Knights of Aralia Book I: Remnants of Light

Copyright & Prologue

KNIGHTS OF ARALIA

Book I: Remnants of Light

J. S. ALLEN

ALSO BY THIS AUTHOR:

Sauragia

Journey to the Red Mountain

Woodland Tales

For my mother.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Text and Maps Copyright © 2022 by J. S. Allen

Cover Art Copyright © 2022 by Ilya Royz

Published by Bluedrake Books,

an imprint of Ash Tree Media

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

Publisher's Cataloging-in-Publication Data

provided by Five Rainbows Cataloging Services

Names: Allen, J.S., 1995- author.

Title: Remnants of light / J. S. Allen.

Description: Belton, MO : Bluedrake Books, 2022. | Series: Knights of Aralia, bk. 1. | Summary: When destiny strikes, a young warrior must take up arms to avenge his home and family.

Identifiers: ISBN 978-1-956619-09-6 (hardcover) | ISBN 978-1-956619-10-2 (paperback) | ISBN 978-1-956619-11-9 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Young adult fiction. | CYAC: Revenge--Fiction. | Coming of age--Fiction. | War--Fiction. | Fantasy. | BISAC: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / Epic. | YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Action & Adventure / General. | YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Coming of Age.

Classification: LCC PZ7.1.A45 Re 2022 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.A45 (ebook) | DDC [Fic]--dc23.

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Prologue

The smoke of burning timber choked the air as the great fire raged in all directions, instantly disfiguring everything it could wrap its fearsome coils around. A crackling cacophony echoed in the eardrums of the soldiers as they swarmed through the ancient streets of stone below, driving them to the brink of madness with its tremendous power. The mightiest claps of the thunder in the oncoming clouds a hundred times over could not have rivalled the volume of this inferno. Yet, Fordain hardly seemed to notice as he gazed down into the brilliant swirl from the rooftop. It wasn’t possible, he told himself. It simply wasn’t possible. But there was no denying what he had seen with his own eyes.

A sound then came from behind—a voice? A fiery gust of wind? A trick of his own confused mind? What was it? Time slowed and Fordain’s senses failed him. As the flames crept up to consume the weakening structure on which he stood, he could not help but find some wry amusement that things should end in a way so very alike to how they had begun....