Realms of Edenocht by DS Johnson
Shazmpt has been prepared his whole life to complete the prophesy; however until recently, he was unaware of his true identity as a powerful war wizard.
Hidden on an island in a time realm not his own, he must now search for ancient relics in order to stop the growing evil in the world. All he wanted was to hunt in his beloved forest, but is thrown into a world of sea serpents, dungeons, enchanted castles, miniature men, and air buffs.
Driven by duty and hindered by self-doubt, he is sent on a quest to unite the magical realms once more. He must learn to harness his good and evil powers, but will he survive the shadow…?
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Author’s Bio
A little about me, first I want to tell you a story, about a young girl who thought she was dumb. Yes, in the first, second, and third grades this little girl, was in the ‘Resource’ program or ‘Chapter 8’ as I have also heard it called. Even though she was then put in the regular class, she knew all too well by then she was not a smart child. All the way through high school this girl struggled. She graduated with a glorious 2.9. Yes, it was heart breaking for those little numbers to reflect the great struggle and all the efforts she had put forth.
She went on to start beauty school, figuring she wasn’t college material. Suddenly, she learned that she wasn’t dumb after all. She was what is called a kinesthetic learner or ‘hands on’ learner. She LOVED it. She went on to do very well, for many years. Until, life got complicated. She had five children, a husband, and a disabled mother who now required constant care. While contemplating how to earn a little bit of extra income, now that doing hair wasn’t an option, a thought came to her, ‘Write a book’ it said.
She replied by looking around and with her finger pointing at herself, she said, “Who me? I graduated high school with a 2.9 remember?”
The little thought came again, “Yes, you. Write a book.”
It so happened, that she had been telling her children nighttime stories for some time, so she did. It took five years to learn from the internet, a few writing classes, some great blogs, a lot of practice, one very good editor and the awesome support of her family. But she did it, and now I bring The Realms of Edenocht Series to you! Yes, that little girl was me, but no longer.
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My Review
5 stars
Shazmpt has been raised in a secluded land and wants nothing more than to hunt his forest. But then he learns that he is a powerful war wizard and the one that will fulfill a prophecy about a child that will wield all powers to return balance to the world. Shazmpt go on the quest to return to his homeland that he knows nothing about. Along the way, Shazmpt will face all kinds of obstacles which will help him gather the magical artifacts that he needs to fulfill his destiny.
This is a wonderful fantasy story of a young man that has to grow into a powerful wizard. He does not really want this destiny but through the different challenges slowly becomes the man that he needs to be.
This is a wonderfully described world that I felt right at home in. There was enough information to keep you enticed without being overloaded and kept a great pace through. This is a wonderful young adult fantasy story that will appeal to anyone of any age. I strongly recommend it to those that like fantasies. I can’t wait for future books from D.S. Johnson.
I received Realms of Edenocht from Reading Addiction Virtual Book Tours for free. This has in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
Excerpt
Bright white flashes burst from their fingertips. A deafening crack snapped as hues of electric blue shot across the rotunda, breaking the once impeccable crystal stone like a twig. Half crouched and slightly leaned back, he stretched out his hand and slipped under the downward slash of a long blade already dripping. Once clear, he leapt into the air, flipping over concourses of the sky blue robes of the Commission intertwined with the red battle robes of the Velsharoon.
Gavin Rhill’s treacherous needs exempted him from feeling, his conscience was now void. Eyes bloodshot with fury, he sank into the depths of his insanity. The popping cracks of the fire and ice elements against each other reverberated across the slick floor, tousling him about and jarring him from his thoughts. Dust plumes erupted from pockets of crumbling walls. He gripped his shaking head as he pleaded to be released from his harrowing prison. But it was too late. He belonged to the Shadow now.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood out straight, plunging a rippling effect that crawled up and down his skin. An electrifying bolt of unyielding energy surged past his ear, missing only by centimeters. He flipped his long black hair from his flat gray eyes that sunk deep in the pallid hollow of his face. The pungent odor of singed hair and flesh stifled his nose, wreaking havoc on his focus. Anger and hate surged from his bosom.
Sweat dripped onto his sliver thin black eyebrows and down his face, landing at the corner of his mouth. He glowered through the madness and zeroed in on the door at the end of the mysterious hall. He searched for an acceptable route to his destination. Quickly he seized his opportunity and flung himself into the air. He rolled over an oncoming deluge of potent magic, a second before the heat burst his blood red cloak into flames.
