The Return of the Horde: Hell Gate, #1

By Tony Andarian

"It's like the hellgate from the legends of the Great War. This isn't just an attack. It's an invasion."

 

A new constitution prepares Carlissa for an era of enlightenment. The old order fades, and a promise of freedom stirs the air. In the space of one terrifying day, that promise is shattered in a bloodbath of fire and magic.

 

An ancient enemy returns with the opening of the Hell Gate. Chaos reigns as the people rally to fight a desperate battle for survival, and many wonder bitterly why the gods seem to have abandoned them. Their only hope lies with the magic of the Archmage — and his, with a free-spirited princess who never wanted to rule. She must find the strength to set aside her bard's calling and take up a battle against impossible odds, or surrender her land and people to the Black Magus and his demons.

 

In Hell Gate I - The Return of the Horde, the Demon Horde returns to Carlissa with the opening of the Hell Gate. Can the land's heroes survive its sudden and brutal onslaught? And even if they do, can they stop it from conquering the world?

 

The Return of the Horde is the first of four novella length episodes in the miniseries Hell Gate. That miniseries is now also now available as a full length e-book novel under the same name. Hell Gate is the second book in the Dawn of Chaos trilogy, which is now also available as an omnibus volume in e-book and print editions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andarian Publishing
• Release date: Mar 24, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201485535

Book preview

Prologue

The Legend of the Defender

From Tales of the Covenant by Edgar Tran, a compendium of Carlissan children’s stories.

Many thousands of years ago, a great war between the Gods and the Demons came to the world. The Demons had opened a door from the realms of Hell itself, and their armies threatened to overrun the earth.

In those ancient times, most of Kalara was wild and unsettled, except for two great centers of civilization. Humans ruled the Kingdom of Nuracinth (now the Northern Plains), while the elves and faeries shared the realm of Eldacinth (now the lands of Elde and Carlissa). The world then was still under the active protection of the Gods, and the Army of Heaven prepared to meet the Hordes of Hell in battle.

The Gods asked the races of the time to fulfill their oaths of obedience, and to stand beside them in the Great War. Although men have long forgotten them, the elves still remember the Faeries, who commanded powerful magic but refused the Gods’ call. They retreated to the land of Faerie and wove the sparkling curtain around it, forever cutting themselves off from the rest of the world.

The other races were afraid and hesitated to fight. The Horde ravaged their lands and many were killed, until the goddess Tianth finally saw and took pity on their fears. She appeared to Calindra, a simple warrior woman from Rayche whose spirit was true to the Gods and filled with courage and faith in the Divine. She spoke words of hope to her, and gave her the Shield of the Defender, forged from a shard of the goddess’ own heart.

Inspired, Calindra rallied the elves and men of the time to stand with the Army of Heaven, and they met the Horde in the heart of Nuracinth. The kingdom was devastated by the war and remained barren for a thousand years, and even now, only the hardiest of nomads can survive there. But the Army of Heaven prevailed, and Calindra — protected by the magic of the shield — herself slew the Captain of the Horde. Thus, the demon lords were driven forever from the face of the earth.

In the years that followed, the Gods left the world to return to the Heavens. But before they left, they established the Church of the Divine as a covenant with those who had shown their faith by standing with them in the Great War. The Gods promised they would always hear and answer the prayers of their priests, who, to this day, wield the magic of the Divine in their name. Because of this covenant, the races of men and elves have become known as the Children of the Gods, or simply The Children for short.

The Kingdom of men had been devastated by the final battle. In its aftermath, the rulers of the realms that remained vied for dominance. Calindra had become a hero among the Children, and she tried to use her influence to help unite them into a new, great kingdom. But the leaders and statesmen of ancient Nuracinth were gone, and the rulers who remained were men of lesser stature. They tried to use Calindra to expand their power by drawing her into their petty wars and intrigues.

Dismayed, Calindra left them to return to her homeland of Rayche, there to wander the countryside as an adventurer. She vanished from the knowledge of history, her final fate unknown, and the shield vanished with her. But according to legend, it still lies somewhere in the world, in the last resting place of Calindra the Defender. And it waits for the day when its power will be called upon once again to strengthen the hearts of the people against a great