“Yes,” I said, my voice flat. Morvilind liked to give me as little help as possible for two reasons. One was plausible deniability. If I screwed up and got arrested, he would use the vial of heart’s blood to kill me and cover his tracks. The second was his own harsh personal philosophy. He had no use for weakness, and believed that challenges forced me to become stronger and harder and therefore more useful to him.
The hell of it was, though…he was at least partially right. I knew Russell’s life depended on me, and so I pushed myself harder, made myself more ruthless. That had let me succeed when I otherwise would have failed. Morvilind himself seemed to live the same philosophy. I had seen him fight only once, but he had crushed his opponents without a hint of mercy. I wondered how many fights he had survived to gain that kind of prowess. He had to be at least a thousand years old, if not older.
I pushed it out of my mind. Right now I had for immediate problems.
“You are correct that Lord Castomyr’s security will be excellent,” said Morvilind, “but there is an opportunity to exploit in three weeks’ time.”
“Three weeks?” I said, and then the date clicked. “He has a Thanksgiving party?”
“Of a sort,” said Morvilind. “Lord Castomyr traditionally holds a Thanksgiving banquet for his vassals and the richer members of La Crosse’s citizenry every year. Easily two thousand guests attend, accompanied by the usual hirelings that support such gatherings – cooks and entertainers and so forth. That will provide you with ample opportunity to steal the tablet in the confusion.”
“His security will be higher for the party,” I said.
“You have employed such a ruse before,” said Morvilind. “When Duke Carothrace received Jarl Rimethur at Madison, or when Paul McCade held his Conquest Day party.”
I started to open my mouth to say that there had been severe complications both times, but for once in my life I shut up. I didn’t think Morvilind knew how I owed the Knight of Grayhold a favor, how Rimethur had given me his amulet in exchange for screwing over the Rebels. For that matter, the complications at Paul McCade’s party had led to me meeting Riordan, and I really didn’t want to tell Morvilind that I was seeing him. The Firstborn of the Shadow Hunters seemed to be one of the few people on Earth, Elven or human, that Morvilind was unwilling to cross.
“Yes,” I said at last.
Eloquent as ever, I know.
“The Thanksgiving banquet will be your easiest opportunity to claim the tablet,” said Morvilind.
I took a deep breath. “That’s my deadline?” Only three weeks? Well, Morvilind had given me worse jobs with less time to prepare, but three weeks was still cutting it very close.
“Yes,” said Morvilind. “It is not necessary to obtain the tablet by Thanksgiving, but Baron Castomyr’s party is the best opportunity you are likely to have. Nevertheless, you shall bring me the tablet by midnight on New Year’s Eve. Failure to do so would not be conducive to your brother’s ongoing good health.”
I gritted my teeth. Oh, yes, we couldn’t get through a single conversation with a reminder of that. If I got myself killed, then Morvilind would stop casting the cure spells to heal Russell’s frostfever. With that handy lever, he could compel me to do almost anything. Still, he had kept his word.
Six more years. I just had to keep my head and stay alive for six more years.
“All right,” I said. “I suppose I had better get started.”
“Sound counsel,” said Morvilind. “Now depart and return with the tablet.” He turned back to his monitors, which meant the conversation was over.
I left the library and walked back towards the front doors. My mind was already sorting through plans. Three weeks? Three weeks was challenging, but it would be doable. Certainly Morvilind had dumped worse tasks into my lap.
Ha. If only I had known.
Follow this link to continue reading Cloak Games: Shadow Jump.
Other books by the author
The Demonsouled Saga
MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK is a wandering knight, fearless in battle and masterful with a sword.
Yet he has a dark secret. He is Demonsouled, the son of the ancient and cruel Old Demon, and his tainted blood grants him superhuman strength and speed. Yet with the power comes terrible, inhuman rage, and Mazael must struggle to keep the fury from devouring him.
But he dare not turn aside from the strength of his blood, for he will need it to face terrible foes.
The priests of the San-keth plot and scheme in the shadows, pulling lords and kingdoms upon their strings. The serpent priests desire to overthrow the realms of men and enslave humanity. Unless Mazael stops them, they shall force all nations to bow before the serpent god.
The Malrag hordes are coming, vast armies of terrible, inhuman beasts, filled with a lust for cruelty and torment. The Malrags care nothing for conquest or treasure, only slaughter. And the human realms are ripe for the harvest. Only a warrior of Mazael’s power can hope to defeat them.
The Dominiar Order and the Justiciar Order were once noble and respected, dedicated to fighting the powers of dark magic. Now they are corrupt and cynical, and scheme only for power and glory. They will kill anyone who stands in their way.
To defeat these foes, Mazael will need all the strength of his Demonsouled blood.
Yet he faces a far more terrible foe.
For centuries the Old Demon has manipulated kings and lords. Now he shall seize the power of the Demonsouled for himself, and become the a god of torment and tyranny.
Unless Mazael can stop him.
