The Courier's Conflict Read online

  Table of Contents

  Also by T.S. Valmond

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  The Courier’s Quest

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  The Courier's Conflict

  The Bolaji Kingdoms Series Book Two

  T.S. Valmond

  THE COURIER’S CONFLICT

  The Bolaji Kingdoms Book Two

  * * *

  T.S. VALMOND

  THE COURIER’S CONFLICT

  The Bolaji Kingdoms Book Two

  T.S. Valmond

  * * *

  Copyright © 2017 by T.S. Valmond. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses, events or locales is purely coincidental. Reproduction in whole or part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited.

  Contents

  Also by T.S. Valmond

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  The Courier’s Quest

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by T.S. Valmond

  The Complete Bolaji Kingdoms Series:

  The Courier’s Code

  The Courier’s Conflict

  The Courier’s Quest - Coming Soon

  * * *

  For more visit:

  TSValmond.com/books

  For Mom

  "To tame a wild animal by education, art, control or by confinement is to strip them of everything that makes them what they are. But to live in harmony is the only freedom they desire.”

  - Mat`ka of Poda (Tero-Joro goddess of nature)

  1

  THERE WOULD BE BLOOD today. That was Rasha’s first thought when she woke up to the sound of the battle horn. The beasts of the north had been making her world a living nightmare. She hadn’t slept well since the beasts stormed the palace three months ago and slaughtered the princesses from eight of the ten Bolaji kingdoms. The fight at their front doors increased in frequency and intensity as the beasts grew impatient to conquer the ten kingdoms of Bolaji. Rasha threw off the covers and didn’t flinch when her feet hit the cold floor.

  Temi paced at the door, growling and ready to join the fight. He’d never been allowed on the battlefield before. Her bedroom door was a scratched and defaced testament to the fact he’d been locked inside. She was dressed for battle in minutes, her swords in their sheaths before Jak knocked on the door. She left Temi tethered to the bed and slipped out the room to join Jak.

  A servant raced to catch up with them, carrying a tray with hot bazil and biscuits. Rasha refused the offered food, but Jak grabbed a mug and shoved it into her hands before taking his own. The biscuits he slipped into a bag at his waist.

  “Thank you, Fisa.” He drained his mug and handed it back. “Did you sleep well?”

  “I did, Your Highness.” She flushed and smiled, delighted he’d noticed her. Rasha wondered how he remembered their names.

  “How is your mother? Is she still fighting the cough?” he asked.

  “She’s much better. The remedy you suggested worked quickly. She sends her regards.”

  Rasha listened to the exchange with amazement. How did he know so much about everyone? She’d fought side by side with so many whose names she never learned.

  She handed her mug off to Fisa, trying with all her might to memorize the girl’s name for next time.

  “Thank you, Fisa,” she said. The girl dropped a curtsy and left with the tray.

  “How do you do that?” Rasha asked Jak.

  “What?”

  “Remember everyone’s name and story?”

  “I don’t know, people tell me about their lives, I remember it.”

  Rasha huffed.

  “What? Fisa and Margaret make your bed every morning. Are you telling me you’ve never spoken with them, princess?” He emphasized the title with a smirk on his face, teasing her.

  Rasha rolled her eyes. They didn’t have time for their usual banter. The horns sounded again. The fighters had gathered, awaiting their orders. This duty fell to her as the princess incumbent. Jak, as prince incumbent, had no royal education, and they deferred to him only when Rasha was unavailable. Which didn’t bother him.

  With one opened hand held high, Rasha signaled the soldiers on the northern cliffs to hold. She waited for the beasts to trigger the new electrified grid. With luck, many would fall after the charge was released. Her archers would pick them off as they could. They’d have to fight the rest hand to hand. Most of the beasts had the advantage of strength and size. Some were able to fly. The beasts with the ability to speak made no attempt at negotiations or discussions with the ten kingdoms. Their purpose was clear from the start. Take down the first kingdom of Bolaji, and the rest would fall to them.

  Rasha scanned the forest’s northern edge, then double-checked the monitor for signs of movement. The fighters on the ridge, many of them raw recruits, would wait for her signal. The ranking officers, the generals and their captains, were another story.

  They’d met with the council after the attack on the palace to discuss their military strategy in the official council chambers.

  “Why should we take orders from a child?” The general from Karmir asked the council. “She’s never seen battle.”

