by Aaron Crash
All that understanding hit Ymir in seconds. Then he sensed his own dusza, and the minute he pondered it, he was cast away from the submerged crypt, flung far across the world to the cave of the Lonely Man, dreamlike and strange. As in a dream, he had an intuitive understanding of the situation. This was before he’d come to destroy the demon. Before he’d lost so many of his battle brothers, and before Ynyo was burned, nearly killed. Before the curse.
The Lonely Man demon slept in a central black pool of boiling mud. It slept, with its twin eyes of fire closed and with its spear, covered in crimson runes, clutched to its chest. It slept, yet it was aware of him. This was before.
In his dream body, Ymir walked under the archway and surveyed the Lonely Man’s cave. Marble tiles had been laid in a pattern, which led to the central mud pool. Around it were other pits of burbling mud as well as pools of bright green water, steaming. The place was close to the center of the world, where the Axman’s forge boiled both water and dirt. Yet the Axman had nothing to do with the awful place.
Five green pools to the east, a mud pit to the south, a mud pit to the north, and the central resting place of the demon itself. Eight pools in all. Eight Akkiric Rings. There might’ve been a point to the mad place.
A voice drifted up from the demon sleeping in the mud. The blood of the innocent drew you in. I would awake just as the sleeper will awake. I knew of you because of the night bear you slew. I felt you above, and you were perfect. You could become a seed.
Ymir laughed in his vision, this dream, this terror. “I’ve been a seed, and I’ve cast my seed about. Speak clearly, demon. You might as well because you are dead.”
Death is a circle with no beginning and no end. Eternity longs for death. All days will die. Night will reign supreme.
That sounded suspiciously like the Midnight Guild’s words: May the night never end, and may the day never begin. All of it was claptrap.
“More riddles.” Ymir laughed and walked down the cracked marble as black smoke swept into his eyes. “And me without pen and parchment to write anything down. I’ll remember. So you led me here using the blood of the innocent. You wanted me here.”
For vengeance. To curse you. To curse you forever. Let the sleeper wake from the dream!
Boiling black smoke swirled around Ymir as he stood at the front of the central pool. In reality, far to the north, in his world, this entire place had been destroyed. After the death of the Lonely Man, the demon had pulled down the entire underground palace.
But here in this vision of the past, it was as it had been.
That was what Ymir thought until a woman walked out of the smoke. Her elven ears parted midnight hair, as black as pitch, blacker than anything he’d ever seen before. Jennybelle had such dark hair, but even hers wasn’t as black. Her eyes were cat’s green, bright and inquisitive. Ymir recognized the former Princept, now dead hundreds of years. Sarina Sia. She was tall and thin, but she had the biggest tits he’d ever seen on such a slender woman. Her nipples were hard under her gossamer-thin gown. She spoke, but it wasn’t in the otherworldly booming voice he’d heard before. In this vision, her words came out wrapped in spider silk. “Hello to you, Ymir, son of Ymok.”
Ymir felt the cold shiver run up his spine. Having skeletons crawling on him, holding him, was nothing compared to speaking with this elven woman, long dead. He nodded. “Hello to you, Honored Princept.”
She laughed and it was musical but sad. “So, when I died an old woman, I died with disappointment in my heart. I would never again smell a man fucking me. I would never again hear the soft sighs of the women I made come on my fingers and in my mouth. My flesh would fall away. I would miss the sex. More? I would die never knowing how the story of our world unraveled itself. I hated that I could never read all the books, that I would never know the mysteries of our world, every single mystery. I would never know the truth of the grand Vempor Aegel Akkridor. His life. His lust. His murder.”
Ymir listened quietly to the ghostly regret before speaking. “Yet here you fucking are. Not as dead as it would seem. What do you want, Honored Princept—”
She cut him off. “Sarina. I’m not your Honored Princept. That would be Della Pennez, who will become the grandest Princept in the history of our school. No, I will forever more be Sarina. I am dead. I do not want life, rather, I want to see how the stories end. You, barbarian, will give me that. As for Della? For her, I have my plans. I’ve woken.”
TRUST HER NOT! And Ymir was ripped from the Lonely Man’s cavern and thrown back into the crypt.
In that room, he heard the Akkir Akkor with their thunderous voices. WE HAVE YOUR FATE PLANNED, YMIR. LISTEN NOT TO THE SLUTS AND WHORES THAT MIGHT CONFUSE YOU. STAY THE COURSE, CLANSMAN. THE SLEEPER. THE AWAKENED. THE DREAM. GATHER THE BREATHS. FINISH THIS RING. WE STAND OUTSIDE OF THE MINUTES OF YOUR DAY AND THE MILES OF YOUR WORLD. WE WATCH. WE WAIT.
Maybe from their presence, or maybe from something else, the skeletons were all shattered into a collection of dusty bones and rags. They splashed back into the water.
