Lady of Stone Read online

  Lady of Stone

  Synopsis

  Lady Sylph’s only concerns should be inheriting her title, marrying well, producing an heir, and lording it all over the peasantry. It’s what her father insists upon, and she never knew she needed anything or anyone else until her magic comes, an ability her class is not supposed to possess.

  Thana never coveted the title of monarch’s pyradisté because her knowledge exceeds her ability. She hopes the royals will never depend on her, but then the palace’s pyramids go haywire. On top of that, a beautiful, spoiled noblewoman needs her help to conceal a new power.

  Could Sylph’s ability and Thana’s magical mystery be related to a new kind of crystal being smuggled into the kingdom or a possible pyradisté coup? They’ll have to work together and overcome their biases, admit their feelings, and maybe surrender to their fierce desire before time runs out.

  What Reviewers Say About Barbara Ann Wright’s Work

  The Pyradisté Adventures

  “…a healthy dose of a very creative, yet believable, world into which the reader will step to find enjoyment and heart-thumping action. It’s a fiendishly delightful tale.”—Lambda Literary

  “Barbara Ann Wright is a master when it comes to crafting a solid and entertaining fantasy novel. …The world of lesbian literature has a small handful of high-quality fantasy authors, and Barbara Ann Wright is well on her way to joining the likes of Jane Fletcher, Cate Culpepper, and Andi Marquette. …Lovers of the fantasy and futuristic genre will likely adore this novel, and adventurous romance fans should find plenty to sink their teeth into.”—Rainbow Reader

  “The Pyramid Waltz has had me smiling for three days. …I also haven’t actually read…a world that is entirely unfazed by homosexuality or female power before. I think I love it. I’m just delighted this book exists. …If you enjoyed The Pyramid Waltz, For Want of a Fiend is the perfect next step…you’d be embarking on a joyous, funny, sweet and madcap ride around very dark things lovingly told, with characters who will stay with you for months after.”—The Lesbrary

  “This book will keep you turning the page to find out the answers. …Fans of the fantasy genre will really enjoy this installment of the story. We can’t wait for the next book.”—Curve

  “There is only one other time in my life I have uncontrollably shouted out in cheer while reading a book. [A Kingdom Lost] made the second. …Over the course of these three books all the characters have blossomed and developed so eloquently. …I simply just thought this whole novel was brilliant.”—Lesbian Review

  “Chock full of familiar elements that avid fantasy readers will adore…[The Pyramid Waltz] adds in a compelling and slowly evolving romance. …Set against a backdrop of political intrigue with the possibility of monsters and mystery at every turn, the two women slowly learn each other, sharing secrets and longing, until a fragile love blossoms between them…”—USA Today Happily Ever After

  Not Your Average Love Spell

  “Barbara Ann Wright mixes so much into her story–romance, comedy, drama, action, adventure–that it threatens more than once to collapse under the clash of themes, but those clashes and contrasts only serve to make it stronger and more engaging.”—Beauty in Ruins

  “…a solid little fantasy tale with a lot of really cool elements. …Wright plays to all the tropes…in a way that keeps the story fresh while preserving the surprises. …As for the romance, that was surprisingly sweet and amusing, with four women at the heart of the story who are entirely likable…the spark of attraction and the emotional connections are undeniable.”—Fem Led Fantasy

  “…a great story filled with magic, wondrous creatures and adventure but what I really enjoyed about the book was the way that the characters grew. …It is a great thing to read in these trying times and I took hope from it. The story pulls with enough magic to feel like a fully fleshed out fantasy world while keeping our heroes relatable and engaging. …I give it a full hearted thumbs up and you should definitely check it out.”—Paper Phoenix Ink

  “I thought this was a fun and entertaining adventure read…the fantasy aspects are very approachable. …The way the whole plot unfolded just felt different and I loved that. What also really impressed me was the amount of action this book had. It was one thing after another after another all keeping me completely glued to the book…I could not stop reading.”—Lez Review Books

  The Tattered Lands

  “Wright’s postapocalyptic romance is a fast-paced journey through devastation. …Plenty of action, surprises, and magic will keep readers turning the pages.”—Publishers Weekly

  House of Fate

  “…fast, fun…entertaining. …House of Fate delivers on adventure.”—Tor.com

  Coils

  “…Greek myths, gods and monsters and a trip to the Underworld. Sign me up…This one springs straight into action…a good start, great Greek myth action and a late blooming romance that flowers in the end…”—Dear Author

  “A unique take on the Greek gods and the afterlife make this a memorable book. The story is fun with just the right amount of camp. Medusa is a hot, if unexpected, love interest. …A truly unexpected ending has us hoping for more stories from this world.”—RT Book Reviews

