Shadow of Fear was originally written as the prologue to my book, at the time titled The Quest of Gondlring, due to recent paradigm shifts in the way I've been writing my books, it may or not appear as a flashback at some point in one of the books. It's posted here as a novelty.
Prologue: Shadow of Fear
The castle’s underground waterway was unusually bright for a secret passage. Sanraoss Sargon, King of Ascalade paced back and forth while the chief priest informed him of the rebel’s plan. “Our spies have brought it to our attention that Eltrian and the Falkor plan to raid the palace and make off with the prince,” “To what end?” the king interrupted. The priest ignored the question and continued, “They believe your son has the power to defeat you, and allow them to place the rightful heir on the throne.” “What can we do to prevent this?” asked the king, “You already know”, replied the priest with a malicious smile. A look of shock and fear fell upon the King’s face, and he said nothing for a long time. Finally, he began to speak, “Guards, bring my prince out to the Fold, and have everything be made ready as we have discussed.”
Three guards approached the Queen’s chambers. The doors opened to the queen laughing with her baby boy. As she turned toward the door to see who had entered, she lost all color in her face and let out a scream. Her screams would have attracted more intruders if the rough hand of one of the guards had not stifled her voice. Tears welled up in her eyes as her young boy was torn from her arms. She was then thrown upon the bed with her ladies who kept her from following after them. She now felt grief, and her heart prepared itself for what was to come.
After the guards had been gone a while, her daughter rushed in to her aid and her comfort.
The Fold was a circular enclosure, surrounded by large stones, situated across the Grandeen River from the castle. Entrance to the Fold could be gained only by crossing the river from the castle yard. The ceiling of the Fold was designed so that light came in from Anduil; the star of Ascalade, and shone directly on the sacrificial alter at the rear of the Fold. T
he priest finished sprinkling the blood on the altar as he uttered the last lines of his prayer, “Ackzedkial Nenial oll Famon Oahheen granst kreel”. He quickly pulled his hand to his chest as the guards entered bearing the king’s son. He reached out and took the boy from the guard and laid him gently on the altar.
Antigon walked down the hallway headed towards the princess’ chambers, when she came running towards him from the opposite direction and grabbed him. “What’s the matter, why the tears?” asked Antigon, she leaned her head towards his and whispered in his ear. He backed away and looked at her with a look of wonder and fear, shoved a piece of paper in her hand and turned towards the queen’s chamber. As he drew closer to the chamber he could hear weeping, he opened the door and the queen lay in the arms of her maidservant.
She looked up as he entered and with one look in her eyes he knew what had happened.
He turned and ran down the hall towards the rear passage out of the castle, he drew his sword and prepared himself for what he expected to be a grizzly sight. As he approached the Fold, he was challenged by the guards but with a quick sweep of his blade silenced them. He looked beyond the entrance to the chamber and could see the priest leaning over the stone alter uttering an incantation. The priest stooped down and grabbed something that lay at the foot of the altar and laid it crossways on the body of the prince. Out of the dark corner of the chamber Sargon stepped forward. He motioned toward the object on the table and asked, “Is the lamb enough to end this?” No reply came, the priest simply moved out of the way and motioned for the king to take his place at the alter.
As he moved in front of the alter the priest handed him a black dagger, with dragon heads carved into the hilt, and placed himself behind the king. The King raised the knife above the child and the lamb, but before he could lower his arms he felt the touch of cold steel against his throat. Antigon held his sword steadily against the king’s throat and whispered in his ear; “Touch the boy, and you will die.” Sargon quickly dropped the dagger, turned toward Antigon and saw the priest lying dead with a sword wound through his gut.
“You don’t know what you are doing Antigon, I have to keep this boy from destroying my kingdom!” The King exclaimed. “To save his kingdom, a king must murder his son?” Antigon replied, “Something’s not right there”. He quickly drew his sword across the ropes that bound child to alter, and lifted him up off the table.
“What will you do with him?” demanded and enraged Sargon.
“I will take him far away from here, and from you.” “To the Falkor no doubt? Traitor!” at this Sargon spit in Antigon’s face. He didn’t bother to wipe his face and simply said. “No, I will take him where your conflict can not reach him. Where he can grow away from political intrigue and violence.” The king said nothing for several seconds, “Then you go with my blessing”, he said. This surprised Antigon for a second, but he quickly took his leave and headed out of the Fold. After quickly retrieving his and the child’s belongings from the palace, he set out north and for a long journey.
