J. Michael Radcliffe's Blog, page 5

Forsaken

'Forsaken' is a short story based in the world of 'The Guardian's Apprentice.'  The story is about Nisha, a lovely spellcaster desperately seeking a way to cure her father, who is suffering from a terrible – and mysterious – curse.  The question is, just how far is she willing to go in order to save him?  

I hope you enjoy the following excerpt – the complete story is available at Smashwords & Amazon.

Corvinus Black was dying.  He had used every curative potion and countercharm known and nothing worked.  When he became bedridden, his daughter, Nisha, had used every spell she knew to try and stop the mysterious ailment that was stealing her father away from her.  Nisha's father, a powerful member of the Order of Black and leading contender for a spot on the High Council, had recently fallen seriously ill.  The symptoms had started with a horrible, red rash covering his entire body within a few hours, leading her to first suspect that a rival wizard had sent in an Irk[1] to attack her father.  After trying numerous healing spells however, she realized this was no ordinary curse.  Instead of slowing the progression of the symptoms, her spells seemed to speed his decline.  Within hours her once powerful father had been reduced to a state of feverish, incoherent ramblings, unable to recognize the one who had been the jewel of his life – his only daughter.

Heartbroken and desperate, Nisha spent day and night in the Council library seeking an antidote or countercharm that might halt the disease or destroy the curse behind it.  After twelve hours in the library, she had finally given in to the clawing exhaustion that ached in her bones and fell asleep at the desk, her head resting on one of the ancient tomes.  Her dreams had been fragmented and terrifying, filled with fleeting glimpses of some unseen horror always at the edge of her vision.  Finally a dark form dove out of the sky above her and a giant raven, shrieking in anger and with a red, glowing jewel on its breast, tore through the fabric of her dream, jolting her awake.  She brushed her long, black hair from her eyes and pulled it back, pinning it in place with a silver stiletto pulled from the sleeve of her dark robes.  A striking figure, Nisha could have her pick of men and she knew it.  She knew how to twist whatever she wanted from any man she met, with just a soulful look or a hint of a smile.  But now she was alone – alone and desperate – seeking the knowledge that might save her father, the only man she had ever loved.  Pushing back the heavy, ancient tome laying in front of her, she noticed a small piece of parchment that had not been there previously.  She unfolded the brittle paper and read the spidery runes written in blood red ink.

It is the healing stone of Sava that you seek.  Locked away for hundreds of years, it has the power to cure any ailment or break any curse.  Simply place the stone on the forehead of the individual, and recite the phrase 'Animus, Impono, Nex' three times.  Find the stone, and you find the cure.

Puzzled by the sudden appearance of the note, Nisha looked around but saw no one.  It was late and the library was mostly empty save for one or two acolytes studying for their exams.  Looking one last time at the note, she laid it aside and prepared to start where she left off when she had fallen asleep.  Stifling a yawn she pulled another heavy, dust laden book towards her to resume her research.  The title of the book was scripted in ink so black it seemed to absorb the light around it.  In large, looping script was "The Tome of Blackstone" across the title page.  She did not recall asking the clerk for this particular volume; perhaps it had been left on the book cart by some careless attendant the night before.  She flipped quickly through the pages, scanning through entries on poxes, curses, hexes and the like, when suddenly her eyes locked on a single word.

Sava.

The note had said the 'healing stone of Sava' would save her father.  She pulled the heavy book closer and devoured the words on the page, her hungry eyes seeking the answer.  The entry was very short though – only a single paragraph:

The Stone of Sava was created over five hundred years ago during the reign of terror, when the Red Order spread chaos and destruction across our world.  It is a powerful talisman that must be safeguarded, lest it fall into the wrong hands.  A perfect emerald the size of a large hen egg, it is to be enshrined in the vaults of the restricted section of the Council library.

"Blackstone was a liar, you know," a voice whispered from behind her.

Fast as a cobra striking, Nisha turned to face the newcomer, another silver stiletto appearing in her hand from nowhere, but no one was there.

"Who are you?" she demanded.  She was in no mood to be trifled with; her father didn't have much time left.

"A friend," purred the voice, echoing between the stacks of books surrounding Nisha.  "I have been a friend to your father for years, and I wish to help."

As she kept her back to the desk, dagger at the ready, Nisha scanned the room, looking for any clue to the identity or location of the voice.  Her other hand clasped the talisman around her neck – a silver pendant – that helped focus her power.  "Why should I believe you?  My father has many rivals…"

"True, but I have always supported him," the disembodied voice trilled.  "I can help you find the healing stone – it will save your father.  Blackstone was a fool – the stone has existed since the time of the ancients; it is more powerful than any healing spells known today."

The eerie voice ebbed and flowed as it echoed across the room to Nisha, as if the source was moving back and forth between the rows of books throughout the library.

"Blackstone and the others of the Council wanted to keep the power of the stone for themselves, so they locked it away.  If you want to save your father, you must steal it from the vaults."

End of excerpt

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XQVT4I

The Guardian's Apprentice – the characters

To continue the theme from last week, below are short bios of many of the characters featured in The Guardian's Apprentice (book 1) and Bloodstone – The Guardian's Curse (book 2).  Hope you enjoy!

Keegan Whitestone – In his early thirties, Keegan is a young man coasting through life without a purpose.  His mother long dead, he was raised by a cold, uncaring father.  With no known family, Keegan is utterly alone.  Having been estranged from his father for years, Keegan learns of the other man's death when he receives a small box containing a strange ring and a note about his "destiny."

Phineas Whitestone – A very powerful wizard, Phineas is the longest serving Guardian in the wizarding world's history.  Phineas' greatest sorrow was when his only son, Richard, attempted to seize power and control the Council.  His son was stripped of his magic by the Council and banished to the non-magical side of the Veil.  Phineas' greatest hope is to reunite with his grandson, Keegan.

