Terana strode carefully over this year’s sproutlings Her eyes flicked watchfully around. It never hurt to be too careful when crossing farmer Trellis’s fields. He was overly protective of his plants. He had once caught Terana and her brother, Jeremy, coming home using his field. He had given them such a tongue lashing that their ears nearly bled. She still cringed when she remembered his speech about the delicate needs of his crops. Obviously it hadn’t scared her back to the right path, but it had taught her to keep her eyes open.
With a sigh of relief she stepped onto the small path between the fields. The sun was slipping below the mountains. An eagles’shriek echoed about the valley. Terana looked up. A great bird shape hovered high above. Something that she had never seen such a bird do. All the other birds made a b-line for the thick canopy of the forest. Their shrieks of fear were small things compared to the echoes of his call. The whole valley seemed to lose its voice. The world seemed to watch that distant predator with awed terror.
Terana, herself, could not take her eyes from him. He was a great creature, a king of the skies. His movements were economical and graceful. His power and strength could not be questioned, even from way down here. She wished she could join him up there. It was odd, but she felt a sort of kinship with him. He was feared and hated because of what he was. Like her, he could not help what he was. Or at least, that was how she rationalized the feeling she had.
The dark folds of night ate at the sky. It occurred to Terana that he stood in between the worlds of night and day. Night’s darkness reached him and he shot, like an arrow from a bow, north. His shadow was blacker then the night.
The eagle was gone now. The world was dimmer. Terana looked to were the sun had been cradled between two mountains. The sun had closed his eye and his candle was the only thing lighting the sky. Which meant only one thing: She was late for dinner. Terana swore softly as she raced down the path toward the town and home.
***
The sun was just getting ready for bed when Tsoya Palmsa reached her favorite perch. It was a small, clear outcrop of mountain that jutted slightly over the pass into Plarn. It was low enough on the mountain that winter had no hold upon it. The surrounding trees were thick with buds. Tsoya sighed. Spring was her favorite time of year. She settled her rump on a fallen log and looked out past the pass. The path continued into the valley, following the foot of the mountains. Eventually it met with the town of Plarn.
Tsoya could not see the town from here. She hadn’t come to watch the town, she had come to watch the road that led to it. She was also here to keep an eye on the shield around the valley. It was not seen by the physical eye, but by the pressure of magic. Tsoya was an observer of this shield. Within its arms rested the hope of her people and this land. Nineteen years ago the shield had first appeared. With its appearance her people had celebrated. Now it was thin. Excitement was a torrent through her veins. The time they had all been waiting for would be here soon.
Calling her marana to her hand, Tsoya sang“Milisda? Hear me.”
The flames pooled like water in the cup of her hands. It turned clear to show the face of an older woman with tresses of midnight falling possessively over her shoulders. Shards of gold silk glinted among the folds of night. They accented the woman’s eyes, which had gold flecks. The rest of her eyes were blue with silver veins. Her face was confident in its prime years.
“Speak, Tsoya.”
“The shield weakens. It won’t be long until Seith’s Heir leaves their nest.”
The silver in Milisda’s eyes glowed bright with the same excitement that burned in Tsoya’s own blood.“After all this time…”Milisda murmured.“Be ready, Tsoya. We cannot let the Heir leave without our knowing. I must make sure that everything is set. After all these years of waiting we can finally set things in motion.”The last was added quietly as if Milisda was talking to herself.
With that the pool became flames again. Tsoya let them fade. She pushed a stray wisp of auburn behind her ear as she stared toward the valley. She couldn’t help the smile that came to her lips.
A shriek split the evening. Tsoya looked up. High above a black eagle hovered. She choked. How…? Tsoya used her magical senses to peer at the bird closer. NO!It was no innocent hunter that prowled the skies. It was something foul that came from the north. She had never seen its kind, but she knew of it. Even without her magical senses, she would have known that something was wrong with this bird of prey. Birds of prey circled, not hovered. Tsoya’s blood sang with anger and fear. She wanted to strike out at the eagle with all her power and strength, to bring it smoldering down. But she refrained from striking him, because to do so would bring attention to Seith’s child. That would be folly. Besides, she couldn’t fight that creature alone.
