The Blood of God

In the Shadow of Sin:

Book Three

By

Alan Harrison

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2024 by Alan Harrison

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: AlanHarrisonAuthor@gmail.com.

Cover design by MiblArt

Map by Cornelia Yoder

ISBN 9781838132842 (paperback):

ISBN 9781838132859 (ebook):

I

For those who fight anyway

Contents

Prologue: The Coward’s War

Chapter 1: In the Eyes of Seletoth

Chapter 2: The Last Carríga

Chapter 3: What is Right

Chapter 4: What Must Be Done

Chapter 5: From His Lips

Chapter 6: The Majestic

Chapter 7: In the Light of the Lady

Chapter 8: The Light Fades

Chapter 9: The Grey Plague

Chapter 10: The Blood of God

Chapter 11: Incarnate

Chapter 12: Hunter’s Den

Chapter 13: The White Rose

Chapter 14: God’s Spine

Chapter 15: Scarlet Robes

Chapter 16: The Silverback’s Reach

Chapter 17: As It Was Written

Chapter 18: At Mount Selyth’s Peak

Chapter 19: Heresy

Chapter 20: The Truth

Chapter 21: Omniscience

Chapter 22: Our New World

Epilogue: Journal of Padraig Tuathil

Guide to Alabach, Her Places, and Her People

Prologue:

The Coward’s War

Earthmaster Seán held his tongue. It wasn’t something he was used to doing. From the classrooms of the Academy to the council hall of the Triad, and even within the inner circles of the Silverback’s dissident movement, Seán had always spoken his mind, caring little for who he contradicted.

But tonight, in the throne room of Keep Carríga, standing before the Earl of the Midlands, he kept his thoughts to himself. Even as the undead horde slew the townsfolk of Rosca Umhír outside and threw their bodies against the castle walls, Seán remained silent.

I am a visitor, he reminded himself. It is not my place to question his lordship, no matter how questionable his actions may be.

“Sire, please you must reconsider!” cried the crystallographer who had brought the dire news that Ardh Sidhe to the north had fallen. “We cannot assume help is on the way.”

“I assume nothing!” said Earl Carríga, with a voice that once commanded an army of a thousand strong. Several of his councilmen and advisors shrank back in fear. “How dare you seek refuge in my keep, then demand I open my doors to let in those… creatures!”

To Seán’s surprise, the crystallographer stood his ground. “But the townsfolk, your highness. If fighting back against this enemy is not an option, then please, lower the drawbridge for them.”

“The town is already lost,” said Earl Carríga. “We are all who remain.”