Synopsis Squire Chloe's Demon (An Epic Fantasy Tale) by : Harper Peace
If you love epic fantasy and sword and sorcery, and like to see women wielding the swords, don't miss this perilous, exciting, magical read. Squire Chloe's Demon My name is Chloe. I leave this record of the spirit, so the Temple and the city will know how the demon came to the City of the Sun. It's written that a demon takes three seals before it returns below the Abyss. One, it already has. In the darkness of the sleeping city, a squire defends a second. The third seal would be mine. From reviewers: "The most eloquent freebie I've read in quite a while, Squire Chloe's Demon is well worth a look. Intriguing world building and a story full of promise." "Enjoyed reading this short tale of bravery, fear, and choices. Chloe's bravery and final choice is something I wonder if everyone would do? Read and make your own choice!" Chapter One: The Purity of Wishes The Great Library stands silent and deserted, awaiting the dawn. The clay tablets sleep in their racks; no one reads their histories; no one sings their songs. Better to let them sleep until they've seen the morning sun, for who knows what dreams they dream. I was dreaming when the father woke me. Something vivid, but it's mostly slipped away now. I was home, and I'm sure everyone was much younger. We were playing hide and seek, hiding behind glamours. A loud shriek meant my sister had been found, but I was still safe and waiting, with that little thrill of anticipation. The father sits beneath a fading reading light, tottering piles of tablets to either side. He's a young one, with a full head of hair, and no fathers' belly yet. He doesn't look up at my charm-light, and I'm not going to disturb a father who's reading without a very good reason. I stand in front of him, and wait in a resting form. It would be nice to able to sleep here, like this, until the dawn. I've used glamours for looking wide-awake, while secretly drowsing, but I've never heard of a charm for sleeping standing up. That's a pity. He looks up at me. He's not too bad to look at, though his nose is too big. I take my moment and genuflect to him. "Father Kai, I was woken," I say. "I was asked to come to you in the library." He flicks a glance up and down me, like a man sometimes does with a woman he's just met and likes, but that can't be his reason, and anyway, his face is too solemn. One thing's for sure: this father doesn't like what he's seeing. I look down, embarrassed. "What's your name?" he asks. "I... you didn't ask for me, father?" "You?" he asks. "No, squire. I take it you are a squire? It seems I'm in need of a squire's help." "Yes father, I'm a squire. My name is Chloe." His face softens a little, but I don't think it's for me. I've seen that look before, when I say my name; he'll be remembering the Song of Chloe. "Sit down, Chloe," he says, "You've heard a Temple page is missing?" "Yes, father." I sit on the bench opposite his. "And do you know how she's missing?" "They say..." "They?" he interrupts. "Other squires, father. They say you're all worried that it's a..." I don't finish; I don't want to say the name of the thing we fear. "Yes, we are," he says. "Oh. I see. It's true." I'd thought this was only another, silly, Temple rumor. I can't help looking beyond him, into the pre-dawn shadows of the library. I'm sure there couldn't ever be something like that. Not here. But still, I look. ... (Search Keywords: magic, charms, woman, female, heroine, courage, valor, sword, armor, demon, sorcerer, mage, sorcery, sword and sorcery, spell, enchantment, charm, glamour, fantasy, epic fantasy, ancient world, historical fantasy, alternate history, fate, destiny, action and adventure, coming of age, free book)