  “The gods and monsters of ancient Greek mythology are living, breathing entities, something Cressida didn’t expect and is amazed as well as terrified to discover. …Cressida soon realizes being in the underworld is no different than being among the living. The heart still feels and love can bloom, even in the world of Myth. …The characters are well developed and their wit will elicit more than a few chuckles. A joy to read.”—Lunar Rainbow Reviewz

  Paladins of the Storm Lord

  “This was a truly enjoyable read. …I would definitely pick up the next book. …The mad dash at the end kept me riveted. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who has a love of sci-fi. …An intricate…novel one that can be appreciated at many levels, adventurous sci fi or one that is politically motivated with a very astute look at present day human behavior. …There are many levels to this extraordinary and well written book…overall a fascinating and intriguing book.”—Inked Rainbow Reads

  “I loved this. …The world that the Paladins inhabited was fascinating…didn’t want to put this down until I knew what happened. I’ll be looking for more of Barbara Ann Wright’s books.”—Lesbian Romance Reviews

  “Paladins of the Storm Lord by Barbara Ann Wright was like an orchestra with all of its pieces creating a symphony. I really truly loved it. I love the intricacy and wide variety of character types…I just loved practically every character! …Of course my fellow adventure lovers should read Paladins of the Storm Lord!”—Lesbian Review

  Thrall: Beyond Gold and Glory

  “Once more Barbara has outdone herself in her penmanship. I cannot sing enough praises. A little Vikings, a dash of The Witcher, peppered with The Game of Thrones, and a pinch of Lord of The Rings. Mesmerizing. …I was ecstatic to read this book. It did not disappoint. Barbara pours life into her characters with sarcasm, wit and surreal imagery, they leap from the page and stand before you in all their glory. I am left satisfied and starving for more, the clashing of swords, whistling of arrows still ringing in my ears.”—Lunar Rainbow Reviews

  “In their adventures, the women must wrestle with issues of freedom, loyalty, and justice. The characters were likable, the issues complex, and the battles were exciting. I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.”—All Our Worlds: Diverse Fantastic Fiction

  “This was the first Barbara Ann Wright novel I’ve read, and I doubt it will be the last. Her dialogue was concise and natural, and she built a fantastical world that I easily imagined from one scene to the next. Lovers of Vikings, mons
ters and magic won’t be disappointed by this one.”—Curve

  Lady of Stone

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Lady Of Stone

  © 2020 By Barbara Ann Wright. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-773-2

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: September 2020

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Tammy Seidick

  eBook Design By Toni Whitaker

  By the Author

  The Pyradisté Adventures

  The Pyramid Waltz

  For Want of a Fiend

  A Kingdom Lost

  The Fiend Queen

  Lady of Stone

  Thrall: Beyond Gold and Glory

  The Godfall Novels

  Paladins of the Storm Lord

  Widows of the Sun-Moon

  Children of the Healer

  Inheritors of Chaos

  Coils

  House of Fate

  The Tattered Lands

  Not Your Average Love Spell

  Acknowledgments

  As always, thanks to the whole team at BSB. Especially Cindy, who let me fudge this deadline so many times.

  Thanks to the Beavers and Writer’s Ink: Angela, Deb, Erin, Matt, Natsu, Sarah, and Trakena. You are superheroes.

  Thanks to all my readers. I had fun revisiting this universe. Let’s go here again.

  I love you, Mom. I love my cat, too, but not as much.

  Dedication

  To Matt and Nicole, always willing to help and asking nothing in return.

  Author’s Note

  This book takes place approximately two hundred years before the events in The Pyramid Waltz.

  Chapter One

  The air smelled of jasmine and honeysuckle, an aroma Sylph would have enjoyed if she hadn’t been terrified someone would uncover her magic.

  The enormous royal gardens contained a pond, a small forest, and a hedge maze as well as colorful blooms. A cadre of glittering nobles, all of them nearly as perfumed as the flowers, strolled at will, secure in the knowledge that two walls encircled them, a large one around the palace and its grounds, and a smaller, decorative wall so the royal Umbriels and their guests never had to see the plain wall that protected them.

  Just like the cursed walls, everything seemed like an illusion, especially the calm nobles, those happy to be at court and among their own social circle, secure in the knowledge that all was well.

  Sylph had never felt so apart from them, even though her father was a duke.

  He stood surrounded by lesser nobles clamoring for his attention, and Sylph would have been equally courted—if only as a stepping-stone to her father—but every time someone approached, she moved a little farther into the trees and blossoms, her heart thumping at the idea that one of them might have a stray pyramid about their person. With her mind, she would reach for it without thinking, without even knowing how she did it, and the magic would be on her again.

