The Toldar Complete Series
Matt Mememaro
Cover Design by
Cat’s Pyjamas
©Matt Mememaro 2018
This book is copyright. All rights reserved.
Apart for fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without the written permission of the author. Extract may be used for the purpose of reviews.
Created with Vellum
To Rob
Contents
Map
Hunters
1. Peace or War
2. Bloodlust
3. A Promising Ally
4. Flight
5. Not All Can Be Saved
6. Rhorn Invasion
7. The Beginning of the End
8. The Heart Stopping Plummet
9. The End of Love
10. Burial and the Mountains
11. Capture
12. The Den
13. Takedown
14. Execution
15. Fortress
16. Parting Ways
Six Years later
17. Sickness
18. Bad Blood
19. New Weapon
20. The Lotu
21. Cavern of Darkness
22. True Identity
23. Influences
24. A Parting Gift
25. The Beginning
Nine Years Later
26. A Heavy Arm
27. A Keen Eye
28. Blood
29. Graytooth
30. Burning Embers
31. Deal
Taste Of The Hunt
1. A Name
2. The Black Shards
3. Stone Cold
4. The Arena
5. Underbelly
6. Reunion
7. Theft
8. Scars of Barros
9. A Debt of Blood
10. The Labyrinth
11. Death Match
12. Reiner
13. Escape From The Arena
14. Ambush on the High Road
15. Arrival
16. A Dark Place
17. The Huntrey
18. Enemies and Mysteries
19. Forthcomings
20. Transformations
21. Deer Stalking
22. First Hunt
23. First Kill
24. Two Lovers Cross
25. The Pairing
26. The Blood Ceremony
27. Return To Rhorn
28. Memories of a Past War
29. Breach in the Nest
30. Fall
31. Aftermath
32. New Refuge
33. New Prey
Hunted
1. Fruits Of Etia
2. Dangers of Etia
3. Depths
4. Ascent
5. Sins of the Father
6. The Wilds Once More
7. The White Ghosts
8. Mistrust
9. The Pack
10. Hidden Valley
11. Chasing Nightmares
12. True Intentions
13. The Shrine
14. Strife
15. The Infected One
16. Rubbed the Wrong Way
17. Madness
18. Flight
19. Spark of White
20. Etia Again
21. Bestial Rage
22. Old Foe
23. Once A Friend
24. The Lock
25. The Betrayal
26. Drenched
27. Impregnation
28. The Doctor
29. Escape
30. Rebirth
31. Interrogation
32. The Wedding
33. End of the Road
The Final Hunt
1. A New World
2. Awakening
3. The Game
4. What Remains
5. A Storm’s Fury
6. Light It Up
7. Shift
8. The World’s Changed
9. The Past
10. Reasoning
11. Break In
12. Break Out
13. Broken Spirit
14. Brothers Reunited
15. Sending A Message
16. Air Raid
17. A Return Home
18. Fireball
19. Deal
20. Choosing a Side
21. Bloodline
22. A Way Out
23. Redemption
24. Golden Treasure
25. In Too Deep
26. Survival
27. Separate Path
28. Fall Again
29. Time Doesn’t Heal All Wounds
30. Closure
31. The Death of the Father
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Matt Mememaro
Hunters
Book 1
1
Peace or War
The night wind whistled through the knee-high grass on the outskirts of the city of Rhorn. The breeze was crisp and fresh, typical for this early in the winter. Rhorn was located in Sauria, the powerhouse nation located at the very southern tip of Taagras. Known for its masterful swordsmen and fine crafting, Sauria was one of the wealthiest countries, if not the wealthiest country throughout Taagras.
To the north lay a mountainous range and an infamous area known as the Rhorn Pass in which the armed forces of Sauria found the neighboring Renori. Both sides had been fighting in the Pass for years after an assassination attempt on the Sauriaan Councilor’s life. In the city of Rhorn, war was a way of life, with both countries still yet to settle their differences after over a hundred years of conflict. Even though there was a temporary treaty in place, sentries continued patrolling Rhorn’s high walls to keep the city safe from the potential threat of enemy raids.
Each man was dressed in the typical gold and silver livery of the Sauriaan armed forces. Most carried standard short swords at their belts, with a silver cloak and wooden shield strapped firmly in the center of their back. Every sentry wore a chainmail vest underneath their cloaks and kept their heads on a swivel, constantly searching for any sign of attackers.
