âI cannot say who gave you this curse, but I can say why: to dull you. Youâre a man of raw emotions. Whoever put this curse on you wanted you weak, hesitant.â
After an unforgiving, bloody journey across his kingdom, Prince Eerion Talvios finds himself and his allies held captive by the city with which theyâd hoped to align themselves. And while the need to escape and survival is prevalent, the threat of Nyflon and his continued tyranny looms in the background.
In the midst of trying to survive in a world of tyrants, dictators, and cultists, Eerion will discover both a weapon more powerful than a sword as well as the cost of wielding it, while Lienzye will discover the dark truth of who she truly is.
With time running out, Eerion is forced to face his father head on with an assortment of shaky alliances built on lies and dangerous promises in a battle with the potential to take away everything he holds dear.
âI cannot say who gave you this curse, but I can say why: to dull you. Youâre a man of raw emotions. Whoever put this curse on you wanted you weak, hesitant.â
After an unforgiving, bloody journey across his kingdom, Prince Eerion Talvios finds himself and his allies held captive by the city with which theyâd hoped to align themselves. And while the need to escape and survival is prevalent, the threat of Nyflon and his continued tyranny looms in the background.
In the midst of trying to survive in a world of tyrants, dictators, and cultists, Eerion will discover both a weapon more powerful than a sword as well as the cost of wielding it, while Lienzye will discover the dark truth of who she truly is.
With time running out, Eerion is forced to face his father head on with an assortment of shaky alliances built on lies and dangerous promises in a battle with the potential to take away everything he holds dear.
At sixteen, Eerion had killed more men in half an hour than most soldiers could dream of killing in a lifetime. He hadnât been the least bit scared, hadnât felt the slightest shred of doubt that he would lose. Yet in the battle raging within his fatherâs throne room, he felt as if he were up against insurmountable odds.
âWhat do you mean, âIâm not marrying Yissiliaâ?â his father asked from his throne, fists clenched.
Fear overcame Eerion at the first glimpse of his fatherâs temper, but he held his ground with royal arrogance. âIs there more than one way to interpret it?â he retorted.
âI suppose not,â Nyflon said calmly. This was what he did, calm till the last second before he exploded. No middle ground. âI just donât feel you understand what this means.â
âBelieve me, I do. Now, I trust you will make the necessary adjustments to your plan and send the necessary messengers. Before you know it, weâll be past this.â
Nyflon flung his chalice of wine in the direction of Eerion, over his head. Red droplets splashed across Eerionâs face, a common occurrence at this point. âYOU ARROGANT CHILD!â Nyflon screamed, shaking with rage. Eerion saw his fatherâs eyes glance toward his sword, then back to Eerion. Eerionâs hand subtly gravitated toward his own blade. The guards were outside the throne room. It was just Eerion and Nyflon. Well, and Zide, not that heâd be any good in a fight. âYou think this choice is your own?â
âYes, I do.â
âOh? And who do you plan on marrying?â
âLady Atrilye.â
Nyflon yelled a curse. âI suppose this doesnât have anything to do with why sheâs being tended to by a surgeon or why she was in your room not six hours ago?â
âShe was willing to die for me.â
âI donât care! Youâre marrying Yissilia, and it will be the beginning of Nalg ruling the world!â
âOh, Iâm going to rule the world. Just not with her.â
Nyflonâs fists were clenched and trembling. He opened his mouth to speak, but not before Zide could get a word in.
âPerhaps, Your Majesties,â Zide began in tone so peaceful and diplomatic it made Eerion want to vomit, âno rash decisions should be made now. At least, not before we get a better understanding of Lady Atrilyeâs condition.â
Nyflon seemed pacified by this. âThat seems wise,â he said, nodding.
âDoes it?â Eerion asked rhetorically. âWell, let me give you a little more wisdom. If anything should happen to Atrilye, and I do mean anything, whether a servant âaccidentallyâ leaves her unattended and she suffocates in her pillow or even if she should bleed out from seemingly natural causes, and then you still bring Yissilia here for me to marry, I will cut her head off. Just thought I should clear that up in case there was any lack of clarity.â
Nyflon was livid. âAnd why would you do that, Eerion?â he asked, practically through clenched teeth.
Eerion just stared back at him silently. âI just want to make it clear,â he finally said, âthat should Lady Atrilye tragically die, far, far before her time, no matter how, no one would be happy about it.â
Nyflon nodded, his expression looking like heâd just eaten a dozen lemons. âWe will discuss this at a later time. Now, be gone.â
Eerion nodded. There would be no further discussion, though. He left and promptly made his way to Atrilyeâs room. If anything happened to her, Eerion was going to blame Nyflon, no matter how insane her death seemed.
