Until All Bonds Are Broken

by Tim Frankovich

  Makaan - Former Blademaster of Ch’olan. Mentor to Kuch and Kishin.

  Malena - A woman from Rasna who serves Forerunner.

  Mandiata - One of the six lands of Antises, bordered by Ch’olan and Arazu. Known for exotic wildlife, elaborate architecture, and high respect for the dead.

  Marshal - Son of Aelia and Varion (rape). Grandson of Evander. Half-brother of Volraag. Inheritor of the powers of both a Lord (Varion) and King.

  Meluhha - Current Lord of Kuktarma. Father of seven sons, whose escapades have been documented (and exaggerated) in dozens of stories that his people delight in repeating.

  Merish - A conscript of Varioch. Stole a sword and received some form of mental damage as a curse. Rarely if ever speaks. Assigned to the curse squad.

  Mukuy - A man of Woqan. Kishin’s first murder.

  Nehesy - Son of Aharu. Second High Master Mage of Antises.

  Nian - A priest of Mandiata. Decided to go on pilgrimage to all six lands of Antises. Never made it to Rasna.

  Nummotem - The name of an ancient god of Mandiata.

  Otioch - Leader of Varioch’s Remavian Guard. Confidant of Volraag.

  Otherworld - A parallel world separated from the primary world. Similar in shape/geography, but lacking most water and vegetation. No sun or moon, but lit constantly by enormous stars of varying colors, leading to its other name, the Starlit Realm.

  Passing - An annual event on Zes Sivas, where the King and Lords of all six lands are instructed to surrender their magic power for one hour. The power returns to the land temporarily and seems to keep it from breaking apart.

  Plecu - Current Master Mage of Rasna. Part of the Conclave of Mages on Zes Sivas.

  Raeton - Capital city of Rasna. Known for spectacular pillars.

  Rajwir - Current Lord of Ch’olan. Husband to Ajaw.

  Ranir Stone - A stone given by Aelia to Victor. Aelia used it for sending a message to the Eldanim. The magic involved is unknown. Appears as an ordinary rock.

  Rasna - One of the six lands of Antises, bordered by Varioch on the north, and the sea on the south. Known for the pillars of Raeton and little else.

  Rathri - An assassin employed by Volraag. Appears to possess a leprosy-style curse similar to Kishin.

  Regulus - One of the three Consuls who control the economic power of Varioch.

  Reman - Capital city of Varioch.

  Remavian Guard - Elite warriors of Varioch, recognized by their red capes. In service to the Lord and his household.

  Rufus - A conscript of Varioch. Once stole food from his neighbor and received the curse of a twisted foot, causing him to limp. Assigned to the curse squad.

  Sakouna - The first Lord of Mandiata, from the time of the founding of Antises. Apparently, he had a monkey.

  Sandu-Emuq - Capital city of Arazu.

  Sekou - A Master Mage who wrote extensively about wild magic.

  Seri-Belit - Mage of Arazu. Prefers just Seri. Possesses the unusual ability to “see” magic due to a “star” in her eye.

  Simmar - Former Master Mage of Kuktarma. Murdered by Curasir.

  Sipak - A legendary beast of the sea, described in stories of Ch’olan.

  Siratel - An elderly woman of the Eldanim. Appears to have the ability to foresee a person’s future to some extent.

  Starlit Realm - see Otherworld

  Sundinka - Former Lord of Mandiata. After his power was stolen by Volraag, he was murdered by Rathri.

  Talinir - A warden of the Eldanim.

  Tenjkidi - Capital city of Mandiata.

  Tezan - A wild mage who, under the control of Lord Tyrr, attempted to convince everyone he was the lost King of Antises. Fell under the control of Volraag, who used him to steal power from Lord Sundinka.

  Theon - The god worshipped (or at least acknowledged) by the majority of Antises.

  Thrummers - Insects about one centimeter in length. Bites like a mosquito, but less painful. Mostly harmless. Especially attracted to those with magic, as it absorbs tiny amounts of magic when it bites. The insect’s abdomen glows in response with an intensity and color based on the magic’s potency.

  Titus - A young man of Drusa’s Crossing.

  Topleb - A conscript in the army of Varioch, originally from Ch’olan. Assigned to the curse squad.

  Trebia River - A river that flows on south along the western edge of Varioch, next to the Great Plains.

  Tunaldi - A ferocious beast of the Otherworld, comparable in size from a hippopotamus to an elephant. Carnivorous. Attracted to magic.

  Tungrorum - A small village near the border between Varioch and Ch’olan.

  Tyrr - Current Lord of Rasna.

  Tzitzimitl - see Eidolon

  Tzoyet - Current Master Mage of Ch’olan. Part of the Conclave of Mages on Zes Sivas.

  Varioch - One of the six lands of Antises. Bordered on the north by Ch’olan and the south by Rasna. Known for aggressive leadership.

  Varion - Former Lord of Varioch. Father of Marshal (by rape) and Volraag. Murdered by Rathri.

  Victor - A young man from Drusa’s Crossing. Bound to Marshal since they were boys.

  Volraag - Current Lord of Varioch. Son of Varion. Half-brother of Marshal. Stole power from Lord Sundinka of Mandiata.

  Wolf - A conscript in the Varioch army. Speaks very little. Seems confused and withdrawn most of the time. Assigned to the curse squad.

  Woqan - Capital city of Ch’olan.

  Zes Sivas - An island in the center of Lake Litanu. Center of magic and authority for Antises. Most of the island is covered by the Citadel of Kings and the Citadel of Mages, two interwoven fortresses.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  PUBLISHING A SECOND book is much different than publishing a first book. You have expectations! I hope I’ve been able to meet them.

  My thanks to David Farland and the Apex Writers Group for education, enlightenment and encouragement. Continued thanks to my beta readers Stephen Tallman, Allen Perkins, and NJ Kharme.

  And a special thank you to everyone who read the first book and demanded to know what happened next! (And now you’ll be bugging me with the same question again.)

  This series, Heart of Fire, will have four books. That’s the current plan, anyway. The next two are on their way. At the same time, I have other books I’m working on that may come out between these titles.

  If you want to keep track of my progress, you can connect on timfrankovich.com, my Facebook author page, Twitter, etc. But the best way, which keeps you informed and gives you exclusive previews, is to join the mailing list. Sign up on the website. (You’ll get a free story too!)

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Tim Frankovich has been exploring fantastic worlds since third grade, when he cut up a grocery sack and drew a Godzilla-meets-superheroes story. Since then, he’s gotten a little bit better at the writing part (not so much with the drawing).

  His goal as a writer is to transport readers to another world, make them care deeply about characters in dire situations, and guide them deeply into life itself.

  At the moment, he is probably suitably conscious somewhere in Texas with his beloved wife, awesome four kids, and a fool of a pup named Pippin.

  Copyright © 2020 Tim Frankovich

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13:

  Published by Warpsteel Press, 2020

  League City, Texas

  No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser. Under no circumstances may any part of this book be photocopied f
or resale.

  This is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

  Cover Design by Rofiatul Adawiyah

  Map Design by Alexandra Lindgren