Scrolls of Armathose: The Haunted Forest

By Liam B. Hershtale and Michael D. Ballard

Actions, they are what sculpt and define us as humans. The same holds true for our hero William and what defines him as such. As “The Haunted Forest” begins you find nothing different or even special about this boy until adversity finds him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Jul 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781483413938

Book preview

SCROLLS

OF

ARMATHOSE

The Haunted Forest

LIAM B. HERSHTALE

&

MICHAEL D. BALLARD

Copyright © 2014 Liam B. Hershtale & Michael D. Ballard.

Interior Graphics/Art Credit: Angela Marie Harris

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-1394-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-1393-8 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 6/30/2014

Contents

Prologue

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

Epilogue

About The Author

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PROLOGUE

L ong ago in a far forgotten land there lived a boy on the verge of becoming a man.

Hold on I thought I was telling the story. A strange looking professor stated aloud as he stood in front of the Cambridge class of the year 1661.

I knew he was odd, but he is actually talking to himself. A student by the name of Isaac Newton chimed in as he leaned over to tell the student next to him. Yes the sir Isaac Newton although he was not knighted yet.

Right, now that we all know who that annoying student in the front is, can I tell the story?

But I’m the Narrator.

Well it is my story.

Fine, you tell it but don’t look to me if you need help.

Good now that we have gotten that out of the way. I am professor Brawn and I believe we should get started.

Psst hey you… yeah you the reader… don’t tell the professor but I’m going to help anyway. Just between you and me he is not good at the whole imagery thing. Ok good let us get back to the wonder of a great adventure. The professor turned back to the class and with a confident voice said.

In a far forgotten land known as Antarctica there was a kingdom.

Excuse me professor but Antarctica are we supposed to believe that? What do you think we are all stupid? Isaac again chimed in with a look of disbelief.

"There was a slow looking idiot in the front of the class that began to heckle me. You know… the one telling the story. You see how I did that? Now your ignorance is a part of the book.

Now shut up and let me continue Isaac."

The class stopped all movement and the scene began to change into a landscape from the point of view of a flying bird soaring ever higher. As the bird continues over the hills the professor continues his story.

No not the desolate icy desert of Antarctica today. This was a beautiful lush utopia of trees and rivers and a full array of animals including strangely wonderful lizards, bird, and creatures of old. No this Antarctica was much different. In fact this was a great kingdom forged from magic and stone known as Armathose, the first real civilization. Of course they spoke with a much different language and well seeing as how you do not I will speak in English.

The bird then flies over an ancient city. It is then that the bird comes into full view and you see that it is a beautiful and quite large falcon. It continues through the city as the professor continues still.

"The kingdom of Armathose had a fair and wise king with riches beyond compare. His kingdom drew its breath from dragons’ fire and thrived on the use of magic. Of course one can only use magic that is remnant from the dragons’ body. You see magic is drawn from the universe through the dragons’ fangs. This was believed to be something that only the dragons could do and was a secret that was closely guarded by the dragons.

As the bird flies into a great palace it lands on the outstretched arm of a great king. The scene changes again and you see the class in a cave surrounding the professor and a great cauldron. Brawn stepped forward and threw a handful of an unknown dust into the cauldron. A great flume of smoke shot from the cauldron encircled the class and once more the scene changes.

Some say that it was then, some say it was there where knowledge was gained. When the first men, and women, came into contact with dragons and by chance were affected by their magic.

The scene takes form as he speaks. An early human looking into the sky and a dragon’s tail curling around him.

Others believe that there was another power that gave the dragons knowledge of how to draw power from the sky.

The same scene expands into a larger picture of the dragon looking ever higher with the man still below him.

Some say the same power gave man the knowledge of how to kill dragons. However it happened there is one thing that surely is true.

dragoninteraction.jpg

However it happened? Professor, do you even know the story that you’re telling? Isaac, not being able to hold back another remark, spoke up and again questioned the professor’s authenticity.

"Right if you interrupt me again I will