Awakened Audiobook Release!
Awakened: Age of Expansion, The Ascension Myth Book 1
By Ell Leigh Clarke & Michael Anderle
In the future, even the broken can make a change…
When a nascent AI hacks her holo device, Molly Bates has to think fast and get out of the military before anyone discovers what has happened. The only problem?
The swiftest way out is also the most embarrassing. Mortifyingly embarrassing.
Ever the underdog, Molly refuses to stay down. What follows is a rough and tumble adventure that takes Molly and her team of change makers up against an enemy with power they had not considered.
Regrouping off world, they set up base on an asteroid that has its own mysteries to uncover.
AHEAD FULL – TKG19 – Snippet 01 of …
The QBS Princess Alexandria, In Transit
Franath D’Tzaa, a D’tereth vid-reporter, touched the recording symbol after reviewing her notes.
“Hello, my name is Franath D’Tzaa. I’m aboard the QBS Princess Alexandra, a Nacht Fleet battleship and presently the flagship of Empress Bethany Anne, who is returning with her team from Nodrizen’s World.
“What follows is a continuation of the interview we aired yesterday. In this section I ask the Empress about the Leath and how that relationship has worked for the Etheric Empire over the last few decades. And here she is…”
“Empress, the Etheric Empire has been involved in different arguments—some would say battles or wars—with the Leath for many decades now. Would you tell us why, in your opinion, these two powerful spacefaring races do not get along?”
The Empress leaned back in her chair, her initial smile fading. “Certainly. It has everything to do with the Kurtherians, who claim to be their gods.” She looked at the reporter. “You have seen our videos, correct?”
“Who hasn’t?” Franath replied. “Every few years there has been a battle on some world or another between the Empire and the Leath. Afterwards they spin their story, and your people provide video proof that they’re wrong. Unless someone was present for the altercation, it would be impossible to tell what is truth.”
“I believe quite a few of your audience know the history of the Kurtherians,” Bethany Anne replied. “There were twelve tribes, or clans, who believed they were ready to Ascend. They also believed they should help other alien species Ascend. Unfortunately, seven of the twelve went down a darker road, and their efforts to assist other races has somehow become twisted. Each of the seven clans support their races differently. Some, like the late Yollin king, used his advanced abilities to drive the native Yollins from power. From what we understand, the Kurtherians from the Phraim-‘Eh clan who rule Leath are working to move them up the Ascension path.”
Bethany Anne stopped a moment, pursing her lips in thought. “Well, their version of the Ascension path, anyway. There are many thoughts on that,” she clarified. “However, supposition is that for the Leath to gain the next level in their enlightenment, they must defeat the Etheric Empire.”
Franath looked down at her notes, then back up at the Empress, who was waiting patiently for her. The reporter finally spoke. “I’m sorry, but I can’t find where this has been mentioned before.”
“I understand,” Bethany Anne nodded. “This is supposition by a Kurtherian consultant…”
“’Consultant?’” Franath jumped on Bethany Anne’s statement. “I’ve never heard that term.”
“And I’m not going to explain it to you,” Bethany Anne countered, “so don’t even ask.”
Franath bit her tongue. If she screwed up this interview, she would never get another chance with the enigmatic leader of the Etheric Empire, and probably wouldn’t leave with her interview material intact either. She was completely aware of others who had left with video the Etheric Empire didn’t wish to air, only to find the video damaged by the time the person was in a position to attempt to make a copy.
“Is this a business?” Franath finally asked, trying to find a way to score the contact. “Do they have additional resources I can verify?”
Bethany Anne sent TOM, Do you have additional resources?
I don’t know how to answer your question, Bethany Anne. Are you suggesting I out myself?
Sure, TOM. It’s as easy as saying ‘TOM, come out of the closet’…or in this case, ‘Come out of the human, TOM.’ ‘TOM, come out of the human!’
Ha…ha. Believe it or not, being inside you hasn’t always been bitches and dreams.
What the hell, TOM? Bitches and dreams?
There was a momentary pause before TOM answered, Peaches and cream?
Ha! Bethany Anne barked a laugh in their mental discussion. That is the funniest shit you have said all week.
Ba-dum crash! I’ll be here all week. And next week and the month following and probably the next decade until we can go looking for a mysterious race of creatures who can pull me out of you.
Don’t worry, my friend. Bethany Anne turned her attention back to the reporter. I haven’t forgotten that.
Bethany Anne spoke to Franath. “I imagine this consultant could answer questions. However, he is, as you might imagine, not fond of having others know much about him or his location.” Bethany Anne crossed her legs, then leaned forward in her chair and winked at Franath. “I’ll give you a contact routing through the galactic mail.”
Franath wondered what was wrong with the Empress’ eye.
Bethany Anne leaned back in her chair. “To return to the topic at hand, we have based our strategy on what the Kurtherian ‘gods’ behind the Leath are doing. This is why we have played a longer game.”
“It has been,” Franath agreed, “some time since your last altercation. However, at this point both sides are again enhancing their militaries. In fact,” Franath glanced down at some notes, “this has caused fourteen different spacefaring races to embark upon their own military buildup.” Franath looked Bethany Anne in the eyes. “Do you have any thoughts about this?”
