Fractured Families (The Pearl of Wisdom Saga Book 2)
The Pearl of Wisdom Saga, Volume 2
Fractured Families
Written by
Jason Paul Rice
Cover Art by Nikola Avramovic
Published by Jason Paul Rice
Copyright 2015, Jason Paul Rice, All rights reserved.
Second Edition, 2016
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. All names are made up and used fictionally. Any resemblance to real people is completely coincidental. Any resemblance to real events is only part of the author’s imagination.
Special thanks: Mom, Nandita, Nikola, Ken Scott, Tara Woods, Heidi, Princess Kayla
DEDICATED TO LUCILLE AND MIM, THE TWO GREATEST GRANDMOTHERS TO EVER GRACE THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
*Background information for the Pearl of Wisdom Series*
POV/VIP CHARACTER INFORMATION
ALI-STANLEY WAMHOFF-65-FOX CHAPEL
KING OF DONEGAL, OLD, FLABBY MAN, VERY CLUMSY, HAS BEEN KING FOR 30 YEARS, NOT A WARRIOR OR GOOD LEADER
ALI-STER WAMHOFF-18-FOX CHAPEL
KING'S SON, BATTLE TESTED, UNMARRIED, TALL/RED HAIR/BROWN EYES, LONG FRECKLED FACE, BACK IN CAPITOL AFTER FOUR YEARS AT WAR
BREHAN CASTAWAY-22-MATTINGLY
KNIGHT, BASTARD FROM PEARL ISLANDS, DARK SKIN/CHISELED FEATURES/GREEN EYES, CLOSE TO RICEROS & IN SECRET RELATIONSHIP WITH ELISA
EDBURGH ETBURN-26-WATERS EDGE
BROWN HAIR/BLUE EYES, SON OF DUKE TYUS ETBURN OF WATERS EDGE, BATTLE TESTED, SEEKING VENGEANCE
ELISA BURKE WAMHOFF-18-BURKEVILLE
DAUGHTER OF DUKE OF BURKEVILLE, TALL/PALE, LONG BROWN HAIR AND EYES, MARRIED TO HEIR OF THE KINGDOM, PRINCE ALI-VARIS WAMHOFF
EMILIA BURKE WAMHOFF-33-FOX CHAPEL
LOWER BORN MEMBER OF THE BURKE FAMILY, QUEEN OF DONEGAL, MARRIED KING AT 14, FRISKY, BORED WITH THE KING AND CASTLE LIFE
JON COLBERT-41-MATTINGLY
DUKE OF MATTINGLY, AT ODDS WITH KING BECAUSE OF HIS FATHER’S REBELLION, SHORT/STOUT, GREEN EYES, BLOND HAIR
LEIMUR LELUC-20-GOLDENFIELD
PRINCESS, EXPELLED FROM CASTLE BY PARENTS AT 16, ROSE UP THE RANKS OF ARMY, BADASS, BLACK HAIR/PURPLE EYES
THE MAN WITH THE GOLDEN SWORD-30
BASTARD OF UNKOWN PARENTS FROM BLAIRS BEAK, BELIEVES HE IS DESTINED TO BE KING, BLOND HAIR/BLUE EYES, HAD A ROUGH LIFE SO FAR
MARIAH COLBERT-17-MATTINGLY
GIRLIE GIRL, DAUGHTER OF DUKE JON COLBERT, NAIVE, TALL AND SKINNY, LIGHT BROWN HAIR/GRAY EYES
OLLOR-??
