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Word from DNO: In DNO\u2019s Author Showcase we will highlight artistic and narrative works from unpublished Dominican authors and those willing to share their work with the public.<\/p>\n
In particular the aim is to foster the burst of imagination, mental development, expression and connectedness that can only come from shared consumption of substantive narrative and artistic works.<\/p>\n
Below is a short first chapter from an in-development fantasy novel from Joshua Hilaire. You can think of it as a teaser of what is to come.<\/p>\n
If you are an author or artist and are interested in showcasing your work on DNO you can email us at\u00a0dominicanewsonline@gmail.com\u00a0or call or Whatsapp us at 767 275 3253.<\/p>\n
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Chapter 6<\/p>\n
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Celock swung his sword and Ulric blocked it, their swords clashed together, both trying tirelessly to overpower the other. Celock was surprised that this man could match his strength. And that annoyed him, he kicked Ulric in his stomach. Opting to use dirty tactics. Ulric fell to his knees clutching his stomach. The great commander swung his sword downwards, Ulric managing to catch his breath at the last second to roll out of the way. He quickly got to his feet. Ulric stared directly into the eyes of Celock, his blood boiling but it was the first time from the fights before today that Ulric seemed in control of his emotions. Gaiden’s words of being calmed played back in his head over and over. Ulric\u2019s hungry to know what happened to his mother slowly built. Before Ulric stood there awaiting the next attack and Celock did not disappoint. He rushed forward, swinging his giant sword wildly. Using the weight of the attack to parry it.\u00a0 He swung again and their swords clashed and they were locked into a battle of power once again. \u00a0 The commander looked around and saw that his orc party dwindled quickly. In that split second,\u00a0Ulric followed suit with dirty tactics and kicked Celock in the knee causing the great brute to lose his footing. Ulric got on top of him and was about to drive his sword through his chest when Saeema shouted \u201cStop, we need him alive!\u201d Ulric lost his concentration for a bit and Celock pulled out a dagger and slashed Ulric across the face. The remaining orcs ran\u00a0and they scurried away through the forest and disappeared.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy have you attacked my village? What have we ever done to you? \u201cUlric shouted at the beast.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese lands are ours as much as it is yours. Our master gives us free reign over it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is this master? Who do you serve\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cD\u2019zagul.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cD\u2019zagul? Who is this? What does he want?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLet’s tie him up. And bring him to the king.\u201d\u00a0 Gaiden suggested. The others had no rebuttals.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ulric turned and looked at the others. \u201cSearch the area for any survivors.\u201d Both Ulric and Gaiden rushed towards his house. Klassas stayed back. Saeema searched\u00a0the remaining village. Ulric’s house was in shambles, he shouted for his mother, but she was nowhere to be found. They searched the entire house for any clues, however there were none? No knowledge that his mother was dead or alive. Ulric had to hang on to hope that she was alive. His mother was a fighter. In the cellar, there was a whole heap of rubble. Gaiden sheathed through it all and there he found a box. In it was a letter with the king’s seal. He quickly slid it in his pocket. Gaiden looked towards Ulric who looked visually distorted. Gaiden rushed towards Celock, \u201cWhere have you taken them.\u201d he shouted, it was the first time Ulric had seen Gaiden out of character. \u201cThey were taken to the mountain.\u201d\u00a0 it cackled. \u201cWhat mountain?\u201d Celock went quiet. \u201cWhich mountain! Talk.\u201d Gaiden urged the creature to speak. But he had gone silent. Ulric collapsed to the ground. The area around the cut began to darken and black spider-like marks slowly creeped from the cut. Ulric, now in a fetal position, trembled and shook uncontrollably. Celock began to laugh, \u201cIt took longer than I expected.\u201d \u201cWhat have you done to him?\u201d Saeema exclaimed. \u201cHe will die a miserable death.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPrincess, he’s been poisoned. None like I\u2019ve seen before.\u201d Saeema looked worried.<\/p>\n
Ulric\u2019s eyes started turning white, skin graying. His breathing became shallow. The situation was getting dire. Gaiden could only watch in despair. .<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat can you do? \u201c Klassas\u2019s tone was quiet. He knew the situation was grave.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can slow down the effect but this is above what I have been trained to handle. Zenobia, the healers there would be able to tend to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cZenobia is a league away, how can we make it?\u00a0 All the horses here have been slaughtered.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cOrlium is not far from here, we could get horses from Vera. She\u2019s an old friend of mine. She will lend us Aid. Klassas stayed with him and the princess. Keep him alive princess. I will get us those horses.\u201d\u00a0 Gaiden shouted as he set off running.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Gaiden hurried on foot and ran towards Orlium, one of the many great cities of the Mosh. It was renowned for its great horse stables and horses. It was about two days away from Silver Waterfall,\u00a0all he could hope for was that Saeema was able to slow down the curse till he was able to get the horses. Gaiden did his best to keep a steady pace. After his tireless travels, he approached the city. The guards on the walls drew their arrows and were prepared to fire on the leader’s command. Gaiden raised his sword to show that he came in peace. \u201cWhere is Vera?\u201d he shouted. \u201cI must speak with her, it is an urgent matter.\u201d The guards hurried him to her quarters.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cVera my darling, \u201c Gaiden said. She pushed him up against one of the pillars in the room and drove her knee into his balls. As he gasped for air all he could mutter was \u201cthat\u2019s how you treat an old friend.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
