The Kingdom of Chaos: a Clean Fantasy Novel: THE KINGDOMS SAGA, #1

By E. M. Buchan

In a land where strength defines status, a new King finds himself having feelings for others that he shouldn't; this has surged his kingdom into chaos. And can anything but death emerge from a kingdom in chaos?

 

In this incredible first book to the upcoming fantasy epic called "The Kingdoms Saga", KUL'DRAK, a King of the fierce, red-skinned beasts called the Orken, struggles with emotions foreign to his species. He's desperate to gain control of his land, just like his father did before him, but he fears he doesn't have the strength to do it. Amidst his struggle, he banishes a beloved Commander, spares the life of a Slave, and is challenged in a duel to the death. Emerging from this book comes two lead characters of the Kingdoms Saga, FUL'KAG, the Commander, and LAR, the Slave. This epic tale will keep you hungry for the next chapter. As mysteries unfold, new ones are presented. It is truly an enticing thriller of twists and turns that will keep your eyes peeled. 

 

The Kingdoms Saga is an extraordinary fantastical story spanning many years, studying several species, and closely following individuals, all wrestling with the question: Does what you are define who you can become. The Kingdoms Saga was written by Elijah Mackenzie Buchan to introduce exciting, clean writing into the genre of fantasy. It's slowly becoming a fantasy favourite for his loyal readers and has been compared to C.S. Lewis's "The Chronicles of Narnia". Free from sexual content and other negative elements, the Kingdoms Saga was written to bring you a constantly delightful, unimaginably epic, and perplexingly intricate storyline.

 

So scroll up and buy the book to start reading today and get lost in the wonderfully scripted world where our heroes are introduced, challenged, and defined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. M. Buchan
• Release date: Jun 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201358365

E. M. Buchan

Elijah's love for reading and writing clean fiction has left him wanting more books in the genre. So, he's writing the Kingdoms Saga to bolster the Internet with more and more amazing stories, free from negative content. He's also passionate about his faith and helping people learn more about the world we live in. His works range from fantasy, business help, faith & religion, to historical fiction. His next project is a nonfiction biography of sorts that details a heart disease his own 2.5-year-old son (named Micah) had... HAD. The book will be a game-changer for how families deal with diseases and Elijah hopes to get it into as many people's hands as possible after it's published.

Book preview

E. M. Buchan

Copyright © 2022 E. M. Buchan*

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 9798819792827

*and other published names held by Author including Elijah Buchan, Elijah M Buchan, Green Leaf Writing

All names, characters, places, races, countries, etc. are original concepts of the Author and no part of this work may be reproduced for sale or by any means without written permission from Author except brief quotes with citation.

www.elijahbuchan.com

Introduction

I CREATED THE KINGDOMS Saga in the wake of many fantasy stories popularized with vulgar and graphic content. My desire was to make an epic, fun, and clean story that would captivate adults, young adults, and teens.

I value transparency when it comes to the content of the books I read. Therefore, I’ve listed below any element of this book that may be of concern to you, whether you’re a parent or a discerning reader. Below is a spoiler-free content advisory and to start, this book was written for mature readers.

Kingdoms is a fantastical series that depicts many ways of death as it is based in a fictional world, called Teros, during times of war. In The Kingdom of Chaos, we follow many characters of the race known as the Orken.

The Orken are brutal creatures whose entire lives revolve around war and subsequently: killing. Decapitation, crushing of skulls, death by axe, sword, hammer, and arrow are all featured in this gory beginning to the Kingdoms Saga.

Along with a violent society, the Orken do not marry as other races do. In the beginning chapters, we read that the Orken males take a mate and procure children through her. They are loyal to this mate until she dies, at which point they would find another mate to fulfill their reproductive duties. Other than these brief mentions, there are no sexual cautions for this story.

Family within the Orken culture is another thing to be cautious of when considering this story. We read of many instances of family members killing each other as their bonds are not enduring and love is not even an emotion found in the Orken culture.

