Bane of the Dragon King (Chronicles of Fallhollow #3)
by
Fallhollow is at war. The sudden deaths of the only two heirs that could have saved it has plunged the entire land into chaos. Despite all the magic thrown at him, the Dragon King still lives. Hope for any sort of victory seems faint until Charlotte discovers a secret that could change the course of history.
Armed with the power to set things right, Charlotte embarks on a perilous journey with the sly and cunning Prince Izmayel Ascatar Venniver IV, Lord of the peaceful Edryd dragons. But her journey of peace is thwarted, and Hirth's most fearsome enemy plans to use Charlotte to destroy the kingdom and claim the universe as his own.
As Fallhollow and the Kingdom of Hirth descend into a battlefield of bloodshed and death, David, Trog, and the warriors of Hirth march toward war with an impossible plan to bring down the Dragon King, destroy his armies, and return the kingdom to its former glory. All they need is a little faith, a few extraordinary surprises, and a lot of magic of the most unexpected, generous kind.
This book is the final dramatic and magnificent conclusion to the Chronicles of Fallhollow trilogy.
Bane of the Dragon King by J. Keller Ford
(Chronicles of Fallhollow #3)
Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Publisher: Month9Books
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The mage council gathered at the table, their faces stoic. A man with silver hair and eyes to match spoke first.
“Slavandria, you have asked us here once more to hear your plea to assist in protecting this kingdom you love so much. We have decided to hear your case. Please begin.”
“Thank you, Master Ozden. As you know, several months ago centaurs patrolling the border between the Southern Forest and Falcons Hollow found dozens of barbagazies murdered, their bodies drenched in dragon’s blood. When I first heard the news, I was stunned. Why? Who would want to murder these innocent mountain gnomes who, under normal circumstance, would never stray from their homes in the peaks of the Domongart Mountains?” Mangus propped his elbow on the arm of the chair, a finger resting upon his lips.
“Are you sure it was dragon’s blood?” The question came from a pale-skinned woman with spiky platinum hair and emerald green eyes.
“Yes, Mistress Serona. I asked the alchemist in Avaleen to test it for me. The blood was that of a timberlake smoothback.” Slavandria waited for the wild chatter to subside before she continued.
“Not long after the discovery of the barbagazis, seven meadow fairies from Brindle Greens were kidnapped from their homes in broad daylight. They were found four days later floating in crow’s cages in the Elmwithian Marshes, tortured by the rats, but alive. I brought
them back to Chalisdawn with me but up until a few days ago, they remained huddled in their barrows, terrified and mute. I tried to mind weave with them but I could not get through the terror that haunted them.”
“You speak of them in past tense. What has become of them?”
“They perished when Chalisdawn was destroyed by mage fire. Seyekrad’s fire.”
Another murmur filled the room. Slavandria continued, not wasting the shock and awe of the moment. “Then there were the six unicorns found dead on the banks of the Cloverleaf River. They were bludgeoned to death with their own horns, their silver blood left to drain into the healing waters.”
King Gildore leaned forward. “What measures did you take to curtail those attacks?”
“My powers are limited. Like all masters and mistresses of the spirit world, I am forbidden to interfere with the lives of the men and women of Hirth and Berg and my powers with them are limited to healing and offering advice.”
David snorted and laughed. All eyes turned to him. Gildore shot him a fowl look. “Is there something you would like to say, young man?”
David laughed again. “Oh boy, do I. Do any of you really believe this crap? Slavandria’s done nothing but interfere in mine and Charlotte’s lives since the day we met.”
“My interference, as you call it, was different, David,” Slavandria replied. Her eyes pleaded with him to shut up.
David leaned forward in his chair, his hands clasped on the table. “How is it different? Every step of the way for months you have done everything in your power to change my life. You never once asked what I wanted. You never gave a thought as to how either one of us felt.
You just plowed ahead with your own agenda, so don’t tell me and the rest of everyone in this room that you don’t interfere in the lives of men because it’s a lie.”
David glared at her, waiting to see what lies she was going to regurgitate next.
“You are the paladin,” the silver-eyed man said. “You have a part to play in this realm as decreed by our laws. It was not interference for her to bring you here as she was required to do so. Your feelings are inconsequential.”
“Inconsequential?” Could this man be serious? “Are you kidding me? You act as if I’m expendable.”
Trog draped an arm on David’s back and pinched his neck. The pain ratcheted down David’s spine and into his brain.
“David still has issues to discuss with Slavandria,” Trog said, “but they will be handled outside this room. Your Grace, if you will continue.” He released his grip on David’s neck.
David eased back in his chair, and eyed Trog, praying the proverbial daggers he shot at the knight penetrated the man’s thick hide. It was doubtful, but he could wish for it nonetheless.
When not torturing her keyboard or trying to silence the voices in her head, Jenny spends time collecting seashells, bowling, screaming on roller coasters and traveling. She is a mom to four magnificent and noble offspring, and currently lives in paradise on the west coast of Florida with a menagerie of royal pets, and her own quirky knight who was brave enough to marry her.
