The Trahiad

by Randall Seeley

  The Trahiad

  Randall Seeley

  Copyright © 2020 by Randall Seeley

  www.randallseeley.com

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  I greatly appreciate you taking the time to read this book. Please feel free to leave a review wherever you bought the book, or tell your friends about it to help me spread the word!

  Thank you for supporting my work!

  To Mom,

  Who is the toughest and most courageous person I have ever met. She taught me that no matter what circumstance I find myself in that it’s my choice to determine whether to give up, or to work as hard as I need to until I succeed. She always chooses to succeed.

  Contents

  Introduction

  Prologue

  1. A Riddle

  2. A Search In The Sewers

  3. The Trahiad

  4. The Alderidon Library

  5. The Trahiad Collectors

  6. Paigon Square

  7. The Value Of A Ring

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Cataclysm

  Also by Randall Seeley

  About the Author

  Introduction

  Many of you who have started reading the Drahiad Chronicles Prologues have asked me if there is a specific reading order, and what these books are really all about. A prologue series? Before the main series has actually come out? Seems odd.

  I figured it’s about time to explain what the purpose of the prologues are, explain the best reading order, and thank you for starting on this journey with me!

  First - what is the purpose of the prologues? Sure, they are designed to provide the backstory of the main characters—and that is the primary purpose. But it’s also much more. While many of these books may seem like they aren’t connected, they eventually will be, and that’s the entire purpose of the prologues: to share the experiences that the main characters have that eventually bring them all together. The first book, Dragonlyst, introduces you to Jefrie and Arthur and the magic in the series: dralchoms. The second book, Alderidon Wolves, introduces you to Wayd and Owen, and you get to continue to see how Templars and Seekers interact. Order of the Dragon introduces you to Alaina and Thompson and brings back a character already introduced. It also shows you what it takes to enter the Order of the Dragon—the Trials of the Dragon. Siege of Draestl picks up after Alderidon Wolves and is another story about Wayd and Owen. The Trahiad introduces the last two main characters, Elisa and Wyatt Ander. Cataclysm is the final book in the series where it all comes together. If you wonder why many of these books end on “cliff hangers” this is exactly why. Because they are the stories of how these characters come together.

  Second - what’s the best reading order? They are written chronologically for the most part. The one exception is that The Trahiad happens just after Dragonlyst and Alderidon Wolves. It’s where it is in the order though because it ends after Siege of Draestl. Because of this, I recommend reading them in the order that they were published. However, as you’ll notice above, there are several books that feature Wayd and Owen. Those stories can be read alone, but they are a continuous story that builds upon the events that happened in the preceding book. I always take time to bring the reader up to speed if they have read them out of order so if you’ve done that, that’s ok! However, if you want to limit spoilers, then I recommend reading them in the order they were published.

  Lastly - thank you for taking the time to read The Drahiad Chronicles Prologues! I’ve absolutely loved writing them. I hope you enjoy this latest book and can’t wait to hear what you think! Readers are what makes writing a pleasure, so thank you again for your interest in my work!

  Best,

  Randall

  The Trahiad

  Prologue

  Raid in the Night

  We always knew our control of dralchoms would end. That eventually people outside of our trusted circle would come to appreciate the value and power of dralchoms. We created the Order of the Dragon to enforce these precious elixirs, but it only took a few years before our control slipped away. Others realized the quickest way to dralchoms wasn’t by creating them… but by stealing them. Thieves. I never imagined the sheer number of thieves that would try to get their hands on dralchoms. But I understand why. We build our entire economy around dralchoms…

  Darthyn Scot raised his fist in the air to command his group to stop. He thought he heard something coming around the corner ahead, and until his eyes adjusted to the dark, he refused to take another step. I’m not Damon, he thought. I can’t run around in the dark as if it’s as light as day!

  He wished his lantern would dim more, as the faint glow seemed to fill the entire sewer with light. It’s only my light, he reminded himself, as he clenched the lantern in his fist. To all others, it would seem like nothing more than a flicker. That knowledge did nothing for his anxiousness. I always get anxious on nights like these.

  He strained his ears, listening for anything hidden in the darkness, but as silence returned, he motioned to the others to move on, clutching his sword tighter with his other hand. Damon’s ahead. If something’s out of place, he’ll warn us.

  “What do you see, High Judge?” an anxious voice asked at his side, much louder than necessary.

  He turned to scowl at his companion, but his demeanor softened when he processed the voice and saw bushy brown hair, oval glasses, and an eager look on the face of his young squire, Sim Kroan. He’d had a squire for the past year since his own son, Waydsyn Scot, had headed north, a lieutenant with the Alderidon Wolves. Darthyn thought of his son for a moment and shook his head. I hope Jacon can teach that boy a thing or two.

  “Sorry, my lord, did I do something wrong?” Sim asked.

  Darthyn raised a confused eyebrow, but then realized Sim thought Darthyn’s reaction was directed at him. “Nothing wrong, Sim, just make sure you whisper,” Darthyn answered. He regarded his squire and smiled fondly. Sim was in stark contrast to Wayd, and in stark contrast to himself. Whereas Wayd was over six feet tall, had dark hair, a strong chin, brilliant blue eyes, and considered very good looking, Sim was small—barely standing over five and a half feet—had bushy brown hair, and had mysterious inquisitive eyes that looked in every direction at once. In some ways Sim reminded Darthyn of his son, and in others, he was as unique as they could come.

