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Date added: 18.2.2015
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The sounds of war were muted and ghostly. The wails of the dying mingled with the triumphant shouts of the defenders and the Whump! Whump! of massive war catapults firing their deadly projectiles at the rebel forces.A screech penetrated the templeMoreThe sounds of war were muted and ghostly. The wails of the dying mingled with the triumphant shouts of the defenders and the Whump! Whump! of massive war catapults firing their deadly projectiles at the rebel forces.A screech penetrated the temple walls, unnerving Thurle crouched inside the secret room. He had witnessed the savagery of the initial Charakai attack and was relieved when his leader had ordered a retreat. The battle was lost, Sequana had told his soldiers, but the war would continue.Sequana himself had ordered Thurle to infiltrate the enemy lines and bring him the Sword. It was an honour he thoroughly deserved. After all, wasn’t it he who had revealed the secrets of the city defences that had almost led to their victory—would have led to their victory if it hadn’t been for the Earthling female?Before he had defected to the rebels, Thurle had memorised the underground pathways leading through the mountain and into the Temple of Balor. Now, he pushed gently at the wall in front of him and peered through the crack. Seeing no one, he pressed more firmly and slipped inside. He had been here many times, and normally there were supplicants and priests aplenty, but not today. No doubt, the priests would have gone to the walls to encourage the city militia to greater efforts, distributing amulets and giving blessings and absolution to the troops.A fire pit flickered in front of the altar, sending shadows to dance across the four faces of Balor, sculpted from the mountainside that formed one of the temple’s walls. Thurle’s heart rate slowed to normal. Quickly, he padded over to the grotto where the legendary heroine Connat-sèra-Haagar was immortalized, wielding a double-edged sword aloft while the dead and dying enemy lay before her in various postures of terror.He studied the statue. The figure was carved from stone, but the weapon glittered in the fire pit’s red light. He took a dagger from his belt and tried to prise it from the statue’s hand but to no avail. Drawing his sword, he slashed at the fingers. His sword ricocheted sending spasms of pain along his arm. Thurle was horrified. Sequana had assured him that stealing the sword was a command from Balor, but this felt like desecration. He mumbled a prayer, forgive me Balor, and brought his sword down with all his might.The statue’s arm shattered and the heroine’s sword fell in a shower of dust. He spread his cloak on the floor and wrapped the relic tightly, making sure not to touch the blade. Lifting it reverently, he bowed to the mutilated statue, then hurriedly retraced his steps and left the temple.Rise of the Erlachi is the second volume in the Prosperine Trilogy, and features the adventures of Space Corps commander Hickory Lace and her partners Jess Parker and Gareth Blanquette.In this story, Hickory and her team must travel to Erlach—a wild, rugged land of high mountains and snow storms, populated by fierce creatures and the Erlachi—a cousin race to those featured in the first book: Avanaux: A Hickory Lace Adventure. Once there, she must retrieve the fabled Sword of Connat-sèra-Haagar which has been stolen by the Pharlaxian rebel leader, Sequana, and set free the Teacher who has been imprisoned by him. If she fails, Prosperine will be plunged into a war the rebels are certain to win. And if that happens the future of the Aligned Planets will be at risk. Rise of the Erlachi (The Prosperine Trilogy, #2) by PJ McDermott