“About which part?” Bethany Anne asked, a glimmer of humor in her eyes. “That we haven’t fought in a while, that others are willing to support their own ability not to be pushed around, or something completely different?”
Franath considered her options, then asked. “The fact that other groups are building up their militaries.”
“I think it is a good thing.”
Franath waited a moment before realizing Bethany Anne wasn’t going to add to her comment. “Why?”
“As I mentioned, if you can put up a good defense then other races pause before trying to take you over.”
Franath continued, “Are there any negatives to other races doing this?”
“Of course,” Bethany Anne responded. “Those with large militaries start looking either inside or outside to see what they can do with that military. A despotic regime could take power and use the military to subjugate their own people, or a particularly aggressive group could come to power and decide to push their luck by attacking others.”
“Is this the reason the Etheric Empire keeps fighting the Leath? Or, at least, this is what you are proposing is the reason?”
“Yes.” Bethany Anne kept her answer short, waiting for the likely follow-up.
“And why is that?” Franath continued.
Bingo, Bethany Anne thought. I love to answer this.
Bethany Anne looked into the camera, allowing the barest bit of red to infuse her eyes. “Because I really, really hate bullies.”
The video clip ended and the reporter finished her piece with, “This is Franath D’Tzaa signing off. I will provide another clip tomorrow from my interview with one of the most intriguing beings of our galaxy.”
FROM MICHAEL ANDERLE >>> WOOHOO! Here we go again…BA’s Back…Back again… And it is TIME the Leath have their final discussion with the Queen Bitch.
Well, at least the Kurtherian’s and those that support them.
We are down to three (3) books left for the first 21 books of The Kurtherian Gambit, Bethany Anne’s First story. I am aware that a lot of fans are concerned about whether there will be any more Bethany Anne books, and I have provided the hint(s) here: http://www.kurtherianbooks.com/timeline .
Right now, this book is above 22k … ish… in words, meaning it is just under 1/3 of the way complete. I’ve written more words this morning and I hope more words today before end of day.
I’m going to do the same thing I did a while back, which is start a ‘Michael has this many words done’ on Facebook, hoping that the interaction keeps me moving ahead through thick and thin. Especially tomorrow and Tuesday with three plane flights as we head from Rio to Miami, Miami to New York and New York to Las Vegas.
When we book these flights, we saved a lot of money routing through New York’s JFK airport vs. doing direct flights. Now, I look longingly at a flight home and think “What would I give to just fly straight to Las Vegas?” Then, I look at all those miles that will get me Platinum Pro status on American Airlines and think “Ok, I’m not willing to give up my chance to be Platinum Pro!”
I’m SUCH a pushover for this fucking American Airlines status. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I’ve benefitted HUGELY from the getting upgraded for FREE(!) from my seat in the back to first class over the last year. This was due to my wife’s Executive Platinum status (well, I was moved up to business class some times – but I really don’t know what the difference is between business and first class.)
I’m starting a set of scene’s with Stephen and Baba Yaga / Bethany Anne… But, Jennifer has been working on Stephen to not be such a stick in the mud… Then, it went too far and Jennifer is hoping Bethany Anne will pull Stephen back in line with his snappy comments.
Wonder how that will work out?
Shades of Justice – Snippet 2
Shades of Justice, The Hidden Magic Chronicles Book 4
By Justin Sloan & Michael Anderle
Snippet 2
Unedited
Fires smoldered, sending a steady plume of black smoke over the town supposedly populated by water mages. The sight was enough to give Andreas doubts about their location. How could water mages have let this happen?
Still, given all the fighting he had seen—including the crazy sorcerers—it wasn’t unthinkable. Why nobody had bothered to put out the fires, though, was another question.
“Looks like we’re too late,” Lars said as they came around the bend, now better able to see the town that had been destroyed.
“Wait… There!” Kim was at the wheel of the ship, eyes narrowed, pointing.
Sure enough, someone was moving toward them, and then they saw more than one. A whole group was coming their way.
“Friend or foe?” Lars asked.
“That’s what we’re about to find out,” Andreas replied, staff gripped firmly in his hand. If there was trouble he was ready to get them out of there quickly, with a little help from the waves and wind.
“Would you look at that?” Kim exclaimed. “Horses!”
Andreas couldn’t believe his eyes. When he had found out the woman named Rose had a horse—made to look like a unicorn—he had been amazed. But this? These people had three horses!
The woman at the front of the group stopped on the strand, and the others formed a half-circle around her. She waved her hands and lifted them, and the water in front of the boat surged up and formed what looked like a mighty guardian of the sea. It wore a crown of kelp and its flowing water was pushing toward them, although it looked solid.
It held out both hands in a gesture that seemed to tell them to stop, and at the same time could have been threatening. It looked like the giant water spirit could come crashing down on them at any moment.
Andreas wondered what his stormcalling ability, as limited as it was, could do against this. He could already taste the saltwater in his mouth, as if he were drowning—being cast to the depths of the ocean, never to breathe again.
But the attack didn’t come.
“Announce yourselves!” a woman’s voice called from the shore.
Lars stepped forward and bellowed, “Alastar and Rhona sent us. We are looking for Leila Lockmire.”
“You have found her,” the voice said, and just as quickly as it had appeared, the water spirit vanished. “Approach, but know that if you are not who you claim to be, we will not hesitate for a moment to cast you back into the sea. Understood?”