As he fell toward the floor, he slipped his arms out of his battle robe and twisted away from the engulfing barrage. He rolled through the fall and jumped to his feet, shutting the roaring shrieks from his ears. All he could hear now was the pounding of his heart as he flipped over a spear that would have pierced it. He thrust his hands out and released his newly acquired powers. Rock fragments pierced through the air like speeding razors, striking several of the newly arrived armored men. Cursed with an unrelenting pain, it paralyzed them from the inside. He dug his toes into the floor. Boosted his feet with a blast of air and whizzed past so quickly, the soldiers spun in their boots.
“Gavin stop!” Castos yelled.
The leader of Queen Ambrosia’s United Forces stood erect.
“You can’t stop me.” Gavin said in a drawn out syrupy voice. The thought welled up inside his chest like a smoldering flame. He could taste it, smell it, and see his destiny. “I have destroyed your beautiful Srinna Vossa.” he said, hissing through a cynical smile.
A flash of anger darted from Castos as he slammed his long gold entwined staff on the ground.
“We will rebuild it you can’t stop goodness. How many people have to die?”
“You’re worse off than I thought.” Gavin said, throwing his head back and laughing a humorless vicious sound.
Castos crossed the staff in front of his broad carved expression. He then lifted his palm, facing up and conjured the elements he controlled.
“Time to put an end to this senseless bloodshed.” Castos said.
He lifted his staff up high and pulled the element of fire from the particles of the universe. With a sweeping motion, he purged the ravaged energy and sent it directly at Gavin. Gavin sucked in his belly, pulled in his arms and legs and transformed into an invisible shriek of air. He rushed over Castos and fed the inferno with life breathing oxygen. The air pulled the fire back toward Castos unleashing it onto its master. The fire didn’t care what it consumed. Only that it feasted on life’s sustenance. Absolute horror hit a split second before Castos was annihilated by his own power.
Gavin sailed through the air with exhilarated weightlessness. His thunderous laughter rattled the windows until they shattered, sending glass shards careening to the ground. Gavin Rhill soared down the long corridors, disarming enchantments along the paths. When he reached the door, he hovered momentarily, then unraveled through the misty tendrils of the air element. He transformed back into his human form, his skinny almost mal-nourished figure reemerged.
The towering solid wood door was intricately carved with ancient symbols and runes. His long, thin fingers manipulated the old puzzle that had taken him over a year to figure out. With the last knot pushed, the door opened with a gasp. A small puff of wind bathed his face with the odor of musky dust. An aroma he quite enjoyed. He heaved the heavy obstacle open and slipped inside. He waved his hand across the smooth orderly lines on the inside of the door. Several clicks and a few slides of unseen latches echoed against the hollow roundness of the room as it sealed shut.
Gavin’s eerie piercing eye darted around the room. His bones ached from its cold darkness. His shadow ran across the isles and his heart jumped, a lump formed in his throat. Relieved it was only his shadow, he searched the room. A large majestic desk sat at the far side of the circular room. Heavy weaved curtains framed tall windows. He found a slight beauty in the carved vaults. Every wall was covered top to bottom with shelves of scrolls. Books were so jammed pack that they overflowed.
“You must not fail.” the Shadow’s voice echoed in his mind. The horrifying image of the shadow sent shivers down his spine.
He picked up the first parchment on top of the desk, read the heading and tossed it on the floor. He picked up another, then another. His intrigue half stopped him. He would love to spend hours, or even better, days, picking apart the exploits of this ancient knowledge. What I could learn from all of these, he thought. But he knew he only had but a few moments until the Council would know where he was. He put his thoughts aside and hastily rummaged through the scrolls and parchments that sat barren and lonely.
“Where is it?” he snarled.
He ravaged the last few particles of writings as the persistent gnawing in his navel grew. With one fowl sweep of his arms, he sent the rest flying to the floor. He slammed his fits on the table, his knuckles pure white. A bead of sweat dripped from his drooped head and splashed onto the marble surface. He stared into the backs of his eye lids and tried to think of where, the Binding of the Crypt spell would be hidden.
Then it came to him. How could I have forgotten the search spell? He thought. He closed his eyes and focused. A dusting of rusty orange sparkles danced into existence and floated around the room. His heart skipped a beat as the magic was sucked into a book, then shoved back out. Over and over, the magic came up empty. His emotions couldn’t take any more. His fear of failure and what the Shadow would do to him threw him into a rage. His tantrum sent books, scrolls and reading implements flying around the room.
