The Fifth Star
By Anaris Bell
The land of Valteria, an empire formed in the blood of its former rulers, is on the brink of civil war. Unease grows strong in much of the land, and the Fifth Star rebellion recruits more men and women alike to its ranks each day. However, those with magical talents are sought out by the empire and are taken, willingly or otherwise, to the College of Magi, most never to meet with their families again. With these magi compelled into serving the lords of each city, exerting their control over their most powerful citizens, who will tip the balance of power? Who will free the land of corruption, and bring light to the darkness?
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The Fifth Star - Prologue (1/2) - A Strange Connection
The view from atop the diverse buildings of this city had become a sight Darius indulged frequently since he had been sent to Lothan the year before...
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- 322 reads
The Fifth Star - Prologue (2/2) - A Strange Connection
Harlemont was already gone, presumably having slipped out with his knights in the confusion. Now that the spectacle was over, the crowd began to melt...
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- 233 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 1 (1/2) - Awakening
“Ah, there you are!” Rhin’s eyes felt as if they were weighed down with lead and he struggled for several moments to open them. Wherever he was, the...
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- 296 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 1 (2/2) - Awakening
“You look well,” Rhin remarked as he blushed under her scrutiny. It was only partially a lie; Raven’s age had always been near impossible to discern...
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- 251 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 2 (1/2) - Illusions of Loyalty
The last two weeks had been hellishly busy for Darius, burdened with carrying out one endless assignment after another; on this particularly balmy...
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- 265 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 2 (2/2) - Illusions of Loyalty
The hour had grown exceedingly late by this point, the sky just beginning to take on a hint of the coming sunrise’s colours. With naught else to be...
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- 282 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 3 (1/3) - Secrets Exposed
Sparrow released a sigh as she pulled off the filthy cleaning apron she'd worn all afternoon and hung it on the back of her chamber door. The wooden...
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- 228 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 3 (2/3) - Secrets Exposed
As he shut the door behind himself and Vynn, Dorivan released a tense sigh, the noise level of the brothel itself dropping to a barely audible murmur...
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- 272 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 3 (3/3) - Secrets Exposed
Only a grunt preceded the repetition of the horrid noise, and the door was opened wide for their admittance. Only once the door was shut behind them...
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- 256 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 4 (1/2) - Over Aethribane
The moment Darius emerged from the dark confines of the castle's prison, he severed the connection to his aethris that had been fuelling the...
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The Fifth Star - Chapter 4 (2/2) - Over Aethribane
Sparrow did as he asked, backing away with quickly shuffling feet while the jailor peered over from his seat to see what was going on. Her eyes held...
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- 253 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 5 (1/2) - Broken Vow
If it weren’t for the regular visits of the mage whose name she’d learned was Darius, Sparrow would have had no idea how much time passed in her cell...
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- 359 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 5 (2/2) - Broken Vow
“Hey, now,” Darius crooned, a hand moving to her back and rubbing softly in an effort to comfort her, “it’s going to be okay. Do you want to tell me...
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The Fifth Star - Chapter 6 (1/2) - Out of Time
His preparations were nearly complete. Considering how long Darius had lived in Lothan, the bag laying on his bed containing all he needed to move on...
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- 242 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 6 (2/2) - Out of Time
“What I'm doing,” Darius said slowly, as if explaining the situation to a child, “is freeing myself of you.” He strode casually to the door and used...
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- 254 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 7 (1/2) - Contact
Though Sparrow had never before ridden a horse, she had no choice but to manage the task the best she could with Darius long unconscious in the...
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- 260 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 7 (2/2) - Contact
“You- you're welcome,” she stammered with surprise. She wanted to ask him about that incredible occurrence, and about what she had seen inside of...
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- 221 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 8 (1/2) - In Valteria's Service
Tibori's day had not begun well and as he sat in his war room, his regional advisors clamouring to have their various concerns heard by their emperor...
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- 260 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 8 (2/2) - In Valteria's Service
“Bring him to me, along with Healer Silda. I wish to see what secrets lie in his head,” Tibori commanded. ********** Sparrow's escape from the...
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- 251 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 9 (1/3) - Confrontations
Once Sparrow’s breathing settled into the slow and easy pace that indicated to Darius that she was well entrenched in sleep, he closed his eyes and...
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- 264 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 9 (2/3) - Confrontations
“You want to know so badly?” he said, managing to get his tone contained. He should have anticipated this. When she nodded, he continued. “Fine. Sit...
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- 247 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 9 (3/3) - Confrontations
Of course, Sparrow had known that, but hearing it spoken so bluntly made her heart sink. She let the knowledge wash over her along with all its...
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- 233 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 10 (1/2) - Within
The pair of them had not ridden overlong when Darius once again called a halt. Elowyn, for her part, had spent the entirety of the evening engrossed...
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- 300 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 10 (2/2) - Within
The night was long and uncomfortable. Since their escape the only hours of sleep she’d obtained had been astride a horse, forced by necessity. Now...
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- 225 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 11 (1/1) - A New Mindset
Rhin awoke in a state of disorientation, as he had each night he’d spent in the castle thus far; too many nights of sleeping in tents and unfamiliar...
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- 288 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 12 (1/2) - Separation
Darius cringed in sympathy as he brought the end of his tree branch - serving as a crude practice sword - down upon Elowyn’s tender flesh, then when...
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- 280 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 12 (2/2) - Separation
“Greetings!” the merchant straightened from his relaxed lean against his cart at Darius’s approach, “A fine day, innit?” “Indeed it is,” he replied,...
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- 694 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 13 (1/2) - Displaced
Darius is going to kill you for this, Elowyn berated herself as she darted through the small wood towards the city walls, but despite her half-...
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- 283 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 13 (2/2) - Displaced
It took less force than she’d thought it would. Like when she’d relived that moment from Darius’s memory, hot blood poured over her hand, eliciting a...
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- 246 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 14 (1/1) - Repurposed
The sound of great, choking breaths alerted Darius the moment Elowyn awoke; he released his vice grip on the now-dead guard’s throat and moved toward...
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- 241 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 15 (1/2) - In Ruin
A few weeks earlier… For generations the people of Kierton - most knowingly, some less so - had danced precariously on the edge of a blade, caught...
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- 732 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 15 (2/2) - In Ruin
She read the multiple page letter thrice, holding the papers reverently as she sunk onto the mattress, absorbing it all. Ever since he had left to...
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- 228 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 16 (1/2) - The Hideout
The pair of them had ridden from the early morning onwards. Darius had brooded in silence all day. He was withdrawn and focused; Elowyn knew that he...
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- 790 reads
The Fifth Star - Chapter 16 (2/2) - The Hideout
“It was my hand that wielded the blade that killed my mother,” Darius confessed, much to Elowyn’s surprise, “but it was not me that did it. The magi...
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- 294 reads