Callatis, the capital city of CardeaOnce a port city in the Aurellian Empire, Callatis is now the capital of a thriving republic—a hub of art, culture, schemes for power, and the carnal sport of the gladiators.Callatis Chronicles is a romantic epic fantasy story featuring political drama, magic, gods, sexy gladiators, and pretty ballgowns.

VOLUME 1 PREVIEWThe Black RoseChapter 1
16th day of Aurorstra, 1544Callatis, CardeaDucking into the alleyway had been a mistake, Heather realized. She had hoped to lose the guards, but had been too slow. And now she was fully exposed.Four days before the Summer Solstice, Callatis bustled with preparations for the upcoming celebrations.Banners emblazoned with Aurora's sun sigil had begun to appear throughout the city, while flower pots around the city had been replanted with new, colorful blooms. The sweet scent mixed with rosemary, basil, garlic, cloves, and roasting meat in the market.It all created a heady cacophony, which she had been in the midst of just a few minutes before.Merchants haggled and hawked their wares, while customers purchased supplies, or placed orders ahead of the festival. Commoners and nobles intermingled, shopped, and gossiped. A few people schemed in the shadows, if not right in broad daylight.A cool breeze blew off the sea, past the merchant, and pleasure vessels moored in the harbor. Warding off some of the early summer heat, so the crowds weren't too uncomfortable.Heather had decided to take the day for herself—no pickpocketing, or canvassing. She had planned to enjoy the preparations; instead, she had five guards hot on her heels as she ran down an empty alleyway.Not for the first time, she cursed Caspian as she ran.Up ahead of her, she saw an open door into one of the shops on the main avenue. A couple was pressed against the wall, tangled in a deep kiss that blinded them to the world.They jolted apart in surprise when Heather jumped onto the steps beside them. Before they could react, she ran inside and closed the door behind her with a resounding slam. It would buy here mere seconds, but those seconds were precious.She found herself in an unlit storage room, but didn’t slow down. Just enough light came through a half-opened door to let her see the wooden shelves against the walls, and the crates and barrels stacked on the floor.In the doorway, she nearly ran into a young woman, who cried out in surprise.
Heather felt a twinge of guilt, but dodged around her and kept running. She burst into the front of the shop, surprising a merchant, and the four or five customers gathered there.A marble counter blocked her way to the door.An oil and vinegar shop, she realized, finally noticing the strong, tangy smells that permeated the air.Behind her, Heather heard the guards force the door open. Their steps were heavy as they stormed into the shop.Thinking fast, she vaulted over the counter. Ignoring the startled customers, she ran straight for the door.Once out in the street, she was frustrated to find herself no longer in the heart of the market. Instead, she had moved north, into the more affluent, less crowded area of town.To her left, a block and a half down, she could see the memorial fountain, and the market beyond that. Behind her came the sound of the guards reaching the door, pressing her to keep moving.
She veered right.A merchant with a heavy crate suddenly turned into her path, and she barely dodged to avoid him. He cried out in surprise, then shouted at her to watch where she was going.The guards calling for someone to grab her was a far more pressing issue.
She ignored the burning in her lungs, and pushed herself to run faster.Without a crowd, the scattered people around her became more of a threat than a protection. Reaching the next corner, she turned left. Relieved to see that there was no one there.One of the shops caught her attention.
Above the door, a carved wooden sign hung from a wrought iron bar. Intricate knotwork reminiscent of the northern lands framed the words Thorinson's Curiosities and Consultations, painted in black and violet.The name set off a bell in the back of her head, though she was sure she had never seen the shop before. And she didn't have time to consider why.