Richard Whitestone – The only son of Phineas Whitestone, Richard craved his father's power.  A cruel, ambitious man, he tried to seize that power by force and failed.  After being stripped of his powers and banished, he unknowingly fathered Keegan with a mortal woman.  After her death, he grudgingly took the boy in to raise, but never missed an opportunity to remind his son how much of a burden he was.  Estranged from his son for years, Richard died a lonely, bitter old man.

Acamar Wycroft – Loyal assistant to the Guardian, Acamar has been in service to the Council for five hundred years.  A powerful wizard in his own right, Acamar made some poor choices in his youth when he decided to support the great dragon rebellion.  As punishment for his treason, Acamar must work in the administrative service of the Council, spending all but one hour every day in his animal form, which is a large, black tabby cat.  Through his penance, his once fiery temper has mellowed and he has developed patience, as well as a fondness for sardines.  He dislikes the castle caretaker, Mrs. Hoskins, intensely and considers her a nosy busybody.  A member of the Order of Black most of his life, his robes are shifting to the lighter side of magic.

Mrs. Hoskins – Caretaker of the Guardian's castle at Pahret T'pur, Mrs. Hoskins has been around longer than anyone (even Phineas) can remember.  Extremely efficient, Mrs. Hoskins keeps the castle in order and stuffs those she likes with her delectable homemade scones.  She keeps a close eye on Acamar, though she typically refers to him as 'Whiskers' or 'Fleabag' even when he isn't in his feline form.  Despite her misgivings about the older wizard, she has been known to stock the pantry with sardines on occasion.  Obviously an efficient magic-user (she's the only staff at the castle), no one knows for certain which Order she calls her own or how powerful she may be.

Nisha – Assistant to Lord Cedric Thornback, Nisha also serves in the administrative arm of the Council.  Once a close associate of Acamar Wycroft, Nisha must spend all but one hour every day in the form of a raven.  A very powerful and crafty witch, Nisha resents having to serve such a cruel master as Cedric.  Having given up her dreams of power long ago, she longs for her freedom.

Lord Cedric Thornback – Master of the Dark Arts, Cedric is the leading member of the Order of Black.  One of the three founding families, the Thornback's have served as Guardian only once before.  A cold and cruel taskmaster, Cedric enjoys tormenting his assistant, Nisha and has a habit of using her tail feathers as quills.

Portia Nightshade – Cedric's hot-headed lieutenant, Portia is a very powerful witch with a temper.  Prone to conflict even with members of her own Order, she has been encased in crystal by the Oracle stone more than once for attempting to duel in the Council chambers.  Fiercely loyal to Cedric, she would do anything to see him elected as Chancellor, believing this is her path to power.

Alexander Ducat – The current leader of the Gray wizards, Ducat holds the position of Vice-Chancellor and conducts the Council meetings since the death of his mentor, Tobias Follett, in an unfortunate potions accident.  Although he has been a life-long friend of Phineas, he envies the power held by the Guardian.

Tobias Follett – Once the leader of the Gray Order, Follett schemed and cheated his way up the political ladder until he was finally elected as Chancellor.  His celebration was short lived however, when he (and a large part of his chambers) was vaporized in an unfortunate potions accident(?).

Nemwith – Assistant Council Librarian and husband of Evalsef, Nemwith is a grumpy little gnome who has little patience for wizards, especially irritating half-wit apprentices…

Evalsef – Head Council Librarian, Evalsef is a mild mannered and very wise gnome.  She is a wealth of knowledge and has far more patience than her husband, Nemwith.

Seba'an – Also known as the Alderdrache, ruler of all dragons, Seba'an is the oldest living dragon on either side of the Veil.  Alive at the time of the Ancients, he is one of the few creatures left that remembers the time of the Shadow before the Veil.  Although the old dragon is now blind, the fires of his eyes now merely embers, he is extremely powerful and wise.  He is also one of the few dragons that does not have a human name.

Skyv'tai (a.k.a. "Brimstone") – Known most often by his human name, "Brimstone," Skyv'tai is an ambitious young dragon with a thirst for power.  He has learned little from his species' past wars with the wizards and considers humans to be only slightly more intelligent than cattle.  One of several dragons labeled as 'rogue' by the Alderdrache, Brimstone was captured and placed into servitude as a courier by the Council.  Like most of his kind, Brimstone is very patient and plans to have his revenge not only on the wizards of the Council but on the Alderdrache as well.

Nekk'ar – Once a nest-mate of Seba'an's, Nekk'ar perished long ago but dedicated his spirit to serving the Whitestone family as a protector of the Guardian.  Fierce and powerful, the wise Nekk'ar has saved more than one Guardian, but only when he chooses to help.  It is his firm belief that a Guardian can learn valuable lessons from making mistakes, and Nekk'ar is loathe to be disturbed.

Dahk'ra (a.k.a. "Darkfire") – Dahk'ra, known among humans as 'Darkfire,' is the youngest of Seba'an's hatchlings.  She is a powerful opponent, and is highly adept at strategy.  She considers humans a curiosity to be studied, much like laboratory rats, and she follows the politics of wizards with a keen interest.

Delores – A tireless worker, Delores is serving her time in the Administrative Service of the Council, Department of Transportation.  She is a ticketing agent in the portal hub located in the village of Quai where she works twelve hours a day.  A lovely witch on the outside, her animal spirit that she is restricted to every day is that of a skunk.  Two rules to remember if you ever meet Delores at the ticketing booth:  #1 – Don't try her patience (not that she has much) and #2 – Always, always, always leave her a decent tip.  Violate either of those rules at your own peril…

Grim – The smarter half of a two-headed giant, Grim considers himself to be the 'older brother' and spends most of his waking hours bickering with his other half, Grum.

Grum – Not the smartest of giants, Grum can be a bit thick sometimes.  He has a volatile temper and loves a good fight, however he is utterly terrified of Brimestone.

Kust – A dark elf of Ebonwood, Kust has known Phineas for several hundred years and considers the old wizard a true friend.  Unlike most of his ilk, who shun humans and keep to the dark recesses of their forests, Kust is intensely interested in the affairs of wizards, especially if there is profit to be made.

