TNC Vision - Prologue preview

A small excerpt from the beginning of Vision, book one of The Naiad Chronicles quartet, a high-fantasy series aimed at the 12 - 14 years age range, but with plenty of interest for adult readers too.

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Deepening gloom crushed down on a lone, hooded figure. Dohtei sat at an ancient desk in an aged, musty chamber, tapping his index fingers to his chin as he thought, his hands damp despite the chill in the air. He was waiting for a message, though he was trying to avoid excitement. It would doubtfully contain the news he wanted to hear. He was used to disappointment.
   From within the basements of his decrepit castle boomed a noise, somewhere between a roar and a cry, and the air pressure from the commotion made Dohtei wrinkle his nose in annoyance. He rubbed his temples calmingly with his fingers, muttering to himself, focussing on the dishevelled book on his desk. It was hand written and old beyond imagining, stained, burnt and torn, with pages loose in their bindings. The cover was a scale-like leather of deep red which reeked strongly of burnt hair.
   It had gotten this far so many times. From all his prior planning and corrections, he’d hoped that this occasion would turn out better than the rest. It was already sounding a little improved on the previous attempts, but the art of transmutation was long lost, documented only in books and tomes, hidden away in private libraries.
   Making people was a much harder process than this particular book had led him to believe.
   Years of searching had led him back to his precious book. He’d had it once before, having stolen it from the Seraph Castle many years ago, until it disappeared again, completely lost. And then, out of nowhere, it had turned up in a local library, where the guards had been using it to test their skills in the ancient language. Initially he’d panicked but soon realised the guards couldn’t read it completely and had no idea as to its real, original, much more sinister purpose.
   Back in his possession once more, the book was kept well hidden. He’d been making notes of its contents, knowing that soon it would be returned to its intended master, the true owner of this book and of its creations. But for now, at least, he feigned ignorance and denial while he made a duplicate. He had his own plans.
   Over a year had passed since the experiments had started, and none of them had been successful. The dragons in particular had been most uncooperative and many even tried to hinder the process, but the author of this book had thought of everything.
   A smile cracked Dohtei’s pale face as he wondered what Silas had been like. He had been known as a man of power, albeit often regarded as an evil man of power, but power none the less. His knowledge of magic, true magic deep and powerful that weaves its way through every element of the world, had been beyond the wisdom of any modern scholar or mage, and his knowledge of the dragons had made him even more formidable.
   His understanding of the dragons would later turn his reputation as a great naturalist and scientist into that of a deluded, maddened alchemist. No longer was he recognised throughout history for the good he had once done but solely for the bad.
   Dohtei heaved a sigh. He wondered if Silas had felt the same way he did now, waiting for the conclusion of each test with baited breath and a pounding heart.
   The heavy doors to his chambers swung open and a figure approached breathlessly. He bowed to Dohtei before speaking in a fast, harsh language.
   “It has worked, my lord! It has actually worked!”
   “Completely? No faults at all?” Dohtei asked excitedly.
   “None! He is awake and strong and very tall. He can even speak!”
   Dohtei raised his eyebrows in surprise and hauled himself leisurely out of his chair. He straightened his robes and brushed his fringe out of his eyes.
   “I’d better go and introduce myself, then,” he said simply, gliding past the figure and out into the cold, draughty corridor beyond the dark wooden doors.

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Copyright (c) Elizabeth-Rose Best 2015, please don't steal or post elsewhere. I will get rather narked about it.
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