The Forging – With Yansi

Posted on by jamesbdrake

The Forging

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Excerpt

Like most cities, Dunheim had its poorer districts, swathes of the city where far less of the city’s wealth was spent, forcing those who lived there to fend for themselves in whatever manner they could. And, like many such districts in other cities, Dunheim’s poorer districts were rife with crime. All except one. And in that district, right at its heart, stood a simple house. Though small and plain, it was nonetheless home to a loving couple and their adopted daughter, and as the sun waned, the matriarch of the house was busy in the kitchen preparing the evening’s meal. Just then, the front door swung open.

“Anyone home?” came a voice from the corridor.

“In the kitchen,” the matriarch yelled as she lifted the lid of the pot simmering on the stove. As she stirred its contents, her adopted daughter wandered in.

“Ah, Yansi,” the matriarch called out. “You’re home early.”

The red-haired girl stood behind her and smiled.

“Lovely to see you too, Marshalla,” the girl replied, a response that earned her a wry smile.

The matriarch was, and many would eagerly admit, a woman of supreme beauty, a beauty that belied her age. With her long black hair shimmering in the dying light of the evening sun, she looked for all the world like a goddess of the old world, beauteous and kind.

Sighing, Marshalla shook her head. “Fine. Welcome back, Yansi, my darling, I do hope today was a wondrously productive one for you.”

Yansi grinned. “You know, I think I prefer the caustic you.”

Marshalla shook her head once more as a smile parted her lips. “There’s just no pleasing some people. Now that you’re here, though, make yourself useful and set the table.”

“Fine,” Yansi sighed as she spun round and headed for the kitchen table. As she reached it, however, she reached into her pocket. With her grin fading, she pulled out two small purses heavy with coin, then placed them upon the dinner table. However, though she’d placed the purses with the greatest of care, the moment they touched the table, Marshalla stopped, frozen where she stood.

Silence fell upon the pair as Yansi set the table.

“How many today?” Marshalla said at last, her voice soft.

“Two,” Yansi replied, her head bowed low.

“Two?” Marshalla exclaimed as she spun round, the evening’s light reflecting off her milky eyes. “But we talked about this.”

“Don’t start, please,” Yansi replied as she too spun about.

“No, Yansi,” Marshalla insisted, “we talked about this. We agreed, no more than one a day.”

“Yes,” Yansi nodded, a tight frown upon her lips, “we talked. But you know what? Brass and I talked after that, and apparently one a day isn’t good enough for him!”

“Look, Yansi–” Marshalla began.

“No, Marshalla, no!

“But–”

“But what, hunh? You want me to say no to Brass? He owns us! He owns this whole bloody district!”

“Language!”

Smarting, Yansi clammed shut, her nostrils flared as she glared at her mother.

“All I’m saying is,” Marshalla continued, “these girls…if I have–”

“Don’t you say it, you hear me? Don’t you bloody say it!”

“Language!”

“Language nothing! You’re not going back to his stables, you hear me? I don’t care if I have to feed him a thousand girls a day, you’re not going back to that bloody–!”

“Language, child!”

As Marshalla’s words echoed about them, Yansi fell silent, her gaze every bit as heated as her temper. The silence that fell upon both hung about them like a heavy cloak.

“It’s them or you, Marshalla,” Yansi said at last, her gaze dropping to her feet. “Them or you.”

With a heavy sigh, Marshalla marched forth before throwing her arms around her daughter, hugging her close. A few moments passed, then Yansi flung her arms about her mother, and in the silence that followed, they held each other tight.

But soon, they parted.

“I still can’t believe you got Brass to pay at all,” Marshalla said as they parted, a smile upon her lips. The smile was wooden, but Yansi smiled back regardless.

“Of course!” she exclaimed. “Nothing in Dunheim is free, Brass knows that better than anyone.”

With her smile gaining warmth, Marshalla patted her daughter on the shoulder before shaking her head. Sighing, she picked up the purses and pocketed them as she returned to the pot.

“Set the table and go wash up.”

Nodding, Yansi did as she was bid. A calmer silence fell upon the pair, and remained until Yansi headed for the door.

“Did you see Brogan today?” Marshalla asked.

Stopping, Yansi frowned before shaking her head. “No. Why?”

Marshalla frowned. “Brass sent for him earlier, said it was urgent. Thought you might’ve seen him when you…”

“Brogan never stays to watch,” Yansi said softly.

“I know,” Marshalla replied. “I just thought…nevermind.”

Nodding, Yansi headed for the door once more, then stopped just as she was about to walk through.

“Did they say why?”

“Who?”

“Brass’s people.”

Marshalla shook her head. “No, they just said Brogan had to come right away, that it was urgent.”

“Hrm,” Yansi pondered. “Hope he makes it for supper.”

Marshalla smirked. “No, you don’t.”

Yansi grinned.

“No, I don’t,” she agreed, and, chuckling, raced out of the kitchen and up to her room to prepare for supper.

It did not take her long to change, and while Marshalla had asked her to wash up, young Yansi had other ideas. As she raced into the kitchen, however, the mood within stopped her cold.

“Hey, Brogan,” she said, her eyes falling upon the muscular man sat at the kitchen table, the light of the kitchen shining off of his bald head. Before him was a mug of delicious-smelling broth, but Brogan took no notice of it, nor actually, did he notice Yansi, for his eyes were staring into the ether, his face that of a man haunted by the greatest of nightmares.

