Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Warden's Reign: Essence of Ohr, #1
Warden's Reign: Essence of Ohr, #1
Warden's Reign: Essence of Ohr, #1
Ebook445 pages6 hours

Warden's Reign: Essence of Ohr, #1

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars

()

Read preview

About this ebook

As a dark flame consumes the world, a larger threat looms over the refugees of Solpate.

  • WINNER: Readers' Favorite Book Awards 2020 - Bronze Medal - Young Adult Fiction-Epic Fantasy
  • WINNER: Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, Winter 2020 - Best Young Adult Fantasy

"The world-building is intricate, strange but compelling, drawing fantasy elements into its own cohesive and engaging lore... The moving trees, or the ramblers, and the gods of the realm known as the Souls add a mythical and fantastical charm to the story. ...full of dark thrills, adrenaline-pumping moments, and heavy emotions... With twists, loss, revenge, and a quest for peace and freedom, Warden's Reign hits all the right notes not just for YA readers but older fantasy fans as well." ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews, Lit Amri (5 STARS)

Orphans are snagged from their beds and used in the Warden's dark experiments. Those who seek asylum in the forest must survive the dangers of the night, when the forest trees uproot and roam free.

Fifteen-year-old Kole, with the help of his mentor, Russé, has adapted. He's learned to tame the rampant trees and protect the orphans. But when one of the Warden's mutated creatures discovers the camp and sets it aflame, Kole's life is upturned and the refugees' haven is lost.

Kole must convince the others to make a stand to save themselves—and all their people—from the anguish of becoming the next subjects of brutal experiments. Yet what chance does a rag-tag band of refugees have against the malevolent power and magic of the Warden and his vile creations?

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS the first book in the "Essence of Ohr" series of wondrous young adult fantasy adventures. And be sure to move right on to the next two books in this series: Children of the Volcano and Beyond the Flame. [DRM-Free]

"Unique, imaginative, and well-crafted world-building and a plot rife with danger and startling discoveries make for addictive reading." ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews, Caitlin Lyle Farley (5 STARS)

"Warden's Reign is an exciting beginning to what promises to be an action-packed fantasy series. ...actually very original and extremely imaginative." ~ Readers' Favorite Book Reviews, Scott Cahan (5 STARS)

 

LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 16, 2020
ISBN9781622536528
Warden's Reign: Essence of Ohr, #1
Author

Parris Sheets

Parris lives in Mesa, Arizona with her husband and two golden retrievers. She discovered her love for reading when a middle school reading assignment led her to the fantasy section of the library. This passion sparked stories of her own imagination, yet she never put pen to paper until after college. When she’s not consumed in her writing, she enjoys Olympic weightlifting, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and coaching color guard.

Related to Warden's Reign

Titles in the series (4)

View More

Related ebooks

YA Fantasy For You

View More

Related articles

Reviews for Warden's Reign

Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings

0 ratings0 reviews

What did you think?

Tap to rate

Review must be at least 10 words

    Book preview

    Warden's Reign - Parris Sheets

    Copyright

    www.EvolvedPub.com

    To make sure you never miss out on any important announcements related to our books, special promotions, etc, please subscribe to our newsletter at the address below. And fear not, we’ll not spam you, nor will we share your information with anyone else.

    Subscribe to the Evolved Publishing Newsletter

    ~~~

    WARDEN’S REIGN

    Essence of Ohr – Book 1

    Copyright © 2020 Parris Sheets

    ~~~

    ISBN (EPUB Version): 1622536525

    ISBN-13 (EPUB Version): 978-1-62253-652-8

    ~~~

    Editor: Darren Todd

    Cover Artist: Samuel Keiser

    Interior Designer: Lane Diamond

    ~~~

    PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

    At the end of this novel of approximately 98,556 words, you will find two Special Sneak Previews: 1) CHILDREN OF THE VOLCANO by Parris Sheets, the next (second) book in this Essence of Ohr series, and; 2) HEIR OF THUNDER by Karissa Laurel, the first book in the Stormbourne Chronicles series, another YA Fantasy. We think you’ll enjoy these books, too, and provide these previews as a FREE extra service, which you should in no way consider a part of the price you paid for this book. We hope you will both appreciate and enjoy the opportunity. Thank you.

    ~~~

    eBook License Notes:

    You may not use, reproduce or transmit in any manner, any part of this book without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews, or in accordance with federal Fair Use laws. All rights are reserved.

