SOUL OF SORCERY – progress update and snippet

The rough draft of SOUL OF SORCERY is now at 80,000 words. 21 chapters down, 15 to go.

Here is another brief snippet:

“And what of you, shadow-maimed child?” said the oracle spirit. “Will you repay yourself, for all the harm you have done to yourself?”

Lucan felt a surge of irritation. “What does that even mean? Child of shadow? Shadow-maimed child, shadow-marked and shadow-bound?”

“You are a puppet who dances upon strings of shadow,” said the spirit. “The shadow of Marstan, who tried to turn you into his vessel. The shadow of your father, who tried to turn you into a weapon. The shadow of your brother, who tormented you. Those shadows left scars upon your soul, and it is the Old Demon who has gathered up those scars like chains, and makes you dance upon them.”

“Absurd,” said Lucan. “I have never met the Old Demon.”

“You have,” said the spirit, the green glow of its eyes flickering. “You begged his aid, and in exchange for it, he carved away part of your soul and the memory of the encounter. Now you labor for him, but you know it not.”

“Ridiculous!” said Lucan, his voice rising to a shout. “I am doing what is necessary! I will rid the world of the Demonsouled for all time, uncounted generations yet unborn will thank me for…”

-JM