Zachania Tome III (Taster)

Zachania Tome III
Page 1

There was a weary and troubled look on the brow of Grarlin; he stood hunched as he listened to the tribal leaders arguing amongst themselves, his usual assertive self was replaced with a look of exhaustion as he tried to take stock of the situation he had now found himself in.

Degrainia the capital city of Degrain was a town under siege, there was panic in the air as everyone feared the imminent onslaught of the Zachanians.

Baron Gragu the tenth Luid of the ancient Tockla tribe was shouting angrily at his men, he was enraged with what was transpiring in Degrain and furious at Grarlin and the Empire for their lack of assistance.

“Why does the Emperor delay?.... Does he want Degrain to fall?” He yelled loudly at Grarlin who just sat down amongst all the bickering.

“Of course it's not what we want, I am here to prove this and what do I find?.... I find a town gripped with panic and despair.”

“You confuse panic with anger Grarlin, where is the help we were promised?...Over half this sacred land is now under control of the wretched Zachanians… when is this help arriving? When will you aid us. when we are all without breath and crushed into the dirt?”

Grarlin bit his lip and looked down at his feet trying to calm himself from the angry manner he had just been spoken to, a moment later after a long breath he replied to the Baron.

“We have already taken steps to save Degrainia, you must trust me on this, Degrainia will be safe.”

“How are we safe? You came alone Grarlin, where is your army?...The Zachanians are in the hills breathing the same Degrainia air as us and alone we still stand, waiting for the attack!”

“You must not worry Gragu, have trust in your Emperor, he has not abandoned you.”

“Shall I tell that to the towns of Harloom and Doofra? They too trusted the Emperor; they waited for help as the Zachanians breached their walls and murdered them in their homes. What shall we say to them?”

Grarlin suddenly jumped up from his chair, baron Gragu’s constant shouting had now stretched his patience too far.

“BE SILENT!.....ACT as a leader and remember the heritage you stem from!....I came here to help you fight!....All I have found is a group of fat Degrainians scared that they might miss their next meal. So you are under attack, so you have lost lives, well so have we, we have been fighting the Zachanians for the past year!.....Enough of you winging Gragu, ready your army and prepare for battle.”

“We will fight Grarlin, we will fight them to the last man, but what do we do with the one they call Talon, he fights with the gods on his side, in his hand he carries the sword of Apollo so how do we fight such divineness’?”

Zachania Tome III

The third and final instalment of the Zachania series is scheduled for release on June 1st.

Back to writing.

Sorry guys if some of you have been following my NaPoWriMo poetry challenge.
I was enjoying the challenge and enjoying everyone's comments and opinions up until some time last week where I received two horrible reviews for two of my novels.
To be honest with you it really knocked the stuffing out of me where for a couple of days I just felt like throwing the towel in.
I know we should take criticism and try to carry on regardless but sometimes it hurts!
It can be so frustrating when someone who does not know you, or knows what kind of a life you have had leaves such harsh comments.
To me writing will always be a learning process where no matter how much I write or for how many years I will always be trying to better my skills.
I have been writing for just under a year and have had substantial sales and with some amazing comments and compliments.
I am still relatively a young man (or at least I think I am) so I have years in front of me to improve, I will, not give up just because of a few individuals, I will continue to do what I love and hopefully keep producing material that most people find enjoyable.
I would like to thank everyone who has purchased my novels, every single one of you are helping to make my dream come true and please believe me when I say I am truly truly thankful.

I like to think of a saying which used to be said to me when I was a professional boxer, one trainer used to always tell me that-

  'When people cant do something, they like to tell you that you cant do it'

I know it sounds slightly conceited but maybe that describes the certain people who seem to be on a witch hunt to destroy my writing.

Zachania Tome III

At last the third instalment of Zachania is almost finished and I cannot believe that I have finally got to the end of it!
if you asked me this time last year if I would have the Zachania series published then I would have thought you were stark raving mad.

I really hope you all find it enjoyable and I am looking forward to having a short break from writing then I will be releasing the second book of the Zachania-spin off,
Children of Zachania
once the summer holiday is over I will be sitting down and will start work on my new series KALITASH which is a sequel to the Zachania series with a whole host of new kingdoms and new characters. mixed with some of old of course.

