tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34020965323915264722024-03-12T18:55:07.158-07:00Hopeful AuthorRosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-39064941699209487002012-08-07T14:25:00.003-07:002012-08-07T14:25:41.697-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">What's next on the horizon?? Book Three of course!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">'Analise' ~ Magic, Sorcery, Soul Stealing ~ </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">First 35,000 words done, the story is there, all in my mind. Just got to get it all written down!</span>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-56233930025916572022012-08-07T14:21:00.000-07:002012-08-07T14:21:10.694-07:00<h2>
This is the amazing new cover for 'Meladrom' illustrated by Aidana Willow Raven of <a href="http://willowraven.weebly.com/">http://willowraven.weebly.com/</a></h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN4XkiXMB3MXVgwEQXlY9RSvHnUR0ubNTMRa62a5e_W1LRg_3PgA3r_NTpJN5No-mClIs7LF97phSKy05HwZJWA0tJBLyP8ywUY7NCZP204JIz5DnfJ8jawX6oZjDKY0w4qCMg1g8xPg/s1600/Kainan-2---Meladrom---square---for-networks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN4XkiXMB3MXVgwEQXlY9RSvHnUR0ubNTMRa62a5e_W1LRg_3PgA3r_NTpJN5No-mClIs7LF97phSKy05HwZJWA0tJBLyP8ywUY7NCZP204JIz5DnfJ8jawX6oZjDKY0w4qCMg1g8xPg/s1600/Kainan-2---Meladrom---square---for-networks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJN4XkiXMB3MXVgwEQXlY9RSvHnUR0ubNTMRa62a5e_W1LRg_3PgA3r_NTpJN5No-mClIs7LF97phSKy05HwZJWA0tJBLyP8ywUY7NCZP204JIz5DnfJ8jawX6oZjDKY0w4qCMg1g8xPg/s320/Kainan-2---Meladrom---square---for-networks.jpg" width="320" /><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The book has just been uploaded to Kindle! Will post as soon as I have the links.... Can't wait for you to read it!</span></a><br />Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-74050014738548179462012-08-07T14:17:00.002-07:002012-08-07T14:21:40.170-07:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The road to publishing my first books has been hard, I will kid you not! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I have not written a blog for a while as I have been so busy trying to finish book two in The Deragan Sword Trilogy... and Yay I have!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Book two is called 'Meladrom' named after the lead dragon. It is another exciting book that takes Kainan and Arweyn off onto another adventure!</span><br />
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
After making an amazing discovery within the castle of Malgar, Kainan and Arweyn dare to go beyond the boundary to seek out the truth. With the help of the dragons they re-discover their past lives, and the hidden Groundling Empire. To their horror they also find their arch enemy, the evil dark Lord Gemini, destroyer of theold world, is still alive and ruling their lands. Once again the fate of Malgar is in their hands.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
The full Deragan Sword Prophecy must be fulfilled.</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Gemini must die......</h3>
<h3>
</h3>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-43857300441997693142012-06-23T13:15:00.003-07:002012-06-23T13:15:47.713-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">Well that is it! Brand new cover done... Kainan is now official finished and out there for you to enjoy! Now available through</span><br />
<br />
<br /><a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174871">https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/174871</a><br />
<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340482026&sr=1-1&keywords=kainan">http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1340482026&sr=1-1&keywords=kainan</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340482368&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340482368&sr=8-1</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntiuELskpO7Ys1ts5F3I8hpQwu6bFhK3oR7TXGdCR0jUyrerEIU1STNtaxJa4JPt0thtOqIFF8Y-VJ2bkT3OV0xVW338F6c9rSgj8EHhNJoRJ5cqVYfhvqTV48MEj-EOARXJLOiZcQPA/s1600/Kainan+cover+-+layers+with+poswork+and+design2+(533x800).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntiuELskpO7Ys1ts5F3I8hpQwu6bFhK3oR7TXGdCR0jUyrerEIU1STNtaxJa4JPt0thtOqIFF8Y-VJ2bkT3OV0xVW338F6c9rSgj8EHhNJoRJ5cqVYfhvqTV48MEj-EOARXJLOiZcQPA/s320/Kainan+cover+-+layers+with+poswork+and+design2+(533x800).jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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Arweyn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaIQcZ-WtyUbxqM2Vh5COAotQeSMCyZZaBGfyBlZrDiiW1xd2wS2IakixJsVQ6RaZGxXcmZ9DTO68Z89i7kJF3ntJzeSsNUpcWOnthMMZmMHMqVAZ44fa711_UJ8ajR_rObAoLCVWbUI/s1600/Arweyn+model+3+-+full+figure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaIQcZ-WtyUbxqM2Vh5COAotQeSMCyZZaBGfyBlZrDiiW1xd2wS2IakixJsVQ6RaZGxXcmZ9DTO68Z89i7kJF3ntJzeSsNUpcWOnthMMZmMHMqVAZ44fa711_UJ8ajR_rObAoLCVWbUI/s320/Arweyn+model+3+-+full+figure.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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KainanRosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-22818368507141582792012-05-11T12:11:00.002-07:002012-08-29T01:45:18.260-07:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Wow what an exciting week!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Coming soon my new cover for 'Kainan' which I cannot wait to see!! by the amazing artist</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="http://willowraven.weebly.com/">http://willowraven.weebly.com/</a></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">My interview with indieebooks has gone live please have a read!</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://indieebooks.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/interview-with-an-indie-author-8/">http://indieebooks.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/interview-with-an-indie-author-8/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">An finally my second book ~ Meladrom ~ final draft is ready... So I will be getting a cover done for that too and then off to the printers for the draft copies to be printed for my wonderful proof readers.. Hoping to release to the public by my birthday on 14th August..</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">My third book ~ The Wizard and the Witch ~ The Star of Elmrock is also near final draft completion, so will be looking at a cover for that too soon....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Phew I need a weekend break!!</span>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-71045687531105819592012-05-05T02:38:00.004-07:002012-05-05T02:38:56.430-07:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">I can't express how excited I am!!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;">I have just commissoned an artist to do a professional cover for 'Kainan' </span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;"> my 'home designed' cover lets the book down I think.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;">Have a look at her website it's amazing.</span><br />
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<a href="http://willowraven.weebly.com/">http://willowraven.weebly.com/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;">Book 2 Beyond the Boundary ~ The Dragons Awake is nearly finished! Definately going to ask her to do the cover for that as well!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;">And my third book</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-large;">The Wizard and the Witch ~ The Star of Elmrock ~ Trying to get them all finished and out for the summer.... busy busy busy!!!</span><br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1336203833&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1336203833&sr=1-1</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336210724&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336210724&sr=8-1</a><br />
<br />Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-59764461248778482522012-04-20T09:29:00.004-07:002012-04-20T09:29:42.020-07:00<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hi</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I have just done an interview with Scribes ~ A resource for writers why not take a look?</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://goldenkeyscribes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/writers-life.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://goldenkeyscribes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/writers-life.html</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Remember you can buy Kainan in paperback through my website</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> or via these Amazon Links</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1334939304&sr=1-1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1334939304&sr=1-1</span></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334939330&sr=8-1"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1334939330&sr=8-1</span></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Thank you for looking! x</span>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-3020191639001716662012-04-17T11:45:00.001-07:002012-04-17T11:45:23.501-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">Hi </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just done my first interview with Kevin Gerald Rau ~ </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kevinrau.com/i/RosemaryLynch.asp"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.kevinrau.com/i/RosemaryLynch.asp</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Wrote a really good piece of work without any idea as to where it was going and bingo it has just hit me .... it's the start of a whole new adventure!!!</span>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-31639381696291974982012-04-17T06:22:00.000-07:002012-04-17T06:22:11.953-07:00<span style="font-size: large;">It's one of those bang your head against a brick wall kind of weeks!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">My poor boy is down with chicken pox, meaning I can't go back to work... shame! Did some quality work yesterday on book 2.. today i seem to have lost the plot...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Been fidling around with the front cover to Kainan .. now not sure I should have, but it's going to upload onto Kindle.. might have to whip it back off quick tomorrow!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The hardest part I have found is to sell your own book... When you are new to the industry it is so complicated... how do you get your book noticed among the thousands out there on kindle??</span><br />
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<br />Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-33096520230292908092012-04-13T10:42:00.003-07:002012-04-13T10:42:38.208-07:00<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A lot of work done today on book 2 Beyond the Boundary The Dragons Awake. Really enjoying it and can't wait to see it finished!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Selling on Kindle is going okay, looking for more avenues to advertise through that does not cost a fortune! Any help would be appreciated!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Have finished the 20,000 word competion entry but I like the story so much I think I might pull it into a proper book! So not going to enter it now, will hold on to it for a bit... </span>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-77373872401149170622012-04-08T10:52:00.003-07:002012-04-08T10:52:52.088-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Wow! Had a great response to my FREE download of 'Kainan' on the 5/6th April 'sold' 374 copies!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you to all those who downloaded and I really hope you like it and leave a review on Amazon. It is hard work self promoting but the rewards are worth it!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hopefully in the next couple of months book two will be available 'Beyond the Boundary The Dragons Awake' Just at the proof reading stage. The next step after that will be to have ten copies printed and sent out to some willing proof readers!! And then hopefully in print by June 2012.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">After that date I have another book called 'The Wizard and the Witch' which I have currently entered into a competion with Harper Collins so you never know luck might be on my side! If not hopefully it will be out around August time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile I have just finished a 20,000 word competition which I am just proof reading and hope to submit next week.</span></div>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-81427803146946457682012-04-05T06:01:00.000-07:002012-04-05T06:01:34.265-07:00<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Hurray! Off now for the holidays, mum and step-dad are coming down for a few days over easter which will be fab!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Off to the shops soon with a willing daughter to get in the wine, lager and of course LOTS of chocolate ..... oh maybe a few veggies to have with dinner!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Kainan is available to download on Amazon Kindle for free on the 5th and 6th of April, so why not give it a go, you have nothing to loose! Please if you do read it let me have some feedback, it all helps especially as it is my first book and I have had to go it alone without an editor!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Please if you have a twitter account tweet this info for me. Thank you xxxxxx</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://snickslist.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://snickslist.com/</span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333630751&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333630751&sr=8-1</a></span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333628965&sr=1-1"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333628965&sr=1-1</span></a><br />
<br />Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-81654223200409240902012-04-03T23:18:00.003-07:002012-04-03T23:18:31.870-07:00<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">As my shoulder injury trundels into its fifth week and I endure the return to work whilst still taking anti-inflamatory and co-codimel pain killers and feeling like shit. I am faced with the question</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">"What is exactly wrong with you?"</span></div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: large;">What apart from the agonising pain in my shoulder, the numbness and the pins and needles in my arm and hand, the torn ligaments and the damaged nerves?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Apparently 'Injury to Shoulder' on my doctor's note is not enough info.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So I pay a visit to my doctor and ask.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"What is exactly wrong with me?"</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He replied.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"Possible <span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Thoracic outlet syndrome"</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">So I google it. Great, just what a writer wants!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Just thank whoever be that it was my right shoulder/arm/wrist because i'm LEFT handed so I can still write!</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Typing it all up? ~ well that just takes a bit longer</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">So today I can go back to work and tell them exactly what it is that is wrong with me.........</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Weeks of physio to follow ......</span></span></div>
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</div>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-5696641290389880582012-04-01T14:28:00.001-07:002012-04-01T14:28:41.339-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the next couple of chapters to Kainan ~ Hoping to tempt you to buy the book at </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333308619&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1333308619&sr=8-1</a></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333314494&sr=1-1">http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1333314494&sr=1-1</a></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Four - Destiny</span></b><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Arweyn shut
the little white gate and flicked over the latch, securing it in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning she began waving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Master Cromer, a middle-age balding man, tall
and sharp wearing a bright blue cloak clasped to the front with a bronzed
dragon buckle lifted his arm and waved back.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Same time
next week my Lady?” he yelled across the path to her.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes Master
Cromer, see you next week,” she replied cheerily, as she slung her heavy bag
over her shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She relished her
lessons with Master and Mistress Cromer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He and his wife were incredible people; there was nothing they didn’t
know about herbs and their magical healing properties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning around one more time she waved
goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loved the little thatched
cottage Master and Mistress Cromer lived in, there was something incredibly
enchanting about it, mystical even.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was tucked away deep in the trees just beyond the edge of the city near the
great Crystal Dome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their beautiful
garden was always full of flowers and herbs and it had a distinct smell about
it that Arweyn found heartening. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Lady
Arweyn, wait!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hearing her name she spun
back around, it was Mistress Cromer, the stout grey haired woman was running
down the path towards her and in her hand she held a muslin cloth.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What’s
that you’re giving her?” Master Cromer yelled, eyeing her suspiciously from the
door step.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Just some
cookies left over that’s all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
