by R. J. Hore

Book Cover: Dark Days
Part of the The Dark Lady series:
Editions:Paperback
ISBN: 9781771551120
ePub

Young Queen Nefasti’s hold on her throne is tenuous. Her powerful neighbor to the west has declared war, and her other neighbors want something in return for their offered aid, such as her hand in marriage and her kingdom. Assassins lurk in the shadows while handsome suitors try to bribe her with gold and jewels. Her best friend and protector is leaving and one of her favorite ladies-in-waiting is threatening to commit suicide. What else can go wrong for the young monarch?

Published:
Publisher: Champagne Books
Genres:
Excerpt:

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Citizens of the Nations:

I, the humble Tepidus, Emperor of the Empire of Hesperius, hereby declare the usurper who calls herself Queen Nefasti, ruler of Vadio, outlaw, and therefore beyond the protection afforded to civilized people everywhere, and subject to the supreme penalty of death, as sentenced by the most just and highest court of the Empire of Hesperius. Her crimes are legion, including, but not solely:

The foul murder without cause of the most noble Prince Inurbanus of House Hesperius, legally accredited Ambassador of a civilized nation.

The murder without cause of her most noble uncle, Prince Mortuus, a worthy prince of Vadio, and one whom most civilized nations would consider outranked her usurper’s claim to the throne of Vadio.

READ MORE

The unlawful imprisonment in the foulest of dungeons of her most noble uncle, Prince Lubricius, a beloved son of good King Aeger, a worthy prince of Vadio, the one whom most civilized nations would consider holds the primary claim to the throne of Vadio, and husband of our own dear cousin, Princess Aestas, also held captive in the dungeons of dark Oculus Gloria.

The said Nefasti is a truly evil and ancient witch, who possesses the corrupted body of an innocent child, and practices the blackest of magics in order to enslave the people of Vadio and sow discord, confusion, and deadly plagues among the honest folk of all nations, including her own.

COLLAPSE

About the Author

Raised in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Ronald J. Hore spent forty-six years travelling the country with the financial services industry. He ended up in Winnipeg in 1980 where, with his long-time interest in writing, he joined Canadian Authors Association and was a member of the 1996 CAA 75th Conference Committee. In 2006 he won first place in a CAA national short story contest with a romantic ghost story, Midnight. In 2010 his short story Chrysalis was included in the anthology Evolve. He followed this up co-authoring Rotary Club of Winnipeg, 100 Years of Service. Since then, writing as R.J. Hore, he has had fifteen novels and ten novellas published. He continues to be active in Canadian Authors.