Dakota Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Well, since 2004 I have been working on a 5 part fantasy series. The first book is finished and I'm trying to find a publisher when I have time. Here's a small snippet, enjoy! Portion of the Ending of Book Two of The Twin Blade Chronicles The night skies were eerily quiet over the dark citadel of Vantaleth, the fortress of the Dark Lord’s number one servant. Since the disappearance of Imrith’s Heir on the battlefields of northern Farnenwaith, Mornon had made the citadel His base of operations in the continued search for the young king. Tensions were high among the renegade Riders, as they were His number one way of searching. If they found him they would be rewarded, but if the search came up empty their punishment would be unimaginable. On this night, the majority of the Riders were in the Far South, terrorizing the nomadic tribes of the southern deserts in their search for the missing Rider and his dragon. Little did they know that they need not have searched far from home; Talnor and a contingent of followers were huddled against the feet of the towering outer wall of the dark city at that very moment. The small contingent with him was made up of Vantamar, Buenen, Antanar, Celdon, Tarthenon and several others. Tarthenon had brought half a dozen Tarnosian swordsmen with him from the isle and Antanar had a few of the finest Perthian mounted archers and shield men under his command. With Celdon had come Talnor’s Elven half brothers, Rorik and Orious, who wielded long bows of yew and two handed Elvish long swords, several fauns armed with finely crafted fencing sabers, and the three eldest sons of the centaur Forebane. The later wore breastplates of fine silver and each wore two perilous long swords strapped to either side of their chestnut flanks; across their backs were slung minotaur horn bows and a quiver of arrows each. This contingent did not intend to do outright battle, but had another purpose; to slay Mornon’s number one servant, Beren the Sorcerer. As the rest stood on guard, Talnor, Vantamar, Tarthenon, Buenen, Antanar, Celdon, the Elven brothers and the centaurs held council together. Each one was thinking the same thing. “How are we going to go about this?” asked Tarthenon, turning to Talnor and the wizard. “Please tell me you thought about this beforehand!” “Celdon has an idea,” nodded Talnor. “I think it might work, but I’ll let him tell you. You have the floor, Celdon.” The Elf bowed his head to Talnor, placing his hand on his sternum as a sign of respect. “Thank you, my lord, as you all know there is no way in to the citadel that is not guarded. Not with a thousand men could we breach the gate. It is heavily protected by more than just archers; spells are woven into the very grain of the wood and metal used in building it. Nay, an outright assault is not the answer.” “Then what do you propose we do, Elf?” retorted Tarthenon, clearly irritated at Celdon’s words. “You will do well to hold your tongue, Tarthenon,” Talnor spoke quietly. “The Elves are powerful folk, perilous and ancient, full of light, song and history. The Elves are to be respected and revered, for they are the Eldest. You do not realize who you are in the presence of, my friend. I am High Lord Talnor Anarion Aglaron Telemundar III and Narmacil II at once, Lord of Men and a direct descendant of Feor Elven King; the blood of Wood Elves and High Elves flow in my veins. I, here and now, claim the High Kingship of Elvendom, Wood Elves and High Elves alike.” “Forgive me, my lord,” Tarthenon averted his gaze from Talnor, his face turning a deep shade of red. “I was out of line.” Talnor’s face remained firm as he motioned for the Elf to continue. “I propose we climb the walls; Rorik, Orious and I can easily climb up the wall to the ramparts. Once the coast is clear, we can sneak down and quietly open the gate and raise the portcullis. Once that is achieved, the main contingent can enter and we can proceed to the citadel and enter when the time presents itself. From what I have heard from Vantamar, there are a few alleys where we might be able to conceal ourselves.” Buenen had stayed quiet until this point, listening to the council of those around him. There was just one flaw that he could see in this plan and it was a big one. “This is all good, friends, but how are we going to be able to hide nearly two score of us is an alley? This is not logical.” “We need not worry about that, Buenen,” interrupted Vantamar. “As soon as the guards find the gate open and the portcullis raised they will report immediately to the citadel and then, when the citadel portcullis is raised, we can overpower anyone in the area and continue on into the courtyard.” “What of the dragon?” asked Antanar, turning to the wizard. “How are we going to get by him?” “Don’t you worry about the dragon, leave him to me,” Vantamar replied. “He will be contained in the Dragon Hold on the top of the fortress. When we enter the courtyard I will go up the wall stairs and make my way through the labyrinth of halls and stairs to the top. I have been there before.” At this the group fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts, some wondering what the wizard meant. A half hour may have passed before Talnor looked up towards the night sky. “We must go now, before the night gets any older. If this is to work we must act silently and swift. May the blessings of Yulivatar be