Tales from Thac
A Collection of Short Stories and Novellas
F. P. Spirit
Shannon Pemrick
K. J. Fogelman
T. P. Doran
J. L. Price
First Edition
Copyright @ 2020
Timothy P. Doran The Battle of Fish Eye Cove (epilogue by Erik P. Wenson)
K.J. Fogelman Fortune Tellers
Shannon Pemrick Grand Choosing
Jeffrey L. Price Art of the Steal
F. P. Spirit The Emerald Blade, Price of Honor, Rescue at Redune
Cover Art by Jackson Tjota
Cover Typography by Amalia Chitulescu
Interior Design by Designs by Shannon
Edited by Sandra Nguyen
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ISBN-10: 0-9984715-5-0
ISBN-13: 978-0-9984715-5-6
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, copied in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise transmitted without written permission from the publisher. You must not circulate this book in any format.
Thanks to Tim for creating the world of Thac, and for being kind enough to be part of this anthology of authors. Also, thanks to Kathryn, Jeff, Shannon, and Erik for participating in this ambitious endeavor. Finally, thanks to our friends and families for their support in the creation of this book.
Contents
World of Arinthar
The Emerald Blade
1. The Emerald Blade
Grand Choosing
1. Haunted
2. Birthright
3. A Sister’s Gift
4. Grand Choosing
Price of Honor
1. When You Least Expect It
2. Captive Heart
3. Living Legend
4. Dagger in the Night
5. Love and Honor
Art of the Steal
1. The Fagin
2. Lord Flynn
3. Miranda
4. The Black Pearl
Epilogue
Fortune Tellers
1. Fortune Tellers
Rescue at Redune
1. Rescue at Redune
The Battle of Fish Eye Cove
1. Fisheye Cove
2. Dragon Fight!
3. Dragon Halls
4. Storm God’s Revenge
5. Princess of Misfortune
6. Dragon Masters
7. Spirit Battles
8. The Ice Dragon
Epilogue
Story Continues
About F.P. Spirit
About Shannon Pemrick
About K.J. Fogleman
About T.P. Doran
About J.L. Price
Thac is a relatively small isle in the larger world of Arinthar. The mainland of Laurentia, for instance, could fit nearly fifty islands the size of Thac within its wide borders. Yet despite its insignificant size, many important events have occurred on this western isle. Seven hundred years ago, the Mad Emperor Naradon founded and ruled the third great human empire from the shores of Thac. His reach extended well into the great forest and the blasted plains. Five hundred years ago, the Elf/Human wars were fought here, driving the Galinthral elves into the depths of the Ruanaiaith, never to be seen again. One hundred and fifty years ago, the Thrall Masters’ powerful armies overran the isle. Yet their bid for world domination was stopped there as well. Thus, the tiny island has many stories to share, in many cases its influence extending even beyond its own borders…
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- Lady Lara Stealle, High Wizard of Penwick
The Emerald Blade
F. P. Spirit
The Emerald Blade
The coastal waters shone a crystal blue, clear enough to see one’s reflection. The sun had reached its zenith in the sky, its golden rays warming the afternoon breeze. Lush jade treetops lined the shore on the eastern horizon. To the untrained eye, the scene appeared idyllic, but Gilis Stinvich knew better—these were pirate waters.
“What’cha broodin’ ‘bout, Gil?”
Harget Fitzwin. The lanky man swabbed the deck just a few feet away.
“Who says I’m broodin’?” Gil fired back as he finished knotting a line to a belaying pin.
The tall man’s face split into a toothy grin. “I’ve been sailin’ wit’cha long enough to knows when you’s broodin’.”
Gil had met Harget nearly fifteen years ago on a ship out of Palt. The two had struck up a fast friendship and had been inseparable ever since. There wasn’t a nautical mile along the north coast they hadn’t sailed together.
Gil snorted in response. “Fine, I’m broodin’. Ya just had to go and sign us up on this merchantman bound south.”
Harget’s face sank at the jab. “I said I was sorry. How was I supposed to know our last ship would leave Kaniron without us?”
Gil scowled at his tall friend. “Aye, you go on a bender, and we miss the only ship in port with a navigator that can thread the Vortex.”
Harget visibly shuddered at the mention of the giant storm.
The Vortex was actually two storms—twin maelstroms that sat on the coast north of Kaniron. Spawned by some unfathomable magic, they never moved or died out. A thin path of calm existed where the pair buffeted each other, but only the most experienced of navigators could traverse it safely.
Harget blessed himself with the sign of Zesstara, the goddess of the sea, before speaking again. “I—thought I was doin’ us a favor—figured it was better than takin’ the long way ‘round the Vortex.”
Gil continued to glare at his friend, then finally shrugged. Harget, empty-headed as he was, obviously meant well. “I think I’d have preferred the extra week to traveling through pirate waters.”
Harget gave him another toothy grin. “You need to learn to relax there, Gilly. The odds of us runnin’ into pirates is probably slim at best.”
