Vengeance: Pursuit

By Daniel Spurgeon

Join Caysen on his quest of continued sacrifice in pursuit of the final battle with the enemy upon which he seeks his vengeance, Malice. In this foreign land of Ryal, Caysen is joined by new allies and friends as he masters the Sword of Divinity as well as the power it lends him. As the end of his journey draws near, his heart and mind are shattered with thoughts of his own demise. He can't even bear to tell the one he loves in fear of what damage the information could cause. For if he does not make this ultimate sacrifice, all will be lost to Malice's machinations. He must come to terms with this and find the strength to do what needs to be done to save not only those he cares for, but the entirety of Terath.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Oct 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667802503

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© 2020 Daniel Spurgeon All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN 978-1-66780-249-7 eBook 978-1-66780-250-3

The Terath Saga

Genesis

The Heroes Trilogy

Antecedent

Recurrent

Legendized

The Vengeance Trilogy

Beginnings

Pursuit

Justice

Resolution

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank all of my fans that have stuck with me thus far in this journey of mine. I would like to thank my editor and the design team at BookBaby for giving my book its best look. I couldn’t have done this without each and every one of you. I do appreciate every bit of help that I have received with pursuing this dream of mine. I dedicate this book to Wayne Murphy, the man stepped up to be a father to me when he didn’t have to. I will never forget you and those memories will always have a place in my heart. I wish you could have gotten the chance to read this one, but it was not to be. You will be missed.

[e-mail]

Feel free to email me any time with reviews or questions about the future of the story. I have a long way to go and I hope all of you continue to support me. Thank you.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Continuing Journey

Chapter Two

Legendary Tournament

Chapter Three

Caysen and Sheina

Chapter Four

Veleia, Disturbance

Chapter Five

Inescapable Tragedy

Chapter Six

Goldlight Forest

Chapter Seven

Caysen Awake

Chapter Eight

Mastery Training

Chapter Nine

Joining the Rebellion

Chapter Ten

Attack on the Shareq Republic

Chapter Eleven

The Dream Fulfilled

Chapter Twelve

No Rest for the Weary

Chapter Thirteen

Last Line of Defense

Chapter Fourteen

On the Move

Chapter Fifteen

The Daqer Republic

Chapter Sixteen

Emperor Daqer, Planning

Chapter Seventeen

To Battle Again

Chapter Eighteen

Taking Down the Network

Chapter Nineteen

Onward to Jasir

Chapter Twenty

Jasir

Chapter Twenty-One

Endless War

Chapter Twenty-Two

To Jasun

Chapter Twenty-Three

Final Assault

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nelkam’s Airship

Chapter Twenty-Five

Recovery

Chapter Twenty-Six

Reflection of Those Gone

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Faisul, Last Battle

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Fate of the Hero

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Immortal Tomb

Chapter Thirty

Beginning of the New Age

Chapter One

Continuing Journey

Caysen stepped off the boat and took in the immediate pleasure of the motionless solidity beneath his feet. His two friends, Taran and Salk, joined him presently and stood on either side of him. They had finally arrived to Ryal after nearly two very long months of being on the ship from Kelthan. Malice had let slip the name of his heading on the island when he and Taran had fought with the daemon and his candidate, Falin. Caysen had chosen to kill Falin to save Taran’s life rather than continue his fight with Malice.

Kahlis told them Faisul was a city here in this foreign land of Ryal. Faisul was the name of the place Malice had let slip. The Creator had also revealed the fate of the heroes. Caysen’s own life would be ending along with his quest in these strange lands. It looked so different than what he was accustomed to in Kelthan. He wondered at the white powdery substance falling from the sky and collecting on the ground. It was extremely cold compared to Kelthan as well.

Taran interrupted his train of thought. It’s called snow, Cays. Kelthan doesn’t have it because it is located more toward the center of Terath. Go north and you will see it commonly, as you do here.

Why would simply traveling north make it this much colder and create this snow?

Taran shook his head in disbelief and sighed. Caysen, just because you’ve never left Kelthan is no excuse to refrain from studying the entire geography of Terath. Divinalists have been trying to riddle out the mysteries of Terath for a long time. We have made many useful discoveries, but this particular one has not been answered to our full understanding as of yet. We think it has to do with the position of the sun.

I can answer it quite readily. Kahlis chimed in across the mental link.

Caysen waved his right hand as if to rid his immediate area of a pest. Hush, Kahlis.

Taran pursed his lips. What did he have to say?

