Enchanted Bookstore Legends (5-book complete epic fantasy romance box set)

by Marsha A. Moore

  “Of course I meant it for him.” Eos’s smiling face showed a change of heart. He chuckled and held up his other arm to accommodate both. With an amused expression, he rested his arms on those of the chair and studied the owl. “I didn’t notice you for the fracas. What a lovely owl. I’ve never seen your kind.”

  Queen Mysa leaned over and stroked one of Kenzo’s wings. “Silver, grey, and white stripes. Beautiful.”

  The neglected osprey hissed at Kenzo.

  “I don’t think your mascot welcomes me,” the owl said, taking a step away from the clacking, curved beak of the other raptor.

  “You speak!” Eos gasped. “How is this possible?”

  “Oh my! Is he a god?” Mysa asked, quickly retracting her hand.

  “My name is Sire Kenzo, wizarding assistant to Sire Drake.” Now that his competitor drooped low on his perch, the owl fluffed out his chest feathers.

  Eos looked to Cullen. “Your bird? Now that I watch him, I can feel his aura. And he wears a festive earring in his left ear. He is magical?”

  The wizard nodded. “Yes. He was decorated for bravery by our Imperial Dragon, leader of the Alliance. He is magical and a very special bird.”

  “Indeed.”

  Lyra glanced at Eburscon and gave him a polite smile, happy the king favored them for any reason.

  The alchemist scowled and lifted his hand covered with gemstone rings, making himself busy inspecting his curved fingernails.

  “Well, Kenzo, I will enjoy your company while you and your friends are my guests.” A grin brought back a fresh flush of color to the king’s pale face. “I’m given to trusting raptors, so I’ll let you tell me why your friends are here.”

  The osprey hopped to the arm of the queen’s throne and seemed satisfied with her caresses.

  “We’re here to make a trade for the Book of Dragonspeir we’ve heard that you have. It’s written by a Scribe named Nareene.”

  “And why do your friends want that book?”

  “Because there are five magical books from five Scribes. Some are missing from Dragonspeir. If the Alliance has copies of all five, then our leaders will have enough power to stop attacks by the Black Dragon.”

  “Is this true?” the king asked Eburscon.

  The alchemist cleared his throat. “Yes, your highness. It is true possessing that volume will give the owner more power.”

  “Sire Eburscon, you made it clear just before the other party entered that you wanted to offer a trade for the very same book. And why do you wish to have more power?”

  “For the very same reason, to block the Black Dragon,” Eburscon answered with a kind, supportive tone, completely unlike the contemptuous defiance Lyra knew so well when he had served as the Alliance alchemist. She had no reason to trust the man after he tried to employ a cimafa to steal her aura for his own use. His attempt failed, but ripped Cullen of his, leaving his body lifeless without a soul. Crushed by a fallen boulder, she thought Eburscon had died. The Guardians had reason to doubt and formally exiled him—a wise decision.

  “I see,” the king said, stroking his stubbly beard. “Aria is in possession of the Book of Dragonspeir that you describe. Since you both want the same thing for the same reason, I shall offer a challenge to decide whose trade I accept. In this contest, you must seek the advice of an auspex from our community. Have her give you a choice of three birds of Aria, one of which matches your energy. Find one of each species, and return to me with the bird you feel is best suited to your power. The correctness of your choice, combined with the value of your trade, will determine the winner. You shall have until the sun is halfway on its path ‘tween midday and sunset to report back. Scribe Lyra and Sire Drake, whichever of you can make me the better offer shall be the one to find his or her bird.” He faced the owl still resting on his arm. “Although I would rather have your company, I think your friends will need your bravery, Sire Kenzo.”

  The owl flew back to Cullen’s wristlet and saluted with one wing, which brought a round of applause from the royal staff and a smile from the queen.

  King Eos returned a sharp salute. “One final directive about the contest.” He glared at Eburscon. “Participants are not to try to hurt the other party. If I learn of that occurrence, or even any such intent, the attacking party will be disqualified. You are now free to go.”

  Lyra noticed Eburscon lift his bony chin into the air and quickly departed while Kenzo entertained the court, probably to avoid further interrogation by the king or to get a head start. She was glad to see the four guards follow him out.

  After a round of goodbyes, Belray and a group of guards accompanied Lyra and Cullen into the crowd and helped them find Pisca and Daryd. Noba stayed close, obviously trembling after the battle, but Kenzo soared overhead, soaking up the admiration of the crowd.

  Lyra explained the challenge. “Is an auspex hard to find?”

  “Not for us. We travel in hidden waterways.” Pisca smiled and shouldered a pack.

  The guards escorted them to where they docked their starps.

  The fishermen poled both boats out of the lake and into the channel. Once clear of other people, Pisca called to his friend, “Who should we take them to visit?”

  “Naella?”

  “No. She’ll take too long. I think Ochre,” Pisca suggested.

