by Dan Allen
A current of raw anger grew inside Dana, starting in the center of her chest and swelling outward to fill her body.
No.
She tried to close the connection, but the torrent of emotion coursed through the veil and into her blood-bound soul.
The people were angry. The people wanted Korren dead.
No. I won’t do it!
Dana looked down at Korren. His eyes were glistening now, the fear of the end upon him. Dana could not so much as move her lips to utter an apology. Her entire frame burned with supreme indignation.
Dana’s skin began to glow green, then blue as the collective summoned the power of the ruling sayathi.
The guards withdrew, leaving Korren kneeling alone in front of her.
No, please. I don’t want to.
Dana pleaded with the force that had overcome her will. In that moment she realized the bloodstone was not a one-way street. The will of the people surged in her, strong and undeterred.
“The traitor must die.” Dana spoke the words aloud, her voice crying out like an avenging angel of death.
Lifting several inches off the ground, Dana stretched her arms wide.
Korren shook with fear. His lips trembled, and Dana wished she could disappear—run for the hills. But there was no escape.
There was only justice. Raw and full.
The heat of the collective’s rising passion burned within her, a power Dana could not subdue. She could not even close her eyes as she reached out her hand down and pressed her finger hard against Korren’s forehead.
It was Kazen Genua’s alchemical gift that she channeled now: combusting warmth.
Dana drifted backward and back down to her feet as Korren erupted in flames. In seconds, his body was entirely consumed, his clothing burning in drifting fragments that rose in the heat of the fire. Ashen bone crumbled at the center of the blaze, and a passing breeze carried Korren’s dust away toward the forest.
The anger passed with the wind, and Dana was left trembling.
She wanted to feel guilt at what had happened to Korren, but she could not. To the will that coursed through her, his passing seemed the fitful end. There was nothing further remaining. The children in attendance would have nightmares, of course. But Dana could do nothing to prevent what had happened. It was the will of the people. Korren had committed the ultimate betrayal—the attempted murder of twenty thousand wills.
Togath never warned me of this. She could draw will, but they could also force it on her. Mentally disconcerted by the violent death, and unnerved at the power that had overtaken her, Dana had nevertheless done her job. The will of the people was accomplished, their enemy vanquished.
As the cloud of ash filtered away, Dana gestured with her left hand and beckoned the captain of the rangers, who approached quickly and knelt on one knee. “Get to your airships. Carry a message to the Pantheon. ‘Prepare for the arrival of the supreme of Shoul Falls. A conference will be held to discuss Vetas-ka and the arrival of beings from the other worlds.’” She thought for a moment and then added, “If any of the Pantheon ever again attempts to interfere with the will of Shoul Falls, I will force their sayathi to submit to mine.” Dana showed her arms, glittering with bloodstones. “Take evidence from the wreckage of the sky boat and the alien mechanodrons. Tell them what you have seen here. And remind them that I am not prone to mercy or patience. The meeting will commence in three days’ time at Port Kyner.”
“For the ka and the common will.” The soldier touched his chest in salute and was joined by flanking rangers.
Dana extended her arms to the crowd. “What is done, is done. Let us now be one. I dismiss the assembly and welcome you to come and greet me.” Dana imagined her grandfather watching from the balcony. Once this had been his forum, his city. Their every desire and wish, their prayers and free will offerings open to him. Now the burden of their safety, their families—it all lay on her shoulders.
Kaien and Ryken joined Dana on either side, taking their places as her first and second kazen, while the faithful of Shoul Falls crowded the aisle stairs to personally greet their ka.
“Are you sure we have time for this?” Kaien whispered.
“A ka lives a long time,” Dana reminded.
Kaien smiled. “I knew you would say that.”
Mirrisen stood and walked toward Dana, taking her place in the rear as the third chosen kazen.
This was her inner circle. They needed to be young, for she would need them for a long time. The other kazen would continue to serve, but this was her inner court: Kaien the alchemist, Ryken the warlock, Mirrisen the enchantress.
The first of the crowd arrived and clasped hands with her, curiously running their fingers over the bloodstones on the back of her hands.
It was a good beginning, but her inner circle was not complete. There was one more who had yet to join, a Norrian druid called Forz.
For Dana had a promise to keep. And together they had a world to save.
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If you love
The Exalting,
check out Dan Allen’s next big release,
The Dungeons of Arcadia,
part of the Super Dungeon Series!
Acknowledgements
What an amazing effort experience it has been to get this book from my brain to your hands. First up, thanks to my talented wife Amanda for listening to my crazy ideas, and the amazing cover art. Credit goes to the National Novel Writing Month program (NaNoWriMo) for kicking this massive project off and to my dedicated fans/alpha readers/listeners Bryce, Nicole, Micah, Clara and Cyrus for voraciously demanding a finished project. Thanks to my writing critique group, LDS Beta Readers, and the League of Utah Writers. To my faithful beta readers—thanks a million. And, of course, many thanks to Adam, Emma and the entire Future House staff for taking this book to the next level. Last of all, thanks to you—the all powerful reader—for joining me on this incredible journey!
About the Author
After fifteen years in the science lab designing lasers, nanoparticles, and smartphone sensors, author Dan Allen roared onto the writing scene with the fantasy epic Fall of the Dragon Prince, teen fantasy Arachnomancer, and fairy tale science fiction The Stalk. At home in the Rocky Mountains, Dan is CFO (chief fun officer) of his family and enjoys cosplay, escape rooms, game design, and general science mayhem. You can keep up with Dan’s latest fantasy and sci-fi on his website authordanallen.com, where you can also send him random science questions.
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What could be more interesting than stories of dragons and deeds of daring? How about an author who also invents parts that go into top-selling smartphones, who can also do a backflip and. . .use chopsticks with either hand?
From shortest, most picked-on kid in the school to college athlete. From 10 years of failed science to a top-secret government laser lab. From the twenty-five year old who had never wri
tten a story to published author. Take it from someone who likely grew up smaller, less popular and less rich than you (and possibly blew up more labs than you), you can do anything if you chase your dreams.
. . .except defying gravity.
Unless your school is the first to successfully levitate from laughter alone.
For more information visit: http://www.futurehousepublishing.com/author/dan-allen/
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