Winter's Ultimate Fantasy Collection: 4 Fantasy Novellas and 3 Fantasy Short Stories: Fantasy Trilogy Books, #7

By Connor Whiteley

The entire enthralling, action packed Winter Series in one amazing collection!

4 Fantasy Novella and 3 action packed short stories for one epic price!

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Winter's Coming

Exiled princess of a taken empire, Abigail Winter must take up her birth right. 

Can she reunite her people and take back her empire before her foes end her?

If you love fantasy stories full of adventure and fast-paced page turning fun, you will love this first in series book! 

Winter's Hunt

Abigail Winter finds her target. The hunt begins.

When she finds the location for a cultist, Empress Winter must go into unfamiliar territory to find her prey. 

Can she hunt her target down before disaster strikes? 

Winter's Revenge:

A trapped Empress. A Leaderless Empire. A Battle to End Them All.

Empress Abigail Winter must escape for the sake of the world.

Abigail doesn't know where she is. She has no magic. She knows the enemy moves against her. Abigail knows her escape is the world's only hope.

Can she escape in time to stop the Cult? Or will her empire and world pay the ultimate price for her mistake?

Emissary of Blood

A Diplomatic Mission. A Lust for Blood. A Cult to Kill them all.
I always serve my Empress. I love my country.
When a mission goes wrong, all seems lost. Can I survive and stop the threat? Or will I lose everything to the Bloody Hand?
If you love gripping, page turning fantasy short stories. You need to buy this book.

Winter's Dissension

A new age dawns. An age of freedom and peace. A conspiracy to end it all.

The Empire of Insenguard is reclaimed and rebuilt. The Empress has left her empire to prosper. The noble Council of Insenguard to oversees it. 

Can he stop the traitors from burning Insenguard to the ground? Before it's too late, or will his painful past consume him?

If you love thrilling fast paced urban fantasy novellas, this is the book for you!

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The Bloodied Rose

An old man. A dead body. A conspiracy to burn a country.

Alvis always serves his Empress. Regardless of the trouble he finds.

Discovering a dead body is normal for Alvis. Especially on a diplomatic mission for his Empress. Yet the Bloodied Rose on the body is weird.

Can Alvis unravel the conspiracy before war is declared and innocent people die?

If you love action-packed urban fantasy adventures. You will love this fantasy short story.

Sacrifice Of The Soul

A Hero Dead. An Impossible Choice. A Soul To Save or Damn.

As Empress my choices are never easy.

I grief for my friend as I watch his corpse. I touch his cold fragile features. Breathing in the old spices.

I know a demon army presses against my mind. I need a way to stop them. I need a sacrifice.

Can I make an impossible choice? Or do I let the demons in and kill thousands?

If you love tense page turning fantasy short stories, you will love this one!

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• Language: English
• Publisher: CGD Publishing
• Release date: Aug 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393746294

Connor Whiteley

Hello, I'm Connor Whiteley, I am an 18-year-old who loves to write creatively, and I wrote my Brownsea trilogy when I was 14 years old after I went to Brownsea Island on a scout camp. At the camp, I started to think about how all the broken tiles and pottery got there and somehow a trilogy got created.Moreover, I love writing fantasy and sci-fi novels because you’re only limited by your imagination.In addition, I'm was an Explorer Scout and I love camping, sailing and other outdoor activities as well as cooking.Furthermore, I do quite a bit of charity work as well. For example: in early 2018 I was a part of a youth panel which was involved in creating a report with research to try and get government funding for organised youth groups and through this panel. I was invited to Prince Charles’ 70th birthday party and how some of us got in the royal photograph.Finally, I am going to university and I hope to get my doctorate in clinical psychology in a few years.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Before darkness consumes the light. The light burns brightest, and that is no exception for Insenguard.

But let’s start at the beginning- Chicuitera was a mighty, beautiful and wondrous planet. Full of wonders, mysteries and history but mostly magic.

It had everything that magic could offer: witches and wizards to dragons and demons.

However, my world has its problems as well. It’s a world divided, chaos besieged world and a world that’s close to destruction.

It’s a world that has everything set against it. For if it’s not demons from the demon dimension wanting to thin the veil and swarm our dimension, its world leaders causing wars and chaos or witches and wizards using their powers for all types of horrors.

That is where my country comes in or did.

