Ascension Chronicles I: Bloodline by Conor Higgins

Author:Conor Higgins [Higgins, Conor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: KDP
Published: 2023-11-18T16:00:00+00:00

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The group was onto their second wine when they were caught up. Ciara was asking question after question about James. Who was he, where was he from, who was his family? Navan was being intentionally vague in his responses. Ciara’s question held an intensity that seemed somewhat suspicious. When she asked about his magic and other powers, Navan responded to her as he did to Aldan. James’ secrets were his to share and not for him to discuss.

Interrogation aside, Navan warmed to Ciara. She was young but had a keen mind and spoke openly and honestly, unlike every other noble Navan had the poor fortune to deal with in the past. Her intelligence and insight into James was evident. She had spent much time trying to unravel the mystery of who he was.

Ciara’s small talk was interrupted when they felt the tremor and heard the noise. The wine glasses shook on the table. Stone walls groaned in protest as they shook. Navan clasped his wine glass to stop it spilling as the tremor subsided.

“What was that?” Aldan asked. Shouts were heard from outside in the courtyard. Aldan rose and led the way out, Navan at his side. A deep, shuddering noise was heard as they moved through the corridors. The tremor continued for quite a while, and cracking walls were heard throughout the fort. They ran outside.

“Captain, the pass.” The guards on the wall shouted as they pointed. Aldan continued to run to the gate leading up the pass and pushed men aside to make his way through. As he stepped clear, he saw the giant dust cloud slowly settling.

Navan stood beside him, eyes wide. They turned to each other, and both whispered.

“James.” Wide eyes stared back at each other as Aldan and Navan turned and started issuing commands. Navan had brought over two hundred men to the fort. The reinforcements were sorely needed. With it well defended, he left one of the original veterans he trusted in charge and ordered five squads to saddle up and rushed to the stables to see to his horse.

Aldan ordered Digby to assemble a squad of guards to converge quickly to protect the Princess. He followed Navan to the stables to see his horse and was surprised to see the Princess following him.

“Princess, we ride into a dangerous, unknown in the pass. I strongly advise you to stay at the fort.” Aldan said sternly.

“Your advice is noted but ignored. My guard will attend me, and we will have over fifty men with us. That will be enough protection, I think. Besides, James is up there. Nothing will hold me back. I must see myself what has happened.” Ciara replied.

“Now, let us make haste.”

Navan and Aldan led the large contingent of men out of the fort, Ciara in the vanguard with Digby and her guards hovering around her. They walked their horses towards the black maw and, with worried hearts, entered.

They dismounted at the first collapse. The bodies they started to come across were beginning to decay, and the smell of blood was everywhere.

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