Malison: Dragon Umbra Read online

  “Tyrcamber,” said Angaric, his voice alarmed.

  Tyrcamber looked up and followed Angaric’s pointing finger.

  A messenger in the livery of the Order of Embers had arrived and was speaking with Master Ruire.

  A few minutes later Ruire ordered the column to advance at double-speed, his face hard.

  Armies of goblins and ogres had attacked the duchies of Mourdrech, Talgothica, and Chalons simultaneously, pouring out of the Goblin Wastes and the Great Eastern Forest.

  The Valedictor’s long-feared war on the Empire had begun.

  ###

  In his sanctuary on the Guardian’s Isle, Rilmael meditated upon the Sight, watching the flows of fate and the future.

  The Heralds of Ruin were coming, and their advent foretold the arrival of the Warden, though Rilmael could not yet see how.

  The Empire’s trial had come, as had humanity’s. Either they would prevail against the Valedictor, or they would be ground down into destruction and slavery, and the Valedictor’s path to Cathair Kaldran would be clear.

  And perhaps the Valedictor would have the chance to open the door beneath Cathair Kaldran that must never be opened.

  The threads of the future trended in that direction if the Emperor fell.

  But the crux of the future, the entire force of its flow, would be decided by Tyrcamber Rigamond.

  Rilmael didn’t understand how or why. Not yet.

  But Tyrcamber would decide whether humanity survived or perished.

  THE END

  Thank you for reading MALISON: DRAGON UMBRA!

  Sir Tyrcamber will meet his fate in the final book of the series, MALISON: DRAGON WAR (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=11250). Meanwhile, to find out more about the mysterious Warden, check out FROSTBORN: THE FIRST QUEST (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4439).

  If you liked the book, please consider leaving a review at your ebook site of choice. To receive immediate notification of new releases, sign up for my newsletter (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1854), or watch for news on my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Jonathan-Moeller-328773987230189/).

  ***

  Other books by the author

  The Demonsouled Saga

  MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sword.

  Yet he has a dark secret. He is Demonsouled, the son of the ancient and cruel Old Demon, and his tainted blood grants him superhuman strength and speed. Yet with the power comes terrible, inhuman rage, and Mazael must struggle to keep the fury from devouring him.

  But he dare not turn aside from the strength of his blood, for he will need it to face terrible foes.

  The priests of the San-keth plot and scheme in the shadows, pulling lords and kingdoms upon their strings. The serpent priests desire to overthrow the realms of men and enslave humanity. Unless Mazael stops them, they shall force all nations to bow before the serpent god.

  The Malrag hordes are coming, vast armies of terrible, inhuman beasts, filled with a lust for cruelty and torment. The Malrags care nothing for conquest or treasure, only slaughter. And the human realms are ripe for the harvest. Only a warrior of Mazael’s power can hope to defeat them.

  The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.

  To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.

  Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.

  For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.

  Unless Mazael can stop him.

  Read Demonsouled (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=880) for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=911), Soul of Serpents (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1287), Soul of Dragons (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1727), Soul of Sorcery (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1845), Soul of Skulls (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=2808), and Soul of Swords (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3599), along with the short stories The Wandering Knight (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3073), The Tournament Knight (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3677), and The Dragon's Shadow (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=2635). Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4442).

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  Once CAINA AMALAS was the shy daughter of a minor nobleman, content to spend her days in her father’s library.

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  The Magisterium, the Imperial brotherhood of sorcerers, believe themselves the rightful masters of the Empire. With their arcane sciences, they plan to overthrow the Empire and enslave the commoners, ruling all of mankind for their own benefit. Only the Ghosts stand in the path of their sinister plans.

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  The Ghost Exile Series

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  Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet a centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.

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  Read The Testing (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1538) for free. Rachelis's trials continue in The Assassins (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1540), The Blood Shaman (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1542), The High Demon (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=1544), The Burning Child (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=2756), The Outlaw Adept (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3341), The Black Paladin (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3343), and The Tomb of Baligant (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=3345). Read the entire series in The Third Soul Omnibus One (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4021) and The Third Soul Omnibus Two (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=4061).

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  And when a mad elven wizard comes to the High King's court, Ridmark finds himself fighting not only for his own life, but for the lives of his family.

  For the quest of the Seven Swords has begun...

  Read Sevenfold Sword: Champion (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=7831), Sevenfold Sword: Swordbearer (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=8067), Sevenfold Sword: Warlord (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=8275), and Sevenfold Sword: Necromancer (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=8794), Sevenfold Sword: Shadow (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=9179), Sevenfold Sword: Unity (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=9424), Sevenfold Sword: Sorceress (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=9628), Sevenfold Sword: Serpent (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=9884), Sevenfold Sword: Tower (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=10163), Sevenfold Sword: Maze (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=10505), and Sevenfold Sword: Guardian (https://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=10819), along with the prequel novellas Shield Knight: Ghost Orcs (http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/writer/?page_id=8269), Shield Knight: Third's Tale (http://w
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  The histories of Old Earth record that in the Year of Our Lord 778, Charlemagne’s rearguard under the command of Count Roland of the Breton March was ambushed and slain to a man.

  But Roland and his men were drawn through another magical gate, to a new and strange world of magic and deadly creatures. A world where every man, no matter what his estate or rank, no matter how poor or common or rich and powerful, was born with the power of magic.

  But the magic of this world carries a deadly curse, and the price for abusing its power is ruinous.

  This, then, is the story of the kingdom they built, and the knight who would decide its fate.