John H. Carroll's Blog, page 4
August 9, 2015
First Lines in my books
First lines
The first line of a book can make a big impact. You know, like "A Tale of Two Cities":
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
Or,
It was a dark and stormy night . . . —Snoopy (Actually, it was Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford (1830))
So I decided to go through and make a list of the first lines of all my books.
Why
Because before I can write the rest of the lines, I need a first line. It seems a bit arbitrary, but someone decided that first would come . . . well . . . first.
No, really, why are you posting these lines?
Well, I thought about it . . .
Obviously
Ahem . . . and I wanted to see how they measured up. I want to know if they're any good.
Also, after looking them over, I'm hoping to gain some insight.
Insight as to what?
Ummm . . . Good question. A lot of writers agonize over the first line. It truly is important. I spend a good deal of time on it, often a couple of hours total before publishing. I'm never completely satisfied, but I go on and write the rest of the story.
I suppose I'm looking to gain insight as to how they relate to each other, insight as to how to make first lines better, and perhaps insight as to how to change these first lines to grab the readers' attention when they pick the books up (or read the samples online as the case may be).
DO IT!
Wow! Push, aren't we! Very well, here we go:
Ryallon Series
Dralin Trilogy
Dralin
“Hello, pretty little miss."
Ebudae
While in the gloomy ruins of an ancient city below Dralin, Ebudae and Pelya had discovered a temple dedicated to an unknown god.
Pelya
Sir Hamil Imbra, Knight Champion of the Goddess Reanna, floated high above the glasslike waters of Wraith Lake where the wisps of chaos drifting over its surface couldn’t reach.
Willden Trilogy
Rojuun
Tathan was a tall man of twenty-nine years with short, curly black hair framing a face tanned by travel.
Anilyia
Tathan made no sound as he walked toward the northern wall of the city, a place he liked to go to look at reflections of the moons in Trohiin Lake.
Kethril
“Vevin is Evil.”
Wyvern Trilogy
Wyvern
Pelya’s sapphire-blue eyes sparkled in the heavy afternoon sun.
Liquid
Pelya sucked air into her lungs and ignored the sweat stinging her eyes.
Crazed Trilogy
Liselle
Gurbin was hungry.
Stand Alone
Rain Glade
Rain opened her eyes as morning rays peeked through cracks in the eaves next to her straw bed.
Stories for Demented Children
The Emo Bunny that Should
Emo the Bunny was sad.
Zachary Zombie and the Lost Boy
Tobias was determined to catch the emo bunny.
Drippy the Peg Legged Rainbow
Rainbows have existed throughout the universe since shortly after its inception.
Unholy Cow
“I hope they throw out some delicious leftovers,” Abel the raven cawed eagerly from a nearby branch.
Attack of the Sugar Plum Fairies
Light from tall streetlamps illuminated the snow that drifted lazily down to the cobblestones.
Phairyphant
Elly zipped through a grouping of trees that provided shade for creatures of the savanna.
Naughty Nanoworms
Albert mumbled happily about the half-eaten Halibut Burger he had found in the dumpster at his
favorite Fish Burgers fast food restaurant.
Zachary Zombie and the Wicked Worm
Zachary Zombie and his three zombie henchmen reached the secret entrance to the moss and ivy-covered tower they had spent days searching for.
Steampunk Roo
Governor Kevin Koala met Steampunk Roo at the edge of Steampunk City.
Pow the Panda, The Case of the Rainbow Dragon
In the roaring year of 1925, business was good for a hard-working private eye in Chinatown.
Novella
Alien Coffee
Jillian tried to take a sip of her coffee, only to look at the barren mug in disgust before setting it back down with a sigh.
Short Stories
Blue Haired Alien Girlfriend
Lisa stared at the last of three orientation tapes with glassy eyes, her chin propped in hands with elbows on knees.
Test Pilot
“Who named this place ‘Moonbase City’?”
Don't Ever Change
Lori walked through one of the smaller commons during lunch.
The Storage Room in the Grey Void
Hilda looked at her pretty dress.
What's your favorite?
I really like all the opening lines of the Dralin Trilogy. The opening line of Liselle is great, simple but with a lot of meaning. You can do a lot with just a few words.
"Vevin is Evil" is possibly the most powerful if you know what happened in the previous books of the trilogy.
But my favorite is:
Emo the Bunny was sad.
I think I like it, partially because of the character and the story. It's very near and dear to my heart. As far as the line goes, it's almost redundant. It also sets the tone of the character and the story, which hold true to the first line.
What's your least favorite?
Zachary Zombie and the Wicked Worm
Zachary Zombie and his three zombie henchmen reached the secret entrance to the moss and ivy-covered tower they had spent days searching for.
I need to fix that. It's not interesting at all. Also, I use the word "for" at the end of the sentence. It's a terrible word to use at the end. Honestly, all of my later Stories for Demented Children have weak first lines. I'll have to work on that.
So now that you're finished, did you gain any insights?
Well . . . yes. There are a few I want to change right away. I see what works and what doesn't. That's 25 opening lines, which is a good sample size. I think I can use this information to improve future works too.
I'd be interested to hear which ones are the readers favorites and least favorites too. Please let me know in the comments, or on Facebook or Twitter.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
The first line of a book can make a big impact. You know, like "A Tale of Two Cities":
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
Or,
It was a dark and stormy night . . . —Snoopy (Actually, it was Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford (1830))
So I decided to go through and make a list of the first lines of all my books.
Why
Because before I can write the rest of the lines, I need a first line. It seems a bit arbitrary, but someone decided that first would come . . . well . . . first.
No, really, why are you posting these lines?
Well, I thought about it . . .
Obviously
Ahem . . . and I wanted to see how they measured up. I want to know if they're any good.
Also, after looking them over, I'm hoping to gain some insight.
Insight as to what?
Ummm . . . Good question. A lot of writers agonize over the first line. It truly is important. I spend a good deal of time on it, often a couple of hours total before publishing. I'm never completely satisfied, but I go on and write the rest of the story.
I suppose I'm looking to gain insight as to how they relate to each other, insight as to how to make first lines better, and perhaps insight as to how to change these first lines to grab the readers' attention when they pick the books up (or read the samples online as the case may be).
DO IT!
Wow! Push, aren't we! Very well, here we go:
Ryallon Series
Dralin Trilogy
Dralin
“Hello, pretty little miss."
Ebudae
While in the gloomy ruins of an ancient city below Dralin, Ebudae and Pelya had discovered a temple dedicated to an unknown god.
Pelya
Sir Hamil Imbra, Knight Champion of the Goddess Reanna, floated high above the glasslike waters of Wraith Lake where the wisps of chaos drifting over its surface couldn’t reach.
Willden Trilogy
Rojuun
Tathan was a tall man of twenty-nine years with short, curly black hair framing a face tanned by travel.
Anilyia
Tathan made no sound as he walked toward the northern wall of the city, a place he liked to go to look at reflections of the moons in Trohiin Lake.
Kethril
“Vevin is Evil.”
Wyvern Trilogy
Wyvern
Pelya’s sapphire-blue eyes sparkled in the heavy afternoon sun.
Liquid
Pelya sucked air into her lungs and ignored the sweat stinging her eyes.
Crazed Trilogy
Liselle
Gurbin was hungry.
Stand Alone
Rain Glade
Rain opened her eyes as morning rays peeked through cracks in the eaves next to her straw bed.
Stories for Demented Children
The Emo Bunny that Should
Emo the Bunny was sad.
Zachary Zombie and the Lost Boy
Tobias was determined to catch the emo bunny.
Drippy the Peg Legged Rainbow
Rainbows have existed throughout the universe since shortly after its inception.
Unholy Cow
“I hope they throw out some delicious leftovers,” Abel the raven cawed eagerly from a nearby branch.
Attack of the Sugar Plum Fairies
Light from tall streetlamps illuminated the snow that drifted lazily down to the cobblestones.
Phairyphant
Elly zipped through a grouping of trees that provided shade for creatures of the savanna.
Naughty Nanoworms
Albert mumbled happily about the half-eaten Halibut Burger he had found in the dumpster at his
favorite Fish Burgers fast food restaurant.
Zachary Zombie and the Wicked Worm
Zachary Zombie and his three zombie henchmen reached the secret entrance to the moss and ivy-covered tower they had spent days searching for.
Steampunk Roo
Governor Kevin Koala met Steampunk Roo at the edge of Steampunk City.
Pow the Panda, The Case of the Rainbow Dragon
In the roaring year of 1925, business was good for a hard-working private eye in Chinatown.
Novella
Alien Coffee
Jillian tried to take a sip of her coffee, only to look at the barren mug in disgust before setting it back down with a sigh.
Short Stories
Blue Haired Alien Girlfriend
Lisa stared at the last of three orientation tapes with glassy eyes, her chin propped in hands with elbows on knees.
Test Pilot
“Who named this place ‘Moonbase City’?”
Don't Ever Change
Lori walked through one of the smaller commons during lunch.
The Storage Room in the Grey Void
Hilda looked at her pretty dress.
What's your favorite?
I really like all the opening lines of the Dralin Trilogy. The opening line of Liselle is great, simple but with a lot of meaning. You can do a lot with just a few words.
"Vevin is Evil" is possibly the most powerful if you know what happened in the previous books of the trilogy.
But my favorite is:
Emo the Bunny was sad.
I think I like it, partially because of the character and the story. It's very near and dear to my heart. As far as the line goes, it's almost redundant. It also sets the tone of the character and the story, which hold true to the first line.
What's your least favorite?
Zachary Zombie and the Wicked Worm
Zachary Zombie and his three zombie henchmen reached the secret entrance to the moss and ivy-covered tower they had spent days searching for.
I need to fix that. It's not interesting at all. Also, I use the word "for" at the end of the sentence. It's a terrible word to use at the end. Honestly, all of my later Stories for Demented Children have weak first lines. I'll have to work on that.
So now that you're finished, did you gain any insights?
Well . . . yes. There are a few I want to change right away. I see what works and what doesn't. That's 25 opening lines, which is a good sample size. I think I can use this information to improve future works too.
I'd be interested to hear which ones are the readers favorites and least favorites too. Please let me know in the comments, or on Facebook or Twitter.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
August 1, 2015
"Liquid", Wyvern Trilogy Book 2: Chapter 1
This is the final edit of Chapter 1.
***************** SPOILERS *************** IF YOU HAVE NOT READ "WYVERN", BOOK 1 OF THE WYVERN TRILOGY, THIS EXCERPT HAS MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR THAT STORY.
You can find "Wyvern", Book 1 at these stores:
SmashwordsAmazonAppleBarnes & NobleKobo
You can find "Liquid" at these stores:
AmazonAmazon UKAmazon CAAmazon AUAppleBarnes & NobleKoboSmashwords
Liquid Chapter 1
Pelya sucked air into her lungs and ignored the sweat stinging her eyes. She deflected Commander Brynin’s thrust with her primary sword. The ringing of metal on metal echoed off stone walls enclosing the grassy courtyard. Her secondary sword flashed through the air in a counterattack.
The commander twirled through the air just out of reach. Blistering sunlight sparkled off her short-cropped red hair.
Tina rounded a nearby tree to the commander’s flank. She feinted low before turning a two-handed slash upward.
Steel chimed as the commander parried the blow with her enchanted blade. Her bare foot came around to land a glancing blow on Tina’s chin. The young woman’s ponytail flew around to smack her cheek.
Tina shifted her feet to regain balance and tried to sneak her blade into the woman’s side. At the same time, Pelya swung both of her swords, one high and one low.
The high one made contact.
Commander Brynin flipped backward and landed in a crouch on her toes. Shock registered in rose-pink eyes as a thin line of blood appeared on her cheek. “You cut me!”
Tina crowed in triumph. “She did!”
The commander saluted them with her sword raised. “We’re finished sparring for today. Well done, both of you. Tina, you’re improving.” She sheathed the blade
“I still can’t compete with either of you.” Tina saluted the commander before falling dramatically to the grass, gasping for breath. “Casting that protection spell you taught me makes it harder to get through the long battles, Pelya.”
Pelya also saluted the commander. To Tina she said, “Yes, but each time you cast it, it takes a little less effort. It’ll save your life as it has mine.”
Commander Brynin helped her niece up. “Pelya was right to teach it to you, Tina. I felt it resist my attacks. I felt yours too, Pelya. It’s quite the trick in addition to your ample skill. That’s the first time your blade has ever touched me. I must be losing my edge.”
“You’re slow as an emo bunny, Commander. Hardly a test at all.” She grinned.
Brynin put her hand on her hip. “That’s why you’re sweating like a carnivorous fairy lost in the desert and why my niece was flopping on the ground, gulping air like a fish out of water.”
Pelya wiped a sleeve across her brow, thankful for the slight breeze rustling through leaves. “I pay attention to your methods and learn every time we spar.” She glanced over the condition of her swords, both her personal property. The primary was made of light steel with runes of enchantment. It darted through the air like a hummingbird when she swished it. The secondary was shorter but deadlier. The glistening metal stayed sharp and clean even without etched runes like those the primary had. She sheathed them, took her gloves off and tucked those in her sword belt.
“I’ve noticed you learning my tricks and trying them on me.” The commander waggled a finger at Pelya. “You have natural talent, an indomitable work ethic and cunning. You improve each time you engage an opponent.”
Tina pulled her russet hair out of its ponytail and ran fingers through the sweat-soaked strands. “But you still cut Pelya a few times, Aunt Reela. I can’t even do that much.”
Commander Brynin threw an arm over Pelya’s shoulders. “That’s because I’m a swordmaster sixth class and she’s only classified as swordmaster second class. She could qualify for third class.” The commander ran a finger along Pelya’s cheek.
Pelya pulled away.
Brynin caught Pelya’s chin. “I did cut you a few times, including once across the forehead. I saw the blood. Now it’s gone.”
Pelya’s jaw clenched shut as an intricate orange tattoo covering the left half of her torso exerted control. It had performed the healing and didn’t like when people noticed. The dragon mark was a reward from a dragon for saving its baby. However, the magic of the mark physically prevented her from answering questions about it. It remained invisible on her skin unless taxed to heal or protect her.
The commander narrowed her eyes. “I sense my mind being pushed.” She tapped one of her dangling earrings with a finger. “If I didn’t have these little charms to protect my mind from enchantment, I’d probably forget yet again that you have no scars. Tell me how you manage it.”
The tattoo heated in protest. The muscles in her body tightened.
“Are you playing a game with me, Pelya?”
The dragon mark squeezed Pelya’s lungs and set her bones on fire. She didn’t understand why it punished her when someone else asked questions. Pelya fell to her knees, screaming through teeth clenched near to breaking. Darkness surrounded the edges of her vision.
Brynin took Pelya’s cheeks in her hands. “I withdraw my question! Release her, foul geas!”
The pressure released, allowing a breath of desperate air to shudder down Pelya’s throat. She collapsed into the commander’s arms, her muscles drained of strength.
“I’m sorry, Pelya. No more questions.” The commander helped Pelya to her feet and steadied her.
“Let’s have some chilled juice in my office.”
Pelya clutched the commander’s shoulder for support. It had reached the point where she no longer cared how many times the dragon mark had save her. She wanted it gone.
A flash of heat burned her bones to punish her for the thought. Then it hid from her memory until the next time it would be needed.
Pelya grunted in pain and sent a silent curse after it.
The commander helped her along a path bordered by flowerbeds. When they reached the courtyard door, Tina opened it and stepped aside to let them in first.
The manor was cool after stepping in from the summer heat. Tina and Pelya paused to remove their boots before stepping onto soft, expensive carpet that ran the length of the hallway. Brynin’s feet were already bare as usual. “Thank you for taking those off. The carpet lasts much longer that way. Besides, feet are happier out of the artificial prisons you two call shoes.”
“Those are boots, not shoes, Aunt Reela,” Tina said in her peppy voice. Her smile lit twinkling grey eyes.
A corner of the commander’s mouth twisted in amusement. There was a hint of familial resemblance in their thin noses and rounded cheekbones. “They’re atrocious, whatever you call them.”
Tina held the door to Brynin’s personal office open. The interior was lush with a beautiful whitewood desk. To the left of the door was a sitting area with a whitewood table that matched. Priceless tapestries and paintings bordered the window to the courtyard. Wall to wall carpeting caught their steps in its soft embrace.
To the right of the door was a large globe with swaths of blue, brown and green. Floating mystically around it were Ryallon’s two moons, Siahray and Piohray.
Commander Brynin took a seat in a comfortable chair behind the desk. Pelya and Tina flopped into chairs across from it. The commander leaned back and kicked her feet on the corner of the desk. “Do the two of you know what Liquid Wyverns are?”
Pelya stretched. “They’re powerful magical artifacts. I saw one on a tour of the library at the University of Settatt when I was a recruit. It moved and seemed to look at me. If I remember correctly, they consist of a mixture of metals such as gold, silver and platinum in their liquid state. Powerful archmages merge the metals with other ingredients and imbue the devices with more magic than can be placed into something solid. Gems are added to focus power.”
“I won’t ask who told you all that. I’m not in the mood to arrest anyone today.” The commander folded her hands over her stomach. “About fifty years after the Blue Wyverns were formed, communications became a problem for the fast growing organization. When things went wrong far away, there was no way of knowing until messengers arrived with reports. By then it was too late to rescue soldiers in danger.”
“Which is why the Blue Wyverns strive to engineer better highways in the kingdoms that employ us,” Pelya responded. “We establish waypoints along them to increase the speed of communication.”
“I bet there’s more to it than that,” Tina said.
Brynin winked. “Very good, my pretty little niece.” She pointed a warning finger at both of them. “I’m trusting you with one of the closest kept secrets in the Wyverns now. This is confidential.”
They nodded.
“Academy Commander Vernt came up with the idea for Liquid Wyverns all those years ago. They are now in twenty-two Blue Wyvern garrisons throughout the countries we operate in. They act as a communication and tracking system for the Blue Wyverns. Each one has a troop of Academy-trained wizards called Liquid Mages who interpret the messages sent between them.
