Falling Objects by Jean Carrier
Sergeant Hektor Huxley, permanently scarred by the disastrous operation at Caer Griefheart five years ago, struggles to save the scattered members of his squad. Hailed as a hero for recapturing Hill 422 from the Deathwalkers, he knows none of them deserve the much bandied title of “Hektor’s Heroes.” On this fifth anniversary of the defeat at Caer Griefheart, can he rescue two of his men who are wandering the Deepstrom Plains hunted by the Moonhunters, a troop of fierce mercenaries?
This book constitutes the first episode of Season 1 of Tales of the Undying City, a weekly epic fantasy series also available on Patreon.
Find more from this author on:
Amazon
Smashwords
Author SiteAbout the author:
Jean Carrier has worked in the games industry for almost 25 years, successively as Editor, Game Designer, Producer, Senior Producer, QA Director, and Accounts Manager. Having learned a great deal about storytelling and entertainment from that industry, Jean is now making a big leap into the world of writer with a first offering, “Tales of the Undying City.”
What inspired you to write your book?
I wanted to dive into a fantasy world that was about more than dungeons, dragons, magic swords, cursed rings, and your daddy's dwarves & elves. Why is it that fantasy worlds are exclusively about epic quests and not the impact of magic on the daily (and sometimes ordinary) lives or its inhabitants?
After years of avidly reading the classics of fantasy, I wanted to share my own perspective on how fantasy should be written in the 21st Century.
Here is a short sample from the book:
Hektor stepped to the aft railing and unhooked the safety chain. Everybody knew what that meant—the drop was imminent. The soldiers fell silent.
“It’s dark tonight,” Hektor added, “and the winds are strong. Stay sharp, trust your training and keep an eye out for each other. No heroics. Blake, you got that?”
“Got it, Sarge,” Blake said. He wasn’t smiling anymore. Nobody was.
Hektor pulled two grenades from the ammo strap that crossed his chest and lifted them up for all to see.
“Get your grenades ready. Illumination in the left hand, explosive healing in the right. Don’t hesitate to use them. We have plenty more back at camp. Y’all do this right, this is gonna be a cakewalk.”
While the soldiers followed his instructions, Hektor saw Lieutenant Morwood step out of the forecabin and head his way. His brows were furrowed with concern.
“Everybody line up!” Hektor shouted, his eyes still on the lieutenant. "We’re dropping in a minute.”
Morwood leaned into Hektor’s ear. “Sergeant, a word.”
“Yes, sir.”
They stepped away to stand next to the port-side railing, out of ear shot from the soldiers.
“A message just came in,” Morwood whispered. "Orders are confirmed, the mission is a go. I’m sorry.”
Hektor’s shoulders sagged a little. He caught himself and straightened up.
“Sir, this is a suicide drop.”
“I know,” Morwood said. “We've talked about this.”
“We’re not going to rescue those mages or medics. We’re just going to get slaughtered, that’s it.”
“I know,” Morwood repeated.
Hektor repressed a sneer of disgust. The lieutenant may be just a boy, but he was still his commanding officer.
“What about you, sir? You okay with making this drop anyway?”
Morwood shifted with obvious discomfort, looking for his words. It only took a moment for Hektor to realize the cause of his hesitation. The hot ball of anger he had been suppressing flared up.
“Aw shit, sir, are you serious?”
“There was a message about that too,” Morwood admitted.
“Sir, if you’re not dropping, that’s the message right there.” Hektor was finding it hard to contain his indignation.
“It’s not my call, Sergeant.”
“Sir—” Hektor started. Morwood cut him off with a sharp gesture.
“Sergeant, it’s not my call.”
Hektor held the lieutenant’s gaze for several seconds, searching for cowardice or callousness. He found neither.
“Troops, thirty seconds, get ready!” He shouted the words, his eyes still on Morwood.
“I’m sorry,” the lieutenant said. There was no duplicity in his eyes.
“You could always disobey orders,” Hektor said.
“I know you’re angry…”
“Damn right I’m angry!” Hektor growled. “This is stupid. The stupidest thing."
Morwood nodded “I don’t disagree.”
“Who’s the officer in charge, then?”
“You are.”
Hektor shook his head. “The commissioned officer, sir. I’m a sergeant.”
Morwood shook his head. “They trust you. You’re their best shot. Even if I dropped with you, I’d be useless. We both know that.”
The lieutenant was right, though Hektor found the whole notion ludicrous. Would anyone still trust him if they knew what he’d done? Morwood surprised him, however. Despite his age, he displayed surprising courage and humility. Not that it mattered. Hektor was still furious at him. Who else was there to hate?
“You’ll go far, sir,” he said.
Morwood closed his eyes and nodded. “May the Source guide you.”
Hektor turned from him and headed for the aft railing, where all the soldiers were lined up and ready to jump.
“Yeah,” Hektor muttered to himself. “No one else will.”
Related products
-
Everville: The City of Worms by Roy Huff
College freshman Owen Sage has just started to understand the darkness trying to overtake Everville and the earthly realm. With the help of The Keeper and the Fron army, Owen has managed to buy some time, but new problems have already emerged, new secrets need to be revealed, and the race against time to stop Them from conquering both dimensions has only just begun. The Keeper, Owen Sage, and his friends at Easton Falls University must now battle threats from within. To do it, they must reunite with familiar creatures and join forces with new ones as they navigate their journey to the truth that awaits them in Everville.
