The Curse of the Pirini Lilapa
Guardians of the Core Book 2
by Michael Thies
Genre:
Futuristic Fantasy
Futuristic Fantasy
The Trials have concluded. Coronation has elected a new apprentice to
Guardian of the Core. Since, Zain Berrese, Prince Hydro Paen, and
Eirek Mourse have gone their separate paths, thinking each other a
distant memory. But, it seems that fate has other plans. As the three
travel their paths, they find that their lives are not so separate
after all. The persons who they thought they were at the end of the
Trials are now tested even more as the suns draw closer to their
convergence. To an event known to bring only bad luck, sorrow, and
pain. To an event that occurs every 150 0years. To an event known as Pirini Lilapa.
Guardian of the Core. Since, Zain Berrese, Prince Hydro Paen, and
Eirek Mourse have gone their separate paths, thinking each other a
distant memory. But, it seems that fate has other plans. As the three
travel their paths, they find that their lives are not so separate
after all. The persons who they thought they were at the end of the
Trials are now tested even more as the suns draw closer to their
convergence. To an event known to bring only bad luck, sorrow, and
pain. To an event that occurs every 150 0years. To an event known as Pirini Lilapa.
Some look to the sky in superstition, others look to the sky in fear, and
yet, some look to the sky in contemplation. For in the weeks and days
before the suns converge, plots perspire, deities die, and families
are fractured as no one is safe from their harsh and heinous gaze. . .
yet, some look to the sky in contemplation. For in the weeks and days
before the suns converge, plots perspire, deities die, and families
are fractured as no one is safe from their harsh and heinous gaze. . .
Goodreads * Amazon
The thick canopy
lessened the heat considerably. It locked in a certain moistness within the
jungle atmosphere, allowing them to make better distance.
Hydro
had run out of sticks to plant, and Len held his last few. The large man still
carried plenty, though.
“Plant!”
Nivarre commanded.
Len
lurched over and heaved the spike down with all his might. “It has been days,
my prince. And nothing.”
Hydro
was about to respond, but the large man interrupted. “One-Eye, I told you the
difficulty of this journey; you are here now because you want answers. And you
will find them once we arrive.”
The
man’s hearing perplexed Hydro. He wondered if growing up in the jungle had trained
his ears for sound like Hydro had been trained for prowess by tongue and sword within
the castle grounds.
“Plant.”
“How
much farther do you believe it will be, Nivarre?” Hydro asked.
“It
will not be more than half a day once we reach the Brown Sea.”
“And
. . . how far . . . is that?” Len asked through puffs of exhaustion. “I have
yet . . . to see any . . . river flowing . . . through here.”
“This
sea is made from no river that is why it’s called the Brown Sea, One-Eye.” He
stopped his pace, and turned to look at Len and Hydro. “I believe we will see
the Brown Sea today, so we are no more than a day’s voyage.”
Hydro glanced back at the procession of slaves following
him. It seemed as though the number had shrunk, but Hydro knew that wasn’t true
as there had been no danger yet. Monkeys had traveled with them for a while,
swinging from bough to bough, until they eventually stopped. And one time a few
tigers had been spotted off in the distance, through the foliage by one of the
slaves, but they had never approached further, probably due to the number of
their group. Although, when they had stopped to notice the tigers, Hydro could
have sworn one of them looked at him intently, as if truly seeing him, before
retreating. The stare pimpled Hydro’s skin, but another hour’s trek through the
jungle, had caused Hydro to forget about it.
Fifty paces ahead, Hydro noticed an alcove. Good a spot to rest. “Len, we can stop—”
He tumbled to the ground. He didn’t appreciate dirt’s kiss. It was gritty. He
looked back and noticed he had tripped over an overgrown root. He spat out the
aftertaste and glanced back to notice Len’s hand, garbed in jewels.
“Are
you okay, my prince?”
“Yes.”
Hydro took his advisor’s hand and pulled himself upwards.
Over
Len’s shoulder, past Nivarre, in the alcove he noticed something now. It was
white. Unusually white. Hydro shook his head and squinted. The white turned out
to be the dress of a black girl standing in the middle. She hadn’t been there a moment ago. Hydro pushed past Len and
Nivarre ignoring any words they might have said. He darted towards her. She stood
there, looking northeast, back turned, black braids falling just past her tiny
shoulders. Could it be?
Beware of the girl with black hair . . . Hydro stopped a few paces from her. Her shoulders heaved.
She wept. Only Hydro heard her. Enthralled, he reached out to her. Under his
weight, a twig snapped. She glanced back at Hydro with lost, black eyes.
“What is your
name?”
“Anne.”
The girl smiled.
The
smile slid into a sour frown. Her teeth changed into fangs. Hydro was jerked
back and pushed to the ground. The air was cut. Hydro blinked and cussed as he
landed on strewn branches. In between his legs rolled a serpent’s head, its
tongue still licking the air in the aftermath of death. Nivarre stood above him
wielding a sword wet with blood.