He simply said that he could answer the question quite readily. Nothing more. Caysen answered.

Taran scoffed. As well he should be able to answer it, given that he created everything. We will discover these things on our own, though.

Collen joined them on the dock. This city is Jalah, and we have arrived at a most wondrous time. Jalah plays host to a grand swordsmanship tournament each year. You might enter and hone that talent of yours in this foreign land against all sorts of exotic masters of your craft. Just a simple suggestion.

That does sound like a lot of fun, Cays. Salk said, clapping his friend on the shoulder.

Caysen gripped the Sword of Divinity. Aye, it does. I believe I will be entering this famed tournament. I need to keep improving and this just may be my chance here.

Win it for us. Taran commented.

I will most certainly give it my best effort. I would like to win just to fight as many as I possibly can. I’m excited for this. Caysen replied.

Registration should be held tomorrow at the arena beginning midday. Good day, my friends. I wish you the best of luck on your continuing quest. Collen stated and left them, heading on into the city.

The three of them had no luck at the first few inns. Finally, the fourth, they were able to acquire a room. After their meal, they asked the innkeeper for more information about the tournament. The older man told them that they would need to gain permission from the Viceroy to enter the tournament, as they were not citizens of the Pareqi Republic. With the innkeeper’s directions, they found the Viceroy’s estate quite easily. The Viceroy was a good man named Jaca Jalah. He requested a quick demonstration from Caysen. When Jaca had seen Caysen move, he promptly gave them a writ of permission that Caysen could sign up for the tournament the following day.

I look forward to seeing you fight, young warrior from Kelthan. We have never had one of your people represented, and you are obviously skilled. Jalah noted.

Caysen scratched his chin. I am not representative of Kelthan. I am something of a step ahead, a hero, you might say. I have been training half my life to be a great swordsman.

Jaca nodded. "So I see. I would inquire about your bucklers as using two gives the impression that you believe battle a fashion to be had, hmm?

Caysen smiled, as this certainly wasn’t the first time someone had made a comment about his odd choice of fighting style. I’m ambidextrous and I stress the defense that the two bucklers provide while keeping my hands free to switch my Sword of Divinity to whichever hand I please to maximize my attacks. Unbalancing my opponent is also a desired result.

Jaca returned the smile. "You should have a great deal of fun in this tournament. There is an ambidextrous fighter who lives here, in my own city. She always wins the tournament because no one here is her equal. She is Sheina Dart, and she wields no shield of any kind because no one has ever been able to touch her with a blade since her very first participation. She wields a blade of the rarest metal—Yssylite. You should be wary of her and she should be wary of you. This will be a most exciting tournament. The spectators should be very well entertained.

Caysen pondered a moment over the name of the metal. What is Yssylite? I’ve never heard of it.

Yssylite is a metal that falls from the stars. It is so rare that there are only a handful of swords known to be made from it. Only one blacksmith in all of Ryal knows how to forge it. He lives in the Jasir Republic. Jaca explained.

Yssylite is the very same metal that I used to forge the Sword of Divinity. I did not call it Yssylite at the time. It is the strongest metal in existence that I am aware of. Kahlis told him.

Thank you for everything, Viceroy Jalah. I hope to be a grand entertainment for the people of your fine city.

Jaca bowed to them slightly. I wish you the best of luck, Caysen.

Caysen walked with his friends and told them what Kahlis had just spoken to him about the rare metal used to create the Sword of Divinity. Salk nodded and stated that the information made sense as the Sword of Divinity was obviously of a superb metal and make, but he’d more attributed the blade’s qualities to the power of Divinity rather than being made of some metal from the heavens. Taran agreed with much the same evaluation, but was more intrigued about the fact that there were other blades to match the Sword of Divinity. These other swords obviously wouldn’t bless the wielder with the gift of Divinity, but were sure to be most formidable weapons in the hands of a master of swordplay. Upon their return to the inn, they found that the old innkeeper was quite fond of the tournament. As a result, he was extremely knowledgeable about the rules.

The tournament is a great part of why this city thrives. There is even a swordsmanship school here because of it. Many make a living from it whether by gambling on the main tournament bouts, or entering the tournament itself. All of the sixteen contestants who make it beyond the preliminaries are paid. The winner is paid the great sum of five hundred thousand gold. The first eliminated still makes one thousand, the innkeeper told them.

That is great. We have nothing of the sort in Kelthan. Any rules to keep in mind? Taran asked.