Insenguard was a truly unique and perfect country. It was a massive adamantium bastion of pure power given strengthen by flesh and bone, and it was the superpower that all the other countries looked to for help with everything. Whether it was oppression from tyrants, its military prowess or its sheer political power.

So many countries relied on Insenguard for trading goods and supplies and it was a country to be reckoned with.

Due to its trading power, Insenguard had the power to make or break a country.

Its political power could make others support or all-out hate you.

But most of all and my favourite aspect is its military capabilities.

For Insenguard was hundreds of years ahead of its competition. Managing to fuse technology and magic together to create devastating weapons.

In addition, its soldiers were the toughest, ruthless and loyal soldiers out there. Their leader’s word was divine, and they were the most capable warriors in the universe.

Insenguard was led by The Emperor, he was a great man in his life. Kind, compassionate and truly wanted the best for Insenguard and the entire world.

He was truly a jack of all trades: a master strategist, warrior, diplomat, worker and scholar.

Then he delegated some work to his two children.

The oldest was Thamas; Director of Home and Foreign Affairs; he led Insenguard on the political platform; personally, I found his work boring, but I know that it was vital to Insenguard.

Then there’s me. For I am Supreme Grand Master Abbigail Winter of the Insenguardian Military. I was a demi-god bound in human form and I was in complete command of our brutal and effective soldiers. I have led millions of campaigns and I have slaughtered trillions in the name of peace. Additionally, my magic is only second to The Emperor. What I can do is unthinkable to most.

However, all of the power that I just mentioned is gone, dead, dead as a corpse.

For the Tenebrae rose to power and devoured all that my family had built.

In the ancient language, their name means darkness prevails. Ironic I think but to fully understand the events that will unfold. You must understand how this began.

It all began with a cult wanting to rise up and rule the world, and they did for a time. Rising up and killing hundreds of people and burning cities to the ground.

However, Insenguard only got involved when they assassinated and successfully took over a key trading ally.

From there their power only grew, infecting their citizens with strange supernatural diseases so only the strongest would survive, but even if they survive their mind was transformed into the one of a sadistic cultist, and their body changed to be stronger and tougher. Yet unable to feel love nor pain.

Following this plague, the cult’s attention turned to even darker magic. Performing sacrifices of babies and children to summon death gods and demons.

Although, their efforts came back to haunt them in the end because suddenly they found themselves being possessed by demons. Turning them literally into a shadow of their former selves. For now, they were nothing, but demonic puppets made from shadows.

After this demonic infestation, we knew we had to act successfully this time, but our foes were already ahead of us.

For they attacked Insenguard with their full force...

***

From the balcony of the war room, I stood out, watching the unfolding chaos spread throughout the outer settlements.

More detail will become clearer later.

The city was ablaze, smoke veiled the sky, screams of the innocents being slaughtered rang in your ears.

It was a blood bath.

Battle reports screamed into my visuals and ears as more chaos happened.

Behind me, my second in command Annabelle stood monitoring the situation.

Supreme Grand Master, Tenebraen reinforcements incoming,

Bastards- status of the outer walls,

Undamaged,

To be honest, Insenguard was a citadel, a fortress, a truly unbreakable stronghold fit for gods that could withstand attack for centuries.

Suddenly, all five sections that Insenguard was divided up into to create five walls to protect itself exploded.

Firebombs hammered the city.

The entire fortress was alight. The enemy moved in.

Our noose tightened.

Report! I commanded.

Somehow the enemy got in,

But The emperor’s magic personally protects those walls,

Then what happened? Annabelle asked slowly.

The Emperor!

Of course, it clicked. The only reason why The Emperor couldn’t protect the walls and the citadel is if... he wasn’t around,"

Abbigail wait, motion sensors detect people coming in through the underground escape tunnel and security was turned off without raising any alarms,

Impossible, only me, you, my brother and my father know about the passage, I replied, deeply concerned as it meant that I’m in the presence of a traitor or something much bigger is happening.

I fell over.

Abbigail, what’s wrong?

It’s... The Emperor. He’s calling to me. I feel it,

Go!

I quickly looked at the battle below. It was lost. It was a blood bath. The enemy had won.

Our only hope now was to have The Emperor fight.

Filled with the fury of a god and anger of hell, I ordered: This is Supreme Grand Master Abbigail fall back. Insenguard is lost. Fall back to any other of our military installation across the world. I’m going after The Emperor and my brother. Stay at the installations until further notice from me or the Emperor,

Meanwhile, with my supernatural hearing- I knew several Tenebraen commanders splatter:

Your shrines will burn, your streets run with blood, your false idols shattered, your people slaughtered by the thousands, your very empire torn apart... and the barest fraction of my hatred is satisfied.

