Sea of the Dead
Page 22
Chapter 22: The Next Step
Michael slowly walked back to where the others had sat down to rest.
“What was that about?” Tristan asked.
“Nothing,” Michael responded flatly.
“Where is Kai going?” Ryan asked sadly.
“I don’t know; she’s just not coming back. Neither is Sphergol.”
Reno rubbed his neck. “We should make camp. It is late, and we are all tired.”
“Not here,” Michael said, “I want to get as far away from this cursed place as we can.”
“I agree,” Tristan added. “It would be too dangerous to stay here. Active fire hills are too unpredictable.”
Michael said nothing. He simply grabbed his provisions and walked along the beach. His companions followed at a distance.
They came across small walking path near an abandoned camp site that was likely used by bandits. They were the only people who would be foolish enough to camp by the Sea of the Dead.
The fire pit was still warm; they must have left when they saw the fire hill rise from the sea.
“I don’t expect any trouble from them,” Ryan said, “They are probably running for their lives right now.”
“What makes you so sure?” Tristan asked sceptically.
“Because this is Acosh territory, they are a superstitious nation. They believe that fire hills are a sign of anger from their god, Ignisiem. They believe anyone who witnesses an active fire hill will burn from the inside out if they don’t purge themselves at the temple.”
“How do you know so much about the people of Acosh?” Michael asked.
“Before I ran away, my parents did a lot of research into the culture of the sister nations, Acosh and Sethont. If our journey has taken us here, the road ahead will be difficult.”
“Then we will tread with care,” Reno said, “our next step may be dangerous, but good things lay waiting.”
The group walked on to the main road and followed it north. They reached the peak of a high hill and looked out over the horizon.
Dawn’s early light shone from the east, lighting a vast flat land beyond. The plants diminished gradually as the earth sloped down, until it was completely barren. Tiny cities speckled the border of a black sheet of fog dotted with mounds of white sand.
“What is that?” Tristian asked, pointing to the black plain.
“That, Tristan,” Michael said, “is the next step.”
END
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my book, Sea of the Dead. I appreciate the support on my first published original work. If you enjoyed it, please take a moment and write a review or suggest it to a friend.
Watch for the next title in The Slave Prince series, The Black Sky, and like my page on Facebook for regular updates on my writing progress!
Thanks!
Matt
Acknowledgements
I want to send out a huge thank you to all of you who helped me along the way in creating this story.
To my sister, Kathy; you inspired me to write fan-fiction in my middle school years. You have been a great blessing in my life, and a true friend.
To my parents; you always supported me growing up, even if I didn’t see it. I want to thank you for helping me with the crazy paperwork of getting this out to market.
To the authors whose stories fueled my imagination as a young person; you always had a way of drawing me in with your words, and I wanted so desperately to be a part of that writer’s world.
To my editor, Rob; Your sharp eye and precise skill at pinpointing errors truly helped this work to shine.
And last but not least, God; you play a huge part in my life, and in turn, this story. Thank you for inspiring the spiritual themes woven between the lines of many of my novel ideas.
Authors Bio
MATTHEW HOLMES has won multiple acting awards in provincial theater competitions. A life-long reader of fantasy novels, when a child he and his friends often acted out full fantasy stories, as they imagined climbing high mountains and slaying mysterious monsters with swords and magic. These days, Holmes works at a candy factory making peppermints. He lives in a rural area of New Brunswick, Canada. This is his first novel.