The Exile was first published in December 2024. This story is set in the world of Crystal Empire.

The Exile

Turquoise, Reign of the Second 994th God Emperor

The gentle rocking of the little wooden rowboat in the lake along with the soft splashing of oars in the water that evening was almost relaxing. It had been two months since escaping the Labyrinth, and tonight was normally the night of the Turning. Nobody was quite sure what to expect this evening, and Mal was just as ignorant as everyone else on this side of the Wall. He rested in between the boat’s first two benches, back against the hull, watching the stars and listening to the lapping of the water. Once, he would have gleefully dozed off in a boat like this, but sleep did not come easy lately.

For your reading pleasure is an early look into an early chapter of The Crystal Empire, my upcoming epic fantasy project. It is a rought draft, and things will likely change between this and the published version.

This chapter is the first from the perspective of our heroine, Demara, and serves as an introduction to world beyond the Wall, a wild edge of the world known as the Fringe.

For your reading pleasure is an early look into an early chapter of The Crystal Empire, my upcoming epic fantasy project. It is a rought draft, and things will likely change between this and the published version.

This chapter server as the prologue, and centers around Tulian, God Emperor of all creation as he dies before he is supposed to.

For your reading pleasure is a look into an early chapter of Spring of Black Flowers.

Chapter 1

The sun had risen well above the horizon by the time the meltwater stream they followed was joined by another, pooling deep enough to splash above their ankles. The white lion of Aldrimar stretched itself across the Henric’s back, his black cloak wrapped tight around him against the morning chill. “How much further?” He muttered to himself. His uncles had woken him well before dawn, and they’d been walking since.