The Steel Lord: Book 01 - BannerFall

by Jason McWhirter

  Jarak, knowing it was dangerous, tasked a small amount of energy from Rath, Rylene, and Ari. They stood behind him, frightened, their auras flashing in hues of red and orange. He knew he shouldn’t have, but the three Saricons were nearly upon them and he would not be able to fight alongside Cat. He needed an edge. Besides, they were frightened, not angry; therefore their auras, though not clean, were not significantly tainted. He hoped that the small amount he needed would not cause him any lasting harm. But he also knew that the real danger in using any tainted energy was that in small amounts you did not notice it, but over time it could build up and lead to more serious physical and mental complications. Sometimes it was so subtle that the user didn’t notice the changes, seeming as if they had always been there.

  The axe man, screaming his battle cry, was just five paces away and had raised his weapon to strike. Thinking quickly Jarak spun a quick spell, weaving a short but powerful burst of energy with his free hand and shooting it forward at the last minute, concentrating it on one focal point, his face. It struck the warrior so forcefully it looked as if he had been punched by an invisible fist, his scream cut short as his neck snapped back, the power of it catapulting him backwards to the ground.

  Meanwhile one of the swordsmen was nearly upon Cat, his shield held before him and his sword back and raised for a strike. The other swordsman charged at her flank. But before he could even begin to swing his sword down, Brant’s blade had slashed him across the back, spinning him around as he screamed in pain. Quickly reversing direction Brant’s sword then flashed up and across the man’s chest, the Kul-brite steel cutting through his armor, killing him instantly.

  Cat dodged to the side, avoiding the man’s shield and using her sword to block his attack. They traded several blows; the Saricon had the advantage since he carried a shield. But his shield failed to help him as Brant’s sword darted in, stabbing him in the side as he raised his blade to strike. Cat, taking advantage, finished him off, her own sword finding his heart.

  Meanwhile, Jarak had fought off his pain enough to run forward, stabbing the dazed Saricon in the chest as he moaned on the ground, his nose broken and bleeding from the impact of his spell. He died quickly, and Jarak, swooning in pain, dropped to his knees, his silver blade still buried in the man’s body.

  It was all over very quickly.

  “Is anyone hurt?” Brant asked as he used the grass to wipe the blood from his blade.

  Everyone mumbled that they were okay as Cat ran to Jarak. “Are you alright?”

  Jarak, with Cat’s help, slowly stood. “I’m fine. Just tired and hurting.” His head throbbed from tasking the ‘frightened’ energy, but he didn’t bother to tell them.

  Cat looked down at the body of the Saricon. “Well done.”

  Jarak smiled weakly, looking over at the body of the swordsman. “You too.”

  Brant, seeing everyone was okay, turned around and gazed at the city far off in the distance, slowly releasing the tension of battle. His muscles still twitched with energy and the remnants of his aura, but after several deep breaths he was able to relax. Looking down at the city he wondered what was happening there. What horrors were being committed at the hands of the Saricons? He didn’t know what was going to happen next, but he couldn’t help thinking of Kulvar Rand. Was he alive? Was he fighting for his life? He couldn’t face the thought that he might be dead. And it angered him knowing he was not fighting beside him. But for some reason he felt that his purpose was here, with the prince and this group of refugees who no longer had a home. Besides, Kulvar would expect him to protect the prince.

  “Well done...again,” Cat said as she moved next to him. Brant looked back and saw Ari, Rylene, and Rath attending to the prince.

  “You as well.”

  They stood there for a while, gazing at the city below. It pained her to think of her people dying at the hands of the invaders while she and her new companions had managed to escape the carnage and were still alive. But she knew that her responsibility, their responsibility, was now to protect Jarak, their prince. They needed to get him to safety. What would happen next she had no idea. But if Jarak survived, House Dormath might survive. And then there would be hope.

  “I can’t believe the city has been taken,” she whispered.

  Brant said nothing. There was nothing he could say that could comfort her.

  Thinking of her father, wondering if he was even still alive, Cat’s eyes pooled with tears. She wiped them away as her expression became stolid. “We will get it back.”

  Crestfallen, her heart heavy with sorrow for her people, she turned and walked to her horse, ready to follow her prince into the unknown.

  The End

  Book two, The Banner Lord, coming in 2015!

  Join Jonas in the Cavalier Trilogy!

  Praise for the Cavalier

  “This intensely written novel of fantasy and magic, good and evil, draws you into a rich tapestry; the world that author Jason L. McWhirter has created.”

  Fantasy book review (M.G. Russell)

  “The writing is crisp and polished, and the narrative has a good level of description for a fantasy novel. Jonas is a sympathetic character who the reader immediately cares about…”

  Sift Book Review

  Looking for something fantastic to read?

  The Life of Ely is Jason L. McWhirter’s first non-fantasy book. Eighteen years in the classroom as a teacher and coach has given him a unique perspective on the trials and tribulations that some students experience as they attempt to survive their adolescence. This story, although fiction, is inspired by these experiences.

  Look for it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble!