Curse of Crowns Through Devils Eye

By Garris L. R. Coleman

In The War On All Shores comes the third volume of a delightful follow-up to the novels from Author Garris L. R. Coleman, Kings Transcend and Blood You Will Taste. Encounter a splendid and enchanting adventure certain to grip fantasy fans from around the globe. Filled with mystery, action, romance, and surprises, this epic tale is bursting with

• Language: English
• Publisher: Garris L. R. Coleman
• Release date: Nov 14, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350715484

Book preview

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Taking on the task of writing a novel takes a lot of work and persistence. Making it a series is insane. Each time has been an eye-opening experience filled with more research, tweaking, and sleep loss. This time, I changed up some things that took me longer to get book three ready for release. I drew all the artwork in this third novel by hand, then transferred it to the computer, where it was redesigned again. Finishing a novel takes dedication and a will to succeed.

Moreover, go for it for those thinking about attempting to write a novel. The feeling of such an accomplishment is well worth it. For those in the process, keep going and never give up.

Thank you, family and friends, for the hours you spent helping me, hearing me talk about this story. 

Thank you to all those who gave me feedback from the artwork to the writing; thank you for lending your precious time.

Thank you to all the fans for your support and patience for this to be released.

Volume Three

Through Devils Eye

Don’t let me fall! the small child’s voice cracked as she spoke. The feelings of fear rushed in and made her stomach twirl in knots.

Afraid, the young girl grabbed hold of her older brother’s neck. With both hands, she squeezed as tight as she could and was determined not to let go.

Her small fingernails pinched and dug into his skin. The grip made his face turn a few shades of red while the tips of her fingers turned the color of pale. Every muscle and joint in her body stiffened and trembled. Her eyes were wide, and her brow squeezed tight as she looked down and was afraid every time he moved.

It was a long way to the ground as her breath rushed in and out while feeling the lump in the back of her throat. Her jaw clenched as the wind blew strands of strawberry blond hair across her face. She was too frightened to move, much less to let go and tuck her hair behind her ears.

Tessa… stop… you’re choking me, Isidore said, trying to pry her little hands away from his throat.

I don’t want to fall, she replied with a shaky voice, quickly grabbing a fist full of his hair.

Ouch… he uttered a mild scream and grunted behind his teeth. His head slightly tilted backward. He quickly grabbed her skinny pale wrists to keep her from tumbling to the cobblestone floor. She barely reached half his height. You’re not going to fall; I’ve got you.

Isidore stood beside the balcony’s ledge with Tessa sitting on his shoulders. On that day, every nerve tingled, and muscle tightened. If she could have somehow hung on to Isidore with her feet, she would have.

Every time he shifted with the slightest movement; the young princess felt as though she was slipping. With each displacement her breath seemed to be stolen from her lungs. His long, skinny fingers felt sweaty on her little hands, and she was certain she could fall at any moment.

Can you put me down? she asked as her little body kept trembling.

Don’t you want to see the great bird’s display in the sky? Isidore asked, his hands gripping onto hers tightly.

For her, it felt like he had let her hands go and her steadiness slipping away.

Yes, I do, Tessa answered with a tremble in her voice.

Alright then, calm down. I promise I won’t let go. You will have the best view…

Every year for a season, a massive migration of birds flew to the seaside. Some flew down, diving into the blue waters scooping up fish, and back to the sky. Others glided over the waters skimming for their meals. Even fish lunged themselves out of the water to catch the smaller birds as they flew close to the water’s surface. Some birds caught other birds and fish for their meals. But only the biggest seemed to be the safest in the sky.

They did not bother trying to catch the smaller birds or fish with their claws or on their own. Instead, they worked together, bringing them closer to each other, taking turns diving into the cluster and catching them with their beaks. The loud squawking could be heard from miles away. Their repeating sounds drove the locals mad at times, especially in the late-night hours. For many, it felt like the annual event would never end.

TESSA! Oaks hollered; she snapped out of her daydream.

