Soul Stone Mage Complete Collection Boxed Set

by Sarah Noffke

  “I’ll give you a whole bag if you’ll just stop with your Orc-ish ways,” Monet said, sounding more offended than hurt by the treatment.

  “Give me back my knife,” Azure screamed when the Orc succeeded in pulling it from her grasp.

  The chief turned his wild eyes in her direction, venom written in them. “Your knife?” he demanded, stomping over to loom above Azure.

  She pushed up on her tiptoes. “Yes, mine!”

  “You stole that knife from an Orc. It has our handle. It is Orc-made!” the beast roared.

  “It is Orc-made, but I didn’t steal it!” Azure yelled to be heard over the grunting of the Orcs, who were starting to act restless. Damn beasts.

  “You did! And now you’re going to die for taking from one of our people. To get that knife, you must have killed the Orc who owned it,” the chief said, shaking his large head at her. His greenish skin paled as he glared at her.

  “I promise I didn’t kill Drago!” Azure cried, so loudly that her voice felt like it cut her from the inside out. The brutes were now making so much noise it was causing her chest to vibrate.

  “What did you just say?” the chief said, the muscles on his large chest heaving as he pointed at her.

  “Drago! He’s the Orc who gave me the knife!” she bellowed.

  The tribe suddenly fell silent.

  “Drago is missing!” The chief took a step forward, ground shaking under his weight.

  “That’s because he fell into a pit created by humans. He’s probably looking for you. Are you his tribe?” Azure asked, her words frantic. She was aware that Ever, Monet, and Gillian were all restrained, but her attention was on the Orc before her.

  “How did you get his knife?” the chief asked, his nasty breath filling her nostrils as he stared down at her.

  “He gave it to me for saving him from a pit, the one the humans set for him. Then he told me his name.”

  A great murmuring arose from the Orcs in a language Azure didn’t know—or maybe it was just filled with so many grunting sounds that it sounded foreign.

  Finally the chief turned back to her with a measured glare. “If what you say is true, why would you save an Orc?”

  She blinked as the smelly beasts stepped back an inch, giving her nose a bit of respite. “I don’t know,” Azure finally sputtered.

  “Bad answer, Azure!” Monet yelled. “Know! Have a good fucking answer!” He was restrained by an especially hungry-looking Orc, who was presently drooling on the back of his head.

  Azure spun back to the chief. “I mean… I saved him because it’s wrong to cage another. I heard him screaming and found him trapped. We,” she motioned to the others as best she could, restrained from behind by an Orc who smelled like rotting garbage, “lifted the bars off the top of the cage and freed Drago. After he got out, he introduced himself and gave me his knife. I saved him because I wanted to help him.”

  The chief regarded her for a moment, then huffed and turned his chin to the side. “If what you say is true, Drago is out there.”

  “And we will help you find him,” Azure said at once, earning a worried glare from Monet. “I’m Princess Azure, and I can tell you that he was caught in a trap placed by the humans. They were trying to catch one of my people, but instead they got Drago. I’m so sorry.”

  The chief’s eyes changed, a sudden softness taking them over. “You speak from the heart,” he said, pounding his large hand to his chest.

  “I know of no other way to speak,” she said, her voice full of conviction. “I’ll send Ever and Monet to look for Drago, but I must return to the land of Virgo. I have important business.”

  “Fuck me,” Monet groaned from a few feet away.

  Ever simply lowered his chin, accepting the task she’d bestowed on him.

  “Thank you. Your help in finding one of our lost clan means much. The harpies,” the chief said, indicating the sky. “We saw them.”

  “The humans from Terran,” she said. “I believe they sent them after us. Their new leader is out to get us, and he’s the one who set the trap which caught Drago.”

  “It sounds like you are in danger,” the chief said.

  “After everything I’ve been through, that is an understatement,” she said with a morbid laugh.

