by Sarah Noffke
“Not everyone?” Azure asked, spinning around. Laurel should have come through by now, but she hadn’t left with the rest of the wereanimals and she wasn’t in the carriage. There were other groups spread out across the area, but she didn’t see a werecat among them.
Panic constricted her chest, but the mountain thundered just then and a strong wind swept through the center and out its top, stealing her attention. A mushroom cloud erupted, blanketing everything with soot and dirt, and the mountain fell. A loud crack assaulted Azure’s ears, and she dove beneath the advancing wave of smoke and dust that swept across the land. Where the mountain of Lancothy had stood seconds prior was only a mound of rock and dirt. It was gone.
Laurel! Where was she?
She turned to Ever with tears streaming down her face. “Did you see Laurel? Where is she? Do you think she made it out?”
Ever shook his head, pain filling his eyes. “I don’t know, Azure.”
“She can’t be gone! She can’t be!” Azure yelled, and then she felt something in her head. At first she thought it was Micky’s voice, but this one was different—something that she’d always been connected to, although she hadn’t known. When Azure closed her eyes, pictures streaked across her vision. The Howling Willow sent her images of events all over Oriceran that were happening at that moment. Azure drew in a long steady breath and allowed herself to sink deeper.
“Azure, are you all right?” she heard Ever ask, but she didn’t answer. Instead, she scanned the images until she found one that filled her heart with hope…and also desperate fear.
Azure whipped open her eyes and shot toward the remains of the mountain, which were still settling.
“Where are you going?” Ever shouted, racing after her.
“To the chute.”
“The chute? You mean, how we got out of Lancothy the first… Oh!” Ever said, understanding.
Azure didn’t know how she’d recognize the random place where the chute came out of the neighboring mountain, but she didn’t have to. The Howling Willow knew where she had to go.
As if frozen by an invisible force Azure halted and began digging, pulling away rocks and dirt until she found the wooden door. It was incredible that she’d located it when there were so many places she could have looked. The magic of the Howling Willow stole her breath.
With all her might she yanked the door open and peered into the chute. It hadn’t caved in…but Laurel wasn’t there. She closed the door and turned around, thinking she’d missed something.
Azure stood back up. “I don’t understand.”
“You thought she would be in there?” Ever asked.
“The Howling Willow showed me that she was, but it’s empty,” Azure told him.
“Maybe it was wrong,” Ever said, shaking his head.
“Or maybe it gave you the vision a bit early,” Monet said, striding over with his finger extended.
Azure looked back at the door as it moved, but only an inch, as something bumped into it. “Laurel!” Azure yelled, tearing the door open again.
There, battered and covered in dirt, was the werecat. Azure pulled her out and into her arms. “I was so worried you’d—”
Azure couldn’t bear to finish her own sentence. Laurel turned back to the tunnel to retrieve something. “I’m sorry to worry you. I went back to get these,” she said, pulling out several bound volumes.
“Books? You risked your life for books?” Monet yelled angrily.
Laurel gave them a smile, one so wide it lightened Azure’s heart. “Oh, yes. There are a few things I will die to protect, and books are one of them. I lost my land, but freed my people. Lancothy will remember its history because it’s all documented here.”
Azure took the first volume from Laurel’s hands and read the title: Inside the Mountain We Find Peace: The Complete History of Lancothy.
Azure looked at the mountain that was no more, the one that had shielded the wereanimals from themselves. Now they were free to bless Oriceran with their gifts. All would benefit from Lancothy’s fall.
EPILOGUE
Cordelia looked up from the chessboard when something scratching at the door to the boarding school got her attention. She gave Hamilton a curious glance.
He lifted one of his black eyebrows. “Smells like Lux has returned.”
Cordelia pulled in a breath. “But not Devo.”
“No, I’m guessing he got himself in trouble,” Hamilton said, making his move. “By the smell of it and Lux’s ragged breathing, he’s on death’s doorstep.”
“Well, currently he’s on our doorstep. I truly hope he’s not leaving blood all over the place,” Cordelia said, snapping her fingers to summon a servant.
A woman wearing a maid’s outfit and several bite marks on her neck stepped forward. “Yes, madam?”
“Go and let Lux in, and clean up any mess he’s left behind,” Cordelia ordered the woman she’d condemned to be their servant and snack.
“Yes, madam. Right away.” The woman hurried toward the entrance.
“At least he brought us some bats,” Cordelia said, considering her next move.
“Yes, and a decent number by the sound of it.” Hamilton combed his hands through his white-streaked black hair. Cordelia wondered what Queen Azure’s soul mark would be when they turned her into a Founder vampire.
It was always exciting to see where the mark appeared. She hadn’t even found her own because it was on her back—that had been Hamilton. His soul mark, the white streak in his hair, was noticeable, and one of the things Cordelia found most attractive about her mate. He wore his mark as a soulless creature boldly. The sort-of- dagger-shaped birthmark on her back was noticeable only when she wore a backless dress like the one she presently had on.
Lux slammed into the doorframe of the large study. His face was badly burned, and blood dripped from his leg.
