Maps of Ryallon updated 2017

Explanation

This is my fourth post on the maps of Ryallon.  My maps were originally drawn by hand, but I've gradually improved them using GIMP.

I've done previous posts on my maps, which you can find here:
http://ryallon.blogspot.com/2013/10/updated-map-of-ryallon.html
http://ryallon.blogspot.com/2013/04/fantasy-maps-of-ryallon.html
http://ryallon.blogspot.com/2011/05/mapmaking-for-fantasy-worlds.html

It's interesting to see the changes that have happened along the way and how things have evolved. :)

What was changed

Since my last update in 2013, I've cleaned up a lot of the lines.  I've created custom brushes in GIMP to make all the icons uniform.

I've added more cities and named numerous cities in the Western Kingdoms.

The Iynath Empire is still untouched as are a couple of other countries on that side of the map.  I don't have anything happening over there any time soon, so it can wait.

The continent of Nulanea is bigger than Asia (Don't hold me to that. I'm a writer, we change our minds more than is healthy)

What's next

I intend to work on colorizing things next.  First will be all the rivers in blue.  I have a Bamboo brand graphic tablet to use now.  After that, I plan on colorizing the brushes used to make the icons like the mountains and trees.  Then I'll color some of the more open areas to give a better feel for the landscape.

Along the way, I'll continue adding details of cities and countries and adding more names.

The Maps (You can click on the pictures to make them bigger)

Continent of Nulanea, Ryallon.  This is the newest version with ocean and lakes drawn in blue. The dimensions of the working copy are 9034 x 6589. (This version is reduced to improve loading times.)

This is the second hand drawn illustration of the Norther Continent of Ryallon and the first version that I scanned into the computer.  The map above is what I've accomplished through editing in GIMP little by little until I reached the above product.  At this point, I hadn't named it Nulanea yet.

I refined the map of Paruth, which is the setting of Cloudswept and Sidetracked.  These smaller maps are all taken off the refined map above

Once again, I hope you've looking at made up maps for a made up world (so far as you know)  I've certainly enjoyed making it up (so far as you know)

All my best,

John H. Carroll

"Bounty", Book 2 of the Crazed Trilogy: Chapter 1

Hello,

"Bounty" is book 2 of the Crazed Trilogy.  This is the first draft of the first chapter.  Please keep in mind that it will be edited numerous times before being published.

I hope this preview keeps you excited for the coming of the book.

I'm including an updated map of Nulanea, a northern continent in the world of Ryallon.

Chapter 1

Year 1393, Fifth Age

Being two years after the events of “Kethril”

Early morning rays shone on the bottom of scattered thin clouds over Oimryi, capital city of Mayncal.  Birds darted from manicured trees along the wide avenue to catch insects that braved the cool morning air.  Fancy horse-drawn carriages passed wagons filled with goods from all over the world.  The shouts of drivers rang out over people conversing from the steps of clean white buildings adorned by colorful bright roofs.  Multi-hued mosaic tiles decorated the corners, eaves, windows and doorways.

Beyond the avenue, noises of the city rose with the sun.  Perfumes wafted in the air behind people walking along stone sidewalks.  Sir Danth strolled among them, occasionally nodding or waving to citizens wearing pastel linens and silks that flowed to the ground.  Most stared in astonishment at his full black armor and long red cape.

Sir Danth Wazmordian was a Knight of Morhain, charged sixteen hundred years earlier with guarding the Crown of Morhain.  A tragedy called “The Great Disappearing” had annihilated the citizens of the Morhainian Empire.  Near the end of The Great Disappearing, the greatest wizards and clerics made magical armor and sword for Sir Danth.  The armor made him nearly invincible and nothing could stand against his sword.

In an oversight, his body died of old age after a couple hundred years.  Sir Danth’s soul was bound to the armor.  Therefore, he continued to exist even after his body disintegrated, leaving the armor hollow.

These days, he normally spent his time in poorer districts outside of the city, where the downtrodden lived.  He had spent the night there, arresting a slave trader who was kidnapping homeless children.  That is to say, he had tried to arrest the man.  Sometimes criminals fought rather than go to jail.  That was inevitably a fatal mistake when confronting the dark knight.

Shortly after arriving in Oimryi more than a year ago, Sir Danth had gone looking for something to do.  Being a noble knight, he chose to help those most in need.  It was a shock to the city guard when thugs, gang members, pimps, slavers and other lowlifes started showing up in a bloodied and beaten condition after having been arrested by the knight.

People were quickly recruited to teach Sir Danth a lesson.  Those people were dead, as were the ones who hired them.  Next, specialists, wizards and adventurers of astonishing capabilities came after him at all times of the day and night.  They were under the impression Sir Danth had to sleep sometime, but they were wrong.  Even if an assassin were to get pass the extraordinary magic of the armor, there was nothing to slay.

Corrupt guardsmen and nobles were paid to drive Sir Danth out of town.  However, Sir Danth had been one of the people who had rescued Princess Anilyia the year before, bringing peace between Mayncal and Brindlyn after centuries of animosity.  That and his reputation for driving out the scum of the city gave him immunity from political consequences.

King Ullbra of Mayncal appreciated his daughter’s safe return.  He also appreciated the wonderful work the knight was doing making his city a better place to live without even requesting pay.  The first nobles, judges and city guard leaders who tried to have Sir Danth banished or arrested were put to death when the king found out about the attempts.  After that, the knight was free to come and go as he pleased.

Currently, two individuals followed him down the pleasant avenue.  A man and woman dressed in dark capes that stuck out from the airy colors of citizens.  Their attempts to sneak from buildings, to trees, to other buildings were just as conspicuous among the leisurely walk of other pedestrians.  The behavior had everyone looking at them in bemusement.  When one added the fact that they were extremely noisy and tripping over their own feet, it was clear they were complete amateurs.

Sir Danth considered for a moment that they might be trying to lull him into a false sense of security, but when the man tripped over his own feet and knocked the woman down, he realized they really were that bad.  The knight decided to end the little game.

“Get off me, you idiot!” the woman yelled at the man who leveraged against her back in an attempt to push himself up.

Sir Danth helped him to his feet then held out a gauntlet to the woman.

