Aftermath: Dawn of Chaos, #3

By Tony Andarian

"Teach me, Grandfather. To fight, with steel and magic. Help me to become the weapon I will need to be to defeat our enemies."

 

The Eastern Continent reels in the aftermath of the demon invasion. Zomoran's armies sweep over the land. Orion and Diana struggle to find a way to fulfill their oath under the new order as a determined resistance forms in the capital city. Great and small, the valiant of Carlissa commit themselves to a holy war against the Horde.

 

And no one believes that the princess and her grandfather, the Archmage, could possibly have survived the Massacre of Lannamon. But could they?

 

Aftermath is the third and final book in the Dawn of Chaos Trilogy. That trilogy is now available as a single volume under the title, Dawn of Chaos.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andarian Publishing
• Release date: Jun 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201069995

Book preview

Prologue

The Warning

Prince Nimrod raced down the stairs. He struggled to hear over the sounds, and to see despite the images, that flooded his mind.

He stopped when he reached the hallway, and exerted his mental discipline. His eyes slowly focused on his surroundings. An archway led into the great hall before him. The Peregrine King was striding through it, his face a thundercloud of surprise and anger. He didn’t speak, but his telepathic voice boomed forcefully across the summit of Mount Cassandra.

Clear the peak! Tarnas ordered. All except my son, and the Lead Pegasus. No one is to remain there when I ascend the steps. Move! Now!

Nimrod grinned. The force of his father’s personality was known throughout the Eastern Continent. On an ordinary day, or in an ordinary temper, his voice could cow or charm all but the strongest of wills. This wasn’t an ordinary day, and the Peregrine King wasn’t in an ordinary temper.

Nimrod sensed the chaos of panicked thoughts around them as elves and pegasi raced to carry out the order. He waited until Tarnas had reached him, and then fell in at his side.

You heard it, too? he asked.

The King nodded. With me, my son, he said. Quickly.

They stepped through the great doors and set out along the wide path that led from the rear of the palace. They crossed quickly through the garden of Mount Cassandra, its flowers blooming in fierce colors in the light of the setting sun. The trees at the garden’s periphery towered around them, cutting off their view of all but the deepening sky above — and ahead, the peak of the great mountain that rose before them.

A steady stream of elves raced in their direction. They leaped aside as the pair approached, flowing around them like a river around a rock set firmly in its center. The prince saw that his father paid them no heed. His eyes were fixed firmly on the great stone stairs that rose along the face of the mountain past the garden’s exit.

Pegasi and mounted warriors flew past them on either side as they ascended the steps. Nimrod knew that they had leaped from the mountain’s peak, plunging fiercely away from it in response to the King’s order. His father didn’t run, but his long legs took the stairs three at a time. The prince struggled to keep up.

By the time they reached the wide, flat summit of Mount Cassandra, it was nearly deserted. Only one pegasus waited for them in the center of the great landing field: a tall, proud stallion with a white mane and wing feathers tipped with a fiery orange. His glittering black eyes regarded them with piercing intelligence as they approached, and his telepathic voice was cool and steady.

The calling is powerful, Starburst thought to them. Far stronger than anything I’ve felt before.

Nimrod saw a ghostly figure form on the peak beside them. In seconds, it had resolved into the transparent form of a woman in shining golden armor. It was Talina, Elf-Queen of the realm of Elde.

Mother, Nimrod thought to her. You are receiving this as well, then?

The elf-queen looked at him, and then at the King. Her deep blue eyes were narrowed, and they glinted with anger.

Tarnas, she said. I was certain this was your doing.

The King shook his head. Whatever this is, it is beyond even my power.

There was a shimmer of light, and another ghostly figure took shape on the peak. A tall man in a wizard’s robe of deep red regarded them coolly for a moment. Then his mustachioed lips curled slowly into a sardonic grin.

We appear to have been called to a meeting, he said.

Starburst whinnied and shook his mane. Yes, Nicodemus. But by whom?

Another figure appeared. A tall man with a sunburned complexion in armor of rough leather looked slowly around the group. His eyes stopped when he saw the Peregrine King.

Tarnas, he said. His mental voice was tight. What is the meaning of this?

Alladan, the King responded evenly. We wait to learn that ourselves.

Good, a new voice said. You are all here. Then it is time.

Nimrod started, and he turned. Another ephemeral figure had appeared at his side. The newcomer was tall and gaunt, wore a dark green adventurer’s tunic, and carried a shining metal staff. A familiar face framed by a shock of white hair held eyes that blazed with an impossibly intense magic.

The Peregrine King’s lips split in a thin line. Of course, he said.

Alladan’s tanned features twisted in cold anger. You dare much to bring me here, Lenard Killraven.

I do, the Archmage said grimly. Please listen carefully. We have little time.

The mountains around them vanished, and the land seemed to blur. For a moment, Nimrod had the sensation of rushing hundreds of miles across the surface of the earth. Then the ground below them stilled. The face of Mount Cascade loomed behind them, and he found himself looking down into the valley of Lannamon.

His eyes widened at what he saw. The city was overrun. Demons, Hellmen and fire giants crawled through the streets. The shapes of winged demons and dragons circled in the air below them.

A sick horror knotted his stomach. From the gasps around him, he knew that the others were seeing it as well.

Emil Zomoran has opened a hellgate in the capital of Carlissa, the Archmage said. Tens of thousands of the creatures have already entered our world. They are still coming.

Nimrod glanced around. The others stood at his side, but they were all ghostly, ephemeral shapes, now — even himself. They were watching the horrific scene from a cliff along the face of Mount Cascade.

This is a telepathic scrying, the prince said. An astral projection. You’ve brought our minds together, here, to see what is happening. To warn us, and to spread the alarm.

Yes, Lenard replied. The six of you wield the most powerful magic in the Eastern Continent. In the elven realms, in Rayche, and in the Northern Plains. You need to know the threat we now face — and be prepared to act.

Talina’s eyes widened as she looked down at the creatures swarming the palace. Elena… she began.

Danor and Elena are dead, Lenard said stonily. As are Aron and Gerard. Randia still lives. She is with me, and will help me with what is to come.

What is that? Alladan asked.

I have prepared a plan to stop this invasion and to destroy Zomoran’s hellgate. It is desperate, and I do not know if it will succeed. However it turns out, Randia and I will likely not survive it.

No! Tarnas roared. You must not! We will fly to your aid at once, Lenard. Just hold on!

The Archmage looked at him sadly. He shook his head.

None of you can help with this, he said. And there is no time. If this gate is not closed in the next few hours, the horde will attain numbers that even the combined armies of the world could not defeat. Randia and I are prepared to do what must be done. And it must be done now.

Is there no other way? Starburst asked.

Lenard shook his head.

The scrying spell will dissipate once our last stand has ended. If we succeed, then you must be ready to take up the battle after us. Good fortune to you — and to us all.

The Archmage’s figure faded, and was gone. Nimrod watched him disappear through a sudden sparkle of tears.

Good luck, Lenard, he whispered.

And then a deafening peal of horns rang out over the valley.

They watched, helplessly, as the battle unfolded. They heard Randia’s song as it defied the demons with its heroic theme. They saw the Light as it covered the city. They laughed when Lenard’s visage appeared in the face of the moon, and cried in triumph as his rain of starfire descended upon the enemy. They fell silent as the demon lord cried its challenge, and gasped as its magic blasted the cliffs. And they laughed again when they saw that the Archmage had survived, and cheered when he summoned his magic against the gate.

Talina stepped forward. Her eyes were wide.

There, she said. Do you see? Randia stands at his side!

The Peregrine King nodded.