Harvest of Dreams (The Gods' Dream Trilogy)

THE GODS’ DREAM TRILOGY

BOOK THREE:

HARVEST OF DREAMS

by

Debra Holland

THE GODS’ DREAM TRILOGY

BOOK THREE:

HARVEST OF DREAMS

Copyright © 2011 by Debra Holland

ISBN: 978-1-939813-07-7

ePub Edition

All other reserved by author. The reproduction or other use of any part of this publication without the prior written consent of the rights holder is an infringement of the copyright law.

GLOSSARY

THE DEITIES OF KIMTAIR

Withea, Goddess of the desert

Yadarius, SeaGod, God of Seagem and the creatures of the ocean

Besolet, Goddess of Ocean’s Glory

Guinheld, Goddess of Zacatlan

Arvintor, TwinGod, God of Exonlah

Ontarem, Evil TwinGod, God of Penutar

HEROES AND HEROINES

Book One: Khan Laenser and Daria, Princess of Seagem

Book Two: Indaran, Prince (and later King) of Seagem and Jasmine Karzai

Book Three: Thaddis, (deposed) King of Ocean’s Glory and Sadie Isaacson

SECONDARY CHARACTERS

Earth

Amir Laenser, Khan’s half-brother (who tries to kill him)

Moussad, Amir’s henchman

Seagem

The Royal Family

Iceros, King of Seagem

Prince Cihkel,

Prince Joshel

Prince Setteff

Others

Issa, Daria’s nurse

Micfal, the weaponsmaster

Caifed, Archpriest

Anza, Archpriestess

Philan, Micfal’s grandson

Ocean’s Glory

Stevenes, King of Ocean’s Glory (deceased)

Ogan, Councilor

Boerk, soldier

Zacatlan

Devore, Archpriest

Rodna, Archpriestess

Meleda, Warrior-Priestess

Penutar

Pasinae, Trine Priestess

Kokam, Trine Priest

Nabric, Trine Priest

Vol, Priest

Landers, soldier

Freeish, Landers’ wife

Tashta, Landers’s daughter

Slave Camp

Mastin, Indaran’s friend

Tempor, councilor’s son, twin of Elanath

Elanath, betrothed of Cihkel

Attle, a page

Timba, a page

Chercheca, mother of Merrel

Merrel, baby saved by Jasmine

Che-da-wah
(nomads)

Stridza (Stridzat and Stridzae) clan leaders

Roe-al, the son of the Stridzae

Jora, Roe-al’s betrothed

Dihel, clan warrior

Porval-nic, Roe-al’s rival

Sha-na, healer

ANIMALS

Horses

Nika (belongs to Khan)

Daisy (belongs to Khan)

Teifa (belongs to Daria)

Darklady (belongs to Roe-al)

Monkey-bats

Shad

Shir

Mongas

Shareef (belongs to Jasmine)

Jatay (belongs to Roe-al)

Dog

Cheta (belongs to Sadie)

PROLOGUE

KIMTAIR, PENUTAR

YEAR 23 IN THE REIGN OF ICEROS

Prince Thaddis paced the deck, urging the royal flagship to sail ever faster, heading toward the gray land mass in the distance. Yesterday, they’d crossed from sunshine and lavender skies into the dankness of a gray sea and sky. His men murmured and grumbled, wanting to return home.

But Thaddis sensed Indaran was somewhere on that dark land. When word had come from Seagem that Indaran’s heartline had been severed from his family, Thaddis refused to believe the news. He and Indaran didn’t have heartline connections, but they had a bond of brotherhood. Thaddis trusted his instincts; he’d would certainly feel the emptiness if his beloved foster brother had passed to the Hall of Yadarius.

He sensed Indaran was in trouble and needed help. And nothing—not his fears, nor his men’s fears—was going to turn Thaddis from his search. He’d left Ocean’s Glory determined to rescue his best friend or die trying.

His father, King Stevenes, would give him hell when he returned after sailing off without seeking his sovereign’s permission. But when Thaddis brought Seagem’s crown prince home, all would be forgiven. Both countries would celebrate Indaran’s return, and Thaddis would be a hero. When the grayness of his surroundings pressed down too heavily, when he wanted to give up and order the ship to come about, Thaddis used his imaginary homecoming celebration and the joyous looks on the faces of Indaran’s family members to take his mind off the fear roiling in his belly and the oppression weighing on his shoulders.

A harbor and a long stone quay came in sight. A narrow stone road zigzagged up the side of the cliff, and even with the telescope, Thaddis couldn’t see over the top. At sea level, several gray stone buildings lined one end of the dock. A small white coach, with a team of horses was parked in front of one. There was no sign of the driver, nor of any other inhabitants.

Thaddis impatiently paced the observation deck while the crew below went about the process of docking the ship. The smell of rotting fish and seaweed drifted past. His royal guard and the other soldiers he’d brought gathered around him, swords ready. But no attack, nor any attempt at communication, came.

