EXCERPT
"Is there another way out?" Soren asked. Alaric grimly shook
his head. The captain rested his hand on the door knob and looked back.
"We move quickly. Away from the house, back to the other district…we'll
lose them in the streets." He glanced at Daniel and snapped, "Get your
hood up!" When Daniel complied, he glanced around once more.
"Ready?" He threw the door open and launched himself down the steps,
everyone racing behind him.
Daniel glanced to the side at a bloody stain on the wall, the headless
body of Dalen lying on the ground beneath it. Soren took one step and froze
when a man emerged from the shadows across the street. Daniel froze also, his
legs nearly unhinging and dropping him to the ground. He recognized the red
robes and his heart skipped a beat before he even saw Malthion's face. Without
a word, the sorcerer raised his arms and crossed them, making an "X" with his little fingers and
thumbs extended. He lowered his head for a split second until a pulsing ball of
light grew before him. He threw his chin up and arms out simultaneously, and
the light launched toward Daniel, moving almost too fast to follow.
Daniel closed his eyes and cringed, but just before impact, he was
pushed from behind as Regnar vaulted in front of him. The light hit the
carpenter in the chest and he was instantly engulfed in flames. He never cried
out as the intense flames seared away flesh and melted bone. Regnar managed two
steps before falling face-first to the cobblestones. Daniel froze as he stared
in horror at his friend's corpse. "No!"
Navy-clad troops streamed onto the street as Soren all but carried
Daniel up the stairs, slamming the door behind them. His eyes were wild as he
looked around the foyer before shouting, "Up!" They raced up the
stairs two at a time. There was a large window on the second story landing
which Soren shattered with his A-blade before leaning out and looking up. He'd
just climbed back in and taken off his pack when a concussive blast rocked the
front of the house. The building shook and all the windows on its front
exploded, engulfing the interior in flames.
Soren didn't even look up as the heat wave washed over them. Flames
roared out of the study and Alaric moaned, "My books!"
Soren stood with a grapple and rope in hand and yelled, "Forget
them!" Alaric groaned as the captain leaned out the window and threw the
grapple to the roof. When it was secure, he sent Clem up before turning to
Alaric and forcing him to turn from the destruction. The man gave a final groan
as he grabbed the rope and climbed nimbly to the roof. Soren hugged Daniel to
him with his left arm and used his right hand and feet to pull them to the
roof, followed by Thosten.
The roof's front edge was fully engulfed by that time, sections falling
away to oblivion. They ran along the back of the house to the edge and looked
to the next building. Space was limited within Namtrah's walls and even in the
wealthiest district the buildings were closely packed. The gap between Alaric's
roof and his neighbor's was no more than three feet, and everyone safely jumped
across. They continued over three more roofs, the heat at their backs
blistering as each house caught fire in turn. When they reached the last house
in the district, they pulled up short. Daniel's heart would have dropped if it
wasn't pounding so hard.
The wall that separated the districts rose twenty feet above their
heads. Only then did they realize they left Soren's grapple on Alaric's roof.
Soren cast around wildly and spied a skylight off to one side. Without
hesitating he jumped feet-first through the heavy glass. He rolled to absorb
the impact before bouncing to his feet and motioning the others to follow. When
Daniel jumped he slipped on broken glass and fell sideways, landing on his
right arm and sending pain exploding through his body. He surely would have
blacked out then if not for Regnar. He kept the image of his immolated body at
the fore of his mind and forced himself to his feet.
They dashed through the empty house to the front door. Soren cracked it
open and looked out on chaos. Namtrah's elite milled around the boulevard,
looking more like beggars with their faces and expensive nightclothes stained
with soot. They looked on with wide eyes as their estates burned, sending thick
clouds of dark smoke billowing down the street. Imperial troops picked their
way through the crowd, intent on getting down to the remains of Alaric's home.
They were in such a mad rush that they didn't bother guarding that end of the
street.
Soren led them out the door and made for the gatehouse that jutted from
the wall. He motioned for them to wait as he darted to the gate itself, but
came back within seconds. The gate was closed. There was no escape. Daniel
moaned and allowed despair to overwhelm him. No words came from his
smoke-ravaged throat, but inside he was screaming his love for his family. He
missed and needed them so much, but he was going to die alone in a smoky ruin.
He didn't hear Alaric speak, or even realize they were moving again until Soren
grabbed his left arm and shook him. "Move!"
Daniel turned dull eyes on the captain. What's the use? When Soren gave his arm another rough shake, he
shrugged. He followed Alaric as they crept down a narrow alley that ran between
the last house's foundation and the wall. At the very back of the alley there
was an iron-bound door.
