From Chapter 1 of Futility of Defense:
Krell was serving aboard ReckNor’s Bounty as a common sailor. If he was going to be a paladin of ReckNor, then he felt he should know how to sail a ship. Captain Voss was a willing teacher, ever since Krell interceded and saved him from being sentenced to the levies. Now in service to the town council, ReckNor’s Bounty had sailed to drop wardstones across the sea floor. Krell glanced at the pile still on the main deck. Scribed with deep runes, Karaback had crafted the wardstones to warn if a force of sea devils approached.
As the minutes passed, the cliffs grew closer. Krell could make out the ruined tower atop a bluff to the east. He held rights to establish a residence there, but hadn’t begun investigating what that meant. Closer to Watford, he could see a team of people working on the foundations of a small fortress being built near the harbor entrance, and another team on the opposite side.
The new fortifications were progressing. Every time Krell had looked, the foundation seemed to expand. Petimus Smithforge, leader of the dwarven mining consortium and member of the Watford town council, kept saying that real progress required a stonesinger and that one was on the way.
Until the defenses were complete, the raids would continue.
Krell’s brow furrowed, the smile dropping from his face. The reason they were returning was because Watford was going to come under attack. Tonight. His eyes darted back to the clouds to the south, moving closer.
They almost always came when it rained.
In this scene, Krell is hurrying home so he can defend Watford once again. One of the overarching themes in the series is consequences of your actions – both good and bad. While being called as a paladin and standing against the threat from the sea is all well and good, Krell increasingly feels the futility of it. And while the obvious threat from Beginning of Arrogance is still present, there are other consequences that need to be dealt with as well…
A snippet from Chapter 8:
Dahlia leaned over Krell. “Can you move yet?”
Krell groaned and pushed himself onto his elbows. “I think so.” Krell shook his head slightly. “I think Olgar was going easy on me.”
Dahlia stared at him with wide eyes. “That was easy? Krell, you’ve been slammed by magic for the last twenty minutes. It wasn’t even directed at me and I’m sore. I’m not certain I would have lived through it.”
Krell struggled to get his legs under him for a moment, then gratefully grasped Dahlia’s arm when she offered it. His head swam for a moment as he stood, even as he felt the grace of ReckNor moving within him, and also into Dahlia.
“Are you okay?” she asked, a small smile on her face. “Praise ReckNor for his aid.”
Krell chuckled, then frowned. “I’ve felt better. And you would have. I think Olgar has enough control to use just enough, but not too much. There’s a deeper lesson here, I think.”
INDEED. THE USE OF THE GIFTS I HAVE GRANTED YOU ARE STUNTED BY YOUR OWN HAND. THE FRACTURED NATURE OF YOUR POWER LIMITS WHAT PALADINS TRADITIONALLY SHOULD BE CAPABALE OF. STILL, TODAY’S LESSON WAS INTERESTING TO OBSERVE. I AM PLEASED WITH OLGAR AND HIS SERVICE TO ME, MY PALADIN.
Krell clutched at his head as he sagged against Dahlia. She caught him and struggled to hold him upright for a moment, before Krell righted himself.
“That was your doing? You could have warned me,” muttered Krell.
I AM NOT WIDELY KNOWN FOR MY GENTLE NATURE OR DESIRE TO CODDLE MY FOLLOWERS, KRELL.
One of the aspects I love about well-written stories is that the characters grow, in both skill, power, and wisdom. Scenes showing training, where they struggle to master skills, are a vital part of that, and lends believability and credence to the story. If you haven’t read Beginning of Arrogance, early on Krell shatters his magic in order to stay alive, and the consequences of that action keep coming up in Futility of Defense.