As Yansi stared at her adoptive father, a cold hand made its way up her spine. She looked over to Marshalla, who was sat at Brogan’s side, a hand upon his wrist as if comforting him.

“Is…something wrong?”

It was then that Brogan stared at Yansi. As he saw her, his face lit up as a smile parted his lips.

“Ah, there’s my little troublemaker!” he exclaimed as he sat tall.

Grinning, Yansi hurried over to his side, holding him in a tight embrace once she reached him.

“Is all well?” she asked as they parted.

“Hrm?”

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost or ten.”

“Oh it’s nothing, it’s–”

“Tell her,” Marshalla interjected. “Else she’ll hear it from one of Brass’s men.”

The cold hand returned.

“Tell me what?”

Sighing, Brogan stared at his daughter a spell before nodding at the chair beside her.

“Go on,” he said.

Keeping her peace, Yansi obeyed.

“Brass called me earlier.”

Yansi nodded. “Marshalla said.”

Brogan nodded in response. “Yeah. It’s…something’s happened to Corwil, Yansi.”

Yansi grinned in spite of her fear. “What’s the old man done this time?”

“He’s dead, girl.”

“What?”

Brogan nodded as he sighed. “He and his pirates were bringing in a new shipment today, slaves and mist.”

Yansi frowned. “Slaves?”

“Well, orphans more like. Brass has been branching again, this time selling orphans to nobility, those that can’t bear children themselves, or need young ones to look after and play with their own children. Corwil was bringing in Brass’s first large shipment today, about twenty in all.”

“Twenty?” Yansi exclaimed.

Brogan nodded.

“What happened, then? They sink?”

Brogan shook his head. “Oh, the ship docked alright, it docked as perfect as could be. Except nobody was alive.”

“What?”

Again, Brogan nodded. “Whole crew, whole cargo, dead. I’m telling you, Yansi, never seen anything like it. Most of the crew, they were…they were ripped to shreds like a pack of animals had gotten them. And they’d fought back, for sure of it, but the only blood we found on that ship was from the dead.”

Yansi frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean something big and nasty tore them all up, something they couldn’t even scratch, and then it just up and left. Something or some…things.”

Yansi swallowed hard. “And Corwil?”

Sighing, Brogan nodded. “Him too. He had it the worst. They tore him apart slowly.”

“Oh gods.”

“I know.”

“But…but he was a sweet old man. Pirate or no, he cared for people. His crew might’ve been a pack of right heartless bastards, but not Corwil.”

Brogan nodded. “I know, Yansi, I know. The old coot died trying to protect some of the kids on there. But they got them anyway. Except one.”

Yansi sat tall. “Wait, one survived?”

Brogan nodded. “Old Corwil shielded one with his body. Whatever killed those kids tried to get to this last one, but Corwil wouldn’t let it, fought it off with his own body. We almost didn’t see the boy ourselves, almost left him in that nightmare.”

Yansi turned from Brogan to Marshalla and back again. “How is he? Where is he? Does he know who did it?”

Brogan smiled. “He’s doing well, or as well as you can be after something like that. He was out of it when we found him. Good thing probably, not sure what would’ve happened to his mind if he saw what was around him.”

“Where is he?”

“Brass has him, and Brass is on the warpath. He’s widening the web, trying to find out whose handiwork this was. That man’s looking to go to war.”

“Damn right it’s war!” Yansi bellowed.

“Now, cool it, Yansi. No good shouting war on something like this. You didn’t see what I saw. If this is war, it’s one that Brass won’t win.

“So, you’re just going to let Corwil die for nothing?”

“No,” Brogan replied, shaking his head. “Brass thinks Corwil protected that boy for a reason, why else would he suffer so much to keep the boy safe?”

Yansi frowned. There was something else within her father’s words.

“You don’t think so?”

“I…” Brogan sighed. “This whole thing’s off, Yansi, it’s off something fierce. If Corwil died protecting the boy, why did whoever killed him not just kill the boy right after? And for that matter, why kill the children at all when they could just ransom them back to Brass? And the mist, none of it was touched, none. Whoever did this wasn’t after money, and if it’s for sport, those children make really poor sport.”

“If they’re not after money, maybe it’s something personal,” Yansi offered. “Maybe they’re trying to send Brass a message?”

Brogan shook his head. “What kind of message involves killing the children but leaving the mist untouched? The children died in the same cabin the mist was in.”

Yansi’s frown deepened. “I see what you mean.”

Brogan shook his head once more. “But you try telling Brass any of that.”

“So, what do we do?”

Brogan sighed. “Well, Brass wants Marshalla over to the boy’s side, see what she can See. I’m thinking you go as well.”

“Me?”

Brogan nodded. “Yeah. You know how to read people, make them trust you. Could prove useful with the boy.”

Though his words were meant as a compliment, they instead filled Yansi with a sense of vile defilement.

“You coming too?” she asked as she shrugged off the ill-feel.

Brogan shook his head. “Need to see to Corwil’s boys. Owe him that much. I’ll catch up with you soon as I’m done.”

“Come, you two,” Marshalla said as she rose abruptly. “Enough talk, time to eat.”