She took it and stood.  “Thank you!  At least someone around her has some manners.”  She glared at her companion.

Then she realized who had helped her up.

Both would-be assassins lifted their heads to look up at him.  Sir Danth was six feet six inches tall.  In real life, he had been six-four, but the helmet added another two inches.  His armor was black with intricate runes that were only visible if the light caught them just right.  A greatsword was sheathed diagonally across his back with the hilt sticking far above his shoulder.  When drawn it was as long from hilt to tip as he was tall.  A red cloak gilded with golden runes and clasped with a golden amulet of power finished off the effect.

The man foolishly drew his sword and swung it at Sir Danth.  The knight caught the blade easily in his free gauntlet.  He continued to hold the woman’s hand gently with his other.  With a twist, he snapped the blade.  The shriek of snapping metal reverberated off buildings.  All activity on the avenue stopped as eyes turned to watch.

Sir Danth dropped the top half of the blade, leaving the man standing there with a broken sword.

A wet stain appeared on his crotch and flowed downward.

“Perhaps you should run like the stupid coward you are,” Sir Danth suggested.

In a surprising moment of wisdom, the man turned and took the advice.

“Please don’t kill me,” the woman pleaded in a weak voice.  Tears welled in her eyes.  It was obviously taking all of her willpower not to wet herself as her partner had done.

“Of course not, you stupid little girl,” the knight reassured her.  “But you need to grow up and stop playing with bad men.”  He led her to a nearby bench underneath a shade tree and then sat down.  The woman looked at him in fear, wondering what he was about.

Sir Danth pulled her down over his lap and spanked her.

She forgot her fear.  Screams of anger rang through the avenue while her legs kicked in outrage.

Their audience looked on in shock and amusement.

Even with sturdy leggings, the knight’s gauntlet was powerful against her behind.  After the first few blows, the screams of outrage turned to cries of pain and pleas to let her go.

Twenty spankings later, set her on her feet and stood in front of her.

The would-be assassin held her hands gingerly on her buttocks, weeping uncontrollably.

Sir Danth held her chin up so she gazed into the hollow eyeholes of his helmet.  “Now then, I’m sure you will remember this the next time someone asks you to do something foolish, won’t you, you silly little girl?”

She nodded vigorously through her heaving sobs.  Sir Danth released her and pointed in the direction she had come.  The woman took the opportunity to run away, holding her bruised bottom.

The crowd jeered and laughed at her departing figure.

Sir Danth ignored their reaction, including the cheers some gave him.  It wasn’t long before he was past the worst of the throng and people ignored him again.

It bothered him that people would watch while he did all the work.  Individuals took such pleasure in the misfortunes of others.  They understood nothing of the woman’s past or circumstances, nor did they care to learn.  Sir Danth knew that poverty and suppression of people created by governments, churches and the greedy created the very criminals they railed against.

There was a great weight upon his shoulders.  That irritated him since he didn’t actually have shoulders anymore.  He felt the pressure nonetheless.  Centuries of solitude in a dark room guarding a vault that ended up being empty had made him cranky.  He could feel anger in the hollow space where his body should be.  Some days it was hard to control that anger or the gloom that came with it.  At times, he would go someplace quiet where no one could bother him.  Then he would brood awhile.

One thing that made him feel better was killing people.  There was great satisfaction in running his blade smoothly through someone’s heart, or easily separating their head from their shoulders and watching the head fly through the air.  It was almost poetic.  His armor had magical vision that allowed him to see.

The helmet also enabled him to see magical runes, invisible creatures, and spiritual energy.  When a person died, they left their body in spiritual form to continue their existence elsewhere.  Sir Danth enjoyed watching those souls leave their body.  It was a fun game he excelled at.

He could tell when there was a ghost in a building, or even if remnants of strong emotion remained in an area, such as a prison or battlefield.  In the Willden Forest, which was where the Kingdom of Morhain had once existed, the ghosts of his people still resided, wandering through the trees.

He hadn’t known while standing guard in front of the vault for so long, but after leaving and traveling through the forest, he had gradually become aware of them.  He couldn’t talk to them since the spirits were blind and deaf.  It had nearly driven him mad when he realized, but his friends had helped him to keep his sanity.  If it hadn’t been for their efforts he might still be lost in the forest, chasing spirits.

As it was, Sir Danth spent hours, days and weeks pouring over texts and scrolls in the royal library, hoping to find a way to rescue his people from the unnatural limbo they suffered in.  He also perused the stores of antique dealers and wizards hoping for some clue.  The one thing everyone told him to do was to go to Dralin where there was knowledge of everything magical in the world, or so it was rumored.

He had mentioned Dralin to his friend Tathan, a rogue of the worst sort.  Tathan had quickly nixed that idea.  Dralin was a dangerous city, especially for someone like Sir Danth.  Wizards liked to take apart magical armor and study it.  They would go to great lengths to capture the knight.  In addition to that, there was quite the price on Tathan’s head there.  Still, Sir Danth wanted to go.  If there was a way to save his people, he would be willing to risk his existence . . . and Tathan’s.

A short, piercing noise caused everyone on the avenue to stop in their tracks.  Another one sounded and everyone turned toward the palace in the distance.  That was where Sir Danth was headed to sit with Tathan while he had breakfast.  Something had set off one of the magical alarms, an occurrence which had only happened a few times in the history of the city.

The piercing noise continued in short bursts.  It reverberated in his armor, tickling him.  An alarm like that could only mean the palace was under attack or that the royal family was in danger.  He increased his pace.

“Danth!”

The knight turned to see Tathan crouched down at the corner of a side street, waving a gloved hand vigorously for the knight to join him.  His other hand gripped the hilt of a thin, slightly curved sword sheathed at his waist.  Curly black hair framed Tathan’s worried face, partially obscuring a small, opal tipped piercing in his eyebrow.  The leather jacket he wore was pure black with runes down the front opening.  It had no other markings or even seams.  The rest of his clothes were of exquisite quality influenced by the style of Mayncal, but tailor-made to fit in a way that allowed him to move silently.

A glimmer of energy around the rogue let Sir Danth know his friend had activated the powerful ring of invisibility he wore.  Not one to rush, the knight strolled over to see what was the matter.

