Prologue........................ixChapter 1:......................1Chapter 2:......................25Chapter 3:......................51Chapter 4:......................65Chapter 5:......................79Chapter 6:......................91Chapter 7:......................107Chapter 8:......................127Chapter 9:......................147Chapter 10:.....................167Chapter 11:.....................189Chapter 12:.....................211Chapter 13:.....................229Chapter 14:.....................251Chapter 15:.....................275Chapter 16:.....................295Chapter 17:.....................315Chapter 18......................337Chapter 19:.....................359Chapter 20:.....................377Chapter 21:.....................397Chapter 22:.....................417Chapter 23:.....................437Chapter 24:.....................461Chapter 25:.....................481Chapter 26:.....................499Chapter 27:.....................517Chapter 28:.....................533Chapter 29:.....................549Chapter 30:.....................567Epilogue........................579

Chapter One

It had been one year to the day since the induction of the new calendar; officially year two of what had come to be called "The New Age" on the mainland of Thedia. Early in the first year, Eternis was under constant attack by random groups of monstrous hordes. Nearly eight months into the new ten-month year, a Thoxen human named Agromordeus was discovered in the Mystic Mountains and then determined to be behind the assaults. The powerful Necromancer wickedly resisted all that Eternis had to offer before falling to a small band of adventurers. For the final two months of the year, Eternis and its surrounding areas were finally able to enjoy peace.

Dominick Gabriel Xavier, an Eternian human born and raised, had spent the better part of an epic tale away from his home as a traveling adventurer, duelist, and acclaimed hero. He resembled the storybook representation of his city's people. He kept his blonde hair nicely groomed and always wore it down, an Eternian tradition. His eyes were as blue as the mid-summer sky and the heart he carried for Eternis radiated from them. His wife, Genevieve Kavanaugh, now Xavier, was also an Eternian. She was a carnival knife-thrower by trade that fell for the professional duelist and adventurer and soon joined the team he had been a part of for so very long. She too carried the golden hair and blue eyes associated with human Eternians.

For the past seven years since his retirement, his thoughts tended only to raising his children with the love of his life and wife, Genevieve Kavanaugh Xavier. Dominick was against his two sons falling into the lifestyle he chose. He had lost so many friends and allies and so much time spent away from his family that he could never get back. He had fame, fortune, songs of his heroic efforts and many a victory as a duelist, including one over Thoxen Archmage Valdimus Skine. Such feats gave him little joy, rather they acted as a cruel reminder that he could not replace the lost time with his wife and growing children or the absent friends and allies he'd lost along the way.

Dominick's understanding of the world was exquisite and he knew there would always be bad blood between Thox and Eternis, akin to a bittersweet contest between rivals. When Thox allied with Eternis only to attempt to seize it as a new capital city, Eternis found allies and heroes plentiful and, since Thox was overextended from its other wars, Eternis was able to break free from Thox's grasp. From that struggle onward, Dominick had worked to build relations with merchants' guilds, trade guilds, mercenary groups and neighboring nations so as to strengthen the economy of Eternis.

Today was a good day. He had been gone for some months on an important business trip to Port Agatha where he had been negotiating possible treaties and trade opportunities with a high end merchants' guild. Dominick knew, surrounded by everything that made up his life, he was truly lucky to have lived through it all, to be where he was, and to have the love of his life and his two loving sons.

After a long journey, Dominick finally made it to his growing land and home. He had acquired quite a bit of wealth during his time in the armed service, and then as professional duelist and adventurer. Rumor had it the only reason he was originally hired on by the other adventurers of the group was to attain wealth and fame for them through his dueling prowess. He spent most of his wealth investing in Eternis itself and giving back to the community he felt had done so much for him and the rest of the world. His wife too gave back to the community; though she secretly hoarded the majority of her earnings should any emergency arise. No matter what happened, her children would still be taken care of. Even with two nearly grown children, Dominick and Genevieve both kept themselves in remarkable shape with only scars and war wounds revealing their true age, of which Dominick could boast only a few more. Indeed, the sharp features of Genevieve's face still earned her cat calls from young lads when she went to market. Though in his fifties, Dominick still occasionally practiced with the young warriors of Eternis and even those traveling from distant lands when he was able. He had yet to be defeated in singles combat.

Dominick reached the twin oak doors that had haunted him for so many nights. They were the doors to his Eternian manor and family. Running his worn hands through his hair pulling it back, Dominick gazed up at his beautiful home that he had longed to return to for so many months. His black and green courtier's garments had seen better days. He cracked open the door allowing the warm sun's rays to slyly sneak in. The large doors opened without a creak to reveal the wide marble foyer that bled straight into the main living quarters. He crossed the threshold for the first time in months, but the dreams in his mind of home weren't exactly the reality he had just returned to.

