The Complete Rhenwars Saga: An Epic Fantasy Pentalogy

by M. L. Spencer

  Two women in formal black robes approached from behind, bearing between them a thick cloak of white embroidered with the image of the Silver Star, renowned vestment of the Prime Warden. Together in unison, the women spread the fabric out between them and ceremoniously drew the cloak of office over Sephana’s frame, securing it in place with a silver brooch. They dropped to their knees at her sides, carefully arranging the drape of cloth.

  A white mantle of luxurious ermine was spread across her shoulders, the signet of office thrust onto her finger. Into Sephana’s hands were placed the traditional regalia of Aerysius: a tapering rod made of crystal and a lapis orb topped with the image of the Silver Star.

  There, standing on the balcony before the faces of the Watchers of the Hall, Prime Warden Sephana Clemley swore her oath of office. After she pledged her vows, there was a momentary gap of silence. Then, together as one, every Master of Aerysius dropped to the floor in a great wave that spread throughout the entire crowd, falling forward over their knees with heads and palms pressed against the ground in a humbling display of deference.

  When all had risen from their homage, Sephana gave a nod, gazing down upon her subjects. Then she turned, replacing the rod and orb back onto their cushion.

  A murmuring tension swept throughout the Hall as mages reacted to her break with time-honored tradition. Sephana glared down upon them, her face severe and authoritative, aware that what she was about to do next went far beyond any action ever taken by a Prime Warden to come before her.

  Above the gathered mages, Sephana raised her naked hands, shaking back the wide sleeves of her gown. She rotated her arms slowly until the palms of her hands faced toward her, spreading her fingers wide.

  “I, Sephana Clemley, Prime Warden of Aerysius, hereby institute an Oath of Harmony, decreeing this pledge obligatory upon all Masters from this day forward unto the end of time. Please repeat each word I say exactly as I say it:

  “I swear to live in harmony with all of creation.”

  She paused then, listening with a sense of triumph as her words were echoed back to her from the gathered mages, the sound of their voices resonating in choral unison off the high dome of the Hall.

  “To use my gift with temperance and wisdom;

  Always to heal and never to harm,

  Or my life will be righteously forfeit.”

  As she completed the oath, Sephana paused to listen as the voices of the crowd beneath her faded away into silence.

  Then she glanced up, rotating her arms before her face. On both of her wrists now glimmered a matching set of metallic chains, binding her and all of Aerysius firmly to the constraints of Braden’s Oath.

  She allowed herself a smile of satisfaction, gazing down at a hall full of mages who, spreading their hands before them, stared with wonder and curiosity at the fresh set of markings that would forever remain an indelible reminder of the vow they had collectively taken.

  Sephana wondered what Braden would be feeling if he could be here with her now, staring out at such a sight. She suspected he would be very humbled and very gladdened at the same time. Sephana reached down, caressing the slight swelling in her middle where their baby had taken root and was growing deep inside. It was greatly comforting to know that something of him would yet remain in this world, a child of Braden’s lineage that could carry on his legacy. Sephana smiled, blinking back tears of grief and gratitude that tried to fill her eyes.

  She wiped the tears away; this was no time for mourning. She wasn’t done yet. There was still one last hurdle to overcome. Sephana had to insure that what had happened to Caladorn could never happen to the Rhen. She had to guarantee that there would never be another Cyrus Krane or Zavier Renquist. To the gathered Assembly, she continued:

  “Let it be known that, by my own decree and proclamation, the Order of Battlemages is hereby forever disbanded and dissolved. In its place, I formally institute the Order of Sentinels, to be chartered with the solemn duty to watch over, defend, and protect the nations of the Rhen in a manner consistent with the moral principles and imperatives of the Oath of Harmony.”

  THE END

  Thank you for reading The Complete Rhenwars Saga. If you enjoyed this story, I would be very grateful if you could leave an honest review on the book’s Amazon page (not the pop-up that happens when you flip the last page on your e-reader—those seem to do nothing). Honest reviews help bring my books to the attention of other readers. I would sure appreciate it!

