The_Red_Lands

Chapter 168- Keeping a low profile?

Keeping a low profile

Bella sorted through the pigeon holes while selecting the dried herbs scribbled on the list. She carefully wrapped the contents for each request in separate sheets of parchment after double checking it again. Only then did she lift her large woven basket and leave the other couriers in the large storage room.

Nodding with the occasional wave of a hand to bustling older girls, she entered the long workshop and hastened across the stone corrido...

Chapter 167- The consequences of Bullying

The consequences of bullying

Sakura walked down the cobbled lane leading to the workshop. Her brunette hair hung loosely over her shoulders while her mind wandered about on the day's task.

Since she first arrived at the Tower academy in Limerock over a month ago, her views on the place had changed. On the farm, Chu instilled through education and action, that girls possessed the same capabilities as boys.

Her first impression of the Tower had been this place...

Chapter 166- A fantastic tale

A fantastic tale

Chu stared at the bird pruning its feathers within the cage. The golden beak slid across the metallic silver feathers as the avian ruffled its feathers. The bird expanded to the size of an owl, before shrinking to that of a dove. It then returned the stare to the boy.

"Alicanto, how can you make a face like that. Come to mama."

Miki said while opening her arms. Chu looked at the ignorant bird as it hopped out of the open wooden cage and flew...

Chapter 165- Searching the library

Searching the library

Chu opened his tired eyes at the sound of a gong. He mumbled while turning and pulling tightly on the quilt as he snuggled. In the early dawn, this hard bunk bed within the stone dorm felt like heaven.

"Hey, you'd better not ready too late, or else you won't have any breakfast again. How can someone who gains the opportunity to enter the Tower, act like a sloth?"

"Davis, you nag like my mother back when I went to school. Let me sleep so...

Chapter 164- A teaser revealed

A teaser revealed

The scribe led them along the cobbled lane to a large enclosed field.

"This is a rare treat. The recruitment month has just finished. Since most of the noble families have yet to leave after enrolling their young geniuses, the Tower decided on this demonstration."

The scribe explained to them while walking. For this group to receive an invitation personally from the head of the Outer Circle proved their standing. He knew better than trying ...

The Red Lands Art Drawing Competition

Hey Supporters,

I am heading out and will hopefully be online before Tuesday. It has been over a year since this novel began and its time to have my donators enjoy themselves.

When I settle down next week, I want to hit the ground running. I plan to run a three month long drawing competition for artist to participate. The participants will enter their drawings which will be posted on my webpage and here on Patreon.

Patreon has a poll feature, so I am thinking to use it for v...

Chapter 163- Employment

Employment

The next day a group of well-scrubbed, spick and span children alighted from the carriage driven by Mr. Thomas. Chu glanced at the ruddy faces of the girls wearing iron pressed cloaks. Not a strand of long hair escaped out of place from the diligent combing of Mrs. Thomas.

The woman had folded up her sleeves early in the morning and scoured away the pent-up grime from the visitors. Even Amanda failed to elude scrutiny, having to spend nearly an hour in ...

Late Chapters

Hi Supporters, thank you for reading the novel thus far and helping this struggling writer. The chapters for Friday and early next week will be a few days late because I will be moving to a cheaper apartment.

I should be sorted out by next week. You can look forward to the releases then.

Chapter 162- Life as a Guest

Life as a Guest

Chu rolled off a king sized bed containing a straw stuffed mattress and an embroidered quilt lining. The bedpost towered to the high ceiling while decorated by spirals of thin veils of red cloth.

The thick white canopy hanging overhead held a captivating embroidered pattern weaved by golden threads.

The vast expanse of the room swallowed the huge bed. A polished marble floor extended towards the far walls of solid stone which then rose to mee...

Chapter 161- Stepping into the Underworld

Stepping into the Underworld

Frost City.

A little girl of about eight or nine picked her way across the idle street in the evening. The stench from the piles of discarded refuse had dissipated from the unbearable peak caused by the midday sun.

Dressed in a tattered, faded cloth sack ripped to allow a disheveled head and grimy arms to poke out, she blended into her destitute surroundings. As she meandered across the lanes while cutting along narrow alleys, sh...