MYSTERIOUS MAN OF UNKOWN BACKGROUND, ON A MISSION TO SAVE HIS SOUL, CASTLE BORN BUT RUGGED
PENROSE ELLSWORTH-20-FOX CHAPEL
MEMBER OF KINGSGUARD, HAUNTED BY VOICES, BLOND HAIR/BLUE EYES, KINGS RIGHT HAND GUARD
RICEROS COLBERT-11-MATTINGLY
A SCRAWNY KID, SON OF DUKE JON COLBERT, BLOND HAIR/GREEN EYES, MUTE, GENIUS, EXPERT ARCHER, MYSTERIOUS PAST
RUSSELL SEABROOK-17-WATERS EDGE
KNIGHT, BASTARD, LIVES IN CASTLE AS THE FAVORITE OF THE DUCHESS ALI-PARI, LOOKING FOR MORE IN LIFE
RULING FAMILIES BY REGION
FOX CHAPEL
WAMHOFF FAMILY CREST: TWO FOXES ADDORSED ON EITHER SIDE OF A CROWN
PATRIARCH--KING ALI-STANLEY WAMHOFF-65
MATRIARCH--QUEEN EMILIA BURKE WAMHOFF-33 KING'S 1ST WIFE--PARYS ETBURN WAMHOFF-DEAD
SONS--ALI-VARIS-47(PARYS), ALI-STER-18(EMILIA), ALI-SUNDRY(EMILIA)(DEAD)
DAUGHTERS--ALI-TERRI-45, ALI-CARY-38, ALI-TISTE-34, ALI-BIA-29, ALI-GARE-26, ALI-SANDRE(DEAD)--ALL BORN TO PARYS
KING’S GUARD KNIGHTS--SIR PENROSE ELLSWORTH-20, SIR ANDERLEY ELLSWORTH-26, SIR JERMAR LOLAT-33, SIR OLIVER WEDGEWORD-42, SIR NATE EDGEWELL-36, SIR THOMAS MARON-34
GRAND COUNT SILZEUS
MATTINGLY
COLBERT FAMILY CREST: A GOLDEN BULL ON A BLACK FIELD
PATRIARCH--DUKE JON COLBERT-41
MATRIARCH--DUCHESS CAMELLE ETBURN COLBERT-38
SONS--KRYS-18, RYNO-16, RUXIN-15, RICEROS-11
DAUGTER--MARIAH-17
NOTABLE KNIGHTS--SIR BREHAN CASTAWAY-22, SIR HERMAN WEIHAM-38, SIR BALTHASAR STRONG-44, SIR RICHARD ROSEBUD-40, SIR JEREMIAH ELMHURST-28, SIR RYAN CAUGHLEIGH-18, SIR GUNNAR PINE-36
COUNT SPROUL
WATERS EDGE
ETBURN FAMILY CREST: SILVER EAGLE ON A FIELD OF BURGUNDY
PATRIARCH--DUKE TYUS ETBURN-81
MATRIARCH--DUCHESS ALI-PARI WAMHOFF ETBURN-70
SONS--BEN-54, PAUL-52, ELIAH-50, ROLLO(DEAD), EDBURGH-26
DAUGHTERS—CAMELLE-38
NOTABLE KNIGHTS--SIR RANDALL WENDELL-52, SIR RAYMOND STEVENS-60, SIR PERRY STEVENS-47, SIR GARY STEVENS-54, SIR LAWRENCE STEVENS-50, SIR RUSSELL SEABROOK-17
COUNT PRIEHOLD
BURKEVILLE
BURKE FAMILY CREST: BLACK BEAR ON AN ARGENT FIELD
PATRIARCH--DUKE ASTON BURKE-38
MATRIARCH--DUCHESS ALI-TISTE WAMHOFF BURKE-34
SONS--BUTREL-4, ASTRID-2
DAUGHTERS--ELISA-18, TELLY-14
NOTABLE KNIGHTS-- SIR ERICH LONGWAY-36, SIR REGIS GREEN-27, SIR BARRY BONDIFER-44, SIR ALEXANDER APPLEBAUR-30, SIR DENNY PLUMLEE-46
COUNT BIDWELL
BOTTOMFOOT
MALIK FAMILY CREST: SILVER RAM ON A POWDER BLUE FIELD
PATRIARCH--EDWORD MALIK-41
MATRIARCH--LUCILLE MALIK-41
SON--TORVALD
NOTABLE KNIGHTS--LANDRY LEMON-31, THEY CLAIM TO ONLY HAVE ONE KNIGHT
INFORMATION ABOUT BOTTOMFOOT IS SECRET DUE TO THEIR NEUTRALITY
BUT MORE WILL COME OUT IN VOLUME II
KINGDOM OF GOLDENFIELD
PATRIARCH--KING PASCAL LELUC-51
MATRIARCH--QUEEN HARLA LELUC-39
SONS--HUBER-4, ROMER-2
DAUGHTERS--LEIMUR-20, LEIRUM(DEAD)
SUCCESSION OF KINGS FROM KINGDOM OF DONEGAL
THE CALENDAR OF DONEGAL STARTED WHEN THE WAMHOFF FAMILY, LED BY A MAN NAMED DUS CONQUERED A SMALL PORTION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOLDENFIELD. THE WAMHOFFS NAMED DUS THE KING OF THE NEWLY FORGED DONEGAL AND GAVE HIM A MORE REGAL SOUNDING NAME WITH ALI-DUS. THE FOUR-SEASON/TWELVE MONTH CALENDAR WITH EACH SEASON LASTING 90 DAYS/THIRTY DAY MONTHS WAS CREATED IN THE FIRST YEAR OF ALI-DUS' REIGN.