A spiritual warning may need to be mentioned. The lore of Kingdoms features a Creator of the world and although we never hear from, see, or have direct encounters with this Creator, the presence of a higher power is quite evident as the series progresses. Also, a character introduced in the latter chapters of this book features abilities that some may view as sorcery: please note that the power of this character, and characters introduced in later stories, does not stem from witchcraft, magic, sorcery, or divination. Teros is a fantastical world and thus the creatures and beings that live within it have access to abilities that would be considered supernatural in comparison to our own definition of physics.

Personal note:

If you have seen fantasy films or read fantasy novels within the last two decades, the violent content found in Chaos will be the same as, if not less than, what you’ve experienced.

Second edition introductory note:

After publishing the first edition of this book, I received a great amount of positive feedback. However, a common report from readers not accustomed to reading fantasy epics was confusion in the early chapters about the names, places, and the history and structure of the Orken. Therefore, in this second edition publication, I’ve added an Optional Prologue, located at the very back of the book. This prologue is written in a different style than the main book content, but it will allow readers to learn more about the characters introduced in the early chapters. It will also detail events that are mere history in the first chapter of this book, and indeed are a bit mysterious for readers. This prologue takes place two hundred years prior to the first chapter of this book.

Knowing these facts and peoples and occurrences will undoubtedly help you enjoy the reading of this book. However, I should state that the prologue does contain spoilers for the main content of this first book.

So, if you love mystery, surprise endings, plot-twists, unexpected reveals, and so on, don’t read the prologue until after you’ve read the main book content (chapters I—X).  But if you’re struggling with some of the concepts and would love to have a proper introduction to land of Kru’aka and the Orken that dwell within, then navigate over to the very end of this book to read the Optional Prologue. Again, this will help you understand the backstory of some of the main characters in this book and how the kingdom got to be the way it is in the first chapter.

So, wherever you start, please enjoy this book and thanks for reading!

Table of Contents

I

II

III

IV

V

VI

VII

VIII

IX

X

Kingdoms: Tehoram

Appendix

Races Introduced

Character Notes

Bonus Scene

Optional Prologue

For my 2nd grade teacher,

who asked me to dedicate my first book to her. Thank you for believing in me and encouraging this talent even at my young age. May I be simply one of many inspired by you.

And for my wonderful wife,

who listened to every single word of this story while it was being built. This would not be the story it is without your enthusiasm, support, and input.

I

The shrill sound of metal armour rattling from the cold winter’s breeze could be heard far from the scene of battle. Standing in an unbroken line, hundreds of orken gazed across the icy Valley of Kal’ka. One orken, a male standing close to twelve feet tall, showed his blackened teeth as a deep growl rumbled from his throat. He let out a fearsome roar of challenge.

The Orken are tall, thick creatures and tower over most other races. They are extremely strong and, those who dwell in Kru’aka, are adorned with red skin. Their eyes are small and dark. Both male and female orken do not have hair or fur like other races. They have thick horns protruding from different points on their skulls in unique fashions.

The Orken have a single mindset: war. They are born into it, raised by it, and led by it. War rules their society. Most orken have taken a life by the age of ten. The average lifespan for an orken, if death were to claim them from old age, would be close to one thousand years. However, not a single orken in their recorded history has ever passed in such a way; every life was taken by another. And most of the time, it was by the strong hand of another orken.

The trees on the opposite side of the Valley began to sway. Yet it was not from the cold breeze that had swept by. The orken who roared in hope to bring out his foe, named Ful’kag, after his father whom he slew when he was young, knew what the swaying meant: they were coming. Those who dwelt amongst the trees were a far lesser kingdom than the one he represented.