Annabelle picked up her bow.

That means you to my friend,

No, I need to stay and fight for you, with you,

Annabelle go, please. If the Tenebraen leader is in the throne room and the Emperor is dead and if I die. Then I need someone capable to lead Insenguard

But...

Please, my friend,

I hugged her quickly and implanted a psychic thought into her. That would tell her if I’m dead or not.

The Emperor protects, I said running off to save my father.

In the background, I heard her say: Emperor protect your daughter from the darkness. For she will deliver us in your holy absence,

I arrived in the throne room moments later, both swords drawn.

My father was on the floor bleeding out. Next to my brother’s body.

I went to him.

Holding him in my arms, I realized something was very wrong.

He didn’t have his magic.

For his body and mind felt cold, empty. Like he was missing a part of himself.

Then in my mind, I heard a few gentle words: My wonderous daughter, we were betrayed, we have lost. All are dead. You must live on and do what I couldn’t

Subsequently, I reflexed upright pointing my swords towards a dark figure shrouded in shadow. The figure stormed over to me.

While storming over in their rage the figure uttered in a booming thundering voice: What are the achievements of your fragile empire? It is a corpse rotting slowly from within while maggots writhe from its belly. It was built from the toils of heroes and giants and now it’s inhabited by frightened weaklings to whom the legends of those times are half-forgotten memories. But, I have forgotten nothing, and my wisdom has expanded far beyond the mortal fragilities,

I was a bit confused but as I would learn in the bitter end the true mastermind behind this was a truly vindicated individual.

Subsequently, the Figure drew his sword to slaughter me.

Using whatever magic, he had left, my father grabbed my foot and teleported me somewhere.

My last image of him was his body being atomised as he cast this spell. Making sure that any magic he had left was used to get me to safety.

Now the fight back begins.

CHAPTER 1

‘All it takes to start the mightiest fire- is the smallest of sparks’

-The Emperor

Ever since that awful, fateful day in Insenguard, the world has been forced to adapt and change, in order to defend and provide for itself.

For without Insenguard there isn’t a mighty unstoppable force to come to your aid, or a friendly face to supply you with the resources that your people need to survive and prosper.

From this need, came the rise of many dark powers: shadowy governments wanting to have a monopoly on all markets and having an unquestionable power in a region to power-hungry witches and wizards. Forcing people into unholy alliances so leaders can provide and protect their ignorant citizens.

However, above all of this, for the past two years, the Tenebrae have been happy inside Insenguard but now they grow bored of this humdrum, lifeless former jewel. Now they have their eyes set upon the world. That’s why I must act now and that’s why the following events will begin to unfold how they do.

You see for the past two years, I have been lying low protecting a small village full of good people. Nevertheless, everything changed one day.

Let me tell you the story...

Glazing out from my ten-metre-tall concrete watchtower I saw the wonders of Chicuitera on this bright morning.

The sun to the east shone brightly welcoming all with its bright rays. Battling to protect us from the growing darkness.

Surrounding the villages was a picturesque view of the rolling hill that the thickly covered in long, lifeful grass. That blew gracefully in the wind.

The village itself was a bit rundown. Made up of a ring of small wooden houses with limited structural supports.

In addition, in the middle of this ring was a small market selling the odd thing and the village’s animals were kept there. A few Vampire-Goats and Freuditics; a big type of chicken; were kept there.

Overall, this was a great bunch of people that only wanted to survive and be happy. I was proud to be protecting them.

Therefore, from my watchtower, I elegantly jumped down and walked over to the market.

Something immediately caught my eye, on this broken old market stall with a wide array of cheap, poorly made jewellery was this beautiful golden circle. The size of an adult’s fist with thousands of lines of ancient words etched into it. In the centre was a very impressive red ruby with a strange black shadowy object moving around inside it.

Picking it up, I spoke to the 140-year-old women that looked well past her prime and asked: I take it you didn’t make this, my friend,

Her fragile body was shaking terribly as always and she managed to utter: No Protector, I got this a few weeks ago by a merchant the next town over. I thought I could sell it here and get rich. Maybe pay for a witch to make me young,

I smiled.

Maybe,

Why Protector are you interested?