Pelya gave a low whistle. “That’s complicated and powerful magic.”
“Yes it is.” The commander held out a hand and studied her fingernails. “In addition to that, every recruit who graduates to become a Blue Wyvern is entered into the system using a drop of blood.”
“That’s why they wanted our blood,” Tina remarked. “I never understood that.”
“Yes.” Brynin dropped her feet to the floor and leaned forward on the desk. “Now, the extraordinary thing about Liquid Wyverns is that they know the health of every Blue Wyvern. Whenever a member dies, an alarm is activated in the nearest Liquid Wyvern. A wizard will be able to tell how many soldiers have perished in addition to who they are.”
Pelya mouthed, “Wow.”
“The original Liquid Wyvern is at the Academy here in Settatt, which is the one you saw, Pelya. As the Blue Wyverns expanded, keeping track of everyone was more than it could handle. Another was created, and then another. Academy Commander Vernt realized that a central device would have to be made to handle the growing number. Thus, the Settatt Wyvern here at Headquarters was created. You won’t see that one.”
“But I want to see it,” Tina said.
“Tough.” The commander smirked. “Vernt invited a few powerful archmages he knew to assist him in making the Settatt Wyvern. It stands at fifteen hands tall and forty-two hands long. Vernt wasn’t able to find a lone sapphire large enough for the heart. Instead, he took a number of the largest sapphires he could get and cast them in a powerful heart shaped device that came to be called the Heart of Settatt.”
“You’re telling us a great deal.” Pelya nibbled on a fingernail, a habit Tina abhorred. “I must admit curiosity as to why.”
Brynin nodded. “There’s a lot I’m not telling you. But I trust you both and it’s important for you to understand the gravity of your assignment.”
Tina slapped Pelya’s hand away from her mouth. “Which is? . . .”
“I’m getting to that.” The commander stood and walked to the window. “There are currently three magicians in the world capable of making the Liquid Wyverns. One lives in Zimth, the Capital city of Swelth. The White Talon Company should be picking up a newly made wyvern from him in twenty days. Their task is to bring it back here to tune it with the Settatt Wyvern.”
“The White Talon Company is one of the best,” Tina said. “Do you expect trouble, Aunt Reela?”
“I’ve heard a couple of whispers. Your mission is to get in touch with my contacts in Zimth and investigate those whispers.”
Pelya raised her eyebrows hopefully. “Any chance it could be the Guild of Scales? Those papers I recovered last year mentioned they were out to ruin the Blue Wyverns. If you’d just let me read them . . .”
“She did discover them after all,” Tina contributed, “along with exposing the old Recruit Commander who was sabotaging basic training.”
Brynin gave a long-suffering sigh. “Yes, I know. She’s obsessed with the man who killed most of her squad in Dralin. As I’ve explained countless times, the papers are sealed away in a vault and can’t be opened except by order of the Council of Eight, which isn’t going to happen.”
Pelya leaned her elbow on the arm of the chair and rested her chin on her fist. She stared at the globe and wondered where the man named Laen might be.
Tina patted Pelya’s leg. “Do you think the Guild of Scales will try to steal the Liquid Wyvern, Aunt Reela?”
“No. There’s nothing in the whispers that suggest anything about the Guild.” Frustration crept into her voice. “I don’t want you wasting time trying to make a connection that doesn’t exist.” Brynin retrieved a jug with runes around its base to keep it chilled. She poured them each a cup of juice.
“We won’t, Aunt Reela.” Tina shot Pelya an apologetic look before asking the commander, “Do you want us to do anything besides investigate the whispers? It’ll take us longer than twenty days to get to Zimth. The White Talon Company should be on the road by then.”
Pelya leaned toward Tina and whispered loud enough for the commander to hear. “She probably wants us to find out more information about the Rojuun.”
Tina chuckled. ”Probably.”
The Rojuun were Brynin’s obsession. Discovering information about them was one of Pelya and Tina’s permanent tasks. A few years earlier, in Dralin, Pelya had met one and helped him rescue others that were imprisoned. It was the last time she had seen one.
The commander didn’t share in their amusement. “The White Talon Company will be on the road by the time you reach them. Check with their Captain, Leacy Emaate, and make certain all is well. Once you’ve done that, continue to Zimth. I still want you to investigate the whispers even though I don’t believe there’s much credibility to them . . . and yes, see if you can learn anything about the Rojuun.”
“Where do we start?” Pelya asked.
“I have two contacts you can get in touch with. The first is a merchant of exotic goods by the name of Tumera. She has a store called the Tiwari Gem just off the City Market.” Brynin returned to her seat and nursed the juice while she kicked her feet back on the desk. “People talk to her easily, telling her stories from all over the continent and even beyond. Her grandmother was a member of the Wyverns. Tumera always loved the old tales the woman told to her. She also knows to keep her ears open for word of Rojuun.”
Tina fidgeted in her chair, never one to sit still for long. “Who’s the other contact?”
“Everyone calls him Idget.”
Tina frowned. “That’s not encouraging.”
“Don’t let the name fool you,” Brynin said. “He’s clever like a fox but acts the part of an ox.”
Pelya raised an eyebrow. “You’ve become a poet?”
“I’d torture you by reciting some, but I don’t have enough rope to keep you tied to the chair.” Brynin grinned. “Idget is a thief and a sneak. He pretends stupidity in order to loosen people’s tongues. Don’t underestimate him.”
Tina’s brow furrowed. “Is it safe to deal with a thief?”
“It’s never safe to deal with a thief,” Pelya said. “They make some of the best informants though. Just remember not to trust everything they tell you. Always look for their true motive.”
Brynin nodded. “Let Pelya handle him. She dealt with far worse when she lived in Dralin. To get in touch with Idget, you have to speak to Rymon, the bartender at the Black Moon Tavern. Tell him, ‘horses are stupid,’ and he’ll get you in touch.”
“Horses are stupid?” Tina asked with a laugh.
The commander shrugged. “I never learned the meaning. I suppose I could, I just don’t care enough to do so.”
“Should we speak to the mage who’s making this new Liquid Wyvern?” Tina asked.
“Yes. That would be Professor Klunjun of the Dayblossom Orphanage. He’s an archmage, but few people know that. I doubt he’ll know anything about the rumors. His head is too deep into his work, but it won’t hurt to ask. He lives in the northern tower, which is cluttered with books and magical items from what I understand. He’s reported to be just as messy as his tower.”
“What about the city?” Pelya asked. “I don’t know much about Zimth.”
“Mother took me there once,” Tina said. “I nearly broke my neck gawking at the sights. I think Zimth is one of the prettiest cities around.”
“It’s also one of the most disorganized cities in the world,” Brynin added. “There isn’t a straight road anywhere in Zimth. The buildings are oddly shaped and don’t fit quite right.”
Tina laughed. “That’s true. We got lost a few times, but that was part of the fun. Can you give us specifics about the whispers you’ve heard, Aunt Reela?”
“Idget heard from one of his connections that a group of mercenaries was hired to create a riot around the time when the White Talon Company is supposed to pick up the Liquid Wyvern. He wasn’t able to discern a connection other than the timing, but it’s my job to worry about those things.”
“Coincidences are often planned in my experience,” Pelya said.
“Exactly.” Brynin steepled her hands in front of her chin. “Tumera heard a pair of customers discussing the creation of an artifact. They stopped talking when they noticed her. It’s not much, but I don’t know of any other artifacts being created in Zimth. She also sent me these.” The commander opened a drawer and tossed three coins on the desk. “This is the first time I’ve seen these.”
They were small with intricate designs on them. Copper was the smallest of the three with silver and gold being similar sizes. Pelya picked up the silver. “You can find just about every type of coin that exists in Dralin, but I’ve never seen these either.”
“It’s called ‘uun’. It’s what Rojuun use for currency.” Brynin tapped each one. “Four copper uuns make a silver uun and eight silver uuns make a gold uun. Tumera got these from someone who escaped from Rojuun territory.”
Pelya’s head jerked up. “Really? What else did they tell her?”
“She said she has too much information to put in writing.” Brynin pointed at them. “That’s why the two of you need to get to Zimth as fast as possible. Find and speak to the person Tumera got these from if at all possible.”
Tina sighed dramatically. “Don’t you want us to take a few days off first, Aunt Reela? We’ve been traveling since we graduated from the Academy and not a day’s rest.”
Brynin got to her feet and leaned her hands on the desk. “You’ve had plenty of rest over the last week since you’ve been in Settatt. Get going.”
That wasn’t entirely true considering Pelya and Tina had been debriefing the commander the entire time. However, they weren’t about to test her resolve. They jumped up and saluted her with the edge of their hands to foreheads. Then they gave her hugs and headed out.
***
Pelya sat atop Honey, a spirited chestnut warhorse with flowing blonde mane. Humidity caused Pelya and Tina’s undershirts to stick to skin as they rode out of Settatt on the graveled southern highway. Sleeveless black tabards over polished chain shirts amplified the heat of the day. A flick of Honey’s tail swatted flies hovering around her rump.
They stopped on a wooded rise to look back at the tranquil city. It spread out through the valley and over hills to the north and east. The sun shone with joy over the fact that it was summer, the season of its supremacy.
Dominating a rocky hill to the west of the city was the headquarters of the Blue Wyverns, a massive castle with rounded towers. The main tower was eight stories high and watched over the city like a sentinel. Pennants flew proudly above the towers and battlements. It was the sort of castle bards sang about.
Settatt was the third largest city in Eddland after the Capitol of Auraroth to the west and Beltaddo to the south. Its primary purpose was to support the Blue Wyverns, an all-woman mercenary group acting as the standing military for the country of Eddland. They also contracted out to nearby countries for various purposes such as hunting bandits and pirates, security of remote areas, and protecting highways. There was even an engineering division that built and maintained roads.
Though it hadn’t always been so, the country of Eddland was a wealthy country that thrived on trade. In addition, it had a rich agricultural presence with vast farmlands, orchards and vineyards. Due to the safety of the roads, Eddland had become a major trade hub for merchants.
A muffled drone of activity drifted from below to fade into the symphony of wildlife in the thick woods bordering the highway. Birds chirped merrily in the leafy trees as they darted back and forth to catch insects. The scent of warm leaves and flowered underbrush combined with dusty gravel.
Tina patted her dappled horse. “I don’t know how many times we’ve ridden out of Settatt in the last year and a half since we graduated. At least we get to leave the country this time. I’m tired of investigating corruption in unimportant waypoints on the border or reports of abuse from officers like the one in Permo.”
They resumed riding. “We’ll have to go through there on the way to Zimth. It’s a nice enough town, especially since we arrested Captain Gurbell a few months ago,” Pelya said.
“The town isn’t nice, it’s boring.” Tina tugged at her black tabard emblazoned with a white wyvern that marked them as Covert Services. Dark-blue pants finished the uniform. “Nobody likes us when we’re wearing these. Even when we get rid of torturers like Gurbell they don’t trust us. You’d think they’d be grateful after exposing the secret dungeon where she kept the people she kidnapped. We rescued eleven townspeople, eleven. Instead of giving us a party, they asked us how soon we’d be leaving.”
“Quit letting it get to you.” Pelya wore the same uniform. They were different from the dark-blue tabards embroidered with light-blue wyverns that most troops wore. “When we get up tomorrow, we’ll change into our plain clothes. The black sashes on our sheaths are sufficient to show our position to anyone who needs to know, but subtle enough not to draw undue attention.” She referred to a black cotton sash with embroidered white wyverns. They each had one tied around the neck of their sword sheaths. Pelya’s was on her primary sword. “You mentioned that Zimth is pretty. How do you mean?”
Tina’s sweet face lit in remembrance. She was a few months shy of Pelya’s age. Innocence made her seem younger. “The houses are round and painted pastel colors. Each has a conical roof made of thatch. Even businesses have at least one or two round sections. You won’t be able to travel the rooftops like you did in Dralin. They’re not close enough.”
Pelya snapped her fingers in mock dismay. “We’ll just have to sneak around in the sewers. Zimth has those, right?”
Tina gagged. “I am not going into a sewer. I’m sure I don’t know if they have them. It’s not the sort of thing I pay attention to.
“You should pay attention,” Pelya said. “It can be one of the best ways to get through a city unnoticed. It’s also the method many criminals use to escape the law.”
“Then they can just escape.” Tina shuddered away the idea and resumed her description of the city. “Most houses have small yards with gardens. The people of the country love their flowers. Trees line the streets, large and small. The people are polite. They favor wide straw hats with conical tips that look like their roofs.” She mimicked the shape of the hat over her head. “And they tend to be short.”
“How short?”
“Just a few inches shorter than I’ve seen in other countries. I’m one of the tallest women you’ll find from the Kingdom of Swelth.”
“Interesting. I wonder why?”
“They probably don’t eat entire cows for lunch like you do.” Tina grinned gleefully.
Pelya took a swipe at her, but Tina sidestepped her horse. “The palace has lots of towers and buttresses. It’s not built for defense so much as it’s made to look beautiful.”
“Is it as nice as Settatt Castle?” Pelya asked.
“It’s beautiful,” Tina assured her. “You’ll love it. Maybe we’ll find a way to sneak in and look around since you have an obsession with castles.”
“Daddy used to take me to Carnival to listen to the bards. There were always tales of knights in shining armor riding out of pennant-topped castles. Most of the knights I’ve met are disappointing. I still have hope for castles. One of these days maybe I’ll explore the world just to visit them.” With a gloved finger, Pelya flicked a mosquito off the sleeve of her own shiny chain armor. She had taken time to oil it properly during the past week.
“You’re such a romantic.” Tina smiled. “Although, knowing you, you’ll probably sneak into each one and find mysteries to solve.
Pelya chuckled. “I enjoy sneaking around and solving mysteries. When we get to Zimth, we’ll spend a couple of days exploring. Perhaps we’ll get out of our armor and wear common clothes. You like doing that as long as the garments meet your standards.”
“It’s not a matter of standards! Those rags we wore at the rural waypoint near the border of Foauth weren’t normal.” Tina made a face. “And they had fleas!”
“For many people they’re normal,” Pelya pointed out. “Poverty exists everywhere. The guards at that waypoint were stealing from the poor. It was despicable.”
“I still can’t believe anyone in the Blue Wyverns would behave that way. They beat anyone who couldn’t pay their extortion.” Tina shook her head in disbelief. “When we reached the waypoint, Sergeant Malir was taking all the money and groceries that farmer and his family had. When the farmer’s son tried to protest, she beat him. Then she encouraged her squad to kick him while he was on the ground.”
Pelya grunted. “I still don’t understand why people behave that way. If everyone treated each other decently, the world would be a tolerable place to live.”
“For all your intelligence, you’re awfully silly, Pelya. The world will never work that way and it would be boring if it did.” Tina rolled her eyes.
Pelya gazed at the verdant trees and fell into silence.
“I’m sorry,” Tina said contritely. She leaned on the pommel of her saddle. “The fact of the matter is that I admire you, Pelya. By the time you finished with Sergeant Malir and her squad, they were all lying on the ground nursing wounds. You didn’t yell or call them idiots. Instead, you explained the concept of decency to them and explained at length how they should treat people.” Tina shifted in her saddle. “Even in violence you’re considerate.”
“Hopefully they listened.”
The corner of Tina’s mouth quirked. “I’m sure they did . . . except for the ones that were unconscious that is.” She shifted in her saddle. “Sergeant Malir was pretty. You would think pretty people would be nice.”
A bark of a laugh escaped Pelya’s throat. “Now who’s being awfully silly?”
“I’m pretty and nice.” Tina stuck her tongue out.
Pelya chuckled and shook her head. She wondered if the younger woman would talk the entire way to Zimth. The thought of strangling the peppy woman was tempting some days, though they had become good friends. She stretched toned muscles that made her more masculine than she would like. “It’s a beautiful day. Look, butterflies.” She pointed at a field of flowers. Spotted yellow butterflies fluttered between blossoms.
“Yes, delightful.” Tina wasn’t to be sidetracked. “What I’m trying to say is that you aren’t interested in just finding crimes and arresting people, you use your power to make the world a better place. I swear if you could, you’d make certain every peasant and beggar was given a home and all the happiness they could ever desire.”
“That sounds wonderful! Let’s do that.”
Tina threw her head back and laughed. “Of course! Happiness for all. You’re one of a kind, Pelya.”
Pelya wasn’t in the mood for laughter.
Tina’s mirth died. “What’s wrong with you lately, Pelya? You’re never the cheeriest of people, but over the last couple of weeks, you’ve been downright cloudy.”
“I’m one of a kind, like you said.” Pelya closed her eyes and inhaled. Woody scents lingered over the gravel of the well-maintained highway. Even in bad weather, the road would be easy to negotiate. “We should travel into the late evenings and then get up early in the mornings, taking a long afternoon break when it’s hottest. The journey will be easier on us and the horses that way.”
“Yes, fine.” Tina wasn’t about to be diverted. “You say one of a kind like it’s a bad thing. You’re extraordinary. Why wouldn’t you take pride in that?”
“Because I don’t fit in anywhere,” Pelya said in irritation. “Even when I was in the Dralin City Guard, I never truly fit in. They treated me like their mascot; put me on a pedestal. Now, like you said, nobody likes us because we’re Covert Operations.” She chewed on a fingernail. “I don’t know what I want to do with my life.”
“Wow.” Tina snorted. “You are moody today. You don’t know what to do with your life? Keep going the way you are in the Blue Wyverns. You’ll be able to take Aunt Reela’s job in twenty years or so. You’ve got the ability.”
“I don’t want it.” Pelya’s mood grew darker. “She has to be too deceptive. Even though the Blue Wyverns do good in the world, they’re susceptible to corruption. I don’t want to be stuck between the rules and doing what’s right. I definitely don’t want to compromise my morals.”
Tina shut up for a few minutes.
Pelya went back to staring at the woods. Occasional clearings with cottages dotted the landscape. Dirt paths led to unknown locations. Pelya had a desire to ride along them to discover where they led.
“You don’t intend to remain with the Blue Wyverns, do you?” Tina accused. “When are you planning on leaving?”
