First King of Shannara. Terry Brooks (First Edition Hardback) 1996

FIRST KING OF SHANNARA (the Prequel to the Best-Selling SHANNARA Series) by Terry Brooks.

A Skull Bearer gave orders and crookedlimb monsters ascended the stairs in a knot of teeth and claws and weapons. The small band of Druid Guards repulsed the rush. The monsters came again, and again the Guards threw them back. But by then half the defenders were dead or injured. And no more had arrived to replace them.

Caerid Lock looked around in despair. Where were the Druids? Why didn't they respond? 

The monsters attacked a third time, a bristling mass of thrashing bodies and windmilling limbs, shrieks and cries rising out of gaping throats. The Druid Guard counterattacked and bore them down down the stairway, but left half their own number sprawled lifeless on the blood-slick steps.

Grabbing a Guard by the tunic, Caerid whispered desperately. "Find the Druids. and tell the to flee while there is still time. Tell them Paranor is lost. Then flee yourself!"

Seconds later the creatures of the Warlock Lord surged up the stairway once more. Caerid and his men braced to meet them.

But this time the monsters were too many.

 

FIRST EDITION Hardback published in 1996 by Legend