Lord of Columbia
Category:
Fantasy
ISBN-10: 1093857927
Type: Fiction
After fire-traveling from an exploding fighter jet into no man’s land the deadliest game of hide and seek has begun.
In route to their destination, Cain and his female co-partner are the lone survivors in an air attack, stranding them deep in South Columbian forests.
Imperial soldiers are closing in, food and energy to produce Stoicheion magic are scarce, and Columbian refugees are slaughtered daily.
Rumors of Southpoint gaining ground in the Columbian War of Independence swirl daily, but today, no one lives long enough in these woods to see the extent of damage the empire has caused on the Columbian colonies.
Will Cain and his co-partner survive their deadliest challenge yet in this epic conclusion to Lord of Columbia’s Original Trilogy, or will the elements prove to be too much?
Buy your copy and find out today!
Excerpt
Cain grasped Savannah’s pinky with his, before wheeling around and sending a gust with the Sword of Wind. He turned a second time and launched a fire-blast where the pigs landed seconds ago.
Savannah cast a barrier in the same direction and Cain continued alternating between fire-blasts and wind gusts as the pigs’ bullets proved to be ineffective against Savannah’s barrier, rebounding back.
One pig dropped after another while the remainder fell back.
“I’m going in,” Savannah said.
“Possession time?”
“Give me three minutes.” She disappeared, leaving the Sword behind.
Yells filled the air. A few seconds later came rapid gunfire, screaming, groaning, and the stench of burning flesh.
Within her time limit, she returned. “Okay. Thing is, I’m sensing a large presence. We have to be careful.”
Cain conjured water and extinguished the burning trees. “Let’s spread the wealth.”
“How’re you feeling?”
He strode ahead. “Good enough. My main thing is to make sure nothing happens to you.”
“Stop putting me on your shoulders.”
“You wanted to come with me because I made you feel safe and I’m not about to renege on that promise.”
“You’re not well.”
“I’ll be okay. Trust me.”
“I do trust you, but you need to be honest with me and I know you’re not okay.”
“Fine, my head still wants to explode.”
“You need a place to rest.”
Cain nodded to the path ahead as a dozen choppers continued north.
“They’re everywhere, aren’t they?”
“We just need to be stealthy.”
“Lucky that helicopter didn’t see us.”
“Something tells me they’re only dropping off soldiers.”
“Let’s get moving.”
She grabbed the back of his cloak. “Wait. Before we go any farther, I’d feel much better if you ate and drank more.”
“I don’t know how much time we have.”
“You just told me your head’s still killing you.”
“Savannah, we don’t have time.”
“I’ll let you know if we need to bail. I just don’t need you passing out.”
Cain smiled. “You know, you’re much wiser than your age.”
She waved him back to the riverbank.
“Come, or I’ll possess you.”
She had him in checkmate. “You’re going to have a lucky husband one day,” Cain said, when she handed him a branch from the berry bush.
“Yeah, a Native Columbian girl who has been civilized because her father and brothers work as undercover Flames,” Savannah said. “It’d be tough to even relate to Native Columbians being I’ve lived a civilized white person’s life this entire time. Most would brand me a race traitor.”
“Who said you could only be with a Native Columbian?”
Savannah looked away as she selected a berry. “Society.”
“Southpoint-controlled society.”
“Like a free Columbia would be any different.”
“We already talked about this.”
“Newsflash, Mr. Utopia, racism exists everywhere, free country or not.”
“I told you a free Columbia, especially when I have a say in this thing, would treat Native Columbians like actual people due to their character. And those who don’t are the ones with the real problem.”
“Maybe you, Taj, and a few others. Who else? If I wasn’t surrounded by you guys, the whole New North Force wouldn’t have given me a shot.”
“That’s not true.”
“You saw the way they looked at me.” She scowled. “The few of you who let me into your little group were the only ones who ever acknowledged my existence. Heck, I didn’t even have a roommate until you suggested I go with Lira and Asha.”
“I told you not to mention her,” Cain said. “Don’t talk to me about either of them.”
Savannah sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“Whatever, but just so you realize it, you’re risking your life for Columbia out here and saved mine in the process.”
“Like anyone’s going to—”
“For two, you were a hero back in Cincia. Three, we’re on a mission to take out Adam Syndari’s successor and maybe even Syndari himself. I’m sure people are going to view you, and maybe the rest of Native Columbia in a different light when this war’s over.”
“If we survive.”
“We will survive. Well, you will, because I promised you that. Me? Well, at least I’ll see Lira again.”
“I thought you didn’t want to talk about her?”
Cain’s jaw twitched. “Fine.”
“Okay, let’s quit arguing,” she said. “Your positivity runs amok.”
He scooped some water. “It always will. Sorry I had a moment.”
“It’s alright. Not like it’s been a smooth ride.”
“Yeah, but I’m elated you’re here. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. Ready?”
Savannah stood. “I’m more scared than I’ve ever been before. But I know I’ll always be in good hands with you, even if we’re bickering a bit.”
She so sounded like Lira.
Cain gave Savannah a half-smile. “And I feel the same. You’ve already proven yourself. Now let’s get out of here.”
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