The Ring of Rosin has unexpectedly disappeared. Join King Rugal on his quest to recover the ring symbolizing his right to rule, forged from the stone of fire. A mysterious companion joins the young monarch on a perilous journey. Rugal’s shadowy ally leads him to the nomadic Kargoliths, who are locked in an ongoing dispute with the neighboring kingdom of Tolan. As destinies intertwine amidst the clashing cultures, the fates of Elayas, Tolan, and the Kargoliths hang in the balance.
Will the Ring of Rosin’s power on the Day of Questioning help Rugal defeat the foreign threat to Elayas, or will it be used to destroy him?
Follow King Rugal as he faces the greatest threat to his reign since his coronation. An exciting adventure of valor and unlikely friendships the whole family can enjoy!
Ring of Rosin is available at Amazon.
First Chapter:
“One should open one’s mind to new experiences.”
~ Soldar, scholar and member of King Rosin’s court
“Sire, the Ring of Rosin is missing!” Melad, the head steward of the castle, rushed into the informal dining room, wringing his hands frantically, his face reddened with distress.
Rugal put his fork down, his lunch forgotten, and stood up, his frame stiffening. He brushed back his tousled brown hair and took a calming breath. “But how could anyone enter the treasury room?”
Melad couldn’t form any words in response and, with a heartbroken expression, shrugged his shoulders instead.
“What do you think, Father?” Rugal turned to a wiry man lounging in a chair by the fire. Separated involuntarily when he was born, Rugal had only recently met his birth father and for much of that time knew him only by the name others called him, “Jackal.” Their bond had strengthened over their shared experiences, and much to Jackal’s delight, Rugal had taken to calling him Father.
Jackal frowned. “I would think it had to be by someone familiar and known in the castle environs, someone who could get access easily.” He tilted his head to the side. “I wonder what the motive is behind the theft. The Ring of Rosin is easily recognized so would not be able to be sold.”
Rugal’s birth mother, Lady Mura, directed her gaze at Melad and asked gently, “How was it discovered missing?”
Melad rubbed his cheek, his hands trembling slightly. He knew he had nothing to fear from the King of Elayas or his family, but he was intensely distraught that the theft had occurred. “I went to retrieve the ring from its customary place. Since King Rugal had worn it recently, I had sent it to the master jeweler to be polished.” He sniffed. “I was not here when it was returned by the jeweler’s messenger, so I thought I better check the ring and make sure the polish was to the proper standards. When I opened the box, it was gone.” Melad reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a small scroll. “This note was in its place.”
Rugal took the scroll from Melad’s outstretched hand and carefully unfurled it. His brow furrowed, and he looked up in puzzlement. The note was written in a foreign script, and he was unable to read it. He handed it to Jackal. “Can you tell where it’s from?”
Mura came over and peered over Jackal’s shoulder. “I’ve seen this script before, when my cousin ruled Elayas. Messages from the country of Tolan had this look about it.”
“Tolan?” Rugal’s eyes narrowed. “Now that is concerning. If the rumors are true, Oldag was born in Tolan. Could it be he has a relative looking to follow in his footsteps and usurp the throne of Elayas?”
A tall, muscular man, the Swordsman sat at the table sipping a mug of ale. He raised his hand, drawing their attention. “Just this morning, we confirmed with a lackey of Oldag’s old entourage that he was indeed from Tolan. I think we need to consider every possibility.”
Rugal cleared his throat, and all eyes returned to him. “So, we know that the Ring of Rosin is missing. We also have a note we think is from Tolan that needs to be deciphered. Is anyone in the kingdom able to read this script?”
“Only one that I know of,” Mura replied thoughtfully. “We’ll have to ask Soldar to return to the castle. He is quite excited to be in charge of restoring public education.” She turned to her son. “Soldar is very familiar with the Kingdom of Tolan. He is also the one who translated messages from King Handerbin of Tolan for King Rosin.”
“King Handerbin,” Rugal pursed his lips. “He must be getting quite old, if he was king during Rosin’s reign.”
“That’s correct,” Mura nodded. “His son, Hamideh, is approaching manhood and will soon be taking the mantle of kingship from his father. We have always had an uneasy truce with Tolan.” Her brow furrowed in consternation. “Something perilous must be happening to cause them to break it. We need to get word to Soldar quickly. The longer we wait, the harder it may become to recover the ring. We will also need him to help us navigate how to respond. His knowledge of Tolan is unparalleled.”
Mura paused and leaned back in her chair. “Unfortunately, Soldar is in Selba at the moment. He and Ethiod are collaborating with city leaders in opening a Sepharim school in Selba, along with restoring schools for those who do not need to learn about managing dynamis. We have to get him here somehow, and fast.”
Rugal grinned. “I think I know just how to go about that. I’ll ask Treble to fetch Argothal.”
* * *
The rumpled scholar pushed his glasses further up his nose, squinting in dismay. “Now Sire, you know I have always made myself available for service, but to ride a dragon? I fear that I should fall…” Soldar’s voice trailed off.
Rugal smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Soldar. Argothal is very reliable, and I daresay he is safer than a horse. All you need to do is sit between those scales,” Rugal pointed, and Argothal turned obligingly, “and hold on. I’ll be sitting right in front of you. Argothal will save us several days riding–we would be back at the castle by nightfall.” Argothal dipped his wedge-shaped head in agreement, the bluish-green scales shining in the sunlight.
“Well, I suppose I must put aside my fears for the good of the kingdom.” Soldar was visibly shaking, and Rugal paused, wondering if perhaps he should find another way to get Soldar to the castle. Just as he was about to suggest seeking alternate transportation, Argothal swung his head around and lowered it to Soldar’s height, his yellow eyes gleaming. He warbled softly in encouragement.
Soldar’s eyes widened, and he smiled hesitantly. “Ah, maybe it will be okay. One should open one’s mind to new experiences after all,” he mumbled to himself. Much to the astonishment of Ethiod and Rugal, the older man leapt onto Argothal’s extended foreleg, clambering to the place between scales that Rugal had indicated, his sparse brown hair disheveled. He looked down at them with a glowing expression.
“Let’s go then, shall we?”
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