The Tower

by Todd Fahnestock

  Olivaard’s voice vanished, and Brom’s thoughts cleared. He flowed with the icy water, which practically paralyzed his body. He let it in, let it rush over him and its essence rush through him. He also felt the snow, whipping down the narrow trench of the river. He felt the trees overhead. He let them all flow through his body like he flowed down the river.

  He felt the stab come again, hitting next to him, as though desperately searching, as though Olivaard was flailing, trying to strike at him in the dark.

  Brom rushed downstream with the current. When he felt the fronds of the willow tree—his and Oriana’s willow tree—brush over his face, he reached up and grasped them with stiff fingers. His entire body filled with pain as he pulled himself up, out of the water. Hand over hand, muscles stiffening, he climbed up the fronds into the high branches of the tree, then he lay there. His body was freezing to death, but he forced himself to hold still.

  Brom slipped into a death-like state as he waited high in the tree. He felt other stabs at the water below, at the bank on either side, but none hit him, and none were as close as the first. He let the cold seep into him, stayed safe within the howling wind and snow.

  Mud squished and branches cracked as Wulfric arrived, racing like a bull alongside the river. Wulfric slipped and slammed into the trunk of the willow tree, shaking it. He cursed, and Brom swayed with the tree, as did the other limbs. Snow showered down onto Wulfric. Spitting epithets, he scrambled to his feet and raced past, continuing up the river at tremendous speed. He never looked up, never knew that Brom was perched barely five feet over his head.

  Then the deadly Impetu was gone. Soon, even the crashing noises of his passing faded. Only the howling wind and whipping snow remained, coming down so thickly that the limbs that had been shaken free of snow were already beginning to turn white again.

  Brom slipped down the tree and landed on the slope. His arms and legs were numb, but he sluggishly clawed his way up the incline and lumbered into the storm. Anyone else would have been lost by now, turned around, and possibly would never have found their way back to the dormitory. It was impossible to see anything, and once Brom left the river, he couldn’t have told which direction it was by sight alone. But he was still connected to the frozen earth, the swirling snow. He could feel Westfall Dormitory directly ahead of him, and he went unerringly to it.

  He slipped inside, a half-frozen walking corpse. He stumped across the grand foyer and up the steps, one painful leg at a time. He made his way down the walkway until he stopped in front of Oriana’s door.

  He knocked, three heavy thuds.

  Powerful magic from his fourth Soulblock coursed through him, and he knew it was the only reason he could still stand upright, probably the only reason he had not yet died of exposure.

  Oriana opened the door, blinking the sleep from her eyes. She wore a light blue silk nightgown, barefoot, and her toenails were painted the same color as her eyes.

  Those indigo eyes went wide, and she gasped. “Brom!” She put an arm around him, and he slumped into her.

  “Kelto, you’re a block of ice!” She led him inside and kicked the door shut with her heel. “What did you do? We agreed you’d stop this nonsense—”

  “You have to leave.” He grasped her arms with what strength he had left. “You, Royal, Vale. Flee tonight. Don’t wait. Use the cover of the storm. It’s a trap. All of it. Everything is a trap.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Read my mind,” he said. “Do it. Find out everything I learned. Do it.”

  She nodded tersely. Through their bond, he felt her open her first Soulblock, felt the magic crackle into her, and he felt her enter his mind. Contrary to the feeling of Olivaard’s scorpion stab, Oriana’s mind felt like a warm, gentle hand. Brom opened himself to her, let her see it all: his invasion of the tower, the conversation between The Four, and all the horrifying secrets they had revealed. It took only seconds.

  “Kelto’s beard!” she said softly. It was the only time Brom had ever seen Oriana aghast.

  “It’s a lie...” he said. “The academy. The whole thing. The Four...” He slumped to his knees, finally allowing his body to fail.

  “Brom!” She jolted with realization. “You opened your fourth Soulblock,” she hissed incredulously. “Brom, no!”

  “It was...the only way,” he said.

  “You little idiot!” she whispered harshly.

  “Go,” he said. “They’ll...they’ll kill you.”

  “Brom,” she said in her stern, princess voice. “Stay awake.”