As a young warrior and adventurer, Dominick was always gone, never staying in the same place for very long. At a time, he was considered the greatest melee fighter alive and some still claimed he was. In those distant days, he held ties to nothing save for his own band of adventurers, friends, just as they were tied to him. He hadn't much family and always felt that during his stops in Eternis he would pay his rightful tithes. For many years this was his way of life. But now, now for so long, he has lived here and seen these walls every day. Genevieve was a part of his everyday life, Adrian and Taj as well.

His home was empty; he hadn't taken two steps into the place and he knew there wasn't a soul at home. It was odd for his family to be out since they knew his ship was arriving today. They knew how much he had longed to be home with them. Why would they not be here when he arrived? Dominick dropped his bags and belts and raced throughout his marble and ivory decorated home. Both upstairs and down, he could find nothing, no sign of his family. Eighteen years of dungeons, caves, caverns and castles had heightened Dominick's intuition and in entering Taj's room he found something more horrific to him than death itself. The pair of swords he had specifically and specially crafted for Taj were gone, no longer were they above the artificial mantle in his room. Those blades were tempered by the best craftsmen in all of Eternis! Taj taking those weapons meant he wasn't at the training grounds at all! Dominick searched the city, ignoring the hails and greetings of his fellow Eternians. Seven years retired and the praises of his peers had never stopped or even let up. If anything, they grew with every passing year. Dominick knew if Taj was out and about, Adrian would know where to find him as he always did. His sons were very close and one was rarely ever without the other.

Taj spent every waking hour either in a Silverstar Tavern and Inn or at one of the various training grounds. Taj liked nothing more as a child than to listen to the tales of his father. As he grew older he would take odd jobs at the local taverns and inns hoping to meet and greet great adventurers and heroes from afar. Their stories meant more to him than diamonds to a thief. Adrian was exquisitely different. He understood his father's teachings and what his father had been through. He knew his father's fame was a coated shield and that underneath it all was a torn and beaten man who had replaced loved ones with fame, wealth, and tales. Adrian always acknowledged the fact that he was born to a great man and he would take advantage of the opportunities his father could offer him. Adrian knew politics and perhaps a military commission would be his proper calling.

Adrian would be somewhere either with Eternian High General Seth Redd, a close friend of Dominick's who fought alongside both he and Dom's father, or perhaps with Free Armies General Magnus Black, who had made Eternis the home for both he and his armies in response to the waves of monster attacks. Adrian was always hoping to glean a little of what both men had to offer of knowledge and strategy and any other tenets of leadership they could provide. His mind raced ever faster until Dominick reminded himself that no threats were at hand so his boys were sure to be somewhere safe.

But then Genevieve, where was his beloved?

Unsure exactly how to dissect the situation, Dominick continued to rationalize everything he had taken in, which turned out to be very little, save that his entire family was missing from what he thought was going to be somewhat of a welcome home party. He continued his venture through the city towards General Black's office, which was located on the north side of town in Vlixx. With each moment that passed, he became more and more desperate to find his family.

Alas, after politely wading through the crowds welcoming home the living legend, Dominick Gabriel Xavier finally pushed himself through to the East side of Northern Vlixx-Eternis. Since the usurpation, Vlixx had been transformed into a military outpost, as had most of the outer colonies that were absorbed, and after nearly a year of constant attacks, Vlixx respectfully became the iron shield of the city.

As the retired duelist began passing through row after row of barracks and tents, he took a moment to acknowledge each soldier he passed with a slight nod and a pat on the back.

"Most of these young men will leave widows and children behind. The ones that don't will spend the better half of their lives away from the ones they love" he thought to himself. Dominick knew most of the men were far from their homes and were here defending his homeland. These men reminded him of his youth filled days and what he had done for his city. Those soldiers of Vlixx-Eternis also gave him piece of mind for the time being. They momentarily distracting him from the dread and worry he felt at not knowing where his family was or if anything had happened to them.

Then, just as the swords missing from Taj's room had struck him, so he was dealt another gut-wrenching blow; a mounted regiment of Black's Free Soldiers were returning home through one of Vlixx's many gated entrances and exits. Dominick's intuition pricked at him like a dancing rapier in the hands of a master. This unit had just returned from battle. It was clearly missing numbers, and the men and their horses were visibly fatigued, many with minor cuts and other injuries. A glance to the vanguard revealed only a simple lieutenant of Black's leading the regiment. Either a higher ranking officer was killed or the objective wasn't a difficult one.

Dominick cursed his sight.

