LORE
Legacy of Revelation: Earth
The Vallance War Series
Book One
Ashener’s
Calling
By
David Partelow
Copyright © 2009 David Partelow
Second Edition 2019
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations or excerpts embodied within articles and reviews.
Cover Art by Oliviaprodesigns
ISBN: : 1449553761
ISBN-13: : 978-1449553760
DEDICATION
It seems fitting now, going back and starting anew with this series that I dedicate it to my daughter. These words, these stories are what I can pass on to her, and what can remain when I am gone from this world. I hope she is reminded to never relinquish her dreams and that I love her, then, now, and for always.
This book and this legacy are for you, Lilianna.
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments
I
1
Earth and Revelation
6
2
Rising Darkness
54
3
Calm and the Storm
94
4
Harvest and Gathering
141
5
Hammers Fall
183
6
The End and Beginning
248
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My sincerest thanks go to these wonderful people.
Jared Zehring, who combed the contents of this book with great diligence, seeking out all my late night writing errors and helping to whip this book into shape. You helped to make the world in this book much more inhabitable.
Halley Holmes, Audrey Richlinski, Carly Steele, Mark Angleton, Ingrid Espinoza, Kaylynne Blackwell, Fawn McCurdy, Greg Brostoski, Jordi McGrew, Casey Gray and Jamie, Josh, and Dave Culver, who have helped me in more ways than they can realize. Through reading this book, offering feedback and helping to shape the world of LORE, your enthusiasm has helped push me to accomplish a lifelong dream.
Julie Sidebotham, a true friend who saw the potential of LORE and for years helped to push me further as an author. I cannot tell you how many hours she endured me going on and on about this story. Her friendship, dedication and enthusiasm have done more for me than I could possibly express with words. I hope one day it is a debt that I can repay.
And for those of you who are reading this right now, I am honored and humbled. Thank you for taking a chance on this story.
Prologue
In Dreams
“The end is only the beginning.” These words echoed eternally through the young boy’s mind.
Traveling behind closed eyes, Norryn Ashener found himself in a dream and a dream within a dream. At first only darkness met him. Then darkness filled with the voice that haunted his soul. In his young heart he knew, even recognized the voice. Nevertheless, the identity eluded him so subtly Norryn found his frustration rising. At this failure, his determination doubled, and the young boy pressed on.
Carrying forward, the darkness before Norryn at last cleared. What was once nothing evaporated in slow breaths, driving nothingness from his view to form genuine clarity. It took only seconds to realize he stood deep within the heart of his home Bannar, the capital of Vallance. The buildings and streets of Bannar rose before him as shadows mingled with deafening silence. As his eyes drew focus, every chord of his heart screamed to him that something was terribly wrong.
His eyes and ears were drawn to every detail, and Norryn was immediately unnerved by it all. Around him his beloved home was lifeless and barren. Bannar bombarded his senses with everything of its nothingness and in those moments the young boy was afraid. While his mind knew full-well this was all still a dream, the depth of its realness reminded Norryn that in that moment, something demanded that he remember every single detail with a rigid observation. Something in this dream would spell the difference between fate and oblivion, life or death.
“Yes, the end is only the beginning.”
Norryn turned quickly to that voice. Behind him, no more than 35 feet away a lone figure stood upon the street. A large hood shrouded his features, but Norryn could instantly feel intentness upon him. The man’s arms hung easily at his sides. A strong wind rushed the lonely street, giving life to his tattered cloak. Even so, his hood remained unmoving as he regarded Norryn with swift calculation.
“Who are you?” Norryn’s voice traveled easily over the silence as the winds began to increase at his feet.
The stranger evaluated him for several moments before responding gravely. “I am the one who will end everything you know, everything you love. And you will not fully understand it until it is too late,” he said.
Norryn felt the earth beneath him tremble as nearby buildings started to crumble and fall. His ears filled with the rage of destruction and decay. Fallen debris loomed dangerously close, but still he did not take his gaze from the man before him. Norryn waited in silence, knowing full well more was to come.
The hooded man slowly motioned to Bannar. “The irony is this is where our country truly began, and it is where it shall start its end.”
Norryn was stirred angrily by these words as he shook his head adamantly. “Vallance will not fall,” he said, narrowing his eyes with the declaration. “I don’t know who you are or why you would do this, but you will be stopped.”
It was then the hooded man regarded Norryn, almost sadly. The stranger held knowledge of an unknown future, and it angered the young man further. Finally, slowly, he reached inside his cloak, taking hold of an item still out of view. As his hand returned and Norryn saw it, the young boy’s eyes widened. What the stranger held was the property of Norryn’s father Alderich, a silver amulet that signified the authority of his bloodline.
The stranger held to Ashener’s Calling.
Norryn took steps toward the man. “That does not belong to you and I will have you relinquish it now,” he commanded.
