Mag-log inDarkness knows no bounds. When an ancient evil from eons ago is released by the bloodthirsty queen Mitaldra, the very foundations of the ten kingdoms of Agaiartia are put to the test. Young Quillion will stop at nothing to save his kingdom. Dragon princess Lahle's journey will take her into the heart of a long uncontacted people. Tamer ameteur Myonna finds an ancient bloodbird, and the cast away kathaldra Neanda tries to escape capture. In the thrilling first instalment to the bloodlands trilogy, the reader is thrust into a world where darkness knows no bounds and the twisted wear the crowns.
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The young man’s thirst for power was never one easily quelled. From a young age Peyrian Biord wanted nothing more than to sit on every throne across the vast lands of the ten kingdoms, and he would continue on to fulfil his wish by any means necessary, in this case, using the dreaded isiya.
From using isiya, Peyrian was testing powers greater than himself. He tested the gods themselves, and despite being ostracized and exiled from his village on the coast of Vaegon, Gaia, he continued getting isiya. Every time he got one an ugly, writhing scar appeared somewhere on his body, but luckily never his face.
He grew in power from there, seizing control of entire kingdoms like midday toys. It was said that wherever Peyrian went, famine followed. In the words of some who had the displeasure to see the dark god in person, they said it was like the darkness moved with him, and he was always shrouded in some sort of shadow.
It has been said that Peyrian Biord will be forgotten as the years pass. The stories of his evil will turn to legend, and legend will turn to myth. Soon, he will be nothing more than an old wives tale. That is when he will make his return.
THE SOUND OF A CRACKLING fire wakes me up from sleep. The first thing I feel is the dirt under my back, second are the bruises scattered across my arms and face. I try to move one of my arms, but its still broken. Pain rushes up my arm and I drop it against the wet leaves. Did it rain? Where am I?I try to stand, but a voice startles me back to the ground.“You’re not yet healed. Don’t try to stand.”Looking to my left, I see a person bent over by a crackling flame. Above the fire, a pig is being roasted. Her hair is long and silvery, her skin—from what I can see—paler than snow. However, it’s the pair of silver-white feathery wings stretching from her back that catch my eye. Is she? Oh gods.“Are you—Are you a kathaldra?”She turns, and I finally get a full view of her face. Its illuminated by the glow of the fire, and she looks almost god like, like her face was carved from the purest marble. Her eyes are upturned like a
EVER SINCE FATHER DIED, THINGS have progressively been getting worse and worse. Not even twenty minutes ago Deyko died at my hand, now Mitaldra has returned to finish what she started.The floors of the palace are strewn with dead bodies and burnt corpses. Outside, a drakon rests on the turret of the highest tower, watching the ground down below with keen intent. I shouldn’t have left. I should have stayed with Lahle and Ahelo, fought side by side with my people.Deyko’s face in death haunts me. His veined, open eyes. His partially parted lips. The look of fear he gave me in the seconds before, a walking corpse. Maybe I should’ve let him win. Maybe I should’ve died.My feet glide over blood stained marble as I make my way to the bunker under the palace. I walk down a short flight of stairs and turn a corner and meet Ahelo and Lahle running towards me. Lahle wraps her hands around me and hugs me tight, and after a moment of hesita
ITS BEEN PLAGUING THE BACK of my mind since we set out for Gaia. The irritating voice hasn’t left me alone since I watched my brother’s body hang and turn blue, and even here in the heart of battle its nonsensical whispers control my actions.I have never felt something like this before, not being in control of your own body. Its like my soul is trapped somewhere down below while another spirit takes control. I’m a passenger in my own flesh.I wanted Gaia for its riches, its people, its sheer power. I wanted Gaia because it would place me on a pedestal higher than the other kings and queens. But now things are very, very wrong.Its whispers are cold, so very cold, and even though I cant understand what it’s saying by hearing, I feel it in my head.Go to the palace.Gaia’s army have already begun to retreat. The roughly sixty men are all headed towards the palace. I’m not sure what this voice is
MY STEPS ECHO AGAINST THE TIGHT stairwell of the booth tower as I race down it, heart pounding. I can already hear the chaos outside from here. The screaming and pounding of distant explosions gives me enough adrenaline to run out the booth tower.I hold the rusted gold handles of the tower and slam them open, only to be greeted by horrific pandemonium.Explosions rock the ground beneath our feet as innocent people run for their lives. In the distance, I hear what sounds like metal shackles. The dance of a thousand marching soldiers.I haven’t even had the time to mourn Deyko.Not even a second later Doregan and the rest of the elders are out of the booth tower and beside me, watching the madness as it unfolds. The sky is blotted with grey from ash and smoke.“Where is Quillion?” I say, even though I know nobody can hear me over the screaming and explosions. I turn to Doregan. “We have to get o