With a shaky breath, she decided to take her chances inside.Chapter 2As soon as she stepped inside the cool air of the shop, Heather found herself face to face with a wolf.Her breath caught with a whimper, heart pounding in her ears as she looked into the intense blue eyes of a large, gray wolf on the wall.She blinked as her thoughts realigned, and she came back to her senses.The wolf wasn't real. It was only a beautifully painted mural on the top half of the far wall, above dark wood wainscoting. A scene of what she thought must be the northern forests, with a pack of wolves among the trees and ferns.Heather gave a small sob of relief as she collected herself. Then took a deep breath, and looked around.The shop front was small, about ten feet across, and sixteen feet wide. To her right, a bookshelf was built into the wall, filled with books and knickknacks. To her left were two wingback chairs, an end table between them. There didn't appear to be any wares for sale.In front of the mural was a polished, dark wood counter carved with knotwork, with a polished marble surface.The rest of the space was similar dark wood, and the scent in the air was of paper and wood polish—a delightfully simple smell after the market, and the oil shop."Search the shops! She's here somewhere!" The cry was accompanied by the clatter of armor, and boots on the cobblestone street outside.Heather's eyes darted around, searching for the best place to hide. But with such sparse decor, there were few options. There was the counter, and a door next to the mural that she only noticed on a second look. But the door had no knob.She knew better than to try opening locked doors without knobs.Instead, she ducked behind the counter. The back was as much a work of art as the front. The drawer and the cupboard were beautifully carved… but neither had a knob or handle.Panic surged through her.If the guards searched thoroughly, hiding behind the counter wouldn't save her. As aggressively as they had pursued her, she had no doubt they would be thorough.Gripping the counter's edge until her knuckles turned white, Heather sobbed as she rested her forehead against the cupboard door. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks.How had it come to this?Once more, she cursed Caspian. The egotistic, self-righteous bastard. All of this was his fault.Just as she began to sink into self-pity, she heard footsteps.But it wasn't the clatter of guards in armor. And it wasn't coming from the door.Looking to her left, she blinked in surprise at the arched doorway, and a staircase she could have sworn hadn't been there before.A man’s charcoal leather boots appeared on the chair. Very nice leather boots, according to her trained eye. As he continued down the stairs, she saw dark pants, and a blue jerkin.Even in her current situation, her heart fluttered when she saw his face.He was in his early twenties, handsome, in an unassuming way she found incredibly charming. His chestnut hair was lightly tousled, but not messy, and his blue eyes reminded her of the wolf on the mural behind her: shrewd, and intelligent.He looked her over, expression carefully schooled. There was no sign of surprise as he looked at her, but she did see his expression flicker."Please," she said, throwing herself at the man's mercy. "Hide me."He looked towards the front of the shop, where they could hear the guards on the street. There were far more than the original five now."I'll expect an explanation," he said."I'll give you one," she promised. "Just don't let them find me."He nodded, coming down the last few steps and behind the counter.Heather flinched as he came closer. But he walked past her, opening the drawer in the counter and withdrawing a large book.She looked up at him in confusion."Stay there," he murmured, and rested a hand on her head.At first, she was offended at the touch, which seemed condescending. But he murmured something under his breath, and she felt a tingling sensation down her spine.Magic.That sent a different kind of chill down her back.She tried to look at him without being too obvious. Her eyes fell on the boot next to her. Just as she had thought, the leather, and workmanship, were of the highest quality. A bulge in the side caught her attention.A knife, she realized. Another one hung from his belt. Unobtrusive, but easily accessible if needed.Her memory finally found what had been nagging her since she first read the sign above the door.Thorinson.Her heart stuttered in her chest.
The Thorinsons were a family from the north, as the decor suggested. Their history stretched back to the Aurellian Empire, if the stories she had heard were true—stories of merciless battles, rivals who disappeared, and women who fell under their savage spell.They were one of the most powerful families in the republic, with connections to the ruling families. Important enough that she had heard the name repeatedly over the past few years, even when she didn't bother paying attention to politics.
Heather shuddered, wondering if she hadn't entered an even more dangerous situation.

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VOLUME 2 PREVIEWFlowers & FelinesChapter 1
21st day of Aurostra, 1544Callatis, CardeaEVEN THE FIRST DAY after the Summer Solstice, the clock tower in the heart of Callatis chimed six o’clock. Just as it did every morning.Near the Temple Circle, curled under her light summer blankets, Madeline LaBelle inhaled as she awoke. About the fourth chime, her eyes fluttered open.Morning sunlight filled her bedroom, illuminating the pink damask wallpaper. The wainscoting and furniture were white, painted with decorative green vines and pink flowers.Madeline propped herself up on her elbow as she looked out her bedroom window. Her soft pink curtains were open, the edges swaying in the breeze. Outside, she could see a clear blue sky, which promised a beautiful day.The day after the Solstice was always a bit odd. For many, the nobility in particular, it was a chance to rest after parties and late nights.Some businesses would be busier than usual, catering to those who had come to the city for the celebrations, and now prepared to return home. Others would open late, if they opened at all.Like most flower shops in Callatis, the LaBelles had spent the past week fulfilling orders for floral wreaths, bouquets, and swags. Her mother said it had been their most successful Solstice in the four years since the shop had opened.Her mother insisted they keep their usual schedule the day after the Solstice, so it was probably best that they had spent the day in the Temple of Aurora, rather than staying out late.
