by Amy Hopkins
“But you said—”
Julianne interrupted smoothly. “I’m sorry, Carrup. Tavich and I worked out a plan, but it wasn’t safe to tell anyone—anyone.” Her eyes flicked to Marcus beseechingly. “Only Tavich and Margit knew.”
“Margit?” Jonsen wandered over, his face dark. “Margit is dead. Isn’t she?”
Julianne gave a polite cough.
“I was as surprised as you,” Aldred said. He rolled his shoulder, then pulled back his robe to examine the black welt from Marcus’s sword. He prodded it and winced.
“But… ah, Bastard’s luck.” Jonsen scowled. “She’d better not think she’s getting another funeral like that one. Next time she dies, I’ll box her up in cheap pine and toss it over the mountain.” He wandered off, muttering about the cost of funerals.
“Sorry about the shoulder, Aldred.” Marcus bowed his head apologetically.
“You couldn’t help it,” Julianne said. “I’m amazed you managed to turn the blade.”
Marcus rubbed his head. “Is this what it’s going to be like?” he asked. “Living here?”
“And you thought we were boring when you got here,” Julianne chided. “Now, let’s get this mess sorted out before my arm falls off.”
CHAPTER THIRTY
Julianne relaxed into her thick pillows, the soothing warmth of a jug of elixir suffusing her body. Her fractured arm was splinted and bandaged and now rested on the blanket next to her, while Marcus sat at her other side, holding her good hand.
Sunlight filtered through the window, a crisp, cool light that did nothing to offset the frost speckling the edges of the window. Julianne shivered and turned her eyes towards the crackling fireplace.
“A prostitute.” Across the room, Margit perched in a high-backed chair, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t have believed that if I hadn’t seen it in your head.”
“I know,” Julianne said. “But I’m glad he’s happy.”
“And this school?” Margit took a sip from the pewter mug in her hand. “You really think that Bastian has what it takes to undertake such a big project?”
Julianne nodded. “He was so young when we left,” she mused. “But he’s grown. We all have.”
“Nothing stays the same forever,” Marcus commented.
Margit’s eyes flashed. “That’s true. I’ll wager you’ll see some changes around here since our last little adventure.” She snorted. “My little trick seems to have put everyone in a snit. Do you know, Jonsen wouldn’t even bring me dinner to my room last night?”
Julianne chuckled. “They’ll come around. You did it to help keep the Temple safe, Margit.”
After faking her death, the old woman had walked through early snow and treacherous darkness to slip past the Craigston orders and tip Tavich off about what was happening. They had kept Margit’s information secret, to prevent Donna from realizing she had been found out.
“What was your plan, anyway?” Julianne asked. “I never did figure it out.”
“Oh, she was showing all the signs of burnout,” Margit said. “When we planned that so-called attack, we figured she would try and brain-wash the whole damn army to stop from being handed over.”
“You were hoping she would magic herself to death?” Marcus asked.
Margit nodded. “Failing that, Tavich would have done what he did yesterday. There’s no mind-magic that a swift knife to the gut won’t stop.”
Julianne blanched at the memory of Donna, convulsing on the hard stone as she died, blood spreading beneath her to stain the pristine snow.
Julianne briefly closed her eyes, and opened them when one of her guests rustled paper. When she looked, neither had moved.
“Did you hear that?” she asked. Marcus was just shaking his head when something scrabbled again, a skittering, mouse-like sound.
“Don’t tell me those damn rats are back,” Margit growled.
Julianne sat and swung her legs over the bed, eyes roaming the room.
Julianne?
Her heart stopped as she watched a bit of paper twirl on her desk.
Yes, Bastian? she replied distractedly.
You won’t believe this. We found a portal! Or a door, I don’t know. It’s big and red and… things are coming out! Little armored creatures, with big front teeth and—
And glossy red skin? Julianne asked dryly. Creatures that eat paper, and curl into a perfect ball when they’re scared?
Um… yes, actually. How did you…
Julianne watched the tiny beast scrabble at the desk, pointed nose twitching as it tried to find more paper. It came to the edge and tumbled off. Marcus snatched it from the air before it could strike the hard floor.
When he opened his hands, the small rock Julianne had carried with her all the way from Tahn was just that again—a rock. She tore a scrap of paper off the pile on her lap and reached out.
The rock trembled and slowly unfurled, snatching the paper from her fingers. The scrap wobbled as the little beast chewed it quickly.
“Well, that explains why it kept coming back after I left it behind,” Julianne murmured. “And where all my papers went.”