“With complete clarity,” Lars shouted back, and then turned to Andreas. “Bring us to shore.”
***
Leila waited, watching the small boat unnaturally work its way toward shore. Somehow it was moving against the wind without oars. A water mage, perhaps? The energy it would take to force the water to push a boat, even one that size, seemed unrealistic. So either they had a very powerful water mage, or some other sort of magic user.
If one of the sorcerers were among them, she would find out and destroy him.
She heard the crunch of rocks and dirt under boots and turned to see her son Gregory approach.
“What do you make of it?” he asked. “Maybe we shouldn’t let them land at all.”
She shook her head. “We ate with them, Rhona and her Alastar, had them under our roofs. I trust them. If they sent these three, it’s worth finding out why.”
“But you see what I’m seeing?”
She nodded. “Which is why I’m going to be on full alert, and you’ll tell the rest to do the same.”
Gregory nodded, then moved back to the others to convey the message. While the passengers were unloading from the boat, the group worked their way over to them to get a better look. This trio was clearly not from around here, and each was aged beyond their years. Eyeing them with curiosity was a frail boy—in his late teens, she guessed. He wore robes and held a staff, similar to what she had seen in her brief encounters with Storm Raiders. So that’s how they had moved so fast! But these clearly weren’t Storm Raiders. After giving the Barskall a chance and being betrayed, she might have given the order to attack right then if they had been.
Still tying up the boat was a large man with a scruffy beard and a giant war ax on his back. He paused to help a woman who was arguably not much smaller than him from the boat.
When they approached, Leila held out a cautionary hand. “That’s far enough. We don’t have much to offer. We have only a few spells and swords to our name. Why are you here?”
“I’m Kim,” the woman introduced herself. “This is Lars and Andreas. Honestly, we’re just on our way home, back to the Kaldfell Peninsula, but Alastar and them wanted us to stop by to invite you and yours to join the fight. They’re riding against the goddess and her sorcerers, against the north.”
“We’ve been a bit quick to trust lately,” Gregory said, stepping forward and eyeing them up and down. “Why shouldn’t we put you down where you stand?”
“You could try,” Lars replied with a grunt and frown of disapproval. “And then the good side of this fight would have one less clan boy, and I’d live a life filled with regret.”
“No threats here,” Leila said, then held a hand up to stop Gregory from saying anything further. “We’ve seen enough bloodshed.”
“Well, know this,” Lars replied, “Master Irdin is dead. Some other powerful witch? Dead. The king of Gulanri has come north to join in the fight, and it promises to be a good one.”
Now he had her attention, but she turned aside, mulling this over. If the king of Gulanri had truly come north, that meant a united Lost Isles—and united under the right side. There was no way they could sit this one out.
“Wh-what happened here?” the one called Andreas asked.
“We accepted outsiders into our midst,” Gregory replied, and then spat.
“Barskall, to be precise,” Leila added. “They turned on us. Our so-called victory sure doesn’t feel like one, not with all the lives we’ve lost.”
“It was the same everywhere, but we’ve beaten them back,” Kim said. “Even their goddess is on the run, heading north.”
“They think the northern clans are on her side?” Leila asked.
Kim glanced at Lars, who nodded.
“Well, I know of at least one clan who won’t be.” Leila leaned back with a smile, looking out at the water and imagining it now—her sister, who had moved up north in pursuit of love. If she got her hands on that goddess, the fight that would ensued was bound to be monumental. With a glance at her son, she said, “We’re going.”
“North?”
She nodded. “But first west, to see if we can meet up with Rhona and the rest. If they’re in pursuit, at least some of them would take the pass. That’s where we meet them.”
Gregory beamed, apparently eager for more of a chance to get his revenge, or maybe at the mention of a certain woman?
“Just…remember. She’s spoken for,” Kim added, apparently catching on as well.
“Still with that Donnon chap, then?” Gregory squinted, giving a small shake of his head as if that would affect their answer.
“Keep dreaming, if you have your eyes on her,” Lars replied. “Those two are like carrots and potatoes.”
“I’m sorry, like what?”
“You know, they’d make a great stew. Or, a good one, but throw that girl Kia in there? She’s like the beef. Brings it all together.”
“Don’t call Kia ‘beef,’” Kim said, smacking Lars across the shoulder. “What’s wrong with you?”
“A hell of a lot, I’d wager.” He chuckled. “You knew what I meant.”
Leila smiled and gave him a nod, thinking maybe it wasn’t a bad thing these three were heading… She frowned, realizing she didn’t know where they were going.
“They sent you to give me the message, but then what?”
“We don’t know how far Lady Mowain and her Dark Society have spread,” Andreas answered, his eyes taking on a distant look and moving to the ground. “The people of the Kaldfell Peninsula need to be on the lookout, and we mean to warn them.”
“If it’s not already too late,” Kim added solemnly.
“Well then, you must go,” Leila stuck out her hand and shook with each of them. “And we must be on our way to join forces with the others. I will find my sister and her clan up north, and see if we have any other allies in that direction.”
With that she motioned for the rest of her friends, the only people who had survived the betrayal by the Barskall. They went on their way, and the three strangers on their own.
Storm Warrior RELEASE!
