Mortals kill for lavish thrones and golden crowns …
the Gods are no different...
The sun is setting on the old guard - the Sentinels of the Gods, the Rulers of Serenity. As a new millennium dawns the succession to the throne, and the Sentinels that keep the peace must be decided from the royal bloodline.
But with succession comes bitter betrayal, heartbreaking tragedy and a war that threatens to tear apart the ruling bloodline and the fragile peace that unites the peoples of Serenity. Arian, the honourable God of Water, must band together with his siblings in order to fight the darkness, survive the challenges to their birthright and protect the kingdom and their people.
As the land plummets into war, will the Gods of Serenity prevail?
With sword in hand and vengeance on the wind, Arian must prove himself, one way or the other.
Mortals kill for lavish thrones and golden crowns …
the Gods are no different...
The sun is setting on the old guard - the Sentinels of the Gods, the Rulers of Serenity. As a new millennium dawns the succession to the throne, and the Sentinels that keep the peace must be decided from the royal bloodline.
But with succession comes bitter betrayal, heartbreaking tragedy and a war that threatens to tear apart the ruling bloodline and the fragile peace that unites the peoples of Serenity. Arian, the honourable God of Water, must band together with his siblings in order to fight the darkness, survive the challenges to their birthright and protect the kingdom and their people.
As the land plummets into war, will the Gods of Serenity prevail?
With sword in hand and vengeance on the wind, Arian must prove himself, one way or the other.
Sunlight crept through the grand ironwood doors while a cool
autumn breeze worked its way through the soft white drapes.
Phillia robed herself in a light, airy green gown that shimmered
against her icey blue eyes. Stroking back a midnight lock of hair,
she made her way out to the balcony. The sun kissed her soft
bronze skin as she looked out to the golden leaves blanketing the
palace grounds below.
“Another perfect day, my love; it won’t be long before the chill of
winter will be upon us,” she said while plucking a grape from the
platter.
“Good morning, beautiful. Every day is a perfect day when I am
married to the Goddess of Love. A millennium has passed, and
you still take my breath away. I am beginning to think you have cast
your powers over me,” Deminious returned with a playful smile,
taking her into his arms.
“Not even my powers work on the all-powerful God of Light. At
least that is what I will continue to tell you,” Phillia smirked.
Deminious sighed, weighed down by his decision. Pulling away,
he returned his gaze to the lush Lazekiel lakes in the distance. Its
crystal blue pools were framed by the lush green land to the east.
“Today, we name our successors,” Deminious said, showing
tremendous concern in the task ahead.
Tossing him a peach, Phillia smiled warmly at her husband. “We
have four remarkable children, my love. Any and all are fit to wear
the crowns. Arian is compassionate, and no one stands more
honourable. He has the fortitude to make the hard decisions of
ruling a kingdom. Raptis, our wise God of Knowledge, is smarter
than the two of us combined, perhaps a little too clever sometimes.
With his phenomenal mind, he would see Serenity prosper. Laquis
is our mighty Storm God. I see his powers growing within him,
though he doesn’t want it,” Phillia said, reflecting on her rebellious
eldest son. “A different path lays ahead of our fiery son. All three
are strong suitors in their own right. Also, let us not forget our
son will not be ruling alone. Our sweet daughter Aroha, Goddess
of Beauty. She grows more beautiful every day; she will make
a splendid queen. Children will flood our halls to carry on the
succession for many millennia to come. So, what are your thoughts?
Why are you so troubled, my love?”
“You are right as always,” Deminious said, running his hands
through his thick golden hair.
“Have you heard if our brother will be attending the ceremony?”
Phillia asked, sadly gazing down to the white marble at her feet.
“He will, along with that son of his. Most of the nobles throughout
Serenity have confirmed,” Deminious replied with mixed emotion.
“To be expected; after all, they need to know who to pray to when
we join the elder gods on the celestial plane. Your brother is going
to behave himself, isn’t he?” Phillia asked, plagued with thoughts
of the past.
Deminious turned towards Phillia, running his hand down her
soft cheek.
“You are too hard on him... you two were so close once. When
you and I were given our crowns, Thone was granted the crown
to the Deadlands. Spending a millennium with the undead and
tortured is bound to wear someone down, even a god. Our brother
could have been granted a range of other dominions, but with his
powers unformed, our father simply cast him away to the worse
place thinkable,” Deminious said, his mood growing dark at the
memory. “As for Riddix, our nephew,” grunting in displeasure,
Deminious shook his head. “That God is lost; he has only ever
known darkness. They will most likely pay their respects and return
to the Deadlands. I often wonder, what would have become of
things if Thone had been granted rule over Serenity and I the
Deadlands?” Deminious said.