Madeline didn't resent paying respects to the Titan, to whom they owed so much.But she would have liked to attend one of the dinners they had been invited to. Or even a ball.Outside, she could hear the two gardeners preparing for the day. Their wheelbarrows squeaked, and tools clattered, while they divided the work that needed to be done.Their murmured voices were drowned out by the sparrow who lived in the cherry tree outside her window. He chirped cheerfully as he hopped between the branches, telling her it was time to start another day.Still, she lingered in bed for a few more minutes.She tried to remember what she had been dreaming before the clock woke her up. It had been a pleasant dream – one she wished she could have stayed in a little longer. But the details slipped like water through her fingers the harder she tried to hold onto them.She thought the dream had had something to do with Vesta, though she couldn’t remember what.If the goddess were to speak to her in a dream, she hoped it wouldn’t slip away so easily.The sparrow chirped again, and Madeline sighed as she slipped from beneath her blankets.She went over to the wash basin next to the window. Splashing cool water on her face helped wake her up fully, and she hummed as she straightened.Once she had dressed, she went over to the window as she brushed out her red hair.The morning air was still cool, heavy with the perfume of flowers from the garden. She watched as Adalie, one of her mother’s assistants, filled a basket with stems of brightly colored dahlias, before turning back towards the shop.“Good morning, Madeline,” she called.“Good morning.” Madeline paused brushing to return the woman’s friendly wave.“Your mother is just finishing up the orders for the morning delivery,” Adelie said. "They should be ready when you come down."“I'll be there soon."As Adelie returned into the shop, the sparrow chirped. Madeline looked up to see him sitting on a branch above her head.“Good morning to you, too.”The sparrow preened his feathers a bit, then chirped again before flying off. Telling her it was time for her to fly as well.Once she had tied on her apron, and put on her walking boots, she made her way downstairs.Like most homes in this part of the city, the house was three stories. Madeline’s bedroom, and her parents’, was on the third floor, while the living spaces were on the second. The first floor was dedicated to her mother’s flower shop. The stairs brought her into the backroom, where her mother and Adelie were busy assembling bouquets.For larger orders, her brother Theo made deliveries by cart—though he likely wouldn't be called on for the next day or two.Smaller orders were Madeline's responsibility.“Good morning, Mama,” Madeline greeted, coming over to kiss her mother’s cheek.“Oh, Madeline. Good morning.” Daphne blinked as she looked over. Her red hair was lighter than Madeline's, pulled back in a bun to keep it out of the way. Her periwinkle dress was simple, but elegant enough for the wife of a Cardean prefect.Madeline suspected her mother had never truly recovered from the stress of the war, and the loss of their home. She had never fully regained the weight she had lost during that time, and was more easily startled than before.“The deliveries are just about ready.” She gestured to where Madeline’s basket sat on the counter, already half filled with bouquets of various sizes. “Do you want to have breakfast before you go?”“No, I’ll get something when I stop at the bakery,” Madeline assured her. “Is papa going to the council building?”“Not today,” Daphne said.That would spare Madeline having to take lunch to him at midday.Five years ago, when they had arrived in Callatis, the city had been completely foreign to her. The temples had been her only landmark, and the idea of straying beyond the circle had terrified her. She had been intimidated by the seemingly endless streets. Frightened of getting lost in them.Now, as she picked up the list next to the basket to check the addresses, she was able to calculate the route in her head without trouble.One name on the list startled her from her routine, and she blinked in surprise. “The Selelon house?”While they did occasionally receive orders from the ruling families, it was still rare enough to catch her attention. She was even more surprised that she hadn’t heard about it as soon as she came downstairs. Her mother was always quick to share whenever they received an order from a noble family.“Oh yes, I almost forgot!” Daphne’s blue eyes lit up with the excitement Madeline expected. “The order is from Lord Galloborne himself, for Lady Phillipa Bellerose! She’s the niece of Lord Selelon’s wife, and is staying with them for the time being. I don’t know why she wouldn’t open the Bellerose house, but I suppose it might be excessive for one person.”