Ruein: Fires of Haraden: Action/Adventure Necromancy Series (Books of Ruein Book 2), G.O. Turner [little bear else holmelund minarik txt] 📗

in his wall cot, alongside the tied-off hammock of his grandchildren.

The closer trundled lump drew her hammock shut. Nayr’s plaintive eyes looked to his grandfather, from his stance behind his sister’s bedding. “I no want to dream. Tell Arim…too scary.”

Kaea descended, scanning the dark corners of the circular room. Nothing else moved beyond the clench of little Arim’s hammock.

“I understand, little mate. At times, the world is a scary place.” Kaea eased closer with only the bedding between.

Nayr’s head hung. “I…not stay…with her as much.”

Kaea lifted his chin. “Sometimes, waking up from something bad is the best you can do.”

“Arim…wouldn’t leave.”

Her hammock bundled tighter.

Kaea’s strong hands followed the drawn hem. Sliding the length, he felt the tension in her grasp. Yet, against his gentle parting, his granddaughter could not resist.

Held open, as if a babe in a cradle, Arim’s hands gave way to cover her streaked face. Her dainty chin wrinkled.

“Hush now, sailor. Whatever it was, you’re home now. Nothing here to worry your head over.” Scooping his arms up under, Kaea held her close. His scruffy beard caught between her clenched fingers. “We’re all together, warded and safe.”

Arim pushed back.

Her eyes darted over her grandpa. Tears streamed. Snot dribbled from trembling lips.

“What is it, little cub?”

Arim’s jaw shook. She sought to find the word. In a body quake, she shuddered out, “Mommy.”

END OF BOOK TWO

Next in the Series

RUEIN: Nazier’s Visage

Dun dun dunnn! That was certainly an ominous way to leave off. Before you come at the author for leaving in such dire straights, might I recommend the opening chapter in the next book? No. It’s not out just yet. But, maybe this cover might heal a few wounds.

Coming Fall 2021

I do so very much hope you found this first in a trilogy to your liking. More than anything, I’d really like your honest feedback. A review on my Amazon page will not only show your love for the book, but will also help boost it higher so that others can find her as well. That in turn could only lead to more Ruein!

Glossary

arcane: one of two forms of magic derived from primordial forces; alternative to divine

azer: elemental beings from the Plane of Fire, resembling male dwarfs. Their metallic skin houses a sentient inner fire, which manifests in place of hair.

azer, high: identical to azers, except in height and abilities. High azers are human-sized with added class abilities.

celestine: an ancient language of divinity

Chapel Mount: Suns of Mercy house of worship overlooking Vandraport

charnel touch: negative energy which can inflict the living, or infuse the undead

cleric: a divine warrior (holy or unholy)

Commercery: Vandraport’s hall of transactions between noble houses and tradesfolk

dark-orc: a crossbreed of drow and orc (unheard of in most of the world)

darkvision: shades of gray sight in total darkness

divine: one of two forms of magic derived from gods or faith; alternative to arcane

Doctorate, The: a sect of necromancers based in Karris City

draconic: an arcane language surmised by ancient dragons

drow: dark elves from the underdark regions

druid: a spellcaster closely attuned with nature

duergar: grey dwarves from the underdark regions

Efreeti: genie masters of the Plane of Fire, with a penchant for silk finery, gold, and jewels

Elite: Haraden Realm’s corp of dark-orcs

glaive: a two-handed pole weapon with a large blade affixed to the top

gnome: diminutive descendants of elves known for their eccentricities and illusory talents

goblin: smallish, subhuman, cave-dwelling race between the surface and the underdark, known for being ill-tempered and exploitive

Haraden Realm: an isolated arctic region, warmed by a dimensional rift reactivating a long-dead volcano. It is populated by denizens of the underdark, alongside azers from the fire plane.

Karris City: mining and metal refinery city governed by various industry fiefs

lich: a powerful undead spellcaster whose soul is safe-kept apart from the body

Lightbringers: clerical order dedicated to the god of truth and light

Loress: Rue Khorana’s trained riding mare

Monastas: deceased wizard of Haraden, responsible for much of the realm’s arcane advancements

monk: a practiced martial artist able to focus mystical ki energy from their body

morningstar: a spiked metal ball affixed over the end of a club, similar to a mace

necromancy: a school of magic pertaining to death and unlife

Nursk: coastal fishing town of the ice windvale

ogre: giant humanoids with muscular bodies and large heads, known for a lazy, brutish, avaricious demeanor with short tempers

orc: viewed as hardy tribal primitives, orcs tend toward porcine appearance, with grayish skin and boar-like tusks

phylactery: a magic vessel capable of storing immense power or even worse things

Sage: Liv Khorana’s Clydesdale warhorse

sorcerer: a wielder of arcane power with innate ability born unto them

Suns of Mercy: clerical order dedicated to the god of truth and light

svirfneblin: an underdark offshoot of gnomes, also known as deep gnomes

Talis the Oathkeeper: a legacy weapon (morningstar) imbued with a will and a disruptive power against demons and the undead

Thae: a magocratic nation ruled by ruthless red wizards; power is priority

transmutation: magic that alters the physical nature of creatures, things, or conditions

treeflet: a traditionally grown and nurtured elvish home within the boughs of a tree

turning: positive divine energy that can halt, drive off, or destroy undead

undead: once-living beings animated by supernatural forces

Underdark: a vast expanse of caverns and tunnels threading beneath the world, and home to evil and vile beings

Vandraport: a modest harbor town

Void: a timeless, negative, dark dimension and source of necromancy

Wandering White: permanent blizzard surrounding the Haraden Realm

wizard: an arcane-based spellcaster that achieves power through study, memorization, and practice

wraith: an incorporeal undead silhouette of its living-self that drains from the living to rise as more wraiths

yeti: white, horned, ape-like beasts of the North, with a paralytic gaze

About the Author

Very well.

Never intended on being an author, though I’d always fancied the life of a storyteller. Mine is a route that winds around lands, spans, and medias. Starting from the realm of graphics, I was plucked from obscurity at the turning of the millennia. Offered a creative workstation in television advertising.

Success trekked me across the U.S. to the middle of the Pacific. Sure, mitts were laid upon awards in the TV field. That