Glagnodian's Vengeance Book 1

By Aaron Millar

Glagnodian's character, resolve and strength were fostered and forged in a lifelong pledge to protect his king and his kingdom. His skills and abilities were pushed to perfection in arduous training since early childhood and tested in battle until victory or death, never defeat or surrender.

Glagnodian was a Royal Guardian fiercely loyal to his lord, King Arithmious, and their kingdom Croftshire. Glagnodian's sole purpose and desire in life was to serve his lord and territory.

Although Glagnodian's skills, abilities and purpose came from his training and pledge, his desires, just like any other man's, came from his heart and had a will of its own.

A beautiful woman named Aliastella was quickly becoming the center of his desire. He was equally her desire but this could not be, for Glagnodian's desire was spoken for by his pledge to his king and kingdom.

An invasion from a powerful evil force of unknown origin, at the time, has forced Glagnodian's heart to choose between his two desires. Glagnodian's choice proved costly. Now with his heart empty of desire and full of regret, guilt, hatred and venom, he sets out to settle the score but what he discovers will eclipse his darkest fear and imagination.

Take the adventure today and escape immersed in this fantasy thriller.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aaron Millar
• Release date: Jun 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310509018

Aaron Millar

Born and raised in the midwest meant I'd have to travel to see the mountains, ocean, desert, temperate rain forest and everyplace in between. Reading and writing allows me to visit places that are exciting, dangerous, and exotic. It also allows me to meet new people, battle with powerful enemies, fall in love and get my heart broken and all the while I don't have to pay extra for a second suitcase or put on sunscreen. I have always enjoyed writing and reading. In the past I worked at the local college as a peer writing tutor. I did this partly for part time income and because I enjoyed it so much. Sharing and collaborating with passionate writers and avid readers simply felt right. Years after this I decided it was time to sit down, write and publish so I could share and engage with an even larger community.

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Glagnodian’s Vengeance

Written By

Aaron Millar

Text Copyright © 2015 Aaron Millar

All Rights Reserved

Also written by Aaron Millar:

A Miracle’s Path

(paranormal-psychological thriller)

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty One

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Three

Chapter Twenty Four

Chapter Twenty Five

Prologue

For one to become a Royal Guardian, that individual must be more than a great fighter with impeccable virtues. That individual must be sworn for life and to the death in service to his king and queen. Rigorous training starts from early childhood and continues throughout this individual’s entire life. Sacrificing everything they have in exchange for an elite royal suit of armor and weapons are just the beginning. After surviving the initial training and satisfying the requirements set forth by the royal court, this individual will have a close and trusting bond with their steed which they will have broken themselves. The only close personal relationship the newly appointed Royal Guardian will have is with his personal servant of the same sex. The servant is put through the same rigors as the Royal Guardian but two differences stand out. First, the servant is allowed to retire from duty if his master wishes to acquire a new servant. Secondly, the servant is not required to be a descendent of a royal servant; the Royal Guardian, however, is required to be a descendent of past Royal Guardians.

The Royal Guardian can’t marry, for their life is devoted to serving their king and queen. They are permitted and encouraged to bed down with a mate for the sole purpose of guaranteeing the next generation of Royal Guardians.

There is a total of thirty eight Royal Guardians in service at all times. The king does not wish to have anymore than thirty eight, fearing the talent pool may become diluted if too many individuals are brought up through the process of training and grooming to become a Royal Guardian. The king also does not want the Royal Guardians to become too powerful. The king knows the Royal Guardians are fiercely loyal but he also understands they are human.

There is a leader in the squad of thirty eight strong Royal Guardians and that individual has the rank of Royal Champion Guardian. The best of the best are handpicked and tested. If ready, willing and qualified, the title of champion is earned by defeating the senior Royal Champion Guardian along with his servant. The three opponents are set loose in the wilderness miles apart from each other. The first Royal Guardian to come back with the other Royal Guardian’s head receives the title or retains the title of Royal Champion Guardian. The servant’s head is optional.

Brutal as this may be, every Royal Guardian who desires the title of champion knows what their future holds for them. This also ensures only the best guardian will lead the other guardians. Through attrition the other Royal Guardians will be culled. Their mission is fraught with extreme challenges, risks and hardships, leaving no room for second best.

Given the upbringing, training and conditioning the Royal Guardians endure, it would seem unthinkable for one of these Royal Guardians to be a maverick but one such Royal Guardian did exist. His name was Glagnodian.

