Cover Art by Alison Hunt

With War of Nytefall: Eulogy being live, it’s time for some teasers.  This book moves at a different pace than the others because there’s more mystery.  So, it was harder to choose a riveting teaser to start with.  Decided that it’s best to start with Clyde and how he starts this adventure.  Enjoy.

The small rowboat rockets across the northern oceans, leaving a high spray of water and startled fish in its wake. Coming to an iceberg, the ship veers to the side and cuts around the edge at a speed that threatens to split several of the wooden planks. The lone oarsman slows down enough to lessen the strain on his ship, but his impatience gets the best of him a minute later. He continues cutting through the water and heading towards a shadowy wall in the distance. Tentacles occasionally whip out of the ocean, but the Euryic squids are too slow to catch the rowboat. Algae-fringed fins pierce the surface to run alongside the vessel, but the mysterious creature does nothing more than bump the hull with its nose. Annoyed by the attention, the traveler delivers a punch to the water, which sends a geyser into the air and keeps the predators away. Only curious whales and friendly sealions dare to approach the vessel, which easily avoids hitting the harmless animals. Pods of dolphins combine to follow the boat when they realize its passage is stirring up and confusing schools of fish. Without getting in the way, they take advantage of the easy feast and gorge themselves until they are satisfied.

The inquisitive beasts stop emerging altogether when the arctic fog abruptly splits and reveals the barrier known as the Ice Crown. A freezing wind whips off the coast, which is a beautiful and jagged sheet of ice. Covering the entire northern pole of Windemere, it is said that even the gods are unaware of what lies within the hollowed circle. The only evidence of there being something inside are faint voices slipping through the walls and the occasional silhouette when the four moons are directly above the area. All attempts to climb to the top have been met with failure due to exhaustion or a violent rejection by the ancient barriers found within the mass of eternal clouds. Craning his neck, the bundled oarsman notices faint glimmers of prismatic light, which cause his skin to become cold and numb. Having more important business, he forgets about the mysterious region and steers his rowboat through the craggy waters. The journey is slow and meticulous to avoid the sharp rocks and shipwrecks, which have been preserved for centuries.

Moving along the shore, the traveler slows down at the sight of a cabin, which is releasing a plume of smoke from its bent chimney. As he gets closer, he can see the walls are made from planks stolen from various shipwrecks. Firelight can be seen through the gaps, but he is sure the house is a freezing deathtrap during the night. The front door does not fit within the warped frame, which is being kept together by a few well-placed boards. Bringing his rowboat alongside the elevated shore, he stretches to grip the edge and pull himself up along with his ship. Getting a better look at the structure, he can see that someone inside is pacing the entire length of the cabin. He watches how the light peeking through the boarded windows disappears and reappears to get a sense of his target’s location and strength. He is about to rush through the door when he feels something touch his chest. Reaching under his shirt, he takes out a message, which is tangled within the chain of his corn-shaped necklace.

With a muttered curse, Clyde strips off his warmer clothes to reveal his usual black garb beneath and storms towards the cabin. His blue eyes blink into the frigid wind, which whips off the Ice Crown and threatens to shove him into the ocean. Forced to brace himself, he holds his ground until it has passed and then hurries to the door. Wanting to release the last of his frustration, he throws a punch at the slightly curve entrance, but it opens and he stumbles into the shockingly warm interior. The Dawn Fang sees there is barely any furniture beyond a bed, table, and the basics for a kitchen. A fishing rod sits in the corner along with a bucket of old bait, which fills the heated cabin with a slightly foul stench. Turning to face the owner, Clyde cannot stop himself from staring open-mouthed at the haggard sight standing in the open doorway. The elf is still beautiful, but there are dark rings around her blue eyes and her body is becoming gaunt from malnutrition. Once extravagant and eye-catching, her maroon dress is covered in patches made from penguin feathers and seal pelts. Reaching into a pocket, the decrepit Dawn Fang pulls out a piece of raw fish and shudders after taking a bite.

“You don’t look any better,” Desirae Duvall snaps as she tries to fix her chocolate hair.