Cordelia blinked impassively at the follower vampire. “Where are the bats?” she asked coldly.
“I left them in the lobby.” Lux stumbled forward and then fell. The leg of his jeans was ripped, and there was a bite wound on his calf. It was green and infected, and Cordelia turned away in disgust.
“You got yourself bitten by a werewolf,” Hamilton said, shaking his head. Disappointment was strong in his voice.
“Master, I need your help. Please!” Lux begged.
Cordelia rolled her eyes and let out a long sigh. “And Devo? Where is he?”
“He’s gone. The werewolves… And the mountain—it’s gone too. I barely got out,” Lux said, crawling forward and stopping a few feet away from the pair at the chess table. “I had to stay in a cave during the day. And this bite…”
Hamilton rose and extended an arm to Cordelia. She took it at once, allowing him to escort her around Lux. “At least you were able to get some bats, so you weren’t a complete failure,” she called over her shoulder.
“Masters, please!” Lux yelled.
Hamilton paused on the threshold to give Lux an impatient stare. “There is no cure for a werewolf bite. You’ll be dead within the hour.”
Cordelia turned to her mate with a wicked smile on her face. “But thankfully he returned with the bats before dying. Now, shall we prepare for our journey?”
“Yes. I’m very interested in seeing the kingdom of Virgo, where the witches and wizards are incredibly powerful,” Hamilton said.
“They will make even more incredible vampires,” Cordelia agreed.
“And then the queen will have no choice but to join us,” Hamilton said, escorting Cordelia to the foyer, where the bats were squeaking loudly.
Author Notes - Sarah Noffke
Written December 3rd, 2017
For my birthday this year, my friends reserved a spot at a RV park in Malibu. They love to glamp. I don’t camp and glamping is kind of lost on me. I love hiking, but want to return to my house at the end of the day.
I’ve already digressed. Apologies.
Anyway, my friends have a fifteen-yea
r-old daughter who is a budding writer and one day will be writing circles around me. Sitting at the picnic table and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Farah and I discussed books on my birthday. I was telling her about my upcoming book in Oriceran which would involve a werekingdom. She asked me what it was called. I told her I hadn’t thought of a name yet and she ought to come up with one. For the rest of the weekend, Farah thought on this and when it was time to depart she said, “Lancothy. That’s the name I’ve chosen for the werekingdom.”
And so that’s how Lancothy was born. I remember its inception as part of my birthday celebration, hence the story and unnecessary details. I’m hoping that one day when Farah’s a famous author, she will tell her fans that she named the nobel prize-winning book called, “Lancothy.”
Hey, I can dream, right?
I get all my best ideas from others. For instance, we can thank the brilliance that is Tim Adams for the weredragons. He and Alastar Wilson had a lengthy conversation on how the weredragons should look and how their abilities would manifest. We can thank them for coming up with the color connection to the weredragon’s abilities.
Lisa Frett gets is all of the credit for Pedgit, right down to naming the drunken brownie. She has great ideas when it comes to my books. Lisa, seriously, keep them coming.
Micky Cocker is a prized resource who I couldn’t do this without. She gives me lists of names for characters that haven’t been used in KGU or Oriceran books. And Micky did become the trusty dragon bodyguard. I didn’t plan that in the beginning. Actually, I was trying to come up with the name for the dragon in book five and the name Micky popped into my head. I realize now that the universe was saying, “Ask Micky for a name.” I misread the message from the universe, as I tend to do, and named the dragon Micky. I have no regrets. She’s a masterful dragon. And you might have noticed that I named two other dragons after superfans, Tim Adams and Ron Gailey. Those guys make what I do more fun.
As some of you know, I’m simultaneously writing this Oriceran series and in the Age of Expansion universe. It’s making me feel like I have split personalities at times. I haven’t slipped up and had Azure pull out her pistol yet, but I am thinking of having Ghost Squadron crash onto Oriceran. Then they can grab Blisters and take him to Onyx Station.
Thank you so much for reading, supporting and brightening my day with your comments and reviews. I read everything, although it’s hard to always comment. I’m super grateful to write books and do what I love. You all make that possible.
Sincerely,
Sarah
Check out Sarah Noffke’s Fantasy Series:
Vagabond Circus
A circus that is spellbinding, mesmerizing and deadly.
When a stranger joins the cast of Vagabond Circus--a circus that is run by Dream Travelers and features real magic--mysterious events start happening. The once orderly grounds of the circus become riddled with hidden threats. And the ringmaster realizes not only are his circus and its magic at risk, but also his very life.
Vagabond Circus caters to the skeptics. Without skeptics, it would close its doors. This is because Vagabond Circus runs for two reasons and only two reasons: first and foremost to provide the lost and lonely Dream Travelers a place to be illustrious. And secondly, to show the nonbelievers that there's still magic in the world. If they believe, then they care, and if they care, then they don't destroy. They stop the small abuse that day-by-day breaks down humanity's spirit. If Vagabond Circus makes one skeptic believe in magic, then they halt the cycle, just a little bit. They allow a little more love into this world. That's Dr. Dave Raydon's mission. And that's why this ringmaster recruits. That's why he directs. That's why he puts on a show that makes people question their beliefs. He wants the world to believe in magic once again.
