Prince of Mules

By L Frank Turovich

Prince Ruele has never worried about his place in the kingdom of Tagoore or the curse that drives its strange culture. But then a fever sends his life spiraling out of control and suddenly people are afraid of his difference, some even want to kill him for disrupting their bleak but traditional lives. What’s a young prince to do?

• Language: English
• Publisher: L Frank Turovich
• Release date: Oct 29, 2015
• ISBN: 9781940246130

L Frank Turovich

L Frank Turovich (1956- ) was born and raised in Flint, Michigan where he became a rabid reader of science fiction, fantasy, mysteries, comics and everything else not nailed down. He’s spent time in the Marine Corp before breaking into writing via articles in Nibble Mac and Inside BASIC magazines, then graduated to technical writing, training, and managing teams for companies like Zedcor, Metrowerks, Motorola, Freescale Semiconductor, and Nokia, before leaving to pursue his fiction writing ambition. He currently resides in Michigan in a home filled with books, computers, and two cats (Java and Larry).

Book preview

Prince of Mules

By

L Frank Turovich

Copyright © 2015 by L Frank Turovich

All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Smashwords Edition

Synopsis

Prince Ruele has never worried about his place in the kingdom of Tagoore or the curse that drives its strange culture. But then a fever sends his life spiraling out of control and suddenly people are afraid of his difference, some even want to kill him for disrupting their bleak but traditional lives. What’s a young prince to do?

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PRINCE OF MULES

Afterward

Other Stories

Copyright

PRINCE OF MULES

I don’t feel so well, Prince Ruele mumbled.

Let me see, the mule Ishaan said.

He touched Ruele’s forehead with the back of a soft cool hand.

You are a little warm. Ishaan frowned. Nothing to worry about I think. Let’s get you into bed and I’ll grab something for you to drink. How does that sound?

Wine, could I have some wine?

Prince Ruele, the eldest of nine siblings, let himself be led to a bedroom and tucked into a huge bed the Zsara mother said he’d soon grow up and into. Ishaan made sure he was comfortable before drawing the shades. He stopped to whisper with Tomin, Ruele’s personal guard, and their identical brands and worrisome gazes sent a small shiver down his slender frame.

It took a long time for Ishaan to return and when he did; it was behind a crowd led by the tottering Zsara Nasriim, his pregnant mother. Her expression radiating calmness and control and one he had grown used to seeing over the years, but now he saw worry lines around her eyes and the slight downturn of her lips. She strode right up to his bed, her cerulean silk robe trailing behind like water, her ears and fingers bearing many gold ornaments with jeweled settings of jade and sapphire. Behind her, a constant gaggle of richly clothed advisors, leather-clad guards, and waiting servants hung back two paces, providing the illusion of privacy where none existed.

Ruele, Ishaan tells me you aren’t feeling well.

Yes mother, Ruele said.

Not to worry, everything will be well.

Ruele recognized the empty promise in her words, it was something she said whenever she knew the truth might be too painful for him to hear. She had always protected him, sometimes to extremes. His coming down with this sickness was different, but he didn’t know why.

She brushed his bangs away with one henna decorated hand and gazed tenderly at him from within more swirling designs.

This is normal, everyone gets sick eventually, and now it’s your turn. She patted a