His casualness only made Tathan wave more vigorously.  The look in his intense grey eyes was frantic.

When Sir Danth reached the corner, Tathan grabbed his arm.  “Let’s go see the world!  There are adventures to be had!”

Sir Danth raised an eyebrow.

Tathan did a double take.  “You know, you’re really going to have to tell me how you raise your eyebrows like that when you don’t have any.  But not now.  Let’s go.”  He tugged on the knight’s arm.

When Sir Danth didn’t budge, Tathan grabbed the arm with both hands and pulled.

The knight still didn’t move.

Tathan yanked a couple of times, then put the arm over his shoulder and pulled with all his might.

Watching his friend strain to move him was highly amusing to the knight.  He released the runes that sealed his arm to his shoulder.

With all resistance gone, Tathan flew forward.  He tumbled at the last second and sprang to his feet, but the arm clanged against his head.

Sir Danth laughed mightily.

“I’m not giving this back.”  Tathan waggled the metal arm.

With a thought, the arm attached to Sir Danth’s shoulder.

Tathan stared at his empty hands.  He sighed.  “Please?”

“Lead on, friend.”  The knight gestured.

Tathan dashed down the street, avoiding pedestrians who couldn’t see him.  Upon realizing Sir Danth followed at a stroll, he came back.  “Please hurry!  We have to go now!”

People shot worried glances at the night speaking to a disembodied voice.

“Why?”  It occurred to Sir Danth the alarms still blaring from the palace might have something to do with his friend’s sudden need to leave the country.

“I don’t have time to explain, just . . . please, let’s hurry.”

“Dralin.”

The word startled Tathan.  “What?”

“We go to Dralin.  There may be information there that will help my people.  If you want me to hurry, we’re going to go to Dralin.”

Tathan considered the words for a brief moment.  He shook his head in refusal.  “No.  There’s no way I’m going back there.  It’s too dangerous.  We’ll die.”

Sir Danth crossed his arms and planted his feet.

Tathan sighed.  “Please.  I’m begging you.  I don’t want to go back there, but we need to leave.  There are other places that might have information.”

“Dralin.”

Tathan sighed again.  He did that a lot.

A squad of guards appeared at the end of the street in the direction Tathan was trying to go.  “There he is!”  They were led by a wizard holding a circle of glass in his hands.  It appeared to be a device that could detect invisibility.

“Fine!  We’ll go to Dralin, but only if we run, now!”  Tathan dashed the other direction

Sir Danth ran after his friend.  They turned the next corner and ran full tilt down the avenue.

Two streets later, another squad appeared directly in front of them.

Tathan jumped.  In midair, he placed one hand on the shoulder of the nearest guard and one hand on the head.  He pushed down to propel himself up and over the others.

The move caught the man by surprise.  His knees buckled at the unseen weight.

The rest saw Sir Danth barreling towards them.  Without enough time to scatter, they threw their arms up to shield themselves.

Sir Danth had the ability to shift in space.  He didn’t understand it, just like he didn’t understand how most of the magic in the armor worked.  What he did understand was that it was very effective.  One moment he was about to run into a helpless guard, the next he was on the other side of the squad, running next to Tathan.

The rogue grinned.

The two were able to stay ahead of the squads, but knew it would only be a matter of time before the mounted cavalry came after them.

After they had run half a mile, Tathan turned down another street and slowed.  His chest heaved as he gulped breaths of air.  He twisted his ring to banish the invisibility then walked into the entrance of a large stable.

Sir Danth mused that one of the nice things about not having a body was that he didn’t have to gulp in large amounts of air after exerting himself.

Tathan grabbed two stable boys by the arms.  “Jufo!  Take Arlen and get my horses ready, now!”  He pushed a silver coin in each of their hands.

They looked at him in surprise, then stared at the coins with wide eyes.

“Now!”  Tathan shoved them towards the back of the stable.

They ran off to do as told.

“You have horses?” Sir Danth asked

“Yeah, I bought them a while back.  I always like to have an escape plan ready.”  Tathan grinned as he followed the boys.  He yelled, “Just the black and the brown!  Leave the white one!”

“Three horses?”

“Yeah, just in case the princess wanted to come with.”  He shrugged.  “That’s not going to happen, so it’s just you and me.”

“I get the black one, yes?”

“Of course!”  Tathan laughed.  “Here he is, one of the finest stallions I’ve ever seen.”  He gestured to a large stallion Jufo was putting tack on.  Arlen was fastening a saddle to the brown.  The white horse in the next stall was beautiful.

“You are going to tell me what happened, yes?”

“Yeah.  I figure you won’t let it go until I do.”

Sir Danth smacked Tathan playfully in the shoulder, sending him staggering forward.  “You are correct about that.”

***

The rode up to vast city gates.  For the first time since arriving in Mayncal, they were closed.  It appeared that the entire army had been mobilized to guard them.

Tathan turned away and rode through side streets to another set of stables.  He flipped gold pieces to a couple of burly men outside the doors.  They opened the doors, closing them once the two were inside.

Tathan and Sir Danth dismounted and led their horses underground into a tunnel that appeared centuries old.  An hour later, they rode out of another stable far beyond the city walls.

“How do you find these things, my felonious friend?” Sir Danth asked as they rode casually toward the west.

“Felonious?”  Tathan smirked.

“Yes, it means a person who is involved in illegal endeavors.”

“I’m aware of what it means.  Let’s just say I’m resourceful and cautious.”  Tathan winked.  “Speaking of cautions, let’s stay off major roads.  There are some back roads where we shouldn’t be disturbed.

“Shall I ask how you know these things?”  Sir Danth raised an eyebrow.

“No.  You shalln’t . . . is that a word?”

“It is most definitely not a word, but it is a nice effort to begin a new language.”

“Thank you!”  Tathan grinned.  “What shall we call it?  Tathanian?”

“I have no intention of calling it anything.  The word you’re looking for is shan’t.”

“Ahh, I knew it was something like that.  I shalln’t be distracted from making my new language though.”  He waggled a finger at Sir Danth.

