Sunja.
As the sky darkened, a deep glow seeped into the heavens above the capital, and Arrus realized the light came from lamps and torches. The city was a fat, sprawling thing collared with grandiose stone walls and high, menacing battlements. A road ran from side to side, rising up from the fields and traversing the side of the mountain, ending in a black mouth.
“They’ve kept us alive…” Dogslaw gasped and winced, “for this?”
“Have no doubt,” Noll muttered. “We’ll all perish in there. And not like men.”
His words disturbed Arrus, however, seeing the heart of his enemy filled him with awe and loathing. He so dearly wished he could have been part of the Ikull when they finally arrived to tear it all down. He dearly wished his brother was still alive. But most of all, he wearily acknowledged, he was grateful to finally see the journey’s end. He’d had enough of damn walking to do him a lifetime.
“Sunja,” he whispered, enraptured by the glow of the enormous city.
His companions looked on as well but did not speak.
“What will happen to us there?” Arrus asked and felt his nerves come loose. He swallowed and wiped at his eyes before anyone could see, but he need not have feared. No one heard his question.
The city mesmerized the Nordish men as they walked through a prairie as high as their hips. Bright fireflies wrote invisible messages in the air as they traveled over the plains, rendering the scene even more magical.
What will happen? Arrus asked the heavens and heard only the creaking of the wagons, the scuffle of worn feet, and the guttural language of the nearby Sujins brandishing weapons.
What?
TO BE CONTINUED…
Afterword
And that’s book two.
Hope you liked it.
Now, a few months back, there was a review on Ten stating that I should publish the next book in the series within a reasonable amount of time. I agree, but here’s the challenge I face: I write in two different genres, fantasy and horror. I enjoy working in both of these, but the horror stuff is, by far, outselling my fantasy stuff, and at this stage I have to cater to the readers who are, well, paying my bills.
Want to read the next 131 book sooner?
Well then, help me spread the word about the series. It’s just me here, and I don’t have an advertising machine behind me. I pretty much rely on readers and you telling your friends about the books. So if you like what you’re reading, leave a review. Recommend the series to your buddies. Tweet. Blog. Get the word out there. All of that helps increase book sales.
You do that, and you’ll see more 131 books produced on a faster schedule (as long as I don’t burn out—() and the series brought to conclusion within a reasonable timeline.
How long is 131 going to be?
Honestly, no idea. Maybe three more books. Possibly four. I originally envisioned a seven-book series, but that was a few years back. Now, I’m hesitant to say.
Regardless, thanks for buying the books, and I hope you liked what you read.
About the Author
Keith lives in Canada, on the island of Newfoundland.
Try these other titles by Keith C. Blackmore:
Horror
Mountain Man
Safari (Mountain Man Book 2)
Hellifax (Mountain Man Book 3)
The Missing Boatman
Breeds
Cauldron Gristle (novella—contains Mountain Man short story “The Hospital”)
Heroic Fantasy
The Troll Hunter
131 Days (Book 1)
White Sands, Red Steel
Science Fiction, Fantasy
The Bear That Fell from the Stars
One-Shot Short Stories
“The Hospital” (the first Mountain Man story,
also found in Cauldron Gristle)
Children’s
Flight of the Cookie Dough Mansion
If you enjoyed this story and have the time and inclination, consider leaving a review.
It’s good advertising for me.
Visit www.keithcblackmore.com for news and announcements.
CHARACTERS
*The Free Trained*
Skulljigger, seasonal free trained pit fighter
Targus, free trained pit fighter
The Masters, their Houses (Stables/Schools), and their people
*The House of Ten*
Halm (Zhiberian), seasonal pit fighter
Pig Knot (Sunjan), seasonal pit fighter
Muluk (Kree), seasonal pit fighter
Tumber (Vathian), seasonal pit fighter
Brozz "Crowhead" (Sarlandish), first time pit fighter
Torello (Sunjan), pit fighter
Kolo (Sunjan), pit fighter
Junger (Perician), the Perician Weapon, his first games
Kolem “Sapo” (Sunjan), pit fighter
Clades (Sunjan), survivor from the Third Klaw, head of the house’s guards
Pratos (Sunjan), once-Sujin, house guard
Valka (Sunjan), once-Sujin, house guard
*House of Curge*
Curge, the oldest, most successful owner of any of the established houses
Bezange, agent
Baris, trainer
Tubrik, trainer
Bechar, trainer
Demasta, burly head of Curge’s household guard
*School of Gastillo*
Gastillo, once gladiator, now Master of his House, wears golden mask
Varno, agent
Prajus, gladiator
*School of Nexus*
Nexus, wealthy wine merchant turned Master and first season at the games
Bojen, agent
Tino, spy
Bernd, trainer
Rezzo, trainer
*Stable of Grisholt*
Older house that almost grasped glory within the games, only to fall short
(Borl) Grisholt, owner and master of the house
Brakuss, once gladiator and head of household guard
Caro, once gladiator, now agent
Ballan, spy
Marrok, cook
Sarkus, smithy
Gunjar, pit fighter
Turst, taskmaster
*Others*
Clavellus, exiled taskmaster
Machlann, trainer of Clavellus
Koba, trainer of Clavellus
Nala, Clavellus’s wife
Ananda, house servant
Borchus, free agent
Bagrun, wagoner
(Karashipa, town of)
Miji, tavern owner
Thaimondus, once taskmaster
Torcul, Thaimondus’s son
Neven, Thaimondus’s son