“I know his wife would not have been pleased, and I suspect the
realm would have shared my displeasure. He does not have the
warmth that you do. He has always resented you since long before
the crowning. There is a darkness in him that has been there since
long before the Deadlands. He frightens me,” Phillia said, looking
deep into Deminious’s stormy grey eyes.
“Thone, before everything else, is our brother. He is far from
perfect. But our younger brother is in there; I will not repeat our
father’s mistakes.”
Laquis sat taking the morning meal with his sister and brothers
in the beautiful palace gardens. “Beautiful sister, which one of
us do you hope to marry? Be honest,” Laquis, God of Storms,
asked, tossing grapes up into the air, attempting to land them in
her mouth.
Laquis was charming and carefree, with chiseled features and a
dimpled chin that the girls loved. These days he kept his hair cut
short, but when he let it grow out, he had deep black ringlets that,
against his striking blue eyes, made him truly beautiful. He had
worked at sword play every day of his life, resulting in his lean
muscled physique.
“If you go for intelligence, there is no question, good sister. We
could make these two imbeciles lords of some rock somewhere
while we rule and see Serenity become the best it can be,” Raptis
spoke up, grinning at Laquis.
Raptis sat at the end of the dining table in a dark blue silk shirt
with silver thread at the seams. He shared his brother’s colouring,
although he was longer of face, with straight raven black hair cut
to his shoulders and washy grey eyes. He was the least desirable of
the brothers.
“Brother, it’s true. No one will ever match you with words. It’s
just a shame you can’t defend Serenity with words. How is your
combat training coming along? Are they allowing you to use steel
yet?” Laquis said with a mocking smile, successfully getting under
his brother’s skin.
“Oh, brother, so strong, a born warrior. Few in Serenity could
match you. But without me, when it comes to battle, you would
not know which way to march. You have your sword, and I have a
mind that actually works,” Raptis responded bluntly.
“Are you two done with this pointless conversation?” Arian asked
sternly. Standing to loom over his brothers, he was the tallest of
the brothers and more heavily muscled like his father. He kept his
onyx hair cut short and had big blue eyes resembling his mother’s.
“Father is to decide who is to be the best match for our good sister
and to rule over Serenity. Her desires and your arguments of who
is superior are pointless; the matter is out of your hands. Besides,
Raptis, you are not yet ready to pick up a weapon with a human, let
alone one of us,” Arian smirked. “And you, Laquis, your ability is
far overrated, Raptis is correct. You are, to put it simply, an idiot,”
Arian said with a playful grin.
Laquis jumped to his feet, chasing Arian away. The palace often
rang to the sound of those two clashing steel. Resulting in them
maturing to two of the greatest swordsmen alive.
Aroha turned to Raptis, standing from the table. She had inherited
her mother’s bronze colouring, with chestnut hair that fell to
the small of her back and dark hazel eyes one could get lost in.
Recently she had become quite entrancing, transforming from a
young girl’s figure and taking on the form of a shapely young
woman. As perfect as she was physically, emotionally, she was
even more beautiful. Her brothers would walk among the mortals,
amused by their own superiority. Occasionally they would judge
tournaments among the humans, marvelling at how inferior they
were. In contrast, Aroha would walk among the people, helping
those in need, starting many charities and food halls for the
less fortunate. Especially fond of children, she was truly beauty
personified.
Aroha looked up at her brother, full of emotion. “I don’t want
things to change. Things are perfect the way they are. I will miss
Mother and Father. I enjoy spending time with all my brothers;
as different as you all are, you are all good to me, and I love you
all dearly. I cannot begin to explain how strange it is going to be
marrying one of you. You are the wisest of my brothers Raptis;
please help me.”
“Dear sister, I forget how much younger than us you are
sometimes. We are gods; we do not marry for love. If our line is
diluted by wedding those below us, who knows what chaos would
follow? Without the gods to rule, the races would surely destroy
themselves, even with our governance. The races are often at each
other’s throats. The only thing keeping order is the fear of God,”
Raptis said, gently trying to explain.
“I don’t want them to fear me, Raptis. I want to be a good ruler, a
fair ruler,” Aroha replied, wiping her eyes.
“You see, sister, you are already coming around to the idea of
ruling. You do not want to have to face the challenging decisions
that lay ahead. I cannot promise it will be easy, but I can promise
you will be loved by the people that serve you, by your brothers
who will rule dominions in your name, and by your new husband.
Regardless of title, your dim brothers and I will be here for you.
Mother and Father will become elder gods after you are wed. It
will be a new time for all of us, the way through is to lean on one
another.”
The two held each other, and with a cheeky smile on Aroha’s face,
she said, “If you weren’t such a girl at fighting, there would be no
choice to make at all. I love you, Raptis.”
The two shared in the laughter; Raptis had always held a tenderness
for Aroha. “I apologise; I have to go; I must prepare for today’s
lesson.”
