A Love Lost: Story of Radnar

By C.R. Rice

This is not a love story: it's a tragedy.

Radnar and his friends were fun-loving boys, ready to take on the world, but he never wanted to be a warrior or lead armies like his powerful father. In truth, he never really knew what he wanted until he met Nessa the summer before his 16th birthday. From the moment their eyes met

• Language: English
• Publisher: 4 Horsemen Publications
• Release date: Aug 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9781644504000

C.R. Rice

C.R. Rice is a fantasy/sci-fi writer, currently immersing you in the Realm Series. As someone who grew up in a small town, she has always loved escaping into the world of fantasy, paranormal and legend. C.R. has dedicated herself to creating that same opportunity to anyone who wants to escape the boring reality of real life. Through the years, she has traveled to dozens of different states and countries, has lived in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and now Florida! While they all have their own unique treasures, she admits to favoring the sunny southern states over the chilly northern ones, though there is nothing like curling up with a wonderful book by the fire as the snow falls outside the window.Some of her favorite reads are Terry Pratchett's Disc World series, The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld, and The Hallow Kingdom by Clare B. Dunkle. When she is not reading or writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband.

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Epilogue

Book Club Discussion Questions

About the Author

A Love Lost: Story of Radnar

Copyright © 2023 C.R. Rice. All rights reserved.

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Cover & Typesetting by Autumn Skye

Edited by 4 Horsemen Publications, Inc.

All rights to the work within are reserved to the author and publisher. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, except as permitted under Section 107 or 108 of the 1976 International Copyright Act, without prior written permission except in brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Please contact either the Publisher or Author to gain permission.

This is a work of fiction. All characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023932834

Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1-64450-401-7

Audiobook ISBN-13: 978-1-64450-399-7

Ebook ISBN-13: 978-1-64450-400-0

Dedication

For Zayn

Prologue

They had won, for the moment at least. But what was winning? Radnar looked around the corpse-littered earth and felt … nothing. The wind carried the too-familiar scent of blood, sweat, and waste. Death was never beautiful, and the effects seemed to linger longer than the l ife taken.

Cheers shook the mountain walls as the last of Sera’s army faded into the shadows. A heavy hand fell to his shoulder. Radnar turned and found fading silver eyes staring over the cheering men. Silence stretched between them. The only two that had seen too much death to cheer at a battle’s end, while knowing that another was just around the corner.

How is she? Radnar asked.

Callen dropped his hand and shrugged. Time will tell.

Radnar blew out an exhausted breath. Do you not find that train of thought tiring?

Callen turned on his heel and started down the pile of rubble before hesitating and calling back, The sun is growing high. If you wish to do as you always do, clean yourself up and go.

For the first time since the battle had begun, Radnar looked to the sky and frowned. His brow furrowed as he counted. Stars, he grits, squeezing his chest as guilt and grief threatened to shred the beating organ.

Everything alright?

Radnar’s eyes fell shut at the sweet voice as calm washed over his body. Agnes, he greeted. Are you alright?

I’m fine. Are you? she asked, stepping to his side.

Radnar forced his face into a neutral expression as she stepped to his side. The sun bounced off her pale, braided hair, giving her a soft, angelic glow. I am fine. Just remembered something I had forgotten.

Agnes flinched, a slight twitching of her cheek and crinkling of her brow, but Radnar saw. I see. I suppose I will leave you to it. I have to make my rounds. Excuse me.

Radnar clenched his jaw as she dropped her eyes to the ground and quickly brushed by. The desire to call her back nipped at the tip of his tongue. An angry growl rumbled his chest as he stormed through the crumbling mountain to his quarters and shed the battered armor from his body. After a quick wash and rinse of his body, he was back out, slipping through the aftermath of battle and into the trees.

It wasn’t long before the forest opened into the familiar valley. Pain twisted his stomach as Radnar climbed the grassy knoll with weighted steps and a bleeding heart. His hands tightened on the delicate stems of the small bouquet he carried. Every year this day taunted him, haunting his nights and plaguing his memories like an incurable virus.

A flash of pure white glinted just up ahead, telling him he was close. His throat dried, and eyes watered. No matter how much time had passed or how many good days he had, that moment, this day, would always be there to taint and twist that happiness. Like a storm looming on the horizon, grief tainted his every moment.

Radnar stopped just before cresting the beautiful hill and forced a shaky breath. With a roll of his shoulders and a straightening of his spine, the false bravado he had gathered sprang to the surface. I cannot keep doing this. He told himself, knowing that no matter how much it ached and pained him, he would never, could never, stop the yearly ritual.

Three long strides and he stood atop the hill, his eyes fixed down on the vibrant, white stone. Radnar bent and brushed the filth from the carefully engraved letter before placing two fingers to his lips, shuttering his eyes, and kissing them. A broken smile curved his lips as he placed them against the cold stone and laid the flowers at its base.

Warmth brushed against his cheek. Hello, my love.

You have to stop this, Radnar.

A slow smile curved his lips as he looked up and found a pale, snow-haired, green-eyed beauty staring down at him. I miss you too, Nessa.

The woman rolled her eyes and pursed her lips to stop from smiling. Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, I miss you. But this isn’t healthy.

