TRAITOR
A Crown of Lilies:
Book One
Melissa Ragland
Copyright © 2020 Melissa Ragland
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9781089001874
Cover by Agata Broncel
DEDICATION
For my mother, who always believed this story was
worth telling, and I, capable of telling it.
For all the writers whose heroines inspired me throughout my life.
For you, the reader, for giving Elivya a chance to inspire yours.
Thank you.
THE HOUSE OF ADULIL
Amenon ben Adulil
King of Alesia, lord of the province of Aduline
Cerya Halkryn no Adulil
First wife of King Amenon (deceased)
Selice fen Adulil
Daughter of Amenon and Cerya
THE HOUSE OF CHAMBERLAIN
Augustus ben Chamberlain
Lord of the province of Cambria, the King’s Poet
Lidya Agreil no Chamberlain
Wife of Augustus (deceased)
Aubrey ben Chamberlain
Son of Augustus and Lidya
Eliza Chamberlain no Agreil
Younger sister of Augustus
Claire fen Agreil
Daughter of Eliza
LESSER HOUSES OF CHAMBERLAIN
House Halkryn
Lords of the province of Haelark
House Agreil
Lords of the province of Agen
House Fumandrel
Lords of the province of Fumel
THE HOUSE OF ORISTEI
Reyus ben Oristei
Lord of the province of Ostris
Amelie Evitra no Oristei
Wife of Reyus
Ulrich and Feran ben Oristei
Sons of Reyus and Amelie
Rishel fen Oristei
Younger sister of Reyus
House Ulitri
Lords of the province of Ulta
House Evitra
House Istaris
Lords of the province of Istra
House Ardontus
Lords of the province of Arradon
Miko ben Ardontus
Lord of Arradon
Cheza Evitra no Ardontus
Wife of Miko
Ero ben Ardontus
Son of Miko and Cheza
Ila fen Ardontus
Daughter of Miko and Cheza
THE HOUSE OF CAERUS
Ignatus ben Caerus
Lord of the province of Caelin, the Royal Physician
Lynn Istaris no Caerus
Wife of Ignatus
Mateo ben Caerus
Son of Ignatus and Lynn
Serena fen Caerus
Daughter of Ignatus and Lynn
LESSER HOUSES OF CAERUS
House Briad
Lords of the province of Briare
House Guillar
Lords of the province of Guilerso
House Therus
Lords of the province of Theria
Ian ben Therus
Lord of Theria
Nicole Syran no Therus
Wife of Ian
Titus and Brendon ben Therus
Sons of Ian and Nicole
Leon ben Therus
Youngest son of Ian and Nicole
THE HOUSE OF TUVRE
Nicholas ben Tuvre
Lord of the province of Tuvria
Lisbet Euzoni no Tuvre
Wife of Nicholas
Luke, Wyatt, and Atticus
Sons of Nicholas and Lisbet
LESSER HOUSES OF TUVRE
House Euzoni
Lords of the province of Euzros
House Saviren
Lords of the province of Savern
House Freyjin
Stewards of the province of Frii, matrilineal and militaristic society with no noble family
General Brenna
Leader of the Freyjan army
Caius ben Saviren
Lord of Savern (deceased)
Fiona Ulitri no Saviren
Wife of Caius
Ewan ben Saviren
Son of Caius and Fiona, Lord of Savern
THE HOUSE OF VAN DRYN
Yuri Van Dryn
Lord of the province of Daria
Tasha Guillar no Van Dryn
Wife of Yuri
Adrian Van Dryn
Son and heir of Yuri and Tasha, commander of the Darian merchant fleet
Natalia Van Dryn no Vekar
Daughter of Yuri and Tasha
Oliver ben Vekar
Husband of Natalia
Alec Van Dryn
Younger son of Yuri and Tasha
Sara Syran no Van Dryn
Wife of Alec
LESSER HOUSES OF VAN DRYN
House Daekrix
Lords of the province of Dax
House Syran
Lords of the province of Syraci
House Vekar
Lords of the province of Varr
THE HOUSE OF LAZERIN
Damien ben Lazerin
Lord of the province of Laezon
Nefira fen Lazerin
Wife of Damien
Elivya fen Lazerin
Daughter of Damien and Nefira
Elliot ben Lazerin
Cousin to Damien
Maria Montre no Lazerin
Wife of Elliot
Martin, Francis, and Patrick
Sons of Elliot and Maria
HOUSEHOLD
Greta and Emmett
Retainers of the Litheria manor
Preston, Gabe, and Quintin
Armsmen of the Litheria manor
Poppy and Ellen
Maidservants at the Litheria manor
Shera
Handmaiden to Elivya
Commander of the Lazerin guard
