The Willbreaker (Book 1)
Page 43
Like a surgeon, Brandon released his dominating power into a single ray of focus. “Aurora Arclight, Former Empress and Queen of Cloudkeep Kingdom, I hereby remove you from your status and relieve you of your powers.” Aurora screamed and screamed as Brandon talked. “Without your power, you will no longer be able to control or hurt people. You will be just like everyone else.”
Tears streamed down Aurora’s cheeks as she cried and pleaded for Brandon to stop. She pulled herself to her knees and reached for Brandon with both hands. Gretchen coughed, spitting blood onto the ground in front of her. As Brandon turned to look over at her, Aurora’s sobs turned silent. Although tears welled up in her eyes, she saw the opportunity to end this torture.
Quickly, she withdrew the small blade hidden beneath her sash and lunged towards Brandon. Aurora’s arm stopped in midair, frozen in time as if held by an unseen force. Brandon stepped backward, startled by the blade only inches away from his heart. Aurora struggled to move but could not.
“Not today, Empress,” Edward said, holding out his open hand towards Aurora as he held her tight with his power. Brandon looked at Edward with surprised relief. Jasmine peered from around the back of Edward cautiously.
“Enough,” Brandon said, placing his hand on the top of Aurora’s head. “I’m sorry mother, but you have left me no choice.” Brandon released his power into Aurora. The once brilliant node that pulsed and emitted vibrant light in her mind succumbed to the vast torrent of power. The light shimmered, sealed within a transparent blue cocoon.
“You no longer have the will to use your power. It will be unavailable to you, just out of reach if you ever decide to touch it. You are normal, like everyone else. I am going to spare your life to give you the opportunity for something positive. The remainder of your years will be spent healing, building, and contributing to the advancement of the Kingdom.” Released from Edward’s grip, Aurora collapsed to the ground, sobbing like a small child.
Brandon felt a hand on his shoulder. Edward withdrew his hand when Brandon turned to look at him. With a twist of his head, Edward indicated the dead Guardian in the road. Blue had plummeted from the top of the tower and landed in the street. He lay still in the concave impression in the road where he hit, face down.
“Ah, Blue,” Brandon said, sadly. Extending one of his hands towards the giant beast, Brandon released the energizing light of his power. The strand of vibrant light wrapped around Blue, absorbing into his flesh. The healing waves of his power pulsed like lightning, healing and rejuvenating the beast with godly precision. Blue’s body twitched slightly and then the Guardian jumped to his feet, fists clenched as if surprised and ready to attack. Blue’s head rose skyward as he boomed a chest-filled roar. He looked around and spotted his human friends. He charged over and scooped them all up in his arms, happily.
Blue carried Aurora in his arms towards the toppled city walls; Brandon, Edward, and Jasmine following close behind. At the wall, they encountered a small brigade of Highren’Dol that looked for survivors. Brandon approached their commander. After establishing himself as on the side of the Alliance, Brandon summoned his friends forward and revealed the Empress, now stripped of her power. He did not explain how she had been captured, but he told them he would surrender her to Lord Reinhold only if they met his conditions; she would live out the rest of her days in restitution, where and how would be up to the King. She would not be executed or imprisoned in a cell, nor would she be tortured; she would serve the people until she lived no more.
The commander sent off two of his soldiers to get the King. They had steel drawn and eyed the Empress in awe and caution. One of the soldiers stepped forward, anger stricken across his face.
“I’m going to kill her right now. She has destroyed so many lives and ruined so many families. If she is powerless, I will end her,” he said, stepping forward in advancement. Brandon casually looked him.
“If I was able to capture Empress Aurora and relieve her of her power, what do you think I will do to you if you disobey my command and try to hurt my prisoner?” His cold stare made the soldier step back in line. Edward chuckled proudly to himself. Brandon had come into his own; he had grown up and became the man he never thought he could be. Soon, Reinhold would arrive and they would discuss terms for Aurora’s surrender, which the King would agree to. Brandon would turn her over to Reinhold, and so birthed his legend. His name would spread far, and his reputation would spark tales of grandeur, but this would only be the starting point of the legacy of the Willbreaker.
