Darkrise

by M. L. Spencer

  The darkmage whirled toward him, weapon raised.

  Kyel lunged forward, plunging the dagger hilt-deep into Byron Connel’s right eye.

  The demon staggered, dropping his silver weapon on the rocks. He fell to his knees. Then he bowed forward to the ground, driving the dagger even deeper into his brain.

  Kyel stood, gasping, numbed by shock. Shaking, he dropped to a crouch at Meiran’s side, scooping her up in his arms. He sent a frantic probe into her that returned only nothingness. He threw his head back, strangling a howl.

  Power surged into him, locking his muscles tight. Too late, Kyel realized what it was. He tried, but he couldn’t let go. All he could do was scream as five tiers of violent power slammed into him from Meiran’s corpse.

  His body convulsed, his breath wrung out of him as the energies quaked his mind, wracking his brain in a firestorm of sensations. Lights exploded across his vision, a violent shower of sparks accompanied by a stabbing thrust of pain. He threw his head back and screamed his throat raw. He kept on screaming until the violent torrent of energies finally subsided, and he was left weak and shivering, dripping with sweat and drowning in tears. When it was over, Kyel collapsed on top of Meiran’s limp body, spent and wrung-out. He was panting, shaking, terrified, appalled … all at the same time.

  He let Meiran go, covering his face as he sucked a shuddering breath into trembling lungs. He tried to grasp the implications of what had just happened, but was beyond the capacity for coherent thought. He picked up a rock, the closest thing within reach, and flung it away from him as hard as he could, chasing after it with a howl. Then he reached for the hilt of Connel’s weapon, looking for anything else to throw.

  He brought the silver morning star up, drawing it back over his shoulder. He was going to hurl it off the side of the mountain like the rock. But something stopped him.

  Kyel knelt on the ground, gasping, trembling, gazing at the spiked talisman in his hand. It commanded his attention, captivating him entirely.

  A soothing warmth settled over him, calming his nerves and comforting his mind. Kyel let out a sigh, infused with a sense of strength and power he’d never known before. His hands stopped shaking.

  All the feelings of terror eased away.

  In their place, Kyel felt only a growing sense of wonder.

  To Be Continued…

  Glossary

  acolyte: apprentice mage who has passed the Trial of Consideration and sworn the Acolyte’s Oath.

  Acolyte’s Oath: first vow taken by every acolyte of Aerysius to serve the land and its people, symbolized by a chain-like marking on the left wrist.

  Aerysius: ancient city where the Masters of Aerysius dwell.

  Akins, Tom: blacksmith from Farbrook.

  Al’thartier: Venthic title that means Greatest Battlemage.

  Amani: wife of Braden Reis who was executed for treason against the Assembly of the Lyceum.

  Amberlie: town in the Vale of Amberlie below Aerysius.

  amplification: character of increasing a mage’s permeability to the magic field.

  Anassis, Myria: ancient Querer of the Lyceum, now a Servant of Xerys.

  apprentice: mage in training in the Lyceum who has passed the Trial of Consideration and sworn the oath of apprenticeship.

  Archer, Amelia: wife of Kyel Archer.

  Archer, Gilroy: baby son of Kyel Archer.

  Archer, Kyel: apprentice merchant of Coventry Township.

  Arches: enchanted monuments that guard the Hall of the Watchers and the Lyceum, allowing only mages access.

  Arman, Nashir: ancient Battlemage and Servant of Xerys.

  Arms Guild: institution for the study of blademastery. Also called the School of Arms.

  artifact: heirloom of power that has been imbued with magical characters or properties.

  Arvel: Voice of the High Priest of Wisdom.

  Assembly: the Masters of Aerysius or the Lyceum, as a collective entity.

  Asyaadi Clan: group of kinsfolk who live in the village of Qul in the Black Lands.

  Athera’s Crescent: Mysterious and ancient artifact on the Isle of Titherry.

  Atrament: the realm of Death, ruled by the goddess Isap.

  Auberdale: capital city of Chamsbrey.

  Azár ni Suam: Lightweaver of the Asyaadi Clan.

  Battle of Meridan: famous battle in which the Enemy was turned back in large part due to the efforts of the Sentinels.

  Battlemage: order of mages who accompanied armies into battle in ancient times before the Oath of Harmony.

  Black Lands: what was once Caladorn, now the desecrated home of the Enemy.

