There was nothing to say, to touch, to kiss. I turned my back on her and put my boot on the stirrup. At least I could hide the tremor of my hands, grasping the reins.
Let’s go, O’Ren, there is nothing more to do here.
He took very slow steps as if he wasn’t sure.
Don’t worry, O’Ren. I will keep you with me forever; you are safe. We must leave now.
“Do you want to go there, Da-Ren?” she repeated.
Anywhere.
The gray-white stallion refused to take another step away from her and I turned to say goodbye. And yet the opposite words came out of my mouth.
“I will come back, Zeria,” I said.
“I know you will come back. The branches of our lives have been growing on the same tree since we were children.”
I always came back. To both. I came back to the Tribe, and I came back to the Forest, torn between two worlds, to weld my pieces together. I always came back when it was too late.
She came close and stretched her hands to touch mine. She placed between my fingers a silver amulet I’d never seen before. It had the shape of a double-headed ax hanging head down by a leather cord. Each edge had a row of wolf’s teeth carved into it. Two silver fangs at the ends and six smaller ones in the middle. Eight teeth on each edge, sharp enough to make a finger bleed at the touch. Two silver snakes embracing each other and coiling around the haft, their heads resting on the ax’s cheeks.
“Do you still seek the magic, Da-Ren? I brought all the magic I possess to protect you,” she said. “There is no other amulet like that. Wear it, and death will not touch you. My mother had it. Her mother had given it to her, and it saved her from your Tribe. I had it on me when you saved me.”
“I can’t wear this,” I said. You are not mine, Zeria.
“Take it. You saved my life first. But you will promise me.”
“What?”
The humiliation we accept in life. Another man was holding her every evening, making her his own. Yet she was asking me to promise, and I wanted to listen and say yes.
“Whatever you do, wherever you will go, you will not bring death upon a woman or child.”
I was already wearing the amulet around my neck; the silver snakes coiled next to my heart and the wolf’s teeth sunken into the skin. It still had the warmth from her hands.
“Promise,” she said louder as her hands covered mine.
“I promise,” I said and reluctantly pulled my hand away.
“Don’t forget me. Remember me when you hear the wind singing through the wheat fields,” she said.
How did she know?
Wind and wheat fields were all I would find for a thousand days and nights. And women. And children.
O God of the Cross Worshippers. Why?
The children.
The Story continues in
Drakon Book III: Firstblade
A bloody campaign to the ends of the earth, fierce battles against the armies of the Cross, a thirteen-moon siege of a great city, and an undying dream to return to the Forest.
Book III is the turning-point of Da-Ren’s story as the Tribe invades the seven cities of the South. Myths unravel and legends drown in the blood of the innocent. Da-Ren learns of new gods, none as powerful as gold. He pays for victories with nightmares, for wisdom with loss. Empires crumble and cities are reduced to ruins, but there is no glorious story to guide him to the stars. Only a faint hope that metamorphosis awaits at the end of the journey.
Firstblade is a book of poisons: the legends of hatred, the words of the witches, the scorpion’s sting and the Drakon’s blood, the hunger of a mad leader for power. Love. One poison will prove stronger than all others.
About Drakon
Drakon is one completed story which consists of:
Drakon Book I: The Sieve
Drakon Book II: Uncarved
Drakon Book III: Firstblade
Drakon Book IV: Butterfly
You can find our newsletter, my journal and more information about the book at:
www.caskabel.com
journal.caskabel.com
www.facebook.com/CaskabelAuthor
Thank you for reading and reviewing.
Till next time,
C.A.
About the Author
C.A. Caskabel started writing Drakon in 2013 and completed the 350,000-word epic fantasy novel in 2016. He split Drakon into four books which he will release within 2017, he promises. After all, he is eager to start working on the next novel. C.A. is also the founder of an indie publisher of picture books and fantasy fiction.
Before 2013, C.A. was a serial technology entrepreneur. He studied at Boston and Brown University. He calls Boston, New York, Providence, San Francisco, London, and Athens (and in general Planet Earth) home.
Table of Contents
XVII. I Seek Only One
XVIII. Archers We Need in the Thousands
XIX. Now I Am Ready
XX. Born Only to Die
XXI. A Woman
XXII. Blue
XXIII. I Dreamed of Redbreast Robins
XXIV.Skeleton
XXV. The Final Battle
XXVI. The Calling
XXVII. The Legend of Er-Ren
XXVIII. Children Hand in Hand
XXIX. Kar-Tioo
XXX. Iron End
XXXI. The Witch, the Amazon, the Cow
XXXII. Stake and Lard
XXXIII. Yes, My Leader
XXXIV. My Iron, Your Fate
XXXV. To Death
XXXVI. It Led Me to Both
XXXVII. The Merciless Rain
XXXVIII. Behind Me
XXXIX. Silent, Holy Night
XL. Armor
XLI. Rowan
XLII. Brown
XLIII. Legs
XLIV. The Ssons
XLV. Hunger
About Drakon
About the Author
Drakon Book II: Uncarved Page 35
