Corrupted magic is hard to fight when you’re the only one
who believes something is wrong. Daria faces a battle to save her world.
If most of the
other Masks were like Alenze, then she was never going to fit in. He didn't
have a hair out of place. His clothes were grey but of the highest quality,
with a beautifully fitted long tunic and breeches and well-made knee-high
leather boots.
"During
the travelling, you'll be placed in a trance. This is done so you're not
alarmed by the experience. I'll be in control, and you'll not be aware of what's
happening around you."
He spoke
to her as if she were a child. The fact he was at least a head taller than her
didn't help matters as he peered down.
"I assure you growing up here has
made me resilient." Daria crossed her fingers behind her back at the lie.
"Many people struggle with the
experience. I myself was glad I wore brown britches the first time. I agree
though. I sense you'll not be alarmed easily," Alenze replied.
For a second Daria saw a smirk on his
face. He had a sense of humor, who would have thought. He even almost looked
handsome when he smiled.
"Traveler Quatrome, the sun is
setting," her father interrupted. "The Chamber is ready." He
bowed his head to both of them.
Alenze offered his arm to escort her
into the Travelling Chamber. Daria stared at his hand as her heart pounded in
fear, but knew she had no choice but to eventually take it. Pell stopped
outside the Chamber and smiled at her, then looked to Alenze.
"Take care of her, and warn your
fellow Masks to watch out for her temper; she didn't inherit her mother's green
eyes and red hair without reason," Pell warned.
"You have my word, Master
Gallo," Alenze replied as he shook her father's hand.
Atia and Chelle hugged her with tears
streaming down all their faces.
"It won't be long, and I'll be
back, especially if they don't want me, which is highly likely," Daria
soothed them as she tried to get her tears under control.
Alenze coughed
and Daria couldn't delay any more. Again, his arm was offered and this time she
accepted. He escorted her into the chamber and as the doors shut behind them,
she could hear Rumus howling and her breath caught in her throat.
Alenze let go
of her arm and walked into the center of the circular, windowless room. With
the doors closed, there was an oppressive feel to the space, with the only
illumination coming from the oil lamps placed about the walls. The floor was
covered with a beautiful painting. The tales were that the settlement had been
built around this place.
Alenze was
studying the markings on the floor. Daria's breath was catching in her throat
and the room was getting smaller. She couldn't go through with this, they
couldn't make her go. Her chest was getting tight as her panic increased. She
ran to the door of the chamber and raised her fists, thumping hard again and
again. The yells coming from her throat blanked out the pain as her fists
started to redden and bleed.
"Let me
out."
A hand touched
her shoulder, causing her to spin around screaming, her clenched fist aimed at
Alenze. Placing his hand over hers, he brought her fist down. He stared
intently at her with his dark grey eyes as he spoke.
"When I
went to the Domain in Denarius, I believed no one would want someone like me.
Those who came with me at that time were filled with a confidence I never had.
I didn't feel I'd ever belong, but now I do. Becoming a Mask has given my life
meaning beyond what I would ever have thought possible. I've grown to love what
I've become. You must trust me, and believe you'll feel that, too." He
paused. "Are you ready?"
Daria nodded as
he let go of her hands and walked over and stood over the open mouth of the
winged serpent painted on the floor. She stood on the outside of the circular
floor painting and thought her eyes must be playing tricks on her. The painting
was starting to move as the serpent's coils began to entwine one upon another
hypnotically.
"We can
delay no longer. Stand on the mark of the moon." Holding out his arm,
Alenze beckoned her to move forward.
She took the
step, her breath coming in gasps. The outer circle had symbols of the sun,
moon, stars and the Goddess Ikrar. The Goddess stood with her hands clasped
around a crystal.
Alenze removed
a small, plain brown mask from a pouch hanging around his neck and put it on
his face. It had no hooks or fastenings, but melded to him on contact.
"Enter the
circle, Daria."
Daria stepped
forward onto the moving picture. Alenze took her hands in a firm grip, and
needing something to hold onto, she gripped equally as hard around his wrists.
She wondered if he could hear her heart beating. He should, as it felt as if it
was going to explode through her chest.
"I don't
want to do this. My life is here, Crane is here, I love him and I want to
stay." Tears flowed down her face.
"Trust me,
Daria, and you'll be safe," Alenze instructed.