Storm Warrior, Storms of Magic Book 4
By P.T. Hylton & Michael Anderle
The greatest threat to the future comes from the secrets of the past.
Abbey and her friends return home after their long journey west to find Holdgate threatened by both an enemy to the south and a hidden Barskall army to the east.
Lucky for Holdgate, Abbey and the crew of The Foggy Day are more than ready to defend their home.
But there’s an even greater threat to the city… one nobody sees coming.
A man with a mysterious connection to Abbey’s past has arrived, and he wants to see the stormships burn.
He’s about to learn why it’s never a good idea to mess with Abbey’s friends.
Storm Warrior is a fun, swashbuckling romp filled with twists, adventure, and plenty of banter.
Shades of Justice – Snippet 1
Shades of Justice, The Hidden Magic Chronicles Book 4
By Justin Sloan & Michael Anderle
Snippet 1
Unedited
Alastar took an offensive stance and closed his eyes, imagining the goddess, Lady Mowain—his aunt—standing before him. Wind blew against his cheek, warm and gentle like Estair’s nighttime touch. It with it brought the scent of the upcoming palace feast, still cooking while training continued in the yard.
He wasn’t training there, though. He had found a secluded spot to focus on this damned sword.
With a quick thrust he dove forward, focusing his energy on the sword. He tried to pretend the legend was real and pull the power from the Sword of Light.
Nothing.
It didn’t matter how much he practiced or willed it to be so, it was just another sword. How many times had he heard the story of the magical blade and its green glow when blessed? It had the fabled jade-encrusted hilt, to be sure, but that was about the extent of its being true to the legend. When he had fought with it in battle and cast his magic, it had glowed white like any other sword he had ever wielded.
He sighed, holding the sword out with one hand and staring at the fine craftsmanship. Who was he kidding, anyway? Hope that it was the magical Sword of Light meant he was still grasping at a lost cause, at the idea that there had been any truth to be had in the Order of Rodrick.
Instead, it had all been a lie. His entire life, or most of the part that he could remember, had been a lie. His aunt had killed his mother, taken him and his sister away from their father, and left them with the madman he had grown up thinking was his mentor. His spiritual leader, Sir Gildon of the Order of Rodrick.
And then he had killed that son of a bitch. And his sister Rhona had taken out Lady Mowain’s daughter, and little Kia had done a pretty number on Master Irdin. All in all, they were doing quite well.
Hell, he was even a prince, and his sister was a princess!
Somehow, all of that still didn’t make up for a lifetime of lies. A mother taken before her time, one he would never know.
But he knew what would make up what he had gone through so far. He thrust the sword into the ground and made a vow. He would stop this so-called goddess and reveal her for the fraud she was for all Roneland and beyond to see. She would never hurt another person. Never again tear a family apart. Not after he was done with her.
He glanced back at the sword and considered leaving it, but just then a door opened and a beam of light fell across him and the sword. It seemed to shine in that moment, to call out to him. As much as he wanted to leave his old superstitions and beliefs behind, he turned back the sword and wrapped his hand around the hilt with a glance at the person in the doorway. He recognized her by her shadow.
“You’re not with the others,” Estair noted, exiting and letting the door close behind her. “Why aren’t you training with them?”
“I had other matters to consider.”
She looked at the sword, pried his hand off the hilt, and held the hand to her lips. Her kiss was gentle, producing a smooth, tender sensation as those pouting lips brushed his skin.
“Playing with your sword all by yourself?” She smiled teasingly. “Have I neglected you so?”
He shook his head, appreciating her ability to always find humor in a moment, but it wasn’t the time for him.
Apparently catching onto this, she pulled his hand so that it wrapped around her waist, then leaned into him and put her head on his chest. “You have your father again. You should be happy.”
“For that and so many other reasons, I am,” he replied.
“And yet?”
“As long as She is still out there, my thoughts will be troubled.” He held her tightly, watching as men passed the window in an upstairs corridor, visible for a moment as they laughed in merriment. “Laird Summers promised to be part of the march north to find Her, but he keeps stalling.”
“Stalling…” She pulled back, looking into his eyes. “We’re marching to war, essentially. Whether it’s war with the north or a larger force, we don’t know. You can’t expect that to happen without preparation, planning.”
“I expect to move on her before she has a chance to hurt more innocents,” he replied. “Before she can pull some more magical forces out of her arse and escape this unscathed.”
“Well, if we have to fight magical forces from her arse we’ll do so, dammit.” Estair couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Will they stink? You can bet all the saints and spirits in the world they will! But we’ll persevere, cram those evil magic forces so far back up her arse that—”
“Will you stop messing around?” he demanded. “I’m serious. Father said we would leave the next morning, and here we are still! We can’t’ sit around here waiting, not with what she’s capable of.”
Estair nodded, her expression now stern. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
“I am?”
“Let’s go kill that bitch.” She stepped past him, pulled the sword from the ground, and handed it over. “Don’t forget your sword, my prince.”
He couldn’t help but smile at that, but mostly because of the way she bowed when passing him the sword.
“Stop it,” he said as he took the sword and sheathed it. “If I become King someday, you realize what that will make you?”
She frowned. “Your mistress? Concubine? Don’t forget, we’re not…” Her voice caught as he pulled her in for a kiss.
