Title Of Book: Shadows of Darkness
Series: Titanian Awakenings Book 1
By: Leisl Kaberry
Genre: Fantasy
Sub-Genre: Action/Adventure, Dragons & Mythical Creatures, Epic,

Blurb:

A foot came into her vision nearing her body. She thrust her dagger into it. A wail of pain was heard amongst the dirt and dust. This pushed the other five greasers to work harder. They drew themselves back from the dust cloud between coughs, splutters and sneezes as Kessaria crawled herself further up the hill on her hands and knees. She dared not call out to her brother for fear of giving away her position. However, it seemed one clever greaser had taken himself out of the haze in order to gain advantage. He was waiting to pounce as soon as Kessaria made her way out of the dust cloud. He grabbed her around the neck and put his sword to her throat, forcing her to drop her weapons.
‘Don’t come near me freak or I will cut her… that’s a promise.’

It has been 20 years since Alkarrien and his dark army were defeated. Matara and Padicum who were young boys during the war are now men grown each having followed the footsteps of the family they were raised in. Despite peace reigning throughout the Land of Marrapassa there is an unrest amongst certain factions who are not happy with the post mage wars environment. Poverty is on the rise and so to are pockets of renegades out to pillage, cause mischief and bring back forbidden practices such as slavery. Will a new king in the Kingdom of Avanleah be able to work with his people to bring down the depravity? Will Matara be able to remain true to his values and beliefs or will his devotion to his younger sister, Kessaria be his ultimate downfall?

Excerpt

Matara slid back the old wooden entry to the Captain Moon Inn, that was just north of Rengal’s main road. He dusted his boots on the mat.
In its heyday the entry mud room had been one to behold as evidenced by the walls which had been gilded in a gold inlay throughout the wood panelling that was now tired-looking and scuffed. Beyond the small entry room a door to the left took him through a short passage that opened into a large sitting room.
The room was comfortable with many plush benches and seats for guests to relax in. While worn, like the rest of Rengal, the room was clean and well kept. A maid kept the room free of dust, the cushions fluffed and the guests hydrated. She buzzed about the few people she was serving, finding stools for their feet, cleaning and shining boots and bringing them beverages.
Matara’s eyes scanned the aged room, which had at better times been more lavish and livelier. They settled on a tall attractive maiden with long dark auburn hair down to her waist that was held back in many braids of varying sizes and lengths. She wore a long cap sleeve coat of a dyed dark green animal skin that accentuated her muscular arms and a brown singlet with tanned pants. She sat with poise in a cushioned lounge at a small table sipping hot milk from a small clay carafe. She did not notice Matara watching her as she sat with her back to him midway between the entry and the bay windows on the other side of the room. She seemed content as she observed the other guests in their own business surrounding her.
A moment later two male guests rose from the bench seats they had been sitting on within the bay window. They approached the young maiden seated on the long settee. Matara left his position inside the arched doorway to enter the room and stood against the back wall with one leg crossed over the other and arms folded.
The men attempted gallantry as they introduced themselves, kissing her hand as they sat themselves down uninvited. They seemed oblivious to the maiden’s boredom of them and continued to try to impress her with a pretence of importance.
‘You my dear have a beauty that is rare and should not be cooped up in such a space as this. I am an agent of fair maidens such as yourself and could get you well-paid work within the city.’ The smaller of the two with tanned features and mousey hair leaned forward with a crooked lip.
The maiden looked from one man to the other before answering. ‘I am flattered by such an offer of course but I am a mere traveller and am not looking to settle in Rengal.’
‘Oh, a traveller are we?’ The man perked up his interest. ‘Such a maiden as yourself should not be travelling these dangerous roads without an escort. I can arrange passage for you with a couple of my men, bodyguards if you will, to see you to your destinations in safety.’
The man leaned in closer to her and slid his hand over her back. The maiden tensed and moved her hands to her lap.
‘What makes you think I would need an escort? How do you know I am not here waiting for my husband to return from business?’
‘Nope, don’t buy it. Any self-respecting man wouldn’t allow a maiden like yourself to be out of their suite dressed such as you are.’
The maiden let out a little laugh, though her patience seemed to be waning. ‘What self-respecting maiden would marry a man who told her what she could and could not wear in public?’
The man nodded his head in agreement. ‘You see my point. A maiden such as yourself would not be tamed by such an institution as marriage. Therefore, you could not be married. There is only one way to tame such a feline.’
‘Sir you confuse me. Are you some kind of talent agent, tour guide operator or lion tamer?’ She leaned in closer to the man.
‘Oh I wear many hats. These days work is slim and a person must take on many roles to make a living.’
‘Oh well, that’s sensible I guess,’ the maiden said, straightening. ‘I appreciate your very… alluring offers but I’m unfortunately going to have to decline.’ She was about to stand up when a hand on her shoulder from the bearded bald man on the other side of her pushed her down again.
‘I’m sorry miss I think you misunderstood me. You seem to think you have an option,’ the first man uttered with a sly smile.
Matara’s heart raced, recognising the need for some intervention but held back a moment deciding not to make a scene before ensuring his help would be appreciated. Up until that point the maiden had held herself well, it was not his wish to insult her capabilities in handling the situation. He would keep watch and ensure she needed his help before intervening, he had made that mistake before.
The maiden looked to the bearded man on her left and then back to the short man with the big mouth on her right. She leaned into his ear with heated breath, ‘Here’s how this is really going to go. You and your friend are going to let me leave…’
At this point the man looked down and realised her hand was between his legs with a short sword pressed hard against his groin.
She cocked her head to one side ‘…otherwise I will strip you from your manhood here and now.’
The man gulped hard and eyed his companion who hardened his squeeze on her shoulder.
The maiden reefed her other hand back whipping another, more decorative, short sword under his chin.
‘Really?’ She looked back to him, her hand pushing harder into his throat.
‘I think maybe you have a point,’ the first man jeered awkwardly.
Matara let a smile escape his lips, enjoying the show. And this is why it is always best to wait before intervening.
At that moment another man with a large muscular body and big hands made his way forward with the intention of attacking from behind. His eyes were bloodshot and his face looked enraged.
Hello, what have we got here? Matara’s smile disappeared as he realised the man was not scooping in heroically to help the maiden but rather the two men he was likely working with.
Matara softened his breath and let his eyes roll into the back of his head a moment before letting out a single word in a hiss.
‘Baraho.’
As the word rolled off his tongue an iron chair fell before the man and then walloped him hard across his shin, tripping him over but also breaking his leg.
The solid man dropped to the floor with screams of pain as he held his leg tight.
The maiden turned her head, finally noticing the man who had come for her from behind. She relaxed her hands just enough to let the two on either side of her back out from the seat, being careful not to be stung by the weapons still threatening them. They ran to their fallen comrade and after a hurried examination carried him out of the room.

Meet Leisl Kaberry

I was never going to be a writer… seriously.’ Somehow despite Leisl’s lifelong love for making up and telling stories, she had no desire to become an author. However, after a creative urge spurred her on to write an idea for a scene, the world of Titania was born and she hasn’t looked back since. An Aussie born and bred, she has lived in a variety of places including the Australian outback and Montreal, Canada. She now lives in Kelowna, British Columbia with her family, dogs, cat and whatever wildlife choose to inhabit the property. She has a degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice, a brown belt in karate, likes training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and singing in her husband’s “fun” band or karaoke with her mates.