  The chief looked at the Orc holding Azure. “Let her go. Let them all go,” he said, and extended his hand to the Orc behind her. The knife Drago had given her was immediately placed in his palm. He lowered his hand, giving her back the weapon. “If you’re in danger, you’ll need this.”

  She blinked at the giant Orc in disbelief. “Really? Thank you!”

  If he didn’t smell like three-day old trash, she’d have hugged him.

  “Yes. Drago wanted you to have it. I believe you when you say you didn’t harm him, and that you’ll help us to find him. Honestly, we’ve never had a reason to hate the witches of Virgo. It’s only that I saw you with one of our knives and was worried.”

  “We would never hurt you. I only want what’s best for Oriceran,” Azure said.

  “I sense as much. And I fear that the harpies will soon be after your people again. So, in payment for helping Drago, we will guard you on your way to Virgo. And when he has returned, we will guard your borders,” the chief told her, bowing low.

  Azure bowed to the Orc in return. “I would be honored to have your assistance.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Well, while you storm off under the protection of a gaggle of Orcs, we’ll just tramp out into the evil Dark Forest to search for a missing one. And if you remember correctly, I highly insulted Drago when we rescued him,” Monet said, crossing his arms and looking perturbed. He didn’t want to go on this mission at all, but Azure had made a deal with the Orcs and she needed their protection for the people of Virgo.

  “Monet, you offend everyone, so Drago is no different. Please locate him and bring him to the northern border of Virgo. That’s where the chief will be waiting,” Azure said, looking at the chief, who nodded at the question in her eyes.

  “Monet do this. Monet do that. Save my father. Get me food. Find an Orc,” the wizard said in a high-pitched voice meant to mock Azure.

  “I won’t remind you that you asked to come along on this mission.” Azure narrowed her eyes at him.

  “I think you just did, Princess Azure,” Gillian said in a low voice.

  “Right. Well, you two be careful. Take this so Drago knows he can trust you,” Azure said, unbuckling the knife from her waist and handing it to Ever.

  “We’ll find him and bring him to Virgo. Don’t worry.” The Light Elf looked ready for the challenge. Monet would be safe with Ever, or at least Azure hoped he would.

  “Thank you,” she mouthed just before the pair turned and marched in the opposite direction.

  Azure turned to the chief, who had his eyes focused on the forest ahead. “Let’s go. I need to return as quickly as possible,” she said, her chin held high.

  “I’ll take the lead. My men will be in the back and on the sides. Stay vigilant, Princess. I fear more harpies or other dangers are ahead of us,” the chief said, his voice more like a growl.

  Azure nodded, striding ahead with Gillian at her side. She kept a close eye on the gnome, not wanting to lose him to a harpy again. He was easy prey.

  The group trooped through the Dark Forest, negotiating the path through the vegetation more easily than before thanks to the chief chopping down much of it with a machete. Traveling with Orcs would actually be pretty great if not for the smell and the constant grunting. Twice a fight broke out between two Orcs, but quickly earned the attention of the Chief, who merely turned and regarded the pair with sharp dark eyes. Like quarreling siblings under parental scrutiny, they brought their fists back to their sides and pretended to ignore each other. Orcs were actually kind of cute, Azure thought, if one got over the hulking muscles and bald heads.

  Sliding her eyes to the side, Azure checked on Gillian. He kept up easily despite his short le
gs. “You don’t have to worry about my safety, Princess,” he said, catching her glance.

  “I do believe, based on the past, that I absolutely do need to,” She remembered the harpy that had plucked him so easily from the ground and flown off. If it hadn’t been for Ever, Gillian would have been an appetizer.

  “I was distracted, and missed the signal from my built-in warning system. It won’t happen again, and I daresay I’ll be the first to know about approaching danger,” the gnome assured her.

  “Warning system?” Azure asked, running her eyes over Gillian. He only wore the brown suit and bowler, but he was constantly pulling the pad from the inside pocket of his jacket. And he’d given Ever and Monet the device to locate her. Who knew what else he was hiding in his pockets?

  Gillian sighed, but didn’t answer her question. She should have expected as much.

