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Fantasy, Reviews

Reflections of Lilje Damselfly by Natalie Kelda

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Reflections of Lilje Damselfly by Natalie Kelda

A review by INFAMOUS🩀

 

What first earned my interest for this novel was the cover. This is perhaps one of the most gorgeous book covers I’ve seen in quite some time and it was drawn by hand – not AI – by the author herself, who told me she practiced for three years to draw like this. Absolutely beautiful cover, in my humble opinion. It immediately sets the mood for something with an ancient background, something legendary we are about to dive into.

Is the story just as mesmerizing as the cover is? Good question, and the answer is ‘Yes
 for the most part’.

PLOT:

The story is set in (early?) 20th century England and centers around a real-life water nymph, Lilje, who has lived for many centuries in a forest pond, in perfect harmony with her surroundings, along with her father, also a nymph. Things escalate when she is taken against her will by a team of humans led by a woman named Victoria. Trapped like a fish and transported into a cistern on wheels carried by horses, Lilje is frightened at first, later confused about this whole affair until she finds out that her father is collaborating with Victoria. You see, Lilje – though immortal – has been feeling increasingly ill with unexplainable aches and pains. This woman, Victoria, thinks she knows a cure, but it involves treatment at her own spa miles away from Lilje’s forest pond. Lilje quickly finds out that her father and Victoria have been acquainted for quite some time, in fact they’ve had a relationship beyond the platonic.

Lilje’s time at the spa turns out to be not what readers may expect. Will the treatment offered by Victoria heal the nymph of her ailments? You will have to read the book to find out!

WHERE THE STORY SHINES:

I can tell you with confidence that the strongest element of this story, what makes this book so compelling, is the way the author conceptualized and put together the essence of ‘what it is to be a water nymph’. Lilje is not just some pretty girl swimming in water. The attention to details regarding what a nymph would be like, look like, act like, what she would think and feel, is where RoLD truly shines. The nymph doesn’t just live in water, rather, she has a symbiotic relationship with water itself and with all life that spurts out and around the pond. It is a thing of beauty reading how her life in the pond is a true perfect ecosystem, in a sense; a harmonious environment where Lilje is linked to water at a molecular level, even. Water is life to Lilje. Water nurtures her, keeps her radiant and immortal; but water is also her best friend. She can communicate with all flora and fauna in and around the pond: fish, insects, plants, flowers. Lilje is described as something that is more than human, one with her elements, and these descriptions are so vivid, readers won’t be able to stop flipping pages.

NEGATIVES:

I know this might divide some people but I don’t care (there’s a reason why I’m called INFAMOUS!). There were elements in the story that I felt were out of place and even annoying, most of the time. Specifically, Lilje’s sapphic relationship with one of the inn maids, Mel. I find the whole LGBTQ-whatever thing very tiring at this point in time. The story could avail of true friendship development without having to get ‘sensual’, necessarily. This reminds me of the overall trend we’re seeing in modern fantasy, whereas two characters of the same sex are seldom portrayed as just very good friends – like Frodo and Sam in Lord of Rings, for example. In a lot of modern fiction, it seems as though if two same-sex characters think of one another, care for one another, would give their lives for one another, then the relationship inevitably MUST be sexualized at some point and to some degree.

The truth is that Lilje and Mel could have become very good friends without the unnecessary sexual tension and the story would have gained an additional layer of depth, in actuality. This is just my opinion – love it or hate it.

CONCLUSIONS:

RoLD is a well written novel with elements that go from outstanding and exciting (the nymph’s life at the pond) to tiring and cringe (lesbian relationship). The description of the forest pond and the life it cradles is the peak of the book. The concept of what a water nymph would look like, how she would operate, think, and feel, was so well crafted I had to stop reading a couple of times to say to myself: “Wow, this is how you portray a nymph! Good job!”.

The relationship between Lilje and the pure element of water is what makes this book relevant. If anything, I wished the story had been more about exploring that side of it than Lilje’s infatuation with Mel.

If you want to read one of the best portrayals of a water nymph, this book might be for you. The struggles she goes through, as she finds out the reason why she keeps getting increasingly ill, will touch a lot of hearts, as it did mine. In the end, this story deals with the human struggle against mortality, and how different people will deal with it, truly.

(Reflections of Lilje Damselfly will release on June 23, 2025)

🩀

Fantasy, Sneak Peek/Sample Chapters

SAFREN (Alpha Agogex) Episode 2

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Editor’s Note:  The Infamous Gio is sharing Part 2 of his companion story to the fiction in the developing Agogex canon.

Even though SAFREN: Alpha Agogex belongs to the same fantasy universe written under the pseudonym of Abigail Lakewood, the direction Gio decided to take this concept was quite different from the other stories.

Author’s Note: Welcome to Episode 2 of Safren: Alpha Agogex. If you made it even this far, a big ‘Thank You’ goes without saying.

By now some of you might have caught up with the whole creative drive behind this story. Even though this belongs to the same universe as the rest of the INFAMOUS stories I am writing, respecting both lore and continuity, it takes up a personality of its own, mixing fantasy with adult sense of humor—plus plenty of action.

In my opinion there is no other MC quite like Safren out there, not just because she is essentially a villain but because of all the big and small peculiarities that make her who she is. If you think you’ll be reading about the next ‘strong independent woman’ you might be somewhat disappointed!

In episode 2, I wanted to push the envelope—and please be advised this content is NOT suited for children. We deal with a good deal of nakedness, primarily because our MC and her team members must use an ‘invisible cream’ that only works on their naked bodies; violence; blood-lust. However you will never see any F bombs or S  bombs being dropped, oddly enough.

There will be action, romance, betrayal, impalings, eye gouging, and the body count will rise exponentially as we keep flipping pages.

This new adventure was so BIG that I had to split it into two parts. Here, you will read part 1 of Stealth Mode in its entirety.

Hope you enjoy and will stick around,

INFAMOUS🩀

SAFREN

Alpha Agogex

Stealth Mode

(Part 1)

 

Introduction

Each young Agogex picks up a practice wooden weapon from the long table set up on the training field. Excitement can be felt in the air as they get to learn Flying Dragon with actual weapons-though only wooden practice ones. Two full hours are spent by Agogex trainers on teaching the young Agogex how to handle their weapons, how to stand, and how to parry. Moves and countermoves are demonstrated. The young students are like sponges sucking in every bit of information and putting it into practice. 

Safren immediately stands out for her dexterity and ability, mastering her weapon and the art of the Flying Dragon so fast she needs to spar with older and more experienced Agogex and sometimes even with some of the Agogex trainers.

We were 10 years old at the time we started training with weapons, but what the others didn’t know, and what gave me such a net advantage during practice and sparring sessions, was the fact that I had already mastered solid combat skills by training with Father at home, before I was even transferred to Holy Camps permanently.

Did I ever tell the others about it? Oh no. It was none of their business anyway. All they needed to know was that I was better than all of them!

My name is Agogex Safren, daughter of the legendary Carrialan warrior Mouslenix Dottir. I come from a family of military leaders going back generations—to the times before the last Holy War, when giants still roamed among us. I was born to lead and bred to conquer… and to kill.

I am the ALPHA AGOGEX

Stealth Mode

(Part 1)

1

It’s freakin’ cold in Carriala City at five o’clock in the morning, in the winter. Or so it seems. I’m not cold. Never am. I carry enough lean muscle mass on my frame, and my resting metabolic rate is so high, I would have to soak in ice water to start getting any real sense of cold. But looking around me in the Holy Camp, I can see that all the Carrialan soldiers are freezing; and even some of the smaller Agogex, to be honest.

I see some of the usual suspects, some of whom were in my class when I first got transferred to camp at the age of 7.

Having my parents reside not even three miles away from camp, and having a legendary Carrialan warrior and general as father, didn’t hurt either. When most ‘divinely chosen ones’ had to spend long weekends within the depressing walls of the camp’s facilities, I was hanging out with my parents at home, eating more food than 6 adult humans combined, and learning advanced fighting techniques from Dad.

Mother always loved to read to me, so I have deep knowledge of our history and heritage. Mom is particularly proud of her giant lineage and I slowly learned what traits I might have inherited from my ancestor, the legendary she-giant Safren. Why is Mom so proud of her giant heritage? To be honest, all giants did was destroy and pillage everything in sight and, oh yea, eat humans.

At first I thought there was really nothing within me of my giant descendance. Or in Mom. Sure, we are naturally big and strong women both, but far from being giants; and sure as hell we don’t eat people! But my mom swears, based on paintings and drawings of Safren, that both of us look a lot like her. Particularly when it comes to our strong square jaws. Over time, I found out that my bone density is like that of giant’s too, as my bones are as hard as steel.

“AGOGÉ! COME—FORWARD!”

That would be Agogex Captain Sorraya. She is considered hot stuff because she’s been in several victorious tours, including some with Master General Megax herself at the lead. Please, don’t get me started on Meg. One day I will have to smash her face and steal that purple streak from her.

“We have 4 AgogĂ© and 500 Carrialan soldiers who will join this campaign. This, very important campaign. Our troops being killed in the East and too weak to keep defending borders alone. We go help!

I need AgogĂ© Safren, Turma, and Karlin, right here! Now!” Sorraya orders.

The three of us come forward. I remember Turma. She is good. Big. Strong. She likes to see her enemies squirm, has field experience, and you can count on her to watch your back, to a point. I’m not too familiar with Karlin. I’ve seen her in camp before, but I’ve never actually spoken to her. Karlin has this pretty face like a natural woman (is that light makeup she’s wearing?) and she seems to even act kinda feminine for an Agogex, swaying her hips when she walks like natural women do.

“You three have been selected for secret mission! Mission will be explained once we reach trenches! It is most secretive, and only I and Patrarchons know about it! Safren will be second in command. If mission fails and we enter open battle with barbarians, you take orders from Safren,  if I get killed or captured!”

Of course I am second in command. I am ALWAYS second in command! And you tell me I shouldn’t be pissed? Puh-lease.

“I, AgogĂ© Safren, divinely selected at birth by the gods. Forged in body and spirit by the Patrarchons.” As I speak the words, I thump my chest with my fist while nodding my head in agreement.

“Remember, this mission is good opportunity to prove yourself and get promotion. You want to be AgogĂ© captain? Accomplish mission and you be captain!” Captain Sorraya concludes.

After exchanging a few words with the other Agogex, we mobilize our troops and head off. The East awaits.

2

The march to the Eastern front is always long and tedious. Carrialan armies don’t make use of horses, so we’re always on foot. We have with us a few wheeled carts pulled by donkeys, loaded with weapons, foods and supplies not only for us but to refuel the depleted troops fighting at the borders. Our Carrialan soldiers are in charge of the carts.

We can only push the pace so much, since the limited endurance of the men is to be accounted for, but I can see how Captain Sorraya is really pushing us to make time.

Myself and Turma coordinate our moving troops and schedule some breaks so that the men can rest. We understand that, though Agogex may have nearly infinite endurance, these men can’t just walk all day, particularly when wearing battle gear and weapons.

Carrialan soldiers. If you think marching with 500 men could be problematic, you are obviously forgetting that at the head of this army we don’t have four women, but four Agogex. Our men fear us and respect us, so they follow orders. Do we catch some of them gazing once in a while, particularly with some Agogex like Karlin, who wear light makeup and shake their butts when walking? Sure. But no-one cares, really, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of their duties as soldiers of the Carrialan army.

If anything, most of them won’t even look us in the eyes when we address them or order them around. And yes, we call them ‘goats’, but only among us Agogex. Not to their faces, unless they piss us off, that is.

“Hand me some,” I say to Turma, pointing at the satchel of dry meat she is carrying. I gotta eat and can’t wait for our next stop to grab some food. Turma was smart to carry dry meat on her so she could constantly snack on our trip. Turma is the second biggest Agogex in our group after yours truly, so it’s no surprise that her appetite may rival even mine. She is the younger sister of Captain Oxilia, one of the highest ranked captains and a decorated war hero who has fought side by side with Master General Megax on numerous tours. Imagine two parents finding out their first daughter is among the ‘divinely selected’ baby girls, and then later on being told that their second daughter too was ‘divinely selected’ as well! They’re probably the happiest and proudest parents in Carriala.

“Here!” Turma hands me a handful of dry meat. “But no more, Safren. Go to carts back over there if you want more food.”

I should punch her for talking to me that way, but she is strong, and we need her.

“How Oxilia?” I ask, just to make conversation.