Master… Bastian sent the plea with all the awed confusion she felt herself. What are they?
I have no idea, Bastian. She reached out a finger and stroked the little animal’s hard shell. But I think… I think this is going to change everything.
Author Notes - Amy Hopkins
Author note: 12/17/17
Hi guys! Wow, what a whirlwind of a book! It was a little slower than expected in coming out, thanks to a crazy couple of months building, moving, and putting in some time helping out a few friends with various things. Still, I think it’s the best in the series yet. Julianne, Marcus, Danil and the rearick are like old friends now, and having them around is easy. They know where the coffee cups are, and they know I don’t like it when Danil leaves crumbs on the floor.
This is my birthday book. By the time you read this, I’ll officially be 35. A pretty great age, actually. Too old to think drinking until vomiting is fun, too young for the arthritis to have fully set in yet. And always, ALWAYS young enough to dig at Michael for being older.
Next time I write one of these, I’ll be doing it from my beautiful new house, on the shade of my verandah, listening to the chooks, the kookaburras and the babbling creek. I’ll try get a sound bite of that for you to listen to. That way, if my next book takes three years, you’ll know it’s because I’m so relaxed, I’m asleep :D (I promise I won’t actually do that. Probably.)
Goodbye for now, I’ll see you all in two months or so. I can’t wait to see what happens next!
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
12/18/2017
First, THANK YOU for making it all the way to the back of the book, where the cool authors hang out…Or, at least one of us is cool, the other is ‘older.’
I have a long memory Amy (no, he doesn’t), so you should be worried about the repercussions about sassing your elders. (Seriously, I doubt Mike will think about his ten measly seconds after he finishes his Author Notes.)
So, be worried. Be very worried indeed. (He is such a liar! See notes above.)
I’m 50, so I know all the crafty ways to get back at people. (He doesn’t know dick about getting back at people, plus he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body, so don’t worry.)
I know I’ve mentioned it somewhere before, but if we could copy out some of Amy’s comments in the Slack channel for the Age of Magic authors, she would have you in stitches. (At least this is actually true.)
Then again, her stuff makes ME blush. I presume it’s the Aussie sense of humor and as an American, it’s funny as hell, but my Puritan roots are showing.
(Whatever.)
If you want some interesting info on Amy, ask her HOW F#CKING FAST her builders are getting her house to go up. She showed us some pictures and I’m thinking, ‘DAMN! You guys need to come to the US. You don’t screw around.’
I’ve had three houses buil
t in my life. The first one was back in 1999 and it started off great, then slowed… Then fast…Then slow again. If memory serves, it was a 2,900 square foot house (4 bedrooms) with one floor and took eight months.
Our second home was already six months completed, and took another three months so nine months in all.
Our third house, unfortunately, is in another country and will take at least two years. Don’t add ‘upgrades.’ What it means here in America translates to ‘push the house completion date back nine more months’ in Cabo San Lucas.
I think it will be something like two and a half years minimum on that house. Possibly three years.
If we get it first quarter 2019.
On the plus side, we get free rooms at the resort every three months to so we can visit our dirt. The dirt is in a very pretty location, so that is nice. However, it’s still just dirt.
As I mentioned above, I’m now fifty. So, I’m kinda feeling a kinship with the dirt with this whole age thing. (He doesn’t think he is old until he feels the bones creak when sitting in a position too long, or a backache when sitting Indian style on the floor to wrap presents.)
Well, it’s time I give you back your focus, so you can go and find the NEXT Kurtherian or Oriceran book to read ;-)
Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael Anderle
Amy Hopkins
For a chance to see ALL of Amy’s different Book Series
Check out her website below!
Website: http://amyhopkinsauthor.com
Facebook: http://Facebook.com/thespellscribe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/spellscribe
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Amy-Hopkins/e/B013GCLCWI
Michael Anderle Social
Website: http://kurtherianbooks.com/
Email List: http://kurtherianbooks.com/email-list/
Facebook Here: https://www.facebook.com/TheKurtherianGambitBooks/
Books from Amy Hopkins
The Talented Series
Dream Stalker: Talented Book 1
Barrow Fiend: Talented Book 2
Truth Taker: Talented Book 3
Faery Teind: Talented Book 4
A New Dawn
*With Michael Anderle*
Dawn of Destiny (1)
Dawn of Darkness (2)
Dawn of Deliverance (3)
Dawn of Days (4)
Other Books
Realm of the Nine Circles
Books by Michael Anderle
For a complete list of Kurtherian Gambit Universe
books please click this link.