  Black Solstice: The battle that ended the Fifth Invasion.

  blademaster: title awarded to graduates of the Arms Guild.

  Blandford, General: general of the Emrish Army.

  Bloodquest: ancient rite of vengeance condoned by the goddess Isap for righteous causes.

  Bluecloaks: slang for the Rothscard city guard.

  Book of All Things: book in which the Everlasting Story is said to be scribed by the mightiest of all pens.

  Book of the Dead: ancient text wherein the Strictures of Death are inscribed.

  Bound: describes a mage who has sworn the Oath of Harmony.

  Broden: Guild blademaster employed by the Mayor of Wolden.

  Bryar, Merris: ancient acolyte of Aerysius mentored by Master Sephana Clemley.

  Bryn Calazar: ancient capital of Caladorn.

  Cadmus: Voice of the High Priest of Wisdom.

  Caladorn: ancient empire to the north, now known only as the Black Lands.

  caravansary: in the Black Lands, a large courtyard with attached rooms built for the purposes of accommodating caravans resting overnight.

  Catacombs: place of burial that exists partly in the Atrament.

  Cerulean Plains: large grassland region in the North.

  Chamber of Egress: rooms containing transfer portals between both Aerysius and the Lyceum. Relics left behind of an ancient past when the two schools of magic enjoyed better relations.

  Chamsbrey: Northern kingdom ruled by Godfrey Faukravar.

  Circle of Convergence: focus of magic designed to draw on the vast power of a vortex.

  clan: in the Black Lands, a kin-based group of close, interrelated families.

  Clemley, Sephana: ancient Prime Warden of Aerysius and lover of Braden Reis.

  colleges of magic: the Hall of the Watchers in Aerysius and the Lyceum in Bryn Calazar.

  Connel, Byron: ancient Battlemage of the Lyceum, now a Servant of Xerys.

  Corlan, Finneus: first tier Master of the Order of Sentinels.

  Covendrey: town in the kingdom of Lynnley.

  Craghorns: mountains that border the Vale of Amberlie.

  Craig, Devlin: captain of Greystone Keep.

  Creek Hollow: town in the Vale of Amberlie.

  Cromm, Cedric: author of The Mysteries of Aerysius.

  Cummings, Chadwick: advisor to the King of Chamsbrey.

  Curse, the: term used to describe the darkening of the skies and earth of the Black Lands, as well as for the unusual weather patterns and electrical storms experienced in the region.

  dakura: ancient derogatory term used by the Jenn for the city-dwelling people of Caladorn.

  dampen: to shield a mage from sensing the magic field.

  damper: an object that has the ability to dampen a mage from sensing the magic field.

  darkmage: a mage who has made a compact with Xerys.

  Death’s Passage: see Catacombs.

  Desco: priest of Deshari.

  Desecration, the: the apocalyptic event that destroyed Caladorn by blackening the skies and the earth.

  destrier: various breeds of large warhorse.

  Eight, the: the Eight Servants of Xerys.

  elam: a writing stick

  Elessar: ancient warlord of the Omeyan Jenn.

  Emmery: Northern kingdom of the Rhen.

  Emmery Palace: the Queen’s palace i
n Rothscard.

  Enemy, the: collective name for inhabitants of the Black Lands.

  Everlasting Story: according to Harbingers, the ever-evolving story that chronicles all the events in the world.

  eye: area at the heart of a vortex where the lines of the magic field run almost parallel.

  Farbrook: town in the Vale of Amberlie.

  Faukravar, Godfrey: King of Chamsbrey, also known as the Vile Prince.

  field lines: currents of the magic field.

  Field of Tol-Ranier: ancient battle site near Auberdale.

  First Sentinel, the: see Braden Reis.

  First Among Many: in the combined legions of Malikar, second-in-command to the Warden of Battlemages. The highest ranking officer who is not a mage.

  Flynn, Tyrius: fourth tier Grand Master of the Order of Sentinels.

  Front, the: area bordering the Black Lands.

  Gannet: town in the Vale below Aerysius.

  Gateway: portal to the Netherworld.

  Glen Farquist: holy city in the Valley of the Gods.

  Goddess of the Eternal Requiem: statue of an aspect of the Goddess of Death; her face of Righteous Vengeance.

  Grand Master: any mage of the fourth tier or higher.