“Sista good. She leads own army now. She inspire me.”

Turma and Oxilia are almost identical, other than perhaps Turma being younger and smaller in size. Both sisters are characterized by very shiny black skin, their curly hair always shaved in a crew-cut style.

They both wear the same leather collar around their massive necks; a family loom of some sort?

I ask. “Leather collar you and sister wear, family thing?”

Turma touches her leather collar with her hand. “This, symbol of Tikuren warriors. My family comes from Tikuren line. Many generations of shiny black-skinned warriors from southwestern region.”

That would explain the remarkable military career of sister Oxilia and now of sister Turma. These two had warrior blood flowing in them before they even became Agogex. I’m glad to have Turma as an ally today. But tomorrow? Well, tomorrow is another day.

The following day, we make another pit stop and I realize I really have to relieve myself. I need to find a bush to do my business behind, and quick! Hey, do not laugh! I need to squat down like a natural girl due to my female anatomy, can’t help that. And I hide behind a bush because of the men. We learned that in training. You don’t want to ‘distract’ the soldiers. The other factor is the Agogex mystical scent, particularly mine which is stronger than the average Agogex. I pick a bush that is a good distance away from camp. As I’m relieving myself, not too far off from my location, I see Turma and Karlin walking behind a bush of their own to do their business.

I hear them chatting and I hear Karlin even laughing while they are soiling the grassy field. Obviously Karlin doesn’t seem too concerned with what awaits us ahead as this is her first tour. The truth is that no Agogex comes  back the same from a tour out East, if they come back at all. As I’m standing here (well, not exactly standing, since I’m squatting down to pee), I think of my first tour, and how, to an extent, I too was not quite prepared for any of that. I was kind of naive to the hell we had to plunge ourselves into, for the good of Carriala.

When I’m finally finished, I wait another few seconds before standing up and pulling up my trousers. Tailor-made trousers, I might add, specifically made to accommodate my ‘tree trunk’ legs, since standard-cut trousers never fit, or end up ripping, unequivocally, every time. When I’m off duty at my parents’ I can just wear what I call my ‘cozy shorts’. These are very short shorts that are very light and soft and let my legs ‘breathe’. I could never ever wear my cozy shorts anywhere but at home since they would call too much attention out in public. I wonder what type of trousers my giant ancestors used to wear. They must have had even bigger wardrobe issues than I.

When I return to my post I see Captain Sorraya already signaling everybody to pack up and move out. They really need us at the front ASAP, it seems. I instruct the men to the rear to get the wheeled carts ready to go. Only 6 hours away from our destination and from smashing some barbarian skulls.

3

Hours later. We’re at the end of another rest stop during which we are able to eat and even sleep. As we’re getting ready to move out, I approach the rear and I notice the soldiers have attempted to kindle a small fire to stay warm. When I see it, I kick the fire to put it out and shout: “You goats forbidden to make fire without asking!”

One of the soldiers approaches me. Gotta give him credit for his display of bravery.

“Permission to speak, Master Agogex Safren,” he says humbly, his eyes pointing down.

“Speak, goat!”

I know, I know. We’re not supposed to call our soldiers goats, but they piss me off when they do stuff without asking for permission.

“My name is Private Carpiax, Master Agogex Safren. My deep apologies for starting that fire, for it was I who did. But we asked Master Agogex Turma if we could light a fire to keep warm on two previous rest stops, and both times she declined for no specific reason. I respectfully remind you, it is in the ‘manual of war and conduct’ that all Carrialan soldiers must be granted certain basic necessities due to our human frailty. We tire, we get hungry, and in the winter months, we get cold.”

I ponder the words I hear from Private Carpiax. Not sure whether his initiative to start a fire was very brave or very stupid now. Then, after some consideration, I proceed to say to him: “Wait here, Private Carpiax,” and I stroll straight to where Turma is at to get this thing resolved. I walk up to Turma and grab her by the collar forcefully, while I ask her: “You decline request for making fire to men, Turma?”

Turma grabs my wrists and yanks herself free from my grasp. She’s strong!

“I did! What is to you, Safren? Now you care about goats?” She answers in a loud voice.

The other Agogex, including Captain Sorraya, gather around upon hearing yelling. They separate us.

“Explain yourself!” Sorraya asks both of us.

Instead of saying anything, I go get the ‘manual of war and conduct’ booklet from amongst my things and toss it at Turma.

“Turma break rules!” I shout.

In the meantime, I notice that all the loud Agogex verbal exchanges have gotten the attention of the soldiers. They’re probably amused by the whole scene. A nice break from the monotony of long days of marching, I’m sure.

“You told us we need to move fast, AgogĂ© Captain! Fires slow us down! Men complain too much!” Turma defends her case as best as she can.

“AgogĂ© Turma! We not deny food, rest, or fire in winter time to Carrialan g
 to Carrialan men! It is in manual, you know it! 20 lashes when we go home! For now, we forget about this and think of mission!”

20 lashes when we go home? Our Captain is being way too gentle on Turma. I guess having a highly decorated captain as one’s sister pays off. My father is a legendary warrior but that never spared me at least 50 lashes or a good old beating from my superiors, and for way smaller transgressions.

As we get ready to resume our march, I see Private Carpiax with some of the other men not too far off. I approach him and say to him: “AgogĂ© Turma will receive just punishment. Next time you want fire, Private Carpiax, ask me.”

“We all heard that, Master Agogex Safren, and we thank you,” he says to me in a very cordial tone while smiling, which sends this fuzzy feeling—like warm waves—right through me, for some strange reason.

“AgogĂ© not get tired and cold like men, so Turma forgets, maybe,” I say to him to break this awkwardness or whatever it is I’m feeling.

“Permission to speak, Master Agogex Safren?”

I nod.

“We, men, fight and put our lives on the line just like mighty Agogex, but we are treated like dogs—no, worse than dogs. We are almost invisible to you and your kind. Yet we are the first on the front lines to spill our blood for Carriala. Master Agogex Turma denied us the warmth of fire because she thought us too small and insignificant for others to even notice, or for other Agogex to go out of their ways to abide by the ‘manual of war and conduct’.  These men are too scared to walk up to you with the manual and make a case for themselves. But it gets to the point where some of us
 some of us get fed up and just decide to make a fire, hoping Agogex will not notice.”

I wasn’t expecting that from a small Carrialan soldier. They are indeed the first to die on the front lines, that’s a fact, but nobody ever sings any songs about them.

“You, brave and honest soldier, Private Carpiax. I make sure you and other men are fed and stay warm from now on. If we meet on battlefield, I fight by you!” And as I say so I thump my chest with my fist. He bows to me with a smile and again, that same funny feeling—the warm waves—that just came to me a few minutes ago, repeats itself, only even more intense now. I stand there in awkward silence for what feels like a good five minutes to me (but I’m sure it is only for a few seconds) before finally, somehow, I manage to regain my composure and turn around to go rejoin my group.

As I walk (still sort of baffled at what just happened to me back there, while speaking with Private Carpiax), I can see Turma with the other Agogex and she gives me the coldest ‘Agogex’ look. You won’t know that look until you see it. It’s the look that basically says ‘You crossed me and now I’m gonna screw you over when you least expect it’.

I would be concerned if this was the first time I found myself in this type of situation but I have a tendency to ‘make friends’ with other Agogex. When you are the Alpha Agogex, you must have eyes in the back of your head, cause your allies might want you just as dead as your foes do. I could rely more on Private Carpiax than on my Agogex colleagues, at this point.

We march for a few hours. I’m getting hungry, but I won’t ask Turma for some of her dry meat again. I’d rather walk to the back of the line where the wheeled carts are carrying our food. Maybe I’ll see Private Carpiax again and get to talk to him some more.

4

One week later, and we reach our destination, bordering with the vast isolation of the Eastern tundras of Boulukavitz. We are met by Captain Anessa, who has been in charge of the Carrialan lines of defense now for several months. She explains to us how they have suffered major losses and how now they are even running out of food. “Barbaric hordes do surprise attacks, kill some, then retreat. They pick us apart little by little.” Anessa explains.

“We lost many men and some AgogĂ©. Just yesterday we lost AgogĂ© Lysara and Tynne. These savages set traps to isolate troops in small groups and isolate AgogĂ© like a wall surrounding on all sides,” Anessa continues. “No matter how strong, how skilled, when they isolate AgogĂ©, it’s like a wave crashing down from all sides. AgogĂ© cannot defend.”

Captain Sorraya at this point chimes in. “We have plan. If plan not work, we stay here with you and fight to death. But if plan work, we win, and no need to fight to death,” she explains.

At this point all eyes are on Sorraya, including those of the Carrialan men. She pulls out a jar from a satchel she’s been carrying the whole time, now that I notice. The jar has no label but it seems to contain a creamy substance, opaque in color.

“This, how we win!” Sorraya holds the jar up high so that we can all take a good look. “This, magic from Patrarchons. Patrarchons show me how it works and they say: this, how we win!”

“How we use magic cream to kill barbarians?” I ask

“This no cream, AgogĂ© Safren. This, invisible wax,” answers Sorraya.

“It only works on AgogĂ© body. Skin, hair, everything. You rub on 8 points of contact like Patrarchons show me, and AgogĂ© invisible for short time. We need three AgogĂ© to volunteer.”

So this is ‘the great plan’. Relying on some magic goop concocted by the Patrarchons with very limited testing, to make three of us temporarily invisible (and I must stress ‘temporarily’ since not even the Patrarchons were able to give Captain Sorraya an estimated duration time of its effects) to sneak into enemy lines and murder the chief of the barbaric hordes before their next organized attack. Really!

“Chief Luftax leads barbarian troops and he the one who knows how to set up traps to kill Carrialan men and AgogĂ©. If we kill him, barbarians left without leader, and they flee, for sure,” Captain Anessa explains while drawing the enemy camp and our camp in the dirt with her hands, to show us where the tent of Chief Luftax is located from our position.

“I go,” Turma says as she comes forward.

“Good, AgogĂ© Turma. AgogĂ© General Oxilia will be proud of you,” nods Captain Sorraya. “I too go, for I Captain, and Captain always go to special mission,” Sorraya adds.

“I too go,” I say, and come forward.

“You cannot go, AgogĂ© Safren. You, second in command. If I perish, you need to lead army for me,” Sorraya objects.

For those of you who don’t understand how this works, you don’t get promoted to captain by simply responding to the call of duty. You have to prove yourself above and beyond the call of duty. Turma understands that, and that is why she was the first one to volunteer. Her sister has been a great role model and a teacher to her. She understands how the game works. If I want a chance at getting my promotion, I must be included in this mission and have my name praised by the people of Carriala.

“AgogĂ© Captain Sorraya, mission needs big, strong AgogĂ© to keep barbarians off you and AgogĂ© Turma, if magic cream not work very long,” I say, to convince the captain.

“It no magic cream, AgogĂ© Safren, it magic wax,” Sorraya corrects me, “but I understand why you want to go. You ambitious. Yes,  true, you are biggest and strongest AgogĂ©, so you go, I stay. And AgogĂ© Karlin go with you to gain experience.”

Karlin comes forward, she recites her Agogex creed, thumps her chest with her fist, and nods in agreement with Captain Sorraya.

Karlin? What is she going to do? Bend over to keep the barbarians distracted while we assassinate their leader? What a mess!

Having settled on the three volunteers—actually two volunteers since Karlin was handpicked by Captain Sorraya—we are now ready for an actual demonstration of the magic cream—excuse me! Magic WAX!

“Magic wax only works on AgogĂ© body, so you three must take off all clothes,” Sorraya tells us. “That also means you cannot carry weapons with you, either,” she adds.

Wait a minute now, so the secret mission consists in sending three naked Agogex into enemy-infested land, with no weapons, to kill the barbarian leader?

“You rub just a little of magic wax on 8 major points of contact: your forehead, your shoulders, both sides of your thighs, both sides of your calves, and over your lips. You need just very little too work,” Sorraya explains. “Now, take off all your clothes and put away all your weapons,” she orders.

The three of us proceed to undress while Captain Anessa makes sure that the men are at a good distance aways from us, so as not to get them too
 distracted. Karlin is the smallest one of us three, her body is very curvy almost like a natural woman, despite the obvious Agogex muscular development and the lack of female breasts. We’ll see what she’s made of once we’re in no man’s land.

Turma is just huge! I know she was big but even since the last time I saw her naked she’s put on a ton of new muscle! I used to say that she looked like a smaller version of her sister Oxilia, but I can’t honestly say that anymore.

