Books 1 3 a high fantasy.., p.1
Books 1-3: A High Fantasy Novel, page 1
part #1 of A Talnarin Novel Boxed Series
Talnarin Novel Series Boxed Set Books 1-3
D.E. Chapman
A Talnarin Novel Series Boxed Set Books 1-3
This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Copyright © 2021 by D.E. Chapman
All rights reserved.
Cover design by EarthlyCharms.com
Cover design by Just.write Creations
Cover image copyright Shutter Stock
Edited by Hannah Bauman at Between the Lines Editorial
Proofed by Heather Bosevski Editing Services
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Dad, this is for you.
Talnarin Novel Series Boxed Set Books 1-3
This book contains the first three books in the Talnarin Novel Series, including the prequel told from Malik's POV. This series also contains profanity, dark themes, sexual tones, and violence. Slow burn romance, kicka** heroine, enemies to lovers tropes.
A Talnarin Novel Complete Boxed Set Includes:
Veiled Threats
Fractured Past
Spilt Secrets
Table of Contents
Glossary
Veiled Threats
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Fractured Past
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Spilt Secrets
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by D.E. Chapman
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Glossary
Alpoh – Seedless, purple, rounded fruit
Alternro – fruit that alters eye color for forty-eight hours, similar in appearance to dastrol and is often mistaken as such, pale pink, pear shaped, skin is softer
Arb – Pale yellow, star shaped vegetable
Arcons – Term for birds
Berka – Large aggressive creature, single horn above eyes, bear like body structure
Beezles – It’s a medium sized flying insect, has clear wings with veins running through them, similar to dragonfly wings
Bhria – Bird like creature, can fly, small and fragile, very colorful blue feathers, docile and shy creature
Bylir – Name of planet
Capalts –Used for riding, size of horse, scales all along body, leathery wings, large saber teeth, have twisted horns curved over top of head, allows rider to grip, docile and obedient creatures
Cerla – Two tailed cat, size of lion, saber teeth, variations in fur color and patterns
Craforian – Talnarin and human village, coexist but separated from each other by barrier
Cras – plate of tulio and berka meat, cheap dish
Catrel – Capitol of talnarin cities, where royal family resides
Dastrol – similar in appearance to alternro and is often mistaken as such, pale pink, pear shaped, skin is rougher
Dol Trees – Like oaks but twisted trunks, very tall, many branches
Dragonian – Humanoid, water manipulator, gills, webbing, tails and scales
Elestal Affinity – Electrical energy manipulation
Firvo Affinity – Fire energy manipulation
Flokil Affinity – Flora energy manipulation
Freal – God of mercy and love
Gran – Light brown, long and rounded vegetable
Hedra – Goddess of trickery and mischief
Hellvian – Hell, where forsaken souls reside, birth place of rayns and other wraith-like creatures
Inkberries – Smooth round black berries with dull coating, non-poisonous
Jaurdin – leafless plant, beautiful white flower, considered most beautiful to most, and this particular plant is used in the Royal Pair Ceremony
Joult – Human village
Mazir – Giant insect, lives underground, has hard exoskeleton, eight legs, pinchers, destructive creatures
Mindula Affinity – Mental energy manipulation
Mintas – Term for rodents
Nahann – Human village
Nariovark – Human sanctuary below Craforian; houses time keepers
Naviha – Limbo
Nerio – God of creation and life, reigns over other Gods
Nifarion – Humanoid, shadow manipulators, tails with sensory hair, not much else is known
Nightberries – Smooth round black berries with shiny coating, poisonous
Porg – Vegetable, tan and square, edges are rounded
Povios – Term for insects
Ramic – God of death and pain
Rayn – Demons/evil creatures, shadow like wraiths, souls forsaken by the God Nerio
Rediruim – A plant with serrated edges along the leaves and a faint red pigment along the stem, blood red flowers, and this particular plant is used in the Royal Pair Ceremony
Sonya – Goddess of wisdom and arts
Spovidar – Winter Festival
Steriav – plant with flat leaves and short stems, looks like a bush, grows twenty feet high, purple blooms, and this particular plant is used in the Royal Pair Ceremony
Sugavan – Humanoid, air manipulators, long ears and furry, wings
Talnarin – Humanoid, energy manipulators, green/ orange/ red/ yellow/ purple eyes, pointed ears
Time Keepers – Humans descended from the royal line with the ability to manipulate time
Tolsi – Human village
Treli – Grilled dish with various starches, vegetables, and berka meat
Tulio – Orange, rounded and grainy starch
Valina – Heaven, afterlife where Gods reside
Velto – Red and round vegetable with faint grooves circling it
Venhir – Giant canine, size of horse, variations in fur color and patterns, large saber tooth fangs, males have horns curved over top of head
Wafi – Small, two eared, four tailed, furry, tree climber, a cross between a cat and a fox
Waldiup – plant with long leaves with black stripe down middle, toxic if ingested, purple flowers, and this particular plant is used in the Royal Pair Ceremony
Warhla – Large bird like creature, size of Labrador dog, can fly, used as postal service, spotted brown feathers, large beak
Wilvidar – Winter Festival
Part 1
Veiled Threats
Veiled Threats
Vengeance never tasted so sweet.