As he walked quickly through the halls, Eerion glanced down at the bracelet on his right wrist. Its four gems were illuminated every few feet by the torches on the walls.
Atrilyeâs door was wide open. She was asleep in her bed. Two servant girls sat at her bedside with Lady Phaerla crying next to them. A surgeon paced back and forth in the corner of the room.
âHow is she?â Eerion asked before anyone had noticed him.
The surgeon glanced in his direction then hastily bowed, seeing who he was. The servants turned and knelt as well. Phaerla didnât take her eyes off Atrilye.
âIt is too early to tell, Your Majesty,â the surgeon said. âSheâs lost quite a lot of blood.â
Eerion nodded. âLeave us for a moment.â The servants and the surgeon walked out; Phaerla remained.
âI apologize, Your Majesty,â Phaerla said with somewhat of an edge. âI donât know if you intended for me to leave, but I have no intention of doing so.â
âI didnât.â Eerion walked closer to the bed and looked at Atrilye. She was deathly pale but still beautiful. Eerion gently moved a loose strand of hair away from her face. Phaerla watched him with eyes like a hawk.
âI heard she was wounded saving you.â
Eerion nodded. âSomehow, an assassin got into the castle. He was waiting right outside my door⊠oh.â He hadnât meant to say that to her.
Phaerla looked disgusted. âAnd you what? Got scared and used her as a shield? Just one more use for her?â
Eerion was taken aback. No one besides his father and mother, occasionally, had spoken to him like that. He wasnât entirely sure, but he thought he could have someone flogged for it. He would let it slide, however, out of love for Atrilye. âActually, she knocked me out of the way and then killed him.â
Now, Phaerla was caught off guard. âOh.â
âSheâs fearless. And sheâs strong. She will pull through.â
Phaerla nodded.
âAnd when she doesâŠâ Eerion carefully reached under the blankets to her right arm.
âWhat are youââ
âItâs okay,â Eerion said quickly, resting her arm on the blanket. âShe asked me a very important question just before this happened, andâŠâ Eerion pulled the other bracelet out of his pocket and fastened it on her wrist before sliding her arm back under the blankets. âI just wanted her to know that I changed my answer.â
Phaerla looked confused but unalarmed. âWhat was the question?â
âShe asked to marry me. And Lady Phaerla, your daughter will be the queen of Nalg.â Eerion smiled as he gazed at Atrilye. Despite her wound, she looked so at peace. She would pull through; Eerion knew it.
âBut she never really will be queen, will she?â Phaerla said, sounding far away. It was less of a question and more of a statement.
Eerion was confused. âWhat?â he asked, turning to her. âWhat are you talking abouâŠâ
Phaerla was gone. The castle was gone. Eerion was standing alone in a forest. It was still light out, probably in the afternoon.
âLady Phaerla?â Eerion called. He looked around for her, turning back to where the bed had been. âAtrilye!â he screamed.
No longer in a comfortable bed, Atrilye lay dead on the forest floor, her eyes wide open, a knife in her right hand, and an Onyx Dagger of Athieria in her forehead.
âNo, no, no,â he said to himself hopelessly as he knelt beside the body, shaking her shoulder. âAtrilye!â
âYou never loved me, did you?â a familiar female voice said from behind him.
Eerion could suddenly feel heat and hear the crackling of flames. He stood up and turned around.
âBecause if you did,â Atrilye continued as the flames ate ceaselessly at her flesh, âyou would have saved me. You would have told me about the One who could save me sooner.â Blood from the gash in her forehead poured in a steady stream down her face.
âNo, no,â Eerion said hopelessly. âI loved you! You would have killed me, though! You would have told Nyflon and would have had me killed.â
âYou were unable to sacrifice your temporal life for my eternal life. Do you know what itâs like? Burning here? Knowing that Iâm no closer to the end now than I was when I first came? There is no hope for me!â
âIâm so sorry!â Eerion said, crying now.
âWhy didnât you love me? Why didnât you care enough to save me? All so you could âsave Nalgâ? Or are you just afraid of dying?â
âNalg! I wanted to save Nalg!â
âYou were never called to save Nalg from Nyflon, though, were you? You were called to save me from the Inferno. And you failed.â
âI⊠I tried.â
Atrilye shook her head. Eerion could hear the bones in her neck crunch as she did. âNot enough. Not before it was too late. The Inferno calls me back now. Goodbye, Eerion.â The fire began to burn her more intensely, melting her flesh as she began to scream.
