Epic Fantasy Adventure-King: The Key to Magic III

[Rhynedahll]

Now available on Amazon and soon on B&N, iBookstore, etc.

Exerpt:
“Could a chamber have survived beneath us?”
“Yes, I think that likely.”
“Brother Khaelm, have you detected any modulations?”
The Junior Archivist nodded quickly. “There is a shadow around the plaque itself.”
“Nothing else? You quartered the entire trench?”
“As you say, brother,” Khaelm replied with a hint of annoyance. His Ability was a respectable one-and-one-eighth and he took some pride in it.
Salhm’l moved about to study the plaque from different angles.
“It may be an entry device,” Ghevauch suggested.
“I agree,” Salhm’l said, stepping back. “Brother Khaelm?”
The younger Phaelle’n advanced to the plaque, then hesitated. “Should we evacuate the site?”
Salhm’l glanced at Ghevauch, received a quick headshake. It was clear that, like Salhm’l himself, the other man wanted to be present to view whatever might result, even if it meant his own injury or death. Opportunities such as this were rare. Salhm’l did not bother to consider the laborers. They could be replaced.
“Proceed, brother,” he told Khaelm.
Khaelm assumed a relaxed posture within an armlength of the plaque, closed his eyes, and began a whispered rhythmic phrase. The laborers stirred, murmuring amongst themselves. The locals had previously shown that they thought Brother Khaelm’s exercise mantra to be some form of magic. Salhm’l had judged it prudent not to correct that misunderstanding. The repeated nonsense-words, however, did nothing more than help the Junior Archivist regulate his heartbeat.
After a moment, Khaelm leaned down and spoke a single word distinctly to the plaque. “Open.”
“Any reaction?” Salhm’l queried after a moment or two.
Khaelm sighed “None that I could detect.”
“Perhaps,” Ghevauch suggested, “the spell is not sophisticated enough to key on meaning?”
Khaelm shook his head. “In most cases, a spell keyed vocally will show processing feedback. Even if there were a particular pass phrase or the command had to be presented in a specific language and intonation, I would experience some type of flux wave.”
Ghevauch frowned. “Movement or object key, then. Pity.”
Salhm’l frowned likewise. If the key sequence were an arcane gesture or illustrative dance, then the probability of discovering the proper motions was miniscule. To date, no standard frame of reference had been established for such keys in regards PC #8. If the key were a specific object, then the chances of keying the plaque were zero. Any such objects surely would have been destroyed in the Period of Disruption.
“Suggestions?” he asked.
“A ‘temple of protection’ might imply an emergency shelter or refuge,” Ghevauch mused. “A complex key sequence might hinder an evacuation. I would think that the entry would be designed to open quickly, with little effort.”
“A palm tap or touch of the fingers?”
“Exactly.”
“Brother Khaelm?”
“I concur.”
“Proceed.”
After another moment of preparation, Khaelm placed his palm on the plaque and pressed lightly.
“Anything?” Ghevauch asked.
“Wait. This--" Khaelm rotated his wrist, paused, then said quickly, “No, this!”
Khaelm tapped his index finger once against the center of the plaque. Just beyond the Junior Archivist, a large section of the floor sank down silently and slid out of sight, leaving a dark rectangular opening. The opening extended beneath the split-log shoring and some of the retained burden slid downward with a hollow rattle of gravel.
“Sounds deep!” Khaelm enthused, an excited grin stretching his thin face.
Brother Ghevauch spun to the laborers and barked, “Torches, Gh’os! Quickly! Quickly!”

[frostschutz]

I have the first two books. The first one bought on Smashwords but it's no longer published there? If I remember correctly I bought the 2nd book somewhere else, not sure if I remember where exactly. I'll have to check through my mails.

I'll probably buy it if I can find it at a place I like (preferably Smashwords but if that's not possible for some reason, we'll see).

[Rhynedahll]

Originally Posted by frostschutz

I have the first two books. The first one bought on Smashwords but it's no longer published there? If I remember correctly I bought the 2nd book somewhere else, not sure if I remember where exactly. I'll have to check through my mails.

I'll probably buy it if I can find it at a place I like (preferably Smashwords but if that's not possible for some reason, we'll see).

In order to qualify for for Amazon's KDP Select program, Orphan, the first book in the series, is now available only as a Kindle book.

King will show up on the other distributors, including Smashwords (as long as their terrible book crusher does not make it unrecognizable), within a few days.