Aside from the wind and gentle footsteps of the sentries above, Rhorn was quiet; the taverns and brothels still operated this late into the night. Lights from the buildings on the main streets could be seen from a distance, causing a brief break in the darkness.
One building not far from the main street was lit up like a bonfire, standing alone in the city filled with darkness. Inside, two men scurried around the spacious room. Their shadows bounced off the walls in the dancing firelight that came from several braziers placed around the room. One man was tall and thin, built like a reed and dressed in a doctor’s garb. His entire body was obscured, save for eyes, that could be seen through the sockets in the grey bird-like mask.
The other man in the room was much more menacing and commanded a larger presence. He almost matched the doctor in height, only two inches separating them. However, the second man was composed of lean muscle, tense like a whip, instead of skin and bone. A cowl covered his face and his body was draped in a black rawhide trench coat that looked thicker than most. On the insides of the coat and along the man’s belt, knives and a sword were visible.
The doctor examined several of the tools on the table and looked to his companion. “Are you ready to proceed, Barros?”
“It’s not me you should be asking,” Barros said. “Sophia is the one under the knife.”
A woman lay on the bed in heavy labor, her gasps coming in rasps as her body rose and fell. Her contractions grew closer together, tearing a cry
from her lips. She was thin and extremely beautiful. Her golden curls fell down to her shoulders and her green eyes stood out from her fair complexion.
“Barros, this baby will change everything we know,” she said.
Sweat poured from her brow and she let out another groan as the baby moved inside her. It was desperate to be born into the world. Sophia grabbed her husband’s hand as he crouched beside her.
“I know, my love. Everything will be alright.” Barros gently stroked her hair. He let out a smile. “Have you ever felt Fyndfire? This won’t be as bad as that.”
“This is worse!” Sophia let out an inhuman scream.
The doctor looked up from his table. He walked over to the bed to check on the patient. “Are you ready, Sophia?”
“Of course, I am. Get this thing out of me!” Her contractions shortened, and she screamed again.
“It’ll be alright, my love, I promise,” Barros said.
The Hunter remained by his wife’s side throughout the ordeal, enduring her screams and comforting her as best he could. As the clock in the town hall chimed out once, the baby was born. The doctor cradled the mess of flesh and blood in his arms while the screams and cries of its mother echoed around the room. The newborn child still had its umbilical cord attached. One swift cut from the doctor’s knife saw it removed.
Instantly blood spurted from the wound at a much faster rate than normal. The doctor let out a cry of alarm as he desperately tried to stem the flow. Both Barros and the doctor were soaked in blood but then, the wound began to heal, sealing off the blood flow. The doctor watched, amazed as the baby’s body rapidly repaired itself.
“Barros, the child has lost a lot of blood, it will surely kill him.” The doctor examined the child and scratched his head. The child was still breathing; its pulse still strong. “I’m not sure how he is still alive.”
“Sophia is a Vampire, doctor. This child is the first ever half-Vampire to have been born within Taagras.”
“A Vampire? I thought they’d begun to die out, hundreds of years ago, after the first war!” the doctor said. “This is unbelievable. I will have to undertake a study.”
“You will do no such thing with my wife and son. Find yourself another child to experiment on,” Barros said. He scowled at the doctor. “Not that you ever will.”
“Apologies, Barros. I overstepped. It is merely the possibilities that could come from such research that excite me beyond measure.”
“There’s no need to offer apologies doctor. Every man loses himself in a moment of passion. I understand the impact of what a child like ours could have on science, rewriting every known law there is.”
“What are we going to call him?” Sophia asked. “I can tell he’s already got powers. He’s going to be much like me.”
“Do you have any suggestions?”
“I don’t know, my love.” Sophia gestured to take the baby from Barros. “Let me see him.”
The Hunter took the child to his wife, gently lowering the boy into her arms. Sophia looked down on him, her eyes wide and full of tears as she cradled him. “He’s beautiful.”
“He also needs a name,” Barros said.
“My lady, Barros. If I could offer a suggestion here.” The doctor looked up from his bag. “Long ago, I read a book. It told of a time when a boy would become a man and save darkness from Taagras. Since I am now aware that Vampires still live among us, I dare say there could be a particular darkness on the land. No offense, Countess.”