Appendix of the Named:
Arkam Icebreath: Ice Lancer Champion, Cedric Reinhold. Control of Mind; Sensor (Class 2) and Element (Ice, Class 3)
Aren’Fel Master Templar of the Highren’Dol. Gifted in Body, Strength (Class 4)
Arleena Poggintop Edward Poggintop's sister. Gifted in Spirit, Vision (Class 1)
Auralee: Student, Prosidium of the Arcane. Cedric Reinhold.
Aurora Arclight: Empress Aurora, ruler of Cloudkeep Kingdom. Class five Psionicist. Fighting to rid the world of men.
Bauth’Dok A race of humanoids. Once human, since mutated by radiation of the metal that drives their society, trexalite. Live in the Ril’Kaloth Mountains.
Belkin Reinhold Oric Reinhold’s son, Age of Creation.
Bo Hancock: Student, Prosidium of the Arcane. Cedric Reinhold.
Bram: Avatar of War. Rumored to be the son of a God. Preclass. Ability to manipulate and alter time.
Brandon Pike: Man born with a Red Star tattoo on his upper forehead. Magics still unclear. Healer.
Byron Copron Chief Officer, Prosidium of the Arcane, Council member, Council of the Red Lion, Cedric Reinhold
Cedric Reinhold: Lord Cedric Reinhold, ruler of Karpathos Kingdom. Extremely intelligent battle tactician and strategist. The main military commander in the fight against Empress Aurora. Red Banner of the Lion.
Charlotte Firefist Voice of the Gifted, Council member, Council of the Red Lion, Cedric Reinhold. Gifted of Mind; Elemental (Water, Class 4).
Corinne Allenmay: Messenger for the Council of Wisdom, Empress Aurora. Class two Illusionist.
Darla Blackwall: First Lieutenant, Black Moon Brigade of Blade Maidens, Empress Aurora.
Davis Polmin: Messenger, Council of the King, Cedric Reinhold.
Edward Poggintop: Reader of Prophecy for Mayor Hancock, Greylin. Control of Mind, Psionic (Class 3) and Sensor (Class 3)
Felinda Tamrin: Officer of the Treasury, Council member, Council of the Red Lion, Cedric Reinhold
Florian: Human Taskmaster, Caverns of Ril’Kaloth, Bauth’Dok City.
Flower: Empress Aurora, High Guard Soldier. Body, Double Enhance, Strength (Class 3) and Dexterity (Class 4)
Gablin Glasseye Lesser Visionary, Age of War
Galadin Bloodbark: Elven, Lieutenant General, Legion of Archers, Cedric Reinhold.
Gamm Burockus Major General, Infantry, Army of the Red Lion, Cedric Reinhold
Garvin Windtalker: Seer of the Council of Kings, Age of Creation. Wrote a prophecy concerning the Red Star.
Gretchen Lomire: Commander General of the Blade Maidens, Scarlet Brigade, Empress Aurora. Body, Triple Enhance, Speed (Class 2), Dexterity (Class 4), and Strength (Class 3)
Harold Kinna Also known as the Boatman. Preclass.
Henna Rollins Sec. Urban Landscape and Development, Council member, Council of the Red Lion, Cedric Reinhold
Hion Starseer: First Knight, Brotherhood of Seers, Age of Creation. A Class five Visionary. The only Seer ever able to predict events yet to pass with pinpoint accuracy and information.
Hronlin Wildman of the Mountain. Leader of the StoneBear Clan.
Ivy Arclight: Sister to Aurora Arclight. Class four Elementalist.
Janga Blackhand: First General, Armies of the Red Lion. Council member, Chief Advisor of Military affairs, Council of the Red Lion, Cedric Reinhold
Jenaveve Flamebender: Commander General of the Flame Legion. Class four fire elementalist.
Jenna: Blade Maiden, Scarlet Brigade.
Jasmine Vylar: Body, Class 3 Transformation
Jellaneen Earthmover: Cedric Reinhold. Previous Voice of the Gifted, Council of the Red Lion.
Korgen Kitadal: Deceased. Class three Psionicist. Teacher at a school for the Gifted. Trainer to Aurora.
Liam Tanner: Air Bender, Lord Reinhold
Leena: Lives in Hollshire. Class three Illusionist. Commanded by Aurora to help take control of Tormain’s Ravine.
Lilliam Brody Guard, Castle Belkin, Lord Reinhold.