“I don’t have anything planned.” Pelya had given it a great deal of thought. “Who knows what the future holds? Perhaps I will take your aunt’s job someday. I might serve out my minimum time and then take off for some exotic location. Then again, it’s possible that a god could strike me dead tomorrow.”
“You’ve already defeated one god. That’s what forced you out of Dralin.”
“I was part of an army that killed an entity that was trying to become a god.” Pelya sighed in frustration. “Killing a High Chancellor was what got me banished from Dralin.”
“Do you think a god would really try to strike you dead?” Tina looked around as if searching for an irate deity.
“I’m not looking to irritate the gods, but I’ve attracted the notice of a few. Hopefully they don’t involve me in their silliness.”
Tina stared at her in silent contemplation while the hooves of their horses clopped along the gravel.
Pelya resisted commenting until she couldn’t handle it anymore. “You’re staring at me.”
Tina snorted. “You make it all sound so casual.” She affected a snobbish voice and waved her hand like a noble. “Oh, I meet with gods all the time. We have tea on the veranda. It’s quite lovely.”
Pelya rolled her eyes.
“You act as if all this is nothing to be concerned about. You have powerful enemies, Pelya. One of these days, it could make your life difficult.”
“One of these days? It’s already made my life difficult,” Pelya retorted. “If it kills me, so be it.”
“You’ve become jaded to the concept of danger, Pelya.” Tina shook her finger. “You’re too valuable to throw caution to the wind like you do. You seek danger. I’ve seen it before. It’s almost as if you challenge the universe to give you a good fight.”
“The universe gives me a good fight whether I want it or not. So let the universe bring its best!” Pelya thumped her chest and threw her arms to the sky. “I’ll take on everything it has to throw at me.”
Tina buried her face in her hands. “Aggghhh! You are so frustrating! You’re going to get us both killed.”
“No.” Pelya’s voice deepened with intensity. Determination ran through her blood. “I’m going to win every single fight the universe throws at me.”
Tina gave a rueful shake of her head. “You know, I don’t doubt you will. I just wonder what price you’ll pay in addition to what you’ve already suffered.”
Pelya wondered the same thing. “The road is shady. Let’s give the horses a little run.” She kicked Honey forward without waiting for Tina’s reply.
***************** SPOILERS *************** IF YOU HAVE NOT READ "WYVERN", BOOK 1 OF THE WYVERN TRILOGY, THIS EXCERPT HAS MASSIVE SPOILERS FOR THAT STORY.
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Liquid Chapter 1
Pelya sucked air into her lungs and ignored the sweat stinging her eyes. She deflected Commander Brynin’s thrust with her primary sword. The ringing of metal on metal echoed off stone walls enclosing the grassy courtyard. Her secondary sword flashed through the air in a counterattack.
The commander twirled through the air just out of reach. Blistering sunlight sparkled off her short-cropped red hair.
Tina rounded a nearby tree to the commander’s flank. She feinted low before turning a two-handed slash upward.
Steel chimed as the commander parried the blow with her enchanted blade. Her bare foot came around to land a glancing blow on Tina’s chin. The young woman’s ponytail flew around to smack her cheek.
Tina shifted her feet to regain balance and tried to sneak her blade into the woman’s side. At the same time, Pelya swung both of her swords, one high and one low.
The high one made contact.
Commander Brynin flipped backward and landed in a crouch on her toes. Shock registered in rose-pink eyes as a thin line of blood appeared on her cheek. “You cut me!”
Tina crowed in triumph. “She did!”
The commander saluted them with her sword raised. “We’re finished sparring for today. Well done, both of you. Tina, you’re improving.” She sheathed the blade
“I still can’t compete with either of you.” Tina saluted the commander before falling dramatically to the grass, gasping for breath. “Casting that protection spell you taught me makes it harder to get through the long battles, Pelya.”
Pelya also saluted the commander. To Tina she said, “Yes, but each time you cast it, it takes a little less effort. It’ll save your life as it has mine.”
Commander Brynin helped her niece up. “Pelya was right to teach it to you, Tina. I felt it resist my attacks. I felt yours too, Pelya. It’s quite the trick in addition to your ample skill. That’s the first time your blade has ever touched me. I must be losing my edge.”
“You’re slow as an emo bunny, Commander. Hardly a test at all.” She grinned.
Brynin put her hand on her hip. “That’s why you’re sweating like a carnivorous fairy lost in the desert and why my niece was flopping on the ground, gulping air like a fish out of water.”
Pelya wiped a sleeve across her brow, thankful for the slight breeze rustling through leaves. “I pay attention to your methods and learn every time we spar.” She glanced over the condition of her swords, both her personal property. The primary was made of light steel with runes of enchantment. It darted through the air like a hummingbird when she swished it. The secondary was shorter but deadlier. The glistening metal stayed sharp and clean even without etched runes like those the primary had. She sheathed them, took her gloves off and tucked those in her sword belt.
“I’ve noticed you learning my tricks and trying them on me.” The commander waggled a finger at Pelya. “You have natural talent, an indomitable work ethic and cunning. You improve each time you engage an opponent.”
Tina pulled her russet hair out of its ponytail and ran fingers through the sweat-soaked strands. “But you still cut Pelya a few times, Aunt Reela. I can’t even do that much.”
Commander Brynin threw an arm over Pelya’s shoulders. “That’s because I’m a swordmaster sixth class and she’s only classified as swordmaster second class. She could qualify for third class.” The commander ran a finger along Pelya’s cheek.
Pelya pulled away.
Brynin caught Pelya’s chin. “I did cut you a few times, including once across the forehead. I saw the blood. Now it’s gone.”
Pelya’s jaw clenched shut as an intricate orange tattoo covering the left half of her torso exerted control. It had performed the healing and didn’t like when people noticed. The dragon mark was a reward from a dragon for saving its baby. However, the magic of the mark physically prevented her from answering questions about it. It remained invisible on her skin unless taxed to heal or protect her.
The commander narrowed her eyes. “I sense my mind being pushed.” She tapped one of her dangling earrings with a finger. “If I didn’t have these little charms to protect my mind from enchantment, I’d probably forget yet again that you have no scars. Tell me how you manage it.”
The tattoo heated in protest. The muscles in her body tightened.
“Are you playing a game with me, Pelya?”
The dragon mark squeezed Pelya’s lungs and set her bones on fire. She didn’t understand why it punished her when someone else asked questions. Pelya fell to her knees, screaming through teeth clenched near to breaking. Darkness surrounded the edges of her vision.
Brynin took Pelya’s cheeks in her hands. “I withdraw my question! Release her, foul geas!”
The pressure released, allowing a breath of desperate air to shudder down Pelya’s throat. She collapsed into the commander’s arms, her muscles drained of strength.
“I’m sorry, Pelya. No more questions.” The commander helped Pelya to her feet and steadied her.
“Let’s have some chilled juice in my office.”
Pelya clutched the commander’s shoulder for support. It had reached the point where she no longer cared how many times the dragon mark had save her. She wanted it gone.
A flash of heat burned her bones to punish her for the thought. Then it hid from her memory until the next time it would be needed.
Pelya grunted in pain and sent a silent curse after it.
The commander helped her along a path bordered by flowerbeds. When they reached the courtyard door, Tina opened it and stepped aside to let them in first.
The manor was cool after stepping in from the summer heat. Tina and Pelya paused to remove their boots before stepping onto soft, expensive carpet that ran the length of the hallway. Brynin’s feet were already bare as usual. “Thank you for taking those off. The carpet lasts much longer that way. Besides, feet are happier out of the artificial prisons you two call shoes.”
“Those are boots, not shoes, Aunt Reela,” Tina said in her peppy voice. Her smile lit twinkling grey eyes.
A corner of the commander’s mouth twisted in amusement. There was a hint of familial resemblance in their thin noses and rounded cheekbones. “They’re atrocious, whatever you call them.”
Tina held the door to Brynin’s personal office open. The interior was lush with a beautiful whitewood desk. To the left of the door was a sitting area with a whitewood table that matched. Priceless tapestries and paintings bordered the window to the courtyard. Wall to wall carpeting caught their steps in its soft embrace.
To the right of the door was a large globe with swaths of blue, brown and green. Floating mystically around it were Ryallon’s two moons, Siahray and Piohray.
Commander Brynin took a seat in a comfortable chair behind the desk. Pelya and Tina flopped into chairs across from it. The commander leaned back and kicked her feet on the corner of the desk. “Do the two of you know what Liquid Wyverns are?”
Pelya stretched. “They’re powerful magical artifacts. I saw one on a tour of the library at the University of Settatt when I was a recruit. It moved and seemed to look at me. If I remember correctly, they consist of a mixture of metals such as gold, silver and platinum in their liquid state. Powerful archmages merge the metals with other ingredients and imbue the devices with more magic than can be placed into something solid. Gems are added to focus power.”
“I won’t ask who told you all that. I’m not in the mood to arrest anyone today.” The commander folded her hands over her stomach. “About fifty years after the Blue Wyverns were formed, communications became a problem for the fast growing organization. When things went wrong far away, there was no way of knowing until messengers arrived with reports. By then it was too late to rescue soldiers in danger.”
“Which is why the Blue Wyverns strive to engineer better highways in the kingdoms that employ us,” Pelya responded. “We establish waypoints along them to increase the speed of communication.”
“I bet there’s more to it than that,” Tina said.
Brynin winked. “Very good, my pretty little niece.” She pointed a warning finger at both of them. “I’m trusting you with one of the closest kept secrets in the Wyverns now. This is confidential.”
They nodded.
“Academy Commander Vernt came up with the idea for Liquid Wyverns all those years ago. They are now in twenty-two Blue Wyvern garrisons throughout the countries we operate in. They act as a communication and tracking system for the Blue Wyverns. Each one has a troop of Academy-trained wizards called Liquid Mages who interpret the messages sent between them.
Pelya gave a low whistle. “That’s complicated and powerful magic.”
“Yes it is.” The commander held out a hand and studied her fingernails. “In addition to that, every recruit who graduates to become a Blue Wyvern is entered into the system using a drop of blood.”
“That’s why they wanted our blood,” Tina remarked. “I never understood that.”
“Yes.” Brynin dropped her feet to the floor and leaned forward on the desk. “Now, the extraordinary thing about Liquid Wyverns is that they know the health of every Blue Wyvern. Whenever a member dies, an alarm is activated in the nearest Liquid Wyvern. A wizard will be able to tell how many soldiers have perished in addition to who they are.”
Pelya mouthed, “Wow.”
“The original Liquid Wyvern is at the Academy here in Settatt, which is the one you saw, Pelya. As the Blue Wyverns expanded, keeping track of everyone was more than it could handle. Another was created, and then another. Academy Commander Vernt realized that a central device would have to be made to handle the growing number. Thus, the Settatt Wyvern here at Headquarters was created. You won’t see that one.”
“But I want to see it,” Tina said.
“Tough.” The commander smirked. “Vernt invited a few powerful archmages he knew to assist him in making the Settatt Wyvern. It stands at fifteen hands tall and forty-two hands long. Vernt wasn’t able to find a lone sapphire large enough for the heart. Instead, he took a number of the largest sapphires he could get and cast them in a powerful heart shaped device that came to be called the Heart of Settatt.”
“You’re telling us a great deal.” Pelya nibbled on a fingernail, a habit Tina abhorred. “I must admit curiosity as to why.”
Brynin nodded. “There’s a lot I’m not telling you. But I trust you both and it’s important for you to understand the gravity of your assignment.”
Tina slapped Pelya’s hand away from her mouth. “Which is? . . .”
“I’m getting to that.” The commander stood and walked to the window. “There are currently three magicians in the world capable of making the Liquid Wyverns. One lives in Zimth, the Capital city of Swelth. The White Talon Company should be picking up a newly made wyvern from him in twenty days. Their task is to bring it back here to tune it with the Settatt Wyvern.”
“The White Talon Company is one of the best,” Tina said. “Do you expect trouble, Aunt Reela?”
“I’ve heard a couple of whispers. Your mission is to get in touch with my contacts in Zimth and investigate those whispers.”
Pelya raised her eyebrows hopefully. “Any chance it could be the Guild of Scales? Those papers I recovered last year mentioned they were out to ruin the Blue Wyverns. If you’d just let me read them . . .”
“She did discover them after all,” Tina contributed, “along with exposing the old Recruit Commander who was sabotaging basic training.”
Brynin gave a long-suffering sigh. “Yes, I know. She’s obsessed with the man who killed most of her squad in Dralin. As I’ve explained countless times, the papers are sealed away in a vault and can’t be opened except by order of the Council of Eight, which isn’t going to happen.”
Pelya leaned her elbow on the arm of the chair and rested her chin on her fist. She stared at the globe and wondered where the man named Laen might be.
Tina patted Pelya’s leg. “Do you think the Guild of Scales will try to steal the Liquid Wyvern, Aunt Reela?”
“No. There’s nothing in the whispers that suggest anything about the Guild.” Frustration crept into her voice. “I don’t want you wasting time trying to make a connection that doesn’t exist.” Brynin retrieved a jug with runes around its base to keep it chilled. She poured them each a cup of juice.
“We won’t, Aunt Reela.” Tina shot Pelya an apologetic look before asking the commander, “Do you want us to do anything besides investigate the whispers? It’ll take us longer than twenty days to get to Zimth. The White Talon Company should be on the road by then.”
Pelya leaned toward Tina and whispered loud enough for the commander to hear. “She probably wants us to find out more information about the Rojuun.”
Tina chuckled. ”Probably.”
The Rojuun were Brynin’s obsession. Discovering information about them was one of Pelya and Tina’s permanent tasks. A few years earlier, in Dralin, Pelya had met one and helped him rescue others that were imprisoned. It was the last time she had seen one.
The commander didn’t share in their amusement. “The White Talon Company will be on the road by the time you reach them. Check with their Captain, Leacy Emaate, and make certain all is well. Once you’ve done that, continue to Zimth. I still want you to investigate the whispers even though I don’t believe there’s much credibility to them . . . and yes, see if you can learn anything about the Rojuun.”
“Where do we start?” Pelya asked.
“I have two contacts you can get in touch with. The first is a merchant of exotic goods by the name of Tumera. She has a store called the Tiwari Gem just off the City Market.” Brynin returned to her seat and nursed the juice while she kicked her feet back on the desk. “People talk to her easily, telling her stories from all over the continent and even beyond. Her grandmother was a member of the Wyverns. Tumera always loved the old tales the woman told to her. She also knows to keep her ears open for word of Rojuun.”
Tina fidgeted in her chair, never one to sit still for long. “Who’s the other contact?”
“Everyone calls him Idget.”
Tina frowned. “That’s not encouraging.”
“Don’t let the name fool you,” Brynin said. “He’s clever like a fox but acts the part of an ox.”
Pelya raised an eyebrow. “You’ve become a poet?”
“I’d torture you by reciting some, but I don’t have enough rope to keep you tied to the chair.” Brynin grinned. “Idget is a thief and a sneak. He pretends stupidity in order to loosen people’s tongues. Don’t underestimate him.”
Tina’s brow furrowed. “Is it safe to deal with a thief?”
“It’s never safe to deal with a thief,” Pelya said. “They make some of the best informants though. Just remember not to trust everything they tell you. Always look for their true motive.”
Brynin nodded. “Let Pelya handle him. She dealt with far worse when she lived in Dralin. To get in touch with Idget, you have to speak to Rymon, the bartender at the Black Moon Tavern. Tell him, ‘horses are stupid,’ and he’ll get you in touch.”
“Horses are stupid?” Tina asked with a laugh.
The commander shrugged. “I never learned the meaning. I suppose I could, I just don’t care enough to do so.”
“Should we speak to the mage who’s making this new Liquid Wyvern?” Tina asked.
“Yes. That would be Professor Klunjun of the Dayblossom Orphanage. He’s an archmage, but few people know that. I doubt he’ll know anything about the rumors. His head is too deep into his work, but it won’t hurt to ask. He lives in the northern tower, which is cluttered with books and magical items from what I understand. He’s reported to be just as messy as his tower.”
“What about the city?” Pelya asked. “I don’t know much about Zimth.”
“Mother took me there once,” Tina said. “I nearly broke my neck gawking at the sights. I think Zimth is one of the prettiest cities around.”
“It’s also one of the most disorganized cities in the world,” Brynin added. “There isn’t a straight road anywhere in Zimth. The buildings are oddly shaped and don’t fit quite right.”
Tina laughed. “That’s true. We got lost a few times, but that was part of the fun. Can you give us specifics about the whispers you’ve heard, Aunt Reela?”
“Idget heard from one of his connections that a group of mercenaries was hired to create a riot around the time when the White Talon Company is supposed to pick up the Liquid Wyvern. He wasn’t able to discern a connection other than the timing, but it’s my job to worry about those things.”
“Coincidences are often planned in my experience,” Pelya said.
“Exactly.” Brynin steepled her hands in front of her chin. “Tumera heard a pair of customers discussing the creation of an artifact. They stopped talking when they noticed her. It’s not much, but I don’t know of any other artifacts being created in Zimth. She also sent me these.” The commander opened a drawer and tossed three coins on the desk. “This is the first time I’ve seen these.”
They were small with intricate designs on them. Copper was the smallest of the three with silver and gold being similar sizes. Pelya picked up the silver. “You can find just about every type of coin that exists in Dralin, but I’ve never seen these either.”
“It’s called ‘uun’. It’s what Rojuun use for currency.” Brynin tapped each one. “Four copper uuns make a silver uun and eight silver uuns make a gold uun. Tumera got these from someone who escaped from Rojuun territory.”
Pelya’s head jerked up. “Really? What else did they tell her?”
“She said she has too much information to put in writing.” Brynin pointed at them. “That’s why the two of you need to get to Zimth as fast as possible. Find and speak to the person Tumera got these from if at all possible.”
Tina sighed dramatically. “Don’t you want us to take a few days off first, Aunt Reela? We’ve been traveling since we graduated from the Academy and not a day’s rest.”
Brynin got to her feet and leaned her hands on the desk. “You’ve had plenty of rest over the last week since you’ve been in Settatt. Get going.”
