Synopsis:
In old Kal`Dathia, a frightened king makes a fateful mistake that spells his country’s doom and unleashes an ancient and terrible scourge upon the land. Beset by barbarian invaders, he Awakens a legendary hero known as Rak`koth, the Sleeping Savior, not knowing that the Savior is, in truth, a Dark sorcerer who nearly destroyed the world with his black arts before being cast into ensorcelled slumber eight centuries ago. Once revived, this sadistic sorcerer seizes power, conquers an entire continent, and forges an empire built on blood and death.
Meanwhile, across the Luminous Sea in the Kingdom of Calderia, Crown Prince Killian grows to manhood, unaware that he carries within him a seed of divine power instilled by the gods. This power has been gifted to a mortal once in each generation against the time of Rak`koth’s return—and must now be Awakened, if Calderia has any hope of prevailing against the evil emperor who has turned his malevolent gaze upon Killian’s homeland as his next conquest.
But to do so, the human prince must help to forge an alliance with other warring nations and races of Balleterria, including his blood enemies, the Elves, and their warrior princess, Ellianthia, who would sooner slit his throat and watch him die than join with him in common cause. Somehow, these sworn foes must refrain from killing each other long enough to learn how to work together, gathering other companions along the way as they undertake a long and perilous journey to solve an age-old mystery, find a magic talisman, seek out a lost mage, and save their world from descent into oblivion.
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Cover:
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Excerpt:
King Nek`krod stood before the golden casket resting on the marble base some four feet high. No name or inscription marred the smooth, flawless surface of the Sleeping Savior’s sarcophagus, but none of those gathered before it harbored any doubt about who lay at rest within. Nek`krod gestured toward the royal guards, and several stepped forward, dressed in ceremonial silver breastplates and greaves, holding the five heavy braziers that would be needed for the Ritual of Flame required for the Awakening. When the braziers had been placed around the coffin, Chief Wizard Mel`kanor waved his staff and called the flames to life. With the fire came welcomed illumination that banished the dark shadows nearest the coffin, lighting the faces of the men and women, and bringing their expressions of hushed anticipation into sharper relief.
At another sign from Mel`kanor, his seven wizards stepped to the braziers and began gesturing as they passed their hands in and out of the flames, chanting in a deep monotone the spell that would unbind Rak`koth from his endless slumber. Moving as one, the seven priestesses followed High Priestess Merelda down to the cold floor as she knelt and raised her hands in supplication to the god Shalloth, their soft feminine voices murmuring the sacred prayers in unison, calling on their beloved deity to hear their pleas for restoration of the Sleeping Savior’s power and glory. Long, unbound feminine tresses caressed their shoulders as they lifted their heads and fixed their gazes upon the casket. The point and counterpoint of male and female, chant and orison, blended into a hypnotic harmony that reverberated throughout the chamber, lifting the king’s spirit with a surge of hope and expectation.
As the vocal fusion reached a crescendo, the king heard the crack of a thunderbolt just outside the Tomb that smote their ears and left them ringing, followed by a mighty tremor in the ground, rocking the chamber to and fro, opening narrow fissures in the stone beneath his feet. It was as if some celestial force had torn the fabric of the sky and split the earth. Guards, wizards and priestesses were thrown down to the floor abruptly, dazed and unable to move until the terrible rumbling ceased. Struggling to regain his footing and his dignity, Nek`krod knew in his soul that something potent had been unbound and…Awakened.
For a time, there was only silence. Then Nek`krod felt a new presence in the torch-lit chamber, permeating the air with the touch of something powerful, alive. A moment later, a low, grating sound of metal sliding against metal riveted their attention in the direction of the Savior’s pedestal, as the lid of the coffin began to move. It shifted sideways slowly, inching forward, then fell to the floor with a jarring crash as a single hand, its long, graceful fingers bejeweled with emerald and ruby rings, emerged from within its dark recesses to grip the side of the casket.
Someone gasped as the upper portion of a body rose in one fluid motion to sit erect. A black velvet robe, perfectly preserved and threaded with mystical sigils stitched in fine gold filigree, covered the chest and arms of the raised figure. The cowl, woven from the same thick, dark material, slipped back to reveal the head of a man framed by dark, curling hair that fell to his collar. The face was long and high-boned, handsome, with heavy eyebrows, a prominent nose, and full, thick lips. The eyes were closed, as if the man remained in repose. Then the eyes opened, two black irises with burning crimson centers piercing the pall of smoke from the torches…and the world changed.
Those riveting eyes scanned the chamber slowly as the Sleeping Savior turned his head from side to side. Then a smile split Rak`koth’s face, a smile that soon became a laugh of unrestrained exultation echoing in the shadowed vault. “Alive! Alive again!”
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Giveaway:
Author David M. Echeandia is giving away two $20 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Cards (winner’s choice) to two lucky winners! Enter with Rafflecopter. The giveaway runs 3/5/14 – 3/20/14 (Midnight Eastern Time).
Buy Avatar of Calderia:
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About the Author:
I was raised on the East Coast, enduring the freezing winters and loving New York pizza by the slice, the kind you fold in half and start eating with the hot melted cheese dripping down into your mouth. Now a psychologist, I live here in the California sun with my wife and daughter, and assorted pets. I don’t regret leaving the cold weather behind, but I do still miss the pizza.
I have been enamored with science fiction/fantasy since I was (as my southern grandmother used to say) “knee-high to a grasshopper.” Thank the gods for ebooks, because I ran out of room to store my collection many moons ago. I enjoy reading, RPG’s, canning homegrown preserves, old time radio, more reading, and Scottish Highland Games (middle name is McMaster). I actually had a kilt of my clan tartan made, and I’ve been promising myself to learn how to play “Scotland the Brave” on the bagpipes. Perhaps one day…
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