Calliope [Book 2]
CHAPTER ONE

The fate of Librona weighed heavily on the shoulders of the weary king, arched painfully over the tactical maps before him. Their world was no longer at balance; one great kingdom would fall, surly altering life as they knew it on Praecanto. Worry and despair marked crevices deep in his skin, a mark of many years of uncertainty, far beyond his own age. King Sloan studied the maps before him. The little iron horses of the calvary marked their last known position in Asmar, just outside the kingdom’s capital. Librona’s foot soldiers marked the front lines as they were slowly pushed further and further from the city.

Asmar was a rogue nation. A kingdom without a king. A people with hatred and vengeance in their hearts. And the witch Calliope that called Librona home was to blame. A murderer on the loose, and there was nothing more King Sloan could do to protect the witch that had done nothing but help protect his people.

His fingers tapped on the wooden table, each tap another passing second that his army was without their commander; without any direction. Only two options presented themselves in this moment of crisis: pull back and risk losing his kingdom, or replace Mido.

He could not let his pride get the best of him. The choice, whether he liked it or not, had already been made, but he refused to see the truth that stood on the line. His stomach twisted sickeningly at the possible truth that marked the blacksmith. But Mido was gone. He left with Calliope, doing his best to protect her in this war, and there was no way to know where in the world they were. It had been just over a month since they left, and his army, still stuck in Asmar, had been making no progress. It was time to make a decision.

King Sloan straightened, his back cracking, as footsteps brought him out of his thoughts. Melinda’s worried gaze met his as she approached her husband. King Sloan turned back to his maps, staring at nothing in particular, as he turned his final decision over in his mind.

“I’m losing men over there,” he muttered. “We can’t do this any longer.”

“You need Mido,” his wife reminded, a fact he already knew.

King Sloan winced at the words she spoke and shook his head. “He betrayed his kingdom. He will not return.”

“He will if it means keeping Calliope safe.”

“And how am I supposed to replace him?” King Sloan could not meet his wife’s gaze, furious with himself for getting upset over something he knew needed to be done.

“Send a raven to In’audis and see if they’re there. Unless they crossed the sea, their only option is to go south.”

The king hesitated. It was a likely option, but another possibility crept into the corners of his mind. A possibility that would decide the fate of their world once and for all. A factor that lay across the sea, in the kingdom of Re’iam. South was not their only option, but did Calliope know of the legend of the creators of their world? The legends had seemed only stories to King Sloan, and though he tried to keep their history alive through his son, Lucas, he struggled himself to believe in what seemed like just a myth.

But if the stories held true, and if Calliope had also known, surely she would go to Re’iam. Their queen would not see her kingdoms fall over a witch. She would bring peace and order back to their world.

He felt foolish as he began to have hope in the legendary queen that ruled over Re’iam and their world. It was just a dying myth. And while Re’iam had vital resources and proved to be a valuable trade partner, they were nothing more than a much wealthier kingdom. In fact, the kingdom was a mystery to King Sloan. Too far away to travel to, and the seas often too dangerous, only Re’iam’s merchants made the trip, never asking for much in return.

“Sloan?”

King Sloan rubbed his eyes. It had been days since he slept. “I don’t even know if what that old woman said is true.”

“You won’t know until you tell him.”

The king rolled his eyes. “Yes, because that will go so well,” King Sloan said.

Melinda crossed her arms. “Sarcasm, Sloan?”

King Sloan finally met his wife’s gaze, his eyes red. “Melinda, he will not take to this news.”

“He will do whatever it takes to protect Calliope.”

King Sloan sighed. “If he’s anything like me, he will put up a damn fight. And I know he’s just like me. I should have seen it sooner. That was me at his age.” King Sloan cursed under his breath. “I was a damn fool.”

“You can’t blame yourself,” Melinda said. “It was a very long time ago.”

“I just had to disobey my father,” he muttered, turning back to the old maps.

Melinda moved closer to her husband, her hand warm on his shoulder. “But look what that did. Mido is a good man and loyal to his friends. He will do this.”

King Sloan was quiet as his eyes shifted curiously over to Re’iam, the large island kingdom in the middle of the Animula sea. “I just wish I had known.” When Melinda said nothing, King Sloan turned to her. Her eyes were soft and sad on the floor.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know how hard this must be for you.”

“Don’t apologize,” she said, her eyes back on his. “It was long before I came along.” She smiled. “I can’t blame you for having a lover before me.”

“I’m sure you’ve had your fair share.”

Melinda put her hands on her hips. “Really, Sloan? I was hardly a woman when we wed.”

“Do you regret it?” he asked, his voice softer now as he searched her eyes.

Melinda smiled and put her hands on his face. “I don’t regret a single moment,” she said. She kissed his lips. “I was pretty lucky to fall in love with this man.”

King Sloan smiled and returned her kiss. “I wouldn’t have changed a thing, bastard child or not.”

Melinda looked at him seriously. “Mido needs to know. He could end this war. We need to get him back.”

King Sloan nodded. His wife was right. She said the words he could not bring himself to say outloud. He pushed Re’iam out of his mind. They could only be in In’audis. “I’ll send a raven,” King Sloan confirmed.