“Not yet,” he said, laying a finger to her lips as they pulled apart. “But when this is all over, maybe that’s a discussion we should have?”
Her cheeks reddened and she shrugged. “Maybe it is.”
They turned, heading off hand in hand to find Laird Summers. No more waiting around—whether the troops were coming or not, Alastar meant to see this completed.
Storm Warriors – Snippet 3
Storm Warrior, Storms of Magic Book 4
By P.T. Hylton & Michael Anderle
Snippet 3
Unedited
“An Arcadian, two Barskall, and the captain of the Holdgate city guard walked into the woods. Sounds like the beginning of a damn joke.” Roald’s voice dripped with disdain, as if he couldn’t believe his life had come to this.
Fannar clapped him on the back. “Cheer up, my friend. It’s a beautiful fall day, you’re armed to the teeth, and the possibility of battle hangs in the air. What do you have to be glum about?”
Roald just shot him a look.
Fannar tried not to take it personally. He’d been in Holdgate nearly three weeks now, and in that time he’d grown accustomed to the strange looks he got while walking down the street. Not from everyone, since there was nothing about his physical appearance that made it obvious he was a Barskall, though he was a bit shorter than most men in the city. But people talked.
It was one thing to have Barskall Storm Callers on the stormships. The people knew the Storm Callers had been held against their will and forced into servitude by King Elias. But having Barskall warriors walking free in the city was something else altogether.
And Fannar wasn’t the only one. While most of the Tall Grass Raiders had elected to return home to Barskall after their escape from Gren, Hekla and Sigmund had decided to stay with Elliot. Three Barskall warriors now walked the Holdgate streets.
For Fannar, it was still a time of trying to figure out where he fit into things. He wasn’t a sailor. Perhaps with time he’d be able to learn, but even the thought of a rocking sea made his stomach roll. He was a fighter.
So it was that he found himself out patrolling the woods east of Holdgate with Benjamin, Hekla, and Roald, the captain of the Holdgate city guard.
It had been Benjamin’s idea, of course. They knew Barskall warriors were hidden somewhere out here waiting for their chance to strike, so why not use friendly Barskall to find them?
They’d been walking for a few hours, investigating a number of tips from local lumbermen about possible Barskall sightings in the area. So far they’d come up empty.
As they walked, Fannar said, “It’s impressive to see a captain out here. Many leaders relax and make their soldiers do the hard work.”
Roald scoffed. “Maybe that’s how they do things in Barskall. Not here. A leader who doesn’t lead quickly loses the respect of his men. He keeps it up too long, he’s likely to get his throat cut some night while he’s sleeping.”
Fannar glanced at Benjamin. The blacksmith had been silent almost the entire journey. It was clear he wasn’t a big fan of Roald, but the Holdgatesman seemed oblivious to everything but his own disdain.
After they’d been walking for a few more minutes, Benjamin spoke. “Hekla, Fannar, tell us what you think. If a Barskall army were gathered in these woods, what would their approach be?”
Hekla let out a chuckle. “I should probably let Fannar handle this one. I haven’t been to Barskall in more than a decade. I will say this: it took the Tall Grass Raiders a long time to come to terms with the approach of raiding small villages. That’s not our instinct.”
Fannar nodded his agreement. “I won’t pretend to know what the warlord Eril is thinking. I’ve never met the man. But from everything I’ve heard, he conforms to the typical Barskall ideals. That means he’ll want to make a big statement with a large-scale attack, especially because he’s waited for so long. And that means Holdgate is the most likely target.”
Roald grunted. “The way I understand it, they had some sort of arrangement with Dahlia. Now that she’s dead, maybe they’ll sit in those mountains for years waiting for a return that will never happen.”
Fannar chose his words carefully. He didn’t want to act disrespectful toward this man who already disliked him so much. “I don’t believe that’s the case. It’s a miracle they’ve waited this long.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” the captain of the guard allowed. “I suppose you can’t expect a bunch of drug-addicted savages to act rationally.”
Despite the crude way he said it, Fannar agreed with the sentiment. The Barskall would have brought a limited amount of seiderdrek, and they had to be running low by now. They’d save a supply for their big attack, but it wouldn’t be easy. Fannar knew from experience that the drug was almost impossible to resist. Ever since he’d drunk it during the fight at the palace in Gren, it had been in the back of his head like a strange song, calling him to find more—anywhere.
He hadn’t spoken about this craving to anyone, but he knew that if he’d had any seiderdrek on hand he wouldn’t have been able to resist it for long.
Roald nodded toward something up ahead. “This must be it.”
They approached a small clearing just off the trail and found the remains of a campsite. The logger they’d spoken with had reported a group of ten men who’d camped there two nights previously. He’d claimed they were Barskall, but Fannar was skeptical. After all, how would he know that just from observing the smoke from their fire?
“Well,” Benjamin said, “if they were trying to cover their tracks, they did an absolute shit job of it.”
Fannar couldn’t disagree. He spotted the bones of three rabbits that must have served as a meal.
Benjamin turned to Fannar. “Let’s assume for a moment that they were Barskall. What would they be doing here?”
Fannar considered that a moment. “They’d be scouts. Perhaps searching for the best route to bring a large group of warriors to the city? The logistics of moving an entire army through those mountains… I don’t even want to think about it.”
