About To Sway A Bard: A Fantasy Romance Novella:
This standalone adult romantasy novella is a must read for fans looking for a fast-paced romantasy with heart-pounding adventure, enemies to lovers tension, forced promxity and forbidden attraction.
To Sway A Bard Chapter One
“Neo, it’s time to bring in the Blue-Feathered Bard,” Mother announced, waving a sealed envelope.
Neo shielded his eyes against the summer sun and swallowed down a groan as he watched his mother—a formidable woman who did not understand the word no—stride through the golden flower gardens. “What happened?” he called, turning back from the path that led down to the lagoon.
The ruffles of Mother’s bright yellow dress danced in the breeze as she approached. Even though she was a foot shorter than him, she invariably made him feel like a bumbling idiot. “There’s been a development.”
Neo frowned as he eyed the letter, his official summons to capture the notorious thief. For the past three years, he’d been tracking her location and studying her habits so that when the order came to capture her, he’d be ready. Unfortunately, all his spy work had also resulted in him developing fond feelings for the thief known as the Blue-Feathered Bard. He liked to think of her as simply Zula. “What kind of development?”
“Our informants have come through with news. Rumor is she’s stealing from the trolls, and you know what that means for us.”
Neo went all tingly inside, the way he always felt when on the hunt. That first buzz of excitement, followed by a fierce tenacity to capture his prey. “Stealing from the trolls will violate the peace accords. There will be trouble—”
“It could mean war,” Mother interrupted, opening her fan. “This is a delicate matter. I trust you will handle it with all due respect, and once you’ve caught her, I’d like to meet her.”
Neo could not keep the horror from his tone. “Why?”
She shrugged, but her eyes went shifty, warning him there was something she wasn’t telling him. “It might be useful to have a thief on the payroll.”
Neo narrowed his eyes, but held out his hand for the letter. “I’ll see to this matter immediately.”
“Of course you will.” Mother spun around, skirts swishing, and called over her shoulder, “You are the only one who can catch her.”
For anyone else, the words would have been high praise, but they were only the truth. So he put out of his mind the fact that he was hopelessly, foolishly in love with the kingdom’s most uncatchable thief. Besides, she’d never see him as more than a tall, awkward redhead. He’d bumped into her two or three times, listened to her play and sing at a tavern—she was a bard, after all—even shared a mug of ale with her, yet failed to make an impression.
Squeezing the paper until it crumpled, he sighed. Not that he was upset with the order; quite the opposite. He relished the opportunity to hunt down Zula and get close to her again. Although capturing her would ensure that she’d not only ignore him, she’d loathe him for eternity.
No, what bothered him was the glimmer of interest in Mother’s eyes.
When she set her mind to something, she never failed. A trait he’d inherited.
“Neeeeyooo,” came the sing-song voice of his five-year-old niece.
He held out his arms just in time for her to hurl herself like a whirlwind into him. “Doris, what mischief are you up to?”
“Nothing!” She beamed, her face smudged with chocolate and honey, a telltale sign of what she’d been up to. “Papa said to give you this.”
She opened her little fist, a leather cord hanging from it.
“Me?” Neo laughed. His older brother, Hans, wasn’t particularly generous, and his younger sister, Diana, was more likely to give gifts.
“Look, it dances,” Doris said, waving the cord.
Sure enough, on the end of it was a charm, swinging and twirling, even though there was no breeze in the gardens. Neo sobered as he stared at the wooden token carved into the shape of a parrot, symbolic of protection against evil. A sudden chill went down his spine.
“It’s a good luck charm,” Hans called, his deep voice sending ripples through the air as though he could be the wind, should he choose. He might, given the uncommon magic that ran through their bloodline.
Neo tied the leather around his neck as his brother approached. Like their mother, Hans was dressed to perfection with every hair in place. Thick, reasonable black hair with a slight wave to it, compared to Neo’s thatch of bright red hair; a filled-out body with muscles in all the right places instead of Neo’s boyish lankiness that made him appear younger than his age. Personally, Neo couldn’t claim wisdom, strength, or general attractiveness, but Hans was everything Neo wasn’t.
“Heard you were chasing the Blue-Feathered Bard. You’ll need all the luck you can get.”
Neo scowled. “It’s me. I’ll catch her.”
“Don’t be insulted. No one ever has. Besides, Mother wants you to bring her here?”
Even Hans’ tone was incredulous, which made Neo feel better about the situation. Hans was Mother’s golden boy who could do no wrong. Usually, the two of them were in agreement on every decision. The fact that Hans was questioning Mother’s motive was a chink in the armor.
“You disagree?”
“A thief? Here? It’s like inviting a cat into the kitchen, a mouse into the cellar, a fish into the water. If I were you, I wouldn’t take the risk unless you have her fully and utterly under your control.” Hans’ eyes drifted to his daughter.
Neo followed his gaze, disliking the sudden heaviness that lingered in the air. He punched Hans’ shoulder. “It’s me, remember?”
“Wear the charm,” Hans ordered, and chased Doris down the garden path. She ran from him, shouting and giggling, the picture of health and happiness.
Neo watched them, a sinking sensation in the pit of his belly. He’d capture the thief and prevent a war, but what would happen if he brought her home? Shaking his head, he headed toward his rooms to pack, sensing nothing but trouble in his future.
