Darkblade Protector_An Epic Fantasy Adventure

by Andy Peloquin

  But finding the Sage meant scaling Shana Laal, the highest peak in the Yathi mountain rage. Right now, the Hunter found himself regretting his decision. Is it too much to ask for a quiet lake or forest?

  He kept up a steady stream of curses as he climbed, both to ward off the chill and his trepidation. Atop Shana Laal, he would find Kara-ket, the twin temples occupied by the Masters of Agony and…

  And who? Therein lay the source of his anxiety.

  Torturers, he could face. He'd first encountered whispers of the Masters of Agony, virtuosos of the sanguine arts, over a decade earlier. Even Lord Jahel, the Demon of Voramis, had spoken of them with reverence. One particularly popular tale—of questionable veracity, but impressive nonetheless—told of a victim they'd kept alive for years. And that was after they'd severed his limbs and flayed the flesh from his bones.

  The Hunter had little doubt he could face the Masters of Agony. He spoke the language of violence as fluently as any on Einan. But the torturers only held one of the temples. What would he find in the other? In absence of facts, his mind conjured images beyond the bounds of reality.

  The cliff crumbled beneath his right boot, and shards of stone tumbled free. The Hunter's stomach churned as he watched the rocks disappear into the mists below.

  One problem at a time. I have enough to worry about now.

  He forced himself to keep climbing. He'd always loved the heights of the Palace of Justice. He'd climbed the Black Spire in Praamis, stared across Malandria from the pinnacle of Lord Apus' towering mansion, and gazed out over Al Hani from atop the al-Malek’s enormous palace. But these heights were altogether foreign--and terrifying.

  A shrieking filled the Hunter's mind, echoing the stinging wind. Damned demon! Can't you be silent?

  The voice--it had been a voice once; now, it mostly screamed and wailed incoherently--belonged to his ancestor, the Abiarazi who had fathered him on some human woman he couldn't remember. It refused to leave him in peace, but only granted him brief periods of silence after he fed its demand for blood.

  It's getting worse.

  He'd killed the previous morning, before beginning his ascent of Shana Laal. He hadn't bothered to learn the name of his victim, but the man had been found guilty of molesting his young daughters. The Hrandari's strict code of punishment sentenced him to hang. The Hunter had delivered the Watcher's justice a day early.

  That death should have been enough to keep the voice at bay for at least another day or two. It's coming back too quickly.

  The weight of his gear--weapons, minimal supplies, and thin blanket--threatened to drag him from the wall with every agonizing step. The straps of his pack gouged into his shoulders. Blood trickled from myriad cuts in his fingers, rendering the cliff walls slick. Though his flesh healed, every step upward brought new wounds and added to the quiver in his muscles. Between the howling polar winds, the screeching in his mind, and his exhaustion, the Hunter knew he needed to find shelter soon.

  There has to be something around here! He scanned the rocks overhead. Some sort of cave, crevice, hollow…anything.

  High above, he caught a glimpse of an overhang. A patch of darkness beneath hinted at a break in the sheer cliff face.

  It will have to do.

  He forced his tired body onward. Just a few more steps, and he'd be able to rest. Even his inhuman stamina could reach a breaking point. The monstrous Shana Laal seemed determined to push him to his limits.

  The fading sunlight sparkled on the snow-covered cliff. Sunset bathed the mountains in a soft glow, mixing violent hues of red and orange with gentler purples and blues. Tired as he was, the Hunter had to stop and drink in the panorama. The world spread out at his feet, disappearing into the horizon in every direction. Awe wrestled with his terror at the immense height.

  The sun dipped beneath distant hills, and the final vestiges of daylight disappeared. The moon began its ascent in the darkening sky. Shivering from the biting wind, the Hunter pushed himself to climb faster. The false sunset granted him a few extra minutes, but night would overtake him sooner than he'd like.

  The temperature plummeted with the dying light. The wind tugged at the Hunter's cloak with frosty fingers. The blood that dripped from his fingers froze into patches of crimson ice, and an unreal cold sliced through his fur-lined cloak, chilling him to the bone.

  The Hunter gasped in relief as he pulled himself up onto the ledge beneath the overhang. He lay on the hard, cold stone, panting. Every heartbeat sent a fresh wave of pain through his limbs. The biting chill faded beneath the agony of knotted muscles unclenching, and he labored for each breath in the thin, icy air.

  Groaning, he pushed himself up to his elbows and studied his perch. A narrow ledge ran beneath an outcropping of rock, disappearing around a corner. His heart sank. He couldn't stay here. The cliff offered little protection from the wind and snow. He had to find another place to spend the night.

  He eased himself out onto the ledge, wincing at the pain in his hands. Already they had begun to heal, all but the deepest wounds closing. But the ache of cold and fatigue remained. Muttering a curse, he clutched the stones and worked his way around the cliff. He made slow progress, ever aware of the chill seeping through his cloak. Sleet soaked into his long hair and dripped down his neck, sending a shiver down his spine. Shana Laal took its toll in blood as the sharp rocks carved fresh gashes in his frozen hands.