    This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; it may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to your eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

    ~~~

    Disclaimer:

    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.

    Books by Parris Sheets

    ESSENCE OF OHR

    Book 1: Warden’s Reign

    Book 2: Children of the Volcano [Spring 2021]

    Book 3: Beyond the Flane [Spring 2022]

    ~~~

    www.ParrisSheetsAuthor.com

    BONUS CONTENT

    We’re pleased to offer you not one, but two Special Sneak Previews at the end of this book.

    ~~~

    In the first preview, you’ll enjoy the First 3 Chapters of Parris Sheets’ CHILDREN OF THE VOLCANO, the next book coming (Book 2) in the exciting series of young adult fantasies, Essence of Ohr.

    ~~~

    ~~~

    To remain up-to-date on this series, please stay tuned to our website at the link below:

    ESSENCE OF OHR Series at Evolved Publishing

    In the second preview, you’ll enjoy the First 2 Chapters of HEIR OF THUNDER by Karissa Laurel, the critically acclaimed first book in the Stormbourne Chronicles series of young adult fantasies.

    ~~~

    ~~~

    OR GRAB THE FULL EBOOK TODAY!

    YOU’LL FIND LINKS TO YOUR FAVORITE RETAILER HERE:

    STORMBOURNE CHRONICLES Series at Evolved Publishing

    Table of Contents

    Copyright

    Books by Parris Sheets

    BONUS CONTENT

    Table of Contents

    Dedication

    WARDEN’S REIGN

    The Realm of Ohr (Map)

    Chapter 1

    Chapter 2

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    Chapter 6

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    Chapter 10

    Chapter 11

    Chapter 12

    Chapter 13

    Chapter 14

    Chapter 15

    Chapter 16

    Chapter 17

    Chapter 18

    Chapter 19

    Chapter 20

    Chapter 21

    Chapter 22

    Chapter 23

    Chapter 24

    Chapter 25

    Chapter 26

    Special Sneak Preview: CHILDREN OF THE VOLCANO by Parris Sheets

    Acknowledgements

    About the Author

    More from Evolved Publishing

    Special Sneak Preview: HEIR OF THUNDER by Karissa Laurel

    Dedication

    For Matthew, who gave me the courage to pursue my dream.

    Chapter 1

    When the sun set and the moon dominated the sky, the ramblers walked. Their trunks towered over Kole, carried aloft by thousands of roots as they crawled across the underbrush like giant insects. The massive trees stumbled into one another, knocking about as if intoxicated by the silver moonlight which fueled their nightly gala.

    Kole eyed them greedily. Bringing one of these back was sure to please his mentor. I’ll have my shepherd title by morning.

    Whoa... I’ve never seen ramblers this big, Niko said beside him, his weariness to follow Kole apparently forgotten at the sight of the gargantuan trees. His quill, a sharpened twig, scratched furiously along the wad of parchment he used as a notebook. Though stained and torn from years of use, Niko treated it like the finest treasure. He even slept with the damn thing.

    Kole glanced sideways at the page where he could just make out Niko’s sketch of the massive trunks in the soft moonlight, quickly scribbling guesstimated measurements next to each specimen before the ramblers scurried out of view.

    Two hundred meters tall, Niko murmured as he jotted his note down. Apparently the trees were more important than Kole at the moment. Just look at the width of that trunk. Thirty?

    Sure. Kole’s pointed look seemed lost on his friend. Told you it’d be worth it.

    As Niko finished his drawing, an uncertain tone shaded his voice "Yeah, well, let’s not do anything stupid. I’d prefer not to get trampled tonight."

    He patted his reluctant friend’s back. We’ll be fine.

    Niko grumbled. He formed Kole’s opposite in every way: tall and athletic with dark hair and deeply tanned skin. A shadow of stubble poked from his chin even though he was a year younger than Kole.

    Kole always felt scrawny next to Niko. Next to anyone, really. He stood a full head shorter than average, and, at fifteen, still retained the puffy cheeks of a child half his age.

    So what’s the plan? Niko dipped his quill into the portable inkwell at his waist. No one’s going to hear the horn way out here.

    Kole scrunched his nose. Niko was right. They couldn’t count on the other hunters to help wrangle the rambler back to camp. And the two of them would be no match for a tree this size. But he refused to go back empty handed. Again. Six nights he and Niko had gone out to hunt, and six nights they’d returned to camp with heads hung low. The only thing more embarrassing than a week’s worth of failure was the thought of Dya capturing a rambler before him. She wasn’t even trained. How ridiculous would he look if the runner-up for his apprenticeship caught a rambler before him? He refused to give his mentor a chance to second guess his decision. It had to be tonight.