That wasn’t entirely true considering Pelya and Tina had been debriefing the commander the entire time. However, they weren’t about to test her resolve. They jumped up and saluted her with the edge of their hands to foreheads. Then they gave her hugs and headed out.
***
Pelya sat atop Honey, a spirited chestnut warhorse with flowing blonde mane. Humidity caused Pelya and Tina’s undershirts to stick to skin as they rode out of Settatt on the graveled southern highway. Sleeveless black tabards over polished chain shirts amplified the heat of the day. A flick of Honey’s tail swatted flies hovering around her rump.
They stopped on a wooded rise to look back at the tranquil city. It spread out through the valley and over hills to the north and east. The sun shone with joy over the fact that it was summer, the season of its supremacy.
Dominating a rocky hill to the west of the city was the headquarters of the Blue Wyverns, a massive castle with rounded towers. The main tower was eight stories high and watched over the city like a sentinel. Pennants flew proudly above the towers and battlements. It was the sort of castle bards sang about.
Settatt was the third largest city in Eddland after the Capitol of Auraroth to the west and Beltaddo to the south. Its primary purpose was to support the Blue Wyverns, an all-woman mercenary group acting as the standing military for the country of Eddland. They also contracted out to nearby countries for various purposes such as hunting bandits and pirates, security of remote areas, and protecting highways. There was even an engineering division that built and maintained roads.
Though it hadn’t always been so, the country of Eddland was a wealthy country that thrived on trade. In addition, it had a rich agricultural presence with vast farmlands, orchards and vineyards. Due to the safety of the roads, Eddland had become a major trade hub for merchants.
A muffled drone of activity drifted from below to fade into the symphony of wildlife in the thick woods bordering the highway. Birds chirped merrily in the leafy trees as they darted back and forth to catch insects. The scent of warm leaves and flowered underbrush combined with dusty gravel.
Tina patted her dappled horse. “I don’t know how many times we’ve ridden out of Settatt in the last year and a half since we graduated. At least we get to leave the country this time. I’m tired of investigating corruption in unimportant waypoints on the border or reports of abuse from officers like the one in Permo.”
They resumed riding. “We’ll have to go through there on the way to Zimth. It’s a nice enough town, especially since we arrested Captain Gurbell a few months ago,” Pelya said.
“The town isn’t nice, it’s boring.” Tina tugged at her black tabard emblazoned with a white wyvern that marked them as Covert Services. Dark-blue pants finished the uniform. “Nobody likes us when we’re wearing these. Even when we get rid of torturers like Gurbell they don’t trust us. You’d think they’d be grateful after exposing the secret dungeon where she kept the people she kidnapped. We rescued eleven townspeople, eleven. Instead of giving us a party, they asked us how soon we’d be leaving.”
“Quit letting it get to you.” Pelya wore the same uniform. They were different from the dark-blue tabards embroidered with light-blue wyverns that most troops wore. “When we get up tomorrow, we’ll change into our plain clothes. The black sashes on our sheaths are sufficient to show our position to anyone who needs to know, but subtle enough not to draw undue attention.” She referred to a black cotton sash with embroidered white wyverns. They each had one tied around the neck of their sword sheaths. Pelya’s was on her primary sword. “You mentioned that Zimth is pretty. How do you mean?”
Tina’s sweet face lit in remembrance. She was a few months shy of Pelya’s age. Innocence made her seem younger. “The houses are round and painted pastel colors. Each has a conical roof made of thatch. Even businesses have at least one or two round sections. You won’t be able to travel the rooftops like you did in Dralin. They’re not close enough.”
Pelya snapped her fingers in mock dismay. “We’ll just have to sneak around in the sewers. Zimth has those, right?”
Tina gagged. “I am not going into a sewer. I’m sure I don’t know if they have them. It’s not the sort of thing I pay attention to.
“You should pay attention,” Pelya said. “It can be one of the best ways to get through a city unnoticed. It’s also the method many criminals use to escape the law.”
“Then they can just escape.” Tina shuddered away the idea and resumed her description of the city. “Most houses have small yards with gardens. The people of the country love their flowers. Trees line the streets, large and small. The people are polite. They favor wide straw hats with conical tips that look like their roofs.” She mimicked the shape of the hat over her head. “And they tend to be short.”
“How short?”
“Just a few inches shorter than I’ve seen in other countries. I’m one of the tallest women you’ll find from the Kingdom of Swelth.”
“Interesting. I wonder why?”
“They probably don’t eat entire cows for lunch like you do.” Tina grinned gleefully.
Pelya took a swipe at her, but Tina sidestepped her horse. “The palace has lots of towers and buttresses. It’s not built for defense so much as it’s made to look beautiful.”
“Is it as nice as Settatt Castle?” Pelya asked.
“It’s beautiful,” Tina assured her. “You’ll love it. Maybe we’ll find a way to sneak in and look around since you have an obsession with castles.”
“Daddy used to take me to Carnival to listen to the bards. There were always tales of knights in shining armor riding out of pennant-topped castles. Most of the knights I’ve met are disappointing. I still have hope for castles. One of these days maybe I’ll explore the world just to visit them.” With a gloved finger, Pelya flicked a mosquito off the sleeve of her own shiny chain armor. She had taken time to oil it properly during the past week.
“You’re such a romantic.” Tina smiled. “Although, knowing you, you’ll probably sneak into each one and find mysteries to solve.
Pelya chuckled. “I enjoy sneaking around and solving mysteries. When we get to Zimth, we’ll spend a couple of days exploring. Perhaps we’ll get out of our armor and wear common clothes. You like doing that as long as the garments meet your standards.”
“It’s not a matter of standards! Those rags we wore at the rural waypoint near the border of Foauth weren’t normal.” Tina made a face. “And they had fleas!”
“For many people they’re normal,” Pelya pointed out. “Poverty exists everywhere. The guards at that waypoint were stealing from the poor. It was despicable.”
“I still can’t believe anyone in the Blue Wyverns would behave that way. They beat anyone who couldn’t pay their extortion.” Tina shook her head in disbelief. “When we reached the waypoint, Sergeant Malir was taking all the money and groceries that farmer and his family had. When the farmer’s son tried to protest, she beat him. Then she encouraged her squad to kick him while he was on the ground.”
Pelya grunted. “I still don’t understand why people behave that way. If everyone treated each other decently, the world would be a tolerable place to live.”
“For all your intelligence, you’re awfully silly, Pelya. The world will never work that way and it would be boring if it did.” Tina rolled her eyes.
Pelya gazed at the verdant trees and fell into silence.
“I’m sorry,” Tina said contritely. She leaned on the pommel of her saddle. “The fact of the matter is that I admire you, Pelya. By the time you finished with Sergeant Malir and her squad, they were all lying on the ground nursing wounds. You didn’t yell or call them idiots. Instead, you explained the concept of decency to them and explained at length how they should treat people.” Tina shifted in her saddle. “Even in violence you’re considerate.”
“Hopefully they listened.”
The corner of Tina’s mouth quirked. “I’m sure they did . . . except for the ones that were unconscious that is.” She shifted in her saddle. “Sergeant Malir was pretty. You would think pretty people would be nice.”
A bark of a laugh escaped Pelya’s throat. “Now who’s being awfully silly?”
“I’m pretty and nice.” Tina stuck her tongue out.
Pelya chuckled and shook her head. She wondered if the younger woman would talk the entire way to Zimth. The thought of strangling the peppy woman was tempting some days, though they had become good friends. She stretched toned muscles that made her more masculine than she would like. “It’s a beautiful day. Look, butterflies.” She pointed at a field of flowers. Spotted yellow butterflies fluttered between blossoms.
“Yes, delightful.” Tina wasn’t to be sidetracked. “What I’m trying to say is that you aren’t interested in just finding crimes and arresting people, you use your power to make the world a better place. I swear if you could, you’d make certain every peasant and beggar was given a home and all the happiness they could ever desire.”
“That sounds wonderful! Let’s do that.”
Tina threw her head back and laughed. “Of course! Happiness for all. You’re one of a kind, Pelya.”
Pelya wasn’t in the mood for laughter.
Tina’s mirth died. “What’s wrong with you lately, Pelya? You’re never the cheeriest of people, but over the last couple of weeks, you’ve been downright cloudy.”
“I’m one of a kind, like you said.” Pelya closed her eyes and inhaled. Woody scents lingered over the gravel of the well-maintained highway. Even in bad weather, the road would be easy to negotiate. “We should travel into the late evenings and then get up early in the mornings, taking a long afternoon break when it’s hottest. The journey will be easier on us and the horses that way.”
“Yes, fine.” Tina wasn’t about to be diverted. “You say one of a kind like it’s a bad thing. You’re extraordinary. Why wouldn’t you take pride in that?”
“Because I don’t fit in anywhere,” Pelya said in irritation. “Even when I was in the Dralin City Guard, I never truly fit in. They treated me like their mascot; put me on a pedestal. Now, like you said, nobody likes us because we’re Covert Operations.” She chewed on a fingernail. “I don’t know what I want to do with my life.”
“Wow.” Tina snorted. “You are moody today. You don’t know what to do with your life? Keep going the way you are in the Blue Wyverns. You’ll be able to take Aunt Reela’s job in twenty years or so. You’ve got the ability.”
“I don’t want it.” Pelya’s mood grew darker. “She has to be too deceptive. Even though the Blue Wyverns do good in the world, they’re susceptible to corruption. I don’t want to be stuck between the rules and doing what’s right. I definitely don’t want to compromise my morals.”
Tina shut up for a few minutes.
Pelya went back to staring at the woods. Occasional clearings with cottages dotted the landscape. Dirt paths led to unknown locations. Pelya had a desire to ride along them to discover where they led.
“You don’t intend to remain with the Blue Wyverns, do you?” Tina accused. “When are you planning on leaving?”
“I don’t have anything planned.” Pelya had given it a great deal of thought. “Who knows what the future holds? Perhaps I will take your aunt’s job someday. I might serve out my minimum time and then take off for some exotic location. Then again, it’s possible that a god could strike me dead tomorrow.”
“You’ve already defeated one god. That’s what forced you out of Dralin.”
“I was part of an army that killed an entity that was trying to become a god.” Pelya sighed in frustration. “Killing a High Chancellor was what got me banished from Dralin.”
“Do you think a god would really try to strike you dead?” Tina looked around as if searching for an irate deity.
“I’m not looking to irritate the gods, but I’ve attracted the notice of a few. Hopefully they don’t involve me in their silliness.”
Tina stared at her in silent contemplation while the hooves of their horses clopped along the gravel.
Pelya resisted commenting until she couldn’t handle it anymore. “You’re staring at me.”
Tina snorted. “You make it all sound so casual.” She affected a snobbish voice and waved her hand like a noble. “Oh, I meet with gods all the time. We have tea on the veranda. It’s quite lovely.”
Pelya rolled her eyes.
“You act as if all this is nothing to be concerned about. You have powerful enemies, Pelya. One of these days, it could make your life difficult.”
“One of these days? It’s already made my life difficult,” Pelya retorted. “If it kills me, so be it.”
“You’ve become jaded to the concept of danger, Pelya.” Tina shook her finger. “You’re too valuable to throw caution to the wind like you do. You seek danger. I’ve seen it before. It’s almost as if you challenge the universe to give you a good fight.”
“The universe gives me a good fight whether I want it or not. So let the universe bring its best!” Pelya thumped her chest and threw her arms to the sky. “I’ll take on everything it has to throw at me.”
Tina buried her face in her hands. “Aggghhh! You are so frustrating! You’re going to get us both killed.”
“No.” Pelya’s voice deepened with intensity. Determination ran through her blood. “I’m going to win every single fight the universe throws at me.”
Tina gave a rueful shake of her head. “You know, I don’t doubt you will. I just wonder what price you’ll pay in addition to what you’ve already suffered.”
Pelya wondered the same thing. “The road is shady. Let’s give the horses a little run.” She kicked Honey forward without waiting for Tina’s reply.
June 12, 2015
John H. Carroll Bibliography
Why am I creating this bibliography?
Because I want to! Nyah! . . .
*Cough Cough*
errrrr, the emo bunnies tell me that wasn't very polite.
Apology
They also tell me I must apologize. Therefore, I apologize. I am truly, deeply, sincerely, utterly, exceptionally . . .
Laying it on too thick
The emo bunnies tell me I'm overdoing it. Therefore, I'm sorry.
Anyway
A friend recently asked me for a list of all my books with links. I said sure . . . then I went home and realized I didn't have one. So here it is:
Bibliography
Note: Any book that says FREE! is for the ebook copy only. I am not able to give away printed copies.
Compilation
Wings of Fantasy (A compilation of 4 stories by myself, Melanie Nilles, Stephen Nowland, and E.M. Sinclair)
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/470530?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NK6W2ES
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wings-of-fantasy/id913427017?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wings-of-fantasy-john-h-carroll/1120262959
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wings-of-fantasy
Ryallon Series
My full-length novels are set in the world of Ryallon. They are high fantasy with rogues, knights, dragons and flower children. You can get them at the store where you found this one.
Dralin Trilogy (Set in time before the Willden trilogy)
Book 1: Dralin FREE!
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1479286982
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/96981?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WFA4M2
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dralin/id478046022?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dralin-john-h-carroll/1106721519
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dralin-1
Book 2: Ebudae
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1479382906
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/161921?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00833PJ84?
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ebudae/id543046061?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ebudae-john-h-carroll/1111398751
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/ebudae-1
Book 3: Pelya
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1479383198
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260147?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AM4IGO6
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pelya/id585944465?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pelya-john-h-carroll/1114042863
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/pelya-1
Willden Trilogy (Written first)
Book 4: Rojuun FREE!
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1475268254
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31154?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TXS0DI
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rojuun/id409277486?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rojuun-john-h-carroll/1029147189
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/rojuun-1
Book 5: Anilyia
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478286628
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/51951?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VMPY8Q
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/anilyia/id433804578?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/anilyia-john-h-carroll/1102292819
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/anilyia-1
Book 6: Kethril
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478331968
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/74403?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005D5J1SE
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kethril/id452923522?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kethril-john-h-carroll/1104361937
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/kethril-1
The Wyvern Trilogy (Parallel to the Willden Trilogy, set in time after the Dralin Trilogy)
Book 7: Wyvern
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1484079329
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/304813?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CAUH6ZA
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wyvern/id635556128?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wyvern-john-h-carroll/1115163276
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wyvern-4
Book 8: Liquid (August 15, 2015)
Print: *Not yet available
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/546948?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YKBCE1S
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/liquid/id1000776959?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liquid-john-h-carroll/1122044464
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/liquid-2
Book 9: Cloudswept (Coming 2016)
The Crazed Trilogy (Set in time after the Willden Trilogy)
Book 10: Liselle
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492319163
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/353884?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EY75H6M
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/liselle/id705769333?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liselle-john-h-carroll/1116894298
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/liselle-1
Book 11: Bounty (Coming 2017)
Book 12: To Be Announced (Coming 2017)
Stand-alone Novella
Rain Glade
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/235595?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009A4FYVW
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rain-glade/id562793225?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rain-glade-john-h-carroll/1113045680
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/rain-glade-1
Coming soon:
The Morhain Trilogy (Set in time after the Willden Trilogy)
Stories for Demented Children:
Odd tales of anti-heroes doing their best to survive odd circumstances.
Books 1-5 are found in A Collection of Stories for Demented Children
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1482719185
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98171?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Y05RAO
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/collection-stories-for-demented/id478043704?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-collection-of-stories-for-demented-children-john-h-carroll/1106851059
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-collection-of-stories-for-demented-children-1
The Emo Bunny that Should (Illustrated)
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478286415
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39089?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007S77AZG
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-emo-bunny-that-should/id419798714?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-emo-bunny-that-should-john-h-carroll/1113035459
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-emo-bunny-that-should-a-story-for-demented-children
Zachary Zombie and the Lost Boy
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54691?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZR02XO
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/zachary-zombie-lost-boy/id433798726?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zachary-zombie-and-the-lost-boy-john-h-carroll/1115835323
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/zachary-zombie-and-the-lost-boy-1
Drippy the Peg Legged Rainbow FREE!
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/90553?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OEERVA
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/drippy-the-peg-legged-rainbow/id470215066?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drippy-the-peg-legged-rainbow-john-h-carroll/1115835329
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/drippy-the-peg-legged-rainbow-1
Unholy Cow
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93587?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005S1YW0U
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/unholy-cow/id474985281?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unholy-cow-john-h-carroll/1115835331
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/unholy-cow-1
Attack of the Sugar Plum Fairies
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98188?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Y2EGCC
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/attack-sugar-plum-fairies/id478041406?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/attack-of-the-sugar-plum-fairies-john-h-carroll/1115835333
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/attack-of-the-sugar-plum-fairies-1
Books 6-10 are found in A Collection of Stories for Demented Children, Volume 2
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494288877
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/382791?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GZANHWW
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/collection-stories-for-demented/id773606896?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-collection-of-odd-stories-for-children-volume-2-john-h-carroll/1117650572
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-collection-of-stories-for-demented-children-volume-2
Naughty Nanoworms
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/299645?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C8EWZH2
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/naughty-nanoworms/id627419574?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/naughty-nanoworms-john-h-carroll/1115835394
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/naughty-nanoworms-1
Phairyphant
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/295163?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BT71K3Y
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/phairyphant/id621421027?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phairyphant-john-h-carroll/1114863559
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/phairyphant-1
Zachary Zombie and the Wicked Worm FREE!
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/328495?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DJB690C
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/zachary-zombie-wicked-worm/id666550700?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zachary-zombie-and-the-wicked-worm-john-h-carroll/1115864696
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/zachary-zombie-and-the-wicked-worm-1
Steampunk Roo
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492726400
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/357374?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F6MGUCO
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/steampunk-roo/id711725587?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steampunk-roo-john-h-carroll/1116968914
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/steampunk-roo-1
Pow the Panda, The Case of the Rainbow Dragon
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494270013
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381472?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GWC85K2
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pow-panda-case-rainbow-dragon/id767147672?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pow-the-panda-the-case-of-the-rainbow-dragon-john-h-carroll/1117558334
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/pow-the-panda-the-case-of-the-rainbow-dragon
Novellas (Halfway between a novel and a short story)
Alien Coffee - Sci-fi
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85562?ref=johnhcarrollAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KH5I3C
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/alien-coffee/id465217962?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alien-coffee-john-h-carroll/1105313708
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/alien-coffee-1
Short Stories
Blue Haired Alien Girlfriend - Sci-fi FREE!
