The revised first book of my trilogy (The Elderns) will be published shortly. This is an excerpt from Chapter 16.
The shadow isles vanished. Engulfed in a dense blue mist and surrounded by wild seas, the narrow winding channel leading to the safe haven beyond was impenetrable. Waves driven by fierce winds swirled around the Peaks pushing the flagship out to sea.
Memories flooded into Mari’s mind of her mother’s warning. When she sensed the Guardian’s approach her eyes snapped open. “Maju, why did the Guardian allow an unfamiliar vessel to approach the channel yet prevented us from doing so.”
“The Guardian didn’t permit her approach, Mari, Sá’kesh is driving her towards the Peaks.”
As thunder reverberated around the islands, and the storm grew in intensity, a luminescent shark ― her dorsal fin barely breaking the surface ― moved alongside Tempête.
“Ghostly,” Aimée muttered when the shark’s icy blue eyes held her gaze, “Maju, Shani’s master summoned her.”
“Watch and listen Aimée, then heed the message conveyed.”
The shark leapt high above Tempête, appearing to defy gravity. As she dropped into the ocean, gigantic waves crashed against the stricken vessel impaling her on the Peaks.
Mari raised her spyglass, focusing on the islands when the channel appeared. “The Needles remind me of row upon row of shark’s teeth but on a much grander scale. I’ve oft heard stories of how they protect the islands, but surely the Peaks are more effective at keeping intruders at bay.”
A young woman cradling a small child in her arms screamed when Shani plucked her husband from the deck, only to toss him aside as she vanished beneath the waves. A newborn snatched his body and raced towards a narrow entrance into the labyrinth of tunnels.
“Why does Maju believe Iñigo’s portrayal of the isle of shadows to be accurate. While I hate to belittle your son, anyone who describes the islands as paradise is either naïve, stupid or maybe both. Hell would be a more apt description, don’t you think?”
“Aimée,” Mari whispered dejectedly as young female sharks circled the sea stack. “The Shadows is Zúri’s Sanctuary, so I hoped the Guardian would welcome us.”
“Zúri has many guises and not all are benign.” Silenced by the threat of retribution and terrified as images flooded into her consciousness, Aimée withdrew into herself.
Infuriated by the Guardian’s actions, Maju enforced the spell of protection. His coven encircled an inky black crystal altar set beside the helm. A dense mist swirled around Tempête as the coven’s powers surged.
Mari was pale, her expression bereft as she turned to her husband, “We are unwelcome. I recall the memory of Sardaé’s warning to beware. Maju, pirates didn’t seize control of the islands from Jon Bissop. Zúri has taken back that which is rightfully his.”
llamememeg 