Roald sighed. “That’s all well and good, but I’m not sure what we are going to learn from a campsite. Except that whoever camped her has a taste for rabbit.”
Hekla bent down and picked something up off the ground. “Perhaps this would help?”
She held it out to Roald. Fannar was shocked to see it was a rolled piece of parchment.
“It was sitting on top of that pile of bones there,” she said, “like someone wanted it to be found.”
Roald’s face was grim as he read the parchment. When he finished, he wordlessly handed it to Benjamin. The blacksmith looked no more pleased as he read.
“Well, that answers the question of who camped here,” Benjamin said. He handed to the parchment to Fannar.
The Barskall’s eyes immediately went to the beginning of the block of text on the page. Then they went to the end. What he saw made him grimace.
The note began, “Let this serve as warning to the people of Holdgate.”
It was signed, “Eril, Warlord of the Barskall and future ruler of Holdgate.”
Rogue Mage Audiobook RELEASE!
Rogue Mage, Path of Heroes Book One
By Brandon Barr and Michael Anderle
Out of the ruin of civilization rises good men and dark-hearted bastards. Eighteen-year-old Payetta is particularly fond of killing the bastards.
Payetta hungers for payback against Titannus, the mage who wiped her village off the map. She bides her time by protecting the innocent farmers of the Meadowlands from the mage’s raiders and awaits the day she can fight Titannus face to face using her own deadly magic.
That day comes in like a storm.
Sweeping into the fray is a loner with a personal mission to restore civilization. He carries with him a swift sword and his legendary ancestor’s tenacious desire for justice.
An epic showdown awaits in the Meadowlands and when it happens? Heads will fly.
Set on the foundation laid by the Kurtherian Gambit Series, Rogue Mage tells an entirely new story in the Age of Magic – and of the heroes and villains who battle for control of its destiny.
Storm Warrior – Snippet 2
Storm Warrior, Storms of Magic Book 4
By P.T. Hylton & Michael Anderle
Snippet 2
Unedited
Chapter One
The Foggy Day glided across the water and raced toward her target, propelled by a powerful wind.
“She’s turning!” Elliot called from the crow’s nest.
Abbey shielded her eyes from the sun and gazed in the direction Elliot was pointing. It took her a moment, then she saw it through the spray. Sure enough, their target was angling toward port. Tempest Chaser, the stormship they’d been hunting for the last three days.
“Set us three degrees port,” Captain Syd shouted.
“Aye!” a sailor called in response as he made the adjustments to the wheel.
Abbey marched to the quarterdeck, where her captain stood. Syd’s arms were crossed as she watched over the crew carrying out their well-orchestrated dance.
“Think they’re angling back for a fight?” Abbey asked Syd.
The captain didn’t take her eyes off the ship in the distance. “Not if they’re smart. Running won’t do them much good either.”
Tempest Chaser was a mid-sized stormship, one that held no special renown. It was one of the many ships in the fleet that spent most of its time sailing the fishing routes, making sure they were safe for the fishermen and women.
Her captain was an older man who had spent much of the last few months complaining about the state of Holdgate to anyone who’d listen. He didn’t approve of the fact that the city had turned on its most favored son, Tor. He didn’t like that they’d given Thunderclap, the flagship of the fleet, to an underachieving, easygoing captain like Roy. Most of all, he hated the Barskall Storm Callers who had recently been brought to the city, and he was indignant that the Holdgate fleet was actually using some of them on the stormships.
So when Tempest Chaser hadn’t returned from their latest voyage and a handful of villages along the southern Kaldfell coast had reported devastating attacks, it wasn’t difficult to put two and two together.
Captain Syd spoke, her voice thick with disdain. “Storm Raiders. I thought we were done with this idiocy.”
Abbey chuckled, but there was no joy in it. “If there was one thing I learned in our travels, it was that idiocy wasn’t the private property of Captain Tor or Dahlia. It’s a widespread affliction, and those who have it are all too happy to share.”
Syd nodded toward the bow of The Foggy Day. “Check on our Storm Caller for me?”
“Aye, Captain,” Abbey said. As she walked to the other end of the ship, her eyes scanned the deck, appraising her crew. She was happy with what she saw. They were working hard, quickly and diligently going about their tasks. The pre-battle energy practically crackled in the air, yet they remained focused.
It was a credit to Captain Syd, and to the crew themselves. They’d been through a lot together, this ragtag bunch. They’d fought Barskall and Stone Shapers. Now they were back on the Kaldfell Peninsula, and things had come full circle. They were home and fighting Storm Raiders, just like the good old days. It was almost enough to make Abbey smile.
Almost.
She’d been to three of the villages these assholes had raided. She’d seen the devastation they’d left in their wake, and she’d spoken to the families of those they had killed. Abbey wouldn’t be smiling until this was over and done with.
She’d almost reached the causeway to the foredeck when Olaf stopped her.
“Hey, Abbey, did you tell Dustin my idea?” His eyes were so big and hopeful it almost made her laugh.
“Just to be clear, your idea was that he not destroy them with storm magic, right? That he get us in close, and we try to board them?”
He nodded eagerly.
“No, I did not tell Dustin that idea. Because it’s horrible.”
