Ties That Bind: The Ricchan Chronicles, #0

By Mark S. Moore

 

Revolutions begin from embers of destruction.

 

Why did Beckett leave?

 

Who was Akane Takuma?

 

Delve into the stories of Beckett Harrington, Damien Flynn, Victoria Montgomery, and more.

 

This Anthology travels across time to set the tone for the events of Rise: Birth of a Revolution and Stand: The Cost of War. Presented chronologically the stories unravel the events that led to the Ricchan Revolution, checking in with key characters in important moments of their development.

Written as a thank you to readers of the series after finishing this book you may better understand the motivations of key players while also learning a few hints about what's to come in the forthcoming finale of the trilogy where all stories will end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark S. Moore
• Release date: Apr 3, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215501290

Book preview

Copyright

Ties That Bind Published by Mark Moore Publishing

© 2023 Mark Moore.

Edited by JMR Literary Services

All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means...electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise...without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at Attention: Permissions Coordinator, at the address below.

Mark Moore Publishing

For information about special discounts available for bulk purchases, sales promotions, fund-raising and educational needs, contact the publisher at [e-mail]

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

Table of Contents

Copyright

Dedication

Map

Map

Timeline

What is this?

From Ashes

Fallen Kings

Ribbons

Grave Flowers

It Begins Where it Ends

Author Note

Dedication

This book is dedicated to the early adopters. The first readers. Everyone who picked up Rise or Stand from an unknown author and gave it a chance. This books exists for you and because of you. Thank you.

Map

A map of the world Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Map

Map Description automatically generated

Timeline

❖  1414 – Birth of James I.

❖  1428-1466 Braiton Rule of James I.

❖  1463 – Unification of Nihonmin.

❖  1466 – Birth of Ryosuke Takuma.

❖  1466 – Beginning of the War of the Three Kingdoms.

❖  1483 Riccha discovered by Braiton vessel damaged in a naval battle with Nihonmin.

❖  1485 Return trip to Riccha.

❖  1485 – Death of Akane Takuma.

❖  1489 – End of the War of the Three Kingdoms: Braiton and Nihonmin victorious.

❖  1492 First Braiton Colony on Riccha: Radlett.

❖  1493 First contact with Ricchan natives.

❖  1497 Battle of Slow Creek: the colonists emerge victorious.

❖  1500 Eastport, Yorks, New Khorra, Vole’ all founded, second wave of colonists come to Riccha.

❖  1505 Native Varundi destroy Vole’, and recapture their homeland.

❖  1523 The First War of Riccha begins with a public execution just inside the artificial border between reclaimed Vole’ and Riccha.

❖  1529 End of the First War of Riccha, Vole’ is burned to the ground and the earth salted, natives pushed beyond the western forests.

❖  1529-1538 Pax Brevis – Peace between Ricchans and the natives, no outward conflicts. Riccha grows into a thriving colony with new towns springing up. The farthest is the town of Wyrmwood.

❖  1539 Braiton Queen assassinated by Ricchan-born militant who had immigrated to Khorra.

❖  1540 Extreme sanctions ordered by King Oliver I of Braiton.

❖  1542 Further edicts approved to make Riccha into a slave-colony.

❖  1553 Ricchans rise up in revolution against the yoke of Braiton rule.

❖  1555 Ricchan rebels are crushed outside Eastport, punitive punishments begin.

❖  1556 Oliver I dies of natural causes, Oliver II forced to take the crown.

❖  1556 Slavery is partially abolished in Riccha and replaced with indentured servitude.

❖  1562 Ricchan Rebels attack targets in Eastport.

What is this?

The following is a series of short background stories regarding various characters from the Ricchan Chronicles. The idea for these came from two primary places. First, I wanted to expand on some of the lesser-known stories of important characters in the mainline books. Second, and perhaps more importantly, I wanted to thank the early readers of the books who gave me such a warm reception. The following short stories are designed as companion pieces to the books and, ideally, read after the books. That said, they could very well work as your introduction to the series and provide an entirely different viewpoint from which to embark on that journey.

However you choose to engage with these tales, my earnest hope is you can join me for a moment in this world, the same way I’ve connected with so many astonishing books from other authors over the years.

Thank you all for the gift of your time. Enjoy this look into the lives of characters you may know and love or love to hate.

