Shadows of Valor

By Patricia Hamill

Four years ago, Edwin's father was slain by Verackan raiders, intent on plundering the Orescan heartland to supplement their own waning resources.

Now seventeen and intent on vengeance, Edwin runs away from home to join the Orescan Army. Soon, he finds himself a Probationary Recruit, not in the Army, but in the Special Air Corps. Through a combination of natural and technologically enhanced gifts, this elite and secretive organization battles the Verackans from the shadows.

As Edwin explores the full potential of his gift, a new objective begins to take hold: ending the Verackan threat for all time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patricia Hamill
• Release date: Mar 3, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301633920

Patricia Hamill

I like reading and writing books, crocheting, running, and practicing karate. I'm also into science (fact and fiction) and love movies and stories that feature it. Doctor Who, Star Wars, Star Trek (still playing on BBC America!), The Expanse, The Walking Dead, I love to watch all of these, though they're just some of the things I watch. Check out my blog, I read too much!, and also the blog at Puretextuality.com to which I contribute. My favorite genres in books are sci-fi, fantasy, and humorous nonsense in various forms, but I do branch out. As for what I write, I can't be pinned down to a single genre. My first book, The Golden Ship, I wrote with and for my mom. My sci-fi trilogy, Shadows of Valor, will always be my favorite because it's exactly the sort of thing I like to read: boy leaves home, discovers superpower, meets girl, saves the day. To get out of my comfort zone and to cure my tendency to hide in the other room when The Walking Dead came on, I wrote a zombie book, Fearless. It's not nearly as gory as The Walking Dead, but it's got a lot of me in it. I think it's the most emotionally gripping, grown up book I've written so far. The Freeze, my foray into pure YA-post apocalyptic was a lot of fun to write. There's a bit of danger and romance, but it doesn't get too deep. Just a fun story to tell, and hopefully fun to read as well. As such an avid reader of fantasy, it actually took me rather long to get around to trying my hand at writing one. I wrote Avalee and the Dragon with the full intent at making it a girl defeats dragon fantasy. It turned into a surprise romance for everyone involved, including me. Anyway, good stuff. All that being said, I love connecting with readers and other authors. Feel free to send me a note on Goodreads or my Facebook page.

Book preview

The figure crept down the hallway. The sound of peaceful sleepers behind the doors he passed seemed nothing compared to the beating of his heart. Thump, thump, surely someone would hear, and that would be that, his grand plan in ruins. Pausing near the head of the stairway, he looked back to the place he started. Four years waiting for this chance, working up the courage, planning, and instead of excitement, he felt fear. Fear of the unknown, of failure. Fear for his family left behind. Fear of his mother's eyes.

Would she understand? Would she forgive him for leaving?

He was surprised to find tears on his face and quickly wiped them away. This was no time for second thoughts. His brother, only a year younger, would take care of his mother, and she would understand. His sister, only six, might take it hard, but this was for her future after all. Besides, life on a farm was hard, they wouldn't have time to miss him.

Another breath to steady his nerves and slowly, quietly down the stairs he went, one at a time. Careful of the third one with the loose board, a mistake now would mean an end to the adventure, such as it was.

Finally, the bottom reached, he adjusted his pack and turned to make one last stop, the kitchen. Luckily, his mother, being short, never used the cupboard over the refrigerator, making it a perfect hiding spot. Months of careful hoarding had resulted in a satchel full of travel food, ready to go when the time and his nerve were ready. It wasn't much, just some dried biscuits, jerky, and fruit, with a small pot to cook whatever else he may find on the way.

Quietly, he retrieved a spoon from a drawer and added it to the food satchel. They only had one each, so he had had to leave it until the last or risk questions.

Finally ready, he sent a silent goodbye upstairs to his sleeping family and stole out the door into the awaiting darkness. A breathless moment arose when the screen door eluded his grip and creaked shut with a low clatter, then still silence, almost tangible, filled the house. As the quiet song of crickets and toads gradually took its place, he once more remembered to breathe before stealthily crossing the yard to the barn.

The trip to Oresca would take a week or more on foot, but he was eager to get there, so walking was not in the plan. Checking the house for lights and movement first, he carefully opened the barn door and slipped inside, closing it softly behind him. The darkness was chased off to the far corners when he flipped on a small flashlight, but its dim glow was not enough to completely banish the shadows; in fact, it only seemed to worsen them.

