Ardent_Tears

Interlude: A Voice Beneath the Waves

A few weeks had passed since Tehri first heard the rumors about her sister. It was safe to say that she had been jumping in silent glee since then. She had celebrated with Kamren later that first day and Hana cooked something nice as well.

There were still a few challenges, especially with how expensive it was to get something delivered to the capital in any meaningful time frame, and there was no guarantee that she would see it. She had tried before with Tyris, and it hadn’t worked. ...

Chapter 37: No Looking Back

Early the next morning, Seres woke up to Rowan dancing.

“Have you been dancing all this time?” Seres yawned upon entering the living room.

“Aye.”

Rowan was dripping with sweat, and her body was screaming in protest at the lack of sleep. At the same time, she was still just as awake as she had been the night before.

Seres chose not to comment on Rowan’s lack of sleep. Not after what had happened. Instead, she offered Rowan a sympathetic smile. “You should pr...

Short Delay

Just wanted to let you all know that there is going to be a slight delay on today's Patreon chapter. I've had an extremely busy week and I woke up to a panic attack. It shouldn't be too long, but I didn't want to leave you in the dark.

Chapter 36: Next Stop, Baromiir

They arrived in Baromiir, the first of three major settlements along the Telma River, just in time for a late lunch. It was a similar size to Næmyris, only it was split through the middle by the river. Even so, Rowan was rather unimpressed. The town lacked character. All it really had going for it was positioning.

You could comfortably get to Baromiir from Telmaris, the next major town, in a single day when travelling by boat. Likewise, Baromiir to Midiris was also day by boat. This re...

Kickstarter Announcement!

I've just launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Audiobook and the Physical Release of Book 1: Awakening. We’ve got a bunch of exciting rewards available for the different Pledge Tiers, including copies of the book in all three available formats (digital, audio, and paperback). We will also be offering a limited number of Signed Premium Copies and a Cameo Character for the Final Tier.

As I’m sure you can imagine, I’m super excited for this campaign and I can’t wait to ...

Chapter 35: Homeward Bound

Rowan found the start of their grand adventure to be rather uneventful, partly because the reality of it all hadn't sunk in yet, but also because barely anyone did more than glance their way as they passed.

It made sense, of course. Lochlan and Liadra were trained to occupy the liminal space at the edge of people's senses, and Rowan was, at best, a rumour to most people outside the wealthy or the nobility. As for Seres, it was unlikely that anyone would expect the prodigal princess to b...

Chapter 34: Departure

There was something different about Rowan and Seres when they woke up the next morning. Seres could see it, and Rowan could feel it in her bones. They were sisters. The ritual had been a success.

Knowing that the Goddess had acknowledged their bond was a comfort to both of them. Together they would find the strength they'd most certainly need to tackle the road ahead.

It wouldn't be long until they took the next step. They had already packed everything they would need for the firs...

Chapter 33: Family Ties

It had been just over a fortnight since Alena and the others left for Særis. By the end of this next week, Rowan and Seres would be leaving as well. All that remained were some final preparations, starting with an informal audience with Queen Elarin.

Seres was already there when Rowan arrived in the second of Queen Elarin's audience chambers that afternoon. She'd been practising with Elan Fiir when the messenger informed her that Elarin was done with her official responsibilities for t...

Chapter 32: A Short Goodbye

Rowan was up early. She needed to be ready before the tide so that she could say goodbye to Alena and the others. Part of her was still sad that they couldn't stay together longer, but the embers of passion were a constant reminder that Alena would still be with her in spirit. There was also another strange comfort Resonating from within as she belted on Elan Fiir that she couldn't explain. She chose not to dwell on the feeling, instead choosing to just accept it as a plus to her morning.

Chapter 31: The Morning After

Rowan woke up, aching and euphoric, to the unexpected sound of birdsong. Her arm was draped happily over a purring Alena. Not wanting to wake her, she shifted slowly as she got out of bed, a task which proved challenging. Alena, and Rowan, to some extent, was a dynamic sleeper. Some would call her a restless sleeper, but there was an implication to 'restless' that Rowan couldn’t agree with; even with all her somnial animation, Alena was flirting with the other side when she slept.

Whi...

