the elders of his people that their treatment of Air Elementals is
wrong. His homecoming is met with hostility but not for the reason he
expects. It is far worse.
the one he endured, Zhao must rescue his sister. Even if she doesn’t
wish it. Quickly caught once again in events greater than he can
handle alone, Zhao struggles to prevent a personal conflict from
erupting into a larger battle. But friends are distant, and more than
a few are wrestling with new problems of their own.
the spirit realm and their ancient guardians. But some of the
guardians have left their duties and those that have stayed may prove
as dangerous as her enemy, whose wrath threatens the world. To end an
ancient punishment inflicted on them by the Goddess for their role in
a forgotten war, the Ashanti will conquer this world and that of
spirit to gain power over death.
well as the old, and the last time he saw Lavinia, he tried to kill
her before she stole his power. And he’s been seeking revenge
…
Friendships are tested as what is sacrificed is more than some are
willing to give. Welcome back to the world of Myrrah and meet the
Elementals of Fire, Earth, Water, Air, and Spirit who shape it. Pick
up book 2 of the Games of Fire trilogy, the Gates of Fire & Earth,
today!
The time has come to end their punishment or the world.
cursed by the Goddess Mhyrah with lifespans of less than a decade. To
regain normal lives for his people, Beh’kana, the Ashanti King,
will conquer death by gaining control of the source of all elemental
magic: the spirit realm. Even if he must burn the world to do so.
After all, he already killed his closest friend to gain the Ashanti
throne.
each to gain control of elemental power. But now that choice has
propelled her to being the key to stop the Ashanti. She controls the
gates that allow magic into the world. And she must close them or the
Ashanti will cross into the spirit realm and gain power beyond
imagination, enough to enslave or destroy the world they once sought
to rule.
most desperate. To win needed help, Lavinia has promised a man who
once tried to kill her best friend that she would open the gates and
restore magic again.
enemy the world.
struggle for the power over life and death as well as all the
elements comes to a dramatic conclusion. Can a cruel ancient
punishment be ended without destroying magic or the world? Welcome
back to the world of Myrrah and meet the Elementals of Fire, Earth,
Water, Air, and Spirit who shape it. Pick up book 3 of the Games of
Fire trilogy, A New Goddess, today!
the world of Myrrah- full of elemental magic and epic fantasy
adventure with the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogy!
on the same series though! She is the author of the epic fantasy,
adventure trilogy on elemental magic, the Rise of the Fifth Order.
Her newest series is Friends of my Enemy, a military dystopian/ dark
fantasy tale laced with romance. Friends of my Enemy was released in
full in 2015 and is quite the story full of strong characters, tight
plots, and lots of action. Meanwhile, she is working on a new epic
fantasy trilogy, Games of Fire, set in the same world as the Rise of
the Fifth Order. The first book was released in March of 2016.
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
Chapter 14
CONFRONTATION
“We are looking for three of our people,” Phet said from the back of his horse.”They travel with an infant and one whose heritage is unknown to us.”
“They are here and asked for refuge,” Teyak said without elaboration. He’d been selected to speak for the Nifail, but the youngest chief of the steppes did not stand alone. Three imposing warrior chieftains stood at his back. Zhao, Ria, and Laireag watched as well, using the safety invisibility offered. Safety made all the more secure without Kattan accompanying Phet to potentially sense the use of Air Elemental power.
“It was by my request that you sought them,” Phet argued.
“Yes, we sought them. We never agreed to give them to you,” Teyak said.
Phet shook with anger, unable to answer. “That isn’t the agreement made,” another man answered. “We offered coin for their return. They have escaped just punishment.”
“They told us of this ‘punishment,'” Teyak replied. “We, the Nifail, do not think it is so just. Punishing a mother and father for having an Elemental child is not justifiable.”
“I am surprised to hear that, considering the Nifail do not hold those born with gifts in high esteem,” Phet said.
“That is none of your concern,” Teyak retorted.
“And how we treat our gifted people is not yours,” Phet challenged.
A hiss ran through the Nifail watching the exchange. Teyak glanced at those behind him, returning his gaze to Phet with a half smile. “We disagree. When you hunt your people onto our land and they seek protection with us from you, I would say it has become our concern.”