“Friend! You mean an old lover. And that\u2019s your problem Gaiden, you never know how to commit.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on love, you know I had to get out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou still never told me what it was.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I still, it was for a just cause.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah yeah, yeah, now what do you want after all these years Gaiden.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI need horses please.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNeed I even ask what you are doing around here? Does that smoke in the distance have something to do with this? And why do you need my horses?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a long story, I\u2019ll tell you another time.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI shouldn\u2019t even be talking to you after what you did, you have some real nerve showing up and asking me for a favor.\u201d He kissed her on her hands. `I owe you one!\u201d He shouted as he sprinted away. He arrived at the stables, and fastened the other horse to his own. Orlium was known for its outstanding horses. They were not regular breeds, these horses were bred for war. Intelligent and strong. They were the Mias Fiette.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Gaiden arrived back, to his relief Ulric was still alive but his condition was worsening. Saeema had done her best to keep him alive. Gaiden strapped Ulric on Saeema\u2019s horse, Klassas hopped onto a horse, and Gaiden fastened Celock to his and they rode on. Saeema rode ahead and Klassas followed. Gaiden was towards the back and at a slower pace. They rode hard and long, from the burning of the morning sun to the blue lights of the night. The horses and their riders were tired from the journey but there was no stopping, the MiasFiette\u2019s understood their mission. Saeema looked down, Ulric was still breathing however his breaths became shallower by the minute. The curse had been slowed down but it was still spreading to the other parts of his body. He looked nearer to death every moment, she clicked her heels again and urged the beast on. She pushed the horse way past its limit and it complied. Gaiden was concerned with Ulric\u2019s state, and Requia. He had hoped that she was alive somewhere. The distance between Gaiden and the other grew as they picked up their pace. He was in good hands he thought, but he knew not the outcome. All he could do was ride and wait.<\/p>\n
Finally, Zenobia; very few humans had the luxury of entering the great kingdom gates.\u00a0 As they rode on the bridge the gate began to open, she headed straight to her father’s chambers. Emory, drawn to the commotion, quickened his pace. Ulric was pale, the blackness consumed his body.\u00a0 Emory bore witness to a man near his end. \u201cWhat has happened?\u201d Snapped Emory.<\/p>\n
\u201cFather, mother, I have no idea, I think he has been poisoned but none that i have seen before. \u201cShe said with panic in her voice. .<\/p>\n
\u201cI did my best to slow down the effects but I fear for the worst.\u201d Emory studied Ulric’s body meticulously.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have seen this before. It’s a curse. \u201c<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is this curse? \u201c Saeema was quick to ask.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt stems from dark magic.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDark magic? Can it be reversed?\u201d Gaiden questioned.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy worst fears have come to light.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat fears do you speak of?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou all must leave. This will be a painful process for the boy. Once we are done there is much we need to discuss. All I know will be revealed.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Gaiden could only think and hope for the best for his apprentice. The wait time would be indefinite, he needed to keep his mind occupied. Ulric was in great hands, he put his trust in the elves. The city\u00a0intrigued him, its\u00a0amazing structure was none he had seen before. It was beautifully designed, its buildings were in perfect symmetry. He was impressed. Wandering aimlessly, Gaiden overheard battle cries and the shivering feeling of metal scraping. A massive bizarre looking structure stood before him. The inside was more than he could have fathomed. It was twice the size of any training ground he had been witness to. Elven weaponry rivaled even that of the dwarves. And surpassed human ability to a level incomprehensible. A blacksmith’s son, he marveled at the weapons and armor. The process of bending metal with a hammer and scorching fire burnt a flame within. A keen eye for quality. His sword itself was a special blade, passed down from his father before him. A sword with worn out wooden handles held tightly together by rope. Steel work with the clear appearance that it had been made by a concoction of mental. After bearing witness to elvish masonry, he admired the elven blades. \u201cYou like?\u201d Klassas asked. Gaiden was oblivious that Klassas had been following him all the way. Klassas was a man of very few words.\u201cI\u2019m impressed, the metal used is very unique. But I think it\u2019s the techniques used that makes it different, and as well, the\u00a0tools.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n
Every race has their own process of crafting. Elves are said to use less power and precise strokes, Dwarves use more fire, and much more power. Humans use moderate quantities.<\/p>\n
Klassas handed his blades to Gaiden, he studied the structure of the blade.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s light, yet still mighty. Its metals infused perfectly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI agree. Why does your blade look like that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy father made it, with nothing to our name, he crafted a sword using various metals. His countrymen, amused at this, labeled him the Poor Smith. He was more talented than any one I had ever seen and they failed to see his ability. This blade is one of a kind, thus making me one of a kind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cInteresting.\u201d mumbled Klassas.<\/p>\n
\u201cInteresting indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Word from DNO: In DNO\u2019s Author Showcase we will highlight artistic and narrative works from unpublished Dominican authors and those willing to share their work with the public. In particular the aim is to foster the burst of imagination, mental…","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":335341,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","footnotes":""},"categories":[18,16,77,235,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-344854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","category-educationyouth","category-homepage","category-homepage-carousel","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n