Many of my readers have been requesting this book. Its coming, I promise in mid to late June. However the request has been so strong that I decided to give you all the first chapter.
Let me know what you think, enjoy.
CHAPTER ONE
Her little legs pumped as fast they could. She ran faster than any child should have been able to. Her simple dress was torn and soiled from running through the undergrowth of the forest. Her hair was loose and trailed behind her, whipping about as she turned in sudden changes of direction. Around her neck a heavy steel collar dug into her skin, leaving red welts and as tears streamed down her cheeks. She looked back several times, pausing as if listening to something on the wind. Then she would take off again at a dead run. She could hear them—they were getting closer. She crossed a small river, slid down a ravine and took off running as fast as she could, fear etched on her features.
Twenty seconds later, two figures appeared at the river.
“How did she get free, Hin?” said the first. He crouched down and touched the soil, lifting a pinch of it to his lips and tasting it. Nodding with satisfaction, he looked in the direction the little girl had run. They were dressed in black, tight-fitting gear. They wore masks that covered their faces, leaving only their eyes visible. Strapped to their thighs were short swords in their sheaths.
“I don’t know, Fen,” said Hin. “What I do know is that we have to get her back. Dead or alive.”
“She’s smart for one so young, almost threw me with her last switchback,” said Fen as he crouched, his back turned.
“Can you track her?”
The crouching figure narrowed his eyes and stared into the distance.
“I find it strange, Hin, that you wouldn’t know how she got free,” said Fen. “You know how important these Rah Ven dogs are to us. The young ones bring in the highest price.”
Hin looked away, taking his eyes off Fen and looked across the river.
“Maybe I will ask her after we catch the little dog,” said Fen. “You think she would share?” He sniffed the air. He had her scent locked in again.
“She is Rah Ven. You can’t trust those dogs,” said Hin.
“At least those words I know are true,” said Fen. “Let’s go before it gets light.” He took off running with Hin not far behind.
She was so intent on getting away that she didn’t hear the steps coming toward her. Some instinct warned her and at the last possible moment she veered away from the stranger that stood before her.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” said the stranger.
She stopped and took several steps back. Her deep yellow eyes shone with a feral intensity. She bared her teeth, showing tiny fangs. The stranger put his hands up in a symbol of surrender and slowly reached in his shirt to pull out a pendant. The silver fang glistened in the night. The little girl’s eyes widened in recognition.
“Rah Ven?” she said, sniffing the air.
“Friend,” said the stranger, placing his hand on his chest as he crouched down to her level.
His right arm was covered in silver lines which pulsed with a subdued light. She abruptly turned her head to look behind her, causing the stranger to look up and back from where she had come. His eyes lingered on the collar for several seconds. He recognized the glyphs that would prevent her transformation to canine form etched into the collar.
“Have you had any food?” he said.
He reached into his pack and showed her some meat. She snatched it so fast he barely had time to register the movement. She smelled it for a second before tearing off a piece. She started chewing as the stranger stood.
Placing a hand on his chest once again he looked at the little girl.
“Sylk,” he said pointing to himself. Then he pointed at her.
“Bree,” she said around a mouthful of meat.
She grew still and looked behind her.
“Someone coming, Bree?”
“Night man,” she said and pointed at her collar.
Sylk nodded. “You hide? Over there”—he signaled behind the trees—“you go there.”
She looked at him for a moment and then nodded. She entered a dense copse of small bushes and disappeared from sight. He could still sense her there and he knew her pursuers would find her if they were given enough time. He didn’t plan on giving them that time.
He stood still and waited. Two figures were silently running to his location. He could sense them before they came into view. They slowed when they saw him. They appeared to be two shadows in the night. The Mikai were masters of blending into the darkness.
Fen approached first. Behind him, Hin stood off to the right, his hand lightly resting on one of his swords.
“Peace, traveler. We are looking for my niece, who managed to wander away from our camp. Have you seen her?”
Sylk, who at that moment had been looking away, turned to face Fen.
“No, I’ve been travelling this road all night and I haven’t seen anyone,” he said.