Alaric armed soot from his face and walked up to the door, knocking a
complex combination of rapid and interspersed taps. When he finished, a bolt
was thrown on the other side and the portal swung open. A guard stepped out and
started in surprise when he saw who stood there. He spun back toward safety,
but only managed one step before Alaric's saber lanced through his throat.
"Come, quickly!" They rushed through the door and Thosten
pulled it shut, throwing the bolt in place as he brought up the rear. Alaric
led them through many dark tunnels that ran along the base of the city walls.
Finally, they came to another iron-bound door where he paused before carefully
unlocking it. He peaked through the crack and whispered, "Let's go."
They left the wall and
darted into a stable. Alaric said, "Get horses," before taking
Thosten with him out the stable's front doors. They gathered horses and waited
nervously until Alaric threw open the doors a few minutes later. "Let's go!"
he shouted as he and Thosten ran to their mounts. The five galloped out of the
stable and under a portcullis that they'd raised just high enough for them to
escape. Smoke rolled from the upper class district as they fled the burning
city. They raced to the west, putting many miles behind them before finally
slowing to rest their horses. The five survivors had escaped Malthion's trap,
but at a price they could scarcely believe.
ALSO BY RON HARTMAN:
Naphthali is free, the Empire reeling. Given time the Emperor will
retaliate, destroying the successful uprising in Naphthali, and ending the hope
of everyone on the continent of Enialé. Following the only lead they have,
Daniel Marten and his friends voyage across the Azure Ocean, seeking a way to
defeat the Emperor once and for all. New civilizations, and different
interpretations of the Prophecy, meet Daniel as he fights for the answers he
needs, all the while racing against Imperial forces.
In this thrilling conclusion to The Prophecy Chronicles trilogy, Daniel
must unite allies, striking into the heart of the Empire before it’s too late.
Will he bring the Light to set the people free? Only time will tell in The
Prophecy Chronicles: Prophecy Fulfilled.
Daniel Marten crossed the Burning Sea and convinced
himself that he is the Prophesied One. But what does that mean? In this second
installment of the Prophecy Chronicles trilogy, Daniel forges new alliances in
his bid to save Naphthali from the Emperor. He meets the Tene’breon, a magical
race that has evolved to use the Weave as effortlessly as he breathes air. The
leaders of this race recognize him for what he is…but they also see something
more. Naphthali has been dramatically altered by the rule of a new governor, a
man whose power is tied to Daniel in a horrifying way. How far will Daniel go
to save Naphthali? And what is the secret that binds his destiny with his new allies?
Only time will tell in The Prophecy Chronicles: Prophecy Revealed.
REVIEW:
The Prophecy
Chronicles: Prophecy Revealed
Ron Hartman
978-1-62420-065-6
By Nickie
Fleming
5 Stars
out of 5
First of all, I should
mention that I'm a proofreader for a e-publishing company. When I received
another manuscript to proofread, my first thought was: no, not another fantasy
novel! I really am not fond of fantasy books. I remember starting in Tolkien's
Lord of the Rings - a long time ago - and closing the book after having
struggled through the first three pages. Nothing for me.
So I began with dread into this book. But hey, I managed to get through the first pages and before I knew it, I was drawn into the story.
This is the second novel in a series. I did not read the first one, but it was the story was easy to follow even when you hadn't read the first installment. It's the story of Daniel Marten who believes himself to be the Prophesied One and tries to keep his beloved Naphthali from danger. Naturally it's filled with fantasy elements but they are quite believable. Having crossed the Burning Sea, Daniell now meets the Tene'breon, a people very close to nature and its forces, like the Weave. He is looking for their help in going back to Naphthali, where a new governor brought a reign of terror.
I quickly read through the book, wanting to find out how Daniel fared and if he would succeed in his task. I am now more than eager to read the first book as well, and of course I'm looking out for the next one.
This book gets a five star rating!
So I began with dread into this book. But hey, I managed to get through the first pages and before I knew it, I was drawn into the story.
This is the second novel in a series. I did not read the first one, but it was the story was easy to follow even when you hadn't read the first installment. It's the story of Daniel Marten who believes himself to be the Prophesied One and tries to keep his beloved Naphthali from danger. Naturally it's filled with fantasy elements but they are quite believable. Having crossed the Burning Sea, Daniell now meets the Tene'breon, a people very close to nature and its forces, like the Weave. He is looking for their help in going back to Naphthali, where a new governor brought a reign of terror.
I quickly read through the book, wanting to find out how Daniel fared and if he would succeed in his task. I am now more than eager to read the first book as well, and of course I'm looking out for the next one.
This book gets a five star rating!
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