Trials of a Champion Read online

  To Anyone who is afflicted by Mental Illness. Stay strong, get treatment and stay on it, and don’t let madness win.

  A Short Glossary

  Currency

  1 dreckel ------2 drams of silver

  8 dreckels------1 ounce of silver

  10 dreckels-----2 drams of gold

  80 dreckels-----1 ounce of gold

  Lengths

  1 hand ---------4 inches

  6 hands---------1 span

  3000 spans-------1 mile

  Places

  Alexandra – Capital city of Aviel. Ruled by King Landis Carrington who lives there most of the year.

  Arath – The planet where this tale takes place.

  Ariva – An island nation that lays across the Arivan Channel to the south of the mainland of the continent of Aurella. Considered a part of Aurella. The capital city is Rama, known as the cultural capital of Arath. A strong ally of Aviel.

  Aurella – The largest known land mass on Arath. Located in the northern hemisphere. The countries located on Aurella are Porto, Predias, LaVore, Ariva, Aviel, Skal, Fussien, and Sapon.

  Aviel – The largest county on the northern continent, Aurella. It is in the middle part of Aurella but stretches from the Gulf of Skal to the North Sea. Winn Vaux’s home country.

  Dellos - The large landmass in the south hemisphere on Arath. The countries located on Dellos are Xi En, Vestua, Slavesta, Menegar, Beko, and Narn.

  Dukedom of Barristan - One of the fourteen dukedoms of Aviel. Located in the central Western part of Aviel. Borders LaVore. Winn Vaux’s birthplace and childhood home.

  Fussien – A sparsely populated country located in the northeast of Aurella. Capital is Valhern. Is not on friendly terms with its neighbors but is an ally of Aviel.

  LaVore – A country that borders Aviel to the west. Capital is Paeres. LaVore’s relationship with Aviel is tenuous and often strained.

  Porto – A sparsely populated country located in northwest Aurella. In peacetime they are friendly but in times of war they are not known to send allies.

  Predias – Rests on the southwest coast of Aurella. Capital is Catalana. Is considered Aviel’s second strongest ally. Ruled with an iron fist by Queen Antonia.

  Sapon – A county located in the southeast of Aurella. Shuns other countries as allies and is rumored to be a friend of Menegar. Also, there are rumors of human sacrifice and cannibalism there.

  Skal – A country that is Aviel’s neighbor to the east. Capital is Trellheim. Considered Aviel’s strongest ally. Ruled by King Arkyn, who is Winn Vaux’s uncle.

  Xi En- Located in the far west of the continent of Dellos. Is generally friendly with Aviel. Birthplace of Jaunty Chen. The country where Pho Ren emerged. The emperor died and the country is ruled by a vizier until the rightful ruler can be determined.

  Gods

  Allesca- Goddess of Health and Healing. At the direction of the Almighty she will bless certain humans with a long life or will provide a miraculous healing. Occasionally she will bless or heal based on her own decisions. When she walks on Arath she goes by the name Abigail.

  Hephae – The God of Fire and Smithing. Does not walk the earth often. Forged rare blades out of Mesonite steel and made them magic resistant. Winn Vaux has one of Hephae’s creations, Breaker.

  Ippili – The God of Music and Artistry. Goes by the name of Sir Robert Chavis while in disguise walking in Arath. Known as a seducer of women and Goddesses. May have other strengths because he is one of the first Gods.

  Melevia – The Goddess of Dark Magic. She is worshiped primarily by the wizards of the Black Veil Mountains. She provides them guidance and knowledge of the dark arts.

  Samir – The Xi En God of Combat. He is the father of all individual combat. He guides his followers in learning the art of Pho Ren, the most devastating marshal art in existence. He strengthens the best fighters and gives them stamina and combat intelligence.

  Sidean – God of the Sea. Sidean usually stays out of the conflicts of men. He can be alternatively cruel and benevolent. Has been known to send violent storms and calm treacherous seas.

  The Almighty – The creator of all. Father to the Gods. The ultimate higher power of millions of worlds.

