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    The Lady of Seeking in The City of Waiting: Shadeside
    The Lady of Seeking in The City of Waiting: Shadeside
    The Lady of Seeking in The City of Waiting: Shadeside
    Ebook109 pages1 hour

    The Lady of Seeking in The City of Waiting: Shadeside

    By Jennifer Brozek

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    About this ebook

    From the moment Jane entered the city, she found herself a pawn in a dangerous game between rivals unknown to her. With no real memory of who she is or where she came from, Jane embarks on a quest to uncover her past as well as discover who it is she promised to meet. Fraught with danger, her journey draws her the protection of the guardsman Derax, the cousel of the great Lady Ellowyn, and the most surprising of all, warning of plots and betwrayal by the most powerful oracle in the city. Along this journey to discover herself, Jane encounters a city peopled by the strange, the wonderful, the terrible...and so much more. By quest's end, she must begin to wonder if Shadeside itself has a stake in her success - as if there could be any doubt...

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDark Quest Books
    Release dateApr 9, 2013
    ISBN9781497774315
    The Lady of Seeking in The City of Waiting: Shadeside
    Author

    Jennifer Brozek

    JENNIFER BROZEK is an award winning author, editor, and tie-in writer. A Secret Guide to Fighting Elder Gods, Never Let Me Sleep, and The Last Days of Salton Academy were finalists for the Bram Stoker Award. She was awarded the Scribe Award for best tie-in Young Adult novel for BattleTech: The Nellus Academy Incident. Grants Pass won an Australian Shadows Award for best edited publication. A Hugo finalist for Short Form Editor and a finalist for the British Fantasy Award, Jennifer is an active member of SFWA, HWA, and IAMTW. She keeps a tight writing and editing schedule and credits her husband Jeff with being the best sounding board ever. Visit Jennifer’s worlds at jenniferbrozek.com

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      Book preview

      The Lady of Seeking in The City of Waiting - Jennifer Brozek

      Waking

      Falling was not the whole of her being, but it was the first thing she recognized. She was falling. With that realization came terror, compounded by the sense she had no body; she was nothing more than a decapitated head tumbling end over end with no way to stop herself and no way to scream her fear.

      As she tumbled into an imagined stygian hell, the light grew, beating against her closed lids. The light was too steady to be flame. Although she could not open her eyes, her ears picked up the sudden transition from silence into not silence. She had no time to ponder, consider, or analyze what she was hearing when her body returned to her and she hit the ground face first.

      Stunned, in pain and confused, she lay there unable to make her newly returned limbs obey her wish to turn over and sit up. Even when she heard the rush of light feet followed by booted ones reach her side, she could not move.

      Are you hurt?

      Someone was kneeling beside her. A female someone.

      Derax, gather her quickly before anyone else comes.

      As she was turned over, she made her eyelids obey her and opened. A heavily muscled man—brown hair and brown eyes with a large nose, crooked from too many breaks—was staring down at her with a clear look of surprise.

      Derax! the female voice urged. To the house. Quickly. House Kora comes. They had watchers.

      She watched as the surprised look on Derax’s face morphed into the smooth no-emotion of a man on a mission. He lifted her, cradling her tightly as he surged forward. Closing her eyes, she heard the sound of many running feet follow her into the darkness.

      She’s not hurt. Just bruised from the fall.

      She became aware of lowered voices in conversation to the left of where she lay.

      The fall where she appeared in front of you.

      It was a statement. Not a question. The speaker was male.

      Yes, milord.

      The other voice was the woman who came to her side.

      In the circle of light?

      Yes. She couldn’t have fallen from more than your shoulder height.

      What do we know of her? Anything? Her name? Her origin? How she appeared?

      My name is Jane, she thought and was relieved to discover she did know something. A name was important; especially her own name.

      No, milord. I’m sorry.

      Jane rubbed her fingertips against what she was laying on. Soft and smooth. Comfortable. She let her body relax, only realizing after the fact that it had been tense. For the moment, she was safe. I am Jane, she thought and let herself sink back into sleep.

      Jane opened her eyes with a start, her hand flying to her throat to make sure her body was still there. Eyes darting about, seeking danger, she could see a beautiful room of dark wood, opulent furniture and heavy, emerald green curtains.

      All is well. You’re safe.