Briggs and Rowan
Captains of the Laezon fort
Stephan
Stablemaster of Laezon estate
Amita
Chamberlain of Laezon estate, wife of Stephan
Seth, James, and Erik
Sons of Stephan and Amita
LESSER HOUSES OF LAZERIN
House Eradine
Lords of the province of Erade
House Estentis
Lords of the province of Estia
House Montre
Lords of the province of Montar
House Kortra
Lords of the province of Korent
FROM THE BOOK OF DAYS
As we came upon the sea, the ferrymen waiting, He turned to me and smiled in that way He always did, as though He’d not seen me in ages.
“Here we part, my good Chamberlain,” He mused in His benevolent tone, the one I’d spent years following across the
world. I pressed Him once more to allow me to accompany Him, but again, He refused with impossible grace. “Nay, my friend, the far shore waits for me and yonder brothers alone.”
With eyes closed, he drew the salt air deep into his lungs, that always-present smile widening, and when those gilded lids reopened, the sun itself shone from them.
“This land is born anew. You must be here to guide it. Others will aid you, should you retrace our steps and beyond. Where you meet them, a Great Oak will grow, and you shall know the future of this land by them.”
Daunted by the task set to me, I made to protest, but knew in my heart I could never deny Him. As if He could see the uncertainty painted across my soul, His warm hands settled on my shoulders, the comfort of that most-beloved touch assuaging even my deepest doubts.
“A stride for a stride, brother. Begin where you stand.”
With one final kiss, He left these shores, a riot of glittering sunlight against the azure froth of the Sea. I watched Him fade on the horizon in the keeping of the brothers Van Dryn and when at last I could not see his golden gleam with my eyes, I turned, bereft, to the teeming wharf and our patient mounts. They shuffled their hooves, dark eyes contemplating, and I knew where I must begin.
As promised, impossibly, the immense oaks stood proud and tall as I retraced our winding path across the land. Despite their brief existence, they towered above any tree I had ever seen, vast canopies stretching their labyrinthine fingers toward the sky. The dumbfounded faces of their keepers were familiar to me, pillars of kindness and generosity among the long years of our journey.
Gentle Caerus, whose medicaments drove away the fever that had threatened to claim me. To this day, I can still feel Adulil’s hand atop mine, concern creasing that beautiful face.
Proud Lazerin, who pulled his own plow so that we might take their horses. His sons and daughters had wandered the forests with Adulil for weeks, rapt in his teachings.
Cheerful Oristei, whose lyre played us to sleep many a night, whose singular voice had brought joy like no other to my earth-blessed companion.
Enigmatic Van Dryn, who sacrificed two of their sons to ferry Him to the far shore. They, surely, gave more than any other.
Solemn Tuvre, whose sword saved us in the streets of the far country. Adulil had fallen to His knees and wept beside the madman’s body, a silent manifestation of His Mother’s love for all Her children, even those with darkness in their hearts.
Beyond the place where I had first come upon Him, I followed the lingering echoes of His presence to the crofter’s door. Before the humble home, a towering Oak stretched toward the sky above, vast fields of wheat standing testament to the farmer’s diligent tending and that of his only daughter. As we spoke, she settled a young boy on her lap and all at once, hope flooded the emptiness I’d carried since the days of the wharf. Beneath golden curls, the child had His eyes, sunlight and spun gold piercing my lonely heart.