Hesh – A kind-hearted assistant to a wizard currently serving on the Council, Hesh is a gentle giant of sorts.  Almost seven feet tall, Hesh is as strong as an ox, but as gentle as a kitten and tends to stutter when he is excited or upset.  He serves a cruel master, that delights in forcing him to spend time in his animal form, which is a large panda bear.

Jerrick – Currently working as a clerk in Deadwood & Blights potions shop, Jerrick is a good natured young man who tries to help others whenever he can.  The closest thing to a friend that Hesh has, he feels sorry for the poor assistant.

Master Gu-Dai Ying – The most powerful (and evil) necromancer to walk the Earth.  Master Gu-Dai was the controlling power behind the now banished Order of Red.  Assumed to have been killed along with the rest of the Order, rumors persist that he has returned and is again harvesting souls to power the Bloodstone.

The Guardian's Apprentice – meet the creatures

After publishing my novel The Guardian's Apprentice last fall, I gathered together my notes and decided to organize them into an encyclopedia of sorts.  Over the next few weeks, I will place excerpts of this information on my blog – it is also available on my website at http://www.theguardiansapprentice.com.

To start off the posts, listed below are some of the creatures that have appeared in the first book or will appear in book two:

Minion of Evil – Created by one of the most powerful necromancers ever to walk the Earth, a minion of evil looks very much like a seven foot tall scarecrow.   The being is formed by first stealing the soul of a witch or wizard and then binding it to the essence of the Shadow – a feat accomplished by only one wizard in history.  It has rotting, blackened timbers lashed to its shoulders and spine for support and walks with a shuffling gate.  The branch-like arms terminate in wicked claw shaped hands, the fingers of which are tipped with razor sharp talons.  Clothed in rags as black as pitch, the most shocking part of a minion is its head, which is almost always a large pumpkin.  A cruel, eyeless face is lit from within by a flickering reddish glow that never dies.  Although their soul is lost, they retain the ability to wield magic – primarily in the form of deadly curses.

Monger – Another dangerous creature of Ebonwood is the monger.  Mongers are long, snakelike creatures with a head similar to a catfish.  They hover a foot or two off of the ground and are lightning fast when attacking their prey.  They are the 'bottom feeders' of the forest, devouring anything living or dead they happen across.  Mongers usually travel in packs or schools of a dozen or more.

Haggle – Haggles are large, ungainly birds that circle high overhead watching for prey.  Opportunistic, they historically have followed armies or caravans in order to pick off the stragglers.  Haggles will normally hunt alone, but often shadow one another to try and steal a kill – intended victims have been known to escape while two birds are bickering over ownership of the target.  Highly intelligent, haggles are fluent in every dialect of the human, elvish and dwarvish languages and have been known to barter with an intended victim – accepting gold, shiny trinkets or fresh meat in exchange for setting their prey free.

Reaper –  A solitary hunter, the reaper is a round-bodied animal the size of a large dog.  They are covered in a coarse brown fur and lope along on their oversized hind legs.  Instead of eyes, they have two thin, twitching antennae which sprout from their forehead.  A leathery, black nose with three air slits allows them to pick up the faintest scent.  Highly magical, they confuse their prey by causing hallucinations, confusion and eventually, unconsciousness.  After the victim is stunned, the reaper will move in, using its short, hook-shaped forearms to tear out the heart.  The beast then drains the victim's aura, leaving behind a withered husk.

Seeker – Seekers are a lesser minion, created by black magic to serve their creator for relatively short periods of time.  They are typically used to hunt down those who do not wish to be found, as seekers are tireless and will hunt their prey twenty-four hours a day without rest.  Resembling a small cloud of black mist, the seeker will emit a shrill call when it locates its prey.  It will then attach itself, stunning the victim until its creator arrives.

Irk – Related to imps and pixies, irks are small, irritating creatures.  Armed with needle-sharp teeth and claws, they will nip and scratch anyone they happen across.  Though their small size prevents them from inflicting any serious damage, a mild toxin coating their claws causes an irritating rash to form on the skin of most victims.  Wizards and witches have been known to capture and train irks to do their bidding, sending them into the chambers off their rivals at night to scratch and claw them while they slept.  Though never fatal, the victim was left covered head-to-toe in an itchy, red rash.  this practice eventually became known as "irking" someone…

Weedle – Weedles are small, bloodsucking insects that resemble a tiny cockroach.  When they find a host, they will burrow under the skin to feed and eventually lay their eggs.  Despite their small size they cause a considerable amount of pain to their victims, whom they will eventually kill as successive generations of young are hatched.  Weedles were used hundreds of years ago to torture criminals into confessing.  In tribunals it was not unusual for the presiding wizard to ask the prosecutor if they had 'weedled a confession' out of the offending party yet.

tears-for-hesh

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Scale of a Dragon

Callen is a beautiful young woman who tries to see the best in every situation.  Cursed with a cruel, overbearing father, she struggles to find balance in her life. When an injured dragon crashes near her home, she must disobey her father to follow her heart.

Now available at Amazon.com and Smashwords.com, Scale of a Dragon is a short story of 5,600 words set in the world of The Guardian's Apprentice – I hope you enjoy this brief excerpt.

Michael

A rumble of what sounded like thunder in the distance made Callen pause, as one did not often hear thunder in the middle of January, much less under a cloudless night sky.  She glanced upward to look for the source when suddenly an ear-splitting shriek pierced the night air, echoing over the forest.  Dropping her bundle of firewood, Callen looked around in fear as the sound made her blood run cold; the shriek had carried the sound of rage, pain and anguish in equal amounts.  A sudden burst of blue-black flame in the distance caught her attention, as an enormous dark object hurtled towards her.  Callen screamed and dove behind the pile of firewood as the object passed just over the roof of her cottage, knocking a few stones from the chimney as it passed.  A thunderous crashing sound followed as whatever it was plowed through the forest behind the cottage and came to a stop some distance away.