Just as Thaddis was about to order a group of soldiers to reconnoiter, a door opened in the quay-side building. A dark-haired woman in a long, gray robe stepped out, carrying a metal vessel with both hands. Several men in similar robes followed her. They lined up in a formation like an arrowhead, with the woman at the point, and moved in unison about fifty paces toward the ship before they stopped and waited.

Up closer, Thaddis could see the woman possessed an exotic beauty, with her dark skin, hair, and eyes, perfect features, and from what he could tell under the robe, a curvaceous body. Around her head, she wore a huge gray pearl on a circlet. Suddenly, eagerness to meet her swept away all caution.

Ascending from the wheelhouse deck, Thaddis motioned for two sailors standing near the rail to roll out the gangplank, then he strode forward. He awkwardly climbed down the steep, swaying plank, cursing the fact that there was no way to preserve his princely dignity while doing so. Once on the stone quay, he staggered a bit, forcing himself to walk as if he wasn’t adjusting to solid land after weeks at sea. He met the dark-eyed gaze of the woman, feeling immediate pleasure at her beauty. Then he sauntered over, giving her a courtly bow and a charming smile—the one females of every age always responded to.

This woman seemed no different. She widened her long-lashed eyes and gave him an admiring curve of her lips that shot attraction through his body. “I bid you welcome to Penutar. I am Pasinae.” Her voice sounded husky and hinted of sexual pleasures. She held up a large two-handled cup.

Thaddis became aware of his parched throat, and the need for refreshment grew paramount.

“Drink,” she urged. “Become one with us.”

Hoping Pasinae meant that statement literally, Thaddis took the heavy vessel. “I am Thaddis from Ocean’s Glory.” He deliberately left out his title, wanting her interested in him, not his rank. He lifted the welcome cup and sipped. The beverage tasted like the finest mead, sweet and tart with a kick underneath. He drank deeply.

She glanced seductively at him from under lowered lashes. “I would have you visit our city. Will you come with me? We will return you safely to your ship in a few hours.”

All suspicion, any thought of finding Indaran emptied from his mind, replaced by an overwhelming desire to go with her, a hope that she offered to quench his lust as she had his thirst.

He turned and conveyed his orders to his royal guard. He repeated them to the captain of the ship who’d followed him down to the quay.

Although the man cast a hopeful glance at Lady Pasinae, she did not formally welcome him or offer the cup.

Both the captain and the leader of his guard dared to protest him leaving without their protection.

Thaddis made a chopping motion, issuing a command for them to stay behind that they dared not disobey.

With a graceful wave of her hand, Pasinae indicated he come with her to the carriage. As they walked together, her fragrance floated to him on the breeze, heavy and flowery. The scent made his head swim.

They climbed into the conveyance, which turned out to be made from the largest derli shell he’d ever seen. He turned to Pasinae in amazement, meaning to ask where they’d discovered such a large specimen, and how they’d overcome the stingers of the rightful inhabitant. But when he looked into her beautiful face, all rational thought fled.

A small dark man in a tattered gray robe climbed into the driver’s seat, took the reins, and flicked them. The horses started the climb up the steep road, and the sharp angle pressed the two of them back against the cushioned bench.

Thaddis started to make conversation, although he had difficulty forming words. His brain seemed fuzzy, and his tongue thick. In the back of his mind, an alarm buzzed, and he struggled for clarity.

Pasinae brushed her hand over his thigh.

His breathing hitched, and his concerns clouded.

They reached the lip of the cliff, and he leaned forward as much as possible, wanting to see what awaited him. He’d just caught a glimpse of gray stone buildings, when dizziness overcame him. Slumping back in the seat, black sparkles dancing across his vision, he passed out.

~ ~ ~

Thaddis came to with his arms around the shoulders of gray-kilted men on either side of him who propped him upright between their bodies. He stared blurry-eyed at the inside of an enormous square block building.

Noxious incense from a brazier in the front drifted his way, drugging Thaddis’s already-fuzzy brain. He blinked several times, trying to focus his vision. People lay motionless on slabs around the cavernous room. A statue of a God he’d never seen dominated the front, looking handsome and powerful. The God wore a red kilt that made Thaddis think of blood.

He took a closer look at the lifeless people. With a shock that penetrated his fogged mind, he recognized some of Indaran’s crewmembers, lying on the slabs. Their chests rose in shallow breaths.

Then he saw a familiar figure clad in Seagem’s green in front on a larger slab like a bier, his long blond hair spilling over the side.
Indaran!
Thaddis tried to lurch over to his friend, but his legs had no strength, and the two priests easily restrained him. If he squinted, he could see a faint gray line running from the statue to each man, the one to Indaran the thickest.

The line pulsed and throbbed like a vein, and Thaddis searched the room.
What is this place? Why—?
When he’d realized empty slabs waited for him and his men, fear almost brought him to his knees

Pasinae moved into his line of vision, gliding close.

Her scent intoxicated him. He tried to fight his response.

She cupped his face. “Come and meet our God, Ontarem.”

Her touch sent sexual energy racing down his spine to pool in his groin. In spite of his resistance, his body reacted to her.

Her smile grew but didn’t reach her dark eyes, which remained cold. “Such a handsome man,” she purred. “I’m going to take pleasure in controlling you.”