RUNENMEESTER, The Shardheld Saga #2
Muus, Kjelle and Tuuri. Three young men, separated by allegiance, but intertwined by Fate.
Birthe and Moirra. Two young women with their own goals and destinies.
Muus found the mysterious blue stone that crashed from the sky. Now he is both a Runemaster, learning the terrible power of the runes, and the Shardheld, on whose shoulders rests the fate of the world's magic. He is desperately trying to resist the pull of the skyshard before it takes over his mind. Step by step, Fate brings him nearer to Falrom, the Burning Land, and the standing stone that waits for the skyshard.
Kjelle is the dispossessed Lord, whose disgruntled men are the Norden King's line of defense against hordes of Fynni barbarians plundering the lands. He has to stop these Fynni from reaching their goal - the return of the Old Gods, and with them, all the horrors from the distant past.
Tuuri, follower of the powerful warlord bent on conquering the north. Troubled by doubts and hatred of his Fynni heritage, and hunted by both sides of the conflict, he hurries south to a choice he doesn't yet know he has to make.
Birthe, widow and mother at sixteen, both Völva - mistress of the magic of the Nord women - and huntmaster, accompanies Kjelle in the hope of finding a new purpose now everyone she loved, is dead.
Moirra, the Un-a-Dach druidess, small, doughty and wise, joins Muus on his journey to Falrom, the Burning Land. But she has secrets in her past, and a purpose she doesn't speak of.
Follow their gripping story in Runemaster, the second book of The Shardheld Saga. An epic tale of magic, sword fighting, love and betrayal.
"There's plenty of action to keep the reader turning the pages, (and quite a bit of grim dispatching of enemies with swords and axes, magic fire, heads on spikes, a poor soul with his heart ripped from their chest, etc.) and each character's personal growth is handled with care." (Awesome Indies Reviewer)
"I absolutely loved this book. I love how Kjelle is finding himself more with the absence of Muus." (Kayla West, Book Critic)
"For all those who love fantasy, this is "the" perfect book to read!" (Shree Janani at readmuse.blogspot.in)
Runemaster, The Shardheld Saga, Book 2
Paul E. Horsman
Editor: Debra Doyle, Ph.D., Dr Doyle's Editorial and Critique Services
Illustrator: Jos Weijmer, JW Artstudio
Publisher: Red Rune Books (2013)
Published as: print book, e-book
Pages: 258
Price: $ 16.9o (print), $ 2.99 (e-book)
Paul E. Horsman
Editor: Debra Doyle, Ph.D., Dr Doyle's Editorial and Critique Services
Illustrator: Jos Weijmer, JW Artstudio
Publisher: Red Rune Books (2013)
Published as: print book, e-book
Pages: 258
Price: $ 16.9o (print), $ 2.99 (e-book)
BOOK II - CHAPTER 04 - MOIRRA
‘How did you know I was a Nord?’ said Ottil.
‘Do you think I’m a fool? Your whole aura shouts ‘Nord’. Your Gaullish half is terribly underdeveloped. Have you ever been to Gaul?’
Ottil shook his head. ‘Never. As Prince I wasn’t allowed out of the country. What I know of Gaul is what my mother taught me.’
‘And that’s not much. Well, I’ll try not to be too bothered by it.’ Then she looked sideways at Hraab. ‘I know... him. Dreamed of you often enough.’ Hurriedly she turned to Muus. ‘And you. The secret one. The unreadable rune. Who are you?’
Muus said the first thing that came to mind. ‘I’m the Shardheld.’
‘By the Three,’ said Moirra and her voice rose again. ‘Don’t make jokes like that, boy.’
Muus took the stone from it’s pouch and the little ash twig. Blue light filled the hut and the girl stared at the shard in his hand.
‘It’s true,’ she whispered. ‘And I didn’t even feel it when you arrived. Oh Mawgan...’ She looked at Hraab, who winked at her. Then she lifted her eyes to Muus’ face. ‘Why do you come to me? You must know I can’t help you. I’m still searching for my own uwa’th.’
‘I know,’ said Muus gently. ‘But you can help me. Bring me to Fardoragh.’ He held out his hand with the little ash twig. ‘Here, I brought you some help. It’s from the holy ash at Windiss.’
‘Ohh,’ she said and her eyes grew big. ‘And you kept it with the stone? Don’t you know what you have done?’
Muus looked puzzled. ‘What I have done?’
‘The sharf infused the twig with some of his powers. And you give it to me? This is a... costly gift.’
Hraab looked from the girl to Muus’ face and doubled down with laughter. ‘Now you did it, Muus. You really don’t know, of course. Among the Un-a-Dach, a gift this powerful is a bridal gift. A very expensive bridal gift.’
Muus grew beet red. ‘I didn’t know that. I apologize for offending you.’
‘Offended? I’m not offended. But I shouldn’t keep it, you gave it in ignorance. Here, take it back.’
Muus shook his head. ‘No. A gift once given cannot be taken back.’
‘I must... think about this,’ said Moirra. ‘Meanwhile, this tiny twig needs a bit of earth.’ With the ash bough carefully sheltered in het hands, she hurried outside.
‘Do you think I’m a fool? Your whole aura shouts ‘Nord’. Your Gaullish half is terribly underdeveloped. Have you ever been to Gaul?’
Ottil shook his head. ‘Never. As Prince I wasn’t allowed out of the country. What I know of Gaul is what my mother taught me.’
‘And that’s not much. Well, I’ll try not to be too bothered by it.’ Then she looked sideways at Hraab. ‘I know... him. Dreamed of you often enough.’ Hurriedly she turned to Muus. ‘And you. The secret one. The unreadable rune. Who are you?’
Muus said the first thing that came to mind. ‘I’m the Shardheld.’
‘By the Three,’ said Moirra and her voice rose again. ‘Don’t make jokes like that, boy.’
Muus took the stone from it’s pouch and the little ash twig. Blue light filled the hut and the girl stared at the shard in his hand.
‘It’s true,’ she whispered. ‘And I didn’t even feel it when you arrived. Oh Mawgan...’ She looked at Hraab, who winked at her. Then she lifted her eyes to Muus’ face. ‘Why do you come to me? You must know I can’t help you. I’m still searching for my own uwa’th.’
‘I know,’ said Muus gently. ‘But you can help me. Bring me to Fardoragh.’ He held out his hand with the little ash twig. ‘Here, I brought you some help. It’s from the holy ash at Windiss.’
‘Ohh,’ she said and her eyes grew big. ‘And you kept it with the stone? Don’t you know what you have done?’
Muus looked puzzled. ‘What I have done?’
‘The sharf infused the twig with some of his powers. And you give it to me? This is a... costly gift.’
Hraab looked from the girl to Muus’ face and doubled down with laughter. ‘Now you did it, Muus. You really don’t know, of course. Among the Un-a-Dach, a gift this powerful is a bridal gift. A very expensive bridal gift.’
Muus grew beet red. ‘I didn’t know that. I apologize for offending you.’
‘Offended? I’m not offended. But I shouldn’t keep it, you gave it in ignorance. Here, take it back.’
Muus shook his head. ‘No. A gift once given cannot be taken back.’
‘I must... think about this,’ said Moirra. ‘Meanwhile, this tiny twig needs a bit of earth.’ With the ash bough carefully sheltered in het hands, she hurried outside.
Judge, 22nd Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards: "I found the story of the young Shardheld and his compatriots to be a compelling one that held my interest." |
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