When at last I returned home, His final gift waited quietly for me. I wept to see it, branches laden with the golden leaves of autumn as it swayed patiently before mine own doorstep.
Seven oaks, seven families.
This land is born anew.
Prologue
Traitor. That is what they call me, still, in quiet circles and hushed conversations. There is little room for truth in the minds of ordinary men. I am what they say, of course, a woman condemned to hang for offenses against the Crown, but the crimes of which I am guilty are not the story entire.
I would have left well enough alone, were it merely my reputation that hung in the balance. Let them think what they like. I am too tired, now, to care. But it is not my name alone they whisper at Court, and I would see the wagging tongues of gossip stilled in the face of the honest truth.
In the Book of Days, the Chamberlain writes of Adulil’s unwavering love of all people, no matter their crimes. He taught us that His Mother – our Mother – the earth and trees and sky and rivers, made us as we are: compassion and jealousy, generosity and malice, hope and fear. Whatever we are, we are Hers and are loved. Life is the great balance, and it takes all kinds to level the scales. I hope that is true. I hope She can forgive me. I was just trying to do what I thought was right.
Like any child, I was raised on stories of triumph and heroism, from grand epics of champions long dead to the firsthand accounts of my father’s battle-ridden youth. I soaked in every detail with wide-eyed fascination and imagined myself similarly exalted for some extraordinary deed or another. Though the immortalization of my own name never eclipsed my duty to my House, I would be lying if I were to claim fame and glory never appealed to me. They are the kindling fire in the heart of every hot-blooded youth, and I was surely that, noble born and ever struggling to make up for the irreparable misfortune of my gender.
If that smacks of bitterness, it is for good reason.
A male heir is a formidable creature, expected to carve his name on the marble halls of the Court while remaining decorous and obedient. His is a delicate balance of strength and loyalty, posturing and propriety. An eldest son makes his mark on society, a paragon of confidence in both martial skill and inherent purpose, all the while safeguarding and elevating his House.
A female heir is to be none of those things. Rare though we may be, sole offspring of the gentler sex are often kept close to home and quietly married off at the earliest opportunity. Not me, though. I would not be gentle. I would not be quiet. Why should a boy be granted what was rightfully mine, while I was relegated to discreet dinner parties and sold off like a brood mare? My parents, Mother keep them, never intended to raise me as such. I enjoyed far greater freedom than any other daughter of the noble Houses, heir or not.
Still, even their forbearance had limits.
At the age of nine, I caught my first glimpse of the Lazerin cavalry. Like a midsummer storm, they thundered across the training fields atop their mounts, arrows flying and swords flashing in the sun. Heart racing, eyes wide, my small hands gripped the pommel of my father’s saddle in rapture, the man himself towering at my back. That sight burned itself into the deepest parts of me like a beacon. Here – here lay the consummate strength of all that it was to be a man, all that I needed to become to erase that disappointment from my father’s eyes. I am a Lazerin. My earliest memories are from atop a horse, but this was something else entirely. Something a woman was not meant to have.
But I wanted it. I wanted it more than I’d ever wanted anything in my short, sheltered life.
That night, I snuck out of the manor, crept into the stables, and stole my father’s horse. Perhaps I just needed the right mount, I thought, and my small dun pony was no warhorse. Midnight was surely that, an immense black destrier well-suited to bear my father’s massive frame. He snorted with curiosity as I climbed a teetering stack of crates to haul myself atop his broad back, those feathered white socks seeming a very long way down from where I sat. Shoving my fear down deep, I buried my hands in his mane, gave him a hearty kick of my heels, and held on for dear life.
It didn’t take long for the night patrol to spot us. I’d like to say we gave them a good run, but I would be lying. I might be a Lazerin, but I was still only a child with median riding skills at best. Needless to say, my father was furious. The following morning, my back learned the stinging kiss of a reed switch, one of many that hung in the stable for lunging yearlings; a gentle punishment, as whippings go, but it hurt my pride far more than it hurt my body. Each snap, each wince, shoved my spirit back down toward the quiet, obedient mold that was meant to be my place in the world.