Below is a un-edited version of what is coming in
Zachania Tome III
"Please be aware that this a draft version and has not been edited yet"

Talon and Graval woke with cautious excitement as they looked in the distance and saw the towers of the emperor’s palace. They had spent the whole day previous carefully travelling amongst the many towns that lined the route to the centre of the Palace lands and had spent the night on an isolated hill where they lay hidden in the bushes and shrubs. Talon knew last night that they must be close so he decided it best they try to get some rest and save their energy for the mammoth task of trying to assassinate the emperor.

There was a strange silence between the two men as they pulled on their boots and fastened their swords, both of them shared a feeling of destiny hanging over them and they both seemed to take their time doing the trivial things which on most days held no meaning at all. Talon gazed at the sun and smiled as he hoped that this was not going to be the last sunrise he would witness, he looked at his boots and asked himself the same question as he fastened the twine that bound them, would he ever sleep again or would he ever gaze at the beauty of the night sky again?.....only time would tell him now, because no matter if he lived or died he was going for the emperor.

Once both men had looked around and had some time with their own thoughts they almost simultaneously looked each other where they knew what the other man was thinking, there was a slight moment as they smiled and acknowledged each other’s loyalty and bravery.

Graval was the first one to break the silence when he clapped his hands together and gave Talon a determined look.

“I will not fail you lord Talon!”

Talon suddenly looked up and saw the conviction in his friends face and nodded back at him showing him that he understood him.

“Nor I, you.”

“it seems ironic doesn’t it Talon…….If you think of all the battles and all the deaths yet here we are, just you and me…..just like it was when all of this began.”

“Yep…that’s the way it should be, we started this, now let us finish it!” answered Talon still making sure his boots were well fastened.

“Who would have thought we would be here when we burned the fields of Zac……Do you remember when your grandfather revealed you to us as the Zararhakzar?.......it is funny but at that moment I just knew that my fate was by your side both in service and death.”

“We are not dead yet Graval, who knows what the end of this day will bring.”

“Whatever it brings I stand with you with honour and pride my lord Talon, if I was granted one wish then that wish would be that I am here at this moment with you.”

Talon could feel the shivers run down his spine as the words Graval was saying to him filled him with pride, he shivered as he felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he looked at the noble and gallant man who was standing before him, Talon almost shed a tear as he felt overwhelmed by the moment.

“you are the finest man I have ever known Graval….if I was granted one wish, then that wish would be that I was you….I salute you my brother and I promise you we will overcome any adversity that this day shall bring……today is not our time for death, if there is still a god in the sky above us then he cannot take you today….you my friend are too valuable to Kratos to perish here now, men like you and Heikan, my grandfather, men like you are needed when this war is over

Amazon review system

I am sorry but I am absolutely sick to death with the way Amazon has set up its review system.
It seems so unfair that anyone who wishes so can completely tear the flesh off your work for absolutely no good reason.
Why do people do it.
Maybe I am just a fool but I just cannot understand why anyone would want to destroy someone's hard work!
If you buy a book on Amazon then most of time you have the 'Look inside' feature which allows you to preview the book before you purchase.
On my novel Zachania the preview is set on twenty percent so that is almost 100 pages which are available to see and allow you to make up your mind if you want to read more or not.
Then there is the 30 day refund available!

I am just completely at a loss why there are people out there who get there kicks trying to belittle other people, self-publishers are not trying to make a nuclear missile or commit  an act of terrorism,  we are just writing a novel, doing what we love for Gods sake! And within our hearts we have a distant hope that someone might come back to us and say they enjoyed what we have created.
I am currently so disappointed that at present I feel like just giving the whole thing up, stop writing completely and move on to doing other things.
It is the reality that people can stab the knife in for absolutely no good reason which is really effecting me, I just cannot get my head around why would you want to cut someone down for trying to do what they love?
We have just had the London marathon and we do not stand at the finish line shouting abuse and being harsh to the runners who come in hours after the race has begun, we applaud them for achieving, we applaud them for trying.
Amazon should really look at their review system and try to make it more fair.
below is a recent review I have just received.

No no no!, 19 April 2013

By 

V. Groombridge

Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?)

This review is from: Zachania (Tome 1) (Kindle Edition)

Poorly written, grammatically incorrect in so many places throughout the book, became more and more annoyed as I read the book. I rarely give up on a book, but this was the exception. Dreadful.