My friend, this isn’t a normal necklace. This is an elfish battle necklace from oh... about... three thousand years ago when the elven monarch created a small detachment of elves that focused on using their powers for hunting the supernatural. Want to know what the black shadowy thing is?

Her head was shaking so much I thought it was about to snap her neck.

It’s a demon,

Oh- protector I’m sorry I didn’t know,

It’s okay. Can I have it please for 200 coins?

Her face dropped.

I gave her my coins.

It was all I had, but I needed this necklace so that others wouldn’t purposefully or accidentally unleash a demon into the world.

At the time, I had no idea about how vital it would be later in this story and my other endeavours.

Slowly I walked away, studying the markings when I heard: Run, run! Mercenaries!

The man was young; only about 20; with a frame that was too thin and his skin was sickly white. When an arrow exploded his head.

I quickly climbed onto a roof.

Following this, five massive brutes rode into the village burning the market and gathering the villagers; all 30 of them; into the ring just outside their houses.

Their leader; a massive brute with metre thick pure muscle cladded in equally thick blood-red armour. Wielding a heavy mace jumped off his horse and stood in the middle of the village.

I am Abaddon The Destroyer of Hope and you will do as I say, his voice was unnaturally demanding and full of powerful authority.

I had to do everything in my power not to follow his voice.

Now you will tell me where Supreme Grand Master Abbigail is now, or I will start killing!

Silence.

Well, I do have to admit my day just got a lot more interesting as a result of how the hell did they know that I was here, and who sent them and why now?

Where is she? Abaddon screamed.

Still silence.

He marched over. Grabbed the woman that I got the jewellery from and dragged her to the centre of the village.

By the time she got there, her right arm was bone dust due to Abaddon’s grip.

Come on out, Supreme Grand Master or I’ll slaughter them all!

Nothing.

Fine!

He picked up his mace and swung it.

An arrow shot straight threw his hand. He let go of the mace and it continued travelling wildly into one of his men.

Looking around he saw me standing firm with my bow in my hand.

Hello, Abaddon, I said.

Burn the entire village!

My heart dropped.

I must protect these people.

Charging at Abaddon, I pulled my two long red swords off my back and flew at him.

Despite his size, he was surprisingly agile. He ran over. Picked up his mace and swung it.

I barely managed to duck under it and attempt to stab him.

Keyword: attempted.

Even my enhanced blades couldn’t penetrate his armour.

Meanwhile, smoke started to fill the air as the village began to burn.

Look at this Abbigail, once you could protect a whole country. Then you failed and now you can’t even protect 30 people, Abaddon laughed.

He was right.

Kill her!

Subsequently, all five mercenaries created a circle around me.

Simultaneously two of them swung their maces at me.

I leapt over the mace in front of me.

Missing me.

It smashed into the foe beside him.

Blood exploded from them as he landed with a thud on the ground.

I managed to use the momentum of the first to swing myself round onto his neck.

With all of my strength, I forced my blade through his neck.

Blood flowed like a fountain from the wound.

Gushing into the eyes of another, making her slip. Thus, when the first one died and fell. It ended up crushing her into jelly.

Impressive,

Abaddon flew at me. Becoming a crazed psychotic hurricane of death.

I barely managed to find a window of opportunity. Thus, I kicked his legs out from under him and snapped his spine over my knee.

You could hear his bones breaking from miles away.

Suddenly, turning around I saw a brute swinging his mace at my face.

If that mace hit me. I would be dead.

Turning round to the brute, he dropped dead and the mace flew into a burning building.

Yet behind it was a strange, familiar face.

It was a woman wearing a long, mysterious black cloak on top of a light strong protective armour that was jet black.

I tried to focus upon her face and whenever I was just about to see her. My vision blurred. Like her face was shrouded somehow.

However, I could make out that she had a youthful face with long, strong lustful black hair with a longsword in her black-gloved hands.

It’s good to see you again, Assassin,

Now the Assassin was an ancient friend of mine. Her true name is known only to me and her as is her dark and treacherous past. Yet she is what’s called: A Child of the Princess. Meaning that I bonded with her and become a maternal figure to her.

In case you don’t think about it I’m 18 and she’s 24. It’s odd but I was Supreme Grand Master once.

It’s an odd relationship that will be explored later.

In an emotionless, dominating dark voice she uttered: Yes, my Lord,

Thank you for saving me, my friend. Tell me why now?

