by Hugo Huesca
“What the hell is going on?” he wondered aloud.
The only thing he was certain about was that the Higher Uppers were going to find a way to blame him for it.
Acknowledgments
Thank you for finding the time to follow along Ed’s adventures once again.
Ancient Traditions was the hardest book I’ve ever written so far, and the most rewarding. I feel that by now that’s starting to become a trend, each new installment being more challenging than the last. That’s just how it should be, in my opinion, when writers think they’ve their story under control it’s probably because they’re doing something wrong.
This is the first book in Ed’s tale that ends in somewhat of a cliffhanger. I promise you’ll have the next book on your hands before long, unless the Internet explodes or something unpredictable like that. Ed’s story is far from done, and there’s no one more eager to return to the world of Ivalis than the Dungeon Lord himself.
In any case, feel free to hurry me along at [email protected] ! You can also join my Facebook group, Hugo Huesca, and leave a comment there to check on the book’s progress. And finally, if you’re really serious about not missing the next book no matter what, try following my Amazon profile so the page itself gives you a heads-up if everything else fails.
I hope you enjoyed Ancient Traditions. See you in the next one!
—Hugo Huesca.
Edward Wright will return in Dungeon Lord V: Nightmare Kingdom
About the Author
If you want to find out about Dungeon Lord’s next installments before anyone else, you can do so here:
www.subscribepage.com/dungeonlord
Also by Hugo Huesca
RUNE UNIVERSE
Space Opera, Videogames, and Cyberpunk meet for this action-packed thriller.
There are infinite worlds in Rune Universe, but only one of them holds the key to Cole’s salvation.
The Complete Rune Universe Trilogy is available now.
EDGE OF CONQUEST
A thriller set in the background of a space war between the Earth and its former colonies in deep space as they struggle for independence.
Joseph Clarke is a former soldier fallen in disgrace. He has sworn never to fight again, but when the rebellion comes knocking at his door, he must break that promise.
For a woman forgotten by history has been found alive, hidden in a remote planet, away from the grasp of the Tal-Kader conglomerate, the corrupt corporation that governs the Edge with an iron fist.
As the flames of war threaten to engulf the Edge, Clarke must team up with a genetically-enhanced assassin to beat Tal-Kader’s fleet in a race to the planet where the woman is hiding. But Clarke’s actions could bring the Edge to a conflict much greater than a mere civil war — it could mean a war against Earth.
Edge of Conquest is available now.
Bonus Ending
The Workshop was quiet like the grave and almost completely dark, save for a bright dot of red light and the column of smoke flowing out of it.
“Master Lavina?” Researcher Arieselle called. Succubi weren’t the type of fiend that could see in the dark, despite what most people thought. “Is that you?”
As her eyes adjusted, she saw the faint outline of Lavina’s figure. The famed Witch of the Haunt barely acknowledged Arieselle’s presence, but then waved her in. “Come in already, I don’t have all day.”
Arieselle did as asked, leaving the door open a bit so they wouldn’t be in total darkness.
“Master Lavina… are you well?” The rumors about the Witch’s condition after finding out what Lord Wraith had done to her beloved creation were all over the place. As a loyal member of Lavina’s Research Team, Arieselle knew better than to give credence to the rumors. However, it was true few had seen Lavina around the Haunt. The only one making fewer appearances was Lord Wraith himself.
Lavina snapped her fingers and the magical torches around the Workshop blazed to life. “Do we look like we are fine?” Lavina asked caustically. Arieselle took a look at the disheveled Witch and then at the thing tied upright on an operating table by her side, which caused the succubus let out a small yelp.
Unlike other undead abominations, Rolim lacked the telltale smell of preserved flesh that could alert someone to their presence.
Whatever little remained of Rolim tracked Arieselle’s every move with his one remaining eye. “Murmur have mercy!” Arieselle muttered. She wasn’t one to blaspheme like a dirty junker fiend, but sometimes nothing else sufficed.
“Yeah, that’s what I thought,” Lavy said bitterly. She took one long puff of her cigar and spat out another column of smoke. Arieselle had had no idea Lavina smoked. It was probably a new habit. “Damn it. Sorry, Arieselle, I shouldn’t take out my bad mood on you. It’s not your fault that that—” At this point Lavina said a couple epithets that the succubus had never heard before “—Dungeon Lord dared to hurt my dear Rolim!”
Arieselle smiled nervously. For some reason, she had no idea what to do with her hands. “I’m sure Lord Wraith didn’t mean to—” she started, but Lavina waved at her.
“I’m not talking about Ed. Rolim’s job was to protect him, and as far as I’m concerned my beloved creation saved Ed’s ass back there.” She tossed her cigar on the ground and stomped it. “I’m talking about him.” She of course neglected to say who he was, but Arieselle didn’t hold it against her. Succubi knew how Dungeon Lords and their seconds-in-command were—always making mysterious proclamations and swearing crimson vengeance for the smallest slight. “When I get my hands on him,” Lavina went on, “I shall rain crimson vengeance upon him and his every damn dungeon! He shall rue the day he made Lavina’s designs look vulnerable!”
Truth be told, Rolim didn’t seem to give a damn about his current condition. He probably didn’t give a damn about anything other than following Lavina’s commands.
Arieselle nodded. This she knew how to deal with. “How can I help, my Master?” She added only the slightest implication to that last word, but only because she was a succubus, and it was pretty much expected of her.
Lavina ignored it completely. She grinned like a maniac and said, “Take a look around, dear.”
The succubus did so, and realized the Workshop was loaded with disassembled mechanisms, the steel remains of huge scorpion-like creatures, and long parchment rolls with complex designs unlike anything Arieselle had ever seen. Curiosity got the better of her and she examined one such scroll, which seemed to depict some kind of magical battery designed to work in conjunction with the necromantic emanations of reanimated corpses. As a Researcher, the mere concept was preposterous. But the sheer daring of it! At the very end of the parchment Arieselle found a small signature. “E. Tillman.” Arieselle’s heart skipped a beat.
“Do you now see the great work ahead of us?” Master Lavina asked. “My creation was almost destroyed, but that merely opened the door for even greater investigative glory! We shall rebuild him, better and stronger! We have the technology.”
Then the Witch started to laugh. Arieselle grimaced.
“When was the last time you slept, Master?” she asked timidly.
Lavina’s laughter stopped abruptly. “Sleep is for the weak-minded. Now hand me my scalpel.”