Azala Press

This is a sneak peek at the first chapter of Broken Flames

Chapter 1: Koraine

This far out on the rocks, water sprayed my face as each wave crashed against the rough edges of the stone path jutting out to sea. I sat on my blanket watching as the sun rose, painting the sky a mix of orange and pink. Three large sea stacks poked out of the water in the distance, their rugged shape formed from years of erosion. 

When I was young, I dreamed of swimming out to them and climbing to the very top to catch a glimpse of the rest of the world. 

A small sound behind me caught my attention, forcing my gaze away from the sea. I called on the water, an orb forming in the palm of my hand. A white bird was perched on a nearby rock, pecking at the cracks. 

I enjoyed the peaceful solitude on days like this, needing space to work through my thoughts. No one would bother me out here. 

Relaxing my shoulders, I let the orb of water splash to the ground.

A small pool of water, stuck in the rocks, sat beside me. The little ripples spreading across the surface showed a reflection of my face. My pale blue eyes almost matched the hues of the sea water and strands of loose hair fell over them as I glanced down. I inherited my mother’s hair, the color as white as the snow that covered our kingdom during winter. I looked similar to both of my parents, inheriting my father’s complexion, a beautiful tan which I could attribute to our Morwenian heritage. 

The sun was almost fully up and a small rush of panic crept through me, realizing my father would soon be looking for me. A new wave rolled toward the rocks faster than the others. The closer it got, I noticed two horns poking up through it. 

Talay’s head broke through the surface of the water, his beady black eyes connecting with mine. I smiled, knowing the sea serpent was checking on me as worry crept in. Our connection ran deeper than just giving the serpent simple commands. Bonds were formed when learning to ride a sea serpent and it became an instinct, another sense. 

The beast tilted his head, as if to ask if I were alright. 

“I’m okay, go catch yourself some fish,” I nodded to the serpent, wishing I could join him on his back. 

Someday I would ride on Talay across the sea and visit the other kingdoms for myself. I’d always been confined to the safety of Morwen, the large kingdom built of those with water abilities. I longed to see more, but the world was too dangerous to travel with Abelon always seeking excuses to invade other kingdoms. They were an unforgiving kingdom built of flames, hungry for more power and resources.

He dove under the surface, swimming off down the coast. Talay was the runt of the sea serpents he’d been raised with, small, but just as ferocious as the others. It didn’t slow him down either. I watched his blue scales catching the sunlight as he quickly put distance between us. 

I wasn’t surprised the serpent had been affected by my growing worry. 

A letter had arrived from the palace a few days prior, calling all the nobles to a meeting. Every few months, the nobles would travel to the capital city of Alua, and meet with the king, to advise him on the kingdom and its needs. My father was one of these nobles and usually made the journey alone, but when the letter came this time it was not the same as it typically was.

This time, the letter had requested my father to bring me.

I’d only been to the palace once before, and no matter how many possibilities I ran through, I couldn’t find a single reason the king would want me there again.

The small blanket I’d set out on the cold surface of the rocks bunched in my arms as I gathered it up. I hurried back toward the cliffside at my back. With any luck, I would make it home just before my father returned from his early morning training.

My father was a nobleman, but before he was awarded this title he served as one of the king’s most trusted generals. All Morwenians recognized the name General Neroe, famous for winning a crucial battle during the last war we fought against Abelon. He sacrificed himself as a distraction during the Battle of Gila so his men could advance, saving the outlier island from being taken prisoner, and killing an entire portion of Abelon’s army. His name was known across all four kingdoms

Even an injury couldn’t keep him far from the warriors for long. He spent his mornings helping train the recruits of the king’s army. Selfishly, I wished he would slow down and not push himself too hard. War had a way of making one cling tight to the ones they loved. 

I found the small opening in the cliffside and slipped through sideways.

The path was narrow and dark. Within the confines of the tunnel walls, the temperature dropped significantly, and I could feel the cool dampness brush my skin. I pushed on, knowing the quicker I made it through the less I would feel trapped inside. It took me a total of ten minutes to reach the other end. Anyone else would have taken double the time, but I’d done this a million times before.

Exiting, I began the short route home. I walked close to the cliffside that lined the water. Large properties, where nobles resided, lined the top of the cliff and overlooked the sea . Beyond these homes, further down the dirt road I followed, were the smaller homes, apartments, and shops on the outskirts of the capital. My mother’s small shop was among these. She ran a small apothecary, providing remedies to the ill.