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  —ML

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  Glossary

  acolyte: apprentice mage who has passed the Trial of Consideration and sworn the Acolyte’s Oath.

  Acolyte’s Oath: first vow taken by every acolyte of Aerysius to serve the land and its people, symbolized by a chain-like marking on the left wrist.

  Aerysius: ancient city where the Masters of Aerysius dwell.

  Akins, Tom: blacksmith from Farbrook.

  Al’thartier: Venthic title that means Greatest Battlemage.

  Amani: wife of Braden Reis who was executed for treason against the Assembly of the Lyceum.

  Amberlie: town in the Vale of Amberlie below Aerysius.

  amplification: character of increasing a mage’s permeability to the magic field.

  Anassis, Myria: ancient Querer of the Lyceum, now a Servant of Xerys.

  apprentice: mage in training in the Lyceum who has passed the Trial of Consideration and sworn the oath of apprenticeship.

  Archer, Amelia: wife of Kyel Archer.

  Archer, Gilroy: baby son of Kyel Archer.

  Archer, Kyel: apprentice merchant of Coventry Township.

  Arches: enchanted monuments that guard the Hall of the Watchers and the Lyceum, allowing only mages access.

  Arman, Nashir: ancient Battlemage and Servant of Xerys.

  Arms Guild: institution for the study of blademastery. Also called the School of Arms.

  artifact: heirloom of power that has been imbued with magical characters or properties.

  Arvel: Voice of the High Priest of Wisdom.

  Assembly: the Masters of Aerysius or the Lyceum, as a collective entity.

  Asyaadi Clan: group of kinsfolk who live in the village of Qul in the Black Lands.

  Athera’s Crescent: Mysterious and ancient artifact on the Isle of Titherry.

  Atrament: the realm of Death, ruled by the goddess Isap.

  Auberdale: capital city of Chamsbrey.

  Azár ni Suam: Lightweaver of the Asyaadi Clan.

  Battle of Meridan: famous battle in which the Enemy was turned back in large part due to the efforts of the Sentinels.

  Battlemage: order of mages who accompanied armies into battle in ancient times before the Oath of Harmony.

  Black Lands: what was once Caladorn, now the desecrated home of the Enemy.

  Black Solstice: The battle that ended the Fifth Invasion.

  blademaster: title awarded to graduates of the Arms Guild.

  Blandford, General: general of the Emrish Army.

  Bloodquest: ancient rite of vengeance condoned by the goddess Isap for righteous causes.

  Bluecloaks: slang for the Rothscard city guard.

  Book of All Things: book in which the Everlasting Story is said to be scribed by the mightiest of all pens.

  Book of the Dead: ancient text wherein the Strictures of Death are inscribed.

  Bound: describes a mage who has sworn the Oath of Harmony.

  Broden: Guild blademaster employed by the Mayor of Wolden.

  Bryar, Merris: ancient acolyte of Aerysius mentored by Master Sep
hana Clemley.

  Bryn Calazar: ancient capital of Caladorn.

  Cadmus: Voice of the High Priest of Wisdom.

  Caladorn: ancient empire to the north, now known only as the Black Lands.

  caravansary: in the Black Lands, a large courtyard with attached rooms built for the purposes of accommodating caravans resting overnight.

  Catacombs: place of burial that exists partly in the Atrament.

  Cerulean Plains: large grassland region in the North.

  Chamber of Egress: rooms containing transfer portals between both Aerysius and the Lyceum. Relics left behind of an ancient past when the two schools of magic enjoyed better relations.

  Chamsbrey: Northern kingdom ruled by Godfrey Faukravar.

  Circle of Convergence: focus of magic designed to draw on the vast power of a vortex.

  clan: in the Black Lands, a kin-based group of close, interrelated families.

  Clemley, Sephana: ancient Prime Warden of Aerysius and lover of Braden Reis.

  colleges of magic: the Hall of the Watchers in Aerysius and the Lyceum in Bryn Calazar.

  Connel, Byron: ancient Battlemage of the Lyceum, now a Servant of Xerys.

  Corlan, Finneus: first tier Master of the Order of Sentinels.

