by Ryan Cahill
“Not a chance,” the man scoffed, his long blue coat flowing around his ankles. He glared down at the two drunken young women and the grey wolfpine that could have masqueraded as a pony with incredibly sharp teeth. He had flat-out refused to allow Faenir onto the ship, even when Ella had stated that she had two tickets, one for her and one for Faenir. “Miss, I cannot, under any circumstances, allow that rabid dog onto our vessel. It is not possible. The guards in Antiquar would not even allow it onto the docks. Now please, move along.”
Ella was sure that Faenir understood exactly what the man said. The hackles on his back stuck straight up, and a deep growl emanated from his throat. Even the man, who seemed so prim and proper in his heavy blue cloth with white storks woven into its cuffs, took a few steps back. Drops of sweat moistened his brow.
Ella was furious. She wasn’t sure whether it was a genuine anger or one born of ale, but she was about ready to kick the man in a painful place and march past him.
Then the stranger arrived.
“What is the problem here?” He was a soldier, by the cut of him, and the thin scar that ran down over his eye was not one worn by a trader or a nobleman. Though, he wore a thick navy coat, with flicks of yellow at the edges, over a fine cream shirt. His shoulders were thick and broad. He was handsome in a way, even with the bottom half of his face concealed with that beard.
The sailor attempted to explain himself until the man produced a piece of parchment from his inside coat pocket. The sailor stiffened as he read whatever was written on the parchment. His back straightened as he knuckled his forehead. “Please, sir. Go right ahead.”
The man gave an amused grin before a serious tone entered his voice. “These two ladies are with me, as is their… wolf?”
Ella’s eyes opened wide.
The sailor looked as though he wanted to protest, but he didn’t. He swallowed loudly before nodding in acquiescence. His brow furrowed as he attempted to hide a glare at Ella.
“Are you coming?” the stranger asked flatly, already crossing the gangplank. The two women exchanged a brief glance before gathering their skirts and shuffling past the guard and up the plank.
“Thank you,” Ella said when they reached the deck of the ship. The man simply nodded in return.
“It might be best if you ride in my cabin, just in case anybody gives you any trouble with regard to your… companion.” The man nodded towards Faenir. “It is entirely up to you. I am in the cabin with the red door at the back of the ship. Number three. Just knock.”
With that, the man strode off towards the far end of the ship. He stopped only for a moment to pull a coin from his pocket, toss it up into the air, and slip it back into its place after checking the result of the toss. He seemed a strange man, but Ella was thankful he appeared when he did.
She was going north. Going to Berona.
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From the Author
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for dedicating your time to Of Blood and Fire. This is but the first stroke in the Epic Fantasy series The Bound and The Broken.
Writing this book has been one of the most incredible, and challenging, experiences of my life. For years the world of Epheria has been nothing but a dream, a constant yearning in the back of my mind. To finally put it onto these pages is an indescribable feeling.
This is my passion. It is what breathes life into my day and it is something that I want to continue doing until I’m old and grey.
Honest reviews are the most powerful tools that I have when it comes to garnering attention for my books, and allowing me to continue to write. They are a key factor in grabbing the attention of new readers, and reaching new heights, along with many other things. If you enjoyed Of Blood and Fire it would mean the world to me if you could take just a few moments out of your day to leave a short review on Amazon, or Goodreads.
It would make a huge difference for me.
I promise you, I will never stop learning, writing, and improving. It’s only upwards from here.
Acknowledgements
To…
Séamus, who nobly endured the very first draft of this book, and wasn’t afraid to hurt my feelings, to help my writing. You have been my partner in the imaginary world for as long as I can remember. It is your constant encouragement that has kept me going.
My Beta readers. In particular, Jake, David, and Dimos. The time you devoted to my earlier drafts will never be forgotten. I continued to write because of your constant enthusiasm and encouragement. And I continued to improve because of your criticism and honesty.
Aron, my brother. In your artwork, you have always managed to capture exactly what was in my mind. Thank you for illustrating my imagination, and allowing me to see with my eyes what I have always seen in my head.
