The Four-Part Key
The Four-Part Key
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About The Book
Book Synopsis
Book Synopsis
Sitting in the front room of his family’s cottage, TY listens intently as Nyalis conveys the urgency of his upcoming quest. Having agreed to search out the four missing pieces of an age-old relic, Ty soon discovers how unprepared he is for a mission of this importance. Not only must he find the missing pieces and assemble them, he must survive long enough to figure out how to use them before the White Tower closes in.
Desperate to reach Rhowynn ahead of Chief Inquisitor Sylas, FERRIN pushes his small band of convicts to their limits—his twin sister’s life depends on it. On foot, they fight their way through the harsh winter countryside of Sidara, hoping to find someone willing to help. But the help they find is not what they expect, and the battle that ensues will likely mean the end of them all.
Still struggling with the loss of his memories, AYRION and his companions travel north, eager to find a safe haven in the rugged mountain community of Wellhollow. Instead, they find an army of Black Watch purging the town of wielders. And when a local seer reveals a disturbing prophecy that directly links his fate to hers, Ayrion finds himself donning his black leather coat and twin blades once again.
Meanwhile, in Easthaven, ADARRA makes a shocking discovery. Not only were the Tallosians who attacked her home part of Mangora’s scheme, it seems they are also part of a much larger invasion—an invasion Easthaven isn’t prepared to withstand.
The third book in this award-winning epic fantasy saga continues where the second left off, with a world in desperate need of saving, as powers beyond their control threaten to bring the Five Kingdoms to its knees.
Chapter Excerpt
Chapter Excerpt
The first of the winter snow left a thin blanket across the alleyway behind the Easthaven Harbor House. It wasn’t much more than a heavy dusting, and Ty knew its beauty would be short-lived, as the sun was sure to melt it away before the council meeting was over. Still, it did leave him with a momentary sense of peace, a feeling he was little acquainted with these days.
He stood quietly on the back step and watched his breath rise into the air. He felt different. Sure, the anger was still there, the desire to seek justice, but the rage was gone. It was as though someone had lifted an enormous weight off his shoulders, and for the first time in a long while, his thoughts were his own. With the witch’s hold severed, and the last of the book’s magic excised from his mind, Ty felt almost hollow, as if a piece of him were missing. He wondered how long the feeling would linger.
He hoped not too long.
“You still feel her, don’t you?”
Ty cocked his head. His brother stood behind him in the doorway, taking up most of it with his broad shoulders.
“I see the way you look at that finger,” Breen said, nodding at Ty’s hand.
Ty hadn’t noticed, but he was thumbing the empty spot where the glass ring had been. It had only been a week since Nyalis had purged him of the numori’s dark tendrils, the pages of Mangora’s book having done more damage than he knew. It was scary how something as innocent as a book could have nearly toppled the kingdoms of Aldor. If Mangora had gotten her way, and the Easthaven wielder council hadn’t been there to stop her, she might have used Ty to kill nearly the entire Provincial Authority in one fell swoop.
The wizard had said the ring in itself wasn’t dangerous. It simply put a voice to the words in the book. But Nyalis figured it was best that the artifact remained with him for safekeeping.
Ty let his hand drop to his side. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be rid of the feeling.” He shivered as he thought about what he’d done under Mangora’s control, how he’d been forced to watch as the witch used his abilities against him, against his family, his friends. If he had a way to expel those memories, he would do it. He would cut them out with a knife.
His dreams were plagued by nightmares. The worst of which involved Gilly. The look in the little man’s eyes as Ty engulfed him in flame was more than he could bear. But that wasn’t him, he had to keep reminding himself. It was the witch. Ty turned and looked up at his brother. He read the concern in his eyes. “Will they ever forgive me?”
Breen took a deep breath and slowly released, white mist curling above his head, forming a sort of spiral snake that widened as it rose. “The more important question is: Will you ever forgive yourself?”
Ty could feel the weight of his own guilt in his brother’s eyes, and he looked away. He hated how Breen could peer inside him, and with one question, drive straight to the heart of the problem. “I don’t know.”
Breen waited a moment before stepping back inside. “Come on. They’re waiting.”
Ty nodded, expelling one last puff of mist before joining his brother.
