Warrior's Doom: The Dragonriders of Fiorenza, #5

By Melinda R. Cordell

The war has begun, and Fia has work to do.

Now that the love of her life has turned his back on her, Fia must forge an alliance with her betrothed. She is torn -- and afraid to confess the secret that she knows will explode their peace. But at least Carmelo is willing to work with her -- until she drags him along on a secret mission to rescue a mutual friend.

Now war has come, and Fia does something she once swore she'd never do -- join the Florentine army. But her baptism of fire is nearly catastrophic, and now her army is facing an enemy that will grind the soldiers down to nothing, an impossible pass.

Fia's love, Salvi, is one of those soldiers.

WARRIOR'S DOOM is the explosive fifth book of the Dragonriders of Fiorenza series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rosefiend Publishing
• Release date: Feb 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9781953196491

Melinda R. Cordell

Noblebright Fantasy Gardening Author Welcome aboard!

Book preview

Rosefiend Publishing.

WARRIOR’S DOOM

Copyright © 2021 by Melinda R. Cordell

All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Rosefiend Publishing. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

This book is a work of fiction, just in case there was any question about that. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead or undead, dragons, enchantresses, bankers, evil cardinals, assassin grandmas, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

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Ordering information: For details, contact the publisher at [e-mail]

Cover design by Deranged Doctor Design

Book Formatting template by Derek Murphy @Creativindie

ISBN: 978-1-953196-31-6

First Edition: March 2021

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The Dragonriders of Fiorenza series

in order!

Assassin’s Blade

Dragon’s Inferno

Guardian’s Race

Witch’s Plight

Warrior’s Doom

Traitor’s Oath

Contents

A Sin of Omission

A Powerful Enemy

Fraud

Catastrophe

Ten Thousand Scorpions

I Chose Love

Into Hiding

The Topaz Dragon

A Startlement of Wings

A Rescue Mission

Cockleburs

The Shrouded Man

Wounded

One Tranquil Moment

An Invulnerable Foe

Flight!

The Ember-Dragon

Commander

Only a Joke

Dragon Cavalry

Into Battle

The Barbs of the Arrow

Outnumbered

Overruled

from THE FLAME OF BATTLE

About the Author

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1

A Sin of Omission

Fia had been feeling an odd sensation lately in her belly. At first she’d thought it was gas bubbles, but now, as she stood at the top of the stairs, she felt it again, deep in her guts, like a tiny butterfly.

Was she feeling the baby move?

Fia resisted the urge to rest her hand on her womb, because Carmelo stood at the bottom of the stairs, waiting for her.

If only it could have been Salvi standing at the bottom of the stairs. If only they could have lived together as man and wife, raising the baby together as God intended. But Salvi had spurned her after the Pope’s dragons, out of revenge against Fia, had destroyed his village, killed his parents, and left many old friends dead or in unendurable pain.

Fia could not meet Carmelo’s eyes as she descended the stairs – could only think of Salvi’s eyes as his words had tumbled out of his broken heart.

Every fiber of my body wants to embrace you and cover you with kisses, he’d said in an exhausted voice. I am relieved beyond words to see you alive. My every breath is a prayer for you. Salvi shook his head wearily, his eyes hollow. But I cannot love you. Not after this. Not any more. I have seen enough of my people killed.

Though her heart cried out for Salvi, a pain she knew she would always carry, she met Carmelo at the bottom of the stairs with a slight curtsey, while Carmelo bowed formally.

Fia’s life – and the life of her child – would be in danger from the Pope if she didn’t have the protection of a man who was rich enough to have property and guards, one who had enough sway in politics to keep them protected.

And if Salvi wanted to spurn her when she could have been helping him – when the only wish in her heart had been to help him – then fine. She didn’t want to think about how deeply he’d cut her by pushing her away. She didn’t want to think about how much she loved him. It hurt too much.

And frankly, she didn’t have time to wait for Salvi to come to his senses.

Here we are again, Fia said quietly.

Yes, Carmelo said, studying her face with some amazement. Fia’s maid had helped her make up her face and chose her dress for this meeting to meet their marriage broker and go over the terms of their future marriage once again.

Fia had not touched a pot of makeup for years and was surprised at how lovely she’d looked in the mirror. And now Carmelo couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Good.

Fia’s papa, Folco, was speaking to somebody in the next room, but Carmelo wasn’t listening. I should mention that if we marry, you will have four dragons to ride, not just one.

Fia’s eyes went big. But she cleared her throat. "Do you really mean I actually get to ride them? Or is that contingent on my being a good wife?"

Carmelo’s blue eyes searched her face as if he couldn’t get enough of her. I’ve given it some thought, he said. I don’t want to be like my father. I just want to be fair. You and your dragon shouldn’t be separated. Ever.

Do you really mean it? she asked, still wary.