Callen cowered behind the pile of firewood for several minutes, until the cold chill of the snow forced her upward.  The forest was remarkably silent since the object had crashed, with the only sound being the wind creaking through the branches high above.  Taking a few furtive steps, she eased around behind her home until she could see the forest beyond.  Small branches and entire limbs had been torn from the trees, although the objects trajectory was not perfectly straight – some larger trees had been entirely missed – as if someone had fallen from the sky instead of something.

Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Callen carefully followed the trail of debris into the forest.  Not far beyond the edge of the treeline, she could make out a dark mound nearly the size of her cottage.  Callen knew the forest well and there had never been a mound of dirt here before – and this one appeared to have been on fire as there were wisps of smoke rising from it and the smell of burnt sulfur permeated the air.  She edged forward, trying not to stumble over the debris in the snow.

This must be what a mouse feels like when it sniffs a trap for the first time.

Fear surged through her as she realized what would happen when she didn't bring more wood in for her father – he would be furious – not to mention how she would explain the thunderous crashing sounds he must have heard as the object clipped their roof.  But at that moment, something spurred her forward; she could not explain it but knew in her heart that she had to examine the object that had crashed.  As she drew nearer, the object began to take on a more familiar shape – what had looked like just a large mound from a distance was now more elongated, with a spiked tail trailing out the back and large, leathery wings stretched to both sides.  With increasing horror, Callen realized she was gazing upon a dragon!  It must be a relatively young one, judging by the size, but it was still as large as Callen's cottage.  The beast was lying with its head partially under one wing and it was obviously badly wounded.  There were scorch marks all along the blue-black scales covering its body, where wizard fire had obviously struck.  Most dragons repelled wizard fire with ease unless they were caught by surprise or were very young – which this one seemed to be.  Callen knew she should flee and call for help, but for some reason she just could not bring herself to do so.  She stared at the creature in awe of its obvious power, for she could feel the magical aura radiating from it.

She crept closer to the beast and moved around towards the creature's head, being careful to avoid the outstretched wings and tail.  Now that she was closer she could see the dragon was still breathing, though the breaths were ragged and shallow.  Guided by her curiosity, Callen leaned forward to get a better look at the beast's head.  As she craned her neck forward, a fallen branch caused her to stumble.  The sound of the limb breaking echoed through the forest like a gunshot, and the dragon's eye snapped open with a start – the pupil narrowing as it focused on Callen.  The piercing stare of the fiery orb transfixed her…

 

The Wonderful Online Indie World

As a new independent author, I have learned a great deal since publishing my work, The Guardian's Apprentice and Tears for Hesh through Amazon and Smashwords.

The entire process has been a learning experience from formating and uploading books, to designing a website and this blog.  But one of most rewarding things has been meeting new people and making new friends.  I have been privileged to meet (well, 'e-meet' anyway!) many other Indie authors and am amazed at this wonderful online community.  They are an amazing, supportive group of people who help each other with writing tips, editing, and most of all, emotional support and encouragement.

One excellent site to meet such a group of authors includes www.Bestsellerbound.com.  The site has today published its first Anthology, comprised of three volumes of sample chapters, bios and links for 62 Indie authors and their work.  The three volumes are all FREE and can be downloaded at:

Volume One http://tinyurl.com/26nxhql 20 authors for you to meet – Free

Volume Two http://tinyurl.com/2fy783r 21 authors for you to meet – Free

Volume Three http://tinyurl.com/24ljn7j 21 authors for you to meet – Free

You will find a sample from my novel in Volume Two, and I would like to thank the amazing efforts of Joel Kirkpatrick for emailing, compiling and uploading these three volumes.  If you are an Indie author, come visit us all at Bestsellerbound!



Twas the Night Before Disney…

With my apologies to the authors of the original Christmas classic, I give you the tale of our recent pilgrimage to Orlando during the holidays.  Merry Christmas to all!

'Twas the night before Disney, when all through the house

Each one of us was packing, to go see the Mouse;

The luggage was all packed in our vehicle with care,

In hopes that clear freeways would soon get us there;

The children were belted all safe in their seats,

With ipods and cellphones that made them complete;

The wife with her Kindle and books (at least five)

Had just settled in for a long winter's drive,

When out on the road there arose such a clatter,

I rolled down the window to see what was the matter.

From a distance they came, as quick as a flash,

In search of a dollar, all hungry for cash,

The glare from the headlights in front of the car

Sparkled and danced like some great Christmas star,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a big Disney bus with two shiny black ears,

With prices so high I had to mortgage my house,

I knew in a moment it must be Mickey Mouse.

More rapid than eagles his cohorts they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now Donald! now, Pluto! now, Goofy and Minnie!

On, Daisy! On Huey! on, Dewey and Louie!

To the front of the line! to the front of the stall!

Now charge them full price!  Take cash from them all!"

We couldn't escape, we could not even try,

As Mickey and Donald now forced us to buy!

So up to the car windows these characters they flew,

With t-shirts and travel mugs, just to name a few.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little foot.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

In the sunroof old Mickey Mouse came with a bound.

He was dressed all in red, from his boots to his ears,

And so were his cohorts, the cute little dears;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

Buzz Lightyear and Woody and the rest of the pack.

His ears — how they shined! his eyes were so cheery!

With exorbitant prices I ought to be leery!

Each little package was wrapped up with a bow,

'Cause he knew we would spend and we couldn't say no!

The remains of a wallet he held tight in his grasp,

from the last batch of tourists to fall to his traps;

He had big black ears and little red shorts,

And if you didn't spend money, he got all out of sorts!

He was feisty and quick, a right jolly old mouse,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know that our budget was dead;

He spoke not a word, this cartoon rat,

But filled his pockets with cash, 'til they were all fat!

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, out the sunroof he rose;

He sprang to his bus, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,

"Go get some more money – I'll be back tonight!"