The children gathered into Raptis’s tutoring chambers, taking seats
at their stations. Raptis enjoyed keeping the classes small, so he
could truly guide each of his pupils. He took immense pleasure
in instructing the children of the palace about the greater world
beyond the palace walls. He taught them about society and the
monarchs of the kingdom of Serenity.
Deminious had constructed the chamber at the eastern end
of the palace. White marble lined the floor and walls of the
room, as in the rest of the palace, with smokey grey veins
working their way across the surface. The eastern-facing wall
was open, with four large white marble pillars towering to the
high patterned ceiling. One of the newest rooms added on
to the palace, it stood a true marvel. The remainder of the
palace was grand and had the same characteristics but had aged
over the course of time and was constantly undergoing repair.
Leaving the eastern wall open allowed the room a view to the
beautiful Lazekiel lakes, off in the distance, where Raptis and
his siblings often played as children, bathing in the crystal-clear
waters.
Looking over his students, his gaze stopped at Alice Holt, the
youngest daughter of a general in the Crown army, Ser Albert Holt.
“Alice, can you tell me the five largest kingdoms in Serenity?”
Raptis asked Alice, tapping on the large map on the wall at the
front of the room. It was a spectacular map that covered the entire
western wall and protruded into the room in a three-dimensional
fashion outlining Serenity’s different regions.
“The royal palace often referred to as the palace of the gods.
Rammington, the kingdom of the east, is home to the ancient
Aztan kings and queens. The palace of Knusk, which has
been built into the cliff, faces the Western coastline. The Black
region, owned and controlled by Lord Alister Black, runs along
the Southeast coast of Serenity, excluding Greysands, their
long-standing rivals. And... and...” Alice slowed, deep in thought
on the fifth kingdom.
“Alice, can you name the fifth?” Raptis asked as she grew red in the
face and shook her head. “Can anyone name the fifth kingdom?”
Raptis asked, looking over his students. The children sat shaking
their heads. Gazing at the Crown Guard standing in the doorway, Raptis
addressed the knight with a pleasant smile. “Ser Edrick, could you
instruct the children on the fifth kingdom?”
“Of course, my lord. The fifth Kingdom of Serenity is Gargoyle
Hall. Past protectors of the gods, they turned rogue in an uprising
led by Chelious, the God of Death, before your uncle Thone
took his place. Thankfully, your grandfather Tabir put them to
the sword and banished them from Serenity. The structure still
stands in the southwest, housing the statue of Chelious. Gargoyle
Hall is also the largest of the kingdoms but has sat dormant since
their fall. A dark, horrible place, cold and miserable, a lot of the
haunted tales of our lands stem from there. There is something
troublesome about a place that never sees the sunlight,” Ser Edrick
Dawn finished, bowing to the children.
“Thank you, Ser Edrick,” Raptis nodded and continued with the
lesson.
“Stanley, can you tell me where Serenity’s main source of iron
comes from?” Raptis asked the young servant boy.
“Serenity’s iron comes from Black Stone and the Blackbutt range,”
the boy whispered, looking down as he spoke.
“Very good, Stanley. Can you tell me where the range starts and
finishes?” Raptis asked the shy boy gently as the boy struggled with
anxiety around the other children.
“The Blackbutt range starts from Mount Trogon, in the centre
of Serenity, and finishes at the edge of the Black Shores River. It
is almost a thousand feet high, and people say it is impassable,”
Stanley finished, hoping the answer would satisfy.
“That is correct, very good. The Lord Black has grown quite
wealthy, charging a toll to pass through Blackshores. It is the
only way to access the southeast coast lands of Serenity short of
travelling all the way around past Aron’s Lake and Gods Gorge,
making your way through the Desert of Dust. And, who lives in
the Desert of Dust?” Raptis asked, looking to Charles, a small boy
that loved to disrupt his lessons.
With a big smile, he cheekily replied, “Orcs!”
“Vile creatures, hopefully, none of you ever have to encounter
one,” Raptis began to laugh with the class as Ser Edrick Dawn
shook his head, showing his disdain for the creatures.
“Charles, can you tell me where Serenity gets its source of timber?”
Raptis asked, watching Charles’s eye’s role while he considered.
“The Pine Barrens, ruled by Lord Forrester,” Charles replied,
uncertain of the answer.
“Yes, and no, Charles. The Pine Barrens are the main source
of timber to Serenity. However, Lord Carlin Crain is the Lord
of the Pine Barrens. The Forrester’s are an ancient noble
family of the region, but not lords,” Raptis replied as Charles
shrugged his shoulders the way Laquis, Raptis’s brother, so
often did.
Ser Desmond Gorman entered the chamber, bowing to Raptis.