The knight pulled his horse to a stop.  “Now that we are no longer in immediate danger, what did you do?”

Tathan stopped as well.  He blushed and chewed on his lower lip, not answering the question.

“It would be best to just get it over with, you know.  You’re going to give me the details sooner or later.”

He sighed.  “Yes, well . . . it’s just that . . .”

“Yes?”

“Anilyia and I spent the night in the royal wine cellar.  King and Queen Ullbra came in with Prince Albrato and a few assorted nobles and priests.  They found us sleeping naked on straw with one of the more expensive bottles emptied nearby.”

Sir Danth buried his helm in his gauntlets.

“The king bellowed something about treason and gallows, and all sorts of bad things they do to criminals.  Tathan spread his arms in innocence.  He acted as though I had done something wrong.”

“How silly of him.”  Sir Danth rolled his eyes.

“I know, right? . . . I really do want to know how you roll your eyes when you don’t have any.”  Tathan jabbed a finger in the air.  “Anyway, he drew his sword and started swinging it at me.  Do you know how hard it is to get dressed when you’re fending off an angry king?”

“No . . . actually, yes.  But that’s not important,” Sir Danth waved off the question.  “Go on.”

Tathan opened his mouth as though to insist on more information, but decided to let it go.  “Anyway; Prince Albrato was crying at his wife like a little girl, asking how she could betray him like that.  Queen Ullbra had fainted.  All the nobles were yelling and waving their arms.”

“That’s usually all nobles are good for.”

“I know, right?”  Tathan laughed.  “The king is old and portly, so it wasn’t too hard to keep him at bay, but I accidentally poked him with the tip of my sword.

“Oh dear.”  Sir Danth buried his face in his gauntlets again.

“It wasn’t fatal or anything.  I just poked him in the leg.  It bled a lot, but I didn’t cut the artery.  He certainly squealed like a stuck pig though.”

“Oh dear,” he replied again, not raising his head.

“Anyway, my lovely Princess Anilyia screeched and held her daddy as though I had killed him.  Then she screamed that I had gotten her drunk and raped her.”  Tathan sighed.

Sir Danth raised his head in confusion.  “I thought she loved you? . . .”

Sorrow distorted his smile.  “She does.  She apologized with her eyes and gestured with her head for me to escape.”  Tathan flicked his reins.  He continued the story as they rode.  “It was clear we wouldn’t be able to continue our affair.  Sleeping with a princess and stabbing a king with a magical sword are usually punishable by death.”

“Poking a king with any kind of a sword is usually punishable by death,” Sir Danth pointed out helpfully.

“Yes . . . well, there is that.”  Tathan chuckled.  “She did the only thing she could to save her marriage and the peace between countries.”

Princess Anilyia and Prince Alberto had married as part of a treaty between Mayncal and Brindlyn.  Together they were able to forge an alliance against the Empire of Iynath to the north.  Anilyia had been kidnapped before the wedding could occur.  Sir Danth, Tathan, Tathan’s cousin Liselle, and Vevin, a purple dragon in human form had rescued her from a race of mysterious beings called Rojuun.

“Claiming that you seduced and raped her makes you a criminal in their eyes though.  Surely she knew that?”

“Of course, but even if she had admitted we’re in love, I’m still a criminal in their eyes.  At least this won’t cost them peace.  I don’t know that I could live with myself knowing that I had caused war and possibly even her death for treason.”  Tathan hung his head.  His shoulders slumped.

“That’s noble of you, friend.”

Tathan’s head popped up.  “Actually, I would be able to live with myself.  But I’d feel terrible about the whole thing.

Sir Danth rolled his eyes again and they both burst into laughter.

Cloudswept, Book 3 of the Wyvern Series

"Cloudswept" is now available!

Book 3 of the Wyvern Series and the 9th book set in the world of Ryallon.  This is a continuation of Pelya's story from the Dralin Series.

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Book 3 of the Wyvern Series

After banishment from Dralin and expulsion from the Blue Wyverns, Pelya Jornin is now an agent of the Cloudswept Bank charged with recovering valuables. The job allows her to travel the world while keeping her skills sharp. Past failures have led to a vow to travel alone so as not to endanger lives of those she cares about.

When the bank offers her an assignment to rescue one of the mysterious Rojuun, she jumps at the chance to learn more about them. Rumors of Rojuun attempts to enslave the human race have worried her since her first meeting with them in Dralin and more so since her failed mission in the mountains south of Swelth.

The mission takes her deep into the war-torn country of Paruth where women aren’t allowed to wear swords and magic is forbidden. Signs of the Black Scale Guild appear, bringing further intrigue along with grave danger.

Calren has avoided mandatory conscription into his lord’s army for as long as possible, but time is up. Rather than join the endless and futile war, he packs his things and abandons the farm for a life of adventure. But Paruth isn’t the sort of kingdom where deserters are tolerated.

Verna, a Druid wilder than the forest she grew up in, needs to escape heartbreak. She skips down the road to learn more about humans and discover why they try so hard to kill each other.

Pelya seeks answers to events in her past that sent her life spinning. She fears what those answers may bring. More than anything, she worries about the fate of those who would attempt to be her friends. Will her actions get people killed yet again?

The Wyvern Series is a swords-and-sorcery series following the journeys of Pelya Jornin. After leaving Dralin, she travels the world searching out injustices and her purpose in life. Along the way, she makes many friends and even more enemies.

Dralin, Chapter 1, new

New Chapter 1

As my writing has improved over the years, I've gone back over some of my earlier works to improve them.  In "Dralin", I removed the story of how Pelya's parents met because reviews showed me that readers gained a false impression of what the story would be.  Many didn't get past that to the true story.

However, when I removed that part and adjusted everything to account for its absence, the new beginning point felt weak.  While writing a battle scene in one of my later books, I came up with this idea for a new chapter 1 for Dralin that would be a better introduction to my writing for new readers.

It also introduces Kally Nevala, a character that appears later in the book.  It shows off some of Bobbell's skills and how his training benefited Pelya later in life.  The other characters brought in are Grinkin, Florsy, and Clutz.  Those three make an appearance in the second book, "Ebudae".  I thought it would be nice to show more of them to the reader.