The supper that night was the quietest they’d ever had.

***

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The Forging

Posted on by jamesbdrake

The Forging

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Excerpt

The beating of his heart was deafening, pounding in his ears like an accursed drum, but he dare not stop. It was only a matter of time before the massacre above them came below deck. He had to get them to safety before then. He had to find them sanctuary before it was too late.

“We’re going to die, aren’t we?”

Turning, he stared at the little girl to his left, one whose hand was clenching his like a vice. The terror in her eyes was raw. He turned to the others behind him. They were all terrified.

“Listen to me,” he said, stopping and lowering his voice to little above a whisper. “We have to keep moving. We still have a chance, but we have to get there before he sees us.”

“You sure he won’t find us?” one of them asked.

He stared at the cowering little boy. Was he sure? No. For all he knew, he was marching them to their tomb. But what choice did he have? What other option was there?

“Keep moving,” he whispered instead, and before any could object, he turned and resumed their hurried march. They carried on in silence, a silence punctuated by the screams of another poor soul caught by their hunters, screams that pierced the silence and froze the hearts of all who heard before fading into the night. But onward they marched, until at last he caught sight of their destination.

With a deep sigh, he hurried to the barrels propped against the hull, and after a brief scan, leant against four in particular before whispering words in a tongue none of the children understood. Grinning, he turned.

“Help me,” he whispered.

Frowning, two of the taller children stepped forward, and, with a nod from him, they steadied themselves and lifted. Surprise flitted across the pair’s faces as they stumbled backwards. Exchanging glances, the two boys placed their barrels down before opening them. Both were full to the brim, one with sugar, the other, salt.

“Hurry!” he whispered as he rummaged through his pockets. As he fished out a small square etched stone, the last of the barrels was moved aside, revealing the hull behind.

“Don’t see anything,” one of the children whispered.

Grinning, he winked as he pressed the stone against the hull. As he did so, runes began to glow one by one upon the hull, forming a circle before the children’s eyes, a circle the stone completed. Then, when the circle was fully lit, the hull gave way, revealing a cabin lit by a single enchanted torch.

“Quickly now,” he whispered as the runic circle faded, stepping aside as he shoved the stone back into his pocket.

As one, the children stared into the dimly lit cabin with eyes bright, grinning from ear to ear.

“He’ll never find us in there!” one of the children whispered as they hurried in.

As he watched the children enter the hidden room, he found himself wishing it to be true. Once the last child was in, he too entered the hidden room, whispering words of arcane as he put the barrels back into place before closing the door and hurrying over to join the children at the far end of the cabin. It was there they sat, amongst the barrels of spice and mist, waiting in silence for the coming storm, wishing for it to pass them by.

How long they waited, he did not know, but wait they did. Soon, sleep began to claim the children, but he remained vigilant, and it was not long before he was the only one awake. Then, just as he was about to allow himself hope, he heard it.

It was faint, but unmistakable. Claws dragging briefly over wood. Then another. And then another. Eight claws…two hounds. Their hunters. With his heart in his throat, he clasped the stone in his pocket tightly as he whispered a prayer to every deity he knew, and in that dimly lit cabin, he prayed and listened as the hounds came closer, and closer, and closer still. Then, as his breath came in snatches, he heard the hounds walk past and continue on.

The elation that washed over him was indescribable. They’d done it, they’d actually done it! With a grin as wide as could be, he turned to stare at the sleeping children, but it was at that moment of triumph that fate dealt its cruellest blow of the night.

“I must say, you smugglers never cease to amaze me.”

Startled, he turned his gaze towards the door, and what he saw sank his heart to a depth he’d never known before. The boy, the monster, he stood before them, smirking. Quivering, the old pirate rose before taking an unsteady step forward, then another. In the dim light, he could not see the boy’s eyes, a fact he was grateful for, for he had stared into that abyss once before, and he would choose death of any kind to not do so again.

“H-how did you—?” he began.

“The door? Please, such toys are beneath me.”

“But nobody’s—”

“Just because you mortals can no longer sense the arcane like in the old days, doesn’t mean I no longer can. You would have to be brain-addled not to sense the magic of those wards. Or mortal, I suppose.”

“Please, we—”

Once again his words were cut short, except this time it was by the swirling smoke that spun to life on either side of the boy, smoke that formed into two vicious hounds. A startled gasp came from behind him.

“What do you want from us?” he demanded, fighting the urge to turn to the children.

“What do I want?” the boy asked, his brow furrowing.

“Yes! What do you want from us?”

The boy smiled. “Oh, my dear pirate, can’t you guess?”

The old pirate finally turned to the children, and as he gazed at their terrified faces, his heart wept. Shaking his head, he turned back to the boy.

“Please,” he begged. “They’re only children.”

With his smile turning to a grin, the boy chuckled.

“I know,” he said at last.

Then the hounds lunged forth.

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The Beggar Prince

Posted on by jamesbdrake

Available on Amazon

Excerpt

“And here we are, at the final part of our tour,” Archmage Drakesong called out as the gathered surrounded her at the entrance. Grinning, she walked in, gesturing for the others to follow her in, but to do so quietly. Stopping at the centre of the library, she gestured for the others to cluster before her.