Every time I read this and this may sound dramatic, but I get a tight feeling of nausea in my stomach at how a fellow human being can be so harsh, and for what reason.... Dreadful he has put at the end of it, like I have been knocking on his door trying to sell my book or maybe I have kicked his dog.
All I have done is spend months on end trying to share what I have in my mind and create a story, Do self-publishers really deserve to be vilified like this!

i thought long and hard about leaving a response where everyone says do not answer a bad review, but i am sorry its the kind of guy i am where i feel that someone somewhere should speak up for Self-pub material.
below is what I have written;

Joseph Henry Gaines says:

I am sorry to say that I find your review extremely harsh
I am a self-publishing author who does not have the thousands of pounds spare to have my novel professional edited and proof read.
This is the reason why the book of over five hundred pages is on sale for under £2.

Self-publishing is a fantastic platform which allows people like myself who love to write, an opportunity to share material which otherwise would never get shared.
I can understand if you criticized me for my grammar if I was writing a historical piece of works like war and peace, but Zachania is a fictional novel based in a mythical time.
Self-publisher's earn a pittance from sales and do this because of the love and a distant hope that someone somewhere may enjoy what they produce.

For future reference I would just like to point out what damage you do when you leave a terrible review like the one you posted, since your review my novel has dropped 6000 places and I have not had one sale.
I have thought very hard about leaving this comment but I feel that certain Amazon reviewers are giving self-publishers a really hard time.
Why I don't know? People like me are not claiming to be a Dickens or a James Joyce yet we are judged by a standard which we do not have at our disposal.
There is the look inside feature and also a thirty day refund available for our stories so why is there the need to vilify our hard work. Why not just claim the refund and say, "thank you very much but the book wasn't for me!"

I spend hours and hours going over and over my manuscript trying to create something which will be enjoyed, when we receive a cruel damnation like your review, it absolutely rips the soul out of us and is cruel thanks for the days and months on end, we have slaved away trying to do the thing we love.
I am extremely proud of the books I have written, and I am trying against all the odds to persevere in my quest to one day be a full time author.
So please if you feel the urge again to obliterate someone's work, then please try to remember that there is a human being at the other end, a human being who is just trying to do the thing he loves

NaPoWriMo Challenge (Day 18, 19 & 20)

Challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April NaPoWriMo


April 18th (Day 18)

The Critic

He prowls on the keyboard waiting to pounce

Your hard earned work he is going to trounce

He will tear you shreds ruin your page

He is big-headed and bitter, the computer his stage

Doesn’t care if he injures or care who he hurts

His swansong in life is dishing the dirt

Too self-interested to worry about others

Sons, daughters, fathers and mothers

What kind of person wants to belittle

Must be a person whose life is so brittle

He believes he’s superior, oh what a fool

Harming others is not very cool

Don’t you realise how much pain you cause

Is there nothing between your ears that makes you pause?

Why do you do it?

What good does it achieve?

Do you think you are clever, is that what you believe.

Are you a person; is there a beat in your chest?

Tearing at feelings, is that your best?

I can’t understand, your life must be so sad

What insecurities makes you so bad?

Maybe I am crazy and put faith in all men

Only to be disappointed again and again

The reviewer on amazon, a home of the bitter

As bad as the trolls on youtube and twitter

Do you feel better now you’ve had your say

You feel all important as you ruin someone’s day

So well done, hope you feel proud

Had your rant and done it so loud

But remember this saying and remember it well

Remember it when your head starts to swell

A little man may criticize

It takes a man with a big heart to sympathise. 

Joseph Henry Gaines

April 19th (Day 19)

No Option

Put my hand in my pocket, only got a few bob

Tried everything I know just to get myself a job

Redundant by the government who show no regret

Millions unemployed...........  Depressed and upset

Treated as a criminal for I have no job

What else is left but to go out and rob?

No other option than to work for crime

When I get caught the pay is my time

My time is then prison until my release

Then harassed by the law...  They give me no peace

So now I'm out of prison yet I'm still unemployed

God give me freedom from this roundabout void

All I ever wanted was a living and a wage

But I ended up a thief and thrown within a cage

My only crime in life was being born poor

And possessing too  much pride to live my life a whore.

Joseph henry Gaines

April 20th (Day 20)

I am afraid to love, no I do not have the right to love, it would be so selfish for me to inflict my life on the person I love, I am damned, how can I condemn someone I love to share this life with me

Lord Talon..