If he was insulted by her comment, it didn’t show. “Okay, yeah, I can see why you’d think that. But we need to show these guys that Storm Raiders don’t get off easy. I mean, a massive wave and it’s over? We need to strike fear into their hearts. And nothing strikes fear like a warrior with a flaming sword rushing at you.”
Abbey shook her head. After everything they’d been through, Olaf still thought battle was a glorious game. She almost admired his ability to keep his Holdgate ideals.
She put a hand on his shoulder. “Listen, Olaf, I know you’re excited about your magic abilities, and you want to put them into action.”
“They basically turned the tide at the battle in Ammaas,” he interjected.
She decided to let that one go. “I’m sure you’ll have plenty of opportunity to strike fear into your enemies’ hearts with your flaming sword, but we’re going take care of this the most efficient way possible.”
He gave a brisk nod. “Understood.”
Abbey turned back toward the foredeck, pleased at how well he’d taken the decision. The Olaf of just a few months ago would have argued his point, and probably challenged her to a fight over it, too. He’d come a long way, though it had helped that every time they did fight she knocked him on his ass.
As she reached the bow, she slowed her pace. She’d learned not to surprise Dustin when he was stormcalling. The task took total concentration, and surprising him—especially before a battle—could throw him off his game.
She spoke in a soft but confident voice. “Hey, Dustin, what are you up to this fine day?”
He sounded a little distracted when he answered, the way he always did when he was stormcalling. “Not much. Sailing on a stormship. Catching some sun. Hunting Storm Raiders. The usual Tuesday stuff.” His voice grew more serious. “These idiots are showing us their portside. Nice big target. I think it’s time to stop chasing and start playing rough.”
“You know I like it when you talk that way.” Abbey crossed her arms, settling in to watch the show.
“Careful,” Dustin said distractedly. “Elliot will get jealous.”
Abbey didn’t think that was very likely. Things had remained frustratingly platonic between them since their return to Holdgate, despite every sailor on the ship knowing there was a mutual attraction there. It was starting to annoy Abbey. “Let’s stay focused on the battle and leave my love life alone for the moment.”
Dustin grinned. “What love life?”
Without another word, he closed his eyes and tightened his grip on his staff. Almost immediately dark clouds appeared over Tempest Chaser, and the air grew thick with electricity. A lightning bolt crashed down, striking the mast of the stormship. It was quickly followed by a second. Then a third.
Abbey let out a soft whistle. “Looks like all your practice is paying off.”
Not long ago Dustin had considered calling lightning his weakness in storm magic, but he’d made a point of changing that. The mast of Tempest Chaser was in flames.
He opened his bluish-green eyes and nodded toward the other ship. “Hey, what do you say I bring us in close? I’ll bet the crew would love the chance to finish these idiots off personally.”
Abbey frowned. “Olaf got to you, didn’t he?”
Dustin couldn’t hide his smiled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Abbey just shook her head and told her crew to prepare for battle.
Storm Warrior – Snippet 1
Storm Warrior, Storms of Magic Book 4
By P.T. Hylton & Michael Anderle
Snippet 1Prologue
Unedited
Prologue
Arcadia, Sixteen Years Ago
When they came to kill Lara, she was reading the letter she’d written to her daughter.
She’d read it dozens of times, at least once a month ever since Abbey was born. There was a ritual to it; it soothed her troubled heart to read the words she couldn’t say aloud. The things Abbey was too young to understand. The things Lara wasn’t sure she’d be there to say later.
Lara had long ago resigned herself to the fact that she might not live to see her daughter grow up.
It was early afternoon and Benjamin and Abbey were visiting the home of one of Benjamin’s fellow Hunters, a man with a son a year older than Abbey. With her three-year-old daughter out of the house, Lara had a rare few hours to herself.
And yet, she was spending the entire time reading and rereading this piece of parchment.
She finished the letter and refolded it so the word “Abbey” showed on the front. Then she stared at it for a long time, considering what her daughter would think of her on the distant day when she finally read it. Would she understand? Or would it make her hate the woman who’d given her life?
A loud pounding on the door startled her, interrupting her thoughts, and a chill ran through her. That wasn’t the knock of a neighbor wanting to have a casual chat.
That knock had authority.
She briefly considered ignoring it—just pretending she wasn’t home—but if her visitors were who she suspected, that would only lead to them breaking down the door. They weren’t really the “We’ll come back later” types.
She stood and straightened her dress, using the time to steady her nerves. If it came to it, she’d fight. Taking a deep breath, she mentally prepared herself for that possibility.
She strode purposefully to the door, forced a smile onto her face, and pulled it open.
Her heart sank at what she saw.
Four Hunters.
“Hello, gentlemen,” she said in a chipper voice. “Here to see my husband?”
The grim looks on their faces made it clear they were not.
She recognized all four of them, but she couldn’t remember the name of the one in the back. He’d only been a Hunter for a month. She knew the rest of them all too well. These were her husband’s friends.
Daryl, the man in front, looked her in the eye. “No, ma’am. We’re here to see you. Let’s step inside.”
Lara stood firm. “We’re very busy. I’m making dinner, and Benjamin—”
“We know Benjamin isn’t home, Lara.” Darryl sounded almost regretful.