  Ures – The God of War and Chaos. Ures thrives on the death and destruction of War. He is known as a rebellious God that hates men. Walks Arath under various names to either further a plot of warmongering or to take advantage of a human lady. Has been known to father demigod children, which he usually kills before they can challenge him.

  Vanya – Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Victory. She is the most beautiful creature made by the Almighty. She is known for her lust as much as her love. Romantic unions blessed by her last till death. She had the power to bestow the beauty of a goddess on humans. She also brings a select few of her favored subjects’ victory in all contests. She crafted the Bow of the First Man with Ures.

  Copyright © Thomas M. O’Gorman III

  All Rights Reserved

  The right of Thomas M. O’Gorman III to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or downloaded in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without the express written permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. All the characters in this book are fictional and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Cover design by Alexandra O’Gorman

  Map design by Abigail O’Gorman

  Table of Contents

  Map of Skal

  Map of Xi En

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: Tidings

  Chapter 2: A Voyage Interrupted

  Chapter 3: A Special Hell

  Chapter 4: Devilry

  Chapter 5: Reactions

  Chapter 6: Mind Crime

  Chapter 7: There Are Orders and There Are Orders

  Chapter 8: That Girl Can Fight

  Chapter 9: A Girl Can Fend for Herself

  Chapter 10: Hate

  Chapter 11: Make Sail

  Chapter 12: Identity Revealed

  Chapter 13: The Winn Show

  Chapter 14: Escape from Menegar

  Chapter 15: Flustered Gods

  Chapter 16: Keyland’s Rise

  Chapter 17: Sidean’s Wrath

  Chapter 18: Kishoda

  Chapter 19: Keyland’s Hubris

  Chapter 20: News and a Trial

  Chapter 21: Over Sea

  Chapter 22: And Land

  Chapter 23: The Oracle

  Chapter 24: Onslaught

  Chapter 25: Strike Back

  Chapter 26: Frozen Little Fish

  Map of Skal

  Map of Xi En

  Prologue

  May 25, 850 A.A.

  King Ajani Jabari of Menegar woke with a start. He crawled out of his bed, which was in his chambers in the Obsidian Palace. He had a feeling of foreboding. He looked over at his sleeping Queen, Legga. Her beauty soothed his worried mind somewhat, but even her slender hips, gleaming fangs, and her flowing black hair that hid her diminutive horns couldn’t banish his dark thoughts. He considered taking her, but he wasn’t in the mood. Instead he rose from the bed. His attendants rushed to him, but he slapped one down and shooed the rest away. I am not an infant, I can dress myself. Fools all of them. He put on a sparring garment, he felt like beating the unlucky bastard who would be put forth as a sparring partner today. He knew that all his partners would never strike a true blow against their King, but that didn’t stop him from destroying them. Broken bones were the least of the damage the King dealt. Yet today would not be a day for sparring. Before Ajani could leave his chambers, a servant rushed to his side.


  “My Liege, the Vestuan ambassador is here and is very adamant that he be given an audience. He said he bears grave news,” the servant said.

  “Godsdammit! What does that womanly scur want now? Most likely it is a complaint about the LaVoran wine allotment. Put him in the Fuklar rooms and I will attend him when I get around to it.”

  “Yes, my Liege,” said the servant.

  Ajani headed to the dining room, with his guard contingent in tow, and ate though his appetite was nonexistent. As much as he wanted to make light of the Vestuan ambassador and his news, he had a feeling that the pit in his stomach was directly related to what the ambassador had to say.

  After realizing he had just rearranged his food and not eaten much at all, Ajani slammed his fist on the table, startling his servers so much they kneeled before him.

  “Get up, fools,” he said. I might as well go and hear the ambassador out. Whatever it is he has to say, I will deal with it.

  Ajani and his guards made their way to the Fuklar rooms, so named for a great Menegar King who ruled all Dellos from 462 to 476. They entered the room where the Vestuan ambassador, Zesik Burska, was waiting. Zesik stood and bowed his head in respect.