“I apologize for the intrusion, my lord; your father requests the
presence of you and your siblings in the Memorial Hall,” he said.
“Very well, thank you, Ser Desmond. Alice, one more question
before we take leave. What are Ser Desmond’s and Ser Edrick’s
positions here?” Raptis asked, pointing to the two knights in the
white and gold armour of the Crown Guard.
“Ser Desmond Gorman is the head of the Crown Guard, the
protectors of the gods. They are charged to protect the Royal
family. There is one guard for each member of the Royal family;
they are chosen from the finest knights in Serenity,” Alice said,
smiling at the knights.
“Very good, Alice, and how do they differ from the Crown army?”
Raptis asked, seeing if he could stump the girl.
“They are the elite, Lord Raptis, trained in personal protection
rather than warfare,” Alice replied.
“And don’t you forget it,” Ser Edrick Dawn said, winking at Alice
as they left with Raptis.
The Memorial Hall was a dark hot place underneath the palace,
deep in the earth. The only place in the palace that was not lined in
beautiful white marble, its raw stone walls led deep underground
to where the sacred statues of the elder gods were kept. Only the
Royal family were permitted to enter. The heat was fierce and
became more intense the further down you went.
Deminious stood in front of the statue of his mother, Alure,
Goddess of the Seas. A sheen of sweat masked his face while he
held her hand, lost in days passed.
“She was so beautiful, father,” Aroha said, taking his other hand
in her own.
“She was. She would have loved you all, my children. In two
sunsets, your mother and I will be joining her again. Do you know
why I have brought you all here?” Deminious asked, offering a
lingering gaze.
Arian and Laquis remained silent before Raptis spoke up.
“We must honour the past, looking into the future.”
Deminious smiled and placed a hand on Raptis’s shoulder.
“So wise, you must get that from your mother,” he said, chuckling
to himself. “My children, your mother, and I are the past. The
four of you are Serenity’s future. I know you will all do us proud. I
brought you down here to remind you that when we transition to
the celestial plane, we will still be with you, as all the gods of the
past are.
“We should return to the palace; our guests will be arriving soon,”
Deminious said, pulling all four of his children in for a warm
embrace.
“My Queen, guests are starting to arrive for the ceremony. People
have set up tents outside the palace, while all the highly honoured
guests are being shown to their accommodations within. King Aztan
of Rammington will be arriving momentarily. King Deminious will
be receiving him in the throne room. Your presence is expected, my
Queen.”
“Donna, you have faithfully served this kingdom since you were
a girl. Have we left this realm better than we received it?” Phillia
asked, looking unsure of herself. “So many of the regions are
still not united, and I feel there wasn’t enough time,” Phillia said,
wondering where the years had gone.
“My Queen, you and your husband are not only King and Queen,
but you are also our gods. You have spread light throughout the
realm and are loved by your people. Even the Demonspawn were
brought into the fold. There has not been a war of standing for the
last four hundred years. It is not my place to pass judgement on
my Queen; however, I would say yes. You have a kingdom, four
beautiful children, and a king who adore you. Whatever decision
is made for the crowning, it will be a blessed day,” Donna said,
hugging her queen.
“Donna, you are my closest friend; I will miss you. Please look after
Aroha for me,” Phillia asked, beginning to feel better. “Now, let us
go receive King Aztan. I heard he eats half his weight in meat every
meal,” Phillia said, her eyes growing wide with a devilish smirk.
The mighty King Aztan paced the golden-trimmed black carpet
to the entrance of the throne room. A monstrous man, he stood
slightly short of eight foot tall. The years had not been kind to
him. It appeared as though he had eaten his weight at every meal,
becoming obese. In place of where his sculpted arms had once been
were two limbs, unshapely and starting to grey. He wore the traditional revealing garments of the barbarian horde. They had once made him appear
as though a god. Now a King, he stood a fat old man.
“The mighty King Trogon Aztan, it has been too long, old friend.
My queen and I are honoured to receive you. I hope all is well in
Rammington,” Deminious asked, happy to see his old friend.
“King Deminious, God of Light, and Queen Phillia, Goddess of
Love, I do not know how it can be possible, you have grown more
beautiful since our last encounter. I am thankful you have invited
Rammington to this joyous occasion. I brought my two best
champions to honour the crowning tournament. This is Sava’ge,
Rammington’s champion and Battle Commander. He fights with
short, curved swords and is unbelievably quick,” Trogon nodded
warmly to his old friend.
Sava’ge knelt proudly as Rammington’s champion. He was a
good-looking youth of maybe thirty with striking black eyes
and shoulder-length dark oily hair that he wore tied up. He was
muscular of build but only average in size. He wore a light black
and red leather armour, displaying the Rammington colours.
