Birthright Read online

  Table of Contents

  Synopsis

  By the Author

  Acknowledgments

  Dedication

  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

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Chapter Thirty-eight

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  Chapter Forty

  Chapter Forty-one

  Chapter Forty-two

  Chapter Forty-three

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Books Available from Bold Strokes Books

  Birthright

  When her spies bring news that a swordswoman imprisoned in a neighboring kingdom bears the Royal mark, Princess Kathryn sets out to rescue Aiden, the woman she’s sure is the true heir to the Belstaff throne and the solution to a tyrant’s campaign to overrun her small queendom of Olmstead.

  That solution, however, is more of a problem. Too footloose for responsibility and distrustful of Kathryn’s selfless moral code, Aiden is a resistant heir. Her only interests are freedom and adventure. Despite their differences, Kathryn and Aiden discover common ground and a growing attraction as they set out on their mission to defeat the ruthless rogue ruler of Belstaff.

  The true test lies ahead, when they find they must free their hearts to finally liberate their queendoms.

  Birthright

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Birthright

  © 2017 By Missouri Vaun. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-62639-486-5

  This electronic book is published by

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.,

  New York, USA

  First Edition: February 2017

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Illustration By Paige Braddock

  Cover design by Sheri ([email protected])

  By the Author

  All Things Rise

  The Time Before Now

  The Ground Beneath

  Whiskey Sunrise

  Valley of Fire

  Birthright

  The Adventures of Nash Wiley

  Death By Cocktail Straw

  One More Reason To Leave Orlando

  Smothered and Covered

  Privacy Glass

  Writing as Paige Braddock:

  Jane’s World The Case of the Mail Order Bride

  Acknowledgments

  Birthright was a story that I originally imagined back in 1994. A list of names, places, sketches of the main characters, and mythology of their world sat in a “suitcase of ideas” for years. Finally, Aiden gets to share her story with you.

  I don’t read a lot of fantasy books, so that wasn’t the origin for this tale. This story idea came from, oddly, a history of Christianity class I was taking at the time at Emory University. I couldn’t help wondering what faith practice was in place in northern Europe before the Romans took over and rewrote the religion of the druids. Even though that’s where the idea germinated, Birthright is not a story of religion. The characters in this story took it in a different direction although elements of faith present themselves throughout Aiden’s journey.

  This is my sixth novel even though it was the first story I wanted to write. I’m glad I waited because I’ve learned so much from my editor, Cindy. And this narrative is better for it. Thanks also to Radclyffe, Sandy, Sheri, and Ruth for all of your continued support.

  A special thank you to Jenny, who pushed me to expand the “faith” content in the book and also to create a map of the four kingdoms.

  D. Jackson Leigh, I don’t ever want to publish a book that you don’t read first. You’re the best.

  Alena, thank you for talking through scenes while the book was in progress and reading rough bits of it along the way. I really appreciate all the notes from you and from Vanessa.

  Aiden is a character I’ve wanted to write for a long time. Birthright is a story I’ve wanted to tell for a long time. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

  Dedication

  For Evelyn

  Chapter One

  Aiden looked down at the swirled patterns of dust on her boots. The scuffed toes of the soft brown leather pierced the edge of light cast on the ground from the pub’s entryway. A battered wooden sign squeaked on metal hooks above her head as it swung back and forth in the ocean breeze. The Thirsty Boar was painted on the sign in faded letters. Laughter, singing, and a discordance of other noise spilled out the open door of the pub into the cool damp night air.

  A fat orange striped cat, perched on a wide windowsill, watched Aiden with a bored expression.

  As Aiden weighed whether to enter the pub, two thick-waisted men tumbled through the opening, leaning heavily on one another. She stepped aside before they caught her up in their stumbling exit.

  Aiden’s hunger won the brief internal argument, and she stepped inside. Aiden scanned the room for a moment from the door. A plump maiden slapped the hand of a groping fellow as she passed by his table, but then quickly fell into his arms laughing. A chair fell backward with a loud bang, knocking its occupant to the floor. Two of his chums helped him back to his feet.

  The noise, the patrons, the scene of general debauchery was in stark contrast to anywhere she’d ever been. Different was good.

  Aiden hadn’t set huge goals for herself when she left the monastery, except to get away and wait for fate to guide her. She figured she’d start with small objectives, work on attaining one and then another until they rippled out from one another like a stone dropped into a pond. She’d start small, a pint of ale and a hot meal.

  Rough wooden tables and benches filled the room. Each one packed with men and women eating, drinking ale, and celebrating. Celebrating what? Life? Aiden tried to study the room without staring. She wasn’t sure her curiosity would be welcomed.

