The World of Samar Box Set 2 Read online

  The World of Samar

  Box Set: Volume Two

  Volume 3 - 5

  ML Hamilton

  authormlhamilton.net

  The World of Samar Box Set: Volume Two

  © 2019 ML Hamilton, Sacramento, CA

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed by a newspaper, magazine or journal.

  First print

  All Characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  This box set is dedicated to the avid fantasy readers for whom there are never enough pages. May you find hours of entertainment within.

  “I love fantasy; I love imagination - that's the inner child in me.”

  ~ Hannah John-Kamen

  Table of Contents

  THE STAR OF ELDON

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  CHAPTER 39

  CHAPTER 40

  CHAPTER 41

  EPILOGUE

  THE SPIRIT OF ELDON

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  EPILOGUE

  THE SANCTUARY OF ELDON

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  CHAPTER 32

  CHAPTER 33

  CHAPTER 34

  CHAPTER 35

  CHAPTER 36

  CHAPTER 37

  CHAPTER 38

  CHAPTER 39

  CHAPTER 40

  CHAPTER 41

  CHAPTER 42

  EPILOGUE

  THE STAR OF ELDON

  World of Samar: Book Three

  ML Hamilton

  www.authormlhamilton.net

  The Star of Eldon

  Copyright © 2015 M L Hamilton

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed by a newspaper, magazine or journal.

  Second print

  All Characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Dad, this novel is for you. You saw Shara as a real person and felt every trial she went through as if she were your daughter.

  Mom, I would not be the writer I am without your talent and quick eye. Lord, when I think how bad these novels would be without your editing.

  Kyler, Nick, and Jared, I love you dearly, but the thought of your current and future college expenses keeps my fingers typing…frantically.

  And to my readers (how utterly cool to say that), thank you for staying with me on this epic adventure.

  May Eldon’s star shine brightly in your lives.

  Why, then the world’s mine oyster

  Which I with sword will open.

  ~ William Shakespeare

  The Merry Wives of Windsor

  PROLOGUE

  Andoloshian had been Nazar for many years. He was Nazar when Eldon died. He was Nazar when Eldon’s child was born. He was Nazar when Kiameron’s unlikely half-blood son defeated Erram. And he was Nazar when Eldon’s son had gone missing nine years ago.

  He was old enough and powerful enough to feel the shifts of history as they happened. He felt them right now. It made concentrating on his fellow council elders difficult. Especially when some of them could literally bore a man to death.

  He knew his thoughts were very unNazarien-like at times, but it didn’t concern him much. He’d been Nazarien before there was an order. He’d designed the religion himself. And he never outwardly let the precepts die. What he thought inside was his business and his business alone.

  Yado was droning on about the newest apprentices and their various accomplishments. He was the language master, teaching them more languages than any one person would ever use. After Yado, Cyrus would begin his litany. Cyrus’ report usually proved more interesting because he was a cruel man who inflicted unnecessary pain whenever possible. Even so, he made Andoloshian uncomfortable. It wasn’t that Andoloshian objected to physical punishment, he just worried that Cyrus might go too far one of these times, causing real damage to one of the apprentices.

  The Nazar braced his chin on his hand and allowed his thoughts to wander. Eldon-knew, one could only listen to the various conjugations of verbs for so long. His thoughts returned to the strange feeling growing inside of him. Something was about to happen. History was about to make a shift.

  Man thought of history in terms of a time-line, but Andoloshian viewed it differently. It was more of a spiral, circling back on itself, yet always advancing forward. Some advancements were not positive – Gava and Erram being prime examples, but some were surprisingly good – the power Tasamer Haldane possessed despite his half-Human ancestry. The Nazar could not sense which of these two categories this new shift would fall within, but it didn’t matter. Trying to stop the turns of history was like trying to own the sun…impossible.

  Therefore, it came as no surprise when the sentry threw open the council doors and stumbled into the center of the room. Behind him Andoloshian could see a host of apprentices and acolytes, peering into the council chamber and muttering anxiously amongst themselves.

  The council elders had all stopped talking and were staring at the sentry in shock. No one interrupted when council was in session.

  “What is the meaning of this, Sentry!” demanded Yado. He didn’t like his report to be abbreviated in the least little bit.

