Keeper of the Eye (The Eye of the Sword Book 1)
Read Keeper of the Eye (The Eye of the Sword Book 1) Online
Authors: Mark Shane
Tags: #wizard, #sword, #Fantasy, #love, #Adventure, #coming of age, #Prince
K
EEPER OF THE
E
YE
M
ARK
S
HANE
Keeper of the Eye
Copyright © 2016 by Mark Shane
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, distributed, stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes. If you are reading this book and you have not purchased it or won it in an author/publisher contest, this book has been pirated. Please delete and support the author by purchasing the eBook from one of its distributors.
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.
Published by Shane Publishing
ISBN-13: 978-1533329240
ISBN-10: 1533329249
Cover design by Howard David Johnson
To my readers, words cannot express my gratitude that you chose to read my work. I hope you enjoy the story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
To Anne, Margie, Holly, Pat, and Gerald for reading, re-reading, editing and shaping my writing. Words cannot express my gratitude. And to my family for encouraging me along the way.
Contents
P
ROLOGUE
: Endings and Beginnings
2. Strangers and Familiar Faces
With thunder and lightning, he will reign down destruction on his enemies. He will betray the hope of his people and rend the very ground they stand on. Yet, in his wake of pain and suffering, he will become the champion of mankind. For the greatest power is not magic that can level mountains, but love willing to lay down its life for others.
Johanas Alexander Francesco,
First Wizard of Shaladon
Prophecy rendered 190 CE
K
EEPER OF THE
E
YE
M
ARK
S
HANE
P
ROLOGUE
Endings and Beginnings
A rabbit scampered across the wide path that snaked its way through the forest, his fur blending well with the snowy background. Halfway across he stopped, ears perked, nose twitching. Instinct propelled him back toward the safety of his burrow as a black horse broke through the trees.
Encased in armor black as his mount, breath freezing to clouds of vapor, Commander Aldar Von Luz was the sight of death waiting to be unleashed. Running a thumb along the head of his half-moon axe, he scanned the area, noting every detail.
Trees grew thick along the path, almost like walls, but the crest of the hill provided an excellent vantage point to the valley below. Blanketed white with snow, the evergreens of the Al’ Shar Dan Forest presented a scene of undisturbed tranquility. But something felt wrong, something intangible, resting on the edge of the senses. He could neither pin it down nor explain it, but it was there.
A gust of wind whipped at his blonde hair, stinging his face. Turning from the wind, he looked back the way he had come and watched the long, serpentine procession of the Lion’s Fist, gold lions on maroon banners glinting in the midday sun. One thousand strong, men and horses specially trained as the king’s personal guard, they were the greatest fighting unit in the Rang Shalan. They were his men.
Aldar’s eyes narrowed, following the red carriage as it rolled along in the middle of the procession. Hoping to reach Kirvin by nightfall, they had left the wagon train to its sluggish trek at daybreak. All except the red one. And a huge source of angst it was. King Tobias and Queen Magdalene rode next to it occasionally peeking in on their son.
Their visit to Cintaur had been productive yet nerve-racking. Never had a foreign king been invited to participate in Cintaur’s Festival of the Brave, celebrating their independence from Sur Valtan. Five hundred years past and the embers of animosity still burned between those two nations. It was a high honor King Tobias could not refuse, but why bring the family? Traveling outside Shaladon’s borders, even to an allied country, could be rife with dangers. True, Queen Magdalene was one of his best advisors and had proven instrumental in trade negotiations with the queen of Cintaur, but they could have at least left the prince safe at home in Dalarhan. Scanning the terrain one more time–still clear as the blue sky–he spurred his horse back toward the procession.
“Captain Tersh,” he said, reigning in at the front of the procession, “report.”
“Third scout team left a short while ago, sir. Second team should be at their furthest scout range now.”
“Good. Team One have anything to report?”
“They haven’t returned, sir.”
Aldar clenched his jaw. Missing scouts was the last thing he wanted to hear.
Nervousness swept across Captain Tersh’s face. “Lars said his team wanted to take down a stag for the king, sir. I granted them permission to hunt once they checked in with Team Two. Probably had a bit of luck, and they’re dressing a fine kill now.” A grin slid across the captain’s face. “I’m sure the size of the stag will grow with each telling of the story.”
Aldar smiled. Lars was well known for his exaggerations. “Perhaps you’re right, captain.”
He debated sending men to search for the missing scouts, but without any horns sounding an alarm he decided against it. Lars would find the Fist much easier than scouts would find him. Besides, they were a full day within their own border. An attack on the king was quite unlikely. Still, that sense of foreboding pestered him. He made a note to discuss protocol with Lars when the man reported in.
As the Fist traversed the snow-laden road, the silence grew palpable as though the forest itself was holding its breath, waiting. Aldar peered into the shadowy forest, willing it to give up its secrets. The trees offered none. He clenched his jaw. They were a day’s travel from the safety of the Kirvin garrison. Might as well be a hundred. “Captain, have the men stand ready.”
It took a moment for Captain Tersh to quit staring at the forest and reply, “Yes, sir,” striking fist to chest in a salute. He sensed it too. Aldar could see it in his eyes.
Hand signals from Captain Tersh conveyed the order and others quickly passed the command along. Sword catches released, hands moved to rest over quivers, eyes scanned trees they had already searched. The Fist bristled with silent awareness as they entered the Heart of the forest, a perfectly circular expanse, a mile wide and void of any trees. Some said the Creator Himself had reached down and laid the area bare. Legend told of a great wizard who had made his last stand here. Ambushed by an army, he gave his entire being to one final spell, a death spell, killing his attackers to a man and scouring the earth clean. An old campfire tale to be sure but a creative one nonetheless.
“Is everything all right, Commander?” King Tobias asked as Aldar reigned in beside him.