Master Eliab stood beside the kitchen table, cradling his double-bolt crossbow like a newborn child. “Winter’th upon uth,” he said, stepping over to the door and taking one last look outside before shutting it. “It’ll be a cold one for thure. Mark my wordth.” His mouth widened into a bright, toothless grin. He threw the door’s bracer into place and started across the room, motioning for the two to follow.
They made their way down the hall to the next room, then through the open door and down the stairs to the cellar. The wielder council used the cellar as a meeting place, as well as a temporary shelter for wielders who needed a place to hide. It seemed like a lifetime since Ty’s father had first brought him here and introduced him to the council. So much had happened since that night; it seemed almost a distant memory.
Ty kept to Master Eliab’s heels as the former lancer captain guided them across the room to the chamber on the other side, where the council carried out its meetings. To the left and right were doors that led to rooms that had been arranged for displaced wielders. Each was barely large enough to fit a cot and small table, but those they sheltered were extremely grateful for them.
Ty balled his fists as the memory of Saleena’s face flashed across his mind. She was another innocent victim who had lost her life in the White Tower’s pursuit of him. She had been the last to seek shelter at the Harbor House.
Eliab stopped outside the door leading into the council’s meeting chamber and knocked. Ty turned to see if his brother was watching and quickly wiped his palms down the front of his trousers, not wanting him to see how nervous he truly was. It was the first time he’d been in the same room with the other members since the Sidaran Assembly Hall, when Mangora had used him to try killing the entire council.
“Come in,” Veldon’s gruff voice called out from the other side. Veldon was the Easthaven dockmaster and head of the wielder council.
Ty stuffed his hands in his pockets and squeezed the material. Willing participant or not, he wasn’t looking forward to this reunion. He startled when Breen placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I’m fine,” he reassured his brother with a nod.
Eliab opened the door. “Mathter Breen and Mathter Ty have arrived.” The Harbor House gatekeeper stepped aside to let them pass.
“We were starting to wonder if you were going to make it,” Veldon said from the head of the table on the right. “Thank you, Eliab.”
Eliab nodded but waited for the two to enter before stepping out and shutting the door behind them.
Nearly every seat around the long table was filled. Even Nyalis was there, sitting at the other end, quietly conversing with Ty’s sister. Adarra seemed enthralled with whatever the old wizard was saying. Mistress Reloria, sitting just to the other side of Nyalis, fiddled with her hat, looking particularly on edge. In fact, most of those around the table looked anxious in one way or another: fleeting glances, nervous fidgeting, flustered adjustments of clothing and jewelry.
Strangely enough, the only person who seemed unaffected by Ty’s presence was Gilly, and he was the one person who had the most to be bothered by, considering the last time Ty had seen the little man was when he had tried to burn him alive. Ty heard Gilly’s screams in his mind as he lowered his head and followed Breen around the table to the two empty seats beside his father.
Breen took the chair next to Fraya, and Ty sat in the open chair on his other side, staring down at the buttons on his jacket. He tugged on each, attempting to distract himself so he wouldn’t have to face the people he’d hurt.
“You’re looking better,” Master Orlyn’s voice rang out from across the table.
When no one answered, Ty spared a fleeting glance in the old apothecary’s direction. “I feel better,” he said with a forced smile, then lowered his gaze back to his lap.
“Can we be sure that no one else is listening in on our conversation?” Feoldor asked, shifting uncomfortably in his seat between Reloria and Orlyn.
“The numori’s magic is gone,” Nyalis said, getting to the heart of what Feoldor was asking. “But the effects might be longer lasting.”
“And what effects are those?” Ty’s father asked.
Ty could feel the old wizard’s gaze burrowing into him, and as bad as he wanted to look, he kept his head lowered.
“Nothing to fear, I assure you. A bit of rest, and he’ll be back to his old chipper self in no time.” The sarcasm in the wizard’s voice was unmistakable.
“What aren’t you telling us?” Orlyn asked. “No offense, but you tend to have a way of leaving things out. Offering half-truths and partial explanations.”
Ty could almost hear the wizard smiling as he leaned back in his seat. “What our young Master Ty seems to be suffering from is a lack of confidence, brought on by an acute sense of guilt, topped with a debilitating need for reconciliation.”
The room went silent.
“What in the flaming pits are you talking about?” Feoldor blurted out, the only one brave enough to do so. “I didn’t understand half of what you just said.”
Breen mumbled something under his breath, but all Ty could catch was Feoldor and two-headed donkey.