  “Yes, my lord,” Sim responded, the faint light catching his shifting eyes. It was dizzying trying to figure out where Sim Kroan was looking.

  Darthyn noticed the way Sim was holding his dagger tight in both hands—like it was a massive two-handed broadsword—and stifled a laugh. “Remember, Sim, the chances of us running into thieves tonight is small, we’re only investigating a few rumors.” Though I hope we discover the Trahiad.

  “Ah, my Lord,” another voice sounded from the shadows. “But remember, a rumor confirming another rumor infers truth!”

  Darthyn looked at the magistrate of Alderidon, Benn Mavin. Benn was a man of modest height and from outward appearances looked to be a skinny and frail person. But he moved like a fox and was just as clever. Darthyn trusted Benn in their many years of service together and would listen to his advice as closely as he would his own brother, the King of Ardonor. In this moment, Darthyn knew Benn was trying to get a reaction from Sim.

  As if on cue, Sim’s eyes opened wide, and he clutched his dagger even tighter. “So you mean there is a caravan full of draestl down here?”

  “That’s why we are down here, isn’t it?” Benn declared.

  Sim too
k a deep breath and visibly trembled.

  Maybe it wasn’t such a splendid idea bringing Sim along. If Elizabeth hadn’t recommended it… He trailed off on completing that thought. Every time he didn’t listen to his wife, things ended poorly.

  “You’ll be fine, Sim,” Darthyn reassured as he gave Sim a soft punch on the shoulder. He meant it as a nudge of encouragement, but the touch startled Sim so much he let out a frightened scream.

  This time, the entire group of fifteen men provided a vicious shush! Even in the faint light, Darthyn could see the squire’s face turn bright red. Elizabeth or not, this was an awful idea!

  “Let’s keep moving,” Mavin declared, thrusting his own lantern ahead of him, which cast shadows along the sewer passage ahead. “Templar Slith should be just ahead, and if he hasn’t told us to stop, we need to keep moving.”

  Darthyn smiled as he thought of Damon Slith lurking in the shadows ahead. Some regarded the Templar as an angry individual because of the constant furl of his eyebrows, but Darthyn knew him on a personal level and loved him like a son.

  The Slith brothers had moved through the Order of the Dragon nearly as fast as High Templar Krasilyn Toth and had also been offered the position of High Templar, but they had both chosen to serve the King’s family instead. Damon Slith served as Darthyn’s personal guard, and his brother Dothan Slith became the personal guard of the King of Ardonor, Maydyn Scot, Darthyn’s older brother. Thinking about them now, Darthyn wouldn’t have it any other way.

  He gazed ahead and watched as the darkness swallowed the light from his lantern a few feet ahead of them. But there was enough light to guide them and to give them an idea of what they were walking in. They were in a large sewer system that ran under the entire city of Alderidon. They were under the Merchants district—the most populated quarter of Alderidon—which made this section of sewer the dirtiest.

  Grime covered every inch of the walls and floors of the circular hallways they walked through. They were on a narrow walkway to the side of the center pass. The walkway was slippery and because of the grime, each of them moved carefully to maintain their balance. They didn’t want to slip into the wall and they especially didn’t want to slip into the greenish brown waters that had what looked like raw sewage floating in it. It’s so nasty down here. Then he had a thought made him smile. I wish Wayd was down here. No. Owen. It would appal Owen!

  “Are you sure something is down here?” Sim asked nervously. “Other than muck?”

  Darthyn regarded the boy and held a finger to his lips. “Whisper, lad,” he repeated softly, shaking his head in slight disapproval. Sim immediately looked at his feet, and Darthyn reached out a comforting hand. “I invited you on this because I trust you, lad, and you’ve proven yourself an adept squire. But right now we need to be quiet! Remember your place and you’ll fine!”

  Sim beamed until Mavin coughed into his hand. “Just lessen that grip on your knife, boy, or your knuckles will pop out of your skin!”

  Darthyn couldn’t help but laugh, but he still glared at the magistrate.

  “Sim asked a good question, Mavin. Are you sure it’s down here?” Darthyn asked.

  Mavin nodded. “My informants claimed the deal was happening in a shop in the Merchants district off of Stith.”

  “There are lots of buildings off of Stith,” Darthyn mumbled.

  “It’s the most trafficked street in Alderidon!” Sim added proudly.

  “Just loosen the grip on that dagger of yours, boy,” Mavin said with another grunt. “I know it’s a busy street. Dragon’s blood, of course I know it’s a bloody busy street! I’ve had to deal with riff raff—”

  “Here we go,” Darthyn whispered to Sim, which got the boy to laugh a little. The squire reached one hand up to cover his mouth and hide that he was laughing at Magistrate Mavin—no one laughed at Mavin. “After all,” Darthyn continued. “He’s Magistrate Mavin. He alone has done more than anyone else in Alderidon!”

