title: Serpents Rising (Eve of Redemption) (Volume 3)
author:  Joe Jackson 
description: He said nothing more, and led the four women to the entrance to the pyramid, a wide archway that opened to a ramp ascending into the structure. Two massive sylinths guarded the archway, one to either side, and their bladed spears were serrated and deadly-looking. They wore white tunics and skirts embroidered with heraldry that must have denoted them as palace guards. Their discipline was such that they didn't even turn their heads or eyes to look at the mallasti or the three rir women.<br /><br />The courtier led the four women up the ramp, and within minutes, Kari's legs started to cramp up. The pyramid was huge, and though the ramps were easy to keep one's footing on, they were still rather steep. The courtier and his erestram guards led the four women up ramp after ramp, which doubled back on themselves again and again leading higher and higher toward the pyramid's summit. It seemed Sekassus' throne room was at the top, and the figurative and literal meanings of that were not lost on Kari.<br /><br />The final ramp up to the throne room was much shorter, and Kari worked to keep her breathing steady as she approached the very throne of a demon king. Sonja and Danilynn both had looks of determination on their faces, and Kari was glad to see their veteran status holding fast. Uldriana was doing all right herself, but Kari reached over and laid her hand on the girl's shoulder anyway. The mallasti girl turned and met Kari's gaze, and she gave a thankful nod for the demonhunter's attempt to lend her comfort.<br /><br />The inside of the throne room was decorated to look more like a clearing in the center of a rainforest. Its edges were lined with plants and stunted trees that reached up toward the peak of the pyramid, which was transparent from the inside and allowed strong, steady sunshine to enter. Under the shade of the trees, on benches and lounge chairs, sat other courtiers of both syrinthian and sylinthian varieties, and to either side of the door, just as at the entrance, stood a pair of the large, disciplined sylinth guards. A harmauth stood with its arms folded across its chest to the left of the doorway, and the ram demon snorted when the four females entered behind the syrinthian courtier. The erestram took up positions beside the sylinth guards, and the courtier approached the throne.<br /><br /><i>And so we're trapped</i>, Kari thought soberly.
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  Eve of Redemption, Book X
  
  
  
  
  
  The Phoenix Ascension
  
  
  
  
  
  by
  
  
  
  
  
  Joe Jackson
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Copyright 2019 by Joe Jackson
  
  
  All rights reserved
  
  
  
  
  
  Cover Artwork by
  
  
  Maria Spada Design
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  “Just like moons and like suns
  
  
  With the certainty of tides
  
  
  Just like hopes springing high
  
  
  Still I’ll rise”
  
  
  
  
  
  – Maya Angelou
  
  
  
  
  
  To the One who rose, that all might rise in His wake…
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  The Eve of Redemption Series
  
  
  
  
  
  [Salvation’s Dawn](http://amzn.to/2iB810I)
  
  
  [White Serpent, Black Dragon](http://amzn.to/1VJenaM)
  
  
  [Serpents Rising](http://amzn.to/1XNF0KV)
  
  
  [Legacy of the Devil Queen](http://amzn.to/2eHMHmW)
  
  
  [The Huntresses’ Game](http://amzn.to/2rwy1NE)
  
  
  [Preludes to War](http://amzn.to/2xy2JsF)
  
  
  [Convergence](http://amzn.to/2E7g1xC)
  
  
  [The Awaken