Malik and Abel were young men who enjoyed the small pleasures of life. Life was easy and routine with no unexpected surprises along the way. They had little care for the world around them, but all that changed when their life went up in flames.
Literally.
The two brothers managed to escape with their lives but the marks on their soul left them far from unscathed. Hardened and set on revenge, Malik puts his focus on protecting the only family he has left, his brother. While Abel is more than capable of protecting himself, Malik isn’t leaving anything to chance.
With the song of revenge drawing Malik in, can he put aside his fury for the sake of his people? Or is the call
Warning: The events of this short story take place years before the start of Fractured Past, Book Two of a Talnarin Novel Series. This prequel is told from the perspective of Malik, the main protagonist of the series, long before he meets Alanna. This series contains profanity, dark themes, sexual tones, and violence, slow burn romance, kicka** heroine, and enemies to lovers tropes.
Chapter 1
I wipe the sweat from my brow as we come inside. Despite the cool day, working with our affinities still manages to heat up my blood and tire out my muscles. Even now, thirty minutes after our final lesson for the day, I can still feel the ache in my arms and legs that signifies a fulfilling day.
“You boys did well today. We’ll pick up your Elestal manipulation tomorrow and take a break from Firvo.” Dad says as he drops into the sofa with a tired grin. “In a month, when it’s time for you to join Chrome, you’ll even be strong enough to take your Uncle down. I’ll make sure of it.” He laughs good naturedly.
I groan silently at the thought of more training tomorrow. Since Abel and I turned twenty, our lessons have become a daily necessity. Personally, I find it pointless but you won’t hear me vocalize that out loud. I’d sooner have my ass handed to me in the sessions then get a firm ass whooping from Mom. She’s terrifying.
Abel and I follow suit, collapsing into the chairs sitting on each end of the sofa. With Dad sprawled out, there’s no point in trying to fight for the best spot in the living room, Dad always wins.
Despite Dad only having Elestal for his affinity, he’s well versed with the remaining three as well. Him and Mom have been together for so long, since they were children, that he knows the workings of all four. Mom has practiced around him and with him for years so it’s no wonder enough of the techniques and methods for each power stuck with him. And he might not be able to show us how to manipulate the affinities, but his explanations and directions are great.
This also means our abilities don’t stand a chance against his keen eyes even if we were to challenge him for the comfortable sofa he’s hogging.
“Why are we moving to Elestal and not Mindula?” Abel remarks with that no-nonsense tone in his voice. He’s never been the one for jokes unlike me. “I thought the schedule was–”
I scoff, interrupting my brother. “We don’t need to stick to a set schedule, it makes us complacent.”
“Malik’s correct. Routine might mean you could get too comfortable with training and I don’t want you two getting lazy.” Dad laughs with his head thrown back like he just told the funniest joke when in truth, nothing he said was remotely humorous.
I suppose that’s why Mom paired with him, though. She’s the serious one, the one shouldering all the responsibility since it’s her birthright. Dad’s the one who always lightens the mood and pulls her from that role for a few minutes. That’s not to say Mom doesn’t crack jokes herself every now and then, but Dad has to coax it out of her. Abel takes after her while I sort of sit in the middle of the two.
Dad’s laugh tapers off, though his smile remains. We all sit in companionable silence, as we watch the fading sun dip beneath the tree line, signaling a close to another mundane day. Dad’s yellow eyes and peppered hair glints in the remaining light. He’s the only one in this house without the royal family’s golden eyes. Even my cousin and Uncle sport the trademark feature, though I don’t think it bothers Dad as much as it bothers me.