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31388?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZR9FSW
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/blue-haired-alien-girlfriend/id409279278?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blue-haired-alien-girlfriend-john-h-carroll/1029147045
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/blue-haired-alien-girlfriend-1
Test Pilot - Sci-fi
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/34646?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZR9G5O
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/test-pilot/id412775321?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/test-pilot-john-h-carroll/1029450539
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/test-pilot-4
Don't Ever Change - Horror
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43855?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZR0BH6
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dont-ever-change/id422757572?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-ever-change-john-h-carroll/1030162943
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dont-ever-change
The Storage Room in the Grey Void - Fantasy
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339047?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E2571IS
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/storage-room-in-grey-void/id678901472?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-storage-room-in-the-grey-void-john-h-carroll/1116227666
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-storage-room-in-the-grey-void-1
In Conclusion
The emo bunnies tell me I need to write many more. As I do, I will add them to this list.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
Because I want to! Nyah! . . .
*Cough Cough*
errrrr, the emo bunnies tell me that wasn't very polite.
Apology
They also tell me I must apologize. Therefore, I apologize. I am truly, deeply, sincerely, utterly, exceptionally . . .
Laying it on too thick
The emo bunnies tell me I'm overdoing it. Therefore, I'm sorry.
Anyway
A friend recently asked me for a list of all my books with links. I said sure . . . then I went home and realized I didn't have one. So here it is:
Bibliography
Note: Any book that says FREE! is for the ebook copy only. I am not able to give away printed copies.
Compilation
Wings of Fantasy (A compilation of 4 stories by myself, Melanie Nilles, Stephen Nowland, and E.M. Sinclair)
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/470530?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NK6W2ES
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wings-of-fantasy/id913427017?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wings-of-fantasy-john-h-carroll/1120262959
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wings-of-fantasy
Ryallon Series
My full-length novels are set in the world of Ryallon. They are high fantasy with rogues, knights, dragons and flower children. You can get them at the store where you found this one.
Dralin Trilogy (Set in time before the Willden trilogy)
Book 1: Dralin FREE!
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1479286982
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/96981?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005WFA4M2
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dralin/id478046022?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dralin-john-h-carroll/1106721519
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dralin-1
Book 2: Ebudae
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1479382906
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/161921?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00833PJ84?
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ebudae/id543046061?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ebudae-john-h-carroll/1111398751
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/ebudae-1
Book 3: Pelya
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1479383198
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/260147?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AM4IGO6
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pelya/id585944465?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pelya-john-h-carroll/1114042863
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/pelya-1
Willden Trilogy (Written first)
Book 4: Rojuun FREE!
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1475268254
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31154?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004TXS0DI
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rojuun/id409277486?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rojuun-john-h-carroll/1029147189
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/rojuun-1
Book 5: Anilyia
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478286628
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/51951?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VMPY8Q
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/anilyia/id433804578?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/anilyia-john-h-carroll/1102292819
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/anilyia-1
Book 6: Kethril
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478331968
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/74403?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005D5J1SE
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/kethril/id452923522?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kethril-john-h-carroll/1104361937
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/kethril-1
The Wyvern Trilogy (Parallel to the Willden Trilogy, set in time after the Dralin Trilogy)
Book 7: Wyvern
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1484079329
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/304813?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CAUH6ZA
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/wyvern/id635556128?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wyvern-john-h-carroll/1115163276
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/wyvern-4
Book 8: Liquid (August 15, 2015)
Print: *Not yet available
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/546948?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YKBCE1S
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/liquid/id1000776959?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liquid-john-h-carroll/1122044464
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/liquid-2
Book 9: Cloudswept (Coming 2016)
The Crazed Trilogy (Set in time after the Willden Trilogy)
Book 10: Liselle
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492319163
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/353884?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00EY75H6M
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/liselle/id705769333?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/liselle-john-h-carroll/1116894298
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/liselle-1
Book 11: Bounty (Coming 2017)
Book 12: To Be Announced (Coming 2017)
Stand-alone Novella
Rain Glade
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/235595?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009A4FYVW
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/rain-glade/id562793225?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rain-glade-john-h-carroll/1113045680
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/rain-glade-1
Coming soon:
The Morhain Trilogy (Set in time after the Willden Trilogy)
Stories for Demented Children:
Odd tales of anti-heroes doing their best to survive odd circumstances.
Books 1-5 are found in A Collection of Stories for Demented Children
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1482719185
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98171?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Y05RAO
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/collection-stories-for-demented/id478043704?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-collection-of-stories-for-demented-children-john-h-carroll/1106851059
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-collection-of-stories-for-demented-children-1
The Emo Bunny that Should (Illustrated)
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1478286415
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/39089?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007S77AZG
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-emo-bunny-that-should/id419798714?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-emo-bunny-that-should-john-h-carroll/1113035459
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-emo-bunny-that-should-a-story-for-demented-children
Zachary Zombie and the Lost Boy
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/54691?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZR02XO
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/zachary-zombie-lost-boy/id433798726?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zachary-zombie-and-the-lost-boy-john-h-carroll/1115835323
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/zachary-zombie-and-the-lost-boy-1
Drippy the Peg Legged Rainbow FREE!
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/90553?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005OEERVA
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/drippy-the-peg-legged-rainbow/id470215066?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drippy-the-peg-legged-rainbow-john-h-carroll/1115835329
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/drippy-the-peg-legged-rainbow-1
Unholy Cow
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/93587?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005S1YW0U
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/unholy-cow/id474985281?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unholy-cow-john-h-carroll/1115835331
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/unholy-cow-1
Attack of the Sugar Plum Fairies
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/98188?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005Y2EGCC
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/attack-sugar-plum-fairies/id478041406?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/attack-of-the-sugar-plum-fairies-john-h-carroll/1115835333
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/attack-of-the-sugar-plum-fairies-1
Books 6-10 are found in A Collection of Stories for Demented Children, Volume 2
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494288877
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/382791?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GZANHWW
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/collection-stories-for-demented/id773606896?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-collection-of-odd-stories-for-children-volume-2-john-h-carroll/1117650572
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-collection-of-stories-for-demented-children-volume-2
Naughty Nanoworms
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/299645?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C8EWZH2
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/naughty-nanoworms/id627419574?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/naughty-nanoworms-john-h-carroll/1115835394
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/naughty-nanoworms-1
Phairyphant
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/295163?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BT71K3Y
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/phairyphant/id621421027?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/phairyphant-john-h-carroll/1114863559
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/phairyphant-1
Zachary Zombie and the Wicked Worm FREE!
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/328495?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DJB690C
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/zachary-zombie-wicked-worm/id666550700?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zachary-zombie-and-the-wicked-worm-john-h-carroll/1115864696
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/zachary-zombie-and-the-wicked-worm-1
Steampunk Roo
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1492726400
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/357374?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F6MGUCO
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/steampunk-roo/id711725587?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steampunk-roo-john-h-carroll/1116968914
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/steampunk-roo-1
Pow the Panda, The Case of the Rainbow Dragon
Print: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494270013
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381472?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GWC85K2
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/pow-panda-case-rainbow-dragon/id767147672?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/pow-the-panda-the-case-of-the-rainbow-dragon-john-h-carroll/1117558334
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/pow-the-panda-the-case-of-the-rainbow-dragon
Novellas (Halfway between a novel and a short story)
Alien Coffee - Sci-fi
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/85562?ref=johnhcarrollAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KH5I3C
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/alien-coffee/id465217962?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alien-coffee-john-h-carroll/1105313708
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/alien-coffee-1
Short Stories
Blue Haired Alien Girlfriend - Sci-fi FREE!
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/31388?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZR9FSW
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/blue-haired-alien-girlfriend/id409279278?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blue-haired-alien-girlfriend-john-h-carroll/1029147045
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/blue-haired-alien-girlfriend-1
Test Pilot - Sci-fi
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/34646?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZR9G5O
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/test-pilot/id412775321?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/test-pilot-john-h-carroll/1029450539
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/test-pilot-4
Don't Ever Change - Horror
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/43855?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZR0BH6
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/dont-ever-change/id422757572?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-ever-change-john-h-carroll/1030162943
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/dont-ever-change
The Storage Room in the Grey Void - Fantasy
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/339047?ref=johnhcarroll
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E2571IS
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/storage-room-in-grey-void/id678901472?mt=11
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-storage-room-in-the-grey-void-john-h-carroll/1116227666
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-storage-room-in-the-grey-void-1
In Conclusion
The emo bunnies tell me I need to write many more. As I do, I will add them to this list.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
June 6, 2015
"Liquid", Book 2 of the Wyvern Trilogy
Introduction
"Liquid", Book 2 of the Wyvern Trilogy, and Book 8 of the Ryallon Series is now available for PRE-ORDER. The book's official release is August 15, 2015. If you reserve a copy now, it will be downloaded to your ereader automatically on the release date.
Setting the book up for preorder allows me to market it while the final rounds of edits are going on. I have a few beta readers working on looking it over now. Once that's done, I'll take another month to go through and do more edits to polish it and make it pretty.
Meanwhile, any preorders made will be counted as sales on the day that the book goes live. That will shoot it up the rankings, hopefully enough that it will catch extra notice and sell more copies.
If the preorders do well, then bookstores might give it a little more promotion, which would generate more sales.
If I get more sales, then at some point, I might make enough to write full time for a living, which means I would be able to write 2-3 books a year instead of just 1 here and there.
AmazonAmazon UKAmazon CAAmazon AUAppleBarnes & NobleKoboSmashwords
Description
Book 2 of the Wyvern Trilogy
Pelya Jornin is an agent of the Blue Wyverns Mercenaries. She and her apprentice Tina investigate internal corruption and external threats to the group. A year and a half since graduating from the recruit program, they have performed their duties with exceptional success.
Commander Brynin of Covert Services now tasks them with investigating whispers of a potential attack in the Kingdom of Swelth. Someone may be trying to steal a newly made Liquid Wyvern, an enchanted artifact priceless to the group.
The commander also charges them with investigating rumors of the Rojuun. The creatures are her personal obsession. Gossip of their existence has cropped up in Swelth. It is the commander’s hope they will be able to learn more about the mysterious denizens of the underworld.
Pelya and Tina embark on a dangerous mission through the kingdom of Swelth. It takes them into the beautiful and perilous depths of Ryallon where danger awaits them at every turn. Along with them comes an odd young wizard by the name of Jolen Klunjun. He practices a lost art called Throuala Magic that is just as much of a danger to his allies as it is to his enemies.
The Wyvern Trilogy is a swords-and-sorcery series following the journeys of Pelya Jornin. After leaving Dralin, she travels the world searching out injustices and her own purpose in life. Along the way, she makes many friends and even more enemies.
Wyvern
"Liquid" is the sequel to "Wyvern". If you're interested in reading that one first, here is an introduction:
Smashwords
AppleAmazon
Barnes & NobleKobo
Book 1 of the Wyvern Trilogy
Pelya Jornin rides away from Dralin, never to return. Nightmares travel with her, haunting the lonely roads that threaten to drive her mad. The dangers within her own mind outweigh the perils of traveling alone.
The Blue Wyverns are a mercenary group dedicated to providing safe haven to any woman who arrives at their door. For centuries, they have grown and their power now extends throughout the Kingdom of Eddland and into bordering countries. They protect the roads and merchants of the countries with waypoints and well-trained companies of women soldiers.
It is Pelya’s intention to join the Blue Wyverns. However, things are not as they should be. Rather than being welcomed, Pelya is regarded with suspicion and contempt. The Recruit Program is unwelcoming and in disarray.
Pelya befriends other young women who also look to escape hidden pasts. Rather than admiring her experience and knowledge, they find her to be reckless in her actions. Pelya draws into herself, fearing loneliness even in the midst of company.
Will Pelya’s mind conquer battles that cannot be fought with a sword? Can she escape the eyes that haunt her sleep? Will her new friends discover the secrets of her past? Who will turn out to be a true friend and who has deception in their heart? Intrigue and danger surround Pelya as she learns the history of the Blue Wyverns. Will the beginning of her new life bring about the end?
The Wyvern Trilogy is a swords-and-sorcery series following the journeys of Pelya Jornin. After leaving Dralin, she travels the world searching out injustices and her own purpose in life. Along the way, she makes many friends and even more enemies.
Alternate Cover
The artwork of the Wyvern was done by Rachael Schiller, a very talented young up-and-coming artist. I made white and black versions of the cover. The black was chosen by fans and because it fit the story better.
Alternate White Version of the Cover
All my best,
John H. Carroll
"Liquid", Book 2 of the Wyvern Trilogy, and Book 8 of the Ryallon Series is now available for PRE-ORDER. The book's official release is August 15, 2015. If you reserve a copy now, it will be downloaded to your ereader automatically on the release date.
Setting the book up for preorder allows me to market it while the final rounds of edits are going on. I have a few beta readers working on looking it over now. Once that's done, I'll take another month to go through and do more edits to polish it and make it pretty.
Meanwhile, any preorders made will be counted as sales on the day that the book goes live. That will shoot it up the rankings, hopefully enough that it will catch extra notice and sell more copies.
If the preorders do well, then bookstores might give it a little more promotion, which would generate more sales.
If I get more sales, then at some point, I might make enough to write full time for a living, which means I would be able to write 2-3 books a year instead of just 1 here and there.
AmazonAmazon UKAmazon CAAmazon AUAppleBarnes & NobleKoboSmashwords
Description
Book 2 of the Wyvern Trilogy
Pelya Jornin is an agent of the Blue Wyverns Mercenaries. She and her apprentice Tina investigate internal corruption and external threats to the group. A year and a half since graduating from the recruit program, they have performed their duties with exceptional success.
Commander Brynin of Covert Services now tasks them with investigating whispers of a potential attack in the Kingdom of Swelth. Someone may be trying to steal a newly made Liquid Wyvern, an enchanted artifact priceless to the group.
The commander also charges them with investigating rumors of the Rojuun. The creatures are her personal obsession. Gossip of their existence has cropped up in Swelth. It is the commander’s hope they will be able to learn more about the mysterious denizens of the underworld.
Pelya and Tina embark on a dangerous mission through the kingdom of Swelth. It takes them into the beautiful and perilous depths of Ryallon where danger awaits them at every turn. Along with them comes an odd young wizard by the name of Jolen Klunjun. He practices a lost art called Throuala Magic that is just as much of a danger to his allies as it is to his enemies.
The Wyvern Trilogy is a swords-and-sorcery series following the journeys of Pelya Jornin. After leaving Dralin, she travels the world searching out injustices and her own purpose in life. Along the way, she makes many friends and even more enemies.
Wyvern
"Liquid" is the sequel to "Wyvern". If you're interested in reading that one first, here is an introduction:
Smashwords
AppleAmazon
Barnes & NobleKobo
Book 1 of the Wyvern Trilogy
Pelya Jornin rides away from Dralin, never to return. Nightmares travel with her, haunting the lonely roads that threaten to drive her mad. The dangers within her own mind outweigh the perils of traveling alone.
The Blue Wyverns are a mercenary group dedicated to providing safe haven to any woman who arrives at their door. For centuries, they have grown and their power now extends throughout the Kingdom of Eddland and into bordering countries. They protect the roads and merchants of the countries with waypoints and well-trained companies of women soldiers.
It is Pelya’s intention to join the Blue Wyverns. However, things are not as they should be. Rather than being welcomed, Pelya is regarded with suspicion and contempt. The Recruit Program is unwelcoming and in disarray.
Pelya befriends other young women who also look to escape hidden pasts. Rather than admiring her experience and knowledge, they find her to be reckless in her actions. Pelya draws into herself, fearing loneliness even in the midst of company.
Will Pelya’s mind conquer battles that cannot be fought with a sword? Can she escape the eyes that haunt her sleep? Will her new friends discover the secrets of her past? Who will turn out to be a true friend and who has deception in their heart? Intrigue and danger surround Pelya as she learns the history of the Blue Wyverns. Will the beginning of her new life bring about the end?
The Wyvern Trilogy is a swords-and-sorcery series following the journeys of Pelya Jornin. After leaving Dralin, she travels the world searching out injustices and her own purpose in life. Along the way, she makes many friends and even more enemies.
Alternate Cover
The artwork of the Wyvern was done by Rachael Schiller, a very talented young up-and-coming artist. I made white and black versions of the cover. The black was chosen by fans and because it fit the story better.
Alternate White Version of the CoverAll my best,
John H. Carroll
April 19, 2015
Why I blog
Why do I blog?
A number of people haven't asked me this question Actually, no one has. But I've decided to answer the question as though they had.
The answer is . . . . actually, I'm not going to tell you until the end of this post. That way, you have to read everything until you get to the bottom . . . or you could just scroll down and get the answer . . . Never mind. I'll just tell you now and you can read from that point on or not. Up to you.
I do it because the emo bunnies make me blog like a puppetmaster makes his puppets dance.
That's right. The emo bunnies are in control. You are surprised, I know.
Evolution of a blog.
I started this blog because I was told that it was an important tool to market books. Actually, I was told that I should start my own website for my books. That sounded like a lot more work. I really should start my own website still. However, I've done more research since that time and discovered it really is a lot of work. My time is limited and I'd rather spend it writing books, so I settled for a blog.
I named it "The World of Ryallon" because that's where my fantasy novels take place.
Speaking of marketing, feel free to try out my books, if you haven't already. :) The emo bunnies recommend my Stories for Demented Children.
The blog has developed over time though. I don't use it to market near as much as I should. Instead, I use it to talk about stuff on the rare occasion that I actually feel like talking about anything. A lot of my posts are random musings about life and things I think about. Most of them are probably a good indication that I lack sanity.