  The sentry was panting and his eyes were wild. “Forgive the disruption, Elders,” he said, making an awkward obeisance. He turned his attention to Andoloshian. “My lord Nazar, you will never guess who just arrived in Chernow, seeking audience with you.”

  Andoloshian had straightened in his chair, his hands gripping the arms. There was only one person who would cause such a stir among the stoic Nazarien. Even now the number of apprentices and acolytes milling about the outer chambers had grown. He tamped down on his own inner excitement and schooled his features well.

  “Riddles are not much welcome in council, Sentry. Speak plainly and do so at once,” he said sternly.

  The sentry blanched and made another awkward attempt at a bow. He opened his mouth to answer, but the sound from the outer chambers had grown to a cacophony of excited murmuring.

  Andoloshian narrowed his eyes and stared through the door. The apprentices were parting like a wave, and striding through the center of them was a young man. He strolled boldly into the council chamber and stopped beside the sentry. The sentry himself took a few steps away, staring at the younger man as if he’d never seen anyone like him before.

  The Nazar had to admit that the newcomer was exceptional. He wasn’t overly tall, but beyond that one minor flaw, his physical appearance was a study in perfection.
He had thick, ebony black hair that framed a face of masculine beauty. His shoulders were broad, his hips narrow, his limbs (for all of his compact height) long and shapely. His gaze passed over each of the elders in turn and came to rest finally on Andoloshian where he sat in the middle of the room. Those eyes were the most brilliant shade of blue Andoloshian had ever seen, bluer even than the mid-summer’s sky at noon. Long black lashes and a dark complexion made them seem even more brilliant, almost aglow with an inner light.

  Andoloshian sucked in a breath and held it. He could feel power radiating from the young man. His hands tightened on the chair arms and for a moment, he couldn’t speak.

  The blue-eyed gaze was locked on the Nazar as the young man took another step into the room. “I need to speak with you, Nazar.”

  Andoloshian’s breath left his lungs in a gasp. There was no hint of doubt in the young man’s expression. The other elders had begun to mutter amongst themselves and Yado touched the Nazar’s arm, recalling him to the moment.

  “You have interrupted the High Council of Chernow,” Andoloshian said, although his voice lacked the authority it usually held.

  A hint of amusement crossed the perfect features of the young man. “Obviously. I couldn’t wait to be polite.” He motioned behind him to the crowd of staring apprentices. “I have come a long way to seek your help.”

  “Our help?”

  The blue eyes narrowed slightly. “I have power, Stravad power. I wish to learn how to control it. I have been told that you are the only ones who can teach me.”

  Power? Eldon’s star, Andoloshian could feel just the fringe of that power!

  “My name is…”

  Andoloshian held up a hand. He had to take control away from this invader or lose every bit of authority he’d ever possessed. It was as instinctual a feeling as he’d ever had. “The untrained that have not proven themselves do not have names. You must earn your designation.”

  One ebony brow quirked upward and amusement flickered in the blue eyes. “Are you saying you’ll train me?”

  Andoloshian’s hands trembled, but he forced his features to betray none of his excitement. “I have promised nothing. Nazarien usually begin training at a very young age. You have seen how many years?”

  The young man did smile then. It was a spectacular sight. If his face was beautiful before, it was stunning when lit by his smile. “Nineteen and well you know it.”

  The elders were murmuring, the apprentices were not even trying to control their volume. Voices and sound echoed around the inner walls of the cave, creating a disturbing hum. Andoloshian raised his hand for silence.

  “Nineteen is very old to begin training.”

  “That isn’t what I asked you. Your response need be no more complicated than a yes or a no.”

  The Nazar was struck by the young man’s accent. It was a combination of the common tongue and a more cultured tone that he couldn’t quite identify. It was unique and it was just one thing that would have to be trained out of him if he ever wanted to become Nazarien.

  “In truth, it is more complicated than you can imagine. Tell me, have you been trained at all?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Any formal education?” piped up Yado.

  “Not a bit.”

  Andoloshian tried to ease his death-grip on the chair. “Where have you lived?”

  The young man’s chin rose a measure and his eyes gleamed. “On the streets for the most part, doing anything to survive.”