He was proud to be of the Draken kingdom. The Orken kingdom that reigned over those who were loyal with a strong and fierce grasp. Their warriors were always clad in tough metal armour, wielding heavy axes that could easily break any foe. And their king was stronger and mightier than any living orken. The tales tell he crushed the skull of his older kin, a fellow offspring of those who sired him, when he was merely two years old. Bred for war and a seemingly perfect leader, Kul’drak and his army were undefeated. This filled Ful with a fire; it burned fiercely in his chest. Long ago, there were tales told of the Orken having a literal fire ablaze within their body. He felt it in his eyes as he watched his enemy burst through the treeline.

A far lesser Orken kingdom they were, indeed. The Hagronen kingdom survived in a Forest north of the Valley, called Fal’kir. The superstitions of the Orken tell all creatures in the woods are deadly and could kill even the most powerful of kings. The hagronen berserkers, however, eat the creatures and all those who enter the forest. With no laws, no honour, no armour, and no weapons; these ruthless warriors surged across the Valley toward the Draken.

Ful and his army had stood on the cusp of the grand Valley for almost half a day. Their intent was to intrigue their foe into engaging them in battle on the rocks of the Valley rather than in the unknown and thick terrain of the Forest beyond. Their goal had been achieved, and as Ful confidently believed, their victory was soon to be as well.

A roar left the warrior once again. Ful lifted his weapon toward his enemy: a large axe, designed for all forms of destruction. He charged forward to engage in battle. His fellow draken followed closely behind him. With a killing rage, he leapt into the crowd of berserkers and with one swing of his weapon, sent many to the ground.

The two forces collided aggressively. The sound of flesh being slashed by axes and torn by hands filled the air. No distinct dual between two orken could be heard, rather, all the noise merged into one sound: the sound of battle. Ful listened to it carefully as he hacked his way through the swarm of hagronen.

A few minutes into the battle, Ful raised his axe against a charging hagronen. He swung harshly toward the ground, with the hagronen in his axe’s path. However, despite the gaping wound in his chest caused by Ful’s axe, the hagronen leapt onto Ful. The strength of that orken was incredible and Ful was taken aback by his resilience. Two large red hands, with distinct black markings on them, took hold of Ful’s head and smashed it against the Valley’s rocky floor. As Ful lay still and concussed on the ground, that hagronen rushed on to attack another draken.

The two armies fought for quite some time. By the end, hundreds of orken were dead. But, contrary to all legend, all knowledge, and history of orken warring: the Hagronen overpowered the Draken and won the battle. That day was of great significance to the history of the Orken. It was the first time the Hagronen kingdom had, led by their king, Kil’hagron, won an organized battle against another Orken kingdom. It was also the first time the Draken had lost a battle against any kingdom.

THE GREAT KING KUL’DRAK sat on his throne carved from a single stone and decorated with various weapons and skulls of all sorts. The throne, from top to bottom, ranged fifteen feet tall. Down the long, dark steps from this great throne knelt the commander of the Draken army: Ful’kag. He knelt on a wide patch of stone, serving as a walkway from the entrance to the throne. The walkway was in between two chasms that led down to a dark pit. The throne room was a grand, circular hall. The king’s throne sat in the middle like an island, while the Elders of the Draken kingdom sat on balconies, each lit by a fire signifying that elder’s presence, forming a perimeter around the room. There were two guards at the base of the throne, and two at the entrance.

With his head bowed, sweat mixed with blood dripping from his forehead, Ful told his king something no orken in his kingdom had ever reported.

Madness! the king exclaimed in the Orken language, his red skin burning with rage. You were defeated? He stood, the tips of his sharp horns almost reaching the top of the throne.

Kill this failure! he roared to the two guards at the base of the throne. The elders gasped and the two guards hesitated for a brief moment. They prepared themselves for the slaying of their commander, whom they revered and respected. Ful looked up at them and nodded, indicating his acceptance of his fate. Merely seconds later, the two orken stepped forward raising their axes.

The king roared again and jumped down the steps. In one swift, yet brutal moment, he seized the two guards by their heads and crushed them in between his massive hands and the cold floor. He then, whilst perfecting his posture, hoisted Ful off the ground by his neck. The king stood there, surrounded by anxious orken who had not known fear outside of the great Kul’drak for some time.

