Read Keeper of the Eye (The Eye of the Sword Book 1) Online
Authors: Mark Shane
Tags: #wizard, #sword, #Fantasy, #love, #Adventure, #coming of age, #Prince
“Get away from him,” he barked at Falon. “Are you both mad?”
Michael looked at him with a smile, which only fueled Max’s anger even more.
“Stupid, love sick kids! Get away from each other!”
Tears streamed down Michael’s face and he grabbed Max in a bear hug. “You’re alive.”
“Of course I’m alive,” Max replied when they separated. “I didn’t spend all these years planning to die on the way.”
Garen and Michael embraced. “Where’s Darela,” Michael asked Dalan.
“Recovering,” Dalan said.
Garen snorted. “That’s a word for it. He almost killed himself saving all our hides.”
Dalan leveled a finger at Garen and Michael. “You two just watch yourself till he’s well. I can’t be everywhere to keep you alive by myself.”
Michael smiled and bowed his head to Dalan. “We shall do our best, sesur Dalan.”
Dalan’s face split in a wide, toothy grin.
Max introduced Jerrod as Alex slipped through the crowd calling Falon’s name.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, I betrayed you,” Alex sobbed, hugging Falon.
Falon made soothing sounds. “I’ll hear none of that,” she said, pushing his hair out of his eyes and wiping tears away. “It wasn’t your fault.” A sly grin crept on her face. “Besides, what are pesky brothers for?”
“Brother?” Michael asked.
“Falon hugged Alex tight. “And an annoying one at that.”
“Any other items you might want to tell me?” Michael asked, looking at them.
Falon’s cheeks turned red. “Um...did I mention I’m the heir to the throne of Cintaur?”
Michael eyed her suspiciously. “I think I would have remembered that.”
“I believe we all have stories to tell,” Max said, placing his arm around Michael’s shoulder.
“Preferably over a very large mug of ale,” Garen added.
The company broke into laughter. Such a sweet sound they had not shared in so long.
Max turned Michael to face the Cathedral of Light. “So tell me, my boy, what do you think of Dalarhan?”
Michael snorted. “It’s big.”
Max laughed. “That it is. That it is.”
“It’s in dire need of repairs, though,” Michael added.
“Is that so?” Max replied, a knowing smile sliding across his face.
Michael set out for the city, a glint of an idea in his eye.
“Where are you going?” Falon asked.
“To have tools made. The city could us a good carpenter.”
Max began to laugh. “The Creator help us, he still thinks he’s a carpenter.”
“And he will lead his people from a throne built by his own hands,” Falon quoted a prophecy. A smile broke out on her face. “A carpenter king. How ironic.”
E
PILOGUE
Change in Plans
A lone figure on horseback overlooked Dalarhan from a hilltop just inside the tree line. His pitch-black, hooded cloak was bright compared to his mood. His jaw flexed as he clenched his teeth. The pealing bells and noise of celebration galled him.
Yet again he had underestimated the Eye. He should have learned his lesson at the Heart of the forest. He should have destroyed that red carriage. The idea of using Treylan as a false Keeper sounded quite stupid to him now. He had been overconfident back then, certain he could have the barriers broken quickly–a year at the longest. He could not have been more wrong.
He had been ignorant, too, thinking the veil to Theran Gull could be ripped open using only the well under Dalarhan. He had learned much since then. It would be a long, difficult process. The prison holding the Great Lord of the Night had three focal points and only by piercing the well at all three could he be released. With the focal point under Dalarhan in his control, he had been close.
The ruins of Glestier would soon be in his hands and the one in Manthadore...well, that was a difficult place to infiltrate, but he had made progress. He’d brought Elowe to the brink of civil war and he was stoking the flames of animosity in several others. Much of the world was on the brink. With wars breaking out to keep people distracted, he intended to create rifts large enough to bring forth a demonic army and storm the Seran’tu and claim the well. Then the Keeper surfaced.
He glared at the Wizard’s Keep standing high above the city walls like a sentinel. Aleister had broken through all but the final barrier. They might as well all still exist. Regardless, there were still some in Dalarhan that were loyal to him. The Keeper had won a battle, nothing more.
“Fool,” he spat as he turned his horse west, “now I will have to change my plans.”
His black cloak flowed as he rode west leaving the pealing bells behind.
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About the Author
Technology geek by day, Fantasy writer by night,
Mark Shane
saves bits and bytes for “the man” then unwinds with fire wielding wizards and jaded dragons. He grew up on video games, Star Wars, King Arthur and Lord of the Rings (long before the movies came out). After traipsing through enough fantastically colorful worlds he decided to create his own. And when his creations wouldn’t stop talking, he put pen to paper.
Table of Contents
Prologue: Endings and Beginnings