Prequel to The Hawks Trilogy
Before Flint's rescue from the gallows and before the Rebels of Halklyen rose against the king, there was Cadmon.
Once the Supreme Commander of the King's Guard, Cadmon finally reaches his breaking point when ordered to commit yet another atrocity in the name of a corrupt ruler. Together with his friend Gode, the healer Orma, and her daughter Cwenhild, he begins building the hidden village that will become the heart of the rebellion.
Raptor's Call is a free fantasy prequel that reveals how the Hawks were born and how the fight for Abbarkon began.
The Story
Assassins are not always the bad guys.
Cadmon has spent years serving the King of Abbarkon. As Supreme Commander of the King's Guard, he has witnessed cruelty, corruption, and suffering on a scale he can no longer ignore.
Determined to fight back, he abandons his position and disappears into the wilderness with his closest friend, Gode. Their goal is impossible: build a hidden rebel army powerful enough to challenge both a tyrannical king and the dark force manipulating him from the shadows.
As the first settlers arrive in a secret forest refuge, a mysterious masked warrior known only as Raptor appears with a dangerous plan that could change everything.
The rebellion is about to begin.
Book at a Glance
Series: The Hawks Trilogy, Prequel
Genre: Fantasy Adventure
Age Range: 10+
Pages: 74
Main Character: Cadmon
Setting: Abbarkon and the hidden village of Halklyen
It was an accident.
But that matters little in Abbarkon. A duke is dead and Flint is sentenced to hang. Steps away from the gallows, a mysterious jester and a black-cloaked man snatch him from his guards.
He joins the Hawks as an untrained serving boy, but under the rebels' instruction, he becomes a master of two swords.
Why Readers Enjoy Raptor's Call
- The origin story of the Hawks rebellion
- Cadmon and Gode before the trilogy begins
- The founding of the hidden village of Halklyen
- Fast-paced fantasy adventure
- Magic, potions, swords, and secret missions
- An ideal introduction to the world of Abbarkon
What Readers Are Saying
★★★★★ A fantastic prequel
★★★★★ A good introduction to the series.
★★★★★ Page-turning suspense and adventure
★★★★★ If you like swords and axes and magic and potions, you will really like this story.
★★★★★ The characters are admirable, courageous, and determined to help a troubled kingdom.
MEET THE CHARACTERS
Cadmon
Former Supreme Commander of the King's Guard, Cadmon can no longer obey the cruel commands of King Abelard. He risks everything to build a resistance movement capable of fighting back against tyranny.
Gode
Cadmon's closest friend and lieutenant. Powerful, loyal, and practical, Gode helps transform a dream into a rebellion. His skill with an axe quickly becomes legendary.
Orma
A healer and mage whose powerful magical veil hides the growing rebel settlement from Martokallu's watchful eyes. Without Orma, Halklyen could never survive
Cwenhild
Orma's daughter. Curious, courageous, and eager to learn, Cwenhild trains with weapons, brews potions, and grows into one of the rebellion's most valuable members.
Raptor
A mysterious masked warrior who seems to know far more than he should about the enemies threatening Abbarkon. His arrival changes the course of the rebellion forever
Start Your Journey Through The Hawks Trilogy
Reading Order:
You can either start at Rebels of Halklyen or Raptor's Call
- Raptor's Call (Prequel) ← You Are Here
- Rebels of Halklyen
- The God Sword
- The White Wolf
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Raptor's Call about?
Raptor's Call tells the story of how the Rebels of Halklyen were formed. It follows Cadmon as he abandons the King's Guard, recruits allies, creates the hidden village of Halklyen, and begins the fight against corruption in Abbarkon.
Who is Cadmon?
Cadmon is the former Supreme Commander of the King's Guard and the founder of the Hawks rebellion. After years of carrying out the orders of a corrupt king, he reaches a breaking point and abandons his position to fight back against tyranny. Together with Gode, Orma, and Cwenhild, he establishes the hidden village of Halklyen, recruits the first rebels, and begins the resistance movement that will later rescue Flint and challenge the rulers of Abbarkon. Cadmon is a skilled swordsman, respected leader, and the driving force behind the creation of the Hawks.
Should I read Raptor's Call first?
Yes, although it is not required. Readers can begin with either book, but Raptor's Call provides valuable background about Cadmon, Gode, Orma, Cwenhild, Halklyen, and the origins of the rebellion.
Is Raptor's Call middle grade or young adult?
Raptor's Call is written for readers ages 10 and up. Like the rest of The Hawks Trilogy, it combines adventure, sword fighting, heroism, magic, and personal sacrifice in a story that appeals to younger and older readers alike.