The stranger surveyed the amulet in his hand. The chain of Ashener’s Calling had slithered around his wrist. “Indeed. But in the end, it doesn’t matter. This little trinket will be buried with the rest of Bannar.” He said this sagely, and with cool indifference. Peeling his eyes from the amulet he looked once more at Norryn. “You were destined for greatness. Your worth to this budding nation transcends even that of your father. However, in the end, you too shall fall. I see your future now. And it is pain and it is death.”
The stranger tossed Ashener’s Calling to the ground before him as if it were nothing. The sleek amulet fell, meeting the crumbling road it was cast upon. For long seconds Norryn watched, unable to speak. Soon the winds rose to a furious tempo. Around him, Norryn’s vanishing town burst into flame as the last whispers of fondness and warmth faded into slow, burning ashes. The road before Norryn soon followed.
Norryn found himself surrounded by the flames. He could feel the fierce heat and taste the horrid fumes invading his lungs. In the distance, the stranger turned from Norryn as he departed. The circle of destruction and decay was almost complete, eaten in the thorough fires. The flames grew dangerously close to Norryn as the mysterious figure faded in the distance.
The fires around Norryn grew ravenous, increasing further in rage by the second. The young man was forced to shield his eyes from the fury. Nevertheless, even in torment, he could still see Ashener’s Calling in the expanse. The amulet of his family shimmered intently through the dancing flames. In that instant, Norryn was helpless to stop the invading thoughts of doom, as his dreams faded into obscurity. His thoughts surged
with those close to him and the suffering such a fate would cause.
The hooded man stopped one last time, calling out to Norryn again. “Farewell, Norryn. This is the end for you, when all that you love is gone and death is your only recourse.”
Norryn uncovered his hazel eyes as they coursed with grim determination. The young man refused to accept such a future. He would not see his world crumble to nothingness without a fight. Norryn looked again at the burning sea that folded upon him with utter inevitability. “No. I won’t let it end like this. I will choose my own fate, not the one you will upon me!”
With great speed and skill, Norryn leaped above the flames and onto what remained of the dwindling path before him. Immediately, he broke into a sprint, his young legs achieving a dizzying velocity. To his left he saw another building topple to the ground, the wake of its crashing carcass careening toward him and Ashener’s Calling.
Norryn did not think twice. Finding more speed, he darted forward at the last possible moment, lunging at the amulet that bore his family’s crest. His hand snared it as he rolled, coming again to his feet, still running as the crumbling debris found the ground that once held him and Ashener’s Calling. Smoke and flame bit at him as sweat pierced his forehead. Yet in an instant, the young boy had made up his mind and charged after the traitor.
In the distance, Norryn could still see the man's silhouette. “Stop!” he screamed, clenching at Ashener’s Calling tightly as he ran. “Whatever you are, whoever you are, turn and face me!” Nothing took his mind or eyes from his purpose now. Norryn would uncover the truth of this man and face him head on.
Norryn was close now, and his words had given the traitor pause. The man turned again to face Norryn. Nodding at the young boy, he assumed a proper fighting stance. “Defiant to the last. I would expect no less of you. Your determination, while foolish, still demands admiration. Come then and face your destiny,” he said
Norryn had not realized it, but he was screaming. His heart was bursting in his chest as he loomed closer to his adversary. The flames were upon him now, but he ignored them completely. All that mattered was the truth and the safety of his friends and family. In his hand Ashener’s Calling awoke, throbbing faint light with every beat of his young heart.
Norryn leapt into the air, mere feet away from the stranger. The moment froze as seconds dragged on to the fates. And every second was absorbed by young Norryn. He could almost feel the truth reveal itself to him. At last he seized a glimpse at the traitor’s eyes. With only inches left to the truth, Ashener’s Calling came to life.
Suddenly, Norryn could feel warmth strong and pure wash over him. As his hands reached the traitor, Ashener’s Calling emitted its surging radiance. All was lost in the light, covered completely in its brilliancy. And all Norryn could see and feel now was the beaming vivacity that captivated him so completely.
And then Norryn was awake.
Wiping the sleep from his eyes, Norryn’s view was filled with the familiar comforts of his room and the start of a fresh new day. The inviting sunlight tiptoeing through his windows brought a smile to his face. The dream may have felt real, but it was not reality. And this knowledge brought him a great relief. Despite the traces of frustration, the young boy could not help but smile.
“Whoever you are, I will figure it out and I will uncover the truth,” he said.
Norryn rose from his bed with a stretch as he gathered his clothes for the day. He welcomed the thoughts that filled his mind now. It was hard to not be excited with the Grand Harvest fast approaching. Still, as he readied to take on the world, a heavy thought gripped his mind, refusing to relinquish its hold. Unable unearth the answer to the riddle of his dream, Norryn finally banished it from his brain, determined to return to it later.
Now dressed, Norryn buried his doubts. Luckily there was much to keep him occupied. And yet as he ventured from his room, as he prepared to tackle the day, one lingering whisper entered his mind. And it was there that it stayed, true to its word, carrying with the young boy until sleep found him once more.
The end is only the beginning.