      She turned to the voice she knew, the woman from the street, and drew back in surprise and fear. Sitting on a chair was a gorgeous, lithe woman with ebony skin and impossibly white hair. Dressed in a king’s ransom of jewels, she wore little else. While all the essentials were covered, the entire outfit was scandalous.

      Soft. Soft... the ebon woman crooned as she reached out a delicate hand tipped with crimson nails. I’m no danger to you. Soft, I beg you.

      What are you? Where am I? Did I die? Jane asked, still clutching the bed sheets.

      I’m Shifra. As to what I am, I am a dark elf. Be not afraid. Though, we’re rare; only one household in the entirety of the city, we are not a danger to you. Shifra smiled, blue eyes twinkling. She stood and shifted herself onto the bed, moving with the slow, careful motions one uses to calm frightened animals or small children. Where you are? You are in House Ender, home of Lord Moonshadow and Lady Fortune. She offered her hand, palm up, to Jane.

      Jane stroked her fingertips over Shifra’s palm. It was a light touch but enough to tell her that Shifra was real, and that her skin was not feverishly hot as one would suspect a demon’s would be. Encouraged, she clasped hands with the pretty woman, ebony and ivory skin entwined. My name is Jane.

      Shifra smiled at that. Jane. Lovely name. From where do you hail?

      Jane opened her mouth to speak, then frowned. Disjointed details surfaced: silver coins, broken glass, more gowns than she could ever want or need. But, nothing more than that. I don’t know. I don’t remember. I know my name is Jane and I see small things in my mind but I don’t know.

      Shifra squeezed her hand to reassure her. Soft, lady. Soft.

      The title hit a cord of recognition in her. It was familiar. Memories of being dressed in one of those many gowns flittered through her head. Jane looked up. That’s correct. Lady is correct.

      I knew you were noble. Although your dress was plain, it was of rich fabric and finely made. And your hair, though bound, is soft and cared for.

      Although Jane knew that her hair was a reddish brown color, she pulled a lock of it forward to check and smiled when her memory matched reality. May I have a mirror?

      Shifra did much more than that. With a few commands, there was a whirlwind of servants—human, dark elf, and some Jane could not readily identify—who set up a morning meal, prepared a bath, laid out clothing and helped Jane dress. All the while, Shifra, a dancer for the lord and lady of House Ender it seemed, stayed and spoke with her. There was something calming about Shifra’s presence and chatter.

      While they ate, Jane took time to look at herself. Partly to make sure she was what she remembered and partly to see if there was anything new. All was at it should be. Red-brown hair, caramel colored eyes and a light smattering of freckles across her cheeks. A simple beauty that had its own charm, even next to such a creature as Shifra. No scars to tell of a past trauma—though, she could not get the memory of her arrival out of her head.

      The two of them stood in the hallway before the lord’s study. There was a house guard, another dark elf, watching them with obvious curiosity. Shifra threw the elf a wink but continued to speak to Jane.

      Don’t be afraid. Lord Moonshadow is a kind man. He’ll care for you.

      Is your lord like you, a dark elf?

      Yes.

      What does he think of people such as I?

      Humans?

      Yes.

      Shifra shrugged. He treats all people the way they deserve to be treated based on their merits and not how they believe they should be treated.

      That must be interesting to watch.

      Oh, it is. She paused, Are you ready?

      Jane took a breath and squared her shoulders as she turned to face the door. I am.

      Just be you.

      I can be no one else.

      Shifra nodded to the guard. He knocked twice and waited. Through some signal Jane could not detect, he received permission for the visitors to enter and opened the door for them.

      Shifra moved before Jane, leading her in and giving her a few moments to look around the room to get her bearings before focusing on the man before them. The room was a testament to Lord Moonshadow’s love of beautiful furnishings and his thirst for knowledge. Every wall was covered in bookcases filled to overflowing with books. His desk was made of the same dark wood prevalent throughout the mansion and the rest of the furniture looked comfortable enough to sleep on.

      She watched as Shifra stopped before the desk and curtsied. Milord, Lady Jane, as you requested.

      When Shifra stepped back and to the side, Jane stepped forward and curtsied low, spreading the skirts of the silver and green gown she wore—now realizing these were the colors of House Ender. She held the curtsy until Lord Moonshadow spoke.

      Welcome to my home, Lady Jane. Please, join me.

      His voice was softer than she had expected but it still carried the weight of experience and command. Although she was aware he was a dark elf, she was not prepared to

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