Donarec tossed the scepter. It clanged as it fell to the ground, rolling around slightly and then coming to a halt. “It belongs to the strongest,” he answered.
He turned his back, even as the uproar began, all sides yelling at each other, declaring their worthiness. Shouts, screams and curses, accusations of perversion and impiety flung out like arrows on the battlefield.
Donarec did not look back, leaving the Great Hall with his companions at his side.
A long time ago…
The night before the battle. To the northwest was a glittering constellation of campfires, spreading out into the distance as far as the eye could see. The Shiraan were here, the largest army the world has ever seen. To the south east, the rolling grasses of the plains gave way to the still darkness of the Mirror of Varaal, living up to its name by reflecting the light of the Mansion and Stars above, so that it seemed the heavens above were mirrored on the land below.
As above, so below...war in heaven meant war on the earth, at least that’s what many of the Mayazuul claimed. Orazaak stood the watch this night, glad to be away from the noise in the city-camp, where bonfires burned in honor of dozens of savage gods, while Serazem - Sehrem the Mighty, Prophet and Lord - went among them, giving one speech after another, variations of this is the final battle, the battle of destiny. Live or die, when it is over your names will be remembered. To the living tomorrow the spoils of victory, to the glorious fallen an eternal remembrance and honor in the afterlife…
This was not the Way of the Servants. Swords with legs, living weapons to be used and then cast aside as needed, that was what they were, drummed into their heads the moment they were able to understand it. That was the reason the Masters created them, the purpose they served. For a moment he wondered what the Masters might think of this...if their great stone ships dropped down from the sky and they looked on the world the Servants were creating…
Idiot. He laughed, shaking his head. As if the Masters would give a speck of dust what their abandoned tools had gotten up too...or would look on it with any sense of approval. More likely they would obliterate everything in sight and consider it a good night’s entertainment, before moving on to their next atrocity…
“Why do you laugh?”
Kazovar came up beside him. He wore a plain shirt...no armor, the light of his runes glowing faintly beneath the cloth.
“I was just thinking.” Orazaak turned to his friend. “How absurd life has become.”
“How is any of this,” Kazovar waved his hand about, “absurd in anyway?”
“Think about it. We are about to face the largest army in the world…”
“In this world, at any rate.”
“Doesn't matter. But we do it for ourselves, not the Masters.”
Kazovar shrugged. “And that seems absurd to you?”
“You think it normal?”
“I have known nothing but war from the moment I could hold a stick,” Kazovar answered. “For the Masters, for ourselves, it’s all the same in the end. But maybe after this it will be different.”
The very thought made the back of Orazaak’s neck crawl. “Don’t say that,” he said.
“What, that things will be different? Would that be so terrible?” Kazovar waved the general direction of the Shiraan camp. “Serazem says, once we have defeated that horde, all these lands will be ours. A new world, to shape as we see fit. Maybe in this world, there will be no more need for fighting and killing. Peace instead of conflict. Is that so absurd?”
“More than you can possibly imagine,” Oraaak shot back. “We are weapons. Without war, we have no purpose. That is what separates us from everything else in this world! What marks us apart from the sav...the Mayazuul.”
“But that’s where we began,” Kazovar pointed out. “The Masters picked out a band of savages, long ago, and turned them into weapons. Every one of us is descended from them. Without the runes we would be no different than the men we lead. You know this, so why quibble?”
They looked out at the gathered campfires again. “I hope I die tomorrow,” Orazaak said. “I can't imagine living another way.”
“And I hope you live,” Kazovar responded. “So that we might find such a way.”
“Well...that went better than expected.”
The walls of Bojanna disappeared into the distance. Further east, the last traces of dawn still reached across the sky. No one was following them, no one was chasing them. Just a pleasant ride in the country.
Donarec and Tudai both frowned at Jaag’s flippant remark. “Did you forget the kidnapping?” Tudai asked sharply. “And Kitaar taking a spear in the eye?”
“Given that Kitaar had plans for you that were...well, less than savory, I think his quick and timely demise to be a blessing.”