want them to go to waste,” she yelled back at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Master Cromer, nodding his approval, turned
around and stepped back inside the cottage.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Here take
these my Lady,” she glanced behind her to make sure her husband was not
looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching forward Arweyn took
the muslin cloth from her.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank you
Mistress Cromer, I shall enjoy these later.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The stout woman shook her head at her, leaning in closer.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No my
love, these are special healing leaves,” she hesitated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dacara’s.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Arweyn, raising her left eyebrow looked towards the cottage.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“But Master
Cromer said I was too young to use these.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Never mind
what he thinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe,” closing her
eyes she breathed deep, as if she was recalling something of great
importance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then opening them sharply
she smiled knowingly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I believe you
will need them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now run along before he
gets suspicious.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arweyn smiled,
nodding.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank
you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pulling open her bag she placed
the muslin cloth inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mistress Cromer she knew was what they
called a ‘knowing woman’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had the
gift of ‘knowing’ certain things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although it was not public knowledge Arweyn had always known, there had
been many small subtle clues over the years she had been having her lesson with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even down to silly things like
‘knowing’ when she really fancied a blueberry pie and then arriving to her
lesson only to find one emerging from a smiling Mistress Cromer’s oven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swinging her bag back over her shoulder she
gave her a final wave goodbye and began making her way back towards the
city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Her mind was
lost in thought as to why Mistress Cromer would think she would need something as
powerful as the dacara healing leaves, that she was not paying attention and
turned the corner blindly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was there
that she had almost bumped into him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As
he crossed her path she felt a sudden strange, tingling sensation pass through
her entire body, it was like an incredible wave of magical energy surging
through her all at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had jolted
her, shocked her almost and for some reason she could not understand, she had
felt a strange pull like a magnet towards this man in a hooded cloak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was something very different about him,
something strange and alluring and something that had driven her to follow him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He had not
noticed her as she followed him through the market towards the outskirts of the
city, towards Naws Rock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then suddenly
he had turned down the narrow alleyway towards the Old Gate Room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raising her eyebrow in a cynical twitch she
wondered why was he going down there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The Old Gate Room was built into Naws Rock, nobody went down there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her heart beating furiously she stood for a
moment as she pondered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here she had no
cover to hide from him and all it would take was for him to turn around and she
would be spotted immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Thinking
whether or not she should continue following him, she sighed deeply, and shook
her head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was no good she had to know
who he was and what he was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
could not understand why, it made no logical sense to her what-so-ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All she knew was that her inner spirit was
telling her she had to follow him and as hard as she tried she could not ignore
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Quickly
hiding in a doorway, just before the entrance to the alleyway she lifted the
hood of her deep green cloak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pulling
the strap of her heavy bag full of potions and remedies over her head to make
it more secure she looked around making sure she was not being watched
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Satisfied she was alone, she
took a deep breath.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i>Invisa
polosa ensarma</i>,” she chanted quietly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As she finished the last word she became completely invisible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hurried along the alleyway to catch up
with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then what he did next
surprised her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had stopped at the
bottom of the gate room, turned, had a quick look around him and then began to
climb the stairs up to the entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
why was he going up there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She frowned
to herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she suddenly realised
that there were no guards at the entrance to the gate room, they were nowhere
to be seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the portal was
not used very much anymore she knew the King always had at least two guards
posted there, so where had they gone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Giving a grim shake of her head, she wondered if this man had done
something to them.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
overwhelming desire to know more got the better of her and she began to follow
him up the stairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stopping abruptly she
gripped hold of the rail that ran up the side of the staircase; the stranger
had suddenly spun around and was staring directly at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seemed to sense she was there, but how was
this possible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one could sense her
presence when she was cloaked that was the whole point of it, so she could use
it to get to people and places without being seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could he possibly have any inclination
that she was there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had made no
noise and she was protected by magic.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Standing
very still she hardly dared to breathe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Barely two feet away from her he stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Although she strained her eyes she still could not see him clearly as
his face was hidden within the dark depths of his hood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could see he had facial hair, not a full
beard just three or four day’s growth and for some reason she could not explain
her heart was racing as she looked at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She was even fearful that he could hear it as it was beating so
loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shaking his head the man turned
back around and pulling open the door he walked through into the gate
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly she edged up the stairs
after him; thankfully the door was slightly ajar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cautiously she peered through and there she
could see him he was standing by the window, his hand holding back the heavy
curtain he was looking out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quietly she
squeezed herself through the narrow opening and into the gate room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The hooded
man released the curtain and walked over to the gate where he began to place
his hand on the symbol, hesitating for a moment he then suddenly spun around
looking straight at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes
widened in fear, could he see her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Holding her breath as if her life depended on it, her mind raced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did he know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could feel her she was sure of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His stare was hard and she felt it burn into
her very core, making her tremble inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He spoke quietly almost in a whisper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She raised her eyebrow; his voice seemed strangely familiar to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The room had begun to dim as it was now late
afternoon and as hard as she tried she still could not see who he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even as he stepped forward the hood of his
cloak still shadowed his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
reached his hand forward feeling through the air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shrank back from his touch as he reached
out towards her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was too close, far
too close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stared for a moment longer
and then turning back around he stepped forward placing his hand on the symbol,
the portal opened and in a flash of white light he was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The young
woman gasped for breath as the wind from the portal swirled around her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She covered her eyes from the brightness with
the back of her hand as the gate whirled into action and right in front of her
eyes he disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shaking her head in
disbelief as she removed the hood of her cloak, she re-appeared in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at the portal, she frowned; how could
he have possibly done that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What she had
just seen should not have been possible, only a Royal Elder or one of their
children of age can open the portal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
knew them all and even with his hood up she felt sure he was not one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Walking
over to the gate she ran her hands across the symbols, she could sense his
aura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trembling she suddenly felt his
energy flow through her hand and down her entire body, her eyes widening and
her breasts heaving she took a sharp breath and standing up straight she shuddered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What on earth was that she had just
felt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking in another deep breath she
looked around the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did he do
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who was he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew they were forbidden to use the
portal without the King’s permission but under the circumstances surely even
her uncle, who was now her guardian, would have to understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was desperately trying to convince
herself that what she was about to do was right.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What was it
about this man?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could not help
herself the pull to him was so strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was like she had some kind of a connection to him, some force that
was making her follow him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked
down at her left hand; she too had the symbol embossed into her flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hazel eyes flashed with determination as
she took a deep breath to summon up all her courage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to do it; she had to find out who he
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having never been through a portal
before, she was worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew it was
safe, the Elders had used it many times, but still she felt nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the death of her father on Zyon three
years ago they had all been forbidden to use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one but the King could authorise a visit
to the upper world and she knew he would not even consider it unless there was
damn good reason to do so.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Reaching
out her hand tentatively, it shook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was
following a strange man that you knew nothing about good reason enough or just
plain foolishness?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swallowing hard, she
knew that was something she would have to find out for herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Placing the mark on the palm of her hand over
the symbol on the gate, she took a scared breath, closing her eyes at the rush
of wind as the portal once again whirled into action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opening her eyes she stared for a moment at
the swirling mass of green and black energy, then gathering her nerve she
stepped through and in a flash of white light was gone.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> *</span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Shielding
his eyes from the sun Kainan emerged slowly from the cavern; he stopped for a
moment closing his eyes as he contemplated, taking in a deep breath of fresh
air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was just unbelievable, in all
his life he would never have imagined another world even existed, yet alone a
world through a portal inside a mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He felt strange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a feeling
that he could not describe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow he
felt stronger, confident and definitely intrigued to find out more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew he had to go back as soon as he
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clutching the sack with the
Crystal inside close to his chest he began clambering back down the cliff
track.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slipping occasionally on the
loose shingle he balanced himself with his free hand, pressing on as fast as he
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soon he reached the clearing
where he had left the Gorzars and his mother earlier that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes began scanning the area furtively as
he began stepping across the brambles and rubble that littered the ground
beneath his feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then sudden movement
caught his eye, there to his left he could see some shuffling in the
bushes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking frantically, panic began
to set in; he could not see his mother anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hadzor
stepped forward from the bushes rubbing his hands together expectantly; his
eyes widening with excitement as he stared at the fullness of the sack in
Kainan’s hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Is that it;
is that it?” he whispered repeatedly, pointing his bony finger at the sack. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Yes this
is it.” The young man replied, frowning and screwing up his nose as the stench
of death preceded him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other two
Gorzars emerged from behind the bushes and began watching him
suspiciously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tarpel, the other male
Gorzar, rubbing his hands together stepped up sneering at him, showing his
sharp fangs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaning in close he moved
his face into his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan pulled his
head back sharply as the Gorzar opened his mouth; he could see decaying flesh
hung stuck in between his teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all
he could do to hold himself back from vomiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Finally,”
Tarpel spat in his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s time for
our revenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So long we have waited for
this day, now we can bring them all back to Zyon!” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where is
my mother?” Kainan demanded, leaning his head as far back from him as he could
and screwing his nose up even more as he tried to stop the appalling stench of
death from entering his nostrils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
eyes were anxiously searching, but he could not see his mother anywhere; his
heart began pounding as dreaded fear began to grip him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tarpel growled and then began backing away
laughing at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Give me
the Ardor Crystal Kainan.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hadzor
ordered forcefully, stepping forward holding out his hand to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Backing away Kainan stumbled on the twisted
brambles beneath his feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shook his
head defiantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No, not
until I have my mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We made a
bargain Hadzor, where is she?” he demanded again, gripping hold of sack
tightly against his chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew this