  “Good choice. She’s a bit creepy, but helpful.”

  “Master, can Noba ride with Daryd?” the pseudodragon asked.

  “Yes, but why?” Cullen replied.

  “The other boat has a lamp, no dragon. Noba will sit in the front for him.”

  Lyra chuckled and helped him to the railing. She signaled Daryd to steer closer. “Noba would like to be the dragon for your boat, if it’s all right with you.”

  Laughing so hard his belly jiggled, the fisherman waved him over.

  Noba took his command, head high and facing into the wind.

  They sailed for what seemed like a couple of hours, turning onto one narrow channel then another. The tributaries all looked the same to Lyra, and she was grateful for their guides.

  While they traveled, Kenzo bragged about his moment with King Eos, retelling the story over and over until Galbinus shot a flame in the owl’s direction.

  Lyra took a seat beside Cullen. “Eos said we should choose which of us can make him the better offer. What do you think that means?”

  He took hold of her hand. “My power is more in line with Eburscon’s while yours is less comparable. However, the magic of the Book of Dragonspeir you wrote is an extension of your aura. That will enhance our offer.”

  “Then I’ll make the offer. I’m good at some things, but wish I could do more. I still can’t form powerballs. My incantations only did a little in that fight with Eburscon.”

  “You do plenty. Have you forgotten how you brought my stolen aura back to my body, saving my life? And you were tremendous, outsmarting Kon in Terza. And I noticed in the fight today that our paired jadestones now combine more of your power to mine since you completed your bloodswear quest.” He kissed her temple. “I’m proud of you.”

  She turned to kiss his lips. “Thank you.” The wind caught her hair on the butterfly pendant. “My necklace actually burned, absorbing Eburscon’s shot at me. It’s never done that. Is he stronger?”

  “Oh, yes. He gained power somewhere. Probably working with the cimafa dragon rider, sucking up auras those beasts collect.”

  Lyra shivered, remembering how Eburscon had directed one of those evil beasts to inhale Cullen’s aura.

  “There’s where Ochre lives, just ahead on the right,” Pisca announced, pointing with his pole. “In that grove of tree tops.” Bare limbs, ghostly white without bark, rose up through the pother of cumulus clouds stained an ominous shade of gray. A small unpainted shanty leaned against one of the thicker limbs of the eerie grove.

  A knot formed in Lyra’s stomach as the fishermen docked their boats.

  Chapter 20: The Auspex

  Lyra stepped o
ff the starp and walked with her head high, ready to meet whatever lay ahead. Wind whistled through the bare limbs. The shanty looked precarious, like it could topple over at any minute, but the warped boards in its walls implied the building had endured a long time. Tethered between the front of the house and several limbs, a ragged stretch of dirty white fabric billowed in the breeze and served as a crude covering for the stoop. The only window stood open, a stained and frayed gray curtain swept outside.

  “This is your territory.” Pisca waved his friend toward the dwelling.

  Daryd climbed out of his starp and hoisted his trousers before walking to the door. He knocked and called out, “Auspex Ochre, are you home? It’s fisherman Daryd. We have friends in need of your advice.” Receiving no answer, he stepped back. Just as he turned to the others and shrugged, the door opened a crack.

  “Who needs me?” squeaked a high-pitched female voice.

  “Hello, Ochre. Visitors from another world, Dragonspeir, need your help.”

  The door creaked open another inch. “Why do they need me?” the faceless voice asked.

  “To help them complete a challenge given by King Eos.”

  Responding to that news, the door opened fully, and a hand thrust out from the darkness inside. A gnarly index finger beckoned them to enter.

  Lyra took a deep breath to steady her shaking stomach and walked into to shack, Daryd directly behind her.

  Cullen followed close, his hand tight on his wizard’s staff, with Kenzo sailing alongside.

  As soon as Lyra entered the dark interior, she was greeted by a shriek. “Illumino!” Lyra called out, twisting her dragon ring. A bright orb appeared in the air above them, shining light on an old woman cowering under a rickety table. Lyra held out a hand to her, but the auspex crawled backward into the corner. ‘Please come out and help us. My name is Lyra.”

  Daryd and Pisca exchanged concerned glances.

  “You, with the magic of a goddess, promise to not hurt me,” Ochre pleaded, her voice timid and crackling.

  “I promise to not hurt you unless you harm one of us,” Lyra replied, kneeling onto the floor that was filthy with all types of waste.

  The woman slowly wormed her way out and rose to what seemed her natural stooped posture. Unkempt, her matted, dirty white hair stuck out in all directions. She wore a gray apron over a ragged dark skirt and dingy white blouse. Only her eyes showed a spark of life, glinting with the shine of black onyx. “My name is Ochre, auspex of the East. What question do you need me to voice to the birds?”