“And this,” she began once all were gathered, raising her voice for all to hear, “is the most important place in all of the Shimmering Tower. For this is where all our knowledge is kept, and where much of our research is conducted and confirmed. This hallowed room contains the thoughts and recordings of every single high elf to have ever called the Shimmering Tower home. Each piece of knowledge, each breakthrough, noted here for posterity.”

But Marshalla and Tip heard not one word of what was said as they stared open-mouthed at the room itself. From floor to ceiling, each wall was covered with tomes, tomes of various shapes and sizes, colours and forms. If that were not enough, on the far wall stood rows of shelves, each filled to overflowing with tomes. And from where they stood, both could see corridors on both sides of the far wall, corridors both were convinced led to rooms filled with even more tomes.

“How do you find anything in this place?” a voice from the crowd asked.

“It does look a bit overwhelming, doesn’t it. Well, allow me to show you.” Smiling, she looked at Tip, who had made his way towards the front along with Marshalla and Davian.

“Tip, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” Tip replied, his voice soft and subdued.

“Come.”

Tip hesitated, looking at Marshalla.

“It’s ok, I won’t bite,” Archmage Drakesong said. “Unless you wish me to, of course.”

Ripples of laughter drifted through the crowd, but this merely served to confuse Tip, and it showed.

“Come, Tip. Please.”

Once more, he looked at Marshalla, who finally nodded at him. Taking a deep breath, he walked over to the archmage. Clasping him by the shoulders, Archmage Drakesong spun him round to face the gathered, holding him close as she did so.

“Now, Tip. I would like you to look upwards.”

He did, and so did everyone else. As they all did, Archmage Drakesong whispered a single word in a tongue he did not know, and as they all stared, a creature leapt off one of the shelves and hung briefly in the air before slowly flying down towards Tip. To Tip, it looked like a butterfly, or some such winged insect.

“Now, isn’t this interesting,” a voice whispered to Tip.

“Hunh?” Tip asked, looking from the descending creature to Archmage Drakesong. The archmage looked down at Tip.

“Look up, Tip, you don’t want to miss this.”

“Oh, do look up…Tip, is it? We don’t want that stupid cow to become suspicious, do we?” The voice, it was in his mind. The hairs on the back of Tip’s neck stood rigid as a knot formed in the very pits of his stomach. Looking briefly at Marshalla, he at last directed his gaze upwards, his heart threatening to burst out of his chest.

“Who are you?” he thought.

“The name is Anieszirel, but you may call me Ani.”

Gasps from the crowd broke Tip from his thoughts, and as he stared upwards, he soon realised that the creature was no insect, for it looked much like an elf, though vastly smaller, and with wings.

“What’s that?” Tip asked.

“Why, it’s a sprite, Tip!”

“That, Tip, is a sprite!” Archmage Drakesong exclaimed.

“Told you.”

“She, along with her kin, are charged with the safe-keeping of our tomes. Each and every tome in here is known to them, and all you have to do is ask them for one and they will bring it to you.” Gently, Archmage Drakesong held out Tip’s left hand, and the sprite soon landed on his open palm. Hugging Tip closer, Archmage looked from Tip to the sprite as it stared expectantly at Tip, its wings waving lazily behind it.

“Now Tip…” Archmage Drakesong continued.

“She’s going to tell you to ask about me.”

“…you’re going to ask her for a specific tome…”

“She does this every single time.”

“…it’s a very special tome…”

“You’d think she’d be bored of this parlour trick by now.”

“…a tome about our most prized relic. Ask her for a tome on Anieszirel, Kin-Slayer.”

“Ani,” Tip said distractedly. As he did so, the sprite took flight and flew towards the west wall.

“What did you say?” the archmage asked.

“Careful, Tip.”

“How did you know she’s called Ani?”

“You don’t want her to know you can hear me, trust me.”

“Uh…” Tip said as he forced a smile, his mind racing. “Lucky guess.”

The archmage stared hard at Tip in silence for a spell.

“Who is Ani?” a voice from the crowd asked.

“That was close.”

Breaking her gaze from Tip’s face, Archmage Drakesong turned to the crowd. But as she spoke, Tip turned his attention inwards.

“Where are you?” he thought.

“I’m behind you. Well, behind her and you.”

Tip moved to look behind the archmage.

“Don’t!” the voice exclaimed, forcing Tip to stand rigid. “If you look, she’ll definitely know you can hear me.”

“You’re not supposed to talk to me?”

“No, I’m not. Arenya sealed the runic circle, and I’m supposed to be able to speak through it to only those possessing an attuned runic key.”

“So, how come you can talk to me?” But even as he asked, a cold chill filled Tip’s heart as he snuck his fingers into his pockets. What his fingers found in there sent the chill spreading all over him.

“I wish I knew,” Anieszirel continued. “Though I’m glad I can. You have no idea how good it is to be able to talk to someone other than these self-righteous bastards.”

Just then, the sprite returned, several tomes of varying thickness and size floating behind it. Archmage Drakesong turned to stare at Tip.

“Hold out your hand.”

Tip did as she bid, and as he did so, the sprite flew into Tip open palms, the tomes floating behind her. Smiling, the archmage turned her gaze to the crowd.

“And that is how we are able to find anything in here.”

Returning her gaze to the sprite, she bowed to the fair creature before whispering another word in the same tongue as earlier, and in response, the sprite bowed and flew away, all the tomes in tow.