Only minor injuries are allowed. You cannot injure to disable, excepting that of a knockout, which is one of the two ways to win. The other is by knocking your opponent from the ring. You can give up, obviously, but is considered highly disgraceful and most just keep fighting until the ring out or knockout. There are no time limits, but if a match continues for too long, there is a panel of judges who will vote to decide the winner. Also, no Divinity is allowed if one can use it. Most of the contestants cannot, the innkeeper answered.

That is bad news for you, Cays, Taran commented.

Caysen waved a hand in dismissal of the comment. Perfect actually. The next time that I use Divinity, it may leave me unconscious. I will need to master it before facing our enemy again.

After the tournament, I might suggest you go to the Goldlight Forest. The elves could most certainly help you with mastering Divinity, the innkeeper said.

That sounds like a plan to me. We are not completely on our own here. I have only met an elf once in my life. They stayed secluded in their trees in Grahle and they do not take kindly to us intruding, Salk said.

Caysen nodded. I met one that had come to Salinthas when I was eight, I think. He was just passing through, but after he left, I had Kira tell me what she knew about them.

I have only ever read about the elves. I never had the pleasure to meet one. It sounds a good plan to have the chance to do so, Taran speculated.

Then the plan is made. I am ecstatic to fight in the tournament for now. I hardly think that I am going to be able to sleep.

You better, or you will be knocked out in the preliminaries, Salk replied.

I know, brother. I was simply exaggerating. I will sleep, but I am overly excited.

Let us have a meal now. I am starved to be sure, Taran suggested.

I could get on board with that plan. What do you have hot and ready, innkeeper? Salk asked, rubbing his stomach.

I will check what my wife has ready. I will be back shortly. The innkeeper shuffled off to the back rooms behind the bar.

The three of them weren’t waiting long before the innkeeper returned with three plates of steaks and assorted vegetables. The innkeeper’s wife brought out three mugs of ale as well. Caysen licked his lips and devoured the food with an increasing starvation and a desire to eat a meal of this quality. There wasn’t anything to eat besides hard biscuits and jerky on the trip across the sea. He felt weak, and he knew this meal would certainly help to correct the deficiency.

After the three of them had finished eating, they left the inn to procure supplies and horses for their upcoming travels after the tournament. The sun was beginning its descent when they’d acquired their new horses and supplies. They took the horses to the stables nearest to the inn where they were staying. Caysen was ready to get some sleep, but he knew that he definitely needed to eat and regain some of his old strength through proper nourishment. He’d need to train tomorrow after signing up for the tournament. There was no real room to train at all on the trip to Ryal, and he knew his skill would be suffering for that. After the meal, he’d gone straight upstairs with Taran and Salk to get some much needed sleep in an actual bed. There were some things he liked about being on the water, but an extended trip diminished the quality of those aspects. He slept better than he had in quite some time, but the sun was sooner to rise than he wished. He yawned, stretched, and rubbed his eyes in readiness to begin the day. He’d be at the arena signing himself in for the tournament sometime after breakfast. He wanted to be early to get a good look at his competition. From what the innkeeper said during their evening meal, there would be a couple hundred entrants.

Caysen woke Taran and Salk before walking over to the basin to wash himself. After his friends had cleaned themselves, he walked with them downstairs to see what they’d be having for breakfast. They told the innkeeper that they’d have their meals now and seated themselves at a table in the corner of the room.

So, it is going to be one absolutely exciting week, yes? Salk asked.

Caysen nodded. It should certainly be interesting. I almost wish you were signing up too, Salk.

I would only humiliate myself facing down the hero and the woman that the Viceroy had mentioned. No, I will be better off in the stands, cheering you on, Salk replied.

It should not matter to you if you win or lose. I want to have some fun and see what the talented competition will bring me. I will need the two of you to help me remember my old skill later. I have been without practice since we set sail from Prost.

Salk clapped a hand to Caysen’s shoulder. We will be glad to help you with that.

Good, the day sounds to be planned out, Taran stated.

Their meals soon arrived and they ate quickly because Caysen was ready to head over to the arena. The three of them arrived to the ever growing line to sign up. Caysen looked around at everyone already waiting. Most all of them had the bearing of capable warriors. He spotted a beautiful brunette female at the front and noted her above all. The woman stood confidently with a smile as if she already knew the result of the tournament. He knew this must be the woman of whom the Viceroy told them. The woman looked in his direction and squinted, so he turned his gaze to another direction. He could still feel the woman staring at him and it was beginning to make him shiver, but he made no movement to give her any indication that the stare bothered him. He was relieved when their attention was taken by the announcement that the sign up was to begin.

