Beyond Flesh & Spirit

Book excerpt: Like Volumes One and Two, Volume Three of the Galanor Saga has been written in three parts, or “Books”, of five chapters each. But, unlike its predecessors this novel treats each of the three Books, as a distinct, five chapter novella, with its own cast of characters, plotline and story arc. Of course, each Book helps to develop the storyline of the novel as a whole. I hope you enjoy it... F. M. Viollis BOOK ONE: ALONG THE JOURNEY HOME We begin where Beyond Hope & Despair left off. Galanor and Nitiri have returned to Shuruppak, where they have been crowned monarchs. One morning, while Nitiri is asleep, Galanor rises and, while staring at the sunrise, reflects upon the events that transpired in the dungeons of Alenz Allure and afterwards. As his mind wanders back to that day, the story arc begins. He recalls their first moments together after having been torn apart by the crazed wizard, Malferion. He recalls how Nitiri found herself with an uncomfortable decision to make, and he, with concocting a plan to escape the tower. After discovering the route the wizard used, they make their way, with great trepidation, out of the dungeon, through the heart of the ancient mountain and out into the light of a new dawn. They make their way back to the farmhouse of Huai-Ti, Feng-Chi and Wan-Ye where Galanor and Anubis are reunited, only to discover that while Galanor was away, Lao–Fi’s forces have kidnapped Wan-Ye and Huai-Ti, in a fit of rage, goes after to confront the warlord in his fortress. Galanor vows to rescue them both. Along the way, he joins forces with a garrison of exiled soldiers, who, after much debate, agree to join forces with him, his queen and Anubis in the rescue attempt. At the same time Wan-Ye has become the concubine to the sadistic warlord. In time a rescue plan is conceived and executed, with results that are both joyful and tearful. When all is done, the three wanderers set out on a two year journey by land and sea, which bring them to Shuruppak and their ascension to the throne. The Book ends with Galanor receiving some startling news. BOOK TWO: WHAT THE GOD’S BRING FORTH Book two moves the storyline forward eighteen years. There are now three heirs to the throne: Tyr, Amara and Rama. Galanor and Nitiri, to no one's surprise, are wise and just rulers, but their reign is not without objection from some of the nobility. One morning, a rider is seen approaching from the west. He is intercepted and escorted into Shuruppak by a young, novice warrior. It is Mustir. He arrives with news of the most dire and consequential nature: Pharon has been struck down by mystical forces wielded by four, powerful and deadly riders, each determined to wreak havoc upon the world, in his own unique way. Mushtir presents his Captain with a token, handed to him by Pharon. Galanor recognizes the token, and the message behind it. He, Nitiri and Anubis prepare to journey to Pharon’s kingdom of Zeptepi, to help. As they prepare to leave, they are confronted by a conundrum for which they were not prepared and about which, they find themselves ill prepared to act. In time, as is the way with such things, matters resolve themselves, but not to everyone’s liking. Tearful moments transpire as their three children ride off in three different directions to battle one rider each, while Galanor, Nitiri and Anubis ride off to battle the fourth, and arguably the most powerful. While they are doing this, Pharon’s vampiric physician, a man driven by a powerful obsession to acquire knowledge at all costs, struggles to help his king. Meanwhile, while the monarchs of both kingdoms are busy, sinister forces, driven by greed and an ideology not their own, seek to rest control for themselves. With the aid of a potent talisman Galanor and Anubis confront the architect of the riders’ assault, beyond the edge of the universe and Nitiri battles the forces of death. BOOK THREE: BEYOND FLESH AND SPIRIT Book Three begins a few weeks after their return from Zeptepi. Nitiri has succumbed to wounds inflicted by the rider of death. Galanor abandons the throne and with Anubis by his side walks away from everything. Now, for the first time in decades, he is free of all obligations and ties. He and Anubis find themselves on a dusty road that rapidly becomes a hellscape. They are drawn to rift in time and space, where an entity of such power that it is impossible to measure, reaches out to consume them and through them, gain access to this universe. They are rescued by an entity that exists beyond imagination. Once free, they drift on until they find, and gain employment in a caravan journeying to a busy port city. Along the way, they are attacked by a massive army of bandit cutthroats. Finally, they make it to their destination where Galanor makes the acquaintance of an old flame. Their affair is reignited and he agrees to journey with her on her pirate vessel, one of the twelve original Atlantean Capital Ship used in the rescue of their people and the demise of their homeland. But, as fate would have it, they are attacked by mercenaries’ intent on slaughtering her crew and absconding with her. After yet another bloody battle, Galanor, weary beyond belief considers leaving his new found love and returning to the road. Events intercede and he agrees to stay and help her find the man responsible for the attack. In time, they do. With great cunning and much hard work, they discover his hiding place. It is an ancient island kingdom in an uncharted eastern sea. They journey there and find not only him, but a determined enemy from days long past.