Gifted Avenger

By Nicholas A. Rose

Sallis ti Ath is now well established in his adopted home of Marka and is looking forward to settling down in the city with his love.

Murder sets Sallis on a path of vengeance and he begins a chase to the furthest edges of Markan influence. On the way, he is forced to challenge his own beliefs concerning justice and the Gift.

The Malefic Sephiroth is waiting to move against one of the most celebrated and feared bounty-hunters Marka has ever seen. If they can turn Sallis against the Gift, they will win a great weapon in their struggle against the ilvenworld itself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicholas A. Rose
• Release date: Sep 1, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301127184

Nicholas A. Rose

Nicholas A. Rose is the author of the Ilvenworld novels. He enjoys everything to do with the sea, the outdoors and the mountains, which he finds inspirational. Nicholas also enjoys the rather more sedentary pastimes of chess, reading, real ale and, of course, writing. There are two complete series: the "Gifted" novellas, which are a FREE introduction to my writing, and the "Markan Empire" trilogy. The first of a new trilogy, the "Flying Cloud Trilogy" was released at the end of February 2014 and work continues apace on the next two.

Book preview

Gifted Avenger

An Ilvenworld Novella

by

Nicholas A. Rose

Copyright 2013 Nicholas A. Rose

Smashwords Edition

Cover: Joleene Naylor

Editor: Stephanie Dagg

Other novellas:

Gifted Apprentice

Gifted Hunter

The Markan Empire Trilogy:

Markan Throne

Markan Empire

Markan Sword

***

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 - Normality

Chapter 2 - Sword Practice

Chapter 3 - Quarterstaffs

Chapter 4 - Anguish

Chapter 5 - New Room

Chapter 6 - The Interview

Chapter 7 - Leaving Marka

Chapter 8 - Riding South

Chapter 9 - The Hooded Falcon

Chapter 10 - Gaining Ground

Chapter 11 - The Wild Sylph

Chapter 12 - Passing Through

Chapter 13 - Captured

Chapter 14 - Unexpected Surprise

Chapter 15 - Selim

Chapter 16 - Darkwood Forest

Chapter 17 - Blackwood Halt

Chapter 18 - Closing In

Chapter 19 - Waiting

Chapter 20 - Vengeance

Chapter 21 - New Beginning

***

He watched the watcher. Oh, the man would be unaware of his employer's close observation, and have even less idea why he merited such attention.

At least the watcher managed to keep his wits about him, and remained discreet. If the boy became aware of his presence... The boy. Such peculiar talents had manifested themselves in him, talents he expected more from a sorcerer than one of the Gifted.

Siranva would have reasons for granting such talents at this precise time. Ignorance of those reasons grated, and this was the reason for employing the men who now planned out their attack in detail.

The boy refused to use some of the talents granted to him. He had a weakness: he seemed unable, or perhaps reluctant, to kill. Fighting and weapons skill yes; but that killer instinct, the desire to survive above all else, was missing.

Or more likely suppressed.

The watcher had his own plan. The boy would be tested and, with luck, turned.

But the watcher's employer knew first attempts at turning almost always failed. The watcher's plan appeared good. Extreme emotion always destabilized people, and this boy would be no exception. And, once he became emotionally vulnerable, he became weak.

The boy would be turned. If not this time, then the next, or the one after.

The watcher's employer waited. He had time, all of time.

***

Chapter 1 - Normality

Sallis ti Ath set down his spoon, leaned back and patted his stomach in contentment. Ulena and her husband, the rather solidly built Oban, watched silently, while their daughter Pelim emulated Sallis. Their son Kerran, a slow eater, worked through his porridge and pretended nothing else happened at the table.

Excellent porridge as always, announced Sallis.

Surrounded by four people with dark blue eyes, he felt the outsider with his brown ones. Not many native Markans had brown eyes, though plenty of outlanders living in the city did.

Pelim, the maker of the porridge, blushed.

One other in the room didn't have dark blue eyes and she now stepped forward. Since another of Ulena's daughters had married, Westin's work had brought her indoors from the stables. Not even human, Westin belonged to the sylph race, blue-skinned and blue-blooded servants used almost everywhere on the mainland for menial work. Ulena owned two infertile sylphs; Westin's litter-sister still worked in the stables.

