Retaliation (William of Archonia Book 2) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Jarod Meyer

  Note from the author

  CHAPTER ONE

  Forgiveness

  CHAPTER TWO

  CUNNING PLANS

  CHAPTER THREE

  A NEW MENTOR

  CHAPTER FOUR

  SCOUTING RUN

  CHAPTER FIVE

  SIX SIGNETS

  Hangaku Gozen

  CHAPTER SIX

  STEP INTO DARKNESS

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  WITHOUT LIGHT

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  FLIGHT TO DICHONIA

  CHAPTER NINE

  A WORLD TORN

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHANGES

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  VANITY

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  NEW FRIENDS

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  SHAMBHALA

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  OLD EMEMIES

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  THE REBELLION

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  KARMA

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  RETALIATION

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  TRIPURA GOLD

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  POWER

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Defending the damned

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE

  THE BASILEUS

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

  FINAL ACT

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

  OUT OF THE SHADOWS

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

  FOR THE PEOPLE

  Epilogue

  The William of Archonia series continues in Desolation - coming 2018.

  Special thanks

  Archonian Calendar

  Archonian Military

  The Guardian Corps:

  The Adjudicator Corps:

  The Sentinel Corps:

  Locations:

  A short history of Gungnir

  William of Archonia

  Retaliation

  By

  Jarod Meyer

  AUTUMN ARCH PUBLISHING

  Iowa

  www.AutumnArchPublishing.com

  © 2017 Autumn Arch Publishing

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or literary publication.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. All names, places, characters, and incidences are either the product of the author’s imagination, or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual people, alive or dead, events or locations, is completely coincidental.

  A product of AUTUMN ARCH PUBLISHING

  Cover art: Andrey Vasilchenko

  Cover design: Aaron Bunce

  Interior design, editing, & formatting: Aaron Bunce

  Map Design: Alex Vialette

  TRADE PAPERBACK ISBN: 978-0-9992026-2-3

  AMAZON KINDLE EDITION: B01N4T5MYT

  1st Edition. 2017

  NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

  This series is influenced by many things that whole civilizations once did, or still do, believe to be true. I firmly believe in a life after ours and hold my own religious beliefs close to my heart. This story is a work of fiction created to capture the imagination and take it to another place and time. And this is a gentle reminder to everyone that the names, places, and events as portrayed in this epic series are not real. I hope you enjoy the adventure.

  CHAPTER ONE

  FORGIVENESS

  Whether from the clutches of tragedy or the passing of time, every life must come to an end. Which makes it so important to live each day like it was your last. As William looked down upon the burning pyres lighting up the night sky, he reminded himself of this very truth.

  He ran his hands through his shaggy, dark hair, and sighed. Then he looked at his palms to make sure there was no more blood on them. It took him hours to wash away the filth caked upon his body. Even though weeks had passed since the great battle devastated this realm, he still felt as if he could feel the spray of hot blood upon his face. They weren’t ready for such an attack. That much had become painfully obvious. Perhaps this world had lived in peace for too long.

  This wasn’t any world from the physical realm, but one where the mind makes reality. A place for your soul to go after your mortal body was broken. Some called it heaven, and others paradise. William however knew it as Archonia. Though he had been a part of this world for a short time it was his home. It was a place where he, for the first time in his life, became truly happy.

  “Come away from there,” Angelica said in a gentle voice. Angelica was more than just a woman who showed compassion at the end of William’s first life. She was the reason he was chosen to come to this place in the first place. He turned, his gaze falling on her long dark hair, and smooth caramel skin. Her family originally came from Mexico on Earth, and she inherited deep chocolate eyes common to the people of that area.

  After The Battle of the Twin Soul, William expressed his feelings for Angelica. Their relationship blossomed beyond passion, and they now were nearly inseparable.

  He visited her often in her home, a small space on the seventieth floor of a massive living quarter in the Latin district of Helios. This was where William was spending most of his free time when not on duty.

  He couldn’t help but smile at her. She was stunning in her simple maroon gown, accented with several silver necklaces that fell across her chest. William knew she was not overly fond of the extravagant fashions found in the afterlife, and even now she would be considered underdressed. William wore only loose fitting black slacks with a matching black sleeveless shirt. Black wasn’t normally a color that was worn in Archonia, but William adopted it. He was unique here after all. He figured he should wear unique clothing.

  Walking over to Angelica, he wrapped his muscular arms around her, a feeling of dread washing over him again. She could clearly see it in his face.

  “Their deaths are not your fault,” she said, looking out the window, where the pyres burned brightly below.

