Betrayal of Trust: Book 1 of Rae's Story

By Kimberly Vogel

In a time where magic is being stolen by a tyrannical king intent on conquering the world a prophecy is discovered. The king will be overthrown by one of his own children. At that he sets out to destroy all who are born with magic within them, but he protects his own daughter. She is oblivious to everything including her own danger until the king's advisor reminds him of the danger he is in from her. Now she must die...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Dec 16, 2011
• ISBN: 9781105364495

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Betrayal of Trust: Book 1 of Rae's Story

Betrayal of Trust

Book 1 of Rae’s Story

Kimberly Vogel

Copyright

Copyright © 2011 by Kimberly Vogel.

ISBN eBook 978-1-105-36449-5

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

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

For additional copies refer to:

http://www.lulu.com/shakkathi

Acknowledgements

I want to thank my family and friends for supporting me.

Without you, I don’t know where I would be.

CONTENTS

Chapter   1 __ Princess Taiajara

Chapter   2 __ The Library

Chapter   3 __ Daddy Dearest

Chapter   4 __ Accusations

Chapter   5 __ Trial Preparations

Chapter   6 __ Maska

Chapter   7 __ The Trial (or Lack Thereof)

Chapter   8 __ The Maze of Death

Chapter   9 __ One year later...

Chapter 10 __ Dream Sequence

Chapter 11 __– A Way Out?

Chapter 12 __ Discovery

Chapter 13 __ Bittersweet Victory

Chapter 1

Princess Taiajara

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Why do I have to do this? I’d rather be doing anything, even needlepoint!

A gentleman of about twenty years of age turned his head back to look at the one who spoke, trying to stay patient with her. Because if Your Highness were to become separated from her guard; then she must know how to defend herself. Try again.

A girl seated upon a stump behind him gave a groan. She was a teenager, nearing her fifteenth year. Her eyes were a funny color, not just one shade but rather a multitude colliding together in her irises to mimic the rainbow. They rolled as she shook her head, showing her displeasure at having to continue with the lesson. Waves of golden hair shimmered in the sunlight as her head moved side to side. I’d rather not, she protested again while hopping down to continue anyway.

The man smiled at her as he shifted his body to face her again, dark brown eyes showing amusement. I know. Pick up your weapon and let’s go again. No magic, remember? He was nearly a foot and a half taller than she, towering over as he approached with a sword clasped loosely in his hand.

I know, but I couldn’t help it. It was instinct. Can’t I use instinct? she questioned while ducking down to pick up her own weapon. It was a simple staff, no use against blocking a blade when properly handled. The fight she was referring to was the one she and her trainer had just finished. He had attacked her from behind. She had screamed and turned into a shaft of shimmering light that instantly moved up into the branches. It was purely defense and instinct that made her vanish into the branches.

Instinct will get you killed, he stated.

Or save me! she retorted while shifting the staff in her hands Please can we stop?

No, was the last he said before he jumped at her, while swinging the blade towards her middle.

She gave a soft squeak as she jumped back out of range. She said nothing more while she dodged the sword. The only thing she did was run from him.

The man scowled as he followed after her, taunting, What, that’s your plan, to run?

She said nothing, though in her mind she retorted, I can out run you any day old man. Dodging back still she moved to one of the walls. Now she was trapped, not a good thing.

The trainer stopped advancing and chose to swing down his blade towards her neck, stating flatly, You’re dead now.

She didn’t let him get that far. In a moment she ducked under his arm and turned to stand behind him. She brought up the staff and then swung it down hard so the wood cracked against his skull.

If it wasn’t for the hard helmet he wore he would have been knocked unconscious, or worse. But still the blow was hard enough to cause him to be driven face first into the wall. His nose smacked against it with a soft crunch, causing blood to flow. Still he continued downwards, blade falling as he slumped against the wall.

She had won. The girl stepped forwards, leaning over her trainer. Who’s dead?

A hand shot out and grabbed her leg, fingertips pressing into the back of her knee. Her trainer wasn’t knocked out as she had thought, and replied gruffly, Enemies can fake. You shouldn’t let down your guard until you’re sure he’s defeated.

The girl squeaked as his fingers dug into the soft spot behind her knee, causing her knee to give out. She fell heavily, back smacking into the ground before the back of her head connected. She gave a groan then went still.

The trainer sat up, wiping the blood from his nose as he turned to look back at her. For a moment worry spread over his face as he saw her collapsed. He moved to kneel over her, clean hand moving to touch her cheek. Princess...?

Her eyes snapped open as her hand clasped his wrist. Her legs moved up at the same time to plant into his chest, pushing his bulk up to flip him over her head. Her other hand moved to clasp his shoulder as they went head over heels.

The man blinked several times as he found himself flat on his back with the girl sitting on his chest. Both his arms were pinned down by her hands as she smirked down at him. She had fooled him, he realized with an inward groan.

Do you yield? she asked softly, not moving from her position. Both her legs were straddling his chest, one knee resting on the ground on each side.

For a moment he was glad he had made her wear a dress for this practice session, feeling the heat of her body through his tunic. But soon his mind snapped back to the situation as he thought of how she was his sovereign and he shouldn’t be thinking such dirty thoughts about her. He nodded as he looked up to her, replying reluctantly Aye, Your Majesty, I yield. Better get off me before your father sees.

She blinked down at him, taken by surprise at his mention of her father. Why would her father...? Then she paused as she noticed her position. A bright red flush rose on her cheeks as she moved off his chest to stand, hands moving to pull down her dress. The length was only to her knees, with the top part sleeveless. It was dirty and torn from their exercising, showing parts of her thighs and chest, most unbecoming for the modesty required for a princess. I accept your surrender. Is the session over for now?

He nodded while moving his hand up to wipe away the blood again. Yes, Princess. The lesson is over, so you have no need to stay. He shifted his body to stand, smarting at the blows given.

She nodded back to him with a faint smile. Thank you. I will change now she replied, then turned to run back into the hallways of the castle. Dodging the others in the hallways she ran up to her room to change.

The trainer watched her go, unable to keep a smile from his lips. Yes, she would make a fine princess if given the chance. She wouldn’t be just another trophy wife, but also a fine warrior with the proper motivation. He turned from the practice courtyard to go back to his barrack to clean up the mess he was in.

The princess slowed her running as she came closer to the royal apartments. It wouldn’t be good if her father caught her in a fluster. She lifted one hand to rub her cheeks, trying to get the blush to fade. Why had her cheeks heated up like that? Why was she feeling so embarrassed? There hadn’t been anything wrong, not really. She shook off her thoughts with a shake of her head as she reached her doors then slipped inside.

Watching her was an elderly gentleman, appearing to be at least fifty years old. No one knew his exact age but he seemed to have been there forever. He was the king’s advisor. Haunting red eyes and long red hair accompanied his strange hunched-over figure. His eyes narrowed as he watched her go into her room. Nosy and suspicious as always, he shifted to move to a hallway near her room. His hands went up, pushing aside a decoration to reveal a peephole that looked directly through the wall into the princess’ private quarters. While leaning against the wall he appeared to be meditating on something.