    We’ll ride it back, Kole decided.

    Niko stared open-mouthed at the trees. Are you sure you can steer one this big?

    He shrugged. Can’t be much different than the smaller ones.

    In truth, Kole was guessing, but no way would he admit that to Niko. It had taken a good hour to persuade him to come out this far in the first place. Kole had enticed him with promises of unique ramblers to add to his sketchbook. If Niko sensed even the slightest doubt, he’d abandon the hunt.

    Russé’s okay with it? I thought you weren’t supposed to do this stuff without supervision.

    Kole rolled his eyes and whispered though his teeth, He doesn’t have to know.

    What?

    It’s all right, Niko. I’m a shepherd. I’m trained for this kind of thing.

    "Apprentice."

    Kole winced at the word. I know how to steer a rambler, Niko, he said, heat rising to his cheeks. Every night that we come back with nothing gives Dya another chance to one up us. She’ll rub it in my face forever. Do you want to beat her or not?

    Eyes squinting, Niko stared, as if weighing the argument in his mind.

    You’ll get a real-life demonstration just like I promised. He gestured to the ramblers. It’ll give you an advantage at the next Shepherd’s Trials. Knowing this stuff will get you to the final round.

    Fine, Niko relented. Just be careful.

    Kole craned his neck back and lifted his eyes, sizing up the ramblers. Their branches reached like long fingers toward the sky, as if they meant to touch the stars with their leaves. They easily stood twice the size of any rambler back at camp.

    He grinned, picturing Dya′s jealous pout when he and Niko paraded one of these beauties through the outpost. Russé would praise him and, once hollowed out, he and Niko would have one of the finest homes in all of camp.

    Unhooking the twisted vine rope from his hip, Kole scrutinized the ramblers. Dozens of tall, fat trees walked by, perfectly suited for a new, spacious home. Maybe he’d pick a white oak; he had a particular fondness for their wide, round canopies. A flash of maroon swept by in the distance. Kole gave a secret smile when he spotted the red maple. Though the trunk looked a bit thinner than the others, it would still make a fine house. How grand those red leaves would look among the green trees back at camp. As it neared, though, his inflated confidence wavered. It stood tall above the others, and its roots stomped the ground with an air of primal edge.

    Kole stepped back. The lanky maple might prove too hard to coerce. He reined in his greed and looked for something more manageable.

    Through the horde of trees, Kole noticed a rambler with an uneven gait. Instead of gliding gracefully over the forest floor like the others, it hobbled. He sighed. Not as impressive, but it would do.

    Take notes. Kole trotted away. As he ran, he untangled the vine rope and circled the knotted loop above his head. His wrist flicked faster and faster until the vine blurred green and whistled. Approaching from the side, Kole found the cause of the rambler’s limp. A group of damaged roots hung like dead snakes from its trunk.

    Kole raced up next to it, careful to stay at a safe distance. Eyes set on a low-hanging branch, he released his rope. The lasso hit its mark, slipping over the bottom bough. He tugged, tightening the rope securely around the branch.

    Green grass raced below him as the rambler unknowingly carried a stowaway. Kole climbed up the vine, leery of looking down until he reached the bough. Once he’d laced his fingers over the bark, he climbed the length of the branch to the trunk and descended to the damaged roots.

    During his training, squeezing the root had proven enough to coerce ramblers into submission. But those had been saplings. The harmless act made the rambler think it was in danger. He figured his bare hands posed little threat to a rambler this big. How could he make it aware of his presence? He slipped his hunting knife from his belt and rested the blade on the root, then paused and glanced up. Sorry, big guy. He plunged the knife into the root.

    A deep shudder ran down the trunk, and the rambler swayed to a stop.

    Fight or flight? His eyes scanned the roots for any hint of reaction. When it didn’t move, he frowned. Neither? Odd, but not unheard of. Russé had mentioned times when a rambler would give itself willingly. A smile touched Kole’s lips, and he stood, chest puffed at his success.

    Not so big and bad, are we? he said to the rambler. Kole returned his knife to his belt. We got him!

    With an astonished grin on his face, Niko pocketed his notebook and jogged up. I don’t know. That seemed a bit easy. Are you sure?

