Everyone
in the room leaned forward, desperate to hear Amroth’s strategy. The
Quodivar were the greatest threat to Lodia’s economy in more than a
century, and the vast majority of the nobles gathered here had strong
ownership in at least one merchant company. Amroth provided hope not
only for peace, but for fat wallets as well.
“My
plan requires great risk, but it is the only hope we have. Large armies
do not work against the Quodivar. My last mission proved this. Instead,
I will assemble a small team, an elite force of Haldessa’s finest. With
this team we shall seek out the Quodivar and battle them the way they
battle us: with stealth and cunning. I come here tonight to name the two
men with whom I intend to enter battle. I will trust these two with my
life, and with the fate of Lodia itself.”
A young boy near the front cried excitedly, “Who? Who will save us along with you, Captain Angustion?”
Amroth
smiled kindly at the child, apparently not begrudging the interruption
at all. “The first is a man whom you all know as a fine swordsman, a
capable leader, and a loyal companion: Sergeant Balear Platarch!”
The
crowd cheered heartily, and Balear, seated about midway between Amroth
and the back of the room, stood and waved his hand with an embarrassed
gesture. He bore the vacant expression of someone who had clearly drunk
too much. Amroth motioned for him to come to the platform and stand
beside him. Balear tripped more than once, but in the end he reached his
beloved commander.
Across
the room, Iren arrived at the chandelier’s cord. He spun the knife in
his hand expectantly. He would time it just as Amroth finished his
speech. The moment they stepped off the stage, he would cut the cord and
drop the chandelier. It would crash horrendously behind them, everyone
would gasp, and he would have the pleasure of watching both Amroth and
Balear pick themselves off the floor.
When
the cheers calmed, Amroth became contemplative as he said, “The second
person I have chosen you all know well, and yet, I would guess, also do
not know at all. I have thought long and hard on this choice. I do not
make it lightly. I make it for the sake of Lodia, for we must have the
best to succeed in this endeavor. For the final of my group I have
chosen Iren Saitosan!”
The
shouts of praise died in the crowd’s throats. Iren whipped his head up,
utterly shocked, and then it happened. As his body jerked to face the
captain, his hand swung downward. The sharpened carving knife sliced
through the chandelier’s rope without pause.
From
fantasy author Josh VanBrakle comes an epic new trilogy of friendship,
betrayal, and explosive magic. Lefthanded teenager Iren Saitosan must
uncover a forgotten history, confront monsters inspired by Japanese
mythology, and master a serpentine dragon imprisoned inside a katana to
stop a revenge one thousand years in the making.
Lodian
culture declares lefthanded people dangerous and devil-spawned, and for
Iren, the kingdom’s only known Left, that’s meant a life of social
isolation. To pass the time and get a little attention, he plays pranks
on the residents of Haldessa Castle. It’s harmless fun, until one of his
stunts nearly kills Lodia’s charismatic heir to the throne. Now to
avoid execution for his crime, Iren must join a covert team and
assassinate a bandit lord. It’s a suicide mission, and Iren’s chances
aren’t helped when he learns that his new katana contains a dragon’s
spirit, one with a magic so powerful it can sink continents and
transform Iren into a raging beast.
Adding
to his problems, someone on Iren’s team is plotting treason. When a
former ally launches a brutal plan to avenge the Lefts, Iren finds
himself trapped between competing loyalties. He needs to figure out who –
and how – to trust, and the fates of two nations depend on his choice.
“A fast-paced adventure…led by a compelling cast of characters. Josh VanBrakle keeps the mysteries going.” - ForeWord Reviews
Buy @ Amazon & Smashwords
Genre – YA epic fantasy
Rating – PG-13
More details about the author
Connect with Josh VanBrakle on Twitter
Website www.joshvanbrakle.com
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