The Girl with the Red Lantern: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Shadow Lord's War Book 1)

by K.N. Lee

  Rohan glanced at her, and looked toward the sky. “You two incarnated together, and have very similar tasks. Soon, you’ll be reunited, and your combined power will shift the entire outlook of the war.”

  “So, I know him?” Mei asked.

  “Yes,” Rohan said. “From many lives. You are not who you think you are—you’re not just a sorceress or whatever Li sold you in her lies.”

  He stood.

  Mei wiped her face and folded her legs into her chest. Resting her chin on top of her knees, she wrapped her arms around her legs. Too many thoughts and emotions fought for attention. But, at that moment, she only wanted to know one thing.

  “What am I then?”

  He sighed, and turned to her once more, and looked directly into her eyes.

  “You’re the Jade Empress.”

  Thank you for reading The Girl with the Red Lantern. Please consider leaving a review. It helps more than you can believe! The sequel, The Prince with the White Dragon will release in 2021. Check out my Viking epic fantasy Fallen Empire on the next page.

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  A Look at Fallen Empire

  Killing a person was such messy business. There was the begging, pleading, and ultimately, the screaming. Then, there was the blood.

  Father Marduk left the ceremony room before the chanting even ended. His hands were reddened from the bathing of spirits and lost souls. But, on this day, he’d rather wait outside. Though he made the sacrifice. He knew it wouldn’t work.

  It never did.

  He clenched his jaw as he pushed the heavy wooden doors outward and let in the bright sun.

  Outside the double doors, bodies hung along the stone-paved road that led down from the Temple of the Sky Brotherhood. They’d been bled, in the old tradition, and left out to the elements. Still, none had proved to be of use.

  Mages.

  The last source of true magic.

  Blood stained the hundreds of steps leading to the top of the temple. It was five tiers tall, built at the beginning of time by slaves conquered during the first Reign of Fire. Comprised of mud brick, wood, and stone, the temple would stand until the end of time.

  Ahead lay Tir, a desert wasteland that stretched for miles until meeting the red mountains. The temple stood at the edge of a rocky cliff, with an enchanted sea gently rolling behind and on either side.

  Father Marduk stood outside on the top of the stairs just outside the temple. He turned to his right at the green Tigiri Sea, whose waters were so clear that one could see to the bottom where pure white sand lay undisturbed. The waves were calming, creating a white mist as they gently crashed along the gray stone. Serene. Such a stark contrast to the gruesome—yet necessary display of the bodies they’d left out to rot.

  If they were going to save the world, they would need to sacrifice every Mage until they found the right one.

  “Father Marduk,” a soft voice called from behind him. “I have a request for the next territory we shall search,” Brother Dagan said.

  Marduk looked over his shoulder at the aging man who had shuffled out of the temple while he was contemplating his next move. Brother Dagan’s long white hair nearly reached his knees, yet his frail body was hidden by his heavy purple robes, made even heavier by the golden crest of their sect.

  “And, where would that be?” Marduk asked. “Say Skal one more time and I will have your head on a pike.”

  Dagan's mouth opened and snapped shut. He swallowed and redness spread across his hollow cheeks.

  Marduk rolled his eyes and looked back at the darkening sky. “Just as I expected. As I said every time before, we will not risk angering the gods by invading neutral territory. Don't you think we've lost enough favor with them that we should at least honor their wishes to leave peaceful lands at peace?” Though he spoke those words, he yearned for the opportunity to enter untouched lands—lands kept safe by old rules made by dead deities and forgotten gods.

  “Of course, great leader. As you wish,” Dagan said and Marduk listened as he turned and headed toward the door.

  “But, you had something else you wanted to say.”

  He always did. Brother Dagan was a devout monk, one of the best in the sect. While he trained most of the new recruits in the mystical arts of battle and sorcery, he tended to have a knack for exerting his opinion upon Marduk. But, Marduk was a master manipulator, and had an idea to make Brother Dagan’s opinion work in his favor.

