King Of Souls (Book 2) by Matthew Ballard

on the rhythmic sound of the tossing surf smashing against the black rocky shoreline below.
    On this day she’d had her biggest question answered. The barrier had fallen, and Elan’s magic still held sway in Meranthia. Tara swung her gaze downward and watched the humans gather in the village square.
    Unlike the Porthleven villagers' dingy gray souls, the magically gifted shone like beacons. She could barely bring herself to look at them.
    The Meranthian king emerged from Porthleven’s inn with his soul sword sheathed. Tara slammed her eyes shut and turned away. His soul all but blinded her.
    A sharp cold shiver buzzed along Tara’s spine. How many more like him did this land hold? Surely no others. She’d seen thousands of human souls during Elan’s reign, but never like his.
    “He holds Elan’s magic?” General Demos said.
    How should she respond? She’d no experience tangling with a creature such as him. If he’d but held Elan’s magic his soul wouldn’t burn with such fury. “Yes.” The word half stuck in her throat and came out rough and uneven.
    “But, you’d expected that,” General Demos said. “Why do you appear so out of sorts?”
    Wind pushed strands of Tara’s thin straight hair across her pale freckled cheeks. “When I touched him….” Cold shivers rose on her flesh as she recalled the horrible sensation. “When I touched him, I almost died Gregor.”
    General Demos’s brow furrowed. “How is that possible?”
    Tara shook her head. “He’s unlike anyone I’ve ever encountered. I’m not strong enough to face him. Not yet, and not alone.”
    “But you knew Elan,” General Demos said. “He was a formidable magician. You said so yourself. It’s been so long, perhaps you’ve forgotten how their magic feels.”
    She’d not forgotten. How could she? “Not since the true king’s reign has this land seen a soul that burns with his intensity.” Tara stared through unfocused eyes at the blazing silver aura shining from Ronan’s body.
    “The true king?” General Demos said.
    Tara nodded and gazed into General Demos’s golden eyes. “History called him the King of Souls, but….” She shook her head.
    “But what mistress?”
    “It’s a legend bordering on myth,” Tara said. “A legend Elan and I chased together.”
    “Do you think the boy understands his gift?”
    Tara stared again at the man named Ronan strolling through the village far below. “If he understood his gift, I’d be dead.”
    “He knows we’re here mistress,” General Demos said. “He won’t stop until he finds us.”
    “Where’s the ship?” Tara said.
    “Moored just off the coast,” General Demos said.
    Tara nodded. “We haven’t time to waste. Load the villagers aboard, and we’ll set sail up the coast.”
    General Demos lowered his head. “Yes mistress. Have you given thought to a strategy?”
    “We’ll build an army the likes of which Meranthia has never seen.” Tara took a long last gaze at King Ronan. “Then we’ll take the fight to this king. It’s our only chance.”

Montgomery’s Confession
     
    Deep in the southern Chukchi Desert, Keely lay unconscious beneath Danielle’s makeshift jungle canopy. Her body shifted into human form, and dark smoke curled from her right hip. A low rumble shook the tropical grove. A wide array of fruit and nuts fell from the high tree limbs and disappeared into thick jungle undergrowth.
    Danielle extended her heartwood staff toward the blue and silver golem. She channeled her warden’s nature magic.
    With its head rattling among a fig tree’s lowest branches, the rock beast opened its mouth. Lightning bounced against glassy blue rock doubling as its teeth. The lighting arced between translucent crystal pegs anchored near the creature’s throat.
    Danielle sent nature energy racing through her staff. She transformed its head into a glowing crimson battering ram. The staff head shot upward flying past its jagged crystal teeth before connecting with