Loud booms and cracks echoed against the outer walls. Shrieks of agony crested the horizon. Gavin Rhill knew he was the cause of men and women’s deaths, but he didn’t care. The war outside was only a ruse to get into the protected room anyway. Though it did serve another purpose, if he could destroy the Dodjen, he would gain power over the Wyvern’s. Then he could release the underworld creatures the Shadow controlled. He knew the magic of the united efforts could stop the Shadow. If he could gain control of the bond already forged, he would be unstoppable.
*********************************************
“Queen Ambrosia, what do you want us to do?” Aarin asked.
“We wait until the Commission gets here.”
Queen Ambrosia’s soul was hollow as she gazed down from her sixty-level skyscraper. Her beloved Srinna Vossa was under attack and she knew her time was limited. The peaks of the circling spires that surrounded the main building barely passed her flat. The three moons reflected brilliant strings of haze and illuminated the night. Srinna Vossa was a group of islands that floated on the Teorran Belt, raw magic that sprung into the sky like a fountain.
“Our magic defenses are about to give way. If the Velsharoon get in, it will be all over.” Aarin said, his expression pained and wounded.
“They will have to hold. We can’t let them get into the city.”
“Do you not care? Your people will die, all of them. The Velsharoon have the comet at their disposal. Never in history has anything been able to break our defenses.”
Queen Ambrosia turned on her heel and shot him a penetrating glare. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying.
“Do not proceed to lecture me on caring for my people. I will lay down my life for them. I will take the scrolls of the most importance with me to my death. How dare you accuse me?”
Her small slender frame shook with fury, her knuckles clenched white at her sides. The pressures she held as Queen of the most powerful city on Edenocht nearly overcame her.
Aarin stood at attention. His face shadowed from a lack of sleep. “I’m sorr-”
“You are not permitted to speak.”
She threw her hand across her body in a downward strike. Her cheeks burned dark pink. Her long, pale blue robe blew slightly in the wind that came in from the open balcony. Queen Ambrosia paced the floor. Her soft slipper shoes kicked her gown into a rhythmic billowing pattern.
“How dare he.” she said barely audible, her breath almost steaming.
The tightness in Aarin’s chest seized his every whit and his knees weakened. The sweat crested his shoulder length brown hair. He feared he was about to be sent to his death for questioning her. A brisk wind flashed through the room. A flicker of light cast a shadow as a forest green wyvern landed on the balcony. The rider dismounted and tossed the reins over its neck. The wyvern pulled in her massive wings tightly to her side and pawed the smooth surface. The rider pulled off the black leather riding gloves and slipped them under his belt. His chain armor under his obsidian body armor clinked as he moved quickly toward the queen. His square and handsome face framed his deep green eyes. Tears escaped as she nearly ran into his arms.
“Jerim, what are we going to do?” she asked.
She buried her tear stained cheeks into the crease of his shoulder. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tigh.
“I’m here now, the commission is dispatching troops, and the Rangers are here. I’ve stationed six battalions at each corner of the island and more on the smaller islands. Medrith and I will take you and Serin to safety.”
“No, I must stay here.” she said swallowing the lump still in her throat.
“But Ambrosia.” Jerim objected.
He pulled back from her and rested his warm hands on her bare shoulders. The cool of her skin felt good under the heat of his.
“No, you must take Serin to the Wyvern realm where she will be safe.” The queen wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. “You must promise me you will take care of her. Promise.” she demanded.
The depth of a mother’s love was nothing to be trifled with. Realization overcame his mind and his worst fear was now coming true. He was going to lose her forever. All he could do was nod.
“I will.” he whispered.
“Good, then I will send for the inner circle to secure the scrolls.” Queen Ambrosia said firmly. “Aarin, send for the mages.”
“Yes, your highness.” he said.
“Oh and Aarin,” The hairs on the back of his neck stood as the chills ran down his spine. “I’m sorry for losing my temper.”
Aarin nodded and then left the room quickly. She bit her lip to keep it from quivering and wrung her hands within each other.
“Your adviser? You gave him the ‘What For’?” Jerim asked with a smirk. She nodded, her glassy eyes wondered around the room uncomfortably. “Now tell me what happened?”
He moved to the long meeting table. He pulled out a soft velvet tall-back chair and motioned for her to sit. She sat down eloquently resting her intertwined fingers in her lap. She began to explain that the day had started out quiet and non-eventful. But by mid-morning the alarms had sounded. Gavin Rhill’s air ships had surrounded the horizon of their floating sanctuary. The Velsharoon began an attack on the magical barriers around the city.