Acknowledgements
Sarah Noffke
Thank you to Michael Anderle for giving me this chance. I’m still waiting for the roller coaster you threw me on to slow down.
Thank you to Martha Carr for your amazing support. I love sharing the ideas that have come out of our collaborations. You are a creative soul.
Thank you to the awesome authors who pushed me to do this. Jeff and Sarah I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for you.
Thank you to Lynne, Steve, Andrew and Jeff for all the work on the books, covers and championing so much of the publishing.
Thank you to my beta team Colleen and Heidi. You two keep me sane… or maybe it’s the other way around.
Thank you to my amazing readers. I asked myself a question the other day and it had a strange answer. I asked if I would still write if trapped on a desert island and no one would ever read the books. The answer was yes, but the feeling connected to it was different. It wouldn’t be as much fun to write if there wasn’t awesome readers to share it with. Thank you.
Thank you to my friends and family for all the support and love.
Author Notes - Martha Carr
Written February 12th, 2018
I travelled to London recently for the 20Books conference where I got to meet a lot of authors and spend time outside of the virtual world. You might call that realm, ‘reality’. Super fans of the Oriceran Universe like Micky Cocker and Peter McLean were also there and of course I had troll stickers in my pockets. (Thank you, Micky for the wonderful diorama of London to always remind me of the trip.)
At the end of the conference all the panelists were on the stage taking questions and the last question was, “What was your low point?” I knew instantly what my answer was to that and raised my hand because of where the story is right now and because it’s a message we can all use on any given day. Things get better in ways we can’t imagine.
My low point was in 2008 during that recession. Remember that giant whomp where it felt like we were breaking up with the economy and we’d beg the stock market to take us back but it just slid further away? I was a print journalist (because newspapers will never go away) in New York City (where Bernie Madoff was making things twice as bad) and was fielding calls from other journalists who were sure I’d be okay, so I could reassure them. Truth was I would eventually lose just about everything I owned (some sold, some given away) and would be left with 2 ½ chairs, a bed and a dresser. That was it.
Then in 2010, I was in a new city where I knew no one, still running lean, taking odd jobs and was diagnosed with terminal cancer – no insurance. I made a lot of phone calls and was turned down by a lot of doctors until I ran across this grant that normally took 6 weeks to get approved. Too long to save me and the surgeon said he wouldn’t operate without approval.
But without asking me, a clerk walked my application from desk to desk and building to building and stood there, waiting till she got an answer – and in ONE DAY got it approved! She saved my life… literally.
Okay, fast forward to today and this new Universe with Michael Anderle and the wonderful stories from Sarah Noffke that grow and expand with each book. (A werekingdom!) This past month, I signed the contract for my dream house in Austin… 10 years later and it will take movers to get everything there even if a couple rooms will be empty for now.
You see? Things get better and magic happens. Really cool thing is I look back on that whole timeframe, and definitely don’t want to do it again, and remember all the people around me (new friends nearby, old friends who sent me cookbooks and cinnamon – it was a thing then), and it’s one of my favorite times. I was always surrounded by love.
It’s a reminder to me to open up this new house and invite people in to share it with me. Make it a welcoming refuge for everyone. I’m looking forward with anticipation to all the new friends I’m about to make, including new SUPER FANS along the way. I’ll keep my hands open to give and receive all of it.
And, one last thing… I’m grateful for this part of the journey with Sarah and Michael and all the other Oriceran authors that have become a family more than a business and that occasionally we all come together to celebrate outside of the virtual worl
d in that weird place called ‘reality’.
Publisher Notes - Michael Anderle
February 12th, 2018
First, THANK YOU for reading our story, and our author notes (and publisher notes) here at the back of the book!
I’m going to take just a moment and talk about Micky Cocker as well.
Why? Because I just met her and her husband about nine days ago over in London, England.
Micky and her husband had driven over to an event my publishing company was putting on before the 20BooksTo50k Indie Authors conference (which Craig Martelle orchestrated with his amazing amount of help) and it was the first time I had a chance to meet her in person
I was writing the Kurtherian Gambit series last year when Micky joined in to be a JIT reader to help out with finding those pesky as hell problems RIGHT BEFORE it goes out to the world.
And she did a wonderful job. Just because she was willing to help.
So much of what we do at LMPBN, and the help we provide other indie author’s is available because other’s help us.
Micky went on to become a named character in Craig Martelle’s books. As you read above, here in Sarah’s books as well.
Now, I know that Micky’s willingness to help, and do great things (and be freaking amazing) was all through a virtual relationship until I got to meet her in person. I would never have been able to meet her, if I hadn’t created a Facebook group which helped other indie authors. That group put on a non-profit in London, near enough to Micky’s home for her and her husband to visit.
I have been pretty giving to others in my life. But, it took decades of helping others, to see the FRUIT of that helping to turn around and help me like seeds planted in the ground. (Not that I wasn’t blessed before, but I didn’t count it ‘pressed down, shaken together and running over’ like it is now.)