I also write tutorials for other writers. These include details on how to write, edit, market and various other details involved in self-publishing. Much of these tutorials are part of my journey and sharing the things I've learned along the way. Hopefully the advice is helpful to those who follow.
I still use it as a marketing tool. Most of the posts are updates as to what I'm writing and how things are going overall. I post sneak peak chapters every now and then, which my fans really like.
How the blog is doing.
It's actually doing pretty well. I don't post often enough, but it gets a lot of views. The details of my books interest my fans. I occasionally get new readers who discover my work after reading my posts. And the emo bunnies are . . . well, they're still miserable, but that's just how they roll.
My first post was may 13th, 2011. Since then, I've published 124 posts and had over 200,000 views. My most popular post is "How to make a clickable table of contents in Microsoft Word" with over 100,000 views. Yeah, that's right. Over half of my views have been for a tutorial on Word.
In Conclusion
I've been doing this for 4 years now and intend to continue for as long as I'm writing. I'm sure things will evolve more over time. We shall see where the journey takes us.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
and the emo bunnies.
A number of people haven't asked me this question Actually, no one has. But I've decided to answer the question as though they had.
The answer is . . . . actually, I'm not going to tell you until the end of this post. That way, you have to read everything until you get to the bottom . . . or you could just scroll down and get the answer . . . Never mind. I'll just tell you now and you can read from that point on or not. Up to you.
I do it because the emo bunnies make me blog like a puppetmaster makes his puppets dance.
That's right. The emo bunnies are in control. You are surprised, I know.
Evolution of a blog.
I started this blog because I was told that it was an important tool to market books. Actually, I was told that I should start my own website for my books. That sounded like a lot more work. I really should start my own website still. However, I've done more research since that time and discovered it really is a lot of work. My time is limited and I'd rather spend it writing books, so I settled for a blog.
I named it "The World of Ryallon" because that's where my fantasy novels take place.
Speaking of marketing, feel free to try out my books, if you haven't already. :) The emo bunnies recommend my Stories for Demented Children.
The blog has developed over time though. I don't use it to market near as much as I should. Instead, I use it to talk about stuff on the rare occasion that I actually feel like talking about anything. A lot of my posts are random musings about life and things I think about. Most of them are probably a good indication that I lack sanity.
I also write tutorials for other writers. These include details on how to write, edit, market and various other details involved in self-publishing. Much of these tutorials are part of my journey and sharing the things I've learned along the way. Hopefully the advice is helpful to those who follow.
I still use it as a marketing tool. Most of the posts are updates as to what I'm writing and how things are going overall. I post sneak peak chapters every now and then, which my fans really like.
How the blog is doing.
It's actually doing pretty well. I don't post often enough, but it gets a lot of views. The details of my books interest my fans. I occasionally get new readers who discover my work after reading my posts. And the emo bunnies are . . . well, they're still miserable, but that's just how they roll.
My first post was may 13th, 2011. Since then, I've published 124 posts and had over 200,000 views. My most popular post is "How to make a clickable table of contents in Microsoft Word" with over 100,000 views. Yeah, that's right. Over half of my views have been for a tutorial on Word.
In Conclusion
I've been doing this for 4 years now and intend to continue for as long as I'm writing. I'm sure things will evolve more over time. We shall see where the journey takes us.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
and the emo bunnies.
March 24, 2015
Where to self publish your book
Publishing is fun and easy
Easy compared to spending years trying to get agents and publishers to realize how brilliant you are.
This is a list of where I publish my ebooks. Other authors will do it differently, but hopefully this will give you insight in to what an author goes through in this new publishing world.
Before you publish a book, it's helpful to write it . . . After that, I recommend editing it, then editing it again, having others edit it, setting it aside for a couple of months, then edit again a couple more times. There's a good chance you'll still miss a thing or two, but the important part is that you polish it and publish a high quality product. If at all possible, get a professional editor.
You'll also want a cover. If you can afford a professional or semi-professional one, that's good. Otherwise you can make your own with Photoshop, GIMP or some other editing software. The better your cover, the more likely it will be noticed among the countless others. The better the quality of your book, the more likely people will be to buy the next.
At the end of all my stories, I add authors notes with a brief description of me. In it, I also add links to my blog, twitter, facebook and goodreads pages. Then I add short descriptions to my other stories. I have different copies of the author's notes for each store with links to that store. In other words, I don't add Smashwords links to Amazon publications or Amazon links to Barnes & Noble publications.
Formatting
I write using Microsoft Word, which makes the formatting easy for me. In addition, I write fantasy and don't have a lot of pictures, other things that make it easier. I have a detailed formatting guide here if you need it http://ryallon.blogspot.com/2012/11/publishing-checklist-for-my-book-files.html
Publishing
Before I continue, I want to alert you to a company you should avoid. Author Solutions and its many tentacles is a company that preys upon hopeful writers. You can learn more about them here https://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/the-case-against-author-solutions-part-1-the-numbers/
There are the places I publish my ebooks. Others exist and you can look them up.
1. Smashwords. I recommend using the Smashwords Style Guide to format your word document. In fact, it's vital if you want to publish through them. I distribute to Apple, B&N, Kobo, Scribd, and numerous other small bookstores through Smashwords. Due to time constraints, Smashwords and Amazon are the only two I publish to at the moment.
2. Amazon. I make a copy of the Word Document that I used for Smashwords. Then I add page breaks after the title page, copyright page and chapters. After that, I save it as a filtered web document and then convert it using mobipocket. Here is a more specific guide: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A17W8UM0MMSQX6
3. Kobo now has self-publishing platform though I use Smashwords. With Kobo, you transform your word document into html by saving it as a filtered web document. Then you use a program such as Calibre to transform it into an epub. You can find more info here: http://download.kobobooks.com/writinglife/en-US/KWL-User-Guide.pdf
4. B&N has a Smashwords version of my novels, but you can publish directly with them if you like. Warning!!! B&N now partners with Authors solutions. If you do publish with B&N, do not pay for any of their services. It's just not a good value. With B&N, you just use the word document used for the others with the exception of specific author's notes and any publishing info. You can find more info here: https://www.nookpress.com/ebooks#
5. XinXii is a European competitor to Smashwords. I haven't used their services, but from my reseach, I personally prefer Smashwords, http://www.xinxii.com/default.php/en
Print books
5. Createspace is my favorite for print on Demand Books. I only publish my novels in print, not my short stories. Createspace is owned by Amazon and has been a dream to work with. I make all of my covers to fit their guidelines, with a spine and a back cover. https://www.createspace.com/
5a. Createspace's biggest competitor is Lightning Source, and many of my peers use their service. http://www1.lightningsource.com/
5b. Lulu is the third company that does print on demand books. I'm not certain how good their service is. https://www.lulu.com/s1/paperback_b/r/site
Other
6. Another lesser known place to publish is Scribd. http://www.scribd.com/ You can sell books in PDF form. I distribute there through Smashwords. The site has made vast improvements in recent years. The biggest issue most writers have is its reputation of being a source for pirates to get material, though I don't know how accurate this currently is.
7. There is also a site called Wattpad. http://www.wattpad.com/ They don't have a way for you to sale books as far as I know, but this is an excellent place to publish free books. It's also a good way to get input on your writing, especially if you're willing to join groups and return the favor with other writers. They only accept uploads in .txt, so you'll lose most of your formatting. Links and tables of contents won't work.
8. There is also a site called Obooko where you can put free books as well. In it, you give the readers the right to print out pdf documents for personal use. You can also supply .mobi (Kindle) and epub (everything else) for people to read on ereaders.
Note: All of these sites enable you to retain your worldwide copyrights. You are only giving them the right to distribute or sell for you. None of them prevent you from distributing elsewhere.
Other opportunities
There are other sites out there where it's possible to publish ebooks. Look very carefully at there terms and make certain that they don't have any sort of restrictions preventing you from publishing elsewhere, or exclusivity clauses. Publishing your books is an endeavor where you truly want to read the fine print on everything. I recommend hiring a contract lawyer if you're not confident about what you're agreeing to.
I don't publish to Google Documents because they have been known to reduce the price on all books, which means Amazon and the rest are going to price match. This can really mess with your royalties.
Whatever your decisions, don't expect to hit it big right away. Being a self-published author is a LOT of hard work. Not only do you need to write quality books, you have to market them. You can find some marketing tips here on my blog, but those are only a start.
All my best and good luck. :)
John H. Carroll
Easy compared to spending years trying to get agents and publishers to realize how brilliant you are.
This is a list of where I publish my ebooks. Other authors will do it differently, but hopefully this will give you insight in to what an author goes through in this new publishing world.
Before you publish a book, it's helpful to write it . . . After that, I recommend editing it, then editing it again, having others edit it, setting it aside for a couple of months, then edit again a couple more times. There's a good chance you'll still miss a thing or two, but the important part is that you polish it and publish a high quality product. If at all possible, get a professional editor.
You'll also want a cover. If you can afford a professional or semi-professional one, that's good. Otherwise you can make your own with Photoshop, GIMP or some other editing software. The better your cover, the more likely it will be noticed among the countless others. The better the quality of your book, the more likely people will be to buy the next.
At the end of all my stories, I add authors notes with a brief description of me. In it, I also add links to my blog, twitter, facebook and goodreads pages. Then I add short descriptions to my other stories. I have different copies of the author's notes for each store with links to that store. In other words, I don't add Smashwords links to Amazon publications or Amazon links to Barnes & Noble publications.
Formatting
I write using Microsoft Word, which makes the formatting easy for me. In addition, I write fantasy and don't have a lot of pictures, other things that make it easier. I have a detailed formatting guide here if you need it http://ryallon.blogspot.com/2012/11/publishing-checklist-for-my-book-files.html
Publishing
Before I continue, I want to alert you to a company you should avoid. Author Solutions and its many tentacles is a company that preys upon hopeful writers. You can learn more about them here https://davidgaughran.wordpress.com/2014/06/03/the-case-against-author-solutions-part-1-the-numbers/
There are the places I publish my ebooks. Others exist and you can look them up.
1. Smashwords. I recommend using the Smashwords Style Guide to format your word document. In fact, it's vital if you want to publish through them. I distribute to Apple, B&N, Kobo, Scribd, and numerous other small bookstores through Smashwords. Due to time constraints, Smashwords and Amazon are the only two I publish to at the moment.
2. Amazon. I make a copy of the Word Document that I used for Smashwords. Then I add page breaks after the title page, copyright page and chapters. After that, I save it as a filtered web document and then convert it using mobipocket. Here is a more specific guide: https://kdp.amazon.com/self-publishing/help?topicId=A17W8UM0MMSQX6
3. Kobo now has self-publishing platform though I use Smashwords. With Kobo, you transform your word document into html by saving it as a filtered web document. Then you use a program such as Calibre to transform it into an epub. You can find more info here: http://download.kobobooks.com/writinglife/en-US/KWL-User-Guide.pdf
4. B&N has a Smashwords version of my novels, but you can publish directly with them if you like. Warning!!! B&N now partners with Authors solutions. If you do publish with B&N, do not pay for any of their services. It's just not a good value. With B&N, you just use the word document used for the others with the exception of specific author's notes and any publishing info. You can find more info here: https://www.nookpress.com/ebooks#
5. XinXii is a European competitor to Smashwords. I haven't used their services, but from my reseach, I personally prefer Smashwords, http://www.xinxii.com/default.php/en
Print books
5. Createspace is my favorite for print on Demand Books. I only publish my novels in print, not my short stories. Createspace is owned by Amazon and has been a dream to work with. I make all of my covers to fit their guidelines, with a spine and a back cover. https://www.createspace.com/
5a. Createspace's biggest competitor is Lightning Source, and many of my peers use their service. http://www1.lightningsource.com/
5b. Lulu is the third company that does print on demand books. I'm not certain how good their service is. https://www.lulu.com/s1/paperback_b/r/site
Other
6. Another lesser known place to publish is Scribd. http://www.scribd.com/ You can sell books in PDF form. I distribute there through Smashwords. The site has made vast improvements in recent years. The biggest issue most writers have is its reputation of being a source for pirates to get material, though I don't know how accurate this currently is.
7. There is also a site called Wattpad. http://www.wattpad.com/ They don't have a way for you to sale books as far as I know, but this is an excellent place to publish free books. It's also a good way to get input on your writing, especially if you're willing to join groups and return the favor with other writers. They only accept uploads in .txt, so you'll lose most of your formatting. Links and tables of contents won't work.
8. There is also a site called Obooko where you can put free books as well. In it, you give the readers the right to print out pdf documents for personal use. You can also supply .mobi (Kindle) and epub (everything else) for people to read on ereaders.
Note: All of these sites enable you to retain your worldwide copyrights. You are only giving them the right to distribute or sell for you. None of them prevent you from distributing elsewhere.
Other opportunities
There are other sites out there where it's possible to publish ebooks. Look very carefully at there terms and make certain that they don't have any sort of restrictions preventing you from publishing elsewhere, or exclusivity clauses. Publishing your books is an endeavor where you truly want to read the fine print on everything. I recommend hiring a contract lawyer if you're not confident about what you're agreeing to.
I don't publish to Google Documents because they have been known to reduce the price on all books, which means Amazon and the rest are going to price match. This can really mess with your royalties.
Whatever your decisions, don't expect to hit it big right away. Being a self-published author is a LOT of hard work. Not only do you need to write quality books, you have to market them. You can find some marketing tips here on my blog, but those are only a start.
All my best and good luck. :)
John H. Carroll
March 9, 2015
Book Review: The Akashic Throne, The Aielund Saga Book 6
The Aielund Saga
The Aielund Saga is a series of books written by author and artist Stephen Nowland. I first learned of him through a computer game called Neverwinter Nights. It has a toolset that allows us to tell our stories through game modules using their game engine. The Aielund Saga is a high-rated, award winning series of modules made by Stephen. He's turned them into books that are even better.
You can find the module that includes the story for both of these books here: NWN Module
My reviews of the first two books are here: Book Review: Books 1 & 2 of the Aielund Saga
The review of the second two here: Book Review: Books 3 & 4 of the Aielund Saga
And the review of the 5th book is here: Book Review: Upon the Fulcrum of War, The Aielund Saga Book 5
One of my favorite things about these books is that the author paints his covers. Beautiful artistry. :)
Book 6, The Akashic Throne
Description:
Throughout history, kingdoms have fallen and entire cities have been destroyed under mysterious circumstances, all traces of their existence burned away. Good men are turned into villains, starting wars for seemingly unthinkable reasons. What if you learned these events were not random, and were in fact perpetrated by very real, very tangible tyrants living just beyond the sight of mortals? What if you had a singular opportunity to strike back at these monsters, even if it might cost you your life. Would you take it?
This is the question posed to Aiden Wainwright, former lord of Aielund. Through his actions and those of his companions, he has brought about an uneasy peace in the region, but at a price none of them anticipated. Yet beyond the petty power plays of kings and men lie the puppet masters, watching and manipulating events from behind the scenes, pitting kingdoms against one another for malevolent reasons known only to them. Aiden, wearied from conflict and seeking a more peaceful life, must chose whether to walk away from the only chance at bringing justice to these monsters, or to take up arms for one final battle against an enemy beyond anything he has ever before experienced.
You can get it at Amazon
Smashwords
B&N
Review
This is the final book in the Aielund Saga, one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I don't get a lot of time to read much anymore because I spend most of my free time writing, but I still love reading books. Actually, it's working to support my needy family and sleeping that really interfere.
Epic. That is the best word to describe the book and the series. Our heroic adventurers have already saved the world, but in the way of worlds, it refuses to stay saved. Worlds are very inconsiderate that way.
Aiden, the main character in all the books has become a bit scaly and draconic in appearance in nature. He's no longer a pawn of kings. He's now graduated to become a pawn of a wizard. This is important because he wants to get married at some point and needs practice to be a pawn to his wife. ;) He's matured a great deal throughout his journeys though and is not quite so foolish as he has been in the past. There is a constant internal struggle within him that parallels the external struggle the group faces.
Throughout the saga, women have played an equal importance in the story. This has matured into women who just as confident and empowered as the men, and in some instances, they have their stuff together more than the men do. Criosa is more than just your typical pretty princess. She is clever and takes her position as a leader seriously. Nellise has exuded confidence and leadership throughout the saga, and if not for Aiden, I think she would have been the leader of the band of misfits. Syana is my favorite in this story. The strides she makes in understanding herself and those around her is one of the most extraordinary journeys I've read.
Terinus the wizard is an excellent addition to the story. He is complex and fascinating. It's difficult to tell what his true nature is going to be though. Terinus becomes the driving force of this book.
As always, the battles are intense. It's always a question as to who, if anyone will survive each encounter. The group gets cool new toys to play with, one of the fun aspects of fantasy. There are new people for the characters to interact with along the way and new dynamics for the characters' personalities.
Mr. Nowland does an excellent job of wrapping up most the details in this book. There are a couple of characters that just disappeared, but I have reason to believe they may show up in future series. We shall see! The ending is very intense. Non-stop action for the last few chapters. I won't tell you what happens, but I will let you know that it's not entirely fair. In my current mood, that fits perfectly because life hasn't been too fair to me lately. With my attitude right now, if I had had control of the ending I probably would have taken out the world. Mr. Nowland's ending is good and right. :)
As with all of Mr. Nowland's books, the dialogue has humor scattered throughout, the battle scenes are vivid and intense. If you enjoy rousing, epic adventures, this is an excellent series for you.
About the Author
I am often astonished by the sheer amount of ideas that go through my head. I have tasked myself to grab hold of as many as I can, weave them into stories, shaping them to my will, and like, writing them down, because people can't read thoughts.
I spent over fifteen years dealing with poor health, including chronic fatigue syndrome (a symptom of other stuff, but annoying nonetheless) which gave me ample time for thinking, but slowed me down in the way of actually writing.
My first novel was actually done back in aught three, but I didn't care for that sort of thing at the time, so I scrapped it and started writing a new story for Neverwinter Nights, that RPG video game thing you may or may not have heard of.