Made of exceptional character and valor, Glagnodian was also superior in skill and talent. He came from a long line of legendary Royal Guardians. Glagnodian was very intelligent and strong both in flesh, spirit and mind. He feared nothing but instead respected what comes as a threat. This philosophy gave him insight to solve problems rapidly and accurately.

Glagnodian served as the Queen’s personal guardian. The king wanted only the best to protect his wife. Both King Aurithmious and Queen Corina are young and new to the throne; therefore, the royal couple has yet to conceive an heir to the kingdom. King Aurithmious made it clear to Glagnodian that it is paramount to protect Queen Corina at all times and all costs.

Glagnodian was the seemingly perfect Royal Guardian and perfect choice for his assignment but Glagnodian did have a flaw and weakness, Aliastella.

Glagnodian met Aliastella while serving duty at one of the villages, Stone Hollows, on the outskirts of his king’s kingdom. She was a host at the popular inn called The Boar’s Pot. There was something for everybody there; games, drink, women and good food. The Royal Guardians were much appreciated when they stayed. They offered security and respected everyone and everything during their visits. This is where Glagnodian discovered his weakness and strayed dangerously close to dishonoring his lifetime pledge as a Royal Guardian.

He couldn’t visit The Boar’s Pot often enough nor stay long enough. Every minute he was near Aliastella he was filled with joy and happiness. This supreme satisfaction he was feeling began to nudge over a bit his current thoughts and desires to serve his king, making more room in his heart for Aliastella.

Aliastella felt just as strongly about Glagnodian but it wasn’t possible and never will be possible for the two of them to be together, other than for Glagnodian’s visits.

This conflict of desires Glagnodian was struggling with proved to be deadly. On one fateful day in early spring, King Arithmious’s kingdom, Croftshire, was in grave danger. The very homeland Glagnodian so fiercely and valiantly honored and defended was under attack by an invading force never encountered before.

The invading force had soldiers who wouldn’t bleed when stabbed or moan when cut down. Fire wouldn’t even burn their flesh. The Royal Guardians were about to face the most difficult enemy in theirs and their ancestor’s history.

By the time a scout’s message sent from lookouts miles from the kingdom’s boundary reached King Aurithmious in the capitol city of Timber Ridge, the outer most villages were already under attack. The king informed Glagnodian about the attack and commanded he stay with Queen Corina in the capitol city no matter what happens. The king sent his squad to Stone Hollows immediately for it was the next village in the wake of this seemingly unstoppable invasion.

The thought of these invaders killing, raping or taking Aliastella was too much for Glagnodian to ignore. Glagnodian for the first time ever disobeyed his king and put his queen’s life in harm’s way by leaving with his squad to defend Stone Hollows. Mistakenly, Glagnodian believed he and his men could stop this invading force and save Aliastella at the same time.

When arriving in Stone Hollows, Glagnodian and his men fought courageously to their last breath but there was no hope for victory in sight. It took tremendous effort just to bring down one of these enemy soldiers and by that time a dozen of more advanced farther into the kingdom of Croftshire. As the invaders advanced, the enemy soldiers were more interested in kidnapping every woman and slaughtering the children than they were in defeating the Royal Guard.

Glagnodian finally found Aliastella only to watch her get struck in the head and carried off on horseback by an enemy soldier. Glagnodian broke out of formation and left his squad in a fury towards Aliastella’s captor. Glagnodian’s steed was wounded and therefore could not keep up with his enemies’ horse. Watching from a distance he saw the horsemen stop near a large figure seated in the rear of a chariot. Other horse men stopped by the chariot also carrying captured woman. Systematically, this large figure gave each woman an exam by looking them up and down after they were undressed. He would give a signal and some women would be beheaded right on the spot or chained up like slaves and others were given to the soldiers as prizes. There was confusion once the large figure’s chariot rode away. The horse men separated in all directions leaving nothing behind.

Now with Glagnodian’s squad defeated, the enemy force was able to charge straight into the kingdom’s capitol. The standard fighters of Croftshire were no match for these invaders. Queen Corina was kidnapped along with most of the other women. King Aurithmious sentenced Glagnodian to death and commanded his remains will be tossed into the wilderness beyond the kingdom’s boundary, to be eaten by scavengers.

Rather than return to Croftshire’s court and accept his punishment honorably, Glagnodian decided to summon his loyal servant Irik and become an outlaw. Despite all the soul crushing shame and a heart saturated with misery, Glagnodian had one flame burning bright inside of him…Vengeance.

Glagnodian knew he couldn’t make things right again so now settling the score was all he could envision day in and day out. All he had was a single name to go on, Thornbrook. Glagnodian and Irik set off in their perilous search for Thornbrook.