“It does seem a bit much,” Madeline agreed. Though, from what she knew of the Selelon family, she would have thought it preferable. “I don’t think the Bellerose house has been opened the entire time we’ve been here.”“I think you’re right,” her mother said, then shook her head and returned to the subject. “A footman dropped off the order yesterday, but I didn’t realize who it was for until this morning. I don’t know how Lord Galloborne heard of us. Perhaps the Starks told him.”More likely the recommendation had come from Hammond Thorinson. But she decided not to mention that. Regardless of how Lord Galloborne had learned of them, the order was an honor.The bouquet was a dozen lush red peonies, wrapping in black paper with gold swirls, tied with a red velvet ribbon.“I met Lady Phillipa the other day,” she said, recalling the meeting she had nearly forgotten.Her mother started. “What? Where? Why didn’t you tell me?”Madeline hesitated. “Lady Carolyn Selelon is a regular customer at Kat’s shop. She brought Lady Phillipa with her the other day.”Daphne’s excitement visibly dimmed at the mention of Katherine. But, to her credit, she didn’t frown. “Of course.” She turned back to the bouquet she was working on.That was why Madeline hadn’t remembered to tell her about the meeting.Her parents were usually delighted to hear any brush she had with the ruling families… Unless it was a meeting that happened at Kat’s Boudoir.It didn't matter that Madeline had met several women from ruling families there – or that several of them had ordered flowers from them. If the connection came through Katherine, they seemed to think it didn't count.“Do you plan to make deliveries for Miss Fischer today?” Daphne asked, her voice resigned.“I’ll stop in and see if she needs me to,” Madeline said, undeterred by her mother’s attitude.“Just make sure you’re not late to the Selelons. Lady Phillipa and her mother are said to be very fond of flowers, and if she likes this she may order from us. Especially since their garden has been so neglected.”"I will," Madeline assured, picking up her basket.On one side of the handle hung a token of Vesta the Maiden, blessed by the temple priestesses. On the other, a steel coin embossed with the Stark phoenix insignia. A gift from Maria Stark herself, it marked Madeline, and her goods, as being under Stark protection. But even that had been made possible by Katherine, so her parents barely acknowledged it.Daphne came over to kiss her forehead. "May the Mother and the Maiden watch over you, my darling. Stay safe. And don't forget to stop at the temples!""Thank you, Mama." Madeline smiled at the touch. "I'll see you this evening."
She left through the back door, walking through the garden to the back gate. Along the way, she stopped to pick several pink dahlias, and stalks of hollyhocks.When she stepped through the gate, onto Violet Lane, she turned right, towards the Temple Circle, which she could see a couple blocks up. Her father believed the house must have been a gift from Galatea after their ordeal during the war. It had everything they needed, and was so close to both the temples, and the market.The lane into the circle itself was still lined with garlands from the day before. A few of which Madeline recognized, since she had helped her mother make them. Most of them were still lush and full, though the street sweepers hadn’t been able to clean up all the petals and leaves that had fallen to the cobblestones overnight.Fourteen temples of marble and sandstone formed the circle, each gilded and painted in bright colors. Before each stood a statue of the god it represented. Two were larger than the others: Aurora in the east, and Selene to the west. While the doors to Selene’s temple were flanked by Callista and Larissa.In the center was a large, circular fountain. A golden bowl was held up by a group of mermen, the water cascading around them.Violet Lane brought her between Bellona the Huntress, with her drawn bow, and Vulcan the Smith, with his hammer held aloft, on the south east side.Outside the temple of Consus the Father, she saw several priests preparing for the day. But she didn't see her brother Marius among them, so she continued to make her way to Galatea's temple on the northern side.Both her parents had chosen the goddess of marriage, fidelity, magic, and the hearth, as their patron. While Madeline had chosen Vesta for herself, she still stopped to murmur a prayer as she laid the hollyhock stalks on the altar. Asking for protection, and guidance for the day.After lingering for a moment, she turned to the temple of Vesta the Maiden. The marble statue was painted to give the goddess of love rich mahogany curls, while her dress was a soft pink and gold. The sculptor had captured a sweetness in her expression that Madeline quite liked.Through the doors flanked by beds of blooming camellias was the marble altar decorated with gold roses and pomegranates, inlaid with rubies. Beyond