The story was so successful (filled with rich, creamy character development) that I lamented that only people playing the game would ever see it. In 2009, with my health improving, I resolved to novelize the stories I'd written, in addition to developing the world in which they exist, for fun and profit.
Thus was my first novel conceived, and lo, it was published online, for the enjoyment of all! The saga will be five books in total, with another 4-5 books after that as a second saga that's in the pipeline.
Oh, I also paint. Expect to see more cover art with each title, probably becoming more technically sophisticated each time.
Disclaimer
I have decided to review books that I enjoy. I am an avid reader of fantasy, so most of them will be in that genre. I'm not taking any requests, just reading what catches my eyes. You'll find that most of these are from Indie Authors. The way I figure it, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster and Piers Anthony (my favorite authors) already have enough reviews, but Indies could always use a few more.
It is important to note here that while I am a writer, I am doing these reviews as a reader . I also know a number of the authors I will be reviewing. This is not an exchange of reviews, nor have I been solicited by those authors to write the review. If I don't like a book, I won't review it.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
The Aielund Saga is a series of books written by author and artist Stephen Nowland. I first learned of him through a computer game called Neverwinter Nights. It has a toolset that allows us to tell our stories through game modules using their game engine. The Aielund Saga is a high-rated, award winning series of modules made by Stephen. He's turned them into books that are even better.
You can find the module that includes the story for both of these books here: NWN Module
My reviews of the first two books are here: Book Review: Books 1 & 2 of the Aielund Saga
The review of the second two here: Book Review: Books 3 & 4 of the Aielund Saga
And the review of the 5th book is here: Book Review: Upon the Fulcrum of War, The Aielund Saga Book 5
One of my favorite things about these books is that the author paints his covers. Beautiful artistry. :)
Book 6, The Akashic Throne
Description:
Throughout history, kingdoms have fallen and entire cities have been destroyed under mysterious circumstances, all traces of their existence burned away. Good men are turned into villains, starting wars for seemingly unthinkable reasons. What if you learned these events were not random, and were in fact perpetrated by very real, very tangible tyrants living just beyond the sight of mortals? What if you had a singular opportunity to strike back at these monsters, even if it might cost you your life. Would you take it?
This is the question posed to Aiden Wainwright, former lord of Aielund. Through his actions and those of his companions, he has brought about an uneasy peace in the region, but at a price none of them anticipated. Yet beyond the petty power plays of kings and men lie the puppet masters, watching and manipulating events from behind the scenes, pitting kingdoms against one another for malevolent reasons known only to them. Aiden, wearied from conflict and seeking a more peaceful life, must chose whether to walk away from the only chance at bringing justice to these monsters, or to take up arms for one final battle against an enemy beyond anything he has ever before experienced.
You can get it at Amazon
Smashwords
B&N
Review
This is the final book in the Aielund Saga, one of my favorite fantasy series of all time. I don't get a lot of time to read much anymore because I spend most of my free time writing, but I still love reading books. Actually, it's working to support my needy family and sleeping that really interfere.
Epic. That is the best word to describe the book and the series. Our heroic adventurers have already saved the world, but in the way of worlds, it refuses to stay saved. Worlds are very inconsiderate that way.
Aiden, the main character in all the books has become a bit scaly and draconic in appearance in nature. He's no longer a pawn of kings. He's now graduated to become a pawn of a wizard. This is important because he wants to get married at some point and needs practice to be a pawn to his wife. ;) He's matured a great deal throughout his journeys though and is not quite so foolish as he has been in the past. There is a constant internal struggle within him that parallels the external struggle the group faces.
Throughout the saga, women have played an equal importance in the story. This has matured into women who just as confident and empowered as the men, and in some instances, they have their stuff together more than the men do. Criosa is more than just your typical pretty princess. She is clever and takes her position as a leader seriously. Nellise has exuded confidence and leadership throughout the saga, and if not for Aiden, I think she would have been the leader of the band of misfits. Syana is my favorite in this story. The strides she makes in understanding herself and those around her is one of the most extraordinary journeys I've read.
Terinus the wizard is an excellent addition to the story. He is complex and fascinating. It's difficult to tell what his true nature is going to be though. Terinus becomes the driving force of this book.
As always, the battles are intense. It's always a question as to who, if anyone will survive each encounter. The group gets cool new toys to play with, one of the fun aspects of fantasy. There are new people for the characters to interact with along the way and new dynamics for the characters' personalities.
Mr. Nowland does an excellent job of wrapping up most the details in this book. There are a couple of characters that just disappeared, but I have reason to believe they may show up in future series. We shall see! The ending is very intense. Non-stop action for the last few chapters. I won't tell you what happens, but I will let you know that it's not entirely fair. In my current mood, that fits perfectly because life hasn't been too fair to me lately. With my attitude right now, if I had had control of the ending I probably would have taken out the world. Mr. Nowland's ending is good and right. :)
As with all of Mr. Nowland's books, the dialogue has humor scattered throughout, the battle scenes are vivid and intense. If you enjoy rousing, epic adventures, this is an excellent series for you.
About the Author
I am often astonished by the sheer amount of ideas that go through my head. I have tasked myself to grab hold of as many as I can, weave them into stories, shaping them to my will, and like, writing them down, because people can't read thoughts.
I spent over fifteen years dealing with poor health, including chronic fatigue syndrome (a symptom of other stuff, but annoying nonetheless) which gave me ample time for thinking, but slowed me down in the way of actually writing.
My first novel was actually done back in aught three, but I didn't care for that sort of thing at the time, so I scrapped it and started writing a new story for Neverwinter Nights, that RPG video game thing you may or may not have heard of.
The story was so successful (filled with rich, creamy character development) that I lamented that only people playing the game would ever see it. In 2009, with my health improving, I resolved to novelize the stories I'd written, in addition to developing the world in which they exist, for fun and profit.
Thus was my first novel conceived, and lo, it was published online, for the enjoyment of all! The saga will be five books in total, with another 4-5 books after that as a second saga that's in the pipeline.
Oh, I also paint. Expect to see more cover art with each title, probably becoming more technically sophisticated each time.
Disclaimer
I have decided to review books that I enjoy. I am an avid reader of fantasy, so most of them will be in that genre. I'm not taking any requests, just reading what catches my eyes. You'll find that most of these are from Indie Authors. The way I figure it, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster and Piers Anthony (my favorite authors) already have enough reviews, but Indies could always use a few more.
It is important to note here that while I am a writer, I am doing these reviews as a reader . I also know a number of the authors I will be reviewing. This is not an exchange of reviews, nor have I been solicited by those authors to write the review. If I don't like a book, I won't review it.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
January 4, 2015
Rangers of Ryallon
In which Pelya and Tina have a discussion with a ranger and trapper
This is an excerpt from chapter 16 of "Liquid", Book 2 of the Wyvern Trilogy. In it, the characters discuss the Rangers of Ryallon and the gods that guide them. It is a world-building conversation relevant to the story.
Note: This is a 1st draft version that has not received editing yet.
Excerpt
“Don’t the rangers follow Wutare, the God of Nature?” Tina asked.
“No. The rangers follow Enowl, the Goddess of Exploration who is the twin sister of her brother Kexlor, the God of Knowledge. We explore the world, constantly striving to learn and discover.”
“I wasn’t aware of that.” Pelya sipped her wine and allowed herself to relax some for the first time in days. Their mission was urgent, but she needed to take a breath and mentally regroup. “To be honest, I’ve never met a ranger or had dealings with your guild. Could you tell me more about it if you have time?”
“Of course.” Ledwid brightened at the question. “The Rangers Guild has been around for millennia. Enowl, the honey haired goddess, loved roaming the world of Ryallon. She rode a stallion of the whitest white that could leap oceans to travel to any continent.”
Tina raised a suggestive eyebrow. “Was she naked while she did this?”
“No, of course not. She preferred wool and leather to protect her from the elements.” He shook his head in disbelief at the question. “Rangers still wear brown and green as she did. It’s best for camouflage in most areas, though white and brown are preferred in mountains and winter.” Ledwid tugged at his own leather vest. “At least once a year, she would visit Kexlor in his library fortress. She brought him books and items of magic and fascination.”
“And was he naked while he read?” Tina tried to ask the question seriously, but snorted halfway through, drawing more booming laughter from Murton, a grin from Pelya and a dirty look from Ledwid.
“Enowl begged Kexlor to explore with her, but his legs had been weak since childhood and he preferred the safety of his books.” Ledwid was doing his best to ignore Tina. “Yet he wanted to see the things she did while she wanted his guidance and knowledge as she discovered new things.”
Murton whispered loudly to Tina while using a hand to shield his words from his partner. “This is the creepy part.”
Ledwid turned to him. “Excuse me?”
Murton attacked him with a kiss before assuming an angelic expression, which caused Tina to snort and giggle.
Ledwid tugged on his vest and recomposed himself. “Enowl of the green eyes and Kexlor of the blue exchanged their right eyes so they could see what the other saw when needed.”
“See?” Murton said.
Tina covered her eye with a hand. “Oww. No thank you.”
Ledwid ignored them. “They were able to communicate with each other from that time on, but to this day, Enowl still visits her brother in his fortress every year.”
“Doesn’t Kexlor hoard his knowledge and keep it from others?” Pelya asked. “I remember reading that he charges a fee to the other gods for any information they want.”
Ledwid’s expression turned to stone.
Pelya realized she had just offended him. “I’m sorry. I meant no criticism. I’ve studied the gods throughout my life and find them fascinating. Kexlor and Enowl are Van Gods, both powerful. For some reason, I never made the connection between Enowl and the rangers. It makes sense though. Enowl carried a bow that fired arrows of insanity made by her brother. He filled each arrow with so much knowledge, the victim’s head would flood until they screamed and died. The rare few who did not lose their sanity became disciples of Kexlor.”
Tina shuddered. “That sounds like a painful way to gain divine favor.”
Ledwid relaxed. “No offense taken. You are a surprising young woman, Miss Jornin. A ranger’s primary weapon is the bow.” He gestured to his in the corner. “My arrows don’t cause insanity, but I know how to place them anywhere on a body to kill or incapacitate.”
“I hate bow and arrows,” Pelya admitted. “I’d rather face a wizard than an archer. Unless you’re in a large group, the archer has the advantage and usually hides on rooftops, or in your case, I’d imagine in the trees.”
The corner of Ledwid’s mouth rose in amusement. “It’s not easy to shoot from a tree. Given enough time, I can usually find a perch that grants me enough leverage for medium range shots.”
“That makes sense.” Pelya turned her wine glass by the stem while she spoke. “So are the rangers really priests for Enowl? Did she form the guild?”
“We’re not priests,” Ledwid said. “As Enowl explored the world, she found companions to travel with her. She taught them much of what she knew. Those companions became her disciples and formed the guild. There are guild houses on every continent of the world. We rangers are encouraged to explore at least two continents in our life and are welcome at any guildhouse.”
“That’s fascinating,” Tina said in genuine interest. “What about the forests though? Rangers explore wilderness everywhere, but Druids protect the forests. Aren’t Druids and rangers allies? You both use bows.”
“Choice of weapons does not determine allies.” Ledwid frowned. “Rangers and Druids have always gotten along, but there is mistrust there. The Druids do not like rangers exploring in their forests. They refuse to let us establish guildhouses in them. They treat us with respect though and in many cases ally with us.”
In conclusion
This information applies to more than just this book and gives the reader a little more insight to the world of Ryallon, its people and its gods.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
This is an excerpt from chapter 16 of "Liquid", Book 2 of the Wyvern Trilogy. In it, the characters discuss the Rangers of Ryallon and the gods that guide them. It is a world-building conversation relevant to the story.
Note: This is a 1st draft version that has not received editing yet.
Excerpt
“Don’t the rangers follow Wutare, the God of Nature?” Tina asked.
“No. The rangers follow Enowl, the Goddess of Exploration who is the twin sister of her brother Kexlor, the God of Knowledge. We explore the world, constantly striving to learn and discover.”
“I wasn’t aware of that.” Pelya sipped her wine and allowed herself to relax some for the first time in days. Their mission was urgent, but she needed to take a breath and mentally regroup. “To be honest, I’ve never met a ranger or had dealings with your guild. Could you tell me more about it if you have time?”
“Of course.” Ledwid brightened at the question. “The Rangers Guild has been around for millennia. Enowl, the honey haired goddess, loved roaming the world of Ryallon. She rode a stallion of the whitest white that could leap oceans to travel to any continent.”
Tina raised a suggestive eyebrow. “Was she naked while she did this?”
“No, of course not. She preferred wool and leather to protect her from the elements.” He shook his head in disbelief at the question. “Rangers still wear brown and green as she did. It’s best for camouflage in most areas, though white and brown are preferred in mountains and winter.” Ledwid tugged at his own leather vest. “At least once a year, she would visit Kexlor in his library fortress. She brought him books and items of magic and fascination.”
“And was he naked while he read?” Tina tried to ask the question seriously, but snorted halfway through, drawing more booming laughter from Murton, a grin from Pelya and a dirty look from Ledwid.
“Enowl begged Kexlor to explore with her, but his legs had been weak since childhood and he preferred the safety of his books.” Ledwid was doing his best to ignore Tina. “Yet he wanted to see the things she did while she wanted his guidance and knowledge as she discovered new things.”
Murton whispered loudly to Tina while using a hand to shield his words from his partner. “This is the creepy part.”
Ledwid turned to him. “Excuse me?”
Murton attacked him with a kiss before assuming an angelic expression, which caused Tina to snort and giggle.
Ledwid tugged on his vest and recomposed himself. “Enowl of the green eyes and Kexlor of the blue exchanged their right eyes so they could see what the other saw when needed.”
“See?” Murton said.
Tina covered her eye with a hand. “Oww. No thank you.”
Ledwid ignored them. “They were able to communicate with each other from that time on, but to this day, Enowl still visits her brother in his fortress every year.”
“Doesn’t Kexlor hoard his knowledge and keep it from others?” Pelya asked. “I remember reading that he charges a fee to the other gods for any information they want.”
Ledwid’s expression turned to stone.
Pelya realized she had just offended him. “I’m sorry. I meant no criticism. I’ve studied the gods throughout my life and find them fascinating. Kexlor and Enowl are Van Gods, both powerful. For some reason, I never made the connection between Enowl and the rangers. It makes sense though. Enowl carried a bow that fired arrows of insanity made by her brother. He filled each arrow with so much knowledge, the victim’s head would flood until they screamed and died. The rare few who did not lose their sanity became disciples of Kexlor.”
Tina shuddered. “That sounds like a painful way to gain divine favor.”
Ledwid relaxed. “No offense taken. You are a surprising young woman, Miss Jornin. A ranger’s primary weapon is the bow.” He gestured to his in the corner. “My arrows don’t cause insanity, but I know how to place them anywhere on a body to kill or incapacitate.”
“I hate bow and arrows,” Pelya admitted. “I’d rather face a wizard than an archer. Unless you’re in a large group, the archer has the advantage and usually hides on rooftops, or in your case, I’d imagine in the trees.”
The corner of Ledwid’s mouth rose in amusement. “It’s not easy to shoot from a tree. Given enough time, I can usually find a perch that grants me enough leverage for medium range shots.”
“That makes sense.” Pelya turned her wine glass by the stem while she spoke. “So are the rangers really priests for Enowl? Did she form the guild?”
“We’re not priests,” Ledwid said. “As Enowl explored the world, she found companions to travel with her. She taught them much of what she knew. Those companions became her disciples and formed the guild. There are guild houses on every continent of the world. We rangers are encouraged to explore at least two continents in our life and are welcome at any guildhouse.”
“That’s fascinating,” Tina said in genuine interest. “What about the forests though? Rangers explore wilderness everywhere, but Druids protect the forests. Aren’t Druids and rangers allies? You both use bows.”
“Choice of weapons does not determine allies.” Ledwid frowned. “Rangers and Druids have always gotten along, but there is mistrust there. The Druids do not like rangers exploring in their forests. They refuse to let us establish guildhouses in them. They treat us with respect though and in many cases ally with us.”
In conclusion
This information applies to more than just this book and gives the reader a little more insight to the world of Ryallon, its people and its gods.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
December 14, 2014
Christmas sale on Demented Children
Demented Children, 50% off!!!
Hmmmm . . . That doesn't sound right . . .
Please buy my books. They're awesome. Just ask me.
errrrr, that's a bit desperate . . .
A Collection of Stories, Volume 1 and 2, both 50% 0ff at Smashwords! Merry Christmas and stuff!
Hello, I've created coupons over at Smashwords, I'm running a Christmas sale on my Collections for Demented Children!
Type in code AF69R at checkout to get Volume 1 at 50% off. :)
Type in code UC57C at checkout to get Volume 2 at 50% off. :)
The coupons are good until January 31, 2015.
Volume 1
Smashwords 50% off til January 31, 2015 - Coupon code - AF69R
Amazon
Print
B&N
Apple
Kobo
Five odd stories for children combined into one collection. Follow the tales of anti-heroes through misadventures and mishaps. Emo bunnies, zombies, rainbows, an unholy cow and sugar plum fairies share adventure across the pages. These stories are not for the sane of heart.
“The Emo Bunny that Should”
Emo the Bunny preferred gloomy days, walks over a cliff and misery. One day he discovers a conspiracy the likes of which no child would ever suspect!
“Zachary Zombie and the Lost Boy”
Zachary Zombie finds a lost boy in the forest and agrees to help getting the boy home. Things are bound to go wrong when they meet a magical stag, a pretty woman at the edge of a cliff, a party in the cemetery, and torch-wielding villagers along the way.
“Drippy the Peg-Legged Rainbow”
Rainbows have existed throughout the universe since shortly after its inception. All are beautiful, although many beings in the universe think them to be evil bearers of bad tidings and illness.
This is the story of one rainbow, neither ancient nor young . . .
“Unholy Cow”
Opal has never been trick-or-treating because her parents think Halloween is evil and candy is bad for children. Meanwhile an unholy cow by the name of Runyx has decided to change Opal’s life.