“It could have very easily gone the other way,” Tudai responded. But for once she did not elect to continue the argument. Instead she shifted about in her saddle, causing one of the saddle bags to clink.
Donarec looked over. “What do you have in there?”
“A pair of silver salt shakers, a gold cup, and a statue of a turtle, carved from jade,” was her unapologetic response. “Picked them up on the way out of the palace.”
“You stole from them?” Donarec exclaimed.
“You didn’t?” Jaag answered. He tapped his satchel, which resounded with a loud clink of its own. “Picked up my share of booty...you were so busy looking for trouble ahead that you didn’t take the time to look back.” Jaag laughed. “What...does this bother you?”
“I...suppose not,” Donaec answered. Bugger all, why didn’t I think of that…
They continued riding for a while. Farmers carts passed them by, headed in the other direction, blissfully unaware of the confusion awaiting them. The Warlord was dead...and with him the end of an era. Donarec wondered what the future held for Beremi and the other cities of Raxenora, figured it was nothing good, and blessedly out of his hands…
“Did you kill him?” Tudai asked suddenly. “The Warlord, I mean.”
After a moment, Donarec nodded. “I did...in a sense.”
“Gods and demons!” Jaag swore. “You slew the Warlord of Beremi! I don’t know whether to congratulate you or curse you...no one else knows, I assume? Otherwise there would be an army chasing after us…”
“Calm yourself, Jaag. It was a private matter, no one else saw it. And in truth...I didn’t defeat him. He allowed me to win. The man was tired of life, tired of everything, looking for an honorable way out. He left himself open...it was either cut him down or be cut down in turn. He passed with a smile on his face.”
There was silence as the others pondered this.
“Well,” Jaag said, “at least he died as he wished. There aren't many who can make that claim.”
“I suppose,” Donarec responded. “But I got the sense that he never really had a chance to live. And he will leave nothing behind but a legend, that hides who he really was.”
And that was all he had to say on the matter. They continued down the road, riding into the west and towards their own futures.
GAEBREL'S GAMBLE
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★★★★ 'This story will keep you turning the pages. I highly recommend this book!'
★★★★ 'Sword and sorcery pirate style!'
★★★★ 'Must read!'
The Nine Suns...a universe of wonder, where tall ships sail across the Boundless Empyrean between worlds, where ancient magics and the roar of musketry determine the fate of empires. Where fortunes can be made to those with the steel and strength to seize them...or perish at the wrong end of a cannon.
Gaebrel is a wandering rogue, living by his wits and the edge of his blade. Taken prisoner by a cruel pirate queen, he bargains for his freedom by promising to steal for her a mighty treasure. With a motley crew of desperate men, he sets sail across a universe of high adventure...and into a world of trouble.
Sword in one hand, pistol in the other, Gaebrel faces
his greatest gamble. He will turn the tables on his captors and steal the fastest ship in the universe. He will charge headlong onto the killing fields of a war-torn world to save the life of a comrade...where he will face down a legendary evil seeking universal war and carnage.
And the cost Gaebrel faces may nothing less than his immortal soul...
To get your FREE copy of Gaebrel's Gamble, CLICK HERE!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The physical body of Zackery Arbela lives somewhere in the wilds of New York City. The mind of Zackery Arbela can be found wandering the various planes and adornments of the temporal spheres, from whence he sometimes returns with new and fantasickal tales to tell.
Discover other titles by Zackery Arbela
THE NINE SUNS
Gaebrel's Gamble
The Nine Suns. Where empires rise and fall in a storm of gunpowder, swords and sorcery. Where fortune awaits those with courage to seize it. It is an age of adventure...and an easy place to die.
Gaebrel is a wandering rogue always one step ahead of death, living by his wits and the edge of his blade. Taken prisoner by a cruel pirate queen, he bargains for his freedom by promising to steal a mighty treasure. With a motley crew of desperate men, he sets sail on the boundless Empyrean, sword in hand and betrayal all around.
