Eyes of a Stranger

Book One of the Aruvalia Chronicles

Available on Kindle (and Kindle Unlimited) and in Paperback!

When the innocent are threatened
A warrior must defend
Even if it means risking everything

After a harrowing nightmare, Clara awakens in a strange body, in a strange land, with a strange name on her lips. Haunted by the wrong face in the mirror, called by the wrong name, and trapped in a fantastical realm teeming with mythical creatures, arcane wonders, and enterprising faeries, her only guidance comes from a strange voice that speaks in her head even when she begs it not to. The name persistently echoed by the voice is Domerin Lorcasf, and he holds the key to Clara’s path home.

Renown for his unparalleled combat skills and unwavering loyalty to the crown, Domerin works for an elite group of warriors known as the Queen’s Division – Aruvalia’s version of the FBI. Unfortunately, he cannot simply abandon his duties to aid Clara. Aruvalia, a modern world where reality and magic entwine, teeters on the brink of war. And there’s suspicion of corruption in the ranks.

As Clara learns to navigate a world vastly different from her own, she must convince Domerin to trust her and the mysterious voice that guides her. Together, they can unravel the truth and prevent a catastrophic war. But if Domerin agrees to assist Clara, the decision could shatter his career, forcing him to go rogue and break the laws he has sworn to uphold.

Caught between duty and compassion, Domerin’s choice will test the limits of courage and loyalty – and prove the indomitable spirit of those who dare to define their own destiny.

Knocking on Death’s Door
The Elemental had taken a few steps back. But by the time Clara reached the end of the back alley, there was nothing between her and the battle.

Shouts filled her ears, this time resolving into words. She tore her eyes away from the towering beast and found four people scattered across the courtyard at its feet.

Four people against a tree the size of Godzilla.

Two of the figures were easy to identify as Domerin and Rilan. Domerin was close enough that Clara could read the insignia on the arm of his uniform. He held a sword in his right hand. The blade glowed as if it had just been drawn from the heart of the fire that forged it.

It seemed almost comical that Domerin would try to fight the towering beast with a blade that must strike it like a butter knife. But she noted that Rilan also wielded a sword. His stance placed both hands on the hilt of an altogether boring blade.

The two men danced before the Elemental, clearly trying to keep its attention on them as they dove out of the way of its wildly swinging arms and took what could only be described as potshots at its ankles and calves. The amount of courage required to serve any of these positions was astounding, but Clara was most impressed by Domerin and Rilan, who were obviously offering themselves as bait to grant their grey-haired companion time to adjust his aim.

With a resounding boom, the wicked hook flew free of the big gun and slammed into the Elemental’s shoulder, dragging a chain behind it. The end caught, and the man with the cannon jerked it with the aid of a hidden switch. With a sickening crack, the harpoon dug an extra set of hooks deep into the beast’s barky flesh, and the chain still connected to the gun grew taut.

The gray-haired man cycled a crank on the cannon’s side, forcing the Elemental to bend forward as the harpoon drew its shoulder downward.

Domerin rushed forward as the chain pulled the beast into a deeper crouch. He ducked and wove as it swung first one arm then the other in his direction. He leapt onto its foot and drove the red-drenched blade into the bark of the creature’s calf.

This time, instead of deflecting off the bark skin, the sword bit deep, disappearing almost to the hilt.

The Elemental screamed and flailed, lifting its foot to shake Domerin loose.

Domerin held, gripping the hilt of his sword with both hands, using it to steady him. When a tug against the chain forced the Elemental to lower its foot, he savagely yanked the blade free of the hole it carved.

Clara couldn’t tell what he intended to do but, from the way he lifted his head and scanned the creature’s leg, she guessed he wanted to climb the thing.

But he didn’t get a chance to drive his blade back into its bark because the creature reared. It jerked so hard against the chain, it dragged the grey-haired man and his mounted gun forward.

The Elemental wrapped both its long, slender-fingered hands around the shaft of the harpoon embedded in its shoulder and yanked.

The hooks didn’t come free, so the beast tore a significant chunk out of its shoulder. Green tendrils snaked from beneath the bark flesh, closing the wound and mending the injured arm’s connection with the rest of the body. The bark did not re-form, but the creature was free of its binding. It tossed the hook to the ground.

Shouts filled the air. Something blue shimmered in front of the creature’s face, but it ignored it and swiped at Domerin. He dove out of the way, but not fast enough. The creature clipped his left hip, flipping him into the air and dropping him to the ground. The sword flew out of his hand when he landed. It skidded in one direction, and he skidded in another.