“None taken,” Sophia said. She shot the doctor a dark look with the venom of a viper. “Was there a name in the book?”
“No; there was a title, however. The author referred to him as the Son of Light,” the doctor said.
“If I’m not mistaken, it translates to Abner in the old tongue,” Sophia said.
“A strong name,” Barros said. “But one that will put a great burden on his shoulders.”
“It is a good name, Barros. Don’t let this opportunity for our child pass us by. A name is as important as the accomplishments he achieves throughout his life,” Sophia said.
“Very well, he will be known as Abner Toldar,” Barros said.
“Excellent.” The doctor smiled, marking the name down on a sheet of parchment. “I shall inform the archives at once. Rest assured nobody will know your true identity, Sophia.”
“You should leave immediately doctor,” Sophia suggested. “I need to rest and regain my strength and I’m feeling rather thirsty tonight.”
Barros turned to shake the doctor’s hand but the second he did so, he heard a gasp from behind him. Sophia’s hand covered her mouth and Barros could feel her body beginning to shake. “Not now,” she said.
White fangs slid from her mouth and her fingernails slowly extended turning into wicked claws. Sophia’s skin darkened and her eyes grew unnaturally. Soon there would be nothing left of the woman Barros loved. He snatched the child from her outstretched arms and placed him gently in the crib beside the bed.
“Stay with me, Sophia.” He grasped her hand and knelt beside her. “Focus on me, you won’t turn again. I promise you.”
Sophia laughed. “It’s too late, Barros. I can’t hold out anymore.” A red glaze covered her eyes and Barros could tell she was now lost to him.
“You swore to me, for as long as we are together, that you wouldn’t change! Hold it back!” Barros roared putting his hand on a dagger. “You know I’ll have to kill you?”
“I can’t, hold it back, Barros! It’s either this or I’ll die!” Sophia said.
“Doctor, get out of here now,” Barros said. He pointed to the door. “Leave your things, I’ll find you when it’s safe.”
“Barros, what do you want me to do? I will alert the city guards,” the doctor said.
“You will do nothing. Now flee! I can handle this.”
Sophia struggled to shift into her true form. It had been five years since she last transformed and time had decayed her abilities. Barros found two long daggers, relics of his early days as a Hunter suddenly in his hands. As his fingers closed around the hilt, his skills, once forgotten, came flooding back and with it the thrill of the hunt.
Barros turned his head, measuring the progress the doctor had made. He was almost out the door. Sophia used the distraction to her advantage. She leapt from the bed, her natural grey rotting skin still not visible. The Vampire used the bed as a springboard as she drove her powerful legs into the mattress.
Sophia caught the doctor before he even had chance to unlock the door. Before Barros could blink she’d administered two quick slashes with her hands. The doctor’s throat was ripped open and his lifeless body slumped besides the door. Sophia stood triumphant over him, saliva mixing in with the blood that surrounded her mouth.
She pointed wickedly at Barros with one long finger. “Barros, my fearless Hunter, kneel beneath me where you belong,” she said in her human voice. “Your blood is as corrupted as mine, and thus of no use to me. I smelt it all those years ago. There is a taste of my kind in you, Barros, and I cannot have that. Any other Hunter would be perfect and I would find myself in a much better situation. Abner should provide me with suitable nourishment and killing him would hurt you.”
“No, you will not cause any harm to our child!” Barros said.
“You’d defend the very child that could be the downfall of your beloved Hunters?” Sophia asked. “He has the very potential to be the destruction of humanity, Barros.”
“Abner is still half-human and more than capable of destroying the Vampire threat,” Barros said. “He could even be the missing link between our two races. Let me take him to the Huntrey and together you and I might bring Hunters and Vampires together.”
Sophia laughed softly at her husband. “My love, when it is a choice between human and Vampires, you know that my kind will always come first. As a Hunter, you should know that is true for every Vampire. Abner is just the first of many weapons that will come in this second war. Do you see this
?” she asked pulling a simple round amulet from a fold in her gown. The only distinguishing feature was a small red circle in the middle.
Barros gasped. “An amulet of Tal’davin. That’s impossible. Lars Hunter scattered them to all corners of Taagras before he died.”