Sword in one hand, pistol in the other and a smile on his face...Gaebrel faces his greatest gamble. He will turn the tables on his captors and steal the Sparrow, the fastest ship in the universe. He will face betrayal and charge headlong onto the killing fields of a war torn world, risking his immortal soul to save the life of a comrade. A desperate gamble, GAEBREL'S GAMBLE...and the winner takes all.
Storm Over Olysi
It was a simple job. Deliver a crate to the city of Iremnik. Try not to get killed in the process.
But for Gaebrel Harrn and the crew of the Sparrow, things are never that simple. For inside that crate was a sleeping princess and a Universe of trouble. Now they are caught in a convoluted plot to use dark magic and twisted technology to overthrow a kingdom, igniting a war that would leave a world in flames.
On the run, they're chased across the Olysi system by their old enemy Ulzarad the Neverborn, who desires nothing more than to consume their souls. To restore a Princess to her rightful throne - and save their own necks - Gaebrel and his companions will do battle against a mighty warlord who has never known defeat, face certain death in the arena against creatures unknown even to legend and escape the soulless clutches of the Neverborn.
Yet Gaebrel and his companions have never let the threat of utter annihilation stand in their way. With swords and gunpowder and reckless courage they will bring a storm over the worlds of Olysi...and the Suns and Spirits help those who get in their way!
The Burning Mountain
The moon of Ygul...once the seat of a mighty empire, now lost in a violent dark age. It is the last place any traveler would go, but for Gaebrel it is the one place he needs to be.
But things don't work out as planned and Gaebrel finds himself trapped on Ygul, cut off from his crew and pursued by a relentless hunter, a servant of his greatest enemy. Aided only by his sharpshooter friend Yasinnic and accompanied by a bounty hunter who lusts for the heavy price on his head, he faces mayhem and betrayal from all sides, as he comes face to face with the terrible secret at the heart of this fallen world...
Revenge of the Winter Queen
The worlds of Fhirial. This is the realm of the mysterious and powerful Valarei, who guard their secrets closely. Yet they are the only ones who can free Gaebrel from the curse that haunts him and his comrades – an ancient medallion bound to him by enchantments unbreakable, created by a lost race and the key to unimaginable power.
But freedom comes at a price. Gaebrel finds himself caught in a web of intrigue, and strikes a dangerous bargain: kidnap a Queen and he may earn his salvation and untold riches in the bargain. With his future at stake, Gaebrel and the crew of the Sparrow dive into the murky depths of the Four Courts, where nothing is ever as it seems. For the Winter Queen has plots of her own – she will have dominion over all the Four Courts, even if it destroys the lives of millions.
But nothing goes as planned in the Nine Suns. For the Neverborn are here as well, a dark race of soul-consuming abominations that have hunted Gaebrel and his friends across the universe. They have come at the behest of the Winter Queen, her dark allies in this war. And as the fires of civil war burn, they will stop at nothing to hunt down Gaebrel Harrn, to claim his soul and the prize he carries...
People of Judgement
“Save the Young King!”
War has engulfed the worlds of the Four Courts, and the one man who can stop it is now a prisoner of the mysterious anrei, who intend to sacrifice him on the bloody altars of their gods. To save the lives of millions, Gaebrel Harrn and his crew are commanded to save the Young King before his heart is torn from his body and cast into the hungry flames. Their reward: a fortune in gold and freedom from the curse that has tormented Gaebrel for years and left him a target for fell powers.
In the city of Vaxamaac, on the mysterious home world of the anrei, Gaebrel and his compatriots find allies in their quest: a merchant prince of fabulous wealth with his own agenda, an outcast boy seeking a better life, and the Dark Lady of the Forest Mists, a legendary witch who seeks nothing less than the salvation of her people. In a city riven by political intrigue, religious tension and conflict between the rich and poor, they will scheme and struggle to free the Young King before the fires of rebellion erupt around them all.