Luke, the man who spoke next, did not sound sorry at all. “You think we’d do this when your husband was here? How dumb do you think we are?”
“Very.” Lara shouldn’t have said it, but she couldn’t help herself.
Daryl grimaced and pushed his way past her into the small home.
Lara forced herself to stay calm, to remain composed. Yet she held onto the fear and anger that was forming a tight ball in her stomach. If it came to a fight, she would use that emotion.
“Come right in.” Her voice sounded remarkably calm, considering the fear raging inside of her. She had to get through this for Abbey’s sake. “Such brave men, waiting until my husband’s gone before paying a visit. Were you watching the house?”
Darryl cleared his throat. “We didn’t come alone.”
All four Hunters had entered now and they stepped aside, allowing another man to come through the door.
Even though he was draped in shadow, Lara recognized him immediately. She let out a gasp of surprise when she saw him.
He stepped into the light and flashed his signature wide, toothy smile. His raven-black hair was shorter, but other than that he looked exactly as she remembered. It was difficult to believe it had been five years since she’d last seen him.
“Hello, Lara.” He crossed his hands in front of his waist and stared at her with those piercing eyes, so dark they were almost black even when he wasn’t using magic.
She froze, torn between running away and slapping him square in the face. “Carter. I didn’t know you were back. Last I heard, you were following a lead south.”
“Indeed I was. Then I went east. Farther east than you could imagine possible. I’ve seen things that you wouldn’t believe. Places where the sand stretches so far you think you’ll never see the end of it. Places so cold you practically have to put your hands in the fire just to get the feeling back in them. And the people…” He made a strange scoffing noise in his throat. “Such people. And I thought the scum on the Boulevard were bad! But I’m back now.”
Lara fought to keep her voice level. She wanted nothing more than to get this man out of her home as quickly as possible. If he was still here when Benjamin arrived…well, she didn’t want to think about what might happen.
“Does this mean you’ve finally completed your mission?” she asked.
Carter’s gaze cooled a few degrees. “I’m afraid that’s still a work in progress.”
“And how’s Chancellor Adrien feel about that?”
The man paused a moment before answering. “He understands the difficulty of the task. That was why he assigned it to me.”
Lara wasn’t so sure that was true. Some claimed Adrien had given Carter the job because it would send him far from the city. Carter was the only person in Arcadia who could hold a candle to Adrien when it came to power, so he was a threat. Or so some people speculated.
The Hunters stood on either side of the room, flanking Lara. They held their shockers ready.
Carter cast a disdainful eye around the room. “Tell me, does your husband really believe you picked up your magical skills from some uncle? Or has he figured out you’re lying to him?”
Lara practically snarled her response. “I’m protecting him!”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night. Fortunately, your story provides the perfect cover for your death.”
Lara had known he was there to kill her the moment he walked through the door, but hearing it spoken plainly sent an icy chill through her. If she was going to get out of this, she needed to fight.
Carter gave her a pitying look. “Lara, you had to know this day was coming. After everything you’ve seen? Everything you know? You refused to help us, so there’s no other choice.”
“What about my family?” It was a foolish question, but she needed to keep him talking.
He chuckled. “That’s the beauty. We’ll claim you’re just another Unlawful who was caught practicing magic. You provided us our alibi. Isn’t it rather convenient that after—”
Lara raised a hand and cast, sending a dagger of ice flying through the air toward him.
For a gratifying moment a look of surprise crossed his face, but he quickly recovered, moving his right hand before the dagger reached him. The ice turned to water and splashed harmlessly onto his shirt.
He shook his head sadly. “You’ve gotten slow. Time was that ice dagger would have been through my throat before I even knew you were casting. Domestic life has not agreed with you, Lara.” He turned to the Hunters. “Take her.”
“No!” she turned and grabbed the nearest piece of furniture, the dresser. But the Hunters were soon on her.
One of them knocked into the dresser and she watched in horror as the letter she’d written Abbey slid backward and fell behind the heavy oak piece.
As they dragged her from the house, she gave no thought to the loss of her own life. She’d known for a long time that this could be coming, and, in a way, she’d been the cause of her own downfall.
Her only concern was for the letter.
How many years would it be before Benjamin moved that dresser? Or would he even stay in that house once she was gone?
In her heart, she knew he would not.
And with that knowledge came a terrible realization. Benjamin would never know the truth. Abbey would never know the truth.
Gateway to the Universe RELEASE!
Gateway to the Universe, In Bad Company: Age of Expansion Book 1
By Michael Anderle, Craige Martelle, & Justin Sloan
They say that behind every great man is a great woman…but what if that woman is a Werewolf?
- “Once you start this series you won’t be able to put it down. I can’t wait for Terry and Char’s new adventure to begin.”
- “I can’t wait for new books. I am totally hooked.”
- “I am waiting with bated breath for these beloved characters next fantastic journey!! I know that you can’t rush a good thing but I really really cannot wait!!”
What happens when Terry and Char meet Bethany Anne?
They get to do the Empress’ bidding, but not on Earth. With the infamous Valerie of New York, to space they go, to become the Direct Action Branch of Nathan Lowell’s Bad Company.
Before they reach Nathan on the other side of the galaxy, they find that space is a dangerous place, even for the wary, especially for the unprepared. Are you ready to join them on their epic journey?