Diamond Bonds
Page 37
Jem glances at Fire, and they simultaneously burst out laughing. “You? On your own?” Jem scoffs.
“Seriously, you’d get lost trying to figure out which way is north,” Fire adds.
“Hey, I’m the one they’re after! And I can manage just fine-”
“Save it, Era,” Jem says. “I’m coming along, whether you like it or not. We’re partners, after all.”
“And at this point, you owe me,” Fire claims. “So I’m coming, too.”
Era gratefully relents. He stretches his lone arm and looks skyward, cupping his hand to shield his eyes from the sun. “The Academy, huh?”
Jem reaches into her bag and withdraws the article of clothing she lifted for him. “Here,” she offers. “Can’t let your opponents know you’re gimped.”
Era takes the black material and lets it unfold, revealing a cloak that extends to his knees. The neck is already fastened by a familiar emerald necklace. “Jem, isn’t this your-”
“It was getting in the way,” she says, waving it off. “It’ll look good on you.”
He slips the cloak on and rotates it, allowing the garment to cover his left side and conceal his handicap. “What do you think? Does this make me the Dark Cloak?”
“Someone should have that nickname,” Jem replies. “Just don’t start spouting terrible advice.”
Era looks himself over. The emerald necklace, though a subtle addition, sparkles as the sunlight catches it. “Thanks, Jem. This is great.”
“Now stop getting your clothes all torn up. I can’t keep stealing you new ones,” she scolds.
Era’s mind wanders again to the young girl and their fateful meeting that started it all. “Once we’ve found our answers, there’s still Di. We need to save her.”
“We will,” Jem promises.
Fire raises an eyebrow. “You do realize she cut off your arm, right? You still want to rescue her?”
Era sheepishly asks, “Is that weird?”
“Not for you.”
“We’d better get moving,” Jem says as she motions along. “We need to stay a step ahead of the military again. At least this time they won’t know where we’re going.”
“Doesn’t mean it will be easy,” Era reasons as he marches alongside his partner. “But, like my made-up father used to say, ‘An easy steal is a steal not worth stealing.’”
“What does that even mean?” Jem asks, flinging her arms out.
“It means that maybe this whole thing will be worth it!”
“Worth it in what way? Financially?”
“Ugh, can you two not shut up for two minutes?” Fire gripes.
“Aaaaaaand there it is,” Era says. “Fire already regrets coming.”
“That’s fine. Gotta keep her on her toes, or it won’t even be a challenge,” Jem says. “Hmmm… maybe that’s what your fake father meant?”
“I don’t know what he ever meant,” Era admits. “With him gone, I guess I’m left to figure things out on my own.”
“Not on your own, Era,” Jem says, patting his shoulder. “You’re never on your own.”
“Yeah,” he says, a smile forming. “I’m glad for that.”
Epilogue
The dark hallway is covered with ancient symbols, each one’s representation lost to time. Ares marches down the tunnel, undaunted, accustomed to the dank atmosphere of the cavern. He rounds the corner and enters the foyer of the underground facility.
“Guess I’m late,” he says to the Allerian woman impatiently waiting for him. “Sorry, sis!”
“You’re always late, Ares,” the black-haired woman bemoans, glaring at him with deep, black eyes. She stands the same height as him, and her hair is tied into two long ponytails, each extending to her lower back.
“Don’t be such a nag, Athena,” he says. “Besides, I have a good excuse. Just wait until I make my report.”
“Whatever you say, dear,” she says snidely as she knocks on the steel double-doors before them. They each step back in anticipation.
The doors open, revealing an elderly man wearing a leather coat that buttons down the front. His gray hair is unkempt, and he isn’t pleased. They kneel as he gruffly states, “You’re late. Report.”
Athena starts. “I just delivered a second runic to the Allerians. She’ll soon be bound.”
Ares’ mouth drops at the report, and he scrambles to present himself positively. “I’ve had contact with three. One is bound, and, if you can believe it, the other two are traveling together! I naturally have leads on the others as well.”
The old man grunts his disapproval. “How long have we awaited their awakening, and I’m to find satisfaction with three bound runics? Leads are nothing. Bind the rest.”
“Yes, sir!” they affirm. Without another word, he slams the doors shut.
The siblings turn to march out through the tunnel, and Athena smirks at Ares’ report. “Only one? That was your big announcement?”
“Shut up, Athena,” Ares snaps. “I’ll have mine all bound before you.” His usual smile returning, he adds, “And that’s when the real fun begins.”
APPENDIX 1:
MAP OF VALVOREN
APPENDIX 2:
MAP OF THE HILL COUNTRY
APPENDIX 3:
Elemental Dodecagram
About the author:
Jeff has been a storyteller all his life, dating back to the fourth grade when he wrote two choose-your-own adventure books. He regularly consumes fantasy stories in their many forms, with a particular love for anime and video games.