The book will be updated in the next couple of weeks, but for now, enjoy!

Chapter 1

Frath avoided a puddle of corrupted magic as he peered around the corner.  Violet illumination from Ryallon’s two moons peeked through rainclouds to aid the feeble light of streetlamps.  Tilted wizard towers flanking the shadowy street faded into mist tarnished by mystical undertakings of the occupants.  Moisture trickling down the wall Frath had his gloved hand against also carried the taint of supernatural pollution.

The only person on the street was a hooded man carrying a bound boy over his shoulder.  He scanned the street in both directions.

Frath pulled back to avoid detection.  He held up a hand in warning.

Lieutenant Kally Nevala gulped audibly.  She clenched the hilt of her sheathed sword with a white-knuckled grip.  The daughter of a nobleman, she was too inexperienced to be on a mission in the Tower District.

Frath put a finger to his lips.

Kally nodded, her short, curly blonde hair bobbing around her pretty face.  Anticipation beat out fear in her hazel eyes.

Behind her in the alley were four of Frath’s best friends and the only ones who would take the risk of endangering their careers to rescue Kally’s brother.  In fact, they relished breaking the rules.  The entire group wore the brown tunic of the Dralin City Guard over polished chainmail and black pants.

Bobbell was short and thin-faced with blonde hair and a trimmed goatee.  He and Frath had grown up in the cruel orphanages of Dralin.  He was also a better thief and pickpocket than most people they arrested.

Grinkin, Florsy and Clutz had become quick friends with Frath when he joined the Guard.  They always fought dirty and used words that made hardened sergeants blush.  Florsy was the tallest of the group and skinny, although his ropey muscles held surprising strength.  He winked.

Clutz, the quiet one of the group, trimmed his fingernails with a throwing knife.  People immediately underestimated him because of his name.  He was a master of traveling over the tightly packed rooftops of Dralin.

Grinkin was stout and bald with a white mustache.  His unusually high-pitched voice didn’t match anything else about him.  A grin of excitement lit his face and he spun his sword in readiness.

The sound of knocking echoed through the street.

Frath looked around the corner again.

The hooded man stood at the doorway where Kally’s brother was supposed to be imprisoned.  The door opened.  With a last glance at the street, the man entered.

Frath drummed fingers on the hilt of his sheathed sword while turning back to look at Lieutenant Nevala.  “You’re sure your brother’s in there?”

“Yes.”  Kally stood straight.  “I’ll tell you my informant works for the Guard’s secret service, but that’s it.  She risked her life to find out this much.”

Grinkin grumbled.  “Just because you joined the secret service doesn’t mean you can trust everyone else in it.”

“I trust them less.”  Florsy nudged Grinkin with his elbow.  “Could be a trick.”

Frath blew hair out of his eyes.  “A guy just went in there with another boy over his shoulder.  I think we’re in the right place.”

Kally put a hand to her mouth to hide the involuntary gasp that came out.

“If the wizard got another boy, then Kally’s brother is probably mpphh . . .”

Clutz put his hand over Florsy’s mouth to prevent him from finishing the sentence.

Tears welled in Kally’s eyes.

Frath put a hand on her shoulder.  “Listen, it’s true that your brother’s likely dead, but we’re going to go in to at least save his body.”

Tears rolled down Kally’s cheeks.

Grinkin smacked Frath’s arm.

“Sorry.  That came out wrong.”  Frath ran fingers through his unruly black hair.  “Everything will be fine.  We can do this.”

Grinkin grunted.  “That’s better.  What’s the plan here?  You said you would have one by the time we reached the tower.  We’re here.”

“Yeah.  I’ve got it.”

They leaned in to listen.

“Bobbell will pick the lock.  We’ll work our way upstairs to the wizard’s workroom.  Those are always at the top.”

Clutz frowned.  “Some wizards have their workrooms in the basement.”

“They do?”

“Yeah.”  His eyes narrowed.

“Well . . . we’ll try the top first.  If it’s not there, then we’ll go to the basement.”

Florsy snorted.  “Brilliant strategy.”

Bobbell winked.  “Better than he usually comes up with.”

Frath tried to smack his shoulder, but the rogue was too fast.

“Can we even succeed?”  Concern was thick in Kally’s voice.

“Of course.”  Frath nodded.  “There will be wards and other traps.  If we get past those, there’ll be bodyguards.  If we get past those, every wizard has supernatural guardians, so we’ll have to face those.  We may have to face apprentices if he has any.  The wizard will be the worst.  Our uniforms protect us from some magic, but the spells he casts will shred those . . .”  He scratched his chin.  “Where was I going? . . .”

Florsy pointed at Frath and asked Bobbell, “Is he always like this?”

Bobbell chuckled.  “Yeah, his pep talks make you think stabbing yourself might be the easier way to go.”

“Sheela would agree with you,” Frath admitted.

“When are you and Sheela getting married?” Clutz asked.  “I know you have a child coming soon.”

“I’ll marry her as soon as I can afford a place outside the barracks.”  A rare smile came to Frath’s lips at the thought of his betrothed.

A rat with eyes tainted green from magical pollution tried to join the group.  Clutz kicked it away.  “You two have a baby due soon.  You shouldn’t be risking yourself on something as foolish as this, Frath.”

“Please.”  Desperation filled Kally’s voice.  “My brother . . .”

“We’re going to rescue him.”  Frath stepped out into the street before anyone else could speak.  He hoped the others would follow.

Kally was immediately next to him.  They reached the steps to the tower in moments.

Bobbell slipped ahead to check the door.  He moved his hands and whispered in a mystical language.  A breeze affecting only him rustled his hair.  He made a sharp gesture.

Colorful runes hovering over the face of the door came into view.

Bobbell swirled his arms and continued his incantation.  The runes fizzled and then popped out of existence.

“Are we allowed to do that kind of magic?” Kally whispered.

Florsy nudged her arm with an elbow.  “Sure.  Just like we’re supposed to be breaking into a wizard’s tower in the middle of the night.”

Frath took a deep breath.  “You’ll need to forget about rules tonight, Kally.”

Kally set her jaw and readied herself.  “Yes.  You’re right.”