Teyak’s statement was met with grunts of agreement from the Nifail. The horses of the Tiak danced under the tension of their riders.
“We will go, but we will return tomorrow. Hopefully, you will rethink what you have said this day,” Phet said.
“Go. It would be best if you do not return,” Teyak said with his hand on his knives.
The small group of Tiak turned and galloped through the high grass while the other chieftains clapped Teyak on his back.
“Oh Zhao, what have you started?” Ria asked, releasing his hand.
Zhao let the illusion of invisibility go as he shook his head, too distressed to answer.
“I wonder where they are going?” Laireag asked, gaze remaining on where the Tiak had disappeared.
“It might be best to wonder how many there are. It would, at least, give us an idea of how the fight will go,” Zhao answered glumly.
“That is an even better reason to go. I’ll be back,” Laireag said with a grin. Laireag’s form flowed upward as he transformed into a raven. The black bird winged into the sky, chasing after the riders. Ria’s gaze followed him.
“I was hoping you’d be better, you’d both be better by now. It’s been six months,” Ria said, green eyes sincere. She turned and walked toward the crevasse hidden deep within the encampment of Nifail along its rim.
“I didn’t mean for this! Are you over the war and what happened?” Zhao asked.
Ria paused, turned to speak, and then kept walking. Zhao followed, torn between apologizing and curiosity at what Ria almost said. Finally, she sighed.
“I didn’t see the fighting the way you did. I was on a boat with Ci’erra looking for the Sphere of Fire. I didn’t watch anyone die, not a Priest and not Beite. I only came back in time for the funerals. So yes, Zhao, I suppose I am doing better than you and Laireag, or Darag. I’ve been busy trying to keep the Orders from separating and from the former Priests and Priestesses distrusting Spirit Elementals and the Kith. I built a home too. But I didn’t do anything to help my friends,” Ria said in a rush that left her eyes shimmering with tears.
Zhao pulled her into a hug. “You came now.”
“After you are already in trouble!” Ria said with a bit of a laugh.
Should you read the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogy before reading Games of Fire?
You should definitely read Spark of Defiance, book 1 of Games of Fire, before reading the Gates of Fire & Earth. I did my best to lightly explain some of the pertinent events from the first trilogy, the Rise of the Fifth Order, in this new epic fantasy trilogy, Games of Fire so that you could start with Spark of Defiance.
But a few readers have said they got a lot more depth for having read the Rise of the Fifth Order first. They suggest you start there! It is certainly a great introduction to the world of Myrrah and the characters by starting with Born of Water, which is free to pick up. But I won’t say you absolutely have to.
Is Games of Fire a continuation of the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogy?
The Games of Fire and the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogies are related in that they are set in the same world of Myrrah, utilize many of the same characters, and are full of elemental magic. Games of Fire begins with Spark of Defiance, which is set six months after the final book, Spirit of Life, of the Rise of the Fifth Order trilogy ends.
New problems have developed, so the Games of Fire story line is stand alone trilogy with the same heroes from the first story. However a few events that happened in the Rise of the Fifth Order are the cause of the new challenges rising in Games of Fire. So the two series are linked, but each consists of a different set of adventures and issues to solve.
I’ve only ever heard of four elements, but these books have five even though it is based on elemental magic?
This is true! Five elements, air, earth, water, fire, and spirit is actually an eastern philosophy. I wish I could say I invented it. Lol. The difference really comes with the element of earth. Only dead things and soil can be controlled by an Earth Elemental, while plants or anything living (like the ability to change into another living creature) is something that a Spirit Elemental controls. Spirit Elementals are also able to control the other four elements, at least to some degree.
Part of the discovery in the Rise of the Fifth Order series is that the ability to control one element might indicate latent gifts in any element. However, it is always difficult to learn to control the element opposing your own. So a Water Elemental might learn to control fire, but only with difficulty! AND a few of the heroes have discovered that if you can learn to control fire, earth, air, and water then no matter what element you are born with, you can unlock some of the gifts of spirit.
