The Dark Age of Bruce Mael

By Alexis Allinson

It was the beginning of the Dark Ages across Europe...

The mood of the people left them in despair. There was very little light to keep the population going. Murder, disloyalty, famine, disease, solitude and war effected everyone, as it became apart of daily life. Bruce was no exception to these events even with his royal status.

From the time he was a young child, beginning with the murder of his mother, and throughout his life, Bruce couldn't get away from the atrocities that kept rampaging toward him. They were like a moth to a flame with only a few moments of respite.

Bruce himself was filled with a darkness. One he would revel in without thought. One he would embrace at command when it was suitable. This was what could have been attracting what lurked in the shadows.

The darkness followed and inevitably lead him to his fate.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781365064722

Book preview

The Dark Age of Bruce Mael

The Dark Age of  Bruce Mael

A Darkness Rising Universe Novel

Alexis Allinson

Gnome On Pig Productions

Written by: Alexis Allinson

Original Edit by:Jeffery Snow and Brian Niedzwiecki

Re-edit for new release by: Dirk McKeown

Cover Art by: Mike Allinson

Copyright ©2012

Copyright ©2016 ©2020

2nd Edition

ISBN: 978-1-365-06472-2

All writing in the Darkness Rising Universe is pure work of fiction and any similarities to events, or persons or places of past, present or future are purely coincidence.

All copyrights to the Darkness Rising Universe are held by Alexis Olsansky-Allinson.  Any reproduction in whole or part without the permission of the author is punishable by law.

Special Thank  You to:  Laura Shingihara for the song Zombies on Your Lawn,  written and performed for the computer game Plants vs. Zombies.  All credit and copyright goes to this performer for their work and is owned by them.

Special Thank You to: Onda Masters for her historical information about the placement of the  kilt in Scotland's history.

Gnome On Pig Productions has been granted permission from the author to reproduce, distribute and sell this book on behalf of the author.

The Gnome On Pig Productions logo was created by Elizabeth Eichelberger for the branding of the company.

Copyright© held by Alexis Olsansky-Allinson

www.gnomeonpigproductions.com

Other books in the Darkness Rising Series:

The Redemption of D.C. Hayes          2012

(Novella)Out of Print

Kindle: A Shadow of Youth                    2014

Street Puddle                2015

(short story with the

Darkness Rising Universe)

The Redemption of D.C. Hayes (extended)      

To Be Released

Dawn the Hunter                                              

To Be Released

Other writing by this author:

Missing Hailey                       2014

(short story)

Premonition of the Fire Man            2014

(short story)

The Trouble With Lloyd        2015

(short story)

Dedication

This story is dedicated to Jeffery and Brian. Thank you for being the first to read 'The Redemption of D.C. Hayes' and volunteering to read the other books after.  You are very brave men.

I also dedicate this to James and Deborah Howe, the authors of 'Bunnicula'.  The best childhood book I remember ever having read.

I know your type: tall, dark and dead... 

-quote taken from the song: Zombies on Your Lawn - created, written and performed by Laura Shingihara for the Plants vs. Zombies entertainment game on all its platforms.

Prologue

AD 778

Aros Bay, south-east of The Isle of Islay, (known now as Scotland)

Errin's hands pressed Bruce's shoulders gently as she swiftly ushered him into the room where his mother was attempting to give birth.  She wantin’ to see you, Errin spoke softly to the five year old.

Bruce was a little timid about the whole thing.  He knew his mother was having a baby, but it was now going on three days.  His father was firm in his order that he kissed and hugged his mother good-bye and was not to see her again until the process had come full circle.  Then, maybe he would have a sibling.  It was all very confusing to the boy.

Quickly the boy forgot about this when he saw his mother's smiling face.  Bruce, she called out, meekly adding a smile.  Bruce ran to her.  He didn't notice the sweat that poured from her face, or the paleness of her skin.  The darkness around her eyes was overcast by his joy.  He loved his mother dearly and since her labor began, this was the first time he was let into the room.  He held her tightly and she hugged him back.  He took in deep breaths.  The stale smell of her failing health did not stop the boy from relishing the embrace of his mother.  It had been an eternity to him since she had rocked him in her lap.  This moment was his heaven,  just to be near her.

The moment didn't last long as the pounding sound of feet fell heavy in the corridor coming from up the stairs.  Bruce's mother pushed the boy off her and looked at him.  Listen to me, my lovely boy, my precious child.  I love you.  His mother's eyes drifted to Errin.

Bruce protested as Errin whisked him away and out of the room.  We don't want to let your father know you were here, Errin whispered calmly to the child. He would not take kindly to knowing we disobeyed ‘im.

Errin hustled Bruce outside the bed chamber of his mother and across the hall, as the door to the room his mother was in closed and latched. 