The pair narrowed their eyes as their casual stare turned into a battle of wills. Fine, Radnar conceded.

Nessa smiled in triumph and plopped herself down on the sun-warmed ground. So, catch me up. How has the last cycle been?

Radnar shook his head and settled himself against the stone. The usual. Realm in shambles, Marcus still evil, though working with us now. We also found the Lost One. Delightful girl.

Mmm. Come on, get to the good stuff. I only have so long.

Radnar flinched at the casual tone.

Nessa sighed. I am at peace with it. You should be as well.

He shook his head and swallowed through the growing lump in his throat.

You were and always will be worth it. Nessa clasped her hands to her chest. I don’t regret my choices.

Radnar clenched his jaw and looked off into the distance.

Sensing the heavy burden he carried, Nessa dropped her head to hide the pain that creased her eternal, youthful features. You don’t have to do this, she whispered. At Radnar’s continued stoicism, Nessa sighed. Alright then. Start at the beginning, she ordered, resting her head against his shoulder.

Chapter One

It was another beautiful day. The sun cast its pleasantly warm rays down from the crystal blue sky, beckoning the crops and flowers to lift their heads. A gentle wind played with the silken grass blades and carried the fresh scent of spring to tease the noses of t he living.

Men and women laughed as they shared quick pleasantries with their neighbors before waving their goodbyes and continuing with their daily tasks. Children raced through the small gatherings, laughing and screaming with youthful joy. While just beyond the tree line, a group of seven rambunctious teens were gathered in a circle, debating about how to spend their afternoon.

We could practice Cloak and Hunt, Maddox offered.

Naill snorted and shook his blonde head. You’re a healer, Maddox. What do you need to practice Cloak and Hunt for?

Maddox narrowed his dark eyes. You think because I am gifted with healing abilities, I can’t be a warrior?

You may be a warrior, but you have no hopes of being in the field.

Can you imagine bringing a healer to an element fight? Phillip added, his taunting laughter tarnishing his honest appearance. While some saw the dark hair, green eyes, and sweet smiles as a sign of his heart…they knew better. Maddox rolled his eyes and glanced at Radnar, who shook his head with a sigh. Phillip was a snake amongst them all.

What’s wrong with being a healer? Tucket asked, narrowing his slate eyes as he crossed his arms over his massive chest. Out of all of them, Tucket was, by far, the largest. At seventeen, he stood over six feet tall, but his wide shoulders and thick arms made him appear more of an executioner than a healer, as he was gifted.

Phillip paled, his mouth gaping like a dying fish.

Radnar stepped between the budding argument and asked, How about Reaper?

The boys shared a collective groan.

Come on; it will be fun.

Oliver shook his buzzed head and kicked the ground. You only say that because you never have to be the Reaper.

Radnar smirked and shrugged. That is not my fault. You should all be quicker on your toes.

Not all of us have a warrior as a father to teach us all those fancy tricks of yours. Phillip sulked.

Radnar’s smirk faltered slightly before he forced it firmly in place. Sounds like excuses to me. But if you don’t want to live a life of challenge, then I guess I’ll be on my way. Radnar finished with a dramatic sigh as he shoved his hands into his pockets and turned to walk away. Three, two, one…

Frantic whispers filled the air behind him, punctuated with a fierce scoffing. Wait! Oliver called. "We want to play, but we have a new rule."

Radnar turned with a curious arching of his brow. Is that so?

Conrad, a tall, lanky boy with shaggy red hair and honey eyes, stepped forward with a nod. Aye. That’s so.

Alright then, spill it. What’s the rule?

You run, and we are the Reapers. Tucket smiled.

Radnar’s brow wrinkled in confusion. We?

The six boys stepped forward with excited eyes. We, Naill accented, spreading his arms to encompass those around him.

Six on one? Leaving me, the only one who has yet to manifest, the only target?

Maddox coughed to cover his laugh as Naill fixed him with a glare. Those are the rules. Take it or leave it.

Radnar’s smile spread wide, his white teeth vibrant in the high noon sun. I must say, boys, I like those odds.

Naill stepped forward, an overconfident smirk curving his lips as his blue eyes darkened. Let the game begin.

Maddox stepped forward and withdrew five clear stones. Aside from you being the only target, all other rules stay the same. We ‘Reapers’ will stay inside the concealing ring, giving you thirty seconds to get as far away as possible. We will do one round that will last for thirty minutes. If you are caught in that time, the one to trap you is the winner. If you outlast the time, you are the winner. As he spoke, Maddox placed the first four stones around the remaining six before stopping in front of Radnar. Are you ready?

Always. He smirked, holding Naill’s darkened eyes. Naill barred his teeth, his lip curling as the game took on a new meaning. I’m going to catch you this time, Naill mouthed.

Radnar chuckled. Good luck, boys.

Maddox shook his head and released the stone. Go.

The charmed stone plummeted to the ground, cloaking them at first contact. Radnar didn’t waste a moment before darting into the forest. His heart pounded against his ribcage as the game of Reaper took on a fierce new objective. To reap him. He was fast, light on his toes, and prepared to keep his title of undefeated. Evasion wasn’t