Edgewind, the fourth book in the Chronicles of Nahtan is finished and listed on Amazon.

This series takes place several years after the end of Nahtan's Way. The next book, Olorun, will be posted as soon as it's completed, with the final book, Herridon, to follow after that.

Here's a short excerpt:

Rial kept his gaze low as he watched Lady Takis sparring with one of the Mo'ani warriors. Her red cloak and narrow curved sword seemed to flow together in a series of well choreographed movements, each always a step ahead of the unlucky Mo'ani who had accepted her challenge.

Her fierce brutality and deep hatred for the church guards didn't puzzle Rial like it did some of the others. She had suffered the loss of her family while young, just like him, but yet she had found a way to balance that with honor and loyalty--two things he could not reconcile with his own thoughts and feelings. He had sworn fealty to Nahtan at his coronation, just like the others, and he would uphold his oath. He felt no deep emotion for the words, however, which had tasted hollow to him.

His dark gaze shifted when Nahtan's daughter approached him slowly, her hands clasped in front of her and her blue eyes pinned on him. She came to stand beside him, then lowered herself to sit at his side.

"She really wants papa to fight her again," Valry noted, her tone easy as she shifted her gaze to the fight several yards from them. "He's afraid the only way he could win is to cheat, though, so he won't until she's beaten every other Mo'ani here."

Rial looked down at her. "And how would you know that?" he asked. He wondered for a moment if their king used his young daughter as a confidant.

"I can feel his thoughts," she said, shrugging as if it were nothing. "I can feel any strong feelings from people," she continued after a moment, turning her eyes slowly up to him. "Why do you hate Lady Takis so much?"

"It's a mutual dislike," Rial returned.

"She doesn't trust you," Valry stated. "She doesn't know you well enough to really hate you. She feels like you betrayed her and the people from her hold."

"I suppose those are valid points," Rial agreed. He didn't have any remorse for the Takis Mo'ani who had died while with him in the southern villages. It was part of their jobs as soldiers.

Valry turned and looked up at him. Rial glanced at her and for a brief moment was struck by something in her eyes. Ancient and deep, he had a sudden vision of Valry standing at the edge of an incredibly deep chasm that contained more understanding and knowledge than was meant for any one lifetime to ever hold. He had an almost violent urge to grab her arm and pull her back from the edge. As suddenly as the vision came, it was gone, leaving him looking at the young girl sitting beside him.

Valry nodded her head slowly and turned to watch Lady Takis disarm the Mo'ani, then twist her sword back around with a surprising speed and press the tip of the blade to his throat. There was a mix of cheers and groans from the others, then an exchange of coins in more than one spot. Lady Takis released the Mo'ani, then turned to Nahtan, pursed her lips and motioned invitingly to the spot in front of her.

Rial noticed a subtle tensing in Valry, then heard her sigh as Nahtan spoke with Sewati, then unsheathed the longsword on Renato's saddle and walked to stand several feet in front of Lady Takis. Rial realized if Valry truly had the ability she claimed, she could very well be the key to their success or failure in the southern villages. For the first time in his life, he felt the beginnings of true loyalty--not to his king or land, but to the young girl sitting beside him.

Those Mo'ani who had come to protect her would remain within the boundaries of honor, while Rial knew he was not expected to. Quite possibly, his protection of her could be far more crucial--while also being far more subtle and unexpected by any church guards they encountered. Perhaps this princess was the reason he had returned to Herridon himself instead of sending one of his officers with his report.