was his only chance, his only bargaining chip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Once they had it he was as good as dead.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“ENOUGH OF THIS!” Hadzor yelled aggressively,
suddenly lurching forward and taking Kainan by surprise he snatched the sack
away from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His right hand then came
up punching him hard across the face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kainan felt his nose crack and blood sprayed out like an erupting volcano.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stumbling backwards he caught his foot in the
twisted brambles, falling awkwardly, hard to the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Groundling female found herself in the dark cavern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shivered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That had to have been the most exhilarating experience she had ever had
in her entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pulling her long
dark hair out from inside her cloak she shook it loose, relieved to find
herself still in one piece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly she
walked towards the light coming from the entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squinting as she peered outside, she raised
her hand to shield her eyes from the brightness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As her eyes adjusted she gasped, surprised at
the wondrous sight that was in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a whole other world here!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Of course she knew it was here, but it was way beyond anything she could
possibly have imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In one direction
she could see a vast dense forest as green and as far as her eyes could
see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Below her at the bottom of the
cliff there was beautiful valley and far in the distance, tall snow-capped
mountains with white fluffy clouds hiding their tips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she inhaled she could smell the sweetness
of the trees and it was wonderful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In all her
life she had never seen a real mountain as big as the ones she could see now,
only drawings of them in the old books back home; but this, this was truly
spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back in Malgar no one ever
went through the boundary; no one really knew what was beyond the boundary
except what they had been told; darkness and death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had the castle and the City, the great
forest and the lake, but this!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shook
her head in disbelief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This world went
on forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could her people have
possibly abandoned such a beautiful place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Suddenly
her eyes were drawn to movement down in the valley below her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There she could see him, the stranger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pulling back sharply she blinked in disbelief
at what she was seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her heart
suddenly shuddering with fear, she looked again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely her eyes must be playing tricks on
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It could not be possible, could it?
Gorzars!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Shrinking
back inside the mouth of the cavern her eyes widened with shock. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaning herself against the cold hard cavern
wall to steady herself, she shook her head her brow frowning in thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely it could not be possible?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gorzars had been banished years ago, sent
through a giant magical portal to a world beyond worlds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where could they have possibly come
from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe the Elders had been right
after all to run and hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Leaning forward again she cautiously peered
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swallowing nervously she leant back
against the cavern wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was not
wrong, they were definitely Gorzars.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
could remember being told stories of the Gorzars as a young child, being shown
drawings of them and they had absolutely terrified her; with their sheer size
and their sharp carnivorous teeth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew
they were dangerous, blood-thirsty and evil beyond anything you could ever
imagine and they were right here before her very eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hesitating
for a moment she looked back at the portal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps she should return and tell her uncle so he could warn the
King?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sucking her bottom lip as she
thought she doubted very much that they would even believe her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew she was going to be in so much
trouble for going through the portal, that they probably would not even listen
to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to get proof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Summoning all her courage she knew she had to
find out more by getting nearer to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then if she had more information, hopefully they would be so grateful to
her that she would not get into so much trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Knowing
that her life depended on the Gorzars not seeing her, she lifted the hood of
her cloak and chanted to herself quietly.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i>Invisa
polosa ensarma</i>.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in an instant
she was invisible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could see him the
stranger, he was talking to the Gorzars; this was really not a good sign.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What could someone from Malgar want with Gorzars?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was he helping them to somehow find a way to
get past the magic and get into Malgar?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Slowly and
carefully she made her way down the uneven path into the valley below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She took it steady, she could see the stones
were loose and knew it would be very easy for her to fall and injure herself
and there would be no one here to help her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On reaching the bottom she edged as close to them as she dared. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Crouching down behind a large boulder she
strained her ears hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could
almost hear what they were saying and soon found she could understand
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had not realised they spoke
the same language as her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had never
been told that in the stories the Elders had told them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They seemed to be arguing, shouting at each
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was he doing with
Gorzars?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked across at his hands
and what did he have in that sack that he was gripping hold of so tightly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Suddenly
jumping back startled, she held her breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One of the Gorzars hit the man hard in the face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watching in horror as the man fell to the
ground, her eyes closed and opened quickly at the shock of the sudden violence and
she shook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gorzar stood over him,
shouting at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shrinking back behind
the boulder she found herself in a state of panic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What were they going to do to him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he was not trying to help them after
all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She didn’t know if she had the
courage to look anymore, they were even more terrifying close up.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> His leg twisting
awkwardly as he hit the ground with a hard thud Kainan screamed as excruciating
pain shot through it like a bolt of lightning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hadzor kicked him hard in the stomach over and over again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doubling up in agony he began coughing up
blood; he looked up desperately at the Gorzar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hadzor stood back from him gripping the sack tightly in his hands, his
wart-infested face sneering down at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Where is
my mother?” Kainan begged in a desperate whisper, as he began spluttering and
coughing violently, choking on his own blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The back of his hand came up to his mouth wiping it away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Struggling to get up he cried sharply as the
searing pain in his leg made him unable to stand, it felt like it was broken.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“She is not
your mother; you are nothing more than a worthless piece of meat,” Hadzor spat,
standing over him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And not that
appetising either,” he added, kicking him hard again in the stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan’s knees came up involuntarily and his
arms wrapped around himself as the agony in his stomach flared through
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gorzar stared down at him
shaking his head.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Did you
really think we would let you walk away?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kainan’s looked at him despondently he knew he stared death in the face.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Throwing
his head back Hadzor laughed sarcastically at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You stupid
Groundling you have no idea do you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kainan looked up at him confused, his eyes streaming as he tried to cope
with the pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We had you taken from
your parents when you were first born.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We knew we had to get an Elder Grounding to steal the Ardor Crystal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We cannot get into Malgar the portal holds a
magical spell that stops us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had some
inside help of course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That woman was
your real mother’s birth nurse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of
course she didn’t want to help us but we threatened to kill her family unless
she took you and raised you until you were ready,” he growled impatiently. “It
took so bloody long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to wait
until you were twenty-one before we could send you back down.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Then why
did you have to kill my family and all the villagers if you only needed me?”
Kainan pleaded, wiping the blood away from his mouth.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“They did nothing to you!” he screamed angrily.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“She was a
foolish woman; she said she loved you as one of her own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tried to run and hide from us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we finally found her and told her it was
time she refused to hand you over to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was not a wise move.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bending
down he grabbed Kainan’s left hand roughly, turning it over to reveal the mark
on the palm of his hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is what
we needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We couldn’t just take any
Groundling it had to be an Elder and they do not appear on Elder males until
they are twenty one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the key
that lets you back into Malgar and allows you to remove the Crystal without an
alarm being triggered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now thanks to
you we have the Ardor Crystal and with that power we can open the gateway and
bring back the Gorzar Empire that your people banished,” he laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They thought they could hide through a
portal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have no idea that we took
you or that we escaped the banishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have been waiting for the day we would have our revenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that day has come,” he crowed
triumphantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kainan’s
brow creased.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could not take all this
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What were they saying that his whole
life and future had been planned by them and that he had been nothing more than
a tool to get them what they wanted?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everything he had ever known in his entire life was vaporised in an
instant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he was not Kainan Woodsman,
then who the hell was he?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Without
the power of the Ardor Crystal your people will have to come back through the
portal to Zyon, by then the Gorzar forces will be waiting for them, waiting to
have their revenge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will tear your
people apart!” The Gorzar crowed triumphantly.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You
bastard, no!” Kainan screamed as fury welled up inside him; the realisation of
what he had done, done to all those people back on Malgar began to sink
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had condemned all those people to
certain death and they would not even know it was coming.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I will not
let you do it!” he yelled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rolling over
onto his stomach he clenched his fist in anger and gritting his teeth against
the pain he struggled pulling himself to his feet, but his lower leg throbbed
with a searing pain and it left him unbalanced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What
are you going to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you think you’re
going to stop me now?”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hadzor shook his head at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Get him,” he ordered turning to the others.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“ don’t need him anymore.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two other Gorzars attacked. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tarpel punched him on the side of the head, it
was a glancing blow but enough to blur Kainan’s vision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Falling back, he hit the ground hard and
raising his arms he tried to protect himself, but he had no chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elira kicked once, twice, three times to his
chest and stomach; Kainan yelled out in pain, spitting out blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tarpel turned around searching the ground and
then picking up a large stick he began whacking it hard in his hand, Hadzor
nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan shook his head at them,
in that instant he knew he was going to die.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No, please
stop!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got you what you wanted!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frantically he began trying to crawl dragging
his leg behind him, clawing at the earth trying to get away, but it was no use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tarpel stood over him raising the stick and
then striking down hard on the back of the young man’s legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan screamed in agony as he felt the bones
shattering in his legs with the force of the blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hadzor, throwing the sack over his shoulder
turned to Elira.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Tie him up
and leave him, he isn’t going anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Let the wolves rip him to pieces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We need to get the Book of Chants.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The two Gorzars nodded at their leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Elira,
taking the rope that she had hung over her shoulder, passed it over to
Tarpel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kneeling down he pulled Kainan’s
arms roughly behind his back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan
cried out with the pain.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Shut up
Groundling!” Tarpel growled, shoving his face down into the dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pulling the rope he tied Kainan’s hands
tight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tarpel stood up kicking him one
more time just for the sheer hell of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kainan lay in a heap on the ground, barely able to move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain was so intense he was struggling to
stay conscious.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Hey
Kainan, we wouldn’t want to leave you to die all alone out here,” Hadzor yelled
to him grinning, showing his huge sharp fangs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He strained to open his eyes, desperately trying to see as they threw
the body of his mother beside him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No!”
