Mad Mage

by Salvador Mercer

  “What daughter?” more than one person asked.

  “Blame her for what?” both Khan and Salina asked in unison.

  An intense aura of fear came over them unexpectedly, and Elister’s eyes looked up, past the seated group, past the porch, settling directly over the homestead of the Terrel family. Slowly, all heads turned to face what should have been empty sky over the Terrel cabin. Instead, they were looking at the massive, scaled, and armored neck and head of a green-colored dragon.

  The body was hidden behind the cabin, but the front sharp claws came down silently on top of the roof with barely a sound. A long line of white spittle dropped from the dragon’s jaw where two rows of razor-sharp teeth protruded from its mouth, and it fell on the front of the porch, right in front of Horace, who had gotten out of his chair and stood on the edge of the porch to peer up at what was going on.

  Elister answered quickly. “Don’t blame her for waking up.”

  There was silence and fear in the group until Horace broke it with his usual candor. “Bloody hell.”

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  About the Author

  Salvador Mercer loves to read. Having read the works from many authors, the desire to write took over the once sane man, and now he finds himself immersed in telling tall tales and intricate fables from this world, and across the stars to many others.

  Salvador Mercer is fluent in English, Russian and Spanish, having served in the US Army, 750th Military Intelligence Brigade as a Russian Voice Intercept Operator, works in the field of Public Transit, loves languages, history, reading, boating, traveling, and science. He lives in Ohio with his three boys, a baby (elf), toddler (hobbit), teenager (orc), and wife, Masha.

  Appendix A

  The “Science” of Claire Agon

  Claire Agon is the second planet orbiting Tau Ceti, located just less than twelve light years from our own planet Earth. It circles its star in the habitable zone, just over two-thirds of one AU, or astronomical unit, which is the distance of Earth from the sun. This places it in orbit about the same distance around Tau Ceti as Venus is to Sol. It has an atmosphere similar to Earth’s, but it is different in composition, because the inhabitants of Claire Agon are silicon-based life forms, not carbon-based as on our planet.

  Claire Agon has two companion moons about half the size of Earth’s moon, but circling the planet much closer, four times closer, in fact. The two moons are tidally locked to Claire Agon, each showing the same face to the planet. The two moons in the common tongue are called Tira and Sara, in that order. Tira rises first, followed a few hours later by Sara. Both moons are named for Claire Agon’s daughters in Agonian mythos. Lunar eclipses are not uncommon due to the close orbits of the two moons to the planet, and a full lunar cycle occurs approximately every nine days. Both moons are much like small Agonian worlds, and their blue, green, and white cloud-tipped atmospheres can clearly be seen from the surface of Agon.

  Claire Agon, or simply Agon in the common tongue, isn’t the only planet circling Tau Ceti. Recently on Earth, astronomers have detected up to five planets circling the class G star, which is similar in type to our own Sol, but it masses only four-fifths that of our own sun. The astronomers are almost correct insomuch as the system actually has six planets. One planet, however, they could not have imagined; it circles Tau Ceti in an elliptical and eccentric orbit, tilted at thirty degrees above the solar plane. That planet is the size of our own Neptune, but instead of being a gaseous planet, it is a rocky planet, with a huge mass relative to Earth and an atmosphere and magnetosphere in a class unto itself. Agonians call this planet “Dor Akun,” or “Death World,” though the term “Father of Death” is also used, depending on the culture.

  Dor Akun orbits Tau Ceti once every two hundred years, and when it approaches perihelion, or its closest approach to the star, it actually comes within the orbit of Claire Agon. In addition to this, Claire Agon is also pulled by the gravitational force of Dor Akun, to the point that it, too, reaches perihelion and does so at the same time as its bigger mate, Dor Akun. During this time Dor Akun is a mere million miles from Claire Agon, and it reaches perihelion exactly on the solar plane where Agon orbits Tau Ceti, thus eclipsing Agon as it transits from perihelion and begins its slow, arduous journey up and back to its aphelion, to begin the cycle all over again.

  The eclipse lasts an entire Agonian month, and its tidal forces pull mercilessly on the smaller Agon, flexing its crust and creating huge tides and displacements of waters both great and small. Agon is cast into a cold, dark, month-long isolation, suffering immense damage to life there.

  Fortunately for those who live on Agon, the event occurs only once every two hundred orbits of Agon and once every orbit of Dor Akun. Where the two planets actually cross orbits, the larger planet, Dor Akun, is inclined by several million miles, and so the paths of the two planets never cross.

  Some Earth-based scientists, if they could witness the odd but regular orbits of Agon and Akun, might conclude that the event will eventually decay the Agonian orbit to the point where it either degrades into Tau Ceti, in a spectacular but deadly spectacle of death, or, more likely, on one pass, it will be captured by Dor Akun and her orbit will take her into the deeper regions of Tau Ceti space, where it is cold and dark and eventually even silicon-based life would freeze to death.