From
The Diaries & Poetry of Lord Talon

NaPoWriMo Challenge (Day 16 & 17)

Challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April NaPoWriMo


April 16th (Day 16)

The Slag

You sold out your friend to save your own skin

Your name is now soiled to you and your kin

You betrayed the trust; you sold out your soul

Your scheme was successful; you scored your sick goal

No one respects you, even your pals the police

Your life now is running, you’ll never sleep in peace

I watched you in court lying to my face

Now I’m in prison, preparing my case

How could you do it?  You coward, you rat

You’re an insect that’s all a bloodthirsty gnat

This is my reward for being your mate

But I’d rather be in prison than have your fate.

One day, one day

What comes around?

Goes around!

Joseph Henry Gaines

April 17th (Day 17)

I must subdue my appetite for vengeance, it will falter my judgment, it will burn me inside and give birth to mistakes, I can no longer act with my own interests, I am the Zararhakzar and I must bear the burden of everyone’s vengeance.

From
The Diaries & Poetry of Lord Talon

Zachania Tome III

Unfortunately I may have been stretching my ambitions for a May 1st release of the 3rd instalment of the Zachania series.
I forgot all about Easter and as a father of six I had absolutely no chance of sitting in front of a computer screen all day long while the kids were off school.
The good news however is that the Tome III is coming along and I am anticipating a June 1st release date.
I will let you guys know more as the days pass by so please check back for any updates.
JH Gaines

Here are few tasters of what is coming in Tome III

The old wizard wasted no time in getting down to what he wanted to say, there were no fancy introductions or praise, he just got straight to the point.

“Because of the uncertainty attached to this mission both myself and Zumal will be assisting you with magic, we will be discussing what kind of spells we will use after this meeting and inform you when we have agreed…..One more thing gentlemen, pay heed to the fact we are attacking the empires homeland and remember the ancient words of Apollo when he said-

The man who defends his home will fight with every sinew of his body; he will leave his breath on the field of battle if it saves the lives of his family.

Remind your soldiers of these words and tell them to be at their best for the enemy we will face will surely be at theirs.”

“Such feeble fighting men should not hold a sword in their hand….they shame the steel they grasp!” Graval said sounding like he was disappointed at the lack of competition.

“Twenty thousand pieces of Gold shall be awarded for the death of the Zachanian bandit known as Talon of Tallasian….By order of his highness the Emporor Tash Von Kallick.”

“So they put a bounty on my head.” Talon said as he smiled at the sketch of his appearance.

“Is that you?” Graval joked as he saw the sketch.

“I would hope not!”

“Twenty thousand pieces of gold!.....that will entice every bounty hunter, thief, rogue and poor man.” Graval said as he looked at Talon seriously.

“Then there will be more bodies piled up.”

“Talon such a vast sum could even sway those who are close to you.”

“Not Zachanians!....I cannot believe the emperors wealth will tempt us.”

“Talon, it is a princely sum!....with such fortune someone could almost create his own army!”

Talon looked at the note briefly and then tore it two and threw it onto the dead tribesmen.

“At least we now know why these fools attacked us!” Graval said as the torn note fell onto the tribe leader’s bloodied chest. 

“Right gentlemen; now let us set our minds on Galiko…Heikan! Are your soldiers ready?”

“Are they ready my liege! They are more than ready; they chomp at the bit for another taste of Degrain blood!”

King Arun smiled broadly at the lord’s comment, “Then let us march forth and enter the land of Anfinnis, let us show everyone the hunger in our eyes and let it sound out across all of Kratos that by tomorrow evening Degrain is no more!”

NaPoWriMo Challenge (Day 15)

Challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April NaPoWriMo


April 15th (day 15)

My Son's

Stand tall, walk proud

Never too brash or never too loud

Lead from the front, lead as you live

Be wary how you take and wise when you give

Protect your honour and stand by what you trust

Even if it means returning to dust

Watch your words closely, never barter with talk

It is stronger to listen than join the walk

Be vigilant to lies, see through their verses

Judgement is silence than deal in curses

Silently study the ways of the weak

Then trust in you view and let your heart speak

Never be prudish, be open to all

Yet know the decision is yours to call

Be confident in your body, be solid, but care

The greatest of men is the one who is fair

If you are challenged with uncertainty then take a retreat

It is better to think than rush to defeat

Remember my son to use your head wise

Never be bitter never show despise

Compassion and empathy are what makes you strong

Helping first will never make you wrong

Live your life free and don’t hang your head in shame

You have a duty to your children who will carry your name

When all seems lost, you must reach within

Sometimes it will be hard when it’s easier to sin

But remember your background, and who you are

Know that my love will never be far

You will soon be a man with the world as your stage

So live it free and not in a cage

The worst kind of prison is the one in your mind

Walk past your fears and never look behind

It is your life to live so you live it free

Be yourself for all to see

The most precious of gifts is my advice to be true

But it is your life my son and yours to do.....

