Val looked down at the white and blue fire burning in the hearth and felt grief constrict his chest.
“Val,” Floriana intruded upon his thoughts. “Do you still wear it?”
Val glanced up at her, frowning. “Wear what?”
“The amulet your mother gave you.”
Val felt a jolt of surprise. He had worn the necklace for so long that, of late, he had forgotten about it. He reached under his shirt and pulled the amulet free.
“Can you read the runes on the back?” she asked.
Val nodded, feeling a surge of pride as he did so. It had taken him days to decipher the runes, using a book from the depths of Tarrancrest’s library. The parchment had been so old that many pages risked crumbling in his hands. Eventually, he had cracked it.
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.”
Floriana smiled. “Yes, well done. Do you know what it means?”
Val’s momentary surge of confidence faded and he shook his head. “I have no idea – is it a riddle?”
“Yes, of a kind,” Floriana smiled. “Come, dusk is approaching and I must show you something. Once you’ve seen it, you might understand.”
Confused, Val followed Floriana to the back of her cave. Before them was a narrow archway, with a steep stone staircase leading upwards.
“Follow me.”
Val followed Floriana’s lithe, transparent figure up the steps. The wraith moved silently; the only sound was that of Val’s boots scraping on the rough stone. The steps were steep and the ceiling so low that Val had to bend double to avoid hitting his head. Up and up they went, so high and so far that eventually Val’s blood roared in his ears and his heart hammered against his ribs. His twisted ankle throbbed. Drenched in sweat, he paused a moment to catch his breath.
Eventually, the pair emerged onto a narrow platform. An icy wind fanned against Val’s heated skin. When he cast his gaze out across the view, his breath stopped.
From this high up, it appeared as if the whole world spread out beneath him. The ledge wrapped around the tip of a snow-capped mountain peak. Val edged around it, keeping his back close to the ice wall. To the south and the north, he could see marching rows of the tips of the High Dragon Spines; and to the east the blanket of red tussock and rolling hills that merged with a hazy horizon. To the west he saw, for the first time ever, the emerald carpet of Westhealm; a vast forest that stretched from the western foothills of the High Dragon Spines to the shores of the Tarquinian Sea.
“Look,” Floriana glided towards Val and motioned to the west, “you can even see the Citadel of Lies from here.”
It was true – there in the distance, its gleaming spires catching the light of the setting sun, the Citadel sparkled like a rare jewel.
“It’s beautiful,” Val murmured. “I never knew the world looked like this from above.”
Floriana smiled. “It’s quite a sight, but that’s not why I have brought you up here. Look at the sunset Val – just don’t stare directly at the sun or you’ll damage your eyes.”
Val obeyed. The sun was near to sliding behind the rim of the world; a bolus of fire that reflected off the sea. As Val watched, a sliver of black appeared at one edge of the sun. Slowly, inexorably, the darkness swallowed the sun.
Val gasped. “The eclipse!”
The world plunged into darkness, and even the Citadel of Lies no longer shone. Val shivered and pulled his cloak close. He glanced across at Floriana but she was still watching the eclipse, her face a smooth mask.
A sliver of gold re-appeared at the sun’s rim. Gradually, the black disc moved off the sun’s face and light bathed the land once more.
“Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth,” Floriana turned to Val. “You’ve seen the sun and the moon. Now, what of the truth?”
“Is it the Citadel of Lies?” Val looked across at the twinkling spires. “Maybe it is there that truth lies”
“Perhaps. Or it could refer to the eclipse itself, as a harbinger of a new age – one of truth.”
Val glanced back at where the sun had almost set. “There are those who believe an eclipse is an ill-omen,” he said.
Floriana shrugged. “Folk believe many things. You can choose whether or not to listen to them.”
Val watched her; his mind wheeled and his head ached.
“Come Val,” Floriana glided away from him, towards the stairs. “You have seen enough. Now you must rest. I will take you to your friends at dawn.
Val needed no further encouragement. He stepped off the ledge and followed Floriana down the long stairs, back to her cavern. Limping heavily, he stumbled over to the cushions and, not even bothering to take off his cloak or boots, stretched out across them. After several nights of sleeping rough, this bed felt fit for a lord. Within moments, sleep had dragged him down into its embrace.
***
The faint glow of dawn was appearing in the east, a pale gold shimmer through the encircling mist, when Floriana DeSanith led Val Falkyn to Captain Tobin and Lady Cirinna’s campsite.
“They have been searching for you,” she told him as they approached the two sleeping figures by the side of the Spine Road. The embers of last night’s fire smoked between them and the outlines of three horses were visible close by. Val felt a surge of relief that his roan had found the others.
Floriana turned to Val then, and fixed him in a gaze that made his skin prickle. This woman, for all her beauty, was as strong and formidable as the High Dragon Spines themselves.
“I suggest you tell them nothing of our meeting, and do not trust either of them. The captain is loyal to Realmlord Kaur above anyone else and, even though her father has sold her without a second thought, the girl still craves her father’s love,” Floriana advised.