  A shout of triumph escaped his lips as he rounded the bend in the cliff. The final rays of daylight shone on a hole that disappeared into darkness. A cave!

  He crouched at the entrance, keen eyes scanning the shadows. Thick, all-consuming obscurity filled the cave. Instinct screamed at him to flee; who knew what lay within.

  The Hunter pushed the nagging worry aside. I'd take a horde of bloodthirsty demons over that biting wind any day!

  He didn't bother with the heavy sword on his back. He doubted he'd have much room to wield it. Besides, Soulhunger will serve far better.

  The dagger slid from its sheath with a whisper of steel on leather. A quiet presence throbbed in the back of his mind. Soulhunger, the dagger gifted to him by his Abiarazi ancestors, had fed on the blood of the guilty Hrandari. He'd silenced its demands, for now. The insistence would return--it always did. Now, if only that accursed demon would shut up as well!

  After a day of shrieking wind, the silence of the cave felt…eerie. The screeching in his mind only made it worse. A primal terror set his heart hammering against his ribs, twisting his stomach in knots. Tightening his grip on Soulhunger's hilt, he drew in a deep breath, then another. The rush of blood in his ears made it impossible to hear anything.

  He crept deeper into the cave, clenching his fists to stop his hands from trembling. I'm just exhausted, he told himself. The Hunter is never afraid!

  A low rumble echoed through the cave. The Hunter froze, not daring to move. It came again, and again. The steady, rhythmic sound was almost like…snoring? The scent of dried blood and wet fur filled the cavern.

  One hand on the cave wall, he slithered forward, soft-soled boots silent on stone. Warmth emanated from the cavern ahead. The rumbling grew louder with every step.

  His heart sank as he realized the source of the sound. A Keeper-damned Yathi Brumal bear. He'd heard of the massive omnivores that lived high in the Yathi Mountains. The tales had painted them as sleeping giants, but woe to the unwary mountaineer who entered their demesne.

  Crouching, he pondered his next move. If he made no sound, he could retreat without alerting the bear to his presence. He dreaded a night huddled at the mouth of the cave, but at least he'd be out of the wind. A fight in the dark would be terribly one-sided, and not in his favor.

  He shuffled away from the slumbering creature as quietly as he could, but his heel struck something. He toppled backward and the crash of steel on stone reverberated through the cave. He scrambled to his feet in a heartbeat, slipping the pack from his shoulders, but the damage was done.

  The rumble
turned to a low, dangerous growl, accompanied by the sound of massive paws thudding toward him. Acting on instinct, the Hunter threw himself to the side. His head slammed into the cave wall, and spots of light danced in the darkness.

  Enormous claws slashed his face, carving deep furrows. The Hunter screamed in agony. Hot blood gushed from the wound. He staggered beneath the impact of the blow, waving Soulhunger before him in desperate panic. A huge paw struck his hand, knocking the dagger from his grip and snapping his wrist. Another scream burst from the Hunter's lips.

  With his left hand, he fumbled for the long sword on his back. Before he could draw, a massive furry body slammed into him, hurling him from his feet. He crashed into stone and slumped to his hands and knees. A roar thundered through the cave, and the scent of the predator filled his world. Something struck the side of his head with the force of a charging horse, knocking him to the ground. An immense weight pressed on his chest, and his ribs creaked. Agony raced through every muscle in his body. His uninjured left hand was trapped beneath him; only his right hand was free. Pain flared through his shattered wrist as the bone healed, but not fast enough. He had seconds before the bear ripped him to shreds.

  A memory of terror slammed into him. A rust-colored bear emerged from its den, transformed into a slavering, snarling thing of nightmare. Dark eyes locked on to the man, the creature's paw slapped the ground. Mouth open, fangs bared, its pink mouth contrasted with blood-red fur.

  The bear's scent mixed lust and rage, overpowering the man. Claws and fangs backed by prodigious strength sought his flesh. Trembling fingers gripped a makeshift weapon. Human eyes locked on to beast's. Intelligence no longer burned in the bear's eyes; only maddening need remained.

  He was trapped in the Chasm of the Lost once more. Sensations washed over him: the reek of blood and lust, the brilliant shine of crimson rocks, the overwhelming dread.

  Fear flashed through him. The brute towered over him, weighed four times as much, with strength enough to tear limb from limb. He fled the death hunting him.

  Now, pinned to the ground by the enormous beast, he had no way to flee. Death had found him.

  Hero of Darkness (Book 4):

  Darkblade Seeker

  The price of truth is blood and death

  The Sage and the Warmaster. Names whispered by dying lips, the true power controlling the demons hiding among mankind.

  And now, the Hunter has climbed the highest mountain peak to put an end to their reign. Facing a secret sect of professional torturers and the descendants of a long-dead race, his skills as an assassin will be put to the ultimate test.

  But the twin temples of Kara-ket harbor more than just his enemies. Built by a long-dead race, they house secrets that could not only give him the answers he seeks, but unleash a whirlwind of chaos and bloodshed across their world.