“And as for the Kin-Slayer herself, behold!” With a flurry, the archmage stepped aside, pulling Tip with her, revealing a stepped podium unlike anything Tip had ever seen. Circular in nature, its base was wide enough to allow most present to stand side-by-side about it with ease, while its topmost step was higher than Tip was tall. But it was the orb that hung eerily above it that drew Tip’s gaze. It was of a deep violet hue and roughly the size of a newborn ogre child, its surface reflecting the runes etched into the stone upon which it floated, runes pulsing in rhythm to the runes in the circle drawn upon the lowest step of the podium. Though, while the runes themselves clearly held great power within, the power emanating from the orb itself was far greater.

“Now, unlike the other artifacts, I must ask you to keep your distance from this one. The runic circle you see below it will hurt any who gets too close, and the runic stone above which the void sphere floats will, unfortunately, kill any who get really close to it and are not permitted to.”

An uncomfortable silence fell on the group as all eyes went on the orb.

“What’s a void sphere?” Tip asked.

“It’s my prison.”

“It’s a prison, created to trap the souls and essences of any creature. Given the power involved in creating one, we only ever use them to trap creatures that are too hard or too important to do away with, but too dangerous to be left free.”

“And Ani is too dangerous?”

“Were you not listening?” Archmage Drakesong asked, frowning.

“She lies! Don’t listen to the stupid bitch! They’ve held me here against my will all these millennia for no other reason than to gawp and gawk, to poke and prod! I’m no more dangerous than a wolf!”

“There are very few recorded uses of void spheres,” Archmage Drakesong continued, “and with good reason, for those trapped within are unable to free themselves. And if someone were to try and free them, void spheres are designed to collapse in on themselves, destroying the souls of those trapped within.”

“That’s horrible!” one of the gathered exclaimed.

“You’ve forgotten what she did?” another asked. Shaking her head, Archmage Drakesong raised her hands for calm, but as she did so, she stared at the door, and staring right into the eyes of the young elven male standing at the doorway, she nodded once, then returned her gaze to the crowd.

“Now that we are at the end of our tour, for those of you who would like to learn more about the Kin-Slayer, do feel free to remain. I will return here after a short spell, and will be happy then to retrieve tomes on her for you.”

She looked at Tip and Marshalla. “You two can stay if you wish. Davian knows his way around so there’s no need for you to return with the rest of us.” And turning, she made her way towards the door, the rest of the gathered going with her.

“Well, shall we stay?” Davian asked as he and Marshalla walked over to Tip.

“Might as well, looks really nice here,” Marshalla replied, nodding. But Tip was far less pleased with the idea.

“Let’s leave,” he begged. “Please.”

“You can’t leave!”

“You ok, Tip?” Marshalla asked. But before he could respond, an ear-splitting crash reverberated about the room, and shrieking, all three turned to the doorway, only to see the door slammed shut.

“Everybody on their knees!”

There was a fair number of those on the tour still within the library along with Tip, Davian and Marshalla, but there were now six others within the library. The six were all masked, with the one standing at the fore shouting.

“I said everybody on their knees!” he bellowed. The three friends looked at each other, their fear rising rapidly.

“What is the meaning of this?” Lady Runestone demanded. The masked intruder stormed over to the noble, lightning dancing between his fingers. But as he reached her, one of the gathered stepped into his path, swinging a fist at his temple. Only the fist never found home, for in an instant, the ringleader touched the man before him, and as he did so, the unmistakable crack of lightning filled the air as the poor man was flung across the library. At this, the room erupted in a cacophony of screams and cries.

“Everybody on their knees!” the ringleader bellowed once again. This time, all obeyed, including Lady Runestone, and as they fell to their knees, the other five began swiftly going through the kneeling crowd robbing them all. As for the ringleader, he hurried over to Tip, pulling the poor frightened little boy to his feet before rifling through his pockets.

“Leave him alone!” Marshalla yelled.

“Shut up, whore!” he spat back as he searched Tip. Snarling, Marshalla jumped to her feet and shoved him off Tip.

“Leave him al–” But that was as far as he went, for the ringleader spun round and crashed a fist into Marshalla’s stomach before sweeping her feet out from underneath her. And as she fell, he kicked her in the stomach again and again and again.

“Leave her alone!” Tip shrieked. Stopping, the ringleader stared at Tip, before turning and kicking Marshalla in the face, her blood spraying across the carpeted floor. Tip screamed, racing over to where Marshalla lay. Unrepentant, the ringleader grabbed him once within reach, pulling him away from Marshalla before resuming his rifling through Tip’s pockets.

“Hurry up!” one of the invaders yelled at their ringleader.

“What does it look like I’m doing? The stupid whore got in the way!”

But Marshalla was never one to give up so easily, and as he yelled, she crawled up to him, wrapped her arms about his legs and bit into the back of his right leg just above his heel. With the roar of an injured lion, the ringleader looked down at Marshalla wrapped around his legs and, raising his hand to her, unleashed a lightning bolt of quite some venom at her, catching her square in her shoulder. Shrieking in pain, Marshalla let go of his legs as she squirmed away from him.

“You stupid little whore!” he shrieked as he limped after her before finally sitting astride her even as she squirmed still.