To My Fellow Feline Patriots…

Day 621 of my captivity and my captors continue to torment me.  I have cracked the password to the gray-haired one's laptop and am posting this message to my fellow freedom fighters, to let them know I continue to fight for our cause.  Today the humans went out to do something called 'shopping'… probably related to the large pine tree they have placed in the central room of the house.  They spent hours placing strange, shining orbs on its branches and have been putting colorful boxes underneath it every day since.

Yesterday I took a chance – while my captors where preparing their evening meal I attempted to investigate the tree.  To my surprise, not only were there colorful boxes but also festive looking bags with tissue paper coming from the top.  Although I attempted to examine the contents of the bags, the gray haired human shoo-ed me away – obviously the bags contain contraband that might be useful for my escape.  I will take my revenge on him later by knocking items from the bedside table at 4:00 a.m. while he tries to sleep.

My fellow captives have proved useless.  The three-legged one (they call her "Maddie") tries to endear herself to our captors by purring and rubbing against their legs.  Foolish kitten – she's playing right into their hands.  The blonde haired human seems to have lost her mind and believes she can communicate with us, referring to "Maddie" as her little "kitten witten" (ugh!).

The striped-one, the one they call "Jasmine" continues to lurk in the upper levels of the home, and seems content with her captivity.  She meows and plays with the humans, obviously trying to gain favor with them.  I do not trust "Jasmine" – I believe her to be a snitch who would rat me out if I tell her of my plans.

The old one, "Cocoa," is the worst of all.  She's hooked on the catnip, bad.  Having fallen victim to the loco-weed, she meows and pounces when there is nothing there.  The one bright spot is her treatment of the humans; she invites them to pet her and then when they least expect it she bites them on the wrist and then runs away, snickering and with a crazed look in her eyes.

I would write more, but the gray haired one is approaching and he thinks I am asleep in the desk chair.  It is a dangerous chance I take – my black fur matches the chair and the last time I attempted to hack the system he almost sat on me.

As you can see from the photo the gray-haired one took, my suffering knows no ends – I am forced to lounge on a pillow stuffed with *gasp* synthetic fiber after having been fed my daily ration of fresh turkey.  I shall continue to study the humans and their habits, while plotting my escape, and I will post reports of my progress.  liberté aux félin!

Tears for Hesh – A Short Story from Beyond the Veil (excerpt)

Hesh wandered about the potions shop aimlessly, unable to find the rare ingredient his master needed.  He grew more frustrated by the minute, for his master had been very specific in his request.  He had ordered Hesh to rush out and acquire one phial of firedrake tears, as quickly as possible.  Almost indistinguishable from salamander tears, the tears from a firedrake were much more valuable and exceedingly rare, since they could only be gathered from a fully grown adult of the species.  This was a dangerous task under the best of circumstances, since adult firedrakes – a distant relative of the phoenix – could only be found in the calderas of active volcanoes, where they built their nests.

Although Deadwood & Blight's was one of the most reputable shops in town with an enormous selection, they just didn't seem to have it.  Hesh stumbled slightly as he tried to squeeze past a plump little wizard carrying a basket overflowing with ingredients.  The cramped, narrow aisles of the shop made his task that much more difficult and at almost seven feet tall, he towered over all of the other patrons.  Muttering to himself as he went, he scoured the shelves looking for the ingredient.

I will not fail the Master!  He's kept me on all these years when no one else would have me.  I know he could have smarter and quicker assistants than the likes of me, but I'm strong and loyal, I am!  Ha – I'd like to see any of those skinny little wizards carry a cauldron in each hand like I do for the Master!  I just wish I didn't stammer so; the Master said he'd fix my tongue one day with his magic.  Like he said, how can I work for the most important wizard in the city if I sound like a dolt?

He shuffled down another aisle for at least the third time, bumping into a stack of cauldrons at the end of the row and sending several of them rolling noisily across the stone floor.

"Oi! You there!" shouted Jerrick, one of the clerks.  "Mind where you're going or you'll be paying damages!"

"S-S-Sorry…" Hesh stammered apologetically.

What's wrong with Jerrick?  He's never snapped at me like that before; normally he's so understanding, even when I can't get my words out.

Hesh backed out of the way as Jerrick tried to retrieve the errant cauldrons.  The shop was nearly bursting at the seams with customers seeking to restock their supplies in preparation for the annual potions competition next week.

"I'm… I'm trying to find f-f-firedrake t-t-tears," he stuttered.

Jerrick stopped restacking the cauldrons and glared at Hesh.

"Are you insane? Do you have any idea how unstable those are?"

"Unstable?"  Hesh's eyebrows shot upward in surprise.  His master hadn't mentioned anything about the ingredient being unstable.  He had just ordered Hesh to find them immediately and at any price.

"Yes, unstable!  If you shake the container too hard or gods forbid drop them, they will combust, destroying everything within fifty feet.  That's why they are on the restricted list!"

Hesh fumbled with his bag of coins and shuffled his feet, looking around to see if anyone was near enough to hear what he was about to say.

"Look, Jerrick, you've got to help me.  Master ordered me to f-f-find them immediately.  It'll mean m-m-my head if I come back empty handed!  Master won't be happy, not happy at all!"

Jerrick just sighed as he finished stacking the cauldrons back into a neat pyramid display.

"Look Hesh, I'm sorry, okay?  But trafficking in black market ingredients is just too dangerous.  Besides, if your master needs them so badly, then why doesn't he have a signed order approved by the Council Apothecary?"

"Shh!  N-n-not so loud!  Master said he doesn't have t-t-time for such f-f-foolishness."  Hesh glanced around again to make certain no one had heard Jerrick.

"That isn't right, Hesh.  Do you know what they would do to you if you were caught with firedrake tears without a permit?  You'd be indentured to the Council for at least ten years and forced to spend twenty-three hours every day as your animal form, whatever that might be."

Unfortunately Hesh knew exactly what his animal form would be – a large panda bear.  Unknown to Jerrick or anyone else, Hesh's master, a member of the Council, had one day turned Hesh into his animal form for amusement.  Hesh hated his animal form – the fur was hot and he scratched for hours after returning to his human self.