Kurtherian Gambit Series Titles Include:
First Arc
Death Becomes Her (01) - Queen Bitch (02) - Love Lost (03) - Bite This (04)
Never Forsaken (05) - Under My Heel (06) - Kneel Or Die (07)
Second Arc
We Will Build (08) - It’s Hell To Choose (09) - Release The Dogs of War (10)
Sued For Peace (11) - We Have Contact (12) - My Ride is a Bitch (13)
Don’t Cross This Line (14)
Third Arc (2017)
Never Submit (15) - Never Surrender (16) - Forever Defend (17)
Might Makes Right (18) - Ahead Full (19) - Capture Death (20)
Life Goes On (21)
The Second Dark Ages
The Dark Messiah (01)
The Darkest Night (02)
Darkest Before The Dawn (03)
*with Ell Leigh Clarke*
The Boris Chronicles
* With Paul C. Middleton *
Evacuation
Retaliation
Revelations
Restitution 2017
Reclaiming Honor
* With JUSTIN SLOAN *
Justice Is Calling (01)
Claimed By Honor (02)
Judgement Has Fallen (03)
Angel of Reckoning (04)
Born Into Flames (05)
Defending The Lost (06)
Saved By Valor (07)
Return of Victory (08)
The Etheric Academy
* With TS PAUL *
ALPHA CLASS (01)
ALPHA CLASS - Engineering (02)
Terry Henry “TH” Walton Chronicles
* With CRAIG MARTELLE *
Nomad Found (01)
Nomad Redeemed (02)
Nomad Unleashed (03)
Nomad Supreme (04)
Nomad’s Fury (05)
Nomad’s Justice (06)
Nomad Avenged (07)
Nomad Mortis (08)
Nomad’s Force (09)
Nomad’s Galaxy (10)
Trials and Tribulations
* With Natalie Grey *
Risk Be Damned (01)
Damned to Hell (02)
The Age of Magic
The Rise of Magic
* With CM Raymond / LE Barbant *
Restriction (01)
Reawakening (02)
Rebellion (03)
Revolution (04)
Unlawful Passage (05)
Darkness Rises (06)
The Gods Beneath (07)
Reborn (08)
The Hidden Magic Chronicles
* With Justin Sloan *
Shades of Light (01)
Shades of Dark (02)
Shades of Glory (03)
Shades of Justice (04)
Storms of Magic
*With PT Hylton*
Storm Raiders (01)
Storm Callers (02)
Storm Breakers (03)
Storm Warrior (04)
Tales of the Feisty Druid
*With Candy Crum*
The Arcadian Druid (01)
The Undying Illusionist (02)
The Frozen Wasteland (03)
The Deceiver (04)
The Lost (05)
Path of Heroes
*With Brandon Barr*
Rogue Mage (01)
A New Dawn
*With Amy Hopkins*
Dawn of Destiny (01)
Dawn of Darkness (02)
Dawn of Deliverance (03)
Dawn of Days (04)
The Age of Expansion
The Ascension Myth
* With Ell Leigh Clarke *
Awakened (01)
Activated (02)
Called (03)
Sanctioned (04)
Rebirth (05)
Retribution (06)
Cloaked (07)
Rogue Operator (07.5)
Confessions of a Space Anthropologist
* With Ell Leigh Clarke *
Giles Kurns: Rogue Operator (01)
The Uprise Saga
* With Amy DuBoff *
Covert Talents (01)
Endless Advance (02)
Bad Company
* With Craig Martelle*
The Bad Company (01)
The Ghost Squadron
* With Sarah Noffke and J.N. Chaney*
Formation (01)
Exploration (02)
Evolution (03)
Valerie’s Elites
* With Justin Sloan and PT Hylton *
Valerie’s Elites (01)
Etheric Adventures: Anne and Jinx
*With S.R. Russell*
Etheric Recruit
Etheric Researcher
Other Books
Gateway to the Universe
*With Craig Martelle & Justin Sloan*
The Revelations of Oriceran
The Leira Chronicles
*With Martha Carr*
Waking Magic (1)
Release of Magic (2)
Protection of Magic (3)
Rule of Magic (4)
Dealing in Magic (5)
SHORT STORIES
Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 01 (7.5)
You Don’t Touch John’s Cousin
Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 02 (9.5)
Bitch’s Night Out
Bellatrix: Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 03 (13.25)
With Natalie Grey
AudioBook
s
CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL LMBPN BOOKS ON AUDIBLE
Available at Audible.com and iTunes
Table of Contents
Contents
LMBPN Publishing
Dedication
Legal
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Author Notes - Amy Hopkins