  He slumped over backward, and she struggled with him, falling over him as she laid him down on the floor.

  It isn’t so bad, dying, he thought. He was so cold he couldn’t feel anything at all. He wondered if there would be pain when his soul bled out into the lands.

  But he’d succeeded. He’d gotten back to his Quad. He’d told Oriana. Told her everything. His friends might live. They’d have a chance to escape this trap, a chance he’d given them, and that was enough.

  That was enough...

  “Brom!” Oriana’s voice was desperate, and he couldn’t tell if she’d spoken inside his head, or if her voice was simply getting warmer. Oriana was so pretty... She always knew what to do... Brom fell in love with her just a little bit then.

  “Brom!”

  Thinking about love made him think about Vale. Perhaps this...at the end...would let her know how he felt. Love was real...

  “Tell Vale...” He tried to force his numb lips to speak, but it was so hard. He tried again. “Tell Vale that...” But the rest didn’t come out. Or maybe he’d spoken what he’d wanted to say already, but just couldn’t hear it all. The words didn’t matter. Vale would know how he felt, and he’d done his job. He’d brought wisdom to his Quad. What mattered was that his Quad had a chance. They’d run. They’d be safe.

  The room went black, and even Oriana’s urgent voice faded away, shouting at him to stay awake.

  <<<<>>>>

  Acknowledgements

  A huge thank you to all of my beta readers. You all did a phenomenal job.

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  Tower of the Four

  Episode 1 - The Quad

  The Collector knocks upon Brom’s door‪…‬‬‬

  ...tells him he is chosen.

  Is this the chance of a lifetime or a death sentence?‬‬‬

  ‪Being chosen means Brom can learn magic at the Champions Academy. Something only the most talented are selected to do.‬ So Brom takes The Collector’s hand and leaves his family behind.‬‬

  ‪How could anything go wrong?‬‬‬

  ‪When he joins the school, he discovers the truth. He must form a Quad in order to learn magic. Bonding with three violent classmates is the key to success…‬‬‬

  ‪...and the only way to survive.‬‬‬

  ‪Can Brom bridge a decades-old feud between two mortal enemies, tame a vicious little urchin, and make them into a Quad in time?‬‬‬

  ‪You’ll love this epic fantasy, because what’s a little bloodshed among friends‬?

  Episode 2 - The Tower

  Brom, Oriana, Royal and Vale have formed their Quad…

  …but will their success lead to their deaths?

  Before graduating, every Quad must take the Test of Separation, a proving ground that no full Quad has survived except for the mysterious demigods known as The Four.

  As Brom’s Quad flourishes, bringing them ever closer to the Test, a foreboding grows in his gut. There’s something rotten at the heart of the school.

  Can B
rom find the truth before his Quad is thrown into the meat grinder of the Test?

  You’ll love this epic fantasy, because sometimes the truth hurts, and sometimes it kills you.

  Episode 3 - The Test

  Forthcoming...

  Urchin: A Tower of the Four Short Story

  When a stranger heals Vale’s injured leg…

  …she begins to believe in magic.

  He tells her she is destined to learn it, too. But first, she must conquer her fears. She must see the magic for herself. And then, she must risk her life to take hold of it.

  As she struggles to see clearly, a street thug tries to make Vale his slave. He beats her, takes her food, intimidates her into doing his bidding.

  Can she find the path to magic before he kills her?

  You’ll love this short story in the Tower of the Four world, because even vicious little urchins deserve a chance at magic.

  Royal: A Tower of the Four Short Story

  When Royal's dream turns into prophecy…

  …he is determined to go to war.

  Can one young man stop an entire army?

  But before his village will approve someone so young to join the bloody fight, Royal must first run a deadly coming-of-age race called The Spiral.

  As he fights for his life, he is interrupted by a Quadron—a powerful magic-user—who tells Royal he could become a Quadron too. But first, he must lose the race, forget the war, and spurn his society.

  Will Royal throw away everything he loves for the chance to wield magic?

  You'll love this Tower of the Four short story, because some people were just born to save the world.

