A Sample Chapter

-—Prologue—-

Borne picked himself up from the pool of his own blood, his ears ringing, and body trembling with exhaustion. Every muscle begged him to stay on the ground, but he struggled to his feet, looking around at what used to be the city of Narise. The thick black smoke that clung to the air stung his lungs, making him cough. The smell of charred wood, blood, and burned flesh filled the air. Buildings lay in rubble, and bodies were scattered across the ground. Most were innocent civilians, but he recognized a few as his friends. He would have wept for them, but now wasn’t the time.
“It’s finally over,” a tall man in a tattered dark green cloak said, carefully stepping over the bodies. He was tall and thin, his round face barely visible under the hood of the cloak. Borne rubbed his face with his hands, smearing blood and dirt across it. As his eyes came into focus, he could see that the man had something in his hand. Was that really it? The cause of all this death and destruction.
Borne’s gaze shifted to a figure lying in the rubble, his crown on the ground next to his head. Raethis was once a wonderful king, but that was long ago.
“Is he dead?” The smoke made Borne’s voice so raspy he almost didn’t recognize it. His mouth was dry and gritty, a mixture of blood and dirt. He coughed and spat, attempting to clear his throat.
“Yes, he is finally dead.” The man’s voice was low. He stopped next to Borne, holding his hand out—a gold amulet hung from his fingers, with a gem that resembled onyx, except for the blood-red mist that swirled, moving against the black background. This was The Deorum.
“What now?” Borne asked as he took the amulet and examined it closer. The metalwork was intricate and beautiful, and the gem seemed almost mesmerizing. He had seen nothing like it. Borne would have been tempted to try it if not for witnessing the carnage it caused.
“We need to rally with those who have survived. We can’t let this happen again.”
The men looked around the battlefield. As the ringing in Borne’s ears softened, the sound was quickly replaced with the screams and pleas of the injured. Sounds that would haunt his sleep for the rest of his life.
“We should send someone for the healers, Tesh.” Borne looked at the other man.
“I already have. Follow me.” Tesh waved, and Borne followed. He led him to the outskirts of the city. There were fewer injured in this part of town. A small group stood near one of the few remaining buildings.
“We are all that remains,” Tesh said to the group as they approached. Borne counted three people in the group. Five survivors—that was all. His shoulders sagged, and his head dropped. He knew when they started, there would be casualties, but to this extent.
“We need a plan to lock this power away—forever.” Tesh took the Deorum back from Borne and held it in the air. Everyone’s eyes locked on the amulet as it swung in his hand like a pendulum. To think something so small had reshaped the world.
“Once we do this. Once it has been sealed away. Anyone who helped can never have contact with the outside world again. We will no longer be members of the Remnants. No one is to know who the members are. That could one day be used against us.” Tesh lowered his arm, and the crowd’s eyes followed.
“If you wish to leave, now is your chance. However, if you choose to leave, you are not to tell anyone of your knowledge or involvement in the events. If you choose to stay, your old life ends. The truth about what happened today dies with our old selves. I’m sure there will be those who wish to regain this power. Those who do will seek us out. I’m not promising you an easy life. I’m asking you to trade your safety for the safety of the rest of the world. It’s not a decision to be taken lightly.” The group murmured among themselves.
Borne looked back and the smoldering remains of Narise. The once bustling streets were now painted in blood. They took up the fight to give the world a chance to survive. The others stopped talking, their eyes on him. They were afraid he could see it in their eyes—and he didn’t blame them, but after all they had been through, this was the easy part. One by one, each member stepped to Tesh.
Tesh nodded. “Excellent. Now, we can begin rebuilding.” Borne followed as the group walked away from the smoldering city.