1-41(Calendar Year)-KING ALI-DUS THE GREAT-(Age of Rule 22-63)
LED A RAG TAG BUNCH FROM THE ANDROSI ISLES AND FENDED OFF THE GOLDENFIELD ARMY TO CREATE A KINGDOM CALLED DONEGAL. KNOWN AS ALI-DUS THE GREAT BECAUSE HE IMPROVED EVERYONES LIVES AND GAVE THEM THE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM THEY WERE SEEKING. DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES WHILE FISHING.
41-50-KING ALI-RAMUEL-(Age of Rule 24-33)--First Son of Ali-Dus
DIED OF A SUDDEN FEVER UNDER VERY SUSPICOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. KNOWN AS A GOOD KING.
50-67-KING ALI-RAVEN THE DANGEROUS-(Age of Rule 18-35)--Third Son of Ali-Ramuel
HE HAD TWO BROTHERS AHEAD OF HIM AS HEIR TO THE THRONE. BOTH DIED MYSTERIOUSLY, AND THEN HIS FATHER, THE KING, DIED SUDDENLY. IT WAS WIDELY BELIEVED THAT HE KILLED THOSE IN HIS WAY TO EARN THE TITLE, "THE DANGEROUS." HE DIED ON A HUNT.
67-89-KING ALI-NERON-(Age of Rule 13-35)--First Son of Ali-Raven
DIED IN A DUEL WITH HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, ALI-GARETH. HE HAD ALWAYS BEEN JEALOUS OF HIS YOUNGER BROTHER AND WHEN HIS QUEEN TOOK A STRONG LIKING TO ALI-GARETH, HE CHALLENGED HIM TO A DUEL. HE LOST.
89-114-KING ALI-GARETH THE BRAVE-(Age of Rule 25-50)—Second Son of Ali-Raven
GOOD KING. TOOK ALI-NERON’S QUEEN AS HIS AFTER THE VICTORY. ON A MILITARY CAMPAIGN, HE DEVELOPED A WOU
ND THAT ULTIMATELY BECAME INFECTED AND DIED.
114-138-KING ALI-TERRY-(Age of Rule 31-44)--Second Son of Ali-Gareth
138-184-KING ALI-SANDER "THE RAGING FOX"-(Age of Rule 12-48)--Fourth Son of Ali-Terry
POWERFUL MEN SAW THE POTENTIAL IN ALI-SANDER FROM A YOUNG AGE AND THEY USED HIM TO EXPEL HIS FATHER, ALI-TERRY. GREAT CONQUERING KING WHO INCREASED THE SIZE OF DONEGAL GREATLY. DIED IN BATTLE WHILE SEARCHING FOR THE PEARL OF WISDOM.
184-185-QUEEN ALI-TISTE-(Age of Rule 40-40)--Wife of Ali-Sander
DIED SUDDENLY WHILE HOLDING THE THRONE FOR ALI-BANLY. POISON WAS THE PRIME SUSPECT. WAS ONLY HOLDING THE THRONE FOR A FEW YEARS UNTIL HER SON'S 12TH BIRTHDAY.
185-187-KING ALI-TARRISON-(Age of Rule 40-42)--Brother of Ali-Sander
NAMED KING AFTER THE DEATH OF ALI-TISTE UNTIL HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF POISONING THE QUEEN. THE TRIAL TOOK OVER A YEAR BUT HE EVENTUALLY HAD HIS HEAD PUT ON A SPIKE.
