City of Masks (43 page)
“Enough!” Branet said. “Stop teasing the girl. Garet will travel with you. You all go as trade emissaries, so you cannot wear your uniforms, I fear.”
Trax winked at Garet. “It’s a shame to let you go, since you were finally becoming useful, but I feared Salick’s wrath if I refused.”
Salick faced him and said, “You need not, Your Majesty. Your recent actions have . . . lessened my wrath.”
Trax smiled. “Well, that is more amazing than demon armies and arrow machines! Friends, I must return to the Palace to prepare for the ceremonies at the Temple. Garet, would you go with me please? There is much yet to say.”
Salick stepped up and put a hand on Garet’s shoulder. “I fear that I must steal him from you for the day, Your Majesty. We also have much to say before we go to the Temple.”
Trax dismissed them with a wave of his fingers, and they left the room together, hand in hand.
Kevin Harkness is a Vancouver writer who has just finished a third career as a high-school teacher. His first two careers: industrial 911 operator and late-blooming university student, were nowhere near as dangerous and exciting as teaching Grade 10s the mysteries of grammar and the joys of To Kill a Mockingbird. He also taught Mandarin Chinese— but that’s another story. Outside of family and friends, he has three passions: a guitar he can’t really play, martial arts of any kind from karate to fencing, and reading really good stories.
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Dedication
For my family, for my friends, and for all those who read when they should be asleep.
Acknowledgement
A deep and echoing 'thank you' to Wendy Phillips and Margaret Curelas for making this book better
Other Tyche Titles:
City of Demons by Kevin Harkness
Garet’s life is forever changed when his family is attacked by a demon. Can he fight the fear, or will be become the Demon’s prey?
Marick and the Rat Demon by Kevin Harkness
A night’s adventure goes wrong when a young thief encounters a Demon, a sickle-clawed monster that preys on humans.
Heritage by David L. Craddock
Banished from his home, Prince Aidan must uncover the dark forces manipulating the lands of Crotaria.
Find out more about these titles at
Tychebooks.com
Table of Contents
Chapter 2 The Duties of a Green
Chapter 3 The Heights and the Depths
Chapter 7 Masks and Their Master
Chapter 9 Caught between the Hallmaster and the Historian
Chapter 12 What Shall be Done?
Chapter 15 Twists, Turns, and Talk
Chapter 16 Talk at the Point of a Spear
Chapter 19 The Beast at the Gate
Chapter 20 The Enemies of Sleep
Chapter 22 Partings and a New Purpose
Chapter 23 Going to the Temple