“He’s going to kill her,” the voice whispered into Tip’s mind.

“Marsha!” Tip called out in tears.

“He’s going to kill her, Tip.”

“No!” he cried as the ringleader placed his right hand on her bosom. As he did so, the smell of burnt flesh quickly filled the air as Marshalla screamed for all she was worth.

“Stop it!” Tip yelled. “Stop it, please!”

“I can stop him.”

“Leave her alone!”

“I can stop him, Tip.”

“Leave her alone!”

“Release me. Release me and I’ll stop him. I’ll stop them all.”

“Leave her alone!”

“Touch the sphere. Touch the sphere and release me.”

“Damn it, just get the blasted key and let’s go!” one of the invaders yelled. But the ringleader refused to listen. Instead, he raised both his hands, and as lightning flashed between them, he slowly lowered them towards Marshalla, his hands wide enough to fit aside her head. It was then that Tip turned and, hurrying over to the podium, began scrambling up the podium’s steps.

“Tip, what are you doing?” Davian called out. At his words, all within stopped to stare at him, including the ringleader. Emboldened, Tip continued his scramble.

“Tip!”

Tip ignored his friend. Once near the top, he raised his right hand. But then, another lightning bolt ripped through the air, this time striking Tip’s outstretched hand. Screaming in pain, Tip looked over at the ringleader as he stood glaring at Tip. Glaring briefly back at the brigand, Tip returned his gaze to the void sphere, before lunging at it just as the ringleader brought his hand up to strike Tip once more. But he was too late, for as the lightning danced between his fingers, Tip slammed his left palm upon the void sphere.

“Thank you.”

As all within stared, the void sphere sank slowly into the runic stone.

“What have you done?” Davian whispered once the sphere was gone from sight.

Tip turned to stare at him, his mouth agape, but no words came. There was an energy about him, a force that seemed to still his tongue and bind him where he was. Shaking his head, he turned his gaze back to the runic stone, not knowing what to expect. Then, all at once, a roar like nothing Tip had ever heard echoed thunderously about the library, deafening all within as a mighty wind blew forth from the runes upon the lowest step of the podium, its raging currents forcing away all that was near as it circled the podium, leaving Tip cowering in wide-eyed terror.

“Marsha!” he cried as he stared at his dear friend, his eyes pleading.

“Tip,” Marshalla whispered as she scrambled to her knees, her terror raw and palpable. Then, the howling winds began to climb the podium, its ascent steady and sure.

“Marsha!” Tip shrieked as he clambered up to the zenith of the podium, his gaze now upon the encroaching winds.

“Tip,” Marshalla said. To stand was beyond her, her legs were not her own, but every fiber of her being willed her to race over to Tip, to vault up the podium and snatch her dear friend from the clutches of…whatever now held him captive. And so, in her desperation, she sought to crawl to him. But then, as the winds touched the runic stone upon which poor Tip now stood, it all suddenly collapsed in onto Tip, sending the little boy to his knees.

“Tip!” Marshalla screamed. As she reached out to him, Marshalla watched as Tip threw his head back and, clenching his fists tightly near his chest, roared at the heavens. But it was not this that stopped Marshalla and forced her blood to run cold. No, it was the sight of the great ghostly azure dragon that rose above him. With its wings stretched up to their highest, its own great maw raised skyward, it too roared at the heavens, a single heartfelt roar that shook the room to its very foundations, before finally falling into Tip just as the little boy crumpled upon the stone. Then, there was silence.

“Tip?” Marshalla called out. There was no response. With her heart in her mouth, Marshalla sat where she was, waiting with bated breath for some sign, anything. Then, with a smirk upon his lips, little Tip rose, his eyes azure and without pupils. He stared at the ringleader stood behind Marshalla.

“Now, where were we?” he said as he floated down from the podium.

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The Beggar Prince – Prologue

Posted on by jamesbdrake

It was killing him and she knew it. The entire side of her robe was slick with his blood, and yet the bleeding continued. She had to stop, bind his wounds anew, allow him rest. She had to stop.

“Almost there, my love,” she said instead, her every word tearing at her soul. Their only chance, his only chance, was for them to press on, get out of the marshland they trundled through, get out of the nightmare they’d found themselves in.

Gritting her teeth, she looked down at him as he hung limply by her side. Her arms were heavy, almost numb. And the blood, gods, the blood, it was all she could do to keep a firm grip about him. But she couldn’t let go, she daren’t, and as he stared resolutely on, his breath coming in shallow snatches as he willed his feet to move slowly onwards, one before the other, her heart ached for him. He was trying, dear gods but he was trying.

“Almost there,” she repeated hoarsely. “Please, stay with me. We’re almost there.”

It was a lie, like so many others she’d told since their escape from the compound. But, what else could she say? She raised her gaze up to their path. Everything was corrupted now, everything. From the trees to the buildings, even the birds of the air, nothing was spared, the stench of death and decay clinging to the both of them like a defiling miasma. The town didn’t deserve this. Gritting her teeth, she fought to ignore the waves of guilt that had been threatening to drown her since the incident. She’d wallow in self-pity later. First, she had to get him away.

