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    Order-Born
    Order-Born
    Order-Born
    Ebook41 pages37 minutes

    Order-Born

    By Shawna Canon

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Save the princess, protect the king, make some babies. Duty calls.

    In the Royal Order, soldiers are born and bred for combat. Literally. Centuries of carefully arranged marriages between the Order’s male and female warriors, along with some extremely strict rules and the best combat training known to man, have allowed the kingdom of Lince to maintain the best fighting force in the world.

    Moments after their arranged marriage—an event conducted with as much emotion as being fitted for a new set of armor—swordswoman Hesk and axeman Bram are sent on a mission to rescue a princess.

    As wedding nights go, it gets bloodier than most.

    ---

    Order-born is a novelette of about 10,500 words.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHeadcanon Press
    Release dateFeb 3, 2017
    ISBN9781386450764
    Order-Born

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      Book preview

      Order-Born - Shawna Canon

      Hesk smiled when her husband-to-be walked into the chapel and she saw that it was Bram. The Order elders, it seemed, wanted big babies.

      Bram stood head and shoulders above most men who weren’t Order-born and at least half a head above those who were: a mountain of pure, massive muscle. His size exaggerated every movement, including the hurried clip to his steps. When he reached the front of the chapel, he bowed his head to the three elders. I’m sorry, Elders, he said in a voice not as deep as Hesk would have expected. I was delayed at morning training. One of the children’s sword slipped—

      Yes, we heard, Elder Krilik cut him off. But you are here now, so perhaps we can get on with it?

      A faint flush of color came to Bram’s cheeks, but he gave no other response. He took his place beside Hesk, glancing at her for the first time. Recognition sparked in his eyes. You’re Hesk, right?

      She nodded.

      I saw you lay Ricter flat. Impressive. Bram leaned closer and whispered, He complained about his sore tailbone for a week.

      Elder Krilik cleared her throat. I don’t know about you, Bram, but the rest of us have other matters to attend to after this.

      Sorry, Elder, Bram said, ducking his head.

      In a cool, official voice, Krilik said, Bram of the Axe. Hesk of the Sword. It has been determined by the Elders of the Royal Order that it is in the Order’s interest for you to become one another’s assigned spouses and the children resulting from your union to be given in service to the Order and the royal family. Do you submit to this assignment and arrangement?

      Yes, Elder, Bram and Hesk said.

      Do you willingly agree to enter into a marriage union with one another?

      Yes, Elder, they said. Not that they could have said anything else. The words were a formality because the law required marriages to be entered into willingly by both parties, but no one in the Order had refused an assigned spouse in over three hundred years.

      Krilik held up a hand before each of them. By the power of the Royal Order and the royal family of Lince, I acknowledge your union in marriage. Her hands fell to her sides, and she turned to the elder on her right. Make sure this gets added to the news ledger board as soon as possible. Yesterday’s was missed. I understand it resulted in quite a disturbance in the men’s barracks.

      Of course, said Elder Jant.

      The elders dispersed without any further concern for the newlyweds.

      Bram let out a long, relieved breath and ruffled his shaggy hair. I know it’s foolish, but being around elders always makes me feel like a child again.

      Hesk chuckled. Bram, trust me, no one ever mistakes you for a child.

      He raised an eyebrow at her, nodding to indicate her own impressive mass. You either, huh? Heaven above, what are the elders thinking?

      Big babies, Hesk said.

      Ha! Bram laughed. No kidding. Maybe they’re trying to eliminate the need for battering rams.

      Hesk wouldn’t have been surprised. The

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