The Motive for Massacre (The Kinless Trilogy Book 2)

by Chris Philbrook

The fake Apostle was sitting in the street, mending the scraped knee of a young boy that would be dead in a day when a whisper carried sweet words to him. He stopped what he was doing and lifted his ear to the sky, and let the ghost from the past whisper the message to him.

  "Peiron," the faded voice said. "My enemies have struck me down, but you may continue in my absence. May the Ancestors guide your sword this day. Begin," the whisper finished. It was Alisanne's dying voice in the whisper but the spirit sounded fearful. It hadn't wanted to deliver this message, but when bidden for a sending, there could be no defiance. Peiron sighed happily, realizing that it appeared that someone had seen through her deceit finally, and settled a debt that cost her dearly.

  It mattered not who, or how. It only mattered that she was dead, and that the eve of war was here.

  Peiron knew the first arrow would fly before sunset, and he relished the thought of all the death that was to come.

  He sent the boy away with a genuine smile of happiness.

  Thousands of miles to the south and east was a valley straight from the echoes of the far past. It had been largely untouched by the presence of man for almost all of Elmoryn's time, save for a few relatively brief moments of intrusion, and the presence of the twisted, human dead that called it home now.

  The sun was high at home in the sky, sending down warm rays of golden light that pierced the heavy tree canopy of the ancient forest, giving the precious life to the trees and all the plants, and keeping the dark undead at bay, buried underneath the damp soil, and hiding under the rocks like cockroaches, beetles, and worms. The forest was silent here. No birds chirped, no deer roamed, and the foxes and wolves gave the valley a wide berth, even if the forest was safe during the day. Memories of the death that nighttime brought were strong.

  One of the undead remained awake, despite the lull caused by the overbearing weight of the golden sun above. As the rest of his unnatural kind slumbered, he kept his oath. Ever vigilant. Ever at the ready in case others returned.

  Aleksi Oathman had been a servant of the Church when he was alive. His story was one heard a thousand times. Devout man of faith. Generous with his coin. Loving father, hearty warrior. But that's where his story became far less than typical. Twenty years before Aleksi accompanied a small expedition of Apostles and explorers deep into the Duulani forest further south than the dark valley to a mine that held dark secrets that could unravel all that Elmoryn had achieved since The Great Plague three hundred years prior.

  What they found at the bottom of that mine, and the mirror discovery in the valley was so heretical and dangerous a guard needed to be posted.

  Aleksi knew then he had to stay. He knew it then as powerfully as he knew it when the soft whisper of the ancients came to him underneath the hanging rocks where he hid from the sun. It was the voice of Alisanne, the prophet who knew the reality of what was underneath the mountains.

  "Aleksi they come for the door," the spirit that spoke in her voice said. "May their blood sustain you and your children. Protect the vault. None can enter, nothing can leave." As she finished speaking Aleksi could hear the life in her fading. He didn't hear her last breath but knew she was dead now. Being the undead could shed light on some things.

  Aleksi had given his humanity for the chance to protect the doors forever, such was his piety, such was the danger of what was behind the doors. Every soul that came on that trip to discover what was at the bottom of that mine had given in to the necromancer that had gone with them. It was a necessary sacrifice. He knew now that Alisanne's life had been spent in the protection of the doors too.

  It seemed like everyone who came anywhere near the tomb beneath the mountain would die. It was cursed in its own way.

  And now, as new fools came to perhaps unwittingly release what was hidden for so long behind the doors, it was Aleksi's mission to ensure just that. He was the curse given form, will, and ability.

  His fangs begged for their blood as his still heart waited patiently for their arrival.

  End Book Two

  - ABOUT THE AUTHOR -

  CHRIS PHILBROOK is the creator and author of Elmoryn as well as the popular series Adrian's Undead Diary and Tesser: A Dragon Among Us.

  Chris calls the wonderful state of New Hampshire his home. He is an avid reader, writer, role player, miniatures game player, video game player, and part time athlete, as well as a member of the Horror Writers Association. If you weren't impressed enough, he also works full time while writing for Elmoryn as well as the world of Adrian’s Undead Diary and his newest project, Tesser: A Dragon Among Us.

  - FIND MORE ONLINE -

  Visit elmoryn.com to access additional content. Learn more about the world of Elmoryn, contact the author, join discussions with other readers, and view original illustrations. In addition, Chris Philbrook’s game development company, Tier One Games LLC, is developing a roleplaying game which allows players to explore the world of Elmoryn, creating their own original characters and adventures. Visit elmoryn.com to access the ever-expanding game content as it is released.

  Check out Chris Philbrook’s official website thechrisphilbrook.com to keep tabs on his many exciting projects, or follow Chris on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChrisPhilbrookAuthor for special announcements.

  Immerse yourself in Chris Philbrook’s epic zombie survival series, Adrian’s Undead Diary. Having just barely survived a world consuming apocalypse of the undead, Adrian Ring’s diary chronicles his battles with the zombie hordes and his ongoing struggle with survival. Read and understand exactly how he completed his hero's journey, avoiding starvation, zombies, injuries, fellow survivors, and sickness, as well as sharing in his humor and his horror. Visit adriansundeaddiary.com to learn more.

  Read Chris Philbrook’s latest epic series as it unfolds in Tesser: A Dragon Among Us. Meet Tesser, the Dragon. He who walks in any form, and flies the skies free of fear. He has slept for millennia, but now he has awoken in a world ruled by human hands, where science has overshadowed even the glory of old magic. Follow Tesser as he seeks to understand why he slept for so long, and where all the magic has gone. Visit adragonamongus.com to learn more.

  Can’t Wait for More?

  Look for Chris Philbrook’s FREE short fiction eBook, At Least He’s Not on Fire.

  Find it on Amazon, Goodreads, or Smashwords today!

  Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JSGEKIK

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21948978-at-least-he-s-not-on-fire

  Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/430970