  This, however, isn’t the only thing that occurs during the transit event. On Earth, we are protected from radioactive particles by its magnetosphere. In Agon the sphere is weaker and charged particles rain down from Tau Ceti yearly, but during the transit event the great magnetosphere of Dor Akun acts much like a wing does on a modern-day airplane as it slices through the air; it funnels a steady stream of highly charged particles from the local star around itself and onto the surface of Claire Agon every two centuries. The phenomenon causes mutations in the silicon-based life forms of Claire Agon, and so evolution there takes place at a much more rapid pace than it does on Earth.

  Such are the science of Claire Agon and its dance of death and change with its bigger mate, Dor Akun, all around a nondescript class G spectral star located not very far from our own sun. Thus magic is created and dragons are born.

  Appendix B

  Mad Mage Glossary

  A

  Agatha, Elderly woman, Ulathan refugee, lead domestic cook of King Korwell

  Agon, Short common name for Claire-Agon

  Alar Thorton, Father of Marissa, deceased

  Albert, Mercenary Leader

&n
bsp; Alister, Apprentice wizard in Ulsthor, now wizard loyal to Am-Tor

  Am-Ohkre, Kesh Arch Mage, led attack on Realm of Ulatha, deceased

  Am-Shee, Kesh Arch Mage, led attack on Realm of Rockton, Opposed to Am-Tor

  Am-Sultain, High Mage of Kesh, until…

  Am-Sunsi, Arch Mage of Kesh, deceased

  Am-Tor, New High Mage of Kesh, once known as Ke-Tor

  Amy, Daughter of Yolanda, Ulathan refugee, 3 years old

  Ann Terrel, Targon’s sister, 8 years old

  Arella, Flower with leaves that have healing properties

  Argyll, Falcon, friend of Elister

  Arnen, Ancient Order of Druids

  Azor, Lich (See: The Black Dragon)

  B

  Badlands Road, Road north from Kesh

  Balaria, Island realm, known for its thieves and assassins

  Balarian Mountains, Mountain range along the middle of Balaria

  Baldric Terrel, Targon’s father, deceased

  Bandit War, Kesh raids into Ulatha seven years earlier

  Black Guard, Elite Kesh guard of the Onyx Tower

  Blackthorn Forest, Common name for the Earlstyne Forest

  Bony Brook, Small brook near the Terrel homestead

  Border Mountains, Common name for the Felsic Mountain range separating Kesh from Ulatha

  Bran Moross, Captain of the King's Guard, married to Salina Moross

  Breakers, Keshtor guard

  C

  Cedric Moross, Son of Salina, 18 years old

  Celeste, Elderly Ulathan woman, Ulathan refugee, deceased

  Charles McFadden, Rockton boy 10 years old

  Chester MdFadden, Rockton boy 12 years old

  Claire-Agon, The planet/world

  Clairton, A small forest bird, favorite of Dareen Terrel

  Collette Corson, Balax lady

  Company Bloody Hand, Kesh brigand group

  Company Iron Chain, Kesh brigand group

  Company Iron Hand, Kesh brigand group

  Company Red Throat, Kesh brigand group

  Core, Nickname for Corrack, the brown bear

  Corrack, Brown bear, friend of Elister

  Cortiz, Kesh leader tasked with trapping the Ulathan rebels

  Craylyn, Balarian assassin

  Cree, Ulathan town south of Korwell

  Critir, Magic Orb used for communication and divination

  D

  Dareen Terrel, Targon’s mother

  Darker, Keshtor prison warden (new)

  Diamedes, Ancient Ulathan historian, deceased

  Dor Akun, Sixth and largest planet in 200 year orbit around Tau Ceti

  Dorsun, Former Kesh brigand chieftain, bodyguard of Khan

  Drako, Kesh commander of the Red Throats

  E

  Earlstyne Forest, Ancient name for the Blackthorn Forest

  Edward, New High Mage Steward

  Elister, Druid of the Arnen

  Emelda, Elderly woman, Ulathan refugee, Horace’s wife

  Estelle, Ulathan woman, Kesh slave, mother to Matthew

  F

  Felsic Mountains, Ancient name for the Border Mountains

  Fencer, Kesh brigand stationed in Ulatha

  G

  Gregus River, Ancient name for the Rapid River

  Grimer, Chief Kesh dungeon guard

  Grinder, Stone troll, in the service of Kesh

  Gwen, Ulathan woman, Kesh slave, former school teacher

  Gwenny, Rockton woman, Kesh kitchen slave

  H

  Harvey, Owner of the Wild Mermaid

  Hermes, Kesh apprentice to Zorcross

  Horace, Old man, Ulathan refugee, husband of Emelda

  Hork, Kesh brigand chief, leader of the brigand armies into Ulatha

  I

  Inga, Server at the Pickled Pig Tavern in Korwell, Kesh slave, deceased

  Isolda Warring, Female thief from Balax

  Issy, Nickname of Isolda (by some)

  J

  Jakar, Kesh wizard loyal to Am-Tor

  Jons, orphaned boy, Ulathan refugee, 9 years old (Jonathan)