Chapter 160- Helpful folks to make one cry

Helpful folks to make one cry

Tye led them into an open field. Here, wagons filled with bales of hay, boxes of vegetables, and chests of various materials waited for inspection. Scribes would then escort the owners to the respective designation for delivery.

"Wait here while I find out the situation. My letter should have already arrived before us."

Tye said as he secured the horse to a wagon. His destination lay in a stone building on the opposite end of th...

Chapter 159- Two Cities

Two Cities

Doug walked along the narrow lane, leading out from the Commoner's District. Piles of rubbish littered the streets, blocking the shallow drains. The motionless pools assumed a green-black color, magnifying the stench that permeated the stagnant air.

He interrupted the buzzing of the flies and the crawling maggots as he waved his hand and also squashed some of the unlucky pedestrians under his boot. Crooked sheds lined the lanes, with treacherous mossy s...

Chapter 158- A City

A City

"Kill the men brothers, we will console the women tonight. Haha!"

The bandit leader shouted while running through the trees towards the camp in the clearing. One of his pupils looked cloudy white, with the rest of his face hidden inside an unkempt red beard.

His large frame with broad shoulders and exposed bulging biceps, towered over the subordinates. He wore a tattered leather piece that opened into a short skirt. Pumping his exposed thighs, he led ...

Chapter 157- Departure

Departure

One month before the end of spring, a line of wagons approached the farm. The caravan halted on the north-south road while a small contingent of guards escorted a chubby man on foot towards the farm. Mr. Thomas met them at the gate and then ushered them inside.

"Hello, this one is called Shep Windit. I represent the Windit merchant family in Frost City. The leader of the clan sent me a letter, with this one addressed to you. I will serve as the liaison...

Chapter 156- A start

A start

"Chu, it's hatching!"

Miki shouted from the barn window on the second floor. Her yells silenced the ongoing epic battle on the ground. Heads popped out from behind shoddy snow forts, turning towards her, as snowballs currently in flight landed across the battlefront.

"She said the egg is hatching!"

"Hey who tossed those snowballs? I'm the eldest here, you know!"

In under a minute a group of curious children, thawed and dripped in a semi...

Chapter 155- Organizing

Organizing

For some reason, Chu appreciated this convoy. The scouts seemed one with the forest, reporting dangers to the escorting fighters, chose accessible routes for the sleds and located well-secured caves or hollows for camping at night.

The strange convoy made their way unimpeded across the winter forest.

The first night, Chu and his party participated in thwarting an ambush by a band of wildcats. The battle served to hone their skills under the trees....

Book

Hey loyal Readers, hope you are enjoying the novel. Life is full of ups and downs, and nothing goes as we expect it sometimes. If you think the MC in this story has suffered enough and will gain a stroke of luck, then we would be all millionaires by now.

The first arc is out on Amazon and is doing great. I have had a whopping sale of about ten to twelve copies of my eBook, with zero sales of my paperback. Nothing can top this Writers joy.

Tears of joy are running down my face as I...

Chapter 154- The Writing on the Wall

The Writing on the Wall

Commander Butts stood on the parapet extending northwards from the highest tower. Like a lone figure refusing to yield to nature, he defied the blizzard bombarding him as it roared past the embattlements.

His fur cape flapped in the wind, exposing the ice-coated metal breastplate. Furrowing his brow, he raised a hand over his eyes while peering northwards.

A few miles away, the gigantic mountain range that broke the clouds on either s...

Chapter 153- Light

Light

"Back away... slowly."

The words hardly exited his mouth when he joined the trail of billowing dust. With a slam and a clank, they shut and locked the door. The flickering light from the scattered torches fell on heaving chest. The bearers of those torches had long skittled down the stairs. Chu broke the monotony of heaving and panting sounds.

"I said slowly."

He reached for a torch with a trembling hand. Breathing in the stale air, he calmed his...

Chapter 152- A stellar deal

A stellar deal

The old man ranted and cursed for quite some time as he vented his anger. Flourishing his tattered clothes, that had been defiled and ripped, he swore revenge. Those goblins who participated in his assault would pay dearly. Wiping away the mixture of sweat, blood and snot from his face, Scholar Rang inhaled a deep breath calming his anger.

"I did it. I escaped those bastards."

Scholar Rang flung back his head, and cackled with a mad laughter. ...