    For Soul’s sake, man, give me some credit. He patted the trunk. Just look at it. Still and responsive like Russé says. Might want to write that down.

    Niko cautiously pulled his notebook out, one eye on the tree while he wrote.

    I can’t wait to see Dya’s face. C’mon, get up here. I’ll show you how to steer it. With a heave, Kole pulled up one of the dead roots on the rambler’s injured side. It took two hands to hold it steady.

    As Niko climbed the rope, a shudder shook the tree. He hesitated mid-climb, eyes wide.

    Kole waved him on. It’s all right. It’s just—

    His words halted as the rambler charged. He fell forward, arms flailing. Catching the trunk, he steadied himself, then turned his attention to Niko, who clung to the swinging rope. His friend’s mouth hung open in a silent cry as the roots slammed into him, batting him back and forth like a bird in a windstorm.

    Hang on! Kole’s heart raced as the rambler picked up speed, clipping the surrounding trees. Each collision threatened to knock him off, but he held firm. He pulled his knife and stabbed the lame roots.

    C’mon. Stop, you overgrown weed! When the rambler didn’t slow, Kole focused on what his mentor had taught him. Think. Think like a shepherd.

    Jump.

    Kole glanced down. The grass rushed by with a blur of green. If Niko slid down the rope, he could probably land without much injury. But landing addressed only the first problem. Even if they made it to the ground, they’d be trampled under the rambler’s roots. What would Russé do?A quick glance to the lightening eastern sky told him dawn neared. They could ride it out until the tree anchored itself at daybreak. They’d just have to hang on until then.

    He looked back at Niko, who helplessly slid further down the vine. Time worked against them. He needed a plan and fast.

    A muted roar pulled his attention away. He lifted his head, looking up the path. A knot twisted his stomach. Ice shot through his veins as he stared at the very reason shepherds never ventured out this far.

    Fire. Not orange or yellow like fire should be but black.

    Kole shuddered, tightening his hands around the roots. The stories their camp leader told of the black fires always ended in death and destruction. It always ended with the Black Wall. And their rambler barreled straight for it. They had to dismount. Now.

    Niko, he cried, daring to peel a hand from the trunk to wave down. He shouted again to no avail. Niko, clenched up in a ball, desperately gripping the spinning rope, couldn’t hear him. If he could, he was too scared to acknowledge it.

    With the rambler showing no sign of changing course, Kole took a deep breath and climbed. He scurried up the trunk, ignoring the bark scratching his skin, and made his way to the bough where his rope still hung. The rambler’s jerking stride threatened to buck him off. Kole gripped the rope and slid down to his friend, who startled at his touch. We have to jump.

    Niko’s gaze flicked from Kole to the ground, and he balled up again, shaking his head.

    "C’mon, Niko. We have to." He didn’t dare point out the flames ahead for fear Niko might faint at the sight. He lacked the strength to keep them both on the rope.

    The heat of the radiating flames warmed his cheeks. They had perhaps a minute before it would swallow the rambler whole. If Niko wouldn’t jump, he’d have to make him.

    Kole climbed over him, positioning himself as low on the vine as he dared. He whispered a quick prayer to the Seven Souls, hoping his grip would hold out, then unhooked his feet from the vine and pumped them back and forth, further jostling the already swinging rope. Satisfied with the momentum, he climbed back above Niko and pulled out his knife.

    His eyes darted from the Black Wall to the thrashing roots below. He’d have to be careful—patient—to pull this off. His heart pounded in his throat as the smell of charred wood found his nose. Kole waited until the path of the vine carried them to the top of the pendulum and swung back the other way, behind the rambler and, more importantly, away from the black fire, then sliced the vine.

    Kole’s stomach rose to his throat as they fell safely past the rambler’s roots. He clenched up, bracing for impact as the ground rushed up to meet them. Air shot from his lungs when he hit the grass.

    Adrenaline kept him from feeling the true pain of the impact, but he knew he would wake up tomorrow sore and bruised. While still able, he pushed to his feet and hurried to his friend.

    Niko lay on his side. His jaw twitched, eyes large, but he wasn’t looking at Kole: he stared at something over his shoulder.

    Kole turned in time to see the flames of the Black Wall lick hungrily at the oncoming rambler. The tree plunged its roots into the soil at the last second. Chunks of grass and dirt lifted as the rambler tilled through in a desperate attempt to stop. That’s when it dawned on him: the rambler had never intended to run into the flames. It had been a scare tactic to get the boys to dismount. Outsmarted by a tree.

