“Because my king asked it of me,” Randal said as if it were obvious. “The original gura must be protected, and it was greatly depleted recently.”
“Yeah; we know.” It was my turn to smirk.
Randal sniffed in offense and set his indignant stare on me. “You mock the slaughter of the first Gura?”
“That wasn't a slaughter,” I huffed. “You want to talk about a slaughter? I'll tell you about the thousands of Jotun we killed last week. Now, that was a slaughter.”
Randal's eyes went wide, and he looked around the room at the smug faces with new respect. “I haven't heard of this battle. Why did you kill Norse Giants?”
“Because they had the nerve to try to take over Tír na nÓg,” Banning said. “That's my consort's world now, and if you come against my woman, you come against me.”
“And all of us,” Arnold—one of Banning's commanders—added.
Randal started to look nervous, but he quickly masked it. “I was sent by our king to—”
“Your king,” Banning corrected.
“What?” Randal's eyes went even wider.
“He's your king, not mine,” Banning said evenly. “The last time I saw my father, he tried to kill my lady. I spared his life, but he's still dead to me, and I refuse to serve a dead king.”
“Then I suppose this invitation will also be refused,” Randal pulled an envelope out of his inner pocket and handed it to Banning. “But I vowed to deliver it, and await your response.”
Banning opened the envelope and pulled out a beautifully calligraphed invitation to King Sorin's birthday party. He laughed and tossed the invitation into the nearest fireplace.
“You supposed correctly,” Banning said. “Thank you for delivering it, Gheara Randal.”
Randal blinked in surprise and then bowed. “It was an honor to meet you, Gheara Banning.”
Banning smiled at that. The man had earned enough respect with that one word to encourage further consideration.
“May I offer you some refreshment before you leave?” Banning asked. “You've come a long way.”
“I would love to take you up on that”—Randall smiled warmly—“but not tonight. Thank you for your hospitality, but I need to head back to the airport. My plane leaves in two hours.”
“Have a safe trip,” Banning said.
“Thank you.” Randal turned toward the door and then paused. Over his shoulder, he said, “Your father is determined to make the Suceava Gura the strongest in the world, and to see you lead it.” He looked Banning in the eye. “At any cost.”
“I appreciate the warning.” Banning said with sincere sobriety.
Randal nodded back and left.
“Well that was interesting,” I noted.
“My father strengthening his Gura to come after me?” Banning asked. “We already knew he was working toward that end.”
“No; that Randal guy,” I said. “He was totally into you.”
“He was not,” Banning huffed.
“Oh, yeah; he wanted you,” I teased.
The Gura chuckled.
“He did, Gheara,” Arnold confirmed. “He was checking you out.”
“My father is possibly consolidating a gura of ghearas to attack us for the second time, and you people want to talk about the sexual tastes of our visitor.”
I looked around the room at all the smiling faces, and then back at Banning. “Yep,” I answered for everyone.
“May the Gods help us,” Banning groaned.
“They probably will, if we ask nicely,” I said merrily.
Banning rolled his eyes and walked away.
Grammar Giggles
And just for a little giggle, here are some grammar mistakes found during the editing of this book.
Correct Line: His altar room was deep inside the stone foundation of the island, but there was only one way down to it, and that was through Odin's private rooms, which were on the main floor.
Giggle: His altar room was deep inside the stone foundation of the island, but there was only one way down to it, and that was through Odin's privates rooms, which were on the main floor. (I put this one first because I thought it was the funniest; I laughed so damn hard when I caught it. Odin has a whole room for his privates.)
Correct line: The rest of the court watched in horror as more men and women fell to the stones; writhing through the loss of their magic.
Giggle: The rest of the court watched in horror as more men and women fell to the stones; writing through the loss of their magic.
Correct line: Odin was very intuitive; nearly to the point of being psychic.
Giggle: Odin was very intuitive; nearly to the pint of being psychic.