How... he began in his deep, thundering voice, did you, my greatest warrior, the only one I could ever see succeeding me as chief, fail? He gazed into the eyes of his loyal commander with burning rage and desperate confusion.

My great king, Ful began in reply, squeezing the words out of his collapsing throat, they were unlike any foe I have faced.

The king released his grip, causing Ful to fall three feet to the ground. He steadied himself and stood before his king.

How? the king asked, turning away from his soldier. What made those forest-dwellers different?

My great king, as you know, in the past we have crushed the Hagronen swiftly and with very little loss. They fight like pathetic orklings, without armour or weapon. However, my great king, this time they had great strength. He paused, recalling the battle and his fallen troops. They tore the limbs off my draken and bit into them like animals. At first, it seemed as though we had the advantage and the victory; I can recall ten orken I had brought to the ground with my axe within the first few seconds. Yet, the Hagronen rose from the ground and... He stopped. My great king... Their wounds healed moments after I made them.

Kul’drak paused for a moment. This report, the king rumbled, is disturbing... But it will not strike fear in the heart of your great king, Kul’drak! He turned to Ful and seized him by the throat again. Your failure, the king screamed, is unacceptable! The king pulled Ful closer and whispered: I am sorry, Ful.

The great King Kul’drak threw his warrior into the chasm plunging from his throne room. Ful fell for a few moments before his body disappeared into the darkness.

Elders of the Draken! The king stood tall with his arms raised. You have besieged me for many moons to rid the Forest of Fal’kir of the Hagronen kingdom and to reclaim those woods as mine. He lowered his arms and paced slowly. As you have heard just now, my army was unable to defeat these forest-dwelling orken. Thus, I shall march to the woods of Fal’kir in three nights. And I will return with the head of Kil’hagron, the defective orken who has made for himself a rival kingdom. He stopped and looked at the two bodies before him. I also require new guards.

My great and powerful king, may your kingdom be everlasting, spoke an orken female seated on an elder’s balcony. Are you not leery of their new-found power? They shall surely hear the clanking armour from your warriors and strike you dead in the Forest!

The surrounding elders gasped and roared in disbelief. They turned to their king, expecting a death sentence for the blasphemous suggestion.

The great Kul’drak fears nothing! the king shouted in response. "I intend to travel into the Forest alone. I do not need an army to defeat those lars! He glared at the orken female. If, as you suggest, I do fail and am not able to bring back the head of Kil’hagron, I will present your head before this council!" He turned toward the door and marched forward.

Dismissed! he roared as he smashed the doors open with his fists. He exited the chamber; unaware it would have been the last time he sat on his throne.

THE ROOM WAS DARK AND cold. Ful’kag lay completely still in a shallow body of water, about five feet in depth. His head rested against the sharp, rocky wall. His breaths were slow. He could feel a throbbing sensation run through his leg as streams of agony flowed through his body. It had only been a few hours since his great king, Kul’drak, threw him into the pit he lay in. Ful presumed it was to his death, however, despite his severe pain, he was alive.

A loud sound echoed through the bottom of the pit. It was as if a large door had been unlocked. Ful stared at the wall as it slowly creaked open. The light cast from the other room nearly blinded the orken. He turned his head away and covered his eyes with his weak arm. He looked again as the light dimmed and saw a large silhouette breaking the casting light. It was clearly of an orken. The orken was tall and large. The horns on his head were nearly a foot long and stuck out in all directions upward. Ful recognized him immediately; it was his king. Ful struggled to stand, the water made it easier for him as it bore some of his weight. He slammed his right fist against his chest and bowed his head.

My gr— his voice cracked as he attempted to speak. My great king, he said, nearly choking. He felt a different kind of fire in his chest. It flared not from pride, rather, from agony. He felt as if a large critter was inside his lungs attempting to tear its way out. He coughed loudly, his black blood spewing into the water.

"Rest,