Yet they are not the only ones with plots afoot. Ulzarad, the Neverborn sorcerer, has followed Gaebrel to this world, intent on destroying his great enemy once and for all. Yet even his power is nothing compared to the ancient evil stirring in the heart of this world, awakening from a slumber of ten thousand years, intent on consuming the soul of every creature in the Nine Suns. And only Gaebrel and his crew stand in its way...
Across the Empyrean: The Collected Nine Suns: Volume One
Gaebrel is a wandering rogue, living by his wits and the edge of his blade. With a motley crew of desperate men, he voyages across the Nine Suns, bound by an ancient secret he cannot escape and chased by a dark and sinister evil that seeks nothing less than to devour all life.
Sword in one hand, pistol in the other, Gaebrel will begins his greatest adventure. He will steal the fastest ship in the universe and risk the killing fields of a war-torn world to save the life of a comrade. He will travel into mythic realms no man has ever escaped to restore a Queen to her rightful throne. And seeing the truth of the curse that holds him, he will liberate a world trapped in the dark age of a fallen empire and oppressed by the insatiable hunger of the Master of the Mountain.
Now collected in a single volume, the first three thrilling books of THE NINE SUNS. If you like sword and sorcery action and adventure set in a fantastical universe of mayhem, intrigue and heroism, then you will love this series from Zackery Arbela!
THE LEGEND OF FENN AQUILA
THE THIEF OF GALADORN
It was supposed to be an easy job. Steal a magical amulet and receive a bag of gold. For Fenn Aquila, a thief with debts to pay, it's an offer he can't refuse.
But nothing is that simple in Galadorn, where gangs battle one another for control of the back alleys while aristocrats plot furious intrigues. Where a man's life is reckoned by the coin in his purse and the blade in his hand. Fenn finds himself on the run with a price on his head, caught between a growing number of angry men who want him dead...and an enigmatic courtesan who wants him for her own mysterious reasons.
Bodies pile up in Galadorn's streets. Hunted and betrayed, Fenn must use all his wits and cunning to discover the secret of the Eyes of the Winter Horse, foil a plot to bring down the Prince of the city...and save his own skin along the way.
RED SHADOWS
Fenn Aquila embarks on his next adventure!
A hidden menace stalks the streets of Galadorn, striking in t
he night and leaving the bodies of their foes cold and hellbound. They are the Red Shadows...to their enemies a mortal threat, to the oppressed a cause for hope. But for Fenn they are an opportunity...or certain death.
What should have been a routine caper involving counterfeit coins turns into something far more complex, as Fenn finds himself the guardian of a lost girl, smuggled into the city for dark purposes. Now he finds himself hunted the vilest gang in the city, pressured by the spymaster of the Prince of the city and drawn into shadowy intrigues that stretch from the gutters of Galadorn to the highest levels of power.
To protect the girl – and save his own skin – Fenn will do battle in the back alleys and across the rooftops. He joins forces with the Red Shadows, whose enigmatic leader has his own agenda and cares not for the cost.
And in a final bloody moment, Fenn Aquila will face a decision from which there is no going back...
THE TALE OF AZARAN
WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF MEMORY
Azaran is a man without memory. Pulled from the ocean and put in chains, he remembers nothing of his past beyond his name...and the magical runes branded on his chest that make him faster and stronger then ordinary men. Desperate and confused, he is thrust into a world where the strong prey upon the weak, where vile corsairs plunder the helpless, while hidden masters plot and intrigue to drive the world towards an apocalypse of blood and fire. Joining forces with an exiled priest and a rebel leader, Azaran will lead a revolution against the brutal lord oppressing the Isle of Tereg. With a band of escaped slaves and freedom fighters at his back, he will charge into battle, headed to the edge of memory...where the darkness of his past awaits...
SHADOW OF THE GHOST BEAR
Fresh from his triumph on Tereg, Azaran travels to Eburrea, the homeland from which his friend Segovac was exiled twenty years before. A land groaning under the tyranny of a mad King and the Witch Queen who controls him, soaking the realm in bloody sacrifice and endless war. A land burdened with fear and yearning for freedom.
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