Herring Domain of the Dead

ISBN: 978-1-0983-2485-8
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 334 Seiten

In the not too distant future, the world's ability to use and make electricity is mysteriously lost. The phenomenon known as The Darkness is born. Unprepared, two generations struggle to adapt and survive as violence, plague, and famine bring the death toll into the billions. Now, a new generation comes of age and humanity's greatest hope is finally revealed. New friendships are born and lost, and a quest is begun. This is the most dangerous quest. The destination is a mysterious place known as the Domain of the Dead. A place that none that enter ever return. Would the rumor and possibility of learning the secrets that can change the world be worth a trip to the Domain of the Dead? Are those potential secrets worth the cost of your life, of your family and friend's lives? What if there are no secrets at all? Only a trip to the Domain of the Dead can reveal all the answers, or will it?

Autoren/Hrsg.

Herring, Scott

Leseproben

PROLOGUE

Angie Pagent slowly crept through the small valley. She and her fellow Tandrill villagers were travelling in single file, in complete silence. With each step, she was careful and precise, hoping to not make any sound to give away their position. The only sounds she heard were the wind and a few birds. It had only been a couple days since they had left the protection of the forest and their village, but the collective nervousness and threat of danger made it seem like a lifetime ago. I’m beginning to wonder if the constant stress of this journey will kill us before the Pike Brothers Army can she thought to herself.

Angie Pagent was in her early thirties. Angie was the daughter of a Tandrill Village leader. This gave her access to the village council meetings, with the blessing and encouragement of her father. Her father had been grooming Angie to eventually take his place on the council.

Walking through this valley she glanced forward at the line of villagers. Turning her head to look behind her, Angie saw even more of the long line of people. Nothing will ever be the same again. Our lives were changed forever with that last council meeting before our exodus began.

Angie tended to be a couple minutes late to the council meetings. Not being on the council meant her seat was at the back, near the door. This made being late, or leaving early from a meeting, easily manageable. None of the other council members had ever noticed her tardiness, or early exits, except her father of course. Her father always noticed, and he always made a point to lecture her on that subject. That last council meeting was different however. Tensions were running high through the village, and rumors had been circulating that even the enigmatic Jerry the Elder would be attending. She made sure she was not be late to that meeting.

Angie remembered the importance of the last Tandrill Village council meeting and all of the events that led up to it.

Since the age of the Darkness began, so long ago, the Tandrill Village had kept its inhabitants safe and secure in the deep remote forest. The forest had protected them from the marauding bands that had formed in the early days of the Darkness. Until a little over a month ago, it had even protected them from the latest great threat, the ever-growing Pike Brothers Army, which was starting to expand its territory. Through the years, the biggest problem for the village was always food. That problem had grown worse over time and now there was no longer enough food to feed everyone in the village.

The forest had provided the necessary food needed for the Tandrill Village for many years. The village thrived and the population grew rapidly. Eventually, the population growth was too much for just the forest to provide. Gatherers were sent out past the Boundary in search of new food sources. These small parties were initially successful in keeping the village fed, but there was a cost. The increased frequency of these gathering parties departing the safety of the forest brought with it the increased threat of those parties being followed home to Tandrill.

Angie had been asleep during the Pike Brothers raid on their village, just a month before that fateful council meeting. She remembered the terror of waking to the sound of screams just outside her door. A loud thud on the door caused her to jump out of bed and scramble for a weapon in the dark. Then the scream was gone and the laughter began to fade.

That raid had been a small one, only ten men. Twenty-two villagers had been killed before all of the attackers had been found and dealt with. One of the attackers was interrogated before being killed. He claimed he was part of the Pike Brothers Army and his small group had followed one of the Tandrill gathering parties back to the village, carefully avoiding the traps meant to keep away outsiders. The Tandrill Village was starving, and now it appeared it was no longer safe from intruders.

Ten Tandrill scouts had been sent out into the world. Their mission was to find a new home for the villagers. A home that would be safe, and provide enough food for everyone. Several weeks went by with no word or any sign of the scouts. Finally, late in the evening before that last council meeting, one scout returned. The scout’s arrival was too late to hold a council meeting that night. The fateful council meeting took place the next morning.

Angie continued following in line with her fellow villagers through the valley while her mind continued to wander. She recalled the scout’s report to the council vividly. The scout had successfully navigated north. He had made contact with several towns and villages on his journey. The information he collected all had a similar message. The Pike Brothers Army is growing and expanding their territory. It was not safe anywhere near the territory ruled by the Pike Brothers Army. Moving further north, the scout encountered a Fortress that gave him shelter for the night.

While spending the evening in the Fortress, the scout witnessed something that changed everything. He had no idea what he had seen, but he knew he had to find out what it was. He asked the Fortress inhabitants what it was, but they refused to talk about it. Eventually, he indicated he would journey north himself to find his answers. Only then did one of the leaders privately agree to discuss what he had seen.

Angie could still hear the scout’s words in her head as he told his story. The council woman told me to forget what I had seen. His reply was I must go there and find out what it is. The council women answered in horror, you fool. That is the Domain of the Dead. No one goes there, and any that are foolish enough to try, never return. If you go there you will not return. We don’t even speak about that evil place.

The Domain of the Dead the council women had told the scout. Those had been her exact words. Angie’s father had argued it could not be a coincidence that the name of this place the scout had found had the same name as the sacred location that had been foretold, by name, in Tandrill’s most sacred prophecy. That is the point in the council meeting when things became heated Angie remembered.

Angie’s father insisted the scout’s report was the sign foretold in the prophecy. Reciting the prophecy line by line, her father had proceeded to check off every item in the prophecy he believed was coming true. The last part of the prophecy was the item that brought the most debate. The last item indicated their savior would lead the villagers on a journey to the Domain of the Dead for their salvation. Angie’s father argued their scout had found the safe passage to the Domain of the Dead. Therefore, he must be the savior that was foretold in the prophecy.

Other council members were not as convinced as her father. Some argued for moving deeper into the forest. They could attack and capture the smaller villages nearby, which could gain the extra food and security needed. Angie couldn’t help but smile to herself remembering the next part of the meeting, the sudden appearance of Jerry the Elder.

Jerry’s appearance, and appearance was the right description Angie remembered, as even sitting near the door she had not seen or heard him enter the room, had brought complete silence.

Angie had only seen Jerry one other time before that last council meeting. Her father had told her Jerry was the oldest member of the village. Oldest and member were not the best descriptors. Ancient was a much better description as Jerry was the oldest person she had ever seen. Rumors abound that Jerry is the last person still alive that remembered what the old world was like, before the Darkness. In fact, there is one rumor that Jerry the Elder was the person that first heard the sacred prophecy.

As for Jerry being a member of the village, well she hardly considered him a member at all. She had seen him twice her entire life. He lived alone in the forest and did not accept visitors. He lived more like an outcast than a member. There was no denying however, he was well respected and nearly all of the villagers revered him.

Angie remembered the ancient man’s words in the now silent council chamber. I think you will find there is much more in the Preserve and the other small villages that will be useful to you than just the small villages and their supplies. Angie’s father was the first to respond. Nice of you to join us Jerry. Help me convince them now is the time of the prophecy. You of all people must see the signs?

Jerry did not agree she remembered I’m sorry, but the time is not yet upon us. I believe we are very close, but you seem to be ignoring a key part near the end of the prophecy. You are missing the reference to Castle.

Angie’s father was shocked that Jerry was apparently not going to support his side and became upset, arguing the Castle is this Fortress, Jerry. Besides, how do you know? The last...