Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles   Chapter Seventeen: Last-Minute Adjustments

Blood shot everywhere with the dust and shards, all of it showering over Rein while she ducked for cover. She peered over her shoulder with a look of sheer panic and saw Pryce's arm and leg protruding from behind what was left of the rock: the only parts of him that hadn't been crushed by it. They simply dangled there by their tendons as crimson poured from the mangled limbs and surged down the wall like a stream of magma.Rein couldn't tear her eyes from the scene and she trembled to the point where she struggled to regain her footing. Somehow her ability to process everything around her had vanished. She felt something caught in her throat: a sob or a scream, she couldn't tell which. Finally, she brought herself to shoot down the tunnel and escape the horror scene before she lost consciousness. She exited the palace, soared over the wall, and dove into the icy Sirene Lake to was

Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles   Chapter Eighteen: After So Much Effort...

The prisoners rampaged down the corridors brandishing their swords and any other weapons they were able to get their hands on. Those who couldn't find any weapons worked their creativity and made use of chairs, small tables, potted plants, and whatever blunt objects they could manage to lift. It was a war in itself. There were fistfights, sword-fights, and some of the palace workers swatted, kicked, and stomped on the rodents scurrying about on the floor. Jole and Travis managed to avoid most of the chaos and searched to find the woman who had freed them. Then they caught sight of a black cat, which called to them."Travis! Jole! It's me, Jorge!" Jole and Travis watched him jump onto a console table. "Listen, I require your aid with something. I suspect the emperor is still in the throne room because he isn't in his chamber. I plan to attack it."

Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles   Chapter Nineteen: Divine Intervention

Guided by the torches illuminating the courtyard, Jorge made it to the top of the stone wall and climbed onto the overlooking branch of a tree. Twilight had passed and the light of the orange moon was all Jorge had to aid his way through the Lucierna Forest and the thick snowfall. Ahead, he could make out the dim glow of a campfire and he ran towards it. He only morphed back into his original form once he had arrived and verified that he knew the members of the group surrounding the fire."Captain!" Travis exclaimed. "Where have you been?""Spying.""Did you learn anything?" Jole asked anxiously."They're going to search the forest for us tomorrow.""And what o

Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles   Chapter Twenty: There is More to be Done

Now that she could no longer fly, Rein would have to get accustomed to running and climbing, and depending on other animals for long-distance transportation. She soon realized that although riding an animal may be a faster way to travel, it took practice and she didn't have time to learn. She rushed through the tunnels of the rats and mice domain towards the east wing of the palace and emerged on the opposite side. She found herself looking at the stone wall, which served as a barrier between her and the wood beyond it. Climbing up the wall was a tiresome challenge, and descending it without slipping and dropping the rest of the way down was even more so. Halfway down the wall, she decided it would be faster to simply let go and tumble into the thick snow at the bottom. She emerged freezing cold, but all she could do now was continue onward as quickly as possible and hope that the activity would warm her up soon.

Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles   Chapter Twenty-One: A Prophecy Narrowly Avoided

The next morning Gerardo woke up peacefully for the first time in ages. His eyes opened painlessly and his head turned without soreness as he studied his surroundings in astonishment. He lay on a chaise lounge covered with a fur blanket in the most luxurious cave he had ever laid eyes on. In front of him was a selection of fresh fruit on an oriental table, and further toward the entrance, Calder slept atop a cluster of cotton pillows.Gerardo did not desire to get up; he was too comfortable. With any luck, the forest sounds would help him to fall back asleep: the trickling water, the soft chatter of tiny voices, the wind rustling the leaves of the trees, the lulling birdsong... then a conversation between the voices of Calder (who had just awakened) and Dil distracted him so that relaxation was no longer possible for him to obtain.

Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles   Chapter Twenty-Two: Bravery, Love, and Regard

Everyone in the room remained silent, awaiting to hear a reaction from Emperor Plake. The emperor gently tossed the letter onto the table in front of him."Well it is a good thing this is no hoax," he said. He called to his scribe. "Cal! Address a message to Emperor Mandingo and include everything we have discussed. There is no need for code or such. I trust this pixie can avoid capture. Be sure to write every detail.""Yes, Your Majesty," Cal replied."Should we begin preparation then, Sire?" asked a general."No," replied the emperor. "Mandingo seemed skeptical in his letter. You know as well as I that we cannot execute this plan without his assistance. In the meantime, I would like to make Jorge a general of his

Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles   Chapter Twenty-Three: A Promise Fulfilled

Gerardo returned home to his mother only to find that she had expected (and hoped) that he had died during the Stone War and had sold all of his possessions. Since he wasn't particularly welcomed home, Gerardo decided to leave his mother and build a cabin in the Lucierna Forest to live in on his own. He spent what little money he had received from serving in the military on clothes and necessities and despite being exceptionally lonely, he did well enough to get by.When not hunting or struggling to sell his kill, Gerardo spent most of his time sitting on a hill in Helvetica looking over the Aquamarine Ocean. He enjoyed the beauty and peace this location had to offer. However, the quiet that surrounded him on this hilltop sometimes gave way to questions and negative thoughts. For instance, now that he had fought in the war and served the purpose given to him b

Follow: Book 1 The Rose Tree Chronicles   Prologue: The Story Begins

Over five hundred years after the creation of Xyntriav, three emperors had built their dominions on the west of the continent Noelle and expanded them across the oceans to the continents Platavan and Kallak. For fifteen years they had successfully held their alliance as the United Empires, but as those years passed, it became increasingly difficult to keep it in one piece. Once they had encountered their fifth collective political issue, they were unable to conclude the affair. Desperate to come to an accord, they involved the subjects of their empires. Now, on Malla 23, 467 (April 5), it was time to announce the result of the poll to the emperors themselves.The meeting took place in a dark stone forum a few miles away from the coast in the town of Helvetica, the capitol of the Noelle Empire. Located in the very center of the capitol, the forum was supported by obsidian pillars a