Val nodded, his mind still spinning after all he had seen and heard since meeting Floriana.
“I must retrieve the Blood Stone,” he returned Floriana’s gaze and patted the breast pocket of his leather waistcoat where he had tucked away the note and the lock of Floriana’s hair, “and bring your body back to this world.”
Floriana nodded. “Take care in the Citadel, for it is an ancient place with many secrets.”
Val pulled his cloak tight around him. The chill of these mountains penetrated his very soul. He did trust Floriana DeSanith, largely because he had little other choice, but also because she had been his mother’s friend. His choices in life had suddenly become very limited and Floriana was a bright beacon; a pathway out of the dark.
A sense of purpose replaced Val’s despair. Floriana had charged him with a task and he was eager not to disappoint her. As if reading his thoughts, Floriana smiled. The smile caused the edges of her eyes to crinkle and for the first time Val saw no sadness there.
“So short was our meeting Val,” Floriana reached out and stroked his face. Val felt a cool whisper caress his skin as she touched him. “I knew you would pass this way one day and I have had no choice but to wait. Now, I must wait again.”
“I will not fail you,” Val replied with a stab of empathy – it must be a lonely existence up here in the cold mountains with only unhappy spirits for company.
“You must not fail,” Floriana replied, her voice low and urgent. She left him then, her pale form dissolving into the mist.
His left cheek still tingling from where she had touched him, Val turned and viewed the sleeping figures of Captain Roth Tobin and Lady Cirinna Kaur.
It had only been a day since they had parted but Val felt as if years divided them. His encounter with Floriana DeSanith had completely altered his perspective. Lady Cirinna's disdain and Captain Tobin's disrespect no longer bothered Val – he now understood things they did not. When the time came for his disposal, he would be ready for them.
Crouching at the edge of the campsite, Val reached out and gently shook Lady Cirinna's shoulder. “Milady.”
Her eyes opened and she stared up at him. Relief flooded across her
face.
“Where have you been? We've searched the road twice!”
“Falkyn!” Captain Tobin sat up and threw off his covers. “What idiot games have you been playing? You have made us lose precious time.”
“I fell from my horse and knocked my head. When I awoke I set off to find you.”
“We searched the road,” Tobin growled, getting to his feet and squinting into the mist. “You must have hidden from us.”
“I told you. I was knocked out. I awoke next to the road so I find it surprising you did not see me. The mist must have tricked your eyes.”
The captain glared at Val. He did not believe him but lacked evidence to back up his suspicions. Lady Cirinna got up and brushed off her cloak before stepping forward to examine the purple swelling on Val's forehead.
“Are you fit to travel?”
“He's travelling, whether or not he wants to,” the captain cut in. “Saddle your horses.”
Val turned his back on Tobin and went to the roan, stroking the horse's neck affectionately. While the others packed up, Val saddled the roan and was the first to be ready to leave.
“How much further till we cross these accursed mountains,” Lady Cirinna asked Tobin. “Surely we must be almost at the pass by now.”
“The Spine Pass is around half a day's ride away. It will take a day to ride through it, and another three down the other-side of the mountains before we reach Westhealm,” the captain replied.
Upon those words, the small party resumed its journey up the Spine Road, into the heart of the High Dragon Spines. The first rays of sun peeked through the mist and took the edge off the bone-numbing chill. The last to move off, Val twisted in his saddle and glanced behind him.
There, merging with the pale fog, he could have sworn he saw the glowing silver outline of a beautiful woman, watching him go.
About the Author
Sam J. Charlton is an author of epic fantasy adventures. Her novels are character-driven, coming of age stories that take place in richly drawn fantasy worlds. Fast-paced, and full of memorable characters, her books are for anyone who loves traditional epic fantasy.
Sam also publishes Historical and Fantasy Romance under the pen-name, Jayne Castel. Her Epic Fantasy Romance, Ruled by Shadows is now available on Amazon. Find out more at: www.jaynecastel.com/fantasy
Two of Sam's novels: Journey of Shadows, and The Children of Isador, were shortlisted for the Sir Julius Vogel Awards.
PUBLISHED WORKS:
The Children of Isador
The Palâdnith Chronicles:
Journey of Shadows (Book 1)
The Citadel of Lies (Book 2)
The Well of Secrets (Book 3)
Sam lives in New Zealand's South Island, where she works as a freelance copy writer.
Find out more about Sam's books at her website: www.samanthacharlton.com
Did you enjoy Journey of Shadows? Independent authors rely on you, the reader, to let others know you liked a book! Please leave an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads so that other readers can find it – thank you!
Seth, Eni and Val’s story continues in The Citadel of Lies (Book Two of the Palâdnith Chronicles). Will they escape their hunters? Will they be reunited? And what lies in store for them in the mysterious Citadel of Lies?
Purchase a The Citadel of Lies on Amazon (Kindle or paperback editions both available) now to continue the adventure.