The second champion, Uthor Kane, was a heavily muscled brute
yet still stood smaller than King Aztan. An enormous great sword
hung from his back. He pledged that in honour of the crowning,
he would chop his foes in two.
Next to be received were the high elves of the mountains of Knusk.
The great and honourable Lord Theopelies entered the great hall
with his entourage. All wore the finest of silk garments in black
with gold lining. The high elves were the most refined within
the realm. They had implemented structure to their society and
prided themselves on being the most educated of the races of
Serenity.
“King and god Deminious, Queen and Goddess of Love Phillia, we
thank you for your invitation and look forward to the crowning,”
the lord said, displaying his elegant curtesy.
“Lord Theopelies, you and your entourage are most welcome.
Did you bring your champions for the crowning tournament?”
Deminious enquired.
“Just one, God of Light. We do not hold tournaments among our
people. We feel as though our time is... how should I say - more
productively used. Although I feel the high elves of Knusk will
be well represented with our champion. This is Luxis Aestra. I
feel he will be more than adequate to deal with some uncivilized
barbarians and some Demons here and there. Speaking of which,
will your brother be attending? I do so enjoy some of his theories
on the realm,” the lord asked.
“He will, Lord Theopelies,” Deminious responded coolly.
“I can’t stand those damn elves,” Deminious muttered to his
queen as the elves left the throne room. “I still have not forgotten
Rhonus,” Deminious said in anger as Phillia took his hand in
consolation. The Demonspawn, fierce as ever, standing tall with their tridents,
entered to pay their respects. The Demonspawn were more beast
than man, their bodies coated in scales and horns towering proudly
from their heads like natural crowns. Although they spoke no words,
respect was its own language. Brax, the Demonspawn king, entered
the hall, accompanied by two of the largest beasts Deminious had
ever seen. Approaching the throne, they knelt and left. Brax’s
champions would be hard to defeat. Even small Demonspawn
stood taller than men. Muscle bound, with their scales acting
as natural armour, they made for a formidable opponent. Four
hundred years ago, the Demonspawn had risen under the rule of
Krixus. They conquered everything that stood in their path until all
that was left was to attack Serenity’s palace itself.
Deminious met Krixus in open battle beside the remaining
kingdoms. The Demonspawn outnumbered Deminious’s army
four to one. But Deminious wielded the sword of light, a weapon
of the gods. His mighty great sword had no equal.
The battlefield had turned to mud from the cold mists of the
evening before. Thick and difficult to march in, it was even harder
to fight in. This favoured the Demonspawn army as they sport
scales opposed to armour. Many good men died that day from their
inability to move. As for the Demonspawn, they were well and truly
within their element.
The two eventually met on the battlefield. Krixus, covered in
the blood of fallen crown soldiers, lunged at Deminious with
his flaming trident. Striking ferociously and parrying every strike
Deminious could muster until he eventually caught Deminious
in the right thigh with bone-shattering force. The flaming trident
dug deep into the flesh while the flames caught on Deminious’s
mud-soaked battle garments.
The blow dropped Deminious to one knee, the trident impaling
his thigh. Allowing Deminious time to return a slash, removing
Krixus’s left arm at the shoulder. Blood sprayed, coating the God
of Light. Wrenching the trident free, Deminious raised the sword
of light to the throat of Krixus. The battle slowed around the two,
watching on. Krixus let out a mighty roar, submitting to the God
of Light. Deminious lowered his sword to the ground and put the
flaming trident back into Krixus’s right hand.
Nodding, Krixus extinguished the flaming trident in the mud,
continuing to kneel. This battle forged a peace between the
Demonspawn and the kingdom of Serenity which has stood strong
to this day.
Raptis climbed the stairway to his brother’s chambers, firmly
knocking on the solid ironwood door.
“One moment,” a voice said from within. The door swung open,
revealing Laquis standing bare-chested with a shine of sweat
covering his body.
“Training again, brother?” Raptis asked with a disapproving
expression.
“Something like that,” Laquis replied with a smirk, returning into
the room.
“I am glad you put pants on to receive me this time,” Raptis said,
screwing his face up at the smell.
“Leave us,” Laquis said, gesturing to the servant girls who lay
naked on his bed.
“I will never understand why you insist on bedding every servant
girl that comes into our midst. They are beneath us, brother,”
Raptis said, clearing a space to sit.
“And I will never understand why you insist on not fucking them.
It is frightfully fun; you should give it a try some time,” Laquis
replied with a mocking smile. “Why are you here interrupting my
morning’s training?”
“Father will name his successor tonight at the feast, as it is custom.
I thought you would have some thoughts on the matter and what it
means, even in that simple mind of yours,” Raptis said, sitting at the
common table in Laquis’s room.
