The Toldar Series Box Set Read online

  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.”