Empire of Avarice (84 page)

A great cheer went up from the square. The last of the
Bragalese banners had fallen, and his men were standing celebrating. The
garrison had been wiped out. Now the province could now be safely returned to
Kastanian rule. It would be hard, but in time the ravages of the war would be
erased. He would send out messages to all provinces, telling them Zofela had
fallen and the insurrection was crushed. He would announce a national day of
celebration. All of Kastania would rejoice.

But far away, across the Aester Sea, one man would not
be rejoicing with the news Zofela had fallen; in the castle in Slenna Prince
Jorqel held a message in his fist, crushing it in fury and distress. His
beloved Sannia had been taken by Lombert Soul and he was threatening to kill
her unless he surrendered Slenna to him and withdrew his army to Kastan City.

His heart almost burst with agony.

And deep within him were born the first stirrings of
revenge.

Alfan Fokis
.............. Leader of rebellion in Slenna

Amne Koros
............ Only daughter of Astiras Koros, Princess of Kastania

Anfos Duras
............ Rebel leader near Turslenka

Argan Koros
............ Third child of Astiras and Isbel, Prince of Kastania

Astiras
Koros ........... New emperor of Kastania

Burnas .....................
High Priest of Kastania

Clora .......................
Red haired whore in Niake, taken in by Demtro Kalfas

Demtro
Kalfas ......... Merchant in Niake, acting as spy for the Koros

Ebril Kanzet
............. Rebel’s choice of anti-emperor

Elmar .......................
Bragalese rebel leader, self-styled King of Bragal

Elas Pelgion
............. Suitor to Princess Amne Koros

Evas Extonos
........... Governor of Niake

Fostan
Carras .......... Castellan of Slenna castle

Frendicus
................ Chief tax assessor of Kastania

Fulmas ....................
Council worker in Niake

Gallis ......................
Former priest now assigned to tutor Istan Koros

Gavan ..............
…... Jorqel’s right hand man

Habnas .........
…….. Tybar agent in Niake

Iovan Sen
.............. Tutor to Argan Koros

Isbel Koros
............ Empress, wife of Astiras, mother to Argan & Istan

Istan Koros
............ Youngest child of Astiras and Isbel, Prince of Kastan

Jorqel Koros
.........  Heir to the throne, eldest son of Astiras

Kerrin Afos
............ Son of Panat, friend of Argan Koros

Kijimur
.................. Tybar diplomat sent to Kastan City to secure trade deal

Kiros Louk
............. Spy used by the Koros in Slenna

Lalaas ....................
Hunter-warrior assigned to protect Amne

Lombert Soul
........ Rebel leader in Bathenia

Mercos .................
Corrupt captain of the palace guard

Metila
................... Bragalese slave of Thetos Olskan in Turslenka

Nikos Duras
.......... Rebel leader in Frasia and, later, around Kalkos

Panat Afos
........... Military tutor to Prince Argan Koros

Pepil .....................
Major domo of palace in Kastan City

Polak ....................
Mazag general, governor of newly conquered Valchia

Renet ...................
Spy used by Demtro Kalfas in Niake

Rousa ..................
Nursemaid to young Istan Koros

Sannia
Nicate ...... Betrothed to Jorqel Koros

Sereth ..................
Councillor in Kastan City, prone to intrigue

Teduskis ..............
Army general and right hand man of Astiras

Theros Pognon
.... Diplomat sent with Amne on mission to Mazag

Thetos
Olskan ..... Governor of Turslenka

Vacan Fokis
......... Senior lawyer of Kastania

Valsan
Kelriun ..... Diplomat in Kastan City

Velka Varaz
......... Young girl who befriended Argan Koros

Vitlis Duras
.......... Head of the Duras family

Vosgaris
Taboz .... New captain of the palace guard, head of security

Zonis Kalfas
......... Older brother of Demtro, former army general

Coming summer 2014, see website for updates

Zofela may have fallen and the Bragalese revolt ended, but
this is not the end of the struggle for the Koros to return Kastania to
greatness.  The Duras have raised the standard of revolt in Makenia and
threaten the food supplies to the city of Turslenka.  Astiras will have to
gather a new army to deal with that problem.

Isbel has problems, too.  The growing antipathy between her
two young children, Istan and Argan, shows no sign of abating, while Amne’s
new-found confidence threatens to upset the empress’s plans for a settled image
to present the populace.  There is also the awful realisation that Argan’s
injuries from his fall are far more serious than first thought and indeed his
life may well be threatened.

For Prince Jorqel the troubles are serious indeed.  His
beloved Sannia is in the hands of Lombert Soul who, along with the Duras
family, have hatched a terrible plan to turn the population of Niake into
drug-addled zombies.  He has to judge the right moment to challenge Soul’s
newly created army to battle and to rescue Sannia before the rebels carry out
their threat to kill her.

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