Transported to a cursed land, Ilien must seek and destroy the one thing that can never be destroyed. His only hope lies with a horribly deformed child he unknowingly maimed, and a mystical woman whose past is secretly entwined with his. If he succeeds, he may never see his home again. If he fails, he will forever be known as . . . the Necromancer.
Transported to a cursed land, Ilien must seek and destroy the one thing that can never be destroyed. His only hope lies with a horribly deformed child he unknowingly maimed, and a mystical woman whose past is secretly entwined with his. If he succeeds, he may never see his home again. If he fails, he will forever be known as . . . the Necromancer.
Excerpt
Night in the Desecration
“I don’t know,” answered Kale. His facial deformities pooled with shadows. “We should have been there by now. I think we passed it.”
“Passed it?” cried Rose, straightening. “How?”
Kale looked desperately around, then hung his head.
“What’s the big deal?” said Ilien. “We’ll turn around and go back.”
Rose took a deep breath to calm herself. “Okay. How far back is it?” she asked, her face strained in the wavering light of her magical flame.
“Too far, I think,” said Kale.
Rose clenched her hands into fists, eyes wide.
“What’s wrong?” asked Ilien, a growing panic building in his chest. “Can’t we camp right here?”
“Night in the Desecration is complete,” whispered Kale.
“That’s good,” said Ilien, looking from Rose to Kale. “It’ll cover our tracks. Right?”
Rose’s magical light flickered then dimmed. “Night in the Desecration is a death sentence.” She placed a trembling hand on Kale’s shoulder. “Unlike the Cyclops, the Onegod will not protect us.” She lifted Kale’s chin and stroked his malformed face, her eyes filled with sudden forgiveness. “It’s not your fault. I do not blame you.”
The air grew quickly darker, bringing with it a suffocating pressure. Ilien grabbed his chest. He looked around desperately. There was nowhere to escape.
Kale threw his arms around Rose as she gazed into her wavering flame. “No one has ever survived a night in the Desecration, Ilien. No one.”
The flame flickered once, then went out.
|
