Tides of Empire Read online

  One night, after yet another bout of insomnia, Ren haphazardly tossed his sketchbooks filled with hundreds of drawings of Crystal and all his origami creations into a single box, including the one thousand paper cranes he made in the immediate years after his brother’s death. Ren dragged the carton to the roaring fireplace in his bedroom.

  “My wish never came true,” he said as he held a single paper crane. Ren lifted his head and stared at a portrait of Crystal over the mantle. “I wanted you to be happy and live longer than I did.” He placed the crane an inch away from the fire.

  As if aware, the flames slowly nibbled at the crane before devouring it completely, leaving a blackened husk of soot and ember.

  “It would seem impossible for my wish to be granted. Perhaps I should have wished for something else — for us to have stayed young forever, before you had eyes for Meng, before we took the Kaoshi and became Warriors.” Ren plunged both hands into his box of memories and began heaving his origami creations into the flame. The fire bellowed and popped with each wave of sacrifices.

  “How naive I was. To think that gifteds and non-gifteds could co-exist in this world.” Ren opened his sketchbook, his brother’s last gift to him and began flipping through hundreds of pages of a world that ended some time ago and a love that seemed to have only existed in his mind. He stopped at the first photo of Crystal and ripped the page from its binding. “I’m sorry, my love. You are my past now, and my past died with you that day.” Ren held the corner of the drawing into the fire. Waves of scarlet rolled over the parchment, quickly drowning Crystal with flames.

  In his head, Ren heard the song of the bloodraven sitting outside his infirmary room. He tore another sheet from the sketchbook and watched as his childhood flickered away in the fire.

  Acknowledgments

  Every day, my Maria brings sunshine to my life. Without her, I would not be able to get out of bed.

  To my friends and family, your support and encouragement is food for my soul.

  I have a great team of editors, designers, and ARC readers who make my books sparkle and shine. Without them, my books would not be worthy of anyone’s time.

  My author friends, thank you for reminding me that I’m not alone or crazy and for being there.

  To the fans that contact me with glowing reviews and praise, you are my motivation to push myself a little more each day. I wish I could write faster for you.

  And to my mother, who I still think about every day.

  About the Author

  C. S. Harte is a writer of speculative fiction. Tides of Empire is his first novella and third published story, overall.

  In his spare time, he bakes French pastries. But not to eat. That would negate the little exercise that he does. It is a life goal for him to one day create the perfect macaron.

  Keep in touch:

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  https://www.goodreads.com/

  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-s-harte

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