“Ty blames himself for what happened,” Nyalis said.
Ty spared a quick peek around the table to catch the others’ response, stopping before he reached Gilly’s seat. He knew he needed to say something, but before he could muster the courage to do so, Feoldor cleared his throat and fluffed his side whiskers.
“Why didn’t you just say so? Look here, boy,” he said, grabbing Ty’s attention. “There’s plenty of blame to go around. I mean, sure, you might have been the one snooping through the witch’s stuff and all, stealing her numori thingy—”
Reloria jabbed Feoldor in the side with her elbow. “That’s hardly helpful.”
“What? I was just trying to explain how—”
“What Feoldor’s trying to say, dear,” she said, “is that this wasn’t your fault. We know it was Mangora.”
Ty couldn’t take the stares any longer. With a deep breath to steel his nerves, he stood. “I’d like to speak.” When he had everyone’s attention, he continued. “I’m sorry. Master Feoldor’s right. I was the one who took the book. I was the one who listened to what it had to say. I was . . .” He stared at the faces around the table and finally lowered his head. “I was just so angry.”
Ty’s father laid a hand on Ty’s arm, trying to coax him back to his seat. “It could have happened to any of us.”
Ty shook his head. “No. It was me. I wanted Mangora dead so badly that I opened myself up to the book without question.”
“But you didn’t know it was her, silly,” Ty’s sister said. “You can’t blame yourself for that.”
“Adarra’s right,” Fraya added, releasing Breen’s arm. “This isn’t your fault. In fact, I’m just as much to blame as anyone. If I’d listened to Orlyn and not been so consumed with my healing, Saleena might still be alive.” Her voice cracked. “She died because I wasn’t paying close enough attention.”
Orlyn grunted, his rune-covered staff shifting behind his seat as he scooted forward. “Now, let’s don’t go putting words in my mouth. What happened to Saleena could hardly be considered anyone’s fault, my dear.”
“Enough.” Veldon scooted his seat back from the table and stood. “We are doing no one any favors, least of all ourselves, by sitting here harboring blame.” He looked at Ty. “No one here holds you responsible for what happened. And if it will help to hear . . . We forgive you.” He paused a moment to look around the table. “And I would like to point out that—”
Gilly stood, and everyone turned. The little man didn’t come to the meetings that often, and when he did, he rarely participated beyond a friendly smile and a childlike wave at the girls, so any interaction on his part was clearly noted.
Ty tensed as the dwarfish man turned and hobbled around the back of the table, straight over to where he was standing. He wasn’t sure what to expect. Suddenly, Gilly reached out and wrapped his arms around Ty’s waist and hugged him.
Ty nearly started crying. In fact, the more he tried to stop it, the harder it became. Pretty soon, he was all but sobbing as he, too, reached down and wrapped his arms around Gilly’s shoulders. More than one person was wiping their eyes by the time Gilly retook his seat.
Ty sat, his legs shaking to the point of nearly giving out. That one gesture had done more to heal what was broken inside him than all of the wizard’s magic.
He looked around the table, warm smiles greeting him in return. Even Sheeva, on the far end beside Veldon, offered a partial grin, which looked oddly out of place for the short assassin.
Ty didn’t know how he could earn back their trust, but he swore to himself he would find a way.
“Seems to me,” Veldon continued, retaking his seat, “we could all use a little forgiveness. No one here’s without mistake. Except perhaps our illustrious friend on the end there,” he said half-jokingly as he gestured toward the wizard.
Nyalis stood, and all the light in the room dimmed, drawing everyone’s attention. “Mistakes are what it means to be human,” he said. “And I’m as human as they come.” The room suddenly brightened. “Well, for the most part,” he added with a cheeky grin. Nyalis had a strange sense of humor, one not everyone tended to get. “My point is, leave the past in the past. There are plenty of mistakes still to come, poor choices lurking around every corner. The one thing we don’t have time for is to sit around wallowing in guilt over the ones we’ve already made.” He made a point to look at Ty. “Learn from them and move on, because what is coming will be here before you know it.”
“What is coming?” Orlyn asked.
Ty found himself leaning forward along with the rest of those at the table.
Nyalis scanned the room. “Uncertainty. Uncertainty is coming. And she can be a deadly adversary.”
Ty shuddered. The room felt undeniably chilly, and it wasn’t just the winter winds beating against the outside walls. Whatever was coming, he knew it had something to do with him. He only wished he understood more about why that was.
