02 - The Barbed Rose
Praise for Gail Dayton’s
The Compass Rose
“With unadulterated sensuality that practically ignites the pages and a fantasy quest that is as masterfully intricate as it is entertaining, Dayton’s
The Compass Rose
will absolutely blow away fans of romance-powered fantasy. In a word: wow!”
–Barnes & Noble’s
Explorations
newsletter
“Gail Dayton has created a world that is so colorful and vivid readers will feel they made an adventurous visit to this enchanting realm.”
–
The Best Reviews
“
The Compass Rose
captured me from the first page…. Gail Dayton eloquently weaves a saga of unrequited love with the fear of rejection that haunts us all [and] cleverly and sagely reveals the heart and soul that unites a group of strangers into a family.”
–
Fallen Angel Reviews
“Top Pick, 4–1/2 stars: Court intrigues and romantic interludes keep the plot moving at a brisk pace.”
–
Romantic Times BOOKclub
GAIL DAYTON
The Barbed Rose
To April and Rhys.
You make me proud.
And to Jason, who does, too.
CONTENTS
Cast of Characters
Kallista Varyl
, Captain in the Adaran army, naitan of the North, lightning thrower, Godstruck of the One
Torchay Omvir,
Sergeant, Kallista’s bodyguard and godmarked ilias
Stone Varyl vo’Tsekrish,
former Tibran Warrior, godmarked ilias
Fox Varyl vo’Tsekrish,
former Tibran Warrior, fighting partner to Stone, godmarked ilias
Aisse Varyl vo’Haav,
Tibran woman, godmarked ilias
Obed im–Shakiri,
Southron trader, godmarked ilias
Lorynda Varyl,
twin infant daughter of Kallista and Torchay
Rozite Varyl,
twin infant daughter of Kallista and Stone
Niona Varyl,
infant daughter of Aisse and Fox
Merinda Kyndir,
Adaran East naitan healer
Serysta Reinine,
ruler of Adara, North naitan truthsayer
Keldrey,
Serysta’s bodyguard and reinas
Leyja,
Serysta’s bodyguard and reinas
Ferenday,
Serysta’s bodyguard and reinas
Syr,
Serysta’s bodyguard and reinas
Gweric,
Tibran male magic hunter
Joh Suteny,
former Adaran guard lieutenant, convict
Viyelle Torvyll,
Prinsipella of the Adaran prinsipality (province) of Shaluine and government courier
Karyl & Kami Varyl,
Kallista’s twin sisters by blood
Sanda Torvyll,
Prinsipas of Shaluine, Viyelle’s birth mother
Saminda Torvyll,
Prinsep of Shaluine, Viyelle’s aunt by blood and Second Mother
Kendra Torvyll,
Prinsipella of Shaluine, Viyelle’s sedil and cousin by blood
Vanis Kevyr,
Prinsipas of Shaluine, Viyelle’s birth father
Mowbray Syndir,
Prinsipella of Shaluine
Tiray Syndir,
Prinsipella of Shaluine
Dessa Torvyll,
Prinsipella of Shaluine
Bella Torvyll,
Prinsipella of Shaluine
Huyis Uskenda,
Adaran general in Ukiny
Huryl Kovallyk,
Serysta’s High Steward
Domnia Varyl,
founder of the Varyl bloodline, West naitan and prelate
Kallandra,
North naitan, military lightning thrower
Miray,
Kallandra’s bodyguard
Tylle,
Adaran guard lieutenant
Elliane,
East naitan healer
Fenetta,
North naitain farspeaker at Adaran court
Omunda,
Chief prelate of Arikon and Adara
Oskina,
Rebel leader
Ashbel,
Demon
Ataroth,
Demon
Untathel,
Demon
Xibyth,
Demon
Tchyrizel,
Demon
Keqwith,
Demon
Khoriseth,
Demon
Zughralithiss,
Demon
CHAPTER ONE
“H
alt
. Stand and identify yourself and your business.”
Kallista Varyl, Captain Naitan of the Reinine’s Own, just recalled from extended leave, somehow managed to refrain from swearing. The guard at the Mountain Gate leading into Arikon was only doing his duty. He couldn’t know the urgency riding her.
She saluted, snapped off her name and command. “I’ve been ordered to Arikon by the Reinine herself.” She handed over a copy of her orders.
The guard’s eyes widened when he saw the seals and signatures on the paper, but still he blocked her path.
Harnesses jangled as another in Kallista’s party pushed her way forward and saluted. “Courier Viyelle Torvyll, Prinsipella of Shaluine.” The courier began formally, then switched to a familiar, friendly tone as she addressed the guard. “You know me, Daltrey. You were standing duty here when I rode out to fetch the naitan back. This
is
Captain Varyl. These are her iliasti. I can swear to their identity. I know them all from the last time they were in the city, at court. The captain has urgent business. Do you honestly want to delay them?”
Kallista remembered the prinsipella from last year as well, and not fondly. The young woman had been a useless, annoying, mischief-making blot on Adaran society, and that was before the quarrelsome magic had got hold of her. Still, she seemed to have found something better to do with herself since then, joining the courier corps.
The prinsipella-courier had brought the Reinine’s orders to Kallista along with a warning of the rebellion stirring down on the plains. Viyelle had traveled back to the capital with Kallista’s party, fought through rebel ambushes with them, and at this moment, Kallista was liking the courier more and more.
“I’m sure you can, Prinsipella.” The guard, who had to be nearing the end of his military service, which would make him all of twenty-two, blushed under Viyelle’s attention, but he did not budge. “But rules are rules and with this rebellion on, it’s worth my head if I break them. The captain must be identified by an officer she served under previously.” He signaled to another footguard.
“I’ll go for you,” Viyelle said. “It’s on my way, and I’m mounted. I’ll be faster. My orders were to get the captain here, but she’s not here till she’s reported in, is she?” She turned to Kallista. “I’ll leave your horse in the palace stables so you can find it later.”
“Yes, fine,
go
.” Kallista waved a hand and the courier clattered off at the best speed she could make. Perhaps she did mean to make amends for last year’s calamities, as she said. Kallista decided to reserve judgment, watch and see how things unfolded. This guard, however…
Kallista glared at him, thinking hot and angry thoughts. He cleared his throat, stiffened to even more rigid attention, and didn’t move.
“Don’t twist yourself into a knot,” Torchay murmured from beside her, trying to calm her temper when it didn’t want to be calmed.
Sergeant Torchay Omvir had been doing that sort of thing for the past ten years, first as her assigned military bodyguard, and for the past year as her ilias—one of her temple-bound mates. He was an exception to the old saying that redheads have fiery tempers. Kallista’s temper was many times hotter than his, but her hair was so dark a brown as to be almost black, while Torchay’s hair was a deep, pure, true dark red that curled wildly when not confined ruthlessly in a military queue as it was now.
“Look around you,” he said. “Have you ever seen this many people at the Mountain Gate? Something’s happened.”