-
Dear Abby by Peggy Barnett
“Dear Abby” the letters begin, and Abigail has to answer each and every one with hokey travel advice that promotes her company’s package tours. Sure, she gets to experience a dozen all-inclusive resorts every year, but there’s only so much pina coladas and pool-side hamburgers a girl can stand.
So when a beautiful woman begins to pay Abby more than the standard amount of attention, Abby takes notice. After all, a nice vacation affair is just what she might need to liven up her trip. But then things start to get weird. A creepy black mark has appeared on Abby’s palm, Abby’s new lover is growing unusually possessive, and Abby… Abby can’t seem to be able to have sex enough.
And it is great sex. But it’s also just so weird. And sort of unearthly.
Abby’s lover is named after a goddess, but she couldn’t really be one… could she?
-
The Hidden – Werewolves and Shifters Part 1 by Ethan Sandlow
There was nothing extraordinary about Amanda Burrage’s life. Working in a library by day and helping out at a homeless shelter a few evenings a week was a lonely existence, but it was an existence that would be lost to her forever!. Her life was about to be turned upside down, as she would find herself walking into a into a storm that would open her mind to a world which belonged on the pages of books and and bad horror movies. She was also about to discover that she wasn’t who she thought she was. Thrust into a world of horror and the supernatural, where figures that should have belonged in the world of fantasy and the paranormal, had come to take her to make use of the gifts that she possessed and until now, had been completely oblivious to. The shifters from The Faction had come first, and they would have claimed her if it hadn’t been for the appearance of Fenris Lyall, a tall, dark, and mysterious stranger
-
The Hidden Citadel by DJ Blount
Bromwell, survivor of Middleborough is on the road heading toward Red Vein Valley. In his travels he is joined by Prince Tristan and his sister the beautiful Princess Lily. A joyous gathering is broken up when it is discovered that a band on Orcs devastates a caravan. The Prince in a fury orders a hunt. In the chase that follows sorcery is deployed and a citadel will be discovered.
-
The Grower’s Gift Progeny of Time 1 by Vanna Smythe
In 2102 the Earth is plagued by draughts, floods, and blizzards that come in the middle of summer. The rich and powerful of North America have pulled back into the six remaining megacities, erasing all trace of a central government and leaving the millions displaced by the environmental crisis to fend for themselves in the dying world. But sixteen-year-old Maya is certain she was born with the power to heal the Earth and make it habitable again. The only place she can learn to use her gift is a school, which is run by the ruthless head of the city of Neo York. But the school is only a front for a facility where they will extract Maya’s magic and then discard her. Only Ty, the heir to the city, can keep Maya from being destroyed at the facility. And Ty’s loyalty to his family has never wavered. Will his growing love for Maya be strong enough to save her?
-
Sector 9G by Morris Fenris
In the Southwest England of the near future, an area known to the central European powers in Brussels as ‘Sector 9G’, young IT professional Tim McNamee makes the decision to buy a cyborg bride named Mina. Several years later he tells his story; how his life had gotten to the point where he felt the need to buy a cyborg lover and the ups and downs of having a relationship with an artificially created person who owed her existence to him.
As time goes by, Mina becomes restless and begins to question the nature of her being, a search which leads to an underground religious group known as the ‘Association of God’s Children’. When she leaves her ‘habitation zone’ without permission from CyberG, the company that built her, Tim and Mina’s future together comes under threat.
Soon Mina finds herself caught between Tim, the only love of her short life, and a spiritual search that threatens to reveal more about the nature of her existence than she could possibly imagine. Tim tries to think of Mina as an independent person, but when she begins to claim supernatural powers and with the authorities closing in, will it ask too much of his logical beliefs and sensibilities?
-
The Atlantean Legacy by Paula Bates
The Atlantean Legacy is the story of Akana, a priestess of ancient Atlantis. Filled with the details of her daily life, her friends, and her loves, Akana shares with you a glimpse into the rituals and practices of her people. This tale of young love and ultimate sacrifice examines karmic bonds between lovers and friends, eventually revealing the crucial role Akana comes to play as the mythical island of Atlantis moves to the brink of destruction.
-
Cursed Awakening by Nikki Noffsinger
Ivy Morgan has re-invented herself and is looking forward to the future for the first time, in a very long time. Since fleeing for her life from an overzealous religious cult, she is able to be a modern woman that is gaining her independence; so taking up with a sexy stranger named Nyx is the last thing she needs. Or, is it?
Nyx Wahpeton can’t stop thinking about the young woman he’s met. It couldn’t have come at the worse possible time with the clans meeting and his family wrapped up in a centuries old war that’s nothing short of what horror movies are made from. He’s been a protector of his people and those that reside at the Reservation. There’s betrayal and evil at his front door; but, in his heart he knows Ivy is the one for him. She’s surrounded by secrets that he’s vowed to unlock, as well as her heart. However, can he keep her safe from his own secrets?
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.