Beginning of Arrogance is available everywhere you can buy a book online, and Futility of Defense should be published in the Summer of 2023. I’ve already begun work on book 3 in the series as well!
by Bryan Cole
June 30th, 2022
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Fat Paladin Incorporated
Date of Publication:
ISBN: 9780228868682
ASIN: B0B5JJ338K
Number of pages: 410
Word Count: 125,476
Cover Artist: Vilenko Vujicevic
Paladins are nothing but trouble. Stories about paladins are everywhere, noble warriors riding magic steeds into battle against terrible foes. Champions of their gods. Heroes to everyone, except those who already have everything. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don't worship their deity.
So when Krell is called to service by the capricious god of the seas and skies, ReckNor, those with wealth and power can't help but be concerned. ReckNor hasn't called a paladin in years, and his nature is ever-changing and erratic. The fact that Krell is also an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea turns their concerns into fear.
All of which matters less than the threat clawing its way from the waves, ready to turn the ocean red with spilled blood...
About the Author:
Website-FB-Instagram
Goodreads
Bryan Cole is the author of the Paladin’s Journey series. New to the writing world, he spent years working in the enterprise software space, focused on quality assurance and delivery of software applications. Which is weird, because that has nothing to do with writing fiction.
For that, we need to go back – way back – to his first experience with Dungeons & Dragons. His friend Chris brought over the box set for Myth Drannor, eager to play. Together, they realized they had no idea what they were doing, because neither of them owned a copy of the Players Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, or the Monster Manual.
From those incredibly awkward beginnings, a lifelong passion for epic science fiction and high fantasy adventure was born. Everything from his grade 4 teacher letting him stay after school to play a video game where you were the wizard on a quest, defeating monsters by answering math problems, to some truly memorable movies like Willow that showed him a world bigger and more exciting than the real one.
Of course, Star Wars and Star Trek have had a major influence on him. Want to get in good with Bryan? Lead with a Star Wars meme.
From one of the good movies. Otherwise, your plan will backfire.
Bryan is also an avid gamer, and enjoys video games, board games, and tabletop roleplaying games.
These days, he lives in Toronto with his wife and daughter, and his adorable cat.
Publisher: Fat Paladin Incorporated
Date of Publication:
ISBN: 9780228868682
ASIN: B0B5JJ338K
Number of pages: 410
Word Count: 125,476
Cover Artist: Vilenko Vujicevic
Paladins are nothing but trouble. Stories about paladins are everywhere, noble warriors riding magic steeds into battle against terrible foes. Champions of their gods. Heroes to everyone, except those who already have everything. Paladins are notorious for upsetting the balance of power, to the detriment of any who don't worship their deity.
So when Krell is called to service by the capricious god of the seas and skies, ReckNor, those with wealth and power can't help but be concerned. ReckNor hasn't called a paladin in years, and his nature is ever-changing and erratic. The fact that Krell is also an uneducated nobody with a stubborn streak as wide as the sea turns their concerns into fear.
All of which matters less than the threat clawing its way from the waves, ready to turn the ocean red with spilled blood...
Website-FB-Instagram
Goodreads
Bryan Cole is the author of the Paladin’s Journey series. New to the writing world, he spent years working in the enterprise software space, focused on quality assurance and delivery of software applications. Which is weird, because that has nothing to do with writing fiction.
For that, we need to go back – way back – to his first experience with Dungeons & Dragons. His friend Chris brought over the box set for Myth Drannor, eager to play. Together, they realized they had no idea what they were doing, because neither of them owned a copy of the Players Handbook, Dungeon Master’s Guide, or the Monster Manual.
From those incredibly awkward beginnings, a lifelong passion for epic science fiction and high fantasy adventure was born. Everything from his grade 4 teacher letting him stay after school to play a video game where you were the wizard on a quest, defeating monsters by answering math problems, to some truly memorable movies like Willow that showed him a world bigger and more exciting than the real one.
Of course, Star Wars and Star Trek have had a major influence on him. Want to get in good with Bryan? Lead with a Star Wars meme.
From one of the good movies. Otherwise, your plan will backfire.
Bryan is also an avid gamer, and enjoys video games, board games, and tabletop roleplaying games.
These days, he lives in Toronto with his wife and daughter, and his adorable cat.
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