Change of Edict Read online

  Table of Contents

  FRONT MATTER

  OTHER BOOKS BY JACINTA JADE

  QUOTE

  KASLON TIME & ANIMALS

  THE PROPHECY

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  EPILOGUE

  END OF BOOK 2

  LETTER TO THE READER

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  EXCERPT - BOOK 3

  JACINTA JADE ONLINE

  CHANGE OF EDICT

  By Jacinta Jade

  This book is brought to you by Jacinta Jade Books.

  www.jacintajadebooks.com.au

  Southbank VIC 3006

  Copyright 2018 © Jacinta Jade

  All rights reserved

  Cover design by Ravenborn_20876 through SelfPubBookCovers.com

  Licence Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favourite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any person or entity, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the author and publisher.

  Disclaimer

  This story is entirely a work of fiction.

  No character in this story is taken from real life. Any resemblance to any person or persons living or dead is accidental and unintentional.

  The author, their agents and publishers cannot be held responsible for any claim otherwise and take no responsibility for any such coincidence.

  OTHER BOOKS BY JACINTA JADE

  The Change Series:

  Book 1: Change of Chaos

  Book 2: Change of Edict

  Book 3: Change of Darkness

  To everyone who opened a wardrobe…and realised Narnia wasn’t in it.

  I know how you feel.

  Jacinta Jade

  KASLON TIME

  Cycle - is one Kaslonian year or 742 days.

  Seasons - there are seven seasons on Kaslon that make up the 742 days.

  Turn - 10 Kaslon days.

  Day - 28 Spans.

  Span - One hand shift of the sun (comparable to an Earth hour).

  KASLON ANIMALS

  Asret: Small, plump winged creatures, can’t fly, but camouflage to escape predators, normally have green and blue flecks.

  Bullide: Large grazer, but with a serious temper if threatened.

  Cripwof: Four limbs, long snout, both predator and scavenger, fast.

  Blirrus: Ferocious, small, can drive off larger predators through its tenacious and vicious attacks, skin thick & lose.

  Eudagona: A strong, reptilian beast, digs and climbs trees for insects, pebble-like skin, club-like tail.

  Fiorify: Four-legs, a large golden/orange winged creature with feather, large wingspan that ignites if angry, immune to flame.

  Gedoni: Thickly furred creature that likes to do everything in its own time and which can hold a dangerous grudge against perceived threats, massive claws that match its large size.

  Glow bug: small beetle with the ability to emit light to attract other beetles.

  Hiclum: Creature that sleeps lightly and can have mixed reactions to being awakened, depending on the season.

  Hopul: Six limbs, red and furry, bony armor on legs, arms, and torso, strong, intelligent, a natural climber, lives in small intimate communities of its kind.

  Kahurana: Large water dwelling creature that can live to be many hundreds of cycles old and is a nomad once it reaches maturity, except for when the species mate once a year.

  Kilften: Scaly, barbed tail, low to ground, claws, multiple eyes and a cunning mind.

  Kitespray: winged creature that soars at high altitudes using its magnificent eyesight to spot its prey before dropping down to snatch it up.

  Krynton: A lot remains unknown about this creature.

  Limret: small creature, considered cute by Kaslon standards.

  Munder beast: Moderate size, compact beast, bulky with muscle, not intelligent, perfect for domestication, loves company of its own and other species.

  Nowri: Loves water, builds sphere-shaped habitations by lakes, is loyal to its family, shy, will hide from most other animals.

  Oreto: Four-legged, skeletal thinness, strong neck, two long sharp horns, predator, deceptive looking.

  Oxy: Thin and whip-like creature, highly intelligent, fleet footed, with two tails.

  Pondif: Odd, smallish, six-footed grazing beasts that love high places, but there is something unique about them…

  Quison: Small, scavenging animal, like to eat glow bugs.

  Rilander: Big, passive grazer; six legs, tips over trees, grey-green colour, sleeps on feet, dangerous if it gets angry.

  Sandiota: Body like one thick muscle, hard chitinous plates, pointed teeth, two large claws on end of main limbs.

  Saluni: Winged creature known for its graceful flight.

  Seagliders: Winged creature that uses breezes to travel long distances with minimal effort, long, sharp talons, and a purple body.

  Sand vepton: Desert creature, leathery and long, glides through sand, predator.

  Sevonix: Large, feline type animal, highly revered on Kaslon, black & silver predator.

  Udun: Intelligent, generally foul-tempered and intimidating, purple underside to wings.

  Vicousery: Fierce, proud, clever, long claw on feet, fast, lean, pebbled skin.

  Wefron: Gentle, dumb, long necked, furry, four-legged creature with a stunted snout, comes in a myriad of colours.

