Ink

Ink
The Written Trilogy: Book One
Vika Grace

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Plaid With Stripes Publishing

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places,
incidents either are products of the authors imagination or are
used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or
persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright 2015 by Plaid with Stripes Publishing
All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole
and in part in any form.
Plaid With Stripes Publishing paperback edition 2015
Made is the USA
ISBN: 978-1-329-06405-8

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For Nick, the Storymaster

For Ben, the one whos gonna pay my bills when Im a
starving artist
For Allie, ma soeur et mon amie

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Chapter 1
Running.
Running.
Branches clawed at my face. I stumbled over and
over on the roots webbing the forest floor.
They had gone too far this time.
My footfalls were heard for miles around, I was
sure of that much.
I ran from them.
My thoughts fled in one direction. I didn't know
where I was going at first, but piece by piece my scattered
thoughts jammed back together and a single place filled my
imagination.
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I fled through the lonely nights and days, resting

only when every last speck of energy had drained from the
very fibers of my being and I couldnt push myself to take
one more step. The only possessions I had with me were
the clothes on my back, and fathers leather bracelet
strapped around my wrist where it always was. He
supposedly said it brought him luck, but I wouldnt know, I
was two when he died. My mother told he was some kind
of hero from the Ancient Orc tribes. He died in the Great
Battle when Nyverden got their freedom from Worglo.
My muscles screamed for rest. I fell at the bank of a
little pond in the middle of a break in the trees and drank
greedily from the murky waters. I pulled my face up from
the surface, choking on the earthy water running down my
throat. The water shook, ripples from the drops rolling off
my face echoing out and then disappearing at the edge of
the bank. Eventually the water stilled, reflecting my own
face back at me.
Streaks of sweat ran down my sage-stained skin.
Long, pointed ears, short, jutting tusks. I glared at the face
in the water. I could never go back. Nobody wanted me
there. The feeling was mutual.
My mother was the only exception. She was one of
those people who always gave off this kind of light that
made even the world seem a little nicer. We looked nothing
alike, despite our blood, so no one would believe she was
my mother unless they knew us and our story.
Time passed in the moments of when I ate and
when I slept. It had nothing to do with the actual suns and
moons that rose or fell. Growing up in the forest with a
healer for a mother, I knew which plants to eat and to
avoid, but it wasnt long before the trees thinned out and I
reached the massive stone walls that encircled the city. I
had only ever heard about it. Lost in the wonderful
unfamiliar ness of those walls, I followed the sea of people
from the carriage road towards the city gate. I immediately
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became very aware that I looked more like a wild animal

and less like the civilized son of a healer. But really
though, growing up in the wild with an orc Tribe, how
civilized was I expected to be? Even if my mother was an
elf. My massive feet were caked with a dark mix of mud
and blood from the wild paths, my clothes coated with the
same. The gray wall loomed over me, replacing the trees
that used to fill my horizon.
Walking in the crowd involved more sorrys, and
excuse me sirs than I wouldve thought. I got jostled
around by the people rushing off to somewhere or nowhere,
and yelled at more than once in more than one language. I
spoke Kaelic, the most common language in the known
world, and Orcish, thanks to living so close to the Tribe,
even a little Elven, so I thought I knew languages.
Apparently not. I towered over most of the crowd of
humans, half elves, and maybe a couple of full elves
pushing through the torrent of people. Over the sea of
heads, my eyes met with an orc and we gave each other a
nod before he could see what I really was. To the untrained
eye, I was just a smaller, slimmer orc. If someone looked
closer though, theyd see I actually look more like a tall,
green elf with tusks. Usually that realization comes with
people throwing up in their mouths.
Elves and orcs dont mix.
They just dont.
The crowd pulled me through the yawning city
gates and into the chaos of the marketplace. Every language
under the sun was being screamed at the top of everyones
lungs. Shatterpoole was mostly known for its magnificent
crime and corrupt aristocracy. The city was laid out in
rings- the deeper into the center of the city you go, the
cleaner the area gets. Well, the crime is cleaner; youre
more likely to be poisoned by a political ally than ripped
apart by some ill-mannered bum off the street who thought
you looked particularly threatening. The city was
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technically ruled by the Ducrast family. How they got to

