Julian shivered and tried not to think about how the Sarcion created its Dirge. He focused his thoughts back upon the Wolf. He'd known the ranger was gifted, but killing thirteen Dirge on his own? Perhaps the Jalora knew about the upcoming betrayal and had armed its servants?
"Can you beat him?" Julian asked.
His host wiped delicately at his mouth and stood away from his table. He didn't answer. Instead Gorman walked up the stairs and onto the deck. Julian followed. He was not willing to give up the Lion Ring despite what these barbarians thought.
"What of the boy? If he is allowed to cultivate his full power, he will be a threat to us. I can still find him and take the ring."
"I grow weary of your constant whining about a useless bobble. Look." He pointed toward a small schooner sailing away from Marianna toward the other isles. "Your Lion has escaped you in a small cargo ship. Captain, ready the cannons."
"Wait! What are you about? We need the ring!"
"If the boy is dead and his Lion Ring is lost at the bottom of the ocean, the Jalora will have no means to protect the Altar of Providence. It will have no recourse but to surrender this time."
"This time? You are speaking in riddles."
Julian moved to the ship's railing, watching as the tiny vessel sailed through the darkness. He didn't like this new turn of events. This ally was turning quickly into an invader. He'd taken a few lives — his brothers’, in fact — to see Valdeon restored, but was he so daring as to challenge the Jalora itself by destroying the Lion Ring?
Then something began to form from the mists of the ocean. It was sickly and wrong. A massive wall of green fog rose up, blocking their view of the little vessel. Julian covered his nose to block out the rank stench of the fog. He recognized the Jalora's lust for death. It had come for him once before at the ruins of Sea Point.
Gorman came to stand beside him. His hands gripped the railing until his pale fingers drained of all color. He pushed away from the railing with a bitter laugh.
"Captain, set sail immediately away from the fog bank. Any who touch it will perish." Gorman turned to Julian. "The Jalora protects its pet. It would seem you will have your chance to hunt the young Lion again another day."
"Where are we going, then?"
"We journey to your home, Andarian. My forces are in place. They only need hear my command."
"And where will you be, Lord Gorman?"
"I will remain on the command ship."
"Not with your men? Well, it doesn't seem very warrior-like, now, does it?"
Gorman bounded at Julian with the speed rivaling any ranger. His fingers gripped Julian's throat, lifting him up until his boots dangled off the deck.
"You dare question my courage, betrayer? I do not sully my blade with the blood of the inadequate. Get him out of my sight."
Julian's body rolled roughly across the deck until he stopped at the changeling's feet. Shaken, he struggled to sit up. Gorman's power was more than he'd anticipated.
"You are foolish, prince of nothing." The changeling laughed, exposing more sharp teeth in a leer. "But for our emperor's word, our lord would have ripped you to pieces. You do not want Lord Gorman setting foot upon the battlefield in your country, Julian. None can stand against his blade. Once he draws his weapon, he will not sheath it again until every last enemy is dead at his feet. Remember that before you goad him again."
"Yes, I'll remember well."
Julian kept his eyes on the hideous metal helmet sitting atop a massive body. A killer more powerful than any ranger in the legion had come to Andara. He brought death with him. Would his sword be the end of the Jalora Legion? Only time would tell.
The End
People, Places, Things
People
Grey Cliff Isles
De Vincente, Dante - Leo's Squire
Emma - The McCloud's Housekeeper
Gunn, Sergeant - Head of the Marianna Militia
Leo - Valdeonian Warrior and Seth's Mentor (see D'Antoiné, Edmund)
Logan, Andrew - Woolie Farmer, Riley's Brother
Logan, George - Woolie Farmer, Riley's Brother
Logan, Laura - Farmer's Wife
Logan, Michael - Woolie Farmer, Riley's Brother
Logan, Patrick - Woolie Farmer, Riley's Brother
Logan, Riley - Seth's Best Friend
Logan, Stephen - Woolie Farmer, Riley's Brother
Logan, Thomas - Woolie Farmer
Logan, Tom - Woolie Farmer, Riley's Brother
McBride, Stan - Haven Bay Youth
McCloud, Anne - Seth's Mother
McCloud, Fergus - Headmaster and Seth's Uncle
McCloud, Seth - Heir to the Lion Ring
McDermott, Charlie - Haven Bay Youth
McFadden, Beatrice - Haven Bay Youth, Doctor's Daughter
McFadden, Doctor - The Isle of Marianna's Only Doctor
McKenzie, Alice - Haven Bay Youth
McKenzie, Danny - Woolie Farmer
McKenzie, Mike - Woolie Farmer
McKinney, Teb - Barkeep at Paddy's
McTavish, Angus - Owner of Haven Bay's Mercantile
McTavish, Constable - Haven Bay's Police Chief
Newcastle, Elder - Haven Bay's Elder
Newcastle, Jamie - Haven Bay Youth and Elder's Son
Paddy - Owner and Innkeeper of Paddy's Inn
Sandor, Pavel - Andara's Deadliest Assassin
Valdeon
Armando - Changeling Disguised as Julian D'Antoiné's Valet