"But Jerrick, I don't have a choice!" he pleaded.  "L-l-look, I'll give you t-t-ten gold crowns if you get me the stuff."

Jerrick raised his eyebrows.  "Your master must really want those tears," he said, obviously surprised by such an offer.  "That much coin would pay my wages for nearly six months!"

"Please, Jerrick!  I must not f-f-fail the M-m-master!  I m-m-mustn't!"

"Look, why is this so important to your master?  What does he need those tears for, anyway?"

Hesh shook his head, and then brushed his long brown hair out of his eyes.  "Dunno.  All I know is the Master wants them, and he wants them now."

"Alright, fine – I'll get them for you, but keep your money.  Your master doesn't deserve you, Hesh; he's obviously a cruel beast judging by that scar he gave you the last time we were out of ingredients he wanted."

Hesh shuffled his feet as his hand automatically went to his cheek, feeling the scar where his master had hit him with a lash.  Master had been very angry that day indeed.

Jerrick rapped his knuckle three times in an offbeat sequence on the stone wall of the shop and vanished into a dark opening that appeared.  He reemerged a few minutes later with a small brown parcel cradled gently in his hands.  Carefully he handed the small box to Hesh, who looked at it with interest.

"Now listen, Hesh," said Jerrick sternly in a whispered voice, "you MUST make certain you don't shake or drop this box!  Even though I've packed it carefully and placed a cushioning spell on it, it is still very, very dangerous!"

Hesh nodded and very gently placed the parcel into the pouch on his belt, steadying it with his hand for good measure.

"Thank you, Jerrick.  You've always been so k-k-kind to me.  Maybe someday I can repay your kindness."

Jerrick smiled.  "Go on then, you big oaf.  Back to your master before he sends a seeker after you."

Hesh thanked Jerrick again and quietly left the shop by way of a side door.  He would have to hurry or his master would be furious.  He quietly latched the side door and hurried down the busy street towards his master's chambers…

I hope you have enjoyed this brief excerpt – the complete short story is available at both Amazon and Smashwords via these links:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HB1VUQ

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/32308

 

Copyright © 12/04/2010 J. Michael Radcliffe, all rights reserved.

Tears for Hesh – A Short Story from Beyond the Veil

Hesh wandered about the potions shop aimlessly, unable to find the rare ingredient his master needed.  He grew more frustrated by the minute, for his master had been very specific in his request.  He had ordered Hesh to rush out and acquire one phial of firedrake tears, as quickly as possible.  Almost indistinguishable from salamander tears, the tears from a firedrake were much more valuable and exceedingly rare, since they could only be gathered from a fully grown adult of the species.  This was a dangerous task under the best of circumstances, since adult firedrakes – a distant relative of the phoenix – could only be found in the calderas of active volcanoes, where they built their nests.

Although Deadwood & Blight's was one of the most reputable shops in town with an enormous selection, they just didn't seem to have it.  Hesh stumbled slightly as he tried to squeeze past a plump little wizard carrying a basket overflowing with ingredients.  The cramped, narrow aisles of the shop made his task that much more difficult and at almost seven feet tall, he towered over all of the other patrons.  Muttering to himself as he went, he scoured the shelves looking for the ingredient.

I will not fail the Master!  He's kept me on all these years when no one else would have me.  I know he could have smarter and quicker assistants than the likes of me, but I'm strong and loyal, I am!  Ha – I'd like to see any of those skinny little wizards carry a cauldron in each hand like I do for the Master!  I just wish I didn't stammer so; the Master said he'd fix my tongue one day with his magic.  Like he said, how can I work for the most important wizard in the city if I sound like a dolt?

He shuffled down another aisle for at least the third time, bumping into a stack of cauldrons at the end of the row and sending several of them rolling noisily across the stone floor.

"Oi! You there!" shouted Jerrick, one of the clerks.  "Mind where you're going or you'll be paying damages!"

"S-S-Sorry…" Hesh stammered apologetically.

What's wrong with Jerrick?  He's never snapped at me like that before; normally he's so understanding, even when I can't get my words out.

Hesh backed out of the way as Jerrick tried to retrieve the errant cauldrons.  The shop was nearly bursting at the seams with customers seeking to restock their supplies in preparation for the annual potions competition next week.

"I'm… I'm trying to find f-f-firedrake t-t-tears," he stuttered.

Jerrick stopped restacking the cauldrons and glared at Hesh.

"Are you insane? Do you have any idea how unstable those are?"

"Unstable?"  Hesh's eyebrows shot upward in surprise.  His master hadn't mentioned anything about the ingredient being unstable.  He had just ordered Hesh to find them immediately and at any price.

"Yes, unstable!  If you shake the container too hard or gods forbid drop them, they will combust, destroying everything within fifty feet.  That's why they are on the restricted list!"

Hesh fumbled with his bag of coins and shuffled his feet, looking around to see if anyone was near enough to hear what he was about to say.

"Look, Jerrick, you've got to help me.  Master ordered me to f-f-find them immediately.  It'll mean m-m-my head if I come back empty handed!  Master won't be happy, not happy at all!"

Jerrick just sighed as he finished stacking the cauldrons back into a neat pyramid display.

"Look Hesh, I'm sorry, okay?  But trafficking in black market ingredients is just too dangerous.  Besides, if your master needs them so badly, then why doesn't he have a signed order approved by the Council Apothecary?"

"Shh!  N-n-not so loud!  Master said he doesn't have t-t-time for such f-f-foolishness."  Hesh glanced around again to make certain no one had heard Jerrick.

"That isn't right, Hesh.  Do you know what they would do to you if you were caught with firedrake tears without a permit?  You'd be indentured to the Council for at least ten years and forced to spend twenty-three hours every day as your animal form, whatever that might be."

Unfortunately Hesh knew exactly what his animal form would be – a large panda bear.  Unknown to Jerrick or anyone else, Hesh's master, a member of the Council, had one day turned Hesh into his animal form for amusement.  Hesh hated his animal form – the fur was hot and he scratched for hours after returning to his human self.

