New Camelot's Bronson (Tales of New Camelot, #13) / Tales of New Camelot (ePub)

High Sheriff Bronson O'Toole has worked for the sheriff's office since he obtained his warrior-sorcerer powers.
Seleta Ursa is a Gypsy. Ten years ago, she witnessed the massacre of a Gypsy caravan by three barons. Because they were Gypsies, justice was denied to the survivors.
It is the annual Festival of the Horse in New Camelot. Gypsies from across the realm have arrived to support their king in seeking justice for the massacred innocents. Seleta uses her powers to reclaim gems and gold the murderers stole and leaves terrorizing mementoes behind.
Bronson is ordered by his king to find the barons' gold. His senses detect the reek of fear on the old warriors. They claim no one alive knew about the stones. Bronson's intuition tells him someone who was supposed to be dead is the thief. He discovers clues: shredded bits of a woman's bloodied veil and artfully carved daggers.
The moment Bronson sees Seleta in an alehouse, he begins an aggressive pursuit. Seleta is torn apart between the love for her family and her love for Bronson. However, her duty is to seek justice for her murdered family. She realizes hers and Bronson's love can never be and she says she is bespoken to another.
Refusing to accept her avowal of another love, Bronson delves deeper into the mysterious thefts. He discovers the knives are Gypsy crafted. His thoughts lead him to their encampment where he finds Seleta. She is whisked away from him by young males. Undeterred, he espies her entering the tent of the Gypsy king. He can't believe his eyes. What is the connection between Seleta, the Gypsy king, and those knives found at the barons' estates? He is fearful of the answer his logical mind is grinding out and his intuition is screaming.
His last interview with a baron draws a confession from the shriveled old warrior. The old man laughs at Bronson's attempt to arrest him. There is no proof of the baron's wrongdoing. The old man confesses why he and his peers don't want the stones back. They were cursed by a dying Gypsy witch. He recites, "Any time you try to sell those gems, they will weep with our blood. Only the hand of my womb will be able to cleanse them."
Bronson knows Seleta and her people are intent on revenge. The Gypsy kingdom is encamped on the front door of New Camelot's capital. He has to stop them without harming Seleta or inciting a civil war. Odd news is delivered: the Gypsy clans have vanished before the festival's end. Admonishing his deputy to get powerful help, Bronson teleports to the baron's castle. He finds it surrounded by a vengeful mob. He stands alone and demands they cease their attack. Prince Darren and his dragons arrive to support Bronson. The gypsy king agrees to talk.
Bronson offers to prosecute the three barons in a court of their peers. He feels he has enough evidence: the bloody gemstones, the swatches of Seleta's mother's veil, witness testimony and a confession. The gypsy leader makes it clear—if there is no conviction, Bronson doesn't wed Seleta.
The day of the trial arrives. Bronson presents his case and invokes the cursed magic of the blood stones and connects them to the barons with the blood-stained mementos of that night. He can tell by the disgust on the jury's face that they condemn the barons' atrocity. However, they can't believe they did such a vile crime.
Seleta senses the jurors wavering. She employs her allure power and demands they return a guilty verdict. They struggle, but fall to her compelling magic. The barons are hung. Bronson gets his Seleta and they are wed in a lavish ceremony.
Bronson admits when he came into his powers as a youth, he employed them to obtain justice against a raiding party of Vikings that destroyed his village. He too witnessed a slaughter and heard his parents' cries for justice in his sleep. Even though Bronson and Seleta come from different castes, it turns out they are not so different after all. Both are compelled to obtain j...