Now, before you jump to conclusions and think all this is weird, let me explain something about Agogex and their sense of modesty: there is none. Ever since we are born and given dark potions, and especially once we transfer to Holy Camp, we lose all sense of modesty. Being naked is just as normal to us as for you to wear a bathing suit at the beach. As we grow up, however, we are taught we can’t just walk around naked out in public. But it’s more a learned notion than instinctive. At camp, in the dorms, even at some training sessions, Agogex spend most of their time naked or almost naked. That’s just a fact.

So here we are, three naked Agogex waiting for instructions. I notice some staring. There is always a sense of rivalry among us, so every Agogex always tries to be bigger and stronger than the next Agogex. As we stand there naked, we get scrutinized. I can see the looks on some of the other Agogex faces, and even on our captains. Reality is, I’m still the biggest, strongest, baddest Agogex there’s ever been, and standing there naked—no padded combat suits, no clothes—among these other Agogex, only solidifies that notion in their minds.

I feel Turma’s eyes on me. I know what she’s thinking. I can’t trust her. Ever since the incident with the soldiers she has been plotting against me. You think I’m being paranoid? Oh you don’t know Agogex then. She is just waiting for her opportunity for payback.

We start rubbing the magic wax on the eight points of contact as instructed by Captain Sorraya. We all dip two fingers into the jar and start rubbing the stuff over our forehead, shoulders, thighs, and calves. But when it comes to our lips, Sorraya stops us abruptly and says: “No. Not those lips. Those lips,” and she points down toward our female parts.

“You must rub magic wax over your lower lips so magic wax can hide AgogĂ© smell,” Sorraya explains.

“This, stupid!” Shouts Karlin. “I not rub magic goop on my female thing!”

“No good to be invisible if enemy can still smell you!” Sorraya shouts back at Karlin. “You part of mission now! You rub magic wax everywhere you must!”

I proceed and rub the stuff on my ‘lips’ and it feels cold down there! The things we ought to do for our country!

We wait 10 minutes before the stuff takes effect. Then, judging by the gasps of those around us, I assume we’ve become invisible, even though nothing has changed for me and I can still see Turma and Karlin just fine.

“It worked!” Captain Anessa says in disbelief.

Captain Sorraya did not look as surprised. “Now, go, you three! Go, go! We know not how long magic last!” She yells.

So off we go! Three temporarily invisible naked Agogex, carrying no weapons, step into the foreign land of Boulukavitz, past all enemy surveillance, to kill Chief Luftax.

Dad would be proud of me right now.

5

As we move into enemy territory in ‘stealth mode’, several thoughts occupy my mind.

First of all, we quickly scheme a plan of action on the spot. We decide that once we reach our target, I, being the strongest of the three with my bare hands, will be the one to go in to kill Chief Luftax in his sleep, while Turma and Karlin will stand watch outside the Chief’s tent. I still do not know what Turma has in mind, but this feels all wrong already from the get-go.

Then I think about Private Carpiax. Why in the world do I keep getting this weird, funny feeling that sends warm waves through me every time I’m around Private Carpiax—especially when he says ‘thank you’ with that smile of his? And why does it seem like ever since the ‘fire’ incident all I’ve been doing is looking for reasons (or excuses?) to walk over to the mens’ lines just to see Private Carpiax and talk to him?

“Tents ahead!” Turma’s voice brings me back to reality.

“You trying to get us killed, Turma?” I say in an irate yet low voice. “From this point forward, no loud talking!” I warn my two Agogex partners, as we reach the perimeter of the enemy settlement.

It’s funny how I can still smell both Turma’s and Karlin’s mystical scents and my own, very thick in the air. But if Captain Sorraya swears on the efficacy of this magic goop, I’ll have to take her word for it. The only problem is, if the magical effects can disappear at any moment, how are we supposed to know if and when that might happen?

Karlin seems to be reading my mind. “Are we still invisible? How we know for sure? And what about our mystical scent?” She asks in a low, whispering voice.

“We know not,” I whisper back. “We just hope magic cream last long enough.”

“It no magic cream, Safren. It magic WAX!” Turma quickly corrects me.

Why do I have a feeling that only one of us two will get out of this alive? Turma is really pissing me off!

We spot their watchdogs, they’re chained to trees. Good. The magic wax must work or else those dogs would be barking by now. We take account of their guards on duty. They walk the perimeter and they’re looking too relaxed and wobbly—drunk, most likely, based on their stench. They obviously don’t expect an attack, knowing their makeshift control towers can spot anything coming out of our camps.  This is the moment of truth. Walking right under their noses with the sole protection of Patrarchons’ magic!

Light on your feet.

Small breaths. 

It worked! We’re through and those barbarian guards didn’t even flinch!

But I don’t even have time to turn around when I see Karlin frozen in place. “Karlin,” I whisper, “we must move.” But Karlin is not moving. And neither is Turma, now that I notice. They both seem in a trance. And then I realize the source of their hesitation!

The air hangs heavy with the stench of death as the three of us stand frozen before the ghastly spectacle. Two severed heads, once proud Agogex warriors like ourselves, stare blankly from atop crude wooden stakes driven into the blood-soaked earth.

Just yesterday we lost Agogé Lysara and Tynne.

The words of Captain Anessa reverberate in my head. Agogex Lysara and Tynne: lost in action. Now we know exactly what happened to them. The barbaric handiwork was unmistakable—jagged cuts marr the necks where axes have hacked through sinew and bone, leaving tattered flesh to dangle like grim banners. Their faces, though lifeless, bear the remnants of defiance: eyes wide with final fury, mouths twisted in silent screams. Flies buzz in greedy swarms, feasting on the gore that drips steadily downward, staining the sticks a sickly crimson.

One of the Agogex’s braided hair hangs in matted clumps, tangled with dirt and clotted blood. Her head tilts unnaturally, the stake piercing through her jaw and out the top of her skull, splitting her once-fierce countenance in two. The other Agogex eyes have been gouged out, leaving dark, hollow sockets. Her tongue is lolling grotesquely, severed at the root and dangling by a thread of flesh.

I clench my fists, my nails biting into my palms as I imagine the horrors inflicted on their bodies, a custom practice of these barbaric tribes: defiled first (if captured alive), then desecrated, finally dismembered—for the barbarian hordes believe, in their deranged minds, that eating the entrails of Agogex will give them increased strength.

Turma’s breath hitches, her gaze darting to the shadows beyond, as if expecting the perpetrators to emerge, laughing at their savagery. Karlin, steely-eyed, covers her mouth with the hand, so as to not make any loud sounds or vomit, perhaps. The scene is a brutal testament to the enemy’s cruelty, a warning etched in blood and ruin—and now, fuel for the wrath of one pissed off Alpha Agogex

6

The stench of death mixed with the strong smell of alcohol is a constant reminder that we are alone now in their world. Beasts more than men, both in how they look and in how they behave. Their only strength has been their numbers. What good is it to be the strongest of Agogex, when overwhelmed by a sheer multitude of mindless beast-men? By the time you get to kill two or three of them, 10 more have already grabbed you, disarmed you, and pinned you to the ground, while dozens upon dozens will quickly join in, until you are literally buried under this mass of savage humanity.

Karlin is moving along, trying to control her sobbing. She is such a ‘sensitive girl’. “Remember training, Karlin,” I whisper into her ear. It seems to help, as she wipes her tears and her sobbing becomes more like a strained breathing now. Turma also goes up to Karlin and whispers something to her ear. Perhaps more words of encouragement. Turma seems more calm, watching her steps and looking all around, as we can now see the multitude of the barbarians either sleeping on the ground or by the trees, while others are walking aimlessly with drinks in their hands, or eating, or playing some stupid game with sticks made out of bones. They’re like ants—just about everywhere you look. This place is teeming with the scum of Boulukavitz. These men make our Carrialan soldiers look like the clean and neat High Knights of Greater Valley.

Our Carrialan soldiers… Private Carpiax! How would I much rather be with him right now, and feel those warm waves go through me every time he looks at me with that smile of his—Wait a minute, what am I thinking? The guy is a freakin’ goat! A common soldier. I don’t think he even has any war heroes or legendary warriors in his lineage. He told me that his father is an artisan and his mother is, or was,  a nursemaid, before becoming a full-time housewife. And he himself is what? Five feet and seven inches tall, one hundred and seventy pounds at best? What would a goddess like me, the Alpha Agogex, ever  want, or even have in common, with a puny man like him?

I see Turma signal with her hand that she can see Chief Luftax’s tent ahead. I can see it too. I give the signal to Turma and Karlin to spread out around the tent to keep watch while I go in to put this nasty goat out of his misery. I wish we could have carried at least a small blade to gut him like a pig. The idea is to not only kill the Chief, but to get  back to camp all in one piece, possibly. ‘No weapons’ means I gotta kill this guy without making any noise.

I’m in. The tent is a filthy conglomeration of half empty platters of rotten food, bones, broken jars, and about 1, 2
 5 barbarians lying on floor mats, asleep. The problem is, how do I know which one of the five is Chief Luftax? He wouldn’t exactly carry a sign around his neck or a name tag reading Hello! I’m Chief Luftax! These disgusting goats all look the same to me. They’re hairy, greasy, smelly abominations of nature, and they all look alike. I’ll have to kill all five without any of them waking up to alert the others. I see some weapons lying around, rudimentary knives and a hatchet, but honestly, I think I’m better off getting the job done with my bare hands.

I approach the first barbarian, I slide my arm under his neck while pulling my other arm over as to cover his mouth with my hand to avoid any unwanted grunting. The snapping of his neck is pretty quiet, I’m not to worry about that. He dies instantly. I wonder if THAT was Chief Luftax.

No time to think. On to the second neck to snap.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

I work my way around the tent until there are only two necks left to snap. I bend over to grab the second-to-last neck when I notice the eyes of the other barbarian still alive staring at me with eyes wide open. But I’m invisible, right? I’m sure that, though he is looking this way, he can’t see me, right?

As I’m thinking these thoughts, I feel the head of the barbarian in my death hold move, and his mouth utter some words that sound like What’z that smell?

SNAP!

As soon as I break that neck, the other barbarian that was staring at me jumps out of his rest mat screaming AGOGEZ! AGOGEZ!

Holy gods! He sees me!

I can hear hollering outside. I must kill this last goat and rejoin the other two Agogex for our grand escape!

Good, he just grabbed a knife. Better than nothing!

He thrusts and misses me by a mile while I grab his thrusting arm, disarm him, snap the arm, and strike goat on the esophagus for a quick death. If Chief Luftax was in this room, he is history now.

I run outside.

“Turma, Karlin. We must go! The magic wax stop working—”

And immediately, reality strikes quicker than lightning. They left me. As soon as I walked into that tent both Turma and Karlin made their way back to camp, leaving me here to perish, by myself. So this was Turma’s plan for payback all along. Capitalize on Karlin’s growing fear to convince her to get out of this hell hole before it’s too late, and simply tell our captain that I was taken down while trying to accomplish the mission, I’m sure.

I will kill you Turma. If I ever get out of here alive, I will KILL YOU!!!

Epilogue

“Calm down, you two! Tell us exactly what happened!” Captain Sorraya screams at Turma and Karlin as they both put their Agogex uniforms back on. Both Agogex and Carrialan soldiers are all ears (and all eyes, some of the latter, before the two Agogex get dressed).

“Invisible wax not work very long, Captain Sorraya! They see us before we find tent of Chief Luftax! We run, but too many wild goats! They grab AgogĂ© Safren, and she falls! They take her! We try to help, but too many!” Turma replies, as she breathes nervously.

Karlin is sobbing, her nose making sniffling sounds. “Yay, Captain. AgogĂ© Turma speak truth. If we stay, we all die!”

“This no good for Carriala. We lost our most powerful AgogĂ© warrior and Chief Luftax still alive. This means, we alert capital while we stay here and fight to death.”

Among the men around listening, a certain Private Carpiax is present, and he dares to approach Captain Sorraya. “Permission to speak, Agogex Captain Sorraya!”

All eyes are now on the Carrialan soldier.

The captain seems willing to listen. “Speak, man!”

“Agogex Captain Sorraya, we don’t know if Agogex Safren is dead or alive by now, but I think she has done much for Carriala to at least attempt one rescue mission to get her out, dead or alive!”

Sorraya looks at Private Carpiax with grave eyes. “No AgogĂ© can infiltrate enemy camp in suicide rescue mission. You crazy goat!” She yells at the private.

