Corizen Rising Excerpt

OK, here's an except for the upcoming Corizen Rising! Just a teaser, really. Enjoy!

While they caught up, Andie noticed that Jerrapo seemed unusually grave, but she waited until after the food arrived at the table before observing lightly to Jerrapo, “I think the last time I saw you so tense was when that one guy—you know, Liem something or other—proposed to you.”

Jerrapo flashed a dark look at Andie. “Please don’t mention that annoying individual, Andie.”

“Come on, Jerrapo, he was only annoying because he was persistent in wanting you for a wife.” Age had not diminished Jerrapo’s stately beauty in the slightest, and no doubt she still had plenty of unwanted suitors. Jerrapo only scowled, her dark brows drawn together ominously.

“So if no eager suitors are back on the scene, what possibly could account for your tension?”

“Don’t be so flippant,” Jerrapo countered flatly. Andie waited, but still Jerrapo didn’t explain. She just continued to gaze somberly at Andie.

“So, what’s the bad news?” Andie finally prompted, more subdued.

“Othar Eshude is back.”

Andie dropped her fork with a clatter.

“You’re not serious?” she said in shock. Years ago, Othar Eshude had sworn a blood feud against her first husband Laeren. Othar’s feud had eventually (though indirectly) led to Laeren’s death.

“I wish I were not. He is not back exactly. Rather I figured out where he has been all this time,” Jerrapo replied gloomily. Andie recovered from her shock quickly.

“We hadn’t heard anything about him for so long I was certain that he had died or ended up in a mental institution or something,” Andie replied, a bit carelessly. Jerrapo eyed her incredulously.

“You are taking this calmly,” she remarked, tapping her fingers on her drink.

“Oh, Jerrapo, I know the man’s a psychopath, but he has no idea that Laeren has any living relatives on Corizen. Otherwise, he would have come after us a long time ago.”

“That may be true, but do you really want a psychopath as Oman of the Brotherhood?”

Andie choked on her mouthful of Urokian salad.