And in the meantime, here is the Prologue for you to enjoy!
The
Citadel
of
Lies
Book Two of the Palâdnith Chronicles
Sam J. Charlton
Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact.
Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.
Marcus Aurelius
Prologue
The Messenger
“My Queen, I bring news.”
The voice rasped, breaking the endless silence.
“Obviously, or you wouldn’t be here. Tell me, have my servants succeeded?”
The woman’s gaze slid over the ravaged creature that bowed before her. Like the others, he would serve her till she chose to free him. Although she could not communicate directly with the four she had sent out through the portal, the others here could share their thoughts. They were one entity, the keepers – and now they served only her.
The keeper before her cringed and stepped back from his mistress before replying.
“The brothers still elude their hunters.”
The woman frowned. “How is that possible?” she enunciated each word carefully, as if speaking to a half-wit. How have three creatures, bred for one purpose only, failed me?”
“They have not failed you yet mistress. The youngest of the three brothers escaped on horseback. He travelled inland and entered the Valley of the Tors, where the Malwagen took him captive. There, your servant could not reach him. He managed to escape the sprites, and his hunter has now tracked him to Mirfaran. The assassin sent after the weaponsmith travelled to Catedrâl, only to find his quarry three days gone – he now tracks him through the Rocklands towards Tarras. The eldest brother survived two attacks during his journey west, before he met with Floriana DeSanith on the road across the High Dragon Spines. She has given him courage and purpose.”
The messenger’s voice trailed off then, watching as his mistress’s face grew thunderous.
“I gave my own blood to create those creatures,” she hissed, her eyes narrowing into slits, “and they cannot catch three unsuspecting and untrained men!”
“There is still time my Queen! Your servants close in, even as we speak. They will not fail you.”
The woman clenched her fists and waited for her murderous rage to pass.
“They had better not. What news of my fourth servant. Has he found it yet?”
“Not yet, my Queen. He searches still, but it has been hidden well.”
“Over two decades in that place and still no closer to retrieving it – I am very disappointed in you all.”
The servant quivered, but wisely kept silent.
The woman waved him away.
“Leave me. I cannot stand the sight of any of you!”
The messenger shuffled back, bowing so low that his knuckles scraped on the damp stone. Relieved to have survived the encounter, the creature stepped onto a rope bridge that creaked under his weight, and hurried away.
Riadamor, Queen of Moden sighed. She suddenly felt old and weary beyond description. She looked about her with disdain. What a foul domain she ruled. Three decades of residence in this wretched prison had not made her accept her fate.
She stood on the stone platform; the very place she and Belythna had awoken on the day of their arrival. It was the portal into Moden but in thirty years there had been no other newcomers – they had been the last.
In reality, the platform on which she stood was the flat top of a rock pillar that rose from the centre of the abyss and anchored a network of rope bridges. It was a solitary island of stone in an empty sea, and five paces from one side to the other.
Riadamor circled the platform, her long silver gown rustling as she strode. With Belythna dealt with – imprisoned in one of the many cells that lined the cavern walls – time stretched out with agonising slowness. Moden held her in stasis. She did not need to eat or sleep; she would never grow old or die. The boredom of her existence had almost broken her but still she fought it.
I will not be defeated.
The witch knelt then and placed her hands on the cold stone beneath her feet.
I came into Moden through this stone, and I will never stop searching for a way out.
More Epic Fantasy by Sam J. Charlton
The Citadel of Lies
(Book Two of the Palâdnith Chronicles)
Three brothers. Three assassins. One destination.
In the dark forests of Westhealm lies the fabled Citadel of Lies.
Seth, Eni and Val Falkyn travel towards it - and
towards an uncertain future.
Val must retrieve the Blood Stone, a powerful charm that can open a way to Moden, the magical underworld prison.
He must free Floriana DeSanith - the only person who can train the brothers in the ways of the Sentorân.
Yet another, more powerful, artefact lies within the Citadel of Lies.
In the wrong hands, it could destroy the world.
Three assassins stalk the brothers. Seth, Eni and Val must die before they reach the Citadel.
Before they discover the truth.
To read The Citadel of Lies by Sam J. Charlton, visit the Kindle Store and purchase a copy today.
The Well of Secrets
(Book Three of the Palâdnith Chronicles)
The last chapter in an epic fantasy adventure begins…
The Well of Secrets (Book Three of the Palâdnith Chronicles) is a tale of adventure, discovery, fear and courage. It's the story of three men, and the legacy that binds them.
Seth, Eni and Val Falkyn stand at a crossroads. The Citadel of Lies now lies behind them and the Collar of Jade is lost.
Floriana DeSanith convinces the brothers that in order to gain the skills they need to rescue their mother from Moden, they must first become Sentorân. Reluctantly, the brothers return home to Barrowthorne, to begin their training – a decision that they eventually come to regret.
Journey of Shadows (The Palâdnith Chronicles Book 1) Page 23
