READ THE BLURB
We vampires
do not make easy prey. Our weaknesses are few, our strengths many. Fear is
something we do not know, and death but a distant memory. So tread softly, pray
to your god, and gird yourself with silver when the moons arise and night’s
dark prince awakens. We fear not the wizard, nor the warrior, neither rogue,
nor priest; our strength is timeless, drawn from darkness and we know no master
save the hot lust of our unending hunger. We long for blood, your blood and no
blade, nor spell, nor clever artifice, can keep us long from our prize. Feel
our teeth at your throat, your life ebb from you, and know as darkness comes to
claim you that the price of your folly is your everlasting soul.
***
In Drisdak, the city on the Sea of Sorrows, the citizens have much to dread. Unease and foreboding have always been associated with the local wizards guild; peasants have an innate distrust of magic and those who use it. But now, something else is on the rise. A mysterious fire at the guild has left two men dead and a third missing. A small matter, you say? Well, one of those men was the guild master, and his successor wants to know what happened to him. Enter Coragan of Esperia, the renowned bounty hunter. If anyone can unravel this mess he can. But is even he prepared to challenge the horrible evil that lurks at the heart of the mystery? An ancient vampire by the name of Lucian val Drasmyr.
READ AN EXCERPT
There’s a
woman in chain mail standing across the room from me; her sword is leveled at
my chest. I can smell the enchantment on the blade, it’s a strong one; maybe
even strong enough to cause me harm. Still, I’m not too concerned; it’s at
least a ten foot lunge and I know I move faster than she does. Indeed, she’s
the one who is looking worried. My display of strength and the death of her
comrade have shaken her resolve.
She’s got a
pretty face, flushed with excitement but strong and in control. It is her neck
that really draws me, though, so soft and inviting, filled with the warm blood
I desire. The curve of her flesh glistens, waiting for a well-placed gentle
kiss.
She’s
breathing rapidly now, her breath coming in shallow gasps. Her trek up through
the castle has sapped much of her strength. And the fear she feels is naked in
her eyes. Now, she’s getting ready to pounce, just a little too much tension in
her stance, her eyes just a little too focused. She couldn’t give me more
warning if she were to ask my permission first.
She moves in with
remarkable speed, her blade striking out like a serpent’s tongue. Even winded,
she still manages to cut my cape, then prances away with her back toward the
wall, ready for anything. Anything, except me.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Matthew D.
Ryan is a published author living in upstate New York on the shores of Lake
Champlain. He has a background in philosophy, mathematics, and computer
science. He also has a black belt in the martial arts and studies yoga. He has
been deeply involved in the fantasy genre for most of his life as a reader,
writer, and game designer. He believes he saw the legendary Lake Champlain
Monster (a.k.a Champy) once and he has a cat named Confucius.
Matthew D.
Ryan can be found on the Internet at the following sites:
Author’s
Smashwords Page: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/matthewdryan
Author’s Book
Page: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/131156
Author’s
Blog: http://www.atoasttodragons.com
Author’s
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000038781652
Author’s
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Drasmyr
Author’s
Twitter Handle: @MatthewDRyan1
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