Redbird and Rogue 2: Redbird and Rogue, #2

By Kirby Crow

In the cold northern kingdom of Rshan na Ostre, King Nazheradei, also known as Liall the Wolf, is renowned for his unwavering devotion to his consort, Scarlet. With Spring approaching, Liall decides to surprise Scarlet with a hunting trip in the secluded depths of the forest, away from the prying eyes of the royal court.

However, their peaceful retreat turns into a perilous journey when they come face-to-face with betrayal in the form of a group of bounty hunters on the trail of a mysterious fugitive. As Tesk puts his spycraft to work unraveling the mystery, he discovers that the wanted man may have a connection to Liall's past, a secret that could put his reign in jeopardy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bonecamp
• Release date: Mar 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215139622

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, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Redbird and Rogue II

© 2023 by Kirby Crow

Digital Edition

http://KirbyCrow.com

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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 brilliant editor, Jennifer Montgomery, and also to the people who keep me sane and make me want to keep writing: Megan Derr, Samantha Derr, Aleksandr Voinov, Reya Starck, and Sapfo. <3

Printed in the United States of America.

Cover Art by Kirby Crow

Redbird and Rogue II

"Where did you say we were going?"

The carriage of the covered sleigh was warm with heaped furs and a fuel mechanism under the floorboards. Liall watched as Scarlet nudged open the small, thick pane of glass in the door. A skirl of snowflakes rushed in, dusting his nose.

Liall swiped the melted ice droplets on Scarlet’s cheek playfully. He had deliberately not revealed their destination, as Scarlet well knew, but when had that ever stopped a nosy pedlar? It’s a surprise. Liall reached across Scarlet and closed the window.

Scarlet gave him a narrow look. You may not know this, but I’m not fond of surprises.

"You’re not fond of unpleasant surprises, Liall countered. I’ve found you quite enjoy the nice ones."

You mean like a fire blazing in the hearth when I wake up and a naked wolf beside me? Yes, please. Twice a day.

Liall chuckled. And hot che in a pot that is never empty, like magick. The hiss of the sleigh’s runners and the close confines of the carriage seemed to envelop them in a world of their own. He could pretend it was just the two of them. He pulled Scarlet closer. Aye, twice a day, for a start.

Scarlet sniffed and rubbed his gloved hand under his nose, glancing again at the window. The landscape was still thick with snow, the trees leafless and bare.

Deva’s hell, it’s freezing outside. I thought you said winter was over?

The snow was light, but the air was frigid, the trees stark as skeletons. From the horizon, a scant bit of sun glimmered on the treetops and wove nets of diamonds amid the icy branches. In the Byzan reckoning, it was the Month of Trees, which Liall still counted rather than the Rshani calendar. A season akin to armor; hard, shining, and gray.

The calendar says winter is done. The land has yet to agree. Liall frowned, slid his hand under Scarlet’s chin, and turned his face to him. Your nose is blushing. Is it really that cold outside?

It’s red, not blushing. Noses don’t blush. I think. And yes, it is. Not in here, though. He looked down and tapped the toe of his boot on the warm floor. I wish I knew how that worked.

I’ve tried to explain it to you.

You said it was burning, but it’s not on fire.

The heater is consuming fuel at a low heat with restricted air, a bit like the hand warmer I gave you.

And I don’t know how that works, either, so don’t look at me like I’m simple. I’m not the only one who can’t figure out your machines. Take those things into Ankar and they’d haul you into the temple of Om-Ret for a sorcerer.

Liall chuckled. Which is why we don’t trade any dangerous machines to them. Only the smaller, useful devices, and at a slow pace.

Scarlet’s eyes narrowed. Keeping them too backward to fight you.

If it came to that, Liall admitted. They’re good soldiers, the Morturii. No sense giving them an advantage.

They wouldn’t come this far north looking for war. They’ve got enough problems in Morturii-Volstland.

It’s only a matter of time.

Scarlet frowned deeply, apparently not liking this subject. I hope it’s a long time.

It will be. I doubt they’ll be able to muster a fleet capable of crossing the Norl Uhn in force to attack our ports for at least a few more centuries. Time again, he thought, hoping Scarlet wouldn’t follow that reflection. Scarlet was Hilurin, a people with a very short lifespan compared to Rshani. Even the Aralyrin lived far longer, often into their eightieth decade, which was still less than half the lifespan of an average Rshani.

Time was Liall’s enemy.

Can you truly not tell how cold it is?

It’s difficult to describe, Liall said, relieved. He drew another fur over Scarlet’s legs, tucking it around him. "When the snows melt and the grass begins to grow, it’s spring. When we harvest, it’s autumn; when