Read Demonsouled for free. Mazael's adventures continue in Soul of Tyrants, Soul of Serpents, Soul of Dragons, Soul of Sorcery, Soul of Skulls, and Soul of Swords, along with the short stories The Wandering Knight, The Tournament Knight, and The Dragon's Shadow. Get the first three books bundled together in Demonsouled Omnibus One.
The Ghosts Series
Once CAINA AMALAS was the shy daughter of a minor nobleman, content to spend her days in her father’s library.
Then sorcery and murder and her mother’s treachery tore her life apart.
Now she is a nightfighter of the Ghosts, an elite agent of the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar. She is a master of disguise and infiltration, of stealth and the shadows.
And she will need all those skills to defend the Empire and stay alive.
Corrupt lords scheme and plot in the shadows, desiring to pull down the Emperor and rule the Empire for their own profit and glory. Slave traders lurk on the fringes of the Empire, ready to seize unwary commoners and sell them into servitude in distant lands. Yet both slave traders and cruel lords must beware the Ghosts.
The Magisterium, the Imperial brotherhood of sorcerers, believe themselves the rightful masters of the Empire. With their arcane sciences, they plan to overthrow the Empire and enslave the commoners, ruling all of mankind for their own benefit. Only the Ghosts stand in the path of their sinister plans.
And the Moroaica, the ancient sorceress of legend and terror, waits in the shadows, preparing to launch a war upon the gods themselves. She will make the gods pay for the suffering of mankind...even if she must destroy the world to do it.
Caina Amalas of the Ghosts opposes these mighty enemies, but the cost might be more than she can bear.
Read Child of the Ghosts for free. Caina's adventures continue in Ghost in the Flames, Ghost in the Blood, Ghost in the Storm, Ghost in the Stone, Ghost in the Forge, Ghost in the Ashes, Ghost in the Mask, and Ghost in the Surge, along with the short stories Ghost Aria, Ghost Claws, Ghost Omens, The Fall of Kyrace, Ghost Thorns, Ghost Undying, Ghost Light, and Ghost Dagger, and the prequel novels Blade of the Ghosts and Champion of the Ghosts. Get the first three books bundled together in The Ghosts Omnibus One.
The Ghost Exile Series
Caina Amalas was a nightfighter of the Ghosts, the spies and assassins of the Emperor of Nighmar, and through her boldness and cunning saved the Empire and the world from sorcerous annihilation.
But the victory cost her everything.
Now she is exiled and alone in the city of Istarinmul, far from her home and friends. Yet a centuries-old darkness now stirs in Istarinmul, eager to devour the city and the world itself.
And Caina is the only one that stands in its way...
Read Ghost in the Cowl, Ghost in the Maze, Ghost in the Hunt, Ghost in the Razor, Ghost in the Inferno, Ghost in the Seal, Ghost in the Throne, and Ghost in the Pact along with the short stories Ghost Sword, Ghost Price, Ghost Relics, Ghost Keeper, Ghost Nails, Ghost Lock, Ghost Arts, Ghost Vigil, and Ghost Mimic.
The Third Soul
RACHAELIS MORULAN is an Initiate of the Conclave, the powerful order of mighty mages. But to become a full Adept of the Conclave, she must first survive the Testing. Those who survive the Testing never speak of the trials they endured.
Those who fail the Testing are never seen again.
And now the Magisters of the Conclave have come to take Rachaelis to undertake the Testing. And there she shall face perils to both her body and her sanity.
And creatures that yearn to devour her soul.
If Rachaelis survives the Testing, she will face even more dangerous foes. The demons of the astral world watch the world of mortal men, desiring to rule it for themselves.
And some Adepts of the Conclave are eager to help them.
Read The Testing for free. Rachelis's trials continue in The Assassins, The Blood Shaman, The High Demon, The Burning Child, The Outlaw Adept, The Black Paladin, and The Tomb of Baligant. Read the entire series in The Third Soul Omnibus One and The Third Soul Omnibus Two.
The Frostborn Series
A thousand years ago, the last grandson of Arthur Pendragon led the survivors of Britain through a magical gate to a new world, a world of magic and high elves, of orcs and kobolds and stranger, darker creatures. Now the descendants of the exiles rule a mighty kingdom, peaceful and prosperous under the rule of the High King.
But a shadow threatens to devour the kingdom.
RIDMARK ARBAN was once a Swordbearer, a knight of renown. Now he is a branded outcast, stripped of his sword, and despised as a traitor.
But he alone sees the danger to come. The Frostborn shall return, and unless they are stopped, they will cover all the world in ice and a neverending winter.
CALLIANDE awakens in the darkness, her memories gone, and creatures of terrible power hunting her.
For she alone holds the secret that can save the world…or destroy it utterly.
The secret of the Frostborn.
Read Frostborn: The First Quest, followed by Frostborn: The Gray Knight, Frostborn: The Eightfold Knife, Frostborn: The Undying Wizard, Frostborn: The Master Thief, Frostborn: The Iron Tower, Frostborn: The Dark Warden, Frostborn: The Gorgon Spirit, Frostborn: The Broken Mage, Frostborn: The World Gate, and Frostborn: The High Lords, and the prequel novel Frostborn: The Knight Quests along with the short stories The Orc's Tale, The Mage's Tale, The Thief's Tale, The Assassin's Tale, The Paladins's Tale, The Knight's Tale, The Soldier's Tale, and The Soldier's Tale. Read the first three books combined in Frostborn Omnibus One.
