The Heir of Shadow and Stone

THE HEIR OF SHADOW AND STONE A SHADOW AND STONE NOVEL BOOK 1 RUE VOLLEY This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Copyright © 2023 Rue Volley All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. Book design by Rue Volley Additional graphics by Rue Volley Interior Design by Dreams2Media Editing by Lily Luchesi Partners in Crime Book Services Published by Rue Volley Books LLC www.ruevolley.com Created with Vellum CONTENTS Quote PRONUNCIATIONS: TERMINOLOGY: The History of this World 1. The Kingdom of Stone 2. The Kingdom of Shadow 3. The Kingdom of Stone 4. Dragon’s Keep 5. The Kingdom of Night 6. The Kingdom of The Crystal Garden 7. The Kingdom of Stone 8. The Kingdom of Silver Flame 9. The Kingdom of Stone 10. The Kingdom of Night 11. The Kingdom of Shadow 12. The Kingdom of Stone 13. The Kingdom of Stone Author bio “Women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice its natural size.” ~Virginia Woolf PRONUNCIATIONS: The War of BRUMAH (BREW-MA) RAIDEN Moore (RAY-DIN) NAYA Freeborn (NIE-YA) CASSIUS Brumah (CASS-E-US) SANJA AERESS (SAWN-JAH AIR-S) VISHA AERESS (VEE-SHA AIR-S) EVERLEIGH AERESS (EVER-LEE AIR-S) IZEL AERESS (E-ZELL AIR-S) CORDELIA AERESS (CORE-DEAL-EAH AIR-S) EMBERLY AERESS (M-BURR-LEE AIR-S) ROWE EFHREN (ROW F-REN) CULLEN Moore (CALL-IN) EZLEN Moore (EZZ-LIN) MARA (MAR-RAH) ARCADIA MIAKODA (R-K-DEE-A ME-A-CO-DAH) ARREN VERRICK (AIR-IN VHERE-RICK) NYX Miakoda (NICKS) ALTHEA Miakoda (AL-THEE-AH) NEEMA Freeborn (KNEE-MAH) ARROWE Brumah (AIR-ROW) ODETTE Ender (OH-DEBT) TALEN Freeborn (TELL-LYNN) TERMINOLOGY: KEEPER OF WORDS – SOMEONE WHO CAN READ AND WRITE STONE MAIDEN – GIRLS CHOSEN AT BIRTH TO FACE TRIAL OF ASCENSION AT 16 ASCENSION – A CEREMONY FOR STOME MAIDENS TO BE DEEMED WORTHY TO CARRY AN HEIR TO THE THRONE FATES – A RACE OF FAE AND ELVES ACHERON – SERPENT GOD TO MORTALS IN THE KINGDOM OF STONE ELIXERS OR TONICS – DIFFERENT TEA BLENDS TO CONTROL MOODS VISIONS – DREAMS FINGER CLAWS – SHARPENED METAL TIPS PLACED ON THE FINGERS MOTHER WARD – SURROGATE MOTHER TO THE STONE MAIDENS BLOOD ROSES – THESE ROSES PRODUCE BLOOD WHEN HARVESTED STONE GUARDSMAN – PROTECTORS OF THE KING AND QUEEN OF STONE DRAGON’S KEEP – AN ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF THE KINGDOM OF SILVER FLAME WHERE THE DRAGON’S STAY THE LIBRARY OF ACHERON -THE LIBRARY THAT CONTAINS THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN THE KINGDOM OF STONE THE WAR OF BRUMAH AKA THE WAR OF MAD KINGS – LASTED A THOUSAND YEARS UNTIL A TREATY WAS FORMED AMONG THE LAST FIVE KINGDOMS THE RIVER WILDE – THE ONLY FRESH WATER THAT RUNS THROUGH THE KINGDOM OF STONE. SPRING WATER THAT IS FED IN FROM THE MOUNTAINS. THE SORROW – THE SEA MOONRISE and STARFALL – TWO MAGICKAL BOOKS BELONGING TO THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL GARDEN SPOTIFY LINK: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5jclUW43qHQmYxi1ELZV3I?si=3b3db6787c0941b8 PINTEREST INSPIRATION BOARD: https://www.pinterest.com/ruevolley/inspiration-for-thosas/ YOUTUBE LINK: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpzmXv8w1fuZWDQielaKHaG1z11p5Sxsi THE HISTORY OF THIS WORLD For a thousand years, the world would burn, consumed with mistrust and hatred for those unlike the other. Mortal men rose with forked tongues and selfish intentions—spreading lies to line their pockets. Demanding compliance in a steadfast belief that their way was the only way. Claiming that all who lived in this world must surrender their lands and freedom for a promise of protection and prosperity or face their God’s wrath. But mortal men were not the only creatures in the world with a burning desire for power, and so a war raged on, The War of Brumah, also known as The War of Mad Kings, consuming natural resources such as wood, coal, and water, leaving much in ruin. The sun became shrouded in black ash. The fields yielded less food, and the sea, also known as The Sorrow, began to swell in protest, darkening until it was as black as the night sky. It swallowed much of the land, forcing all to share what was left, now known as The Isles of Ellian. Out of this chaos rose Five Kingdoms, independent of each other. One of men, known as The Kingdom of Stone; surrounded by a lush forest full of blood roses. One of Wolves, once human, now shifters in the moonlight, rules to the south in what is now known as The Kingdom of Night. One of Witches, driven to the east by mortal men for their refusal to yield their power, rules The Kingdom of the Crystal Garden. One of The Fates, a race of Fae and Elvish kind, rules over The Kingdom of Silver Flame. And one that consumes the northland, under dark clouds and much rain, controlled by the Vampires, known as The Kingdom of Shadow. Each Kingdom lost many beloved sons and daughters during the war. But it wasn’t until the Royal Houses began to spill blood of their own that those who rule were given pause. Soon their bloodlines would end, and that simply could not be allowed to happen. So, on the last day of the thousandth year, all who fought lowered their weapons and set aside their pride, knowing that none would survive if the war continued. And on that day, the longest of days on record, a treaty was formed. Each Kingdom made sacrifices to appease the other to find a version of peace that never existed in the world. It was demanded that mortal men would remain in the center of all things, where they could not wander ever again. For mortals desired land and power. They were driven to rule over others unlike them, and this had to end. As a show of good faith, they would be tasked with the survival of The Forest of Blood Roses that