No, not me. The thought sounded faint, distant, as if it came from somewhere else outside her mind. Aterallis.
With effort, she pushed back against the visions. She forced herself to concentrate on the feeling of solid flesh. The stones beneath her feet. The breeze on her face. The thump, thump of her heart. The sound of people around her.
She came out of it with a gasp, her legs trembling. The memories and feelings hadn’t been hers, but they’d been so real she had nearly lost herself in them.
Peace be unto you, child of spirits. Aterallis gave a little bow and, with a smile, dissipated in front of her. The blue-white light of his spirit faded, leaving only the rosy glow of dawn around her.
Aisha struggled against the pull of the ethereal, fighting to regain her grasp on her body. A shudder ran down her spine. She struggled to collect her thoughts—she had nearly lost herself once more, and only barely escaped the Unshackling.
I have to be more careful, else I’ll lose myself like my father and Imbuka.
A presence to her right snapped her from her thoughts. She turned to find Invictus Tannard standing beside her, his perpetual scowl twisting his lips. “These supplies you spoke of, they’re real?” he demanded, his voice cold and hard.
Aisha nodded. “As real as you and I.” She gave him directions on how to locate the militants’ hideout and the stockpiled food. “You may find the last of Hallar’s Warriors as well.”
“Good riddance to them!” Tannard snorted. For a moment, his expression softened a fraction. “Whoever you are, well done.”
With that, he turned on his heel and strode away, barking commands to the nearest Keeper’s Blade. In the space of less than a minute, a full two dozen Indomitables set off to the west, heading toward the militants’ hideouts. Tannard himself led the company, with three of his Blades in tow.
Aisha turned back toward the pavilion, where the Pharus sat in negotiation with the seven delegates from the lower castes. Though the Earaqi farmers hadn’t lost their scowls, they hadn’t yet stormed out of the pavilion. Given the fact that they’d been a heartbeat from slaughtering Indomitables a couple of hours earlier, Aisha counted that as progress.
Long minutes passed as Aisha watched the negotiation. Though Aterallis’ spirit had gone, released from this world upon the completion of his mission, his emotions remained. Aisha felt compelled to remain nearby, to ensure that his final request would be carried out. She had to be certain he would have the peace he sought.
Slowly, the Earaqi’s scowls softened, their frowns fading as the negotiations progressed. Aisha couldn’t hear everything, but the general tone of the proceedings sounded positive. The Pharus’ strong voice rang with earnest sincerity. He, too, wanted an end to the hostility. Aisha got the sense—not only from Aterallis’ spirit, but from her few interactions with the man—that he genuinely cared for his people. That had filled her with the confidence to speak to the rioters, to offer them a chance to try for peaceful resolution.
Heat flared within her, bright and hot like a river of molten lead that sizzled through her veins. Warning shouts echoed in her mind with such force that they set her skull shattering. Her hand flashed to her pendant and the voices sharpened, until she could hear their cries.
Danger! Their shrieks rang in her thoughts. Danger!
Aisha was instantly on full alert, her right hand dropping to her assegai. She scanned Death Row for any sign of peril, yet she saw nothing.
But the spirits hadn’t been wrong yet. They had warned her of the attack on Suroth’s mansion, then again in Briana’s house on the Artisan’s Tier. Their cries had saved her life time and again.
Suddenly, black-armored figures appeared west on the Path of Gold. Indomitables raced toward Death Row. Even from this distance, Aisha could see the fear and panic in their wide eyes, pale faces, and frantically pumping limbs.
“Protect the Pharus!” came the shout from the foremost of the soldiers.
The Indomitables standing guard around the pavilion scrambled to form a defensive line between the tent and Death Row, professional and alert.
“Where’s the enemy?” one called back.
“Everywhere!” The desperate cry echoed along the broad avenue.
Behind the last of the soldiers, Aisha caught sight of three figures locked in battle. Invictus Tannard and two of his Keeper’s Blades fought a desperate retreat, their huge swords swinging in a blur of steel. No sign of the fourth Blade.
Even as Aisha raced up Death Row toward the battle line, one of the Blades fell beneath the surging tide of enemies. He gave a shrill cry of pain, silenced a moment later as the wave of death rolled over him.
Aisha squinted down the avenue, trying to see what new foe they faced. The light of the rising sun shone on a scene of utter horror.
The creatures that staggered up the Path of Gold might have been human, but all semblance of humanity had drained from their slack features, deathly pale faces, solid white eyes, and slavering teeth. A horrible gurgling, rasping sound echoed in the morning air as hundreds, then thousands of the monstrosities appeared, flooding from every alleyway and side street. They shambled, lurched, and stumbled along, their movements slow, yet they came on in a solid wall, inexorable in their approach.
Right toward the pavilion where the Pharus and the delegates of the lower castes attempted to broker peace.