    The rambler’s leaves shook. Kole tilted his head. He’d know that sign anywhere. The rambler was frightened. It wasn’t slowing fast enough and still closed in on the Black Wall. His eyes fell to the roots. They strained, buckling against the earth to lose speed, but the clump of lame roots slid uselessly along, unable to contribute. Without its full strength, the rambler had no chance.

    The moment the black flames brushed the canopy, the leaves and bark turned to ash. For a moment, the tree held its shape, the rambler’s roots still scrambling away from the wall, though Kole knew it no longer held any life. Like a ghost still going through the motions, unaware of its own demise. The ash floated to the base of the wall, and the mighty rambler Kole had hoped to make his prize was no more.

    He gulped. A few more seconds and they would have shared the same fate. Gone in an instant. He looked back at Niko, whose face, even in the darkness, shone glaringly pale.

    That’s the... the.... Niko’s jaw slacked, unable to form the words.

    Yeah. Kole craned his neck, letting his eyes follow the height of the wall. It soared above the forest. He couldn’t tell where the flames ended. The wall seemed to go up until it blended into the night sky.

    Something felt off. He knew the forest well, and he knew how far they’d strayed from camp. Sure, he’d taken Niko out of bounds, but they hadn’t gone that far. The Black Wall sat well beyond the boundaries. And yet, here it stood, miles closer than it should have.

    A touch on his shoulder pulled Kole from his thoughts.

    Let’s get out of here, Niko croaked, nodding to the gray smoke seeping from the base of the licking flames.

    Neither of them spoke on the way back. They ran, eager to distance themselves from the wall. The pain of dropping from the rambler caught up to Kole by the time they reached the outskirts of camp. He found himself hunching over to relieve the cramp traveling up his back. He expected to wake black and blue in the morning. Despite the discomfort, Kole pushed his legs faster, the weight of discovering the Black Wall giving him strength.

    A horn echoed above them, signaling their arrival. They passed between the first set of anchored trees, which marked the outer rim of their small encampment.

    Bridges hung from tree to tree throughout camp. From a distance, it reminded Kole of a large web. The vines, strung through each plank of the bridges, shone silver in the glow of dawn, like spider’s silk. Small platforms wrapped around the top of the trunks, where the bridges connected with the next anchored tree, and rope ladders dangled from the platforms, leading to the forest floor. Each trunk had a door carved into the bark, which opened to its hollowed interior.

    These trees had once been ramblers, too, before the shepherds anchored them. Now they served as houses and watched their kin from afar, unable to join in the nightly dance. Kole often wondered if they were doing the right thing by anchoring them—if the ramblers felt chained up like prisoners. Normal trees, those outside Solpate forest, never moved. In a way, the shepherds merely restored them to their original state. The thought sat better with him, but Kole never could shake the feeling that they were stripping the magic away from them—the magic that made Solpate so dazzling. But the refugees did what they needed to survive. Nothing more, nothing less. The ramblers only moved at all, Kole kept reminding himself, because of the power of the Great Red.

    Three more safe havens resided in Solpate, all built in a similar fashion, but Kole’s home, the northern camp, only housed children. Once a child came of age, they transitioned to one of the other camps to make room for new children coming over from the city. Kole and Niko still had a few years until they moved on themselves.

    Another horn sounded.

    We have to tell them, Niko said between breaths.

    I know. I’ll handle it.

    They followed the sweet scent of Goren’s rabbit stew, but instead of the camp leader laboring over breakfast, they found Dya. She stood on her toes circling the large wooden paddle around the rim of the cauldron. Though she may have been the oldest girl in camp, her height said otherwise.

    Dya′s twitching frown betrayed her foul mood, probably from the failed hunt. Her brown eyes snapped to them. Well it’s about time. Goren called off the hunt nearly an hour ago.

    We didn’t hear it, Kole dismissed. Where’s Shepherd Russé? I need to—

    You didn’t hear it? She clicked her tongue. How far did you two go, exactly?

    Why does it matter? It’s not like we caught anything, said Niko. Just tell us where Russé is.

    "It does matter, Dya snapped. Going out of range is cheating."

    "Hunting with a shepherd is cheating," Niko shot back.