"I don't
want to trust you. I don't want to go and no one there will want me. They think
I'm bringing doom with me because I touched the crystal," Daria sobbed,
but Alenze wasn't listening anymore. His eyes were shut and he was chanting
strange words over and over. There was a humming noise making her dizzy, and
then something touched her foot. She jerked her knee up. Peering down, she let
out a scream as the coils of the snake picture on the floor started slithering
over her feet and around her ankles - where was the trance Alenze had promised?
The Mask was no longer solid on his face; the flat surface was bubbling as
though something was trying to erupt. Then the small heads of two snakes broke
free from the surface and bit into his temples. If he felt any pain he didn't
react.
More snakes
oozed from the Mask until the whole of his head was a wriggling mass moving
down his back and entwining around his arms. Two vipers separated from the
others encircling his arms. The snakes stopped their movements at his wrists
and raised their bodies up as though to get a good look at her. They swayed
hypnotically. Daria tried to pull free of Alenze's grip, but he was too strong.
Then without warning, both snakes struck at her wrists in unison.
"Alenze,"
his name burst from her mouth as the pain hit her arms and the poison burned
into her. His eyes opened, looking first to her face and then at the vipers
injecting their venom. She could hear his thoughts.
Forgive me, Daria.
Review
Unmasked
Liranni Trilogy Book One
Maggie Mundy
Review by Sable Angel
5 Angels
UnMasked
This is a not-to-be-missed tale. Starting with a raging
battle in the first chapter, the story picks up the reader and hurls them into
a fast paced, heart throbbing journey. The characters are so well rounded, you
expect to turn and see them sitting next to you.
If you have any love of the mystery of magic and all that
entails, you’ll insure you have the beginning book to this amazing trilogy.
Good work, Ms. Mundy. So, uhm, when’s the next one due out?
Sable
REVIEW:
Unmasked
Liranni Trilogy Book One
Maggie Mundy
Review by Jennifer Haskin
Rating: 4 Stars out of 5
This was a unique concept and an easy to understand new world. It was
clear and in sight of the reader. There were some "out-there"
concepts that were never explained, but depending on who you are, that can be
enjoyable or distracting.
Daria joins the exclusive group of mask wearers and must go to live in their city. Her building is alive and squishy to the touch. She almost immediately feels an attraction to the older and wiser mask wearer who traveled through spacetime to bring her to her new home, but not everyone wants her there. Evil is definitely afoot. If the evil one can taint the source of their power, then everything will be lost. So, Daria joins a traveling group to find the origin of their power source. The journey is one of self, love, loss, and distance. There are some bits unexplained or just beyond my scope of possibility for certain situations, a few editing issues, but overall a good story that kept me entertained and guessing until the end.
AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:
I live in Adelaide, Australia
with my husband, one cat, two dogs and a snake. I have a motorbike that I would
like to ride more than I do and I love walking at the beach and listening to
the waves. I've always loved reading all forms of fiction from high fantasy and
paranormal to contemporary and decided the stories in my head needed to be
written down. It was either that or start on medication. Unlike many, I didn’t
know I wanted to be a writer until a few years back. I started off doing a
degree in drama but soon realized my love was in writing, though there is a
play lurking somewhere on my computer. My day job is as a nurse in the
operating room. I believe romance can be fun to read and write but it’s
exciting to spice it up with the uncertainty that comes with suspense where the
rules can be broken.
ALSO BY MAGGIE MUNDY
Clare gets transported from present day Florence to an
alternate world, one that looks like fourteenth century Italy. The only way
back is through a portal half a world away, plus the local High priestess wants
her dead, and the only one she can trust is a vampire called Trevi. He is the
only one who exits in this world, and she knows more about what he is than he
does. He is hard to resist, especially when he saves her life. Trevi can take
her home but he is keeping one big secret. She will have to be like him to
survive the journey through the portal back to her world making a myth a
reality.
Clare and Trevi made their way through a portal to get
back to Earth. Instead, they find themselves on a dying world as a mysterious
mist closes in. Trevi’s scarred twin brother, Celi, has accompanied them. He
meets a female magician called Fane, who has been an outcast just like him. In
this world only men are magicians and they believe her existence is the cause
for the mist. Fane and Trevi learn to trust and eventually love each other as
they fight to find a way to save the world. There are people who want Fane dead
and to use her to get off the dying world, but Celi will use all his powers as
a vampire to stop them.
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