A Mirage Of Milk And Honey

Teaser

Hello y'all. Thought you'd seen the last of me? 😈

Though I am going to take a little break (and by little I mean very little) I though, "Huh, maybe just maybe I should give people a reason to stay interested" and so I give you this.

Anyone whose been keeping up knows that A Mirage Of Milk and Honey is the fourth book of a planned series being released in a star wars-esque fashion. Though I had origionally intended to publish the first book next, I'm not quite happy with how it's turned out. Because of writers block (which was the cause of me starting with the fourth book anyways) I decided to proceed with the fifth book, which shall be the next I publish.

Therefore, I give you....

a teaser.

Untitled: Chapter 3 [Part A]

In Oreya, there was someone that the Prystesses and Prysts, the soldiers and citizens, and even The Queen herself called The Reaper.

It was a name she'd so dubiously earned through the very act it conveyed—reaping. Not in a traditional sense, however. This woman did not harvest crops or spend her days toiling away on a farm. Instead, this woman received the title or Reaper from the consequences of her own actions. Though, she herself would argue that these were not consequences, and were instead the benefit of what she'd sown—death and destruction.

Every step she'd taken in life had led her to where she was today, striding through the halls of Calgore Castle. Her presence was one that evoked respect but it was her reputation that induced fear into those she passed. As with all Prystess she was an elite, but as The Reaper, she was the Ace of Oreya.

Cosette De'Mize.

Her steps were silent as she made her way through the halls and to her office. She'd been expecting a visit from Her Majesty ever since she'd received a last minute letter detailing the capture of two high profile enemy soldiers, and being who she was—the woman to reap Oreya of its problems—Queen Vika had brought the war criminals to Calgore.

"They were captured in the South-Eastern border." Madee explained.

Madee had always unnerved Cosette, as she did every other Prystess. Short, plump, curly hair and big brown doe eyes paired with a lilting voice and a sweet disposition that was out of place in the Oreyan military. Prystesses were generally wary of any who weren't one of their own, but with Madee it was different. To the others, she simply seemed out of her depth. The stupid ones believed her to be below them.

Cosette knew better.

"Their names?" She asked.

Madee, animated in a way that opposed a Prystesses wooden disposition, shrugged her shoulders.

"Classified." She said.

Cosette eyed her from under the mask she wore, eyes veiled from onlookers, and though Madee could not see her gaze from under the slip of fabric that rested upon the bridge of her nose, Cosette looked away sharply.

"Though," Madee said with a gentle, feeble smile, "I've been informed that you may be familiar with them."

Cosette made an effort not to purse her lips and give her thoughts away.

No, Cosette didn't trust Madee no matter the fact that they shared sides.

"What shape are the prisoners in?" Cosette asked.

"Worse for wear, if my intel is correct." It usually was, Cosette noted as she listened silently, "From what I'd heard, those at Dillford had a crack at them, but the superior officers didn't want any trainee Reverands or Prioresses to do any undoable damage." Madee spoke as though this was the latest gossip, as though they were two housewives drinking tea and chatting over a canvas of embroidery.

The information was odd, considering the fact that Cosette had been informed the prisoners were headed directly to her.

"How long were they in Dillford?" She asked.

Madee shrugged once more, "A couple of weeks, give or take."

That was certainly odd.

High priority indeed, if even Cosette was unaware of their capture for so long. Another reason The Reaper disliked Madee—there was always something the other woman knew in which Cosette had been left in the dark. But Cosette didn't let her distaste show and instead continued her line of questioning. It was better that Madee believe she held all the cards.

"Will it just be me, or will others be joining?"

Madee smiled something mischievous, "That depends."

"On?" Cosette pushed. She liked to keep her discussions short and to the point, but Madee never seemed to share the sentiment. If anything, the other woman enjoyed riling up the Prystesses, whether they let it show or not.

"Whether you can get them to crack or not." Madee grinned, "Those in Dillford had no luck, and Her Majesty is getting impatient. But we all know you're creative."

Cosette's silence was her only response as they turned a corner, making their way down a flight of cobbled steps until they'd reached the basement.

Just as Cosette was reaching for the door, however, Madee jolted as though she'd remembered something.

"Oh! I've been told that Wylie is off limits, however. Prohibited from partaking, should you fail." Cosette stilled, turning to look at Madee, face impassive.

"Why?"

Madee shrugged, "Conflict of interest, or so they say."

Cosette regarded the chipper woman before her, the farce had seemed so believable at first, but Cosette had spent enough time with Madee and seen enough to understand the woman in front of her better than her peers.

"Good luck!" Madee exclaimed with a sickeningly sweet smile, before turning on her heel and making her way through the palace.

Cosette composed herself, clearing her thoughts and emotions, before she opened the door.

The sight almost made her falter—almost.

"There's only one." She commented.

Blayde, who was as charismatic as he was psychotic, shrugged.

"There was an issue with the other once."

As the words left his lips, an animalistic, threatening noise sounded from the prisoner. Cosette met his eyes and recognition flickered in the blazing ones before her, a cynical smile pulling at his face.

"Reaper."