Redbird and Rogue: Scarlet and the White Wolf

By Kirby Crow

A collection of stories exploring different points in time in the lives of Scarlet and Liall. From pirate to prince, loner to lover, find out how Scarlet and Liall's lives change over time, from lazy days at the palace to a time before they met to a completely different re-imagining of the people they could have been. Both new readers and long-time fans of the "Scarlet and the White Wolf" series of gay fantasy romance novels won't want to miss this collection. 

 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bonecamp
• Release date: Aug 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201294090

Kirby Crow

Kirby Crow worked as an entertainment editor and ghostwriter for several years before happily giving it up to bake brownies, read yaoi, play video games, and write her own novels. Whenever she isn't slaying Orcs or flying a battleship for the glory of the Amarr Empire, she can be found in the kitchen, her vegetable garden, or busy writing her next book.Kirby is a winner of the EPIC Award (Best Horror Novel) and the Rainbow Award (Best LGBT Novel). She is the author of the bestselling "Scarlet and the White Wolf" series of fantasy novels.Her published novels and works are:Prisoner of the RavenScarlet and the White Wolf 1: The Pedlar and the Bandit KingScarlet and the White Wolf 2: Mariner's LuckScarlet and the White Wolf 3: The Land of NightAngels of the DeepCircuit TheoryHammer and BonePoison ApplesScarlet and the White Wolf 4: The King of ForeverMalachite: Book 1 of the Paladin CycleMeridian (Mirror Series #1)Windward (Mirror Series #2)Scarlet and the White Wolf 5: The Temple RoadChimeraThe Art of FireFor upcoming news of her future novels, visit http://KirbyCrow.com

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Copyright

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

© 2022 by Kirby Crow

http://KirbyCrow.com

Bonecamp Books License Notes:

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for you, please return to your favorite online retailer and purchase your own copy or any other work by the same author. Thank you for respecting and supporting the hard work of creators everywhere.

All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or part in any form.

Special thanks to all my wonderful patrons on Patreon and my most excellent editor, Jennifer Montgomery. <3

Printed in the United States of America.

Digital Edition - D2D Smashwords

Cover Art by Kirby Crow

Foreword

This is a collection of 4 short stories originally available on my Patreon: 

Bloom takes place in Lysia, the year before Scarlet and Liall meet.

Corsair is a bit of fun where I envision Liall,  Peysho, and Kio as pirates who wind up with an angry new shipmate; Scarlet.

Not A Bit and Sweet Words take place in Rshan na Ostre between The Land of Night and The King of Forever. Scarlet and Liall are still at the Nauhinir Palace and have not yet left for the war.

Bloom

Before they even met...

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Well, this is a right mess, Scarlet fumed. He stood at the barn's open doors, looking out at the light snow that had begun to fall. He sighed heavily, causing his father to give him an annoyed glance. Scaja sat at a table where he worked on a broken halter, leather scraps scattered about on the scarred wood.  

That's the third time, Scaja remarked, taking up his awl. 

Third time, what? Scarlet asked absently. A beam of sunlight blared through a small break in the sky before gray clouds closed in on it, cutting off the light and plunging the entire valley into shade. That’s me, he thought. I’m penned in until the weather clears. He had already been anxious to be off, having stayed in the village for a month now, far longer than he should have. Missing Annaya and his friends and his mother’s cooking had delayed him, and now it would cost him. 

Third time you've moped at the will of the goddess.

Scarlet turned back to the light and warmth behind him. I have not, he said in defense. 

Sighing at the weather is like telling Deva you know what’s better. She thinks it's time for snow, so it snows. Accept it. 

How can I, when I need to get to Khurelen? 

Scarlet joined Scaja at the worktable. The musty smell of old hay was thick in the barn, along with the acrid scent of the tired animal in the stall. The horse was not theirs. It belonged to a ragged Morturii merchant who had taken refuge in the rooms above Rufa’s taberna. The merchant’s gear and clothing had been ragged, his animal hungry and—Scarlet thought—neglected of proper care. Scaja had made a bargain with the Morturii to trade three yards of wool for feed, stabling of his animal, and the halter's repair, but Scarlet thought it was a poor deal.

They had already harvested their hay, with no more to come this year, and they had a goat and cow to feed through the winter. The horses they had owned since Scarlet had been a small boy had been sold a year ago, along with their planting mule and the brightly-painted cart Scaja had made with his own hands. 

Scarlet took up a piece of the buckle Scaja was repairing. Good iron is as dear to us as silver these days. Mayhap you should have told the Morturii to keep riding.

Scaja nodded. Mayhap. But tell that to the horse.

