by Jake Kerr
I didn’t answer but instead continued with my tale. He’d understand in London.
We were at the station when I finished my story and answering the many questions that Mister Oz and Grandfather threw at me. Without waiting for either of them, I marched into the station, copying what Naomi did in the previous Way Station.
The engineer hesitated until he saw my Grandfather. He was Persian and immediately recognized him. He apologized profusely and served us fresh water and fruit, after which he went down to unhook the engine from the rest of the train.
“Excuse me, Grandfather, I have to do something,” I said as I stood up. He nodded but didn’t say anything as I made my way to the rear of the engine.
I spent more time with the Marid this time. I told him of his mighty brother, destroying the train as he tore through to his freedom. I discussed being alone. I talked of my friend, near death in the room up front. I apologized for his imprisonment. I asked of him a favor.
And, of course, I set him free.
We arrived in Scotland in what the engineer claimed was record time. He could not understand how the train had traveled at such great speed for such a long distance. “Must be the honor of having two Archmages on board!” he noted as we departed. I knew it was the honor of being free that sped us along.
I had argued with my Grandfather on and off the whole trip on the train. He felt it was foolish to think his father the gardener would be able to heal Naomi. I did my best to respectfully disagree, but the forcefulness of his reply and his inability to understand reason led me to just nod and stay quiet. Clearly their relationship was strained, and it made me sad.
We hired a carriage at the station, and as we pulled away, there was the sound of a mighty crash and then a harrowing scream that was part train whistle part howl. Both Mister Oz and Grandfather looked back toward the station, but I just said, “Let others deal with that. Naomi needs help.” My voice was desperate, and the two of them turned away.
The castle was under heavy guard, and the guards would not let us past nor would they send a message to the Royal Gardener. It didn’t help that my grandfather refused to leave the carriage. I was certain that they would have recognized him, but for some reason he wanted very little to do with this trip. At one point I thought we were going to have to fight our way to my great grandfather, but just when things were at their bleakest my Grandfather stormed over and said loudly, “I am the Archmage. I received the staff from my father, the Archmage whose magic and talent built your magnificent gardens. He is old. I am old. Can you please tell him that his son has traveled from America and would like to see him.” The guard peered at Grandfather and then his jaw dropped.
Ten minutes later we were at the door of a small cottage. Mister Oz carried Naomi, who seemed so frail and tiny in his arms. I continued to halt time from touching her, hoping that I was keeping death at bay, as well.
Grandfather knocked hard on the door. It opened slowly, and I couldn’t believe it was the same man who I saw in my room in the Citadel. Joseph was even more frail, stopped and thin and weak. His eyes went wide when he saw Grandfather.
“Declan!”
“Hello, Father.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Nice to see you, too, Father.”
Their banter was going downhill, so I stepped in. “Archmage Joseph, I am in dire need of your mastery of the staff.” Both my grandfather and great grandfather turned and stared at me.
“What are you talking about? I have no time or power to go off fighting on the continent.”
“Please.” I stepped aside so he could see Naomi. “My friend is near death and needs you.” I held out the staff to him. He stepped forward and looked at Naomi.
“She looks dead. Why are you wasting my time? I cannot raise the dead.”
I motioned to Mister Oz, and he stepped forward. “She is alive, but I stopped time from touching her so we could make the trip to see you. Please, Great Grandfather. I know your power with the staff, even if others don’t.”
My great grandfather smiled and looked at Grandfather. “Thank goodness he didn’t inherit your brains.” He stepped back and waved us in. “Come in. Place her on the sofa in the living room.”
We walked in, and as I passed Joseph, I handed him the staff, but he waved me off. “Keep her safe a bit longer.” I nodded and stood next to the sofa as Mister Oz lay her on her back. Joseph leaned in and looked me in the eyes. “So you figured it out, did you?” I nodded, and he smiled. “I knew you would.”
Grandfather plopped into a chair and said nothing, watching with what appeared to be a healthy amount of doubt. While Joseph made his way in, I brushed Naomi’s hair behind her ears. I wanted to kiss her forehead but was too self-conscious to do so.
Joseph sat on the couch next to Naomi and closed his eyes. Without opening them, he said, “Hand me the staff, Tommy. It will release her, and I will begin.” The moment the staff left my hand Naomi let out a small whimper.
