House of Ruin

By Miriam Newman

When the beleaguered citizens of the capitol city of Thelona are swept by plague in the absence of their ruling class, who have fled it en masse, desperation finally pushes them to take to the streets. With their city burning, the Lords of Thelona have no choice but to shoulder the burden of responsibility. In the absence of their Highest, they turn to Caius, Scion of the House of Bardin. He has unwittingly placed himself in the path of his ruler’s ambitions and also endangered his human slave, Lela. What will become of the House of Bardin?

• Language: English
• Publisher: DCL Publications
• Release date: Feb 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781732847569

Book preview

SCION

Book II:

House of Ruin

By

Miriam Newman

DCL Publications, LLC

© 2019 Miriam Newman

All rights reserved

First Edition December 2019

DCL Publications

1033 Plymouth Dr.

Grafton, OH 44044

ISBN 978-1-7328475-6-9

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information and storage retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Cover design by Lynn Hubbard

Cover model photo: ©curaphotography - Can Stock Photo Inc.

PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Chapter One

A boiling cloud twisted above Syrstine as though the gods had decreed rain only for the prime city of Longos. The long line of elite winding their way back from Solstice Season spent on country estates were turned to figures of insignificance. Chatter about returning to their Solstice Homes, winter festivities to be attended, business and marital fortunes to be brokered all dwindled and died. Such a harbinger of evil had no regard for them. Too shocked to move, they stopped in their tracks.

That is no natural thing. Antin, Scion of the House of Valens, looked in thinly-veiled horror at the cloud of indigo, lavender and black doing an evil dance above his city.

No. Scion of the House of Bardin since his father’s death, Caius reined in his bay gelding. It is smoke and weapons fire. He alone appeared more curious than fearful. Thirty years of age by Thelona’s two suns, Caius was in his prime with a broadsword in his saddle scabbard and a knife strapped to one calf. Most of the other men carried the same, but without the same ability to use them. It had been too long since they had tried.

Weapons fire? Then the aircos are here.

No. It’s the Mercenary Corps.

What would bring Mercs to Syrstine? Neither man could remember the Mercenary Corps, enforcement arm of the Air Company, touching down on Thelona. But Caius had been off planet for eight years, and he had been a Merc at the time.

Invasion or insurrection, he told his friend.

A pounding of hooves behind them announced male members of the Houses riding forward. Lela, favored slave riding in a privileged position next to Caius, knew it was no place for her then and pulled back, heart thumping erratically as she watched his taut profile against the purpling sky. There could be no doubt to whom the Houses would turn or who would ride first into their city, no matter its condition, and she had formed an attachment to Caius. In fact, it could be said her entire fate depended upon him.

The riders formed a tight knot, briefly. Within moments, half split off and returned to the queerly silent gathering of women, children and slaves. The other half stayed with Caius, who lifted his hand to summon her. As she rode forward through the crowd of men, intensity seemed to curl from them like rising steam. Customarily effete and pampered, they produced few men like Caius, but she wondered if they might catch a modicum of courage from him.

We will make for the city, he said as soon as she reached him. Half the men will stay to guard the women and children. I should be able to keep us safe from Mercs and I’m not worried about anyone else. Unless it is from deep space, whatever has threatened Syrstine can’t match their firepower, and I see no ships. Whatever we face is probably human.

But dangerous. Nothing in Lela’s tone revealed the troublesome pounding of her heart.

Presumably. He uncovered his saddle scabbard with a swift economy of motion. We will send a messenger when it is clear for you to ride in.

Be safe. Though she spoke quietly, her lord’s amber eyes lingered on hers in a silent message. They glowed against his light caramel skin as Thelonian eyes did at times of intense emotion or arousal and Lela flushed, remembering the feel of his hands on her body. She wondered if he knew what she was thinking. Whether or not he did, he put one heel into his gelding’s sleek side, turning away.

To the city! he called to the men, and was gone in a clatter of rock and turf spun up by their horses’ iron-shod hooves. She was alone again,