Gil narrowed an eye at his optimistic friend, but any reply he might have had was abruptly interrupted.
“Ship astern!” came a shout from the crow’s nest above.
Gil let out an angry breath as he fixed Harget with a stare that screamed “I told you so.”
Harget glanced nervously toward the rear of the vessel, his voice catching in his throat. “J-jus’ ‘cause there’s another ship, don’t mean its pirates.”
Gil let out a rude laugh. “Ha! In these waters? The sun must be gettin’ to you if you think it’s anything else.”
Across the deck, the rest of the crew had all frozen in place. The captain came rushing out of his cabin and vaulted up the stairs to the quarterdeck. He hurried to the rear rail and pulled out a spyglass. The air was thick with tension as the entire crew drifted toward the back of the vessel.
A few moments passed before the captain spun about. He briskly strode back across the deck, barking out orders as he went. “Unfurl all the sails! Get the wind at our backs! Ready the cannons!”
“Is it pirates, captain?” a youthful sailor asked nervously.
The captain gave him a brief nod as he marched by. “Aye. Dasati.”
Harget gulped as he glanced at Gil. “Dasati? What does that mean?”
Gil’s mouth flattened into a tense line. “It means we’re being chased by the deadliest pirate clan on the high seas.”
The merchantman cleaved through the blue coastal waters like a fox on the run, but it was no match for the pirate vessel. The three-masted galleon slowly gained on them ‘til they could see its colors—an ebon stingray on a field of white. As it drew closer, they could read the name etched across its deep brown hull—Dark Halo.
There was a brief exchange of cannon fire as the vessels
drew alongside each other, but the pirates were expert marksmen. They took out the couple of guns the merchantman carried in a few shots. After that, things moved quickly. The Dark Halo drew beside them, and hooked lines were used to draw the ships together. Fighting broke out at the starboard rail as groups of brigands swung across to engage the crew.
Gil and Harget were among those assigned to protect the cargo hatch. They stood there now, swords in hand, though neither was very good with them.
Harget squealed in terror as one of the sailors went down to a pirate’s blade. “We’re gonna die here, Gilly! I jus’ knows it.”
Gil cast a sidelong glance at his quaking friend. “Get behind me, Har. You’re no good to anyone with that pig-sticker.”
Harget grimaced as he shuffled behind him. “I’m—I’m sorry, Gil. It’s my fault we’re in this mess.”
Gil shrugged, not taking his eyes off the fighting. “No use blamin’ yerself now. What’s done is done.”
The sailor in front of Gil fell to another brigand’s blade. The pirate withdrew his sword, then set his sights on Gil. A wicked grin split his grizzled face as he slowly advanced on him.
Gil held his blade up stiffly, but he knew it was a lost cause. It wouldn’t be long now till both he and Harget were food for the fishes.
Just then a commanding voice boomed over the fracas. “Dasati, fall back!”
As one, the brigands halted in their tracks and withdrew a few steps.
Gil’s heart pounded in his throat. By some miracle, he and Harget had been spared from immediate death. But who was their mysterious benefactor, and what did he want?
The rest of the crew appeared as confused as Gil. They all watched with growing apprehension as a lone figure crossed over on a plank from the pirate vessel.
The newcomer was a squat, powerfully built buccaneer wearing a green coat and tricorne hat. Thick red hair covered most of his lower face and draped across his broad shoulders. The lone brigand strode with the utmost confidence onto the main deck. He finally stopped near the mainmast and glanced around ‘til his eyes fell upon Gil.
“Where’s your captain?” the pirate asked in that same deep, commanding tone.
The question caught Gil completely by surprise. Before he knew it, he was pointing up at the quarterdeck.
“I’m the captain.” The captain of the merchant vessel cautiously descended the stairs from the upper deck. His eyes darted around carefully as he approached the lone brigand, but no one accosted him. He drew within a few feet of the man, then stopped, his voice amazingly firm for the situation. “What are you planning on doing with us?”
The squat buccaneer regarded him carefully before speaking. “That depends. You travel our waters without paying tribute.”
The captain arched a single eyebrow, somehow finding the nerve to scoff at the newcomer. “Pay tribute? To pirates?”
“He’s gonna get us all killed for sure,” Harget whispered frantically. Gil hushed him with a wave of his hand.
The buccaneer appeared unfazed by the remark. “Pirate is such a harsh word. These waters are ours by the grace of Zesstara. Those who see the wisdom of this have an accord with us. Those who do not are trespassers and are dealt with accordingly.”
Those last words sounded like a death sentence. Unable to control himself, Harget squealed so loud that Gil had to clamp a hand over his mouth.
The blood drained from the captain’s face, yet he still managed to stand his ground. “So, do you mean to slaughter us all, then?”