âAtrilye, wait!â Eerion tried to run to her, but his legs were slow and heavy as if he were trying to wade through a lake in a full suit of armor.
Atrilyeâs bones began to melt as she slowly lost shape and turned into a liquid pile of whatever remained of her. Her scream slowly died out as her skull melted.
* * *
âAtrilye!â Eerion gasped as he sat up, awake. His heart was pounding; sweat covered his body entirely. Falling into a river wouldnât have left him any more soaked.
He lay back onto the soft bed he found himself in and struggled to untangle dreams and reality. Celna. Sheâd betrayed him. Sheâd come back with a company of soldiers. Lienzye! Lienzye was in danger. Felagspar would kill her.
Eerion threw the blankets off of him and staggered to his feet, dizzy. His head was throbbing. Heâd been kicked, he remembered.
He stumbled through the dark room, relying on the faint moonlight shining through the window. Where was he?
He was still in the clothes heâd been in before, but unsurprisingly, his sword was gone, as was his scabbard. Frantically, he pulled his right, sweat-soaked sleeve up and felt his wrist. Theyâd taken the bracelet! Celna had taken the bracelet! He had to get it back.
Then he remembered. The expression on her face, showing so much promise. She could change. The dagger penetrating her forehead, killing her without so much as a moment to say goodbye. He remembered turning to see Lienzye. He felt a sharp pang of guilt as he remembered how in a haze of rage and confusion heâd screamed at her, considered killing her, only to then see the knife in Atrilyeâs hand.
Eerion nearly collapsed to the floor in tears, but now wasnât the time for that. He had to find out where he was and where Lienzye and the others were.
He felt around the room until he found the door. He didnât know what would be on the other side. Maybe he should try to find a weapon to be ready for whatever was outside. But for all he knew, he didnât have enough time for that.
As he threw the door open, torchlight burned into his eyes, causing him to flinch. He heard the rattle of armor as two soldiers raised their spears.
âPrince Eerion,â a middle figure said calmly. âIâm Commander Relkel.â
âWhere am I?â Eerion asked harshly, squinting through the light. âWhere are the people who came in with me?â He wasnât going to mention Lienzye specifically and put a target on her back.
âGeneral Felagspar asked me to bring you to him as soon as you woke up. If you would come this way.â Relkel motioned down the hallway. They were in the castle of Prelm.
Eerion nodded and walked out into the hallway. From the little bit he knew, Relkel seemed like a good man, despite the company he kept. He had been one of the officers to side with Felagspar against Nyflonâs order to raze Jouv killing and raping the entire city. Maybe he had changed for the worse over the years, but maybe he would still be a voice of reason and stop any possible ideas Felagspar had about killing Lienzye.
If sheâs still alive, Eerion realized, the horrifying thought dawning on him.
âWhat happened to the people I came in with?â Eerion asked in a more diplomatic tone.
âThey are being held in the prison,â Relkel said. He was walking with a limp. His right ankle was bandaged tightly.
âWhat are you going to do with them? Or me?â
âThatâs not for me to say.â
Eerion glanced behind him at the two guards with their spears, both keeping a close eye on him. He glanced down at Relkelâs sword in its scabbard, moving back and forth on his hip as he walked. If Eerion could draw it and jump back in time, he could easily handle Relkel and the two guards, along with probably anyone who heard the fight. But that wasnât a good idea. It wouldnât save Lienzye or the others. It would just bring the garrison of a whole city upon him.
âWe were surprised and impressed with what we found with you,â Relkel said. âThe Devastator Rod, for one, a testament that you killed Syrkios. The Daggers of Athieria as well. Celna thanks you, by the way.â
Eerion cursed.
âYou canât hold what happened against Celna, Eerion. She did what she had to for her people.â
âI should have just killed her then.â Probably not the smartest thing to say, but Eerion was too angry at Celna to think rationally.
Relkel shrugged and nodded. âFrom your point of view, yes, probably. As interesting as the weapons you had with you were, we were more intrigued by your companions.â
âAnd why is that?â Eerion asked, knowing the answer. This was a good way to move the conversation forward, though.
âWell, a Ziiian assassin and a female one at that raises a few questions, even without the curse Celna mentioned. But also, you have a magician with you. He gave me this,â Relkel pointed down to his ankle. Eerion couldnât see the wound, but he guessed it was a burn. âI had previously doubted the existence of such things. I mean, sure, you hear a rumor here and there, like villages in Alotroce with every resident frozen solid as a statue or madmen in the Uninhabitable Mountains who shake the earth. Or⊠the Plague of Darkness.â Relkel sounded almost like he was afraid to say the name.