  This time Sim couldn’t stop himself and burst out laughing.

  “Laugh all you want,” Mavin said with a final grunt. “It’s up ahead a little further. Mark my words that Damon will return in a moment.” And with that he turned and continued down the narrow path.

  Darthyn knew his friend was right. If anyone knew where a deal was going down, it was Benn Mavin. Coupled with the help of Damon Slith, he knew they would find something tonight.

  He watched his friend disappear around a corner ahead and smiled at the confident way Benn navigated through the tunnels—one hand holding a dim lantern, the other was empty, his sword in its sheath at his side. Benn had been through a lot as a boy. He was one of the few that had escaped growing up in the Slums, and that history gave him an edge few could match. Like now. Only Benn Mavin would have the gall to head into the sewers to ambush thieves with his sword in its scabbard.

  As if the thought of him summoned the magistrate, Mavin appeared back around the corner, with his sword drawn. Damon was at his side, his Templar cloak—dark as the sewers themselves—covering his head, a draestl sword in hand.

  “It’s just around the corner, Darthyn,” Damon whispered as he regarded the group. He was never one to panic, always calm and aware of his surroundings. The training of a Templar will do that, I suppose. “There are signs of activity. I would have kept exploring except I heard a scream so I circled back.”

  Sim shifted awkwardly as the entire company glared at him. When Damon saw the gaze was on the boy, Darthyn could tell the Templar was smiling. Damon always has patience for foolish or troubled youth—especially Wayd.

  “I can circle back ahead?” Damon suggested.

  “Stay with us. If we’re this close, we’ll want your sword nearby,” Darthyn said. Then he nodded to Mavin.

  “Men, form up. High Judge,” Mavin said as he glared toward Darthyn and Sim, “keep that boy out of the way.”

  Darthyn could feel Sim flinch, so he reached out and rested a hand on his squire’s shoulder. Feels like I’m doing that a lot. Though Senator Kroan will appreciate my protection. Sim tensed as Darthyn patted his shoulder. “It’s all right, Sim. Just stay close. Sounds like we may have an adventure!”

  Darthyn followed Mavin and Damon around the corner. The tunnel they entered looked like the others—a straight passageway that disappeared into darkness beyond, with a series of side passages breaking off every dozen feet to match the grid system above. A sound of trickling water and an odor of raw sewage greeted them. Lovely.

  Damon led, seeming to glide amongst the muck, with Mavin right on his heels. They reached a side passage and Damon stopped for a moment, whispering something in Mavin’s ear. The Templar shared a quick glance back at Darthyn, and Darthyn nodded as Damon disappeared into the sewer beyond. He’ll want to stay in the shadows.

  Left back in charge, Mavin turned toward the group. “The Templar said it’s another block ahead—directly ahead—lights out, and follow my lead,” he whispered. He doused his lantern a moment later, and he set it on the ground beside him.

  Darthyn felt his stomach flutter in anxiousness—I feel like I’m the boy!—as he also set down his lantern. The entire passageway cast into darkness.

  Mavin waited until their eyes adjusted—as much as they could adjust in this darkness—before continuing on. Every man in his small party now held their swords in front of them and proceeded in a slow, practiced, march. I hope we brought enough men, Darthyn thought. He tried to stay positive, but the darkness and foul odor put him on edge. Maybe I should have had Sim stay home.

  A moment later light illuminated the main tunnel from a side passageway and they could hear voices up ahead. The voices were talking loudly.

  “The thieves are up here,” Mavin whispered sharply. “Be ready and follow my lead.”

  “But they aren’t being quiet? Maybe it’s—”

  “Silence, Sim!” Mavin said sharply, and then the magistrate turned a glare toward Darthyn.

  I know. Darthyn could tell in the very faint
light that Sim was looking directly at him, but he couldn’t reach out to console him this time. The boy needs to learn.

  Mavin let out a soft whistle, and then they charged.

  As Darthyn entered the illuminated passage, the bright light hit him so forcefully that he had to stop for a moment to regain his senses. He realized he wasn’t the only one to pause as most of the group stopped and raised their hands above their heads to shield their eyes from the bright light. All except Mavin.

  Mavin moved forward like a snake. He reached the first thief—who was setting down a large barrel being lowered by a pulley system from above. The thief reached his hands up defensively, but Mavin charged forward, brought his sword up, and struck before the thief grabbed his weapon. Mavin turned his sword to its side and hit the man in the head with the flat side of its blade. The man crumpled over in a heap.

  By this time, all the other thieves tossed barrels to the ground and grabbed cudgels, axes, and swords.

  Well armed, Darthyn observed with a smile. It had been some time since he had been in a duel—being the High Judge prevented skirmishes of nearly any type other than when he sparred with his brother—but he was a sword master and he felt excitement course through his bones.

  He dashed forward, bringing his sword up to face his first opponent. The man was a short, stout man with a heavy beard, and even from this distance Darthyn could smell an overwhelming scent of body odor and ale. From the way he held his broadsword and the rickety step the man took, Darthyn cursed at his luck. A drunken brute? If Maydyn was here, I’d never hear the end of this…