Her body flinched as she lay stretched out on top of a branch. The tree had many limbs that extended outward. She hung on to the thick limb with all her strength as she slowly climbed out. It seemed every time the limb made a creaking sound, she quickly closed her eyes tighter and placed her head down. Her legs locked around each other as she squeezed against the bark. She was irritated and shouted back at him, What!

Are you going to climb further out onto the limb? he asked, watching from below. You keep stopping. Hurry up!

I’m going as fast as I can, she snapped at him.

Oaks rolled his eyes as her feet remained against the tree’s trunk, and her body still showed no signs of movement. Gray moss hung from the branches, tickling her hands as the wind blew. She tried to shake it off her hand, but the branch creaked with every movement making her clench her grip even tighter. The old, knotted limb sounded as if it could snap at any moment, like a brittle twig bending and about to break.

You know, I’m afraid of heights, and why do I have to be the one to climb up the trees? she asked and hung onto the tree limbs tighter.

Tessa thought back to another time sitting on Isidore’s shoulders; she had these same feelings of twirling knots in her stomach and a dry mouth.

You know why. I would climb up, but you keep missing when you throw the rope to me. Now, hurry up and climb out, and catch the rope so you can come back down, Oaks replied, he exhaled a quick breath as he made the rope tap against his leg.

I don’t see why we must set all of these stupid traps, Tessa mumbled.

What did you say? he asked.

I said, I don’t see why we must set these traps. We could be doing something else, she replied, pulling herself further out and up to the next branch. I’m a princess; I shouldn’t have to do this.

You heard what Oma said. We need to set them up to help protect us, especially if we are here in her old village, he replied, and rolled up the rope getting it ready to toss to her. And quit talking so loud.

Tessa scooted on her stomach a little further and locked her legs around the branch. Her breath was heavy as the leaves rattled in the cool breeze. It had a stench of mold and mildew. The tree limb made a creaking sound the higher and further she went. Every slightest blow of the wind felt like a tug from below. She held on tighter until the breeze stopped. Tessa’s face peaked from around the branch toward the ground. She saw Oaks looking back up at her and a rope quickly coming at her.

Catch, Oaks said.

The rope hit the branch, and Tessa flinched and missed the rope. It hit her on the back of her hands as it unraveled. She did not bother even trying for the rope. Her arms just squeezed the branch tighter. With a frustrated breath, she tightened her brow, and quickly closed her eyes as she ducked behind the limb. Her chin rubbed up against the sap and made her aggravated.

Back toward the ground, the rope fell, twisting, and all jumbled. Oaks picked up the end and coiled it again, preparing for another toss. Tessa looked down, and with a harsh tone, she said, I wasn’t ready! You could have made me fall.

But you didn’t, he replied. Now, catch the rope this time.

Just hurry up so I can come down, she said as she watched him roll the rope.

The wind blew again softly and made a whistling sound. All around her, the leaves rattled as she made a sour face. That smells bad, she thought to herself, but something strange moved and caught her eye. She looked out as one of the trees moved. She blinked a few times and could not believe what she was seeing.

The tall, old looking wildwood moved silently among the rest of the forest. Its trunk and limbs were gray and dark and had maroon leaves. With every movement, its limbs grabbed onto other branches and pulled itself forward with a smooth glide. Tessa took a quick breath as she wanted to remain hidden. She looked back down at her brother and said, Hide!

Oaks dropped the rope as she pointed toward the forest. Off in the distance, he saw the same movement and ran to hide behind the tree that his sister was in. He slightly poked half his face out to watch as the tall wildwood moved through the Forgotten-Forest.

The soft moldy breeze stopped as the wildwood came closer. It passed by as Oaks and Tessa remained still. They hoped that it would not notice them. As the wind blew again, the tree stopped and turned toward them. It reached for more limbs and came closer, making its way only a few feet from them. The wildwood knelt and pushed open the door to the home where they had spent the night. Its face turned toward Oaks, but he moved his head back from peeking behind the tree trunk to avoid being seen.

