​The Falcon of Imenotash

​March Book of the Month

Aridis: Concubine's daughter, emperor's sister, and the provincial queen of Imenotash

Edan: Peasant's son, mystic warrior, and captain of the palace guard of Imenotash

Giroch: Emperor of the Harudin Empire and unable to produce an heir of his own body.

A dangerous class of wills erupts when an intelligent and strong-willed woman with deadly secrets defies the Harudin emperor by marrying her peasant-born captain of the guard, who has lethal secrets of his own. Emperor Giroch gets his cruel revenge by threatening them both with death unless they bow down to cruel humiliation designed to destroy them and produce an heir. They find an unlikely ally and risk everything in a desperate gamble to obtain freedom from cruel tyranny. Along the way, their mutual respect is tested and begins to transform. Will they achieve freedom, love, and happiness, or will their enemies and deadly secrets destroy them?

This fantasy romance novella contains mature content not suitable for readers under 18 years old.

https://www.amazon.com/Falcon-Imenotash-Holly-Bargo-ebook/dp/B072F8C333

Excerpt

​A grunt of pain, followed by a metallic hiss, awakened Edan instantly. His sword pulled free of its scabbard and whistled through the air as he launched himself at the two intruders trying to subdue his lady’s guard. Although the men attempted to remain quiet, inevitably their fighting knocked over a small vase on the cupboard against the wall. Exploding pottery shards and the sounds of a struggle not entirely suppressed woke Aridis.

Sitting up, she blinked and quickly realized the situation. She scrambled off the bed and scuttled to the bedroom door. Flinging it open, she cried out, “To me!”

Four of her guard answered immediately, followed by six more who woke from their rest, weapons ready to hand. Since the quiet had been broken, the men called to each other.

“Surround her!” Edan snapped as he drove the point of his sword into one of the intruders.

Four of his soldiers immediately set Aridis in their center.

A cry in the dark and then a wet gurgle announced the second intruder’s death.

Edan wiped his sword on the dead man’s clothes and commanded, “Ready the horses. We leave now.” Turning toward the four men who surrounded his queen, he said, “Pull on your cloak, my lady. We cannot delay.”

She shook her head, eyes wide. “We cannot leave like this.”

Edan approached and two of the soldiers stepped aside for him. Looking down into the dark gleam of her eyes, he said, “Their bodies will give sufficient reason for our hasty departure.”

“This will surely offend the emperor.”