Jennybelle’s eyes were wide. There was a beat, then she squalled, “What in the fuck just happened?”
Ymir grinned as sweat dripped down his face. He lifted up the ring, a pretty combination of metals, three hoops tied together with wine-soaked seaweed now turned to emerald strands. “I forged the Gather Breath ring, only it’s not finished yet. I need to gather breaths.”
Jennybelle blew at him through pursed lips. “There. That’s your first breath. Can we get the fuck out of here now?”
Ymir’s laughter boomed through the crypt. “We can, but I don’t think collecting breaths is going to be as easy as all that.”
And he wasn’t about to trust the Akkir Akkor. He found it interesting that they hated the spectral Princept so much. He’d have to keep that in mind because it just might be a clue into the true nature of the otherworldly demons.
Click here to continue reading Barbarian Gladiator.
Dedications
BARBARIAN OUTCAST - This book is for the master of monster harem, Cebelius, who is a friend and a battle brother.
Barbarian Assassin - For Kelly, who really liked the first one.
Barbarian Alchemist - This book is for my friend Holly, who is awesome and full of life. I want to be Holly when I grow up.
Acknowledgements – Barbarian Outcast
I DEDICATED THE BOOK to Cebelius, but I have to acknowledge the hours we spent outlining the basic bones of the book. The Lonely Man? Ymir's wounded heart? The conniving princesses? That was all Cebelius. Thanks so much, my friend.
As for the rest? It was all Don Bauman. We spent days on end in North Carolina building the world, building the races, and laughing a lot. Don Bauman is a genius, and I so appreciate his willingness to build worlds with me. The name Ymir was Don's idea, a little wink at Robert E. Howard. And ironbound? That was also from Donny Boy. He's a guy who likes a good Conan story.
Finally, here's a shout out to Lou J. Berger, who helped come up with the idea of the Coruscation Shelves. Yes, electrical current can help defend iron against rust.
Finally, thanks to Black Forge Books. I really loved writing Ymir’s story.
Acknowledgements – Barbarian Assassin
ONCE AGAIN, DON BAUMAN and I went over the logistics of this crazy word, plot points, characters, and cool things. I owe him VIP passes to the San Diego Comic Con, several steaks, a fortune in gold bullion, and a harem of beautiful dwabs. I got your number, DB. I got your number.
Thanks to my editors, proofreaders, cover artists, formatters, and all the people who helped put the second book together. And I’m so happy that people are reading and reviewing the book. I hope I get to write a bunch more of them.
Lastly, I can’t thank my patrons on Patreon enough. In the end, this is my full-time gig, and if people are giving me money, I’ll continue to write books.
Acknowledgements – Barbarian Alchemist
DONNY BOY BAUMAN TALKED with me on
the phone while he was getting his new house in order and taking care of business. And IBP3 might have had Blue Oyster Cult on the soundtrack because of you, Don. Thanks for helping me write another book.
For all the alchemy stuff, which is both real and imagined, I reached out to my science officer in blue, Lou J. Berger. Vinegar leeches the calcium out of bones, so they become malleable. How fucking cool is that?
I can’t thank my two Lord-level patrons enough: Clinton Haid and TJ McFadden. You guys are awesome, and I appreciate the shecks.
Finally, here’s another book from the amazing Black Forge Books team. Thanks to DJ, Kelly, and the gang for taking us all to Vempor’s Cape. I love that I get to spend so much time at Old Ironbound with Ymir and the princesses of Old Ironbound.
Patreon
THANKS SO MUCH FOR reading Princesses of the Ironbound, Books 1-3! I’ve started a Patreon page and I’m posting cover art, chapters, and giving away free ebooks when they come out. Yes, being my patron, gets you the chapters and the ebook before anyone else! It’s a deal.
Also, if you have an idea for a story, or a suggestion, my Patreon page is the perfect place to reach out. That’s the thing with Patreon—if the fans want a specific story, I’ll write one, however spicy, in any of my worlds including American Dragons, Full Frontal Galaxy, The Princesses of the Ironbound, or the Son of Fire.
It’s been my lifelong dream to become a professional novelist, and I hope to share more of my journey with you as I continue to write books people love.
Sign up here at www.patreon.com/aaroncrashbooks.
Thanks again!
