The Barbed Rose
Demons are coming. One woman has been chosen to face them….Demon hordes still threaten the Kingdom while open rebellion has broken out within its cities, separating Kallista from her new family. Assassination attempts, magical attacks-she's surrounded by devastation unlike anything she's ever known, and her unique magic power no longer works as it should.Yet her own pain must yield to the needs of her country, for this military mage is charged with searching the four directions of the world for the other “Godmarked”–the only ones who can help her keep demon invaders from shattering her world. But can she find them in time?
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Praise for Gail Daytonâs
The Compass Rose
âWith unadulterated sensuality that practically ignites the pages and a fantasy quest that is as masterfully intricate as it is entertaining, Daytonâs The Compass Rose will absolutely blow away fans of romance-powered fantasy. In a word: wow!â
âBarnes & Nobleâs Explorations newsletter
âGail Dayton has created a world that is so colorful and vivid readers will feel they made an adventurous visit to this enchanting realm.â
âThe Best Reviews
âThe Compass Rose captured me from the first pageâ¦. Gail Dayton eloquently weaves a saga of unrequited love with the fear of rejection that haunts us all [and] cleverly and sagely reveals the heart and soul that unites a group of strangers into a family.â
âFallen Angel Reviews
âTop Pick, 4â1/2 stars: Court intrigues and romantic interludes keep the plot moving at a brisk pace.â
âRomantic Times BOOKclub
GAIL DAYTON
The Barbed Rose
To April and Rhys.
You make me proud. And to Jason, who does, too.
CONTENTS
CAST OF CHARACTERS
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
PRONUNCIATION GUIDE
GLOSSARY
Cast of Characters
Kallista Varyl, Captain in the Adaran army, naitan of the North, lightning thrower, Godstruck of the One
Torchay Omvir, Sergeant, Kallistaâs bodyguard and godmarked ilias
Stone Varyl voâTsekrish, former Tibran Warrior, godmarked ilias
Fox Varyl voâTsekrish, former Tibran Warrior, fighting partner to Stone, godmarked ilias
Aisse Varyl voâHaav, Tibran woman, godmarked ilias
Obed imâShakiri, Southron trader, godmarked ilias
Lorynda Varyl, twin infant daughter of Kallista and Torchay
Rozite Varyl, twin infant daughter of Kallista and Stone
Niona Varyl, infant daughter of Aisse and Fox
Merinda Kyndir, Adaran East naitan healer
Serysta Reinine, ruler of Adara, North naitan truthsayer
Keldrey, Serystaâs bodyguard and reinas
Leyja, Serystaâs bodyguard and reinas
Ferenday, Serystaâs bodyguard and reinas
Syr, Serystaâs bodyguard and reinas
Gweric, Tibran male magic hunter
Joh Suteny, former Adaran guard lieutenant, convict
Viyelle Torvyll, Prinsipella of the Adaran prinsipality (province) of Shaluine and government courier
Karyl & Kami Varyl, Kallistaâs twin sisters by blood
Sanda Torvyll, Prinsipas of Shaluine, Viyelleâs birth mother
Saminda Torvyll, Prinsep of Shaluine, Viyelleâs aunt by blood and Second Mother
Kendra Torvyll, Prinsipella of Shaluine, Viyelleâs sedil and cousin by blood
Vanis Kevyr, Prinsipas of Shaluine, Viyelleâs birth father
Mowbray Syndir, Prinsipella of Shaluine
Tiray Syndir, Prinsipella of Shaluine
Dessa Torvyll, Prinsipella of Shaluine
Bella Torvyll, Prinsipella of Shaluine
Huyis Uskenda, Adaran general in Ukiny
Huryl Kovallyk, Serystaâs High Steward
Domnia Varyl, founder of the Varyl bloodline, West naitan and prelate
Kallandra, North naitan, military lightning thrower
Miray, Kallandraâs bodyguard
Tylle, Adaran guard lieutenant
Elliane, East naitan healer
Fenetta, North naitain farspeaker at Adaran court
Omunda, Chief prelate of Arikon and Adara
Oskina, Rebel leader
Ashbel, Demon
Ataroth, Demon
Untathel, Demon
Xibyth, Demon
Tchyrizel, Demon
Keqwith, Demon
Khoriseth, Demon
Zughralithiss, Demon
CHAPTER ONE
âHalt. Stand and identify yourself and your business.â
Kallista Varyl, Captain Naitan of the Reinineâs Own, just recalled from extended leave, somehow managed to refrain from swearing. The guard at the Mountain Gate leading into Arikon was only doing his duty. He couldnât know the urgency riding her.
She saluted, snapped off her name and command. âIâve been ordered to Arikon by the Reinine herself.â She handed over a copy of her orders.
The guardâs eyes widened when he saw the seals and signatures on the paper, but still he blocked her path.
Harnesses jangled as another in Kallistaâs party pushed her way forward and saluted. âCourier Viyelle Torvyll, Prinsipella of Shaluine.â The courier began formally, then switched to a familiar, friendly tone as she addressed the guard. âYou know me, Daltrey. You were standing duty here when I rode out to fetch the naitan back. This is Captain Varyl. These are her iliasti. I can swear to their identity. I know them all from the last time they were in the city, at court. The captain has urgent business. Do you honestly want to delay them?â
Kallista remembered the prinsipella from last year as well, and not fondly. The young woman had been a useless, annoying, mischief-making blot on Adaran society, and that was before the quarrelsome magic had got hold of her. Still, she seemed to have found something better to do with herself since then, joining the courier corps.
The prinsipella-courier had brought the Reinineâs orders to Kallista along with a warning of the rebellion stirring down on the plains. Viyelle had traveled back to the capital with Kallistaâs party, fought through rebel ambushes with them, and at this moment, Kallista was liking the courier more and more.
