The Gecko's Gate: Assasins

By Dennis Stein

Peace has reigned in the world of Evaria after the defeat of the evil reptile warlord Cyrus Malthor at Nimisor, and the chameleon mystics have reclaimed the Gecko's Gate from him thanks to three young reptile heroes, foretold in an ancient prophecy.
Now, darkness stirs in the realm once more with the appearance of a new Emperor of Stigia, and a sinister plot to assassinate the Chameleon King Maxxus.
Join Chase, Jonas, and Kiko along with new friends as they travel across the realm in search of the necessary items to save the beloved King, and stop the Empire of Stigia from threatening their peace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sands Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781988281209

Book preview

THE GECKO'S GATE

ASSASSinS

dennis stein

sands press

Brockville, Ontario

sands press

A division of 10361976 Canada Inc.

300 Central Avenue West

Brockville, Ontario

K6V 5V2

Toll Free 1-800-563-0911 or 613-345-2687

http://www.sandspress.com

ISBN 978-1-988281-19-3

eISBN 978-1-988281-20-9

Copyright © Sands Press 2017

Cover Concept by DigiWriting

Artwork by John Tkachuk

Gate Artwork by Sharon Stein

Formatting by Renee Hare

Publisher Sands Press

This book is a work of fiction. References to real people, events, establishments, organizations, or locales, are intended only to provide a sense of authenticity, and are used fictitiously. All other characters, and all incidents and dialogue, are drawn from the authors’ imaginations and are not to be construed as real.

No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

1st Printing March 2017

To book an author for your live event, please call: 1-800-563-0911

Sands Press is a literary publisher interested in new and established authors wishing to develop and market their product. For more information please visit our website at www.sandspress.com

To fellow author Perry Prete, for his support, his struggles and his successes.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

About the Author

Chapter 1

Clawed feet strode slowly across the desert. The day was late, the sun making the shadows long over the odd stone embedded in the baked, shifting sands. Vultures circled slowly above, gliding on the thermal currents of hot, dry air. The breezes made a hollow sound as the wind moved along above the dunes making dust-devils rising here and there. The sands of the desert were still scorching underfoot as the small group of reptiles made their way through the Sand Sea toward the towering dark spires of Stigia. They had travelled far, cloaked against the heat of the blasting sun. Winds from the south whipped the desert against them, and their steps were slow to conserve their energy in the desolate landscape. The largest lizard amongst them drew his hood up, covering his scales from the blasting sands, leaning heavily on a rough cane to aid his travel. The others were slender and tall with long tails, their dark cloaks concealing their ancestry.

They approached the dark spires of the desert city from the south, keeping their reptilian eyes on the outline of the city as they walked. It seemed eternally far away, like they were walking toward a mirage, shifting in the heat waves rising off of the sand ahead. The cries of the vultures overhead kept them ever conscious of the need to keep moving toward their goal. Onward they pressed, as if driven by some unseen force. The winds died as the evening came on, the air slowly cooling as the small group continued forward through the dunes, until the atmosphere became silent and still. Their view of the distant city became clearer as the sand settled down, no longer stirred by the breezes of the desert.

Finally, they rested, making camp for the night within view of the spires, burning only a small fire to warm them during the chill of the night. For whatever reason, the leader of their group had wanted to enter the city in the daylight, as opposed to arriving at night. The others had supposed that he wished to see the city while its inhabitants were all awake, to survey the situation of Stigia at its peak of normal activity. They took advantage of the cover of night, resting for the final push forward to the city.