“Is this the Agogex bravery Carrialan songs sing about, Captain? How many times did Agogex Safren put her life on the line for your people and mine? Yet you cannot do the same for her now?” Private Carpiax asks, his arms moving in front of him as to demand an answer.

“Are you calling me coward, little man?” Replies Sorraya.

Private Carpiax tries to compose himself. “No, Captain. I am not calling you a coward. But if you won’t at least try to rescue Safren, me and my men will!”

Laughter bursted among the Agogex, and Turma speaks next. “Private, you are what? Five feet seven? One hundred seventy pounds, maybe? With small muscles? And you going to take on barbarian camp by yourself with other weak, small men?” And she laughs some more.

“You should know, Agogex Turma, that unlike other Agogex around here, Agogex Safren has treated us with kindness, respecting the ‘manual of war and conduct’ from the beginning of this tour, and by all the gods of Carriala, the least I and my men can do is give it our best shot to try and rescue her from those savages! And I have a plan, if you would just hear me out!” Private Carpiax looks toward Captain Sorraya as he speaks those words.

“Captain, I think goat crave the lash,” Turma says, looking at her captain with cold eyes.

But Sorraya did not become captain by being a coward or by taking the easy way out. “And I think AgogĂ© listen to what puny man want to say.” Sorraya says to Turma, to the latter’s utter disbelief. “Speak, private,” Sorraya exhorts Private Carpiax.

“We all heard about this magic wax used in Agogex Safren’s mission. Do you have any left?”

 

To be continued


Next episode: Stealth Mode (part 2)

Abigail Lakewood

 

 

 

 

 

Fantasy, Reviews

The Fey of Castle Garden – a Review

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The Fey of Castle Garden

by Naomi P. Cohen

A review by INFAMOUS🩀

 

This novel held much interest for me because it deals with a genre of fantasy filled with mythological characters which I’ve never been much acquainted with, other than by name—and some of them not even by name, even.

Irish lore is rich in feys, mysterious magical creatures who interact with humans in very peculiar ways. Feys are organized in groups or ‘courts’—each court with their own leader or queen. Sometimes these courts might have a conflict of interests but for the most part they handle their affairs with much diplomacy and old-fashioned common sense. 

 

PLOT:

In The Fey of Castle Garden some of the fey courts from the ‘old world’ migrate to 19th Century America, and particularly to the city of New York. These feys tend to recruit mages (humans who learn the use of magic and the making of magic potions) to serve them in exchange for protection and to further expand their knowledge and studies. Our protagonist, Sofia, is one such mage who relocates from Venice, Italy to NYC under the tutelage of Queen Triona. Things escalate real quick when a mage of another rival court is found dead—mysteriously murdered. Obviously this crime sparks a blame game between the two rival courts, The court of Hounds and Queen Triona’s Court, by which Sofia is trying to build a future for herself with a career as a mage and a violinist.

Sofia and her best friend Ciaran, a cait sidhe fey who has developed very strong feelings for her and is always very protective of her, will be tossed into a dark underworld of magic, deception, and cold opportunism, before they find out who the mysterious fey murderer is and how that will have profound consequences on the entire fey community.

Who is friend? Who is foe? Pick up a copy and find out.

SOFIA, THE PROTAGONIST:

I would be lying if I said that I liked the protagonist, Sofia. I didn’t. Many of the choices she makes in life to me are sad and heartbreaking. This does not mean that the character is not well-written, but she doesn’t gain my sympathy:

Music made Sofia’s life bearable. Her violin had provided comfort when her parents told her they couldn’t afford her dowry. She could take up a trade to make a living. If she wanted to continue her education, especially in music, her options were to join a convent or be a courtesan.

Guess what option she picked? You guessed it. She decides to become a courtesan. What was a courtesan? Cohen enlightens us:

 

“Courtesans were higher class than common prostitutes. One man at a time and for a full living”

 

 Sofia kind of reminds me of the college girl who goes into stripping to pay off her tuition fees,  because life is tough and she has ‘no other choice’. I understand being ambitious and goal-driven, but what is the point of even gaining the whole world in exchange for losing one’s soul? 

But I digress. I was personally left with a bitter taste in my mouth with this character. To balance things out, Queen Triona of the fey court was my favorite character, perhaps one of the few characters (along with Faolan, leader of the other fey court) with a hint of common sense. Triona to me was the one true protagonist and hero, in the way she loves and protects her people and particularly children. I love how she wears her heart on her sleeve but she is also a true leader, as she calls her shots from her lair in Central Park like a boss!

 

SOME INFAMOUS🩀 THOUGHTS:

  1. The setting – TFOCG undoubtedly represents a gold mine of possibilities for vivid descriptions. The narrative takes us from 1800s Venetian upper social circles to the rough immigrant-filled neighborhoods of America, and everything in between. However, I felt like the author did not exploit that to its full potential. For example, the luxurious house of the Valentino family; the deplorable slums where Hannah and her son are forced to live; the period garments worn by the characters—the dresses, the suits, the hats, the shoes—in my opinion all of that could have used further descriptive exploration to really plunge readers into that world. 
  2. Exposition – If the author used more exposition maybe some aspects of the story would have been better digested. For example, we learn that Sofia’s first patron lied to her by omission for two months, before finding out he was a married man. I find that very far fetched even by XIX century standards, but if I am wrong, why not write about those moments Sofia shared with this man? Perhaps showcase what they shared, their chemistry, to see how this smooth operator was able to keep the charade going for two months. Or even write some of her interactions with the other patrons, even in their intimate moments—if needed—to get a better idea of how exactly everything led to her becoming this mistress for the wealthy men of society.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

Overall, I found this an enjoyable story though with a lot of room for improvement. Some of it propelled me to frustration, through anger, confusion, to utter despair (the character of Hannah having to rely on magical contraceptives from Sofia, as she sells her body in order to provide for her son, was gut wrenching). I feel like settings and costumes could have been richer in details, along with just more overall exposition.

The highlight for me was learning more about what a ‘cait sidhe’ is, for example, along with much more in regards to the rich Irish lore featured in this story which is absolutely fascinating.

🩀

 

Fantasy, Reviews

The Blackfire Chronicles Volume I 

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The Blackfire Chronicles Volume I 

by Mark Sowers

A review by INFAMOUS🩀

 

Volume 1 of The Blackfire Chronicles was the debut novel of author Mark Sowers, and frankly, there are well-established ‘seasoned’ writers out there who fail to create stories this good and compelling. As a debut novel, TBC has its flaws, mainly due to ‘pace’, but at least we have a story and characters cohesive and captivating enough to make us want to flip pages. I am sure as Sowers keeps developing and improving as a writer those minor issues can be fixed. On the positive, if the story and/or characters were weak then we would have had bigger issues to deal with.

Like a few other fantasy writers I’ve covered recently, Sowers’ narrative departs a great deal from the typical tropes of the genre. Though ‘magic’ is actively involved in this world, the story doesn’t revolve around who wears a certain piece of magic jewelry, or who yields a certain magic sword, or who holds a certain magic staff. This magic system is more nuanced. The characters moving within the story take center stage, not some magic trinkets.

PLOT:

Everything begins with our two main characters, Reval and Arval, two boys forced into indentured labor at one of the four mysterious digging sites scattered to the four corners of the world. The enslaved laborers themselves do not even know what they are digging for, exactly, but whatever it is it must be of the highest priority since the monarch has been putting so much effort and so many resources into it. Reval has been working at the site for so long he has no knowledge of the world beyond his work environment. Even things like foods other than the slop he is fed by the guards are foreign subjects to him. Arval gets recruited (or rather forced) into working at the site at a later time, and it is through him that Reval’s curiosity for the world beyond the depressing digging site begins to grow. The two boys quickly become good friends and, one day, as they are digging they find access to a hidden abode where they come in contact with the spirit of a character from the past who enlightens Reval on what this digging site and three similar similar digging sites are all about and how the use of magic was  banished a long time ago, though the time for its return is now near.  In the process, Reval is also granted formidable magic powers and he and Arval manage to escape. Thus their real adventure begins.

Obviously there is more to this, but since we want to keep spoilers to a minimum, when you pick up a copy you will soon discover that there are many supporting characters and plot developments intelligently adopted into the story as to not bore us to death with yet another ‘same old same old’ fantasy book.

 

PACE:

Overall, my only negative statement would be in regards to the pace in some segments of the book. Sometimes it feels as though Sowers is trying to write too much about things that really have nothing to do with the story itself. Details about some characters that are quite superfluous or irrelevant, for example, do not make for a smooth reading flow. Make no mistake, TBC is not ‘slow’ overall, in fact, most of it moves quite briskly. But there are some descriptive paragraphs that could have been more succinct or omitted altogether, making the pace more uniform overall, rather than at times feeling like we are walking through a swamp.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

I get excited every time I read a book like TBC because it shows me that the over-saturated genre of fantasy still holds a few positive surprises every once in a while. I already bought Volume 2 because it is always interesting to watch an author (hopefully) improve from his debut novel to his follow-up novel. I am sure Sowers is a smart writer and he was able to use this first book as a learning experience to turn around and hit us with an even better sequel.

I know I look forward to it!

 

🩀

 

Fantasy

SAFREN (Alpha Agogex) by Infamous

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Editor’s Note: VP has a treat for you today. The Infamous Gio has been working on some fiction of his own, and is sharing one of the companion pieces to the fantasy novel he is involved with. This story is a lighthearted, amusing departure, stylistically, from the other work in the developing Agogex canon.

Even though SAFREN: Alpha Agogex belongs to the same fantasy universe written under the pseudonym of Abigail Lakewood, the direction Gio decided to take this concept was quite different from the other stories. 

Here, the narrator and the main character are one and the same. However, Safren the Narrator, unlike Safren the MC, is not bound by space, time, culture, or language. This is part of the creative liberty Gio took in order to create a narrative of fantasy filled with comedic undertones. 

This is NOT chick lit, but it is fantasy/pulp ‘disguised’ as such. We might say, at best, that it has chick lit tropes in a fantasy setting. Safren does not represent a ‘girl boss’ role model for ambitious, independent women. In fact, Safren was originally conceived as a villain for the story Scars: An INFAMOUS Legend, but there was something special about her demeanor, and Gio decided she should have her own adventures. However, in order to make this villain compelling enough on her own, he had to immerse her in a world where comedy and satire could coexist within the fantasy setting.

Some may ask why Safren speaks differently as the narrator than as the MC. When you read ‘Safren the narrator’ you’re reading her thoughts, you’re reading her soul. She is not actually speaking to another character or doing an interview.

A series of short stories/episodes is being created. Each can be enjoyed as a stand-alone tale, even  knowing little to nothing about Agogex, or Carriala, or the New National Religious Doctrine.

Some of the dialogue and character interactions, you might notice, read kinda’ like a superhero comic book, rather than a classic fantasy novel (particularly when it comes to the villains). That, again, is intentional, because of the overall goal to create a more contemporary, pop culture icon.

Hope you enjoy,

Hank.

SAFREN

Alpha Agogex

 

Introduction

 

“AgogĂ© Safren! You inspire, yes? Your momma and papa proud of you, yes?” Agogex head trainer Mirix takes her helmet and gloves off while the other Agogex trainers push the other young girls aside to make room until only the head trainer and Safren are left facing each other. Murmurs can be heard all around.

“You strong, you fast, you AgogĂ©!” Mirix says, inviting Safren to attack her. 

Yes, that was me. I was 16 years old at the time, and on that day I received a major whooping from our head trainer Mirix for simply being the best in my group and for squatting more weight than probably even she herself was able to squat at her ripe age of… well, who knows? Old.

I think that was a 28-stone boulder I was hoisting (close to 400 pounds). But I can’t quite recall. I’m not sure any 16-year-old Agogex ever lifted that boulder before, let alone squat it for reps. In hindsight, I wouldn’t be surprised if the beating I received was not so much a lesson in humility as rather an outer manifestation of Mirix’s brittle ego, unable to deal with the fact that an Agogex of my age was that ‘stupid strong’.

But that seems to be the story of my life after all: the more I excelled the more backlash and retaliation I seemed to receive. Our enemies always tried to kill me on the battleground. My fellow Agogex always hoped I would get killed on the battleground
 or worse. If you’ve never been to the Eastern front lines fighting the barbaric hordes, you should know the only thing those cavemen love more than killing an Agogex is to capture one alive. I’ll let you figure out the rest.