A deathly silence fell over the deck as the squat pirate mulled over their fate. Gil felt beads of sweat form on his brow and trickle down the side of his face. After what seemed like an eternity, the red-haired buccaneer spoke again. “I will give you one chance to prove your worth. Face me in single combat and the rest of your crew will be spared.”
Harget pulled Gil’s hand away from his mouth. “Does this mean we ain’t gonna die?”
Gil hushed him again as the captain responded. “And what of my ship?”
A round of evil laughter broke out among the pirates, but the lone brigand silenced it with a single gesture. His expression remained stony. “If you win, you and your ship can go on its way.”
The captain eyed him with clear disbelief. “And I’m supposed to take your word for it?”
“I don’t see as you have much choice,” the brigand rumbled.
“Do you really think he’d let us go?” Harget whispered in Gil’s ear.
“Shhh.” Gil waved him off.
The captain swept his gaze around the deck. He clearly did not believe the pirate, but truly had little choice in the matter. “Very well.”
He drew his sword and fell into a fighting stance, waving the brigand forward. “Let’s have at it, then.”
Murmurs went through the crowd as both pirates and sailors made room for the two combatants. A hush fell over the crew as the squat buccaneer drew his sword.
The light of the afternoon sun glinted off what appeared to be a blunt-edged blade. As if that wasn’t curious enough, the blade was painted vivid green and decorated with violet lotus flowers.
“Is this some sorta joke?” Harget whispered, mirroring Gil’s own astonishment. Yet their skepticism quickly died as nervous murmurs spread among the crew.
“The Emerald Blade.”
“It’s the Emerald Blade.”
“No one’s ever beaten him.”
The captain visibly paled, but managed to hold his ground. The Emerald Blade set himself into a casual fighting stance, then waved the captain forward in turn. The captain eyed him uncertainly at first, but then set his jaw and lunged at the brigand. The squat man parried the captain’s blade with relative ease. The captain had obvious skill, but the pirate’s defenses were very solid.
The battle exploded into a whirling dance of flashing blades. Both men moved with amazing grace and dexterity. Lunges, feints, parries, and counters were all executed with expert skill. Parries were met with counter-parries. Counters were met with reverse-counters.
Gil had never seen anything like it. Both men seemed evenly matched until the Emerald Blade executed a lightning-fast move. He caught the captain’s blade with his own, then abruptly sidestepped. In one swift motion, he was through the captain’s defenses and his blunt-edged sword slammed into the man’s midriff.
The captain doubled over in pain as the wind was knocked out of him. Had it been an actual blade, he would have been cloven in half.
The captain’s sword clattered to the deck as he fell to his knees. Cheers rang out amongst the pirates, but quickly subsided as the Emerald Blade placed the tip of his sword underneath the captain’s chin. “Do you yield?”
Tears of pain streamed from the captain’s eyes as he stared up at the man who had bested him. The brigand prodded him with the tip of his blunt sword. “Do you yield?”
The captain nodded fervently as he gasped his response. “Yes… yes… I yield…”
“Good,” the pirate said simply as he sheathed his strange sword. The Emerald Blade then turned on his heel, his deep voice void of emotion as he strode back toward his ship. “Give them the lifeboats. Make sure no one is left aboard.”
A short while later, Gil and Harget found themselves in a long boat filled with a good portion of the crew. Three other long boats with the rest of the crew floated not far from them. The four boats had made it nearly halfway to the distant shore when the sound of cannon fire exploded behind them.
Harget nearly jumped out of his seat. “They’re firin’ on us!”
Gil spun around to see their ship in flames. “Easy, Har. It’s not us they’re firin’ on.”
The entire boat had stopped rowing. Everyone watched as the roaring fire overtook their vacated ship. In mere minutes, what was left of the charred hull had sunk beneath the waters.
After the last volley, the pirate ship set sail. Gil watched the dark vessel as it receded toward the horizon, thankful to still be alive.
The Emerald Blade let out a deep sigh as he trudged into his large cabin. Bright light flooded in from the array of windows at the back of the room. A long mahogany table stood in front of those windows, surrounded by a mismatched set of ornate chairs. A globe sat on a circular stand in a corner next to a tall bookcase. A plush cupboard bed was set into the opposite wall beside an elaborate mahogany wardrobe.
The broad-shouldered man doffed his green coat and hat, then unbuckled his sword belt. He briefly ran his hands over the decorative scabbard before hanging it on a stand next to the wardrobe.
Weariness washed over the Emerald Blade—yet it was not a failing of the body. He had barely broken a sweat during his duel with the other ship’s captain. Rather, the fatigue he felt was more of the spirit.
He had only been a pirate now for a couple of years, and the captain of this ship for maybe half of that. Yet it was not what he had wanted of his life. In fact, it was the polar opposite of what his life had been before.
“One must flow with the current of the river,” the stout man reminded himself as he plodded over to the row of windows. A line of miniature bonsai and dwarf lotus trees stretched along the wide sill. Some were a lush green, others grew small red berries, and a few bloomed with pale pink and violet flowers.
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