Aaron Crash
Books by Black Forge
War God’s Mantle: Ascension (Book 1)
War God’s Mantle: Descent (Book 2)
War God’s Mantle: Underworld (Book 3)
Denver Fury: American Dragons (Book 1)
Cheyenne Magic: American Dragons (Book 2)
Montana Firestorm: American Dragons (Book 3)
Texas Showdown: American Dragons (Book 4)
California Imperium: American Dragons (Book 5)
Dodge City Knights: American Dragons (Book 6)
Leadville Crucible: American Dragons (Book 7)
Alaska Kingdom: American Dragons (Book 8)
Alamosa Arena: American Dragons (Book 9)
Wyoming Dynasty: American Dragons (Book 10)
Raider Annihilation: Son of Fire Book 1
Kraken Killjoy: Son of Fire Book 2
Valhalla Virus: Ragnarok Rebels Book 1
Dungeon Bringer 1
Dungeon Bringer 2
Dungeon Bringer 3
Witch King 1
Witch King 2
Witch King 3
Barbarian Outcast (Princesses of the Ironbound Book 1)
Barbarian Assassin (Princesses of the Ironbound Book 2)
Barbarian Alchemist (Princesses of the Ironbound Book 3)
Barbarian Gladiator (Princesses of the Ironbound Book 4)
Boss Build: Creature Girl Creations Book 1
Master Build: Creature Girl Creations Book 2
God Build: Creature Girl Creations Book 3
Time Jacker
Robot Bangarang: Full Frontal Galaxy (Book 1)
Space Dragon Boogaloo: Full Frontal Galaxy (Book 2)
Books by Shadow Alley Press
LitRPG
Rogue Dungeon: The Rogue Dungeon Series (Book 1)
Civil War: The Rogue Dungeon Series (Book 2)
Troll Nation: The Rogue Dungeon Series (Book 3)
Rogue Evolution: The Rogue Dungeon Series (Book 4)
Dungeon Duel: The Rogue Dungeon Series (Book 5)
Zero.Hero 1
Zero.Hero 2
Inheritance: The Last Enclave Book 1
Redemption: The Last Enclave Book 2
A Snake’s Life: A Snake’s Life Book 1
A Snake’s Path: A Snake’s Life Book 2
A Snake’s Rise: A Snake’s Life Book 3
Dungeon Heart: The Singing Mountain
Black Dawn: Fae Nexus Book 1
Shadowcroft Academy for Dungeons: Year One
Viridian Gate Online (LitRPG)
Viridian Gate Online: Cataclysm (Book 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Crimson Alliance (Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: The Jade Lord (Book 3)
Viridian Gate Online: Imperial Legion (Book 4)
Viridian Gate Online: The Lich Priest (Book 5)
Viridian Gate Online: Doom Forge (Book 6)
Viridian Gate Online: Darkling Siege (Book 7)
Viridian Gate Online: Side Quests (Anthology)
Viridian Gate Online: The Artificer (Imperial Initiative 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Nomad Soul (The Illusionist Book 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Dead Man’s Tide (The Illusionist Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: Inquisitor’s Foil (The Illusionist Book 3)
Viridian Gate Online: Firebrand (The Firebrand Book 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Embers of Rebellion (The Firebrand Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: Path of the Blood Phoenix (The Firebrand Book 3)
Viridian Gate Online: Vindication (The Alchemic Weaponeer Book 1)
Viridian Gate Online: Absolution (The Alchemic Weaponeer Book 2)
Viridian Gate Online: Insurrection (The Alchemic Weaponeer Book 3)
Cultivation
Darkening Skies (Path of the Thunderbird Book 1)
Stone Soul (Path of the Thunderbird Book 2)
Demon Beast (Path of the Thunderbird Book 3)
Hollow Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 1)
Eclipse Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 2)
Chaos Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 3)
Burning Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 4)
Infinite Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 5)
Eternal Core (School of Swords and Serpents Book 6)
The Elements: Silver Coin Saga Book 1
Sages of the Underpass (Battle Artists Book 1)
Death Cultivator Book 1
Death Cultivator Book 2
Tokyo Blood Magic: Shinjuku Shadows Book 1
Tokyo Monster Mash: Shinjuku Shadows Book 2
Foundations: Bastion Academy Book 1
Malware: Bastion Academy Book 2
Shadowbound: Ghostlight Academy Book 1
Science Fiction
The Starborn Heir (Zack Lancestrom Series Book 1)
The Voidburned Queen (Zack Lancestrom Series Book 2)
Urban Fantasy
Strange Magic (Yancy Lazarus Episode One)
Cold Hearted (Yancy Lazarus Episode Two)
Flashback: Siren Song (Yancy Lazarus Episode 2.5)
Wendigo Rising (Yancy Lazarus Episode Three)
Flashback: The Morrigan (Yancy Lazarus Episode 3.5)
Savage Prophet (Yancy Lazarus Episode Four)
Brimstone Blues (Yancy Lazarus Episode Five)
Red Reckoning (Yancy Lazarus Episode Six)
MudMan (A Lazarus World Novel)
Two-Faced: Legend of the Treesinger (Book 1)
Soul Game: Legend of the Treesinger (Book 2)
Post-apocalyptic
Armageddon Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 1)
Machine-Gun Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 2)
Inferno Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 3)
Storm Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 4)
War Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 5)
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Copyright
Barbarian Outcast, Barbarian Assassin, and Barbarian Alchemist are works of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