  They had been burning almost a hundred bodies a night for the past week. So many perished in the great battle, and where the soul goes after this life was as mysterious a question as it was in the previous life.

  You see on Earth our mortal bodies are just a vessel that holds ones Archonian Essence. Some might call this the soul, but it was a gift given to mankind by an Archon, an incredibly powerful being. As you die this essence is released and if it is pure enough you are allowed to pass into the borders of Archonia.

  William shook his head, and breathed out deeply.

  This was one of the many thoughts that put strain upon his mind, but his meditation was also deeply troubled. He kept having the same dreamlike image over and over again. It was a man standing in a field of long, white grass, facing an oncoming storm. He held his hand aloft and a gleaming sword appeared in the air. William dreamt this before, many years ago, when he was a young man.

  “They were destroyed doing their duty. They all swore oaths to defend Archonia from any evil,” Angelica said, kissing him slowly yet sadly.

  “It’s not that,” William replied, pulling away and turning.

  He hadn’t told her why he was truly worried, nor was he allowed to. The great Synod that governed Archonia ordered that none were to spread fear or panic, but the truth was this land was still in danger.

  “What is it that has you so troubled then, William?” she asked softly.

  “I’m so sorry, Angelica, I can’t tell you. They made me swear,” William responded, turning back to her.
He looked over the small flat that was Angelica’s home. It was tiny, only one room. People didn’t need much here in Archonia because they didn’t have to eat, use the bathroom, or sleep. Though the mind is fragile, and needed periods of rest which were called meditation.

  A shrine stood against one wall, where she prayed to the creators. Even in this world faith and religion were practiced. However, it wasn’t something people flaunted, nor did any religion precipitate violence or hatred. William had been here for nearly a full Archonian year, and he found that his perspective changed greatly towards the entire institution of religion.

  Against another wall was a bed made from the furs of various Archonian creatures. A small balcony looked out over into the vast sea of buildings that made up Helios. William had been leaning against the balcony railing for some time.

  Helios stood in the center of Archonia. The mountainous range of buildings spanned for miles and miles in all directions, shimmering gold and white against the bright sun. The now familiar stylings of Greek, Egyptian, Nordic, and Oriental architecture gave the city a beautiful, picturesque look.

  A moment of silence washed over the two, as William walked back over to Angelica. He gripped her by the arms and looked straight into her eyes.

  “I promise that I’ll protect you, no matter what,” William said seriously. A single tear trickled down Angelica’s perfect face as she nodded her head. Then they kissed.

  William lifted her gently, and placed her on the soft bed of furs. Their bodies pressed together, and a wave of pleasure blocked out any thoughts of the dreaded days to come.

  * * *

  A short while later, the light of day finally began to peak over the horizon. William stirred and spoke softly. “I have to go,” he said, but Angelica had fallen into the trance of meditation.

  Her mind must have been as strained as his over the past weeks. After the Battle of the Twin Soul, Angelica devoted her second life to the healing arts, and was undergoing intense training of the mind.

  Archonia was a world of pure energy. There were no such things as gravity or air. The physical parameters of this world were all a fabrication that your mind made. If you lived your whole life on Earth where gravity was a reality, then your mind made it real here. These things, however, could be overcome with training. Every soul in Archonia has the ability to project their inner energies to either create or destroy. If you could open your mind your power could be limitless. For the past few weeks Angelica had been learning to use her inner energy to heal the soldiers who were injured in the mighty battle.

  William pressed his lips against hers softly so he didn’t wake her. She would awaken soon. Her mind wouldn’t let her miss her training. Normally, William would have training this morning as well. He was in a branch of the Archonian military called the Guardian Corp. This was an elite group of fighters who took oaths to devote their whole second lives to the defense of Archonia. Once you were a part of it, the only way out was death.

  During the battle William became something of a hero. He made a sacrifice that helped win the day, and in doing so nearly lost his Archonian life. For his gallantry he received multiple commendations and a promotion within the ranks of the Guardian Corp. For someone as young as he was, this was a great honor.

  Though he was in his mid-thirties, he was a child’s age by Archonian standards. Here the soul doesn’t age like a human body. William quietly donned his cloths, and stepped over to the window. He looked down at the seventy stories below and hopped over the edge of the balcony. He dropped quickly, and with a grunt, light exploded from his skin, and thick metal plates appeared out of thin air and clasped firmly down on his body. First his gauntlets, then his arm plates, and shoulder pads, finally his breastplate and greaves.

  The gravity disappeared, and he took off through the air like a bird.