  “Anyway, what about this book we’ll be looking for in the mountains?” she asked him.

  “It’s called the Book of Branches. It details the habits, practices, and philosophies of the dryads, as well as other forests nymphs. Further, there’s information on the different tribes,” Gillian said.

  “That’s how we’ll find the rogue dryads, isn’t it?” Azure asked.

  “I believe so, but finding the book might be more difficult than actually finding the dryads.”

  “I’m used to that kind of thing. Nothing has been easy since I learned half of me was human.”

  “But you haven’t given up on your quests.”

  “Well, no. My mother’s life depends on me returning her soul stone, and the Dark Forest depends on me finding a way to stop the Duke of Terran.”

  “I can only imagine what the future Queen of Virgo will do next,” Gillian said, a strange knowledge in his eyes.

  “Take a long fucking nap.” Azure laughed, looking down at the gnome. The red flower on the brim of his hat twitched, and the petals peeled back to show a set of sharp and pointy teeth.

  Azure halted, her eyes widening. “What was that?” she asked as the teeth disappeared.

  Gillian didn’t answer, but scanned the upcoming area. “Be on guard, Chief. I sense danger around us.”

  “Warning system, eh?” Azure said, looking at the trees.

  The Orcs continued to move forward, many of them passing Azure and the gnome, when to the side, a hoarse scream filled the air. Azure spun with her wand in front of her and saw a huge pair of legs being pulled into the air. It took her a moment to figure out that what she was seeing was a net wrapped around an Orc, towing him into the air and squishing him into a ball.

  “It’s a trap!” the chief bellowed, gesturing for everyone to halt.

  A loose brown rope lay on the ground in front of the group. “Watch where you step!”

  “Nets,” Gillian mused.

  “Yes, someone has set them to trap us. And since we’re getting really close to the border of Virgo, I’m guessing they were meant to catch witches and wizards,” she said.

  “Are you certain your people didn’t set them to trap trespassing humans from Terran?”

  “I’m positive. We don’t have the same laws as they do, although I think that will change now. We allow humans through our lands. But people from Terran would know this is the path we often take to the ocean.”

  “It appears that Phillip means war,” Gillian said.

  “Yes, he obviously wants to send a message.”

  Three Orcs had gathered and were working to free the one who now hung from a tree. The trap didn’t stand a chance of actually holding them, since they were in a group. However, someone traveling alone wouldn’t have been able to escape the net easily.

  “Watch for triggers on the ground,” Gillian said, nodding at a rope snaking between a pile of leaves.

  “I might consider a hovering spell soon,” Azure said as another Orc was caught and yanked into the air. This was causing a serious delay, really slowing them down. She needed to return quickly, but Azure knew she shouldn’t hasten forward without the protection of the Orcs, especially after witnessing yet another trap set by the humans.

  Not too far ahead, the group heard a humming sound, and all eyes darted to the area of the canopy the noise was coming from. It sounded strange, but not like it was dangerous. Rather, it sounded like someone being playful. However, that only made Azure more cynical. She didn’t trust the forest or the strange creatures in it.

  “It’s a pixie,” said the chief, who was several yards in the lead. Hanging from a high branch was a small bundle, which swayed slightly. It was much smaller than the fish nets that had caught the Orcs.

  The Orcs all grunted in unison. Having cut down the last one who had been trapped, they continued to move forward, stepping carefully to avoid any more problems.

  When she was underneath the trapped pixie, Azure paused. Inside the net was a blur of pink and blue and blonde hair. “We need to get her down,” she said, staring up at the bundle hanging from the tree. Between the ropes, an eye stared down at her, curiosity lighting it. Although difficult to make out who was in the net, Azure did spy fluttering wings.

  “We move forward. No releasing the pixie,” the chief said, his voice loud.

  “But if we don’t let her down, she’ll die there, or be eaten,” Azure said, her volume matching his.

  “The pixie is not my problem. I agreed to take you to Virgo,” he said, shaking his brutish head.

