The Enchanter's Duel is a fantasy novel I wrote in the fall semester of my junior year of college. It was an incredible learning and growth experience crafting my words until they told the story I saw in my head, and then editing them so others could experience the story too. I decided to independently publish my book, and it's available for purchase on barnesandnoble.com!
Here's the first chapter! (I believe it's the shortest one in the book.)
The Silent One sat on his emerald throne and considered the people in front of him. People was a loose word; there were beings from every corner of his kingdom, which stretched over eight different worlds. The noise inside the Great Hall was like a hundred swarms of bees competing to be the loudest. Everyone had something to say, and everyone was determined to be heard by The Silent One. He watched them all for a moment longer, then stood.
Interesting.
When he stood, everyone would go quiet. They knew what he could do and didn’t want to tempt fate. This time, however, the noise didn’t stop. He touched a scar on his left hand and the Great Hall went silent.
The Silent One watched his subjects’ mouths be forced shut by some invisible power, then smiled as their eyes got wider and wider when they realized they no longer had a mouth. Their lips fused together and disappeared, melting into their face until there was only a blank slate of skin below their noses.
“Much better.”
His voice was deep and loud, exploding over the Great Hall and pushing people to their knees. He pulled the emerald-green hood off his head, revealing a scar that ran from his left eyebrow to the right corner of his lips. He was missing the bottom part of his nose, another price he paid to the sword that gave him his scar. The ones that covered his arms served a different purpose.
“Silence is better. Do you not agree?”
Everyone in the Great Hall nodded, desperation etched onto their faces. The Silent One touched a scar on his right hand and the woman on his right had her mouth back.
She opened and closed it a few times, smacking her lips, and said, “That never gets easier, sire.”
He snarled, revealing teeth sharpened into fangs. “It wouldn’t be very effective if it got easier, would it?”
“No, sire.”
“No, I suppose not. It’s almost time, Fury. We’ll need new ones soon. They’re getting close to hatching now.”
“Yes, sire. Who should I send word to?”
He thought for a moment, then said, “We’ve had luck with Earth in the past.”
“So The Man in the Robe?”
“Yes. He should do well.”
“Yes, sire. I’ll send word right away.”
“Thank you, Fury.”
She bowed, then left the Great Hall. The Silent One turned his gaze to his crowd.
“What should I do with you all? You know noise. . . bothers me.” He waited for a second, daring someone to answer. “Oh, yes. You can’t talk anymore, can you?”
He paced in front of his throne for a long time. He wanted them to be scared.
“I have an idea.”
The Silent One touched a different scar on his left hand and their noses melted into their faces. He pulled the hood over his head and sat on the throne. He watched his subjects collapse to the ground one by one, writhing in agony. He smiled once again.
Interesting.
When he stood, everyone would go quiet. They knew what he could do and didn’t want to tempt fate. This time, however, the noise didn’t stop. He touched a scar on his left hand and the Great Hall went silent.
The Silent One watched his subjects’ mouths be forced shut by some invisible power, then smiled as their eyes got wider and wider when they realized they no longer had a mouth. Their lips fused together and disappeared, melting into their face until there was only a blank slate of skin below their noses.
“Much better.”
His voice was deep and loud, exploding over the Great Hall and pushing people to their knees. He pulled the emerald-green hood off his head, revealing a scar that ran from his left eyebrow to the right corner of his lips. He was missing the bottom part of his nose, another price he paid to the sword that gave him his scar. The ones that covered his arms served a different purpose.
“Silence is better. Do you not agree?”
Everyone in the Great Hall nodded, desperation etched onto their faces. The Silent One touched a scar on his right hand and the woman on his right had her mouth back.
She opened and closed it a few times, smacking her lips, and said, “That never gets easier, sire.”
He snarled, revealing teeth sharpened into fangs. “It wouldn’t be very effective if it got easier, would it?”
“No, sire.”
“No, I suppose not. It’s almost time, Fury. We’ll need new ones soon. They’re getting close to hatching now.”
“Yes, sire. Who should I send word to?”
He thought for a moment, then said, “We’ve had luck with Earth in the past.”
“So The Man in the Robe?”
“Yes. He should do well.”
“Yes, sire. I’ll send word right away.”
“Thank you, Fury.”
She bowed, then left the Great Hall. The Silent One turned his gaze to his crowd.
“What should I do with you all? You know noise. . . bothers me.” He waited for a second, daring someone to answer. “Oh, yes. You can’t talk anymore, can you?”
He paced in front of his throne for a long time. He wanted them to be scared.
“I have an idea.”
The Silent One touched a different scar on his left hand and their noses melted into their faces. He pulled the hood over his head and sat on the throne. He watched his subjects collapse to the ground one by one, writhing in agony. He smiled once again.