The wildwood looked inside, but the wind blew again, and it turned toward the wind and stood. It stretched out its long arms, grabbed onto other limbs again, and pulled itself forward. It seemed to show no interest in either Oaks or Tessa as it moved away. I could have sworn it looked right at me. Perhaps it did not know we were even here, Oaks thought to himself.

The tree looked to almost disappear every time its fingers grabbed hold of the surrounding wildwoods. Even the leaves did not rattle off a sound as it moved and held on to the nearby limbs. Oaks eased his head around one more time, just enough to see if the walking timber was still there.

Tessa remained lying against the limb of the old tree and tightly hung on, her arms wrapped around its tired branch. Her breath was light, and everything inside told her to remain still and clinging to the sticky cold bark. She watched as it moved further away and did not move until it was completely gone.

Underneath the rolled, dried-out skin of the map was a second layer. The Quartermaster bent the edge down and opened it up. The skins made almost a ripping sound as they pulled away from each other. Once apart, they quickly rolled up by themselves, and the first one flew out of his hand and landed on the table.

The second one rolled and remained in his hand. Its back was a light-yellow color. He rolled out the skin and placed it across the table with small stones to hold the corners. It was another map with several smaller words written. His dark brown eyes moved side to side as he read its words. The table shifted as the ship rocked and slid the stones away from the corner of the map.

The Quartermaster braced against the table as a thud hit the front of the boat. A scraping sound scratched along each side of the ship. Stacks of scrolls fell from the table and rolled to one side of the room from the hard impact. The wooden slats creaked and vibrated as the ship rocked. Underneath the floor, knocking of hard objects rolled and thrashed against the bottom of the boat. As the Quartermaster tried to catch things from going off the table, the ship quickly calmed down and continued back to its normal course as fast as the chaos came.

Peek straightened his back and looked for the stones that held the corners down and reopened the map with the writing again. He quickly flipped it upright and began to read. His forehead wrinkled as the inaudible whispers became clearer. His scratchy voice spoke saying, "And near the queen’s tree is where the old ruthless king was betrayed.

It was I, the one who was once his slave. I’m the one who took the knife and plunged it deep into his back as he tried to take another form and leave. The ones that take our form enter through the queen’s tree, but I sit and wait for more of his kind to arrive so that I can kill them, also. Once the king was dead, I feasted on his blood, and now my body will never age as he did. I have sat for years and have yet to see another shifter enter these lands.

It was rumored that the old fool’s blood poisoned the tree and sealed it from any others entering but I believe it also sealed the queen’s fate, for she would never have left her garden. Those that shift and take the shape of any other form should not be here where the non-shifters stay. They arrive and claim to create life but only turn vicious after being here too long. If they are seen, do not hesitate to strike, they all must be killed."

Peek flipped over the map to see if anything else was written as his fingertips slid along the edges to see if it was stuck to another skin. He focused on studying the queen’s tree. It was drawn with a large trunk and looked to have a tall mirror starting at the base, its limbs lifted to the sky. I have seen that tree before, but its limbs hang down, not upward. He thought to himself as it did not look like the tree he remembered.

Many of the Bargolians tried to enter but were denied passage. It did not resemble any of the other trees, for its bark was the shape of diamond scales; they were black and gold in color. The leaves were tan and rattled when the wind blew. The slaves knew once the king and queen would arrive, for the leaves lifted and seemed to go into a state of confusion announcing their return. All the lands shook and trembled with fear as the slaves never knew what was coming but only who was returning.

Into the air, Peek’s body lifted. His knees came toward his chest as his feet went out. He dropped the map as everything seemed to rise and suspend in midair for a moment before coming crashing down. Peek landed on his back and rolled. He tried to catch himself as he went tumbling on his way down.

A loud crash sounded in the background. He turned over onto his side to cover his body. The table broke free from its nails in the floor and lifted. It slammed down onto its side and slid across the floor scraping and thumping, coming closer to him. It turned at an angle and smacked against the wall cornering him. The ship rocked as it came to a complete stop. Papers, scrolls, and things that belonged to Mason went everywhere, from the furniture breaking loose.

