The Sons of Thor - excerpt. ISBN update

First up, The Sons of Thor excerpt

They arrived to Valkyrie’s Cove just before the sun started to set the next day and with no incident. Elation swelled in Daniel. For the first time since they’d left Tulupa, he was going to be sleeping in a real bed and taking a bath. A hot bath complete with soap and the chance to shave away his beard. A few splashes of cold water here and there did nothing to ease his stink. He didn’t begroan not having a hot meal. Everyone in their questing party had eaten one last night, and it was better than any tavern food. Daniel shifted Fortune in his arms and hugged the little girl close to him. A smile tugged on his lips, but caution, his own weariness from fighting the soul hunter’s attack, and yesterday’s revelations tempered Daniel’s excitement.
Wolfgang walked next to him, his expression troubled. Daniel tilted his head towards his brother and noted the way his twin’s eyes glanced around, seeing but not really taking in any of the sites. Wolfgang paid enough attention to not bump or run into anyone.
“Hey.” Daniel nudged his twin. “We’re gonna be okay, you know.”
“For now,” Wolfgang muttered. “They’re here. How are we gonna explain to them why Fen isn’t? I mean, the professor said Fen couldn’t participate in the quest anyway because the wyvern is his sisters somehow and didn’t want Fen along anyway. Still doesn’t make what we did right, though, and they don’t know about Lance.”
Daniel nodded, his lips now drawn into a line. He hadn’t thought of how to explain to the professors about what happened with Fen and Lance. He also couldn’t deny his guilt over his betrayal of his best friend had only amplified upon seeing his best friend’s parents. However, his exhaustion refused to let him think on how to say anything to the professors, refused to let him see them as anything but the professors.
“I know,” he said. A yawn escaped, and his eyes burned for sleep. “I know it don’t, and whatever they decide to do to me, I’ll accept. It was my idea to do that anyway. Right now, we gotta get some sleep. I don’t think I can take another step.”
“We be needin’ a place ta stay, Loki,” Magni called out, almost as if on cue. “And we dun have much money, either. Our stay in Chronus nearly wiped me and Modi out.”
“Relax,” the professor said. “It’s already been taken care of. The proprietor of The Oakshott Inn is expecting us. Half of the third floor was reserved for us. Hot baths and nice, comfy beds for everyone.”
“That’s a lot of coin,” Covelina said. “How . . .”
“A little Elf flew in and told him,” Fen’s mother said. She glanced at Daniel and Wolfgang and winked.
“Yes. Someone had the wisdom and foresight to do such a thing,” the professor said. He, too, cast a sly look at the twins. “It would be best to not ask questions. Someone might become embarrassed.”
“If it was you,” Dharma said, “please just say so. That way we can all thank you.”
“Not me,” came the reply. “But I am sure the one who did appreciates your gratitude.”
Daniel’s cheeks burned a little. For once, Dharma didn’t sound so snooty and condescending but truly sincere in her gratitude, exhausted and . . .
‘Is that resignation in her voice? She sounds like Fen when he broke up with Trenton,’ Daniel mused. He shared another look with Wolfgang. ‘That can’t be right. She’s had the most confidence and cockiness out of any magic-users I’ve ever encountered. Everyone else is usually just so shy and insecure. What gives?’
“Tomorrow, we’ll gather some more supplies,” Mrs. Willows said. “Tonight, we rest. All of you have had a long and trying journey so far. This is going to be one of the last nights we’ll have to just relax.”
“Sounds good to me,” Covelina said.
They turned onto a side street. The Oakshott Inn took up half a square, its wooden walls painted like a fiery and stormy sunset, the stable to one side. From what Daniel recalled when he set everything up, there was even a courtyard in the back. Young but weary-looking boys scampered around, leading weary-horses away and assisting men and women in finery with their belongings.
“I better hurry,” the professor muttered. “This is going to be fun.”
“Wonder what he means by that,” Wolfgang muttered. Daniel shook his head.
They soon found out. The professor slithered his way in between the fancy men and women and into the inn. Some of them grumbled about riffraff and loudly so at that. A few moments later, a scrawny man with thick hair emerged, an apron covering his clothes. He scanned the gathering crowd of people. When he saw Daniel and Wolfgang, he grinned.
“Welcome, welcome, my friends!” he shouted. Despite his lithe frame, his voice boomed over everyone. “We have been expecting you, honored guests. Please! Come in and join us by the fire while we prepare your rooms.”
All heads turned to look at the bedraggled group. Several of the ladies and a few of the men crinkled their noses in disgust, but the innkeeper simply shoved them to one side as he approached. When he reached them, the scrawny fellow kissed the hands of the women.
“Beautiful, as always,” he said to Mrs. Willows. “Your husband is a lucky man to have you.”
“You are always too kind,” Mrs. Willows replied.
“You flatter me with your modesty.” The innkeeper grinned. “As always. Just two horses?”
“We’ll be obtaining a cart tomorrow.”
“Good, good. The way is never easy, is it?” The man turned. “Jön! Ned! Bob! Assist these kind folks with their belongings!”
The three boys stepped forward, each with a wary expression. Without Daniel even having to nudge him to do, Wolfgang brought out a few coins and handed them over. The boys stared, jaws hanging and eyes wide, at the amount of money they’d just been handed.
“For you,” Wolfgang said with a grin.
The boys never spoke. Rather, they grinned back and hurried to do their master’s bidding in assisting the group. Magni approached them and leaned in close.
“That be mighty gen’rous of ya lads,” he murmured. “I wasn’ aware ya had that much money.”
“We don’t spend it,” Daniel replied, shrugging. “At least, not very often. No need, really.”
“They’ve been smart about it,” Mrs. Willows said. She took Fortune from Daniel and ushered them to the door with the innkeeper. “So has Fen, but now is the time to be careful. Inside we go. All of you need baths. I can’t stand to smell you anymore.”
“No arguments from me,” Daniel said. He rubbed his chin, his fingers tangling in the coarse hair of his beard. He yawned again then shivered. The chill from the soul hunter was leaving him. How, he wasn’t sure, but it was.
‘Please, let my dreams be peaceful. Just for one night.’
Their ragtag, filthy group strode by the wealthy people waiting to get into The Oakshott, earning dirty and disbelieving looks in the process. Some of the women even whispered and pointed at Daniel and Wolfgang, their expressions full of disdain. They wouldn’t be impressed by either twin any time soon.
For once, Daniel didn’t care.


The Sons of Thor is the second book in the Arc of Fantasy series, a multi-faceted series focusing on several different main characters, each with an important part to play in the war against the Salmorians.
Now for the ISBN update.

I have finally made goal. That's right! For the last three months, I saved up what I could in order to purchase 10 ISBNs from Bowker, and I will be publishing Portal to Gaming, The King and Queen of Wands, and The Sons of Thor in paperback format. I'm currently waiting on a bank card from a local credit union. I'm hoping to be entering the ISBNs either on Friday or Saturday at the earliest or by Monday or Tuesday next week at the latest. The paperback versions of these books will be available in time for the holidays so if you know of someone who likes science-fiction and fantasy and doesn't necessarily want the usual tropes, or would like such stories yourself, these books are a must-have!