Interlewd: A Night of Passion (NSFW)

The couple didn't waste any time tearing off each other's clothes after entering the carriage that would take them back to the palace. With the atmosphere of the Honey Peach Inn, any pretences of waiting quickly went out of the window.

Rowan kissed Alena deeply as a hand glided up her thigh. Were it not for being flung back into her seat as the carriage started moving, she would have traced her lips down to Alena’s neck.

Instead, Alena followed Rowan and the momentum of the carr...

Chapter 30: Together

Rowan and Alena found a carriage ready to take them to the next location for their date, an Adventure Room. They were an unfamiliar concept to Rowan, but Seres had insisted on their growing popularity before her capture. Of course, in doing so, she neglected to tell Rowan what they actually were beyond the vaguest of hints.

Unfortunately for Rowan, vague hints only added to her feeling of relative ignorance, a feeling that made her slightly apprehensive. Had she been completely blind to...

Chapter 29: Closer

Rowan woke up in a cold sweat. Just like the chains that bound the twin moons on her back, she couldn't fully escape the trauma of her captivity. Even seeing Amran take his first true steps as a free man only lessened the nightmares.

That's what she kept telling herself as she splashed her face with water. Out of the two options her mind was presenting her, it was the more positive spin on the situation. The alternative insisted that the nightmares waited until that night to strike so t...

Chapter 28: Striking a Balance

Rowan strained as she neared the end of her reps. Tyris was working her hard, and the floor was glistening from her sweat. Even after almost a week of training under her brother, she could feel the burn.

Fortunately, things were improving, especially compared to the first day. Rowan and Alena ended up staying overnight as Rowan could barely move a muscle, and Talia insisted. The second day, in contrast, was devoted almost entirely to rest. Even so, Rowan did make sure to do some stretch...

Chapter 27: Back to Basics

The young, crimson-haired woman had a plan; a path forward in her quest for vengeance and belonging. Alas, as she lay there in bed, Rowan was struck with the realisation that she wasn’t quite ready to take the next step.

She was too weak.

It didn’t matter that she had started to fill out since her escape from the caves. She was too weak. Even with her Gift invigorating her healing factor as a result of her having her first time with the tawny-haired Ferran that slumbered next ...

Chapter 26: The Next Step

"Ah ah choo."

Rowan woke up sneezing loudly from a wandering tail tickling her nose. Not exactly the most romantic start to the morning after your first time. Alas, there was no helping it as Alena had found her way into the nook of Rowan's armpit, and while she was fast asleep, purring away, her tail had a mind of its own.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, Rowan didn't need to be a tail whisperer to know that the rogue tail wanted to play. It was almost as if it was enacting...

Interlude: A Voice on the Wind

Two river petals and a dawn flower to go and Tehri's bouquet would be complete.  She had spent the entire morning picking out flowers from the now surprisingly abundant flower garden that she had been tending to for the past four years. It wasn’t much but it let her stretch her creative juices without being overly expensive; which is to say it cost nothing other than time and a few seeds, most of which Tehri had harvested herself.

At some point in the future, Tehri wanted to lear...

Chapter 25: The Ball (Censored)

Not a moment had passed after the two girls had sat down for breakfast that Seres started to inquire about Rowan's dawn-time exhibitionism.

"You don't need to answer me, Rowan, but why did you decide to present yourself to gardeners in the nude?"

"That wasn't my intent," Rowan answered with a face redder than the tomatoes on her plate.

"Oh?"

"Well not exactly."

The inquisitive look that Seres gave her made it clear that, despite the initial disclaimer, she had no...

Chapter 25: The Ball (Extended)

Not a moment had passed after the two girls had sat down for breakfast that Seres started to inquire about Rowan's dawn-time exhibitionism.

"You don't need to answer me, Rowan, but why did you decide to present yourself to gardeners in the nude?"

"That wasn't my intent," Rowan answered with a face redder than the tomatoes on her plate.

"Oh?"

"Well not exactly."

The inquisitive look that Seres gave her made it clear that, despite the initial disclaimer, she had no...