Peek grabbed the edge of the desk and grunted as he eased himself up to his feet. His breath was heavy as he grunted and felt his back. A trickle of blood came down his face as he wiped and looked at his palm. The room was trashed as he pushed the desk out of the way. He grabbed one of Mason’s clothing and held it to his head for a while to stop the bleeding. What are they doing up there? he asked himself. Papers ruffled as he looked for the two maps he dropped.

Moments later, the latch turned, and the door swung open. Drift entered the room with haste and quickly closed the door behind himself. Peek looked over at him as he was squatted down and had just found the second map. Heavy footsteps of running scramble above their heads on the main deck. Inaudible shouts and metal clanking rang out as the ship was surrounded and was kept from exiting the kingdom of Fog-shore. The sails continued to flap as they filled with wind and tried to push them through the gates.

Below the main deck, Drift stood in the center of the room and extended his open hand. Between the desk and a shelf turned over, the Quartermaster looked back at him with the maps rolled in his hand. Drift’s forehead tightened as his eyes began to squint. He exhaled a deeply and said, I need those maps.

Sir, what happened out there? The Quartermaster asked.

We are stuck between the gates of Fog-shore and can’t get out. Everything we were planning has been compromised, Drift replied extending his hand. Now, hand over those maps.

Yes, Sir, he replied and stretched out his arm, offering the maps to Drift. Sir, your brother…

Yes, what of him? Drift asked as he tucked the maps into his fur coat.

Did he murder the king and queen?

Drift’s eyes lifted as his head remained down. He kept his hand inside the fur while adjusting the map. He looked down toward his coat and replied, And what if he did?

Are you saying Grahad killed the king and queen?

The queen knew the king was dead when she took his powers. Thanks to the queen, we are all free from his grip; Grahad just finished his pathetic body off with a blade, he replied.

The Quartermaster stepped forward and stood facing him. Their eyes locked as his widened and looked straight ahead. He slightly shook his head as his lip raised, sighed through his teeth and said, Do you know what your brother has done? It wasn’t the grip of the shape-shifting king and queen you needed to be free from. It was the shadow shifters…

They all look the same to me, shadows, dragons, people, trees. They make no difference to me. If it shifts, it needs to die, Drift replied.

If the people back home find out what your brother has done, they may kill him themselves, the Quartermaster replied.

They’re not going to find out because of that over there, he replied.

What are you talking about? the Quartermaster asked.

Because of what’s inside the box, Drift replied, his eyes looked over to the side, behind the Quartermaster.

What’s inside the box? he asked.

Drift looked back at him and raised his eyebrows and did not reply. The Quartermaster stared back at Drift, then turned his head away. His eyes widened as he looked forward. A gurgling sound came from his slightly opened mouth as the corners filled with a warm red. His body made a clunk as it went limp to the floor. Drift stood over him, pulled out the sharpened silver blade from his neck, and shoved it in once again, followed by a few more times. He leaned over and said, In this life or the next, never trust a Bargolian.

Drift took the blade, flicked the blood from its edge, and sheathed it inside his coat. He looked down at the lifeless body of the Quartermaster and nudged him over with his foot. Blood filled the floor as he was motionless. He turned and walked toward the large closet as he said, You learned too much, my friend.

He opened the closet door and slid back the coats. There was a hidden latch to another entry in the back. It creaked as he pushed it open and climbed in. Drift slid the coats over into their place as footsteps came closer. The thick coats hung, covering its secret passage. On the other side of the door was another room where he closed the small door, then sat and hid.

On the main deck, feet scratched against the flooring planks as the crew drew swords and ready themselves. With the ship trapped, the guards extended long wooden planks to board the large vessel. They kept their swords and spears drawn, prepared to strike down any who stood in the way. Other boats came and surrounded them. Moments went by as each side stared, waiting for the other to make a move. On the dock and between the guards, King Elias walked with the men he took from their families as Queen Sienna dealt with the others.