Instead, Tsoya watched the predator fly north as fast as he could. She cast her senses around, he was gone. Tsoya called Milisda again.
“Milisda”The flames did not pool.“Milisda?”Tsoya was starting to panic. There were only two ways to stop a spell like this; Milisda was either dead or someone was preventing Milisda from hearing. That someone had to be strong in magic, very strong, to do such a thing. Tsoya knew of no one who could.
Tsoya tried again and again. Frustrated, she stood and began pacing. She had two options; abandon her post to tell Milisda or stay. Tsoya was not terribly strong in magic; she was stronger than any human, but she couldn’t resist an attack from a searean bre. With Milisda and Anaelle she could. Since she would have to go personally…What if the searean came while she was gone? What if it decided to kill the Heir?
All would be lost then.
As Tsoya weighed her options, the sun set and the moon rose. An owl hooted nearby. Tsoya stopped her pacing as a candle was lit in her head. She could ask this owl to find Milisda and give her a message.
She called to her fellow hunter with a soft song. In soft whispers the owl came. It alighted on her raised arm. It was a great Mountain Grey owl. The owl’s eyes appraised her.
“You called, lady?”It asked.
“Yes.”She whispered.“Could you find Milisda Salidon on the other side of the mountain, in the town of Kada?”The owl blinked and nodded.“Warn her that I saw a Seareanflying over Plarn.”Tsoya trusted the owl to remember her message, but owls were known to put their freedom above all else. If what she asked seemed to be a demand, the owl would keep from delivering the message until next week. She needed Milisda now. So, to sweeten the deal, Tsoya loosened the chains a bit.“You can hunt along the way. I know of a mouse nest near Kada.”
“So do I.”The owl’s voice held some humor.“I will take your message.” With that the night hunter lifted away.
Tsoya smiled, satisfied. There were more ways than one to get something done. Milisda would get her message just after midnight. Tsoya got out her supper ration and settled down for the night.
The owl flew through the night on silent wings. He made all haste to complete the mission the lady had given him. It was an intriguing request.
The night wind was still slightly chilly as it blew. Naked branches swayed gently. Silver light danced in the moving shadows. Something moved in the undergrowth. Moonwing’s stomach growled. The lady said he could eat along the way.
Moonwing tucked in his wings and dove. His prey never knew what hit it. Or maybe it did. The mouse was stiff in his claws. When he tried to take off, he found it was too heavy. Moonwing realized his silly mistake. It was just a root.
Embarrassed, Moonwing took off and found himself on his face. What happened? He looked back at his feet and saw the root dissolve into a mist. His feet tingled as they were absorbed into the veil. Moonwing struggled futilely as the mist shrouded him. There was no owl latched onto a root. Not anymore. The root was missing too.
In its place a dirty child, neither boy nor girl stared up at the moon. The owl would make a nice pet for the Master, its message safely lost. To have the three dragons at the pass in the coming days would not do. There were places the Heir had to g
o. People to meet, things to see; before the dragons took her home.
Chapter Twenty Two- A Distant Storm
Pershara
Kairevasigh woke suddenly. It was still dark. Her little fire was little more than dull coals. She gazed about, searching for what it was that had woken her. She noticed the horse wasn’t there.
Where are you? She thought.
You woke up, finally. You need to run. As quickly and quietly as you can. The voice was urgent. Kairevasigh gathered her bag with the book of swords in it and the bundled sword. Everything else she left. She started to run as quickly and silently as she could.
What is going on? She asked silently.
The voice was silent for a moment before it answered, as if it was trying to figure out the best way to explain. Let us just say that it is better for you if you never find out…
So not helpful.
Very helpful. The voice insisted. Keep running!
Suddenly she heard a howl and a horse’s scream. Are you okay? She asked panicked.