  The mutterings rose to outright exclamations of surprise. Andoloshian was so shocked, he couldn’t answer. He held up a hand again, calling for silence. It settled to a seething froth of excitement and anxiety. The young man waited, his eyes fixed on Andoloshian’s face. He was the picture of calm stoicism, but Andoloshian knew better. He could feel the hum of the young man’s power.

  “Our ways are not easily adaptable. This is why we begin very young. I’m not sure you’d be able to adapt.”

  “I will adapt,” came the answer.

  “Why? Why now after all this time? Why didn’t you seek our help before this?”

  There was a slight crack in the polished façade. “My power has grown with the years. I do not wish to lose control of it.”

  Again the exclamations and flurry of talk. Andoloshian waited for it to subside on its own. “You would need to be tested,” he continued. “Both academically and psychokinetically.”

  “I am willing.”

  “And you would be forced to abide by our laws and the tenets of our faith.”

  “I am a quick study,” the young man answered with no hint of conceit.

  Andoloshian didn’t doubt it. The intelligence shining from those blue eyes was unmistakable. He reached for his water glass and lifted it to his lips, taking a sip. He was dismayed to see his hand trembling so badly, especially with every eye in the room focused on him – most especially with those calculating blue eyes fixed on him.

  The light in the council chamber was muted. It was provided by recesses carved into the cave walls and filled with oil. The light danced and played in its stone niche, falling on the long council table and the center arena with a benevolent yellow glow. It bathed the young man, caressing him.

  Without any warning, Andoloshian flung the contents of his glass at the young man. He was standing close enough to take the full impact in his face, but before the water struck, it slammed into an invisible barrier and fell, pattering on the stone floor of the chamber, each droplet glittering in the light from the lanterns.

  The elders and the apprentices gasped. The young man gave no expression away, but the Nazar had caught the minute narrowing of his eyes as the water flew towards him. Silence reigned a moment later, until Yado broke it.

  “I’m thinking of a num…”

  “Five,” answered the young man coolly.

  Yado’s mouth fell open, but he recovered quickly enough. “I’m thinking of a col…”

  “Red,” said the young man with a slow smile.

  Yado’s mouth did fall open then. So did a number of the elders’. The apprentices were smiling and laughing amongst themselves. It was up to the Nazar to restore the balance of power in this room.

  “Your arrogance shows your lack of training,” he scolded.

  The young man’s gaze shifted back to him and he cocked his head with a shrug.

  Andoloshian reached for his empty glass, then extended it outward in the palm of his hand. “Use your psychokinetic power and bring the glass to you.”

  The blue eyes narrowed slightly again. Then the glass shot from the Nazar’s hand and into the right hand of the younger man as he lifted it into the air. The whole thing happened so fast, Andoloshian hadn’t marked the movement. With a cunning smile, the young man extended his own hand, balancing the glass on his palm.

  “But perhaps you wanted me to go more slowly,” he said.

  The glass gradually lifted into the air and drifted nonchalantly toward the end of the council table where Cyrus was sitting. He reared back as it passed in front of him, eyeing it with alarm. The glass hovered for a moment, then lowered to rest on the table before the elder. No one spoke, no one made a single noise, but energy hummed throughout the room.

  The young man met the Nazar’s look again and a smile played about his lips. Andoloshian kept his gaze locked on the newcomer, but he sent a psychic message to a guard standing at the periphery of the room.

  Without warning, the guard ripped his sword free of its sheath and charged at the young man. He crossed three-fourths of the floor before he convulsed in the air and dropped the sword. The metal blade rang against the stones and the guard fell to his knees, grabbing the middle of his chest. He began to gasp and gag. The elders surged to their feet in alarm and the apprentices spilled through the doorway into the room.

  The young man shot a look down on the guard, then returned his attention to the Nazar. “Ah, now here we come to the problem. If I had been angry, he’d be dead right now and if I but thought the thought, he’d die in the next instant.”

  “Release him!” demanded the Nazar.

  The guard sprawled forward, sucking in a great lung-full of air and massaging his chest with his left hand. The young man moved further into the room.

  “Perhaps you might tell me how many more tests you require? Remember, the longer you delay, the older I become and I’m guessing the harder to control. Do we have an agreement?”