The Exciting World of Shannon Rouchelle

Welcome Fellow Readers!

Excerpt from the Rise and Fall of Keidon (Adult Content)

Chapter 5

Cassandra remained quiet for the remainder of

the journey. The encounter with the black

beasts scared her enough to see the dangers of this

trip.

“Are you all right, Princess?” Blake asked,

concerned.

“Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?”

Tor added.

The princess shook her head. “I told you, I’m

fine. I never realized how dangerous this was

going to be. For some reason, I thought it would

be easier.”

Blake laughed. “Nothing is easy, my love,

especially when it involves a quest such as this.”

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice

breaking with emotion.

“For what?” the men asked.

“If it weren’t for you guys, I’d be dead. I want

to thank you for risking your own lives for me.”

Blake and Tor both had tears in their eyes when

she said this.

“We would do anything for you, Princess,” Tor

replied, grabbing her hand. They rode their horses

side by side. “How does your arm feel?”

“It’s healing just fine thanks to the medicine

you applied.”

“Let’s say once we cross the lake we have a

special night.”

Cassandra’s eyes lit up. “What do you have in

mind?”

“I was thinking of swimming in the lake and

dinner by a fire.”

“I would really like that.”

The three of them continued to move through

the woods. After a few hours of travel, they

dismounted their horses for a light snack. The

forest of trees thinned up ahead and allowed them

a full view of the lake.

“There it is!” Cassandra exclaimed.

The warriors gazed out on the horizon. The

sound of dragon’s wings circling the area

whispered over the treetops.

“They are waiting for us,” Tor said, settling

himself on the ground. “When we emerge, they

will pounce.”

Cassandra sat down next to him. “I have a bad

feeling about this trip. Somehow I think we’ll fail.”

“Fail? How can you even suggest that?” Tor

pulled away from her.

“I’m sorry, but the enemy is very powerful.”

“And what are we?” Blake asked, grabbing

food from his satchel.

“You don’t have faith in us, or in yourself,” Tor

griped. “Don’t forget the Ruby Idol wants to be in

its final resting place.”

Cassandra glanced at her horse and noticed the

idol glowed through her bag. “I’m sorry,” she

said. “The Delmirths are dangerous creatures and

have a strong leader to guide them.”

Tor shook his head in disgust. “And we have

the strongest warriors in the world. For your

information, two of them are sitting beside you!”

“We didn’t have to come along and protect you,

Princess,” Blake stated. “We could have left you to

do it alone. Tor and I risk our lives for you all the

time and this is the thanks we get!” Blake handed

Tor some bread and cheese. He passed the

remaining food to Cassandra. The warriors

seemed to be at odds with her. They began to

converse among themselves and deliberately left

her out of the conversation.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “Please forgive me.

I lost my faith for a moment.”

The men laughed about a funny situation they

had encountered on their travels.

Cassandra placed the food on the ground and

stood. She grabbed the reins of her horse,

contemplating whether to leave them. The tears

welled up in her eyes. “Won’t you forgive me?”

she asked again. When she turned around the two

men had stopped talking to look at her.

“What are you doing?” Blake asked.

“If you refuse to forgive me, I’ll leave without

you.”

Tor and Blake laughed. “You can’t survive

without us, Princess,” Tor replied. “You may have

combat training, but you’re no match for the

Delmirths.”

Cassandra pulled out her heavy dagger and

studied it in the light. “I think I’ll manage fine on

my own.” She placed the dagger back into its

sheath, about to mount her palfrey, when Tor

grabbed her arm.

“Don’t go, my lady.” Tor held her close in his

arms for a moment, then broke the contact.

Cassandra busied herself with the preparation

of her horse while the men packed up their

provisions in silence. The sound of dragon’s wings

and curses could be heard up above. “They’re

waiting for us,” she whispered.

Darkness had set in and created an eerie

atmosphere. Blake helped Cassandra onto her

horse and listened for the enemy. “Remember,

they have poor night vision.”

“Thank goodness,” Tor replied.

They all sat on their horses with swords and

daggers at the ready. On Blake’s command, the

three took off through the forest to fight the

Delmirths. The moment they emerged from the

forest, the dragons were on them. The riders

flailed their swords. Tor and Blake took the brunt

of the battle and protected Cassandra from their

wrath.

