by Deborah Hale
Maura made her own guess. “Perhaps because you think I cannot manage without your help.”
“No.” Rath dropped the two halves of the map onto the lap of her apron, then reached for her hand. “I may not be certain what my reasons are, but I know what they are not. Any woman who can do what you did to three Hanish soldiers and a death-mage does not need some ill-bred outlaw to take her where she wants to go.”
With her free hand, Maura patted her sash. “The credit belongs here, not with me. Only the Giver knows what will become of me once I have emptied its pockets. I used up all my spider silk last night, but I do have a fresh supply of quickfoil and dreamweed from Exilda’s garden.”
“Then you should make an effort to restock your supply whenever you get the chance.” Rath pointed toward the ceiling of the cold hatch. “There’s a nice bit of cobweb, for a start.”
Maura picked up the map of Embria. “Is it a very long way to this Everwood place? What is the quickest route to get there?”
“That depends,” said Rath. “If we were a pair of sunhawks, we could fly over the mountains, then head north. Have you a spell that can make us fly?”
Maura chuckled at the notion.
“A shame we had to come all this way to find the map,” said Rath. “If we had headed west from Windleford instead of south, we might already be there by now.”
He pointed to Windleford, then traced their route to Prum.
“And Everwood is way up there?” Maura asked, a plaintive note in her voice.
Rath gave a rueful nod. “I am sorry to bear ill news.”
“So we must go back the way we came, then travel that much farther again to the west?”
She had said we, not I. That pleasant surprise distracted Rath from the rest of her words for a moment.
Then they sank in. “We cannot go the way we came. It is too dangerous with the Han on alert in the Long Vale. And I would not fancy meeting up with Vang or any of his crowd.”
Maura shuddered, “Neither would I. But what other choice do we have? Surely you cannot mean to...”
“Go through Westborne?” Rath completed her question. “That is just what I mean. It is a straighter route and, say what you will about the Han, they keep up roads well.”
“But there will be twice as many Han in Westborne as in the Long Vale... five times... perhaps ten!”
“True, but they will not be expecting us to march right under their noses.”
“With good reason—it is folly!”
Part of him agreed with her. Long ago, Rath had sworn that he would never again set foot west of the Blood Moon Mountains. It was the quickest way to Everwood from Prum, but what did haste matter if he did not believe in Maura’s Waiting King?
“I will not let any harm come to you,” he promised.
A country-bred lass like her, with scant knowledge of Comtung or Westborne ways, she would need to rely on him. Was that what compelled him to insist on travelling through the heart of Embria, where Hanish control was strongest?
Or was it something else that made even less sense?
Glossary
barleymush — a thick barley porridge eaten in the Northern provinces
Comtung — the lingua franca between Embrian and Hanish.
eisendark — a very hard black metal
fenfolk — a legendary non-human race said to live deep in the marshlands.
greenfire — an enchantment that allows branches to give off a soft green light without burning.
Han — a race of humans from the south who have conquered Embria.
lalump — an Old Embrian endearment for a rogue of whom one is still fond.
lifebane — an effect of metal weapons that taints wounds from them unless washed away with water or bleeding.
lowling — term of contempt used by the Han for most Embrians.
mortcraft — also called death magic. The potent destructive power from beneath the earth that attaches to metal and gems.
pain spikes — look like ordinary nails, but tainted with mortcraft so that anyone touching them receives an intense burning sting.
slag — dust from the mines. Dulls the senses and makes the user docile. Highly addictive.
Solsticetide — the first month of summer.
strup — a rare green metal.
twara — the Old Embrian language, now only used for ceremonial purposes.
vitcraft — also called life magic. The gentle, fickle creative power of living things, chiefly channelled through herbs, wooden wands and the essence of animals.
Xenoth — also called deathmages. Powerful sorcerers of mortcraft. Serve as a secret police of the Hanish Empire.
zikary — Embrian collaborators with the Han
“The Magical and Healing Properties of Some Common Embrian Plants”
from A Shorter Vitacraft Compendium by Gelys Torkin
Candleflax — staunches bleeding of open wounds
Cheeseweed — soothes aching muscles
Dreamweed — induces sleep, slowly if imbibed in a tea, rapidly if inhaled
Fleawort — kills body vermin
Freshwort — helps resist the effects of slag
Honeygrass — makes hair shine
Hundredflower — helps a person blend in to their surroundings and escape notice
Icemint — mild stimulant
Laceweed — staunches internal bleeding
Madfern — causes temporary delusions
Marshwort — soothes pain of burns or wounds when applied as a poultice
Merthorn — speeds healing of burned flesh
Moonmallow — eases swelling
Muddlewort — blurs recent memories
Summerslip — causes mild numbing of senses and drowsiness
Queensbalm — combats mortcraft/short-term stimulant
Quickfoil — potent stimulant/restorative
Winterwort — heals bruises
The Wizard’s Ward
The legend awaits...
The once-peaceful land of Embria now suffers under the occupation of cruel conquerors. Enchantress Maura Woodbury has spent her young life trying to avoid their notice at all costs. Until her wizard guardian reveals that she has been chosen to seek and waken a legendary warrior who is destined to free their people. First she must procure an ancient map which will lead her to the Waiting King’s resting place. Since Maura’s journey will lead her into dangerous territory, she is forced to accept a magic-wary outlaw as her escort. But can she trust a man like Rath Talward... or will he prove an even greater threat to her quest?
“Gentle magic, serious sorcery, violent action, and lively adventure grace the pages of this engrossing romantic fantasy.” — Library Journal
The Waiting King
The legend unfolds...
Young enchantress Maura Woodbury must brave increasing peril in her quest to find the Waiting King before the midsummer moon. Legend claims the mystical warrior will deliver Embria from its oppressors and Maura will be his consort. As she journeys through her oppressed country, Maura see first-hand, the desperate plight of her people. But how much is she willing to sacrifice to win their freedom? Will she find the Waiting King before it is too late for her beloved country... and for her heart?
“A delightful, exciting and memorable romantic fantasy about a heroine who believes in all the old legends and a hero who believe only in himself.” — Harriet Klausner
The Destined Queen
The legend lives on...
Having awakened the Waiting King, Maura Woodbury thinks her duty to her country is completed. But she finds her task has only begun. Her brave, beloved consort is not all-powerful, as she’d hoped. Maura must journey deep into the heart of Hanish power, in search of a powerful artifact that could secure her country’s freedom. This new quest is fraught with danger, not only to Maura’s life and cause, but to her belief in herself and her destiny.
“A true treasured tale to enliven those romantics and adventure seekers alike.�
�� — Anne Barringer, Fresh Fiction