The First Bargain

By Jonathan Moeller

The haunted depths of the Qazaluuskan Forest hold death for the unwary.

Niara is one of the First Magistri, the most powerful wizards in the realm of Andomahim. Pursuing one of the dreaded spider-devils, she has traveled far into the heart of the Qazaluuskan Forest.

The orcs of the forest are almost as dangerous as the urdmordar.

But one of them is willing to offer Niara a bargain.

She has everything to gain, but the price might be her life...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jonathan Moeller
• Release date: Sep 30, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005467555

Jonathan Moeller

Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.He has written the "Demonsouled" trilogy of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write the "Ghosts" sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the "$0.99 Beginner's Guide" series of computer books, and numerous other works.Visit his website at:http://www.jonathanmoeller.comVisit his technology blog at:http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/screed

Book preview

THE FIRST BARGAIN

Jonathan Moeller

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Description

The haunted depths of the Qazaluuskan Forest hold death for the unwary.

Niara is one of the First Magistri, the most powerful wizards in the realm of Andomahim. Pursuing one of the dreaded spider-devils, she has traveled far into the heart of the Qazaluuskan Forest.

The orcs of the forest are almost as dangerous as the urdmordar.

But one of them is willing to offer Niara a bargain.

She has everything to gain...but the price might be her life...

***

The First Bargain

Copyright 2022 by Jonathan Moeller.

Smashwords Edition.

Cover design by Jonathan Moeller.

Ebook edition published October 2022.

All Rights Reserved.

This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author or publisher, except where permitted by law.

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A brief author's note

This short story takes place roughly five hundred years before the events of DRAGONSKULL: SWORD OF THE SQUIRE.

A map of the realm of Andomhaim is available on the author’s website at this link (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4487).

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The First Bargain

My name is Niara of Andomhaim, and I have seen wonders and horrors that you can’t imagine.

My father was slain in front of me by the arachar soldiers of the urdmordar Xothalaxiar. I saw the dark power and majesty of the urdmordar themselves, their mastery of dark magic beyond human comprehension. I traveled with the Keeper to the towers of Cathair Solas and learned magic from the archmage Ardrhythain himself. I fought in the great war that drove the urdmordar back from the walls of Tarlion and broke their power, sending them skittering into the shadows for fear of the soulblades and the fire of the Well.

It wouldn’t be enough.

Not until I stopped