Fire Walker – An Excerpt from Neverland’s Library

If you’ve been here before, you will be aware I greatly enjoy reading sci-fi and fantasy stories.

When Roger Bellini asked if I’d be interested in publishing an excerpt from their fantasy anthology, Neverland’s Library, now on Kickstarter (and funded!), I couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Here’s an excerpt of one story that will be published in Neverland’s Library: Fire Walker!

Enjoy!

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Fire Walker

by

Keith Gouveia

 

He looked around to see the townspeople locked in battle. Behind him, his father approached, slaying any Oscura warriors foolish enough to cross his path. “We have to get these people out of here,” he said to his father, but the man had his hands full with protecting his unarmed son.

“Leave our homes to these savages? Never!” said Pignuis as he deflected a strike from an Oscura warrior with one of his short swords and ran his other across the man’s abdomen. Entrails spilled, and the warrior dropped his twisted blade to catch the tubular tissue.

As Ignis watched Pignuis plant his boot into the Oscura warrior, he felt a strange heat baring down on him. He turned around in time to see a large fireball hurl toward him. Without panic, he quickly rolled to his left, narrowly dodging the large ball of flame. He looked over his shoulder to make sure no one else was in danger. Plumes of flames and dirt launched into the air as it struck the ground just behind him.

The beast continued its approach. Ignis looked around in hopes of finding someone to aide him in taking down the great beast, but there was no one. Even his mother was too preoccupied to help him stand against this monstrosity. He stepped toward it. The beast’s head tilted back and when it lowered it, another ball of flames shot forth.

Not wanting the ball of flames to harm anyone, Ignis forced all of his strength to his legs and braced himself. Palms out, nerves steeled, he received the fireball. Though the dragon scales protected his hands, the immense heat caused boils to form on his forearm almost instantly.

I’ve got to get rid of this, he thought.

Ignis tilted his hands back, then shoved forward with all his might. The fireball flew back toward the dragon-like creature and struck the beast on its left side. Its rider screamed and fell to the ground and was trampled underneath the beast’s clawed foot.

He looked at the white swelling orbs on his skin and realized he could not afford to do that again. Even without its rider, the beast continued its march into Fanguard.

I’ve got to stop it.

“Ignis!”

He turned toward Pignuis.

The man tossed one of his short swords toward him. “Take it down!”

The weapon clanged against the ground at his feet. He bent at the knees and scooped it up without hesitation.

With the short sword in hand, he charged the lumbering beast.

As he drew close, it swiped its massive claws. He ducked and saw the mount’s reigns dangling at the beast’s neck. He changed direction and took his chances. Ignis lunged and grabbed hold of the leather straps and planted his feet against the beast’s leg. Heat radiated from the creature’s neck and he quickly climbed up toward the mount, hewing at its flesh the entire way. Molten blood flowed from the wounds. The beast thrashed its body, but Ignis held the straps steadfast.

When he reached the mount, Ignis plunged his sword all the way to the hilt into the back of the creature’s neck. A deafening roar echoed on the air as he pulled the blade out and delivered another blow. The beast’s flat head reared up, flames spilled over its bottom jaw as it bellowed in pain.

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Neverland’s Library – A Fantasy Anthology

Neverland’s Library is a fantasy anthology featuring original stories from prominent fantasy authors, and themed around “Rediscovery.” It is a joint project between fantasy reviewers Rebecca Lovatt of The Arched Doorway and Roger Bellini of A Daily Dose of R&R. Both are freelance editors at Neverland Books, an independent publisher of fantasy and historical fiction anthologies.

Contents

Tad Williams – Introduction

Mark Lawrence – Deception

Marie Brennan – Centuries of Kings

Tim Marquitz – Redemption at Knife’s End

Kenny Soward – The Machine

Stephen McQuiggan – Redfern’s Slipper

William Meikle – The Last Magician

Ian Creasey – Restoring the Magic

Peter Rawlik – The Rendition of Ephraim Waite

R.S. Belcher – An Equity in Dust

Joseph Lallo – The Stump and the Spire

Jeffrey J. Mariotte and Marsheila Rockwell – A Soul in the Hand

Jeff Salyards – The Height of our Fathers

Miles Cameron – The Tomb

Keith Gouveia – Fire Walker

Betsy Dornbusch – Season of the Soulless

Brian Staveley – Dead Ox Falls

Teresa Frohock – Love, Crystal and Stone

J.M. Martin – Untitled

Mercedes M. Yardley – Untitled

Don Webb – Untitled 

 

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Did You Enjoy Fire Walker?

I know it is just an except. Still, let me know what you thought of Fire Walker!

I am looking forward to read your comments!

Z.