End of Book 4
----
Kodyn, Aisha, Evren, Hailen, Issa, and Briana’s epic journey continues in:
Ascension of Death
(Heirs of Destiny Book 5)
Surrounded and trapped, no help in sight. The end of their mission…or the path to destiny?
Shalandra has fallen. Monsters of legend have risen from their graves to claim the City of the Dead.
Kodyn and Evren have only one hope of stopping the evil Iron Warlord: break into the holiest, most secure stronghold in the city and steal ancient relics imbued with world-shattering magics.
Issa joins the ranks of Shalandra’s elite warriors in a desperate clash against the nightmare hordes flooding the streets and slaughtering every man, woman, and child.
Aisha will face her greatest challenge yet, harnessing her mystical abilities to not only turn the tide of battle, but stop the prophesied Final Destruction.
In the epic struggle to save their city, these young heroes will give their all to win the impossible battle—one that could decide the fate of the world!
Dive into the breathtaking, action-packed finale now! Perfect for fans of A.C. Cobble, Sabaa Tahir, and Sarah J. Maas— epic young adult fantasy at its finest…
“Exciting, thrilling, intriguing! The characters are unforgettable!” – Carolyn, Amazon Review
“An awesome escape into another world! I am moving immediately to book two, can't stop now!” – Frank, Amazon Review
In the Heirs of Destiny series:
Trial of Stone (Book 1) – Jan 22, 2019
Crucible of Fortune (Book 2) –Feb 5, 2019
Secrets of Blood (Book 3) – Feb 19, 2019
Storm of Chaos (Book 4) – Mar 19, 2019
Ascension of Death (Book 5) – Apr 16, 2019
AND BONUS:
The Renegade Apprentice (Book 6) May 14 <--Evren’s Prequel Novella
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Connecting and starting a relationship with readers is why I got into writing in the first place. I love that my stories, thoughts, feelings, and emotions to resonate with you, but I’d also love to get to know you, the reader, personally—or as personally as this crazy internet/email/social media world allows.
My VIP Reader List is exactly how I get to do that. I let you know more about me, and you tell me about you. Plus, you get to find out what books I’m reading and enjoying, updates on works in progress, special deals, and other bits of news relating to me and my world (fictional and real-life).
If you sign up, you get a free copy of Evren’s prequel novella, The Renegade Apprentice
> A desperate breakout. A perilous life on the streets. A fight to the death.
Evren’s life as an apprentice priest is an endless torment, until he seizes the chance to escape his slavery. But his freedom, and his life, may be cut very short because the dark alleys of Vothmot hold their own dangers...some deadlier than others!
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Enjoy More Series by Andy Peloquin
Plus, get backstory and insight into the epic Heirs of Destiny characters!
For more of Kodyn’s origin story,
read Queen of Thieves
"They killed my parents. They took my name. They imprisoned me in darkness. I would not be broken."
Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves' trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts.
The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman's rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood.
What hope does one girl have in a world of ruthless men?
Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Scott Lynch, and Brent Weeks will love Queen of Thieves…
Book 1: Child of the Night Guild
Book 2: Thief of the Night Guild
Book 3: Queen of the Night Guild
To read about Aisha’s trials,
try Traitors’ Fate:
One Death Changes Two Cities Forever
Ilanna, Master of the Night Guild, has waged a war for eight years to cleanse her city of the rival criminal organization that nearly destroyed it. When she uncovers a ring of slavers trafficking young girls for sexual servitude around the continent, she is forced to venture into the city of Voramis, the seat of her enemy's power, to hunt down the true culprit and put an end to the enslavement of innocents.
But her enemies will not be so easily eliminated. She must turn to the one man certain to get the job done: the Hunter, legendary assassin of Voramis.
The Hunter willingly accepts a fortune in gold to kill one of the richest men in his city. A mansion fortress and a private army should prove no match for his inhuman abilities.
But as he stalks his target, he unmasks a bloodthirsty conspiracy in the guise of a holy mission. If he doesn't stop the men responsible, the gruesome murders will continue and people—including those he has sworn to protect—will die.
Note: This book is a standalone that takes place after the events of Queen of Thieves Book 3.
Traitors’ Fate (Queen of Thieves/Hero of Darkness Crossover)
Take a glimpse into Evren and Hailen’s origin,
dive into Hero of Darkness
The best assassin in the world doesn’t come cheap. Betraying him will cost your soul.
The Hunter is a name feared by all in Voramis. He is an outcast, driven by a cursed dagger with an unquenchable thirst for blood and death.
Yet he follows one simple code: kill those who truly deserve to die. His creed is put to the test when, deceived by a shadowy employer, he unknowingly slaughters an innocent man.
With the most powerful criminal organization in the city after his head, the Hunter must fight for his life and find a way to atone for his mistake. When his enemies harm the people under his protection, it will take much more than an army of criminals to stand in the way of his revenge.