Chapter One

The only thing Glagnodian and Irik could hear over their own heavy breathing and rapidly pounding feet was the barking and growling of the dire wolves chasing them across a rain soaked prairie. Relentless, the wolves were not going to give up on this hunt. The wolf pack was hungry and knew their prey had nowhere to run for shelter.

As Glagnodian’s and Irik’s pace slowed the dire wolves hunger grew. Up ahead about one hundred and fifty yards away was an ancient temple constructed of enormous boulders and stone slabs. The surfaces of the temple were worn smooth from eons of rain and wind. Damp slippery patches of moss hugged tight to the surfaces as well. Unable to keep pace with Glagnodian, Irik stumbled.

Make a run for those giant stones. I’ll hold them here as long as I can, said Irik.

Without hesitation Glagnodian picked Irik up and threw him over his back and carried him the rest of the way. No sooner than they reach the temple, the lead wolf snapped at Glagnodian and Irik, narrowly missing one of their limbs.

Glagnodian drew his short sword slashing at every attempt the wolf made to latch on to a limb.

Irik, scale the temple now! Glagnodian shouted.

The surface is too slick. I can’t get a footing, Irik answered back.

Another wolf arrived and leaped right for Glagnodian’s throat. Getting thrust against the temple’s wall as the wolf’s jaws clamped down, Glagnodian stuck his left forearm against and in front of his throat stopping the deadly jaws from strangling him. Swiftly drawing a dagger from his hip, Glagnodian sliced the belly of the wolf open but the wolf’s jaws would not release from his left forearm.

The rest of the pack was only moments away and closing. Irik had successfully wounded the other wolf with a slicing blow across its shoulder with his double headed axe.

See if you can anchor your axe to the top of this temple, Glagnodian said.

Irik uncapped the bottom of his axe’s shaft and pulled out a ten foot length of course twine which was attached to the inside of the axe’s shaft. Fortunately, after a couple tries of throwing it similar to a grappling hook, Irik managed to get the axe anchored. Meanwhile, Glagnodian had pried the wolf’s jaw off the cuff of his armor with his dagger, freeing up both arms to help defend himself from the approaching wolves.

Having successfully reached the top of the temple, Irik was ready to help Glagnodian escape from the wolves. Grab the twine and I’ll help you up, cried Irik.

Glagnodian worked his way up the slick temple wall with the help of Irik. Slashing his sword at every attempt the wolves made to latch on to him was all Glagnodian could do while dangling from the thick heavy twine. Once at the top of the temple, Glagnodian and Irik found themselves surrounded by eight hungry dire wolves. The slippery obstacle that nearly spelled Glagnodian and Irik’s doom now stood as the only barrier between them and the wolves.

The situation worsened. The eight wolves that arrived first were the younger, smaller and faster wolves. The older, larger and slower wolves arrived shortly after. The mature wolves were the size of a bear and just as hungry. Escape seemed impossible. A total of eleven wolves howled and moaned at the base of the temple. The wolves weren’t the only ones who were hungry. Glagnodian and Irik hadn’t eaten in forty eight hours and barely had enough water in their flasks to wet their teeth.

It was early morning so it wouldn’t be long before the afternoon sun and heat would begin to take its toll on Glagnodian and Irik. The wolves could just lie in the shade provided by the temple while the top of the temple gets baked by the full brunt of the cloudless sky.

I’m not sure I can outlast these wolves, said Irik.

Taking a slow deliberate look up to the sky and seeing vultures circling over head, Glagnodian nods his head slightly to Irik. A few of the smaller wolves had given up and left, still leaving eight dire wolves with nothing to lose but an easy meal if they lose their patience.

What do you have in mind Glagnodian?

Maybe if we can somehow use your axe to strike one of the wolves laying down in the shade, to your right, we can get the hungry wolves to turn on themselves once they smell blood.

It’s worth a try. We can start by tying the free end of the twine to this narrow peak over here and swing downward towards the wolf’s back, Irik said.

After securing the twine, both Glagnodian and Irik worked together with one swinging the axe and the other pulling the twine once the axe was released. Try after try, the axe came ever so close but the best they managed was to graze the wolf’s ear, which only woke the wolf causing him to move even farther away.

Frustrated but not discouraged, Glagnodian came up with another plan. This plan was far more risky but their options were shrinking every hour they went without food, water and shelter from the punishing sun.

Listen, if you lower me down most but not all the way I can reach them with my long sword. Especially if they jump and lunge for me, Glagnodian said.