Bobbell took a pouch out of a secret pocket and knelt near the lock.  “I’m glad you’re all making so much noise.  It helps test my focus.”

Florsy nudged him.  “You’re welcome.”

Bobbell glared at him while taking picks out of the pouch.  He inserted three of them in the door.

Grinkin looked over Bobbell’s shoulder.  “How long will it take you?”

The lock clicked.  Bobbell grinned at him and put the picks away.

Clutz gave a low whistle.  “Impressive.”

Bobbell tried the door.  It opened a crack before chains stopped it.  He did a quick inspection.  “Three?  That’s a bit much.”  He pulled out a roll of twine.  “This is going to take time.”

“Put that away.”  Frath pulled him back.  He spotted where each chain was.  “Get ready for a fight.”  He gripped the railing for leverage.  Taking aim, he kicked the door where the lowest chain was.  The snap of the chain and the splintering of wood shattered the silence of the quiet street.

Bobbell winked at Kally.  “This is how most of his plans evolve.  Between his height and his strength, he usually ends up bashing anything that gets in his way.”

Clouds floated back in front of the moons.  Drizzle pattered the street and freshened the air.

The next kick shattered the middle chain and weakened the top.  Frath rammed the door with his shoulder, finishing the last chain off.

Standing in the middle of a room filled with dusty books and dustier furniture was a young woman in a robe.  A supernatural casting wind whipped her hair and robes.

“Spell!”  Frath jumped to the side and hit the ground in a roll.

Colorful language came from his friends outside.  One of the men yanked the door shut, trapping Frath in the room.

The woman thrust her arms forward.  The casting wind slammed into her back, skidding her feet forward on the carpet.  Shards of ice shot from her fingertips.

The first shards hit the door.

She followed Frath’s motion, sending the shards in a fan.

Frath jumped up out of his roll and ran to escape them.

Pain shot through his thigh as two pierced his leg, knocking him off balance and sending him to the floor.  The enchantments in his guard-issued pants prevented the shards from going far, but it was still agonizing.

The door crashed open.  His friends came through.

Clutz threw a knife.

Her spell finished and danger near, the woman drew a wand.

Clutz’s knife hit her in the chest.

Enchantments in her robe flared, protecting her from harm.

They didn’t protect her from Grinkin coming in high and Florsy coming in low.  Enchantments flared, but the magical swords provided by the guard cut through them, ending the woman’s life.

Kally ran to Frath and helped him up.  “How bad is it?”

Frath tested his leg.  Looking down, he saw blood seeping through the holes in the pants.  “It’s not serious.  I’ll be in more pain after explaining how it happened to Sergeant Gorman.”  He grabbed a cloth off a side table and tore it in half.

Bobbell snatched a small magical orb off a bookshelf.  “I can get you a new pair of pants from a pretty little requisition clerk, no paperwork required.”

Kally’s brow furrowed.  “How will you do that?”

“By dropping mine.”  Bobbell winked and slid the orb into a pocket.

Kally gasped.  “That’s . . .”  Her mouth closed.  “Did you just steal that orb?”

“Nope.  That would be unethical.”  He pointed at the stairs.  “I believe your brother’s that way?”

“Yes but . . .”

Grinkin guided her toward the stairs.  “You can file a report in the morning.  I’m certain your commanding officer will be more interested in a filched orb than what we were doing here in the first place.”

“It’s just . . .”

“Do you even know how to use that sword?”

“Of course.”

“Good.  Charge up the stairs and stab anything that gets in the way.”  Grinkin gave her a shove up the first few steps.

She looked back at him in shock.

“You’re the ranking officer here.  We’re on a mission to rescue your brother.  Lead the way.”

She looked at Frath for confirmation.

Frath finished his makeshift bandaging and drew his sword.  “Right behind you.”

Kally hefted her sword and took a deep breath.  She ran up the stairs two at a time.

Grinkin, Florsy and Clutz ran after her.

Frath popped his neck each way and tried to contain the anger rising in his chest.  It was rare that anyone hurt him and he didn’t like it.

“You still with me, Frath?”  Bobbell stared up at him with worry in his eyes.

“Yeah.”

“It looks like you’re starting to . . .”

“I’ve got it under control for now.”  Red tinted the edges of his vision.

“Does anyone in the guard know about? . . .”

“No.”

Sounds of fighting came from upstairs.

“Let’s go.”  Frath jogged to the staircase.  He took them three at a time.

When they reached the next level, Kally was in the process of trying to pull her sword out of a bodyguard.  “Let go!”  She had her foot against the man’s chest and was tugging with all her strength.

The hapless stared in uncomprehending shock at the blade stuck in his body.  His own sword was on the ground and his arms were at his sides, too weak to fight.

 Two other bodyguards and a wizard lay on the ground near Grinkin’s crew.  Florsy looked up at the newcomers.  He nudged Clutz.  “Didn’t he say he was right behind us?”

Kally’s sword finally came free from the ribs.  She fell on her behind, her bloody blade clattering beside her.

The bodyguard lurched forward and fell on top of her.  The air that burst from his mouth was his last.

“Get off!”  Kally shoved him aside and backpedaled to escape.

“Do you think the wizard knows we’re coming?” Grinkin asked nobody in particular.

 “Nah.  We’ve been quite as sleeping mice.”  Bobbell jogged to the next flight of stairs and looked up them.  “Something doesn’t look quite right about these.”  He squatted at the bottom and ran his fingers lightly over the step.  “Keep an eye out for danger while I inspect these.”

Clutz drew a knife in each hand and positioned himself behind Bobbell.

Frath clenched and unclenched his fist around the hilt of his sword while resisting the urge to jump over the Bobbell and rush up the stairs.

Grinkin helped Kally to her feet.  “Slide the blade in parallel to the ribs rather than vertical.  It’s less likely to get stuck that way if your aim is good enough.”

“Yeah.”  Kally wiped spatters of the dead man’s blood off her face before retrieving her sword.  “That’s a lot harder in reality than on the training field.”

Grinkin squeezed her arm.  “First kill?”

“No, but . . .”  Kally shook her head.  “I’m ready to go.”

