Quest's End: The Broken Key #3 (69 page)

Nodding, Lord Haran said, “I would like that.” Giving Riyan a grin, he signaled for his men to get underway.

Riyan led them on a route toward the south ford that would avoid any possible contact with the inhabitants of Quillim. As much as he loved the village of his birth, there was no reason to return. The home in which he grew to adulthood was gone, his mother and Freya were no longer there, everything he cared for was on its way to Terix.

As he rode through the countryside, he thought of the last year and the changes his life had taken. Who would have thought that a simple shepherd boy would one day be riding in camaraderie with a Warlord of the Tribes! Smiling to himself, he thought of the friends he had made and the adventures they survived. But most of all, he thought of Freya and their future life together. Man, it was a good day to be alive!

Check out the other epically adventurous worlds of fantasy author

James, a high school senior, went looking for a job. But instead, he begins what turns out to be an adventure of a lifetime. Whisked unexpectedly to a world where magic works, he must learn to master its power, all the while searching for the meaning of why he was brought there and what he must do.

For those who enjoy dungeon exploration

without all the buildup or wrapup.

Fans of his previous works, especially The Broken Key, will discover Underground to be full of excitement and surprises. First in a series of books written for the pure fun of adventuring, Underground takes the reader along as four strangers overcome obstacles such as ingenious traps, perilous encounters, and mysteries to boggle the mind.

In many stories you hear how ‘The Chosen One’ appeared to save the day. Every wonder what would happen if the one doing the choosing bungled the job?

In Ring of the Or’tux, that’s exactly what happens. Hunter was on his way to a Three Stooges’ marathon when in mid-step, he went from the lobby of a movie theater to a charred tangle of stone and timber that once had been a place of worship. From there it only gets worse for the hapless Chosen One. First, an attempt to flee those he initially encounters (who by the way are the ones he was sent there to save), lands him into the merciless clutches of an invading army (those whom he was supposed to defeat).

Jaikus and Reneeke are ordinary lads whose dream in life is to become a member of The Adventurer's Guild. But to become a member, one must be able to lay claim to an Adventure, and not just any adventure. To qualify, an Adventure must entail the following:

1-Have some element of risk to life and limb

2-Successfully concluded. If the point of the Adventure was to recover a stolen silver candelabra, then you better have that candelabra in hand when all is said and done.

3-A reward must be given. For what good is an Adventure if you don't get paid for your troubles?

Jaikus and Reneeke soon realize that becoming members in the renowned Guild is harder than they thought. For Adventures posted as Unresolved at the Guild, are usually the ones with the most risk.

However, when they hear of a party of experienced Guild members that are about to set out and are in need of Springers, they quickly volunteer only to discover to their dismay that a Springer's job is to "Spring the trap."

If they survive, membership in the Guild is assured.