  He must make a choice: will he obtain the answers he seeks at any cost, or sacrifice himself for the sake of those who rejected him?

  Fans of Joe Abercrombie, Brandon Sanderson, and Brent Weeks will love the Hunter…

  More Books by Andy Peloquin

  Queen of Thieves

  Book 1: Child of the Night Guild

  Book 2: Thief of the Night Guild

  Book 3: Queen of the Night Guild

  Traitors’ Fate (Queen of Thieves/Hero of Darkness Crossover)

  Hero of Darkness

  Book 1: Darkblade Assassin (May 29th)

  Book 2: Darkblade Outcast (June 5th)

  Book 3: Darkblade Protector (June 19th)

  Book 4: Darkblade Seeker (July 10th)

  Book 5: Darkblade Slayer (August 7th)

  Book 6: Darkblade Savior (September 4th)

  Different, Not Damaged: A Short Story Collection

  Try This Prequel Story!

  The Hunter of Voramis does not forgive or forget. But his thirst for vengeance against a deceitful client could lead to consequences far graver than he realizes.

  Sign up for my VIP Reader List

  and get the prequel short story for free!

  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, the Destroyer, Breaker of Worlds: evil god, seeks to destroy the world

  Darkblade Protector Characters

  (in order of appearance/mention)

  The Hunter of Voramis/Hardwell: legendary assassin, half-demon, wielder of Soulhunger (Chapter 1)

  Sirkar Jeroen: caravan master, warrior, lover. (Chapter 1)

  Bristan: sergeant-at-arms of the caravan guards, stalwart, slain by the Hunter. (Chapter 1)

  Ayden: healer traveling with the caravan, slain by a bandit’s iron lance. (Chapter 1)

  Kellen: fresh-faced caravan guard, great hero (in his own mind), inexperienced (Chapter 1)

  Graden: caravan guard, stoic, friendly in his own silent way (Chapter 1)

  Hailen: child cared for by the Beggar Priests, innocent to an extreme (Chapter 1)

  Father Pietus: High Beggar Priest in Malandria, very old, slain by the Hunter in Darkblade Outcast (Chapter 2)

  Toramin: demon in human flesh, murderer, slain by the Hunter in Darkblade Outcast (Chapter 2)

  Garanis: Illusionist Cleric, demon in disguise, controlling Father Pietus, slain by the Hunter in Darkblade Outcast (Chapter 2)

  Lady Damuria: noblewoman of Voramis, the Hunter’s sometime lover, tried to murder him in Darkblade Assassin (Chapter 2)

  Celicia: Fourth of the Bloody Hand, former enemy turned ally in the battle against the Demon of Voramis in Darkblade Assassin, really named Kiara (Chapter 2)

  Bardin: former Illusionist Cleric, homeless madman, very bald, slain by the demon Toramin in Darkblade Outcast (Chapter 3)

  Imperius: priest of the Illusionist Cleric charged with erasing the Hunter’s memories, totally insane (introduced Chapter 2, named in Chapter 42)

  Jemdara: leader of the Silk Dancers, bodyguard and enforcers for Imperius, vicious with a silk scarf, slain by the Hunter (Chapter 2)

  Mistr
ess Arna: proprietress of The Brazen Fox inn, motherly figure, cares for Hailen (Chapter 3)

  Branna: Mistress Arna’s daughter, Hailen’s new friend (Chapter 3)

  Saul: stableboy at The Brazen Fox (Chapter 3)

  Elivast: chestnut-colored horse, friendly, very wet nose (Chapter 3)

  Natania: wife of Ayden the healer, kind to the Hunter (Chapter 4)

  Lord Knight Moradiss: knight in service to the Beggar Priests, commander of the Cambionari of Malandria, wielder of Ildaris, slain by the Hunter in Darkblade Outcast (Chapter 6)

  Eileen: Natania and Ayden’s daughter, same age as Hailen, died from illness and exhaustion after being captured by Il Seytani’s bandits (Chapter 7)

  Allon: caravan’s chef, can turn stone and sand into a feast fit for kings when in the right mood (Chapter 8)

  Gwen: young woman, beaten and abused by Rill, secretly in love with Bristan (Chapter 8)

  Rill: mean-tempered bastard, tentmaker, abusive to Gwen, ugly pudding-face, slain by the Hunter (Chapter 8)

  Udell: Rill’s companion, drunkard, murders Wrenna in a drunken rage, slain by the Hunter (Chapter 8)

  Ashurr, Rylin, Siennen, Tairn, Railley: caravan guards

  Il Seytani: legendary bandit roaming the desert of the Twelve Kingdoms, leader of the Whirlwind Horde, consummate businessman, cruel, slain by the Hunter (first mentioned in Chapter 9, first appearance in Chapter 18)

  Wrenna: kindly old woman, makes a meal bowl of oatmeal, slain by Udell (Chapter 10)

  Marin: friendly old gentleman traveling with the caravan, too kind to children, pedophile, slain by the Hunter (Chapter 10)