Bobbell made a sharp motion with his knife in between the steps.  “That should disable it.”  He jammed the knife in again, got to his feet and slammed his heel into the pommel of the knife, driving it all the way in.  “And that should prevent the mechanism from slipping on accident.”  He stood aside and gestured for them to pass.

Kally took a step forward, but Frath stopped her.  “I’ll go first now.”

“But it’s . . .”

Frath couldn’t contain his growl.  “It’s best I go first now.”

She backed away, her eyes wide.

“Frath . . .”  Bobbell held up a hand.

“I’m fine.”  Frath loped to the stairs before racing up them and charging into a circular room filled with odd items of magical construction on tables and shelves.  Odors of metal, wood and magical energy tickled Frath’s heightened senses.

A pair of wicked venom hounds stood guard at the bottom of the next set of stairs.  Fangs jutting from grotesquely shaped mouths held channels to venom that weakened anyone they bit.  Even their breath was toxic.

A bestial roar shattered the silence of the room, only it was from Frath’s throat, rather than those of the hounds.  His momentum  propelled him to them in an instant.

The hound on the right maneuvered to flank Frath.  The one in front hunched down, ready to leap.

Frath swung his sword in a diagonal downward arc as the hound in front jumped.  His blade cut through the head and shoulders, slicing through bone.  The impact carried the hound’s body up around as Frath spun.

The hound on the side snarled and leapt for Frath’s exposed flank.

Frath’s spin was as a tornado.  He brought his sword around with the first hound stuck to it.  In his enraged state, the hundred-pound body was like a feather to him.  He slammed the two hounds together and drove them into the floor.

His blade finished its journey through the first body and cut through the second in a mortal wound.

Kally’s voice came from behind him.  “By the gods . . .”

Frath yanked his blade out of the dead hounds, sending chunks of flesh and coarse hair flying.  He turned to the stairs, ready for the next level.

Bobbell rushed past.  “Let me check the stairs.”

Frath waited, chest heaving, not from exertion, but from battle rage flooding his marrow.  It amplified his strength and speed, but reduced his ability to think clearly.  Bobbell knew Frath had the rare condition and kept it hidden.  Most people with the condition died in battle at an early age or were put to death after they committed a killing rampage.

Kally touched his arm with tentative fingers.

A growl rumbled in his throat.  He needed to battle.

She withdrew the fingers.

Bobbell jumped up.  “It’s clear.  I think we’re near the top.  Expect to be hit with spells.”

Frath grabbed an orb of unknown effect and sprang up the stairs.  Bobbell’s warning was not lost on him.  Halfway up, threw the orb into the room above.

Arcs of lightning sprayed the air and thunder shook the beams above.  The lightning hit the orb causing greenish-blue cracks to appear over its surface.  It sailed into the room beyond Frath’s sight.

The briefest moment of silence made Frath halt despite his battle rage.

A shockwave of blinding light and thunderous sound shook the tower and made everyone’s heart stop a beat.  Debris fell from the ceiling, pelting their heads.

Frath shook off the debris and ringing in his ears.  In a few long steps, he reached the top of the stairs and scanned for his first target.

A wizard sat on the ground with blood trickling from his mouth and nose.  A dazed expression clouded his eyes and debris cluttered his beard.  A wizard’s staff with a blue crystal lay on the ground nearby.

The man and boy Frath had seen previously lay unconscious on the floor against the far end of the room.  With his heightened senses, he noticed they were both breathing.

In cages nearby were two other unconscious boys.

But the thing that caught his attention the most was an eight-foot golem made of wood with patches of what appeared to be rune-carved human flesh covering it.  Its eyes and mouth glowed with dark, unnatural light.  It banged its head with a clumsy fist to shake off effects of the explosion.  Burn marks charred its chest.

Frath decided it was the thing most likely to give him a fight worthy of his fury.  He bellowed at the creature.

The creature stopped hitting itself.  It saw Frath and bellowed back.

The ringing in his ears prevented Frath from hearing either bellow.  He attacked.

The golem counterattacked, swinging its fist.

Frath met the fist with a two-handed blow of his sword.  The impact shattered the golem’s fist.

The golem continued the swing, hitting Frath’s nose with splintered wood.

Frath’s nose had already been broken more than once and the fact that it was broken yet again sent him the rest of the way into his battle rage.  Liquid red tinted all his vision.  Rather than making it dim, it sharpened details.

The golem swung its other fist.

Frath met it with a ferocious backswing.  He had the sense to duck at the same time to prevent more damage to his crooked nose.  The blow shattered the golem’s arm and wrenched Frath’s shoulders.  He hopped to the side to keep his balance.

The wizard picked up his staff and struggled to his feet.

Kally arrived at that point to hit him with her sword.

Enchantments in his robe turned the blade aside.  Runes in the robe and in Kally’s sword flared.  He staggered backward and swung his staff at her.

Upon impact, it released energy that shot Kally through the air to slam into the golem’s side.

The golem stumbled while Kally crumpled to the ground.

Two of Clutz’s knives hit the wizard, causing his robe to flash in protection.

The wizard held his staff at the defensive.

Grinkin charged in to strike the staff with an upswing.  A burst of energy knocked the sword back, but the guardsman was ready for it.  He spun and came back around behind the wizard with a second blow.

Florsy hit the wizard from the front at the same time.  Runes in the swords flared.  The combinations of attacks took their toll on the wizard’s robes, weakening it enough that both blades made shallow cuts through to the skin.

Desperation filled the wizard’s eyes.  He backed away, swinging his staff.

Frath renewed his effort against the golem.  He slashed at its torso, cutting into flesh and wood.

The golem swung its damaged arms as if they were twigs swaying in a gale.

Frath dodged every swing.  He was faster than anyone his size had a right to be and with his heightened senses, it was difficult to harm him.

The golem charged forward in an attempt to slam its opponent to the ground.

Frath sidestepped and ducked behind the charge.  He brought his sword around against the golem’s back, knocking it to the floor.  He jumped on the golem’s back and hacked at it as though he were chopping kindling for a fire.

Grinkin, Florsy hacked at the wizard while Clutz and Bobbell darted in with quick stabs.

