by SJB Gilmour
An incident at Troll Mountain has decimated the entire troll population. Unconfirmed reports claim two Brown Coat werewolves were killed and Chief Troll, Thrag escaped. The troll remains at large, as does Diamondback dragon Siouxanne, who is wanted by The Guild for questioning. Rock Giant Kevin is also missing.
In possibly related news, a rebel group has been named by The Sorcerers’ Guild. Robert and Roberta Coppernick, Ronald Trustworthy Mason, (a gnomish representative of Gnumphlatia Manor), Sarah Coppernick and Melanie Hazelwood, suspected spice lord, James Isaacs, and Nathan the bookwyrm have all been declared renegade. Also believed to be included in the rebel band are two dangerous renegade sorcerers: Silver Shroud werewolf Benjamin McConnell and mercenary necromancer and former Amazon Captain, Angelina Troy.
Two freelance reporters and pest-Pixierazzi controllers, David and Susan Hazelwood, were named as associates of the group and suspended.
Angela handed the paper to Ronny. ‘Your middle name is Trustworthy?’ she asked with a smile.
Ronny shrugged. ‘My parents had a strange sense of humour.’ He glanced nervously at Rudolf. ‘It’s not my fault really. Though I’m guessing I’m out of a job?’
‘You got that right, Mason!’ Rudolf snapped. ‘I don’t care who did what to who!’
‘Don’t you mean ‘whom’?’ Ronny asked. This, of course, was completely the wrong thing to say.
Rudolf exploded. ‘Shut up!’ His grey face took on a pinkish tinge. The air around him sizzled. Several other gnome staff members scurried out of the foyer. ‘You got us mentioned in a very unsavoury article,’ Rudolf grated when he managed to calm down enough to speak, ‘and you ask, “How’s business?” Look around you!’ He gestured angrily at the empty dining room. ‘This place should be full of guests by now! I’m going to have to lay off staff! I don’t care what my sister says, you’re fired!’
Ronny swallowed awkwardly. ‘We’ll leave first thing in the morning,’ he promised, his eyes downcast.
And so the next day, after they’d rested and eaten as much of Gnumphlatia Manor’s complimentary breakfast as they could, they gathered in the tunnel outside and were joined by Mel’s parents, alive and well. Nathan took his customary place in Sarah’s satchel.
Angela quickly drew a nonagram and handed them awful-tasting portal stones, which they popped into their mouths. They joined hands and stepped through the shimmering portal onto a grassy hill.
‘Where are we?’ Mel demanded looking around.
‘Gembrook, Melanie,’ said Benjamin. ‘My house is over there.’ He pointed to a large, three-storey country manor set higher up on the hill.
James and Ronny looked at each other.
‘Guess here’s as good as any place to set up shop?’ Ronny said suggestively to James.
James nodded, kicking at the grass to see the dirt underneath. It was thick, rich red soil. He grinned wickedly.
‘We could grow all kinds of things in this soil,’ he told the gnome.
‘I’ll set up the library and classroom then, shall I?’ asked Nathan, poking his head out of Sarah’s satchel. Then, ignoring the possibility of birds, he bravely made his way up towards the house.
‘We’ll start moving house,’ Susan Hazelwood told them with a smile.
Sarah gaped at everyone. The adults were grinning broadly. She now had a very big, though quite oddly assorted family.
‘Whoa,’ she murmured. ‘Cool!’
Uncle Benjamin then put one arm around Sarah’s shoulders. ‘Cub, do you know what day it is?’
‘Sunday,’ Sarah replied with a shrug.
He grinned. ‘Not just Sunday… Happy Birthday to you!’ He started singing. Soon everyone joined in and they all sang as they walked up the hill to Sarah’s new home.
James gave her a sly wink. ‘One more year until you’re a teenager, kiddo!’ Then he turned to Roberta and Robert. ‘You better enjoy it while it lasts,’ he teased. ‘Judging by the trouble she’s managed to stir up already, her teenage years are going to keep you very busy!’
Several hours later, in another time-zone, Mandy Kelly looked up from the body of the monk she had just killed. The first few times she had changed into a lycanthrope, she had not been able to control what had happened. In fact, she had very little memory of those times at all. Now however, she had learned to control it. It was still difficult, but she managed it. She tore one last chunk of flesh from the monk and swallowed it before she stood and changed back to human form.
‘Good,’ her master purred. If you can best a human, it’s time for your training to progress.’
‘More training?’ she protested.
Her master was fast. Faster than she’d ever seen him move before. He lashed out and cuffed her across the side of the head.
‘The Golden Mane has all of Wolfenvald behind her. It will be a long time yet before you are ready to face her.’ Then his eyes narrowed. ‘Can you feel her?’
Mandy flushed. The side of her face stung from the slap. Still, she did as her master commanded. She shut her eyes and concentrated.
‘She’s sleeping,’ she replied. Then she grimaced. ‘And she’s menstruating.’
Her master nodded. ‘So her martial training will begin now, no doubt. The Amazon will teach her as I am teaching you.’ He motioned for her to follow him into a nonagram drawn on the temple floor. ‘You’ve had a head-start, but the werewolf will learn quickly. You must continue your training. Only if you learn the way of the Nunjuxu can you hope to vanquish your maker.’
Sarah Coppernick will return with more adventures in,
Renegades of Wolfenvald ©
Book Two of The Adventures Of Sarah Coppernick
By S J B Gilmour.
Thanks
Huge thanks to everyone who helped me with the story and put up with me while I was writing it. My wonderful wife Anna has been a sounding board, stalwart supporter and relentless provider of encouragement (and the occasional kick in the pants). My brothers Joe and David, my parents John and Julie, and cousins Phil and Rachelle. You guys rock!
Readers group royalty who also should be hoisted up onto pedestals are (No last names here. You guys know who you are.): Ingrid, Maddy, James, Meg, Henry, Jozefa, Monika, Ray, Donna, Jo – you’re all legends.
Tom Hermann (www.tommiart.blogspot.com), your cover art is wonderful. Thank you so much for working with an obscure amateur so diligently.
Kerry Biram (www.scholarly.info/book/9781740971379/), you looked at some very early drafts and provided some wonderful advice. Thank you so much.
The senders of rejection letters (Gasp)! Yes, I’m thanking you all. I can be stubborn at times. Being rejected only made me more determined to push forwards.
About me
I live in Melbourne Australia with my wonderful wife and two fantastic daughters. I was raised in the family footwear business where I still work, but I’ve done a great deal besides. I’ve edited, researched, sub-edited and published. I’ve done a stint in the Royal Australian Navy, run a small café and pumped diesel at a bus depot. I’m a travel junkie, amateur birdwatcher and overall book and film nerd.
You can contact me:
[email protected]
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www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000184699695
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@sjbgilmour
I blog at: http://sgilmour.wordpress.com/
Find all my ebooks at my Amazon Author Page:
http://www.amazon.com/SJB-Gilmour/e/B005321S10/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1
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