Dark elf Acbain Shadowlyre has been commissioned to seal the Crossblade - a powerful, legendary sword - away before it falls into the wrong hands. But doing so might come at the ultimate price. Will he fulfill his destiny or die along the way?

1. ACBAIN: SEALER OF THE CROSSBLADE
SAMPLE
An Eranovium Short Story, Prequel to In Search of the Sword
By Coty Schwabe, Copyright 2014
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SAMPLE EDITION, LICENSE NOTES
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This is a work of fiction. Any relations to persons living or dead, establishments or locales is purely
coincidental. The events portrayed are also fictitious.
WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT THIS STORY:
Intriguing story and very descriptive. Haven't read the other books yet, but it was an interesting
prequel and good set up for the rest of the novels!
M. M. Gallivet, Author of Gathering of Blackbirds
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CHAPTER ONE
1
Acbain spurred his horse up the castle's main path, passing under the wrought iron gate, and
into the castle's perimeter wall. The entrance door lay ahead, with a guard standing to each side,
spears crossed. He could barely see their faces in the cerulean moonlight and numerous torches.

2. Acbain cleared the gap between them, reared his horse and jumped down. One of the king's
human servants came running up, and took the reins from his hands. “Don't take her far. I get the
feeling I'll be on my way shortly.”
“Aye, sir,” the servant replied, bowing in reverence. “She'll be not fifty yards away, and I shall
bring her back upon your exit.”
“Good.” He nodded back, giving the man clearance to do as he'd suggested. The servant
bowed once more, and disappeared, horse in tow. Better take care of her, he muttered. He didn't hate
humans, but rather pitied them. To him, they led miserable, servile lives, and he wondered why the
Father would even bother to create such weak, magic-less creatures. But, then again, they'd found
favor with the King and that was good enough for him.
When he reached the door, the guard on the right addressed him. This guard stood seven
foot tall, with immensely broad shoulders. One of the Vorghoni, the evolved bear people. Powerful
warriors that fought until death, always eager for battle. Sometimes a little too eager. “Gailah, Master
Acbain. Have you your crest and sigil?” he asked, his voice tinny and echoed by the slitted helmet he
wore.
“Aye,” Acbain replied. He pulled back part of his crimson robe, and held up the silver
medallion that hung from his neck. The medallion bore the insignia of the Palladium Knights - an
image of the Crossblade engraved upon one side, the image of King Myza's Drakonic crest upon
the other - and it suspended in the air, twisting slightly.
“Very well, Master Acbain. You may enter.” They retracted their respective spears like a
spring-loaded trap, and the guard who had not spoken pulled the left door open. Acbain went about
halfway in when he left them with this last bit. “And I am far from Master. I am but an apprentice
still.”
2
Mounted sconces ran the corridor leading to the grand hall. Painted portraits of the dragon
kings ran the walls, along with portraits of the Palladium Knights themselves. The sight of them
made him withdraw the medallion and kiss it in deference for those who had not made it during
Denteroth's time here.
He stopped when he came to the picture of Kivemaer, the only dark elf mage. His portrait
does him no justice, thought Acbain. One of the greatest spell casters to ever walk the surface of this planet, if not

3. the greatest of all time. Certainly the greatest mentor.
Acbain quickly took a knee, bowed, ran his fingers in a cross-shaped motion. Thank you
Father of Creation, for you allowed my tutelage under such a being.
No sooner did he stand, did there come footfall from further down the hall. He looked, and
another servant, a plump woman this time – human of course - appeared in the firelight. The sight
of her made him uneasy. If there was anything to be said about humans, it was their ability to
multiply so rapidly. Using that argument, he could see why they made good servants.
“Master Acbain? Thank goodness! The King has just about unraveled himself awaiting your
presence.”
“He has?” Acbain asked. He'd been summoned and the message had seemed important but
what could be so important or dire that the Drakoni King himself - the strongest creature known in
all of Eranovium - would be unnerved? Something didn't bode well. Acbain's stomach twisted in a
knot.
“Aye,” she replied. “I know not why, only that he has been pacing for hours.”
Acbain nodded. “Thank thee, lady hume. You may go about your business.”
She dipped her head low, and passed by him, venturing off into one of the side rooms.
Acbain walked on, now with a sort of forced gait, finally reaching the doors that marked the
end of the long hallway.
He grabbed a handle in his freehand, and pulled.
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END OF SAMPLE
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