The Return of the Ancient Ones
Описание книги
The Return of the Ancient Ones was awarded WINNER status for the Fantasy Category in the 2011 National Indie Excellence Awards.<br><br>The 2011 International Book Awards have been announced and The Return of The Ancient Ones has been honored as a "Finalist" in the "Fiction:Fantasy/Sci-Fi" category.<br><br>Extended Description:<br>Second in The Chronicles of Illúmaril series, author Gary Caplan's The Return of the Ancient Ones is a distinct tale that illustrates how one's fiercest enemy can become one's most aggressive ally. As dramatic as it is playful and sublime, Caplan has a knack at weaving the enchanted world of fantasy into the tension of a good old-fashioned cloak and dagger thriller. His incredible instinct for action rests on a spellbinding prose, yet what distinguishes his work in this genre is his ability to consider an otherworld culture as it reaches its pinnacle, rather than upon its downfall. In thirty-one chapters with titles like "Tyl University and the Academy of Spellweaving Arts," "Back to the Order of the Platinum Griffon and Duty," and "End Game," readers are reintroduced to Illúmaril, a land that patiently awaits its heir apparent. Once hidden on Earth, Gideon Finelen, as a birthright, holds the legacy that he and his ancestors are the only ones who can use the Sword of Order. Gideon's advisors, Tauri Ragan and Lord Talmor, hold great hope in Gideon and his Companions of the Sword of Order, but it is their enemy's enemy that first instigates a bold move. And while the Darkspawn have no intention of giving up their power, the return of Thatos and his twelve evil sorceror generals from their ancient, watery graves disperses Darkspawn's allegiance to temporarily help the armies of the Free Peoples against Thatos, his mercenaries, and other chaos warriors. For Gideon, the quixotic irony in all of this is that Darkspawn leadership is just as fixed on revenge as it is with maintaining its stronghold over Illúmaril. As he pits foe against foe to claim Illúmaril, the Sword of Order has a chance to triumph over Chaos.
Оглавление
Gary Sr. Caplan. The Return of the Ancient Ones
WORLD MAP
Chapter One
THE TWELVE STIR
Chapter Two
GIDEONS JOURNAL
Chapter Three
TYL UNIVERSITY AND THE ACADEMY OF SPELLWEAVING ARTS
Chapter Four
THATOS AWAKENED
Chapter Five
CONTINUED LEARNING
Chapter Six
THE VALHARRI SEARCH
Chapter Seven
TO EARTH AND BACK
Chapter Eight
A FIELD TRIP
Chapter Nine
ANCIENT ORGANIZATIONS
Chapter Ten
NIMMERAL’S ADVICE
Chapter Eleven
BACK TO ANDRIM
Chapter Twelve
IN THE GREAT HALL
Chapter Thirteen
TO KIR KIRIATH
Chapter Fourteen
GRADUATION
Chapter Fifteen
THATOS’ PLANS FOR WAR
Chapter Sixteen
NEW ORDERS
Chapter Seventeen
COUNCILS CONVENE AND PLOTS CONTINUE
Chapter Eighteen
BACK TO THE KIR REGION
Chapter Nineteen
THATOS GATHERS HIS ALLIES
Chapter Twenty
THE TALAXIS
Chapter Twenty-One
BACK TO THE ORDER OF THE PLATINUM GRIFFON AND DUTY
Chapter Twenty-Two
BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN
Chapter Twenty-Three
COUNCILS CONVENE
Chapter Twenty-Four
THE AMULET OF NOROS
Chapter Twenty-Five
THE ORDERS MOBILIZE
Chapter Twenty-Six
ANOTHER ADVENT OF DARKNESS
Chapter Twenty-Seven
GREAT FORCES GATHER
Chapter Twenty-Eight
THE DARKSPAWN LEADERS DECIDE
Chapter Twenty-Nine
ENEMIES UNITE: TERRITORY WARS
Chapter Thirty
SHADES OF TRUTH
Chapter Thirty-One
END GAME
EPILOGUE
TABLES FROM GIDEON’S JOURNAL
Отрывок из книги
The sky was dark with lightning crackling, as the waves rolled across the great Tharn Sea, which was actually a vast brackish lake. One of the Twelve was moving from the seabed where, for millennia, he had lain buried. Galvarex, who had once been a king and a powerful sorcerer and warrior, felt a tingling and then a rush of energy. His head moved, and he felt trapped in something. He had been commanding naval forces when enemy forces under several Alor lords, including the lords of Lindorien and Andrim, defeated his armada. By using a discharge of chaotic energy, he released himself and moved up through the lake floor muck and began his ascent out of the wreckage of his ship. He realized he should be cautious; as time had passed, none of his troops had come to dig him out, so more than the battle had been lost. Lord Galvarex was a powerful undead and, although not sure how much time had passed, he did not care to present himself as an easy target to the Alor or their allies.
“I need to look for the others,” Galvarex said aloud, after he reached the surface near the shore. He moved out of the lake waters and sensed that the level of the Unlife was higher than he remembered. Something must have happened, he thought. He had felt a surge of energy. It had been enough for him to awaken and extricate himself from the wreckage of his ship. Rising out of the waters of the Tharn Sea, he looked like a demon of darkness wearing a branil and zetheric alloy plate armor that appeared only well worn, since it was enchanted and had not rusted. Galvarex’s eyes radiated a green unearthly light. He still wore his magical crown attached to his specter-like visage. His robes had not been as highly enchanted and had been damaged and soiled by the sea muck. Once he got to the beach, the boots that matched his armor clanked, since the support leather had mostly disintegrated long ago, and only his immersion in the muddy bottom prevented total loss.
.....
“It’s probably a good idea to let the White Council hold the Sword for now, as someone may identify it,” Glade said. “Rektar might think it is one of Lord Talmor’s or one of the other ancient Alor’s craftings.”
“If he does for now, let him believe so,” Mordak said. “I know his family. He is a good lad and will not talk about his small mishap.”
.....