  Wynceen: Enormous animal, four legs, segmented and armoured body, largest animal on Kaslon.

  Yeibon: A horned steed with a ridged back. Red Yeibons have straight, splayed horns and are fiery in nature to match their dusky red coats. Black Yeibons are milder, with curled horns and darker coats.

  THE PHROPHECY

  Two will fall,

  And two will rise.

  One who wears two faces.

  One who wears many.

  Through trial and hardship,

  They will meet.

  A new path forged,

  The white fire will burn.

  She will defeat those who oppose.

  PROLOGUE

  EVERYTHING was different now.

  Until yesterday, I had been making a new life for myself, training with the Resistance to become a member of an elite fightin
g unit. The training camp at which I had learned so many different skills had become my home, and there, I had become a member of an adopted family.

  I had learned how to fight. How to Change.

  Until the Faction had attacked.

  With scarcely any warning before the camp was overrun, my fellow trainees and I had barely escaped with our lives.

  That is, most of us had.

  Rowp was gone. Taken down by an arrow through the thigh as we fled the camp. Part of me hoped he was dead, knowing well what may await him back at one of the Faction’s facilities if he had survived.

  Part of me also hoped he was alive, but I worked to crush that hope. I had learned that hope was dangerous. Hope kept you from facing reality, from remembering that to establish yourself anywhere in this time of war was foolish. We all now lived in a time where everything would be consistently shifting, until one force, the Faction or Resistance, defeated the other.

  I had held on to hope through my imprisonment and torture at the hands of Silver, during my journey through the wilderness with Baindan as we fought off the attacks of Faction soldiers, and through the demanding training sessions and tests that had followed at the training camp.

  I had hoped that by joining with the Resistance I could help them free Kaslon from those trying to take control of our world for their own ends.

  But now, I realised the truth. There might not be a happy ending. I could die tomorrow. Or the next day. Yet I wanted my death to mean something. To make some difference to someone.

  Rowp was dead. And many more could follow. The Resistance had to act if it was going to stop the Faction.

  The only trouble was that the Resistance, as I had known it, was now scattered after the Faction’s attack on the training camp.

  And I was one member of a Resistance fighting unit that was at partial strength.

  But we had to do something.

  Even if we were all that was left.

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘SIRAY …’

  A gentle hand shook Siray’s arm, and she grunted a little at this intrusion on her rest but otherwise chose not to respond.

  ‘Siray, wake up.’

  That voice. She knew it. She opened her eyes, blinking a little as she dragged herself from sleep.

  Deson knelt before her, the glow from the morning sun lighting up his features.

  Siray’s blue eyes widened further. Dirt clung to Deson’s clothes, and his forearms and the right side of his face showed scratches where unseen branches had reached for him during their flight through the forest last night. Deson looked tired, but his fatigue appeared to come from more than just physical exhaustion—each plane of his body spoke of some deeper ache, and his mouth was fixed in a straight line.

  She knew why, of course, and could feel a similar tiredness that seemed to originate from her bones. But it was the lingering traces of blood around Deson’s mouth and on his hands that made her come fully awake.

  She sat up quickly, giving Deson a speedy examination to see where the blood came from. But then she paused as she recalled the flow of events the night before, and Deson’s part in their escape.

  ‘Deson, I think you need to go clean up a little.’

  Siray nodded towards his hands, keeping her tone even and trying not to let him see the effect those red specks were having on her.

  His actions last night had, after all, helped her and the others to escape.

  Deson glanced down at his hands, frowning, and after a moment, his face cleared as he remembered what he had done mere spans before.

  ‘Right. Thanks.’

  Siray nodded. ‘And your face …’

  Deson grimaced and nodded back, standing and turning away as he tore off one of his short sleeves.

  Siray watched as Deson raised the torn sleeve to his face, the muscles in his shoulders flexing under his shirt as he worked the cloth vigorously over his hands and face, flecks of dried blood crumbling away from his skin.

  As the red flakes drifted to the ground, Siray remembered the swift and brutal attack Deson had made upon their enemy last night and, seeing the dried blood on him, knew that whomever it was he had faced in the shadows had not survived.

  She hoped that she, too, would be able to do what was necessary when the time came.

  As Deson finished cleaning up, Siray stood, her body complaining about the awkward way she must have slept. Looking around, she saw that Kovi was also awake, sitting just outside the thicket with his back to them.

  Making her way carefully past the sleeping bodies of Loce, Tamot, and Jorgi, Siray ducked her head beneath some branches as she exited the thicket and took a seat beside Kovi on the leaf-covered ground, wincing a little at the aches in her body as she got comfortable.

  ‘Long night, wasn’t it.’ Kovi didn’t look at her when he spoke.