  “Greetings King Ajani,” said Zesik. “Your Eminence, again I am honored to be in your presence. Your strength and wisdom are unparalleled.”

  “Grave tidings must you bring given the false praise that you are spewing,” said Ajani. “I know it tastes like dung on your tongue. Share your ill tidings, Vestuan, before I become bored and cut your tongue out.”

  “Your Eminence, you wound me,” said Zesik. “Yet I will look past it given the news I bring. Indeed, it is ill. Three Vestuan scouts have returned to Vestua from the north by taking over an LaVoran fishing vessel. They brought unbelievable news. They were not believed at first, but a wounded Slavestian soldier that stowed away on a Xi En junk confirmed their story. The terrible news is the entire Dellos force comprised of the Vestuan, Slavestian, and Narn armies was annihilated. The final battle took place at Tolevo Rise in Predias.”

  Ajani was speechless. Ures’ battle plan failed. The eastern part of Aurella still stood. Now the full might of the Aviel and Skal armies would be arrayed against his invading force of 32,000. All was not lost, a Menegar was worth five humans, but victory was now very much in doubt.

  Ajani strode up to Zesik, grabbed him by the tunic, and picked him up off his feet. “Details Vestuan, give me details.”

  “The scouts reported that the battle went wrong at every turn,” said Zesik in a high-pitched voice. “Every maneuver the enemy tried worked. There were ambushes, there were piercing formations, and their cavalry was devastating. When the Dellos army did manage to strike, the northern counter strike was many times more effective. In short, the Dellos force was routed.”

  Ajani dropped Zesik and he fell to the ground on his rear. Ajani started pacing.

  “How is this possible?” Ajani said. “Veshu was an excellent commander, even for a Vestuan. He had never lost a battle before this. Who could have outclassed him to such a degree?”

  “The name of the enemy commander is Delver Kide,” said Zesik as he got to his feet. “Veshu met with him before the battle. I believe his rank was Colonel, though the scouts reported he looked very young for a commander, but it is hard to tell with humans.”

  “Delver Kide,” Ajani said. “I know that name. He is the threat that Ures said he would handle. Evidently, he didn’t, and we all paid a heavy price for it.”

  “You dare criticize me?” Ures said as he appeared in the room.

  Zesik let out a little yelp and prostrated himself. Ajani growled at the god.

  “Ajani you are closer to death than you have ever been before,” Ures barked.

  Ajani became silent for a moment, but he refused to show deference to Ures.

  “You said you would take care of this gods touched foe,” said Ajani. “Instead he has destroyed half of our entire force!”

  “Enough of your insolence!” Ures shouted. He made a motion with his hand and Ajani flew backwards and crashed into the wall. Ajani’s guards rushed Ures and he made another motion with his hand and all four of them dropped dead.

  “Hear me worm or enjoy their fate,” said Ures to Ajani. “The Aurellan gods watch over Kide closely, and his bride. I have a plan to get to her, and her family, but it will take too long to stop Kide from joining the war against your forces in Skal. However, there is another way to take him off the board.”

  “How can I trust that your plan will work this time?” Ajani said. “You have been nothing but a failure thus far.”

  “The Vestuan commander failed, my assassins failed, my servants have all failed me. Will you fail too?”

  “I do not fail.”

  “Good, because you are the one that is going to take care of Kide, for good.”

  Chapter 1: Tidings

  May 26, 850 A.A.

  The Daily Express

  A Victory for the Ages; Amazing Revelation!

  Newly minted Colonel Delver Kide and his army of Aviel, Arivan, and Predian forces faced down and destroyed the Dellos force that swept through Ariva and Predias that left death and destruction in its path. In what Jik Coy, General of the Army, called the most brilliant campaign in generations, the vastly outnumbered Aurellan forces whittled down the enemies’ numbers advantage over several battles and when the forces were evenly matched, Colonel Kide met the enemy at Tolevo Rise in Predias and utterly obliterated them. Colonel Kide has declined to comment, but his aide and closest confidant Captain Johnny Hill said, “Colonel Kide, along with being the most dangerous individual fighter in the world, is a strategic genius. When we planned for the battle he put in stratagems for every contingency. He thinks a hundred steps beyond the normal person. He predicted every move the enemy made and he had a devastating countermove waiting. I am his friend, so I wouldn’t blame anyone for thinking I was exaggerating his brilliance, but just ask the Dellos force about it. Oh wait, they are all dead.”

