by Shelley Cass
An Army for the World.
On golden hooves the Unicorns raced to every part of the Awyalknian and Jenran lands of men. On swift wings the Larnaeradee flew over the seas to the islands of the Giants, the Dragons, Gnomes and Dwarves. Together, the Larnaeradee and Unicorns united the earth’s free races.
Under the call of the Larnaeradee, the magical beings crossed the seas to join with mortals and Forest dwellers in the mortal lands. The Army for the World travelled through every village, bringing hope and wonder.
But when they met Deimos’ forces in the wastelands of Krall, the battle was too close. With a ferocity that shook the earth, the two forces collided and the battle was like no other in any Realm.
The fighting raged and the world was dark, shrouded in storm as if even the earth itself hovered on the outcome of the war. Such power and magic surged back and forth between the forces that even the air seemed to sizzle.
Yet at the peak of battle, when Deimos’ armies seemed undefeatable and the united races were giving up hope, a brave young Larnaeradee named Sylranaeryn flew high above the fighting into the stormy air, and became a clear target. She cast a spell so potent, so powerful, that hundreds of Griffins fell from the sky. The Ogres that had been ploughing easily through the Army for the World’s lines also writhed in fear and were defeated, and corrupted men fell screaming to the ground to awaken from Deimos’ power as if from a dream.
Her magic was pure enough to weaken their foes, but Sylranaeryn’s energy was also spent, and she was no longer able to shield herself in the air.
One Evexus – a creature made from Other Realm spirits, called upon its poisoned magic, and with it, poisoned the tip of a mortal’s arrow. With a mighty howl, the beast fired upon the Larnaeradee Sylranaeryn, and she was fatally pierced in the chest.
Kinrilowyn, the Unicorn of Sylranaeryn, reared in fury with a wildness so great that the enemies about him were smote down by the power of his golden horn. He charged through the remaining dark masses, and they scattered in fear before his thundering hooves. He charged to where he could feel the worst of all evil, and he was sure that that place was where the rotten King Deimos stood.
A storm raged in his eyes and his horn glowed with the radiating power of rage. The Evexus who had sheltered the Sorcerer even shrieked and fell back as Kinrilowyn stormed past, unable to sustain their shadow in the presence of his light.
In his grief the Unicorn unleashed all of his magic and he plunged toward Deimos, bearing down with a lowered, fiery horn that pierced the heart of his foe – impaling the evil King.
With Kinrilowyn’s entire life force spent in that action, Deimos was ended, and with him, all of the evil he had created died too.
The storm that had splintered the skies lost its ferocity, becoming a downpour of rain that cleansed the earth of blood and scars. The sizzling air became calm, and the clouds evaporated like mist.
With such sacrifices, the land and its peoples were saved, and the earth began to heal. As peace returned, there came a time when the united beings in the Army for the World parted, yearning for long missed homes.
But, before parting, every pure race of the land swore an oath that, should ever evil fester in the world once more, every race would once again unite and triumph. The Larnaeradee and the Unicorns were selected to be the ‘Summoners’ of each race; if ever the need for the Army for the World arose again.
So, in friendship, the races of the world parted.
The Giants, Gnomes and Dwarves crossed the oceans to their different island homes. The Dragons returned to their cliffy lofts. The Forest Dwellers disappeared once more, deep into their Great Forest. The men of the mortal races marched with pride back to their villages and were honoured among their kind. And the Larnaeradee and the Unicorns roamed together for many years of peace.
Other books available in this series:
Book Two – ‘The Raiden’
Book Three – ‘The Army for the World’
For more information on novels written by Shelley Cass visit:
http://shelleycass.com
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you so much to the friends who have encouraged me with my writing of this series, a process that has taken over fourteen years.
Thank you to those who put such time into helping me, by reading this novel and offering advice, even when the manuscript was triple the length it is now. Wendy Glover (the most helpful neighbour to have ever lived), June Laurie (the first author I ever befriended, and creator of the ‘Blake Collider’ series), and my mum.
Thank you so much mum (Linda), dad (Robert), Melissa, Andrew and Leigh, for being the warmth in my world.
Thank you Jack and Elyssia, for making the future world worthwhile.
Thank you to my extended family, for being everything I needed.
Thank you to Jarryd, for being the magic and love of my life.
And thank you to the hesitant little Junior High School version of myself, for picking up that pen to write.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I was an awkward, reserved year 8 student – totally in love with the escape and comfort offered by novels I read. I could hear the voices of the authors’ characters, I could tune out my stresses and uncertainties as I journeyed with each protagonist through their own troubles. And then one day I could hear the voices of characters who hadn’t been written yet, in places that hadn’t been created, and I decided to write my own world.
It took a quest of over fourteen years to get that world perfected in three novels – because of course the real world kept getting in the way.
In the real world I became a high school teacher, and took up the epic battle of staying afloat in all the papers that must be assessed. And in the real world the magic was also sometimes became hard to find. Stress and disunity surface like cancer – making the nightly news too hard to watch on most days.
But in the real world there was also inspiration – incredible students, loved ones, golden memories, growing up, warm hugs, big laughs and good people.
So I wrote of the things that threaten the world, and of the things that save it. I wish for a real world where the air is clean, the trees can grow without concrete borders, the darkness can be cured with the switch of a light, and the people can all have long days and happy lives.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Title Page
Map
Locations and pronunciation guide
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty Two
Chapter Thirty Three
Chapter Thirty Four
Chapter Thirty Five
Chapter Thirty Six
Chapter Thirty Seven
Chapter Thirty Eight
Chapter Thirty Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty One
Chapter Forty Two
Chapter Forty Three
Chapter Forty Four
Chapter Forty Five
Chapter Forty Six
Chapter Forty Seven
Chapter Forty Eight
Chapter Forty Nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty One
Chapter Fifty Two
Chapter Fifty Three
Chapter Fifty Four
Chapter Fifty Five
Chapter Fifty Six
Chapter Fifty Seven
Chapter Fifty Eight
Chapter Fifty Nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty One
Chapter Sixty Two
Chapter Sixty Three
Chapter Sixty Four
Chapter Sixty Five
Chapter Sixty Six
Chapter Sixty Seven
Chapter Sixty Eight
Chapter Sixty Nine
Chapter Seventy
Chapter Seventy One
Chapter Seventy Two
Chapter Seventy Three
Chapter Seventy Four
Chapter Seventy Five
Chapter Seventy Six
Chapter Seventy Seven
Chapter Seventy Eight
Chapter Seventy Nine
Chapter Eighty
Chapter Eighty One
Chapter Eighty Two
Chapter Eighty Three
Chapter Eighty Four
Chapter Eighty Five
Historical Tales
Other books in the series
Acknowledgements
About the author