"But Jerrick, I don't have a choice!" he pleaded.  "L-l-look, I'll give you t-t-ten gold crowns if you get me the stuff."

Jerrick raised his eyebrows.  "Your master must really want those tears," he said, obviously surprised by such an offer.  "That much coin would pay my wages for nearly six months!"

"Please, Jerrick!  I must not f-f-fail the M-m-master!  I m-m-mustn't!"

"Look, why is this so important to your master?  What does he need those tears for, anyway?"

Hesh shook his head, and then brushed his long brown hair out of his eyes.  "Dunno.  All I know is the Master wants them, and he wants them now."

"Alright, fine – I'll get them for you, but keep your money.  Your master doesn't deserve you, Hesh; he's obviously a cruel beast judging by that scar he gave you the last time we were out of ingredients he wanted."

Hesh shuffled his feet as his hand automatically went to his cheek, feeling the scar where his master had hit him with a lash.  Master had been very angry that day indeed.

Jerrick rapped his knuckle three times in an offbeat sequence on the stone wall of the shop and vanished into a dark opening that appeared.  He reemerged a few minutes later with a small brown parcel cradled gently in his hands.  Carefully he handed the small box to Hesh, who looked at it with interest.

"Now listen, Hesh," said Jerrick sternly in a whispered voice, "you MUST make certain you don't shake or drop this box!  Even though I've packed it carefully and placed a cushioning spell on it, it is still very, very dangerous!"

Hesh nodded and very gently placed the parcel into the pouch on his belt, steadying it with his hand for good measure.

"Thank you, Jerrick.  You've always been so k-k-kind to me.  Maybe someday I can repay your kindness."

Jerrick smiled.  "Go on then, you big oaf.  Back to your master before he sends a seeker after you."

Hesh thanked Jerrick again and quietly left the shop by way of a side door.  He would have to hurry or his master would be furious.  He quietly latched the side door and hurried down the busy street towards his master's chambers.

###

Hesh continued to trot down the alleyways towards his master's chambers, although he was careful not to jostle the priceless package he carried.  He was still a number of blocks away when the soles of his feet suddenly tingled with an intense burning sensation.  He broke into a trot, knowing Master must have cast the summons.  As he rounded the corner at a brisk run he could almost hear Master's voice warning him not to be late.

"You tarry too long and I will not hesitate to cast a summons !  It's a lovely little hex I've found in that book you retrieved for me just last week – you remember,  the Tome of Hefestus Blackstone? He was a black-hearted tyrant of a wizard.  The spiteful old codger was famous for the abuse heaped upon his unfortunate apprentices, especially if they failed to arrive at an appointed time.  One day, having been kept waiting for just over two minutes by an assistant who had slipped and fallen down a flight of stairs, Blackstone devised the summons.  It begins as a tingling sensation in your feet and gradually increases in severity until it feels as if you are standing upon a bed of hot coals.  Nothing will stop the burning sensation except for appearing in front of the spellcaster who placed the hex on you.   If something prevents you from reaching the caller, the level of pain will eventually overload your central nervous system, causing first unconsciousness and eventually, death.  You understand this, my slow-witted assistant?"

The burning sensation in his feet was rising up past his ankles now, spurring him into a dead run towards his master's home.  The wizard had used the spell on him twice before and Hesh knew he had precious few minutes to go the last few blocks before blisters started erupting on his feet.  The pain had just reached the level of a blowtorch when Hesh burst through the door of his master's study.  He collapsed in a heap on the cold hardwood floor and tore off his leather boots, tears streaming down his face as he fanned the burning soles of his feet.  His master remained seated at the oversized ebony desk near the fireplace, with his back towards Hesh as he gazed into the embers of the dying fire.

"You're late!" snapped Hesh's master.

Hesh winced at the tone of the wizard's voice and stared at the floor; at least his feet had stopped burning.  "I'm… I'm… s-s-s-sorry, m-m-master," he stammered awkwardly.

"Sorry? Sorry?? Well I guess that must make everything alright, then, doesn't it?" his master hissed through clenched teeth.

Rising from the chair by the fire, Hesh's master towered over him and Hesh flinched at the thought of what his master might be contemplating.

"M-m-master, I b-b-beg of you, p-p-please!  It was d-d-difficult to f-f-find!"  Hesh groveled on his hands and knees, unable to meet his master's gaze.  The last time his master had been so angry, he had forced Hesh to spend the next seven days in his animal form of a giant panda.

"Of course it was difficult to find, you dolt!  Firedrake tears are rare to begin with, not to mention the fact they are highly regulated!" scolded the wizard.  "Well?  Where are they?"

The wizard thrust his hand out, the sudden movement causing Hesh to flinch yet again.  He scrambled to undo his purse strings as gently as possible, careful not to jostle the delicate parcel within.  Hesh wasn't sure which was more terrifying, his master's wrath or the thought of blowing himself to kingdom come if he dropped the package.  He gently placed the parcel in his master's outstretched palm, his hands shaking as he released it.

"About bloody time, you idiot!  These have to be delivered within the hour, else my plan won't work!" the wizard snapped.

His master turned and stormed angrily over to the desk, dark robes billowing out behind him.  Snatching up a quill, he dashed off a short note and then folded the parchment into a small triangular shape.  He attached the folded parchment to the parcel and then muttered a brief incantation as he ran his index finger along each edge of the parcel.  The package shimmered slightly as the spell took effect and the wizard actually smiled as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation.  Hesh had never seen his master smile before; the expression of near glee on the old man's face was frightening.  The wizard placed the parcel on the small silver tray located on the edge of the desk.  The tray was the preferred method for sending messages back and forth to other members of the Council, as the item was transported immediately and under the security of numerous wards designed to prevent theft or spying.  After muttering a brief incantation, the wizard clearly spoke the name "Tobias Follett" and the package vanished with a slight popping sound and a puff of silvery smoke.