I looked at Great Grandfather and noticed his knuckles were white around the staff. I couldn’t tell if anything was happening, but I knew from my own experience that this meant nothing. The staff acted in its own way. Naomi coughed and then started to breathe deeply.
“She is healed, Archmage Thomas.” Great Grandfather’s eyes were open, and he was smiling. He held out the staff, and I took it in my hand. I knelt down and leaned on the staff. A small bright beacon of light shone from its end as I looked on Naomi breathing gently.
She opened her eyes and smiled at me.
“Streetlight,” she whispered.
The End
Want to read more Tommy Black? Well you don't have to wait!
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Coming December 2015
It's two years later, and Tommy has mastered the Staff of Light. However, as he was freeing magical creatures to reshape his family's legacy Germany was invading Europe. Finding himself on a mission for the British government to free the magical creatures of Nazi Germany and disrupt their war efforts, Tommy once again enlists the help of his friend, the powerful magician Naomi. Together they discover an extraordinary secret that changes everything--Tommy may not be the only Archmage in the world.
Book One from The Guildmaster Thief series
Overnight, Ralan went from street rat to guildmaster. It was not an improvement.
Ralan Miller loves being the younger brother of the most powerful man in Ness. He can goof around, insult the other guilds, and not worry about the consequences. That is until he makes a small mistake that puts his brother's political maneuverings at risk. His patience at an end, Ralan's brother inflicts upon him the worst possible punishment.
Humiliated and hurt, Ralan looks to get back at his brother with one last bit of mischief. What he doesn't realize is that this last act of defiance will have major repercussions, changing the entire political landscape of the city and putting Ralan's own life at risk.
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Selected Stories, with introductions by Hugh Howey, John Joseph Adams, Ken Liu, and Brian White
Stories of space, love, loss, hope, and more are all part of this debut collection from multiple award-nominated author Jake Kerr. Featuring the best-selling novelette "The Old Equations," these stories range from contemporary tales of innocence ("Looking For Bad Guys") to the apocalyptic story that launched Kerr's three linked stories in The Apocalypse Triptych ("Biographical Fragments of the Life of Julian Prince").
A mixture of breathtaking science fiction and contemporary shorts, Selected Stories highlights Kerr's position a leading practitioner in science fiction's humanist tradition.
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A new epic fantasy series from Jake Kerr
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After fifteen years as a music industry journalist Jake
Kerr's first published story, "The Old Equations," was nominated for the Nebula Award from the Science Fiction Writers of America and was shortlisted for the Theodore Sturgeon and StorySouth Million Writers awards. His stories have subsequently been published in magazines across the world, broadcast in multiple podcasts, and been published in multiple anthologies and year's best collections.
A graduate of Kenyon College, Kerr studied fiction under Ursula K. Le Guin and Peruvian playwright Alonso Alegria. He lives in Dallas, Texas, with his wife and three daughters.
www.jakekerr.com
www.facebook.com/authorjakekerr
www.twitter.com/jakedfw
Table of Contents
Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Chapter One - Shadows in Manhattan 
Chapter Two - The Chef's Table 
Chapter Three - The Old Fortress Under Attack 
Chapter Four - Hrumph 
Chapter Five - I Battle a River 
Chapter Six - Piles of Sticks And Stones 
Chapter Seven - I Meet Naomi, Who Hates Me 
Chapter Eight - I Fail At Magic 
Chapter Nine - I Light Up a Room 
Chapter Ten - Naomi Passes a Test 
Chapter Eleven - A Wall Confuses Me 
Chapter Twelve - The Quartermaster Gives Me Spectacles 
Chapter Thirteen - Cain 
Chapter Fourteen - A Betrayal 
Chapter Fifteen - Plans Are Made 
Chapter Sixteen - Plan C 
Chapter Seventeen - Vingrosh Shows Fear 
Chapter Eighteen - Beauty and Pain 
Chapter Nineteen - Naomi Wears Spectacles 
Chapter Twenty - An Old Man Gives Us a Ride 
Chapter Twenty-One - The Most Powerful Archmage 
Chapter Twenty-Two - The Second Most Powerful Archmage 
Book 2 teaser
About the Author