Because the days are growing darker and Chicuitera needs Insenguard more than ever. If we are to stop the approaching darkness,

The Tenebraen?

They are expanding their wings. Ready to fly outside of Insenguard,

I thought long and hard about what she said. I failed Insenguard once and I have failed this village. Looking around the burning ashes.

My Lord, one question,

I gave her a nod of approval.

You are a goddess of magic incarnated. You could have saved and killed everyone with a single thought. Why didn’t you use it?

My head looked to the floor in shame.

She was right.

With an uncharacteristically gentle hand, she raised my face to face her.

Because I’m so powerful I taint the land. Leaving a trail behind and I didn’t want to be known as the overpowered protector. Plus, I didn’t want to draw attention to myself,

You must untether your magic,

It’s already done. The watchtower is destroyed. My magic will return in time but as it’s been tethered for so long it will take time to return,

We must press on,

To where?

We must rescue Pent first,

That was a name that I hadn’t heard in a long time. My other child but he was a dragon.

Walking over to the horses, I said: We press on and become the spark that will burn the Tenebrae to the ground,

CHAPTER 2

‘All it takes is a moment of distraction for a man to fall’

-  Assassin

Riding swiftly so we can deliver my judgement upon our enemy. The wind was strongly with us and the sun shone brightly behind us.

Yet with my magical senses barely returning to me, I sensed a thunderous storm approaching from the distance with equally thunderous swords screaming as it approached.

Encouraging us to attack with all haste.

Nonetheless, it gave me and the Assassin time to talk.

So, tell me Assassin where have you been for the past two years?

Since the Fall of the Fatherland, I and Pent were captured and taken to this facility we’re going to now and we were tortured for the next six months. That’s when I escaped, and I promised Pent that I’ll be back for him once I found you. My body is covered in the scars they left me,

Again, my body filled with disappointment, I already failed everyone that day. I should have tried to make it back and at least try to find my own children.

I’m sorry,

As always without hate nor happiness, she spoke: It’s okay, my Lord. It’s part of the job and it’s part of war,

Wait, it took you 18 months to find me,

Yes, at first, I thought you ran on foot from Insenguard, so I checked the surrounding settlements within a two-day run of Insenguard for you. To no fruition then I remembered that the flash of magical energy was similar to what you told me about magic teleportation, and what an uncontrolled one could leave behind physically. Following that, I listened out for reports of a powerful witch in the world. Many leads came up but to no fruition, the Assassin started.

Then she paused for a moment and gave a murderous grin as she remembered what came next.

Finally, I invaded a Fortress. Because I was doing some mercenary work at the time. That’s when I overheard a fatal conversation between a captain and Abaddon about a three-million-coin bounty on your head and Abaddon said that he remembered seeing someone similar to you in your village. Thus, I followed him here and found you,

I forget how methodical you were Assassin, and 3 million?

Correct,

The Tenebrae must want me dead,

They’re scared, my Lord. Scared that you are patiently buying your time and moving your chess pieces into position into a checkmate before the black pieces can see your plan,

I am,

In the distance, I saw the fortress.

It was an immense cold dark concrete structure. It must have easily been the size of five cities, with a battlement every ten metres with thousands of foes inside.

Furthermore, the fortress wasn’t made of normal brick concrete. It was solid concrete that had been enchanted with blood sacrifices so nothing short of a god could tear the fortress down.

Plan, Supreme Grand Master?

Well- did you know that often the most insecure bit of a fortress is actually the front door?

You must be kidding me, my Lord,

It’s true so why don’t you attack from the front and I’ll climb up the wall and find Pent,

Oh, my wonderful Lord, sounds perfect,

With that, she kicked her horse and charged to the enormous iron gate.

Another reason why she was a Child was because she’s great at what she does: killing. To her, it’s an art and she is a master of death. There’s nothing she loves more than killing hundreds if not thousands of people in my name or my father’s when he was around.

Consequently, I looked up the wall it was about one-hundred-metres-tall with silky smooth walls. Impossible to climb unless you have magic.

Resulting in me focusing my thoughts and my will. Shaping the wall to be rougher and more climbable.

However, my vision clouded, my nose bleed and the brain started to swell.

Forcing me to stop the spell.

Everything slowly returned back to normal.

The end result was a wall with twenty handholes in it.

Ideally, there would be about forty or sixty holes to make for an easy climb but not as much magic had returned as I thought, so the climb began.