Jenny is the author of The Chronicles of Fallhollow series. The first two books, IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING, and RAGE OF THE DRAGON KING, are currently available. The third and final book, BANE OF THE DRAGON KING, is due to release in the Fall 2018.
Please stop by her website at www.j-keller-ford.com for additional info or email her at: jenny(at)j-keller-ford(dot)com
There was a part of BANE OF THE DRAGON KING where the mage council meets with the king of Hirth and his knights to discuss strategy on defeating the Dragon King. The scene was removed because I felt it was too long and drawn out and really served no purpose to the story. This is part of that very long (18 page) scene.
***The mage council gathered at the table, their faces stoic. A man with silver hair and eyes to match spoke first.
“Slavandria, you have asked us here once more to hear your plea to assist in protecting this kingdom you love so much. We have decided to hear your case. Please begin.”
“Thank you, Master Ozden. As you know, several months ago centaurs patrolling the border between the Southern Forest and Falcons Hollow found dozens of barbagazies murdered, their bodies drenched in dragon’s blood. When I first heard the news, I was stunned. Why? Who would want to murder these innocent mountain gnomes who, under normal circumstance, would never stray from their homes in the peaks of the Domongart Mountains?” Mangus propped his elbow on the arm of the chair, a finger resting upon his lips.
“Are you sure it was dragon’s blood?” The question came from a pale-skinned woman with spiky platinum hair and emerald green eyes.
“Yes, Mistress Serona. I asked the alchemist in Avaleen to test it for me. The blood was that of a timberlake smoothback.” Slavandria waited for the wild chatter to subside before she continued.
“Not long after the discovery of the barbagazis, seven meadow fairies from Brindle Greens were kidnapped from their homes in broad daylight. They were found four days later floating in crow’s cages in the Elmwithian Marshes, tortured by the rats, but alive. I brought
them back to Chalisdawn with me but up until a few days ago, they remained huddled in their barrows, terrified and mute. I tried to mind weave with them but I could not get through the terror that haunted them.”
“You speak of them in past tense. What has become of them?”
“They perished when Chalisdawn was destroyed by mage fire. Seyekrad’s fire.”
Another murmur filled the room. Slavandria continued, not wasting the shock and awe of the moment. “Then there were the six unicorns found dead on the banks of the Cloverleaf River. They were bludgeoned to death with their own horns, their silver blood left to drain into the healing waters.”
King Gildore leaned forward. “What measures did you take to curtail those attacks?”
“My powers are limited. Like all masters and mistresses of the spirit world, I am forbidden to interfere with the lives of the men and women of Hirth and Berg and my powers with them are limited to healing and offering advice.”
David snorted and laughed. All eyes turned to him. Gildore shot him a fowl look. “Is there something you would like to say, young man?”
David laughed again. “Oh boy, do I. Do any of you really believe this crap? Slavandria’s done nothing but interfere in mine and Charlotte’s lives since the day we met.”
“My interference, as you call it, was different, David,” Slavandria replied. Her eyes pleaded with him to shut up.
David leaned forward in his chair, his hands clasped on the table. “How is it different? Every step of the way for months you have done everything in your power to change my life. You never once asked what I wanted. You never gave a thought as to how either one of us felt.
You just plowed ahead with your own agenda, so don’t tell me and the rest of everyone in this room that you don’t interfere in the lives of men because it’s a lie.”
David glared at her, waiting to see what lies she was going to regurgitate next.
“You are the paladin,” the silver-eyed man said. “You have a part to play in this realm as decreed by our laws. It was not interference for her to bring you here as she was required to do so. Your feelings are inconsequential.”
“Inconsequential?” Could this man be serious? “Are you kidding me? You act as if I’m expendable.”
Trog draped an arm on David’s back and pinched his neck. The pain ratcheted down David’s spine and into his brain.
“David still has issues to discuss with Slavandria,” Trog said, “but they will be handled outside this room. Your Grace, if you will continue.” He released his grip on David’s neck.
David eased back in his chair, and eyed Trog, praying the proverbial daggers he shot at the knight penetrated the man’s thick hide. It was doubtful, but he could wish for it nonetheless.
J. (Jenny) Keller Ford is a scribbler of speculative fiction and YA tales. As an Army brat, she traveled the world and wandered the halls of some of Germany's most extraordinary castles in hopes of finding snarky dragons, chivalrous knights, and wondrous magic to permeate her imagination. What she found remains etched in her topsy-turvy mind
When not torturing her keyboard or trying to silence the voices in her head, Jenny spends time collecting seashells, bowling, screaming on roller coasters and traveling. She is a mom to four magnificent and noble offspring, and currently lives in paradise on the west coast of Florida with a menagerie of royal pets, and her own quirky knight who was brave enough to marry her.
Jenny is the author of The Chronicles of Fallhollow series. The first two books, IN THE SHADOW OF THE DRAGON KING, and RAGE OF THE DRAGON KING, are currently available. The third and final book, BANE OF THE DRAGON KING, is due to release in the Fall 2018.
Please stop by her website at www.j-keller-ford.com for additional info or email her at: jenny(at)j-keller-ford(dot)com
Giveaway Details:
· One (1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a digital copy of Band of the Dragon King
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