Who does not wish that at least one moment in a beautiful epic fantasy were true? But some of those moments are true, and some of those places. The mystery of beauty, and sacrifice, the brave call of loyalty, and the torch of true relationships make us yearn for something we often cannot name. But we feel it in epic fantasies of courage, perseverance, and friendship that illuminate selflessness. We behold spiritual heights, physical depths, and in far realms we learn to refuse evil and choose good until it influences our adventures in our own sphere. Fantasy relates to deep reality. – Fantastic Journey pg. 7

This is what I search for in fantasy, the beauty of good. I have found it in many great books. From Jonathan Renshaw’s Dawn of Wonder, to writers past and present, and my fellow authors in our Advance Review and Noblebright Collective, where we band together in different ways to bring you new releases throughout the year. From our Creator, and such a cloud of witnesses, the love of goodness flows into my own writing. In Falcon Dagger, the power of truth brings beauty to relationships. Every person who wrote a great book I have read has a part in what I write. How great a debt do we owe to the writers who came before us, and those who are our contemporaries? I think more than we know.

Here is a sneak snippet of Falcon Dagger on the philosophical side, a gem set amid the far-ranging adventure. It took me a fair bit of time to decide what to include – I didn’t want to give away big spoilers!

Rolf shook his head. His eyes stung. “Do you say my heart is not true to you and to my brothers? That I would not die for our Lord, for my oath?” His voice shook. He could not give in. It was all he had left.
“No. No, my son.” Alton laid down the blade on the desk behind him and gripped Rolf’s shoulders, his old hands strong. “I think no such thing.” His face creased in a smile. “It is because your heart yearns to be true, that I pray you may understand.
“I mean ‘the letter’ may reach to our sacraments, even to the ‘grace’ of salvation we thought we began to earn at our baptismal font. But his gift of faith, it appears to conquer everything. Our work cannot. I must search it out further. And so must you. His very Word,” he touched the Vulgate gently, “compels me. I think it likely nothing should be added to his grace, nor truly can be. We have deluded ourselves. We only ever earn ourselves death.” He paused. “Is he not sufficient? That is the question.” He stared at Rolf, burning with quiet fierceness. “Is his love not sufficient? The price he paid? How does any man dare think to add to God’s work on the tree? I dare not.”
Then he sighed. “Now the stakes are greater than you and I alone. Are we to let the innocent die, for lack of a warding hand? Do not let your oath drive you to evil. Will you strain out a gnat and swallow a camel?”
“No.”
He took up the sword and laid it in Rolf’s hands. “Our Lord said, ‘It is finished.’ We love because he loved us. You must go and do the same. Love with heart and head and hand.”
Rolf stared at the abbot, aghast, then at the weapon across his palms. He did not question God’s love or law, but his abbot’s fitness this moment, and his own weakness. Both weakness of the heart, and his hand that had barely begun to heal.
The abbot turned, muttering, “It matters less whether you bear a blade, and much more why you bear it, or do not.”
Rolf wondered at his abbot’s resolve. Nothing would surprise him after this. But was what he said true?
Alton’s voice was a rustling whisper. “Our righteousness is as filthy rags. That point we have got right in the church, though we negate it on the other hand so often. But his sufficiency we deny. Both salt water and fresh from the same spring, when it ought to be faith working by love.” His voice trailed away, and he shook his head suddenly and urged Rolf toward the door. “Come, my son, we will speak of this again, but you must go with all Godspeed. More lives than ours are at risk.” – Falcon Dagger pg. 142-143

I am thankful for all the men and women who have given me their words in stories that will never die, that live in my heart and inspire me to live true. They are a gift. That gift has led to this, the publication and release of the last book in the Falcon Chronicle January 18th.
Though a sad day in a way (I’m sorry to leave Kyrin and Cierheld) this leaves the road of the coming year open for new beginnings. I’ll update you about coming plans soon.

Until then,

Azalea Dabill

Crossover – Find the Eternal, the Adventure