“Wait, you said they arrived mid-morning, and the shield dropped fifty percent power by early afternoon? Why did you wait so long to notify me?” he asked.
Her eyes widened as the realization stabbed at her heart.
“I thought the mages could handle it.” she said embarrassed.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“Go on.” he said.
He sat back in his chair with his arms crossed. His brows scrunched together in the middle of his face in full thought as she recited the rest of the events.
“They haven’t broken through yet and now that you’re here everything will be fine.” Queen Ambrosia said and returned to the open arched doorway of the balcony.
The soft flowing pale blue drapes danced in the night breeze.
“I must tend to the ranks. I will return soon.”
Jerim scooted his chair out and placed it back under the table.
Ambrosia grabbed his hand.
“Be careful, you made a promise to me.” She said softly.
Her eyes locked onto his and held his gaze for a moment.
“I will my love.” he said.
He pulled his gloves out of his belt and slipped them on his hands. The wyvern lowered her body to the ground. He grabbed the reins as Ambrosia flicked her fingers sending a tuft of air to boost him up. He swung his leg over the great beasts back and gripped the reins. Wyverns, once they had melded to a rider, could understand their feelings, emotions and thoughts. The deep green colors of the Forest Wyvern glinted in the glows of the night. She stretched out her wings and shoved off with her thick hind legs. Soaring through the sky, they met the captain of the Air Wyverns on the southern edge of the island.
“How is the Queen?” Eliot asked.
“Holding up.” Jerim said. He searched the night sky. “Where we at?”
Jerim rested one hand over the other on the horn of his saddle. The chinking of metal straps and belts the wyverns wore, clashed against the night breeze.
“Sixty air ships with at least a thousand men each. The scouts have just returned and there are three more fleets making good time from the north. There are four more fleets coming from the south.” Eliot said, shifting his metal helmet.
“Let’s take this battle away from the city. Send your fleet south and Oscar’s north.” Jerim said.
“Sir, when are the Earth Wyverns coming?” Eliot asked.
“I’m not sure they are.”
“Why not?”
“Torn bridges I guess, now let’s go.” Jerim said.
Elliot swooped toward his command and waved. Hundreds of crystal white Wyvern’s leapt into the sky. The sheer size of these magnificent creatures was breathtaking. Even more so as their scales reflected and shimmered in the twinkling of the lights. Medrith leapt into the sky and swooped in the opposite direction. She flew over the islands lush green jungle. Homes and buildings lived in and under the protection of the jungle floor, along with the glorious white stone of the city walls. Evenly spaced spires stood around the edges of the island. Each one was several hundred feet tall and held a large crystal. These crystals harnessed the magic that held up the cities force fields.
“Take down these air ships.” Jerim said as he hovered over the leader of the dark blue Water Wyverns.
“Yes Sir.” Greston grunted.
A sea of blue took to the sky, dividing into groups and swarmed the airships. They pulled the elements of water and began flooding the ships. Plumes of steam filled the night sky as the Velsharoon blocked with counter spells, sending fire to evaporate the water. The water wyverns however were stronger and one by one the ships began to sink. There were so many however, that when one ship fell, another took its place. Jerim flew back toward the city center making his way to the Fire Wyverns. The deep red and charcoal black Wyverns waited near the city’s main port. Medrith’s sharp claws gripped the tree tops as she landed.
“What are your orders?” Ada asked.
Long copper red hair flowed off the back of her head. Her oval face delicately pointed was garnished with a dusting of ginger freckles on her high cheeks.
“Keep your forces here on Srinna Vossa.”
Ada nodded then shot into the sky. Her platoon had more experience in battle and riding, but found it hard to keep up with her ferocity. She had more to prove than just being able to lead her people. Gavin Rhill murdered her father trying to find the scroll and she was just plain pissed.
Medrith released the branches and the tree tops flicked back and forth. Before Jerim could make it more than a hundred yards, a deafening crack scorched the night sky, leaving a scar of brilliant birthstone light. Shattered crystals tumble to the ground, breaking the barrier into the city. A flood of red robed Velsharoon rushed the main port. Medrith stopped dead in her tracks, rolled her head, flipped upside down and barreled back toward the open gate. When Jerim reached the north side of the island, he saw Ada’s forces engaged with the oncoming attackers.