Joseph Henry Gaines

NaPoWriMo Challenge (Day 14)

Challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April NaPoWriMo


April 12th (day 12)

Beaten but not Beaten!

Shackled to a chair gasping for air

Blood on the floor waiting for more

Now all alone I am hurt to the bone

Yet inside I smile

Day after day they have tortured my body

Still I am strong I have given them nobody

Cut with a knife and beaten with a stick

Russian roulette as I hear another click

Haven’t seen the sun for days on end

Yet its warmth shines brightly as my honour I defend

Tell me the names of the men you protect

Punch after punch only strengthens my reject

Yesterday I was close, close to confess

Today I am past the limit, I couldn’t care less

You have played your hand and given me your best

I have now come through your barbaric test

You didn’t break me on the first day, now your methods have failed

The more you hit me just makes me more proud

I won’t give you anything, only my scorn

Any hope you had is now forlorn

Take off my blindfold, let me see your eyes

I can taste your frustration as your self respect dies

Hit me, strike me, let me feel another blow

But your never force me to tell you all I know

I am willing to die and go to my grave

With a smile on my face knowing friends I have saved

Let them live long and let them be free

Let them remember the friend in me

I will rise into heaven with my soul complete

You have taken my life but yours is defeat

Open your arms to me Jesus my lord

I went out fighting holding my sword

So who has won and who has lost

You can have my life but at what cost

You tried everything you knew to make me talk

Now get out of my way and let me walk

You’re a coward, a rat, a man full of doubt

Look at me now as pride I shout

Just walk out the door and leave me alone

I am stronger than you though you’ve bled me to the bone

Doesn’t matter anymore, anything you do

I’m willing to die as long as I’m true

You smashed me near death now you know your mistake

Two men in a room, only one man is fake

I’ve took your blows and took your threats

And all that you have done is learned regret

The only thing left is you’ll hear me rejoice

Defiance and pride are filling my voice

I see your anger I smell your hate

But I’d rather die true than have your fate

I have won, you have lost

Now walk away and remember the cost…

Joseph Henry Gaines

NaPoWriMo Challenge (Day 12 & 13)

Challenge to write a poem every day for the month of April NaPoWriMo

April 12th (day 12)


ALL GROWN UP

What should one do when ones hope has gone?

Where everything tried has all gone wrong,                                                      

Hope has deserted now only despair

Everything now seems so unfair

Once I had a future but now I have a past

Once I would win but now I come last

Can’t find the strength to attempt another deal

Agony and agony a failure I feel

Live day to day what else have I got

Endless reminders of which I have not

Once I wanted everything..........  Oh how I wanted it all

Now my dreams survival and a wage of petty small..

Joseph Henry Gaines

April 13th (Day 13)

Integrity

To go against everything that you know                           

And not be afraid of fear to show

To refuse what is good for you and accept which is bad

When all common sense is calling you mad

To reach deep within and grasp which is right

To stand up and be counted though no solution is in sight

To stick by your honour when you know it means pain

To show perseverance when they call you insane

To feel content when you’re cast out alone

No one’s as lonely as a king lost his throne

To start at the beginning when your achievements went far

And hide the secret that your soul is so scarred

To lose everything that you have ever known

Be proud of your nakedness, honour flesh and bone

Your flesh may be bound but your soul remains free

It’s how deep you look as to how far you see.

Joseph Henry Gaines

Game of Thrones mimics Zachania in episode two of series three.

I sat with great anticipation for the second episode of series three and as usual found the programme fantastic, but as I watched I found myself being astounded about certain similarities which are shared with characters in Zachania.
Namely the 'Works' people who have the ability to transfer their thoughts into the minds of animals.
I know this is not a unique idea and is probably used in countless fantasy-fiction stories but what I found in this instance was they both shared this power with a hawk.