But I truly believe jealousy from other lesser specimens was indeed my worst enemy in life, not foreign invaders. When you are the strongest, fastest, and brightest of the bunch, you don’t make many friends, but you sure make a whole lot of enemies and haters.

My name is Agogex Safren, daughter of the legendary Carrialan warrior Mouslenix Dottir. I come from a family of military leaders going back generations—to the times before the last Holy War, when giants still roamed among us. I was born to lead and bred to conquer… and to kill.

I am the ALPHA AGOGEX.

Trouble in Komirn

1

“Are you getting along with the others?” 

That would be Father asking me that question. He is the legendary Carrialan warrior Mouslenix Dottir of the Dottir dynasty. He has a great reputation for leading military campaigns in the Eastern borders of Carriala against the barbaric invaders. His heroic feats are known throughout the country, and one time he slew an entire platoon of 50 barbarians single-handedly after all other Carrialan soldiers had been slaughtered. 

“AgogĂ© fear me. Those who not fear me just hate me,” I answer.

“That is quite normal, my dear daughter, when you are better than the rest. I had to go through a similar experience myself, climbing up the ranks of the Carrialan military hierarchy. Always some private talking behind my back out of spite and jealousy.

Don’t let it get to you, Safren darling, as they are only admitting to their inferiority. They realize they will always be second-best, and it gnaws at their souls.”

Gotta love Dad. He has always been so supportive of my military career in the Agogex caste. He and Mom always told me the story of how elated they were to find out their baby had been selected by the gods to be Agogex. Tears of joy ran for days, and my Mom picked the name Safren from the legendary she-giant who roamed the lands before all giants disappeared. 

Oh, you didn’t know? I descend from Safren the Giant herself from Mother’s side! Of course, neither I nor Mom are 12-feet tall due to the mixing of blood throughout many generations, but there is definitely giant DNA in us. Both my Mom and I are naturally much larger and stronger than the average woman, even without dark potions. And just look at my freakin’ legs! They’re huge! Those, my friends, are definitely giant legs! I can never find trousers that fit me properly because of those ‘tree trunks’, and wherever I go, people always stare at them as if they were actually staring at a giant from the old days.

“I angry when AgogĂ© trainers want to chastise me for being better than others.” I said to my father. “They not reward me for doing better, they punish.”

“Daughter, let me explain something to you. People like me and you will never have an easy life. You have giant blood from your mother and Dottir warrior blood from me. Add whatever enhancing concoxions the Patrarchons are giving you in the mix, and you get an unstoppable force of nature that all fear, including the highest ranked Agogex. 

Do not let that discourage you, because YOU have control, not them.” As he says those words he reaches out and holds my chin with his thumb and index fingers, lifting up my head and looking me straight into my eyes. “Look at you, Safren. You have perfect skin complexion, perfect hair, a bone structure that would be the envy of the gods themselves. In fact, you are like a god made flesh in all regards. You are stronger, faster, wiser, and braver than any man, woman, or Agogex that ever lived. You were meant to succeed where everybody else would fail. It might seem a curse to you right now, but it is not. Trust the words I am saying to you!”

Wow, when dad wants to give me an epic pep talk he can really outdo himself, can’t he! The truth is, he knows exactly how things go in camp. He is in close contact with the Agogex captains and trainers due to his ranking and reputation. They probably explained to him that the stronger Agogex are also the ones who have their lives made harder because, well, we simply operate at another level, I guess. But an Agogex who descends from both giants and Dottir warriors must be something new even for them, and I do feel that sometimes they come down a little too hard on me perhaps.

Oh, here is Mother, fashionably late as always. “Oh, hello, baby Safren, MWAH!” She hugs me and gives me a most wet and sloppy kiss, typical of Mom. “That odor, Safren baby! Will I ever get used to it? It is so bold!”

At the age of 42 Mother looks healthier and stronger than most women 10 years younger. The type of beauty that doesn’t exude the frailty of a damsel in distress, but rather the power of a warrior queen as described in the fairy tales read to children. Do not let her beautiful gown deceive you either, she is well taught in the arts of combat–I mean, look who she’s married to–and carries a weapon with her at all times. She loves to challenge herself physically and she follows a very healthy diet of mostly protein and vegetables. I feel sorry for any man (or woman) whose idea of trying to rob her would cross their mind, for they’d be in for a big surprise, and not the good kind either.

“Dinner should be served soon. Let me run down to the kitchen to speak with our cooks and our maids to get everything set up,” she informs with an excited look on her face. 

If you were wondering, yes, my parents are financially very well off thanks to Father’s military career and his Dottir dynasty heritage. Mom, though not as wealthy initially, was always well provided for by her parents, their giant lineage always making them favorite guests of the upper social stratum of Carriala.

Food! Do you think you can eat or know someone who can put away some major food? You ain’t seen nothing until you’ve eaten at the Dottirs. I’m sure you’re aware of the immense amounts of food Agogex need to eat due to their fast metabolism and higher muscle mass. Well I’m twice the size of the average Agogex; I’m a ‘big girl’ and I need a lot of food, and I mean A LOT! Fortunately, though at a smaller scale, both of my parents are big eaters so I never have to worry whenever we have dinner together, such as is the case tonight. 

I feel bad for those Agogex in camp whose families don’t live in the capital like my folks. They get visitations sure, but they must feel homesick at times.

“Making lots of friends in camp, luv?” Mother asks.

“Always same question, always same answer, Momma. AgogĂ© fear me. Too big, too strong, too
 everything.” And as I say that I take another bite of the roast that the maids have been serving. “Hmm, hmm, hmm! Oh Momma this is good! No, no good. De-li-cious!” 

No leftovers. Big surprise. But I’m still hungry, so I run back to the kitchen. “Baby, there is some ham and cold meats and vegetables in the pantry!” Yells Mom from the dining area as I already work to fill up a fresh platter with assorted cold meats and vegetables in the kitchen area. The maids and cooks have a weird look on their faces. Fear? Disgust? Not sure, nor do I care too much. But I notice some of them are looking too much on the frail side. “Momma, you feeding servants? Some look too thin, even for puny humans.” I yell so she can hear me.

“We pay them well, and they have assigned times for brunch and lunch during the day,” Mother yells back.

The servants keep looking at each other and I feel like they are hiding something. I grab one of the man servants by the collar. “Tell me what you hiding, goat!” I demand of him. I know, I know, I don’t have much finesse, but it always works for me!

“Tell me why you look so thin! You no eat? You ill?”

“Please Agogex Safren, let Sconard go! I will tell you everything but please do not hurt him!” One of the maids shouts. 

“Sconard? This your male goat, girl?” I ask her. Hey do not get me started on my Agogex speech! I will talk more about that later, but right now I’ve got a mystery to solve!

Meanwhile, both of my parents approach as they hear the commotion in the kitchen.

“Yes, Sconard is my male g
 my fiance, I mean,  and I do not want to see any harm befall him. My name is Aramiz”

“Speak then, Aramiz. Answer my question.”

“If I speak, truly we will all be dead by the morrow, Agogex Safren.”

“You are in my home and you will answer my daughter now, or you will be dead before tomorrow!” Papa and his theatrics! He really doesn’t mean that, but it surely has an effect.

“Very well, Lord Dottir, Lady Dottir, and Agogex Safren. I shall speak truthfully. We all live in the Komirn neighborhood of Carriala city. This neighborhood is ruled with an iron fist by Lord Morval, a very powerful slum lord with many connections, and his henchmen. He taxes all of us who have an income, and by the time we pay him, we have no money left, not even for food!”

Listening to Aramiz only makes my blood boil. These people work for my Dad and can’t even buy food because of a greedy goat who keeps taxing them? He might as well steal directly from Father’s coffers! The insolence!

“Daughter, whatever you need to do, just let me know and I will gladly join you!” Father says.

“No Papa. You and Momma relax, I go take care of scummy goat.”

“Agogex Safren, Lord Morval has many men under his command. A small army of former warriors.” Aramiz tries to warn me. I’m sure she has good intentions.

“Aramiz, you and your people no longer have to starve. I go fix this right now.”

“Take my hunting knife with you, Safren. Your Agogex sword might not be well suited for the occasion. Too cumbersome,” Father tells me, and I have to agree with him.

“Hurry up, darling. We’ll keep some tea warm for you!” Mother tells me.

“Thank you Mother. I hurry, you no worry now,” I reply.

After getting directions and concealing Father’s hunting knife in my trousers, I go hunting for scummy goats who steal from Father. 

 

2

Komirn. One of the worst  neighborhoods of Carriala. Or so I was told. I don’t hang out much since I’m always in training or on a tour out East. When I’m not training or in battle, I hang out with my family for the most part. All the same to me, heads will roll today.

Already I get stares from bystanders and random onlookers. I changed my outfit to blend in more, but you can’t hide 210 pounds of muscle on an imposing 6-feet frame. It’s just not going to happen.

I’m being followed. In fact, I know someone has been following since I stepped foot in this neighborhood. Decrepit homes surround me on each side of the street in the dark of night. With all we do to keep this country safe, the authorities refuse to clean up this place and make it livable. Why? That is what I’m asking myself when a voice shouts: “You better stop where you are and drop any and all weapons you might be carrying on you, Agogex!”

“You work for Lord Morval? He the one I want to speak!” I say to the hiding figure. But I was wrong, as out of the shadow of these dark allies, not one but multiple figures emerge, and they’re all armed with knives and axes. No crossbows though. Too easy.

The one who spoke to me, perhaps the leader, approaches cautiously and speaks again: “You’ve wandered far from home, Agogex. Even for a creature like yourself, this is hardly a wise choice.” His thin and lanky frame is decorated with costly leather trousers and a vest. Is that what our servants’ money has been used for?

“I must see Lord Morval on very important business,” I say to the man.

“The only business Lord Morval would pay heed to from one of the likes of you would involve selling your body every night to the highest bidder to do with it whatever they please,” responds the man.

“Thank you for tell me you know Lord Morval. Take me to him and you be very happy.” 

The man laughs at my words. “Are YOU going to make me very happy, Agogex? How?” He snarls.

“This for you to find out when you take me to Lord Morval. He get very upset if you not take me to him.”

I could see the man spinning his wheels. My game was working. Dumb goat.

“I will take you to see the lord, but you must relinquish your weapons first,” he says.

“All I carry is this,” I say as I toss him Father’s sheathed hunting knife.

All eyes fall on the hunting knife in awe. “This alone must be worth the weight of the Agogex in gold!’ Another man shouts, his eyes filled with greed.

“It seems, brethrens, that we are going to have a bountiful day,” the first man (and whom I now am convinced is the leader of this group) says to his boys. “Shall we take our Agogex friend to Lord Morval? I am sure the lord could use some amusement!”

As they search me for other weapons, these two goons almost faint. “That scent! What is it?” One of them says, stepping away from me.

“All Agogex carry that. They call it Agogex mystical scent, methinks,” the leader says to them. “Now do your duty and search her for other weapons she might be concealing!”

After they search me and find no other weapons, their leader decides to walk me to their lair. Great, now we’re getting somewhere! Oh they also bind my hands with steel manacles. That might create some issues later on, but I’ll figure something out when the time comes.

As we are walking I can hear murmurs from the men in the group:

“Legendary is the size of Agogex muscles, though never have I seen or heard of Agogex that can get that large!”

“She looks like a goddess who took upon flesh and bones. Many of our patrons would pay with caskets full of gold to put her to work in their brothels!”

“Goddesses smell like that? Where does that smell even come from? I feel like fainting!”

“Behold that hair! And that skin! A true exotic beauty for those who have a peculiar taste!” 

“Though she sounds like a nitwit when she speaks.”

“Who cares how she speaks, really!”

Other similar comments reach my ears on the way, when we finally reach a mansion that looks as elaborate and opulent as stolen gold can buy. A mansion built on the back and the sweat of honest people, but most important, a mansion built on the wealth of a Dottir. As we walk in, scantily clad women sit around the main living area, and there are armed guards posted at each corner. They take me upstairs. More scantily clad women, more armed guards. And they are all staring at me like they’ve never seen a 6-feet, 210-pound Agogex built like a goddess
 Okay, okay, I’m kidding!

We finally stand before a large double door casted in gold, this might be it! Finally! I was getting bored!

The leader of the group speaks to one of the guards who in turns knocks on the double door. Someone from the other side opens just a crack of the door; some words are exchanged. A few more minutes go by, then finally the door is opened all the way and access is granted.