Chapter 151- An educated idiot

An educated idiot

Sakura sighed as she tossed another pen into the recycle basket. This metal one joined others made from iron, wood, and even feathers. She reclined on the chair and stretched her arms. Ever since Chu had made them use that skincare lotion as he called it, her scars and scabs had disappeared, leaving dainty white skin.

She glanced at the empty chair at the desk. This desk usually had three people sitting around it, but for a couple of day...

Chapter 150- This is why I am a Champion

This is why I am a Champion

Chu held the torch in one hand as he inspected the passageway. He stepped around the carcass of a burnt spider as large as a pit-bull. Stooping down, he held the torch over the body, taking a close up view of the ugly, but frightening arachnid.

"Good thing we never encountered these critters in the forest."

Miki muttered while using a crossbolt to prod the dead spider. Unlike Ming who poked it with his sword at arms length, she sq...

Chapter 149- That's a big fella...

That's a big fella...

Twelve hours before Scholar Rang found himself screaming like a little girl...

Chu had a very interesting conversation with the goblin Chief Elder and Shaman. Using little Rang, as he termed the goblin translator, the bargaining and striking of future deals occurred without any misunderstanding. Once during the meeting, Zubyia Rang tried to impress upon the Elders his original Master's worth.

That attempt to gain some form of favoritism...

Chapter 148-Extending one's reach

Extending one's reach

Griz walked up the steps, dusting the snowflakes of his cloak. Taking some time to collect his thoughts, he paused before placing his hands on the massive door. With a creak, one side of the pair of arches swung freely, opening a whole new world.

He nodded to the two guards standing just inside, decked in similar suits of leather armor and topped with an iron helm. Both wore a jacket of fur to stave off the cold, while gripping one hand on an...

Free Book Promotion

Hey Readers, you have been with me forever on this road. I have set the Free Promotion date for the first arc of my book on the 14th of this month. The Amazon time starts at Pacific standard time, from 12midnight and ends after the 24hrs.

It's one day only, so please take a minute and grab your copy. Thank you for making this all possible. My first Book means a lot to me. For those who want to review and rate it, you can leave one on Amazon. 

The eBook is available on all Amazon sit...

Chapter 147- A benevolent adventurer

A benevolent adventurer

Doug stood on the side of the large table, pouring over the wooden blocks. Singh and Chong leaned over from the opposite end, muttering between themselves. Mr Thomas walked into the room of the dormitory barring the door behind him.

"Finn just completed it, so we can place it accordingly. If I remember, it should be placed opposite the west gate."

Mr Thomas said, as he place the newly whittled block inside the wooden walls. Stepping a...

Chapter 146- Lost in translation

Lost in translation

"Scholar Rang has opened our eyes to the world. We cannot allow these brave men to sacrifice themselves. Little goblin, tell the Elder that we will follow him, while the others wait here."

Chu said as he walked between the two parties. The others soon joined him, with Pick stubbornly dragging their sled. On the signal from Chu, they all acted without question, since this leader of theirs had a flair for the unusual.

The robed goblin crack...

Chapter 145- The goblin camp

The goblin camp

Chu sat on a waterproof sheet, stoking the campfire. He added another log they had gathered earlier to raise the flames. On both sides of him on the flattened snow, waterproof tents ensured the warmth and kept the inhabitants protected from the cold.

"Something on your mind?

Asked Lucy.

Unbeknownst when, she had arrived and joined him.

"I should be whipped, since I didn't even hear you. I make a poor watchman."

"U-huh."

Amazon Reviews!

If you have been trying to find the chapters for the first arc of The Red Lands, you probably have been wanting to wring my little neck. The reason the chapters have vanished is because I have finally finished my surprise.

The Red Lands Book 1 is now available on Amazon for Kindle. Since I have chosen KDP Select, part of the agreement is for the complete book not to be hosted anywhere. It should only be for a few months though.

2018-12-04 15:23:56 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 144- The ruins

The Ruins

"What the heck is that idiot thinking?"

Chu muttered as he watched the back of the small group.

At the opposite end, the goblin scout stared at the armband on the grinning boy. A whiff of the scent from the yellow paste, confirmed its authenticity. He jumped down into the snow, landing close to Zubyia Rang while staring at the boy.

"Brother, no need to resort to violence. Let's part ways as friends so we..."

Ignoring the blubbering from...