Eternal Soul: Eternal Quest Breaker Series, #7

By T. M. Caruana

The time has come for Luna to learn who the Eternal Quest Breaker is and if she has enough power to stop the doom prophecy.

 

Luna and Tarus set out on a quest to find the wishing well in Midway. Searching for it in a world plagued with angry rebels, they barely escape from their enemies' claws when Luna finally faces the well, but, without knowing what to wish for. She wants to stop Leo in his scheming but must also save Duke's soul, and a terrible feeling in her gut tells her that her actions might become the reason for Duke's doom.

 

Leo has figured out who the secret heart is and is more determined than ever to complete his life's work. Once Leo has 'gathered all that has been apart', it will be time to find out whether it was he, or Susy, who was the most skilled magical scheme-maker.

 

Will Susy ensure everything turns out as it should in the end?

 

The world breaks in this FANTASY QUEST ROMANCE. Read how it all ends!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marvellous Magics
• Release date: Apr 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223530213

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Nick had struck a deal with Leo, but at what cost? To settle his debt, Nick found himself journeying to the Spiritual Mountain, where he lost more than his pride. Added to his dwindling health and the loss of his left hand, the most painful was finding his soulmate frozen dead below the trunk of the Tree of Bitterness. Having made many mistakes in the past, helping Leo cutting the Ice Epoch spell cord, he considered this was his most diabolical mistake yet. Not only did it enable the Grand Master to obtain earth from Sabi for the use of summoning the Rainbow Knight Children, but it also cleared the way for Eutychia to cut the Magic spell cord.

The rumours of the almighty Grand Master had made many people curious, or scared, yet his identity had been hidden from the worlds. It was one well-kept secret through the ages, which was kept safe for a good reason. To enforce the forbidden spell to summon the Rainbow Knight Children, Gabriel revealed himself as the Grand Master but he also showed his true character as the bastard son of Derek and the rightful direct descendant heir to the Angi throne.

Having gathered one person from each bloodline and one element from each dimension, he performed the summoning spell, fully aware that there was one ingredient missing to successfully open Limbo to bring back Cosmica. He just couldn’t sacrifice the Secret Heart.

With magic only existing in the hands of the bloodline descendants, and with the dimensional barriers fallen, they now find themselves in a common land instilled with chaos. All the prophesies echoing through time have come to pass and it’s now up to the bloodline heirs to restore peace and love throughout the common land…before Balinor intervenes.

CHAPTER 1

ALL THE SPIRITS KNOW IT

The fire-breathing dragon was circulating in the sky above our heads. Tarus was enraged, shrieking uncontrollably. His majestic dragon body came into view just as Nomnat ordered the torches to be tossed onto the dry firewood surrounding the stake. Isma stood proudly with her bare feet on the planked bridge with her body restrained by a black robe and tied to a large pole. Not moving a muscle as the flames started to dance around her, she stared straight into my eyes. She had told me that she wasn’t scared of dying, but this was purely wasting a life. Anxiety bit into my nerves and I wanted to scream. I wanted to scream that Tarus needed to save her, but also that he needed to stay away from Nomnat’s trap.

Tarus swooped down lower and lower, breathing fire. Looking around, I saw that everyone was frightened by him. The servants were hunched down shuddering, the nobles had sought the protection of the patio roofs along the perimeter of the courtyard and the vultures had fled. Nomnat however, was sitting on his throne, laughing to himself, spectating over his morbid entertainment.

Tarus dived down, striking again.

His closeness made Nomnat stir in his seat. Fire at will!

A few odd arrows veered into the sky, too few to be a threat to the furious monster. Nomnat twisted to inspect the guards.

Fire, I said!

The guards glanced at each other in silence, no one appeared to ready their weapons.

Nomnat waved forth the commander. Well?

Not looking the slightest apologetic, the commander returned Nomnat’s harsh stare. It’s Tarus.

I know that. Fire! Nomnat bellowed, pointing his finger towards the sky.

Nothing happened. No one actioned his command.

The guards aren’t comfortable firing at him, either out of fear or respect, Sir.

He has abandoned you for years…whatever…when he lands, you bring him to me unharmed and I will action his death myself.

He settled back on his throne and studied the dragon as it drew nearer. I looked back at the fire as it rose higher up the stake. For Isma’s sake, I tried my best to stare back into her eyes. I hoped that it somehow might give her courage and comfort, but when she started to stamp her feet, as the flames caught onto her flesh and the bottom lining of the robe, I dared not look any longer. I closed my eyes and prayed. I heard her screaming from the pain, but her screams were soon overwhelmed by the screams of the people around us, and I looked up to see Tarus spaying down bursts of fire along the courtyard.