We shall wait back here for you, brother, Salk said.

Sure. Hopefully, this line will move quickly.

Caysen was correct and soon found himself at the desk. The men had asked his name and region of origin. They were intrigued that he was from Kelthan and asked to see the writ from the Viceroy. They handed him a random assignment for the preliminaries the next day. He’d be fighting in group sixteen. They informed him that his group would be fighting at midday. When he turned to leave, he was pulled aside by the woman who had been first in line.

You were looking at me, the woman said.

Caysen noted that it wasn’t a question. Yes. The Viceroy warned me about you and said we would each be the greatest threat to the other. At least, I think you are the woman of whom he warned me. The way you hold yourself, I know you must be highly skilled.

The Viceroy said that you would be a threat to me? the woman asked.

Yes. You are Sheina Dart, are you not?

Sheina nodded. I am. Who are you?

My name is Caysen Tallis and I hail from Kelthan, Caysen answered.

Sheina nodded again. You do seem as if you know how to use a sword and you are evenly muscled. You are ambidextrous?

I am. The Viceroy told me that you are as well.

I trained my entire life. I do have to say something about the bucklers, using two looks absolutely ridiculous, Sheina said.

Caysen smiled. I stress the defense that they afford me.

If you are supposedly a threat to me, then you should be so skilled as not to need them, Sheina commented.

I am after a particularly dangerous enemy. I only arrived here yesterday and this coming tournament sounded like a great way to hone my ability. I should like to show you that my bucklers serve their purpose well and that I think you will be surprised.

Sheina looked over Caysen and smiled. We shall see. Your sword is made of Yssylite, is it not?

It is. The finest material that can be found on Terath.

How could you possibly know that it is of a better quality than my own sword? Sheina asked skeptically.

Trust me on it. This Sword of Divinity is special.

Sheina’s eyes widened. Sword of Divinity? The blade allows you to wield the power?

It does, but you would not be able to use it. The power of the Sword can only be activated by a chosen hero.

Show me. Sheina demanded.

Caysen nodded and drew the Sword. I am still mastering its power. It may leave me unconscious.

I will catch you should you fall. Sheina promised.

Caysen focused his thoughts on his red blade-like barrier. Pain flared across his eyes and he shut off the flow of power. He stumbled, but Sheina helped him stay on his feet. He thanked her and handed her the Sword to admire for a moment.

It is a beautiful blade. The runes are a legend? Sheina asked.

Yes. Whosoever finds themselves wielder of this holy blade shall wield the power of the divine. It is misinterpreted most of the time. Simply having the sword in your hand does not make you the wielder. The wielder is chosen by the Creator himself to defend against a looming evil.

Sheina nodded. I believe you. I cannot use Divinity, but I can sense it. I cannot sense anything from the Sword, or you at the moment, and I could before. I was intrigued that the Sword could give you that.

Caysen took the Sword of Divinity back and sheathed it. I am the chosen hero. This is my Sword. May I see yours?

Sheina drew her own sword and passed it to Caysen. This is Whirlwind and so it seems to be to my opponents.

Caysen took a few swings with it. It was a good deal lighter than his Sword, but it was slightly shorter and not quite as broad. The blade however was well balanced and it seemed to be made for her as the grip felt small to him. He knew that it was indeed an excellent sword. The name bothered him, but he kept that to himself. He’d thought of her as the Whirlwind and less so her sword. He was exhilarated at the thought of fighting her now. Caysen nodded and reversed his grip to return it to her.

Sheina looked impressed. Most cannot wield it as you just did. Yssylite is a great deal heavier than the bronze or silver used to make most swords. I think I am going to enjoy this tournament. What is your group tomorrow?

I will be fighting in group sixteen.

Sheina smiled. Good. I’m in group two. I would have hated to fight you in the preliminaries. Our group number will be the same in the actual tournament. You will be fighting last, excepting the finals when you and I will be fighting.

You already know that I will be in the finals with you?

Well, I would be highly disappointed if you did not make it. I can tell that you are a highly skilled warrior too. Sheina answered.

I like to think so.

I am definitely excited to see what you can do. I will probably be seeing you sometime tomorrow. Only four groups at a time can fight, so we shall be able to watch each other. Get there earlier for the first four groups tomorrow. I will be staying late to watch you. Sheina said and turned to leave.

"Sure. You