Heed my words,
Chiefs of men!
Let not thy children,
Strong or frail,
Seek out my grave.
It is forbidden
To mortal men.
Death or damnation
Be their course
If my words are forgotten.
This is no curse,
Take heed of my warning:
Only the Sayoshant
Will pass unscathed
To say a prayer at my grave.
A black stone stood at the head of the valley. Letters of an antique script, weathered by time but visible still, cut deep into the surface. For common men the legend was unreadable, and yet the signal stone retained a power to daunt even the bravest.
Seama followed the words with a learned eye. It was a form of Ancient Medean written here. The figures had long ago been traced and studied and the script deciphered. A translation had been made by Captolinux of Thibes in 1336AF.
Seama recited the verse aloud as if it were a spell or a prayer. It served only to remind him of the peril that lay ahead. He laid a hand upon the pillar. It was sharp cold to the touch, the warning thrilled through his fingertips, but the passing urge to turn and flee barely troubled him.
He smiled.
It was not that the stone had failed in its purpose, but that for Seama Beltomé, and he alone, this message from the far past had an alternate power. It was for him a summons - and his response inevitable.
Seama stepped away from the stone and threw back his cloak, defying cold reality. Why should he not? Welcoming the challenge, he strode onwards into the forbidden pass to Kentreth’s Grave.
The gods of the Earth had another name for that valley. It cut through everything they knew and everything they were, and everything they might or might not be.
They kept the name safe upon a time of choosing.
I Cantaro
Aetaticum
en
Haslem
A Song of Ages
is an epic fantasy presented in three volumes:
The Best of Men
The Twist Inside
The Keepers of the Truth
The pages posted here
encompass part 1 of The Best of Men. The title of this part is “Coincidents” - it is not a spelling mistake.
I will post sample chapters every so often from part 2 “Intrusions” throughout the rest of 2013.
Click NEW if you’re an up-to-date returning reader.
Note on Navigation:
Because the site is rather large, chapters of The Best of Men are arranged in columns within the structure to save space. This means that the main navigation buttons at top left don’t reveal all the chapters at the same time. It is best to use the links in the green box or simply follow the Next links at the bottom of each page.
If you want to contact me please use @wilfkell on twitter or via info@wilfkelleherjones.co.uk
Hope you enjoy it!
wilf kelleher jones
Wilf Kelleher Jones
wkj fantasy
A Song of Ages
SOA Section B pdf
687 KB
Blood, B & B to
Kentreth’s Grave inc
Actually at the moment I’m deep into volume two of A Song of Ages.
Just because I have just written the 1st draft of the prologue to The Twist Inside I’m going to post it on the sight and leave it there for a little while.
It is called Parley
21/02/2012 wkj fantasy
NEW
21/02 Parley
11/01 REC: Tregar
27/12 Song-Let sorrow go by
20/12 Poem: NIdaro
13/12 Poem: Angel of NYC
13/8 Tea and Toasted (b)
17/7 Tea and Toasted Rabbit
20/7 Poem: Devil May Care