The largest of them stayed up for long hours, keeping watch as distant light from torches lit the city from within. The wind had diminished, and a cold calm night entered, clearing his view of Stigia. He subconsciously reached out with a scaled hand toward the silhouette of the city spread before him across the dark sands. It had seemed like an age since his eyes had beheld its beauty, since he had been warm by the burning fires within the keep. His thoughts drifted to the busy streets, the clamoring of horned lizards as they performed their daily duties. He thought of the cobblestone of the courtyard, where the grand army of the Empire would assemble, ready for any battle. He imagined every grain of sand that existed between the rough sandstone of the city streets, every spire on the dark towers of the keep, the black polished onyx of the throne room floor. He could see the dark throne itself, blackened ancient wood, with a circular back, twisted wooden spikes radiating off of it in every direction, like a black sun.

And battles they would have. He relished the thoughts of a conflict where the great army would be an unstoppable force, destroying everything in its path. He imagined the cries and shouts of victory that would follow; the expansion of the Empire; the greatness of Stigia.

Their mission was of the utmost importance. They had a message to deliver to the Emperor himself -- the message of a strong and prosperous Stigia once again; an Empire that would dominate this world, and bring order to the inhabitants of the planet under a unified Stigian Republic; one that would suffer defeat at the hands of the other races of the realm no longer…

As the fire burned low, its embers glowed warmly, and the great lizard hunched down in his cloak against the cold, his eyes never leaving the distant city. It shimmered with torch light amongst the desert dunes. Its ramparts and walls were bare of any guards, and the reptile scoffed in disgust under his breath. It was a blessing to them that he had chosen to wait for daybreak to enter, or he and his small entourage could have killed many before the alarm was even raised. He despised the idea that his homeland had become so soft, such a weakened version of itself. It was obvious that the Emperor was not taking his office seriously any more, that he had allowed the soldiers that normally projected strength and honor to become complacent. He could barely wait for the sun’s light to rise, to finally conclude their long journey across the endless sands.

The stars shone down their vigilant lights, a sea of diamonds in the night sky above, and several hours later, the sky began to lighten in the east as the twin moons of the world began to set. The pre-dawn light made the huge icy rings of their world shine brightly, a huge arc of light out in space. The day was drawing near, and the blue of the daytime sky would soon fade the rings from sight. Still the reptile sat, watching the desert city. He had gone over his plans in his mind for many hours, considering all possible outcomes. By the end of this day, Stigia would be changed forever. No longer would it be isolated from the rest of the realm, but it would rule over the entire world, strong and orderly.

Dawn was approaching, and as the light of the sun breached the desert sands, he realized that this might also be the rise of his own destiny…

-----

The same evening, in a different corner of the realm, the village of Andar was at peace. As the sun set behind the rainforest canopy, story time began. The rainforest was warm and humid in the evenings, and this evening was no exception. Chase sat on a chair in the back of the Great Hall, listening to one of Lanwyn’s stories. Young geckos and anoles filled the space around the hearth, bathed in the light of the fire. It was ritual at least once a week for Lanwyn to tell a great tale after a gathering at the Hall. This particular story recounted a tale of three young lizards, who defended the realm against a cruel battle with a Lord from the deserts.

The elder told of the ancient mystics, the chameleons, who had come to name this world Evaria, and who had gazed at the stars above for millennia. They protected their knowledge, and their love of the natural world. He spoke of the Chameleon King, who lived in the caverns of Andoria, and of a mountain Citadel along with the brightly coloured frogs who called it home. The young reptiles gathered in front of Lanwyn hung on every word, listening with wide eyes as Lanwyn spoke in his soft voice.

Chase smiled as he drank from a mug of sweet nectar. He knew the story very well. It seemed long ago, but it had been only a year. He had been through another molt, losing his old skin to a bright, vibrant new one. It happened to all of them, once a year at least, the itchy, dry old scales giving way to new ones. Chase sat comfortably in a large chair near the largest table in the Great Hall, listening to the elder recount his tale to the youth gathered around him.

The fire crackled noisily in the huge stone hearth, casting a warm glow over the dimly lit room.