with us all.” With a quick nod, Celdon and the brothers shot up the wall with unmatched speed as Talnor, Vantamar, Tarthenon, Buenen and the centaurs gathered up the rest of the contingent to prepare to enter the city. A soft whistle echoed off the walls from the ramparts above, and Talnor motioned for the others to stay close in the shadows of the wall; goblins were patrolling that stretch of the parapets. Vantamar stood quietly against the wall on Talnor’s left; he took the chance to whisper something in Talnor’s ear. “You know I don’t think Tarthenon should be here on this mission. He could jeopardize our only opportunity to slay Beren.” “Vantamar, he more than proved himself in Tarnos. He is a capable fighter and I trust him with this mission. Why are you so hesitant in admitting his quality? He has nothing but the wellbeing of Aregeon in mind!” “How dare you! That is not the point; I have no question of his quality. It’s just-“ “-just what, Vantamar? Look, I have no time for this. The gate is opening; we can talk about this afterwards.” “No we cannot!” “Why not?” “It’s…it’s complicated!” “Well, when you can make things uncomplicated let me know! In the meantime, I have a mission to complete.” As Talnor walked away, Vantamar stood there sadly shaking his head. “Mark my words, Talnor; you will live to regret this decision.” Once the gate was opened and the portcullis raised, Talnor, Buenen, Antanar and Tarthenon immediately snuck through, bows drawn at the ready. At a nod from Talnor, the Perthian and Tarnosian swordsmen came next, followed by the fauns and then the centaur brothers. Vantamar came through last, sword shining cold and pale in the moonlight. Celdon and the brothers soon joined them with a graceful leap from the ramparts down to the cobblestone street below. The city was quiet; it looked like the people who had populated the city deserted it long ago. The houses were ragged and unkempt, garbage, rotten food and feces were everywhere. In the midst of the city was the citadel of Vantaleth, rising like a black ugly cavity from the rows of houses that eerily resembled jagged and unkempt teeth. A terrible stench filled the air hovering above the city; death, the one thing that could level the playing field on both sides of the equation. Barik, Forebane’s eldest, halted them, sniffing the air and listening to a faint voice on the wind. “Once we reach the citadel we must hide as soon as possible, I fear they have noticed our entrance and are coming. They stink of fear and anger and will soon be on our heels in hot pursuit.” “Quick! We must hurry!” nodded Talnor. As they continued to make their way through the city the brothers drew their bows, watching the path behind them for any sign of their enemies. The faint sound of iron shod shoes on rough hewn stone could be heard moving at a fast clip behind them. As the sound of voices began to get steadily louder, Talnor motioned them to enter what looked like an abandoned storage area connected to the outside portion of the citadel wall. Just as the brothers entered into the building, a contingent of goblins could be seen running squat legged up the road towards the citadel. “You know the plan,” said Talnor. “Once they enter the citadel, we strike and fast! Be ready to move on my signal.” “Hoi, Lardugh,” a rough voice rang out from the citadel wall above. “Is that your lot?” “Raise the bloody grate! We have news for the Sorcerer; the gate was found open by my lot just now! Either somebody ‘scaped or someone’s in the city tha’s not s’pposed to.” The sound of chains grating against gears filled the company’s ears as the portcullis slowly raised, revealing the empty courtyard beyond. At the sound of the continued march of the goblins, Talnor waved his hand forward, signaling the others to move forward. As the last goblin crossed the threshold of the citadel, Talnor’s contingent rushed forth from their hiding place. The Perthians and the centaurs fired a quick volley, followed by Talnor, Tarthenon, Buenen, Antanar and the Elves. The goblins were caught off guard and were completely annihilated with a finishing volley. The Tarnosian swordsmen and fauns were the last to come through the gate way. In the chaos and confusion, Vantamar made his way swiftly up the wall stairs towards the Dragon Hold. Taking two different stair cases on either side of the courtyard, the contingent stormed the citadel slaying anyone in their path. Goblins, eraki, minotaurs and men alike fell before the mixed company’s onslaught. As they entered the inner courtyard, a small group of goblins had banded together and were now struggling to maintain possession of the courtyard. Talnor was about to order the archers to fire when he spied Beren and his bodyguard of heavily armed minotaurs mount the ramparts overhead. Following right behind them were three score Vandorim archers who proceeded to take positions along the ramparts surrounding the courtyard below. There was no sign of Vantamar to be seen, though Talnor could hear the roar of a dragon echoing from the Dragon Hold above. It was then that it hit Talnor; they had walked into a trap, Vantamar had sensed something all along. “Retreat,” he yelled. “Back to the main courtyard, don’t let them cut us off!” As the swordsmen withdrew, the bowmen shuffled to the rear to pick off any followers and exchange arrows with the enemy archers struggling to keep up. The sound of metal grating and gears reached