  Princess: A Tower of the Four Short Story

  When a bloody disease kills Oriana’s uncle…

  …she doesn’t want to be a princess anymore.

  The Bloodbane only infects highborns, and it is killing them one by one. Instead of waiting to catch the Bloodbane, Oriana conspires to run away with the woman she loves, as far away as she can.

  That night The Collector arrives, tells Oriana she is chosen, that she must come to the Champions Academy and learn magic that might cure The Bloodbane…

  Will Oriana choose her lover…?

  …or the slim chance to save the highborns of her kingdom?

  You’ll love this epic fantasy short story, because when duty and desire clash, a princess’s choice will define her forever.

  About The Author

  Todd Fahnestock

  TODD FAHNESTOCK is a writer of fantasy for all ages and winner of the New York Public Library’s Books for the Teen Age Award. Threadweavers and The Whisper Prince Trilogy are two of his bestselling epic fantasy series. His time travel novel, Charlie Fiction, was a finalist in the Colorado Authors League Best of 2019. His passions are fantasy and his quirky, fun-loving family. When he’s not writing, he teaches Taekwondo, swaps middle grade humor with his son, plays Ticket to Ride with his wife, scribes modern slang from his daughter and goes on morning runs with Galahad the Weimaraner.

  Visit Todd at www.toddfahnestock.com.

  Praise For Author

  Praise for Tower of the Four (5 stars):

  GRAB YOUR COMFY CHAIR FOR THIS READ

  Tower of Four is another slam dunk for Fahnestock. He grabs his readers with detailed characterization and exciting story lines.

  - Georgine T. (Amazon Reader)

  Praise for Tower of the Four (5 stars):

  THIS IS A GREAT BOOK

  I really enjoyed this book. The story is great and so are the characters but the best part is that it probably the most interesting and creative magic "system" I have ever read.

  Highly recommend!

  - William M. (Amazon Reader)

  Praise for Tower of the Four (5 stars):

  A FUN READ FULL OF SURPRISES

  This story drew me in to the point where I could not turn away until I was done. Watching the characters make discoveries into themselves and the universe they inhabit got me so invested in them that I was thinking about them and missing them long after I have finished reading. I am looking forward to more!

  - Tracy N. (Amazon Reader)

  Praise for Tower of the Four (5 stars):

  AMAZING SERIES START! HAS ME HOOKED FOR MORE.

  Todd’s ability to hook you into the story with his world building and character development with wonderful dialog is superb. The story flows easily and leaves you wanting to read the next book in the series immediately right after. I highly recommend everything this brilliant author writes. You will not be disappointed!

  - Jennifer H. (Amazon Reader)

  Praise for Tower of the Four (5 stars):

  GOT ME HOOKED UP

  Found the cover on Reddit, it got me intrigued so I dove in.

  It's safe to say I got hooked.

  Anyways, into the book, but I won't spoil much :

  "Motus, Mentis, Impetu, Anima". Paths to magic that I see a little less often in fantasy books.

  Emotional, Mental, Physical and Spiritual. Can you guess who is who on the cover ?

  And why can't they work each on their own, why do they need a Quad ? What even is a Quad ?

  Have a good read, and don't hesitate to go look at Todd's other books. Couldn't stop reading Wildmane.

  - Damien K. (Amazon Reader)

  Praise for Tower of the Four (5 stars):

  INTERESTING CHARACTERS, MAGIC SYSTEM, AND WORLD

  Mr. Fahnestock has created another unique world of fantasy. A world where it takes four individuals to unlock the secrets of their own innate magical abilities. This story is very character focused and reveals tidbits of the larger world as you get to know the four core characters. You learn right off the bat who the bad guys are, but get to watch as the characters slowly figure it out for themselves. You will finish this episode looking forward to the next one.

  I highly recommend.

  - CAMP Grover (Amazon Reader)

  Books By This Author

  Wildmane: Threadweavers 1

  The GodSpill: Threadweavers 2

  Threads of Amarion: Threadweavers 3

  God of Dragons: Threadweavers 4

  Fairmist: The Whisper Prince 1

  The Undying Man: The Whisper Prince 2

  Charlie Fiction