Bruce's father, Donnan McHale, came into sight as he reached the top of the staircase.  He was a large man with wild red hair that had been rapidly leaving the top of his head bald.  He was also built with a stocky frame making him appear all the more formidable.  His beard was full and long.

Bruce didn't look like his father.  He looked more like his mother, Murielle.  He had her dark hair and eyes.  His jaw was squared on him just like it was on her.  It would become a handsome feature on him as he grew; it was not so much on his mother.  His mother also gave him his tanned tone of skin.  She was French in lineage.  He knew his mother had a suitable dowry and his father was smitten by her.  Until recently, his father’s eyes were always warmed at the sight of her.

The blue eyes of Donnan, no longer held that same warmth.  He saw Bruce with his nanny, outside his bedroom door across the hall from where his mother was.  Those eyes once shone warmly on him too, but that had also disappeared into a fairly recent past.

Errin, growled Donnan, Stay where you are.

Errin stood straight.  I'm puttin’ young Bruce in ‘is room for play.  It will be warmer by the fire.  A cold winter's day is not time for him to be running aimlessly around a castle.

Donnan stopped his approach.  That's fine, but keep ‘im close by.  He looked toward the door of his mother’s room.  Donnan put his hand on the latch of the door, pursed his lips tightly.  Looking at Errin he spoke solemnly, It is time for this to come to an end.  Donnan then entered the room, closing the door behind him.

Errin nodded her head as she swallowed hard in the attempt to hide the fear that rose within her breast. Her heart skipped a beat as she brought her attention back to her young charge.

Bruce once again found himself being escorted into a room.  Confusion and the wondering of his five year old mind leaving him on the verge of tears.  Once inside the familiar bed chamber and seeing his wooden horse he ran toward it and set about playing.  For the moment, Bruce had forgotten all his troubles.

Errin closed the door quietly.  She went to the fire and made sure it was good and warm.  She tried to hide her trepidation with the current events.  Bruce seemed to not notice what was going on, or at least appeared to be affected by it very little.  She smiled at the young boy.  He was a tender one, she thought, and that would be more harm to him than good in the long run.

Much hollering and shouting took place in the corridor outside the room where Bruce now played with Errin watching over him.  After a few minutes things died down only to be suddenly followed by a blood curdling scream which filled the castle halls and every ear.  Bruce lost his balance on his horse and fell off.  Crying a little he ran to Errin’s arms.  Is it a banshee? he asked.  He was pale and frightened.

Before Errin could form an answer Donnan burst through the door of the room, his shirt and pants splattered with blood.  In his left arm he cradled a heaped up blanket also smeared in blood.  New born cries came from the cloth.

Errin tried to smile, only to have the look on Donnan's face cut her down.  His eyes were cold and his face looked almost like that of a demon.

Get the boy his cloak, Donnan ordered.  He and I have business to attend to.

With this, Errin's mouth went dry.  Her fears were mostly likely valid if not yet confirmed.  She scurried to get the cloak and proceeded to wrap Bruce tightly in it.  Put these over your feet, she directed the boy as more fur was set and molded for around his feet.

Once dressed, Bruce followed his father and what he guessed to be his new sibling.  Obediently he remained quiet.  He hadn't been told to, but he just knew he should.  The air felt heavy in a way Bruce was not able to describe.

They stepped mindlessly through the castle until they were outside on the grounds.  The infant had grown quiet.  Bruce was trying to imagine what it looked like.  He had never seen a baby before.  He knew his mother would sing and talk to the little oddity growing inside of her, but it never really pressed upon him what a baby was.  He had been one, at one time, but he couldn't remember what it had been like.

Donnan didn't bother with outside wear.  His skin burned and it was noticeable that steam rose from his body in the cold air.  The man had his natural bulk to keep him warm.

Bruce followed.  It wasn't until they were outside the castle grounds and at the old well that he took any real notice of where they were.  He was told to stay away from here and that it wasn’t safe.  The fact that his father would bring him and his newly born sibling to this spot puzzled him.  Bruce extended his small jaw and pinched his eyebrows together.  He was cold, and he wanted to see his mother.  She never acted strangely like his father did.

The icy winter winds came up and coiled themselves around Bruce.  He shivered even with the heavy cloak.  He was rather slim, another trait inherited from his mother.

Donnan came to a halt.  He turned around and knelt in front of Bruce.  Bruce felt excited.  He was going to see his new brother or sister.  He smiled joyfully at his father.  His father's face was hard, his eyes cold.  Bruce felt his excitement and joy fading.

Bruce, Donnan started, I ‘ave told you that I would never lie to you.  ‘ave I kept my promise?

Bruce nodded, Yes, father. It was a softly given affirmation of his father's statement.  Bruce had a knot in his stomach preventing him from speaking too