No matter, what little light it generated was enough to illuminate the objective, his old Magbike, the last gift his father had given him. Even after all the rigors he'd put it through since then, it was still in good shape. The paint, a deep green, shimmered as the light swept over it, while the chromed handlebars and gauges flashed brightly in turn.

Moving quicker now that he was screened from the scrutiny of the dark house and its inhabitants, he unplugged the bike and activated the cord storage cylinder. He donned his helmet and jacket to the low hum of the motor as it reeled in the cord and then retracted into its storage compartment.

He rolled the bike to the door and, when within reach of the latch, flipped off the light before opening it to the night. Patiently waiting for his eyes to adjust, he glanced back towards the house, no longer his home. Light shined through the kitchen door, silhouetting a dark figure watching him. He gasped in shock as the apparition began to approach.

So, you're really doing it then? His brother, with features barely discernible in the moonlight, asked.

Still trying to catch his breath from being caught, the shock that his brother somehow knew of his plans sent a sense of panic into his stomach. He had been so careful.

Well? What have you got to say for yourself? his brother demanded. Not even going to tell me before you left, eh Edwin? Just going to abandon us all for a little adventure?

It's not like that at all, Joe, Edwin shook his head, finding his voice after the shock wore off.

Really, Joe sneered, then what is it like? His arms crossed before him, Joe made an intimidating sight. He'd come into his muscles this year and seemed almost a man. Farm life had made his body hard, and tragedy had left an equally significant hardness in his heart.

Joe, I couldn't risk it. Mom would never let me go, and I didn't think you'd understand. Edwin looked back toward the silent house and continued, I have to do this, for all of us. I can make a difference; I can protect Mom and Cindy. Besides, I knew you were ready to take my place. You always were better at all this than me.

There's no arguing that, but why do you think leaving will help? I think you're running away, Joe smirked. You always did like to run and hide.

Shocked, Edwin replied, Run and . . . Joe, we had to run and hide! It's what he wanted us to do. It's all we could have done.

How do you know that? We could have done something! Maybe he would have lived, Joe growled in a low voice. I was going to help him and you dragged me into the cellar. It was your fault!

No, Joe, it was Veracka's fault! Edwin argued back. They raided, they killed him, and I am going to make them pay!

You do that, but don't even think of coming back here, his brother said firmly as he turned back toward the house.

Wait, Edwin pled. Don't be that way. Please understand this is what I have to do.

Joe stopped, still facing away, I'll tell Mom and Cindy you're doing this for them; I'm sure they'll believe it and take heart, but I'll know that you're running away, and I can't forgive that. You go save the world, but when you're done, don't bother coming back—better for everyone that way.

Edwin watched Joe continue across the yard and into the house. The light extinguished, pitching the yard into moonlit shadows. Nothing left to do but leave, he activated the Magbike. The illuminated dials provided the only evidence it was running, although the silent motor would soon add its proof in power and speed.

He swiped his thumb across the accelerator control pad and the Magbike responded. As he sped away into the unknown, he left silence in his wake, reflecting the emptiness he felt inside. There was no turning back. It was begun.