power is somewhat of a mystery, and will probably remain
that way as long as they have it. The family that you really
didnt want to mess with was the Antimarx, an old blue
blood family of warlocks (which means one of their
ancestors was a demon, and one can only assume how that
affects their personalities) who have a notorious reputation
for running the drug trade that ruled the city. The Ducrasts
may have the official rule, but Stein Antimarx ran this
town.
I entered the city through the east side of the outer
ring, which was not the nicest part of town by any means.
The streets looked like they may have been cobblestone at
one point, but time and use had crumbled them beyond
carriage-worthy. The buildings were less than stable
wooden structures with ragged curtains hanging over the
windows to keep out curious stares. People bustled around
me hurrying off to get home before dinner. I staggered in
the middle of the crowd, ignoring my exhaustion from
running through the woods like a madman for the past few
days, taking in all the excitement of the city.
Excuse me, sir, I turned myself around to see a
girl with a shocking mess of dark orange hair falling in
wild waves down to her waist. I wasnt sure to be more
surprised by her hair, or by the fact that someone just called
me sir.
Hi? I wasnt really sure what else to say.
I was wondering if I could read your palm for you,
I have a talent for it, she added an innocent grin to that last
sentence. If the stories taught me anything about
Shatterpoole, nobodys innocent here. Ignoring my better
judgment, I stretched out my massive hand to her.
Hmmm, its difficult to say, she concentrated
intently with her cool green eyes. Oh, yes, I see, you have
a lot of trouble ahead of you. I could've guessed as much.

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She pushed back her wild hair, gave me that pretty smile,
patted my hand, and ran off into the shadows.
Oh yes, very talented.
I looked down at my hand and noticed instantly that
the little rat had somehow slipped my fathers bracelet off
my wrist. Innocent girl? I think not.
Hey! Hold on! I sprinted in the direction I thought
I saw her go. The fading light was no bother to me at all,
considering I can see perfectly in the dark. My legs were
already lead, and my feet were like bricks. A person can
only run so much. Where are you?! I let out a monstrous
roar. The one thing I had left of him was gone. I was really
killing this city-thing so far.
Ignoring my exhaustion from the past few days in
the woods, I sprinted in and out of alleys, up and down
streets, and tore through the swarming marketplace with no
luck. After about two hours of running through the lower
rings of the city, my final bits of energy was gone. Even if I
had found her at that point, I wouldve been too tired to do
much else. I slumped down in an alleyway falling asleep
with the sounds of glass shattering and screaming ringing
in this distance.
Welcome to Shatterpoole.

Something was crawling on top of me. Shooting up

into sitting position, an unsuspecting stray cat a few feet
across the littered alleyway. Startled, I mumbled a quick
apology and scrambled to my feet. I brushed the grimy
straw off me, and walked toward the edge of the alley. My
stomach growled and my throat felt like old sandpaper.
Brooding at the edge of the alley, I scanned the street,
reviewing my options. My stomach gave me another growl.
Not even a day in the city and I'm already getting
robbed. And by a girl.
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I rubbed my bare wrist where the leather band used

to be.
The first rays of morning were still chasing away
the fog. Despite the early hour, there was a crowd of the
rag-tag citizens going about their morning business. The
cleaner looking ones looked like craftsmen or maids going
off to serve in shops or the manors in the inner rings. Most
of them, though, looked like they were headed over to the
docks that made this port city famous. Most of them,
though, had that dull stare in their eyes like there was a
body but nothing inside. Rushing over the cracked road,
hundreds of creatures of every variety passed by. A human
girl with embody black curls passed by carrying a basket of
steaming rolls, making me drool just a little.
I needed to find something to eat, drink, preferably
both.
I had been used to drawing offended stares before.
My very existence disturbed most people. Here though,
nobody seemed to really care what I was. It was nice.
Sliding into the flow of the crowd, I headed in the direction
that seemed to be where most of them were going, hoping
to catch up with that girl with the bread. More than once I
bumped into an unsuspecting peddler and even knocked
over an entire table of cheap-looking medallions and
charms that a very aggressive Halfling had been trying a
little too hard to sell. After the Halfling had nearly
screamed my ear off with his high-pitched laments about
his overturned table, I lost the bread girl, but found a tavern
with a large blue bear dancing on the sign that swung above
the door. Im not really sure why, but the bear caught my
attention, and I decided to walk inside and see what they
had for food. I had no money, but I was hoping I could
work for something.
It being only the early morning, few were at the bar,
and a handful of people were occupying the tables scattered
around the large room. They were all humans, each looked
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very drawn in themselves with glazed over stares that early

