Top 10 in U.S. in ‘Children’s Scary Stories’, and in ‘Children’s Coming of Age Fantasy Books’, and in ‘Children’s Paranormal, Occult and Supernatural Books’, “The Call of The Shaman”, #1 in the epic Dark Fantasy series, is the story of a 12-year-old orphan boy who is trying to discover himself.
His father was a great shaman. His mother a great healer. Great ancestral indigenous roots. And after the visit from his ‘believed’ dead father, he must go on a journey to discover who he really is, the magic he has inside him, and the connection to the ancient Sumerian gods. All this while managing the great curse, the ghouls, and the wicked necromancer on his path…
If you haven’t read #1 yet, right now and for a limited time it is free to download on Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble. Please browse through my website and learn more, or find it here: “The Call of The Shaman.”
And to celebrate the new book in the Dark Fantasy series that I have soon coming out, #4, “Shadow Ghouls of Nergus”, I want to share an exerpt from Chapter 48 – Titled: ‘Everything you Believe.’
His eyes were wide open in astonishment. “You can talk??”
“Hmm, can I talk…?? Let’s see,” he said in deep thought. “Hmm. Yes, apparently I can. And so can you.”
“I mean, how can you talk??” Ben insisted putting the feather back in his pocket.
“Hmm, what a fascinating question,” the dragon-wolf continued. “I dunno. Never really thought about it. And how can you talk??”
“Well, I am human. We have vo—”
“WAIT—!” he interrupted. “I really don’t care.”
Ben saw him in a very serious pose, as if some kind of Greek philosopher. This hybrid creature looked very funny. He seemed to be very conscious of himself, but his fairly generous size and his long tail swaying side to side as he remained in thought made Ben chuckle.
“Oh, yes! You were going somewhere. Where??”
“I think I’m being punished for what I did,” Ben explained. “I’m dying of thirst.”
“Oh, yes, look at that. You don’t look so good,” he said while noticing his pale complexion. “You might be right. I might be talking to a dead boy after all. Or soon to be.”
“Gee, I’m so glad you came. Thanks.”
“Oh cheer up, you! It’s not that bad!” the hybrid creature said while moving one of his wings and exposing the rich sand for him. “Take some water now.”
“Umm. What water…??” Ben asked suspiciously.
“What is it that you mean?? The delicious spring water in this crystal glass,” he said while motioning with his wing.
Ben looked closer. Maybe he was having problems with his vision too. He moved the giant wing out of the way just to make a point. “There’s no water there.”
“Of course there is. You’re thinking too much. Now stop seeking excuses, reach the glass, and drink the water.”
Ben smiled and looked awkwardly at the talking dragon-wolf. “You’re an illusion, just like this whole place, aren’t you?? Just like I can talk clearly now.”
“But do you still feel thirsty, about to die??”
Ben took his time. He felt different now, but the lingering exhaustion as other side effects from dehydration were there.
Then, gathering himself, he said, “Weirdly, yes.”
“Then drink, and live. Or don’t drink, and die. But do not waver anymore,” the hybrid said, then turned around and away from him.
Ben felt silly, and he still thought this was an illusion. He probably was dead already, or maybe unconscious somewhere. He didn’t really care. He carried his big burden. And he knew the gods weren’t happy with him. He then went ahead, took the make-believe glass and drank.
“How do you feel??” asked the dragon-wolf.
Ben left the now-visible glass on the strange sandy surface. “Hey, it was real!”
“Of course it was! Everything is real if you believe in it.”
HHFFMMTT! Suddenly, the glass was swallowed by the hungry mound. Ben saw this and rubbed his eyes, then looked yonder and saw his friends down at the foot of a cave. They were waiting for him, just like he’d told them.
Then the hybrid came to him and said, “You have good friends, Ben.
“I know they’re angry with me. But my friends shouldn’t be punished for…”
I hope you enjoyed this section of the story.
“Shadow Ghouls of Nergus”, #4 in the epic series BENJAMIN JONES, is coming soon…
And, as mentioned above, if you haven’t read #1 yet and started the adventure with Ben, right now and for a limited time it is free to download on Amazon, Kobo, and Barnes and Noble. Please browse through my website and learn more, or find it here: “The Call of The Shaman”
-THANKS FOR READING-
- Asa Rodriguez - 