their ears the moment they entered the outer courtyard. “Quick,” exclaimed Barik. “The portcullis is lowering! We must hurry if we are to avoid a massacre.” On the walls above the portcullis was the crank that operated it. Four short goblins were struggling laboriously to lower it; the brothers spotted them and raced to stop them as the rest of the company hurried to escape. The goblins noticed and began hacking the thick chain with their short scimitars. With four short strokes the goblins were no more and the brothers worked furiously at the crank, trying to raise it and allow for the escape of their friends. As the others ran down the wall steps, Tarthenon and Talnor stopped to aid the brothers, their enemies not far behind them. Barik was already at the portcullis, striving to hold it so that the others could go through. No one was willing to go and leave the others behind, however. “Talnor, what are you thinking?” exclaimed Buenen, as he slew a goblin with a well aimed arrow. “They will capture you!” “Buenen, Antanar, go!” Talnor replied, swinging his sword in anticipation of the coming skirmish. “Leave me! Save yourselves, I will try to join up with you later!” Barik groaned under the weight of the portcullis saying, “There is not much time, I do not know how much longer I will be able to hold this.” Talnor turned to the passageway in front of him, black shapes of eraki, goblins and behind them, Beren’s body guard, pouring forth. Talnor deflected a bolt from an eraki crossbow with a flick of his blade, there was not much time. Where was Vantamar? He had to be along soon, but there was no time to be worrying about the wizard. From the courtyard below, the centaurs and bowmen poured shafts into the passageway entrance. “Buenen,” Talnor exclaimed. “Go! That is an order as your king!” Firing a last shaft, Buenen was rewarded with a screech of pain from somewhere inside the passageway. Already, several Vandorim archers were scuttling along the ramparts to get a good shot at those fleeing. “Go!” exclaimed Barik. Only Antanar, Buenen and a few Perthian swordsmen had made it out into the city streets when three poisoned and barbed black arrows pierced Barik’s chestnut flank. With a loud groan Barik fell, letting go of the portcullis. With a sickening thud, the portcullis fell on the centaur’s lifeless body, trapping the remaining contingent in the courtyard. “No!” yelled Buenen, trying vainly to lift the heavy metal grate from the poor creature’s body. “Buenen, go!” The two remaining centaurs snorted with anger, their ivory horn bows breaking in their clenched fists. Each drew their swords and charged up the parapet steps to avenge their elder brother. Behind them were the fauns with their sabers and the swordsmen of Perth and Tarnos. Joined by Talnor, Tarthenon, Celdon and the brothers, the centaurs in their wrath drove their enemies all the way back into the inner courtyard. Though they slew many, the moment they entered the inner courtyard the double doors of the passageway slammed shut behind them. Immediately enemy bows twanged and several amongst the company fell to the deadly arrows of the Vandorim bowmen. The centaurs, Celdon, the brothers, Tarthenon and Talnor charged up the steps, hacking their way even into Beren’s minotaur guards. Talnor, Celdon and the brothers got separated from the centaurs and Tarthenon during the melee...uh-oh...CLIFF HANGER!!!!! :D:D Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 will it be a book on tape as well??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TennesseeTurkey Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 will it be a book on tape as well??? My thoughts exzactly ...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted March 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 lol I need to get it published in print first! :D:D So what do y'all think? Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 There might be hope for you yet, Dakota!!!:D:D Not bad, bud! Vandorim bowmen, huh.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted March 2, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 Vandorim bowmen, huh.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted March 2, 2009 Report Share Posted March 2, 2009 I'll have to read it when i get home from work. I take it it's not out on DVD yet? :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativetexan Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 Probably not a good idea to post that on an internet message board if you are looking to copyright it and publish it. Bad people are everywhere and someone could lay claim to it later even though it is your work. Until you can find someone to publish it, you can self publish at cafepress.com. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 How come I'm not in there ? :D That's awesome Dakota. When are they coming out with the movie ? :cool: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dakota Posted March 3, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 lol Thanks, Steve! Well, when I write, I write all five at once and think of not only what I want to read in a fantasy book, but also what I want to see an an action/adventure/fantasy movie. Dakota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted March 3, 2009 Report Share Posted March 3, 2009 D&D Nerd! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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