Declan was staring directly at the source of the voice, yet he could discern no one. It was enormously confusing.
“Where are you?” he demanded, trying not to sound frightened. “Show yourself.”
You don’t need to see me, Simon. You know who I am. the voice insisted, sounding increasingly familiar. Is your mind so clouded by the might of your prize that you don’t recognize my voice?
Declan’s eyes widened in what he refused to call fear. That voice…no.
“Who are you?” Declan snarled, his fear finally betraying him.
He ignored the startled glances of the men passing by him, of the townsfolk going about their business, and looked around wildly.
But something in the back of his mind told him he knew the answer to that question.
It was a mistake to cross me, Simon. You used to respect me. Respect would have served you better.
And suddenly Declan knew the voice. It came rushing back to him in a thousand moments of admiration, fear, humiliation, and reverence.
“Show yourself!” he barked. “Show yourself, Jonas!”
This is a mere warning, Simon Declan. Jonas' voice echoed, You should never have betrayed your queen. And you should never have defied me.
Declan had barely registered the words when the entire city was rocked by a volcanic explosion.
His head snapped around toward the garrison, just in time to see the magnificent fortress consumed in a ball of brilliant light and flame. And then the screams of burning men reached his ears, etching the horrific sounds permanently into his brain. But the shrieks of the burning were not nearly so heavy as the silence of the dead.
You have entered into a war, Simon Declan. Let it be known that, as you fight by rules of your own making, so shall I. With the flames of Mornj dies my mercy for you and your kind.
Declan sat on his horse, staring at the destruction before him. In his heart, he knew that the battles weren’t over. The board was set, the pieces in motion.
The war had just begun.
Acknowledgements
This novel and the saga that follows it first began germinating in my mind when I was 16 years old. In the nearly 20 years that followed, the characters and plot lines have developed, deepened and matured, as have I. While the first proper draft of this novel was completed in 2003, time, education, and experience have each helped me render a world that I believe is worthy of the characters that inhabit it, and worthy of the readers I hope find their way to it. Innumerable people have entered my life and, in some cases both sad and necessary, exited it. To acknowledge them all would be impossible, and thus I will only make brief mention of some individuals without whom I truly could not have grown this idea into the novel it is today.
First, to Bradley Collins, thank you for being a refuge of sanity in an otherwise mad world. You kept me grounded in the best way possible, yet you never tried to hold me back. I am forever indebted to you for the unconditional love you provide+ every day. This novel wouldn’t be where it is today without your support, encouragement, and dogged belief in me.
To Dr. Thomas J. Garza, thank you for consistently challenging me, presenting me with new and exciting ideas, and bringing your unique brand of joy to the classroom and to my life in particular. Thank you for always providing a safe space for me to test out new ideas without fear of judgment or reprisal. I was honored to be your student, and feel even more privileged to be your friend. You were a second father when I needed one most, and for that alone I will always be in your debt.
To Dr. Elizabeth Richmond-Garza, thank you for changing the way I think. I could never put a price on the education I received from you, nor should I want to. You were instrumental in shaping me as a person when I was quite malleable, and there isn’t enough gratitude in the world to properly thank you. Being your student has been one of the greatest joys of my life, and I am honored to call you my friend.
To Charles Boyd, I don’t know where I’d have been without your friendship and your creativity, but I know I wouldn’t be here. Working with you, creating in our little vacuum from grade school through college and beyond has been one of the greatest pleasures of my life.
To Joshua Torres: There are no words that could possibly express my love and my gratitude for everything. So instead, I will simply say thank you, from the bottom of my heart.
To my family and friends, thank you for decades of support, encouragement, and thoughtful-but-honest critiques. I’m so excited for you all to finally get a true sense of what I’ve been working towards all these years.
Finally, to everyone reading this, thank you for allowing this world and these characters into your lives. I hope they have as profound an impact on you as they have on me.
About the Author
Photo Courtesy of Jeremy Minnerick
Nicholas McIntire has been telling stories since he was old enough to form words. This is the first novel he has published properly, though the dozens of previous projects he has created will doubtfully ever see the light of day (at least in their current forms). He lives in Ft. Worth, Texas.
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Keep up-to-date with Nicholas and the Archanium Codex at his website NicholasMcIntire.com
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