When I reached the top, I stopped just short of the ledge to investigate my surroundings.

Twenty men were on the passageway in front of me. Massive brutes armed with swords. Their skin and eyes were bright yellow from some narcotic they were given to made them more alert and less weak.

Two towers nearby with five archers on each.

Followed by hundreds of soldiers down below in the fortress itself.

Sadly, my beloved Assassin’s distraction isn’t as intimidating as I thought. Their mistake.

With this new development, I decided to test my magic further. Focusing my will, I managed to ignite a nearby barrel of fuel. It exploded.

Screams echoed as the flaming liquid spilt and spread around the local area.

Afterwards, a young man stepped just in front of me, so I grabbed his legs and threw him off the fortress.

Stop! I heard a man scream.

Seconds later an arrow almost hit me.

Jumping up onto the platform and landing in front of several brutes my mere presence made the enemy freeze.

I guess looking upon the legendary Supreme Grand Master Abbigail armed with her two elven daggers, that were golden and ruby-encrusted, my two long red swords that had hundreds of battle depictions on them and my green elegant elven bow; in my elven white cloak that shone pure, white light from it was more than fearful in the eyes of my enemies.

I used his fear to my advantage, so I pulled out my two daggers and threw them at my foes. I never miss and I always kill.

Moving along I fired five arrows from my bow twice and they all hit home. Killing all the archers.

Now switching from my bow to my swords in one elegant motion. I charged on the remaining men. Before they realised that their heads were gone, they were dead.

Now to find Pent.

With a tiny bit more magic returning to me, I tried to send out a psychic message to Pent to find him. To no reply.

To be honest, I didn’t even manage to send it.

Abruptly, an iron door ahead of me swung open and out came two guards in golden armour. They threw an explosive at me.

Skilfully, I managed to hit it with my arrow and knock it back at them killing them.

Although, as I walked past, I heard one of them manage: You will not get him for he’s protected by The Sabretooth,

I thought about ignoring him but I decided to rip his throat out and continue my hunt for my Child.

Moments later, I found a bloodied doorway with claw marks on the doorway as if someone or something had tried to hold onto the frame as they were being dragged into the chamber.

Out of pure fear for the safety of my Child, I stormed into the chamber.

Upon entering the chamber; a dark, wet cave-like structure with gothic features; I saw him- my beautiful Pent. He was a beautiful well sculptured orange dragon with well-defined beautiful muscles and scales.

However, he was chained so tightly that some of his scales had been ripped apart and his mouth was clamped shut.

I almost cried.

How could someone trap something so beautiful?

I started to walk over when I stopped.

Glaring around I saw a woman in light strong silver body armour wearing a werecat’s fur and a dire wolf’s skull as a hat.

It was the Sabretooth.

One of the Tenebrae’s most prized generals. She was one of three involved in the fall of Insenguard.

Supreme Grand Master, it’s a pleasure seeing your pretty little face again,

Uncomfortable wasn’t the word here. This was more creepy than anything else.

I said without compassion: You deserve to burn for what you’ve done,

Me? Come on sweetie I’m done nothing but give myself pleasure,

Pleasure! From the torture of a beloved Child,

Next, she uttered two words from the ancient language and Pent’s scales burnt bright. Three scales began to fall off.

Enough! I screamed, creating enough of a shockwave to send her back a step.

Ah it’s cute when you try to be powerful and you fail,

With that, she drew a strange mystical dagger that was the source of a faint green toxic smoke.

Seconds later she threw a smoke bomb on the floor.

I was blind.

I only had one shot to find her before she killed me.

Her foul laughs echoed around the chamber.

My heart was racing but my father’s teachings came into force here.

I cleared my mind and focused on my environment. Listening for its tells.

Moments later I heard a microscopic tap, tap, tap.

They got louder and louder.

Until I abruptly slide out of the way. To let her blade slice through the air.

I grabbed her hand.

Broke it over my knee.

Making her drop the dagger.

Before, picking her up by the throat and forced her against a wall.

Tell me what the Tenebrae are planning!

Silence.

I smashed her head into another wall.

Tell me!

Silence.

I threw my dagger into her leg. Ripped it out and squeezed on the wound.

Sweetie, the Tenebrae are coming for you and your installations. Soon all of Insenguard will be under the Tenebraen flag and then your allies will follow. Your world will be burnt. Our agents are already starting to turn your allies into pigs for slaughter. Time is not your friend,

Remember two words when you die please, I whispered into her ear.

