Blurb
Humans
created the Ultras, a genetically enhanced race, to defend mankind.
Instead, Ultras became their greatest threat. With the help of
traitors, humans captured half a million of the immortal warriors.
Exiled
to an alien world with no tech, no tools, and no resources, their
leader, Pietas, must protect his people, find food and shelter and
unite them. But before he can, he must regain command from a ruthless
adversary he's fought for centuries--his brutal, merciless father.
Ultras
are immortal, and no matter how they die, they come back. Reviving
after death isn't all it's cracked up to be. Some wounds heal
instantly and a few take time, but battered and broken trust?
Immortals may heal, but a wound of the heart lasts forever.
Genre:
Science Fiction with romantic elements
Rating:
PG13 for violence, no profanity or explicit content
Excerpt
In
this scene, Pietas performs a ritual with the help of his friend,
Six.
Pietas's
long hair, full of static electricity from the wind and storm,
settled over his shoulders and adhered to his neck. He could not lift
his arms to gather it himself but he did not want the others to see
he needed help nor did he want Six fretting over it.
The
man blamed himself for the injury. Yes, Six had bound Pietas. It had
been Six's duty to do so. In truth, those who had placed Pietas
inside the pod and refused to release him were to blame, but no
matter how often he reminded Six of that, the ghost refused to
relinquish his guilt.
Six
dug into his pockets. "I think I have another strip." They
had torn several from a ragged shirt. Six wore the biggest piece
around his neck. He set down his pack and opened it.
"Six,"
Pietas hissed. He did not turn his head, but looked toward the
others. "Leave it!"
The
ghost glanced up at him, then the immortals, waiting ahead. "You
want the women messing with your hair? Is that it?"
He
closed his eyes, counting to ten. To a hundred would not erase this
embarrassment. "No." When he beheld Six, the man had the
discourtesy to smirk. "Don't look at me in that tone of voice."
The
man chuckled. "We should have cut your hair before we set out."
He rummaged through his kit, which held all Six owned when he'd been
abandoned on this world. Little more than survival gear.
"I
never cut it except in ritual."
"I
know." Six withdrew a boning knife used for it.
Before
every battle, Pietas performed the solemn rite to affirm superior
strength and prowess. The ghost had been the first human to see it
carried out, albeit the first half from a distance while hiding.
Six
stood. "Maybe you could perform it now."
"How
like you to see the easy solution. But there are a few elements
missing. No fire. No water. No mask." He gestured toward the
oncoming storm. "No time."
"Haven't
you ever heard of pretending?"
"One
cannot 'pretend' a ritual."
"What
a boring childhood you must've had. Why not?"
Pietas
opened his mouth to answer. Shut it again.
Six
lifted one eyebrow. "Do you want to go into that dark hole and
meet up with your people without performing it?"
"No,
but there's no time."
"Rain's
coming." Six jerked a thumb toward the forest. "Like I
said, you have to go in there or you won't reunite with your people.
Are you going to stand out here making excuses, or do this?"
"Ghost,
this ritual is important. It deserves respect."
"Blah,
blah, blah. That storm is bearing down on us." A few drops of
rain splattered them both. "See? Or maybe you'd rather have your
sister help you with your hair every morning."
"Fine!"
With a resigned sigh, Pietas capitulated. "How do you propose we
'pretend' my ritual?"
Six
tucked the knife into his belt and held out his cupped hands. "This
is fire."
Pietas
hesitated.
"Come
on, Pi." Six wagged his cupped hands. "This stuff is hot."
"Of
course it is." A smile slipped onto his face and refused to
leave. "It's pretend fire. That's the hottest kind."
"Remember,
you do this naked. Unzip your robe or whatever it is you'd wear."
Pietas
mimed removing his silk robe. He plucked one hair and laid it across
Six's hands, feeding it to the fire. "As fire has victory over
life, so I have victory over my enemies." He passed a hand
through the imaginary flame. As he had in the real ritual, he hissed
at the scorching heat. He cupped his hands over Six's, a symbolic end
to the flames. "I am powerful, as fire is powerful."
"Next
is air, right?"
"Yes."
He lifted both hands, made fists, and yanked them back. "I own
the wind. I prevail over the breath of my enemies."
Again,
Six cupped his hands. "Water."
"Water
submits to my presence the way enemies submit to my will." He
scooped his hands into the bowl, lifted his arms and pictured the
liquid dripping down them.
"The
blood of my enemies trickles into the pool of time, is absorbed, and
forgotten." He bent and pushed both hands through his hair. "My
mind is clear. I do not waver."
