I wanted to share with you a little more of my upcoming novel, Beyond The Barrier of Storms (Wyvernshield #5). This is the finale of that epic tale and I have challenged myself to complete at least 500 words a day to see this novel completed and brought to you this year. I am a quarter through the book already, but it is highly likely to reach 70,000 words or more before it’s finished.
It is a labor of love to finish this as this series was my first and many of the characters have been in my head since 2015. They want their stories to be told and have been pushing hard for me to get it all written.
I do hope you enjoy the climatic end to this thrilling series. Here’s another sneak peek snippet… Enjoy!
“We were able to move that E’llux object back here in the cargo hold. It is surprisingly heavy,” Scars said as he led the young couple deeper into the ship.
“I do not know what we will do if it grows any larger,” Rhenden remarked.
“I would say that it must be important if that being, The Deity Staff, wanted it so bad. We can better hide and protect it down here.” the veteran Flohki said.
They stopped abruptly as they saw a strange light coming from further down the hall. A glowing tallow light, similar to a candle radiated out around a door at the end of the hall. The light moved, then flowed, pulled back then wavered as if it had a mind of its own. All three of them stopped in awe. The sight transfixed them. Vibrations thrummed through their leather boots from the wooden floorboards.
“What is it doing?” Kaedaa whispered.
“It was not doing anything when we left it,” Scars assured them. He hesitated before he pulled open the door. “It never did anything like this before?”
They shook their heads. He twisted the knob and let the door swing inward. As they predicted, the E’llux was the source of the light after all. The entire room was brilliant and stung their eyes.
The artifact had grown again and filled the majority of the corner where they had placed a nest of blankets. Now the unique stone art piece stood eight feet high and approximately eighteen feet wide. Within the layers of colors at the center of the magical stone, they could hear and see two spots emitting a rhythmic flutter. A dueling pair of heartbeats.
The outer layer of the stony surface had grown completely transparent and glassy. A set of incandescent orange and russet-brown eyes peered out at them from behind the ribbons of color. The eyes tracked their movements and were self-aware.
“Unbelievable,” Rhenden murmured. He glanced at Kaedaa who was quietly weeping, her eyes filled with joy.
“I knew! I knew it was right to protect it. I knew!” she exclaimed, trembling with her emotions.
On the right side of it, the Balshazra lizard, Akuem, lay there, his eyes closed, and one paw placed upon the surface.
Thin, faint lines were cut into the glass-like exterior layer, running slowly down the sides toward the bottom. Contrasting orange-amber light pulsed out from the striations. Suddenly as one, the glass layers peeled away like a blossoming flower. The glass pedals pulled back to reveal a large animal body huddled inside. Wet, coarse, black-and-white fur covered its canine-like back end. A bushy tail curled up by one leg, ended with long purplish barbs. The torso covered in a combination of white feathers and brown patches of fur had three avian legs and feet with very long and sharp silver claws. The incandescent orange eyes now stared back at them from above a large wolfen snout. Twin long, tufted ears stood out from the head and twitched at any sounds.
“By the gods, I have never…” Scars murmured.
Massive black wings unfurled and flapped, encompassing the rest of the cargo hold. Dust blew up in choking clouds. The wings were marvels of color and shimmering flashes. The E’llux pulled them back and gathered the wings upon its back.
It made no noise or any further movement. It studied them as they investigated it.
Akuem approached them and extended its arm for them to all take.
This is O Majestic E’llux. She is not a threat to you. She is a natural… phenomenon. A supernatural being called forth only in dire times such as what we face. In-Between is her home and defends against any threats to it.
The E’llux had turned her stare and regarded the Duradramyn girl directly. A loving warmth filled her large eyes. Akuem stopped and looked first at Rhenden then Kaedaa.
She wishes to extend her thanks to each of you for protecting her during her manifestation, her most vulnerable time, Akeum relayed to them.
Kaedaa dropped Akuem’s arm and cautiously approached the canine-avian beast. She raised her hands and with a ginger touch, stroked the drying fur on its head. In response, the E’llux purred which was in the form of vibrating auras.
The three males watched in silence and remained awestruck at the majestic guardian that had been born before them.
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