  “Well,” Brother Dagan murmured.

  “Go on.”

  Better to let the old fool take credit for the idea to invade Skal. Better to let it fall on his head if things turned out disastrous. Marduk didn't become head of the sect by taking unnecessary risks. That's what his minions were for.

  He summoned his inner rune spirit and a blue orb materialized and floated above his head, showering him with rejuvenating light. It was all he could do to keep himself from falling over in exhaustion. Marduk didn’t sleep.

  He couldn’t.

  Not after all of the things he’d done.

  Not until he put the world back the way it should be.

  “I would, but I fear you'll have my head for that as well.”

  A chuckle vibrated within Marduk's chest. “Speak freely.”

  “Thank you, Father,” he said, bowing his head. “The Stones of Tarth all point to Skal. The Stones do not lie.”

  Marduk closed his eyes. “If you think I am going to follow some stones, you have lost more than your mind. But all of your senses.”

  “But, Father. The Stones were left in this world to guide us.”

  Marduk turned to him. “They’re rocks—rocks with etchings made by blind children back when the world was cast into darkness.”

  “That may be, Father. But, the Cleric has had a vision.”

  That was interesting. Marduk lifted a thick black brow. He slid his arms into his sleeves and folded his arms under his chest. Then, he took a step forward. “Go on.”

  Hope filled Dagan’s eyes.

  Yes, they might have a valid excuse to do what Marduk wanted all this time. He knew his patience would be rewarded.

  “She says the Mage we need has been seen between the two red rivers. A true descendant of the Erani clan.”

  Go on.

  “In Skal, Father. I’m sure if the Holy Cleric dreams of this place, it cannot be against the will of the gods. Do you not agree?”

  Feigning annoyance, Marduk let out a heavy sigh. He stretched the uncomfortable silence long enough to make Dagan squirm. The Holy Cleric was nothing more than a dark elf girl who would say anything to avoid be sacrificed herself. He allowed it. The chaste monks liked to look at her, and actually believed her prophetic babblings.

  Then, he headed to the door, his rune spirit following from above his head. “Very well. Let’s go find this Mage.”

  A Look at The Blood Lottery

  Whispers. Beckoning. The trees in the distance rustled as if in greeting, urging me to take the leap, and shed my dismal life.

  If only I had the courage.

  I scraped caked-in blood from my ragged fingertips. Me and the other workers had toiled for hours while the cold wind blew at our backs.

  As I stood at the top of The Wall, overlooking what was left of the Old World, I coughed and rubbed at my frozen nose. Wetness smeared on my knuckles, only making me colder.

  From this high up, the quiet and peace was worth every frozen finger and toe. For a moment, I pretended to be free, picturing myself at the helm of a ship as it sailed across the Karcadian Sea.

  Veruth was the largest kingdom on the Aranthian continent, but none of us would know it. We’d never been outside of those walls.

  “See anything, Ava?” Ford asked, breaking me from my thoughts. He called up from the platform just below mine. “Any monsters? Anything at all?”

  I glanced down at him, his murky, brown eyes hooded by thick black hair that constantly whipped into hi
s face as the Northern winds continued their assault.

  Taking another look, I wished I had seen something. Was the mysterious Dark out there, floating around and breeding new terrors like the elves and our ancestors said?

  So far, I’d never seen it. Some wondered if it even existed. Centuries had passed since it had shown itself. No luck catching a glimpse today. But, to the east, over the city, I did see the magical Sky Keep where the elvish monks lived. Though faint, I could see wyverns flying above it, weaving in and out of the thick clouds.

  I’d give anything to go there one day, even if just for a moment.

  I shook my head. “Nothing,” I said, glancing back up as I held onto the black pole at the top of the stone structure meant to protect us from the creatures across the wall.

  The unnerving silence on the other side always captivated me since I’d taken this job. While we were slaves within the walls, there was such eerie beauty in the wilderness. As I gazed into the horizon, mountains emerged from the thick green of the forest, and the sea stretched all across the east.