187-187-KING ALI-BANLY THE SICKLY-(Age of Rule 11-12)--Only Remaining Son of Ali-Sander
THE WEAK ALI-BANLY TOOK THE THRONE ONLY A FEW WEEKS BEFORE HIS BIRTHDAY. ON HIS TWELFTH BIRTHDAY, HE DIED IN HIS SLEEP. MOST BELIEVED HE WAS SMOTHERED BECAUSE HE HAD A BROKEN AND BLOODY NOSE.
187-187-QUEEN ALI-GANOLY-(Age of Rule 34-34)--Ali-Sander's Sister
WON A KING/QUEEN’SMOOT AGAINST ALI-SANDER'S COUSIN. DIED TWO WEEKS LATER FROM A RANDOM ARROW ATTACK IN THE KING’S WOODS.
187-187-KING ALI-HARRISON THE HAUNTED-(Age of Rule 52-52)--Ali-Sander's Cousin
HE WAS BEHIND THE KILLING OF QUEEN ALI-GANOLY. IT HAUNTED HIM UNTIL HE JUMPED OFF THE HIGHEST TOWER ON THE KING’S CASTLE AND DIED.
187-200-KING ALI-BRONDELL "THE FOREVER KING"-(Age of Rule 14-26)--Ali-Harrison's First Son
NICKNAMED THE FOREVER KING AFTER LASTING TWO YEARS ON THE THRONE. AFTER FIVE KINGS IN ONLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR, ALI-BRONDELL BROUGHT STABILITY BACK TO THE THRONE. DIED ON MILITARY CONQUEST.
200-231-KING ALI-ANTONE-(Age of Rule 12-45)--First Son of Ali-Brondell
WAS A GOOD, CONQUERING KING WHO DIED DUE TO A SHIP WRECK.
231-270-KING ALI-ANTWELLE-(Age of Rule 28-67)--Second Son of Ali-Antone
STARTED OUT AS A GOOD KING, BUT RAN THE KINGDOM INTO A LOT OF FINANCIAL TROUBLE BEFORE HE DIED OF OLD AGE.
270-297-KING ALI-ANTONE II-(Age of Rule 41-68)--Second Son of Ali-Antwelle
A WISE AND JUST KING WHO CURED ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT HIS FATHER HAD CAUSED. DIED PEACEFULLY IN BED.
297-299-KING ALI-ANTEMIS-(Age of Rule 31-33)--Fourth Son of Ali-Antone II
BECAME EXTREMELY GLUTTONOUS AFTER BECOMING KING. CHOKED ON A FOWL BONE AND DIED.
299-304-QUEEN ALI-TOMEO-(Age of Rule 26-31)--Wife of Ali-Antemis
HELD THRONE FOR FIVE YEARS AS REGENT FOR HER SON, ALI-PHARELL. ONLY QUEEN TO SURVIVE HER ENTIRE RULE ON THE THRONE.
304-341-KING ALI-PHARELL-(Age of Rule 12-49)--First Son of Ali-Antemis
CONSIDERED THE LAST OF THE GOOD KINGS. SUCCESSFUL REIGN. WENT TO GAMA TRAKA AND NEVER CAME BACK. THEY SAY HE DISAPPEARED IN THE NIGHT TO LIVE IN GAMA TRAKA.
341-364-KING ALI-BARIS-(Age of Rule 31-54)--1st Son of Ali-Pharell
DRUNK, WHORE CHASER. DIDN'T TAKE THE THRONE SERIOUSLY. DIED WHILE HAVING SEX IN A BROTHEL.
364-384-KING ALI-BASTER-(Age of Rule 32-52)--Second Son of Ali-Baris
ANOTHER BAD KING. DIED WHILE ON THE CHAMBER POT. FAMILY TOLD EVERYONE HE DIED ON THE THRONE.
