Blood & Fire: The Rise of Mr Poole: Chronicles of Yerat

By Carys Bateman

Elias is a loving, family man working as a cooper in the sleepy village of Frank's Pool. He cares deeply about his wife, even as she becomes sicker, paler and craves flesh to her own horror. With her condition getting worse Elias is forced to finally confront the truth as his life collapses around him.   

As the friends he once knew abandon him, and the supposedly holy Mages of Kintrelle turn him away, Elias has to make a stark choice to help those he loves.

A prequel story to Carys Bateman's novel Enslaved Magik

• Language: English
• Publisher: Novel Experientia Ltd
• Release date: Sep 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9781919614564

Book preview

Chapter One

Elias of Frank’s Pool laid down his tools and stretched his back gratefully. It had been a long day but he had finally finished making the last barrel in the brewery order and it was time to go home for a hot meal, playtime with Amber Rose and to check if his beloved Lottie was feeling any better. That damn stomach flu that she had had earlier in the winter was taking a lot to shake off. If she wasn’t any better this evening then Elias decided that he would get in touch with an apothecary, they would be able to work out what healing herbs she needed.

Groaning at his aching back, he pulled on his heavy jacket before stepping out into the snow. Locking the cooperage doors behind him, he turned to begin his journey home.

‘Elias!’ a voice called out to him in the gloom. Elias turned and saw his good friend, Dent, coming up to him.

‘Hello, mate, what’s up?’ he said.

‘The missus asked me to let you know we are having a celebration next week for Winter’s End, not that it looks like Winter is ready to go yet,’ Dent laughed, eyeing the sky heavy with more snow. A small, wiry man, with receding grey hair and a chin that could be used as an anvil, Dent and his family had been friends of Elias and his lady, Lottie, for over twenty years.

‘I reckon you’re right, Dent. I’ll check with Lottie before I say yes but I think we would love to come.’

‘Ch-check with Lottie? I thought she was d-erm...’ Dent’s voice trailed off as Elias glared at him.

‘I said I will check with my lady,’ growled Elias deep from his barrel chest. ‘As for being "d-erm" she has a fever but she is fine. If she ain’t welcome, say so and none of us will come and spoil your celebration.’

‘Now, Elias, don’t you get mad at me. The gossips said she had gone to the void, to wait to be chosen for her final rest. I didn’t realise that she was here with us. Of course she’s welcome to come. Next week, at our place, for a Winter’s End party. See you then!’ With an abrupt wave and moving swiftly, Dent turned and, with his head down, scurried for home.

Elias growled again and mumbled under his breath about Dent and the bloody gossips as well as the Shining One. The religion that worshipped Kintrelle had taken over in recent years and outlawed any other religion so he was careful about what he said out loud and clearly enough for others to hear.

He kept his mumbled complaints up right until he