I try not to laugh at the sight that greets me. This fool actually has a throne built for himself and he is sitting on it with, you guessed it, more scantily clad women all around and more armed guards. Both the women and the guards stare at me as if they’ve never seen an Agogex before. Maybe some never have. 

“Lord Morval, Kalimer Tulme at your service, bringing you good tidings. A most fascinating creature from the heart of the capital! A goddess, for all intents and purposes! I give you an Agogex!” 

So the thin little man who brought me here is called Kalimer Tulme, good to know. Hope he has no close relatives to mourn him when this is all said and done.

Lord Morval takes a long look at me and says: “I have seen Agogex before, including legendary Master General Megax, but none ever as large and as striking as this specimen. Who are you? You have permission to speak, Agogex.”

Isn’t that nice of Lord Morval, he even gives me permission to speak. The fat goat!

“I AgogĂ© Safren! Divinely chosen at birth by the gods! Forged in body and spirit by the Patrarchons! I come to speak to you, Lord Morval!”

Lord Morval looks at me like I am out of my mind. I just made my formal Agogex introduction like I’ve done a thousand times before, what can possibly be so amusing? Wait, is he even chuckling now?

“We must admire our friend, Agogex Safren, brothers! She is strong, she is brave
 but she is also out of her turf.” His last spoken words have a threatening tone. “Before I decide what to do with you, Agogex Safren, please amuse us by telling us what motives could possibly drive a goddess such as yourself to come and visit a hell hole like Komirn and
 and what is that smell?”

3

Agogex mystical scent. Let’s put this to rest once and for all. Agogex mystical scent is a thing. When we, Agogex, are administered the dark potion known as the ‘Widow’, a lot happens within our physiology. Among the myriad of things that the Widow triggers over time, the production of what is known as ‘Agogex mystical scent’ is perhaps the most peculiar. 

From the day we are divinely selected, we are taught that we are ‘not women nor men’ but I guarantee you, our sexual organs are the same as any normal healthy woman’s, for all intents and purposes. Inside our female body parts are glands the Widow stimulates to produce a very strong and unique scent. The larger the Agogex, the larger her private parts, the larger the glands, the stronger the scent secreted. I’m the biggest Agogex on record so you can imagine how intense my mystical scent can get. No amount of washing, rinsing, or applying balms can block the scent from lingering all around me. And that’s with clothes on! If I was to remove all my clothes, most of those standing nearby would probably faint within seconds. Agogex are totally immune to the effects of the mystical scent (even though we can smell it). I personally don’t notice it anymore, though Mom and Dad always make some kind of annoying remark on it. 

On the outside I could pass for a very healthy, well formed adult human female down there, in the way my body has developed, but the mystical scent truly divides Agogex from natural women.

“
 and what is that smell?” Lord Morval asks.

“They call it Agogex mystical scent, Lord Morval,” Kalimer Tulme answers. “It is the essence of the gods infused into the Agogex, as they represent the gods in our world, according to the NNRD (New National Religious Doctrine).” 

I think that sounds just about right. I’ll take it.

“All the same. Agogex Safren, please share with us the reason as to why Komirn is honored with your presence this evening.”

“You steal from Father. You need to stop,” I answer. 

Murmurs follow. And why are the scantily clad women looking at me with such spite in their eyes? I didn’t come here to be their competition!

“I know not your father, Agogex. So how am I to steal from him whom I do not know?” Lord Morval looks honestly baffled.

I try to be clearer. “Father employs residents of Komirn as servants. He pays them. You steal from them. So you stealing from Father.”

“Are you calling Lord Morval a thief? The insolence of this Agogex!” Kalimer Tulme says and takes a swing at me! The coward!

“Aaaaaaaahhhh! My hand!” he shouts in pain, holding the hand he just struck me with.

Giant bone density. Legend has it that giants had bones as hard as steel. Mother always tells me that they used to forge weapons made of giant bones because of their toughness and durability. I knew I had inherited that feature because, let’s face it, with the amount of heavy weights I lift in training, no matter how strong my muscles might be, my bones would snap under the sheer pressure. Also, when growing up in camp it is unavoidable to get into skirmishes with other Agogex due to our Widow-fueled aggressive behavior, but every time I got hit in the face it was always the Agogex striking me that would hold their hands in pain.

“She broke my hand! Agogex whore broke my hand!” Shouts Kalimer Tulme, as if hoping that Lord Morval would simply order my execution due to a few broken knuckles.

Instead he laughs wholeheartedly. “Hahaha! Agogex Safren is full of surprises. She even has a chin of steel, folks. A true specimen indeed!”

“I ask again, Lord Morval, that you stop taking gold coins from Father’s servants!” I say in a demanding tone, no longer even paying attention to the sobbing Kalimer Tulme.

“Agogex Safren, from where I am sitting, you are the one in captivity, with steel manacles around your wrists, surrounded by an army of loyal guards who are devoted only to me,” Lord Morval replies. “Unless you do not come with a business proposal of my satisfaction, I will never stop taxing the people of Kormin.”

“I do have proposition for you,” I say to him. That seems to peak his interest.

“You do, do you now?” Lord Morval says, reflecting. “And what would such a proposition consist of, I ask?” He chuckles, probably not taking me too seriously.

“If you abide by my request, I let you live!”

Silence for 1, 2, 3 seconds.

“You threatening me? I will sell you to the highest bidder and you will spend the rest of your days whoring for bread and water! Who do you think you are, coming to my house making demands!”

I think I pissed him off. Good!

“The only reason why I will not torture you is because I need your body unscathed for the houses of pleasure you will be put to work in. Guards! Take her to the cell. Tomorrow we will have the first Agogex to ever become a ‘girl of pleasure’!”

Great! Now I’m going to be late home for tea! Can’t spend the night in this rat hole. No time for this!

As soon as the two main guards try to grab me by the arms to lead me away I pull my arms inward leading them to clash against one another headfirst. Immediately, Kalimer Tulme thrusts my Father’s hunting knife at me with his good arm, but I side step in a timely fashion and use my arms to lock his thrusting arm, forcing him to drop the knife, then I keep applying pressure until his elbow pops and Kalimer Tulme screams in pain. I make sure that arm is totally broken.

Other armed guards rush toward me, I roll onto the floor to grab the hunting knife. Even with manacles on I can still handle the short blade pretty good. I blow a strand of my blonde hair that always seems to get in my face every time I get ready for a fight. And no I won’t shave my head like most other Agogex. I promised Mother. Long story for another day.

“Do not let her escape!” Lord Morval shouts.

Escape? Do I look like the type who tries to escape? Really!

Father’s hunting knife drinks of the blood of these men. They fall before me like trees being chopped down by an axe, manacles notwithstanding.

A big goat swings an axe at me but barely misses. I thrust my knife upwards through his wrist. He howls in pain and drops the axe involuntarily, I kick him in the lower back. He drops to the ground. If not dead, he’ll be paralyzed for life. Others are coming. The scantily clad women are screaming and running for cover or rushing for the exit doors.

Lord Morval is still sitting on his high throne, perhaps paralyzed by fear or perhaps confident that his men will be able to subjugate me. The fool! He’ll regret not trying to escape.

Another guard jumps me from behind and wraps his arm around my neck trying to choke me. He must be trained as he seems to know what he is doing, and I can’t shake him off. I can’t reach him with the knife, and he has his legs locked in around my torso. Can’t breathe. I go down on one knee while I see other armed guards quickly getting closer. I see a glass window. I think fast, get back up on both feet, and rush for the window. As I spring up using the immense propelling power generated by those tree trunks I have for legs, I jump right through the window, smashing the glass panels with the man still latched onto my back. As I jump through the window, I spin so that as we drop from the third (or fourth?) floor, my little unwanted passenger will get the brunt of our fall. The man holds on to me tight until we land. A wet sound mixed with a cracking one follows. Then I feel his arms and legs go limp. 

 

4

I get up fast, still holding on to Father’s hunting knife while more armed guards rush outside to finish me. They look at their brother laying now in an ever expanding pool of his own blood. On a closer glance, I notice that his head smashed like a pumpkin on impact, killing him instantly.

The others hesitate. Maybe these goats are smarter than what I thought. Lord Morval too comes outside through the main entrance. “Do not let her put thoughts of fear into your heads! She is but a woman after all!” 

I am not sure he even believes his own words. My body is pumped, my muscles are engorged with oxygen-rich blood making all those veins and vessels enlarge like snakes under the skin, glistening in the light of the moon. Every fiber of every tissue throbbing in a dance of war—and I am not even breathing heavily yet.

The men, albeit hesitantly, open up to try and flank me from the sides while distracting me with an initial frontal attack. These are definitely trained soldiers and not just common mercenaries. This might create a little bit of an issue. If I could just remove these stupid manacles! Maybe if I just try


“Is she trying to break steel chains?” One of the men says in disbelief

“Attack her, now!” Yells Lord Morval. 

This is taking too long. I can feel the chains straining under my efforts but by the time I’ll manage to set my arms free these goons will already be on me! I’ll just have to—

“Stop! Now! In the name of Carrialan authority!”

That voice!

“I am Mouslenix Dottir, and I come to rescue my daughter, Agogex Safren!”

“Papa why you here? I told stay home with Momma and relax.”

“It was getting late, baby. Your Mother asked me to come get you before tea got cold,” Father replies.

“Papa! I told you many times, you not call me ‘baby’ around other people!” I say to him in a frustrated tone. I really hate it when he calls me that in front of other people, especially in front of goats who are supposed to fear me!

“You are still my baby. You always will be!” Is his response.

The armed men look at each other. They obviously know who Father is, and from the look in their eyes, they also know what he is capable of doing with a sword in his hands.

“My lord, Mouslenix Dottir, my deepest apologies,” Lord Morval says, knowing that probably it is not a good idea to piss off one of the most powerful men in Carriala. “I was not made aware of the relationship Agogex Safren shared with you, sir.”

“I know your kind, Lord Morval. You would not hesitate in taking something beautiful and precious and tarnishing it and destroying it just for lucre. Look at this neighborhood. All of this is the fruit of your schemings and your dealings. But now you have attempted to do to my daughter what you have done to this part of the city: prostitute her to the highest bidders until only a shell of her former self is left. Abuse her, degrade her, violate her until even her will to live is wiped away!” As he speaks these words, Father unsheaths Darungel, his legendary sword which propelled him through the most illustrious military career in the known world. 

I get tears just looking at that sight. How many times growing up and training with Father he let me hold and even practice with Darungel.

You see, daughter, you are only able to hold Darungel because she lets you. Because she can see that you are not just an Agogex, but an Alpha Agogex. Only a few will Darungel choose; only the true warriors at heart who are made of a different stock. That rare breed whom legends are always made of. Most Agogex your age could not even hold Darungel due to her sheer size and weight, but you come from the lineage of Safren the She-Giant. But that is not all. Even if you were the strongest creature in all of the known world, you still could not yield Darungel because Darungel chooses you, not the other way around.

I wipe my tears, I look at Papa, so proud and fierce, standing before these men to protect his baby daughter. Because that is what Papa is: a Protector.

None of these men want to fight and lose their lives to protect the interests of a greedy fat goat. One by one they all kneel to Father then they leave, after handing us the keys to unlock the manacles. The only two left are Lord Morval and his right-hand man Kalimer Tulme, who meanwhile has managed to drag his sorry self downstairs (broken knuckles, broken arm, and all.)

“Your men have left you, Lord Morval. All of them. And I would not even call this creature crawling by your side a man. I should report you and have the House of Aratex unleash the full power of their laws on you. I am sure you know about Aratex laws regarding crimes against a General or against their kin, do you not?” Father asks.

“My most sincere apologies, Mouslenix Dottir, and to you, Lady Agogex Safren. This was all a big misunderstanding, it seems. I will repay you in gold but please do not report me to the Aratex.”

“You must promise never tax honest men and women of Komirn ever again. They suffer much because of you and they too skinny even for puny humans,” I say to him.

“Anything you ask, Lady Agogex Safren!”

“I will present a plan to the House of Aratex to rebuild this part of Carriala, so if you think you can resume your corrupt business affairs after we leave, think again,” Father admonishes Lord Morval.

I still think we should behead him, but it’s getting late and killing a defenseless fat goat really brings no glory.

“Let us go home, daughter, and let the vermin crawl back underground, out of sight where he belongs,” Father says to me as he reaches over and gives me a kiss on my forehead while caressing my blonde hair gently. 

“You must know, Safren, that no matter what life brings forth, the Dottirs are alway there for each other. Always.”

“I not say this a lot, Father, but I love you.”