I used to enjoy visiting and helping at the little stone shop covered in ivy, but I didn’t go as often anymore. My mother worked less these days as an illness slowed her down. None of the healers she’d seen could figure out what was eating away at her life. Some days she was fine and others she slept all day. Fate was cruel, my mother dedicating her life to healing others, but unable to heal herself. 

I worked my way up the small hill that rose as I continued my walk home. This was the last stretch of road before my house. I could just spot the light grey stone and wooden door as they appeared over the hill, From where I stood, I couldn’t tell if my father had returned home yet. The candles he lit in the windows in the early morning were extinguished.

Hoisting my skirt high, I ran the rest of the way up the hill, anxious to get back. It had rained the night before, and the ground was still slightly wet from the summer storm. A slick spot of mud almost tripped me and I slowed my pace. The cool morning breeze tickled the skin showing between my skirt and matching top.

I made it to the front door, reaching for the handle and hesitated. My nerves started to creep in as I anticipated my father coming home, and needing to leave for the palace. The closer it came to leaving for the palace, the more my nerves grew.

With a deep breath, I pushed the door easily open. The creaking of the door was the only sound I heard as I stepped inside. 

Trying to stay light on my feet I tiptoed, avoiding the floorboards I knew would make noise if I put my weight on them. If I was quiet enough, no one would realize I slipped out before sunrise. Right as my foot met the first step that would lead me up to my room, I heard someone clear their throat from the kitchen.

I stumbled on the first step and turned myself toward the sound.

“Koraine?” my father called out from the kitchen.

I let out a defeated sigh, all of my hopes for sneaking back in unseen were gone.

“You’re home?” I asked, approaching my father hesitantly.

“I am. I decided I should be home today before we leave for the palace, so I sent Emmett to oversee things today. Imagine my surprise when I found my daughter was missing,” he said raising an eyebrow.

My older brother, Emmett, was always begging to tag along with my father, in hopes of someday serving as a warrior himself. No one expected him to serve, after all our father gave, and yet he still wouldn’t drop the idea. Soon my younger brother, Caspian, would start trying to join as well.

“I’m sorry-” I began, but he held up a hand.

“Koraine, you know what is on the line today, the king has summoned us. We cannot risk being late, and I certainly cannot risk showing up without you by my side.”

He shook his head in disappointment. Sometimes I wished he would yell at me, and get angry. This disappointment just made my heart crack. I knew I’d let him down. His loyalty to the king ran deeper than any other ties he had. He was a perfect general and advisor, but sometimes he forgot his children were not one of his men. 

“I was only visiting the water,” I tried, hoping he would realize he was worried for no reason. I never would’ve missed our summons.

“Did you take Talay?” he asked, eyeing me skeptically.

“Talay followed me out there,” I answered. My father worried too much. 

Most of the warriors in our kingdom had their own sea serpent, raised and bred by the palace. The only reason I’d been gifted one was because the king gifted my father’s children each with their own as a sign of his gratitude following the war. 

“What if you had lost track of time or injured yourself out on those rocks? The king expects you at the palace today. Do you realize what an honor that is?” 

Sighing, I already knew this was a pointless argument. His mind was already set that I’d been reckless.

“Yes,” I said, lowering my gaze to the ground. 

My father made his way over to me, standing from the chair he was seated in. He easily towered over me by at least a foot. A calloused  hand rested on my shoulder and he let out a small sigh.

“You know I just worry about you,” he said, his voice filled with warm concern. “I don’t know what I would do if something happened to you.”

The statement surprised me a little. I tilted my head, unsure how to answer. I knew how to protect myself. My father had always ensured I knew how to control water, almost equivalent to the warriors he trained. Why would anything happen to me?

“I’ll be alright,” I tried to assure him. With a small nod, he walked away to clean up his breakfast.

As he reached for a glass of water, his arm flinched in an almost unnatural movement, knocking it over. I used my abilities to catch the water from spilling everywhere and guided it into the glass that my father had already fixed. This had been happening more frequently since he returned from war. A side effect of the grave injury he’d sustained to his arm while saving his men. He’d almost lost the limb completely, but the healers managed to fix it the best they could. 

“Go clean up, we’ll leave for the palace soon,” he said without even glancing at me. His shoulders sunk inward, and he set back to work using his own water abilities to rinse off his utensils from breakfast.