“Go, Princess, to the boat!” Tor screamed.

Cassandra jumped when a dragon nicked her

arm and turned in midair to take another swipe.

Blake and Tor fought numerous Delmirths. She

wanted to assist them in battle, but they yelled at

her.

“Leave, Princess!” Tor cried.

Blake had decapitated another Delmirth. Its

head rolled to her feet.

“But—”

“We’ll find you on the other side, we promise!”

Cassandra noticed more dragons and riders

come in for a landing. The enemy jumped down

from their dragons and battled the warriors on

land. Several ran toward her.

“Go!” the men shouted.

The princess obeyed this time. Her horse

galloped at a good clip until she reached the dock

and climbed down from her steed. A wooden boat

tied to the dock garnered her attention. Cassandra

untied the rope and pushed the boat into the

heavy current. Climbing into the vessel, she

grabbed the paddles and maneuvered the boat

into the darkness. The shouts of the Delmirths

drew closer. They laughed and shouted something

she didn’t understand.

She paddled hard and managed to get far

enough away, certain they could never catch her

except by air. Cassandra rowed with all her might

and watched the angry Delmirths gather on the

beach. They shouted obscenities at her. A dart

sailed in her direction and pierced her upper arm.

Her cry of pain filled the air as she tried to pull the

wretched thing from her skin. The sharp edge was

deep and the blood made it slick. Cassandra

gripped it tight and yanked it free. After a few

good tugs, the dart let go, except for the end of the

tip that was still trapped inside her arm. Blood

oozed from the wound, its flow impeded only by

the embedded tip.

It wasn’t until the moon shone through the

clouds that she got a good look at the poisonous

dart. Cassandra had used these darts to defeat

many of her enemies. She knew in order to

survive she needed medicine soon. There wasn’t

much time—four hours at the most. With a deep

breath, she forced herself to remain calm. If she

panicked, the poison would work its way through

her body that much sooner.

Through the shadows, Cassandra saw the

apparent new leader shout orders to his army. She

had visions of them pursuing her through the sky

and braced herself for what was yet to come.

Picking up the paddles, she remained strong

and concentrated on her mission—to find land as

soon as possible. As the hour wore on, she felt

herself weaken. Her arms wouldn’t cooperate. The

strength left her body. She touched her sweaty

forehead and closed her eyes to the consuming

dizziness. The dark waves that lapped against the

boat had made her seasick. Cassandra leaned over

the side of the craft and retched. The world spun

around faster and faster. She tried to pick up the

oars, determined to find land. The oars fell from

her hands. She leaned back in her seat and held

her head, moaning. The boat rocked unsteadily in

the wind. Clouds obscured the moon and

Cassandra found herself in total darkness.

A strong gust of wind blew across the lake.

Cassandra screamed in terror as the boat rocked

dangerously back and forth. She held on tight to

the edges as the waves increased with force. From

out of the darkness, the sound of dragon’s wings

soared above her.

Thankful the dragon’s sight was as poor as the

Delmirth’s, she swallowed another bout of vile.

The wind and waves grew stronger. Fearful of

losing it, Cassandra placed her knapsack around

her shoulders.

The dragons fought against the wind in their

attempt to fly across the water, only to be pulled

back by the forces of nature. Flashes of lightning

appeared in the distance, accompanied by rolling

thunder. Tiny droplets of rain fell. Within minutes,

the storm intensified and the rain became a

torrential downpour. The waves pitched the boat

precariously.

A large wave came out of nowhere and headed

straight for the boat. It hit head on. The wooden

craft flipped over. Cassandra struggled to the

surface and gripped what she soon realized was

the boat seat.

She felt along the length of the wooden boat,

made her way to the edge and dipped under only

long enough to surface. She held onto the

overturned boat with all of her strength. Her arms

tired and her head spun as the storm pounded all

around her. The dingy hit a rock and splintered.

With the last remnant of her sanctuary

disappearing below the surface, she gave up.

Chapter 6

Visions of a battered boat and a woman’s cries

for help, jerked him awake and to the front

door of his cabin. Stormy weather ignored, Keidon

headed barefoot to the water lapping angrily at

the shore. The instant the cold waves slapped his

skin, his entire body numbed, but he kept his eyes

on the horizon.

