The Cardinal War

By Jennifer Tempest

With no known heir to the Empire, four conflicting noble families will use whatever means necessary to claim power for themselves, but only one can become the next ruler. While the nobles fight amongst themselves, some people of the Empire struggle to survive.

Growing up on the streets of Mordale, Eileen has never known her family, or much else beyond the best place to steal a meal. This all changes after one stormy night of loss, fear, and escape. Eileen is suddenly plunged into Mordale's political turmoil, and her fate is intertwined with a warm-hearted but strict-to-his-duty messenger of the Empire, Daithi.

Although raised in the political world, Daithi's loyalties are challenged as he must decide between his duties as a messenger and a hidden truth that could change the course of not only his life, but that of every citizen in Mordale, as the imminent civil war has taken in more than just the noble families. He must stay unbiased while making decisions best for the Empire while helping those he cares about make the best decisions for themselves.

In the end, Eileen must determine who she is and who she will become as the struggle to rule consumes Mordale, while Daithi must choose between duty and his heart before too much is lost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Sep 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9780228862062

Jennifer Tempest

Jennifer Tempest was born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta, where she lives with her partner and a large cat. Starting writing stories at age eight, the love of sharing her imagination has always been there and continued to grow over the years as she wrote longer and more in-depth stories. Jennifer loves to read and travel to gain inspiration for her creations. Often including her friends in her works of fiction, Jennifer writes to make people smile and feel enjoyment.

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Copyright © 2021 by Jennifer Tempest

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-6205-5 (Hardcover)

978-0-2288-6204-8 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-6206-2 (eBook)

Contents

Characters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Epilogue

This book is dedicated to my loving parents and my boyfriend Evan for all their support and my longest and closest friend, Stacy. Thank you all for your continual love.

Characters

West Manor - Surname = Kinnear [Kin-ear]

Lord - Elwin [Ell-win]

Lady - Kaie [Kay]

Son - Nyle [Nye-ul]

Commander (f) - Alastrine [A-las-tree-nah]

Healer (f) - Alena [A-lay-na]

Main servant (f) - Lavena [Lav-ee-na]

East Manor - Surname = Lennox [Len-ox]

Lord - Tearlaoh [Tar-ler]

Lady - Venetia [Ven-ee-tia]

Eldest son - Kayne [Kane]

Youngest son - Owyen [O-wen]

Commander (f) - Brina [Brina]

Healer (f) - Betha [Bay-thah]

Main servant (m) - Vaughn [Vorn]

South Manor - Surname = Kerr

Lord - Shay

Lady - Shela [She-la]

Eldest daughter - Morvarna [Mor-var-nah]

Middle daughter - Cinnia [Sin-ee-a]

Youngest daughter - Aithne [Ay-ne]

Commander (m) - Gawain [Ga-wane]

Healer (f) - Rhian [Ree-an]

Main servant (m) - Auryn [Aw-rin]

North Manor - Surname = Adair [Ad-ar]

Lord - Farrel [Fa-rul]

Lady - Arden [Ar-den]

Daughter - Ciara [Kee-ar]

Son - Ciar [Kee-ar]

Commander (m) - Conall [Kon-ul]

Healer (m) - Varden [Var-dun]

Main servant (m) - Keelan [Kee-lun]

Central Manor - Surname = Strachan [Stra-chan]

Emperor - Ithel [Ee-thel]

Old Commander (m) - Deiniol [Dei-ni-al]

Current Commander (m) - Quilan [Kwil-an]

Healer (m) - Leigh [Lee]

Messenger (m) - Driskell [Dris-kel]

Messenger (m) - Daithi [Dah-hee]

Main servant (f) - Nevena [Neh-vee-na]

Other Characters

Covered winged Girl - Eileen [Aye-leen]

Minstrel (m) - Bardon [Bar-don]

Minstrel (m) - Clearie [Klee-ree]

Minstrel (m) - Devin [De-vin]

Minstrel (m) - Riordan [Rear-dun]

Minstrel (f) - Ceridwen [Keh-rid-wen]

Woman - Helori [Hay-loh-ree]

Boy - Rian [Ree-an]

As night descended on the old city of Mordale, the dark clouds moved to block out the nearly full moon that shone against the emperor’s grey stone palace. The warm air and gentle temperatures that had been here throughout the summer had given away to a strong, chilling wind and heavy rain to match. This sudden and fast-approaching storm was indicative of great troubles ahead to many of the city’s residents, and all the members of the palace felt this heavy prediction even more so.

