Hey everyone! Since I am going through the excellent work my editor completed on my next work, I figured it would be a good time to share a little teaser with you all. So I hope you enjoy, and, if you really want to see more, stay tuned for the possibility of reading “The Godstone Decree” before release.
Without further ado, enjoy this teaser:
With the same resolve she had used to face down Dolocius, that god of deceit, Sophia entered the tower. She was greeted by an open planned lobby, where Monique, a pleasant Keeper, sat behind a desk.
“Hey, Sophia! What brings you here today?” A bubbly voice greeted her.
“Hi, Monique. Hope all is well,” Sophia said with a matched giddiness.
“Oh, it is. It is. I just about solved this puzzle,” With clapped hands, Monique gestured to the puzzle in question. It was just one of many the steward of the Keepers would spend her time on. Of course, Sophia couldn’t see it from behind the desk, but still she could imagine the small pieces of wood in their jigsaw pattern scattered about the workspace.
“Ooooh, that sounds fun!’ Sophia responded.
“Truly, it is. So, I know you didn’t come here just to see me. Although you are welcome to it. What can I do ya for?”
Sophia’s smile dropped as she thought of the task ahead. “I need to see Grand Keeper Chalepos.”
Monique stood quickly, her girth not hindering her body from matching her enthusiasm. The portly woman, drenched in the woolen robes of their order and clinking with stones, made her way to the locked door that would allow Sophia access to the staircase. There was no need for a guard, for although Monique was an exceptionally pleasant individual, she had a particular knack for the icy gifts Melleas could grant, a rarity since Melleas was well known for being rather obtuse. The warped wood beneath their feet evidence of the few occasions which Monique had curried the fickle gods favor.
“Well, he is in a rare sort today. Best if you keep whatever you got to say … brief.” Monique said as she unlocked the door and pulled it open.
“When is he not in a rare sort?”
Monique chuckled lightly, “Best of luck, Sophia.” With a wink, the bubbly woman closed the door, and Sophia was engulfed in the gloom of the stairwell.
Only the sparse light from small windows lit her way. She sighed and pulled up the hem of her robes, a necessity for the arduous climb up the marble stairs. Sconces with candles lined the walls, serving as a remedy to nightfall. As she stepped up the stairs with as much grace as she could muster, she sighed to herself, of course, Chalepos would be on the seventh floor.
The bastard enjoyed making those who called upon him suffer the climb. It was an irritating request, seeing she just passed the second floor, a level specifically designed for those who wished to meet with either the four Senior Keepers, the Grand Keeper, or all the leadership of Augustia’s Bastion.
“Ember’s breath,” she muttered. The third floor, which stored various odds and ends for the messengers of the gods had a clark’s desk that could be used. Still, that did not sway Chalepos from forcing meetings within his quarters. Save for the rare circumstance in which the four Seniors and the Grand Keeper of the Bastion had to convene, the wiry old man would remain in his rooms, studying or experimenting from texts and oddities.
Finally, she dragged her way to the landing of the seventh floor. The sweat on her brow soaked into the heavy cloth of her sleeve, and a wisp of her red hair dangled in front of her eye. She licked her hand to try firm out the rebellious locks. With a heavy sigh, she firmed her robe, causing a jingle sound to emanate from the stones within. She brought her hand to her Embershard amulet and sent a small prayer to the dragon god, the leader of all the others. They would know how to handle Chalepos, she mused.
Thank you all for reading! Stay tuned next week for more shorts and tidbits from me.
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