Shrieks of agony cried out as massive blasts of fire billowed from the guts of the fire wyverns. The sky lit up as though it were noonday as everything nearby melted and withered. Another deafening crack reverberated across the sky as another crystal shattered. Small bursts of icy white lighting strikes tangled with bursts of bright blood red, sprinkled the horizon. Jerim tried to deny the pulsing knot growing in his stomach. A small ball of flaming gas appeared to grow a little bigger.
“The comet of Sariandi, the Goddess of Destruction,” Medrith said.
“I guess it’s true then.”
“The Commission is here on the east shores.” Medrith said.
Medrith stretched out her long neck. Jerim laid closely to her as she beat her wings toward the east shore. When they reached the shore they descended like a falling stone. Medrith pulled up at the last second and set down without even a thud. Jerim dismounted and ran through the sand and waited as the enormous air ships slipped up onto the fading sand. Half lowered planks plunged into the soft moist grit upon reaching the shore. Trendell, the leader of the armed forces from Akraven scaled the long plank.
“Jerim, what are the damages?”
“We have lost two of the towers.” Jerim said. He gripped the short stalky brute of a man tightly at the forearm. “We need to evacuate the city and secure the inner buildings.”
The clanking and banging of swords, spears and armor overpowered the distant sounds of agony. Hordes of men in rows of fours rushed from the ship’s cargo bays. The shores filled with men standing at attention awaiting orders.
“Yes Sir.” Trendell said.
He banged his hand against his chest. Turned, leading with his head, and briskly reached the front line. The Commission was divided into ranks of archers, spear and swords men and elemental mages. Trendell shouted out the orders. With an enormous shout, the Commission broke up, each group making their way to their destinations.
“Jerim, we saw a battle already in action. Why are we just now evacuating the city? Shouldn’t we have done that sooner?”
“I know you’re a by-the-book kind of guy, but this one is nothing the books have ever talked about.”
“What do you mean by that?” Trendell asked.
“The Sariandi Comet is upon us.”
Trendell’s head lowered.
“Well then we fight to the death.”
“With honor, brother.” Jerim said proudly.
“With honor.” Trendell repeated as he gripped Jerim’s forearm.
Trendell joined his men in the barrage of oncoming Velsharoon. Ada moved to the sky as the Commission took over the land battle. She turned her attention to the oncoming airships and joined her second battalion. A group of Velsharoon yelped as large vines wrapped around their bodies and swallowed them into the ground. Jerim had commanded the foliage around the inner buildings to devour the Velsharoon. The suns first rays broke through dancing on the heavy smoke that filled the sky. Bursts of flames erupted here and there around the island as rain and wind storms chased fiery lighting strikes.
Sections of brilliant white stone walls on the outer perimeter now sat in rubble. Storms of arrows went buzzing and fizzing through the sky. Metal boots slogged through the slippery sludge of fallen comrades. Swords swooshed and clanked as they met other swords. The further the comet came the stronger the Velsharoon became, making it harder for the Commission. Chaos and confusion surged through the city. A sea of red cloaks engulfed every road and alleyway, throwing magic and swinging swords at everything that moved. The white stone was now stained red and smeared with black shadows of what used to be men.
“Fall back and send a squad to the city center. Set up blockades.” Trendell called.
Through the clouds that hung over the island, Trendell saw the comet barreling toward them with a shield of fiery damnation. His heart sank into his stomach and a tightening in his chest nearly took the breath from him. He swooped his sword upward and blocked a dart of lightening aimed directly at his chest.
*****************************************
“There’s more than one person that can use the power of the comet.” Queen Ambrosia said through gritted teeth.
Her eyes drooped heavily, sagging under the pressure of no sleep.
“What are you going to do?” Aarin asked.
“Sink the island and destroy Srinna Vossa.”
She walked sternly toward her deep oak desk. Aarin’s stomach lurched inside him as the words hit his mind.
“How? Why?!”
“With this,” she pulled out a long parchment that was rolled tightly. “the Incantation of Undin,” she said, fingering the edge.
“And how will sinking the island stop Gavin Rhill?”
“I will take every last person with it, so that he will never be able to find the Binding of the Crypt spell.” she said dropping one end.
“You’re going to kill all of your people?”
“Would you rather be tortured by Gavin Rhill and the Shadow?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Then make your peace now because as soon as the comet is at the highest point in the sky everything will be over.”
Her stomach lurched too as she felt the despair of not being able to raise her child and see her grow into a woman. To never be with Jerim again and her wonderful council and all of her loved ones, it was almost too much for her to bear.