Chapter 1
Earth and Revelation
Morning showered the land with sunlight as nine warriors cautiously approached their destination. Having traversed the Passing Plains, the group now found themselves within the borders of Thorne, and into uncharted territory. With their homeland of Vallance well behind them, each steeled themselves for the diplomatic mission ahead. None knew what to expect, save for the fact that their task was of the gravest importance.
As they neared, the group decreased their acceleration. Before them, a contingent of soldiers awaited. Instantly recognizable were the flag bearers proudly holding up the colors of the nation of Thorne. Black and gold entwined with silver and Thorne’s crest billowed in the wind. Armed with immaculate rifles and tidy uniforms, scores of troops stood at attention, exuding strength and unease among the nine natives of Vallance.
With their trip at an end, the lead warrior held up his hand as each floating cycle came to a graceful stop. His bold voice echoed across the open ground. “Ro’Nihn, dismount!”
At his command, the warriors deftly left their hovercycles. Each wore formidable armor and a distinctive mask possessing the colors of their respective Ro’Nihn clans. Their faces, while hidden almost completely, lacked nothing regarding intentness. Fearlessly they approached the Thorne contingent that numbered more than 60 soldiers. The masked warriors of the country of Vallance watched with alert eyes as they walked.
Watching the incoming Ro’Nihn, the ranks of soldiers at attention split their formation briskly in two, revealing officers flanking the representative of Thorne. The officers were immaculate in their uniforms. The man between them was covered in a deep cloak and mostly hidden from view. The group from Vallance made their way to this man.
The man in the cloak now regarded the warriors. “That’s as far as I’ll allow myself to trust you,” He stated. At his words, the Ro’Nihn stopped their approach. “Speak your peace and let’s be done with this already.”
The lead Ro’Nihn bowed deeply with his hand across his chest. He then kneeled as he spoke. “We thank you for this audience. I am Vladen of the Achylles clansmen of the town of Axiter. My fellow Ro’Nihn and I have come on behalf of Vallance and Alderich Ashener.”
The cloaked man regarded the Ro’Nihn warrior. “And why has Alderich Ashener not come to off these words himself?”
The kneeling warrior responded instantly. “I am sure for the very same reason your Thedron Ralick is not present to receive them.” The Ro’Nihn reached to the pouch slung at his side. Quickly he procured a bound parchment. “We bring a message from the chosen leader of Vallance. Alderich Ashener wishes to discuss a peaceful resolution to the growing hostility between our two great nations. As the appointed guardians of our lands, we have been authorized to speak on his behalf.”
The hooded man motioned for one of his soldiers to fetch the parchment and the Ro’Nihn known as Vladen offered it freely. The soldier quickly brought it to the Thorne representative, holding it in front of him with reverence. The hooded individual paused as if in deep thought. Finally, his right hand emerged from his cloak, revealing a thick appendage of pure metal. It clasped around the Vallance parchment, almost swallowing the message from view. Pulling back his cloak with his other metallic hand, he gave Vladen a dark and foreboding grin.
When then Thorne representative spoke again, the satisfaction in his voice could not be mistaken. “You’ve come with a request. And I’m here with your answer, short, sweet and to the point,” he said. In a heartbeat the parchment from Vallance was ravaged in his grip as his grizzly face expressed satisfaction at the endeavor. Two eyes, one human and one mechanical, bore equal coldness as they focused on the Ro’Nihn. “Kill’em.”
Instantly, the soldiers standing at attention burst into action. Training their rifles upon their targets, some fired while others lunged with dual bladed bayonets resting
at the end of their weapons. Like a swarm of locusts, they engulfed the kneeling Ro’Nihn, carrying out their orders without hesitance or remorse. Their reflexes and accuracy were honed with endless military drilling. Their execution was nearly flawless.
But these highly trained soldiers of Thorne had never encountered Ro’Nihn before.
The moment of surprise was not nearly enough to defeat the masked warriors of Axiter. Following Vladen’s lead, the defenders from Vallance were on their feet with their weapons drawn faster than could have been seen. Against high powered laser rifles, the Ro’Nihn by contrast held staffs and swords. But this difference made them no less deadly. Using the armor resting upon their forearms, they deflected laser blasts and bayonet strikes as they struck back at their opposition.
In the ensuing melee, one Ro’Nihn was overwhelmed by laser fire. But where he fell, twelve soldiers of Thorne were easily defeated. Another Ro’Nihn met his end when he jumped in front of a shot meant for Vladen’s back. The remaining Ro’Nihn retreated toward their cycles as they fought. Their urgency for survival was focused on getting news of this assault back home to Vallance. The Thorne soldiers did their best to adjust to an opposition that still had them off guard despite their own ambush.
The ambassador from Thorne motioned at another line of soldiers. As he did so, that group opened fire into the ensuing fight, aiming at friend and foe alike. Another handful threw grenades at the Ro’Nihn cycles, destroying them in a cluster of explosive fire. In the new turn of events, more Thorne soldiers were killed and another Ro’Nihn was wounded.
As the Ro’Nihn made it through the Thorne lines, the wounded among the group stood his ground as he screamed for his leader. “Vladen, get back to Vallance! I will cover you!”
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