The Cursed Ziggurat: Loth The Unworthy

By Charles Eugene Anderson

In the treacherous Mountains of Darkness, the barbarian warrior Loth finds himself hunting for magical treasure. When a mysterious sorceress named Tara enlists his help to retrieve a powerful amulet from an ancient ziggurat, Loth agrees, hoping to claim a legendary warhammer for his people. But the ruins hide dark secrets and sinister guardians that will push Loth and his companions to their limits.

 

Accompanied by Tara and Increased, a shifty adventurer, Loth must brave the cursed ziggurat's deadly traps and supernatural protectors. Within its shadowy depths, he discovers the Emerald Promise - not a mere trinket, but a mystical being bound to the temple itself. However, their rival, the twisted sorcerer Uzohr, will stop at nothing to claim the ziggurat's power. And Increased's greed may doom them all when he steals the cursed warhammer for himself.

 

In a race against time, Loth and Tara must overcome deceit, betrayal and vengeful spirits to save the magical being known as the Emerald Promise. But will the ancient ziggurat's destruction spell the end of their quest, or only the beginning?

 

Perfect for fans of Conan the Barbarian, Robert E. Howard, and heroic fantasy, "The Cursed Ziggurat" is an action-packed sword and sorcery adventure. Its vivid world-building, high-stakes plot and gripping battle scenes will immerse readers in a tale of daring exploits, supernatural peril and ancient secrets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mad Cow Press
• Release date: Jul 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223538172

Charles Eugene Anderson

Charles Eugene Anderson lives in Colorado. Chuck is a former teacher. He now spends his time writing, hanging out with his pup, Champ, and learning how to bake. More about Chuck at http://charleseugeneanderson.com

Book preview

Chapter

One

The first arrows would not be the last arrows to strike the ground next to Loth that day. The warrior had already killed the Bone Warriors hiding in the rocks above him, and every time he tried to see where they were hiding, they shot their arrows at him. They had kept him pinned for a long time, and Loth was tired of waiting for them to attack.

Loth held his blade in his hand and said, Show yourself, you spineless worms so I can show you the steel of my blade.

Another sheaf of arrows fell around him. Loth, caught here, is where he shouldn't have been in The Notch of Riches. The land was the home to the Bone Warriors, and they guarded their land and its riches.

Loth narrowed his eyes, scanning the rocky cliffs above for any sign of movement. He knew he couldn't stay here much longer, not with the Bone Warriors raining arrows on him. He needed to take the fight to them.

With a fierce battle cry, Loth charged toward the nearest cliff. He dodged and weaved as the Bone Warriors continued to shoot arrows, but he was determined to get up there and take them out.

Finally, he reached the base of the cliff and began to climb. His muscles burned with exertion as he pulled himself up, but he didn't falter.

When he reached the top, he leaped onto the ledge and charged toward the nearest Bone Warrior. The warrior was surprised by Loth's sudden appearance and faltered momentarily, allowing Loth to strike him down with a swift blow from his blade.

The other Bone Warriors quickly regrouped, and Loth had to regain cover from their arrows.

He looked around and knew he could not fight them all and resigned to look for a place to retreat. At first, he didn't see anything, but after a minute, he saw something that caught his eye.

It was a narrow crevice in the rock, just wide enough for Loth to squeeze through. He darted towards it, dodging arrows as he went. The Bone Warriors shouted at him in their guttural language, but Loth paid them no mind. He had a plan.

He slipped into the crevice and paused, listening carefully for any sounds of pursuit. When he heard nothing, he began to move again. The crack twisted and turned, leading him deeper into the rock.

Finally, he emerged on the other side, behind the Bone Warriors. They hadn't seen him coming, and he took advantage of their surprise. He charged towards them, his blade flashing in the sunlight.

The Bone Warriors fought fiercely, but Loth was a master swordsman, and he quickly gained the upper hand. One by one, he took them down until only one remained.

The last Bone Warrior was a massive brute of a man, his muscles bulging beneath his leather armor. He held his own cruel blade. He said, This is our land, and we have finally caught a Cusith dog.

Loth needed to catch his breath, so he would let the man talk a little longer before engaging him in combat.

The Bone Warrior continued, You come here to steal our gems. What does a dog like you need with them?

The question didn't need to be answered because both knew the answer. The Bone Warriors grew richer, pushing the other tribes further away from the best land with their new weapons and better steel for their blades and tips for their arrows. While Loth's clan, the Cusith, had to try to survive in the least inhabitable places.

Of course, the Bone Warrior was right,