    So Russé helped us a bit. Big deal. Did us no good. Besides, she folded her arms, you had a shepherd with you, too. She gave Kole a once over. "Well, shepherd in training."

    Not the same, Niko said.

    Kole winced. Everyone seemed so quick to point out his apprenticeship status. He’d be lying if he said it never bothered him, but he let the blow roll of his back. No time to argue when the Black Wall was on the move.

    "You’re just jealous Russé didn’t pick you as his apprentice," said Niko, taking a step closer to her.

    Her eyes darkened as she advanced, their noses mere inches apart. I could say the same to you. At least I made it past the first trial.

    The shepherd’s trials had become a rough spot for all of them. Kole had only barely beaten Dya in the last test and, in turn, earned his right to apprentice under Russé. She was a natural when it came to communing with the ramblers, unlike Kole, but no one matched his navigation skills. A shepherd needed an innate ability to find their way through the ever-moving forest above all else. No doubt she would earn her apprenticeship at the next trial. But Niko? His performance at the trials was particularly embarrassing; he never made it past the first test. Sure, Niko had smarts and strength, but he never took risks. His skills seemed better suited for a less dangerous calling. Kole would never tell him that, though. It would break his friend’s spirit. All Kole could do was help him train and hope he had a better shot next time.

    Before the argument heated further, Kole tugged Niko’s shirt, dragging them apart. They huffed but relented. He stepped between them and turned to Dya. Russé?

    She rolled her eyes with a sigh. "He went out looking for the both of you half an hour ago. I imagine he’ll be back soon because of the horns."

    Then Goren. Is he here?

    Dya jerked her head toward the edge of camp. A rambler charged the outpost. He’s untangling the canopies. Leave him be. It’s a feisty one; the horns didn’t scare it. That rambler charged right back to the post after he’d chased it off. I swear these trees are getting more daring by the night.

    This is important. It can’t wait, Kole said with a sideways glance at Niko, who’s body looked as rigid as a trunk.

    What did you do now? Dya cast an accusing glare at the both of them. Her eyes lingered on Niko. After looking him up and down, she shook her head, a few strains of black hair falling loose from her bun. On second thought, never mind. With you two, the less I know the better. She shooed them away from the cauldron and returned her attention to the stew.

    Relax, Kole whispered once they’d moved out of earshot. He patted Niko on the back. His muscles tensed under his hand. Maybe you should sit down. I’ll find Goren.

    No need for Goren. Niko nodded past him. The shepherd is back.

    Kole turned. His mentor strode from the outposts wearing a particularly unpleasant scowl and clutched his staff with white knuckles. The old man’s blue eyes locked on Kole. Niko, apparently taking Kole’s advice at this particular moment, retreated to the fire pit as the shepherd neared.

    Where have you been? Russé barked.

    He gulped. We found—

    "No. Where have you been? Russé demanded. I blew the horn half an hour ago!"

    I know, Kole said, shoulders sagging forward. Lying would get him nowhere. Russé was too keen for that. We went a little... out of range.

    The lines around Russé’s mouth deepened. How many times will you put Niko in danger? It’s one thing to go out alone but to put his life at risk, too? He sighed. "He doesn’t know the ramblers like you. He could have been trampled. It’s these kinds of things that keep me from naming you shepherd. You need to consider the consequences before you act."

    I know, Shepherd Russé. I messed up. But it’s not just the ramblers we have to worry about. Kole peeked over to Niko, who sat across from the fire, staring into the flames, jaw clenched. Kole lowered his voice and stepped in so only Russé heard his next words. We saw the Black Wall.

    Russé opened his mouth, eyes widening as he scanned Kole’s face. The Black Wall, he repeated steadily.

    Kole gave a quick nod. Russé didn’t speak—only stared.

    He had seen the Black Wall once before with Russé, maybe a month ago, as a part of his training, but he had never drawn that close; they had traveled the better half of a week north just to get a glimpse of it. The Black Wall, his mentor had told him, had no end. It stretched around the entire continent of Ohr, encasing it like a ring, put there by the gods for a reason no one really understood. The wall had been around for centuries, slowly advancing, devouring the world one country at a time. Only recently had it slowed to a halt, un-moving for the last decade.

    It seemed its hibernation had ended.

    After what seemed like a minute with no response, Kole began to think Russé doubted his word.

    Finally the old man said just what Kole had expected. That’s impossible. The wall is—

    Almost a week’s ride out, I know. But it was there. I saw it—we both did. It turned a rambler to dust.

