Kuwar: The Blessed & The Damned

By A. R. Williams

On the dark streets of Kuwar, only the strong survive. The twisted city is home to half a million people and danger lurks behind every corner.

When Lorna Jassan's daughter is kidnapped, she must return to Kuwar to find her. With time running out, and little hope of finding Johra alive, Lorna seeks the help of Weslin, a man she never wanted to see again. Reunited once more, they scour the underbelly of a vile society, while Lorna tries to keep a sixteen-year-old secret hidden from Weslin. But Kuwar has secrets of its own. Will Lorna unravel them before her daughter pays the ultimate price?

Includes extra content: Behind the Scenes, Kuwar, Character Interview, and Cover Evolution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. R. Williams
• Release date: May 2, 2011
• ISBN: 9781458043375

A. R. Williams

A.R. Williams developed a love for reading at a very young age and in the fourth grade, when an assignment to write their own works of fiction was given, it occurred to him that he could craft tales for others to enjoy.A.R. Williams’ work has appeared in Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Three Crow Press, and Every Day Fiction. A.R. received an honorable mention in the fourth quarter of the Writers of the Future Contest in 2010.

Book preview

A Novelette

A.R. Williams

Smashwords Edition

Cover Image: Licensed by DepositPhotos.com/Andreas Gradin

Updated: June 6, 2012

©copyright 2011, A.R. Williams

All rights reserved. Except as permitted in the case of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews. 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 author.

This book is sold DRM-free and is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-Book may not be resold or given away. If you would like to share this book, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased exclusively for you, then please purchase a copy. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

All characters in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Dedication

Dedicated to Leo and Priscilla. Two friends who passed far too soon. I miss you both.

Table of Contents

Scene 1: Arrival

Scene 2: The Outskirts

Scene 3: Mother

Scene 4: The Mermaid’s Kiss

Scene 5: Johra

Scene 6: Anedan Arushindal

Scene 7: The Temple of Turbutai

Extra Content

Behind the Scenes

Kuwar

Character Interview: Weslin

Cover Evolution

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Scene 1: Arrival

Lorna Jassan forgot how the fog smelled of ash and bone. It hung over the bay, thick and heavy, dampening all sound except the gentle lapping of waves against the Virgin Saint’s hull. Nearby, she could make out other ships in the mist. They bobbed like shadows on the waves. Fog lanterns glowed orange-yellow on their decks then disappeared as the ships passed, the soft tinkle of bells, fore and aft, the only hint that they were close and danger near.

Captain, please prepare me a boat. I’m ready to depart the ship, Lorna said.

Impatient, impractical woman. Do you not listen? There are dangers in the fog, Captain Baraheri said, disturbing the silence that surrounded them. He wore his dark hair in the religious knot of his people and a multi-colored chapan cinched around his waist with a maroon belt. He looked at her, sadness etched on his face. I too have children and understand your plight, but this is madness.

I will wait no longer, Lorna said. My daughter is out there, lost and alone. The goddesses only know what she is going through.

Sheridan, her man-at-arms, pulled thoughtfully on his grey-white mustache and leaned against a rail. He said nothing to choose either side, but waited for the issue to be resolved. He reminded Lorna of one of her father’s mastiffs: old, tough, reliable. She suspected he was enjoying the debate.

There are many mysteries in the fog, Baraheri said. I have seen ghosts emerge from thin air and take a man’s life. I have witnessed brave men lose their minds and their courage due to the horrors of that city. They are a fierce people, suspicious of outsiders.

Ghost? Sheridan asked in disbelief. We are paladins of the Three Sisters; you can do better than try to frighten us with tales of ghost, sir?

Captain Baraheri scratched at his beard. He glanced at Sheridan, then back at Lorna. There are many swords in Kuwar. Twice as many daggers. Even the Iskartaya have blades. He noted Sheridan with a slight nod of his head. In a city of five hundred thousand, two is not an imposing number. Your gods cannot protect you; even they are outnumbered by the gods of Kuwar.

I will pay for a boat, Lorna said. She extended her hand to give him a satchel of coins.

Captain Baraheri looked at her as though she offered him a snake. He raised his hands in rejection. Only a fool accepts money from the unfortunate. He shook his head in disgust, braced his hands against the rail and looked out into the fog. I will give you a boat, he whispered.

Thank you, captain. Lorna patted the sword by her side. "I once lived in Kuwar. I know its dangers. More importantly, I am ready for them. The Three Sisters