Kainan cried, as he saw her lying beside him, lifeless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mother!” his voice fading into a mere
whisper as the life began to drain from of him, he could no longer keep his
eyes open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a sickening laugh the
Gorzars headed off into the forest leaving the wolves to finish their job.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kainan lay
in silence, bleeding heavily and in unbearable pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ropes were tight, his head spun and his
body felt like every bone was broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Struggling to open his eyes again he looked across at his dead
mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had failed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tears gently flowed down his cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He coughed, choking as blood trickled out of
his mouth and seeped into the dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gasping, he tried to breathe, but he knew he was going to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In some way he was thankful, at least he
would not be left here all alone with the torment of not knowing who he really
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes rolled to the back of his
head, he could no longer bear the pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With the nightmare about to end, Kainan passed into unconsciousness.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
*</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Arweyn
shook from head to toe; never had she witnessed such violence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poor man they were slaughtering him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She desperately wanted to help him but there
was nothing she could do nothing but watch as they continued with their
torture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they stopped and tied him
up; her chest rising and falling as her breathing quickened, she glanced back
around the rock, watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He must still
be alive or why else would they bother to tie him up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they dragged out the beaten body of a
woman and threw her disrespectfully to the ground beside him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>She felt
her stomach turn; looking away she held her hand to her mouth to stop herself
being sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The poor woman, what had
they done to her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forcing herself she
looked back, they were leaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking
across at the young man she desperately wanted to go to him, but knew she had
to wait until she was certain they were not coming back for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When she
finally felt it was safe she removed the hood of her cloak and became visible
to the world once again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cautiously she
edged forward towards him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hitching her
skirt as she knelt down on the ground next to him, she swallowed nervously
staring at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His face was turned down
into the dirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching out with a
trembling hand she gently prodded him but he remained still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled a knife from the pocket on the
side of her boot and cut the ropes binding his wrists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting the knife back and taking a deep
breath, she reached forward turning him over onto his back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His face was covered in a mixture of dirt and
blood, severely swollen and battered.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gareion?”
she screamed and panic shot through her entire body as she unexpectedly
recognised him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How could this possibly
be?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gareion
can you hear me?” the young woman cried, shaking him, trying frantically to
rouse him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no reply, only a
low moaning sound.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sighed with
immense relief that at least he was still alive, if only just.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Shush, it
is all right,” she said, in a comforting voice as she began gently stroking his
brow with one hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then a sudden shiver
ran down her back, turning around she looked across at the dead woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She felt un-nerved having a dead person lying
next to her and the woman’s eyes were still open, staring into the
nothingness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slipping off her cloak she
stood up, quickly walking the few paces to where the woman lay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swallowing nervously she bent down onto her
knees, glancing sideways at her and reaching her shaking hand forward she
quickly closed the woman’s eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wiping
her hand down her skirt nauseatingly she shivered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then placing her cloak over the woman’s body,
she covered her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Hurrying
she returned to him, kneeling back down on the ground next to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching into her bag she began rummaging
inside frantically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pulling out a cloth
she carefully began wiping away the blood from around his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running her finger inside his mouth she
checked that his airway was clear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
face severely swollen from the beating was barely recognizable.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh
Gareion,” she cried desperately as she realised the severity of his
injury.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t worry, I can do
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am going to heal you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gorzars have gone, you’re safe now,” she
reassured him, wiping her bloodied hands down her skirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Putting the cloth down and reaching into her
bag she pulled out a small bowl and some herbs from a pouch, and using a small
pestle ground them in the bowl with some water from her flask.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Here drink
this Gareion it will ease your pain.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lifting
his head gently she held the bowl to his lips, pouring the liquid into his
swollen mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He managed to drink it
slowly, coughing as the herbs tickled the back of his throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes trying to open rolled around in
their sockets.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who, who
are you?” he mumbled, his breath was shallow and rasping. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gareion it
is me, Arweyn, shush please do not try and speak, you have been badly
injured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rest, there will be time to
talk later,” she comforted, gently lowering his head back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes rolled as he went in and out of
consciousness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Undoing the buttons on
his shirt she ran her hands over his chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shuddering as she touched his bare skin with her finger tips, she took a
deep breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had never noticed
before how firm and muscular he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
shook herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was she thinking!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Closing her
eyes she took another deep breath and pushing those thoughts away she began
running her hands across his chest once more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She could feel that his ribs were broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Running her hands down his body she felt his
stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swallowing hesitantly, she
slowly pulled his shirt right open to get a better look, he was black and
blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Looking at
him with empathy she bit her lip, trying not to cry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew he must be in incredible agony, how
many times had they kicked him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
in a really bad way; she just hoped she had the strength and the power to save
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next feeling down his legs, she
shook her head despondently and sighed; they were both severely broken.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh
Gareion, what have they done to you?” she mumbled grimly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew she had to act fast or he was going
to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From her bag she pulled out the
piece of muslin cloth Mistress Cromer had given her and opened it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside were some blue coloured leaves and
herbs; she stared at them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never before
had she used the dacara leaves as only the greatest of healers were allowed
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking them out she placed them
evenly across his naked chest and down to his navel; she then closed her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This, she knew, was going to take all her
strength.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She began to chant quietly
flowing her hands up and down his body, waving them in a circular motion.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i>Alora
mentoria escalida, alora mentoria escalida, espora healarta, espora
healarta.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Her hands were shaking
with the power as it left her and entered his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Up and down his body she flowed, chanting
over and over, the leaves and herbs slowly being absorbed into his body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly she stopped; she could not see him
breathing!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaning forward she placed
her ear to his mouth, his breathing had stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pulled her hands to her face in
desperation as she thought and then sitting back and closing her eyes she
mumbled another enchantment.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i>Elpor
bararia skelanta pretoria!” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></i>Taking a
deep breath, she bent over him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With one
hand cupping his face her thumb pulled open his mouth, the other pinching his nose;
she then placed her lips on his and blew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sitting back up she watched him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She touched her lips with her fingers, something felt very strange, they
were tingling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could not understand
what was going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had never given any
one the kiss of life before but this was Gareion, she was sure it should not
have felt like that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She should not have
enjoyed touching his lips in such a way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bending
forward she listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was still not
breathing; panic began to set in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
should have worked!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had done it
exactly the same way as in the books she had studied, that she was sure
of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she remembered there was one
other way, albeit dangerous for her and for him, an ancient way her mother had
taught her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking at him her body
shook and she swallowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was no choice;
she would not let him die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly
pulling up her dress she straddled across him, sitting on his stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time leaning forward she took hold of
his head in her hands, her thumbs on his temples and she began chanting fast
and furiously.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i>Elarta
espara kitary, spelarma kilora!</i>”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Taking a deep breath she blew into his mouth, sparkles of magic flowed
from her into him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sitting back she
banged hard upon his chest with her hands. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<i>Espira
spartat eluviai!</i>” she screamed, shaking with the power as the energy from
her hands went straight into his heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“COME ON
GAREION, COME ON DO NOT GIVE UP, PLEASE!” she screamed at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Suddenly
Kainan’s body lurched forward as he drew a deep breath of life. Arweyn was
thrown onto the ground and in an instant she spun around grabbing hold of him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gareion!”
