A long while back, my friend Matt asked if I would maybe want to contribute to a fantasy anthology he and some other writers were working on. I jumped at the chance. Who wouldn’t? I was only planning a wedding and working on my own novel. Of course I had time!!
Narrator: She, in fact, did not have the time.
But I found it, because that’s what we do, and I’m sure glad I did. Writing a fantasy anthology is no easy task. While the stories are separate and can stand on their own, tiny details weave in and out throughout the entire tale, and it was quite a challenge making sure every single word fell in the right place.
Fast forward a couple years later and that book is now ready to be devoured by any and all who wish to. Enjoy!
The Seven Sceptres is available now on Amazon.
Accura, the goddess of chaos, has begun to unleash her newest plot to send Cetros spiraling into turmoil. Once her brother and sister gods and goddesses learn of her scheme, most bring forth their champions to try and restore order while the others attempt to take advantage of the situation for their own purposes. Will their lack of a cohesive plan only serve to further Accura’s cause and doom Cetros to be forever ruled by chaos? Or will the champions succeed in their quests and allow their world to regain some semblance of normalcy?
This anthology includes seven stories, one for each of the gods and goddesses of Cetros: Chaos, Magic, Death, Plants and Earth, Animals, the Seas, and Weather.
Excerpt from my story, Lira’s Rise:
In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity. The old proverb danced through Prato’s mind as he watched the waves crash to the shore with a fury the likes he had never seen. Prato dug his toes into the sand and wondered what would happen to his home if everything continued to erupt in madness. Every day had been worse than the last on the seas. Twelve months had passed since the Day of Chaos. Prato’s home of Nayun, a small fishing village nestled on an island off the coast of Qyoond, was left fairly unaffected after Accura’s actions. It was only that first day that everything truly went to hell.
Prato closed his eyes and listened to the waves, trying to force the thoughts from his mind as he clenched his fists by his side. It wasn’t until the blood pulsed beneath his fingernails when that horrible day relinquished and buried itself deep within him. He sensed someone watching him and opened his eyes to find a small boy standing before him.
“They’re ready,” he said, a look of apprehension crossing his face when he noticed Prato’s bloody hands. Prato wiped them on his dark robes and glanced down at the boy.
“Thank you, son. Run along now.”
The boy scampered away, not taking a chance to glance back at the unhinged priest by the shore. Prato shifted his eyes to the departing fleet, the boats anchored offshore. His captains stood among the waves, lined up next to four small boats that would carry them out to their waiting ships. He eased himself into the water until the coolness reached his waist. Laying one hand on the vessel closest to him, he closed his eyes and dipped his other bleeding hand into the water. The salt stung the wound, but it was necessary. The captains bowed their heads along with him.
“Lira,” Prato prayed. “Please bless this fleet on their journey. May their catch be bountiful and their bodies returned to us whole.” As he removed his hands and clasped them together, the captain squinted down at him.
“That it, priest?” he asked. “You usually ramble on for at least a good three minutes. Everything okay?”
The priest smiled up at him as genuinely as he could muster. “Of course, Rigaro. I figured I wouldn’t bore you today. The seas are rough. Best get you on your way.”
The captain eyed him up and down. The entire village had noticed the decline in the priest’s demeanor since that fateful day. No one had lost more than he had. “Very well, Prato. As long as it’s enough to please Lira. Thank you for your blessing. We’ll see you in a few days.”
Prato stepped back out of the water and watched as the small fleet set off for their weekly hunt. They would then sell off most of their catch to Qyooniba before returning home. Prato sent up a few additional prayers to Lira, but his heart wasn’t in it. He wasn’t even sure she still listened. Wiping his hands on his robes, he barely grimaced at the pain. He hardly felt anything anymore.
Over at the Matticus Kingdom, you can find more excerpts and author interviews. Be sure to check them out:
02/16/18 – The Seven Sceptres
02/19/18 – Author Interview (Michael Hansen) & Excerpt
02/20/18 – Author Interview (Matthew Blasshill) & Excerpt
02/21/18 – Author Interview (Arden Ruth)
Once I have actual books in hand (::flail::), I plan on doing some giveaways so stay tuned for that. I really hope you enjoy our stories.
Cheers!
~Arden Ruth
Arden Ruth 
It hasn’t been a couple years!
*checks calendar*
Well. Sh&t.
… Totally worth the wait, though.
Good things take time!!
Yeah! What she said!