Beginning of Arrogance by Bryan Cole #Fantasy

Beginning of ArroganceA Paladin’s JourneyBook OneBryan Cole
Genre: FantasyPublisher: Fat Paladin IncorporatedDate of Publication: June 30th, 2022ISBN: 9780228868682ASIN: B0B5JJ338KNumber of pages: 410Word Count: 125,476Cover Artist: Vilenko Vujicevic
Tagline: Paladins are nothing but trouble
Book Description:
Paladins are nothing but trouble. Stories about paladins are everywhere, noble warriors riding magic steeds into battle against terrible foes. Champions of their gods. Heroes to everyone, except those who already have everything. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don't worship their deity.
So when Krell is called to service by the capricious god of the seas and skies, ReckNor, those with wealth and power can't help but be concerned. ReckNor hasn't called a paladin in years, and his nature is ever-changing and erratic. The fact that Krell is also an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea turns their concerns into fear.
All of which matters less than the threat clawing its way from the waves, ready to turn the ocean red with spilled blood...

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Excerpt:

Gerrard fellback and walked beside Krell for a moment.

“So, Krell, howdo you know about the Forge Father and all that? Never heard you say anythinglike that before, you know?” Gerrard smiled up at him.

Krell laughed.“It’s true enough, Gerrard, that my education could best be described aslacking. Most people say I don’t know anything. I grew up alone, you see, sonobody taught me anything useful. I had to learn it all myself.”

Gerrard lookedat him questioningly. “Alone how? I can’t see humans, even as insane as theyoften are, abandoning a youngling to grow up alone.”

“Oh, I had afamily. Still might, somewhere, maybe. But I was lost at sea when I was young.Not sure how young. Washed up on an island somewhere and spent a bunch of yearssurviving.” Krell looked up at the sky. “My memories there are… poor. Can’tremember much, but I remember the cold, the loneliness, and the hunger. Thosestand out in my mind.” Krell shook his head and frowned.

“Olgar taught mebasically everything I know, aside from how to survive alone. Whateverknowledge I have is thanks to him, and one thing he made sure I knew well waswho all the gods and their followers are. Paladins apparently spend a lot oftime in conflict with faiths other than their own.”

“Ah,” said Gerrard,nodding in agreement.

Krell shruggedand looked back at Gerrard. “Whatever else I am, Gerrard, I’m a survivor. Maybethat’s why ReckNor chose me to be a paladin. Maybe he wrecked the ship onpurpose to see if I had what it took. Maybe he didn’t. Either way, I hear thecall. My blade is in his service, my will is his will. His voice thunders in myhead, making his will known to me.”

“Wow. You know,Kraven’s right, you are intense!” Gerrard walked along in silence for a fewminutes next to him. Then he turned and said, “That sounds really hard, havinganother voice in your head all the time.”

Krell laughed.“Nah, it’s really easy. When he tells me something, I do it. When he doesn’tsay anything, I do whatever I want.”

Gerrard frowned.“I thought paladins had all sorts of rules they had to follow.”

Krell grinned athim. “You’re thinking of followers of Hieron the Honorable, lord of justice.There’s a big temple of his in Heaford, just up the coast, where the duke holdscourt. I’ve never met one of his followers, but apparently he loves callingpaladins, and they’re pretty common in that faith. Most paladin stories areabout paladins of Hieron.”

“Not common inReckNor’s faith, though?”

“Not remotely.Apparently, Olgar can’t remember the last time ReckNor called one. He’s… well,most people think he’s insane, and that if you don’t appease him, he’ll destroyyou. A cult of sailors and the mad. That he’s temperamental enough that even ifyou appease him, he still might destroy you. Which is all… somewhat true, I’dsay.”

Ahead, Tristanlaughed. “You’re telling me you think your god is insane?”

Krell shook hishead. “No, but temperamental? Absolutely. Appease him or else, which is how hisfaith works. Sailors and those who live and work on the sea pay homage, thoughfor many, it is out of fear. He’s often thought of as a survival-of-the-fittestsort of god.”

Krell noticedthey were all looking at him now. Orca looked unhappy, Kraven appeared to becontrolling his laughter, and Tristan and Gerrard were looking at him like hewas dangerous.

“So… what doesReckNor teach, then?” asked Gerrard. Krell thought about it, and Tristan lookedlike he was dreading an explanation. Better to keep things simple for now, hethought.

“Basically twothings. The first is that the seas and skies are his, so make offerings whenyou use them and he’s happy. The second is that he takes joy in the freedom ofchoice.” Krell went silent, and they walked on for a few moments before anyonesaid anything.

“I thought youwere going to drone on incessantly about your god and how great he is all thetime,” said Tristan. Krell looked at him and smiled.

“I’m a paladin.If you want that, go talk to Olgar. I’m here to show the faith of ReckNorthrough action, not through words.” Thunder rumbled in the distance as if oncue, adding ominous weight to his words.

Gerrard snorted.“Did ReckNor just add some thunder in the background to make you sound moreintimidating or dramatic or something?”

Kraven laughed, and Krell joined him. Orca said,“That’s ridiculous!” at the same time Krell said, “Probably!”

About the Author:
Bryan Cole is the author of the Paladin’s Journey series. New to the writing world, he spent years working in the enterprise software space, focused on quality assurance and delivery of software applications. Which is weird, because that has nothing to do with writing fiction.
For that, we need to go back – way back – to his first experience with Dungeons and Dragons. His friend Chris brought over the box set for Myth Drannor, eager to play. Together, they realized they had no idea what they were doing, because neither of them owned a copy of the Players Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, or the Monster Manual.
From those incredibly awkward beginnings, a lifelong passion for epic science fiction and high fantasy adventure was born. Everything from his grade 4 teacher letting him stay after school to play a video game where you were the wizard on a quest, defeating monsters by answering math problems, to some truly memorable movies like Willow that showed him a world bigger and more exciting than the real one.
Of course, Star Wars and Star Trek have had a major influence on him. Want to get in good with Bryan? Lead with a Star Wars meme.
From one of the good movies. Otherwise, your plan will backfire.
Bryan is also an avid gamer, and enjoys video games, board games, and tabletop roleplaying games.
These days, he lives in Toronto with his wife and daughter, and his adorable cat.
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