  Covendrey: town in the kingdom of Lynnley.

  Craghorns: mountains that border the Vale of Amberlie.

  Craig, Devlin: captain of Greystone Keep.

  Creek Hollow: town in the Vale of Amberlie.

  Cromm, Cedric: author of The Mysteries of Aerysius.

  Cummings, Chadwick: advisor to the King of Chamsbrey.

  Curse, the: term used to describe the darkening of the skies and earth of the Black Lands, as well as for the unusual weather patterns and electrical storms experienced in the region.

  dakura: ancient derogatory term used by the Jenn for the city-dwelling people of Caladorn.

  dampen: to shield a mage from sensing the magic field.

  damper: an object that has the ability to dampen a mage from sensing the magic field.

  darkmage: a mage who has made a compact with Xerys.

  Death’s Passage: see Catacombs.

  Desco: priest of Deshari.

  Desecration, the: the apocalyptic event that destroyed Caladorn by blackening the skies and the earth.

  destrier: various breeds of large warhorse.

  Eight, the: the Eight Servants of Xerys.

  elam: a writing stick

  Elessar: ancient warlord of the Omeyan Jenn.

  Emmery: Northern kingdom of the Rhen.

  Emmery Palace: the Queen’s palace in Rothscard.

  Enemy, the: collective name for inhabitants of the Black Lands.

  Everlasting Story: according to Harbingers, the ever-evolving story that chronicles all the events in the world.

  eye: area at the heart of a vortex where the lines of the magic field run almost parallel.

  Farbrook: town in the Vale of Amberlie.

  Faukravar, Godfrey: King of Chamsbrey, also known as the Vile Prince.

  field lines: currents of the magic field.

  Field of Tol-Ranier: ancient battle site near Auberdale.

  First Sentinel, the: see Braden Reis.

  First Among Many: in the combined legions of Malikar, second-in-command to the Warden of Battlemages. The highest ranking officer who is not a mage.

  Flynn, Tyrius: fourth tier Grand Master of the Order of Sentinels.

  Front, the: area bordering the Black Lands.

  Gannet: town in the Vale below Aerysius.

  Gateway: portal to the Netherworld.

  Glen Farquist: holy city in the Valley of the Gods.

  Goddess of the Eternal Requiem: statue of an aspect of the Goddess of Death; her face of Righteous Vengeance.

  Grand Master: any mage of the fourth tier or higher.

  Grand Resonance: theoretical acceleration of the magic field that produces a cataclysmic chain reaction.

  Great Lady: title of honor applied to any female Master or Grand Master.

  Great Master: title of honor applied to any male Master or Grand Master.

  Great Schism: separation between the Assemblies of mages and the ruling bodies of the temples.

  Greystone Keep: legendary fortress in the Pass of Lor-Gamorth.

  Hall of the Watchers: Stronghold of the mages of Aerysius, where exists Aerysius’ Circle of Convergence.

  Hannah, Arden: ancient Querer, now a Servant of Xerys.

  Hellpower: see Onslaught.

  Henley, Corban: formerly of the Vale, now a soldier of Greystone Keep.

  High Priest: title of the religious leader of one of the ten Holy Temples.

  hyphal artifact: an artifact that is grown instead of wrought.

  Ironguard Pass: passage from the Black Lands into the Rhen created by Aiden Lauchlin.

  Isap: Goddess of Death.

  Ishara: border town in the Black Lands, in the region once known as Skara.

  Isle of Titherry: Isle off the coast of the Rhen where exists the artifact known as Athera’s Crescent.

  Jenn: nomadic horse culture of the Cerulean Plains.

  Kateem, Khoresh: infamous Emperor who united all of Caladorn under a singular rule before the Desecration.

  Kayna: woman of the Jenn, wife of Ranoch.

  Khazahar Desert: arid region in the Black Lands that was once an expansive grassland.

  Krane, Cyrus: ancient Prime Warden of Aerysius, now a Servant of Xerys.

  Landry, Clement: Minister of State to the King of Chamsbrey.

  Larsen, Ellen: wife of Traver Larsen.

