The Deceiver: The Way to Freedom, #8

By H.M. Clarke

The path walked is not always the path chosen.

 

Dearen and her newfound Suenese allies are on their way to Daegarouf to enlist Pydarki help in their struggle against the Kingdom of Arran.

But the journey reveals the tip of a hidden agenda that makes Dearen question who her friends really are.

Embark on a journey filled with magical combat, bold heroes, and non-stop action in The Deceiver, book 8 in The Way to Freedom series. H.M. Clarke weaves an unforgettable tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Get your copy now and join the adventure!

• Language: English
• Publisher: H.M. Clarke
• Release date: Jul 10, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386424369

H.M. Clarke

In a former life, H M Clarke has been a Console Operator, an ICT Project Manager, Public Servant, Paper Shuffler and an Accountant (the last being the most exciting.) She attended Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia, where she studied for a Bachelor of Science (Chem), and also picked up a Diploma in Project Management while working for the South Australian Department of Justice. In her spare time, she likes to lay on the couch and watch TV, garden, draw, read, and tell ALL her family what wonderful human beings they are. She keeps threatening to go out and get a real job (Cheesecake Test Taster sounds good) and intends to retire somewhere warm and dry – like the middle of the Simpson Desert. For the time being however, she lives in Ohio and dreams about being warm…

Book preview

The Deceiver

H.M. Clarke

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HMC Press

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Copyright © H. M. Clarke 2018

All rights reserved; no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner.

First published in The United States of America in 2018

HMC Press, Dayton, Ohio.

Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design

The moral rights of the author have been asserted

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As always, this book is dedicated to my two beautiful children, Keith and Ariadne.

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Contents

. Chapter

1.Chapter 1

2.Chapter 2

3.Chapter 3

4.Chapter 4

5.Chapter 5

6.Chapter 6

7.Chapter 7

8.Chapter 8

9.Chapter 9

10.Chapter 10

11.Chapter 11

About the Author

Also by H.M. Clarke

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If I am not for myself who is for me? And being for my own self, what am ‘I’?

-A Saying of the Pydarki

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Chapter one

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The surrounding forest was silent and dark. The trees stood tall, black, and mysterious and the smell of pine resin clung tightly to the cool night air. Not even the light projected from the moon and stars above touched the landscape that lay beneath those trees.

Though silent, both Dearen and Hauga could hear and ‘hear’ the sounds of a heated argument coming through the trees before them. What they heard did not bode well. At least for someone.

‘There is a large group of people in a clearing ahead of you.’

Dearen glanced up through a small gap in the tree canopy to see the dark silhouette of Adhamh hovering above.

‘We can hear them. Adhamh, and Trar, pass on to the others that they are not to enter the clearing with the twelve She Oaks around it. By law, it means death if they do.’

‘Will do,’ Trar responded.

‘Tell Asnar and Kral to tell the Lieutenant and his men to stay back here until we call. A large group of Bareskins entering Councilmeet might trigger an unwelcome response.’

Dearen patted Hauga on the shoulder to get his attention.

‘Let’s make our presence felt Hauga,’

The Dymarki gave her a nod and she caught the flash of one of Hauga’s fangs as he grinned.

‘We’re going ahead. Wait for our call.’ Dearen called up to the Hatar’le’margarten.

‘We will,’ Trar replied.

‘Just be careful,’ Adhamh added.

Dearen ignored him. She had nothing to worry about from her own people.

Squaring herself, Dearen strode purposefully through the trees and she could feel Hauga’s comforting presence behind her, protecting her back.

It was a fair hike and it was a good twenty minutes before the two started to see the fringe of the large Dymarki crowd circling Councilmeet. It seemed that the entire population had come out to witness tonight’s meeting.

Some of the crowd turned and looked at them as they approached and the news of their presence quickly spread like wildfire through the crowd and they parted like water to the stern of a ship for Dearen and Hauga’s passing. The crowd funneled them straight to where they wanted to go. To the center of Councilmeet. It was the only place in the forest that night where the moonlight was able to touch.

The heated discussion that Dearen first ‘heard’ was still going strong and it seemed that those within the circle had yet to be told of her approach.

The clan leaders stood in the center of the clearing all trying to stare each other down. Raga was standing in the group aligned with the Claw of the West. His position was not lost on Dearen and definitely not Hauga, whose snarl as they approached the clearing finally caught the attention of the gathered clan leaders. Dearen caught a glimpse of Otteren and Drusa standing on the edge of the clearing by the she-oak planted for Clan Mufista.

‘The Cearc! The Cearc has returned!’ One of the Clan leaders shouted out and the call was quickly taken up by the others. All except for Raga who was noticeably silent.

Dearen and Hauga strode out onto Councilmeet and only stopped when she stood directly in front of the Claw of the West. The leaping ram carved magically into the stone surface shone brightly in the moonlight, matching