“Which is why it is so imperative that our young Master Ty here start his journey. The sooner he is able to find and return the Wizarding Keep of Aero’set, the better our chances will be.”
“Winter is already upon us,” Veldon said. “Wouldn’t it be more prudent to wait until the weather has improved . . . say, spring?”
Nyalis paused. “Would it be more prudent? Yes. Is that what we should do? Absolutely not. We need Aero’set if we are to have any chance of surviving what’s coming. What you’ve endured so far is merely a scuffle, a backyard brawl between schoolchildren. If this has done anything, it’s shown us how unprepared we really are.”
Ty looked at the others. Their despondent faces said it all. What they believed to have been a great victory and a justification of their skills seemed barely worth mentioning in the wizard’s eyes. Then again, if Nyalis truly was as old as he claimed, Ty couldn’t imagine the battles he had seen and fought.
Ty scooted to the edge of his seat. “I’m ready,” he said. What better way to prove his worth than to bring back this fabled keep?
Nyalis smiled. “Then I suggest you pack.”
I got into the world, but the characters are a little Snidely Whiplash or Tom Swift for me. The book that talks in disappearing print seems lifted from Harry Potter, but that probably goes back even earlier than that. Nonetheless, I have enjoyed it enough to stay with it until the end. Just going slower than I might normally. Thanks for caring enough to ask my opinion. And thanks for writing the book. It is serving the purpose of escape from some awful current events.
I love how the different characters' stories are woven together and how the descriptions of the scenes enhance the story-building. It draws you in!!
A very captivating epic fantasy with great characters and many story lines weaving together to create an incredible world. I thoroughly enjoyed it and certainly look forward to reading the next book in the series!
I thought the whole series so far has been great and can’t wait for the rest.
I have read many magic based series. I have found this one riveting. Having read the first three books I can't wait to start book 4.
- 5 stars: 81 (86%)
- 4 stars: 13 (14%)
- 3 stars: 0 (0%)
- 2 stars: 0 (0%)
- 1 star: 0 (0%)
I got into the world, but the characters are a little Snidely Whiplash or Tom Swift for me. The book that talks in disappearing print seems lifted from Harry Potter, but that probably goes back even earlier than that. Nonetheless, I have enjoyed it enough to stay with it until the end. Just going slower than I might normally. Thanks for caring enough to ask my opinion. And thanks for writing the book. It is serving the purpose of escape from some awful current events.
I love how the different characters' stories are woven together and how the descriptions of the scenes enhance the story-building. It draws you in!!
A very captivating epic fantasy with great characters and many story lines weaving together to create an incredible world. I thoroughly enjoyed it and certainly look forward to reading the next book in the series!
I thought the whole series so far has been great and can’t wait for the rest.
I have read many magic based series. I have found this one riveting. Having read the first three books I can't wait to start book 4.
Never before have I read fantasy. Not Harry Potter, not Game of Thrones, Not Hunger Games. I did read some of Lord of the Rings but never got drawn into it. Just not interested. So how I got sucked into Aldoran, I don't know. But sucked in I was. I can't wait for a free moment to pick it up and continue on. The storyline is captivating. Next thing I will do is start reading #4. I guess it was meant to be. This would be great as a movie but Hollywood would probably screw it up. They always do. Well done Michael! Let us know if we can help you in any way!
Very entertaining, fast paced and great characters
This is the best book in the series so far. The storytelling was riveting and sent me to places with stories of life and death. It brought people together seamlessly.
Start with the series called the Street Rats Of Aramoor before reading the Aldorian Chronicles because that is where the series starts. VERY WELL WRITTEN.
Can’t wait to read the rest, kept me awake for hours , I read this every chance I had throughout the day, would love to see this on the big screen one day, Thank you for a beautiful written book 6 stars if I could .
Great book that kept me turning pages when I should be going to sleep. I find it funny that when it would change to a different characters POV I would get annoyed as I was enjoying it. But then the same thing would happen at the next character change and so on haha
Great continuation for the 3rd installment in the series. If you are a fan of good story telling this is a treat.
Again, well written and imaginative.
Thankyou you for such an amazing and interesting group of characters on the journey to fight evil. Great bad guys! Great humor!Great other worlds!