Kally regained consciousness and abruptly lurched to her feet before falling sideways and landing awkwardly.  She maneuvered to her hands and knees while trying to make sense of the battle.

The wizard had a dozen cuts through his spent robe.  His last desperate swing of the staff missed everyone.

Four swords pierced him with mortal wounds.  The men withdrew them at the same time, leaving him to collapse with a gurgling sigh.

The golem kicked and struggled to get up, but was ineffective without arms.

Frath continued hacking even after it stopped moving.

Grinkin took a step toward him.  “Hey Frath, it’s dead.”

Bobbell stopped him.  “It’s best to let him stop on his own.”

Kally crawled toward the cages.  “Tiyler.  Tiyler, is that you?”  She reached one of the cages and jerked on the door.  “It’s locked.”  She shook the bars.  “It’s locked.”

Bobbell ran over, pulling his picks out at the same time.  “I’ll get it.”

Clutz headed to a desk with an open book and papers scattered over it.  “I’ll try to find a key.”

Florsy removed a bejeweled necklace from the wizard’s neck.  “I’ll start grabbing valuables.  That’ll make it look like thieves did this.”

Despite her desperation, Kally gasped in shock.  “We’re members of the guard.  We can’t steal things!”

Grinkin grabbed wands from their rack on a table near the stairs.  “We’ll give most of it to charity, lass.  That way it’s not really stealing.”

“Most of it? . . .”

Frath continued chopping the golem, though it was hard to tell it had once had a shape by that point.

Bobbell conquered the lock and opened the cage.

Kally forgot her indignation as she scrambled in to recover her brother.  “Tiyler!  Tiyler, wake up.  Please wake up.”

The boy moaned and lifted his head.

“Thank the gods.”  Kally clutched him to her chest and rocked.

“Do you think Frath is going to continue until he has sawdust,” Florsy asked no one in particular.

Bobbell had the second cage unlocked in an instant.  “If that’s what he needs, let him.”  He went in to check on the other boy.

Clutz abandoned his search for the key and went over to the unconscious man and boy.  He leaned over the man and did a quick inspection before checking the boy and lifting him into his arms.

Frath stopped chopping.  The red left his vision.  He twisted his neck each way to pop it.  “Are we finished?”  He wiped off his blade and scanned the room.

Bobbell came out of the cage with the boy over his shoulder.  “Yeah.  Let’s get out of here.  Kally has her brother and we can take these other two to the Temple of Turqua.”

“Who is Turqua again?”  Florsy shoved some valuables into a backpack he found.  “I can’t keep up with all the temples in this city.”

Kally held carried her brother out of his cage.  “The Goddess Turqua can’t bear children, so she nurtures those without homes.  Can someone sheath my sword for me?”

Grinkin picked it up off the floor and cleaned it off as she had asked.  “I wish more women would ask me that.”  He winked playfully.

Kally smirked.  “I’m sure you do.”  She looked around once more.  “Oh, what should we do about the man who brought that boy in?”

“Took care of it.”  Clutz headed to the stairs.  “Let’s go.”

“You killed him?”  Despair cracked Kally’s voice as she noticed the pool of blood spreading under the body.

Frath put his arm around her shoulders and guided her out of the room.  “There are countless men in Dralin who steal children.  The city won’t miss that one.”

Kally choked back tears as she let the men lead her down the stairs and out of the tower into the night.  Rain fell on their heads as they made their way to the temple, hiding any that might have escaped.

***

Frath sat on the bench outside the temple with his arms resting on his legs and his head hung.  The others were inside seeing to the safety of the boys.  If they had parents, the temple would reunite them.  If not, they would try to find them homes outside of Dralin.

His nose throbbed and the cuts in his leg itched.  He had a couple of bruises in random places he didn’t remember getting.  Sergeant Gorman, who was in charge of Frath’s squad, would grill him when Frath got back.  He could hide the bruises and the cuts in his leg, but not the broken nose. 

Kally was the first to come out with her brother clinging to her side.  In a flash, she was at his side.  “Frath, drink this.  Quickly now.”  She clasped his jaw and held a vial to his lips while tipping his head back.

Frath grabbed her wrist, surprised by the abrupt action, but didn’t fight her.  Cool syrup flowed down his throat, tickling it with mystical energy.  As soon as it hit his stomach, the throbbing in his nose stopped and all bodily pains left.

“There.  Now you don’t need to worry about getting into trouble.”  Kally tapped the last of the syrup into his mouth and took the vial away.  She took a closer look at his face.  “Your nose is still crooked.”

“You . . .”  Frath stared at her with eyes wide.  “Healing potions cost . . .”

She stoppered the vial and tucked it into a belt pouch.  “My father will pay the cost.  It’s a small dose made by an acolyte rather than a full bottle by a priest.  There’s a chance you may grow an extra ear.”  She winked.

“They wouldn’t have sold it if it was bad.  Even that much is a fortune.  If you wanted me healed, a priest, or even an acolyte could have laid their hands on me for a fraction of the cost.  Why . . .”

Kally chewed on her lip, took a breath to answer, and then paused before saying, “To reduce the chance of discovery of course.  Healing drains energy and would have put you out of commission for days.  With a potion, it’s as though nothing happened.”

“Yeah.  I don’t hurt anymore.”  He stretched and tested his muscles.  “I’m a little tired and hungry though.”

“Like I said, it was made by an acolyte, so you’ll still feel some of the adverse effects.”

The others came out at that point.  “The boys are safe.”  Bobbell gestured for Frath to get up.  “We’re going to be late for roll call, Frath.  Let’s go.”

“We need to escort Kally’s brother back to his father’s estate.  Kally’s capable, but Dralin isn’t safe for a lone woman and boy.”

“You two get back to the barracks.”  Grinkin put a protective hand on Kally’s shoulder.  “We’ll ensure they get home safely.”

Florsy nudged Clutz in the ribs with an elbow.  “Yeah.  The only thing that would make our sergeant suspicious is if we showed up on time.”

Clutz rubbed his rib and chuckled.  “True enough.  Go on Frath.”

“Thanks guys.  I appreciate it.”

They exchanged farewells.  Frath and Bobbell used a few coins confiscated from the wizard’s tower to hire a taxi cart back to the barracks.