384-414(Present)-KING ALI-STANLEY-(Age of Rule 35-65)--First Twin Son of Ali-Baster
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CONTENTS
Prologue-Mim
1-Leimur
2-Emilia, Elisa
3-Brehan
4-Russell
5-Ollor
6-Jon
7-Mariah
8-Leimur
9-The Man with the Golden Sword
11-Emilia
12-Elisa
13-Ali-Ster
14-Brehan
15-Jon
16-The Young Hope
17-Russell
18-Ollor
19-Leimur
20-The Man with the Golden Sword
21-Mariah
22-Emilia
23-Elisa
24-Ali-Ster
25-Brehan
26-Jon
27-The Young Hope
28-Ollor
29-Russell
30-Leimur
31-The Man with the Golden Sword
32-Emilia
33-Brehan
34-Elisa
35-Mariah/Jon
36-The White Snake
37-The Young Hope
38-Russell
39-Sunny
40-Damian Doome
Epilogue-Mim
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PEARL OF WISDOM VOLUME 2
FRACTURED FAMILIES
PROLOGUE
30 YEARS AFTER THE EVENTS OF THE PEARL OF WISDOM SAGA
YEAR 444
SOMEWHERE IN DONEGAL
“In the shadows of discontent, rebellion blooms in darkness. Oh yes, you see, jealousy can speak volumes through silent scheming. Just because you can’t hear someone plotting your death, that doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. But you must remember that even on the darkest of days the sun rests behind the clouds, waiting to break through again and shine down on all of us. That is all for now my little listeners and that concludes the stories of the spring and early summer. I hope you have enough ink in the castle to finish writing the words of the Bloody Summer,” the older woman said in a haunting voice, trying to scare the teenagers.
“Why did they call it that?” asked her brother’s youngest daughter.
“You will find out soon enough. Just know that if you survived that summer, as I barely did, you were amongst the lucky,” Telly Burke told her niece.
Most of the younger members of the family liked to sit and listen to Aunt Telly’s stories about the turbulent times in Donegal. There had been peace in the kingdom for the entirety of the children’s lives. It intrigued them to hear stories about the recent history of their land. As the kids streamed out, the last one to leave was always Mim Burke. Telly looked her up and down and said, “If you really want to make a special book, I will support you in your passion. By season’s end, if you stay committed to your writing, I will have a surprise for you.” She smiled at the small teenager.
Mim, Telly Burke’s niece, had just turned sixteen and while her aunt told her she looked like the former Queen Emilia, most others disagreed. Mim was short and petite, but the similarities stopped there. Her freckled skin, copper-blond hair and greenish brown eyes differed from the former Queen’s. Mim had dreamed of being a great warrior queen like Leimur Leluc of Goldenfield, but her size dashed those hopes. She then thought long and hard about what she could do to make her mark. Aunt Telly told Mim about the thousand-year-old books in the castle and they excited her. The teenager decided if she couldn’t be the person written about in books then she could be the one to write them. When she thought about someone reading one of her books in a thousand years, Mim realized the quill would now be her sword.
She bid farewell to her aunt Telly and took one last look at her before leav
ing. Telly Burke showed signs of old age even though she was only forty-four. A few silver strands showed up among her light brown locks. Her face had wrinkled slightly, and despite Telly’s attempts, no amount of makeup could cover the signs of her saggy skin. Her long, skinny arms hugged Mim and the teenager headed back to her quarters.
She made her way through the big castle and strode down the hallway, arriving at her destination. She pushed open the door revealing a simple looking room by castle standards. A bed, couch and several tables cluttered with books were first to meet the eye. Two armoires, a desk and hanging rods for gowns and dresses occupied the back of the room.
She ran over to pick up one of her favorite books and started leafing through it. She believed her aunt Telly, but Mim liked to check the facts and she had the right book, “A Categorical History for the Kingdom of Donegal, Years 400-440.” She found the section on year 414 and discovered her aunt had told the truth once again.
When Mim pondered what would make her book stand out, she instantly thought about her aunt Telly’s stories. Most books of the time only talked about what happened inside the kingdom but her aunt’s tales took you all around the world. Mim knew every once in a while aunt Telly would twist the facts a bit to make for an incredible story. Aunt Telly had told the children several times that she personally knew all the people she talked about in her stories, some briefly and others for years, and she seemed to have inside knowledge none of the books could provide. Mim wanted to write an exciting story with her own spin but still grounded in facts.
Mim grabbed a quill and eagerly sat down at her desk. She thought about the Harvest Day Tourney scheduled for the morrow and remembered her aunt had said there weren’t any tourneys for many years in Donegal. For the next fortnight, knights from every region would be battling for gold and glory, but in a civilized manner. She dipped the quill in her inkwell and prepared to make another entry in the book titled, “The Exciting History of Donegal and Beyond, Year 414.”