  She tried to seem nonchalant as she passed through the crowd toward a bar with stools at the far end of the large open space. Only two seats were unoccupied. Aiden settled herself on one of the
stools and checked out those seated closest to her.

  On her right, a man and a woman with their heads pressed together spoke in hushed tones. To her left stood two men with broadswords at their belts. They were obviously men-at-arms; maybe they were charged with guarding the harbor of Eveshom. One of them nodded a greeting, and Aiden mimicked him, nodding back. He’d probably noticed the sword at her belt and assumed some kinship of a common trade.

  “What can I get you?” A barmaid wiped ineffectively at the well-aged boards in front of Aiden, boards worn smooth from a thousand hands.

  “Can I get some food and ale?”

  The young woman nodded and disappeared. Aiden had only just arrived in this port city; the trek on foot from the monastery had taken two full days. She looked down at her clothing and began to compare herself to others in the room. She was dressed in trousers and boots that rose almost to her knees. Her loose collared shirt had been white when she’d begun her journey, and even now, with smudges of soot and dirt, it still stood out amongst the clothing of the locals. Most of the other revelers looked like they were wearing work clothing, the sort of things a person would wear to the field, except for the two swordsmen nearest her.

  The room was drab and earthy, but the heavy smell of beer and sweat mingled with something savory. She swiveled on her stool, following the delicious scent coming from a wooden bowl of stew that had just arrived. A moment later, the barmaid delivered an earthen mug of ale.

  Aiden’s mouth watered. She dropped the leather satchel off her shoulder to the floor near her seat. The bag contained all her worldly possessions. She wanted to keep it close, but her shoulder ached from the weight of it.

  “How much?” Aiden held two coins out in her open palm.

  The maiden took one. “I haven’t seen you before.” It was a statement that implied a question.

  “I’m just passing through.” Aiden tasted the stew. It was delicious. She realized how hungry she was.

  “I’m Faye.” Faye leaned onto the bar. The dress she wore was low-cut at the neck and gathered at the waist. Laces up the front pulled the fabric tight along her hourglass figure. Faye’s distracting cleavage was brazenly displayed, and Aiden didn’t really try to hide the fact that she’d noticed.

  “I’m Aiden.” She’d almost finished the food already, one heaping spoonful at a time.

  “Here, I’ll get you more.” Faye took the dish and returned with a second helping.

  “Thank you.” Faye was pretty and nice. A friendly conversation after two days alone was a welcome change.

  “So, will you be here long?”

  “What?” Aiden looked up again from her dinner. It was hard to hear her in the noisy pub.

  “You said you’re just passing through. Will you be here long?”

  “Oh, I hadn’t really decided.”

  “Eveshom is small, but it’s a nice place. There are great views of the sea from the cliffs.”

  “Yeah, I noticed that as I walked into the village.”

  “Would you like another drink?”

  Before Aiden could respond, Faye had taken her mug and refilled it. Aiden had never been much for drinking ale, and given how empty her stomach was, she had the woozy feeling that the beer was going straight to her head. As an orphan raised by monks, she’d had to share their ascetic lifestyle. No drinking, except the rare glass of wine during special ceremonies.

  The orphanage run by the Brethren of Fire, warrior monks, had previously housed only boys. And so Aiden had been raised as a boy among boys. This meant that women were a bit of a mystery to her. She was twenty-one and ready to discover life outside the walled community. Other orphans reaching their twenty-first year had decided to stay and follow the warrior’s path, or remain in the settlement near the monastery, preferring the comfort of the familiar. Aiden was restless to see the world, and for her, the world began at the edge of the sea. She felt drawn to the ocean for some unknown reason. Some sense of destiny pulled her toward the coast.

  The trail she’d followed down from the mountains had emptied onto an open, grassy knoll along a cliff. Moonlight lit the white caps of the surf, but beyond the breakers, the blackness of the sea extended to oblivion. Aiden had stood there for a long time and peered west, but could see no end to it. The horizon was lost as the dark waters blended into the night sky. For a moment, the immensity of the churning dark water had made her dizzy.

  The arrival of the second pint brought her back to the present.

  Aiden tried to hand Faye another coin for the second serving of food and drink, but Faye shook her head. “No charge.” She smiled at Aiden and gave her a lingering gaze that made Aiden’s stomach feel funny. Faye leaned against the high wooden boards that separated them, watching Aiden finish the second bowl of stew.

  It wasn’t long before Faye relocated to the open spot near Aiden on the other side of the bar. She brushed away a loose clump of Aiden’s hair that had fallen into her eyes. The intimate gesture caused Aiden’s cheeks to flame with heat. Faye’s breasts pressed against Aiden’s arm as she leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “Are you shy?”