The warmth of the fire crawled closer, the hot air caressing my face. Only the spirits knew whether Tarus was still in control of his human mind or whether I too was going to burn with the rest of his own servants and guards. Guards were turning into charcoal fast and the roses climbing along the court’s walls withered into ashes. The stream of fire came ever closer to us before the moment Tarus finally landed and shifted back into a human. Only wearing his torn knee-length vest over his hips, he kicked over a dead guard who lay on the ground, stealing his boots and drawing his sword before he rushed towards Isma.

As I watched him mount the pile of flaming embers, I was suddenly flung forwards as Nomnat snared his arm around my neck, pointing a dagger at my throat.

No! X bellowed, and soon after, I felt Nomnat’s arm clear of my throat.

I looked over my shoulder to see X securing Nomnat’s arms behind his back.

Run to Tarus, Luna. Run!

Panicked, I lunged forwards and landed on my hands and knees on the gravel and soot covered ground. The soot seeping between my fingers stained my pale skin black. I strengthened my legs and pushed off the ground, sprinting towards my grandfather. He was sliding down the tumbling logs with Isma limp in his arms. He hastened to lay her carefully on the ground. He stared at her face, using his hand to gently caress her forehead, pushing hair away that had caught to blood clotted wounds. He checked for a pulse but the way he sagged his head told me he didn’t find one.

I walked closer. I saw no movement, the sounds of the world receding into muffled clunks with the fire rattling in the background. Through the dark-grey smoke, I saw Tarus support his elbow on his knee, leaning his forehead on the back of his wrist. His eyes closed. Was Tarus crying?

I rushed to his side. Tarus took a deep breath and cleared some of his tears, which made the clean stripes show his tanned skin next to the rest of his soot covered face. He grabbed Isma’s shoulders and pulled her up onto his knees, hugging her to his chest. He held her tight. I could hear him whisper her name over and over again.

I shook his shoulder.

Tarus?

X hadn’t been able to restrain Nomnat any longer and they were making their way over.

Tarus, we need to get out of here!

I dug my nails harder into his shoulder and shook him less gently, but he didn’t look up from Isma’s body. Denial echoed from his lips emphasising how much he needed her to be alive. I knew her significance to him, the extent Isma’s wellbeing represented Susy’s approval of him as her suitor. But Isma had died a painful death and nothing would bring her back now. Her robe was in tatters and I saw flesh exposed on her fire-eaten legs, blood seeping out. The little skin she had left was black and yellow. How could someone be so cruel as to do this to anyone; to his wife?

I kneeled to level my face with his. Tarus, let’s go home.

Nomnat stopped at a distance with Sheron and X on either side of him and about twenty loyal men in tow who he had managed to assemble.

Hearing Nomnat’s mocking laughter, Tarus’s eyes fluttered open. His mouth twisted, his eyes focused and his jaws clenched. He was vengeful.

He looked up at Nomnat as he spoke to me. This is our home.

Slowly, he grabbed the sword left by his leg and rose up regally. His body clinked as dragon skin armoured every part of it.

I am king! he roared.

I took a step backwards. His own flames danced around his body as I had seen them do when Graham had attacked me. I stopped breathing and when I saw everyone but Nomnat kneeling, I fell onto my knee too.

Tarus took slow steps towards Nomnat, staring at him intensely. I showed mercy after you’d planned for Nicholas to steal Susy’s power stones during the ball, I didn’t kill you after you’d ordered Admiral Milo to torture me, and I hadn’t rushed to return to Bomi to slaughter you and your followers for treason after you’d planted your arse on my throne. Susy will see that I have been fair and she will see that I have been good. Delivering justice for crimes done by evil cannot count as a black mark on my soul, although if it does, it’ll simply serve to determine my many scars that I already bear.

Tarus lifted his hand and fire streamed out from it to spiral around Nomnat, leaving the sly man with no way to escape.

Please Tarus, he is my father, X pleaded. Exile him, but keep his soul in this life.

I personally have no quarrels with you, X, but don’t stand in my way. I have released you from the descendant oath, so the next time you step out of line, I won’t be forgiving. I can’t believe you’re asking for me to spare the life of your mother’s murderer.

He’s my father, X said in a low voice.

I closed my eyes, expecting my grandfather to explode at X’s second appeal.

I’m sorry to say that some legends are held to be true. I am a ruthless ruler and it’s hard for a tiger to change his stripes.

I opened my eyes again just as Tarus brought his hands down to hold them both steadily on the sword’s handle before he brought the blade around his shoulder and above his head. A ferocious swing severed Nomnat’s head clean from his shoulders. It plummeted to the ground and landed with a thud. His body quickly followed, sagging under its own weight.