  “What does she know of military strategy?” The Vol captain asked.

  “She’s your princess incumbent and future queen of Bolaji. You will follow her into the depths of Q should she demand it of you.” Tobi, the councilman from Chilali said.

  “Tobi is right, though the theatrics aren’t necessary.” Keabasi spoke with the serenity her mermaid race was best known for. “She is our leader, and with this council behind her she will succeed. The same won’t be sai
d of any who stand against her.”

  It had silenced them for a time but remained a sore point for all, especially Rasha. She hadn’t been feeling very confident, though she pretended that she’d led hundreds of armies into battle. That was how she coped with their cynicism and doubt.

  On the battlefield, Jak took his place on her right. A true friend and confidant, he never faltered when she needed him. He blew hot air on his gloved hands and rubbed them against his legs for warmth.

  “They’re taking their time,” he said. “Guess they’re not in a hurry to become barbecue.”

  The winter snow had arrived in the night and continued to fall. Fighters from the southern kingdoms suffered; most had never seen snow before. The people of Adalu rallied on their behalf, making jackets and winter coverings for any fighter lacking the winter essentials.

  Jak was from Winaka, the seventh kingdom. His people had joined the battle early, once they learned the truth of Jak’s origins. Willing to fight alongside their newly found prince, they were the first in need of winter wear and snow preparation.

  Jak wore the new title and took on his role with ease. He didn’t like playing incumbent any more than she did, but he seemed to handle it better. He was gracious and kind, putting doubts to rest when people saw how well he handled command. Rasha admired his easy manner and hoped that she could someday master both his confidence and his grace.

  A group of startled small birds took to the sky from behind the line of trees and she knew it was time; she signaled again to the ridge.

  A wave of roaring, screeching beasts emerged from the tree line. The ground in front of the beasts lit up in a grid of white lights and hit the beasts charging at full speed. Beasts coming behind them hopped out of the way and staggered back. Their leaders fell to the ground, twitching from the shock it delivered. The beasts backed away from the grid area with wary snorts and nervous growling. Bull-men drove the animals forward with whips and prods, but the animals resisted. Bird-men and dragons took to the air, flying over the grid. Rasha held up a fist, and the archers behind her shot down as many of the bird-men as they could. Most of them dodged the arrows and landed only a few feet in front of Rasha and the front line. The charge on the first grid was down already. It lasted only a few minutes. She whistled for the swordsmen to press the attack while they scrambled into formation.

  “I need that second charge,” she yelled.

  “I know, I know, I’m working on it,” Ladi said. She turned to the grid control system and began tapping furiously.

  “No time. I’m going in.” Rasha drew her two short swords and charged the nearest beast, a bull-man. Jak drew his longsword, taking on a large wolf that tried to attack her from behind. Surprised by his attack, the wolf turned to face him. Jak’s longsword came down across the face of the wolf and it staggered toward him before falling flat to the ground.

  Rasha slashed at the bull-man until he doubled over and she could deliver a blow to the base of the neck. The bull-man fell with a thud, and she used his back as a springboard to leap onto the back of a bear that was mauling a fallen fighter. Her swords made quick work of the beast, and it collapsed. She rolled it over to check on the soldier, but he was already dead, his sightless eyes fixed on the sky.

  “Ladi!” Rasha yelled.

  “One minute.” Ladi picked up the device with both hands and took position near the fighting. “Got it.” She said. She pulled out a wooden whistle and blew a signal, loud and long, that carried over the din.

  The fighters dropped to the ground at her signal. Without missing a beat, Ladi sent a burst of energy that carried an electric shock out in front of her four feet above ground.

  A soldier dressed in the military colors of the eighth kingdom of Vol was fighting on the back of one brown bear when it took an electric shock. It propelled him into the air and the bear across the field. They both landed hard on the ground and Ladi ran to help the soldier. She found him laying with his eyes wide and no heartbeat. The stun for the beasts was far too strong for humanoids, but Ladi came prepared. She administered a lighter secondary charge, which restarted his heart. His eyes blinked and he gasped for breath, clutching her arms.

  “You’re going to be okay,” she said as he looked around. Two of his fellow soldiers had come up behind her and helped the man to his feet.

  The rest of the beasts retreated back to the north with the dragons and flying bird-men.