“What shall I tell the armies?” he asked.
“That its time, and send Jerim.”
Aarin bowed. His once childlike eyes glazed over. Queen Ambrosia studied the scroll once more. She sat it on the desk and walked to the edge of the balcony. One hand on the cold stone, the other gripped her blue sapphire stone necklace. She wore a gold and teal blue robe and her delicately woven crown. The anguished cries of her people now sat on numb ears. A small pink hand gripped the lower half of her robes. With the innocence of young age a small girl, gazed up.
“Mommy, what’s happening?” Serin asked.
“Oh, my dear little one.” The Queen picked up her baby girl. She buried her little girl’s teary face into her shoulder. “Shhh shhhh shhh,” Queen Ambrosia whispered.
Jerim walked briskly up behind her, his clashing and clanking hidden under booms and crashes from the distance.
“Ambrosia, My Queen, you sent for me?”
His heart skipped a beat and he swallowed hard shoving the bile back into his stomach when he saw the little princess in her arms.
“It’s time.” she whispered.
She could hardly see his bruised face through the heavy shield of her own tears.
“Is there another way?” he asked.
“There is no other way.”
“Alright.” he said.
He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her into his embrace. Her long blonde hair tickled his skin. His hand rested on the side of her face. He leaned in, slowly and thoughtfully, he kissed her. She returned his kiss. Just like the one and only time they had been together.
“I love you. I always have.” Jerim said.
“I love you too, I have to tell you something.” She looked at Serin, then back to Jerim, “Serin is yours, not Mikal’s.” Jerim pulled back and smiled his intoxicating smile. “You’re not mad?” she asked, “I’m sorry I never told you.”
“Nor should you have.”
“Mommy, I’m scared.” The tiny voice came as she played nervously with her mother’s hair.
Queen Ambrosia studied her daughter’s face one last time and said to her gently, “You go with your father.”
“Where?”
“Into the sky with the flyers, ok?” she gave her the last kiss she would ever give her.
“But when will I see you again?”
The queen gave Serin to Jerim and he wrapped her in her blanket.
“Go… take her to the wyverns and get her out of here.”
He bowed and leaped off the stone carved terrace onto Medrith’s back. The Queen sent a furling burst of air under the wyvern throwing them into the sky above. Medrith pulled in her wings and shot through the sky like an arrow. To fight a war was one thing but to give up one’s own flesh and blood is another. When the queen could no longer see them, she threw up her arms. Using the islands powers that came from the center of the Teorran Belt, she shouted at the top of her lungs the incantation, drawing the power of the comet into her being.
*****************************************
Gavin’s calculated plan turned to a frenzy of rash thoughts and feelings. Everywhere he searched he couldn’t find the scroll. Even with his search spell, it had continued to elude him. He pulled and shoved every book and piece of parchment out of his way. He hurled a massive spell around the room. Glittering strands of text danced and swayed around him and one by one disappeared. The words he longed for were not found. The only words present were those left by the Grand cleric.
Gavin Rhill,
You will never have this scroll as I have destroyed it once and for all.
If you continue your quest you will be met with certain death. FOREVER!
Did you think that you were the only one that could use the comets power?
Grand Cleric Massue
Gavin was shocked out of his delirium with the sudden shift and sensation of falling. He ran to the window, the clouds of dust and smoke began to rise. He slammed his fists on the stone wall.
“She’s… sinking… the… city,” he yelled.
He threw out his arms and sucked himself into the air. The sudden force blew out all of the light in the room as he vanished. Gavin whipped a wind storm that careened through the city, wiping out everything in its path. Debris floated upward as the ground fell out from under it. The comet’s power helped Queen Ambrosia stand perfectly still while chanting. Even as the island fell, she was as firm as she had at first. The last words she uttered were that only a blood heir could enter the secrets of the forgotten city.
The Teorran fountain fell into the center of the ground below, allowing the islands to plummet into a new existence. Enormous rock walls encompassed the fallen earth covering everything under hundreds of feet of ground. It left only a few of the spires that were still intact standing, as a reminder of what the glorious city once was.
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ABOUT LEE ANN MANCINI
Tonya Kappes has written more than fifteen novels and four novellas, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists including USA Today. Best known for stories charged with emotion and humor and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband, two very spoiled schnauzers, and one ex-stray cat in northern Kentucky. Now that her boys are teenagers, Tonya writes full-time but can be found at all of her guys’ high school games with a pencil and paper in hand.
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