she screamed with relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
alive!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had worked.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
K</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ainan felt his body shake from head to toe as he drew
breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could feel a strange
electrical charge shake all the way through him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pain throughout his body was disappearing
and there was a strange tingling sensation running down his legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Desperately he tried to open his eyes but he
could not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who are
you..?” he whispered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gareion it
is Arweyn,” she replied, her voice barely audible as exhaustion overwhelmed
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had taken nearly all her
strength to heal him and she could hardly speak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan’s eyes flickered as he tried to open
them and look at the face that the beautiful gentle voice was coming from, but
he felt so tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arweyn smiled at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Sleep
Gareion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will be okay now, the
medicine will work soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will talk in
a while.” <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">She felt herself slipping; leaning forward she rested her
head on his naked chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had to rest, she closed her eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together they slept all afternoon. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt;">Five - Who am I?</span></b><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">His mind was in turmoil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Visions of the last week flashed vividly,
repeatedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His brothers murdered before
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His friends mutilated body, the
village burning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gorzars; their evil
faces grinning at him with contempt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kainan suddenly jumped in his sleep, waking himself up out of the
nightmare.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Arweyn sat up sharp, her eyes were wide with panic, where was
she?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then looking down she remembered
and took a deep hopeful breath as she watched him trying to open his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan blinked a few times, it was still
daylight and the brightness hurt his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gradually his eyes began to focus, and he saw looking down at him the
most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hazel eyes were filled with caring
warmth, her long lustrous dark hair curled about her face, her lips parting in
a charming smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was slender and
shapely and wore a long clinging blue dress, cut low over a full bosom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her hand was now gently caressing his brow in
a soothing manner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He whispered as he
stared at her, his lips barely able to speak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Who, who
are you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kneeling, she moved in closer to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Holding her hair back with her hand she leaned
into him and whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Gareion,
it is Arweyn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You scared the life out of
me; I thought you were going to die.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her gentle voice at once put him at ease, and her scent warmed his
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gradually breathing easier, he
moved his feet from side to side; he had feeling again in his legs.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why are
you dressed like an Outlander Gareion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
do not understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those creatures could
have killed you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I had not followed
you from Malgar having just come from my herbology lesson, you would most
probably be dead now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were so lucky
I had my potion bag with me and Mistress Cromer had the foresight to give me
the dacara leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please tell me what
is going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you in some kind of
trouble?” As she turned, her long dark hair tumbled down in front of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She hooked it behind her ear, and then
carefully tore a piece of material from her underskirt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Picking up some herbs she placed them in her
small bowl pouring on some ointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then using her pestle she mixed it into a smooth paste, tipping it all
onto the material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning back to
Kainan she attempted to place the material on his face.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What are
you doing?” he whispered, raising an eyebrow at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“This is glarehawn, it will help heal the cuts on your
face and bring the swelling down, but it may sting a little,” she warned, as
she gently placed the cloth over the cuts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He winced, but almost immediately they began to heal, he looked at her,
she was absolutely stunning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes
caught his and she<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;">looked deeply into his dark eyes, his into hers, and for a
moment they held each other’s gaze</span>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">A
shiver ran down her spine and she turned away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What was this she was feeling?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gareion was like a brother to her, married to her cousin Alys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet something didn’t feel the same at
all.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">“Gareion
what were you doing with those Gorzars, and where did they come from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought they were all banished in the Great
War, and does Alys know what you have been doing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And who is this poor woman?” she asked,
packing up her herbs and bowl into her bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kainan’s brow creased at all the questions and he turned towards the
body.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">“She is my
mother,” Kainan sighed sadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Folding
his arm across his chest he sat up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Your
mother!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gareion what are you talking
about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That woman is not your
mother.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She looked at him with a
puzzled expression, maybe he had concussion?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why do you
keep calling me Gareion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My name is not
Gareion, it is Kainan, and she is,” he stopped, sighing with a broken
heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Was; my mother.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">With the pain
in his body almost completely gone, he turned to look at his mother; the young
woman had covered her with her cloak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Holding his head in his hands he sighed audibly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had failed her, just as he had failed his
brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking down at his bloodied
chest, he ran his hand across gently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was no sign of any injury left at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Buttoning up what was left of his shirt he
looked at her puzzled; in all his life he had never seen this kind of
healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Warily he moved his legs; but
they had both healed and he felt no pain at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning back to the young woman who had
helped him he smiled at her.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank you
for healing me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching his hand out
he touched her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arweyn’s body felt
electrified by his touch, she flinched, pulling back away from him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan pulled his hand back too; he had
suddenly felt a strange sensation of connection to her, recognition of a
familiar soul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t understand this
feeling at all.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">She stared
at him; how could this not be Gareion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What magic spell had enchanted him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She looked deeply into his eyes, they were a gorgeous dark brown, full
of honesty and kindness, almost hypnotising.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet, she perceived, although he looked extremely similar to Gareion,
there was something very different about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As the swelling around his face subsided she could see that his face was
much firmer, stronger looking and she could see a roughness about him that
Gareion didn’t have, and she was absolutely positive that Gareion had green
eyes like his mother, not deep dark eyes like his.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Frowning as
she looked at him, she replied softly, almost in a whisper with a slight edge
of fear tinged in her voice.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t
understand you look like Prince Gareion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Who are you?” she questioned nervously, staring hard at him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“My name is
Kainan, and I….” he hesitated, feeling so confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glancing back at her, he felt like he knew
her, but how could he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His head was
still cloudy and it hurt like hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turning his face away from her he held his head in his hands and
mumbled.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I don’t
know who I am anymore.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sudden
realisation took over that in fact he really didn’t know who he was anymore;
his whole identity had been taken away from him, and now with his mother gone,
how would he ever find out who he really was?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">“Look I’m
sorry but I just don’t understand what’s going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I followed you from Malgar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look like Gareion, and I mean not just
look like, you could easily be his double.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>How did you get through the portal, only the Elders and their children
have the key to pass through?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This time
her voice was harder, more forceful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Kainan turned and looked at her, searching hard to remember.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I got out
the same way I got in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not from
Malgar</span>.<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I mean is, I am I think,
but I grew up in the forest in a village a few days from here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were attacked by the Gorzars; they killed
my entire family and everyone in the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then they brought me here,” he gestured to the clearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she listened Arweyn started to edge away
from him, and her hand reaching down to the bottom of her skirt, grasped the
dagger from the side of her boot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
had been right they were Gorzars, but who was he if he was not Gareion?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if the Gorzars had found some way to
counteract the magic?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if they found
another way to send people through the portal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps he was a changeling sent to trap her, but then she looked at
him, at his blooded shirt, then down at the blood all over her dress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His blood had been red; he could not have
faked that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He definitely could not be a
changeling.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">Seeing the sudden
look of fear that came across her face Kainan reached out his hand to reassure
her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“No,
please, don’t be afraid of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will
not hurt you I promise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-64367719224391637952012-03-31T01:03:00.004-07:002012-03-31T01:03:45.631-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Deragan Sword Prophecy<br />Book 2<br />Beyond the Boundary - The Dragons
Awake</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Nearly completed ~ Editing to go!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Kainan and Arweyn go beyond the boundary, entering the old Groundling
Empire.<br />With the help of the dragons they re-discover their past lives, and
the hidden Groundling Empire.<br />To their horror they also discover their arch
enemy, the evil dark Lord Gemini, destroyer of the old world, is still alive and
ruling their lands.<br />Once again the fate of Malgar is in their hands.<br />The
full Deragan Sword Prophecy must be fulfilled<br />Gemini must die......</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-13161226043418790042012-03-28T01:04:00.001-07:002012-03-28T01:04:42.796-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well another day in the life of a Hopeful Author, well I guess I am one now seeing as I have a book published!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Today I have an advert running in the US .........</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.epublishabook.com/2011/09/25/advertize/#axzz1pwJiJJYR">http://www.epublishabook.com/2011/09/25/advertize/#axzz1pwJiJJYR</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fingers crossed, toes crossed and whatever else I can cross that there will be someone out there who can see the potential in my writing...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Go on treat yourself to a good read, it's less than the price of a coffee! Well it is in the UK anyway!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It is also available</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332921796&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332921796&sr=8-1</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Or as a paperback through my website</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/">www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">will post to the US too!</span></div>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-88192941053036204542012-03-26T09:32:00.003-07:002012-03-26T09:32:45.883-07:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">This is a short snippet from the first chapter of my second book ~</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Beyond the Boundary ~ The Dragons Awake</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">One –The Boundary<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The horse he was sat upon pounded his hoof hard into the
ground and brayed impatiently.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Okay Tyress I know it’s time to go back,” he said,
patting his horse affectionately and looking one more time at the edge of the
boundary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wall of magic unseen by
most eyes wavered clearly in front of him; the barrier between them and the
lands beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every week he came here to
the far end of the forest and listened; to what he was not entirely sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whispering voices called him continuously and
it was beginning to drive him insane.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Turning he looked behind him, his attention caught by the sound of
another horse approaching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I thought I would find you here,” she sang happily, as
she pulled her horse alongside him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
leaned forward to her and gave her a kiss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The two horses brushed noses in greeting.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You shouldn’t have come out here by yourself,” he said
to her firmly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She shrugged.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I know, but I can take care of myself.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled at her resolve that she could.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Why do you come here Kainan?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve not asked before because I know it’s
none of my business, but you always look sad when you return home.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He leaned forward on his saddle and looked at
the barrier.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s the voices;” he sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Constantly I hear voices calling me.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She leaned over and placed a hand on his
knee.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What sort of voices?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve never heard anything.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
rubbed her hand briefly and then shrugged, raising an eyebrow at her.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“It’s hard to explain, it’s like the whispers of hundreds
of voices calling me all at once.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“What do they say?” she asked.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Help us, awaken us,” he whispered, glancing back to the