  The remaining fighters went to the fallen, searching for any survivors, before they assembled to leave. Rasha was helpless to do anything but watch as the dead were carried away. Jak patted her shoulder. “There’s nothing you can do. We should go.”

  She turned away from the battlefield, her heart heavy with the losses. It was becoming harder and harder to put away the images of all their faces. They came back to visit her in her sleep.

  “Anything on long sensors, Ebere?” She asked. Courier Central had automatically dispatched Ebere to be her new partner after Lu died. When she’d explained to him that she was in the middle of a war, he hadn’t returned to Central as she’d expected. He chose to stay and fight with them. Despite his shy manner, Rasha found herself liking him for his bravery and let him stay and fight. They needed the numbers anyway.

  “No, nothing, we’re all clear,” Ebere said, then gathered his gear and followed them.

  “What happened to my secondary charge?” Rasha asked him.

  “I prepared it, but when I went to set it, the parameters had been changed. My guess is Ladi was experimenting again.”

  Rasha and Jak stopped and waited for Ladi to catch up. Ebere went on ahead.

  “What happened back there?” she asked when Ladi joined her.

  “Did you see that? I mean the timing was a little off but the effect was out of this world.” She spoke in rapid bursts. “Exactly what I was looking for. Total carnage would be better but we don’t want to kill our own people, right? Next time bigger grid, better result. I’m on it.”

  Jak shook his head, stifling his laughter. Rasha glared at him and turned back to Ladi.

  “No, I mean, why did you tamper with the secondary charge Ebere set?”

  “It wasn’t good enough.”

  “We’ve been through this. I don’t want you practicing on the battlefield! We have to be able to rely on our methods. Put your feelings for Ebere aside and focus on what you’re supposed to do. Don’t risk any more lives,” Rasha said.

  “I don’t have any feelings for Ebere. Uck! Are you serious? He’s such a snork.”

  “He’s also within hearing distance,” Rasha said and stopped, forcing Ladi to turn to look her in the eye. “He’s a trained courier, something you aspire to become. You could learn from him.”

  Ladi huffed and stormed off without looking back.

  Rasha squeezed her eyes closed and pinched the bridge of her nose to fight off the headache she felt coming on. She hated having this conversation with Ladi. It was like pleading to the winter wind for more sun.

  Ebere joined them. “I’m sorry, I try to stay out of her way.”

  His smallish eyes darted in Ladi’s direction for a split second.

  “No, you did your duty, she didn’t. Enough said.”

  “Go get some rest,” Jak said with a pat on the young man’s back.

  Ebere had been given a room in the palace, a luxury that none of them took for granted. Many of the fighters were forced to depend on the hospitality of people in Adalu who opened their homes to the fighters and their families if they brought any. Others had erected temporary dwellings sturdy enough to protect them against the wind, but no more than a place to sleep.

  Rasha and Jak wouldn’t get either food or rest until they met with the council. Their first duty was to discuss the outcome of battle, prepare for the next, and then address the ten kingdoms of the week’s events. Food was the last thing on her mind as they climbed the marble stairs to the foyer. Jak took her hand and held it in his calloused one.

  “You did well
today.” He used a thumb to clear a smudge of blood from her face. He always seemed to find a reason to touch her these days. Rasha pulled back and out of his reach.

  “Leave it. I want them to see what I’ve been doing all day.”

  “I know. I didn’t get it all.” He pulled her back and brushed a light kiss on her forehead. “I’m with you.”

  Something in her heart eased back towards him. When this was all over, she wondered what their days would be like. If she were being honest, she thought about it far more often then she should.

  * * *

  They entered the council chamber together. The council banged their staffs on the floor to herald their arrival.

  “Where were my soldiers today? You promised me you would speak to the mermen and get me reinforcements,” Rasha said to mermaid councilwoman Keabasi.

  The Karmirian councilman Gungbe was a stickler for procedure and banged his staff for order.

  “Let the council convene,” he said with a pointed look at Rasha.

  “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” Keabasi said, “I’ve sent word to the mermen but I haven’t heard how many fighters we can expect. It’s a difficult time of year to reach them; they don’t winter in the northern waters.”

  “I need those men. We’re getting slaughtered out there.”

  Falasad from the ninth kingdom of Buku said, “Perhaps we need to consider turning over the command to someone who can help us win this battle with the fighters we have,”