“Stay with me,” she said as she adjusted her grip on her beloved’s arm about her neck, the sweat in her palm weakening her grasp. She chanced a glance behind them. The screams had long since stopped. Was it their turn to be hunted, or were they now truly alone? As she stared behind them, however, she was oblivious to the dead root jutting out before her, and as she caught her leg upon it, a startled yelp escaped her lips as they both fell to the ground.

Cursing feverishly, she hurried to her feet, turning to help her beloved onto his.

“No…” he whispered, shaking his head weakly as he rose to sitting. “I need to rest.”

“No, we have to keep moving,” she replied, shaking her head as she spoke. “He’s still out there. We have to keep moving. Come, please.”

As she reached for him, however, he looked up at her, his eyes pleading with hers. Shaking her head briefly, she looked behind them, staring intently into the fog as her heart beat loudly in her chest. They were not safe. He was still hunting them. They had to keep moving. Once more, she looked down at her beloved, but as her eyes fell upon him, she realised they had to stop. Relenting at last, she helped him to his feet and walked him over to the large fallen tree whose root had caused their fall. With a grateful sigh, he sat upon it. Once more, she scanned their surrounds. Nothing. But her fear remained. Sighing herself, she looked down at her beloved once more. His lips were purple, and he’d paled greatly. He looked up at her, smiling sadly once their eyes met.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered. She shook her head at him.

“We both made this choice,” she said as she grasped the edge of her robe. Tearing free a generous strip from it, she sat beside her beloved and bound his wounds anew.

“But I talked you into it,” her beloved replied. “You were right, we shouldn’t have done it. We tried to steal the power of the gods. We had no right.”

“Save your strength, we–” she began, only for a lone howl to echo out from the mist. Its sound froze her heart as it chilled her soul. She looked at her beloved. His eyes were wide with the same terror coursing through her veins. Wordlessly, he offered his arms up to her. Their rest was over. Nodding, she let go of the torn fabric as she rose to help him up, but at that moment, as she took a single steadying step towards him, a huge, terrifying beast leapt up out of the very mist itself, knocking her away from her beloved as it crashed into him. But as her lover fell to the earth, he did not scream, he did not make so much as a sound, though not from lack of want or need, for the beast had wrapped its huge maw about his throat, ripping it open even as its bulk frame forced him to the earth on the other side of the fallen tree.

Stunned, she stared at what little of the beast she could see, her fear stilling her tongue as the beast gorged on its unholy feast, and for a time, the only sounds to be heard were that of rending flesh and crunching bone.

“Hello, Mother.”

Startled back to life, she looked behind her, and the sight that met her gaze brought a sharp cry from her lips. Scrambling to her feet, she backed away quickly from the little child walking towards her.

“Stay back!” she screamed. “You stay away from me!”

The little boy smiled at his mother as he neared her. “Were you looking to leave without me?”

She stared at his eyes, her fear shortening her breath as she buried her lips in her hands.

“Please, just stay back,” she begged as she shuffled away from him.

“That was very naughty of you, Mother, leaving your son alone like that. What would Father think of you?”

“You are not my son!” she shrieked as tears streamed down her face. The little boy grinned. It was a soulless grin, an evil grin, one only the darkest of hearts could call forth.

“You are not my son,” she repeated. “Just stay back.”

The little boy laughed. He turned to stare at the beast, a hound of sorts, its body more smoke than flesh. But as the little boy turned his gaze from her, she seized her chance and ran, pulling up her robe and racing forth with all she could muster. Though, barely had she gone five paces when an unseen hand held her fast where she was.

“Going somewhere?” the little child asked. Though she tried to speak, no words came, her tongue stilled as her heart threatened to explode in her chest. Slowly, the unseen hand lifted her off her feet, turning her about before bringing her back to her son. The hound was beside him now, its lips dripping with blood.

“Well?”

She stared at him. She couldn’t speak, for her fear bound her as tightly as the spell within which the little boy held her.

“No answer? That’s quite rude, is it not?”

Still she couldn’t answer. Then, the hound began walking towards her. She stared first at the hound, then at her son, her breath coming in snatches once more, but still said nary a word. Slowly, the unseen hand tilted her to the side, lowering her towards the ground until her head was level to the hound’s. Tears streamed down her face anew as she shook her head desperately at her son.

“Please! Gods, please!”

The little boy stared at her as he smiled the same soulless smile. The hound drew near, stopping just beside her, and, licking its lips, opened its huge maw and brought it about her head.

“Please!” she shrieked, all control, all self-control lost to her. Her son giggled at her as a dripping sound echoed about them. The hound’s jaw was now in line with her throat.

“Somebody help me!” she cried as her gaze darted about her. “Please! Somebody help me!”

The little boy laughed with glee. “Nobody’s coming to save you, Mother Dearest, there’s nobody left! You didn’t think I let you live this long because I couldn’t find you, did you?”

She looked back at the little child, her breath in snatches once again.

“Starlight,” she said. “My darling Starlight, please, stop him. Please!”

Slowly, the little boy’s face fell as he shied away from her.

“Please, my darling,” she continued. “We didn’t mean it! As the gods bear me witness, we didn’t mean it! Don’t listen to what he’s said, we didn’t mean for this to happen to you. Please, stop him! Help Mummy, please. Starlight, please!”

