Lyra

By Claudia Blood

A teenage assassin, a demanding father, What will she do when her most trusted betrays her?

Hiding what she wants is second nature to Lyra. Raised as the only child, and a lowly daughter of the head of her clan, Lyra dreams of being an assassin.

When her father commands the first assassin class in twenty-years to assemble, Lyra jumps on the chance to join them on the sly.

When her classmates have gone missing on their last assignment, she is despondent. Mounting evidence suggests the missing class may be linked to something much more personal than she imagined.

Desperate. Guilty. Devastated.

Her only recourse is to do the unthinkable -- resort to sabotage to unravel the mystery.

Lyra must become the villain to be a hero.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Claudia Blood
• Release date: Aug 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9781954603288

Claudia Blood

Claudia Blood’s early introduction to Dungeons and Dragons, combined with her training as a scientist and a side trip into the world of IT set her up to become an award-winning author of Science Fiction and Fantasy.For her latest release, visit her atwww.ClaudiaBlood.com

Book preview

1

JACOB

Earth time: October 9, 2100

Kalecca time: 25 years after discovery

Ravenne: 32 years old

Mouse: not born

The Duchess: 48 years old

Lyra: 14 years old

Jacob Limousin of the Limousin clan stood at attention under the assault of clan Wagyu’s two leaders’ gazes. If looks could kill, he'd be eviscerated on the floor with his clan-bracelet returned. Even if the Wagyu clan’s second wouldn't have killed him, the cold, blue gaze of Grandin Wagyu, the clan leader, would have disintegrated him. The dark-haired, wiry-framed leader vibrated with the force of his personality. There was no doubt who was in charge.

Jacob straightened his shoulders. This clan could still decide he was unworthy of joining the drove—the group focused on studying to become assassins. Besides the leader, the assassins were the highest ranked people in the clan and one of the clan's few sources of money. This was the first drove in twenty years. Since joining the drove was the only way to become a sanctioned assassin, Jacob tried to work out his next move.

Clan Wagyu could send him back, which would bring shame not only to himself, but also to his family and his whole clan. Enough shame to move Clan Limousin to third in the clan standing. The Wagyu clan was not known for being kind.

Jacob struggled to keep his gaze in the respectful middle ground. Motion to his right at shoulder height set off his reflexes. Adrenaline pumped into his system, making everything seem sharper. He rolled away from the motion toward the wall of the hut.

The air shifted and a sword cut through the space where he had been standing. He'd be dead if he hadn't moved.

Jacob rolled to his feet and stood in a half crouch. His dagger in hand, he was on his toes ready to pivot away. Only the thought of the drove kept him from running. What was the right thing to do? Had the clan meant to kill him, and the call for a new drove was a trick?

If this were a real attack, he should flee and warn his family. The next building had an accessible roof, and he could use that to escape. Once to the edge of the village, he'd have to cross the fields to the woods. If he made it to the woods, his odds of survival increased dramatically. As long as the local flora and fauna took no interest in him, he would be able to lose his pursuers and make the long journey home.

The man who had assaulted him stood motionless with his sword drawn. Jacob could strike his attacker and show he was stronger or a better fighter. Jacob might not be either of those things and more to the point, if Jacob was or was not stronger didn't matter.

This was a test. The first of many. What was the clan leader looking for? Clan Leader Wagyu didn't look like the strongest of the clan. He was smaller than the rest, but the fearful looks the people in doorways gave him left no doubt this man was the leader. He ruled with an iron fist. Could that be the key?

Jacob bowed. Clan leader, what are your wishes?

Clan Leader Wagyu nodded once. Welcome to the drove.

The tension left Jacob's shoulders. Giddiness bubbled through his chest. He'd passed the first test. He would be a part of the first drove to be trained in twenty years. He didn't want to think about the scavenger hunt that would begin the last phase of training or the final test, getting the black venom stone. Not only did the stone give him access to assassin poisons, but the stone secreted a chemical compound that would transform his leather bag to something only a member of a sanctioned drove could carry.

He sheathed his dagger and bowed in a more elaborate manner. My honor.

The clan leader, the clan second, and the man who had attacked him walked away without another word. The people watching from windows and doorways faded back into their houses. What a strange village.