“It’s simple, brother. You get the throne, our sister, and all that
comes with it, or Arian does. Our mother and father become elder
gods, and I continue to enjoy every servant girl that passes my
way. I have no interest in your throne, brother. Our sister, well...
she is the Goddess of Beauty. But some itches are better left
unscratched,” Laquis said with a devilish smirk. “You are the God
of Knowledge; I am simpler. If I cannot stab something in one
way, shape or form, it doesn’t stir my interest. Whether it’s you or
Arian, it really holds no bearing for me. I will happily serve as battle
commander to either of you. Unless you plan to do away with
servant girls? You wouldn’t do that to me, brother, would you?”
An infuriated look took over Raptis’s face. “I do not know why
I bother talking to you. You take nothing seriously. If it were
not for your skills with a sword, you would be no better than
the mortals,” Raptis replied, standing from the table to leave
the room.
“Don’t forget my skill of fucking; ask your servant girl,” Laquis
taunted his brother as he left the room.
In the training grounds, Arian slashed at the training dummies in
frustration, delivering furious blow after furious blow. “I will never
match Laquis; it just comes naturally to him,” he reflected, sending
a dummy head flying across the yard. “He should be Father’s
successor but does not want it. I don’t understand it.”
“I think it’s dead!” a voice called out from the gate. Arian turned,
facing the man as he approached.
“What’s got you in a tiff?” the man asked with a cockiness Arian
did not appreciate.
“Who are you, sir?” Arian asked, wondering how he had been
permitted entry to the palace training grounds.
“I am the one that is going to win the crowning tournament
to honour the so-called new Sentinels. If you ask me, it’s all
the same: this god, that god. Who bloody cares? I will win the
tournament and take the gold your father is putting up and be on
my way. Have you ever swung that big shiny sword of yours at
a real opponent? Or does it just complete your outfit?” the man jested.
“I would show you, but the gods are forbidden to battle mortals
without the permission of the Sentinels,” Arian replied coolly.
“None of that water crap, God of Water, and we just go to first
blood. I have no desire to kill you,” the man replied.
“You are speaking to a god and a prince who in a few days could
be king,” Arian said, growing agitated.
“If I win... you send me off with two thousand gold pieces. If you
win, I will tell you how to overcome your brother,” the man said,
making his way between the rails.
Arian considered for a moment. What could be the harm, he thought.
“Done!” he replied.
Raising his sword Shimmer, he began to circle the man. Shimmer
was magnificent, a true weapon of the gods. The long two-handed
sword was white with blue ripples coursing through it. Sunlight
reflected off the blade as he moved.
The warrior unsheathed two short, curved swords, smaller than
normal swords but clearly made for speed. They were dull and
almost rusted, yet the warrior moved with them as though they
were an extension of his arms. Arian moved confidently, putting all
his training to good use. The two studied each other’s movement as
they circled, neither giving the other an opening. Finally, Arian sent
his sword down to meet a right parry followed by a lightning-fast
left slash. It scraped across the belly of Arian’s armour, making a loud
screeching sound, leaving a scratch mark from left to right.
“If you were without armour, you would be without guts right
now, prince,” the man smirked, moving swiftly around Arian.
“The point of the armour,” Arian grinned, following with an upward
slice, then spinning and slashing from the right. Both hits were
missing their mark as the man weaved his way between the blades.
Watching him move was like watching a dance. The man swung left
then right, Arian just keeping up with his strikes deflecting each
of them. The man placed a boot to the middle of Arian’s chest,
sending him reeling backward.
“You fight well,” Arian complimented the man.
Pushing off his back foot, slicing at the man’s shoulder, the warrior
spun beside him, catching Arian under the arm. “I got you!” the
mysterious man said.
“Yes, it appears you did. How’s your shoulder?” Arian asked,
inspecting the cut running up the inside of his arm.
“What!” The man looked back in disbelief, reaching up to wipe
blood from his shoulder.
“It seems both our strikes caught that time,” Arian said, happy
with the contest.
“It seems they did. How do we settle this?” The man asked,
unhappy with the outcome.
“We both fought well and have taken a little bark off each other.
I will pay you your gold as I have never fought a mortal that has
tested me the way you have. Collect the gold from the palace. Tell
them I sent you,” Arian said with a polite nod of his head.
“Good!” the man replied gruffly. “As for your brother, he is fast
yet overextends with his lunges. I saw him fight in a friendly bout
in Rammington years ago. When he does this, grab him by the
wrist. He will be expecting a parry. He won’t see it coming,” the
man said, running an oily rag over his blades.
“What is your name, warrior?” Arian asked.
“Absenth, with an E, so you don’t stuff up the spelling when you
record who wins the crowning tournament,” Absenth said, fading
into the congregation of people hurrying through the palace yard.
“Here you go, my queen, the amulet with the topaz stones you
requested,” Donna said, draping it around the neck of the queen.