No. It can’t be. Hydro looked around.
Nivarre shouted incomprehensible words and slashed open a snake that tried
striking him from his side. All around larger serpents, thick as humans, wound
their way around the trees. From underneath his arms, he was pulled upward.
“Hydro!
Are you alright? What were you doing?”
Len.
It was Len. “We should never have come. We need to leave.”
“The
snakes are out, Little Prince. There is no returning now. We press onward.” The
slaver cut another snake across the belly.
Hydro
looked back. His slaves were falling. Terror clung to Len’s face. Through the
cacophony of his slaves’ shrieks and the slithers and hisses of the snakes,
Nivarre shouted them onward. Despite the realization of his mistake, Hydro knew
he couldn’t turn back now. Now, he needed to be strong. So he appeared strong
for himself, for Len, for family. Some part of him needed to believe everything
would be alright.
“These
are no snakes.” Len held onto his steel with a crude grip.
“You
are right, One-Eye. These are much too large for snakes. These are basilisks.
Don’t look into their—”
It was too late. A basilisk slithered out from a tree branch
and dropped right in front of them. Hydro couldn’t help but stare into red,
vicious eyes. It coiled back its head and refocused on Hydro. It’s going to
strike. Hydro crouched, pulled his sword and came clean across the neck as
the snake lurched forward. Then he saw Len. Not moving. A statue of flesh,
still as granite.
The Trials of the Core
Guardians of the Core Book 1
As Edwyrd Eska approaches his two-hundredth year as Guardian of the
Core, he must find an apprentice to train under him. His title and
role compel him to safeguard and govern his universe, Gladonus, as
each Guardian before him has done and those after him shall continue
to do until relieved of such duties by will of the Ancients. Prince
Hydro Paen, Eirek Mourse, and Zain Berrese—amongst other
contestants—receive invitations to compete in a quest of Trials
intended to determine who will become Eska’s apprentice. An old
adage goes: “The toughest trials test you truest” – and these
events challenge their fortitude through tenuous partnerships,
intellectual rivalries, and battles of weapons’ mastery. Along the
way, each contestant must attempt to overcome personal demons that
haunt them. In this tale of ideal dreams and lucid aspirations, these
competitors find theirs threatened by deceit, betrayal, sabotage—and
even flesh—as all become vital to success…
Core, he must find an apprentice to train under him. His title and
role compel him to safeguard and govern his universe, Gladonus, as
each Guardian before him has done and those after him shall continue
to do until relieved of such duties by will of the Ancients. Prince
Hydro Paen, Eirek Mourse, and Zain Berrese—amongst other
contestants—receive invitations to compete in a quest of Trials
intended to determine who will become Eska’s apprentice. An old
adage goes: “The toughest trials test you truest” – and these
events challenge their fortitude through tenuous partnerships,
intellectual rivalries, and battles of weapons’ mastery. Along the
way, each contestant must attempt to overcome personal demons that
haunt them. In this tale of ideal dreams and lucid aspirations, these
competitors find theirs threatened by deceit, betrayal, sabotage—and
even flesh—as all become vital to success…
Michael Thies graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire with a
Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in Creative Writing and
Advertising. After a year in the marketing and sales field he
realized that it wasn’t his calling, so he went back to the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for his second bachelor’s
degree, this time in English Education. Now, he is
a wanderlust traveler and global English Educator. Shortly after
receiving his English Education certificate and his TEFL certificate,
he spent one year living in Santiago, Chile interacting with the
people and the culture there. Currently he is 28 and living in China,
on the other side of the world, still interacting with the locals,
still adopting their culture, but more importantly, still writing. It
is these experiences that fuel the imagination of his mind.
Bachelor of Arts degree, double majoring in Creative Writing and
Advertising. After a year in the marketing and sales field he
realized that it wasn’t his calling, so he went back to the
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for his second bachelor’s
degree, this time in English Education. Now, he is
a wanderlust traveler and global English Educator. Shortly after
receiving his English Education certificate and his TEFL certificate,
he spent one year living in Santiago, Chile interacting with the
people and the culture there. Currently he is 28 and living in China,
on the other side of the world, still interacting with the locals,
still adopting their culture, but more importantly, still writing. It
is these experiences that fuel the imagination of his mind.
To follow Michael and his life in teaching and writing, or even if you
just wanted updates on when future releases will be available, sign
up for his monthly author newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bahKu9
just wanted updates on when future releases will be available, sign
up for his monthly author newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/bahKu9
Word-of-mouth is crucial for any author to succeed. I hope you have enjoyed the
book. If you have, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and
Goodreads. Even if it’s only a line or two, I would really
appreciate it and it would be a tremendous help.
book. If you have, please consider leaving a review on Amazon and
Goodreads. Even if it’s only a line or two, I would really
appreciate it and it would be a tremendous help.
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It's always a great day when we find great books to read. Congrats on the tour and thanks so much for the opportunity to win and another great post.
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