Path of Ruin

by Tim Paulson

  “If we can take back our home, there will be plenty of time for teaching the children, all of the children,” Giselle said, her hands on the table with its glowing symbols. She looked down to her right at the large basket packed with tiny bones, each with its own a green symbol. “You're sure you recovered every last one of these?” she asked for the tenth time.

  “Yes,” Aaron said.

  Giselle nodded. “Alright then.”

  Daniel gestured toward the skull symbol.

  “He says that once its activated there will be a delay of several hours. More than enough time for us to leave,” the baroness said.

  “It's a pity to lose this place and all it contains,” Aaron said.

  “Oh I wouldn't worry. There are other places like this. All is not lost,” the baroness said, patting her son in law on his shoulder.

  “Is that where we're going next? Another place like this?” Giselle asked as she pressed the skull button on the black console.

  “No dear, next we go home,” the baroness said, dark eyes hard like black iron. “We have to find Liam and I have a few other errands to accomplish first but now I have all of you to help me.”

  “What about the imperial army on its way? How will we stop them?” Aaron asked.

  “They don't worry me,” the baroness said.

  “What does?” Mia asked as a rumbling began beneath them.

  Daniel was waving his tentacles with some urgency.

  “We should get going,” the baroness said. “Does everyone have everything they need?”

  They all left through the rear entrance. It snaked out under the city through a long skeletal tunnel, finally emerging high on the hillside above.

  There they all watched as the illusory pines disappeared revealing the crumbled city in all its glory. Then, as suddenly as it appeared, the city began to dissolve, to break apart into nothing but sand and ash and dust. Even the great spire melted into nothing. Soon, it was as if it had never existed at all.

  As they set up their camp next to the cairn stones that evening Mia found the baroness again.

  “Baroness, you started to say what really worries you before. Will you tell me?”

  “Call me Christine, Mia. You've earned that right. More than that, you've earned my thanks.”

  Mia nodded. “Will you tell me?”

  Christine paused, thinking. “What really worries me Mia,” she said and opened her palm. Inside of it a tiny flame appeared and grew until it became an apple sized ball of orange fire. “Is that based on everything I know, Vex should have succeeded. I should not be able to do this.”

  “Isn't that good?” Mia asked.

  “I hope so,” she said.

  THE END

  Book two in this series coming soon!

  This space will be updated in further editions to include a link to the next book in the series so you can jump right into the next epic fantasy adventure for Mia, Giselle, Aaron, Christine, and all the rest.

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  I'll be getting an author website together very soon, including a blog where I'll vomit out my strange and convoluted thoughts and an email list so you too can be a part of the movement (and get updates about new projects, etc.) Stay tuned!

  In the meantime, if you're interested in fantasy, the elements story telling or dungeons and dragons check out the Castle of Ordeals Podcast where I join host Uncle Dogster weekly as writing and plot analyst.

  Thank you for reading!

  -Tim