Boundary, unease reflected in his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fidgeting on her saddle, her eyes following his gaze, she frowned.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Kainan that’s really creepy.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat back in his saddle.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Tell me something I don’t know,” he replied with a sigh,
before turning and smiling at her beautiful face.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come on I’ll race you back home,” he challenged, kicking
his horse on, and pulling the reins hard right he began to speed off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kicking her heels she urged her horse on
after him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Kainan I thought we might take a detour,” she called, as
she cantered alongside him grinning flirtatiously, her long dark hair and dusky
blue cloak billowing behind her in the light breeze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grinned back.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Oh really, and what did you have in mind?” he yelled
back to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She nodded behind at her
saddle bags.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“I have a blanket and some wine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could go to the circle and be on our own
for a while.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled his horse to a
sudden halt in front of her, causing her horse to stop abruptly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then drew alongside her, leaning in close.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“The circle?” he whispered, captivated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She raised her eyebrow seductively at him and
he twitched a thoughtful smile.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Your mother would not like it!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then jibed at her in a silly voice,
shaking his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She leaned forward,
her chest heaving from her low cut dress and her eyes fluttering at him.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“My mother does not need to know,” she replied in a soft
whisper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As his eyes wandered all over
her face he felt his body tingle in anticipation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gave a small firm nod of his head.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Race you there,” he then cried, kicking his horse hard
and cantering off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shaking her head
after him she laughed.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Come on Alora we cannot let them beat us again,” she
urged to her horse, kicking her on urgently.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span><span style="font-size: large;"> “So you lose again,” he
whispered, leaning into her as they led their horses through the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pink blossoms floated like snow across their
path from the wild apple trees that were dotted here and there between the oak
and the ash; their sweet fresh scent wafting to their noses. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Well it was hardly fair now was it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You had a head start,” she replied, with a
smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He returned her smile
affectionately and then hooked his arm through hers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just ahead of them was what they had named the
circle; it was a great stone circle that stood up on its side; the meaning of
which no one really knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They led their
horses through and into a small clearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As usual it was quiet and just the gentle song of the birds and rustle
of the breeze in the trees was all that could be heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They tethered their horses to an apple tree
which stood next to a gentle trickle of a stream where there was plenty of lush
green grass for them to graze upon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
then wandered the few paces to a large willow tree which dominated the
clearing; one half of its long wispy branches dipped into the gentle flowing
stream the other half spanned out over the clearing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Arweyn stepped through the long branches and
pulling open the blanket she threw it down close to the trunk of the tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan followed and they both dropped to the
ground and lay upon the blanket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Opening the wine he poured them both a drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sighed contently. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You know this has to be the most beautiful place in the
world,” she whispered. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“In this world?” he asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She pitched up onto one elbow and gazed into
his dark eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“In all the worlds,” she replied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He passed her a goblet.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Thank you,” she said, taking a sip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The breeze stirred a bit stronger rippling
the branches and blowing her hair across her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching forward the young prince pulled the
hair from her eyes, and then leaning forward he kissed her and she felt herself
melting into his kiss as his strong arms then grasped hold of her tightly,
pulling her to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He deepened the kiss
and she shuddered pleasurably at his touch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Releasing her, his dark eyes stared mesmerised into hers.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“You Arweyn Glanber are the most beautiful woman in this
world, and all the worlds within worlds, and I do love you,” he whispered to
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She giggled tapping him on his nose
with her finger.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“And you Kainan Dermock are the most handsome, gentle and
loving man in the whole of this world and the world within worlds and I love
you too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grinned back at her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finishing her wine she threw the goblet
behind her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She knew what was to come
next and her heart pounded at the thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kainan drank his wine and discarded the goblet; he then removed his
sword and dagger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her eyes sparkled as
she looked at him; his hand lifting to the ribbon ties on the front of her
dress he began slowly and teasingly pulling them undone, her chest heaved and
her body tingled as his knuckles brushed against her skin; raising her left
hand towards the weeping branches of the willow, she whispered.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><i>“Pora estorma kelaram,”</i> and with a wave of her
hand the branches of the willow closed in tight around them, concealing them
and their passions from the outside world.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">copyright Rosemary Lynch March 2012</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-58795472761269151982012-03-24T01:42:00.000-07:002012-03-24T01:44:03.858-07:00<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have an advert running next week in the ePublish a book on line magazine in the USA ~ Fingers crossed with that.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.epublishabook.com/2011/09/25/advertize/#axzz1pwJiJJYR">http://www.epublishabook.com/2011/09/25/advertize/#axzz1pwJiJJYR</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Thanks Jason Halstead for the link!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/booksbyjason">https://twitter.com/#!/booksbyjason</a></span><br />
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<br />Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-68250748372416509492012-03-21T09:32:00.000-07:002012-03-21T09:32:10.133-07:00<div class="heading" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 16pt; mso-font-kerning: 16.0pt;"><strong>Kainan</strong></span></div>
<div class="heading" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 16pt; mso-font-kerning: 16.0pt;"><strong>One night will change is life forever</strong></span></div>
<div class="heading" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="heading" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 16pt; mso-font-kerning: 16.0pt;"><strong>Excerpt One</strong></span></div>
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<div class="heading" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 16pt; mso-font-kerning: 16.0pt;"><strong>Prelude</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12", "serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It had been well into the early hours of the morning before the revellers had finally given into sleep or were too drunk to care and had simply passed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now Kainan lay awake in his bed, his eyes wide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still c</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "12", "serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">harged from his twenty first birthday party he just couldn’t sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked across at his brother Michael and then sniggered to himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was out cold, mouth open and snoring loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan sat up and looked at his bow and arrows which were leant against the side of his bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly pulling on his clothes he grabbed them and headed quietly out of the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He checked on his mother and his younger brother and then snuck into the kitchen grabbing a few supplies before slipping out into the darkness unseen; completely unaware of the nightmare that was about to descend upon his village.</span></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "12", "serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "12", "serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">***</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12", "serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12", "serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were many and they had completely surrounded the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Edging in closer like a pack of wolves they moved in with ease and grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smooth, quick and noiselessly they swept through the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its people lay sleeping, wrapped in the warmth of their beds, oblivious as to what was about to befall them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Dark Elves were searching for someone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their instructions had been clear, find the boy and leave no survivors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Gorzars, huge, heavily muscled creature’s hell bent on revenge stood and watched in the shadows as the massacre began.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind howled and ripped around the village muffling their cries and screams as the Dark Elves began their hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like a tidal wave they flooded the village, strategically moving along until each home had been searched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Death was not an option for these people; it was a state of fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally they came across the home of Marianna, the boy’s mother.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12", "serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Having fulfilled their deadly task the Dark Elves re-grouped, heading back into the depths of the forest and moving on to their next mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However the boy was not there nor would his mother reveal where he was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "12", "serif"; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Gorzars would wait……………….</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: "Bradley Hand ITC"; mso-bidi-font-size: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">One - </span><span style="font-family: "Tempus Sans ITC"; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: normal;">Dawn of Fate</span></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The moonlight speckled through the tops of the trees as he crept along what appeared to be animal tracks freshly worn with the footprints of deer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then a short distance away a deer nibbled sapling freshly stripped of its bark a few feet from the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he knew the deer were close, these were all good signs to an experienced hunter like him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan stopped suddenly cocking his head to one side, he listened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something was coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fox stopped in its tracks when it saw him and eyed him warily for a moment, before nonchalantly continuing on across the track in front of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He smiled, watching as the fox slinked back into the undergrowth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan continued cautiously trying not to let the ground cover crack beneath his booted feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The tracks then stopped as the forest opened wide into a leafy glade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fingers of an early morning mist crept its way across the ground, and the night sky above brightened with the approach of dawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His heart skipped a beat when he saw them; adrenaline began to course through his veins as slowly and carefully he crouched down among the thorny gorse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pushing his thick dark hair out of his eyes he took a quiet breath and slowly and steadily he withdrew two arrows from his quiver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Placing one of them in between his teeth he raised his bow and nocked the other into place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He held it steady, aiming at the group of deer grazing on the grasses less than twenty yards in front of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moving the point of his arrow along each one in turn, his eyes fell upon a young doe; she stood separated from the rest of the herd quietly nibbling on the leaves of a young sapling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His brow creasing as he concentrated, his dark eyes staring fixed upon his prey, Kainan drew back and fired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The arrow sprung from its bow string at lightning speed straight across the glade, through the mist and into the heart of the doe killing her instantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jumping up from his crouching position and whipping the spare arrow from his mouth he cheered triumphantly, it was a perfect shot!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grinned congratulating himself; his family would eat well tonight; and he was certain even with two greedy brothers to feed, she would keep them in meat for a good week.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kainan was both an excellent archer and a skilled swordsman, abilities that had come naturally and easily to him over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His father had died when he was very young and so from an early age he had become self-reliant on his own skills and the family’s main provider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was independent and strong willed and when he set his mind to something, nothing would stop him from achieving it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now he had grown into a fine strong man having just turned twenty one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His long dark hair was wild and let loose and his face was striking with fine strong features.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His clothes were pretty basic; he wore his black leather boots fastened high to the knee over dark brown leather trousers, he had on a white tunic under a leather waistcoat and a brown deer skin cloak clasped around his throat, to protect him from the elements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His family were by no means wealthy but thanks to Kainan’s determination and hard work they managed to live quite comfortably. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By trade he was a carpenter, having taken over his father’s old workshop as soon as he was able to control a blade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His middle brother Michael was an up and coming carpenter too and together they ran their business, quite successfully, from the barn at the back of their house in the village of Oakhurst; which lay deep within a lush green valley surrounded by the ancient oak forest in the east of Zyon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Upon hearing Kainan’s cry of victory the rest of the herd quickly scattered back into the cover of the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grinning again at his own success he placed the spare arrow back into his quiver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly picking up his small backpack which contained his water bottle and some basic food rations, he slung it over his shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He glanced up at the rising sun, it was nearly daybreak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The adrenaline rush of the kill had made him feel suddenly hungry and he found himself thinking about breakfast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Placing his bow over his neck and shoulder he walked over to the doe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Squatting down carefully, minding not to let his knees touch the wet grass which had been kissed by the early morning dew, he gently stroked her fine soft fur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had been right she was indeed a good size, and there was plenty of meat on her young bones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ran his hand across her chest and pulled out his arrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scrunching his nose he examined it, rolling the arrow head between his finger and thumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then deciding that it still had some life left in it he wiped off the deer’s blood onto the dewy grass and popped it back into his quiver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Opening his pack and reaching inside he pulled out some twine and began binding the doe’s feet together to make her more manageable for the journey home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glancing back up at the rising sun his mind wandered; as it looked like it was going to be another fine day maybe if they were not too hung-over he would take Michael and Ryall fishing down on the lake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If there was one thing his younger brothers loved it was fishing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if luck really was on his side today they may even catch a loguenmast, he smiled at the thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was his favourite fish, large and succulent and with a few herbs sprinkled on top it was absolutely delicious, then what a feast they would have and he felt his stomach rumble at such a prospect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Wiping his hands down his trousers and reaching into his pack he pulled out a muslin cloth and un-wrapping it he breathed in deep inhaling the aroma of the freshly baked bread and goat’s cheese that he had swiped from his mother’s kitchen before he left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing back up he looked about and then wandering a few paces he perched himself on the edge of a fallen oak and began munching hungrily on the bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He noticed a cluster of mushrooms hugging the fallen tree upon which he was sat, so reaching down he picked one, giving it a quick brush with his hand before popping it into his mouth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He smiled to himself as he thought of the night just gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had been a fantastic party for his twenty first and nearly the entire village had come to join in with the celebrations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He chuckled most of the men would be waking up with sore heads this morning, including his brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both somewhat worse for wear from drinking too much beer he had left them both warm in their beds sleeping it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He too had had a belly full of beer but instead of feeling worse for wear he actually felt the complete opposite, full of energy and wide awake, so he had decided to go on a hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He turned his gaze to the autumnal colours of the oaks that surrounded him; the beauty of the forest fascinated him, especially this time of year when the mornings were crisp and fresh and intricately woven webs covered in tiny dew drops twinkled on every bush.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a magical place, calming and almost surreal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He enjoyed being alone in the stillness of the forest, it gave him time to think about what he was going to do with his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever since he could remember he had felt a strange sense of loneliness that tore at his heart and it was not something he could explain or understand as he had no rational explanation for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mother and brothers were always there for him and he had lots of friends in the village, but part of him still felt empty and alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked down to the mark on the palm of his left hand, it worried him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one could explain what it was or how it came to be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mark had suddenly appeared yesterday morning; it was a pentagram surrounded by a circle and it was embossed into his flesh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Pushing his thoughts aside he continued eating his bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled out the knife John had given to him for his birthday and flicked it about in his hand; it truly was a work of art.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John, his best friend was a blacksmith by trade but loved to tinker about with swords and blades and this had to be the finest piece he had ever seen him make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He un-wrapped his cheese and using the knife he cut it into smaller chunks before using the point to stab a piece and pop it into his mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After he had finished he cleaned it and put it back into a sheath on his belt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing up he threw his last piece of bread to a curious squirrel who had been sitting watching him with hungry eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eagerly the squirrel snatched up the bread and he watched as the squirrel fled to the top of the trees with his prize.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smiling to himself he closed up his back pack, threw it over his head and across his left shoulder and pulling the strap tightly across his chest he walked back over to the doe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bending down on one knee he lifted her up throwing her around his neck like a scarf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He gripped each side of her bound feet and jostled her about a bit until she sat comfortably on his broad muscular shoulders and then steadily and without rushing he made his way back through the dense forest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew the way only too well as it was one of his favourite hunting routes and he often travelled it at this time of year as he knew the mushrooms would be plentiful and he stopped now and then to gather a few. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>By early-morning he was through the forest emerging onto the brow of a steep hill, it was such a beautiful morning, the sky was a deep blue and the suns’ golden rays were glowing brightly spanning out across his valley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took in a deep breath inhaling the crisp, fresh air.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He frowned concerned and inhaled again more deeply, he could smell smoke quite strongly in the breeze and it puzzled as to where it was coming from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just ahead of him was the start of the rocky pathway that would lead him down the steep incline of the hill and back into his valley below, he smiled, soon he would be home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moving towards the start of the path his eyes followed the silver shimmer of the river as it ran down the opposite hill feeding into his valley below and then on into his village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly his eyes widened and he was not quite sure if he could believe what he was seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stepping forward further he squinted shielding his eyes with the back of his hand as he looked harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It <b>was</b> smoke he could smell and it was coming from the heart of his village; it made him go cold to the bone as he stared at the bright orange flames roaring across the tops of the houses, black smoke billowing furiously spiralling high and blackening the morning sky.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kainan’s heart pounded fearfully and his breathing quickened as panic began to overwhelm him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His village was under attack, but who the hell would want to attack them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His valley had been at peace for decades and they had no enemies that he knew of and they were certainly no threat to anyone that was for sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then as his mind flashed through all the horrific possibilities all he knew for certain was that he had to get home fast.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He lifted the doe up and off his shoulders and threw her with such a force that she hit the ground with an almighty thud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t spare a moment to watch as her body bounced over the edge and began rolling down the steep hill, finally tearing into shreds as she hit the rocks below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All his thoughts were on home and Kainan began to run in earnest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ignored the graduated path that he would normally have taken, opting instead to clamber down the steep incline of the hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Giving no thought to the precarious ground that was beneath his feet he ran as fast as he could, slipping and sliding his way down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throwing out his arms he tried to balance himself but abruptly lost his footing and went down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pitching forward he began tumbling head over heels down the ruggedness of the slope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grabbing his hands out wildly he grasped desperately at everything and anything, until he managed to stop himself by grabbing hold of some protruding bushes; but it was not before he had injured himself against one of the many rocks that jutted out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cursing out-loud he picked himself back up and held his hand over the gash in his left arm trying to stem the bleeding; but even that would not slow him down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His heart pounding painfully in his chest he forced himself to push on even faster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Trying to steady himself he turned sideways and continued clambering downwards into the valley below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His breathing was now coming in fast and ragged gasps and cold sweat drenched his reddened face making his long dark hair stick uncomfortably to his skin.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>On reaching the bottom he ran along the edge of the river that separated him from his village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At its narrowest point he jumped in and began clambering precariously one by one across the rocks that jutted out of the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like stepping stones they stretched from one side of the river bank to the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He slipped off one of the rocks half way across the river and landed in the water and although it was shallow the water still filled his boots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He waded across the rest of the way and then clambered up the side of the embankment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although near to exhaustion he picked up the pace again and began running across the meadow. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His boots still heavy with water began squelching as the muddied earth below him sucked at his heels making it even more tiring for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Horses grazing nearby startled by his sudden appearance began neighing furiously at him and he glanced only briefly at them as he ran on side jumping over the wooden fence that surrounded the meadow.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His eyes widened in shock and disbelief as he reached the entrance to his village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Held frozen by the horror that greeted him he held his right hand over a painful stitch in his side as he panted hard to catch his breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sweat clung to his shaking body and ran like water down his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using the sleeve of his cloak he wiped the sweat away from his forehead and the sides of his cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stared for a moment before revulsion suddenly gripped his stomach and turned it inside out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ahead of him his fellow villagers lay dead, their bodies had been mutilated most of them were beyond recognition; it was the scene of a massacre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smoke billowed furiously as the buildings all around him burned and the darkest black cloud he had ever seen hung over his village like a veil of death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was unable to take it all in; this was not the work of bandits or thieves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was as if they had all been savaged by some evil creature. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bending over he braced his hands upon his knees and took in a few long deep breaths; he was exhausted and felt incredibly dizzy and sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rising back to his full height he made himself walk on even though increasing fear for his family rose through him with every step he took.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He covered his nose with the sleeve of his cloak trying to stop the appalling stench of death from burning into his nostrils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glancing all around he could see more bodies burned beyond recognition, lying in what was left of their decimated homes; he made his way slowly through the horror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could not begin to imagine why or who would do such a terrible thing to so many people and it was not just the adults.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan felt his eyes begin to weep and his hand rose to wipe away his tears as he saw the bodies of children, innocents who didn’t have a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He shook his head painfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew these children these families, most he had seen only the night before at his birthday in the tavern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why would anyone do this, take such precious young lives, he could not understand it at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What were these attackers looking for?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Making his way through what was left of his village he checked in doorways and half-burnt houses looking for survivors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What he saw just tore him apart, some people had not even had time to leave their beds and lay eyes still staring with their throats cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Every now and then he would stop at a body reaching his shaking hand forward he felt for life, but to his dismay there was none, everyone in his entire village appeared to be dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then turned the corner with fearful apprehension terrified of what he would see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There in front of him was his home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He breathed a quick sigh of relief when he saw it was not yet burning, hoping upon hope that his family were safe; but his relief was only momentary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Standing frozen to the spot, he hesitated not knowing what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could see movement, shadows of something or someone by his home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then making a quick decision he darted like an arrow down the side of the dirt road, ducking and diving between broken doorways and derelict homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quickly he dived behind the wall of what was left of his family’s barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rolling onto his side, he then crouched on his hands and knees moving slowly on all fours towards the edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still in shock and taking a few deep breaths he cautiously peered around the ruin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There it was again, he could definitely see movement but what the hell were they?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His heart leapt to his throat as they came into view. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Never in all his life had he ever seen such evil looking creatures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stared wide-eyed and open mouthed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were huge, seven, maybe even eight feet tall, and they were emerging from <i>his</i> home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What were they doing in there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He bit down hard on his bottom lip, he was desperate to know, where was his family, what had happened to them?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaning forward further he tried to get a better look, frowning as he watched them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were humanoid in appearance, but their faces looked contorted, their skulls misshapen and they wore some kind of red and black leather uniform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had never seen anything like them in his entire life and he was certain that one of them looked like it was a female even though it was as ugly as sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was so terrified that he felt sick to the pit of his stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking around at the decimation he just could not understand how this could have happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were good strong men living in Oakhurst, they were not a weak village by any means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He knew the villagers would have fought back hard if they had had the chance.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He sighed sadly; it had most probably been a surprise attack, a cowardly attack in the dead of night just after he had left to go on the hunt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They probably didn’t even know what hit them, many of them he knew would have been drunk from partying all night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shook his head as he tried to figure it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There must have been more, many more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was certain that it could not have possibly been just these two creatures that had inflicted so much death and destruction; but the only dead he had come across so far were villagers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So where had the rest of these attackers gone, or were they still here lying in wait somewhere?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Suddenly there was a pitiful cry coming from inside the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan’s eyes widened and he watched as another one of the creatures, and by far the largest, stormed out of his home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He swallowed hard, now there were at least three of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He suddenly grasped the side of the ruined wall so hard that his knuckles turned white and he stared in startled fright. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature had both his brothers!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He watched helplessly as the creature dragged them both along the floor by the scruff of their necks kicking and screaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ran his hands through his hair as their screams for help pounded in his ears; what could he do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then his eyes were abruptly drawn back to a commotion at the front of his house, his mother had emerged from behind them she was shouting, pleading with it, clawing desperately at the creature trying to free her sons from its clutches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kainan was frantic and his heart shook within him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needed help, there was no way he would ever be able to tackle them all on his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes searched around in panic but there seemed to be no-one left; all around him everything was burning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt helpless and took in a deep sharp breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His heart raced as he tried urgently to think of what he should do; his mind was in turmoil, unable to believe this was happening, unable to think clearly logically.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His eyes shot from side to side looking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What should he do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then his eyes locked on the blacksmith’s barn; it was practically the only other building that was not yet burning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe John was inside hiding. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would help him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stealthily he moved along the edge of the building and slipped unseen through the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Frantically he then began searching, but the place had been wrecked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked like a wild whirlwind of a storm had ripped its way through the entire barn everything was either broken or destroyed completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Climbing over a broken chair and a smashed up table Kainan continued searching the room; he was terrified beyond words, beyond comprehendible thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like the worst ever nightmare he could have dreamt, no it was even worse than that, it was hell like the end of the world where no hope was left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this he knew was not looking good as his friend was nowhere to be seen; but he could not give up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“John, John it is me Kainan,” he cried, with fear and desperation in his voice, throwing aside the broken furniture as clambered through the barn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Moving further into the back of the barn his hope was fading as his cries remained unanswered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He called again in a desperate whisper.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“John if you’re in here please help me, those monsters have got Michael and Ryall!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then his heart almost stopped dead and his eyes widening he stared in shocked horror as his worst fear was confirmed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Biting on his lower lip he then raised his hands to his mouth shaking his head repeatedly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the floor in front of him was a mutilated body swimming in a deep dark pool of blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was John, what was left of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His face was bloodied and so badly beaten that Kainan only just recognised him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His throat had been cut and his blood had seeped across the floor collecting in wells between the cobbles.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>He felt his stomach turn inside out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spinning around he threw up violently and coughing and choking he retched as his body shook uncontrollably from head to toe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stumbling backwards he leaned hard against the wall closing his eyes, he didn’t want to look, he couldn’t look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Inhaling a deep breath he tried to steady and calm himself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the hell was going on?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Poor John he was his best and closest friend, they had climbed trees, fished and hunted together ever since they could walk; to see his life ended like that was more that he could bear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took another deep breath forcing his eyes open; and using the back of his sleeve he began wiping away his uncontrollable tears as grief overwhelmed him.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then fearing what else he might see his eyes nervously began searching around the rest of the room, but thankfully he then remembered that John’s wife Emmie and their baby had gone to stay at her mother’s in a neighbouring village, half a day’s walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swallowing back his tears he was thankful that they had gotten away from this massacre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Diverting his eyes down to the ground he noticed an iron bar lying discarded next to the furnace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Swallowing he took a breath before reaching down and picking it up, then quickly he pulled it in close to his chest and leant back against the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gripping hold of it tightly, he knew it was not going to be much of a weapon against such creatures but it would have to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had already cursed himself a hundred times for not having his sword, but it was not something that he ever took on a hunt, why would he when a bow and arrow was all he needed to kill a deer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow he would have to try and save his family alone, there was no other choice, there was no-one left to help him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Gathering his nerve he started to make his way out of the barn, but before he had even taken two steps there was the most terrifying, bloodcurdling scream that he had ever heard in his entire life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He recognised the voice immediately, it was his mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan’s heart felt like it had been wrenched out of his chest, his stomach churned and hot sweat enveloped his entire body. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gripping hold of the iron bar tight he rushed out of the blacksmith’s barn; and stopping dead in the middle of the street he looked down towards his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the same instant the largest of the creatures, grabbing his brothers by their throats and lifting them simultaneously into the air, began shaking them, choking them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two boys’ kicked their feet out furiously, clawing at the creature, trying desperately to release its grip from around their throats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gasping for air, their eyes bulged as the creature squeezed tighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kainan’s body shook frantically; it was killing them he had to act fast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throwing the iron bar down his shaking hands pulled his bow off his shoulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then pulling an arrow from his quiver, and nocking it into place he fired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The arrow shot through the air at lightning speed, but at the same time he watched almost in slow motion as the creature turned and said in a whisper something to his mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She screamed, shaking her head at it, falling to her knees she pleaded, begging with all her might.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature took no notice of her, instead it just laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then without hesitation it broke both the boy’s necks instantly and threw their lifeless bodies to the ground next to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wail of horror escaped his mother’s throat as she threw herself onto her sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His arrow whizzed past the first creature and hit deep into the neck of the largest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It spun around towards the direction of the arrow, its eyes falling upon the shadow of a man in the distance. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Kainan stood there motionless and in total shock; he was unable to believe what his eyes had just witnessed, what it had just done.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Michael, Ryall…,” his voice cried, broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature had killed them, it had murdered his brothers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“Kainan?” it snarled in recognition pulling the arrow out of its neck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Snapping it in half angrily the creature threw the broken arrow down on the ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looked down at his mother as she lay heaped upon the floor weeping hysterically over the bodies of her sons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Upon hearing the creature speak Kainan’s name horror engulfed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shooting a glance towards the figure in the distance she saw her eldest son and her heart broke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had fought so hard to hide him from them.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“NO, leave him alone!” she screamed, pleading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She began grabbing at the creature’s legs trying to hold it back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It laughed a deep penetrating growl of a laugh, throwing its head back guffawing at her futile effort. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Summoning all her strength his mother screamed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“KAINAN RUN!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>THEY’RE GOING TO TAKE YOU.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>RUN MY SON RUN, YOU MUST SAVE YOURSELF!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Shaking his head at her he stared intensely at the creature standing his ground; he would not run and leave her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan looked at his brothers lying dead by the feet of the creature slain without mercy; he was not able to comprehend what had just happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could not believe that both his brothers were dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Staring around his decimated village burning like hells fire all around him anger engulfed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The image of his best friend John lying dead, slaughtered in his own home flashed before his sodden eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Overcome he bit so hard on his bottom lip that it began to bleed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throwing his bow away he reached down and picked up the iron bar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not much of a weapon but he knew he would rather die trying to save his mother than live the rest of his life with the guilt of leaving her to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His fear had turned into rage, uncontrollable rage, giving him no thought or care for his own safety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Seeing what he was about to do his mother shook her head at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“KAINAN NO!” she screamed, “LEAVE ME AND GET OUT OF HERE!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature stared at him laughing, and began gesturing with its hands for him to come forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turning its attention back towards his mother and tormenting him further the creature kicked her so hard in the stomach that she cried out involuntarily pulling her arms into her stomach and clenching as the pain engulfed her entire body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reaching down the creature grabbed fistfuls of her golden hair and began dragging her across the gravel and the dirt of the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Clawing at the creature’s hands she tried desperately to pull him off but she was too weak and her face scraped hard along the road, grazing and cutting her until she bled.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">“GET YOUR DIRTY EVIL HANDS OFF OF HER!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kainan screamed, his anger overwhelming him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His whole body then shook uncontrollably as he felt the adrenaline coursing through his veins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gripping the iron bar hard his knuckles turned white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was determined that he was going take out as many of them as he could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Raising the iron bar he charged screaming in fury towards the largest of the creatures; but before he even had a chance to strike it grabbed the raised bar with one hand, holding both Kainan and the iron bar firm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With a depraved grin the creature’s face moved down close to him, until its deathly breath could be felt upon the young man’s face.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Looking into the eyes of evil Kainan was suddenly paralyzed with fear; he tried to swallow the lump in his throat but instead he just choked as he stared at the creature’s enormous fangs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Slowly it whispered to him in a satisfied growl. “Got… …you.” and using the heel of its free hand the creature slammed it hard into the centre of his chest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The jolt, knocking the wind out of him flung the young man hard against the wall of his house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His mother screamed as Kainan, smacking his head hard against the wall, passed into unconsciousness.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><a href="http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/">http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/</a><br clear="all" style="mso-special-character: line-break; page-break-before: always;" /><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></span>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-90729310613069023512012-03-21T02:18:00.001-07:002012-03-21T02:27:47.205-07:00<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So this is how it is.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I wrote a book.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Why? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Because i enjoyed doing it.... Then people started nagging at me to do something with it. It took me months to find the courage but eventually I did 10 proof books and sent them out and about to see what the response would be.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Six months later here I am publishing it for real. I had such a good response that it completely threw me. I had the help of some wonderful people (not all friends and relatives I might add so the comments and suggestion were not biased) who proof read the book for me and I took their advice on parts that maybe were not quite right and changed and altered them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I did the artwork myself, funds not permitting any other choice and had a great pod printer that help me register the book. ISBN ~ 978-0-9569969-7-8</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">So now I am trying to get the book out there. I had 100 copies printed which are available through my website <a href="http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/">http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/</a>. Unfortunately small time people like me cannot afford to put the book on Amazon because they wanted to pay me less for the book than it cost for me to print! However, it is on Amazon Kindle.</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332321048&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.com/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332321048&sr=8-1</a><br />
<br />
and<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332321079&sr=8-1">http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kainan-Deragan-Sword-Prophecy-ebook/dp/B00780MWW4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332321079&sr=8-1</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am now writing part two ~ Beyond the Boundary - The Dragons Awake and I have also written another book entitled the Wizard and the Witch which just needs a little more tweeking here and there. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I am proud of what I have achieved, it might not make me a fortune (if it did i wouldn't grumble!) but it is an achievment. My ultimate dream would be to find an agent and see my books published worldwide, but I am not alone I know in that wish.</span><br />
<br />Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-84877574483497663932012-03-21T02:05:00.002-07:002012-03-21T02:05:41.725-07:00<a href="http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/">http://www.rosemary-lynch.co.uk/</a>Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3402096532391526472.post-31156614370952584902012-02-14T06:07:00.002-08:002012-02-14T06:07:50.391-08:00Hi, please check out my book that I have published myself via Amazon Kindle, it is called Kainan. Hoping to have some hard copies available soon.<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00780MWW4/">http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00780MWW4/</a><br />
<br />
<img alt="" class="img" src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQCr9xWpM5tP4qEP&w=120&h=100&url=http%3A%2F%2Fecx.images-amazon.com%2Fimages%2FI%2F51QkVFsIkiL._SL160_.jpg" />In one night Kainan's life is destroyed. Now he has answers to find. Torn apart by murder, lies and treachery, he uncovers the truth about his heritage and who he really is. Embarking on a journey of alternative worlds, creatures and beings he never knew existed, he discovers magic, power, friendship and love in his epic quest to return the Ardor Crystal to the world of Malgar, and stop the return of the Gorzar Empire. Time is running out!Rosemary Lynchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10238032930925791537noreply@blogger.com0