At the edge of the docks, King Elias lifted his hand and pointed. The men with him fell into the water. Many stood and watched as hands in the shape of claws gripped the ship’s sides. Scales the color of black and brown formed all over their bare skin.  Flicked tongues shot out of their mouths as they moved their pointy heads side to side. Their bodies slid along the wood. They all began to climb to the top.

The crew stood with their backs toward each other, ready with their swords drawn. Some held the hilt next to their heads, and others kept them at their hip. Hands with scales of black and brown reached to the top of the guard rails. With firm grips, they pulled themselves over and onto the deck. More and more climbed the rails and quickly outnumbered the crew. A heavier board slammed onto the railing, and King Elias stepped across. He stood at the edge, towering over everyone, and asked, Where is the captain of this ship?

The crew stood silently, waiting for someone in charge to speak up, but no one said anything.  Some looked around since no one replied and did not see the captain or quartermaster.

How about you open the gates and let us leave this place, one of the crew members responded.

There’s nowhere for any of you to go. Lay down your weapons before I give the order to kill every one of you. So, I will ask again. Where is the captain of this vessel?

They are probably in the captain’s quarters, he replied.

I suggest you go and fetch your captain, King Elias said.

We don’t take orders from you, he replied gripping his sword tighter. Don’t listen to these shifters.

Very well, I will find your captain myself, he replied taking steps back toward the dock, motioning his hand, and said, Clear the deck and leave no one alive.

Run! Misaki shouted. Run!

She shouted again and pulled the young woman’s arm with a quick tug. Her heart raced while lifting and picking up her pace.

Higotji almost tripped over his own foot from Misaki pulling so hard. The young woman did not budge as her head hung down. Her stringy hair dangled on either side of her face. With each step they made, her feet drug across the ground, leaving a trail behind them. Over to the ledge where Higotji and Misaki had dropped down from before, they stopped at the wall of rock and harden clay.

We are never going to make it… there are too many of them, Misaki said as she was almost out of breath.

Over there, step up and climb over. I will help you up, then you can pull her, while I lift, Higotji said.

He showed Misaki where to step.

Ease her down gently, Misaki said as she lifted the young woman’s arm from around her neck.

Are you ready? he asked as Misaki placed a foot in the small opening of the clay wall.

Higotji lifted her foot above his head as she grabbed the top and pulled herself over to the higher ground. She quickly rolled onto her side, turned and stretched her arms down, ready to pull the young woman. Higotji wasted no time once Misaki was up and over, he had grabbed the young woman to lift her, but she had remained limp. He shook her to wake her, and said, Come on, open your eyes. But she did not budge or respond.

Higotji opened her eyelid, but her eyes rolled back. With a gentle hand, he slapped her face to try and wake her. The young woman’s eyes hardly peeked through as she took a shallow breath. You have to reach up, or we are going to die, he said. She made a grunting sound and another mumble of unknown words. He placed her arm around his neck and stood pulling at her waist. Her head leaned to the side as he braced her against the wall. Softly, he moved the hair out of her face and tried to wake her again with another slap on the cheek. She opened her eyes and looked at him as they were almost glazed over and mumbled what sounded like the same thing as before.

Listen, he said. You have to reach up as I lift you.

Mmmmm, she mumbled, then grunted.

He lifted her as she managed to step and stood on his shoulders. The reaction of her body wanting to go limp made it challenging for him to maintain her balance and keep her from slumping back down. He strained his muscles, exerting more force to lift her. She used what little strength she had and reached upward.

Come on… just a little more, Misaki said as she strained and grunted. Her arms reached down, shaking to grab hold of the young woman. You’re almost there.

Do you have her? he asked as he strained and lifted with all his might. The young woman felt as if she was continuing to go limp again. He stretched onto his toes and then to one of the stones to give them a little extra.

Alright, I have her hand. Now lift, she said, gripping the young woman’s arm tighter.

