Gates of Ruin
Christopher Mitchell is the author of the epic fantasy series The Magelands. He studied in Edinburgh before living for several years in the Middle East and Greece, where he taught English. He returned to study classics and Greek tragedy and lives in Fife, Scotland with his wife and their four children.
By Christopher Mitchell
The Magelands Origins
Retreat of the Kell
The Trials of Daphne Holdfast
From the Ashes
* * *
The Magelands Epic
The Queen’s Executioner
The Severed City
Needs of the Empire
Sacrifice
Fragile Empire
Storm Mage
Soulwitch Rises
Renegade Gods
* * *
The Magelands Eternal Siege
The Mortal Blade
The Dragon’s Blade
The Prince’s Blade
Falls of Iron
Paths of Fire
Gates of Ruin
City of Salve
* * *
Copyright © Christopher Mitchell 2021
Cover by Miblart
Map by Irina French
Cover Copyright © Brigdomin Books Ltd 2021
Christopher Mitchell asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems (except for the use of brief quotations in a book review), if you would like permission to use material from the book please contact [email protected]
Brigdomin Books Ltd
First Edition, April 2021
Ebook Edition © April 2021
ISBN 978-1-912879-55-7
For the Magelanders
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following for all their support during the writing of the Magelands Eternal Siege - my wife, Lisa Mitchell, who read every chapter as soon as it was drafted and kept me going in the right direction; my parents for their unstinting support; Vicky Williams for reading the books in their early stages; James Aitken for his encouragement; and Grant and Gordon of the Film Club for their support.
Thanks also to my Advance Reader team, for all your help during the last few weeks before publication.
Receive a FREE Magelands Eternal Siege Book
Building a relationship with my readers is very important to me.
Join my newsletter for information on new books and deals and you will also receive a Magelands Eternal Siege prequel novella that is currently EXCLUSIVE to my Reader’s Group for FREE.
Click here for your free book! (www.ChristopherMitchellBooks.com/join)
Dramatis Personae
The Forted Shore
Kelsey Holdfast, Blocker of Powers
Aila, Demigod & Shape-shifter
Amalia , Former God-Queen of the City
Alea Tanton
Belinda, The Third Ascendant
Leksandr, The Sixth Ascendant
Arete, The Seventh Ascendant
Silva, Belinda’s Aide
Felice, God; Governor of Lostwell
Latude, God; Former Governor of Lostwell
Kin Dai
Corthie Holdfast, Champion
Naxor, Demigod; Cousin of Vana & Aila
Vana, Sister of Aila; cousin of Naxor
Van Logos, Former Banner Captain
Sohul, Former Banner Lieutenant
Catacombs
Sable Holdfast, Dream Mage
Maddie Jackdaw, Dragon Rider
Sanguino, Former Bloodflies Dragon
Millen, Torduan Fugitive
Deathfang, Lord of the Catacombs
Ashfall, Deathfang’s Elder Daughter
Broadwing, Discontented Dragon
Deepblue, Discontented Dragon
Burntskull, Deathfang’s Advisor
Darksky, Deathfang’s Mate
Halfclaw, Green & Blue Dragon
Grimsleep, Sanguino’s Father
Implacatus
Edmond, The Second Ascendant
Bastion, Edmond’s Enforcer
Others
Blackrose, Captured Dragon
Frostback, Deathfang’s Daughter
Contents
Printable Maps
1. The Back-up Plan
2. The Noose
3. Low
4. Back to the Skies
5. Exhibition
6. Playing Along
7. Going Nowhere
8. The Son Rises
9. The Vow
10. A Glimmer of Silver
11. No Fixed Abode
12. Home to Roost
13. Plan, Interrupted
14. Making Allowances
15. Without a Cause
16. Apology
17. The Eastern Tower
18. Gratitude
19. Cabin Fever
20. The True Enemy
21. An End to Suffering
22. Homeward
23. Deep Water
24. Pig Iron
25. The Missing Piece
26. Lord of the Catacombs
27. The Broken City
28. The Gates of Old Alea
29. The Key
30. The Last Dawn
31. Dislocation
Note on the Calendar
Author’s Notes
The Magelands Series
Receive a FREE Magelands Eternal Siege Book
Printable Maps
For printable maps, please visit:
www. christophermitchellbooks. com/ printable- maps- eternal- siege
Chapter 1
The Back-up Plan
S toneship, Forted Shore – 13th Lexinch 5252
The shimmering air materialised, and a stone chamber appeared, lit by a series of narrow slit windows. Aila dropped to the cold floor, Amalia writhing and struggling beneath her. A few feet away, Kelsey landed awkwardly, her ankle buckling under her as she fell onto the stone flagstones.
‘Get off me!’ cried Amalia, pushing at Aila with her good hand.
‘What did you do?’ yelled Aila. ‘Where are we?’
Amalia raked her fingernails across Aila’s cheek and lashed out with her boots, catching the demigod with a painful blow down her shin. Aila let go of the former God-Queen, and Amalia rolled away, the Quadrant clattering onto the floor beside her.
‘Get her!’ shouted Kelsey, as she clasped her ankle. ‘She has no power over you. Punch her teeth in.’
Amalia’s glance darted from the Quadrant to her granddaughter, a glimmer of fear in her eyes.
‘She’s right,’ said Aila, tensing herself to spring. ‘For the first time in my life, I’m not scared of you, grandmother.’
‘You should be,’ said Amalia, pulling a knife from her robes.
The two immortals stared at each other in silence for a moment, and Aila heard the cry of a gull through the slit windows, as a waft of salty ocean air drifted into the chamber. Outside, the sky was a deep blue, dazzling compared to the dim light within the stone room.
‘You can’t beat us,’ said Aila, ‘not with one good arm and no powers. Step back from the Quadrant.’
Amalia laughed as she brandished the knife. ‘Try to take it. Do you have any idea how much I would enjoy cutting you to ribbons, granddaughter?’
Kelsey pulled herself to a standing position, though she was putting no weight onto her left ankle. ‘I’ll get round behind her.’
‘No,’ said Aila; ‘stay where you are. If she wounds you, you won’t be able to self-heal. I can take her on my own.’
Amalia lashed out with the knife as Aila launched herself at her. The blade sliced through the thin layer of clothes around the demigod’s waist, sending pain shooting through her body. She shoved Amalia back, pushing her to the ground, and scooped up the Quadrant in her right hand as the wound began to heal. Aila took a few paces back, her eyes scanning the blood across the front of her clothes.
The former God-Queen laughed from the stone floor. ‘And what are you going to do now, little Aila?’
The demigod glanced down at the copper-coloured device clutched in her hand. Her eyes caught Kelsey,