mornings usually included. Only a few of them bothered to
look up when I came in and rang the bell at the edge of the
long bar. The faded purple curtain pulled back to reveal a
girl around my age with flaming dark orange waves falling
around her faceHer.
The street rat who stole my fathers bracelet.
Eyes wide with horror, she spun around and ducked
back behind the curtain.
Hey! I climbed over the bar and scrambled after
her. Behind the curtain I found a dark kitchen with a
redhead dominating the center of it and brandishing a
frying pan.
Threat sparked in her eyes.
Stay back, I saw her knuckles turn white gripping
her improvised weapon.
Give back what you stole. I rose to my full six
foot four inches and took a step forward. She didnt move.
Look, just give it back and Ill leave you alone. She
lowered the pan a little. Her big green eyes locked with
mine.
Im not going to hurt you, I hesitated to say the
next thing because it sounded petty even in my head- just
give me my bracelet back.
I dont have it. She watched me curiously with
those big eyes, frying pan shielding part of her face.
I sucked in a deep breath of air to fight the urge to
lose my cool. There was a long moment where I was
mentally counting backwards from ten. I wanted my piece
of home back. My piece of him.
I was about to let go of my hard-fought calm when
she threw her hands up.
They were gonna kill you! What did you want me
to do? Stand back and watch? Although, Im regretting it
now.
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What are you talking about?! This girl wasnt a

just thief, she was nuts.
You wouldnt believe me if I told you.
Try me. I thought of myself as a pretty openminded kind of guy. I was a half orc half elf for heavens
sake.
How special is that thing anyways? The only value
it could possibly have would have to be sentimental.
I will rip your fingers off one at a time if you dont
cough it up right now.
Now, now, she waved a delicate hand. No need
for unnecessary violence-
Says the girl who was ready to hit me with a
freaking frying pan a minute ago. She either tells me what
the heck is going on, or she doesn't.
What would you do if a giant orc was coming after
you?
I hesitated. Half orc. Half monster.
Oh. I looked down at her with the dark blue,
elven eyes- the punchline of a thousand jokes back home.
Fine. Ill tell you, but its going to sound weird.
I can handle it, I said.
You have been warned. Her bright eyes flicked
up at me before she continued. I didnt lie to you
yesterday when I said Im good at telling fortunes. Im an
aspicien.
A what? Yes, this girl was insane.
Oh come on, do you live in a hole? An aspicien? A
person who can see into someones past, present, and
future? Tell me youve at least heard of them.
Sorry to disappoint. I literally had no idea what
she was talking about. The only magic I had seen was
healing spells from my mother.
I saw you getting killed over your stupid bracelet,
so I took it.
Um, thanks.
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You should be thanking me, I saved your

miserable life. I narrowed my eyes at her.
If its so miserable, then whyd you save it?
Thats none of your business, she defiantly lifted
her sharp chin into the air between us. Besides, if I had
taken the time to explain all this to you, you wouldve been
dead by now, so, youre welcome. I sighed at her angrily.
Ill give you your silly bracelet back."
I put my hand out to take it, trying not to hate her for this
whole thing.
She just looked at me for a good second. I gave to
a friend to hold on to. I can get it by tomorrow. Why shed
give such a worthless thing to a friend to hold onto
anyways? Against my better judgment I demanded to go
with her so I'd be sure she wouldn't cross me again, and to
see what she was up to.
We got off on the wrong foot-
No kidding. Robbing people is no way to make
friends.
No, really, she said, hardly skipping a beat. I
think we should be friends. Youre clearly new here and I
need someone of your, um, size, on my side.
I looked at her indignantly.
Oh for heavens sake, my names Aengel. She
stuck out her hand for me to shake. This was a human
custom that I was aware of but never participated in. She
mustve noticed my hesitation. Its a hand. You shake it,
but dont crush it. Slowly I put my hand out and lightly
closed it around hers to move it up and down. She gave a
small laugh, not an unkind one like the sort I was used to.
Its okay, well work on it. She pulled her hand away and
tilted her sharp chin up to look at me in the eyes. She only
came up to about my chest. Whats your name?
I shrugged. Im in between names. I ran away
before the Elders gave me my adult name.
So, then what was the last one you had?
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You dont want to know, I grimaced at the

memory.
Well I have to call you something. She pushed
back her temperamental hair and looked around the dark
kitchen for inspiration. Then she studied my face for long
moment. I folded my arms.
How about your fathers name?
Krill?
Like the little fish? She looked mildly amused for
half a second and seemed like she mightve even laughed.
Well, that name wont do.
My stomach growled, reminding me of the reason I
came in here in the first place. Being in a kitchen wasnt
really helping either.
I dont really care what you call me at this point, I
said. Just as long as you have something for me to eat.
Well, I cant have you starving to death. She
disappeared into the little store room that was tucked in the
corner of the dark kitchen. Make yourself at home, she
called out. Go sit at the bar or something. I sighed and
trudged out to the big dining room at the front of the tavern
that I had first entered, wondering if I had made a serious
mistake trusting this girl.

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