Prologue: Shadow of Fear
The castle’s underground waterway was unusually bright for a secret passage. Sanraoss Sargon, King of Ascalade paced back and forth while the chief priest informed him of the rebel’s plan. “Our spies have brought it to our attention that Eltrian and the Falkor plan to raid the palace and make off with the prince,” “To what end?” the king interrupted. The priest ignored the question and continued, “They believe your son has the power to defeat you, and allow them to place the rightful heir on the throne.” “What can we do to prevent this?” asked the king, “You already know”, replied the priest with a malicious smile. A look of shock and fear fell upon the King’s face, and he said nothing for a long time. Finally, he began to speak, “Guards, bring my prince out to the Fold, and have everything be made ready as we have discussed.”
Three guards approached the Queen’s chambers. The doors opened to the queen laughing with her baby boy. As she turned toward the door to see who had entered, she lost all color in her face and let out a scream. Her screams would have attracted more intruders if the rough hand of one of the guards had not stifled her voice. Tears welled up in her eyes as her young boy was torn from her arms. She was then thrown upon the bed with her ladies who kept her from following after them. She now felt grief, and her heart prepared itself for what was to come.
After the guards had been gone a while, her daughter rushed in to her aid and her comfort.
The Fold was a circular enclosure, surrounded by large stones, situated across the Grandeen River from the castle. Entrance to the Fold could be gained only by crossing the river from the castle yard. The ceiling of the Fold was designed so that light came in from Anduil; the star of Ascalade, and shone directly on the sacrificial alter at the rear of the Fold. T
he priest finished sprinkling the blood on the altar as he uttered the last lines of his prayer, “Ackzedkial Nenial oll Famon Oahheen granst kreel”. He quickly pulled his hand to his chest as the guards entered bearing the king’s son. He reached out and took the boy from the guard and laid him gently on the altar.
Antigon walked down the hallway headed towards the princess’ chambers, when she came running towards him from the opposite direction and grabbed him. “What’s the matter, why the tears?” asked Antigon, she leaned her head towards his and whispered in his ear. He backed away and looked at her with a look of wonder and fear, shoved a piece of paper in her hand and turned towards the queen’s chamber. As he drew closer to the chamber he could hear weeping, he opened the door and the queen lay in the arms of her maidservant.
She looked up as he entered and with one look in her eyes he knew what had happened.
He turned and ran down the hall towards the rear passage out of the castle, he drew his sword and prepared himself for what he expected to be a grizzly sight. As he approached the Fold, he was challenged by the guards but with a quick sweep of his blade silenced them. He looked beyond the entrance to the chamber and could see the priest leaning over the stone alter uttering an incantation. The priest stooped down and grabbed something that lay at the foot of the altar and laid it crossways on the body of the prince. Out of the dark corner of the chamber Sargon stepped forward. He motioned toward the object on the table and asked, “Is the lamb enough to end this?” No reply came, the priest simply moved out of the way and motioned for the king to take his place at the alter.
As he moved in front of the alter the priest handed him a black dagger, with dragon heads carved into the hilt, and placed himself behind the king. The King raised the knife above the child and the lamb, but before he could lower his arms he felt the touch of cold steel against his throat. Antigon held his sword steadily against the king’s throat and whispered in his ear; “Touch the boy, and you will die.” Sargon quickly dropped the dagger, turned toward Antigon and saw the priest lying dead with a sword wound through his gut.
“You don’t know what you are doing Antigon, I have to keep this boy from destroying my kingdom!” The King exclaimed. “To save his kingdom, a king must murder his son?” Antigon replied, “Something’s not right there”. He quickly drew his sword across the ropes that bound child to alter, and lifted him up off the table.
“What will you do with him?” demanded and enraged Sargon.
“I will take him far away from here, and from you.” “To the Falkor no doubt? Traitor!” at this Sargon spit in Antigon’s face. He didn’t bother to wipe his face and simply said. “No, I will take him where your conflict can not reach him. Where he can grow away from political intrigue and violence.” The king said nothing for several seconds, “Then you go with my blessing”, he said. This surprised Antigon for a second, but he quickly took his leave and headed out of the Fold. After quickly retrieving his and the child’s belongings from the palace, he set out north and for a long journey.
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