Wizards and Kings: Sacrifice

By CC Rogers

A lone warrior seeks revenge for the death of his king and finds himself battling for the survival of his kingdom. A wizard, far from home, eases the guilt from past transgressions by helping those in need. A displaced king risks everything to find love. Their paths intersect as they face a threat unlike any they have ever known before.

The novella "Wizards and Kings: Sacrifice" is the sequel to the graphic novel "Rune: A Tale of Wizards and Kings," which collects the webcomic of the same name.

• Language: English
• Publisher: CC Rogers
• Release date: Oct 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310631863

CC Rogers

CC Rogers is the mother of two wonderful children, the wife of a supportive husband, and the creator of the webcomic "Rune: A Tale of Wizards and Kings." A software engineer who fell in love with making digital art, CC recognized that she could use her 3D renders to create sequential images for graphical storytelling. In addition to comics and art, she enjoys writing stories and spending time with her family.

Book preview

Wizards and Kings: Sacrifice

By CC Rogers

Copyright 2014 CC Rogers

Published by CC Rogers at Smashwords

Table of Contents

Prologue

1 - Varia’s Proposal

2 - Lord Dawson’s Resignation

3 - Ash Puddle

4 - In the River

5 - Brothers by Choice

6 - Ambitions

7 - Reconciliation

8 - Battle for the Throne

9 - Reunited

10 - Sons and Brothers

11 - Transitions

12 - Evangeline

13 - In the Woods

14 - Avery’s Palace

15 - Jeremy’s Report

16 - Zara’s New Life

17 - Community Service

18 - Taking a Risk

19 - Choosing Sides

20 - The Garden

21 - Zara Strikes

22 - A Change of Heart

23 - Beginning

About the Author

Other Books by CC Rogers

Connect with CC Rogers

PROLOGUE

Theo ran. Small branches snapped painfully across his face, and still he ran. Every breath was agony, but still he ran. He stumbled to his knees and almost slid down the riverbank.

Tears blinded him. In his mind, he saw Rune in the moments before his death, his face contorted in agony and yet clinging to hope.

You killed him, said a condemning voice from behind the veil of the forest.

No! Theo shook his head frantically and scrubbed at his eyes. "He was already dead! The crossbow bolt went through his chest. He’d already lost so much blood--"

You kicked him off the cliff into the icy river below. The owner of the voice stepped into view, a blond-haired man gripping a sword. He was smeared with blood, both fresh from his wounds and dried from earlier carnage. You killed your king.

I’m sorry! I didn’t know. By the time I knew who he was, it was too late.

He spoke to you. He gave you a chance, didn’t he? A chance to join him.

Too late, Theo mumbled. It was too late.

I could not save Rune, but I will punish those who murdered him. I’ve killed every member of your band of thieves. You are the last.

No! I’ll do anything. Please don’t kill me. Please! I’m so sorry.

Forgiveness was yours for the taking. The man raised his sword. From your king. But you’ll get none from me.

To his credit, the man knew how to use his sword well. Theo’s death was mercifully quick.

1 VARIA’S PROPOSAL

All the whiskey in the kingdom could not numb Justin’s pain. He shifted position on the hard, wooden chair, aching from cuts and bruises. The worst of his pain, though, was not physical. He had failed his duty; his king was now dead.

He brushed back his blond hair and drained another goblet, dimly aware of the murmuring patrons around him in the inn’s common room. He overheard phrases here and there. Killed them all… never seen so much blood… have you ever seen a sword like that?

Suddenly the room quieted. Justin gripped his sword hilt as he rose. He drew it from its sheath as he turned to the door.

The world tilted in an inebriated way. Justin leaned on his chair to steady himself.

A woman stood silhouetted in the doorway. She had her hands on her hips in a sternly disapproving pose. Justin Redley. People are saying you killed more than three dozen bandits single-handedly. They think you’re an assassin.

Justin squinted. That voice… Varia? She was one of the last people he would have expected to see at that moment.

She strode toward his table, her elegant skirts sweeping the floor as she moved. With her auburn hair pinned up and jewels around her neck, she looked like she belonged in a palace, not a wayside inn. We need to talk. Alone.

She snapped her fingers. Two rough-looking men who had followed Varia into the room started hustling everyone else out.

Justin collapsed back onto his chair. Princess Varia of Gresnia. What are you doing here?

You were much better with the formalities before your father disowned you. She wrinkled her nose. And when you weren’t drunk.

Not drunk yet. I’ll let you know when. He reached for the jug on his table.

Varia snatched it first. "Oh, no you don’t. After we talk."

He carefully slid his sword into its sheath. Forged in the distant land of Tangene, it was sharper and lighter than the swords in his homeland. If the weapon intimidated Varia, she hid it well. He concentrated on not slurring his words. I’ll ask again: why are you here?

Don’t be a fool and don’t take me for one. I was looking for Rune, of course. Why else would I be in this forsaken corner of Valheigh?

But we left Radcliffe Castle in secret--

My spy network had no difficulty tracking you. She leaned closer. Is he really dead?

Justin stared into his empty goblet. We ran into bandits. They killed him.

Pity, Varia said, with a tone that said Rune’s death greatly inconvenienced her. She glanced at Justin’s expression of gathering rage and hastily added, You have my condolences.

"They had a crossbow, Varia. A group of bandits out here in the woods and they had a crossbow."

Impossible, Varia scoffed. My father hasn’t even negotiated selling crossbows to your army. There’s no way that a group of bandits could… wait a minute, what are you implying?

"I’m not implying anything. I’m accusing. Varia, it was a Gresnian crossbow. I inspected it after I killed the bandits."

Varia tapped her finger on the table thoughtfully. I didn’t believe he would do it, but I heard that my father had considered selling crossbows to Lord Hawthorne.

Hawthorne is building up his army in anticipation of a civil war. He plans to take the throne of Valheigh by whatever means necessary.

She looked him in the eyes and he felt pinned. She was not unattractive but also not a great beauty, so it wasn’t her appearance that held him captive. No, it was her capacity for cold ruthlessness. Rumors said that she had been dissatisfied with the man that her father had picked out for her to marry. Instead, she had courted a wealthy, older noble, nearly convincing him to murder his wife and marry her. The man had come to his senses and confessed all, ruining Varia’s aspirations. Justin had not heard what happened to her afterward.

Justin, she said in a voice one might use to soothe a child. You can stop this civil war. Rune would have wanted you to.

Justin was sure that stopping the war was impossible. How?

A slight smile crooked one corner of her mouth. Marry me.

After a moment of shocked silence, Justin shook his head. "I was mistaken. I am drunk."

"I’m serious. With Rune dead, Valheigh has no king