Free Brightflame Accension (Book 1) by D.B. Penner

one to create the most powerful army on the continent. However, the lust for control over the school slowly crept into the minds of the founders. Soardale was the first to fall prey to disdain. He refused to accept recruits who were without magical abilities and unmatched cunning. Lumberton, who had always prided himself on his fighting abilities, protested. To the illustrious brawler, physical ability and hardiness were most prized. The wise and learned Scalefire settled the argument by proposing that each founder should have his own faction. Then, each founder could have the option of choosing students with the qualities that best fit his preference.
    “Years past without another conflict before disaster struck,” Boewdard sighed dramatically before continuing. “Soardale began training his magically gifted students for his own personal army with purpose set at rebellion against the Emperor. Scalefire, who was kin to the Emperor, objected to his friend’s treasonous ambition. The rising tension between Scalefire and Soardale culminated in a duel of grandiose scale befitting the epic warriors locked in strife. After hours of hard combat, no man could have been deemed the superior warrior. It was only after a full day had passed that the battle turned to one’s advantage. The fatigued Soardale, who was steadily losing to the clever and composed Scalefire, summoned a dark spirit to smite his opponent. Had noble Scalefire known Soardale’s affinity for forbidden magic deemed too foul to practice, perhaps he might have foreseen and countered the underhanded spell. As it was, Scalefire was incapacitated by the shadow demon born of Soardale’s incantations. Scalefire, unable to defend himself, begged mercy of Soardale, but so consumed with the lust for power was Soardale that his lifelong friend’s pleas went unheard. Lumberton watched aghast as his old friend slew the paralyzed Scalefire.
    “Furious at the dishonorable victory, Lumberton broke his vow to abstain from the rivalry and sought to avenge the fallen Scalefire. In the month that followed, chaos reigned in the countryside as Lumberton pursued Soardale with an army filled with recruits of all three factions. In the end, Lumberton struck down his former companion on the banks of the river Bourkes. As the last surviving founder of the academy and having witnessed the destruction the art of war can bring, Lumberton was ready to retire his sword. He was growing older and, by that time, he felt no more love for the military. The school had become too big a responsibility and a burden for him. Lumberton relinquished his power to Vederic Bladebeard, an intellectual, a strategist, and a wonderful successor to Lumberton’s headmastership. And look what he has done! Bladebeard laid the foundation for the Academy you see today. Then as now, Bladebeard Academy is the finest training outpost and barracks in the Empire, boasting the most coveted recruits and officers.
    “So, the story of this school continues and is still being written by the likes of you and me. I anticipate that this year at the Academy will be one fit for song,” Boewdard grinned knowingly and took his seat, a high-backed throne at the middle of the professors’ table. The recruits clapped politely, exchanging looks of skepticism.
    “Bed now, everyone. Follow your Faction Heads back to your beds.” 
    “Here, Will, follow me,” Pat said, tugging Will along. Will, too sick to think, followed after the fat recruit as they wove their way through the crowd. Pat pushed a heavy door open, and the two stepped out into the brisk night’s air. 
    “Grandda told me this was a shortcut,” Pat informed Will, proceeding to tell Will of his grandfather’s adventures on the grounds. Pat had a tale for everything.
    Presently, they stopped before the glittering river, reflecting stars in the night. Pat was wondering aloud how they could have gone wrong when Will heard a low growl. He whipped around to see a