  This was just my first week helping tar and stack heavy stones onto the top. For years, the humans had made the wall taller and more fortified, and each year we began to wonder whether it was meant to keep something out…or to keep us in.

  I already knew the answer to that question, but we worked nonetheless, feigning ignorance and convincing ourselves that the sun elves who had invaded our land had our safety in mind.

  “Oy,” a loud shout came from far to the right.

  I shuddered, turning to meet the hawk-like glare of Hyatt, the task master. Silvery-white hair whipped around my face as our gazes met.

  His pointed ears were red from the cold, yet the cruelty in his glowing amber eyes betrayed nothing of his discomfort.

  I dreaded the lashing of his long, enchanted whip, lip trembling as I eyed it, waiting for it to snap out and slash my face or back open.

  Damned sun elf. It was as if our peace only angered them even though we did the menial work that built the city. Nonetheless, we kept our heads down, executed our tasks, and sealed our mouths closed.

  “Get back to work,” he ordered, and everyone turned their attention to their respective jobs pulling stones up from the ground.

  There were hundreds on the wall, old and young, children, and the outcast class of gnomes. No matter where we came from, we were all slaves.

  Quickly ducking down, I accepted the next block of stone and used all of my strength to slide it to the top of the wall. As I leaned down and got the next one, a wyvern swept in, stunning me. Black wings blotted out the faint light of the sun, silver claws glistening.

  Instead of flying away, it lunged into my face, knocking me from the safety of my spot on the platform.

  I screamed. Though I tried to catch myself, another gust of wind blew at me and my descent into the foggy abyss began.

  Ford reached for me.

  He missed, his hand sliding up my arm and catching nothing but air.

  My scream caught in my throat as I realized I was falling to my inevitable death. The Wall was hundreds of feet tall, so tall that most days the clouds met us halfway, leaving mist on our faces.

  No matter how much I flailed, the fall continued to pick up speed. A cry of pain ripped from my lips as something wrapped itself around my ankle.

  I slammed into the side of the wall, foot, ankle, and leg burning with pain—pain that was nothing compared to the cracking of my skull against the stone.

  I heard them screaming my name.

  Yet, the darkness called it the loudest.

  About the Author

  K.N. Lee is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not writing twisted tales, fantasy novels, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and promotes other authors. Wannabe rockstar, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys helping others reach their writing and publishing goals. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award.

  She is signed with Dragon Roots Emporium, Hershman Rights Management, and Captive Quill Press.

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  Also by K.N. Lee

  Dawn of the Seraphim:

  The Blood Lottery

  The Fallen Wall

  The Ashen City

  The Dragon Born Saga:

  Half-Blood Dragon

  Magic-Born Dragon

  Queen of the Dragons

  War of the Dragons

  Fate of the Dragons

  Curse of the Dragons

  Wrath of the Dragons

  The Chronicles of Koa Series:

  Netherworld

  Dark Prophet

  Blood Princess

  Crimson King

  The Eura Chronicles:

  Rise of the Flame

  Night of the Storm

  Dawn of the Forgotten

  Prophecy of the Seer

  Battle of the Heirs

  Empire of Dragons Chronicles:

  Fallen Empire

  Reign of Magic

  Fire and Fury

  Dragon Realm

  The Wicked Crown:

  Throne of Deceit

  Throne of Malice

  Throne of Peril

  The Lost Heir Trilogy:

  The Lost Fae Princess

  Forbidden Magic:

  Court of Shadows

  Court of Twilight

  Fallen Gods Trilogy:

  Goddess of War

  Goddess of Ruin (Coming Soon)

  Queen of Chaos (Coming Soon)

  Wonderland University:

  The Red Queen

  The Sea Witch

  Wicked Witch

  Call of the Dragon Clans:

  Legend of Oath and Blood

  Battle for the Half-Blood Princess:

  Academy of Lost Souls

  Academy of Dark Rites