Correct line: “I was able to get several Gods to assist us.”
Giggle: “I was able to get several Gods to insist us.”
Correct line: It even gave me hope; its cheery tambourine leading into a lighthearted beat.
Giggle: It even gave me hope; its cherry tambourine leading into a lighthearted beat.
Correct line: Not that I didn't trust Reyne; I simply wanted to get the children to safety before the blood started to flow.
Giggle: Not that I didn't tryst Reyne; I simply wanted to get the children to safety before the blood started to flow.
Pronunciation Guide/ Character List
Adam MacLaine: Human client
Aoide: E-da, Elaria's aunt and Siren
Arnet: Are-net, Knight of Flourite
Ava: A-vah, Queen of Sapphire
Banning: Ban-ing, Gheara of the Kansas Gura
Barret: Bare-it, Commander of Chrysocolla Army
Branna: Bra-nah, Duchess of Jade
Carrick: Care-ick, Knight of Onyx
Cerberus: Ser-bur-us, Demi-God dog-shifter
Declan: Deck-lan, King of Alexandrite
Edmond: King of Jet
Eileen: I-lean, Queen of Copper
Elaria: Eh-lar-ee-ah, Spellsinger
Finbar: Fin-bar, Duke of Sapphire
Gage Saeiqa: Gauge Sah-E-kah, griffin
Galen: Gay-lin, King of Sapphire
Garret: Gare-it, King of Topaz
Gerard: Jare-rod, Knight of Onyx
Hugh: Hew, Knight of Onyx
Isandra: I-san-dra, Queen of Diamond
Jack Armstrong: Loup
Jameson: Jay-meh-son, Knight of Fluorite
Jarlath: Jar-leth, King of Diamond
Jonah Malone: Human gangster
Kalliope: Kah-lie-oh-pee, Elaria's mother and a Siren
Kean: Key-in, Knight of Howlite
Lorcan: Lore-can, King of Copper
Maeve: May-ve, Queen of Peridot
Moirin: Moy-rin, Queen of Tiger's Eye
Mrs Chadwick: Adam MacLaine's housekeeper
Niall, Nigh-all, King of Citrine
Odran: O-drawn, King of Howlite
Oonagh: Oooh-nah, Queen of Snowflake Obsidian
Parthalon: Par-tha-lawn, King of Jade
Quinlan: Kwin-lahn, Alchemist
Riona: Ree-oh-nah, Queen of Malachite
Sara: Sare-rah, pink tourmaline fey.
Shauna: Shah-na, Queen of Amethyst
Shevaun: Sheh-von, Queen of Chrysocolla
Teagan: Tee-gan, Queen of Jet
Tír na nÓg: Tier-nah-n'awhg, Realm of the Fairies, the Land of Youth
Torin: Tore-in, King of Onyx
About the Author
Amy Sumida is the Internationally Acclaimed author of the Award-Winning Godhunter Series, the fantasy paranormal Twilight Court Series, the Beyond the Godhunter Series, the music-oriented paranormal Spellsinger Series, and several short stories. Her books have been translated into several languages, have made it to the top seller's list on Amazon numerous times, and the first book in her Spellsinger Series won a publishing contract with Kindle Press.
She was born and raised in Hawaii and brings her unique island perspective to all of her books. She doesn't believe in using pen n
ames, saving the fiction for her stories. She's known for her kick-ass heroines who always have a witty comeback ready, and her strong, supporting male characters who manage to be sensitive and alpha all at once.
For information on new releases, detailed character descriptions, and an in-depth look into the worlds of Godhunter and the Twilight Court, check out Amy's website;
http://www.amysumida.com/
You can also find her on facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Godhunter-Series/323778160998617?ref=hl
On Twitter under @Ashstarte
On Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7200339.Amy_Sumida
On Instagram as; ashstarte
On Tumblr: http://vervainlavine.tumblr.com/
And you can find her entire collection of books, on her Amazon Author Page.