“Attack of the Sugar Plum Fairies”
The Sugar Plum Fairies are tired of dancing for nothing. The North Pole is freezing, they have to wear skimpy outfits and their tiny legs get worn out quickly. When the Elvin Labor Union formed, fairies were left out of any sort of fair bargaining agreement. The time has come for all of that to change.
Volume 2
Smashwords 50% off til January 31, 2015 - Coupon code - UC57C
AmazonPrintApple
B&N
Kobo
Five odd stories for children combined into one collection. Follow the tales of anti-heroes through misadventures and mishaps. Nanoworms, zombies, a panda, a phairyphant, and Steampunk animals share their adventures across the pages.
“Phairyphant”
Mystical phairyphants have existed since the days of wooly mammoths and mastodons. Phairydust allows them to fly on gossamer wings while they sniff the air for opportunities to make the world a better place for elephants. This is the story of Elly, one such phairyphant.
“Naughty Nanoworms”
Life on the streets is generally peaceful for Albert, but one day Albert walks his way into trouble. Will he keep his shopping cart? Will Meezer the cat come up with a plan to destroy the world? Can a shopping cart and a skateboard ever get along?
“Zachary Zombie and the Wicked Worm”
Zachary Zombie has been sent to find the magical Dagger of Gik, accompanied by three fellow zombies. What dangers await the rotting zombies? Who will lose the most body parts? And who, what, or where in the world is Gik?
“Steampunk Roo”
Steampunk animals roam the wild Outback of Australia, but horrible news has come that someone is destroying water stops that keep the Steampunk animals running. It’s up to Steampunk Roo to bring an end to the terrible destruction!
“Pow the Panda, The Case of the Rainbow Dragon”
In the fantastically roaring year of 1925, business is good for a hard-working private eye in Chinatown. When trouble shows up, a girl named Opal, a gorilla, a bear, a bed and bunch of bad puns join it. Pow is left with the Case of the Rainbow Dragon.
All my best to you and yours. Enjoy!
John H. Carroll
Hmmmm . . . That doesn't sound right . . .
Please buy my books. They're awesome. Just ask me.
errrrr, that's a bit desperate . . .
A Collection of Stories, Volume 1 and 2, both 50% 0ff at Smashwords! Merry Christmas and stuff!
Hello, I've created coupons over at Smashwords, I'm running a Christmas sale on my Collections for Demented Children!
Type in code AF69R at checkout to get Volume 1 at 50% off. :)
Type in code UC57C at checkout to get Volume 2 at 50% off. :)
The coupons are good until January 31, 2015.
Volume 1
Smashwords 50% off til January 31, 2015 - Coupon code - AF69R
Amazon
B&N
Apple
Kobo
Five odd stories for children combined into one collection. Follow the tales of anti-heroes through misadventures and mishaps. Emo bunnies, zombies, rainbows, an unholy cow and sugar plum fairies share adventure across the pages. These stories are not for the sane of heart.
“The Emo Bunny that Should”
Emo the Bunny preferred gloomy days, walks over a cliff and misery. One day he discovers a conspiracy the likes of which no child would ever suspect!
“Zachary Zombie and the Lost Boy”
Zachary Zombie finds a lost boy in the forest and agrees to help getting the boy home. Things are bound to go wrong when they meet a magical stag, a pretty woman at the edge of a cliff, a party in the cemetery, and torch-wielding villagers along the way.
“Drippy the Peg-Legged Rainbow”
Rainbows have existed throughout the universe since shortly after its inception. All are beautiful, although many beings in the universe think them to be evil bearers of bad tidings and illness.
This is the story of one rainbow, neither ancient nor young . . .
“Unholy Cow”
Opal has never been trick-or-treating because her parents think Halloween is evil and candy is bad for children. Meanwhile an unholy cow by the name of Runyx has decided to change Opal’s life.
“Attack of the Sugar Plum Fairies”
The Sugar Plum Fairies are tired of dancing for nothing. The North Pole is freezing, they have to wear skimpy outfits and their tiny legs get worn out quickly. When the Elvin Labor Union formed, fairies were left out of any sort of fair bargaining agreement. The time has come for all of that to change.
Volume 2
Smashwords 50% off til January 31, 2015 - Coupon code - UC57C
AmazonPrintApple
B&N
Kobo
Five odd stories for children combined into one collection. Follow the tales of anti-heroes through misadventures and mishaps. Nanoworms, zombies, a panda, a phairyphant, and Steampunk animals share their adventures across the pages.
“Phairyphant”
Mystical phairyphants have existed since the days of wooly mammoths and mastodons. Phairydust allows them to fly on gossamer wings while they sniff the air for opportunities to make the world a better place for elephants. This is the story of Elly, one such phairyphant.
“Naughty Nanoworms”
Life on the streets is generally peaceful for Albert, but one day Albert walks his way into trouble. Will he keep his shopping cart? Will Meezer the cat come up with a plan to destroy the world? Can a shopping cart and a skateboard ever get along?
“Zachary Zombie and the Wicked Worm”
Zachary Zombie has been sent to find the magical Dagger of Gik, accompanied by three fellow zombies. What dangers await the rotting zombies? Who will lose the most body parts? And who, what, or where in the world is Gik?
“Steampunk Roo”
Steampunk animals roam the wild Outback of Australia, but horrible news has come that someone is destroying water stops that keep the Steampunk animals running. It’s up to Steampunk Roo to bring an end to the terrible destruction!
“Pow the Panda, The Case of the Rainbow Dragon”
In the fantastically roaring year of 1925, business is good for a hard-working private eye in Chinatown. When trouble shows up, a girl named Opal, a gorilla, a bear, a bed and bunch of bad puns join it. Pow is left with the Case of the Rainbow Dragon.
All my best to you and yours. Enjoy!
John H. Carroll
December 13, 2014
Excerpt from "Liquid" Chapter 8, Wyvern Trilogy
Liquid, Wyvern Trilogy, Ryallon Series
This is an excerpt out of my current work in progress, "Liquid". Pelya and Tina enter a shop and speak to the proprietor.
While reading this, please keep in mind that this is the first rough draft and has not received the multiple rounds of editing I will put it through.
Chapter 8, excerpt
The person sold me a cup that was made by the Rojuun.” Tumera reached under the counter again. The cup she handed them was orange with an etched painting of a river all the way around it. “The water seems to move.” She handed it to Tina.
“What material is it?” Tina held it in her hand, weighing it. “It’s light, but feels sturdy.”
“I don’t know.” Tumera put her hands on the edge of the counter and stretched her back. “I would say clay, but it’s too light. It’s just as fine as porcelain, but I made the mistake of dropping it and it didn’t even chip. It’s extremely strong.”
“Who did you buy it from?” Pelya ran a finger over the side of the cup still in Tina’s hand and marveled at the texture of the river.
“A woman with a thick accent I’ve never heard.” Tumera picked a figurine from the shelf behind her and began cleaning it with the cloth while she spoke with a cadence befitting a bard. “I have a talent for getting people to talk and it didn’t take long before she was telling me about her entire life. ” She winked. “Her name was Yvilla and her people lived in the Pacivakai Fens in the northern part of the Iynath Empire. Her parents were part of a rebellion against the empire when she was a child. The people of her village were captured and taken across the empire as prisoners to the Caaldith Mountains.”
“It’s common for prisoners to be taken to mines,” Tina said. “Most don’t survive the experience.”
“Yes, but they weren’t taken to mines. They were given to the Rojuun as slaves.”
The news twisted Pelya’s gut. “The Rojuun want to enslave us?”
“Yes.” Tumera’s voice deepened with the gravity of her words. “From what Yvilla told me, that is exactly what they want. Rojuun believe that humans are here on this world to serve them.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Tina growled.
“I’d like to believe so,” Tumera agreed. “Yvilla’s tale is fascinating. She was eight when her people descended below the Caaldith Mountains. The men were separated from the women and younger children. Yvilla stayed with her mother working in caverns where they tended odd six-legged beasts and harvested plants that glowed.”
“Didn’t they try to escape?” Tina’s rigid stance and folded arms made it clear how angry the situation made her.
“Yvilla told me a few did, but they were never heard from again, so whether they succeeded or failed was unknown.” Tumera leaned one hip against the counter, her story taking a life of its own. “The caverns they worked were vast. Entire villages and even cities fit in some. Other cities took up multiple caverns. Yvilla didn’t see the cities when she was a child, just the farm caverns that were extensive too from what she said. She lost track of time while down there, so she doesn’t know exactly how old she was when they took her away to another Rojuun city far away from her mother, though she thinks her age was around fourteen or fifteen. Yvilla doesn’t know where her parents or any of her siblings are, or if they’re still alive.”
“That’s terrible,” Tina said in despair. Pelya felt much the same way.
“I agree. From there, she was taken to a city to work as a servant to a family of Rojuun. After a year or so, she was exchanged to another family. After six or seven more exchanges, she finally saw the sky again in a Rojuun city named Puujan on this side of the Caaldith Range.” Tumera talked hypnotically while concentrating on the details of the figurine. “The Rojuun placed wings on all the buildings that flutter in breezes. Yvilla called it the Winged City.”
“Why would they put wings on buildings?” asked Tina. “Do they fly?”
“No. From what Yvilla said, the Rojuun are artists. They sing, paint, sculpt, recite poetry and anything else that has to do with art.” Tumera pointed at the Rojuun cup. “Even their dishes are beautiful. The Rojuun consider the wings to be art. The part I found most interesting in her stories is that the caverns extended from one side of the Caaldith Mountains to the other.”
“That’s a lot of distance.” Pelya considered the maps she’d seen in her life. Commander Brynin’s dragon globe showed the most, but Pelya had never proper time to study it in detail. “No one’s ever been able to map the range. It’s too vast. You said there are entire cities of Rojuun?”
“Yvilla couldn’t tell me exactly how many or how big they are, but she said there has to be tens of thousands of Rojuun in the caverns.”
“That’s a problem.” Pelya hadn’t believed there were more than scattered groups of them. “Did she say if they have armies? I know some are wizards.”
“I don’t know that they have armies.” Tumera finished cleaning that figurine and picked up one of a forgotten king. “Yvilla mentioned that they all carry long knives and know how to use them as weapons, though they rarely fought amongst themselves. The warriors that captured her village were human soldiers of the Iynath Empire. She did confirm that Rojuun practice magic, but they don’t have wizards. It sounds more like a natural ability.”
“So a race of knife and magic wielding slavers.” Tina rubbed her forehead. “If she’s telling the truth, they’re a bigger problem than we realized.”
“And because they hide underground, none of the kingdoms realize it.” Pelya drummed her fingers on the counter. “How did Yvilla escape?”
“Puujan is in the Willden Forest,” Tumera said. “The Rojuun believe that humans get killed by Druids and built a wall to protect it. During the day, they let humans go out to forage and hunt. When the humans disappear, they just get more humans to replace them.”
Tina grinned. “The Druids rescue the humans, don’t they?”
“Yup.” Tumera winked. “Yvilla was foraging one day and saw a Druid in the distance. The Druid smiled, but made no move toward her. When Yvilla approached, she was offered freedom. They brought her to the edge of Swelth, gave her a few supplies and set her free. The items she sold to me were basics she had in a pack while foraging.”
“I’ve only read about Druids,” Pelya said. “Aren’t they dangerous in their own right?”
“Only if you threaten the forest,” Tina explained. “I’ve met a few in my youth. Tipimn is on the edge of the Willden. The forest is beautiful as long as you don’t go far into it. It’s haunted on top of all the other dangers. I even saw a ghost wandering through the trees once when some friends and I camped there.”
“Now I want to go explore.”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Every time you hear the word ‘danger’, you say ‘oooo, let’s explore’. The more dangerous, the more excited you get.”
Progress
I'm currently on chapter 12 of the book, getting close to the halfway mark. Writing this is fun and there are some plot twists I didn't expect. The characters are interesting and I'm really starting to wonder how they're going to react to what's ahead.
I'll try to give you another update soon.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
This is an excerpt out of my current work in progress, "Liquid". Pelya and Tina enter a shop and speak to the proprietor.
While reading this, please keep in mind that this is the first rough draft and has not received the multiple rounds of editing I will put it through.
Chapter 8, excerpt
The person sold me a cup that was made by the Rojuun.” Tumera reached under the counter again. The cup she handed them was orange with an etched painting of a river all the way around it. “The water seems to move.” She handed it to Tina.
“What material is it?” Tina held it in her hand, weighing it. “It’s light, but feels sturdy.”
“I don’t know.” Tumera put her hands on the edge of the counter and stretched her back. “I would say clay, but it’s too light. It’s just as fine as porcelain, but I made the mistake of dropping it and it didn’t even chip. It’s extremely strong.”
“Who did you buy it from?” Pelya ran a finger over the side of the cup still in Tina’s hand and marveled at the texture of the river.
“A woman with a thick accent I’ve never heard.” Tumera picked a figurine from the shelf behind her and began cleaning it with the cloth while she spoke with a cadence befitting a bard. “I have a talent for getting people to talk and it didn’t take long before she was telling me about her entire life. ” She winked. “Her name was Yvilla and her people lived in the Pacivakai Fens in the northern part of the Iynath Empire. Her parents were part of a rebellion against the empire when she was a child. The people of her village were captured and taken across the empire as prisoners to the Caaldith Mountains.”
“It’s common for prisoners to be taken to mines,” Tina said. “Most don’t survive the experience.”
“Yes, but they weren’t taken to mines. They were given to the Rojuun as slaves.”
The news twisted Pelya’s gut. “The Rojuun want to enslave us?”
“Yes.” Tumera’s voice deepened with the gravity of her words. “From what Yvilla told me, that is exactly what they want. Rojuun believe that humans are here on this world to serve them.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Tina growled.
“I’d like to believe so,” Tumera agreed. “Yvilla’s tale is fascinating. She was eight when her people descended below the Caaldith Mountains. The men were separated from the women and younger children. Yvilla stayed with her mother working in caverns where they tended odd six-legged beasts and harvested plants that glowed.”
“Didn’t they try to escape?” Tina’s rigid stance and folded arms made it clear how angry the situation made her.
“Yvilla told me a few did, but they were never heard from again, so whether they succeeded or failed was unknown.” Tumera leaned one hip against the counter, her story taking a life of its own. “The caverns they worked were vast. Entire villages and even cities fit in some. Other cities took up multiple caverns. Yvilla didn’t see the cities when she was a child, just the farm caverns that were extensive too from what she said. She lost track of time while down there, so she doesn’t know exactly how old she was when they took her away to another Rojuun city far away from her mother, though she thinks her age was around fourteen or fifteen. Yvilla doesn’t know where her parents or any of her siblings are, or if they’re still alive.”
“That’s terrible,” Tina said in despair. Pelya felt much the same way.
“I agree. From there, she was taken to a city to work as a servant to a family of Rojuun. After a year or so, she was exchanged to another family. After six or seven more exchanges, she finally saw the sky again in a Rojuun city named Puujan on this side of the Caaldith Range.” Tumera talked hypnotically while concentrating on the details of the figurine. “The Rojuun placed wings on all the buildings that flutter in breezes. Yvilla called it the Winged City.”
“Why would they put wings on buildings?” asked Tina. “Do they fly?”
“No. From what Yvilla said, the Rojuun are artists. They sing, paint, sculpt, recite poetry and anything else that has to do with art.” Tumera pointed at the Rojuun cup. “Even their dishes are beautiful. The Rojuun consider the wings to be art. The part I found most interesting in her stories is that the caverns extended from one side of the Caaldith Mountains to the other.”
“That’s a lot of distance.” Pelya considered the maps she’d seen in her life. Commander Brynin’s dragon globe showed the most, but Pelya had never proper time to study it in detail. “No one’s ever been able to map the range. It’s too vast. You said there are entire cities of Rojuun?”
“Yvilla couldn’t tell me exactly how many or how big they are, but she said there has to be tens of thousands of Rojuun in the caverns.”
“That’s a problem.” Pelya hadn’t believed there were more than scattered groups of them. “Did she say if they have armies? I know some are wizards.”
“I don’t know that they have armies.” Tumera finished cleaning that figurine and picked up one of a forgotten king. “Yvilla mentioned that they all carry long knives and know how to use them as weapons, though they rarely fought amongst themselves. The warriors that captured her village were human soldiers of the Iynath Empire. She did confirm that Rojuun practice magic, but they don’t have wizards. It sounds more like a natural ability.”
“So a race of knife and magic wielding slavers.” Tina rubbed her forehead. “If she’s telling the truth, they’re a bigger problem than we realized.”
“And because they hide underground, none of the kingdoms realize it.” Pelya drummed her fingers on the counter. “How did Yvilla escape?”
“Puujan is in the Willden Forest,” Tumera said. “The Rojuun believe that humans get killed by Druids and built a wall to protect it. During the day, they let humans go out to forage and hunt. When the humans disappear, they just get more humans to replace them.”
Tina grinned. “The Druids rescue the humans, don’t they?”
“Yup.” Tumera winked. “Yvilla was foraging one day and saw a Druid in the distance. The Druid smiled, but made no move toward her. When Yvilla approached, she was offered freedom. They brought her to the edge of Swelth, gave her a few supplies and set her free. The items she sold to me were basics she had in a pack while foraging.”
“I’ve only read about Druids,” Pelya said. “Aren’t they dangerous in their own right?”
“Only if you threaten the forest,” Tina explained. “I’ve met a few in my youth. Tipimn is on the edge of the Willden. The forest is beautiful as long as you don’t go far into it. It’s haunted on top of all the other dangers. I even saw a ghost wandering through the trees once when some friends and I camped there.”
“Now I want to go explore.”
Tina rolled her eyes. “Every time you hear the word ‘danger’, you say ‘oooo, let’s explore’. The more dangerous, the more excited you get.”
Progress
I'm currently on chapter 12 of the book, getting close to the halfway mark. Writing this is fun and there are some plot twists I didn't expect. The characters are interesting and I'm really starting to wonder how they're going to react to what's ahead.
I'll try to give you another update soon.
All my best,
John H. Carroll