As the storytelling continued, Chase stood quietly and walked to the open doorway of the Great Hall. He leaned against the stonework of the entryway, looking out into the square. Outside, the jungle surrounding the town square of Andar was alive with the sounds of the evening. Insects and birds sung their night songs in the warmth, and a light rain had begun to fall, causing a slight mist. A family of beetles scurried across the cobblestone street, heading on some unknown course toward the undergrowth on the edge of the square. The fountain gurgled, and as the darkness grew deeper, the bluish glow of the mushrooms lining the streets came to life. A perfect evening in Andar. Chase felt deeply at peace, watching the night come on, Lanwyn’s soothing story emanating from behind him in the hall.

Chase continued to watch the evening unfold before him, listening. He breathed in deeply. His mind drifted, recounting the battle at the Citadel of Nimisor, the fires, the carnage. The elder’s story toned things down to be told to the children, but he remembered the bodies of dead frogs and lizards, the blood spilled into the streets of the mountaintop city. Fire and war, and bloodshed had left its mark on him and his friends. They had seen a great deal of suffering and conflict at young ages.

He shook the thoughts away, not wanting them to ruin the solace he felt this evening. A gecko approached from down the street, and Chase smiled as he saw his friend, Jonas. Jonas smiled back, seeing his lifelong pal, and stepped quickly up into the cover of the entrance, wiping the rain from his scales.

Nice night, hmm? he said.

Yeah, if you’re a toad. Chase said, grinning.

Jonas peeked inside the Great Hall at the gathering around the fire, seeing all of the young lizards attentively listening to Lanwyn. The warm glow from the fireplace seemed to set the scene for the tales being told.

Story time again, I see.

Yes, they never seem to tire of it, Chase replied simply.

Well, I am glad it is just a story now. I don’t know if I could live through that again. said Jonas, turning to watch the square.

Come on, show some backbone. Chase said, playfully shoving his friend by the shoulder.

Jonas said no more, and the two stood and watched the rain fall lightly in Andar and listened to the forest’s night sounds. There was no breeze.  The thick canopy of trees above sheltered the village perfectly. The bio-luminescent mushrooms cast their bluish glow over the cobblestone streets, and darkness began to envelope the jungle.

Where is Kiko tonight? asked Chase quietly.

Jonas cast him a sideways glance, grinning.

Why, miss her already? he said, keeping an eye on his friend’s scaled face.

Chase could feel his look, but ignored it, doing his best not to betray any kind of emotion that would earn him more teasing from Jonas.

No, but there are dishes to be done here in the Hall, and she was supposed to help. said Chase, taking another sip from his mug.

Yeah, sure, replied Jonas. I think she went down to the river earlier to fish, but I haven’t seen her for a while.

Chase continued to look straight ahead, not wanting any more sarcasm from his friend. He knew that Jonas could see right through him, that he could not lie about his feelings no matter how hard he might try. Chase had spent a great deal of time with Kiko over the last several months. The young female anole had become the center of his world, and even Chase had fought to figure out how he felt when it came to her. Jonas had been very good about it, even when Chase would make an excuse to be alone with her, instead of going out hunting for insects in the forest with him. But there were many times where the three of them would go out, sometimes just wandering the rainforest around the village, or spending lazy days swimming down at the waterfall in the river, but still a trio. Once they were done the chores around the village, there was still usually plenty of time to be young, to find something thrilling and adventurous to do.

Now that that village had been rebuilt, after the attack from the forces of Stigia, Andar had once again become a peaceful, tranquil place. The jungle had quickly reclaimed all evidence of the assault. As Chase and Jonas watched the village square, with its gurgling fountain, it seemed a lifetime ago.

As they watched, another reptile appeared, running along the cobblestone of the street outside the Hall. It was Kiko. Chase and Jonas moved aside quickly so that she could get in out of the rain.

Hey. said Kiko, wiping off the rain as she looked at Chase’s mug. Where’s mine?

Well, you’ll have to do some dishes if you want some of the nectar. said Chase playfully.