Long silver hair tied back and silver-gray eyes sparkling, the sylph offered the alovak can around the table. Only Oban accepted and Westin's long earpoints twitched in concentration as she poured the dark liquid. Done, she stepped back to hide in the shadows again.

A ride this morning, is it? asked Oban, settling back in his chair. Though fond of Sallis, he regarded him expressionlessly. With Pelim.

A ride into the forest, said Sallis, followed by sword-practice with the City Guard.

And don't forget to collect those blankets on your way back, urged Ulena. They're too heavy for the sylphs to manage.

Consider it done. Sallis grinned and turned to Pelim. Ready?

I should give a hand with the washing up, protested Pelim, gathering the used crockery.

I will do it, announced Westin, snatching the used bowls from Pelim's hands. You can be away earlier now.

Pelim smiled her thanks at the sylph. Sallis had never worked out if the two sylphs encouraged Pelim or himself the most. Either way, they loved the growing romance and bent over backwards to help him enjoy more time with the only daughter still at home.

Let's see if Errim's got Glyder ready yet, said Sallis.

She's been out there long enough, grunted Kerran, who ran the stable with Westin's litter-sister.

The City Guard won't have forgotten to prepare a horse for me?

Of course not. Sallis smiled at Pelim. They're always looking for people they can trust to exercise their horses.

They hardly know me, protested Pelim.

Well, they think it's me doing the borrowing, admitted Sallis. But you'll be with me, so I'm sure they'll understand.

And if they don't?

Then you can ride Glyder and I'll walk, replied Sallis.

Pelim and Sallis crossed the yard to the stable together, enjoying the warm spring sunshine. The cruel late winter wind had only recently dropped away to nothing, and they had about four weeks before summer's heat began to build.

Coming from an offshore island with a maritime climate, Sallis had still not fully adapted to continental weather, which made today ideal in his opinion.

Glyder gave Sallis a welcoming whinny and a near-identical copy of Westin looked up from where she finished tightening a girth strap. Errim's earpoints twitched forwards in pleasure. She wore shirt and breeches, and smudges of dust darkened her blue skin.

Everything is ready, she announced.

Good girl.

The sylph arched her back and giggled as Sallis tickled her earpoints.

Stop it! whispered Pelim. You know Mother doesn't like you doing that.

Errim blinked and gave Pelim a level look before her attention returned to Sallis.

It does her no harm, replied Sallis, trying and failing to twine an earpoint around his forefinger. She's not a breeder.

He had always felt a little closer to Errim. Some sylphs could sense Sallis's talents; Westin sometimes scuttled away from him for no apparent reason, wide-eyed and her earpoints bolt upright in shock. Moments later, she always returned to her normal friendly self, but she startled Sallis every time she leapt away. Errim never behaved like that, for which he was grateful.

He turned away from the sylph and quickly checked Glyder's tack, satisfied that the work had been done properly. Few sylphs enjoyed working around large animals, and even Errim only trusted two horses: Glyder of course, and Rence, the large carthorse the family rented out. He was currently away, working in the forest hauling timber. Sometimes, like now, the carthorse earned more money than the rest of the family.

Sallis patted Glyder and led him out from the stable.

We'll walk to the Gate, said Sallis. I wonder which horse they'll give you today.

Despite the relatively early hour, the streets already heaved with activity. People dashed from their homes to workplaces, many disappearing into the industrial quarter, with its stinks and manufactories. Most Markans - human and sylph - spent long working hours in that part of the city.

Others were sylphs on errands, darting this way and that through crowds of people with other destinations in mind. The blue-skinned sylphs were adept at twisting their way through crowds. People were generally tolerant of their presence and sylphs seemed to have some sort of taboo against touching strangers.

And beggars. Every city had a few, but Marka attracted people from all over the known world, and not everybody made a success of their new life. Every corner and disused doorway displayed evidence of shattered dreams and crushed hopes.

Sallis's heart always twisted whenever he saw a grimy blue hand pushed out from a ragged bundle, or earpoints sagged in defeat. Humans could make their own choices - even the worst failure could always return home - but sylphs had fewer choices than most.

The city's rulers really ought to do more for them.

After a stroll along Marka's central tree-lined boulevard, they reached the north gate, where the day watch had just relieved the night watch. Sallis passed Glyder's reins to Pelim.

The City Guards greeted him - all the guardsmen knew Sallis, as he had given them three years of reliable service as a bounty-hunter - and one