I’m half your size. Wouldn’t it make better sense for you to lower me down? Irik said.

I don’t think you will have the reach needed to get in a solid strike. Besides, my armor will provide better protection than yours if one of their jaws clamped down on a limb.

Glagnodian was carefully lowered down with the twine fastened to the collar of his armor allowing him to use both arms for attacking and defending. Dangling about four to five feet off the ground, Glagnodian was soon surrounded by the wolves. The wolves first approached cautiously but soon their hunger drove them into a frenzy.

At first the plan was working. Glagnodian was landing strong blows to some of the smaller wolves that attempted to bite his legs and feet. One wolf was even mortally wounded when Glagnodian’s sword struck the side of its head. Glagnodian had yet to suffer any harm. Irik worked as Glagnodian’s lookout, telling him when a wolf was about to lunge at him from behind. The plan was a success until one of the mature wolves went all in and leaped high enough to make an attempt to grab hold of Glagnodian’s neck.

With a split second reaction, Glagnodian swung his right arm like a hooking punch using the butt of the long sword to strike the wolf’s huge head. The wolf continued to snap his jaws even though it was knocked off target but in the meantime both of Glagnodian’s feet were getting tugged by the other wolves and the twine snapped.

Crashing down to the ground Glagnodian had luckily fallen on top of the mature wolf momentarily knocking the wind out of it. Dropping his swords in favor for his daggers, Glagnodian started slashing for his life.

Irik jumped down leading with his axe and severed the mature wolf’s head that was temporarily stunned from Glagnodian’s fall. Irik also chose his smaller hand axes over his larger one for better in-fighting ability.

We need to separate this pack. I’ll lead them twenty yards over there. I’m the bigger prey so more will follow me. Then I will drop to the ground tricking them to believe I am finished, shouted Glagnodian.

No, we need to stick together! Irik exclaimed.

Their pack mentality will dictate their behavior. Trust me. From the outside of the ring they form around me you can easily pick a few of them off.

Before having a chance at separating the pack, a mature wolf bit down on Irik’s thigh violently shaking him back and forth then tossing him eight feet in the air and landing fifteen feet away. Irik was lying face down motionless. The pack regrouped and headed Irik’s way.

The mature wolf that had tossed Irik in the air like a sack of sugar stood between Irik’s fallen body and Glagnodian. Glagnodian exhausted and weakened lunged at the wolf. The wolf dodged Glagnodian’s attack and knocked him down from behind, then came in for the kill.

With the wolf’s large front paws pressing on Glagnodian’s chest it suddenly stopped snapping its jaws and fell over sideways. Entering from behind the wolf’s shoulder an arrow pierced its heart.

Charging straight for Irik’s fallen body was a chariot being pulled by a Cleopast horse and piloted by an Abborit. In the back of the chariot was a cloaked warrior quickly exchanging its bow for a long staff with spear points at both ends. The Cleopast horse had long tusks like an elephant and stood six to seven hands taller than the tallest horse. The Abborit is a hairless albino humanoid with eyes that are completely yellow looking like two quail egg yolks.

The Cleopast horse charged right through the pack of wolves scattering them away from Irik’s body. Once scattered the cloaked warrior leaped from the chariot and handled the fighting staff with great proficiency. The Cleopast horse continued to chase off some of the wolves. As for the wolves that stayed, they received punctures to their bodies from either the cloaked warrior’s staff or the Cleopast’s tusks.

Joining the fight late, Glagnodian came limping in to check on his fallen companion. The Abborit steadied the Cleopast by communicating telepathically with it, calming it down after the remaining wolves retreated, beaten and wounded. Rushing back from the chariot, the cloaked warrior brought a flask full of fresh water.

Drink, it’s safe to drink, a gentle voice said.

Glagnodian didn’t hesitate and poured the cool water over Irik’s face and on his lips first before quenching his own thirst. Irik was breathing but it appeared to be a little difficult for him to do so.

Thank you. You are courageous and kind. I am very grateful. My name is Glagnodian. What is yours may I ask? Glagnodian said.

There was a brief pause of silence before this mystery warrior began to remove the hood of their cloak. Slowly and deliberately the warrior pulled back the cloak’s hood and revealed a tremendous shock to Glagnodian. This warrior that just saved his and Irik’s life was like no other warrior he had ever encountered.

"My heavens! You…you are a woman," Glagnodian said.

"My name is Flissetta and you are correct, I am a woman," she replied.

"Forgive me but I don’t even know where to start. I have never seen a female warrior let alone one