I know what you’re thinking, an Agogex caught in a sentimental moment? Hey I’m still daddy’s little girl even though I’m a 210-pound goddess of pure muscles with blood of giants flowing in my veins and bones like steel. Just don’t let the other Agogex know!

 

5

Once we get back home we find Mother waiting anxiously for us with the servants. When I pass along the good news, Aramiz is moved with joy and gives me a hug I was not expecting.

“Thank you so much, Agogex Safren! This means so much for us and for our families!”

I grab her by the shoulders and say: “Just promise me, you all start eating and stop being so frail.”

Aramiz blushes. “We can actually afford bread and milk again now that Lord Morval will no longer tax us!”

“And if something like that happens again, speak up and not be afraid! You tell me or Father and Mother. You work for Dottir family, you have protection.”

Mother interrupts. “Tea is still warm. I made extra for Aramiz and the others since this has now become a special occasion and we must celebrate together.”

“Oh no, Lady Dottir, we could never—” Aramiz is finishing her sentence when Father interrupts her. 

“Nonsense. You, Sconard, and the others will share tea with us on this most marvelous evening, knowing that the streets of Komirn will be a lot safer tonight and every other night thereof, when you walk home,” Father says.

“You are most kind, sir. We are glad to partake then.”

As we enjoy tea time, Sconard says: “Permission to speak, Agogex Safren, Lady Dottir, Lord Dottir.”

“Permission granted,” responds Father, as head of the household.

“I and the others had a small request to make.”

“If it is a raise in your personal wages that you wish to request, it is granted.” Father says.

“No, not exactly, Lord Dottir,” continues Sconard, “though that is most charitable of you, my lord. Our request was in regards to being trained in the arts of war.”

“Arts of war?” Mother asks in surprise. “Do you mean teaching you how to fight?”

“Yes, how to fight and defend ourselves when you are not around,” Aramiz now interjects.

“This certainly is a most rare request,” Mother says with an arched eyebrow.

“We can teach you the fundamentals of fighting and how to use weapons, but ultimately it is up to your discipline and work ethics,” Father elaborates.

At this point, I feel like I have to say something. “You must eat, get stronger. You cannot learn fighting if too weak to even hold sword or throw a fist.”

“I will make a proposal to you all. If you can first gain some healthy weight in the next four weeks, we can then discuss teaching you how to fight. But like Safren said, get stronger first. You all have been starving for too long,” Father says to them.

As we conversate over tea, we hear knocking on the main door. Who could it be at this late hour?

One of the maids goes to answer the door then quickly comes back with an envelope. “It was a herald wearing the garments of the House of Aratex, and he handed me this, addressed to Agogex Safren.”

She hands me the envelope. I immediately see the seal of Aratex and I already suspect what it’s about.

I open the envelope with a small knife, and inside there is a letter:

To Agogex Safren, your immediate attention is required:

As per the will of the gods, as conferred to the Patrarchons of Carriala, you are hereby requested to appear at the main Holy Camp tomorrow at dawn to embark in a most delicate military tour in the East. Movement has been reported on the borders as the hordes of Morcon the Savage are now mobilizing. Carrialan troops on location cannot hold the lines much longer without reinforcements. Agogex Safren and other selected Agogex will join the troops of Agogex Captain Sorraya, to go serve, fight, and even die, if needed, for the good of Carriala.

Signed: Aratex Looke

The end of the letter brings an eerie silence in the room, until I speak. “Be of good cheer, for this what I train for. I AgogĂ©. I fight!”

“Luv, get her things ready. She needs to get some sleep before heading off to Holy Camp at dawn,” Father says to Mother, who obliges.

So this is it, off I go to the Eastern front yet again. This is now my third tour and, hopefully, this one will grant me a promotion to Captain. I should have already been Captain, but, again, the more I outdo my competition the more I get denied my rightful ranking. But it’s okay, I will be the fiercest Agogex Captain that has ever lived and then
 then, I will become the new Agogex Master General, even if I have to challenge Master Megax for that coveted spot. I will carry the Purple Streak. That is a promise!

Epilogue 

In a dark alley somewhere in the town of Varne, just outside the capital of Carriala City, Lord Morval and Kalimer Tulme slowly approach a door guarded by two gigantic guards. Not giants perhaps but as close as it gets.

“Master awaits,” one of the two big men says to Lord Morval.

Once inside, they’re both escorted through a corridor descending to what seems like the guts of hell itself, the only light provided by gaslight sconces running on either side of the corridor’s walls.

Ultimately, they reach an entrance to what seems to be a temple. To what god or gods is this temple dedicated, it is not clear. But the interior decoration is an assortment of tapestry and statues that all depict epic battle scenes from before the last Holy War, when giants still roamed the lands.

A tall figure is standing by the altar. Taller than the average tall man, just like the two guards by the entrance. Close to 8-feet tall perhaps, and heavily muscled, judging by the width of his shoulders, though covered by a black cape.

Kalimer Tulme still carries the wounds inflicted by Agogex Safren. His right hand is in bandages and his left arm is in a cast.

The tall figure moves forward into the light of the sconces bolted to the walls and surrounding the entire room, creating an eerie atmosphere.

“Lord Morval, why do you bring your dog with you into holy ground?” The mysterious figure asks.

“Master Brazzure, I bring Kalimer Tulme to offer to you an accurate account of the problem we have at hand over in Komirn,” Lord Morval answers.

“The Agogex whore insulted you, Master Brazzure, by killing and wounding many of our men, destroying our lair, putting us out of business, and wrecking my body so!” Kalimer Tulme points at his right hand and left arm.

“The sheer disrespect inflicted upon us, Master Brazzure, is disrespect inflicted upon you, for most gain made in Komirn goes to your coffers.

“Indeed, it does,” Master Brazzure murmurs almost to himself. “So, what would you have us do, Lord Morval? You do realize Agogex not only are powerful beings but they are also protected by the NNRD of Carriala.”

“The NNRD is hardly concerned with the local affairs of ‘landlords’ like myself. This was an isolated initiative undertaken by this large Agogex on account of a few servants whom we were rightfully taxing,” Lord Morval explains. “When her father got involved, being he a highly decorated Carrialan general and national hero, we had no choice but to bend the knee.”

“I will help you re-establish control of your turf only as long as the NNRD does not get involved,” Master Brazzure says in a menacing voice.

“You have my word that the NNRD will stay out of this. Besides, they are too concerned with the Eastern front right now to worry about a slum like Komirn,” Lord Morval reassures Master Brazzure.

“I will recruit my cousins to deal with the Agogex and her father.” Master Brazzure’s words sound very reassuring to both Lord Morval and Kalimer Tulme. 

The latter smiles and says: “I want to defile the large Agogex body and see her dead. And not in that particular order necessarily!” A cold, evil smile befalls his face as he speaks those abominable words.

 

To be continued


Next episode: Stealth Mode

Abigail Lakewood

 

 

 

Fantasy, Historical, Reviews

Spear of Destiny by Mary Lou Wells

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Spear of Destiny: Finding Bucephalus

by Mary Lou Wells

A review by INFAMOUS🩀

 

When I first read and reviewed Book 1, Spear of Chaos, I thought it was good but I felt like it could have been even better. In hindsight, I believe my ‘final verdict’ was the result of Part 1 of that book being so compelling that once the narrative moved on to Part 2 it did not hold my interest as much. Part 1 of that book showcases the creation of the cursed Spear of Chaos and it is just a brilliant display of Norse mythology at its best. Once the action moved to our main characters in the year of 1985 though, I kinda’ felt like I wanted the action to remain in the Norse mythology world and did not care much about these kids in the 1980s:

 

“Unfortunately, once the action moves to 1985, things take a turn and the narrative entirely switches gears. At that point it became harder for me to feel the same excitement I felt in the first page”

Fast forward to today, and after reading Book 2, Spear of Destiny, I truly feel that a vast improvement has taken place. This is due mainly to two reasons:

  1. I was better prepared to expect the action to move from the ancient world of myth and legend to our kids of 1980s
  2. The narrative surrounding our protagonists in the ’80s significantly improved, in fact I went from being indifferent to them in Book 1 to actually liking them in Book 2.

 

PLOT:

Everything begins when Ulfr, an evil and despicable subject who lived during the Norse mythology/Vikings era committed heinous crimes against humanity and with the aid of dark magick (with a K, yes) he creates a spear that will host his soul after his body will perish.

Fast-forward to 1985 rural US and the Spear of Chaos finds its way back among the living, feeding on the souls of the innocent so that Ulfr can rule again. It will be up to our group of teens and Diane, a black female police officer, to stop the chaos unleashed by the Spear. Book 2 picks up exactly where Book 1 left off. The kids are now in possession of the Spear but they need to find a way to destroy it once and for all. It seems easy, right? Only one issue: this Spear seems virtually indestructible, and not even with fire are the kids able to put an end to it. So the story will revolve around the task of finding a way to destroy the Spear of Chaos, and ultimately our young heroes discover that only the legendary Spear of Destiny will be able to get the job done. The only problem is finding the Spear of Destiny!

 

MARY LOU KNOWS HER LEGENDS:

Just like in Book 1, Part 1 of Book 2 takes us to a long time ago in history. This time we get to follow the whereabouts of Alexander the Great and his legendary horse Bucephalus. This is very crucial to the entire story as later on Bucephalus will become actively involved in aiding our protagonists.

What I really love about Part 1 is how once again Mary Lou is able to capture the essence of those ancient myths and characters. Everyone read about Alexander is very accurate and the entire time I was thinking how awesome it would be to have an entire book dedicated to what we are presented with in this opening part of the book.

MYTH/RELIGION/HISTORY:

A most captivating element found in this book (and in Book 1) is how Mary Lou manages to blend in myth with religion and history in ways that are not tiring or generic. Too many modern writers use these elements in ways that are, in my opinion, abhorrent, but Mary Lou always shows reverence and an authentic passion for these subjects. 

 

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The author is also part of our group of 1985 teenage protagonists. In fact all main characters are real individuals very close to Mary Lou. What I like about them is that they never come off as annoying self-absorbed brats who constantly make the dumbest decisions along the way and who find the best way to get in trouble. These are all smart kids who are very responsible and make common sense decisions. The fact that some of them are gifted with supernatural powers does not change their personas or likability at all. They kind of reminded me of those kids from Stranger Things but far less annoying and a lot wiser. 

The oldest of the group is not a teen but a police officer who finds out about the Spear of Chaos and decides to join and help them. She quickly becomes my favorite of the bunch, and not because she is a strong, independent woman of color! Diane is just a cool girl: smart but not conceited; humble but not insecure; resourceful but not overpowering. Is that how women on the force used to be in the 80s? 

 

CONCLUSIONS:

If you haven’t read Book 1 yet I really encourage you to do so to get ready for Spear of Destiny. This is fantasy done well, mixing myth, history, religions, and that 1980s flair some of you may enjoy. The book is also very professionally edited and it is written in a prose that is direct and to the point yet refined when it needs to be, going from one historical period into another.

Another new LEGEND in the making!

🩀

 

Fantasy, Marketing, Sci-Fi

Based Books that Don’t Break the Bank

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Have you noticed the change in the zeitgeist in the last couple weeks? This might be the most confident and optimistic you’ve felt for decades, or ever. Amirite?

The clusterbomb of revelations that began exploding when DOGE hit the ground running is the culmination of planning, preparation, team-building, wargaming and fine-tuning which took long years.

Some of us are not surprised about the information coming out–just surprised that it IS coming out and that it appears something may finally be done about a  full of corruption, treason, and worse.

The reason there are any unsurprised Americans at all is because they were well-informed despite the corporate, globalist-controlled Swamp Media and its legions of glowing clown influencers who regurgitate its lies. The dissident right is well-informed because of culture warriors who have been tirelessly sounding the alarm.

Some culture warriors are investigative journalists who built their own alternative media platforms. Some are livestreamers and podcasters.  Some are meme-makers; some are meme-sharers. And some are based authors.

Based authors have been offering their books at steep discounts for the Based Book Sale four times a year, dropping forbidden truth bombs even in that aforementioned status quo when American citizens could be arrested for sharing a meme. That status quo wherein you would be classified as a domestic terrorist by the FBI for reading excerpts in a school board meeting from a perverse book that the school board made your children read.

We sounded the alarm. We revealed suppressed information. We questioned Establishment-approved assumptions. But most of all, we told good stories (unlike Hollywood and traditional publishing).

