In the Days: A Tale
of the Forgotten Continent
Book Summary:
The Empire of Atlantis: the most powerful nation in the
world. Peace reigns across the continent, and an age of prosperity and
enlightenment has made the Empire the center of the globe.
But, beneath the peaceful façade of life in the Imperial
City, trouble is brewing. Assassins lurk in the shadows, intrigue abounds in
the court of the Empress. Will political ambitions topple the House of Tah, or
could the threat be one much more sinister in nature? Dark forces threaten the
land, and the future of the Empire is at stake.
One man is shown a glimpse into the future--a future that
could be, or the future that is destined to come?
This is the tale of the last days of the great Empire - the
Empire that the world forgot. This is the story of Atlantis, in the days when
it ceased to be.
Bio:
Andy Peloquin is a fantasy lover turned author, and he
writes the stories he would love to read.
Growing up as a third-culture kid gave him a broader insight
into the world around him, an insight he tries to weave into his books. When
not writing he enjoys family, practicing martial arts, reading comics, reading,
playing the guitar, and blogging.
He debuted his first novel -- In the Days: A Tale of the
Forgotten Continent -- in 2014, and plans on writing many, many more.
Links:
Buy at Amazon -- http://amzn.to/1sNeD8c
My site: http://andypeloquin.com/
Excerpt:
I couldn't explain the sensation. All I knew was that
something was about to happen, and I was responsible for keeping the Empress
out of the way of harm.
"If you will excuse me, Immortal One, I must take my
leave of you for a moment."
It took her long seconds to tear her gaze away from the
ceremony below, and I could see the awe still written on her face as she forced
her eyes to focus on my face.
"Of…of course, Deucalion."
She seemed to be in a trance—the hypnotic power of the High
Priest drawing her in as easily as the crowd of commoners and nobles below. The
fact that she had called me Deucalion—she only ever did so when we were
alone—showed just how disoriented she was.
"I will return shortly."
I was incredibly relieved to shrug off the voluminous
ceremonial robes, walking comfortably in the simple clothing I had donned
earlier. A quick signal to Derchon relayed my orders. Stay at your post and
guard the Empress.
A tunnel led away from the Empress' private section in the
Temple, directly onto the main avenue outside. Murgen and Angrion stood guard
by the entrance to the corridor, Phoris and Eirin standing a few paces away. I
knew Traga and Carrt loitered in the shadows should I need them.
"Phoris." I had a hard time keeping the urgency
out of my voice.
"What is it, Deucalion?"
"I can't say that I know precisely what, but I feel
that something is…"
I couldn't put into words what I felt. Something was...
"I thought it was just me. I feel it, too." He
looked around nervously, unsure and uncomfortable—just like I felt.
"Captain!"
Traga came running towards us, the look on his face mirroring the one I
had no doubt showed on ours.
"Chancellor." A curt nod from me, and he
continued. "You're going to want to see this—both of you."
"See what, Traga?"
"Look." Our eyes turned in the direction he
pointed. The street was empty, the falling dusk casting shadow on the unlit
streets.
"What…?"
I could make out a hazy shape in the near darkness, a shape
that towered taller than any creature I had seen before.
The darkness must be playing tricks with my eyes, for I saw
the shaggy shape of a bear walking calmly towards us.
"How…?"
The shadows were thrown back as the street lights were lit,
and even Phoris gasped as he saw the approaching figure.
It was a man—a huge man. His beard was as thick as the fur
on the bear skin wrapped around his massive frame, and his hands grasped a
staff that could only have been a young tree—so thick and heavy it was. And
yet, he carried it with ease.
I had no idea where beard ended and fur began—hair of all
types dragged on the floor as he walked. The man stood close to twice my
height, and easily twice my width. I could almost feel the ground shaking as he
took each step, but it may have just been my imagination.
I heard Phoris issue a terse command behind me, but my
senses were entirely focused on the towering figure approaching. Breath caught
in my chest as he stared directly at me, and I was rooted to the spot by the
raw power I felt in his eyes. Every muscle in my body constricted, but my every
effort to move was for naught—my body remaining frozen as he walked towards me.
His bulk came to a stop a handful of paces from where we
stood, his gaze encompassing each of us in turn. Where his eyes fell, motion
stopped. My men were as unmoving as I, their bodies numbing with the same
sensations that coursed through my veins.
It was as if fire and ice flowed through me, and I burned as
I stared at the power filling the very core of this man's being. It called out
to me, reaching into my soul and yearning to fill me. It wanted to claim me for
its own, and I had no way to stop it.
And then the massive figure was gone. I hadn't seen him
move, but I suddenly awoke as if from a trance. I heard myself gasping as I
released the air I had been holding in. I heard the gasps of Phoris and the
others. They had been under the same spell as I.
Blood rushed into my limbs, and my arms and legs felt weak.
It took all of my willpower to stand straight when all I wanted to do was sag
to the floor. What just happened?
"What the fuck was that?"
Traga was as dazed as I was, yet far more colorful in his
wonderment. Phoris looked around anxiously, incomprehension written on the
faces of the other Nightstalkers as well.
"I have no idea."
I felt an insistent urge to return to my place by the
Empress' side. I had to get back in the Temple now.
I could hear Phoris just a step behind me as I sprinted back
down the tunnel towards the throne where the Immortal Empress of Atlantis
sat—guarded by two professional killers who would stand no chance against the
power that had just slipped past us.
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