  Flying was one of the many abilities that William learned during his Guardian training, as well as summoning his armor. He still couldn’t get over the feeling of flying. He smiled as he zipped through the warm morning air, gave a hoot, and waved to some children playing in the streets below.

  He wove in and out of courtyards and alleyways at top speed. People of all shapes and sizes could be seen laughing and singing. The buildings around made completely of white stone and gold shimmered in the morning light. Architecture from every era of mankind all mixed into one large web. He shook his head laughing, and then looked forward to the capitol building. His eyes got serious again. He looked at the massive building that stood apart from the others around it. Everything about this world was way too large. There was really no reason for any structure to be so gargantuan, but when you have unlimited time on your hands, people begin to create the most wondrous things. A building, that according to the history books took five hundred and sixty three years to construct, stood like a beacon amongst the sprawling city below.

  It came to a point like a sword, with statues hundreds of feet tall adorning its many tiers. Some plant life added much needed greenery to the bleakness of the white stone. A rush of air blew his hair askance, and he smiled. Now flanking him was a brute of a man. His bald head shone as brightly as the morning sun and his arms were thicker than William’s legs. The sight of such a person could bring fear to most enemies, but for William his smile only grew larger.

  “Good Morning, Brock,” William said, cordially.

  “Indeed, it is a fine morning, little brother,” said the ancient Germanic warrior. “A good meditation, I trust?” he asked William casually.

  He did not respond right away, which sent Brock into a fit of hysterical laughter. “I suppose that means the little lady kept you up all night again,” Brock hooted.

  “That’s none of your business, old man,” William shot back with a smirk.

  Though Brock was as youthful looking as William he was technically hundreds of years older. No matter what age you are when you enter this life you will always find your way back to the way you looked when you were in your prime.

  “Well I am happy for you, William,” his large friend said.

  Brock was one of William’s first friends in this world. When he first passed over into this realm he was met with hostility and judgment. Through his struggles he managed to prove to the people of Archonia that he was fit to live amongst them. Brock was there every step of the way. Not only was he a great friend, but also a cunning warrior.

  The two men made the rest of their journey in silence. He could see many more soldiers flying towards the capitol building. It appeared that the great Synod was convening yet again to answer the threat looming over Archonia.

  They passed towering golden doors down endless halls, decorated with sculptures, and murals on the way to the main Synod chamber. Round in shape, the ceiling was at least one hundred stories high, while the columns supporting the structure were at least twenty-five feet in diameter. Rows of stone stand seats filled a once vacant chamber, and there were hundreds of faces conversing, causing a rumble, which reminded William of basketball games he watched when he was younger.

  Morning light poured in through the windows that lined the walls, lighting up paintings of many familiar faces William remembered from the history books. The paintings were so vivid they almost looked three-dimensional. He shook his head in amazement, and followed Brock over to where a group of Guardians were standing.

  William and Brock approached the group, greeting their comrades. The leader of the Guardian corps stood like a statue with his arms crossed. His face set the standard for beauty, with eyes so fierce that any foe would melt beneath them. Achilles was thought to have been the son of a goddess who could not be killed. Of course this was not true, but regardless, Achilles had only ever lost one fight.

  William could only guess at the reason why Achilles’ armor looked like his own. He was more proud than anything. Proud was actually an understatement. Simply to be in this room right now for him was a prestigious honor.

  Amongst the group William spotted his old men
tor, Captain Chang Fei. Once revered as a Chinese god, he oversaw William’s military training. Chang Fei bowed his head slightly in recognition, the two greeting each other as equals. Brock too was one of the many captains amongst the group. There were also various lieutenants and generals.

  This Synod was the first full military meeting since the wars that ravaged Archonia thousands of years ago. When the first humans began to ascend to this world many were turned to darkness by a being known on Earth as the devil. Lucifer was one of the original Nine Archons that created the physical universe, and through jealousy and anger tore the realm of Archonia in two.

  During these wars millions of souls were destroyed, as well as all but two of the original nine Archons. So a Synod was formed to decide which laws could protect this land from such devastation in the future.

  A thunderous clank reverberated off the marble engravings and reliefs, as a Synod honor guard pounded his spear against the stone floor. The roar of voices almost immediately died down, and everyone’s head turned to the center of the room. Descending from the air high above, nine figures came into view. They floated gracefully down to a raised semicircle platform, upon which sat nine seats. These large thrones were masterfully decorated with silver, gold, and precious gems.

  William laughed silently at the clothing worn by the Synod, as if their status was not already clear to everyone in the room. Precious gemstones encrusted and embroidered every inch of the garments, some which had trains of fabric twenty yards long.