This way to your room. A small boy with wild, dark hair and startling blue eyes waved and led him to a small hut. He disappeared before Jacob could ask him questions.

Jacob dropped his bag on the bed. He needed to take stock of his new home. He'd be here for years training to be an assassin. There should be three or four other teenage boys selected for this drove. They each probably would get tested or already had been tested.

Jacob wanted to meet them. Most clans had a gathering place on the north side for socializing with those new to the village. He'd check there to see if the other boys were interested in meeting.

He strolled out of his room. The corners between the buildings had no people. When he looked closer, he realized that wasn't true. There were people focused on a task. A person wove on a loom on the porch to his right. A solemn child led sheep through the lane. Even the sheeps’ baas seemed quieter. No one sang or laughed. The distinctions between the villages made him shiver. He would need to be careful until he understood that difference.

He stifled a laugh. His idea to have a unified drove was probably not careful, but after hearing his uncle's stories, an assassin unit that was an actual team was what he wanted. If not for the skills of the assassins, their home, Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, would have nothing. Goddess, his people might have starved being dependent on the things his ancestors had brought with them. Few of the previous men from older droves could earn money with assassinations. Even in their prime, they were limited on the assignment they could accomplish. Each assassin worked alone instead of harnessing the power of the drove. He meant to change that by having a bonded drove.

He passed more huts on his way to the north side of the village. Huts lining the street seemed more like the husks of long-dead creatures than homes. Did people even live in them? No flower gardens or paintings decorated the lanes or walls. Coming into the village, he'd passed the village's poison gardens, but there was nothing on the houses he walked by that seemed to feed the soul.

Jacob hoped the other first and second from the clans would be in the meeting spot. The other boys in the drove had to agree to his plan. He glided along the edge of the town using the techniques for silence that he'd been using since he was first aware of himself.

At the last hut before the woods, a soft sound caught his attention. In the shadows by a tree, a figure hunched and shook.

Jacob stepped closer. He'd been silent, but the figure stiffened. Did she have training? He'd expected the blue eyes the clan was known for, but instead, the deepest, darkest brown eyes stared up at him. He also didn't expect her lost and unhappy expression on her face framed by long, dark hair to stab his heart. His chest ached for her. He wanted to wipe her tears and protect her from the world.

Her expression shuttered, and she lifted her chin. Who are you?

He swallowed. The steel in her gaze and words stole his voice.

The girl wiped her eyes. Her gaze landed on the bracelet on his right wrist and the piece of cloth on his shoulder. You would be Jacob. First son of the Limousin clan.

He bowed a formal bow as if they were being truly introduced. You have the advantage over me. I am not sure who you are.

Her mouth twisted into a smirk for just a moment before her expression smoothed. Are you meeting the rest of the firsts…and seconds? I heard them in the woods.

He bit his lip. She had a lot of information. What he was going to propose was not exactly allowed. The leaders hadn't expressly forbidden such a thing, but creating a cohesive drove could be taken as trying to usurp the clan leaders. That was not his intent.

She could go to the clan leader and tell, hoping to gain favor. Clan Leader Wagyu was not known as being a kind man. The best that was ever said about him was that he was scrupulously fair. Even though Jacob knew he was being a fool, something about the expression on her face made him trust her. Want to join us?

Her eyes widened and her mouth opened a moment in what had to be shock, then she grinned. The bright, wide smile was not anything he'd thought he would see on this solemn girl. Yes. Her voice was slightly breathless.

Jacob held out his hand palm up as an invitation. After a visible flinch and a hesitation, she wrapped her fingers around his hand. Something in his chest settled at the touch.

She led him down the slender path through the woods. The sound of rushing water grew louder. The place they were meeting must have a waterfall or fast stream. Markers on the trees declared the edge of the clan's territory.

Four boys he knew by sight stood around glaring at each other. Their body language, with crossed arms and glowers, was not the most friendly. None of the villagers had come to meet them.

The twins, Meeko and Yaholo Brahma, stood on opposite sides of the clearing. They traded off scowling at each other when the other was not looking. Traditionally, only one of the leader's sons became a part of the drove. There was only ever one