    A scrutinizing eye still on Kole, Russé pursed his lips. How far?

    Kole shrugged. An hour’s run north. Maybe less.

    Russé’s eyes set on Kole, but they became distant, as if he was looking right through him. After all of these years I thought it had stabilized....

    Shepherd Russé? Kole said quietly. Once Russé focused back on him, Kole asked, What do we do?

    Does anyone else know about this? his mentor pressed.

    Well, no. Just me and Niko.

    Russé nodded and stepped around him.

    Wait. Kole grabbed his elbow. He immediately released his grip when Russé turned on him.

    A flash of irritation passed over the shepherd’s eyes. They softened. The only thing we can do is run.

    The words hit Kole in the gut. He knew what the shepherd meant, but he needed to hear him say it. Run? You mean...?

    His gaze drifted to Dya stirring the camp’s breakfast, a smile on her face as she wiped her forehead of sweat. Above to the bridges to see the older kids, who had finished their nightly watch, hung their horns over the small branches outside their doors, and headed down the rope bridges in hopes of claiming a front spot in the breakfast line. Some of the younger kids, the early risers, creaked the doors open and peered out, waiting impatiently for the morning horn to mark the end of curfew.

    The shepherd’s jaw flexed. Abandon camp.

    Chapter 2

    Kole sat next to Niko. They exchanged a brief glance. He wanted to tell his friend everything; that after ten years, they were leaving, but he couldn’t bear to be the one to do it. Never, in all that time, had Kole thought of leaving. Not like this. Often, he would fantasize about life back in the city. He’d think of his family—his parents, whoever they were. But the fantasies stopped there.

    Being alone in a city like Socren meant nothing good for an orphan. Without a family—without protection—they became prime targets for Savairo and his men. If not for the Liberation smuggling the orphans out of the city, Niko, Dya, Kole, and all of the children here would have become soldiers in Savairo’s army. Or worse, test subjects in his perverted experiments.

    Niko remembered everything from his old life back in the city; his parents, brothers, and sisters—all up until the day of their murder. Like the others, Kole had lost his family, too. Only he didn’t remember them. Part of him hoped they’d died like Niko’s family. Strange as it may have seemed, it comforted him more than the chance that they’d left him, unwanted. After years of wishing and hoping, urging his brain to conjure a face or recall a name, he accepted that any memories he possessed lay locked in the depths of his mind.

    Kole adopted the forest as home. Leaving wasn’t preferred, he’d miss this camp, but there were more trees in the forest to anchor. As long as he had Niko—as long as they stayed together—he’d be home.

    As Kole stared at the ramblers beyond the outposts, the sun rose.

    The groaning and creaking of wood echoed through camp as the ramblers settled down for the day ahead. They plopped their trunks on the ground and drilled their roots deep into the soil like giant, wiggling earthworms. Sunlight touched the rambler’s branches and, one by one, they grew rigid as if turned to stone. In a matter of seconds, the entire forest had stilled, save for the morning songbirds flitting through the canopy. Kole gazed fondly at them.

    Like the trees, the animals had been affected by the strange magic of the Great Red. Instead of feathers like most birds donned, these were covered head to talon in vibrant petals. In spring, the birds blended in with the blooms on the branches. You wouldn’t know you were looking at one until it sang. They fluttered away as Dya blew the breakfast horn.

    Above, the doors of the trunk houses slammed open, answering her call. Three-dozen feet pattered over the swinging bridges. The children funneled down the ladders and formed a line behind the cauldron.

    I could use a little help, said Dya, one hand on her hip while the other jabbed the ladle at Kole and Niko.

    Kole rose without complaint. He welcomed the work, as boring as it was, to take his mind off things. He handed out bowls and spoons in a daze, his head swirling with thoughts of the Black Wall. Kole wondered how the children would take the news. He hoped it wouldn’t cause any of them to relapse.

    Long nights awaited him, Niko, and Dya. Being the oldest of the bunch, they tended to the children. Kole could handle their nightmares easily enough. He’d tell them everything would be all right, and the few young ones who couldn’t quite shake their fears, he allowed to sleep in his bunk until dawn. Each passing year had helped the orphans adjust. Fewer and fewer nightmares plagued the little ones these days. With any luck, by age seven or eight, they would shake them completely. Only the new children, freshly smuggled over the mountains, posed a challenge, but that number had dwindled

    Enjoying the preview?
    Page 1 of 1