It’s not as if Lucien and Uncle Elias are cruel to him, at least to his face. I’ve overheard them talk as if they are better than my dad on a few separate occasions. Having to bite my tongue and feign ignorance kills me but what could I possibly do about it? Confront them? And then what? It’s not like I could kick my Uncles ass, he’s been practicing his affinities before I could walk. I don’t stand a chance.
Truthfully though, if you were to ask me, I’d tell you that Dad suits this family line even more so than Grandpa’s son and grandson. There’s something about them that sets me on edge, though they’ve never outwardly done anything to explain that feeling I get. Mom loves Uncle Elias dearly and tries to give him the world and yet still that nagging feeling persists.
The door slamming open draws me from my heavy thoughts. All three of us turn just in time to see Lucien stalking off up the stairs and to his room while his father glares after him. Mom is the last to slip into the door and she closes with a soft click behind her. From over Uncle’s shoulder, she sees us watching and a small smile lights up her face.
“Get down here Lucien or so help me ...” Uncle trails off, voice shouting to be heard through the solid wooden door my cousin had slammed behind himself.
Mom’s slender hand slips to his shoulder with a small squeeze. “Go up and speak to him Elias.” Her words are gentle like always, so much so that the tension visibly eases from his body and the glare slips off his face. He reaches his own hand up to pull hers from his shoulder. With a curt nod, Uncle climbs the stairs after his son.
“What was that all about?” The happy grin stretching my father’s lips brings a matching one to mom’s face.
“They had a dispute. Small one, but both are being stubborn.” She says with a sigh as she comes over to sit beside her mate.
“I see you came back from the village empty handed, so I assume dinner will come from the garden?” I say with a grumble, a small glare directed towards the upstairs bedroom where the faint mutterings filter through the door.
Something slams, the noise echoing with a crash. At first, I assume it came from the fighting father and son, but the direction of the sound doesn’t match up. We jump to our feet just in time to see the front door burst into flames. The burning red inferno spreads exceedingly fast, unnaturally so That tells me all I need to know.
Someone’s trying to either flush us out, or kill us because there is no way that fire started by natural means.
But why?
My assumption is confirmed the moment the back door catches alight too. We stand in shock for a few precious moments as we attempt to collect our thoughts.
It’s like I can hear the snap as my parents burst into action. They usher Abel and I to the far corner, out of sight of all windows and doors.
“Elias! Lucien!” Mom yells though her voice is drowned out by the roaring flames quickly consuming the house. “Go.” This is ordered at us and it takes me a moment to understand what she’s asking.
My father has moved a heavy chest to reveal a hidden door in the floor. I can’t say I’m surprised, my family is a paranoid one. For good reason of course.
“But–”
“Go Abel. Now.” Mother pushes him forward and he pauses a moment to look at our parents, though I don’t know what he’s looking for. Whatever it is, he found it as he jumped into the pitch-black tunnel without looking back. “Malik, now you. Hurry.”
“You and father first.” I stubbornly keep my feet rooted even as the heat of the flames start to lick my heels.
A rough hand pinches my shoulder and I snap my head to the side. “In Malik. Now.” Dad’s words are spoken with a seriousness I’ve never heard from him before.
This time I don’t argue, knowing it will just waste precious time. A thud from behind me has me starting to turn but my father's grip on my shoulder keeps me from looking back. But judging from the pale pallor his face has taken, I’d say it’s nothing good.
I jump down, the darkness immediately encompassing me. Abel is just barely visible as I move from the entrance to give our parents room to follow after us. The creaking door above us has me looking up just in time to see Dad stumble. Arrows litter his chest, dark red staining his shirt. His brows are pinched in pain and the smile he sends our way is barely more than a grimace. Tears slip down my face as another arrow lands in his throat. He drops to his knees, free hand reaching forward.
Just as the door slams closed, sealing us in darkness, do I finally see it. That thud I had heard was our mother dropping to the ground. Before my father breathed his last breath, he gripped the bloodied hand of his wife who lay in a heap at his side. Her dull golden gaze will haunt me for the rest of my days.
Just as the sight of Dad falling to his knees, chest riddled with arrows and blood.
Chapter 2
In self-induced exile, I’m rather use to days where we do nothing. My family and I have been isolated for so long that loneliness is a bitter friend, one that I’d grown accustomed to. Sometimes, the days seem never ending. Most of the time I can’t quite tell if that’s a good thing or bad thing.