Epic and engaging series fully comparable to Tolkien's middle earth tomes. I can't wait to start the next book to see where this all leads!
Just discovered this Author and am in love with his writing style! Cant wait to finish the next book then go back and read the prequel series!!
Very exciting Very good writing Can't wait to read the next in series Thank you Bring on the next one
The world of Aldoran is so much bigger than I ever thought I would get to see! The description of each place was truly mind-blowing, incredible, and sometimes terrifying. Being able to watch the characters traverse such diverse lands was truly an honor.
,The realism of Michael’s series continues as well, with the characters having to go through true loss and pain as they travel farther down their paths. Battles are won, but also lost. Friendships are built, but some are broken. And yet through all the darkness, hope still stands strong. What a fantastic book!
The world of Aldoran is so much bigger than I ever thought I would get to see! The description of each place was truly mind-blowing, incredible, and sometimes terrifying. Being able to watch the characters traverse such diverse lands was truly an honor.
The realism of Michael’s series continues as well, with the characters having to go through true loss and pain as they travel farther down their paths. Battles are won, but also lost. Friendships are built, but some are broken. And yet through all the darkness, hope still stands strong. What a fantastic book!
This set of books has kept me enthralled with the world created. Characters are well thought out. The series grabs your imagination and flings you into the world of magic and mayhem. Anyone that enjoys magic and adventure should consider this series high on their list. Hopefully he will continue the series.
This was a much better book than the second. I really enjoyed the movement of the story and character development in this one. Ty was a much more likable protagonist as well. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
The saga continues as the main characters are unerringly drawn to their shared victory and retrieval of the wizard school. Ty continues to grow as a character with depth - without losing his innocence. The telling of the story remains enthralling without the need for vulgarity or profanity. I look forward to being carried away by the next book! Thank you, Michael Wisehart!
This book will keep you very interested in the several stories happening at the same time. You will want to know what is going to happen next. Not perfectly written but that does not make a difference the story is very captivating. Each book leading up to this one held my interest and ended but continued in the next book to follow. Wonderful characters especially Aryion. Highly recommended.
This series reminds me of a good ‘old fashioned comfort food. You know, it’s not the best thing you’re going to eat but it’s a tried and true recipe that brings back a certain nostalgic “Je ne sais quoi”. A dash of LotR, splash of Arthurian legend, a hint of Sword of Truth, some Game of Thrones, and a sprinkling of Wheel of Time…It was easy to see the elements especially with some of the names (Mangora vs Morgana) but, it was still a unique story with unique characters. Ferrin and Aryon are easy to love and well built and the author definitely had you empathizing with the characters’ emotions. For example, I imagine I was just as frustrated with Nerandi as Ty was by the end of it.One thing for me that really stood out though were the Christian elements. I personally love the fact that this author incorporated so much of that in their work and while it was noticeable, it wasn’t overbearing which I think is how that should be. Well done on that point , sir! I am looking forward to the next book and will definitely read it because, like I said, comfort food… maybe a “warm-fuzzy blanket” might be an appropriate description as well.I think you will enjoy this series and I do recommend you read it.
This series has turned into one of my favorites and I have read a lot. Really look forward to reading the next book.
So, at first I didn't know if I'd like how much this series jumps from point of view to another characters point of view. But, having faith in the author to make it all come together has truly paid off. I'm still putting my faith in the author to continue bringing it all together with this next book, and am looking forward to reading it. I feel it's mainly about character building with some world building mixed in. I'm not a fast reader by any means, but I flew through the first three books and I'm sure it will be the same for the fourth. It's a good story and I recommend it to the most avid reader of fantasy to the beginner.
I absolutely love love love this series! takes you away to another realm with epic character development and pastoral scenes.
Sometimes I would feel lost then would find myself reading quickly in my excitement. Each time I thought we might be at an impasse, something else happened.
This is by far the most captivating book of the series. I can’t wait to read the next book. Bring it on.
This collection of interesting characters kept me trapped with their stories. I suffered through frustrations with the main character because he was clearly started as a naïve, self-critical teen but he matured through his many challenges. I couldn't put it down. Kept telling myself, "Just one more chapter." Great read!
I recommend this series to anyone who loves high fantasy. Strong visual tapestries of the world. Complex relationships and friendships that finally meet along their journey to save the world from the evil power hungry White Tower. Be sure to read the prequel “Street Rats of Aramoor.”