A stone hall filled with smoke and illuminated by purple flames, a mirror with a cracked rose at its summit, and the ominous shadow of an approaching figure who carries a scythe and a sword. What can these things mean?
Maybe an excerpt from Mimgardr itself can help us better understand:
Mimgardr
Chapter Sixteen
The Final Ingredient
(Excerpt)
Copyright 2013 S. R. Ford
Dan stood
at the entrance to the Hall of the Fallen. He could hear Aaron calling for him
upstairs, and he called back several times only to realize that Aaron couldn’t
hear him. The smoke was beginning to affect his vision, but it didn’t bother
his nose or throat anymore. It was coming from down the hall where purple
flames had begun licking at the stone walls.
“I know
you’re here!” he called as he started forward, brandishing the Staff of
Creation like a spear. He used magic to drive the smoke back, but the thick
blanket was so prominent that his spell hardly did anything. The only torch
that would light was the one at the far end of the hall.
He had
traveled the entire length when he turned back and found a tall figure cloaked
in a tattered, black shroud standing directly behind him. The stooping form would’ve
easily been nine feet tall if it were able to stand upright, and its only
visible feature was the cankered, silver skin on its long, spindly hands. The
shroud veiled its face in blackness and twisted over its body like mist. Its
movements were silent and flowing, and it seemed to float rather than walk, as
though it were part of the smoky air around them. Its left hand clutched the
shaft of a long scythe. Its right hand wielded the same sword that had hung in
front of Zuren’s portrait. Before terror could rip through him, Dan realized
why the Grim Reaper was described as a phantom.
“Grim!” Dan
screamed as he stumbled backwards against Hades’ pedestal. Before he could
react further, the Grim lunged forward and sank its sword into Dan’s chest. Dan
cried out in agony as he felt the cold blade pierce him. He slid downward to
the ground, and the wraith withdrew to stand over him. Dan gasped for air as he
felt blood drenching down the inside of his tunic. The Grim slipped the sword
inside its cloak and then raised its long scythe, preparing to finish Dan’s
life.
“I told
you not to harm him!” a voice barked angrily. The Grim silently slipped to the
side, and a new figure approached amid the smoke.
It
can’t be! Dan thought in
horror.
(End Excerpt)
All right, everyone! So what are your thoughts? Hit the comments section below and go crazy with all my social media links. Then be sure to stop by my website (www.authorsrford.com) where you can read the back cover as well. Over the next few days, I will be releasing more and more glimpses into Mimgardr, so check back soon...
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