Everyone along the way, of whom there are too many to mention (but I’ll try and name a few). My family, my friends, and everyone I have met along this journey. Abel, for putting up with my never-ending questions. Catherine, for always giving the right advice at the right time. Paul, for welcoming me into the group, and also answering my never-ending questions – I’m noticing a trend here. Daan and Anat, for your criticism, and encouragement.
It has been a long journey to this point. But this is only the beginning.
Glossary
Epheria (EH-fear-EE-ah): The continent of Epheria is one of the largest continents in the known worlds.
The Old Tongue
Draleid (Drah-laid): Dragonbound. Ancient warriors whose souls were bonded to the dragons that hatched for them.
Rakina (Rah-KEEN-ah): One who is broken, or in the elven dialect – ‘one who survived’. When a dragon or their Draleid dies, the other earns the title of ‘Rakina’.
Du gryr haydria til myia elwyn (DOO Greer HAY-dree-AH till MAYA EHL-win): You bring honour to my heart.
N’aldryr (Nahl-DREAR): By fire.
Valerys: (Vah-lair-is): Ice.
Names
Erdhardt Hammersmith (ERD-Heart Hammer-smith): Village elder of The Glade.
Freis (Fr-EHY-s): Calen’s mother, and the herbalist of The Glade.
Aeson (Ay-son): A warrior of a time long past who, along with his two sons, struggles against the Lorian Empire, in an attempt to unite the lands in rebellion.
Faenir (FAY-near): A wolfpine who was raised by Calen’s family.
Achyron (Ack-er-on): The warrior God, or simply The Warrior.
Gaeleron (GAY-ler-on): An elf from the hidden city of Aravell who swears an oath of honour to protect Calen and Valerys.
Vaeril (VAY-rill): An elf from the hidden city of Aravell who swears an oath of honour to protect Calen and Valerys. Vaeril has the ability to touch the spark, and is particularly adept at healing.
Efialtir (Ef-EE-ahl-TIER): The Traitor God. Efialtir betrayed the other six gods at the dawn of creation. He turned his back on their ways, claiming his power through offerings of blood.
Urak (UH-rak): Creatures whose way of life revolves around bloodshed. Little is known of them outside of battle, other than they serve the traitor God – Efialtir.
Jotnar (Jot-Nar): The Jotnar, known to humans as ‘giants’, are a race of people who have inhabited Epheria since the dawn of time. They are intrinsically magic, have bluish-white skin, and stand over eight feet tall.
World of Men
Illyanara (ILLY-ah-NAH-ra): One of the six provinces of southern Epheria, ruled over by High Lord Castor Kai.
Belduar (BELL-DOO-are): The last “free city
of men” in Epheria. Belduar is the only city of men that is not under the dominion of the Lorian Empire, and instead has its own king – Arthur Bryne.
Ölm (Ohm): Ölm is a small village that is part of a collective of villages that sit at the base of Wolfpine Ridge. It shares its name with Ölm Forest. Both the village and the forest take their name from the ancient Jotnar city of Ölmur.
The Dwarven Freehold
Durakdur (Duhr-ack-duhr): The dwarven kingdom of Durakdur is a member of the Dwarven Freehold. It is ruled over by Queen Kira.
Ozryn (Oz-RHIN): The dwarven kingdom of Ozryn is a member of the Dwarven Freehold. It is ruled over by Queen Elenya.
Volkur (Vol-KOOR): The dwarven kingdom of Volkur is a member of the Dwarven Freehold. It is ruled over by King Hoffnar.
Azmar (AZ-mar): The dwarven kingdom of Azmar is a member of the Dwarven Freehold. It is ruled over by Queen Pulroan.
Elven Realms
Lynalion (LIN-ahl-EE-on): The woodland of Lynalion stretches for hundreds of miles in all directions. It sits at the base of Mar Dorul and is where a large portion of the elves retreated to after the fall of The Order.
Aravell (ARA-vell): Aravell is a hidden city that acts as the home to a faction of elves that have split from the elves of Lynalion.