  Colonel Kide is indeed the hero of our time, a true champion of Aviel. However, the most astonishing news of the day is not that he soundly defeated our foes. It has come to light in the wake of the trial of the Dowager Duchess of Barrington that Delver Kide is the nom de plume of Lord Winnford Vaux! Lord Vaux was cleared of all charges, including patricide, in the trial and is the husband of Her Royal Highness Princess Sarah Carrington. It has been confirmed by multiple sources that Delver Kide is indeed Lord Winnford Vaux. His Majesty King Landis Carrington released a statement regarding this amazing news. It read, “Citizens of Aviel, I want to congratulate Colonel Delver Kide on his resounding victory for Aviel and all Aurella. He will surely go down in history as one of our greatest commanders. Imagine my surprise when I learned the hero of our age was also my son in law! My heart is swollen in pride that my daughter’s husband has not only been proven to be innocent but has conquered the hearts and minds of this nation. I hesitated to bless the union of my daughter and Lord Vaux because of the cloud of suspicion that hung over him. That hesitation is gone, and I hereby publicly announce my blessing of their marriage, thereby completing their union. Welcome to the family, Delver Kide, and thank you. Your King thanks you, and a grateful nation thanks you.”

  Princess Sarah made a brief comment. “I am so proud of my husband. Now I want him home safe.” All is not safe for Aviel though. It is fortuitus that the troops returning from Predias will arrive any day and will bolster the defense of Aviel and allow for support for Skal. If Colonel Kide, or Lord Vaux, is given command, this reporter has no doubt that Aviel will conquer all its foes.

  Sarah put down the newssheet. She had a tear in her eye, and she didn’t mind who saw. She was having luncheon with her mother and father in the sun parlor. The just turned eighteen-year-old was a fully-grown woman now. The time she had spent separated from Winn, and the loss of her baby, made her more resilient than a normal girl of eighteen.

  “Papa, you made such a wonderful sta
tement,” Sarah said. “Thank you again for accepting Winn and blessing our union.”

  “I was blind to Winn as was everyone else but you,” Landis said. “But now I can’t help but seeing how special a man he is. I admit I would have hated anyone that you married, but I really thought he was nothing special. He proved me wrong, and he saved Ariva, Predias, and ultimately Aviel.”

  “Landis, I knew he was special, but as usual you just wouldn’t listen,” Octavia said.

  “You just liked him because he could dance,” said Landis.

  “Papa, that is why I liked him at first, so you can’t blame mama for that,” Sarah said.

  “Where are your brothers? I am outnumbered!”

  “Are you going to knight Winn, papa?”

  “Landis, he deserves knighthood if anyone does.” Octavia said.

  “I wanted it to be a surprise, and if you two can hold your tongues, it still can be,” said Landis. “Upon recommendation of General Coy, I am going to award Winn the highest military honor, the Cross of Valor, which by the way will be the third award of the highest honor of a country that he has received. As a surprise, during that ceremony, I am going to knight him and name him an honorary Knight of the Scepter as well.”

  “Oh papa,” Sarah said as she got up, ran to Landis, and hugged him. “That is so wonderful. I can’t wait to see the surprise on his face!”

  “I am glad you are knighting him because I would have if you didn’t. I will make him an honorary Knight of the Pearl as well,” said Octavia.

  “As long as you don’t make him choose between the two of you,” Sarah said.

  “He would obviously choose . . .” Landis was interrupted by the entrance of a military officer.

  “Your Majesty, your Royal Highnesses,” Major Fontell said as he made a slight bow. “Your Majesty, General Coy requests your presence. The latest scouting reports are back from Skal and General Coy wanted you to discuss the Menegar and Skal troop movements with you as soon as it is convenient for Your Majesty.”