  Grand Resonance: theoretical acceleration of the magic field that produces a cataclysmic chain reaction.

  Great Lady: title of honor applied to any female Master or Grand Master.

  Great Master: title of honor applied to any male Master or Grand Master.

  Great Schism: separation between the Assemblies of mages and the ruling bodies of the temples.

  Greystone Keep: legendary fortress in the Pass of Lor-Gamorth.

  Hall of the Watchers: Stronghold of the mages of Aerysius, where exists Aerysius’ Circle of Convergence.

  Hannah, Arden: ancient Querer, now a Servant of Xerys.

  Hellpower: see Onslaught.

  Henley, Corban: formerly of the Vale, now a soldier of Greystone Keep.

  High Priest: title of the religious leader of one of the ten Holy Temples.

  hyphal artifact: an artifact that is grown instead of wrought.

  Ironguard Pass: passage from the Black Lands into the Rhen created by Aiden Lauchlin.

  Isap: Goddess of Death.

  Ishara: border town in the Black Lands, in the region once known as Skara.

  Isle of Titherry: Isle off the coast of the Rhen where exists the artifact known as Athera’s Crescent.

  Jenn: nomadic horse culture of the Cerulean Plains.

  Kateem, Khoresh: infamous Emperor who united all of Caladorn under a singular rule before the Desecration.

  Kayna: woman of the Jenn, wife of Ranoch.

  Khazahar Desert: arid region in the Black Lands that was once an expansive grassland.

  Krane, Cyrus: ancient Prime Warden of Aerysius, now a Servant of Xerys.

  Landry, Clement: Minister of State to the King of Chamsbrey.

  Larsen, Ellen: wife of Traver Larsen.

  Larsen, Traver: friend of Kyel Archer.

  Lauchlin, Aidan: first tier Master of the Order of Empiricists. Firstborn son of Gerald and Emelda Lauchlin.

  Lauchlin, Darien: second son of Gerald and Emelda Lauchlin.

  Lauchlin, Emelda: Prime Warden of Aerysius. First tier Master of the Order of Chancellors.

  Lauchlin, Gerald: father of Aidan and Darien Lauchlin, fourth tier Grand Master of the Order of Sentinels. Murdered by ritual immolation during the Battle of Meridan (deceased).

  lightfields: in the Black Lands, places where food is grown using light produced by mages called Lightweavers.

  Lightweaver: in the Black Lands, mages who have the ability to produce a color of magelight that mimics the full spectrum of the sun.

  Lyceum: ancient stronghold of the mages of Bryn Calazar.

  Lynnley: Kingdom of the Rhen.

  Mage’s Oath: see Oath of Harmony.

  magelight: magical illumination that takes on the hue of the mage’s signature color.

  magic field: source of magical energy that runs in lines of power over the earth.

  Maidenclaw: one of the two mountains that mark the entrance of the Black Lands.

  Malikar: modern name of the nation that was once Caladorn.

  Master: any mage; more specifically, a mage of the first through third tier.

  Meridan: see Battle of Meridan.

  motive character: in an artifact, the ability to create a force that produces motion.

  Mountains of Cedar: ancient name for the Shadowspear Mountains, before the Desecration. Sajar-Asharu in Venthic.

  Mysteries of Aerysius, The: authoritative text on the subject of the Masters of Aerysius.

  nach’tier: word for darkmage in the language of the Enemy.

  Natural Law: law that governs the workings of the universe that can be strained by the application of magic, but never broken.

  necrator: demonic creature that renders a mage powerless in its presence.

  Nelle, Lynnea: first tier Master of the Order of Querers.

  Netherworld: realm of Xerys, God of Chaos.

  Newell, Alexa: serving girl in Creek Hollow.

  node: place where the lines of the magic field come together in parallel direction but opposite in energy and cancel out.

  Nordric, Ezras: fifth tier Grand Master of the Order of Sentinels.

  Norengail, Romana: Queen of Emmery.

  North, the: the Northern kingdoms of the Rhen, including Emmery, Chamsbrey and Lynnley.

  Nym: ancient river in the Black Lands once considered sacred.

  Oath of Harmony: oath taken by every Master of Aerysius to do no harm, symbolized by a chain-like marking on the right wrist.

  Oblivion: outcome for a soul who is denied entry into both the Atrament and the Netherworld, which results in the complete destruction of that soul and the denial of eternity.

