Tag: epic fantasy

The Maze of Mandoran

Chris Hall16 Comments

Maze Garden by Victor Garcia

Sinead awoke shivering in the darkness. She reached for her cloak but it was gone. Panic rising, she felt for the Sword of Elshain, but it was gone too. Then she remembered. She’d either been drugged or enchanted.

The room grew brighter. Stone walls encased her in a small chamber. No window. No door.

Not all is as it seems. Was this an illusion?

She looked up. A picture was forming on the ceiling as if painted by an invisible hand. It was a depiction of a maze. In the centre was a tiny figure enclosed within a solid wall. Sinead rose to her feet, not taking her eyes off the ceiling. The tiny figure moved too.

This must be the Maze of Mandoran; the first of the four final challenges.

She heard a dog barking. The Hound was calling to her! All she had to do now was escape.


Image credit: Victor Garcia on Unsplash

Read the previous episodes of Sinead’s Final Quest

Unto Slumber

Chris Hall21 Comments

pic shows a young woman asleep

Tarron laid a hand on Moonsprite’s neck. ‘She will come with me.’

Sinead began to protest, but the elderly elf spoke: ‘The challenge is for you alone. Fear not, she will be safe.’ Tarron whispered in Moonsprite’s ear and the unicorn whinnied softly.

‘The Hound will accompany you.’ Tarron removed the great beast’s leach. The Hound stood up and shook himself.

‘The Prophesy Book!’ Sinead reached for Moonsprite’s saddlebag.

‘It will be of no help to you in the Great Maze,’ said Tarron. ‘Now go.’

The Hound at her side, Sinead stepped through the archway. The chamber lit up before them. People were feasting, there was music and laughter. Someone led her to a table and gave her meat and bread; people nodded and smiled. The Hound was given food too. Sinead ate with relish but the Hound didn’t touch his bowl. As she slipped into unconsciousness, she realised why.

Image credit: Byzantium by Michael C Hays on Deviant Art

Read the previous episodes of Sinead’s Final Quest

The Hound of Hellidore

Chris Hall17 Comments

The Hound of Hellidore by Chris Hall lunasonline

The hooded figure and the magnificent hound disappeared inside the castle. Sinead and Moonsprite followed, forced to walk singly in the narrow torch-lit passageway.

‘Courage, Sinead!’

The voice echoed in her head once again. She remembered when she’d first heard it: when she’d last gone into battle. But why the welcome and now the warning?

The voice continued. ‘Both good and evil lie within these walls and not everything as it seems. Remember this.’

Up ahead, the figure halted before an archway. The hound sat bolt upright, its attention fixed on whatever lay beyond. As Sinead and Moonsprite approached, the figure lowered its hood revealing the smiling face of an elderly elf. His green-tipped ears twitched merrily.

‘I am Tarron. I bid you welcome. This is the Hound of Hellidore. He will lead you to the Great Maze of Mandoran. Choose your path wisely and you will pass through unscathed.’

Image credit: wallpaperswide.com

Read the previous episodes of Sinead’s Final Quest

Inside the Castle of Mandoran

Chris Hall16 Comments

Closed Iron Doors

Sinead and Moonsprite stood before the castle walls. Sinead grasped the Sword of Elshain in one hand and buried the fingers of her other hand in the unicorn’s snowy mane.

The huge iron doors of the castle swung open. ‘Lay aside your weapon. We welcome you!’ Was the voice inside Sinead’s head or did it come from within the castle walls? Moonsprite nuzzled her shoulder and she sheathed her sword.

Together they crossed over the threshold. The doors clanged shut behind them.

Flowers carpeted the castle grounds. Breathing in their heady perfume, Sinead began to relax for the first time in many weeks. Moonsprite whinnied gently, burying her muzzle in the brightly coloured petals.

Ahead of them another door creaked open and a cloaked figure appeared, holding a massive hound on a leash.

The figure beckoned with a crooked finger. ‘Come inside, both of you!’

Sinead and Moonsprite dutifully obeyed.

Written in response to a prompt from Susan T. Braithwaite
Genre Scribes Friday Fiction Writing Challenge #40

The challenge this week was leash. Photo credit: Kevin Jackson on Unsplash

Sinead and Moonsprite apologise for hi-jacking this week’s challenge, but they have an important quest to complete. Previous episodes of their quest may be found here

More from the Prophesy Book

Chris Hall20 Comments

WDYS 23 the picture shows a girl holding a book which is hiding her face. The title of the book is not clear

The sun cast its first golden rays across the heathland. Sinead and Moonsprite had been walking all night. They’d pursued the path in the starlight, pushing aside all thoughts of what lurked in the darkness beyond. Sinead had drawn the Sword of Elshain several times, but no creature had dared approach.

Both were tired now.

The path led to a stand of pine trees beckoning safety. They settled down on the soft-scented forest floor, guarding Moonsprite’s saddle bag and its precious contents between them. Sinead gathered her cloak around her, the Sword of Elshain under her hand.

Awaking to find the sun high in the sky, Sinead shared out the last of the stale oatcakes. She opened the Prophesy Book and continued reading. Raising her eyes she now saw a towering castle wall beyond the trees.

Foretold in the Prophesy Book, the first of the four last challenges lay within.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #23 photo prompt.
Image credit: Leah Kelly on Pexels

Read the previous episodes of Sinead’s Final Quest

Beginning the Final Chapter

Chris Hall37 Comments

WDYS 22 The Picture shows a purple illumination in the sky in form of a beam. We can see the stars in it. A figure is silhouetted in the light.

Sinead held the Blue Orb aloft. Moonsprite, her snow-white unicorn, pawed the ground while her Mistress uttered the sacred words from the final chapter of the Prophesy book.

The orb glowed more brightly, its indigo light shining across the wild heathland. A path appeared before them: the way to the Far Side, where the Edge of the World began. Sinead must commit the way to memory. The Blue Orb would not shine here again.

Night creatures skittered and slithered around their feet. Sinead gripped the Orb more tightly, willing her mind to absorb the knowledge.

The Orb ceased to glow, but the stars shone overhead. Sinead returned the Orb to Moonsprite’s saddle bag and took out the Sword of Elshain, strapping it around her waist. There were four last challenges to complete.

Moonsprite tossed her silver mane. The journey would be long, but together they would finish the final chapter.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #22 photo prompt.
Image credit: Egil Sjøholt -Pexels

Sinead’s final quest began here.

Overcoming the Oppressors

Chris Hall30 Comments

WDYS 21 The picture shows a woman dressed as a warrior standing on a rock and next to her is a giant mask, one of the eye sockets of which is broken

Sinead stood defiant as last of the Oppressors tumbled into the cloud-cloaked abyss. She’d underestimated the power of the fabled Blue Orb, and thought the Prophesy must be flawed, but the magic she’d unleashed when she spoke the sacred words had felled them all.

That last one had laughed scornfully. How could a mere woman destroy the Patriarchy? But he was wrong. He sank, like the rest of them, crumbling to dust.

Sinead plucked the Book of Prophesy from Moonsprite’s saddle bag. The snow-white unicorn whinnied softly as her mistress turned to the final chapter.

The words glowed red.

At last Sinead realised what the Fourth Sacred Artifact must be.  Slowly she led Moonsprite back down the Sunset Path. Once more their journey would be long, but she must gather the remains of the Sisterhood.

Together they would forge the Freedom Key which would unshackle the chains of Mother Earth.

Written in response to Sadje’s What Do You See #21 photo prompt.
Image credit: Kellepics on Pixabay