The horse stopped munching its precious hay for a moment and whickered softly. 

It’s not your horse and not your problem.

Scaja put down the awl. Well, it’s the horse’s problem, innit? Unlike you and I, the poor beast can’t choose where he goes or with whom. He took up the leather again. I didn’t do it just for the merchant.

Scarlet lowered his eyes, feeling ashamed. I know. I just... we don’t need a few lengths of moth-eaten wool. We need grain, meat, and silver. These shabby drifters pass through Lysia every winter, and their pockets are always empty. What did he say he sold, again?

Herbs, dried flowers, and healing oils.

Scarlet snorted. Another side-street healer, selling honey-water as a remedy. It’s illegal to pretend to be a curae, you know.

He didn’t pretend to be anything other than a merchant. At least not to me.  

They only come here because they have no coin and know they’ll find a kind heart in a Hilurin village. They depend on it.

Good, Scaja quipped. 

Scarlet rolled his eyes. Good for them, yes, but we can’t eat wool. I wish that such as him wouldn’t come a-begging so regular.

He didn’t beg, and I didn’t have to help. I chose to. Scaja shook his head. If the word out there in the world is that we’re good, kind folk, that can only help us, aye? And goddess knows we need help lately, what with the Bled raiding again.

What will help us is silver, Scarlet insisted. He crossed his arms. And I need to be away earning some, or we really will have to see if we can eat wool.

Scaja placed the finished buckle carefully aside and rose. He took Scarlet’s arm firmly and marched him to the door. 

Out. Scaja waved at the snow and the valley. Away with you now. Help your sister with the firewood or go see your friends, but off with you until you’ve found a better attitude. I’ve more important things to do than cater to your moods.

I would have a better mood in Khurelen, Scarlet grumbled. 

So would I. Scaja gentled that with a smile. Have patience, lad, he urged. You can’t help what is. Fussing about it only puts you at odds with folk. Go have a beer and think over your options. A plan will come to you by and by.

Scarlet’s shoulders sagged. He jerked the gray woolen hood of his coat over his head. He hadn’t worn his crimson pedlar’s coat since he’d returned, and he sorely missed it. You always say that. 

And I’m always right. Scaja patted Scarlet’s head and went back to the work table. Away, now. There’s persa stew for supper. Don’t be late!

––––––––

Missed! Osa crowed. A blind barn owl could do better!

Even in the noise of Rufa’s taberna, Osa was loud. But then, he’d always been loud. 

Scarlet scowled at the dartboard. He’d missed the target badly and now had only one dart left. Oh, very nice, Osa. Make fun of me when you’re winning.

Osa bowed his head and drew his pint of bitterbeer closer. He wore hunter’s leathers, and his black hair was cut short above his collar. You're terrible at this, you know.

I am not! Scarlet set his tongue between his teeth and raised the dart, aiming carefully at the board. He threw. 

And missed. 

The dart clattered harmlessly to the floor and rolled under a chair. 

That’s three for five. I win! Whoo! Osa stood up and hooted his triumph. 

Scarlet retrieved the dart and returned to the table he shared with Osa. He dropped it on the wooden surface sticky with the dregs of cheap wine and ale. How a hunter can be so loud and not starve is a wonder, he complained. 

Osa only laughed and pulled the chair out for Scarlet. Sit. Drink. Maybe it will help that black mood of yours.

"I’m not in a mood."

You’re always in a mood. Mope-face, that’s what we call you.

You never! Scarlet felt the heat rushing up to his ears, turning his cheeks ruddy. Who?! 

Osa chuckled and drank the foam from his tankard. He licked his upper lip. Calm down. I made that up.

Scarlet cast a furious glance around the crowded taberna. Did you truly?

Osa raised his right hand. On my oath. Now, drink and tell me what devils you.

Sullenly, Scarlet took a long pull from the tankard and wiped his mouth. Things at home.

Oh, things at home, Osa echoed. Come now! Your da is mild as a lamb. Well, compared to mine.

Scarlet lowered his gaze. We shouldn’t speak—

Ill of the dead, I know, I know. Osa waved his hand. But mine was a right bastard when he wanted to be. Everyone knew it. In the end, the temple priests were at our doorstep morning and night, pleading with Kerev to gentle his ways, but he never would.

Reviews for Redbird and Rogue

[Jen DuBay · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Liall was an autocratic abuser who trampled all of Scarlet’s boundaries and got away with it cause they were “fated” (gag.) I honestly wish Scarlet would have knifed him and gotten on with his life the first time they met and his life would have been better. I’ve never read a book with a less likable love interest.