If you missed out on those Based Book Sales from the exciting (and fearful) days of the Cancel Culture Era, never fear! The Based Book Sale rolls on and you can still get those good stories. But now there’s a new sheriff in town who won’t be putting you on an enemies list because you read something without the Establishment-mandated daily dose of Marxist agitprop, sexual deviancy, and America Hate.

Don’t make the assumption that “based” means “preachy.” What it really means in this context is that story quality is the priority. Some books are controversial and name names, but most is actually apolitical. Based authors don’t lace their books with woketardery.

Speaking of controversial, I understand Vox Day will be offering his fantasy novel Throne of Bones at this sale. Other well-known authors like John C. Wright and Devon Eriksen  (at the Fall Sale their books finished first and second in sales, followed by my very own magnum opus: Paradox) have discounted their books for the sale in the past and might this time, too.

I plan to have three of my sci-fi novels available through the sale for 99 cents. My readers know I write adventure of one flavor or another. These novels mix that with conspiracy thriller, sports, romance, time travel, some coming-of age and a little bit of alternate history.

Get yours for 99 cents while you can!

Fantasy, Reviews

Heir to the Sundered Crown – a Review

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Heir to the Sundered Crown – The Sundered Crown Saga Book One by M.S. Olney

A review by INFAMOUS🩀

 

Book 1 of Heir to the Sundered Crown is a well-written, enthralling fantasy tale that I found quite enjoyable for different reasons. Let’s face it, it is very difficult nowadays to write fantasy that manages to capture our full attention. This is due to several reasons: 

 

  1.  The market is oversaturated with fantasy books and if the author is not well known, chances are they will fly under the radar of most readers.
  2. Most current fantasy stories today are a ‘reassembling of parts’ from Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time, and Harry Potter. It’s the norm for modern fantasy writers to just copy and paste aspects of those fantasy cult classics without adding anything fresh or original to them.
  3. We have progressive modernists who want to use the genre with the application of ‘modern thinking’ so that the ‘fantasy’ element becomes just a veneer, with the essence of the stories becoming a sad reflection of the deranged post-modernist agenda.

 

HTSC manages to offer enough exciting content while avoiding to fall into the category of stereotypical fantasy/adventure novel. 

 

PLOT:

The entire story centers around the assassination of the royal family of the kingdom of Delfinia. The assassins, however, fail to find and murder the young prince who, thanks to Davik and Elena, is taken to safety at an undisclosed location. This coup leads to civil unrest and skirmishes among local barons, all vying for power.

However, the mastermind behind this plot is a supernatural foe greater than any mortal being, and that is our mage apprentice, Luxon gets introduced to us. 

Luxon is made aware that he comes from a lineage of powerful mages and, along with a team composed of knights, nightblades, and witch hunters, will play a key role in finding the young prince and rightful heir to the throne, which is key to avoid the legions of darkness to breach the Void and take over the world.

THE TOLKIEN EFFECT:

As I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but think of Lord of The Rings at some points. 

For example the friendship between apprentice mage Luxon and his buddy Yepert (a rotund, jolly friend from the mage apprentice school) reminded me very much of the same relationship we see with Frodo and Sam. Yepert even finds courage and strength when it’s needed most just like Sam, while Luxon, just like Frodo, is the most reflective of the two.

Also lines like “Please don’t turn me in anything unnatural” too reminded me very much of what we read in Tolkien. Not a major issue but it speaks volume of the massive influence Tolkien still has on modern fantasy writing.

 

MODERN EUPHEMISMS:

If there is one area I think the author could improve is in the implementation of modern euphemisms. 

Phrases like:

  • All in all, I’d say that was a good day’s work
  • And none of us died, which is always a bonus
  • intelligence network
  • until the cows come home

 

The above could easily be replaced with more evocative alternatives. That would help readers be drawn further into this fantasy world. Just because a term CAN be used doesn’t necessarily mean that it SHOULD be used, within the context of this genre.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

All in all, book 1 of HTSC delivers a fun, action-packed fantasy adventure for die-hard fans of the genre with heavy Tolkienian influence. I suggest you pick this book or maybe buy it as a gift and perhaps get your family and friends into discovering the magic and excitement that books like this one can offer. 

Book 2 will probably get reviewed at a later date since I’m curious to know what could possibly happen in the plot after the seemingly decisive victory of good over evil we read in book 1!

🩀

 

Action, Fantasy, Reviews

SON OF THE BLACK SWORD by Larry Correia

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SON OF THE BLACK SWORD by Larry Correia

A review by INFAMOUS🩀

 

Larry Correia’s Son of the Black Sword is a book that has been on my radar for quite some time. When the author himself offered me a copy for review, needles to say I pushed this title to the top of my TBR list and frankly, thank you Larry for such a kind gesture. Much appreciated!

Having said that, we must keep it honest and we must keep it transparent when it comes to reviewing a book objectively and fairly, so here is my breakdown of what I overall believe to be a good fantasy/action book. Is it perfect? No. Are there things I feel could have done better? Absolutely.

 

ANOTHER ONE-DIMENSIONAL CHARACTER?

Had I read only the opening chapter I would have quickly misjudged the overall quality of this book because the main character, Ashok, is as interesting to read as a plank of wood. He is the epitome of a ‘Marty Stu’, an overly idealized character with little to no realistic limitations. 

Whenever a Marty Stu is at the center of the narrative only one of two things can develop:

  1. The book will end up being a snooze fest of boring action scenes on top of action scenes with the hero mowing down bad guys after bad guys until we fall asleep
  2. The narrative will take an unexpected turn, becoming more story-driven than character-driven

 

When number 2 occurs, interesting things can develop because now it’s no longer about the unlimited power of the main character but it’s about the situations he is put in and how those situations will move the narrative in ways we, the readers, can thoroughly enjoy. I’m glad to say that this is exactly what takes place in this book.

 

PLOT:

Ashok Vadal is presented as a Protector of the Law, whose duty is to safeguard the law in a society divided in castes. The ‘casteless’ are part of the bottom of the barrel and they are not even considered human by the higher castes. This is an era in which the demon beasts have been casted out into the sea, but at times some of them will reemerge to claim blood. The Protectors make sure, among other things, that these demons are always pushed back into the waters of the sea.

Things take an abrupt turn when Ashok finds out that his mother was a casteless and therefore, he too is a casteless. All of a sudden everything he held true falls apart. In a very ingenious plan by the Inquisitors, he is forced to withdraw his status and alone with his black sword Angruvadal, ends up joining some rebels and fulfilling the prophecy of the Forgotten, a divine being many still believe in, who gives hope to the hearts of the casteless. But no longer being a Protector is a great disadvantage and all of a sudden Ashok finds himself hunted; every move he makes, terrible foes are ready to take his head off for he is wanted, along with his coveted sword.

FIGHT SCENES:

The fight scenes in this book are massive, and I’m talking ‘John Wick’ massive if you know what I mean! Ashok is a one-man army and can take down a lot of armed men before even getting a scratch! The choreography is neat and the vivid descriptions of each fight is very captivating.

 

MY ISSUES:

Some modern euphemisms in my opinion could have been avoided. For example lines like:

“I expected wanted posters for you at some point.”

‘Posters’ to me doesn’t sound very evocative and doesn’t gel well with this pre-industrialization fantasy world. What’s next? The casteless kids asking Ashok for his ‘autograph’?

I understand this book might want to appeal to a younger male audience but why assume that a younger male audience can only feel engaged when the language is modern and relatable? We live in a country where the rate of illiteracy is up, and most young people can’t even write a well-structured letter without the Internet. I think fiction should not fuel this trend but counter it by writing in more articulated English and clean up all the modern euphemisms that really do not belong in these stories.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

Overall, I like the book and I enjoyed the fact that the STORY to me was the real main draw rather than the main character. It goes to show that dull, one-dimensional characters CAN work when they are inserted in a good story with a solid plot. The action was great; the black sword kinda reminded me of Stormbringer, the sword in Michael Moorcock’s Elric of Melnibone. This is more than a sword, it kind of has a mind of its own and Ashok, just like Elric, has an actual ‘connection’ with it that goes beyond the physical realm.

Other than the modern euphemisms I already mentioned, this is a well-written, well-edited book that can offer a great alternative to some of the atrocious fantasy content that is available out there currently. 

Let us know what you think in the comment section below!

🩀

 

Fantasy, Reviews

TALES & TREASURES by Rob Mortell

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A review by INFAMOUS🩀

 

I remember the very first time I watched ‘French New Wave’ movie Last Year in Marienbad and instantly feeling so aware that I was witnessing something original and unprecedented in film-making. That same feeling I got when I first read Lord Dunsany’s The King of Elfland’s Daughter (link); I knew then this was ground-breaking content. That was years ago


Fast-forward to today, and the same phenomenon occurred to me as I read Tales & Treasures, the fantasy novel debut by Rob Mortell. 

It’s not the norm in this day and age to grab a fantasy-based novel and be surprised by its originality or uniqueness. In an over-saturated marketplace of Tolkien’s ripoffs, finding fiction writing like that found in Tales & Treasure is a rarity, and this goes as a massive credit to the author R. Mortell.

 

AMBIENCE :

As Mortell says: 

 

“Like many fantasy authors it started with Tolkien, but my more modern influences are Patrick Rothfus and Scott Lynch. The way they blend interesting characters with high-quality prose is unmatched.”

 

The way this story unfolds, the way the characters behave and interact all contributes to create an exclusive ambience, and it is ‘unmatched’. It is fantasy but you’re not going to see fire-spitting dragons or wizards shooting lightning from their hands. Instead, it is subtle, refined, at times corky, and it very much reminds me of the French cinema of the late ‘60s with characters that feel ‘ordinary-but-not-really’; characters that make us laugh even in situations which are not laughable at all.

 

PLOT:

Instead of the story building around a king, or a knight, or a mage, it builds around a bard, which is a brilliant idea and instantly sets up the tone for a different kind of fantasy ride. Vatis is our bard, and he has a ‘dark past’. His fate entangles with that of a treasure hunter, Vidmar, former member of the royal army, also with a dark past of his own. The two of them are subsequently joined by 12-year-old orphan girl Mia, and Kamet, former army pal of Vidmar.

Why would a bard tag along with a treasure hunter? Simple: Vatis feels that Vidmar’s current task of recovering the crown of Slavanes Greco, the crown of the true king of Emre, will provide all the content necessary to write his next big story, which would make him the most prominent bard in all of Emre. But what transpires is a fate that none of the players could possibly predict. Both Vatis and Vidmar are in for a very unexpected adventure, as they follow the vague clues to find the coveted crown.

 

CHARACTERS:

This is for me the high point of this book, but also the low point of it. Let me explain:

These are some of the most lively, ‘3D’ characters I’ve read about in most new fantasy literature. The way Vatis, Vidmar, and even supporting characters like Mia come to life is truly something that must be experienced firsthand! We feel engaged with them from the first to the last page. Their large spectrum of emotions, their sense of humor, even their sense of hopelessness at times is so well timed by Mortell that several times I had to pause, breathe, and think about what I’d just read! Just fantastic characters all around!

 

THE NEGATIVES:

As always we gotta mention the good of course, but also the bad and the ugly as well. Fortunately this book does not contain any ‘ugly’ to speak of but it does contain some ‘bad’:

  • Language: there is an extreme amount of profanity and crude language that was not needed for these characters. They already shine as they are, there was no need to have them drop so many F words and say so many crude ‘mamma’s jokes’. Virtually every character except for young Mia cusses like a sailor without adding one iota of richness to their established personalities. Not sure why Mortell wanted to go that route but this hardly works in fiction except in some sci-fi and detective novels for example. All that does here is cheapen the finished work in my opinion.
  • The bard’s performances: bards are supposed to be performers even when they are simply telling a story to an audience. If they narrate their stories in standard prose you no longer feel like you’re listening to a performance. I’m not saying that our bard Vatis should be more like Shakespeare but even a simple meter tweak to the writing could create that difference between ‘Vatis speaking’ and ‘Vatis performing’.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

All in all, despite the negative aspects I just mentioned, this story and characters are too original to give the book less than 5 stars. As a reviewer sometimes I find myself torn between giving a book 4/5 stars and 5/5 stars. If a book is not ‘perfect’ in certain aspects but it oozes with originality and ‘3D’ characters I might still give it 5/5 because I want to encourage the author to keep pursuing this and to encourage readers to buy and read the book.

I hope my advice is taken as constructive criticism but also I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy most aspects of this fantastic debut novel!

🩀