  No one would be in a rush to speak to her if they witnessed that.

  Her father had only dragged her to court in Marienne to find a good marriage. It wasn’t enough that she would be the duchess after he passed. In his mind, she had to increase their holdings before she inherited the title. He’d always hungered for land as most craved food and water. But she wasn’t ready to chain herself to someone for a few acres.

  Not that he cared.

  If he found out about the magic, would that make him care? Easing behind a large tree with leaves dangling nearly to the ground, she sighed. She’d have to bend to her father’s will someday, magic or not.

  Clutching her fists, she nearly let loose a curse she’d heard one of the grooms use while she’d hidden in the stables. She couldn’t even lament her tyrannical father in her own head without her thoughts going back to the spirits-cursed magic, to the fact that she might be a pyradisté.

  She remembered the first time it had happened, nearly three months ago. She’d moved one stone without touching it, which made it a fluke, easy to dismiss. Then she’d felt a wall pulling at her another afternoon, wanting her to use the power lurking within her to touch it, move it, yank it from the ground as if it was no more than a blanket. She’d learned to stay away from the pyramids guarding the gates of her estate before they plucked at her emotions and her will as easily as a minstrel plucked at a lute.

  In the garden now, she breathed deeply, trying to dispel the bile that rose at the memories. It was all a mistake. She did not have power, one way or another. Nothing ever had to happen again. She was not drawn to stone, had no urge to move it. And the mere presence of a pyramid did not pull at her like a haunting refrain.

  I will it so.

  But that wasn’t how magic worked. Once a pyradisté, always a pyradisté.

  A smattering of voices reached her, and she eased farther under the sweeping leaves, glad she’d picked a green outfit. Even the gossamer sleeves with their sprinkle of diamonds would help her blend with the dewy garden.

  A group of courtiers strolled along the path beyond the tree. They were a privileged handful who were allowed to mix with nobility. They knew enough to be seen without getting in the way. Even without the leaves obscuring their faces, Sylph doubted she would have known them. The little she saw of their clothing gave away their station even before their conversation did.

  Nobles only gossiped behind closed doors.

  “Did you hear the prince will be putting in an appearance?” one courtier asked.

  All of them sighed, presumably over the prince’s beauty. He had turned quite a few heads. And quite a few mattresses, Sylph had heard.

  Behind closed doors, of course.

  “No sign of the queen?” one of the courtiers asked.

  “She’s too enamored of her new lover,” another said, and the tittering began anew.

  Sylph rolled her eyes, wishing they’d go away. Their gossip wasn’t even interesting. She knew all about Lady Lucia, Queen Earnhilt’s current paramour. Sylph had memorized her features and every fact about her that one could dig up. Her father had insisted she do so for every noble. One never knew what might be useful. And she had no doubt they all knew about her.

  But they didn’t know everything.

  “The prince is enough of a thrill on his own,” the first courtier said. “Adding in the queen would be too much loveliness and put the garden to shame.”

  They all clucked in agreement, clearly besotted with the Umbriels. Sylph supposed she’d become too accustomed to the royals too long to understand the adoration. The queen was beautiful as well as boisterous and not afraid to pick up a sword when the situation warranted. Not Sylph’s cup of tea. Nor was the prince with his lazy drawl, half-lidded leers at most of the court, and glib wit. He’d always been friendly and courteous, but she’d never been interested in knowing him better.

  Her father approved. In marriage, he wanted her to have the greater title and the upper hand. As a future duchess, there were few above her.

  “Look,” one of the courtiers said with a gasp. “It’s the prince. At the end of the hedge.”

  They oohed and ahhed before one asked, “Who is tha
t dour creature in black beside him?”

  “The queen’s pyradisté,” another answered.

  They paused as if searching their memories for either the identity of the person in question or perhaps for a definition of a word so outside their sphere.

  “Peasant,” one said dismissively, and that was that.

  Sylph cringed and eased away, her cheeks burning. Her father would say the same. No noble possessed such an ugly, common little thing like magic.

  Except her.

  All thoughts of swearing and raging gone, she fought the urge to sag to the ground as she wandered farther into the scented trees.

  * * *

  Thana hated everything about this tea party, but she wasn’t supposed to show it. Prince Gunnar had instructed her to smile and make cheerful conversation. She had promised to try not to scowl.

  By the looks she was getting, she was failing at that.

  “Why do I have to come?” she’d grumbled at Gunnar in his apartment before the stupid party. “I’m the monarch’s pyradisté, the only one she has. Shouldn’t I be with her?”

  “Mother is busy.” He sighed and shook his golden head, blue eyes twinkling as he added the final touches to his outfit. Even in the shadows made by flickering candlelight, he managed to gleam. “She’s always busy.”