Whether in darkness or light, every path inevitably comes to an end.
As Gabriel, the Destiny God, determined centuries ago, his chosen will face Baron Kernaghan for the fate of Windemere. Through many victories and losses, the champions have stood together and prepared for this great battle. Now that the Baron’s influence stirs those with evil hearts, they have run out of time and must travel to Shayd. Yet, there are more secrets for them to uncover before entering a battle where the only way to survive is surpassing limits and putting everything they have on the line. Through it all, Gabriel’s statement that he made them destined to fight, but winning was not set in stone rings in their minds.
Will the champions usher in an Age of Heroes or become the sacrifices for an Age of Darkness?
Excerpt: Return of the Baron
Exiting the portal above Gaia, the Baron is carried by an ocean breeze to the top of the amphitheater. His chest is tight as the curse attempts to crush him, a final embrace before it is dispelled for eternity. Free of his prison, the immortal inhales as if he has not taken a breath in centuries. The sight of gulls and white clouds in place of demons and endless storms brings tears to his eyes. Scents of foods that he has created magical versions of waft to his nose, the real dishes smelling infinitely more delicious than his creations. Throwing his sense of propriety away, the Baron falls to his knees and kisses the stone beneath his feet. Distant screams travel to his ears as the entire population of Windemere is forced to remember all of the horrors he committed as a mortal. Waves of fear wrap around the world when they recall that he became the God of Destiny and planned to unleash his fury on the other deities. Vivid memories of the atrocities he committed forces themselves into millions of minds that are driven to the edge of insanity. Their voices and emotions are delicacies to the Baron’s senses, which strain to absorb every sensation given off by his new kingdom. Even the whispers of defiance from nearby make him lick his lips and desire the chance to crush his first true enemy with his bare hands. Rising to his feet, the Baron shields his eyes from the sun to help him see a hazy dome that appears in the sky. Feeling a familiar energy from the lowering barrier, he laughs and throws out his arms to greet one of the keys to his victory. With a resounding boom, the spell covers Gaia and nearly a mile of ocean. All of the voices and emotions swirling around Windemere are blocked by the dome, which plunges Gaia into silent isolation.
Gazing at the armies that have gathered around the city, the Baron smiles at how the soldiers shift uneasily. His attention locks on Trinity, his former agent and her warriors closer to Gaia than any of the other forces. Even though the cobalt-skinned channeler cannot see him, he can tell that she has become aware of his presence. Stretching his arm, the warlord decides the traitorous Queen will be the perfect casualty to start the battle and make the others realize that he has arrived. Casting a spell to pulverize every bone in her body, the Baron’s fingertips glow with a golden light that runs down to his palm. He briefly hesitates to kill the young woman whom he once looked upon as a daughter, but the idea of leaving any traitor alive fills him with anger. The immortal begins to utter the final word of his incantation when he hears the portal release a brief popping noise.
“That took less time than I expected,” the Baron says, whirling around to redirect his spell at the champions. His attack soars through empty sky, the blast parting the clouds and silencing the surprised mortals waiting outside of the city. “Very curious, but pointless. Invisibility will not trick me, gypsy girl. Your attempt to hide yourself and the others will fail.”
About the Author:
Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After his wife decided that she was tired of hearing the same stories repeatedly, she convinced him that it would make more sense to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house under orders to shut up and get to work, Charles brings you Legends of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you, and his wife is happy he finally has someone else to play with.
Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com
Twitter: @cyallowitz
Facebook: Charles Yallowitz
Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com