If you love anti-heroes like the Punisher or Dexter in a breathtaking fantasy realm, then immerse yourself in Hero of Darkness today! Dive into an epic tale of one man’s struggle to survive in a world of magic, blood, and death.
Book 1: Darkblade Assassin
Book 2: Darkblade Outcast
Book 3: Darkblade Protector
Book 4: Darkblade Seeker
Book 5: Darkblade Slayer
Book 6: Darkblade Savior
Book 7: Darkblade Justice
Different, Not Damaged: A Short Story Collection
About the Author
I am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
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Glossary
Gods of Einan
Kiro, the Master: God of virtue and nobility
Deralana, Lady of Vengeance: Goddess of warriors and vengeance
Garridos, the Apprentice: God of ventures and enterprise
The Maiden: Goddess of purity, devotion, and festivities
The Illusionist: God of coin, success, and madness
The Bright Lady: Goddess of healing
The Swordsman: God of war, heroism, and metal-smithing
The Mistress: Goddess of trysts, secrets, and whispered truths
The Bloody Minstrel: God of sickness, plague, and horrible music
The Watcher: God of the night, god of justice and vengeance. Thieves and criminals know him as “the Watcher in the Dark”.
The Lonely Goddess: Goddess of orphans and broken hearts
The Beggar God: God of outcasts, the destitute, and the needy
The Long Keeper: God of death.
Kharna – Serenii that sacrificed himself to feed Enarium and fight the Devourer to protect Einan
The Devourer of Worlds, the Great Destroyer – force of chaos seeking to unmake the world
Secrets of Blood Characters
Listed according to appearance/mention
Issa: 17 year-old Earaqi, chosen to serve as a Keeper’s Blade, resilient, strong-willed, determined (Chapter 1)
Aleema: Issa’s Savta (grandmother), maid in the house of a Dhukari (Chapter 1)
Nytano: Issa’s Saba (grandfather), laborer in the farmlands outside of Shalandra (Chapter 1)
Issumo and Poltana: neighbors to Issa’s grandparents, slain in riots (Chapter 1)
Callista Vinaus: Lady of Blades, highest-ranked military official in Shalandra, rules the Keeper’s Blades and Indomitables, stern, proud, warrior (Chapter 1)
Evren: 17 year-old former pickpocket and clever thief from Darkblade Slayer, former apprentice in the Master’s Temple in Vothmot, recruited to the Hunter’s mission of feeding Kharna (Chapter 1)
Aisha: 17 year-old former trafficking victim rescued by Ilanna and the Night Guild (see Traitors’ Fate), apprentice to House Phoenix, Kodyn’s best friend, child of a Spirit Whisperer (Chapter 1)
Kodyn: 17 year-old apprentice to House Hawk, third-story thief of the Night Guild, son of Ilanna the Guild Master and Ria the Master of House Phoenix, protective (Chapter 1)
Blackfinger: Leader of the Ybrazhe Syndicate, not a very friendly man, arrested by Issa and Evren in Storm of Chaos (Chapter 1)
Aterallis: messiah, formerly high-ranked Dhukari, called “Hallar Reborn” and “Child of Gold, Child of Secrets, Child of Spirits”, preaches peace to the lower c
astes, executed in Storm of Chaos (Chapter 1)
Amhoset Nephelcheres: Pharus of Shalandra, Servant of the Long Keeper, Word of Justice and Death, a noble and honorable ruler hamstrung by the Keeper’s Council (Chapter 1)
Killian: blacksmith, leader of the Mumblers, Issa’s trainer, surprisingly well-connected, cunning, more than he appears (Chapter 1)
Hailen: child cared for by the Hunter and trained by the Cambionari, descendent of the ancient Serenii, the Hunter’s ward, possesses mysterious magical abilities (Chapter 2)
Briana: daughter of a high-ranked member of the Secret Keepers in Shalandra and Keeper’s Councilor, graceful, elegant, intelligent, studious, rescued by Kodyn and the Night Guild from kidnappers (Chapter 2—see Darkblade Justice)
Sid: a young Hawk apprentice from Praamis, Kodyn’s protégé in the Night Guild, nearly killed by Gatherers in Darkblade Justice (Chapter 2)
Arch-Guardian Suroth: Briana’s father, high priest of the Secret Keepers in Shalandra, member of the Keeper’s Council, mute, slain by the Gatherers in Trial of Stone (Chapter 2)
The Hunter of Voramis: legendary assassin, half-demon, wielder of Soulhunger (Chapter 2— see Darkblade Assassin and the Hero of Darkness series)
Thimara: spirit of a dead Secret Keeper, speaks to Aisha in Crucible of Fortune, saves Kodyn’s life in Storm of Chaos (Chapter 3)
Secrets of Blood Page 40