Waves swept over his head and he gasped for

breath. If I don’t find this woman soon… Strong

currents threatened to drag him down, but he

pushed onward, fighting the pounding waves,

high winds and pelting rain. Something moved in

the dark. A small boat. Keidon swam toward it,

determined to rescue the woman. As he neared

the object, a huge wave rose above him and pulled

him underwater.

Murky depths closed over his head and the tow

of the waves pushed him even lower. Keidon

didn’t want to die this way and forced his body to

surface. When he emerged, the partial remains of a

boat floated past him.

A cry for help sounded in the distance. Keidon

followed the voice. Flashes of lightning

silhouetted a woman clinging to a rock. Her

fingers slipped from the surface. Desperate, he

swept an arm around her waist and dragged her

against his body.

Nervous, Keidon prayed she wouldn’t die in

his arms. Her eyes were closed and she rest limp

against him. The dead weight slowed his, but he

kept himself afloat, riding the strong current to

shore. He kicked and paddled with his one arm.

When his feet felt earth, he staggered to the beach

and collapsed onto the sand, the woman beside

him.

Keidon ripped open her robe and placed his ear

to her chest. Lack of breath and heartbeat settled

fear’s spidery fingers around him. Knowledgeable

of first aid, he tilted her head back, pinched her

nose and started mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Keidon worked quickly, placed his lips firmly

against hers and blew into her mouth, then

proceeded with chest compressions. The woman

coughed and sputtered.

He rolled her onto her side, allowing her to

clear water from her lungs. When the woman

breathed several normal breaths, he scooped her

into his arms and carried her to his cabin. Once

inside, he laid her gently on the bed and kindled a

fire. The blaze warmed the room as he scrutinized

the fragile beauty lying peacefully on his bed

covers. The garment she wore unsettled him.

Keidon had seen similar robes many times in his

travels. Why the hell is this beautiful woman wearing a

disgusting Delmirth robe?

A dagger’s handle gleamed from the scabbard

at her waist and cast an array of colors around the

room. He unsheathed the weapon and held it up

to the light. The jeweled dagger glimmered. Where

did this woman obtain a legendary blade? Keidon had

seen a few of these in his travels, but only in the

hands of royalty. Is she royalty, or did she steal it?

Maybe she is on the run from authorities and that’s

how she got shipwrecked?

With plenty of questions to ask, he held the

mighty dagger in his hand and enjoyed the feel of

its weight. This weapon was worth a fortune.

Keidon sliced the blade through the air and

listened to the threatening sound it made, positive

this dagger killed a few enemies in its time. After

testing the blade with his skilled moves, he set it

on the desk.

Back at the woman’s side, he wrinkled his nose

at the putrid smell that wafted in the air.

Apparently, she had been on quite the adventure.

Aside from the blood, there was large rips in the

material and several stains—one of a wild animal,

the other semen. Keidon hoped the last smell

wasn’t correct. As he placed his nose to the robe,

he knew his senses didn’t deceive. Maybe she has a

lover or is married? Could it be Delmirth cum? He

tossed the nasty image from his mind.

Keidon studied her carefully and tried to piece

together the evidence. This lovely woman lying on

his bed couldn’t possibly be an enemy. The

Delmirths were ugly, smelly looking creatures,

with gray skin and big green eyes. She definitely

wasn’t a Delmirth.

In the dim light of the fire, an attraction for her

flared. Keidon went to the kitchen, filled a

washbasin with warm water, then grabbed

bandages and antiseptic. He approached the bed

and tended her head wound. A deep gash

blemished her temple. Gentle, he cleaned and

dressed the wound, then started to undress her.

He lowered the wet robe below her breasts and

gasped in shock. Her right arm had an ugly

infection from where a dart had hit, the tip still

trapped inside. Keidon had seen these kinds of

wounds before. The poison, if left too long, could

kill in a matter of hours.

Briskly, he rose from the bed and crossed to his

dresser. Keidon fumbled through the medical bag

he carried with him on all his adventures. He

pulled out a pair of small-nosed pliers, a needle, a

bottle of antiseptic and a medicine bottle with

serum to control the spread of the poison. Keidon

carefully inserted the pliers into the wound in

search of the tip.