* * *

I played with the two braids framing my face, trying to get them to sit perfectly. A frustrated grumble escaped my lips as I glanced in my vanity mirror again. The braids were uneven, and one had little strands of hair escaping. I could feel myself growing nervous with every passing minute. My father’s words kept playing through my head, reminding me of the honor I’d received to be invited to the palace.

I’d only met King Kaito Belizere once before as a young girl. I’d stood at my mother’s side as the king presented my father with honors and rewards following war. I remembered being so excited in the presence of the king and queen, obsessing over the fancy crown the queen wore, and staring wide eyed with wonder as the king addressed us all. 

This time was different. There was more at stake now. The king had the power to make anyone’s greatest dreams come true, or ruin their lives in a matter of seconds. The older I got, the more I understood this. The world could be a cruel place. I’d seen noble families stripped of their titles, watched families torn apart by war, and unfortunate individuals cast into poverty all within seconds. Ever since the war the king ruled with less mercy and compassion, and more of an iron fist. 

If I wasn’t careful today, that could be us. One wrong move, like being late, and the king could make our lives miserable. I’d keep quiet and let my father do all the talking. I was simply going to observe and fulfill a request, nothing more. We’d be home before supper, and I’d be back in this room laughing to myself over how nervous I’d been for no reason.

A knock on my door snapped me out of deep thought. Turning from my vanity, I found Caspian standing in my doorway, arms crossed and leaning against the frame. Even like this, he towered over me. He was starting to look more like an older brother rather than younger.

“Come to see me off?” I asked teasingly. I’d always been closer with Caspian than I had with Emmett. We were only ten months apart in age.

Emmett was all focus, and no time for fun. It was always Caspian and I getting into trouble when we were younger. He used to come visit the water with me, but he’d stopped in recent years when the idea no longer sounded fun anymore. 

“I’ve come to make sure you’ve cleaned up so you don’t embarrass our family,” he said with a grin.

I threw a look of steel his way, scowling so hard I was sure my makeup would smudge. A bit of sparkling powder was painted on my eyelids, bringing out the bright blue of them.

“Screw off,” I huffed.

“Oh, come on, Koraine. You know I’m only joking,” he said, stalking over to me. 

I was fidgeting with the clasp of a silver and blue necklace, trying to get the thing to stay around my neck. My fingers trembled a bit with the reminder that I needed to leave soon.

“I came to see if you were alright,” he admitted, grabbing the necklace clasp from me and helping me secure it.

“I’m as okay as I suppose I’ll ever be,” I shrugged, trying to hide my nerves from him.

The knowing glance I saw flash across his face told me he wasn’t buying my lie, but he didn’t push. He knew me well enough to know I would never admit it if I was afraid. Growing up with a father who was a general and two brothers, I learned how to put on a brave face.

Still, Caspian knew me just a little better than anyone else.

“I’m sure it’s nothing. The king is probably just curious about what Father’s one daughter looks like. Maybe he wants you to befriend the princess.”

Princess Asena and I were the same age. She barely left the palace and was the king’s only heir. By now, I was surprised the king hadn’t forced her into marriage yet. She was the right age, and she would need a husband to produce heirs when she inherited the throne.

“Well, in that case, I’m sure we will be home in no time when they realize I’m the worst possible companion for the princess,” I chuckled. 

Still fiddling with my appearance, I heard my father preparing the horses for our journey outside. My brother’s hands grabbed my wrists from behind me, stopping me in my tracks.

“Enough, you look fine,” he sighed, his blue eyes staring expectantly at me.

“Fine isn’t good enough,” I argued.

The faint echo of the door closing below us alerted me that my father had finished the preparations. I knew what came next. He’d call for me soon, and we’d be well on our way to the palace.

“You don’t really have a choice,” Caspian said, reading my mind. My brother turned, walking out of my room. He paused in the doorway, running a hand through his dark hair.

“You look perfect, don’t let those stuck up royals make you think anything less. I’m going for a ride at sea on Elios, but I’ll be here when you get back,” he said, leaving for his sea serpent.

It was one of the nicest and only compliments I’d ever received from my brother. If he was being sentimental, then even he must be nervous.

Order through Barnes and Noble for a physical copies.

Check out my Tik Tol Shop for a signed copy or special edition covers!

Find Broken Flames ebook here to read the rest!