Mask of the Demonsouled Trilogy
MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK has prevailed over terrible foes and now rules the Grim Marches with firm justice. Yet ancient evils are stirring in the shadows, freed at last by Mazael's own hand. Unless Mazael fights with all his strength, the world will fall.
SIGALDRA is the last holdmistress of the Jutai nation, the final defender of her people. Now the darkness comes to devour the final remnant of Sigaldra's home and family. Even Sigaldra's courage may not be enough to turn aside the darkness.
Read Mask of Swords and Mask of Dragons along with the short stories The Ransom Knight, The Bronze Knight and The Serpent Knight.
The Tower of Endless Worlds
THOMAS WYCLIFFE just wants to finish his dissertation in peace and quiet. So when a man in a black robe appears in his closet, claiming to be the last of the Warlocks, Wycliffe figures it is a bad joke.
But he soon realizes the last of the Warlocks can give him power beyond imagining.
And all it will cost is his soul.
SIMON WESTER needs a job. Badly. So when a rich and powerful Senator offers him employment, he jumps at the chance. Sure, Simon expects to find some corruption, some shady deals.
He doesn't expect to find black magic.
LIAM MASTERE is a Knight of the Sacred Blade, defender of the mortal races. But can swords stand against guns? As bullets and bombs destroy his kingdom, Liam must risk everything to save his homeland's one chance of salvation.
By daring the horrors of the Tower of Endless Worlds…
Read The Tower of Endless Worlds for free. The saga of the Tower continues in A Knight of the Sacred Blade, A Wizard of the White Council, and The Destroyer of Worlds.
Cloak Games
In 2013, a gate to another world opened, and Elves used their magic to conquer Earth, crushing all resistance before them.
Three hundred years after the Conquest, the exiled Elven High Queen rules an orderly but stagnant Earth, with humanity forced to fight in the High Queen’s war against the traitors on the Elven homeworld.
Nadia Moran doesn’t care about that. She doesn’t care about the High Queen, or the Rebels seeking to overthrow her. All she cares about is getting her baby brother the treatments he needs to recover from his potentially fatal disease…and those treatments have a steep price.
Fortunately, Nadia has magic of her own, and she’s a very, very good thief.
Unfortunately, the powerful Elven lord Morvilind has a hold on Nadia. If she doesn’t follow his commands, her brother is going to die.
Of course, given how dangerous Morvilind’s missions are, Nadia might not live long enough to see her brother’s death…
Read Cloak Games: Thief Trap, Cloak Games: Frost Fever, Cloak Games: Rebel Fist, and Cloak Games: Shadow Jump, along with the short story Wraith Wolf.
About the Author
Standing over six feet tall, USA Today bestselling author Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.
He has written the DEMONSOULED series of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write THE GHOSTS sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the COMPUTER BEGINNER'S GUIDE series of computer books, and numerous other works.
Visit his website at:
http://www.jonathanmoeller.com
Visit his technology blog at:
http://www.computerbeginnersguides.com
Contact him at:
[email protected]
You can sign up for his email newsletter here, or watch for news on his Facebook page or Twitter feed.
Table of Contents
Cloak Games Omnibus Description
Chapter 1: Master
Chapter 2: Family
Chapter 3: Preparations
Chapter 4: Dance
Chapter 5: The Private Party
Chapter 6: Disguises
Chapter 7: Rift Way
Chapter 8: Shadowlands
Chapter 9: Books and Scrolls
Chapter 10: High Priest
Chapter 11: Fight Another Day
Epilogue
Cloak Games: Frost Fever Description
Chapter 1: Business Complications
Chapter 2: An Unexpected Cancellation
Chapter 3: A Former Friend
Chapter 4: Useful Lies
Chapter 5: Intruders
Chapter 6: A Deal You Just Can’t Refuse
Chapter 7: The Glory of the Revolution
Chapter 8: Improvising
Chapter 9: Enemy Of My Enemy
Chapter 10: Last Run
Chapter 11: Knight Games
Chapter 12: Favors Owed
Epilogue
Cloak Games: Rebel Fist Description
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Chapter 1: Family Time
Chapter 2: Prey
Chapter 3: No One Left Behind
Chapter 4: An Old Acquaintance
Chapter 5: Not A Good Time
Chapter 6: Shadow Blades
Chapter 7: Militia
Chapter 8: Standards Have Slipped Since My Day
Chapter 9: Time’s Almost Up
Chapter 10: Full Throttle
Chapter 11: Disciples of the Void
Chapter 12: Numbers
Epilogue
Wraith Wolf Description
Wraith Wolf
CLOAK GAMES: SHADOW JUMP BONUS CHAPTER
Other books by the author
About the Author
Cloak Games: Omnibus One Page 54