1: THE TRAGEDY OF GWENLAIS
The young woman’s frantic breathing became faster as she ran through the heavy long grassy field. She nearly tripped on her skirts as they became tangled in the vegetation. The terrifying cries from behind caused her to look back at the horror that was unfolding.
“Run Laurel! Run! Do not stop!” her mother, Queen Milna, screamed at her in desperation.
The last thing she saw before turning back around was a towering dark creature noticing her escape and beginning to take chase. The long bird-like legs carrying it at horrifying speed. She screamed as it drew near and began to close the distance between them. She could hear its labored breathing as it continued its pursuit. She turned once again only to see the creature catching up to her. It shrieked at her in fury as she looked at it. Its enormous crimson eyes filled with hatred, the long pointed ears folded back behind its deer shaped head, with long human-like arms, pumping furiously as it ran. She turned to face forward trying to block the terror that was overtaking her mind, fear pushing her to run faster. At any moment, she would be close enough for her screams for help to be heard, she was almost at the river.
The Sentinel river camp was just over the other side. But too late, she felt its long clawed fingers grab her hair and push her to the ground. She landed with crushing force; she felt blood rush out of her mouth as she bit down on her lower lip. She was unable to move, the pain in her head was excruciating. The creature grabbed her hair once more and threw her over onto her back. It knelt down beside her, making low guttural sounds. It brought its strangely beautiful, but terrifying face closer to hers. It began to speak in an almost musical voice, words she did not understand.
Suddenly and without warning, it then shrieked at her again raising a clawed hand to deliver a final blow. Laurel, unable to scream, closed her eyes waiting for it to come. The blow never reached its intended mark, for in that instant there was the sound of pounding hoof beats, a deafening roar, and the sound of metal ripping through flesh. There was a rasping hiss of a last breath, followed by a heavy thud which shook the ground under her.
Laurel opened her eyes and saw the severed head of the creature only a few inches from her face. She then let out a scream of terror and revulsion, as she struggled to sit up and move away from the hideous sight. In her terror, she was completely unaware of the tall, dark-haired man leaping down from his enormous horse, and coming over to her.
He sheathed his bloody sword and quickly stooped down and gathered her in his arms. He could hear the desperate shouts and screams coming from the village. As the large group on horseback that was with him galloped up, he shouted the order to continue to the village to see what could be done for whoever was there, well knowing there would be more than one of the creatures that had attacked Laurel. They immediately thundered past him, followed by an enormous animal called a Scimitar cat, also known as a Hunter, running with them.
The Treasure of Gwenlais: The Rienfield Chronicles Book 1 Description:
Princess Laurel of Gwenlais, finds herself tragically and quickly thrust into a world of danger, so unlike the idyllic and sheltered life she has known. These dangers from an unknown enemy, also unexpectedly throw her into the arms of Caleb, the warrior Prince of Heathwin, the nearby Kingdom with whom Gwenlais has a tense alliance.
The more refined people of Gwenlais, find their neighbors and protectors of the West necessary, but consider them uncouth and sometimes barbaric. The long and bloody feud between Heathwin, and the mysterious, frightening, and misunderstood, race of beings, called the Rabkins, had finally reached an uneasy truce, by the hard-fought and diligent efforts of Prince Caleb.
This fragile agreement was soon shattered by an attack from outside; that threaten both Kingdoms of Gwenlais and Heathwin. Laurel and Caleb find themselves, not only fighting for the peace and existence of their Kingdoms but fighting for their newfound love that is imperiled at every turn from a nameless enemy, and their own people as well. Laurel follows her calling by beginning her training in the ancient healing arts of the Ollams. She soon finds that her skills may be needed to heal more than just the physical wounds of others, but also the wounds of the heart, long put-upon by the people of both she and Caleb’s Kingdoms, by the mistrust and bigotries of either side.
As they draw closer together, they discover just how far this unknown enemy has gone to tear them apart from within. They must together, find a way to rise above old and long-standing prejudices, and form a much stronger alliance in order to fight against the new enemy from outside of their borders that threatens their very survival.