From Ashes

Summer 1459 Kawa, Nihonmin

The structure shuddered, threatening to give way. Plumes of smoke coiled around charred wooden pillars and rose into the evening sky. A beam shuddered and cracked before finally giving way and caving at the center. It tumbled down into the remnants of the building with a final thud muted by the still-standing buildings all around it. This home alone among dozens of others had been singled out for destruction. A compact figure, wrapped in a coarse travel cloak still dusty from the road, took a cautious step back. Another whining groan and the whole thing collapsed in on itself. The traveler had to shield their face as a rush of dust and dirt blew back their cloak, hot ashes flying. They turned their head away and covered their eyes, the slight catch in their throat unrelated to the debris.

Oh no! What horrors are these? They weren’t inside, were they? an older woman asked, shuffling to a stop just a few feet away. She leaned heavily on a crooked wooden stick. Her face was so wrinkled that her eyes appeared to be closed and her mouth drooped open, even when she’d ceased talking.

No, they weren’t, the traveler said.

Oh my, well, that’s good, at least. In these times it’s so rare to get much good news, the older woman said. The Takumas will rebuild. Nice family, the Takumas, always helping around the village, keeping themselves busy, what with their daughter gone and all. The village will lend a hand to rebuild, I’ve no doubt. She nodded sagely, as if that fixed the problem. Everyone will come out to help them, I’m sure of it. Well not me, of course. The older woman laughed lightly and shook her head. I’d do nothing but get in the way, old bones and all. She smiled and a contented sigh passed through her lips. They’ll be happy in a new home.

No, they won’t.

Why not?

The traveler turned to the old woman and pulled down their hood.

A-Akane?

Akane Takuma stared at the crone. Her lips were a thin line and the tears she’d spilled had dried on her cheeks. Bile rose in her throat and her teeth ground together for several seconds before she spoke.

Because they’re dead.

But...but why?

Why? Why did they pick this house? My house?

The Takumas...they didn’t do anything wrong. Th-they were different but...

Akane’s stare narrowed into a glare. Was it really possible that this woman was so dense? Did she really think this was tied to some personal vendetta against her family? That perhaps something they could have said or done that would have avoided this cruelty?

Do you believe in justice? Akane asked.

Justice?

Yes, the idea that one’s actions may be truly impartial and fair. That the right decision can be made and those who do wrongs will face punishment for what they’ve done?

I...

If you believe in justice then you must consider two things: either this is punishment for something my parents did, or there is justice yet unmet that needs to be administered, a just cause that must be made right.

The old woman stared at her as if she didn’t really comprehend. Akane shook her head and took a step forward, toward the ruins of her home. She paused. The most recent collapse had revealed the room that used to be hers. To anyone else, it’d have been just another heap of burned wood but to Akane? It was everything. The blackened wall on the far side was where she’d first drawn characters on the wood, enraging her parents. Just a few feet away was where her bed had been. It had taken a while to convince them she wasn’t going to be using it but her parents had finally given in and sold it just last year, leaving nothing but an empty space where the sturdy frame had been.

If they hadn’t been who they were, said and did the things they did, I’d have been in there with them, Akane said, more to herself than her unwanted company.

A young woman of twenty-two years, Akane was an enigma to her village. Most women her age had already been married off, but her parents had been willing to pull away from tradition and encouraged Akane to grow the way she needed to. They’d saved what they could to allow Akane to seek education at an academy in the nearest large city, Yosai. They’d rebutted glowering elders with optimism and kindness—elders like the stunned traditionalist standing before her, who was in shock and practically speechless in disbelief. Akane realized she’d never fully appreciated the risks her parents had taken for her. She hadn’t appreciated the barbs they’d shielded her from until now, and the knowledge formed an icy shield around her heart.

Oh..oh dear...did they, did they...in the fire? the old woman asked, seeming to spin her wheels atop a road already traveled.

No. Akane pointed to the right of her charred family home, where two mounds of dirt marked with sticks leaning at odd angles marred the otherwise smooth landscape. Their throats were slit. They were dumped in front of the house before the first flames licked the timbers.

Oh, by the gods...how horrible! the old woman gasped. But, why? Who would do this to your family?

"Why?" Akane scoffed, shaking her head. She pointed a finger at the old woman, who gave a startled little jump and