Cutting into the very blood vessels of his eyes was the image of everything he never wanted riding alongside each other; a couple of young, bruised, and slightly wounded Xaviers! His sons were out fighting and for Black! General Black had his boys, both of them, fighting alongside one another! Not too far to his right from out of the crowd, a faint voice echoed out. He knew the voice was that of his own sweet Genevieve. If she had come to welcome them and hope they returned home, then she obviously already knew what they had done. They had deliberately disobeyed his most direct order and request ever!

"Taj! Adrian!" She yelled aloud.

Her very voice was enough to lift the boys above their saddles and commence a race to their mother. Dominick was star-struck, disgusted, and thankful all at the same time. He clinched down a tight fist. He slowly walked towards the family that had betrayed him. He had just about made it to them when Taj's glance redirected and spotted the eye of the storm.

"Father ..." He said proudly. Dominick stopped just a few feet from his family. Genevieve was now embracing both children almost ignoring her husband completely. Dominick's mind raced not knowing whether to be grateful his family was ok or angry at his children's disobedience and his wife's acknowledgement of it.

"Son, what in the hell is going on here? Why would you deliberately disregard my wishes and go into battle? Where is Black? How could he allow this to happen?"

"Sweetheart," Genevieve placed her hand on his shoulder in an attempt to calm him. "We've missed you. You know I was against ..." Dominick stepped back from her and his sons as though he had been physically burned.

"Then what the hell are they doing here Gen?" His tone carried a slight edge, though he tried to keep his anger at bay.

"Father," Taj challenged, "General Black needed Eternians and we answered the call just as you once did."

"He's right father." Adrian seconded. "Taj and I volunteered for General Black's mounted units to ..."

"To do what exactly? to purposefully put yourself in harm's way? To blatantly ignore everything I've ever said to you?" Dominick said, losing control of his temper. Dominick couldn't help but look around at the wounded and those souls looking expectantly for the ones that weren't coming home. Adrian was always the philosophical and intellectual one. He, more so than Taj, could speak to his father on an even ground in hopes of gaining the understanding and support of him.

Adrian stepped past both his brother and his mother to face his father directly.

"Father, I am looking into a political career as a war strategist and I will never make a great one if I don't know the battlefield. General Black needed Eternians, particularly us to walk with his ranks. He needed Xaviers to instill fear into the enemy. No one wishes for the legendary Dominick Xavier to stand against them." Dominick's anger turned to confusion as he placed his left hand on his son's shoulder.

"Son, tell me, what are you talking about? We have no enemies in Eternis, or at least we didn't when I left. Has that much changed in the months I was gone?"

As the two continued their conversation, a large burly man wearing little more than leather breeches and a large hangar approached the three. Genevieve stepped behind her youngest son wrapping herself around him as the six foot seven dark curly haired young man spoke.

"Hey Taj, you did great out there! I'll tell you what, nothing like getting back at them lizard things!" He said with a triumphant grin. The young man was Gunnar Holt, a fellow Eternian and Taj's best friend from childhood. He was never the prettiest sword in the stone but that didn't deter the ladies of Eternis. Unlike Taj and Adrian, Gunnar grew up on the cheap side of town and had relied on his brute size and strength to change his stars. Women mostly fell to him because he appeared to be the archetype adventurer. He was massive and chiseled and he carried his scars magnificently well and, with his close cropped brown hair and dark eyes, he was frequently thought of as tall, dark and handsome.

Dominick looked at the large warrior with his tattered and torn breeches, crossed leather shoulder straps and numerous gaping scars that danced across his entire body. He couldn't help but notice one scar in particular. Gunnar's right shoulder told the tale of a long and deep strike that had nearly taken his arm off from the looks of it.

Dominick returned his attention to his oldest son, pulling him aside.

"Lizards, son? You already know of the ongoing trouble Eternis has always had with the Lizard folk. You shouldn't carelessly volunteer yourself into battle without thinking of the consequences. A good warrior can protect himself from the usual lizard warrior, but in every race and species some will always be larger, more skilled and stronger and those are the ones you have to worry about."

Dominick had calmed down a bit now and turned his son around to take a glimpse of the towering Gunnar.

"Take a look son. I've been around and I know Katrarak's axe when I see it. Gunnar was gashed open by him." Adrian turned back to his father.

"Who is Katrarak, father?" Dominick flashed a half smile at his son.

"I'll explain later. I want you to tell me more about this lizard problem."

Adrian and Dominick continued their conversation as they rejoined the group. Gunnar stopped in mid-sentence to turn and show the greatest respect he could muster for Dominick Xavier. Gunnar's father and older brother were killed during a treasury heist gone wrong some years ago outside of Eternis. Since then Gunnar had been the lone wolf and charged with the sole care of his mother. Gunnar had no one and nothing to look up to. So, like many Eternians and brash youths around the world, he too had come to idolize Dominick Xavier.

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Medievalby Dallas S. Paskell Copyright © 2010 by Dallas S. Paskell. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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