Tonight, the queen was dressed in a golden gown that Aroha had
made for her. It was a tight-fitting garment that hugged her body
and accentuated her hips and breasts.
“The colour agrees with you, my queen,” Donna complimented her.
Deminious had already begun festivities a few hours earlier with
King Aztan. Going over who would fare well in the tournament
the following day, King Aztan was confident in his two champions,
disregarding any possibility that any other regions stood as a
threat.
Deminious, the ever-gracious host, agreed. However, he noted the
Demonspawn were not to be disregarded, as he still carried scars
from their former King.
All the honoured guests began massing into the hall for the great
feast. The hall rang to the sounds of music and laughter, and meals
were served with every delicacy one could imagine. Arian and
Raptis sat dutifully speaking with all the heads of the realms, never
forgetting their courtesies.
Laquis found himself at home with a few of the Rammington
women that had joined King Aztan’s escort. Aroha and Phillia sat
discussing the tasks of the next few days. As the night was coming
to a close, the hall doors were thrust open.
“I am so sorry; I have missed the crowning feast. Do forgive
me, brother,” Thone said as he entered the hall. His presence
introduced an uncomfortable darkness to the room as he made his
way to the high table.
People looked upon the god’s unsettling, sharp-featured face,
crowned by thinning grey hair that hung to his shoulders. Rotten
teeth were revealed as he began to speak. “Brother, sister, it has
been too long. Oh, how I have longed for this reunion,” Thone
said on his approach.
An angered Deminious stood from his seat. Phillia rested her hand
on his wrist and spoke. “Not at all, Thone. We have not made the announcement yet. We know you have had a long journey to get
here. Is Riddix with you?” Phillia asked, trying to settle Deminious.
“No, sister, he is occupied presiding over the Deadlands in my stead.
He assures me he will make it for the wedding. Why look at you, you
look as though a day has not passed since I last laid my eyes upon
you. This, this must be Aroha. You are truly breathtaking, sweet girl.
So, which one will it be, brother? Show me these sons of yours. After
all, I need to know who I will be serving for the next millennia.”
Deminious did not like Thone’s tone and responded sharply. “I
will overlook your insolence for the blood we share.
“It is past time I announce the new Sentinels. Aroha, Goddess
of Beauty, you are everything a father could wish for: strong and
beautiful, inside and out. Your deeds throughout Serenity are
well-known. You will serve as the female Sentinel,” Deminious
said, warmly reaching down to hold her hand.
“Thank you, father and mother. I am honoured and hope I am up
to the task.”
Deminious turned to his eldest son, distracted by some of Aztan’s
Rammington women. “Laquis God of Storms, eldest of my sons,
you will be commander of the armies of Serenity and defender
of the gods. A better choice for this position there is not.” Laquis
nodded with a drunken grin.
“Raptis, I would like you to return with King Brax of the
Demonspawn. Instruct them in our tongue and truly bring them
into the fold. Share your godly knowledge with all of Serenity.
“Finally, Arian, your honour is beyond reproach; you are a
formidable warrior with a kind heart and hand. You will be the new
male Sentinel.” The room stood and applauded. Congratulations
passed to the future Sentinels.
Raptis reached for the nearest wine jug and sat beside Laquis. “I
suppose congratulations are in order,” Raptis said, looking very
displeased with the situation.
“Brother, don’t let it get to you. We all got the jobs we were born
for. This is Tiana. I’ve been telling her how big your... mind is,”
Laquis smirked, flashing his brother a grin.
“I do not want Tiana,” Raptis spat back at him.
“Kesha then?” Laquis replied with a cheeky smile.
“Have off with you, brother,” Raptis said, feeling as though his
world was collapsing.
“Fine, I will congratulate our siblings, then go work on my...
swordplay. Let’s go, ladies.” Laquis stumbled off, grabbing at both
the women, laughing and jesting.
At the high table, people paid their respects to the new Sentinels.
Arian and Aroha sat side by side. Both were happy, but neither knew
what to do with the situation, exchanging uncomfortable glances.
“Congratulations, niece, nephew, you will both be my Sentinel’s
before the week is done. My son Riddix is so looking forward to
meeting you both,” Thone said, kissing Aroha’s hand.
“We thank you, uncle. If there is anything we can do for you, please
let us know,” Aroha politely responded.
“Brother, sister, I’m happy for you both. I love you both. If there
are any bad guys, you let me know, and I’ll kill them for you,”
Laquis slurred, stumbling into the table.
“Brother, you are drunk but thank you. We will keep that in mind;
we love you too. Who are your friends?” Aroha asked, smiling at
the two women.
Laquis laughed loudly. “Does it matter!” he said, walking away.
