was Danika's character development. At the beginning of the story, Danika was somewhat of a "princess," very privileged and used to being treated as royalty. She was not unlikeable, but it was obvious that she didn't really have any sense of direction or self-sufficiency. By the end of the book, Danika came into her power and learned that she was able to take care of herself. She no longer needed anyone to rely on and she realized that she was powerful all on her own.
I would absolutely recommend this book to any readers who are fans of fantasy and fantasy romance. Honestly, this book could be enjoyed by anyone who likes cozy, fantasy worlds with a lot of action and character development. This book definitely left me wanting more and I look forward to reading future books Kinnee publishes.