Six
held his hands flat, waist high. "The pond."
Pietas
ducked as if to submerse himself, then rose, throwing back his head.
"My body submits to my will. No pain defeats me. No fear touches
me." He brushed his hands down the length of his body. "My
will is absolute. I am bigger than any fear. I prevail in every
circumstance. I face every foe. I vanquish every enemy. I overcome. I
am indomitable. I am invincible."
"Black
face paint for the mask." Six held out his hands.
The
ceremonial mask represented a splash of blood across his face
received during battle. Dipping two fingers of each hand into the
bowl, Pietas outlined a bandit's mask up over his dark eyebrows to
the area beneath his eyes. He brushed his fingertips over his eyelids
and met Six's gaze.
Finding
a mixture of awe and respect threw him out of the moment. He
faltered, unable to recall what came next.
Six
offered the knife hilt first.
The
man had seen the ritual performed once, from a distance, yet he'd
remembered each step. Six wouldn't have known the next part was
performed by Pietas's sister if no trusted partner or friend was at
hand. The time Six had seen it done, Pietas had not yet considered
him either one.
How
wrong he had been. The man was more than both.
Bringer
of Chaos: The Origin of Pietas
The
Sempervian Saga (Book 1)
Why
should Pietas end the war with humans?
His
people are winning, yet they insist on peace talks. The Ultra people
want to grant humans a seat on the Council. Pietas ap Lorectic,
Chancellor of the High Council, War Leader and First Conqueror,
disagrees. What's best for mortals is oppression, control, and if
necessary, elimination.
Pietas
seethes with rage at the idea of human equality. Humans might have
created Ultras, but the creation has far surpassed the creator.
Humans die. Ultras are reborn, no matter how grievous the injury.
They have no equals.
His
people permit him no choice. He must attend these insipid peace talks
on Enderium Six and what's worse, be polite. To humans.
When
a human special ops warrior is killed in battle, he's resurrected in
a secret process and inducted into the Ghost Corps. He's given enough
strength to perma-kill immortal Ultras. Ghosts are the most hated and
feared of warriors.
When
the ghost entraps and captures Pietas at the peace talks, the two
begin a long journey toward Sempervia, an isolated and forgotten
world. Once there, Pietas is marooned and the ghost abandoned
alongside him. The two must either fight to perma-death, or join
forces to survive.
As
Pietas comes to trust the human, an unlikely and awkward friendship
begins.
Until
he discovers how ghosts are resurrected...
Giveaway
- Free Download
Free
-- download Endure, Illustrated Quotes by Pietas (as told to
Kayelle Allen).
Enjoy
an exclusive collection of quotes on the concept of endurance by the
man known to other immortals as the Bringer of Chaos.
Download
a free adult coloring book you can print and share. Relax and color
with friends. It's fun!
https://kayelleallen.com/media/pietas-coloring-book.pdf
Mythic
Heroes and Misbehaving Robots
Kayelle
Allen writes Sci Fi with mythic heroes, misbehaving robots, role
playing immortal gamers, and warriors who purr. She's a US Navy
veteran and has been married so long she's tenured.
Twitter
https://twitter.com/kayelleallen
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4 comments:
Thank you for hosting Bringer of Chaos: Forged in Fire -- it just went up for preorder this week. Woot! :) Exciting!
Looking forward to having you back when the book comes out!
I saw your note in MFRW about this book being like a "birth". I'd love for you to tell us more.
Thank you so much for sharing :)
Lisabet, it was just like a birth. At times I didn't want to let this story go. It wasn't ready. It wasn't fully formed. It wasn't complete in my heart and mind. I wasn't sure it would stand on its own. But I reached a point where I knew I had to let it go and let it fly on its own like a baby bird. It's up for preorder while it's in my final editor's hands. Once I get back all changes from her, it will be really ready to go. Barb Caffrey is an editor I trust. This is my fifth book in her hands and she gets my universe and has the personal strength in her own writing to ensure mine qualifies as excellent. I've trusted her with my babies and she hasn't let me down.
This book is also like a birth in that a brand new part of my story universe is now in existence in this world -- not just my imagination. I'm relieved to have it out there! I think it was Pixar who said their movies weren't released, they escaped. I understand that. A story wants to be told and with this book that is true true true. Pietas is ready for people to know the truth about him and he's chosen me to tell it. Yes I know how crazy that sounds, but if you were writing this character, believe me, you'd be saying the same thing. My immortal king has a lot to say and I'm not through with him yet. Or maybe it's that he is not through with me.
-- Kayelle
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