The Arena of Lost Souls by Martin Swinford

Author:Martin Swinford [Swinford, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Adventure, celtic, epic fantasy, sword, magic, Warrior, fantasy series, sword and sorcery, Coming of Age
ISBN: 9781386888444
Publisher: Gable Press
Published: 2018-02-11T05:00:00+00:00

"LET'S GET THIS STRAIGHT!" said Drustan, injecting as much incredulity as possible. "You're saying that you're a prince?"

"No" Luan replied. "Cail thought I was the prince."

"Why would he think that?"

"Because one of the novices actually is the Prince."

"But why would he join the Klaideem?"

"He's the second son," Druca interrupted. "He would have to."

"But why kill him?" Drustan continued to protest.

"We're at war!" Mack spoke with authority. "A prince of the Kingdom will always be a target and away from court he would be vulnerable."

"Which is why there was the false description," Luan explained.

"So that's why Cail killed those boys?" Accio asked. "Because they fitted the description?"

"Yes." Luan paused, unwilling to go on but knowing he had to be completely honest. "And he didn't act alone."

"Who helped him?" the Ghost asked.

"Not a who," Luan replied. "A thing, a creature of the spirit world." He expected to be met with disbelief, to be laughed at even, but there was only silence. In truth, they all believed in the fair folk, however much they might pretend otherwise, and here in the ring of standing stones none dared to mock.

"What creature?" asked Callum quietly.

"No!" Accio shouted in alarm. "Do not name it! Not here!"

"He's right," Mack agreed. "Not in the standing stones." There were mutters and nods of agreement and some of the boys made gestures to ward off evil.

"So," said Druca. "Were Cail and this, this thing working together?"

"I think so," replied Luan. "I don't really know, but I do know that I was next on the list. I fit the description. Think about the boys that died."

"He's right," the Ghost spoke up. "They were all very similar."

"I think," said Mack, "it's like this. This thing, this creature of darkness..." a number of the boys made signs to ward off evil, "...has been set on the trail. At the same time so has Cail, perhaps they are linked somehow. Often in the stories what happens in this world is echoed in the other."

"So do we go back?" Accio asked.

"We can't." This was the part that worried Luan the most. "I have to face it. We have to go to Cy Malg."

"That is a place of ill omen." Callum's face seemed darker than ever.

"I have no choice," Luan replied. "It's the only place I can face it."

"How can you fight it?" Druca asked.

"It's a creature of the spirit world," Bridie replied. "It fears the bite of the iron blade."

"So go," said Drustan, "and we can go home."

"No," Fin stood angrily. "We have to go, we have to get him there!"

"Why we?" Drustan stood too. "Why is it our business?"

"Because they are trying to kill the Prince!" Druca stood and joined the debate. "We are Klaideem! If we are Klaideem, we are Kingdom and if we are Kingdom then we fight!"

"I agree," the Ghost spoke up again. "Our duty is to fight the King’s enemies wherever we find them. Do any of you disagree that this thing is an enemy?"

No one spoke. Drustan looked uncomfortable.

"Come on Drustan?" Fin suddenly grinned.

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