the altar was a mural of Vesta and her lover, Numitor the Warrior, embracing in her garden.As she approached the altar, she recognized the priestess who was there, lighting the morning candles. Laurine was a woman in her early thirties, with curly blonde hair beneath her light blue veil."Good morning, Laurine," Madeline greeted.The priestess smiled at her. "Good morning, Madeline. How was your Solstice?""It was busy," Madeline admitted. "What about yours?”"Much the same," Laurine said. With the last candles set up and lit, she turned to face Madeline.Laurine was from the Auriles territory—not from Orlême, the town Madeline's family came from, but from a town not far south of there. They had met when the LaBelles first arrived in the city, while the priestesses had been providing aid to the refugees.Approaching the altar, Madeline laid the flowers she had brought on the altar, praying for the Maiden's protection and guidance for the day."I think I had a dream about the Maiden," Madeline admitted, turning back to Laurine. "But I don't remember it. I'm afraid she wanted to tell me something, and I've forgotten it.""If the goddess tells you something, even in a dream, it wouldn't slip away easily," Laurine said. She rested a hand on Madeline's shoulder reassuringly. "If you dreamed of her, I suspect it means she's close to you."The idea sent a shiver of excitement down her spine. "Do you think so?""I do." Laurine squeezed her shoulder. "If she is trying to tell you something, it will come to you.""I just couldn't bear to disappoint her." She looked towards the mural of Vestra and Numitor again."You won't," Laurine assured her.
They bid each other goodbye, before Madeline left the temple. With one last look at the mural on the wall.When she at last made her way towards the market, the streets were less crowded than most mornings. But still bustling with merchants and customers as she made her way up Temple Avenue. People from outside the city, who had come for the festivities, now prepared for their return home.A couple blocks up, she turned right onto Maple Street, then left onto Garnet Avenue, and came to the door of her next stop.The Dain Bakery was one of the best in the city, run by a family of dwarves who had opened it several generations back. Several of the regular morning customers were there, greeting Madeline as she made her way to the back.“There you are, Madeline,” Agda Dain greeted, looking up from the rolls she was placing into a basket. “I’ll be with you in just a moment, dear.”Agda was a stout, sensible dwarf, who ran the bakery with her two sons, and her daughter-in-law. She barely came up to Madeline's chest, her dark brown hair pulled into two braids down her back. She was firm in her business, but still kind. During the siege of Callatis, they had been one of the first businesses to offer aid to the refugees taking shelter in the city. Something Madeline would always be grateful for.She knew they didn’t need her to make deliveries. But they had taken a liking to her, so they continued to let her do the job, which had given her something to do as the city began to recover.When she had finished with the customer she was helping, Agda wiped her hands on her apron as she nodded for Madeline to follow her into the back.“We missed you yesterday,” Agda said, as they passed through the curtain over the doorway into the back room. Her son, Alvis, was kneading a batch of bread, but paused to offer a friendly greeting before getting back to work.“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to come in,” Madeline said. “I hope it wasn’t too much trouble.”Agda waved away the apology. “No trouble, dear. But we do like having you come in. Have you eaten this morning?”“Not yet.”"We'll remedy that," Agda said. "The deliveries are over there, so you can load those up while I get you something."There was a small pile of boxes, each labeled with the contents in Agda's neat handwriting. Beside it was a list of each item's destination. An extra box held an assortment of cookies that Madeline could sell in the marketplace.She was just getting it all arranged in her basket when Agda returned with one of the earthenware plates that the family used for their own meals. On it was a sliced plum, two thick slices of bacon, and small slices of toasted bread topped with chopped tomatoes, herbs, and olive oil. Madeline’s stomach growled in anticipation as she saw the food.Madeline took a seat on one of the low stools as she ate.“I know your basket is full, but I’m sending some breakfast for Katherine as well,” Agda said. “That poor girl doesn’t eat properly.”“I do my best to make sure she does,” Madeline said."I know you do." Agda patted her arm reassuringly. "She's lucky to have you."The bell over the door chimed again, and Agda went back out to help with the customers.Once Made

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