Basilio - Squire to the Wolf
Benito - Chancellor of Valdeon
Cristiano, Felix - Usurper of San Angelica
Cristiano, Rafael the Fox - Member of the Sacred Guard, A Lord of Valdeon
Cristobal, Tulio the Rabbit - Member of the Sacred Guard, A Lord of Valdeon
D'Antoiné, Edmund the Leo - King and a Lord of Valdeon
D'Antoiné, Esteban the Hawk - Former Member of the Sacred Guard, A Lord of Valdeon
D'Antoiné, Julian - Prince of Valdeon
De Costa, Marcellus - Minion of Julian D'Antoiné
De Vincente, Danel - Son of Xavier
De Vincente, Dulcina - Wife of Xavier
De Vincente, Gaspar - Son of Xavier
De Vincente, Xavier the Wolf - Leader of the Sacred Guard, A Lord of Valdeon
De Quintaro, Ernesto the Raven - Member of the Sacred Guard, A Lord of Valdeon
De Quintaro, Fausto - Steward of Varianne, Former Lord of Valdeon
Jalora - Embodiment of Good Upon the Erthe
Mendoza, Alberto - Steward of San Marimosa and Father to the Jaguar
Mendoza, Berto the Jaguar - Member of the Sacred Guard, A Lord of Valdeon
Mendoza, Yuli the Otter - Member of the Sacred Guard, A Lord of Valdeon
No Name, Zoya - Sister of Julian D'Antoiné
Orryo - Minion of Julian D'Antoiné
Pacarro, Jorge - Former Squire to Cesar Santiago
Santiago, Cesar - Steward of San Lucida, Former Lord of Valdeon
Santiago, Lucio the Ferret - Member of the Sacred Guard, A Lord of Valdeon
Sarcion - Embodiment of Evil Upon the Erthe
The Jalora Legion
Dragon, Cardinal - Leader of the Jalora Legion
Falcon, Bishop - High Ranking Officer in the Jalora Legion
Akutar
Changeling - Lord Gorman's Spy
The Dirge - Sarcion's Undead Assassins
Gorman - A Lord of Akutar, General of the Jackal Army
Whisper - Emissary of the Akutarian Emperor
Places
The United Realms of Andara
Amity - Island in the Grey Cliff isles
Commonwealth - The Small Circular Space of Land Surrounding Lea, The UR Capitol
Eastland Isle - Located Off the West Coast of Andara
Estabelle - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Hawk
Fort L'Azure - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Rabbit
Fort La Val - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Ot
ter
Ghent - Located in the Central Mainland Region
Grey Cliff Isles - Located Two Days from Andara's Mainland
Haven Bay - Town located on Marianna
Horner - Island in the Grey Cliff Isles
Larkspur - Island in the Grey Cliff Isles
Lea - Located in the Center of the Commonwealth, Capitol of the UR
Marianna - Smallest Island in the Grey Cliff Isles
Obsidian Citadel - Located in Lea, Headquarters of the Jalora Legion
Palace of Kings - Located in San Leonora, Home of the Lion
Port City - Located on Eastland Isle, Major Airship Port
San Angelica - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Fox
San Leonora - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Lion
San Lucida - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Ferret
San Marimosa - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Jaguar
San Rudalfo - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Wolf
Temple Cave - Located in the Mountains on the Border of Valdeon and Tslavia, Place of Power
Tslavia - Located in the Central Mainland Region, Ancient Enemy of Valdeon
Valdeon - Located in the Southern Mainland Region, Realm of the Lion
Varianne - Located in Valdeon, Home of the Raven
Other Island Nations
Azure Isles - Located South of Andara's Mainland, Ruled by Raiders
Isle of Carlotta - Located Off the Coast of Valdeon
Foreign Nations
Akutar - Located Far to the East of Andara's Mainland, Home of the Jackal
The Pearl Isles - Located Far to the West of Marianna, Home of the Luminawni
Things
Altar of Providence - Stronghold of the Jalora on Andara. Consists of three parts: The Crown of Sorrows, The Lion's Seat and the Orb of Valdeon
Crown of Sorrows - Crown of the King of Valdeon
Lion Ring - Symbol of the Contract Between The D'Antoiné Family and The Jalora
Lion's Seat - Golden Throne of Valdeon
Orb of Valdeon - Conduit of the Jalora's Power to Andara's Rangers
About The Author
C. R. Richards is the award winning author of The Mutant Casebook Series. Her literary career began as a part-time columnist for a small entertainment newspaper. She wore several hats: food critic, entertainment reviewer and cranky editor. A lover of horror and dark fantasy stories, she enjoys telling tales of intrigue and adventure. Her most recent literary projects include the horror short story, Lost Man's Parish and the newly released novel length dark fantasy thriller, Pariah. She is an active member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and Horror Writers Association.
For more information on the author's books and upcoming events, please visit her website: www.crrichards.com
Other Books by C.R. Richards
The Lords of Valdeon (Heart of the Warrior Series - Book One)
Pariah
Lost Man's Parish (Short Fiction)
Phantom Harvest (The Mutant Casebook Series)
For more information on the author's books and upcoming events, please visit her website: www.crrichards.com
The Lords of Valdeon Page 37