All who chose to know about the goings-on of the palace knew that their beloved emperor, who had been so for close to fifty-five years, had been ill for the entirety of the summer. However, only those who resided within the palace knew how serious his condition was. Emperor Ithel’s personal healer, Leigh, had already told the commander that he did not expect the man to last the night as his heart was too weak. Leader of the emperor’s army, Commander Quilan, at the age of twenty-eight, was slender in build and quick in thought in the middle of battle but was at a loss for words and nodded grimly before heading to the old study where he knew the city’s two messengers would be.

The brothers had been found abandoned at the palace gates years ago as babies and had both grown up within the castle walls. They had quickly shown skills in swiftness, in both mind and body, as well as in persuasion and eventually replaced the previous messengers. The brothers had been in the study down the hallway for the entire evening, playing dice, and had expected the news that would soon be brought to them concerning the health of their emperor. In fact, the purpose of their dice game was to see which two of the four manors they would travel to in order to spread the tragic news.

There! Driskell exclaimed loudly, throwing his pale arms up in victory. At twenty-six, he was the older of the two. That makes the first win for me and, therefore, I pick the South Manor.

Of course, you do, mumbled Daithi as he collected the dice for the next round. You just love watching Lord Shay and Lady Shela’s eldest daughter, Morvarna.

Actually, it’s Cinnia that is the beautiful one with her honey-brown hair and golden-brown wings, but no, I chose the South because Lord Shay and Lady Shela are much easier to deal with than any of the other remaining nobility.

Cinnia is sixteen! Daithi exclaimed, his dark brown eyes widening in shock.

So? That doesn’t mean I can’t still look, does it? the older brother replied with a wink as he flicked his long brown hair behind his slender, bare shoulders. Just throw the dice, and maybe you will get to pick next if you are lucky, he paused before adding, you know I’m just kidding, though, right? I could never think of Cinnia like that. Of all the daughters of that manor or any of the other manors for that matter, she is like a little sister to me. Every time I visit their castle, she is friendly, and we probably spent the most time with her as she grew up. Other than you, she is probably the one person I feel confident being able to share my most private thoughts with.

Daithi nodded in understanding and returned his focus to rolling the dice on the polished wooden table. While his brother took his turn, Driskell gazed around the vast room and let his eyes drift over the dark red walls with the golden framed portraits of previous leaders, messengers, and other important figures in the history of not only Mordale but in all of Frythiel. Driskell began to get lost in the moment, but luckily it was not too long before the younger brother won the second round and chose the North Manor.

Why would you choose the unlucky manor? Driskell asked.

Well, Daithi replied as if he was talking to a child. Unlike you, I am not superstitious of twins being born to the lady of the house. Besides, the commander of the North Manor is much less harsh towards me.

Fair enough. Now come on, we have one more round to get through before we are summoned for some errand or another. I don’t want to be stuck with going to the West Manor.

Just as Driskell shook the cup and prepared to make his roll, the door opened, and in stepped the commander.

Evening, Commander Quilan. Any news from healer Leigh? Daithi asked respectably while his brother continued to examine the dice he had thrown.

Playing your crazy gambling game again, I see, the tall black-haired man replied as he crossed the lantern-lit room to look out the small rain-streaked window. He said quietly, I don’t think the rain is going to stop tonight, which is going to make it an interesting trip for you two.

Catching his meaning quickly, Driskell looked up from the old wooden table and replied in more of a