Excerpt: 'Siren's Fury' by Mary Weber
Mary Weber shares an excerpt from her new release, Siren's Fury, book two in the Storm Siren Trilogy.
Mary: Nym risked her life to save her homeland of Faelan. Now that the kingdom is safe, celebrations and feasting have begun to proclaim a new era of peace. But is the war really over? To her horror, Nym has learned a ferocious enemy lurks within the royal court — one who appears to be someone he is not. Because somehow, some way, the shape-shifting Draewulf is still alive.
And he's existing within the body of the man Nym loves.
With the rest of Faelan's people, including their King Sedric, believing the monster is dead, there's no time to convince them that not only is Draewulf in the palace, but he's just robbed Nym of her precious Elemental abilities. Knowing the monster will destroy the rest of the people she cherishes, not to mention the entire Hidden Lands realm, Nym takes it upon herself to assassinate the royal impostor before it's too late.
EXCERPT (from chapter three)
"'Twas a hundred years ago and the bloodiest night in Faelen history."
The creepy voice is accentuated by dimming candles and a low rumble of drums, and the entire room is instantly focused on the ten-foot-tall speaker in front of the stage.
My relieved sigh slips out. I don't even have to see the man to recognize him as the funny dwarf, wearing stilts, from the Travellers' Carnival who gave me, Colin, and Eogan breakfast the morning after I caused an avalanche. The morning after Eogan first kissed me.
Allen the Fabler, Travelling Baronet. A smile rises at his kindness, at the memory he brings, but I'm fairly certain acknowledging it would dissolve what wisps of sanity I have left.
He looms over the audience, flourishing his short arms to make shadows on the wall. "Three kingdoms—Faelen, Bron, an' Drust were at war." His voice booms through the air. "Except the real war
was here, near where you're all standin'. And Faelen's streets began runnin' with blooooood."
I recoil and go back to my search just as shivers and whistles reverberate through the crowd, urging on the dwarf's recount of Faelen's most horrific legend—The Monster and the Sea of Elisedd's Sadness. As if the story is somehow now of interest to those high courtiers who doubted Draewulf ever existed as anything more than a past rival king. Have they decided to acknowledge him now that he's supposedly dead? Or maybe they're simply celebrating the happier ending tacked on. What has King Sedric told them?
"Under a fog-cloaked night," the dwarf continues, "Drust's evil king, Draewulf, snuck through these streets." Behind him a group of wild-looking actors emerge on the low stage.
"Shape-shiftin' into human form to draw in men, women, and youngsters. Then returnin' to his wolf form to slay 'em, one by one."
"Stop," I want to hiss at him. "You're only encouraging whatever Draewulf's got planned." But I keep my mouth shut and the dwarf keeps going as I push my way through the audience. The men and women I bump into give me startled looks followed by comments of "well done" and "Faelen's weapon." I ignore them. Where is he? He should be close, enjoying the sound of his own disgusting story.
A loud growl from the dwarf just about yanks me from my skin. My swearing is met by that of the spellbound listeners as the performers do five flips before falling theatrically on the ground—all except for the one dressed as a wolf, who pretends to devour them.
The dwarf laughs. "But when the captain o' the guard caught up with him that evenin', Draewulf was dressed up like one o' the men he'd just killed. Climbed inside his body and slowly absorbed his soul. 'Til there was nothin' left except his wolf self hidin' inside the man's flesh."
I should've plugged my ears. My stomach turns. I begin weaving faster through the balcony crowd. There are too many bodies and giant hats swaying to the dwarf's word rhythm. C'mon, Eogan, where are you?
"An' the only reason the captain was able to catch him and bring him in? The shape-shifter allowed it. Wanted an audience with Faelen's King Willem."
Someone tumbles against me and I reach out to keep from tripping. "Beg your pardon," I mutter, before recognizing one of the few Bron guards allowed in the Castle this week. Part of Eogan's personal protection unit left here from Bron. He stares coolly, but there's a slight awareness in his gaze that says he knows who I am.
He doesn't move.
I don't either.
"Where is he?" I demand.
"For twenty months he'd been makin' war with Bron and Faelen." The entertainer's voice grows more exuberant by the second. "Now he was lookin' to make a deal! Swore he'd become Faelen's ally. For a price. Which was ..."
The guard in front of me glances at the dwarf and smiles.
My neck twitches. Ah litches.
"Our Elementals," someone in the crowd shouts. And just like that the entire room shifts its attention.
I don't have to look beyond the first few faces to know that two hundred more gazes are glued to me.
"So tragic, so horrific," the dwarf says. "The price was the Elementals. Condemned to death by King Willem's and Draewulf's treaty note. An' the Sea of Elisedd, she's churned noisy 'bout it ever since. Cryin' for those Elemental children for the past hundred years. Until ..."
To the side of me a woman giggles too prettily. When I peer over, there's a man with jagged black hair beside her, leaning into her, and a host of Faelen soldiers nearby.
The audience abruptly roars, and then the Bron guard steps around me, blocking my path. When I glance up he shrugs. "King Eogan's not available yet. You should watch the show." He points toward the dwarf who has jumped and vaulted himself across a portion of the room to land below the balcony where King Sedric is standing. The little man shoves his hands up to indicate the young king. "Until King Sedric, the Elemental, and King Eogan defeated him!"
The spectators erupt.
Find out more about Mary and her books at www.maryweber.com.