RUN!!! The voice demanded. At the same time, something howled again. Both the voice and the howl kicked her into a faster stride. She could hear something pounding through the forest on either side of her. Kairevasigh was really starting to hate forests. The grasslands back at home may have been difficult to see through too, but at least they were easier to run in. In this strange land she had to be wary of upraised roots and fallen logs. Branches snagged at her and lashed at her eyes. Kairevasigh kept her head down and kept going.
Arrruuu RUP! The sound was like the noise a hanging wet carpet makes when struck by a broom. Kairevasigh startled at the sound and lost her stride. Her foot snagged on a loose rock and she went down. The wrapped sword flew from her hands. The cloth unraveled, revealing the black blade and shining brass hilt. Kairevasigh heard something padding toward her. She turned and her eyes widened. Coming out of the shadows was a dog-like creature. Its yellow eyes were fixed alarmingly on her. It paused to stand on its hind legs, sniffing the air. It fell back to all four, its mouth open in a toothy grin. Saliva dripped from its fangs. It was huge, well over seven feet long.
Kairevasigh scrambled forward, snatching up the sword and turned on the beast. Arruu RUP! It barked. Another answered, looming next to it. Kairevasigh growled at the two beasts. They were not impressed at her attempts to intimidate. After all, she was a small twelve year old human. They were seven foot long, dog-like killing machines. And there were more of them then her solitary self. Kairevasigh found herself once again brandishing the sword before her against a monstrous foe. Again the beasts were not impressed. She could hear more of them circling behind her. It was a large pack of whatever these things were.
The one who had come out first decided that it was done waiting. It leapt for her. She raised the sword between them and, looking into the creature’s yellow eyes, shouted“STOP!!”
***
Arathin
The beach stretched for a long way both up and down the coast. The Golden Ocean’s waves lapped soothingly at the sand. The beach was the no man’s land between two vastly different, yet similar worlds. It was the land of scavengers who fed upon the waste of both worlds. It was timeless and forever. Always it shifted, yet stayed the same.
Like her.
She was always shifting to stay with the changes in culture and time. She learned new magic and how to improve upon old magic. Her name even shifted to fit the world she found herself in; Carchanézeil, zan neshelain n’Al’Dap. A pretty mouthful for a bittersweet truth;“Hidden Jewel of Time, the passion of Al’Dap.”She was lost in time and place. That was the bitter part. The sweet was that she was the passion of Gawin Al’Dap…wherever, whenever he was.
Yet she was the same. She was still Jewel Al’Dap Holden. Daughter of King Randalph Holden and Kindra, the last of the dragons. The wife of Gawin Al’Dap and the mother of a daughter she hadn’t even had the time to name. The last of Pershara she had seen was Altana coming to kill her friends and family. The small group who had traveled as quickly as they could to save the man she considered her father. A man whose fate, like so many other things, she still didn’t know. She never did hear what had happened in Castle Mortia. Was the man who had raised her still trapped there? Had they failed? Or was he out there somewhere or some when? The questions looped about in her mind as she looked out over the endless gray sea. In the distance a storm was brewing.
Jewel narrowed her eyes at it. It would be a bad one. She bent and picked up a fluffy white kitten who had been unwisely playing with a crab.“Come on, Sam-the-Unwise. Let’s go back to the cabin.”As she walked back to her little cottage, Jewel had the feeling that something was on the verge of changing. It might start slow, but it would pick up and the whole world would be caught up in its whirlwind. She shivered and glanced over her shoulder at the darkening clouds. Lightning flashed and muted thunder rumbled in the distance…
Here ends book two of The Ways of Mages: Two Worlds. Read on for a sample chapter of book three; The Ways of Mages: Starfire.
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The Ways of Mages #3: Starfire
The Serpent Storm
“Ask your questions. I mayanswer. For every question you ask, be prepared to pay…”The Spirit of the Wellsékan.