Confident in his own skills, he patiently

worked. Moments later, the pliers bumped metal.

Slowly, he pulled the tip out and dropped it into a

basin, set aside the small tool, filled the syringe

with medicine and stuck the thin needle into her

upper arm. Gently, he rubbed the infected area

with a sponge, then bandaged the wound.

Keidon finished undressing the woman. With

the wet robe pulled from her body, he held the

disgusting material at arm’s length. Not wanting a

Delmirth robe in his house, he went to the front

door and threw it onto the trash heap to be burned

later. As he entered the house, lust ignited in his

blood. Unable to help himself, his gaze roamed

over her irresistible body, from her large firm

breasts to below the waist. He wanted her bad.

Hesitant, he approached the bed for a closer

look. If he were a real scoundrel, he’d take her

while she was unconscious, but loyalty and honor

forbade such. Even though the thought was

almost irresistible, he knew he’d never be able to

go through with it. His gaze explored her

tantalizing curves right down to the mound at the

juncture of her thighs. Aroused, Keidon knew he

couldn’t do anything about his animal urges and

draped a soft, warm buffalo hide blanket across

her body.

With temptation covered, he paced the room.

Who is she? Keidon rubbed his chin thoughtfully,

then remembered something dropped from her

shoulders when he dragged her ashore. He rushed

out into the dark night to the spot where he had

resuscitated her. Searching the shoreline, he

spotted a bulge in the sand. Keidon grabbed the

bag and hurried back to his cabin.

He set the knapsack onto the kitchen table,

opened the main pouch and stuck his hand inside.

His fingers latched onto something silky. Pulling it

out, he held it up and gasped at the beautiful red

dress with its low bodice and long flowing skirt.

Carefully, he placed the dress over a chair and

reached back into the bag. This time his hands

grasped something solid. He pulled out the heavy

object and his mouth dropped at the sight. The red

idol glowed in the shadows.

He heard about this idol and recognized it as

the Ruby Idol—the giver of peace and prosperity.

What in hell’s name is she doing with it? Keidon

peered at the idol and shuddered. The woman

staring back at him resembled the one lying on his

bed. A strong desire to shake the beautiful woman

until she awakened flitted across his mind, but

opted to wait until she regained consciousness of

her own accord. He studied the fine markings on

the idol one last time, then grudgingly placed it

back into her bag. Who is this woman and why did

she carry with her a valuable dagger and that idol?

Certain he hadn’t missed anything, he was

about to close the pouch when he spotted a

hidden side pocket. Ever wary, he grabbed onto

something rather soft and worn. Carefully he

pulled out the folded paper. The wet object was

fragile. As he spread it on the table, his eyes

widened at his findings. The map to the Sunken

Islands.

His gaze traveled across the map and followed

the red dots that led to where the Ruby Idol was

said to be. This can’t be the Ruby Idol stashed in her

bag? The Ruby Idol is unattainable. The land is sacred.

Keidon had heard about many men who tried to

claim the idol out of greed and never made it back

alive. The Sunken Islands were in the middle of a

desert with nothing around for miles.

Keidon pieced together the puzzle. Black X’s on

the map caught his attention. They were warning

signs, possible booby traps. Familiar with maps

like this one and with the markings, he stared long

and hard. Tired, he grudgingly folded the map

and placed it back where he found it.

Standing by the fire, he undid his trousers.

Naked in the fire’s glow, the heat penetrated his

chilled skin. Warmth made him drowsy. Keidon

grabbed another blanket from a nearby shelf and

set up a makeshift bed on the floor. Before

climbing under the covers, he leaned over the

radiant beauty with the flaming red hair and felt

her forehead. The serum was working. Her

breathing appeared normal and color had

returned to her face.

Keidon was curious about the color of her eyes.

Hadn’t he been looking for a woman to fulfill his

days with companionship and his nights with

love? This could be her, he thought, stroking her

forehead.

He settled beneath the makeshift bed covers.

“Goodnight, my fair lady,” he whispered.

Keidon rolled over onto his side so his body

faced hers. He stared up at her still form. He knew

that tonight he’d have sweet dreams of the woman

lying unknowingly in his bed.