âYeah, well, most of that stuff still isnât real.â
âMore is than youâd think.â They walked down a few more hallways till they reached a large set of wooden doors. Relkel pulled one open while the guards continued to keep a close eye on Eerion. Inside was the war room. Felagspar waited with a scowl, sitting at a table. âYou two,â Relkel ordered the guards, âwait out here.â
âYes, Commander,â they said in unison.
The war room in Prelm was a little smaller than the one in Nyrex, but no less valuable, the maps all incredibly detailed. Eerion walked in and took a seat across from Felagspar. Relkel limped around toward the other side of the table.
âYou, too, Relkel,â Felagspar nodded toward the door.
Relkel looked confused but didnât argue. âYes, General.â He left the room and closed the door.
Torches flickered in the corners of the room as Eerion rhythmically tapped his fingers against the table, anxious. Something about Felagspar could make anyone, even Eerion, anxious, almost afraid. Not knowing Lienzyeâs fate didnât help, either.
âTell me,â he said after a moment. âWhat is your mission, and who sent you?â
Eerion was caught off guard. âWhat?â
âIâm not sure why you expect anyone to believe that nonsense you told Celna. Youâre wandering around out here with the Devastator Rod, the Daggers of Athieria, a Ziiian assassin who could have a curse on her, and⊠the Plague of Darkness.â
That last one made no sense. âWhat are youâŠâ Then it hit him, like a gauntlet to the face. Those rumors from about ten years ago, all coming from Prelm, all those women saying they were saved by something not quite human. Eerion still remembered excitedly waiting for the next report of the Plague of Darkness, fascinated with such a mysterious and violent force, never fully believing it to be mystical but always interested. Eerion was intrigued by his motives and obsessed with his methods, or the hints of them anyway, all the charred bodies they found in hisâor itsâwake. âHeâs⊠the Plague of Darkness. The Plague of Darkness is real.â Eerion was suddenly overcome with the horror of realizing who heâd been traveling with for days and days.
Felagspar didnât look convinced. âVery good; youâd make a fine actor if Nyflon hadnât abolished the theatres. Now, who sent you?â
âI honestly had no idea! And everything I told Celna was true. The Ziiian had the daggers with her. The Devastator Rod was from Syrkios.â
âAnd howâd you come across the Ziiian and the Plague?â
âDuring a storm, we all rode for shelter in a forest. That was where we found each other.â
Felagspar stared intently, trying to read him. âAnd that was just what? Luck?â
Eerion tended to think it had been The Light. He saw now that he needed Lienzye, needed her for his own sanity and stability. The Light had seen that, too, and brought Lienzye into his life, a mercy he didnât deserve. âSure, maybe.â
Felagspar scoffed.
âWhat are you going to do to them?â Eerion asked before Felagspar could continue his inquisition.
âThat depends largely on how cooperative you are. But keep in mind, I have three lives to hold over you, and Iâm not afraid to get rid of one or two to illustrate how serious I am.â
Eerion nodded. âIâll do what you ask.â Till I can run you through without consequence.
âGood. So, when were you going to tell us that Atrilye was with you?â
Eerion shook his head. âShe wasnât. She found us after Celna went back to the city. We handled her.â Tears started to form in Eerionâs eyes.
âDid she say why she was here?â
âYou. She was going to try to defect to your side with information.â
Felagspar scoffed again. âIâd be a fool to let her anywhere near the city.â
âYou donât know the half of it.â Images of Ondelliaâs mutilated corpse flashed before his eyes. He struggled to blink away the tears. âAnyway, sheâs dead now.â
âDid you kill her?â
Eerion shook his head. âThe Ziiian.â
Felagspar nodded. âSo, the Plague of Darkness, what can he do?â
âWind, fire. Just that, I think. And heâs good with a bow. He can make arrows explode.â
âHow could you possibly not have known?â
âI didnât think it was real.â
âAnd did you know about the Ziiianâs condition?â
âNo, not till Celna saw it.â
âIs it magic-related?â
âI donât know. Itâs not natural.â
âI donât like the sound of it.â
âYes, well she can control it.â
âDoesnât sound like it. From what Celna said, she nearly killed the Plague and the girl from Nyrex.â
âYes, well, she can control it now.â
Felagspar stared at him for a moment, trying to read him. Maybe heâd argued too much on Lienzyeâs behalf. âWell, weâll find out, wonât we?â
Eerion nodded slowly. âWhat do you want with me?â
âInformation. Nyflon doesnât really have the power of the mark, does he?â
Eerion shook his head. âHe used it to pick you and Syrkios. He used it to find out how to win the war, not to actually win it.â
âThat way heâd always have one last card to play if Alotroce thought of attacking.â
âExactly. But it also made it seem like he didnât have the power of the mark, a crime deserving death, by his own law. He wanted me to give mine to him.â
âWould you have?â
âNot a chance. I was going to kill him with it.â
Felagspar nodded his head back slightly in mild surprise. âWhy? Obviously, youâre after him now since your old life is gone and he wants you dead, but why did you want to kill him before?â
âHe killed my mother. She never just âdisappeared.ââ
âAh, I see. Iâm sorry.â
Eerion nodded.