Below is the Zachania version where Talon is taken to the Jomar Jungle by his Grandfather who reveals this secret power to him;
Read it and make your own comparison?

After one-month Talon was getting used to using his gifts, he learned fast and could already read some of his Grandfather’s thoughts.
“Now then, today you will learn how to put thoughts into a man’s mind.” Zalon said as Talon joined him at dawn in the gladiator school yard.
Zalon then walked into the stables and returned with two horses and a large lump of fresh meat.
“We will be travelling to the Jomar jungle; there I will demonstrate just how powerful your powers can be.”
They rode for a whole day before making camp at nightfall, they rested and resumed their journey at the break of light and stopped once they reached the edge of the jungle.
“We will have to leave our horses here.” Zalon suddenly said dismounting his horse.
“Are we here Grandfather, is this the jungle?”
“Yes we are at the beginning, we will have to leave the horses here, they will not enter any further.”
“Why not?” Talon asked feeling slightly apprehensive.
“Use your powers Talon, can you not feel their thoughts.”
Talon places a hand on the horse’s neck and closed his eyes after a pause he turned and spoke to his Grandfather.
“Beasts!” Talon said, “They are afraid of the beast’s within.” he added.
“Good! Now tie your horse and let’s make haste.”
The two men entered the jungle and walked until Zalon stopped and looked around.
“This will do, now come and sit down Talon.”
Zalon then pulled out the lump of meat and threw it into the jungle a few feet away.
“It won’t be long.” he said turning to Talon.
“I sense from you Grandfather that I am not going to like this, and that you are going to find this amusing.” Talon said looking up.
Talon then heard a loud roar coming from within the jungle; the sound was terrifying like nothing Talon had heard before.
“What was that?” Talon asked quietly.
“A Zachanian lion, nothing is more ferocious.”
Talon then turned towards the sound of the roar where he could now hear heavy footsteps, the footsteps got closer and closer and Talon reached for his sword only for his Grandfather to grab his hand.

“Have courage and faith Talon.” he whispered.

Suddenly the creature revealed itself, it was nearly the size of a horse and Talon stiffened as the creature pounced onto the meat showing terrifying power the lion ripped the meat to pieces in a frenzied eating display before raising up its blood drenched mouth and turning towards Talon.

“Grandfather is it going to attack?” Talon whispered anxiously.

Talon then heard his Grandfather make a low pitched growling noise and then he pointed to the jungle and growled again, the lion straightened and then ran back into the darkness of the jungle as if terrified.

The beast was gone as quickly as it appeared and Zalon let out a loud laugh.

“I love doing that!” Talon’s Grandfather said proudly.

Talon looked up at his Grandfather and smiled as his anxiety subsided.

“You see!” Zalon suddenly said snapping his fingers. “That is what your powers can do.” he added pointing into the jungle.

“You terrified it Grandfather.”

“Yes, I put my thoughts into his mind and told him I would rip him to shreds if he came any closer.”

Zalon’s attention was then suddenly distracted by a noise overhead, he looked up to see a hawk flying high above and then he suddenly whistled in the bird’s direction.

To Talon’s amazement the hawk circled a few times before swooping down towards them and then landing on his Grandfather’s outstretched arm.

“Look Talon I can also put thoughts into minds that I am their friend too.” replied Zalon now stroking the birds back before ushering it to fly off.

“Will I also be able to do this?” Talon asked obviously impressed.

“In time yes, these are some of the things that we can do but it is up to you on how long it will take you to learn these”

Zachania Tome I

NaPoWriMo Challenge (day 11)

Challenge to post a poem a day for the month of April http://www.napowrimo.net/

April 11th

Day 11

I see my father when I look at my reflection

I see his smile, I see his eyes

As a tear falls I see his love

As my brow furrows I feel his compassion

I swallow deep and think of things I never said

My lip trembles and I sense his  soul

He lives in me and in my sons

Everyday if I look hard he is with me

In my blood - in my bones

In my heart and in my dreams

How I miss the pat on the head, 

The hand on my hand

And the occasional embrace

If I try hard I can hear his voice

It is my voice now

His mind Is my mind

Just one more smile father

Just one more tear

I am your son and all your hopes

Now you are gone - I am no longer the son

I am the father now

From

The Diaries & Poetry of Lord Talon

The Poems

NaPoWriMo Challenge (day 10)

Challenge to post a poem a day for the month of April http://www.napowrimo.net/

April 10th

Day 10

If death should come - then make it swift

To be spared of this horror would be god’s gift

We fight in the sand, make steps in the mud

Scars in our hearts and covered in blood

We swing our swords using all our might

Smoke and blood hindering our sight

I tread on the bodies of those I call kin

Then question myself for doing such sin

If we win we lose but we must prevail

But will I ever lose this guilt or lose my scowl.