Lilly Rogers Scriber of World Events, Council member, Council of the Red Lion, Cedric Reinhold
Lionel Reinhold Cedric Reinhold’s father. Previous King of Karpathos Kingdom. Died of gutrot disease on Cedric’s 20th birthday.
Lynn: Blade Maiden, Scarlet Brigade.
Madagrack Ice Lancer Warlord, Cedric Reinhold. Control of Mind; Element (Ice, Class 4) and Sensor (Class 3)
Margaret Gobb: Deceased. Brandon Pike’s childhood caretaker.
Mark Stromberg: General, Red Lion Dragoons, Cedric Reinhold. Brought his armies to meet the Avatar of War.
Matt Archer: Deceased. Brandon’s best friend. Mother owns The Lamb and Axe Handle, an inn in Greylin.
Mayor Hancock: Mayor of Greylin. Karpathos Kingdom. Brother to Bo Hancock.
Mier’Den Ferasae Highren’Dol, Templar, Battle Commander
Naheena Marsden General, Element (Fire, Class 3), Empress Aurora
Ny’Ael Sithek Templar of the Highren’Dol
Oric Reinhold Lineage of the Reinhold Name. Prince, Age of Creation
Princess: Empress Aurora’s Commander of the Lash Lords. Empress High Guard General. Body, Double Enhance, Strength (Class 4) and Dexterity (Class 4)
Ri’Kel’Asan Reyendar High Templar of the Highren’Dol, Son of Tres’Kel’Lay Reyendar, and future Caliph of the Three Nations
Savanah Moncent: Major General, Earth Breakers. Class three Elementalist.
Tim Kammel: Lives in Jellindor. Had relations with Corinne.
Toren Lieye: Wrote Judgement, a book of information regarding his views of prophecies, First year, Age of War
Ugdar Palindine: Shop owner, Skillful Traders, Age of War. Class three Visionary, although he is unaware of his abilities. He writes down his dreams occasionally in his journal.
Victoria Tarben Gifted. Has a son that is infected with a fatal illness.
Vincent Kinley Leader of the People (non-gifted), Council member, Council of the Red Lion, Cedric Reinhold
Watcher, The Unknown.
About The Author
This is my first novel, so I hope you were entertained. I work every day on it, so I hope you can forgive any errors you may have found. I’m still learning and this is a way for me to test my skills as a writer; I still have much to learn. If you are interested in updates for my future novels, feel free to find me on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/ChroniclesOfTheSeven
I fancy myself as a creative person; if I am not doing something that requires active thinking, I feel that my time could be better spent. I create things all day long, every day: stories, ideas, video games, complex role playing excel sheets, and creative and imaginary worlds. Story lines in particular intrigue me. I try to think out of the box because for me, that is the most entertaining; predictability is always a disappointment.
I am a meat cutter by trade, but my true desire is buried deep in fantasy. My wife has always supported my countless hours of creation, and I am thankful for all of the encouragement that my family and friends give me. I have endless stories to tell, and by sharing them, I hope that you too may find some enjoyment from them.
Thank you for reading, I appreciate your time!
Mike Simmons
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Table of Contents
Contents
Prologue -Wrath of a Woman Scorned
Chapter 1 - A Page in History
Chapter 2 - A Fate To Follow
Chapter 3 - The Power of a Preclass
Chapter 4 - Déjà vu
Chapter 5 - Imprisoned
Chapter 6 - Ways of the Wicked
Chapter 7 - Let the Race Begin
Chapter 8 - A Risky Gamble
Chapter 9 - Submission
Chapter 10 - Vengeance
Chapter 11 - The Price of Battle
Chapter 12 - Out of the Frying Pan
Chapter 13 - Earth and Stone
Chapter 14 - Bindings Held True
Chapter 15 - Collision
Chapter 16 - Passage
Chapter 17 - Guilt and Boundaries
Chapter 18 - The Water Runs Deep
Chapter 19 - Perspective
Chapter 20 - Beginning of the End
Chapter 21 - The Scales of War
Chapter 22 - Following the Path
Chapter 23 - Repairing the Damage
Chapter 24 – Choices; Rewards and Consequences
ALTERNATE ENDING
Appendix of the Named:
About The Author