Outside of writing, Jeff tries his best as a Christ-follower, husband, and father. When not crafting a new chapter, Jeff is usually studying for a Cisco exam, enjoying Notre Dame Football, or playing Smash Bros.
Acknowledgements:
I owe many thanks to the creation of my first book. As it turns out, writing a novel is much harder than throwing out nearly 200,000 words and expecting it to be a masterpiece. Who knew?
First and foremost, thanks to Emily for fostering my desire to give this a shot. You were my encouragement as I delivered a few chapters at a time for review. A single unfavorable word would have ended all this before it started, yet I heard nothing but the love and respect you always show me.
Second, my thanks and appreciation go out to Tim. You were my first true reader and most enthusiastic believer that my early blathering could be refined into such a story. You worked tirelessly with me on character consistency and trimming the fat, and in doing so you saved me thousands in editing fees! You did not spare the rod in your efforts to beat both me and my writing into tolerable shape. This book would have been insufferable if not for you.
Special thanks to Madelyn for your enthusiasm in getting this book into the hands of others, and to Jeff for being an early guidance on proper grammar and book construction. Thanks to Trevor, Billy, and all my beta readers, the list of which is particularly long and even includes Grace, my 93-year-old grandmother. I believe in this story and these characters because of all of you and your feedback.
A letter to you
Dear Reader,
Thank you for taking a chance and reading a fantasy book written by an engineer who gives more regard to sentence structure than poetic elegance. The next book in the Runics Series, Sapphire Ambition, will soon be available, so please keep an eye out of it! An excerpt has been included below.
Stay in touch by visiting runicsbook.com to join my mailing list, get updates on coming books, and interact with fellow readers. Please also follow me on Twitter @KishSquared.
Have something to say? You can email me directly at runicsbook@gmail.com. I love hearing from readers and I’ll always do my best to reply.
All the best,
Jeff
An excerpt from Book 2:
Sapphire Ambition
The fugitives charge through the brush and dash into the safety of the woods. Era eventually succumbs to the throbbing in his legs, and he stops to catch his breath. “Fire… I don�
�t think they’re… following us! I need a break…”
The assassin slows her hostage before turning back to her ally. “Really, Era? Aren’t you literally built better than that? Even this unfit Academy buffoon is in better shape than you are!”
“The knife in my back was proper motivation,” Ospif mumbles as he drops his large bag. He barely releases it before Fire shoves him aside and flips it open. “H-Hey! How rude!” he barks as he sits on the ground with a huff.
“Shut up,” she growls while scouring the contents for a second time.
“I’ve never seen a musven before,” Era says in amazement. “And now we have five hundred of them! Are they made from real gold!?”
“Partially,” Fire says as she closes the bag. “Where’s the ice queen? We need to keep moving.”
Ospif stands and brushes himself off. “If you villains have had your fill, I’ll be returning to the Academy now. And I’d request you return that rune.”
Era fumbles in his pocket for the rune blade. “You want it back? I’m not sure… it’s a pretty great find on my part.”
“A find!? That rune is the product of years of research and dedication! You’ll give it back or… or…”
“…or what?” Era asks, genuinely curious.
“It doesn’t matter,” Fire states matter-of-factly, “because this oaf’s journey with us is far from over. He’s still our hostage moving forward.”
“B-Beg your pardon?” Ospif cries. “I carried your ludicrously heavy bag of coins, at knife-point no less! Just what else do you have in mind?”
“First, you’re going to show me your royal seal,” Fire answers. “Prove you’re royalty like that fat lout claimed.”
“How insolent! The seal is a sacred image of-”
His captor cuts him off by drawing her dagger. “Show it to me or I’ll find it myself.”
Ospif grunts his disapproval as he lifts his pant leg. On his calf is a stretched tattoo of the royal family’s crest.
“He’s a Haran alright,” Era says, impressed.
“That or a counterfeiter,” Fire says. “Either way, he should be worth some good coin.”
“Good coin!?” he exclaims. “You have good coin in that very bag. Why do you need me in addition?”
“You’re our insurance policy,” she answers. “Just in case this isn’t enough.”
“Enough for what, pray tell?” he demands. “You have five hundred thousand venni in your possession!”
“We have how much?” Jem exclaims as she emerges from the brush.
“An Allerian!” Ospif cries while stumbling backward. “You’re conspiring with the Allerians!? I should have known!”
Era snickers and turns to his friend. “Hi, Jem! So… that went well-ish.”
“Yes, I witnessed your grand escape,” she chides. “I can only assume the Academy catching fire was your doing?”
The adventure continues Spring, 2017!