He sensed the attack before it came, his sword materializing in his hand in time to parry Fen even as Hin came around the other side, drawing his swords. Fen stepped back and circled Sylk. Sylk turned keeping both Mikai in view as he palmed a dagger into his off hand.
“You are a poor liar, stranger,” said Fen.
“As are you,” said Sylk. “There is no ‘niece’.”
“He has it,” hissed Hin as he drew close. “Give us the little dog and we will make this fast.”
“What are you going to do with her?” said Sylk. He knew, but he wanted to make sure before ending them.
In response, Fen jumped into the air and disappeared as Hin slid forward, lunging with both swords. It was an attack designed to confuse and distract. On anyone else it may have worked. Sylk saw through the ruse, and realized the real attack came from above. Rushing forward to meet the lunging swords, Sylk threw the dagger at where he thought Fen would be. The grunt of pain let him know he hit his mark. Fen crashed to the ground behind him as he stopped Hin’s frontal attack from cutting him in two.
“What we do with our property is none of your concern,” said Hin as he locked swords with Sylk.
“I disagree,” said Sylk. “It is very much my concern.”
He turned and let Hin continue past him as he slashed at his legs. Hin leaped forward and landed in a roll avoiding the attack. Fen pulled the dagger out of his shoulder and began to advance, drawing his swords.
“You know who we are. You have just made this the last night you draw breath,” said Fen. “Only a fool would face us alone.”
Sylk took several steps back, keeping Fen and Hin in his line of sight.
“You are Mikai,” said Sylk. “The fearsome warriors of the night.”
“You know this and still you stand against us alone?” said Hin. “Have you grown tired of living?”
“I never said I was alone.”
Too late, Fen looked around only to see a sword punch its way through Hin’s chest. The next moment a sword was around his neck as a figure stepped out of camouflage. Hin spasmed on the ground as he drew his last breath. The night air was filled with the metallic scent of blood as Hin died. Sylk took a deep breath before looking at Fen.
“Luna, I need him alive,” said Sylk in a measured tone.
“How old was the Rah Ven you were chasing?” she hissed into Fen’s ear.
“Killing me will solve nothing. Others will come and the little dog will be—” His words were cut short as Luna dug her blade into his neck, drawing blood. Fen remained immobile.
“Who is overseeing this?” said Sylk. “Who is ordering the capture of Rah Ven young?”
“Do you think the Mikai do this for sport?” answered Fen. “This is done to prevent the Rah Ven from destroying us.”
“Who? Who is leading this?” said Sylk.
“We have heard of you, silver arm. The Mikai have eyes and ears everywhere. You are looking for answers in the wrong places. Go ask your precious Warriors of the Way who is behind this. Even the Mikai bend to his will,” said Fen.
“The Warriors?” said Sylk. “Tell me who.”
Fen remained silent, looking into Sylk’s eyes.
“He won’t answer, Sylk. Let me end him,” said Luna.
“There is a way,” said Sylk. “Just hold him still and I can find out.” The lines along his arm began to glow in the night.
Before Sylk could draw closer, Fen bit the inside of his cheek and in moments foam and blood erupted from his mouth, eyes and ears. Luna jumped back, letting him go. His body fell to the ground, rigid, every muscle straining.
“What the hell?” said Luna. She checked herself to make sure none of the blood had fallen on her.
Fen began convulsing and spewing more blood. A few seconds later, the snapping of his bones filled the night air. It was the last effect of the toxin and it broke his body into unnatural angles. He stopped breathing after that.
“That was unexpected,” said Sylk.
“Why did he mention the Warriors of the Way?” said Luna.
“Take Bree and see if you can find where they are holding the others, then return her to her parents. I will meet you at the circle of claws by nightfall.”
“How are the Warriors involved?” said Luna as she managed to get the young Rah Ven girl from her hiding place.
“I don’t know, but I will find out,” said Sylk as he opened a portal.
Let me know what you thought. The Fallen Warrior will be out in June of 2015. Leave your comments below!