  Faye was girlishly full-figured, her face had rounded soft features, and her eyes were sparkling green. Her auburn hair was gathered in a loose braid. Her proximity and the scent of her pale skin was making Aiden’s head swim. Or was that the beer? Possibly, it was an intoxicating combination of both.

  “You’re pretty.” Faye blushed and giggled at the simple compliment. Aiden laughed and took another long swig of ale. Aiden didn’t know much about how to compliment a woman, but Faye’s reaction seemed to signal she was heading in the right direction.

  Faye edged closer. She partially stood between Aiden’s legs, and the folds of her skirt rustled against Aiden’s thigh. Aiden shifted on the stool so that they faced each other. She offered Faye a sip of her ale and Faye took it.

  “Your eyes are beautiful.” Faye leaned closer.

  “Are they?” Aiden felt her face heat up from Faye’s concentrated scrutiny.

  “I didn’t know it was possible for eyes to be that blue.”

  Faye leaned forward and kissed Aiden on the cheek. The movement allowed Faye to lean against Aiden’s inner thigh. Aiden decided that flirtation was her new favorite pastime. She made a silent vow to spend as much time as was necessary to perfect it.

  She was smitten with Faye’s charms, especially the ones from the waist up, and had stopped paying attention to the other patrons altogether.

  “What’s this now?” A booming male voice came from behind. Faye was facing the direction of the voice. She frowned and moved away from Aiden.

  “Nothing that concerns you, Gabe.” Faye sounded as if she were scolding a child.

  Aiden swiveled on her stool to investigate. Gabe was not a child. He was a big fellow with a sword in a sheath at his side. It was hard to tell from his attire what his station in life might be. He had several days’ growth of beard and looked as if maybe he’d been traveling also. His clothes were rough-textured and dusty.

  “Gabe, join us for a beer. I’m buying!” She swiveled back to face Faye and motioned with her arm for him to join them at the bar. Warmed by the ale and Faye’s interest, Aiden was feeling euphoric and friendly.

  “That’s not a good idea.” Faye’s hushed words were urgent. She placed her hands on Aiden’s arms.

  “Faye, I’m gone two days and you’ve taken up with this pup?” Gabe shoved Aiden’s shoulder, which caused her to fall into Faye, her face enticingly close to the scooped neckline of Faye’s bodice.

  “Sorry,” Aiden mumbled to Faye. She wasn’t sure what Gabe meant, but being called a pup didn’t sound like a compliment. “Listen, no one here is a pup. And there’s no reason to get upset.”

  “Upset? You dress like a man, but you talk like a woman. Stand up!” Gabe stepped closer, but Faye moved between them.

  “Now listen, Gabe. Sit down and I’ll bring you a drink.” Faye put her hand on his chest, obviously not afraid
to stand up to him. Maybe Aiden should make a quick, gracious exit. She was ready to admit she’d already gotten in over her head in the flirtation department. She stood.

  “Where are you going?” Gabe tried to reach around Faye and grab Aiden’s arm.

  “I’m leaving. It’s suddenly very crowded in here.” Aiden raised her open palms in Gabe’s direction. “Faye, would you like to join me?” She extended a hand to Faye.

  “You disrespect me by showing attention to my woman, and now you think you will just leave? And invite her to go with you?” Gabe’s voice grew louder with each question. He pulled his sword free, and benches skidded across the floor as those nearest him gave him space. The room was still noisy, but many standing nearby stopped their conversations to watch what might happen next.

  “I’m not your woman, Gabe.”

  “You. Quiet.” He pointed at Faye and glared.

  “Gabe, don’t—” Faye reached for his arm, but he shoved her aside so hard that she fell against the edge of a nearby table.

  Aiden stepped back and pulled her sword free. Her head was swimming a little from the drinks, but she still thought she could take Gabe. He looked as if he’d be slow and heavy on his feet. He had more body mass, but she felt sure she had skill and agility on her side. And she was of a mind to teach him a lesson about how to treat women.

  Aiden excelled with the broadsword. Wielding the weight of the long steel blade from the time she was a teen had strengthened her shoulders and arms. Those not schooled to notice details would certainly have assumed her to be a young man with her broad shoulders and narrow hips and waist.

  She circled Gabe, moving away from the bar so that she’d have a wider range of motion in the event that she needed it. The tavern quieted, all eyes on them. If Aiden had hoped to have a quiet meal and find shelter without being noticed, that hope had been dashed like waves against the nearby rocky shore.