  Larsen, Traver: friend of Kyel Archer.

  Lauchlin, Aidan: first tier Master of the Order of Empiricists. Firstborn son of Gerald and Emelda Lauchlin.

  Lauchlin, Darien: second son of Gerald and Emelda Lauchlin.

  Lauchlin, Emelda: Prime Warden of Aerysius. First tier Master of the Order of Chancellors.

  Lauchlin, Gerald: father of Aidan and Darien Lauchlin, fourth tier Grand Master of the Order of Sentinels. Murdered by ritual immolation during the Battle of Meridan (deceased).

  lightfields: in the Black Lands, places where food is grown using light produced by mages called Lightweavers.

  Lightweaver: in the Black Lands, mages who have the ability to produce a color of magelight that mimics the full spectrum of the sun.

  Lyceum: ancient stronghold of the mages of Bryn Calazar.

  Lynnley: Kingdom of the Rhen.

  Mage’s Oath: see Oath of Harmony.

  magelight: magical illumination that takes on the hue of the mage’s signature color.

  magic field: source of magical energy that runs in lines of power over the earth.

  Maidenclaw: one of the two mountains that mark the entrance of the Black Lands.

  Malikar: modern name of the nation that was once Caladorn.

  Master: any mage; more specifically, a mage of the first through third tier.

  Meridan: see Battle of Meridan.

  motive character: in an artifact, the ability to create a force that produces motion.

  Mountains of Cedar: ancient name for the Shadowspear Mountains, before the Desecration. Sajar-Asharu in Venthic.

  Mysteries of Aerysius, The: authoritative text on the subject of the Masters of Aerysius.

  nach’tier: word for darkmage in the language of the Enemy.

  Natural Law: law that governs the workings of the universe that can be strained by the application of magic, but never broken.

  necrator: demonic creature that renders a mage powerless in its presence.

  Nelle, Lynnea: first tier Master of the Order of Querers.

  Netherworld: realm of Xerys, God of Chaos.

  Newell, Alexa: serving girl in Creek Hollow.

  node: place where the lines of the magic field come together in parallel direction but opposite in energy and cancel out.

  Nordric, Ezras: fifth tier Grand Master of the Order of Sentinels.

  Norengail, Romana: Queen of Emmery.


  North, the: the Northern kingdoms of the Rhen, including Emmery, Chamsbrey and Lynnley.

  Nym: ancient river in the Black Lands once considered sacred.

  Oath of Harmony: oath taken by every Master of Aerysius to do no harm, symbolized by a chain-like marking on the right wrist.

  Oblivion: outcome for a soul who is denied entry into both the Atrament and the Netherworld, which results in the complete destruction of that soul and the denial of eternity.

  Omeyan Clan: ancient clan of the Jenn led by Elessar.

  Onslaught: the corrupt power of the netherworld, also known as the Hellfire.

  orders: different schools of magic.

  Orguleth: one of the two mountains that mark the entrance to the Black Lands. Also called the Spire of Orguleth.

  Orien Oathbreaker: infamous Grand Master who used the Circle of Convergence on Orien’s Finger to turn back the Third Invasion almost single-handedly.

  Orien’s Finger: crag on the edge of the Cerulean Plains where Orien Oathbreaker made his stand.

  Qadir, Sareen: ancient Querer and one the Eight Servants of Xerys .

  Qul: village in the Khazahar Desert in the Black Lands.

  Pass of Lor-Gamorth: pass through the Shadowspear Mountains that guards the border of the Black Lands.

  Penthos, Luther: High Priest of the Temple of Death.

  potential: ability in a person to sense the magic field.

  Pratson, Blake: Mayor of Wolden.

  Prime Warden: leader of the Assembly of the Hall. Literally, the ‘First Guardian’ of the Rhen.

  Proctor, Garret: legendary Force Commander of Greystone Keep.

  Raising: Rite of Transference, during which an acolyte inherits the legacy of power from another mage.

  Rakkah: the final test of an apprentice Battlemage

  Ranoch: man of the Jenn, husband of Kayna.