Title: Rise Of The
Watchtower (Time Of Shadows Series #4)
Author: Kyra Dune
Genre: High Fantasy
Cover Art: Deron Douglas
Blurb
With the bans against magic lifted, all witches have been ordered
to the newly reopened Watchtower, there to study magic under the watchful eyes
of the High Sorceress. But not everyone is pleased. That, combined with the
king's order that all children must undergo training in the guard, is making
the citizens of Phalindros nervous. They have to wonder just what their young
king intends for their future.
King Dominus has it all figured out. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it. Patience is the key to winning at any game, even the game of life. He can see every piece on the board and he knows just where to move them. Or so he believes.
But Dominus doesn't know everything.
There are forces at work against him, people who have slipped through his fingers simply because he failed to see the threat in them. Now, that threat is growing.
Enemies without. Enemies within. And a king unaware that the game he's playing has far greater stakes than he could ever imagine.
King Dominus has it all figured out. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it. Patience is the key to winning at any game, even the game of life. He can see every piece on the board and he knows just where to move them. Or so he believes.
But Dominus doesn't know everything.
There are forces at work against him, people who have slipped through his fingers simply because he failed to see the threat in them. Now, that threat is growing.
Enemies without. Enemies within. And a king unaware that the game he's playing has far greater stakes than he could ever imagine.
Excerpt
Rowlin opened the book to a random page.
The crimson words written on the flesh colored parchment seemed to writhe
before his eyes. He could not read them. The faint scent of copper rose from
the page. His nose wrinkled. “Is that...blood?”
“It is.”
Revulsion rolled through Rowlin and yet he
could not deny a certain morbid fascination. Gareth had told him only the most
powerful of spells was written in blood and if he possessed any such books, he
hadn’t shown them to Rowlin. In fact, the entire subject had seemed to make him
uncomfortable, a sentiment Rowlin shared.
“If it’s a spell book, why can’t I read
it?” Rowlin asked, laying the book next to the box. The tingle remained under
his skin like an itch. He curled his hands into fists to resist the urge to wipe
them on his pants.
“Because it’s not written in the language
of spells that you have learned,” Clayden said, “but in a language far older.
Gareth taught it to me.”
“But not to me.” Rowlin knew he shouldn’t
be hurt by this, but he was.
“This book is extremely dangerous. The fewer people who can read the
words, the better. That’s why a far distant relative of ours removed the book
from Southfell. My grandfather wanted to find it, which is part of the reason
my mother fled her home. And why she took the box with her. For the two are
connected. Together, they are the most powerful magical artifacts in
existence.” He lifted the box and opened the lid.
Rowlin had never seen what was inside, for
his father had expressly forbidden he and Carlina to look. So he was
considerably surprised when his uncle held up a tiny dragon, carved in crimson
and gold stone. The carving was so perfect in every detail Rowlin half expected
to see it stretch its wings and fly away.
He shifted his astonished gaze to the book. “The book
is bound in dragon scale.”
Clayden nodded. “The pages are dragon hide
and the words are written in dragon blood. This is more than a book, Rowlin, it
is the body of the dragon whose name is upon the cover. And this carving is its
soul.” He placed the dragon back inside the box and closed the lid. “This is a
grave and dangerous secret. You must never tell anyone.”
“I won’t, I swear. But why would someone
bind the body and soul of a dragon in such a way?”
“You have heard the legend of the great
war between the gods of darkness and light?”
“Of course.” Rowlin tried not to show it,
but something in his uncle’s tone sent a shiver down his spine. “The tribes may
favor the elder gods over the younger ones, but they still tell that legend.”
“But I doubt they tell all of it,” Clayden
said. “Like all legends, this tale has been twisted through the passage of time
to fit what people wish to believe other than what is true. In Southfell, I
learned the truth. I learned it from this book.” He laid his hand lightly on
the cover. “Basale himself has told me these words are true, and surely he
would know for he was there when it happened. I will share that truth with you,
but again you must swear never to repeat my words under any circumstance.”
Rowlin was not entirely certain he wanted
to know the truth, but with his uncle offering him such trust he could hardly
refuse. “You have my word on the souls of my ancestors, may they rise against
me should I ever break it.”
About The
Author
Kyra Dune was born in
Oklahoma, but spent most of her life travelling with her family. She is the
author of more than twenty fantasy novels, including: Shadow of the Dragon, Elfblood, and Firebrand. As a child, her favorite stories were those that told
of ordinary children being whisked away to magical lands. She has yet to find
her own secret wardrobe or rabbit hole, but she hasn’t given up the search. You never know what might be waiting over the next rainbow.
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