Chaos and blackmail and lust, oh my.
Honor. Duty. Love. Blackmail. Intrigue. Lust. Flies. Yes,
flies. Killer blood-seeking flies have been the bane of Koilatha since the
founding. They’re rumored to live in the ruins of an ancient temple of evil,
not that anyone has ever gotten close enough to find out for certain. As a high
priest, Rak is duty-bound to investigate these flies. The sun priest attempting
to purify him and the palace functionary blackmailing him complicate matters,
as does his brother’s near death at the hands of an ambitious woman and the
king’s continued attempts to force him to accept the position as heir to the
throne.
The worst thing of all is that, while sober, Jisten won’t
settle for lust—he wants it all. And never mind that Rak has seduced him twice
already. Where does honor lie when intrigue, duty, and love conflict?
http://www.extasybooks.com/chaos-and-flies-2/
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PG Excerpt:
Once Jisten was safely re-fastened with new straps, Rak
directed Scorth across the river. The temple is supposed to be north and
east of the city, closer to the inland sea.
Scorth adjusted his course. Are you sure this is wise?
It’s the middle of the day. Shouldn’t we be doing this at night, when you’re
stronger?
The time of day should not matter for this. Why? Are you
afraid? Rak asked.
Hardly. Scorth snorted, incinerating a bird midair
that he then snapped between his jaws and swallowed. Tastes like chicken.
Eat later. We have work to do now. Rak was focusing
on the heavily wooded landscape beneath them. This looks like the
impenetrable forest I was told about. That means the ruins are close.
They told you that the forest is impenetrable?
Ai.
And they told you what was inside the impenetrable
forest?
Ai.
And you believed them?
I have an advantage that they lack.
Oh? And what might that be?
I have a dragon.
Scorth laughed, mollified by Rak’s obvious, but sincere,
flattery. Jisten also laughed, having followed the entire exchange, and Rak
graced him with a smile. The forest ended too abruptly for the border between
tree and grass to be natural. The meadow beneath them was perfectly circular,
and at the center, there was something that did not fit.
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