Carmelo shrugged. I was thinking about it when I was flying my dragon out to your papa’s farm. How much I’d miss just flying, but I like spending time with my dragon and my horses, too. There’s something about being with your animals that makes your life more meaningful. You and Ryelleth make a good team. Especially since you two can talk. I can’t just break that up arbitrarily. It would be cruel.

Oh! Thank you! Fia sprang forward and hugged him. He laughed, surprised, but pulled her close, holding her tightly as if ... as if he’d been wanting this for a long time.

She nodded and looked down, thinking of her babe. She wasn’t being fair to him. Not one bit. It didn’t matter how many dragons he had – she was still lying to him. A sin of omission was just as bad as a sin of commission.

But thinking of how he might react to the fact that she was carrying his rival’s baby – how this would explode their peace – stopped her confession in her throat.

The longer you let it go, the worse it’s going to be, she thought. But she honestly didn’t know what to do.

Fia could hear Papa’s voice in the next room, telling somebody about he, Fia, and Carmelo had fled to the farm upon escaping from Siena. That girl who escaped with us turned out to be my enemy, Fia’s father was complaining to somebody in the other room. Carmelo frowned. My daughter insisted on bringing her along because they were once best friends. She doesn’t understand we’re all enemies now.

Fia sighed gustily.

All those things you said to me when we were on dragonback, Carmelo said in a voice too low for anybody else to hear. Do you remember what you said? Were you telling the truth or were you lying?

Fia remembered what she’d told Carmelo when she was still disguised as her true love, Salvi. "If you won the race, you’d have money to start a new life. Fia would fulfill the contract that she signed at your sponsalia, so there’d be no reason for your papa to condemn her. You could let her work at the job she loves, with her dragon, while you set up your business with your winnings. If you walk away, then your father disinherits you. He will have no more hold over you. You and Fia can move away from his meddling. You can still fly back to visit your families, since she still has her dragon. But then ... but then Fia has no more cause to resent you. Because all she wants is her dragon. And freedom."

They weren’t touching. They stood very formally, facing each other, but Fia was close enough to feel the heat of Carmelo’s arms near hers.

I was telling the truth, she said, looking at her hands. I swear it. I ... I was saying what Salvi would have said in that situation, but then I realized that what he was saying was ... the truth.

Carmelo looked dubious. I don’t understand that. You were pretending to be somebody else. How does that make what you said true?

Because Salvi doesn’t lie, she blurted out.

Carmelo frowned.

Are you two going to stand out here all day? her father said from inside the room. Come in. We must get started.

Carmelo took her arm and led her into the room where they were to have their negotiations.

But as soon as Fia walked through the door, she stopped dead.

Sitting at the table looking like a mountain, and chatting with her Papa as if they were the closest of friends, was none other than Ser’ Corso Valori.

2

A Powerful Enemy

Papa, Fia squawked. Why are you talking to that man?

Papa laughed. Why, Fia don’t you recognize a friend of our family?

He’s only pretending to be your friend, Fia said fiercely. This man is a close friend of Ser Pietrino di Charducci, the man who held you captive in that dungeon.

Fia!

"Valori and his stinking nephew Lando, who I had the distinct displeasure of serving as his dragon guard, were in on your kidnapping."

Fia, rumbled Ser Valori, shocked. How dare you make these accusations? You weren’t even there. I know for a fact that you were not his dragon’s guardian.

I’ll dare to make these accusations because your stinking nephew drops secrets like a broken sieve, Fia said.

That’s a lie. Lando is a trustworthy, upright man –

A trustworthy, upright man who urged your friends to rape a girl that got into one of your meetings, she said. That girl was me, Ser’ Valori.

Now silence fell around the table so hard that it echoed.

Ser Valori’s face grew so red that he was about to burst.

Oh, he knew.

Fia felt her face going red, too, but was speaking quickly, her voice shaking. I was wearing a glamour when Benedetto exposed me in front of you, your nephew, and all of Pietrino di Charducci’s co-conspirators.

In an instant, all the color went out of Ser’ Valori’s face. Her father sat back in his seat, shocked, but he was listening.

Fia could feel her body trembling, but she stood straight and tall as she spoke. In front of all those men, I accused you, Ser’ Valori, of betraying my father. Do you remember that? You laughed at me and thrust a red-hot poker in my face and threatened me before sending me to the dungeon to be tortured. But I was instead dragged away by ... somebody else who wanted to have his way with me.

Ser’ Valori’s face darkened. I will not have this accusation leveled against me. I told Branca myself not to do it.

Now Carmelo’s face went white. "Branca? You mean my father?"

Valori looked away.

Fia leaned forward. Ser’ Valori, before God and these witnesses, tell my papa and Carmelo what Branca said to me that night, she commanded. "Tell them, and tell them