  Omeyan Clan: ancient clan of the Jenn led by Elessar.

  Onslaught: the corrupt power of the netherworld, also known as the Hellfire.

  orders: different schools of magic.

  Orguleth: one of the two mountains that mark the entrance to the Black Lands. Also called the Spire of Orguleth.

  Orien Oathbreaker: infamous Grand Master who used the Circle of Convergence on Orien’s Finger to turn back the Third Invasion almost single-handedly.

  Orien’s Finger: crag on the edge of the Cerulean Plains where Orien Oathbreaker made his stand.

  Qadir, Sareen: ancient Querer and one the Eight Servants of Xerys .

  Qul: village in the Khazahar Desert in the Black Lands.

  Pass of Lor-Gamorth: pass through the Shadowspear Mountains that guards the border of the Black Lands.

  Penthos, Luther: High Priest of the Temple of Death.

  potential: ability in a person to sense the magic field.

  Pratson, Blake: Mayor of Wolden.

  Prime Warden: leader of the Assembly of the Hall. Literally, the ‘First Guardian’ of the Rhen.

  Proctor, Garret: legendary Force Commander of Greystone Keep.

  Raising: Rite of Transference, during which an acolyte inherits the legacy of power from another mage.

  Rakkah: the final test of an apprentice Battlemage

  Ranoch: man of the Jenn, husband of Kayna.

  Reis, Braden: ancient Caladornian Battlemage who was executed for treason against the Assembly of the Lyceum. Founder of the Oath of Harmony and the Order of Sentinels.

  Reis, Quinlan: ancient Arcanist and brother of Braden Reis. One of the Eight Servants of Xerys.

  Remzi, Devrim: ancient first tier Master of the Order of Empiricists who wrote Treatise on the Well of Tears.

  Renquist, Zavier: ancient Prime Warden of the Lyceum, now a Servant of Xerys.

  Rhen: name of the collective kingdoms south of the Black Lands.

  Rhenic: common language spoken throughout the kingdoms of the Rhen.

  rika: ceremonial beverage served by the people of the Khazahar during times of celebration or times o
f woe.

  Rothscard: capital city of Emmery.

  Royce, Sutton: captain of Greystone Keep and Guild blademaster.

  saturation: Battlemage tactic of overloading with magical power in anticipation of creating an enormous discharge of force.

  Sayeed son of Alborz: Zakai of the Tanisar corps at Tokashi Palace.

  School of Arms: see Arms Guild.

  Seleni, Naia: priestess of Death.

  sensitive: ability in some people to detect the emotions of others. Not dependent on the magic field, and not limited to mages.

  Sentinels: order of mages chartered with the defense of the Rhen.

  Shadowspears: mountains that border the Black Lands.

  sharaq: ancient system of honor code of the Black Lands.

  Silver Star: symbol of the Masters of Aerysius, indicative of the focus lines of the Circles of Convergence.

  Skara: ancient city in the Black Lands that was destroyed during the Desecration.

  Soulstone: ancient artifact that is a storage receptacle for a dying mage’s legacy.

  South, the: Southern kingdoms of the Rhen, including Creston, Gandrish, and Farley.

  Spire of the Hall: tower of the Hall of the Watchers where the Masters keep their residence.

  Strictures of Death: laws of Death.

  Structural Resonance: acceleration of the magic field that produces a harmonic instability in the field capable of destroying large structures.

  Superposition: within a vortex, where several lines of the magic field combine and produce a vast well of power.

  Swain, Nigel: Guild blademaster, formerly Captain of the Guard in Aerysius, currently Captain of the Guard in Rothscard.

  Tanisar corps: legions of highly disciplined elite infantry units of the Khazahar.

  Tarkendar: breed of destrier, or warhorse.

  Tarpen, Wade: soldier of Greystone Keep.

  temples: various sects of worship. Each temple is devoted to a particular deity of the pantheon.

  thanacryst: demonic creature that feeds off a mage’s gift.

  thar’tier: word for Battlemage in the language of the Enemy.

  Thar’gon: magical talisman carried by Byron Connel that is the symbol of the Warden of Battlemages of the Lyceum.

  tier: additive levels of power among Masters. The higher a Master’s tier, the greater that person’s ability to strain the limits of Natural Law.