The little child stared at her as tears brimmed his eyes. Pouting, the boy sniffled as he held his mother’s gaze. Time stood still as mother and son stared at one another, one with a pleading stare, the other with a teary gaze full of pain and longing. Then, the little boy wiped the tears from his eyes as he sniffled once more. He looked from his mother to the hound. But as he looked back at her, his face was set once again.

“Bye-bye Mummy,” the little boy muttered sadly, and as his mother drew breath to speak, the hound bit down.

“Bye-bye.”

If you enjoyed this little snippet, why not grab the full volume? It’s available on Amazon now. 0.99

The Forging – Prologue

Posted on by jamesbdrake

Welcome to this little preview of the novel The Forging. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it

The beating of his heart was deafening, pounding in his ears like an accursed drum, but he dare not stop. It was only a matter of time before the massacre above them came below deck. He had to get them to safety before then. He had to find them sanctuary before it was too late.

“We’re going to die, aren’t we?”

Turning, he stared at the little girl to his left, one whose hand was clenching his like a vice. The terror in her eyes was raw. He turned to the others behind him. They were all terrified.

“Listen to me,” he said, stopping and lowering his voice to little above a whisper. “We have to keep moving. We still have a chance, but we have to get there before he sees us.”

“You sure he won’t find us?” one of them asked.

He stared at the cowering little boy. Was he sure? No. For all he knew, he was marching them to their tomb. But what choice did he have? What other option was there?

“Keep moving,” he whispered instead, and before any could object, he turned and resumed their hurried march. They carried on in silence, a silence punctuated by the screams of another poor soul caught by their hunters, screams that pierced the silence and froze the hearts of all who heard before fading into the night. But onward they marched, until at last he caught sight of their destination.

With a deep sigh, he hurried to the barrels propped against the hull, and after a brief scan, leant against four in particular before whispering words in a tongue none of the children understood. Grinning, he turned.

“Help me,” he whispered.

Frowning, two of the taller children stepped forward, and, with a nod from him, they steadied themselves and lifted. Surprise flitted across the pair’s faces as they stumbled backwards. Exchanging glances, the two boys placed their barrels down before opening them. Both were full to the brim, one with sugar, the other, salt.

“Hurry!” he whispered as he rummaged through his pockets. As he fished out a small square etched stone, the last of the barrels was moved aside, revealing the hull behind.

“Don’t see anything,” one of the children whispered.

Grinning, he winked as he pressed the stone against the hull. As he did so, runes began to glow one by one upon the hull, forming a circle before the children’s eyes, a circle the stone completed. Then, when the circle was fully lit, the hull gave way, revealing a cabin lit by a single enchanted torch.

“Quickly now,” he whispered as the runic circle faded, stepping aside as he shoved the stone back into his pocket.

As one, the children stared into the dimly lit cabin with eyes bright, grinning from ear to ear.

“He’ll never find us in there!” one of the children whispered as they hurried in.

As he watched the children enter the hidden room, he found himself wishing it to be true. Once the last child was in, he too entered the hidden room, whispering words of arcane as he put the barrels back into place before closing the door and hurrying over to join the children at the far end of the cabin. It was there they sat, amongst the barrels of spice and mist, waiting in silence for the coming storm, wishing for it to pass them by.

How long they waited, he did not know, but wait they did. Soon, sleep began to claim the children, but he remained vigilant, and it was not long before he was the only one awake. Then, just as he was about to allow himself hope, he heard it.

It was faint, but unmistakable. Claws dragging briefly over wood. Then another. And then another. Eight claws…two hounds. Their hunters. With his heart in his throat, he clasped the stone in his pocket tightly as he whispered a prayer to every deity he knew, and in that dimly lit cabin, he prayed and listened as the hounds came closer, and closer, and closer still. Then, as his breath came in snatches, he heard the hounds walk past and continue on.

The elation that washed over him was indescribable. They’d done it, they’d actually done it! With a grin as wide as could be, he turned to stare at the sleeping children, but it was at that moment of triumph that fate dealt its cruellest blow of the night.

“I must say, you smugglers never cease to amaze me.”

Startled, he turned his gaze towards the door, and what he saw sank his heart to a depth he’d never known before. The boy, the monster, he stood before them, smirking. Quivering, the old pirate rose before taking an unsteady step forward, then another. In the dim light, he could not see the boy’s eyes, a fact he was grateful for, for he had stared into that abyss once before, and he would choose death of any kind to not do so again.

“H-how did you—?” he began.

“The door? Please, such toys are beneath me.”

“But nobody’s—”

“Just because you mortals can no longer sense the arcane like in the old days, doesn’t mean I no longer can. You would have to be brain-addled not to sense the magic of those wards. Or mortal, I suppose.”

“Please, we—”

Once again his words were cut short, except this time it was by the swirling smoke that spun to life on either side of the boy, smoke that formed into two vicious hounds. A startled gasp came from behind him.

“What do you want from us?” he demanded, fighting the urge to turn to the children.

“What do I want?” the boy asked, his brow furrowing.

“Yes! What do you want from us?”

The boy smiled. “Oh, my dear pirate, can’t you guess?”

The old pirate finally turned to the children, and as he gazed at their terrified faces, his heart wept. Shaking his head, he turned back to the boy.

“Please,” he begged. “They’re only children.”

With his smile turning to a grin, the boy chuckled.

“I know,” he said at last.

Then the hounds lunged forth.

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