Is Raptor's Call appropriate for younger readers?
Yes. The novella contains action, danger, sword fighting, and fantasy violence, but does not contain graphic violence, explicit content, or strong language.
Does the book contain magic?
Yes. Magic plays an important role in the story. Orma creates magical wards to hide Halklyen, potions are brewed by Cwenhild, and the threat of Martokallu's dark magic drives much of the conflict.
Is Raptor's Call a complete story?
Yes. Raptor's Call tells a complete story while also serving as a bridge into Rebels of Halklyen. It answers how the Hawks began and naturally leads into the events of Book One.
What books are similar to Raptor's Call?
Readers who enjoy Ranger's Apprentice, Eragon, heroic fantasy, rebellion stories, sword fighting, secret societies, and coming-of-age fantasy adventures are likely to enjoy Raptor's Call.
Is there romance in Raptor's Call?
No. Raptor's Call focuses on adventure, friendship, sword fighting, heroism, and the struggle against tyranny rather than romantic relationships.
Does Raptor's Call contain violence?
The story includes sword fighting, battles, monsters, and peril, but it does not contain graphic violence. The focus is on adventure, courage, friendship, and heroism.
Is Raptor's Call a clean fantasy?
Yes. Raptor's Call is a clean fantasy adventure written for readers ages 10 and up. It contains action and danger but avoids explicit content, strong language, and romantic storylines.
Does Raptor's Call end on a cliffhanger?
No. Raptor's Call tells a complete story and has a satisfying ending. By the novella's conclusion, Cadmon has left the King's Guard, the hidden village of Halklyen has been founded, the first rebels have joined the cause, and the rebellion has taken its first major stand against oppression. While the story naturally leads into Rebels of Halklyen and the larger events of The Hawks Trilogy, readers will finish Raptor's Call with a clear sense of accomplishment rather than an unresolved cliffhanger.
Get Raptor's Call for FREE
It was an accident.
But that matters little in Abbarkon. A duke is dead and Flint is sentenced to hang. Steps away from the gallows, a mysterious jester and a black-cloaked man snatch him from his guards.
He joins the Hawks as an untrained serving boy, but under the rebels' instruction, he becomes a master of two swords.
Read the opening chapter...
Bursting into the room, Cadmon swung the door shut behind him. His face was tight with strain and he looked ready to punch someone. Broad-shouldered and corded with the muscle of a sword wielder, he sank onto Gode’s bed and leaned his elbows on his knees. “I can’t do this anymore,” he muttered. His head dropped into his hands, and he spoke to the floor. “This is not what I signed up for.”
Gode leapt up from the desk where he had been studying a map and hissed, “Hush!” He hurried to the door, pulled it open, and peered in both directions before closing it and coming to tower over Cadmon. “What’s happened?”
“We’re to head south tomorrow.” Cadmon scrubbed his face with both hands and levered himself up to pace the length of the room. His next words were almost inaudible. “I won’t do it,” he murmured. “Not again.”
Gode hooked Cadmon’s arm as he marched passed and pulled him close. “If you refuse, there will be reprisals,” he hissed into his ear.
Cadmon’s laugh was bitter. “What can they do to me?” he asked. “I have no family left and the village where I grew up was burned three years ago.” Shaking his arm free, he resumed his pacing.
There was plenty of room for it. Aside from the neatly made bed and a writing table, the only other piece of furniture was a wardrobe filled with Gode’s spare uniforms. A peg by the door held his weapons belt with its standard issue King’s Guard blade. The single sign of his rank was the window that looked out over the high, city wall to the hills beyond.
Lieutenant Commander of the King’s Guard, Gode still preferred the simple life of a soldier. As Supreme Commander, Cadmon was the same. He wore the showy, polished plate mail that indicated his rank, but it was not by choice.
Gode set his hands on his hips and watched him. “The reprisals do not have to be directly against your family to hurt you,” he muttered.
Cadmon’s face twisted. “You think I don’t know that?” he demanded. The words came out in a whispered scream, and he squeezed his head between his palms. “But what choice do I have? I cannot do it anymore.”
Abruptly, he stopped and sank onto Gode’s bed again. When he leaned forward, his eyes were bright. “I have a plan,” he murmured. “Are you in?”
Gode stopped breathing. More than anything, he wanted to be free of the king’s cruel commands. As young soldiers, he and Cadmon had reckoned the harsh orders came from the highest-ranking soldiers. Their solution was to work their way up, gaining promotions as often as possible.
But it had made no difference. As the top two officers in the army, they were still powerless to change anything.
Gode swallowed and nodded once. “I’m in.”