RHIDAUNA, The Shadow of the Revenaunt #1
'Rhidauna', the first book of the great fantasy series 'The Shadow of the Revenaunt'.
The night before his Coming-of-Age, Ghyll and his two friends escape their castle on a clandestine hunt that will forever change their lives.
The hunt proves a disaster, and with one of them badly wounded, they return in time to see their island castle destroyed by macabre warriors from a dragon boat, and by flocks of fire-breathing birds. Ghyll's eighteenth birthday becomes a nightmare as they flee into the night.
The next day, a posthumous letter sends them on a dangerous quest to find out who is trying to kill them... and most importantly, why?
Fortunately, they can count on colorful new friends to assist them, including a sometimes overly enthusiastic fire mage, an inexperienced paladin and a young beastmistress who is a ferocious mountain lioness.
It soon becomes clear they're hunted not by one just one, but several murderous sorcerers. Are those black-robed men really followers of a terrible, long-forgotten organization?
And whose cold hand reaches across the boundaries of space and time to crush weakened Rhidauna?
The night before his Coming-of-Age, Ghyll and his two friends escape their castle on a clandestine hunt that will forever change their lives.
The hunt proves a disaster, and with one of them badly wounded, they return in time to see their island castle destroyed by macabre warriors from a dragon boat, and by flocks of fire-breathing birds. Ghyll's eighteenth birthday becomes a nightmare as they flee into the night.
The next day, a posthumous letter sends them on a dangerous quest to find out who is trying to kill them... and most importantly, why?
Fortunately, they can count on colorful new friends to assist them, including a sometimes overly enthusiastic fire mage, an inexperienced paladin and a young beastmistress who is a ferocious mountain lioness.
It soon becomes clear they're hunted not by one just one, but several murderous sorcerers. Are those black-robed men really followers of a terrible, long-forgotten organization?
And whose cold hand reaches across the boundaries of space and time to crush weakened Rhidauna?
Rhidauna, The Shadow of the Revenaunt, Book 1
(Revised Edition 2015)
Paul E. Horsman
Illustrator: Ravven
Publisher: Red Rune Books (2015)
Published as: print book, e-book
Pages: ca. 243
Price: $ 16.99 (print), $ 3.99 (e-book)
(Revised Edition 2015)
Paul E. Horsman
Illustrator: Ravven
Publisher: Red Rune Books (2015)
Published as: print book, e-book
Pages: ca. 243
Price: $ 16.99 (print), $ 3.99 (e-book)
Chapter 1: BOAR HUNT
Four times the bronze voice of the tower bell rang out over the courtyard. At the first note, the three boys disappeared into the shadows and the rain-drenched square seemed deserted. Minutes passed, but no guards showed their faces.
Ghyll Denhalf shook his long, dripping wet hair and threw the other two a triumphant grin. Everything was going as planned. He’d counted on the night watch finding the weather too miserable to man the walls. They were all elderly veterans and would be huddling by the fire in the guardhouse, their boots at the door, while they passed round the mulled wine and bragged of their many feats.
Ghyll nodded at the large bronze gates. Both were locked at nightfall, but the wicket, the little door built into them, remained open. Unseen, the three slipped away into the darkness beyond.
The world outside the walls lay wrapped in rain; nothing moved but the falling water. Without a word, the boys hurried to the stable at the castle farm, where their horses stood. Their trained fingers found saddle straps and buckles by touch and soon they led the animals away. In the boathouse at the breakwater, their barge was waiting and moments later they sailed on their adventure.
‘We did it!’ Ghyll took a deep breath and gazed at the distant mainland, ignoring his foster brother’s disapproval.
‘I still think it is madness.’ Olle sat in the stern of the boat, his brown skin and matching leather jerkin merging with the night. His one hand rested on the tiller, while with the other he wiped his wet face. ‘Only the three of us, in pitch dark; the mountain slope will be muddy shit and none of us ever hunted boar before.’
Ghyll sniffed. ‘Faint heart. They’re only pigs.’ He glanced at the looming mass of the Dar Traun. It felt as if the mountain waited for them. We’re coming. ‘You listened too much to Uncle’s forester,’ he said, turning back to the others. ‘The old geezer’s overcautious.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘I just have to kill one.’
‘Why?’ Olle slapped his knee. ‘You haven’t given me a good reason yet.’
Ghyll shrugged. It was true; he had no good reason. He’d be eighteen tomorrow and somehow he felt that coming of age and hunting boar belonged together, as if one would prove his fitness for the other.
‘Your uncle won’t be pleased,’ Olle said. He glanced aside at Damion, as if seeking assent, but the younger boy didn’t say anything.
Ghyll’s eyes went back to the mountain. He knew very well Uncle Jadron wouldn’t be pleased, but the urge was irresistible.
Ghyll Denhalf shook his long, dripping wet hair and threw the other two a triumphant grin. Everything was going as planned. He’d counted on the night watch finding the weather too miserable to man the walls. They were all elderly veterans and would be huddling by the fire in the guardhouse, their boots at the door, while they passed round the mulled wine and bragged of their many feats.
Ghyll nodded at the large bronze gates. Both were locked at nightfall, but the wicket, the little door built into them, remained open. Unseen, the three slipped away into the darkness beyond.
The world outside the walls lay wrapped in rain; nothing moved but the falling water. Without a word, the boys hurried to the stable at the castle farm, where their horses stood. Their trained fingers found saddle straps and buckles by touch and soon they led the animals away. In the boathouse at the breakwater, their barge was waiting and moments later they sailed on their adventure.
‘We did it!’ Ghyll took a deep breath and gazed at the distant mainland, ignoring his foster brother’s disapproval.
‘I still think it is madness.’ Olle sat in the stern of the boat, his brown skin and matching leather jerkin merging with the night. His one hand rested on the tiller, while with the other he wiped his wet face. ‘Only the three of us, in pitch dark; the mountain slope will be muddy shit and none of us ever hunted boar before.’
Ghyll sniffed. ‘Faint heart. They’re only pigs.’ He glanced at the looming mass of the Dar Traun. It felt as if the mountain waited for them. We’re coming. ‘You listened too much to Uncle’s forester,’ he said, turning back to the others. ‘The old geezer’s overcautious.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘I just have to kill one.’
‘Why?’ Olle slapped his knee. ‘You haven’t given me a good reason yet.’
Ghyll shrugged. It was true; he had no good reason. He’d be eighteen tomorrow and somehow he felt that coming of age and hunting boar belonged together, as if one would prove his fitness for the other.
‘Your uncle won’t be pleased,’ Olle said. He glanced aside at Damion, as if seeking assent, but the younger boy didn’t say anything.
Ghyll’s eyes went back to the mountain. He knew very well Uncle Jadron wouldn’t be pleased, but the urge was irresistible.
4.5 Stars (out of 5): Highly recommended. This book is a great read. It can hold its own against any traditionally published novel in its genre, and surpasses many. |
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