About King's Justice:
But Kurval’s reign is not an easy one. The people of Azakoria despise him as an uncouth barbarian, the nobles plot against him and assassination attempts are a frequent occurrence.
One day, a hooded assassin tries to stab Kurval during an audience. Kurval is shocked, when the assassin is revealed to be a young woman, Nelaira, daughter of a minor noble. But why would a girl of nineteen throw away her life on a futile assassination attempt?
As Kurval investigates Nelaira’s motives, he finds that he does not want to hang her. But he is king now and a king has to do his duty. Or does he?
This is a romantic novelette of 9000 words or approx. 30 print pages in the Kurval sword and sorcery series, but may be read as a standalone. Includes an introduction and afterword.
Excerpt:
I. The Dagger
Kurval, King of Azakoria, was sitting on his throne of midnight black granite, his vizier Izgomir standing by his side, while a seemingly endless line of petitioners bowed and scraped before him.
The high back and strange angles of the throne were uncomfortable and Kurval fervently wished for this audience to be over, so he could retire to the comfort of his private chambers, to enjoy a jug of fine wine and the company of a willing woman.
Nonetheless, Kurval listened patiently to the petitioners’ various tales of woe and tried to grant their wishes, whenever possible, even against the advice of Izgomir. After all, he was trying to be a good king, a just king, a king who would win the respect, if not the love, of his people one day.
For Kurval knew that the people of Azakoria did not respect him, not yet. After all, he was an outlander, a barbarian who’d come from across the sea to conquer their kingdom. He’d never been cruel to the people who now were his, for he knew only too well that cruelty would gain him nothing except for rebellion and likely an early grave.
But even though Kurval did the best he could for the people who now were his, they still did not respect him. Plots to overthrow him were uncovered and assassination attempts foiled at least once per lunar cycle. And though Kurval did not want to be a cruel king, he nonetheless had to deal with the plotters and would-be assassins with swift and strict justice. And so the scaffolds and gallows of Azakoria were busier than Kurval would have liked. For the King’s justice was absolute and knew no mercy for conspirators and assassins.
A new petitioner stepped up to the throne, a figure clad in a black hooded cloak, face in shadows. The petitioner bowed deeply before Kurval, hands crossed over the chest. The figure did not lower the hood.
“Arise, citizen, and let us hear your concerns,” Kurval said.
The petitioner obeyed and rose, still not lowering the hood.
Kurval saw the gleam of silver in the petitioner’s hand before anybody else did. A dagger. And suddenly Kurval understood. This was yet another assassination attempt.
As assassins went, the hooded petitioner certainly was fast. The would-be killer launched himself at Kurval, dagger in hand.
“Knife, knife,” the throne room guards yelled, as they scrambled to disarm the assassin. But they would not make it in time. They were too far away and the assassin was too fast for them.
However, the assassin was not too fast for Kurval. For as soon as he saw the gleam of the knife, Kurval drew his own mighty broadsword, the sword that even though it was mainly ceremonial these days, was still as sharp as it had had always been.
He parried the assassin’s thrust with his own blade, sending the dagger clattering to the grey granite floor of the throne room.
Barely a heartbeat later, the guards were upon the assassin. They seized the hooded figure and wrestled the figure to the ground. When the assassin was on their knees, one guard proceeded to bind the hands, while the other ripped off the hood.
Long dark hair fell to the assassin’s shoulders. Kurval caught a glimpse of dark, blazing eyes, soft rosy cheeks and lips the colour of pomegranate. The assassin was a woman.
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About Richard Blakemore:
Richard Blakemore was married for more than fifty years to Constance Allen Blakemore and the couple had four children.
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About Cora Buhlert:
Cora has been writing, since she was a teenager, and has published stories, articles and poetry in various international magazines. She is the author of the Silencer series of pulp style thrillers, the Shattered Empire space opera series, the In Love and War science fiction romance series, the Helen Shepherd Mysteries and plenty of standalone stories in multiple genres.
When Cora is not writing, she works as a translator and teacher. She also runs the Speculative Fiction Showcase and the Indie Crime Scene and contributes to the Hugo-nominated fanzine Galactic Journey. Cora was a finalist for the 2020 Hugo Award.
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