  ‘Yes. I don’t think I actually fell asleep until first light,’ she said quietly.

  Kovi didn’t respond for a while, but when he did, his voice was low and flat. ‘It’s all gone. The camp, the trainers, the others … all that time spent training, and for what?’ Kovi’s voice grew hard. ‘So we could be beaten before we even had a chance to make a difference?’

  Siray felt the bitter truth of his words. ‘I know.’

  Yet instead of placating Kovi, her words seemed to encourage his agitation.

  ‘And while we’ve been training, our enemies have been growing stronger and spreading. How do we know that they haven’t destroyed all the other Resistance camps? How do we know that we aren’t the only ones left?’

  ‘We don’t.’ Deson’s voice came from just behind them.

  Siray turned her head slightly, watching as Deson emerged from the thicket to join them both on the ground. He had managed to get rid of most of the blood from his face and hands.

  ‘But we can’t give up,’ Deson said. ‘We have to believe that others made it out and that the Resistance still stands a chance.’

  Kovi snorted and looked at his feet.

  Siray said nothing, but Deson managed to catch her eye, and he appeared to speak his next words to her, specifically.

  ‘We can’t give up hope. We’ll be nothing without it.’

  Siray shrugged. ‘Hope doesn’t matter anymore. What matters now is taking action. Against them.’

  Deson frowned. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea.’

  Siray raised her brows, surprised at his lack of enthusiasm. ‘No—a bad idea would be to keep running and hiding, and hoping that someone else might help us.’ She shook her head. ‘What we need is intelligence about our enemy, and to start striking back.’

  Kovi’s head lifted, and his eyes brightened. ‘That’s right. We could find out who else survived the attack. Or who has been taken hostage.’

  Deson was shaking his head. ‘We’re significantly outnumbered, out skilled, and have no intelligence.’

  Siray touched his arm. ‘But we can use some of that to our advantage. Remember? Sergeant Bulmer always said that a small strike force can, at times, do far more damage than a larger one.’

  ‘That’s right.’ Tamot’s voice.

  Siray stood and peered past Deson and towards the thicket.

  Tamot, Loce, and Jorgi were awake and sitting there listening.

  ‘I don’t want to run anymore,’ Tamot continued. ‘I want to fight.’

  Beside him, Jorgi was nodding. ‘For all we know, we could be running from one threat to another. We need to know more.’

  Siray glanced down at Deson and raised one eyebrow, as if to say see?

  Deson sighed and heaved himself to his feet. ‘Fine. We’ll go gather intelligence. But I don’t think we should take any specific action until we know more.’

  Siray was happy. ‘Agreed.’

  Kovi also stood. ‘So, what’s our first move?’

  Siray gazed up at the sky to check the sun’s position. ‘It’s still early in the day. I say we circle back and take a look at the camp.’

  Des
on crossed his arms. ‘We need to have a backup plan in case anything goes wrong.’

  Kovi gestured to the thicket. ‘If we get split up, we can meet here again.’

  Deson shook his head. ‘If anyone picks up our tracks, they’ll follow them here. We need a new spot.’

  Siray scanned around but the nearby area but couldn’t see far from their current location. ‘I think we best pick a place as we head towards the camp. That also means that if anyone gets injured somehow, they won’t have as far to go to meet up with the rest of the group.’

  Deson grudgingly agreed to that, but Siray could see he still wasn’t completely pleased with the plan. She was just happy to be doing something. Because if she didn’t, there was a fire in her gut that just might override all reason.

  Having nothing to pack up, the group immediately started heading out in the direction they had come from the previous night, and Tamot, who had the best sense of direction, led the group.

  Keen to get moving, Siray frowned as she was forced to pause when she felt someone squeeze her hand.

  Deson turned her to face him. ‘Siray, please don’t rush into anything. I know we’ve had a big loss and that everyone, that you, want to do something, but that’s also why we need to be careful.’

  He spoke in a low voice so that the others couldn’t hear.

  Siray nodded, impatient to leave. ‘And we will be. But we need to know what’s happening so we can decide what to do next. Without any intel, we’ll be operating blind.’

  Deson returned her nod, and after releasing her hand, they both turned and followed after the others.

  ***

  Once they were all warmed up, the group broke into a run, to cover ground more quickly. Their plan was to get into a position from which they could see the camp and the surrounding area and then retreat to a safe position to discuss what they had seen.

  Tamot wisely led them on a route that circled back towards their target but that avoided the same trail they had used last night, just in case Deson was right and they were being tracked. Approaching the training camp from the side of Bluff Hill, which faced away from the main area of the site, the group cautiously made their way up the hill, moving as quietly as possible.