Diamond Bonds (41 page)

APPENDIX 1: 

MAP OF VALVOREN

APPENDIX 2: 

MAP OF THE HILL COUNTRY

APPENDIX 3: 

Elemental Dodecagram

About the author:

Jeff has been a storyteller all his life, dating back to the fourth grade when he wrote two choose-your-own adventure books. He regularly consumes fantasy stories in their many forms, with a particular love for anime and video games.

Outside of writing, Jeff tries his best as a Christ-follower, husband, and father. When not crafting a new chapter, Jeff is usually studying for a Cisco exam, enjoying Notre Dame Football, or playing Smash Bros.

Acknowledgements:

I owe many thanks to the creation of my first book.  As it turns out, writing a novel is much harder than throwing out nearly 200,000 words and expecting it to be a masterpiece.  Who knew?

First and foremost, thanks to Emily for fostering my desire to give this a shot.  You were my encouragement as I delivered a few chapters at a time for review.  A single unfavorable word would have ended all this before it started, yet I heard nothing but the love and respect you always show me.

Second, my thanks and appreciation go out to Tim.  You were my first true reader and most enthusiastic believer that my early blathering could be refined into such a story.  You worked tirelessly with me on character consistency and trimming the fat, and in doing so you saved me thousands in editing fees!  You did not spare the rod in your efforts to beat both me and my writing into tolerable shape.  This book would have been insufferable if not for you.

Special thanks to Madelyn for your enthusiasm in getting this book into the hands of others, and to Jeff for being an early guidance on proper grammar and book construction.  Thanks to Trevor, Billy, and all my beta readers, the list of which is particularly long and even includes Grace, my 93-year-old grandmother.  I believe in this story and these characters because of all of you and your feedback.

A letter to you

Dear Reader,

Thank you for taking a chance and reading a fantasy book written by an engineer who gives more regard to sentence structure than poetic elegance.  The next book in the Runics Series, Sapphire Ambition, will soon be available, so please keep an eye out of it!  An excerpt has been included below.

Stay in touch by visiting runicsbook.com to join my mailing list, get updates on coming books, and interact with fellow readers.  Please also follow me on Twitter @KishSquared.

Have something to say?  You can email me directly at [email protected].  I love hearing from readers and I’ll always do my best to reply.

All the best,

Jeff

An excerpt from Book 2:

Sapphire Ambition

The fugitives charge through the brush and dash into the safety of the woods.  Era eventually succumbs to the throbbing in his legs, and he stops to catch his breath.  “Fire… I don’t think they’re… following us!  I need a break…”

The assassin slows her hostage before turning back to her ally.  “Really, Era?  Aren’t you
literally
built better than that?  Even this unfit Academy buffoon is in better shape than you are!”

“The knife in my back was proper motivation,” Ospif mumbles as he drops his large bag.  He barely releases it before Fire shoves him aside and flips it open.  “H-Hey!  How rude!” he barks as he sits on the ground with a huff.

“Shut up,” she growls while scouring the contents for a second time.

“I’ve never seen a musven before,” Era says in amazement.  “And now we have five hundred of them!  Are they made from real gold!?”

“Partially,” Fire says as she closes the bag.  “Where’s the ice queen?  We need to keep moving.”

Ospif stands and brushes himself off.  “If you villains have had your fill, I’ll be returning to the Academy now.  And I’d request you return that rune.”

Era fumbles in his pocket for the rune blade.  “You want it back?  I’m not sure… it’s a pretty great find on my part.”

“A find!?  That rune is the product of
years
of research and dedication!  You’ll give it back or… or…”

“…or what?” Era asks, genuinely curious.

“It doesn’t matter,” Fire states matter-of-factly, “because this oaf’s journey with us is far from over.  He’s still our hostage moving forward.”

“B-Beg your pardon?” Ospif cries.  “I carried your ludicrously heavy bag of coins, at knife-point no less!  Just what else do you have in mind?”

“First, you’re going to show me your royal seal,” Fire answers.  “Prove you’re royalty like that fat lout claimed.”

“How insolent!  The seal is a sacred image of-”

His captor cuts him off by drawing her dagger.  “Show it to me or I’ll find it myself.”

Ospif grunts his disapproval as he lifts his pant leg.  On his calf is a stretched tattoo of the royal family’s crest.

“He’s a Haran alright,” Era says, impressed.

“That or a counterfeiter,” Fire says.  “Either way, he should be worth some good coin.”

“Good coin!?” he exclaims.  “You
have
good coin in that very bag.  Why do you need me in addition?”

“You’re our insurance policy,” she answers.  “Just in case this isn’t enough.”

“Enough for
what
, pray tell?” he demands.  “You have five hundred
thousand
venni in your possession!”

“We have
how much?
” Jem exclaims as she emerges from the brush.

“An Allerian!” Ospif cries while stumbling backward.  “You’re conspiring with the Allerians!?  I should have known!”

Era snickers and turns to his friend.  “Hi, Jem!  So… that went well-ish.”

“Yes, I witnessed your grand escape,” she chides.  “I can only assume the Academy catching fire was your doing?”

The adventure continues Spring, 2017!