“We are very proud of you both and know that you will rule well
and justly,” Phillia said, flushed with joy and the wine, holding the
arm of Deminious. “Well, there you have it, my love, all is well.
Arian and Aroha are set to take over as Sentinels in a couple of
days, and we will become elder gods. Then I will have you all to
myself,” Phillia said with a flirtatious smile.
“We can spend the next millennia watching over our children’s rule
and their children after them,” Phillia said, giving Deminious a
tender kiss. “Let’s go to bed.”
“Aroha, would you like me to see you to your chambers?” Arian
asked nervously.
“That would be nice, brother,” she said before pausing and falling
to thought. “I’m sorry; I suppose I shouldn’t call you that anymore.
This is all so overwhelming and exciting all at the same time. We are to be Sentinels; we are to be wed. There is so much to take in
all at once,” Aroha said with a smile.
“Don’t apologise; I know exactly what you mean. I don’t know
what to make of all of this either. We have spent our lives being
prepared for this, but now that it’s here, it’s a lot. I will promise
you this, sister, wife, whatever transpires from here, we will do it
together,” Arian said, embracing Aroha.
“I love you, Arian,” Aroha sighed with a smile of relief.
“I love you too,” Arian replied, giving Aroha a soft kiss on the cheek.
“It hurts, doesn’t it,” Thone said to Raptis, setting a glass down
beside his. “I remember being passed over as if it happened
yesterday. Thanks, mother and father. It could be worse; at least
you were not told to rule over the Deadlands. Still, things are
what you make of them. I rule over my kingdom in absolution.
You are just like me: undervalued, underrated and overlooked,
unfortunately.”
Raptis sat infuriated and quite drunk; turning to his uncle, he
spoke. “I am undervalued, and I have been overlooked, but I am
nothing like you. I will return with the Demonspawn and teach
them the way of the gods; I will do my duty,” Raptis said, feeling
bolder from the wine.
“For the God of Knowledge, I thought you would be sharper,
boy,” Thone said in a darker tone. “Do your duty,” he sniggered.
“That’s exactly what I did.”
A Succession of Swords is the first book in the Chronicles of Serenity series and is a captivating dark fantasy novel that will leave you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The book is set in a vast world filled with Gods, Elves, Orcs and humans, and the sun is setting on the old guard - the Sentinels of the Gods, the Rulers of Serenity. A new millennium is dawning, and the succession to the throne must be decided from the royal bloodline, bringing with it a lust for power.
The story follows three brothers - Arian, Raptis and Laquis - who must fight and prove themselves to become the ruler of Serenity. The prince, Arian, becomes the chosen God but is ultimately betrayed by his own brother in a bid for power and the throne. This leads to a bitter betrayal, heart-breaking tragedy, and a war that threatens to destroy the ruling bloodline and the fragile peace that unites the peoples of Serenity.
The author, Bollen, has crafted a magnificent world filled with intricate details and stunning descriptions that will transport you to the heart of Serenity. The plot is filled with twists and turns, and the pace is set so well that it becomes a page-turner that will keep you hooked from start to finish. The storyline progresses at a steady pace, and the introduction of multiple characters may sometimes make it a little difficult to keep up, but once you get into the story, it all falls into place, and the characters are all fleshed out well.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is its writing style. The author has constructed and executed the story in a very creative manner that makes it intriguing and compelling. The writing is so vivid and imaginative that it feels as if you are thrown into the scenes and can imagine them happening right in front of you. The sentence structures and dialogue are well-defined, making it easy to follow who is talking, despite the numerous characters.
The book is filled with heart-breaking moments that will tug at your heartstrings and make you feel the emotions of the characters. The fight for the throne is portrayed in a very realistic and often brutal manner, and the author does an excellent job of highlighting that even the closest people can betray you.
A Succession of Swords is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and those who love a good, well-written story filled with action, twists, love and tragedy. The author's writing style is spellbinding, and the world building is imaginative and creative. The story will keep you guessing with every turn of the page, and you won't be able to put it down until you reach the very end. This book is a testament to the author's writing talent and is a fantastic start to the Chronicles of Serenity series. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for these characters and the world of Serenity.
I would rate this book a solid 4.7 out of 5 stars. The book is a highly enjoyable read, with well-crafted world building, intriguing characters, and a captivating plot that kept readers engaged. The author's writing style is creative, and the pace of the story is well-balanced, with surprises at every turn. The detailed descriptions of the world of Serenity are vivid and transporting, and the twists and turns of the plot are expertly executed.
However, the large number of characters and at times confusing writing style may make it difficult for some readers to fully immerse themselves in the story and keep track of all the players. Despite this, the overall narrative is strong, and the portrayal of the power struggles and betrayals among the ruling bloodline is both heart-wrenching and thrilling. This book is a great choice for fans of dark fantasy and those who enjoy epic tales of war and succession.