From the shadows of the darkened house, Joe watched his brother disappear into the night. Bitter jealousy filled his heart at his brother who was escaping. He felt the weight of his future, now decided for him by his brother's gambit, crushing his spirit. There would be no sleep tonight.

~~~~

Chapter 2-Night Ride

With his visor up, the cool wind had long since dried his tears and cleared his head. His brother's anger had hurt, but resolve soon took hold. This was the right thing to do, not staying behind, living day by day under a pretense of normalcy and safety. Edwin knew that it was only a matter of time before the quiet security was shattered again. This time though, it would be shattered in Veracka. He would see to it.

He veered to the right to take the Susseck River Road. Following the river that was its namesake, the road would take him Northeast, all the way to Fort Oresca. It was also well travelled, and so, well maintained, which would make the journey easier and faster. There was no one about now, though. Everyone would be asleep at this time of night.

Edwin took advantage of the open road and slid the accelerator to the max. The landscape passed in a blur, the trees, phantoms reaching overhead as he approached, fell swiftly behind as the Magbike sped by. The woods were heavy along the road, but occasionally, moonlight glinted off the River to his right through their branches.

Fallen leaves cycloned in his wake, seeming to take on a life of their own. In the night, Edwin felt alone, the tunnel of trees seemed endless and utterly isolated. Were it not for the sound of the wind and the feel of the road beneath him, he wouldn't have been able to tell that he was moving at all.

After traveling for a few hours, Edwin noticed a lightening; a vague definition was taking hold of the passing scenery. Shadows began to retreat and gray to transform to green and deep blue. A layer of mist thinly coated the road ahead, making it difficult to sense the edges. Edwin reluctantly slowed and began to look for civilization.

Settlements and small towns dotted the land along the river, and now that it was dawn, he could see that the tunnel of trees had an end, and it was fast approaching. There would be a town there. The road would go through it.

Towns like this often had a small inn, providing cheap lodgings and a charge port for travelers as well as supply caravans. The adrenaline had faded from Edwin's body, leaving him stiff and tired from the journey. He hadn't slept at all last night, too tense and excited about leaving and realizing anyway that setting an alarm for midnight would not be a very stealthy start for his trip. The chill wind flowing past the bike had kept him alert, but now his eyes were dry and red from its punishing blast.

Edwin coasted into the town, the gravel beneath his wheels the only sound in the early pre-dawn light. He scanned the street for signs or symbols indicating lodgings as he ghosted through the town, finally spotting one on the right. Smiling to himself, Edwin chuckled at the name of the inn, The Looney Badger. Someone had a sense of humor.

Figuring it was as good of place as any; he slowed and maneuvered to the back of the building, where the ports would be. After finding a vacant one, he dismounted and hung his helmet on the back end of the bike. Then he opened the cord compartment and plugged in.

The cost of charging would be included in the rates; even so, most folks didn't mind sharing a quick boost here and there. The general idea was to help each other out and if you ever got in a jam, you'd get the same. Everyone did their best not to take advantage of this system, and Edwin was no exception. He'd saved his money for a long time so he would be able to make it on his own. There wasn't a lot, but he had enough to manage if he was careful along the way.

Dawn had arrived in full while Edwin set the charge. The sun was just now cresting over the distant mountains, and the mist rapidly evaporated, taking the last vestiges of night with it. Briefly facing the sun with eyes closed, Edwin stretched his body and enjoyed the warmth infusing him with new energy. The sounds of morning joyously greeted the sun: birds sang and scolded each other, squirrels jumped along branches and a soft murmur arose from the street out front as people emerged to begin their day.

Edwin opened his eyes and looked back towards The Looney Badger. It was well kept, despite the irreverent name; the paint was fresh and the garden neat. A stone laid path led from the charge ports to the back entrance, from which scents of cooking meat and porridge were already wafting. Edwin reminded himself that he needed to save his money for lodgings and charges, not waste it on meals. That was what his pack was for.

The back door led into a long hallway, past the bustling kitchen to the common room in front. Edwin guessed that would be where the proprietor would greet his or her guests. He was right. The innkeeper introduced herself as Mistress Maya and welcomed him to the inn with a smile.

Thank you. May I have a room for a few hours while my bike charges? Edwin replied.

Traveling hard dear? She grinned and then continued, It'll be five for the room and one for the charge.

Agreeing to the terms, he handed over the money, returning her smile, That's right, I'm trying to make good time.

Her eyes swept from his face to his hair and she winked, I'll say, follow me. She started down the hallway, taking a set of stairs Edwin hadn't noticed.

He followed, feeling self-conscious and wondering what she meant by

Reviews for Shadows of Valor

[nicolas4wilson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a pretty quick read, as Hamill's writing moves very fast. I enjoyed the overall story, although the beginning didn't articulate the conflict between Orescan vs. Verackan in a relate-able way. I suppose it makes sense, as the main character is basically a boy, and you wouldn't expect a deep understanding of the cultural events that would make such a war happen. I'd have preferred to learn more about the causes of the war, the political structures that govern peoples lives, as part of the worldbuilding. Hamill creates vivid and engaging scenes and locales, but I can't help thinking that it would be a much richer work if she'd spent more time with her people. The story, especially at the beginning, felt a bit black and white, and by the time she had added some more nuanced elements to the ways people live in that world, it felt a bit rushed.Her characterizations are very crisp and targeted. Edwin, our hero, is very well fleshed out and likable. His companions are entertaining, although I could have done without a romance angle. There were spots it seemed like that subplot was intruding on the "actual" story. I would have loved to have spent more time with the rest of his fellow recruits or operatives, to have more of a sense of camaraderie, rather than focusing on the romantic subplot.All of that is nitpicks. It's reasonably well edited, well written, and generally engaging. I'll happily read more with these characters, come book 2.Note: The author provided my copy in exchange for this honest, non-reciprocal review.