This earned him a swipe from Kiko, who giggled at the taunt.

And, you will have to listen to Lanwyn’s story again. said Jonas with a smirk.

I think I can handle it. Hold on, she said, heading into the Hall.

Chase watched her go, ignoring the smirk from Jonas. The trio had changed in the last year, despite being the same three friends. Jonas however, knew when to ease up on teasing Chase, because he could see how his friend looked at Kiko these days.

She returned with a mug for Jonas as well, and they now stood, enjoying the view out into the night, the warmth of the fire at their scaled backs, and the story unfolding in the Hall behind them.

Any fish? asked Jonas.

A few. The rain always brings them out, replied Kiko, sipping from her mug. Maybe you two should try some fishing, instead of lazing around the Hall, babysitting with Lanwyn.

This made both Chase and Jonas laugh, but neither one of them would acknowledge the jab with a real response. Kiko loved to poke at them, with her favourite joke being something about their blunt tails being as blunt as their brains. It had always been her way to be able to keep up with them, and make sure they knew it.

They eventually ended their chatter, already thinking of what adventure the new day might bring. Each of them had their own ideas about something fun to do once they had completed the jobs needed by the village. They were some of the best hunters in the village, and there were plenty of mouths to feed. And once they had filled their sacks with insects to be dried and prepared, they would be free to explore the places they loved in the forest.

Chase grinned as he finished his drink, thinking of a retort.

It’s getting late, Kiko, he finally blurted out. Maybe you had better go get your beauty sleep for tomorrow.

Chapter 2

The Chameleon King relaxed at the edge of the looking pool. deep in meditation. Maxxus had been in quiet solitude for some time now, comforted by the fact that there was peace in the realm once again. He breathed deeply as he meditated, surrounded by a grove of trees deep within the caverns which were the chameleon’s home, Andoria.

A shaft of bright sunlight shone down into the vast cavern through a large hole in its ceiling, illuminating everything. Vast gardens of flowers followed alongside the well-kept paths of green grass, and a stream gurgled through Andoria, winding here and there, filled with brightly coloured fish. The cavern was warm and humid and butterflies fluttered among the gardens. Stone buildings punctuated the space in Andoria, as beautiful in their construction as the vines and wildflowers growing around them.

Maxxus opened his eyes and looked into the small pool of water swirling in the rock in front of him. It was clouded, not showing him anything, despite his deep relaxation. Perhaps there was nothing to see today, he thought briefly, looking around at the greenery enveloping the grove. He stood up, wincing at the pain in his joints from old wounds.

Another chameleon entered the grove, quietly observing his King. It was Ubius, Maxxus’ most trusted companion.

I have some palmetto tea for you, my liege, he said, presenting a large cup made of polished stone. It will help ease your pains.

Maxxus sighed deeply, looking at the steam rising from the cup.

You have read my mind, my friend, he said, a smile coming to his scaled face.

Ubius handed over the cup, and Maxxus sipped at the rich palmetto broth, his gaze shifting back to the looking pool.

It is still today, said Ubius quietly, following the King’s gaze.

Yes, but sometimes stillness and quiet are good things, Maxxus replied, still sipping at the hot tea.

Shall I have a hot saltwater bath prepared for you, Sire? It would also help to sooth your body, Ubius asked politely.

No. I am doing well. I need to take a walk and stretch my legs. But thank you, Ubius, Maxxus replied.

Ubius bowed curtly, leaving the solace of the grove for his King to enjoy.

Maxxus became lost in thought as he finished the palmetto tea, staring into the looking pool and breathing in the steam from the brew. His scales brightened in colour, as he felt the warmth of the liquid spread through his entire body. It always helped to dull the throbbing in his joints. He set the cup aside, resting it on a large stone. Maxxus moved to the edge of the grove, where he could see the whole of the cavern from the hill where he stood. He surveyed the vast gardens, where chameleons worked here and there at tending the herbs and