âWell, tomorrow we will publicly address the people together, and you will announce that you are my ally in this war. And that once we take Nyrex, you will cede control of the throne.â
âAre you serious?â Eerion exclaimed, foolishly baffled.
Felagspar said nothing and held up three fingers.
Eerion cursed under his breath. âYeah, okay.â The hopelessness of Eerionâs situation began to dawn on him. He was trapped. As long as Felagspar had Lienzye and Shaleenia, not necessarily Kyundo, he could control Eerion. Felagspar was smart, too. Once he realized that Eerionâs usefulness was running out, heâd just kill him and probably the others. They were both against Nyflon, but they were not allies.
âBeyond that, I donât have much of a use for you as of now, so you will remain in the castle until I need you.â
Eerion nodded with a faint scowl.
âI know what youâre thinking, Eerion. You probably are planning to kill me as soon as you have the chance so that I donât kill you once I donât need you anymore. But I wonât kill you, so donât try anything. When this is all over, I will give you the rank of commander or lord
or something. Then you and âthe Ziiianâ can have the life you want.â Felagspar half-smiled at him as Eerionâs world fell apart just a little more.
This fantasy novel is full of action and points of view that never slow down! Nearly every single character has time to have their point of view shown, which is wild in the scope of this fantasy novel. The world building of this book creates a true political landscape, but character relationships are underdeveloped.
Prince Eerion and his new group of misfits are ready to get to work taking down his evil father and bringing peace back to Nalg. But when they meet Felagspar, a general who is building an army to eliminate the royal establishment, their mission doesn't seem so easy. Eerion must fight not only for his Crown, but also for the woman he loves as he tries to figure out how to make a better world. There are religious sects, former allies, and a few monsters who are trying to keep him away from his birth right to be king. The group gets split up and goes on to various adventures, but soon all the characters' paths cross and that's when things get truly interesting.
This book's strongest aspect is the fight scenes. Nearly every character in this novel has amazing fighting skills, especially Eerion, who is trying to figure out who he is outside of being like this crazy good killer. There are characters that use all kinds of different weapons, including bows and arrows, swords, axes, and even a few spears. However, almost every chapter includes a fight sequence with murder. The characters often say how they don't want to kill any more. And then they go and kill three people, and then try to justify it to themselves. As a reader, you see it coming every time they would run into someone on the road that there was going to be a fight and most of the people they just ran into were going to die. I kept waiting for them to follow through with not fighting, but they always did.
Throughout his travels, Eerion's reputation precedes him. But he is trying to become a less violent individual and is trying to open himself up to religion. This novel has what's called The Light which is very similar to Christianity, in that The Light is very similar to God, and they have a Jesus like figure. Eerion's love interest is on a path of The Light, but she also has a dark past that she's trying to get away from. He is trying to be better for her, but she thinks he's great. Overall, the religion analogy is a bit forced. However, the way it plays out politically, like being banned in some places and demonized in others, is compelling as the prince joins a religion that is illegal in his land.
Eerion also likes to jump from woman to woman being the love of his life and so it's hard to believe that Lienzye is actually the love of his life. At the end of the first book, his fiancée, who he claims he loves, is killed. Then by about halfway through this book Lienzye is the most important person in the world to him, and readers find out through a side character.
If you are a big fan of epic fantasy, where there is rebellion and sword fighting. You will really like this book. However, the world building is not as strong as I would have loved it to be. This book is also not for romantasy fans, as the romance happens in the background and very all of the sudden. There are a lot of really great qualities about this book, but I wish that it was more fleshed out in character and world. But this book is great for fans of dynamic action adventure stories with lots of lore.