Misaki made a louder grunt and pulled with all her strength. The young woman’s body slid against the rock and claystone. Her pale skin continued to bleed as she was lifted to the top of the ledge. Across Misaki’s body, the young woman went limped and motionless. Over to the side, Misaki’s body turned as she rolled the young woman over to one side. Misaki stood to her feet and breathed heavily. Back to the edge, Misaki looked toward the openness and toward the open ravine.

Claws dug into the gravel ground as sharp fangs protruded from their jawline. Sounds of snarling came closer as The Cursed ran for them. She looked over the ridge’s edge at Higotji and lowered her hands for him to take. He looked back at her, unsheathed his sword, and said, Now take her and go.

No, I’m not leaving you. Now come on, it is your turn. I can pull you up, Misaki said. She kept reaching her hands down toward him.

You will never be able to lift me, he replied and readied his sword.

Quit talking and grab hold of my hands, she said.

Alright, he replied and sheathed his sword. When he reached up, she was too high, and their hands never touched.

Come on. You are almost there, just a little farther, she pleaded while he stepped onto a rock and then to another rock that stuck out from the wall.

Stretched out, only their fingertips could touch as Higotji tried to step onto another rock. Misaki grabbed his hand but lost her grip as the stone crumbled and broke loose from the wall. He slipped and fell back to the ground.

Just go! Find somewhere safe, he said as he looked and saw that The Cursed were getting closer.

No! You try it again. I almost had you. Now put your foot in where the rock fell out, she said and stood. She pulled off a strap around the pouch she had. Quickly, grab hold.

Misaki lowered the strap down just enough for him to hold on to. Higotji grabbed onto another rock that stuck out of the wall. They both pulled, as he was able to lift his leg on top of the ledge. She pulled with all her might until she saw his leg come over the top of the ridge. She quickly grabbed onto his clothing and strained to help him up. Higotji rolled onto his back and exhaled with deep breaths looking to the sky.

You’re a lot stronger than you look, he said, lying there catching his breath. Thanks for helping me up.

Don’t get too comfortable; get up! We must go; it’s not safe yet, she said, quickly putting the strap back on her pouch.

Can you carry her? he asked and stood while moving his hair from among his face. The steal rang out as he unsheathed his sword. I have the high ground now.

Have you lost your mind? she asked.

Listen, I have the high ground now, and I could hold them off and give you some distance, he said.

There’s too many of them. You will surely die… she replied.

We will all die if I don’t. Now go. There’s no time to argue about it.

Thank you, Misaki said, wrapping her arms around him quickly.

There’s no time for this… go…and keep saving lives like your mother, he said.

Alright… at least help me get her over my shoulders.

Sure, he replied.

He stuck the blade into the ground and turned to the young woman. Misaki got on one side as Higotji stood on the other. Together they lifted her limp body over Misaki’s shoulder. She grunted and mumbled some words, but they did not understand what she was saying as they positioned the young woman.

I need your sword… it will be less weight that you have to carry, he said, unsheathing her sword from her waist. Go, I’m right behind you. I will keep them from catching you.

Misaki took off running toward the tree line while carrying the young woman. He turned toward his blade and stretched out his hand. It wobbled and shook before it turned loose from the soil. He made it fly back into his hand as his fingers wrapped around its chorded hilt.

In each hand, Higotji held a sword and flipped them as he turned and faced The Cursed. They ran in a frenzy toward the cliff in a great number. More of them kept appearing from among the cavern. He kept looking behind to see if Misaki was gone and past the tree line. The wind blew his brown hair across his face as he looked over the edge waiting for them to approach. He watched the cloud of dust rise from the ground leaving a trail behind them. So, it’s one verse a hundred, maybe two hundred, he thought as he looked over the horizon at them. He took a breath and exhaled to calm his mind.

They snarled while arriving at the ridge. Their claws dug into the side of the wall and scratched into its surface as they began to climb. One of The Cursed reached over to pull itself up, but Higotji sliced its handoff,