The Grand Council - whose members, many of which are ancient enemies, represent the last of the free nations - convenes in the sacred Mountain King Temple to determine action against a leader with new drive and strength. Some claim this man promises greatness for all, some claim he is the greatest threat their lands have ever seen. But before any consensus can be made, an immense power is unleashed, annihilating the temple and killing the council members inside.
Young Thorik Dain’s journey to discover who or what destroyed his people's most sacred center, leads him on an unexpected quest to prevent the fall of the great Dovenar Kingdom, and the elimination of all mankind.
Struggling to find the truth, Thorik confronts an entirely new world to him with overwhelming magic, altered beasts, battle-risen undead, and even deceivers amongst his closest allies. Weighing upon Thorik's shoulders are his uncle’s desire to control him, his mentor’s obsession to vanquish the new rising leader, and Thorik's own internal demons of self-doubt. The land’s destiny is in Thorik’s hands, while his confidence and conviction to his beliefs will define his own fate.
This fantasy adventure novel begins the Thorik Dain Series with a countdown to pending doom. Not only do our heroes and heroines not know where the attack will take place, but they don't trust each other with the information they do know. This high-end adventure is driven by its solid characters and unique twists to the story.
Find out if it is wiser for our travelers to trust each other or the Altered Creatures they come to meet.
READ CHAPTER 1
Purchase your own copy of the book by clicking on this link.
If you can't wait, read the chapter below as well as "Fate - Chapter 1" to get started on your journey.
CHAPTER 23 - Shoreview
The man in the doorway was a hand shorter than Ambrosius but weighed twice that of him. Shirtless, his large hairy stomach hung over his pants and was coated with leftovers from several meals. Less than a beard and more than stubble, Dare’s face looked dirty and unkept. He had limped into the doorway from an old wound to his hip, which he offset by using a large Fesh’Unday leg bone as a cane. The thick and dirty bone had battle scars and engravings. Fresh blood coated an area toward the bottom of the cane where gray rat fur still clung.
“Dare, it is good to see you,” Ambrosius said, holding his breath a few seconds afterward while the smell dissipated in the breeze.
“And I you,” he replied, before noticing the burn marks down Ambrosius’ face and neck. “What happened to yur face?”
Ambrosius had completely forgotten about his physical scars. It took him a second to realize what Dare was asking about. Touching his tender skin, he said, “The Grand Council has been destroyed, and nearly took me down with it.”
“You be at Kingsfoot during the purification?”
Stunned, Ambrosius asked, “How do you know what happened at the council meeting, let alone where Kingsfoot is?”
Scratching his chest before removing a few unwanted items from the hair on it, he replied, “Know of Kingsfoot, but not where it is. Beltrow was one of my best customers. Came down from the mountains every summer ta trade. Good man, he was. I knew somethin’ was amiss when no one from Kingsfoot came down for the annual trade this year.”
“You said ‘he was’. How do you know of his death?”
“A flock of them faith-followers came through ‘ear after the destruction. They said their scrolls called it a ‘purification’ to start over. Said their valley’s air went sour and they had ta leave. Talked General Stickwell into trading one of his boats for some gems. As quick as they arrived, they set sail for some place called Elysian. Odd that I never ‘eard of it.”
Ambrosius absorbed the new information, before nodding and saying, “It has been some troubling times, my friend.”
“Better days ahead with you back, I think.” Dare said, rubbing his thumb and finger together over an imaginary coin.
“My last purchase from you filled your pockets full,” Ambrosius commented. “Times should have been good to you with such wealth.”
“Aye,” Dare replied. His eyes shifted as he thought about his reply. “Sweet Nectar of Irr, she is a troubling wench. Her vile grasp drained me by inches in torment and left me dry.”
Ambrosius looked at him shamefully. “You traded your full purse for a taste of spirits? Nectar of Irr, no less. You’ve never been able to stop once you start drinking. You know better.”
“I does now. Have no more taste for her. The thought sours my mouth as we speak.”
“I hope so,” Ambrosius said. Looking around the busy street he added, “May we talk in private?”
“At your service. Come aboard,” Dare said, allowing Ambrosius to enter his store of odds and ends.
Before shutting the door, he noticed young nums spying on his affairs and pointed the bloody end of his cane at them. With a loud stomp of his foot onto the street deck, he yelled, “Begone, ya snooping tadpoles!”
The curious children ran off as Dare limped back into the shop and slammed the door behind him. “Shouldn’t ‘av used the foot without my boot,” he grumbled to himself while shaking off the pain under his torn sock.
Piles of abnormally shaped objects were along every wall. Mostly junk left over from when his shop was filled with exquisite items from all over the land. These items were what didn’t sell and had been collecting dust and insects for a long time.
It took Ambrosius a few minutes to get use to the thick air from the dead rats in the corner and Dare’s own sweaty clothes that lay about. “I am in need of your services.”
“What tis ya wanting?” Dare asked. He rummaged through the junk piles and lifted his remaining valuable items up to show his customer. “A rack of a three-horned estoo?” he asked, but quickly read Ambrosius’ facial expression. Kicking a large fanged rat out of his way he collected several other objects. “Cloth fashioned from the webs of Volney Sand Spiders? Moon Lake gribson peddles? Ergrauthian spices?” All were answered by Ambrosius’ deadpan expression.
“Information,” the thinner man explained.
“Ah,” Dare said. Dropping the items on the floor, he used his cane to walk right up to him. Leaning his hairy arms against Ambrosius’ chest, he moved his face close and looked up at his patron. With over exaggerated mouthing of his words he said, “My specialty.”
The stench coming off the man’s body was nothing compared to the death vapors released from his mouth. Ambrosius turned and walked to the window where Dare had earlier been fishing in his sleep. Clutching the sill, he leaned his body on his straightened arms and took a deep breath of the air from outside. “No games this time. I have to know some critical facts. Do not appease me with half-truths to support your purse.”
“Misinformation, I swear. I didn’t know it had been tainted,” the fat man said as he scratched his backside. “Never on purpose. Never to my favorite customer,” he said with a smile to persuade Ambrosius to trust him.
Collecting one last breath of fresh air from outside the window, Ambrosius turned around and leaned lightly on the windowsill before addressing the pathetic looking man in front of him. “Where is Darkmere going to strike next?”
“Darkmere?” he said with surprise. “Ain’t been ‘ear for ages. Last I ‘eard he vanished into the east.”
“He is often disguised and goes by the alias of the Terra King.”
“Terra King you say? Name plucks my cobwebs. Again, not through these parts, but within the Dovenar Walls he makes his mark,” Dare said while taxing his brain. “I know of the ill and his sickly followers.”
“Good. Tell me what you know.”
“Not so fast, friend,” Dare said as he ran his dirty fingers through his balding hair to act more professional. His hair ended up sticking at an awkward slant while a fresh coat of thick oils covered his hand. “What we be talking in payment?”
“Saving your life.”
“Not like ya to threaten me. What’s come over ya?”
“No threat. The information I am looking for will allow me to stop Darkmere from his next attack. If I am unsuccessful, he will likely take over these lands. He eventually will catch up to you.”
“There ain’t never been a prison I can’t escape,” Dare boasted. “Proved that to Darkmere himself.”
“Who said anything about him sending you to prison? After what you’ve done in your past, I don’t see him keeping you around long.” 
|