New Release | Cleelok III: The Belegs by Sean Nuber #fantasy #epicfantasy #newrelease #bookboost
- N. N. Light
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Title
Cleelok III
Subtitle
The Belegs
Author
Sean Number
Genre
Fantasy
Book Blurb
The saga concludes. Book III of the Cleelok series, The Belegs, builds upon the first two books to bring the story together. Our heroes must resolve all the Yaven-infused items created by the Cabal of Lochom, even though the Tlana try to thwart them. They must navigate the chaos of their realms, working with and against old friends and new, trying to figure out what the Belegs are truly about. For the Belegs are the world’s inscrutable creators and they have been issuing conflicting directives, mirroring conflicting desires.
Vrric must protect Clerin as much as he is able, but her enemies have increased in number and power. Some even have a habit of appearing and disappearing at the most inopportune times. Trela wishes to head back to her queendom, but that may cause more danger than it solves. Can she aid her subjects and her friends at the same time? Croy is forced to make the most difficult of choices. He must confront old enemies and old lovers; which is more dangerous? And Clerin… her role between the Belegs is finally laid bare. Can they survive the coming onslaught? Can they understand it? How does one even trick a Beleg?
Excerpt
“So, you lost the battle and were about to be killed and you made yourself useful enough to save your skin in the nick of time, eh?” Rumhulga stared straight at Mika, who merely nodded in acquiescence. “Good girl.” She turned to Trela. “If she performs her usefulness… or if I perform it for her to your satisfaction, do you promise her safe return?”
Trela took a long time to speak. Croy could tell that she was furiously thinking something, but had no idea of what it could be. He was not sure how much time was passing, but the silence was excruciating.
“We have a problem.” Trela and Rumhulga stared at each other intensely. Not in anger or force, but full of intent. Everything about each of them was fully relaxed except for their eyes. “I may not be able to guarantee her safety.”
“Even if we provide the Gaen traitor to you?”
“Correct.”
“Interesting. Even more interesting is that you did not just lie to me about it. After all, accidents happen, do they not? Yet your word is strong enough you are unable to do that.”
“My word is my life.”
“Good. You will have to explain yourself to me, however. Currently I am unable to offer any sort of deal.”
“I am not the party that demands the obliteration of… all that Mika represents. Or, I should say, represented.”
“The other interested party… is more powerful than you? You are a queen where you come from, are you not?”
“The Belegs want me dead, oma.” Mika interjected herself into the conversation. Though Croy was not familiar with the word “oma,” he understood it to be a term of endearment.
“Shhh, hush dear. Let’s not get too specific yet, at least not out loud.” Rumhulga turned back to Trela. “This is truly the other interested party?”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Then you should kill her now. And, of course, you will get no assistance with the traitor.”
“Oma!” Rumhulga did not even glance over at Mika’s interruption.
“And I assume there are no exceptions?” She kept her eyes trained on Trela.
“It has not been discussed. Our liaisons are unreachable at the moment.”
“And I suppose that, your word being your life and all, you would be unable lose Mika in the shuffle. You could have Hupdor…” Mika’s eyebrows shot up and her eyes glared angrily, but she did not provide a verbal outburst.
“Even if I were to agree, the lie would be found out eventually. But you are correct in the first instance. I have already made promises.”
“So your plans were to betray Mika once you got what you wanted? You gave her no promises?”
“I have been very honest with Mika as to what I can promise or not. Are there things left unsaid? Of course. My plan, my hope, is to plead our case with a liaison once we are all back together again. As long as she is helpful along the way, I will do my best to convince them to let her live, that is all I can promise.” Trela paused for a moment, but the only one who drank was Mika. She was really the only one drinking throughout the entire exchange.
“That’s not good enough.”
“So… we are back to killing her now and not receiving any help?”
“I need to think on it.”
“No!” Mika did not quite slam her empty goblet on the tabletop, but it did strike forcefully. “I prefer the chance, oma. She is right, she has never promised my life to me, and I never asked. To be honest, I was afraid to ask. But I need a chance. A sliver of hope. I refuse to let you just kill me tonight.”
“You refuse, do you? Do you know what I refuse? I refuse to assist your murderer in anything. I refuse to spend considerable time and effort and still have to watch you die.” Rumhulga finally appeared to start getting angry. “In fact, I should just do the deed myself, here and now!”
“I thought you said you needed to think on it.” Croy found himself speaking up. “This is a lot of information, there are a lot of emotions. I don’t think any decisions should be made until the morning.”
It grew quiet again. They all began to take sips of their wine, Croy included. Where would they sleep? Would Mika try to escape? Would Rumhulga have them attacked during the night? The thoughts careened around in his head, bouncing off one another.
“So, no one dies tonight, correct?” It was Mika, just making sure.
“Fine.” Rumhulga downed her wine and stood. “You all may camp around here. I assume you will keep Mika and Hupdor. We’ll speak again after dawn.”
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Author Biography
Sean lives with his lovely wife in Portland, Oregon. There they enjoy the city’s many beautiful parks, friendly neighborhoods, and abundant rainfall.