Novels by Moana Mark

The jingling sound of the bells echoed through every stone of the keep, as if the fortress itself was howling in pain. The sound permeated my bones, sharper than any blade.Merek stood at the door. His face taut determination with sword in his hand. The blood of the fallen guard stained the stones at his feet which was a reminder that it wasn't a mere warning but rather a disclosure that death was lurking.I held the dagger that he had given me, I felt the warmness against my palm, slipped due to my sweaty hands.The air blew aggressively as it vibrated with chaos. Somewhere beyond the chamber, steels clashed against each other, there were agonised voices, and the roar of fire carried on the wind.Ryn’s eyes lightened up in the shadow where he hid, quietly appealing to me for a choice. He had risked so much to warn me despite being a young boy of his age. The words I had read earlier from the note tightened at my chest like fangs:Be careful of the one who stands closest. Even love c

My breath caught in my throat.Silence engulfed the chamber, yet I could feel the weight that hung in the air, my skin prickled as though movement were being traced by unseen eyes. I turned my ears to the far corner of the room where moonlight only half reached, leaving the other half cloaked in shadows.“Is anyone there?” My voice was steady even though my pulse beat faster against my ribs. I refused to sound like a prey.For a long moment, it was just the silence and stillness of the curtains and stone walls against the balcony door. A figure drifted slowly away from the shadows as if it had been expecting this exact confirmation.My hands held onto the dagger that was beneath my sleeves.Then, the figure stepped out of the shadow, and his face was lightened by the moon for me to see.My breath seized.It was neither an assassin nor a guard.“Ryn?” The name slipped from my mouth before I realized it.It was the young teenage squire, he stood there with his arms crossed, his eyes sea

The longer I stayed within the walls of Caer Thalor, the heavier it became. Maybe it is the way stone seems to absorb whispers here, swallowing voices until silence lingered. Or maybe it was the manner of the steward, Maevra always entered my room at the wrong time, as if she had always been standing at the door to my chamber.On the fifth day since I arrived, even the air carried a weight.However, Marek and Hallor, always vigilant, stayed close despite the uneasiness I noticed across Merek’s brow. His countenance depicted worry; he had always been used to strength, to certainty which was lacking in Care Thalor.As we walked across the inner courtyard that morning, he moved closer. “My lady, " he whispered, “I don't think we should stay here for long. This place….it watches.”Hallor, who was walking behind us nodded. “I agree with him.”I let out a breath. “Do you think this place is not safe enough?”Merek paused. “Well, it could be safe for now. But remember we are not free here.

The path that leads to Caer Thakor felt like a silver thread through valleys that seemed carved from shadow. The moon was dim, covered by thin clouds, casting the countryside into a muted pallor. The steady rhythm of hooves was audible so that I could hear them.It had been days since I left Callistan, and yet I couldn't let go of the feeling that my mother's insistence of leaving Callistan was more than she had claimed.She had said the reason it was for my own safety. But my mother was not someone who could tell me to leave Callista if it was not really important to her or her own ambition.The scent of pine was scattered through the earth by the cold wind. As I drove towards the narrow wooden bridge, the breeze blew my cloak and it fluttered. One of the guards called from behind.“Lady Elowen, I would suggest that we cross country one after the other because the river is swift as a result of the rain that fell last night.I gave a nod. “Then you should go first, Ser Merek.”He comp

The night has been unkind to me. Sleep was lurking around me yet I couldn't just sleep. The fire in the hearth was quenched into just a glow, and yes, I remained in my chair, unwilling to move.The rusted box that was beneath the floorboards was heavier than iron. It was as if my chest carried all the secrets in it. The warning that Gareth gave earlier replayed continuously in my mind: Remain quiet until we understand what this is about.But how is that even possible? Why would I even do that?How could I have looked at Alaric, sat with him, stood beside him and even spoken to him and not have seen any traces of truth in his eyes? How convenient will it be for me to pretend like nothing has changed, when everything has changed?I bowed my head in confusion as I leaned forward and reached for a chair. Silence enveloped the chambers like a graveyard. There was no sound at all except for the faint pop of wood that was in the fire and the rustling sound of the trees.I was deep in thought

The place was overwhelmed in two different kinds of silence – one kind was peaceful that would drown the halls in a deep sleep ... .and the kind that suggested that a crack was about to happen.But this night, it was the second kind of silence I stayed outside the chambers of Lady Elowen for minutes. I stayed long enough that even the touches on the wall easily flickered. Unlike her, she hasn't called me me nor sent a message to me. But I was sure that she had found something that should have stayed hidden.She had seen the letter and now I feel guilty for that such that I couldn't remove the weight of that off my chest.I knocked firmly but not loudly but there was no response and then I knocked again.“It's me, Gareth.” I said quietly.The door eventually cracked open after a long pause.“Gareth?” She said as she peeped through the gap.“Why haven't I heard anything from you for a while now? I asked. “Would you let me in?”She paused, then signalled for me to come in.Her room was