Chapter 24: The Blush of Dawn

The touch of crimson settled on Rowan's cheeks as a euphoric tingling rushed through her body, jolting her awake. She settled back down into the plump mattress that had been struggling to lull her to sleep since she had arrived. Last night, it had finally succeeded in bringing her comfort. Unfortunately, that comfort was now marred by a slight damp feeling between her legs. Rowan looked at the glistening wetness of her fingers and sighed.

She had found the partner in crime to her dream ...

Chapter 23: Soulforged

In the brief moments when Rowan was alone, she realised that she still wasn’t dressed. This left her with the highly awkward conundrum of whether or not she should rush to get dressed. In the end, she decided against it as she was convinced that her brother and Seres would walk in while she was half-naked, or even completely naked, if she was unlucky. Instead, she stayed wrapped in the blanket that had kept her modest in front of the Queen.

As if to spite her decision, her brother and...

Chapter 22: Elan Fiir

Rowan stood in the training grounds, a gentle breeze caressing her face. She held Elan Fiir in her hands. It was an exhilarating feeling; difficult to describe. Stronger and more nimble. Weightier and more graceful. The Resonance of the sword rippled through every inch of her body.

"It's bizarre, isn't it?" Tyris asked from where he was standing, just across from her near some training dummies. "Even with only the familial Resonance, I could still feel the latent power. You must be expe...

Chapter 21: Reunion

Rowan's heart was beating a thousand times a minute. She could hardly believe that Tyris was right there on the other side of the door. Part of her was scared. A large part. It was all so sudden. What happened to being given a chance to prepare? How had Tyris had the chance to prepare? Her thoughts were racing; a feeling she still wasn’t used to.

"Ow!"

Something hit her on the forehead. It was sudden and instantly brought her back to the present. When she looked around to see wh...

Chapter 20: Midiris

"Hoist the sails! We're bringing her into port."

The large captain of The Wind Rose boomed instructions at his crew as he took the helm. The change in the ship's energy was palpable; Rowan felt it in her bones. That isn't to say that everyone felt the same way. Many were excited or, at the very least, relieved, but a sizable few felt an anxious trepidation at the prospect of being taken to a foreign land.

Seeing the response, Rowan started to realise how only a couple were actuall...

Audiobook Teaser Part 2

Here is the second part of Jessica's audition where she performs an excerpt from Chapter 18: The Wind Rose I

Audiobook Teaser Part 1

The audiobook is currently being recorded by the amazing Jessica Threet, and I wanted to share (with her permission) the first part of her incredible audition with you all to help stir some interest and to show my own hype for her performance. 

Chapter 19: The Wind Rose II

On the sixth morning, Rowan sat against the aft railing and looked up to the sun over the port side of the ship. She still couldn't quite believe it wasn't all some cruel dream or a new form of torture that the Silent Sisters had devised. Even so, she could not deny how real the warm light felt or how it filled her with hope. There was too much detail for it to be a fabrication, too many things that she hadn't known before. She took solace in that thought.

"I'm gonna have so much that I...

Chapter 18: The Wind Rose I

The sun was low in the sky when The Wind Rose raised its anchor. Everyone was on board and they had been given as much room as Dralik could spare. Admittedly, that wasn't much as his hold was filled with goods and food for the voyage.

The crew was remarkably quiet as they set sail. Ædarik hadn't expected it with how boisterous Captain Dralik had been the night before, but he appreciated it, especially as everyone else was still sleeping. Ædarik, however, was leaning on the portside ra...

Chapter 17: The Escape II

The small group sighed in relief as they stepped out into the soft blush of dawn. Freedom! They had finally done it. Gone were the hellborn caves that had come so close to breaking them. They had been destroyed by Illyria's wrath. The first part of Rowan's quest was complete. She hadn't saved everyone, far from it, but she had made a start and Lord Fein was dead. Rowan also took solace in knowing that Maro could have also led the others to freedom.

Out of the thirteen individuals in the...

Chapter 16: The Escape I

Ædarik was face-first on the ground and seeing stars. The earth-shattering quake had brought the cave ceiling down around him and his escort. One of them was crushed from the waist down by a large boulder. The other went running for the hills and he was alone. He could feel the blood trickling down the back of his head.

“Fuck!” His head was still ringing. “Get up, Arik. You still have a job to do.”

The way back was closed off from the cave in. His only option was to go fu...