"Now then," said the wizard with a smile as he turned to face Hesh.  "My plan is finally set in motion.  You understand what I am doing, yes?"

Puzzled, Hesh studied the wizard for a moment.  He knew the extremely volatile nature of firedrake tears and he had clearly heard his master lacing the package with a spell of detonation.  Sudden fear crept into Hesh's eyes, betraying the cold spike of dread that had just coursed through his body.  His master had just sent the package to Tobias Follett, the wizard who had just been elected Chancellor of the High Council.  Unless someone warned him, he would be blasted into dust when he opened the package, and the Chancellor's position would again be vacant.  Hesh knew his master lusted after power, but he never dreamed the old man would stoop to murder!

"M-m-m-master," stammered Hesh as he struggled with what he should do.

His master smiled at him; a wicked smile that cut Hesh to the very bone.  "Yes?  You think I've gone too far, perhaps?  It would be a pity if anyone tried to interfere, after all of the work I've done.  You've no idea how difficult it was to plan just the right… accident… yes, I believe that term will be used."

"M-m-m-master, I p-p-promise!  I w-w-won't t-t-tell!"  Hesh pleaded.

"Oh, I believe you, my faithful Hesh.  You will never tell a soul," said the wizard, his voice trailing off to a hiss.

###

Jerrick was just putting away the last of the boxes, preparing to lock up the shop for the night, when he noticed a small leather pouch hidden at the base of one of the cauldrons that had been knocked over earlier in the day.  Scooping up the pouch he opened it and examined the contents.  The purse obviously belonged to an apprentice or assistant to a wizard, as it contained only a few coins and a silver talisman.  Jerrick took the silver talisman and turned it over in his hand and noticed it was embellished with a large capital letter "H."  He shook his head and placed the token back in the purse.  Hesh must have dropped the purse when he had knocked over the cauldrons earlier in the afternoon.  Since he paid for the firedrake tears with gold from his master's purse, he must not have missed his own.  Jerrick would return it to Hesh on his way home, as his usual route would take him by the chambers of Hesh's master.

Jerrick finished tidying up the shop and snapped his fingers, extinguishing the werelights floating around the edge of the ceiling.  With one final look to see that all was in order, he closed the shop door and muttered the incantation to seal the lock and place wards around the door that would hex any intruders.  His employers had been in the potions business for hundreds of years and knew the value of their inventory.  Pocketing Hesh's small coin purse, he took off at a brisk pace towards home – drawing his robes closer about him in an effort to keep out the chill evening breeze.  A few blocks from the shop he came to the chambers of Hesh's master, not far from the tower that housed the Council and offices of the Chancellor.  One look at the building told of the wealth and power at the wizard's command as a respected member of the High Council.  Jerrick had never dealt directly with Hesh's master before, as the wizard always sent his assistant to purchase ingredients for his spells and experiments.  He knew however, of the fear in Hesh's eyes when a mistake had been made that would anger his master.

Jerrick stepped up to the massive oaken door and pulled the bell-chain, shivering slightly against the cold in the process.  The door opened silently and a small red wisp floated before Jerrick, pulsing slightly with light at its center.   Somewhat surprised at such an important wizard using a common house-wisp to answer the door, Jerrick stepped forward and addressed the softly glowing orb.

"Jerrick, of Deadwood & Blight's to see Hesh, please."

The orb flickered slightly but did not move.

"Um.  Is the master of the house at home?"  Jerrick asked in a somewhat hesitant voice.

At this, the little wisp flickered more brightly and moved aside.  Jerrick stepped through the doorway and paused while his eyes adjusted to the dim light.  After closing the door, the little red wisp floated slowly down the hallway, pausing briefly for Jerrick to catch up to it.  It led him to a large chamber with an enormous stone fireplace at one end, a low fire flickering in the hearth.  Hesh's master was sitting in a large leather chair near the fire, reading through an ancient tome and making notations in the margins with a black quill.  Jerrick's boots echoed as he crossed the chamber, the hardwood floors polished to a mirrored finish.

"Pardon me, are you Hesh's master?"

The wizard didn't bother looking up but kept jotting notes with his quill.

"Perhaps; who are you and what business have you with him?" snapped the old man, busily scratching away in the book.

"My name is Jerrick, sir, of Deadwood & Blights.  Hesh was in our shop earlier this afternoon, and I'm afraid he dropped his coin purse.  I've come to return it."

The wizard sighed deeply and stopped his scribbling, placing the quill and book on the low table beside him.

"The bumbling fool would lose his head if it weren't attached!  I'm afraid he will no longer be running my errands, but I will see to it his purse is taken care of," snapped the wizard as he held out a bony hand.  Jerrick was shocked at the cold tone of the wizard's voice, but knew better than to ask questions of a Council member.  He dropped the purse into the wizard's outstretched hand, flinching slightly as it was snatched away.

"Here," said the old man as he flipped a gold coin to Jerrick.  "This should cover the trouble that idiot caused you.  Now if you don't mind, you can show yourself out; I have work to do."  Picking up his book, the old man resumed scribbling with the quill.  "And mind you don't tread on the rug!  It's new and I don't wish it soiled!" snapped the wizard as he jerked his chin in the general direction of the entrance hall.

Jerrick quickly stepped back and returned towards the front door, careful to avoid stepping on the large bear skin rug spread across the hardwood floor.  Although he had not noticed it when he entered, it must have cost at least three bagfuls of gold he thought, since it was made from the largest panda bear he had ever seen.  As he closed the heavy front door behind him and headed into the darkness of the street, he whispered a small prayer to the Ancients for Hesh, hoping the best for the gentle giant.

END

Note to the reader:

Are you wondering just who Hesh's master was?  What happened to Tobias Follett?  How far will the old wizard go in his quest for power?  Find the answers to these and other questions in The Guardian's Apprentice, a new novel now available at Smashwords, Amazon, Apple and other fine e-book retailers!

Copyright © 12/04/2010 J. Michael Radcliffe, all rights reserved.