  “I saved Drago from a similar trap. Haven’t you learned anything?”

  The Orc stared at her and blinked dully. Then he shook his head. “We will continue. The pixie could be a trap.”

  From high up in the trees the pixie continued muttering and humming to herself, emitting soft, undiscernible noises.

  “Or she could just be a pixie who was caught just like two of your Orcs were,” Azure said, her voice vibrating with frustration. Why was it that species would protect their own at the risk of hurting others?

  The chief looked past Azure to his men. “We will move forward. Watch the path,” he commanded, and turned, continuing to walk toward Virgo.

  Azure sighed, looking down at Gillian. He simply studied her, waiting to see what she would do.

  Shaking her head, she raised her wand. “You’ll want to step back before the pixie lands on your head.” Directing her wand at the net, she muttered a series of incantations. The trap, like the bars on the Orc’s cage, was charmed against her magic. However, on her fifth attempt she found a spell that unraveled the ropes. The pixie fell toward the forest floor, but quickly recovered, her wings helping her flutter safely to the ground.

  The chief grunted his disapproval but turned, curiously watching the pixie. The Orcs around him also watched, looking rather hungry as they eyed her.

  The pixie, who was maybe a foot tall, wore a pale pink leotard and a chiffon skirt. Her blue wings fluttered as she touched down on the ground. Her eyes glittered with excitement at first as she stared at the Orcs, but calmed when they landed on Azure and Gillian. A loud hum burst from her, along with a giant smile. Then her mouth opened, but only nonsensical words flowed out. The pixie turned to Azure and then Gillian, talking to them both, her message urgent but making zero sense to them.

  “What is she saying?” Azure asked, hardly parting her lips to form the words, her eyes on the pixie as she spoke to Gillian.

  “I have no idea,” he replied in a similar manner, “but she knows everything we’re saying. Pixies understand all languages.”

  “Well, that makes no sense. No one can understand a pixie, but they understand everyone.” Azure spoke through tight lips again. She stepped forward, offering the excited pixie a welcoming smile.

  “Are you okay?” Azure asked, each word spoken carefully, as if the pixie were hard of hearing.

  The diminutive flew into the air to circle Azure’s and Gillian’s heads before landing in front of them again. She rambled the entire time, not saying anything understandable to the pair. At the end of a rather long speech, she shoo
k her short blonde hair and blinked expectantly at Azure.

  “Right… Well, you’re welcome. Hope you’re okay, and so long,” Azure told her, realizing the Orcs were growing restless. They hadn’t protested when she saved the pixie, but were becoming more agitated as they watched the strange fairy creature buzz around.

  The pixie burst out laughing, covering her small mouth with her fingers as she did. Then she bowed deeply and offered her hand to Azure.

  “It is great to meet you,” Azure said, taking the pixie’s hand and wringing it slightly. “I’m Princess Azure of Virgo.”

  This set the pixie off like a fire had been lit under her ass. She flew up to the canopy and then dived again, her mouth moving fast as she muttered words no one could translate.

  “Calm down.” Azure’s voice showed her nerves. She was happy they’d saved the pixie, but now the merry little beast was keeping them from returning to Virgo. “We must be on our way. Please take care, and mind the traps in the forest.”

  Azure nodded at the pixie, who set down on the ground and nodded back, copying the way Azure had her hands resting by her side. “Okaaaaay… Well, good day to you,” the princess said a bit hesitantly and then turned, realizing the pixie hadn’t moved yet. Azure continued to move forward, the Orcs turning and marching with her like soldiers following her orders. Gillian shook his head and kept pace with the group. When they’d gone several paces, Azure noticed something. The pixie flew a few feet behind her, her feet nearly brushing the ground.

  “Uhhhh, what are you doing?” she asked, turning to the pixie, who looked behind herself as if trying to see who Azure was talking to.

  Then the pixie spun back and stared at Azure, pointing at her chest as if to say “You mean me?”

  “Yes, you. Are you following us?”