Old Ghost Part III

By Marco LaFleur

We follow the steps of Morrow Wolf, from here to there, as he settles final scores and sees the land to peace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781105588891

Book preview

Old Ghost Part III

Old Ghost Part III

Marco LaFleur

Prelude

Chapter 1 The King's Madness

Chapter 2 The Descendent

Chapter 3 The Woodlands

Chapter 4 The Door

Chapter 5 Trial at Underworld

Chapter 6 The Witch

Chapter 7 The Sleeping King

Chapter 8 The Forest Kingdom

Chapter 9 Awakening

Chapter 10 The Depths

Chapter 11 The Enemy Within

Chapter 12 The Sands of Time

Chapter 13 The New World

Copyright © 2012 Marco LaFleur

ISBN: 978-1-105-58889-1

Prelude

The shining dome city of Constance stands at last free, and it grows like a garden, gathering seeds and peoples from all corners of the world, to come and live in the fabled city. Old temples and old stones stood protruding still from the ground in certain places, and deeper below there was still darkness. Above ground, Concordant and Constance grew to be close allies, forming a pact too with Ravasa. Courts with Counts and Dukes and such were found in Concordant, while Ravasa stood as a large trade post of all kinds of things. In Constance, the air was sweet with plenty of food. It grew into a large forest garden, taking over the damaged parts and breaking thru their domes, now just ruins left to the plants, and this was encouraged. Even in the inner city you could see the plants crawling inside, but they were kept at bay by the Wavebenders there, who could shape plants to their will. They planted and grew in this matter, making artful designs of trees in the gardens of Constance. The place was no longer one of death, at last the city was as it was meant to be.

Chapter 1 The King's Madness

Morrow Wolf, king of Constance, stood overlooking his city at the top of the once sacred temple of Ruraret. He had taken the Wolf Imprint from the machine at his city, with the blessings of his brothers and sisters and the agreement of Aruri herself, who controlled the machine. Taking the Imprint of a Wolf was a dangerous thing for anyone to undertake. Failure in the procedure meant death, and one must be made ready to receive it. Morrow seemed fine for a long time, as he continued his assault into the ruined city below, hunting down the last of the fleshmetal with the help of the Pathway and Wayward who now had some presence at Constance. But over the years the king grew more pensive and less responsive. He would only go out to hunt and raid the fleshmetal below, the affairs of the city he cared little for, and left them instead to a Council he had formed. What wasn't known, except for the few Minders around him, was that Morrow Wolf was slipping away. He wasn't expected to live this long and now it seemed his destiny was catching up to him. He knew this, he could fill himself drifting away in his mind. He withdrew into himself, the only voice that accompanied him was that of Aruri, who would hold long conversations with him in his mind. To those near him, Jascha and Carinta, his state was obvious. They would try to talk to him, but he was mostly unresponsive, talking instead of his next fight deep below the city. It seemed the only moments of clarity he could achieve were in battle. But their question remained, who would rule if he were to fall, in battle or madness. Aruri would be the one to decide, but perhaps Morrow held some sway over her decision. The orb that Sleeping Dog had made for her always followed the king, he was never seen without Aruri at his side. One day, when the fogs of his mind were clear, he asked her to place the Council in charge of the city. To which she replied I've studied all forms of governance and have decided in kingship. So far you've proven wise and strong. Your enemies keep retreating far away, or are left dead at your sword. I've done well in choosing you. And if I were to die in some battle below? he asked. I would choose another, perhaps the Atapa. Would you choose a fleshmetal like yourself? Morrow asked. I knew you knew it all along. We're much alike except we have no flesh left, instead we have these crystals, which binds us to certain places and peoples. No, we're not fleshmetal any longer, though we once were. And what does your grandmother want of us? asked Morrow. She's left the city under my care, rejecting the pleas of the Atapa. said the voice inside his head. Why would she do this? It was promised to them. asked Morrow seemingly dejected. "It's because of me, she left it as my choice, as I was broken, as you say, now I'm free to make choices. I'm no longer what Madema once was, or my sister Arumaru at Redemption. I am more like Maya herself. I could ask for the world