From

The Diaries & Poetry of Lord Talon

Zachania Tome III (Coming soon)

An Excerpt from Zachania III scheduled for release on June 1st
(Draft version pending final edit)

The ancient town of Degrainia was now on full alert and battle prepared.
The Zachanians full of bravado and confidence waited for the dawn light with mixed feelings of optimism and determination.
Across the valley in the city, the Degrains were also now feeling confident, the walls had been sealed and behind them sat thousands of warriors, amongst these barbaric fighting beast were wizards and witches and a legion of Imperial palace land soldiers, with swords sharpened and arrows primed, they sat silently in the night waiting for the dawn to break where the ravages of war would begin.

The night before a battle was always a difficult time on both sides if the front line.
 Nerves set in and oaths of life and death were whispered passionately under breath. Old friends looked at each other with affection and respect, silently accepting that this may be their last time together. Rest and sleep was troublesome as men tossed and turned with their minds in turmoil thinking about the horrors of what battle may bring. Doubts of defeat and the joys of victory dancing in their minds as their hearts yearned for their loved ones back home. On this night as both armies sat across the valley facing each other the only enemy was their imaginations, to some they were haunted by their thoughts, to others it inspired them but to all….it succeeded to unnerve them.

When dawn arrived it brought with it the usual eerie silence, men rose from their slumber and prepared themselves but words were sparse, men looked at each other and spoke with their eyes, only when the commanders arrived did everything burst into life, the drums began and the sound of horses and orders being shouted soon filled the air. Now there was no turning back, now was the time for the primal instincts to surface where men roused themselves into a frenzied mood for battle.

Lord Talon walked amongst his men, an inspiration to them just by his relaxed and confident manner, some soldiers saluted him as others bowed before him and some even thanked him for restoring their dignity and honour.

When Talon joined Lord Heikan at the front of Heikan’s army he was impressed at their appearance and calmness, Lord Heikan had instructed his army to show full house colours, flags of his royal house were brought to the front as the drums banged ominously on the hill. The soldiers stood in their lines looking eager for blood with their polished weapons in hand.

“By Apollo, they look impressive.” Talon thought as he jumped on his horse.

“Talon! We was wondering where you were - thought you may have returned to Zachania!” the king joked as pulled up beside Talon's horse.

“When we return home it will be to announce that Degrain is now part of Zachania!” Talon shouted back at him proudly.

“THEN LET US MAKE IT SO!” Lord Heikan shouted.

 Talon  looked across the valley and then turning to the king asked if they were ready to attack,

“Are we ready sire?” he shouted just as his grandfather rode alongside him.

“Grandfather stay close to me.” Talon said as he leaned closer and offered his hand for his grandfather to grab.

“BY YOUR SIDE!” replied his grandfather proudly.

NaPoWriMo Challenge (day 9)

Challenge to post a poem a day for the month of April http://www.napowrimo.net/

April 9th

Day 9

The sky is deepest black tonight

Everything is quiet before the light,

But when morning appears, we see the field

All of my strength until you yield,

Do they realise what is coming, do they sense our will?

A full day of battle, a full day to kill.

We are hardened, determined, resolute and skilled,

There is no other road but victory on the field.

†

From

The Diaries & Poetry of Lord Talo
n

NaPoWriMo Challenge (day 8)

Challenge to post a poem a day for the month of April http://www.napowrimo.net/

April 8th

Day 8

If I fall, I fall for you..

I fall so you can stand.

Stand free and proud,

In the morning I will fight like no man has ever battled before.

For it is for you my family.

Tomorrow I will have the strength of ten men,

For I fight for the greatest cause any man could fight for,

The freedom of my loved ones and realm.

Weep not for me my children, rejoice that I was your father and husband.

Rejoice that I was one of Lord Heikan’s fifth army.

†

From

The Diaries & Poetry of Lord Talon