  Julia Terrel, Grandmother of Targon, deceased

  K

  Karl, Ulatha child, Kesh slave, 6 years old

  Kaynin, Ancient Kesh wizard, serves Azor the Lich

  Kaz, Northern barbarian, Kesh mercenary

  Karz Moross, Son of Salina, Ulathan refugee, 5 years old

  Ke-Grenson, Kesh Wizard, Assistant to High Mage Am-Sultain, deceased

  Kendral, Balarian assassin, employed by Kesh

  Kesh, Wizard/Brigand land east of Ulatha

  Keshtor, Capital of Kesh

  Ke-Tor, Kesh wizard, former mentor to Khan, (see Am-Tor)

  Ke-Torra, Arch-Mage of Kesh, lived 1000 years ago, started the Dragon-Wizard War

  Ke-Urns, Kesh wizard perished in Rockton campaign

  Khan, Former Apprentice wizard of Kesh/Ke-Tor

  King Korwell, Former ruler of Ulatha

  L

  Luc Terrel, Grandfather of Targon, deceased

  Lunde, Jungle of the South

  M

  Mage’s Maze, Nickname for the Keshtor dungeons

  Malik Terrel, Targon’s brother

  Marc Thorton, Brother of Marissa, 6 years old

  Marissa, Young frontier girl, Ulathan refugee, 12 years old

  Margeret Humphrey, Elderly Ulathan woman, Kesh slave, wife to Walter, aka Marge

  Mary, Rockton woman, Kesh kitchen slave

  Mary Thorton, Mother of Marissa

  Matthew, Ulathan boy, Kesh slave, son of Estelle

  Monique, Teen girl, Ulathan refugee, 17 years old

  Muddy Marshes, common name for the Kero Swamp (See: The Black Dragon)

  N

  Nob, Kesh brigand and translator for Kaz, deceased

  O

  Olga, Elderly woman, Ulathan refugee

  Onyx Tower, Seat of government for Kesh, seat of the High Mage

  P

  Pickled Pig, Tavern near the main gate of Korwell Castle

  R

  Roarwell, King of Tyniria, Ancient Realm South of Ulatha

  Rockton, Realm south of Kesh, common name for Tyniria

  Ruster, Kesh prison guard

  S

  Safron, Realm to the south of Ulatha known for its fine tobacco and weed

  Salina Moross, Wife of the king’s guard captain Bran Moross, mother to Cedric & Karz

  Sara, Moon of Agon, first to rise

  Sceptor of Death, Ancient Akun artifact able to command the undead

  Sheila, Rockton woman, Kesh kitchen slave

  Silis, Balarian Assassin

  Staff of Alore, First magical staff of Agon

  Sybal, Server at the Wild Mermaid

  Swashbucker, The, Clothing store in Balax

  T

  Talaman, Healing globe

  Targon Terrel, Ranger, Zashitor, Defender of the Arnen, Protector of Ulatha

  Theobald, Elderly Ulathan man, Kesh slave

  Thomas, Orphan boy, Ulathan refugee, 12 years old, deceased

  Tira, Moon of Agon, second to rise

  Torwin, Keshtor and Onyx Tower gate commander

  Trovis Mountains, Mountain range in the West of Ulatha

  Turner, Owner of the Swashbuckler store in Balax

  Tyniria, Ancient kingdom southeast of Ulatha

  U

  Ulan Utandra, Ancient name for capital of Ulatha (Korwell)

  Ulatha, Valley Realm where Targon lives, West of Kesh

  Ulsthor, Western town of Kesh, closest to Ulatha

  Uthor, Ancient Duke and founder of Ulatha

  W

  Walton Humphrey, Elderly Ulathan man, Kesh slave, husband to Margeret, aka Wally

  Western Sea, Sea to the west of Ulatha

  Wild Mermaid, The, Inn and Tavern in Balax

  Will Carvel, Soldier of Korwell, sergeant of the gate guard

  Winters, Former sergeant of the Ulathan southern scouts, former sergeant for Malik

  Yr />
  Yolanda, Middle aged woman, Ulathan refugee, mother of Amy

  Z

  Zashitor, Ancient name for a Ranger

  Zorcross, Former apprentice wizard of Ke-Tor, Kesh wizard

  The Blue Dragon

  Chapter 1 Excerpt

  “Is that the dragon?” the pudgy administrative bureaucrat asked, peering over the ridge line near the beach.

  “No, that is its watcher,” the Kesh wizard replied, looking intently at the Balarian government official.

  “Well, it looks like a dragon, though I can barely see it from here,” the pudgy man said, moving to the side to get a better vantage point.

  This brought an immediate reaction from the wizard. “Do not step beyond the two orbs, Overseer Jaxon.”

  Jaxon rubbed his chin, stepping back from the ridgeline to assess the wizard’s words. “Why? Can it see us?”

  “Not if we stay between the orbs,” the wizard replied. “It has ways of seeing in more than just the visible light.”

  “That is not reassuring, Kaylor,” Jaxon said, eyeing the wizard with suspicion. “You seem to know entirely too much about them. Besides, even though it’s hard to see, it looks like a dragon to me.”