Release date: August 15, 2015
Subgenre: Epic fantasy, short fiction collection
About Lord Fish: Chronicles of Xax:
Includes three short stories and a novelette!
'Dragon Play': All their lives the group of young Vikings had heard of their clan's past glories, but all they have known is the terror of being relegated to living within the shadow of a dragon's mountain. When the chieftain's daughter finds an ancient scroll showing a hidden back entrance to the dragon's lair, she and her three friends decide to sneak in and retrieve the lost talisman that holds the luck of their clan.
'Lord Fish' tells the tale of a newly-minted noble who meets his nemesis in Sir Brindor, the realm's most famous knight. Can the lowborn Lord Midas survive single combat against the deadliest warrior in history?
In 'The Stolen Castle', Lord Midas pays a visit to the long-deserted keep granted him by his new liege lord. When his entrance is refused, Midas learns that a hedge knight has taken up residence. With only his squire to aid him, Midas must find a way to take back his rightful home.
'Arrival' tells the tale of how a group of scientists from Earth first came to colonize the planet of New Eden...along with one unexpected guest.
'Dragon Play': All their lives the group of young Vikings had heard of their clan's past glories, but all they have known is the terror of being relegated to living within the shadow of a dragon's mountain. When the chieftain's daughter finds an ancient scroll showing a hidden back entrance to the dragon's lair, she and her three friends decide to sneak in and retrieve the lost talisman that holds the luck of their clan.
'Lord Fish' tells the tale of a newly-minted noble who meets his nemesis in Sir Brindor, the realm's most famous knight. Can the lowborn Lord Midas survive single combat against the deadliest warrior in history?
In 'The Stolen Castle', Lord Midas pays a visit to the long-deserted keep granted him by his new liege lord. When his entrance is refused, Midas learns that a hedge knight has taken up residence. With only his squire to aid him, Midas must find a way to take back his rightful home.
'Arrival' tells the tale of how a group of scientists from Earth first came to colonize the planet of New Eden...along with one unexpected guest.
Excerpt:
“Why, Fridrik? I believed you wiser than this.”
Fridrik gave her a
strange look. “No one has seen this in
centuries. You saw the map. We can explore a bit and be safe. I want to see what’s in there. Aren’t you curious at all?”
“There’s a dragon in
there.”
He nodded. “I have no intention of going anywhere near
the dragon.”
“Promise?”
“I swear. Look, let’s humor them for a little
while. See what we can find in the first
rooms. I bet they get scared and want to
leave within the hour.”
Birgit tried to force a
smile but failed. “I don’t know if I can
go in there. It’s like the mouth to
Hel.”
Fridrik smiled at
her. “I’ll hold your hand and lead the
way. You’ll be scared at first, but when
it’s over you’ll see how fun it was.”
Anja joined them,
followed by Halfdan. “I’m going
first.” Without waiting for a reply, she
shoved her torch in ahead of her and stalked forward. Halfdan didn’t hesitate to follow.
Fridrik squeezed
Birgit’s hand and drew her after him. As
she ducked to enter the passageway, Birgit closed her eyes and held them shut
for several steps, trusting Fridrik to lead her safely. Already smoke from the torches was filling
the small stone passage, making them cough.
She tried to remember how far the first line had looked on the map but
couldn’t.
“How far does it go?”
she asked, her voice sounding hollow and shaky.
Fridrik’s face was
orange in the flickering torchlight.
“Judging from the map, I’d say—”
There was a loud
click. Behind them the stone door
rumbled down, cutting off the sunlight as it slammed shut.
“Gods!” Birgit heard
herself shriek.
“It moved under my
foot!” The voice was Halfdan’s. “I triggered something.”
“Step on it again!” Anja cried.
“I’m trying. It’s not doing anything now.”
“Birgit, you’re hurting
my hand!” Fridrik whispered.
Birgit tried to lessen
her grip. “We’re all going to die now,”
she moaned.
“That’s not going to
help us,” Fridrik said. “There must be a
way to open the door again.” He squeezed
by her in the narrow passage and led her back to the closed door. “Help me!
Feel all around. If you find any
irregularities in the stone, press them.”
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About Ted Cross:
Ted Cross has spent the past two decades traveling the world as a
diplomat, all the time dreaming about writing fantasy and science
fiction. He's visited nearly forty countries and lived in seven,
including the U.S., Russia, China, Croatia, Iceland, Hungary, and
Azerbaijan. He's witnessed coup attempts, mafia and terrorist attacks,
played chess with several world champions, and had bit parts in a couple
of movies. He currently lives in Baku, Azerbaijan with his lovely wife
and two teenage sons.
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