She nodded.

Winter’s coming,

As soon as the words left my mouth, I sliced off her head.

Did I miss the party, my Lord, the Assassin stepped in with a monstrous smile. Her cloak, boots, weapons and face were covered in blood and she loved it.

Enjoy the bloodbath?

Of course, it’s better than cardio I swear,

We rushed over to Pent and started to chop the chains off him.

The last thing to be removed was the clamp that shut his mouth.

As he moved, we heard the heart destroying snapping and crunching of his bones as they moved for the first time in two years.

He was in so much pain.

I wanted, I needed to cry.

Imagine seeing your first-born baby being repeatedly smashed to death by a hammer with their blood and flesh being ripped apart. Hold on to that upset and times it by a million and you could start to imagine what this is like for me.

Eventually, he managed to say through monstrous pain: Assassin... you came back,

Of course, I did brother. I wouldn’t let you down. I wouldn’t let you die, and I kept my promise, She said gesturing over to me.

I stood in front of my beautiful, elegant dragon in silence. For what could I say except I’m sorry for abandoning him.

I’m sorry for everything,

You’re forgiven, Abbigail,

I know that they were only three simple words, but they meant everything to me.

Dragons are some of the wisest, most intelligent animals you’ll find most of the time.

Can you fly? I forced myself to ask.

After a few minutes, he replied: No, I need some time to heal. You both must continue on your journey though. I’ve heard awful things in my torture sessions. Things that mustn’t come to part. For you two must beat the black dog back into the underworld. If we are to survive,

He’s right, my Lord. And the three of us can easily find each other now your magic is returning. Meaning that our hive mind connection should return at some point,

You’re right Assassin,

Of course, I am,

A direction for your fire Abbigail- there’s a nearby town and there, there is a leader house that you might want to investigate. Her name is Tijana Davison and she is working with the Tenebrae. Nevertheless, be careful she is a tyrant from what I hear,

Thank you, the Emperor protects,

With that Pent screamed in pain as he smashed through the ceiling of the chamber and climbed out of the fortress to find a quiet spot to heal.

You okay Assassin,

Of course, my Lord. I won’t allow these stupid emotions to stop my work,

To the town,

To the town, we march,

And deliver my wrath upon them,

CHAPTER 3

‘The ability to think kill or not to kill is the thinking of a truly great leader Abbigail’

-The Emperor

Arriving in our target town, I was shocked instantly at what I saw: dead, rotting bodies lined the streets, becoming part of the walls of the cold, rundown wooden houses that made up the doomed, cold, black town.

Dark clouds rolled in quickly and soon a foul wind swept the area and rain like mortar shells attacked the houses.

Me and the Assassin studied the bodies as we travelled past. Venturing further into the doomed area.

Assassin your analysis, I ordered.

Judging by the level of decomposition and considering the conditions here and for the past few days. I estimate that the bodies have been here for at least 7-9 days. Judging by the wounds, angle and depth. They were all killed by a single arrow or gunshot wound to the head or chest while being on their knees,

Suggesting,

They were executed for an unknown reason by the Tenebraen forces in charge of this town,

Incorrect,

What?

I walked over to a body and pointed to the wounds.

Assassin I recognise these wounds. Both of us have made similar wounds in our time. While you are correct in stating that they died on their knees and a few with a gun. Which is odd indeed as guns are a rare and expensive resource. Too expensive for a mere town to purchase. In fact, these people were killed by someone throwing a throwing knife into their chests. The angles are all different because one person took still and turned on the spot to throw each knife in the people that were being lined up,

I know that, the Assassin said looking away.

I got up slowly whispering a little spell over the dead in hope that bodies would tell me something else to no avail.

Afterwards, we walked further into the town. To discover that the town’s people were gathered in the centre to witness an execution.

Here it must have been easily a hundred people in a circle around a wooden platform. Upon it stood five people on their knees and a black-cloaked figure with several throwing knives around his waist.

The Assassin looked at me in disgust as she realised that I was completely right.

However, one question bugged me: why kill them?

I soon found out by overhearing this conversation.

The sooner these traitors die the better. Cos we can’t afford them to destroy the Master’s plan for the town when the glorious Tenebrae come,

Of course, Nobleman,

Once they’re dead, we’ll go to the Master,

Reminder my Lord she wants to talk about Insenguard as well,

"For god sake, why