The world was gray, black…and very, very wet. Thomas GrimHolden, the newly minted King of Pershara clung desperately to the yardarm with his legs. His hands were busy securing the oiled sail cloth. About him were tried and true sailors. A man, Jingles if Grim remembered the name correctly, was next to him, muttering incessantly. Grim could only make one word out of ten. Maybe, thanks to the howling winds and the crashing sea. It was obvious the man was on the verge of a full scale panic. But he seemed to have mastered the art of venting said panic in talking. Something about bad luck and sea demons…or was it something about the ruination of a good thing?
Grim glanced away from the knot he had finished tying. It was chaos about him. Salt laden water soaked him to the bone. It pooled in puddles about the deck. The taunt rigging vibrated when the wind played it as accompaniment to its howls. Which was constantly. Captain Willaim stood at the helm with JayDee. Earlier, the wheel had been too much for the old captain to hold onto and JayDee had jumped in to help. Now the two of them stood side by side, struggling to keep the ship going straight. The captain’s hoarse voice shouted orders. Grim was amazed that any soul could hear him over the sounds of the storm. Seeing that there was nothing left to be done, Grim made his way down the rigging to the slippery deck.
The ship rolled from side to side as a monstrous wave dove under it. Training as a knight granted Thomas the steadiness found with great strength. It served him wonderfully on land. But for all its tests, land just doesn’t move like the sea. His strength only made it barely possible for him to make it across the bucking deck on his own two feet. Clinging to the rail of the stairs that led up to the helm, Grim glanced up to see JayDee who stood on this side of the helm.
JayDee was in her element. She looked like a pirate queen. Her dark hair barely contained in a streaming ponytail. Her hair piece looked like a crown. She stood balanced with a solid wide stance. When Grim was close enough she flashed him a fierce smile. Her eyes glittering with a reflection of the storm’s power.“What ho, Thomas? Enjoying the dance of elements?”
“Sure. If clinging for my life counts as enjoyment.”Grim answered as lightly as he could. JayDee and the captain laughed. Grim shook his head, eyeing the roiling sea warily.“Are storms normally this bad or are my land legs showing?”
JayDee shouted an order to a passing crewman. She then turned back to Grim.“I told you, I have never seen so many storms before. And no, not quite this bad.”A look of concern flitted across her face.“I’m not sure how much longer the crew can keep this pace up.”
Grim had been wondering the same thing. They had been caught in this storm for…God only knew how long. In the beginning, the crew had been cycling through shifts. But then the storm increased
in violence and no man could find any rest. There was nothing dry left on the ship and everyone was exhausted. This was when even the best of men made mistakes.
And the storm showed absolutely no sign of slowing down.
“God must be with us.”Grim heard JayDee mutter.“Your protection wards have held so far. Without them, I think we would have capsized a long time ago.
“I knowwe would have.”Captain Willaim said as quietly as the storm would let him…which wasn’t that quiet.“Don’t be gettin’me wrong, the Lucky Blue Wing be a right goot ship. But she’d be made o’wood. Sea seems inclined to break wood this day.”The last he said even softer. If Grim hadn’t been watching the man’s face he wouldn’t have understood.
A lance of purple-white lightning zinged close to the ship and sliced a wave. Flurries of snake-like lightings licked over the waves. The flash almost blinded the entire crew. The crash of thunder that followed on the lightning’s heels certainly deafened them.
“Bloody hell!”JayDee snarled, shivering from the electric charge in the air.
“I couldn’t agree more, my la…”
“Can it!”JayDee interrupted her friend. Willaim blinked before muttering an apology. He was interrupted again, but not by JayDee. The Blue Wing bounced up in the trough of a wave with a groan.
“What was that?!”Grim asked alarmed. Men on deck were knocked down thanks to the unexpected movement.
JayDee shook her head then called to the men in the rigging.“What we hit?!”
“I don’t see a thing ma’am!”A man called back.
The man was right. The sea was black, the sky was a dark gray and the ship’s bow lantern had long since gone out.
The Ways of Mages: Two Worlds Page 18