With my heart in my throat, I stopped breathing. I looked at where the blood gushed out from the body where the head had once sat. I had never seen anything so grotesque in my life.

Resting his arm on one knee, X looked wearily away from his father’s cadaver.

X took a deep calm breath. I begged for your mercy.

Your objection was overruled, Tarus answered and tossed the sword angrily to the ground, looking around at the state of his courtyard. A life for a life. It is just.

A life for a life? X questioned, looking offended. I have served you for millennia. I have saved your life more times than I can count. I have protected your girls even when I knew I was going to suffer the consequences of your wrath for having interfered. I have been loyal and done all that you’ve asked of me, have I not?

Careful soldier. I don’t like your tone. You’re speaking to your king.

Tarus turned his back on X, pushing in a hand under my arm to help me stand up.

King? I have been like a son to you. Is all that forgotten now when Mother is dead?

I will not have you speak about ill fortune brought on by your mother’s death!

You tyrant! I was never good enough for your daughter, was I?

Never! I would never have allowed it!

Tarus whipped his arm dismissively in front of X.

Tell me the truth. You think I’m just another peasant, don’t you?

Tarus stepped forward to close the gap between them, standing so close his words sprayed spit into X’s face.

A servant’s pet.

That word seemed to have struck a chord with X. His drawn sword scraped against Tarus’s skin in just a matter of seconds. Tarus ducked in turn, avoiding any severe injuries.

X held his sword steady in-between them. I have given my life for you. Now you’ll give yours to me!

A sword of fire materialised in Tarus’s hand, steaming hot, and blazing orange and blue. Sheron, who had remained kneeling next to X, started to pull at X’s sleeve. Sheron hadn’t been relieved of his oath to protect the Bomi bloodline under threat of burning in Hell, so I was confident he would have his reservations on attacking us. I wished deep into my core that X would find his senses and listen to him. I genuinely believed X had no chance in a fight against my grandfather and I didn’t want to see his body speared and flagged outside the fort’s gates.

Come on, man. Let’s leave, Sheron urged.

A clunking rhythm sounding from swords hitting shields made me twist my head. My eyes instantly fell on the emblems on the front of the shields. They were green with a golden dragon. These were guards loyal to Tarus. I thanked the higher powers when I heard multiple leather boots stomping in unison, the courtyard filling up with the sound of them striking the ground as they marched our way. The rattling of chainmail and the sound of their armour battering appeared to settle X’s rage and wake him up to the danger he was in, taking note of Sheron’s urging for the first time.

X backed away, not taking his eyes off Tarus. I grabbed onto the torn vest around Tarus’s hips to stop him from taking up the chase to kill him. X then broke eye contact and glanced at me, giving me a troubled expression under pinched eyebrows. ‘Go,’ I mouthed, still holding tightly to Tarus’s garment. X finally turned round and together with Sheron they ran, ducking guards and jumping over corpses before they disappeared through a side door.

Tarus’s vibrating body calmed after I’d curled myself into the curve of his chest. He kissed the top of my head and then he sighed. Forcing both my shoulders steadily away from him, he stared into my eyes.

If you ever pull something like this again, he said and paused, looking at Isma’s corpse.

It felt as though he thought that my action to run away from Cross Creek island had led to her death. Maybe it had, but I hadn’t asked her to come, he was the one who had asked her to find me. I was waiting for him to say that he would kill me if it ever happened again.

He sighed once more. I’ll lock you up in my tallest tower for the rest of your life, guarding it myself in dragon form if I have to.

I forced myself close to his chest again, pressing my face into my hands and started crying. Tarus folded his arms completely around me.

I can’t bear thinking anything might happen to you. You are all that I have left now.

He stroked my head until I felt his muscles flex. I looked up and saw him waving at one of his guards who was wearing a more prominent green uniform than the others. Tarus seemed to be well acquainted with the man who came closer with some of the other guards in tow. The other guards were wearing their helmets, had their shields at the ready and were marching like a well-oiled machine, whilst this man was holding his helmet under his arm and only held the other hand at the ready on his sheathed sword handle hung on his belt.

Commander Zikes, bury Isma exactly where she lies. I want to be able to see her headstone from my throne in the kitchen to be reminded of all the love Susy symbolised in her statue. Have Casio carve her gravestone as an exact image of her body and on the base display the text ‘Love conquers all’, to represent that her embodiment will still convey the message even in her afterlife.

I will personally see to the arrangements, my King.

Tarus acknowledged with a nod before he turned his head to look at me again.

So, do you want to go and choose a room?

Choose a room?

"Yes, you can choose