  “I’m in a contest where the king asked me to seek the advice of an auspex and have her give me a choice of three birds, one of which matches my energy. Then, I am to find one of each of those birds, decide which best suits me, and return with it to the grand aula. The correctness of my choice will determine whether I’m the winner,” Lyra said as she scanned the unusual vibrations of energy given off by Ochre.

  The hag looked at the fishermen. “And why was I chosen rather than Naella of the South, Zephyrus of the North, and Sensua of the West?”

  “Time is important in their competition, and we were closest to you and the southern auspex. Naella is—” Daryd attempted an explanation.

  “Scatter-brained,” Ochre finished his statement with a chuckle. “And who did your competitor choose to seek advice from?” Her voice trailed off as her eyes looked out the window.

  “I don’t know,” Lyra replied and faced Cullen. “Do you have a guess which one Eburscon might have chosen?”

  “Probably one closest to the portal where he entered. I assume there are multiple portals since I highly doubt he entered by way of the World Tree.”

  “Yes.” Lyra nodded. “The World Tree would turn him away, having such a dark aura.”

  “He may have entered in the west, above the Dark Realm.”

  “Or at the north, above Versula,” Lyra added.

  “Sensua is sly and crafty. Zephyrus is calculated and cold. Both fierce competitors. I need to know which one to do my best for you.” Ochre’s voice grew gruff and impatient. “Think harder!”

  “Eburscon wore a heavy winter cloak with fur inside,” the owl said from his perch on the curve of an old snowshoe.

  Hearing him speak, the auspex jumped back, and Lyra caught the woman’s arm. “He’s a wizard’s assistant and is trustworthy. He won’t hurt you.”

  “Good eyes, Kenzo.” Cullen rubbed the owl’s head. “He must have used the northern portal.”

  The auspex leaned toward the owl and spoke in a strange tongue.

  Kenzo calmly nodded and replied in the same language.

  Ochre placed her bony hand over Lyra’s. “All right then. A golden rose.” She examined the dried floral arrangement on her table and plucked the head of a specific dried rose. After closing her fist tightly around the flower, she tossed it in the air and watched intently where the curled petals fell. She closed her eyes while massaging Lyra’s hand, then rechecked the strewn flower. “The great horned owl, the golden eagle, the golden oriole. One of those species matches your aura.”

  “Where do I find those birds here?” Lyra asked. “Everything is all clouds.”

  “I’ll call to them since the rules said nothing about how you would find them.” Ochre lumbered out the door and held up her arms. She called in the foreign tongue and then waited in silence. After a few moments, she dropped her head and muttered under her breath.

  Kenzo lifted into flight and dove into a hole in the pother between moss clumps.

  Soon, a warble answered the auspex woman, and an oriole flitted onto the edge of the awning. “Lyra, step slowly toward her and hold up your hand. If she comes closer and you feel her energy, she’s the one.”

  The song bird pecked Lyra’s finger, but darted away when a eagle landed on one of the limbs holding the make-shift porch roof. It tilted its rust-colored head and eyed Lyra.

  Kenzo’s silver wings flapped through a distant opening at the edge of the grove of limbs. A smaller owl of dark gray with prominent ears followed him. They perched together on a branch and conversed in the tongue of the auspex for a short while before the other owl left and dove down.

  The eagle opened his gold-streaked beak, as if to cry, but uttered no sound.

  “That must be the correct one, although he’s not very friendly.” Lyra looked at Ochre. “Do you know if I’m right?”

  “Alas, I cannot give you an answer. If I were to do so, King Eos will remove me from my position. He will have to answer.”

  “Thank you for your help.” Cullen bowed his head. “Is there a portal near here? Perhaps one that leads into the human realm?”

  Ochre extended an arm away from her side. “There, at the edge of the trees, where your owl is perched. I’m the gatekeeper for that portal, but no one’s been past there as long as I can remember. Other than my bird friends, of course.”

  “Thank you, Ochre,” Lyra called, not taking her eyes off the eagle while she walked to the boat.

  The old woman stood on the bank and watched them leave. Lyra lost sight of her when they turned onto another channel, but felt her energy lingering in the air.

  ***

  Lyra’s eagle swooped through the mist in front of the starp, then disappeared. “Kenzo, is he following us?”

  “I can’t tell,” he replied.

  “Will you fly up and talk with him to find out?” Lyra craned her neck to look in all directions above the boat.

  “He gave me a cold feeling, like I was in his space. I expect he’ll be aggressive, and I can’t fight a wild eagle…maybe a magical one.”

  Cullen stepped toward them. “He’s right. They fight differently, and if there is a territory dispute, they could both end up killed. I well know the importance of this quest, but I’m not willing to risk my assistant.”

  Lyra wrung her hands, but managed a smile. She remembered how Cullen risked his own death by a sea dragon to save Noba—an act that helped her realize what a wonderful man loved her. Du
ring the trip back to the King’s aula, she watched the sky but never saw the golden eagle again.

  Kenzo ran the tip of his wing along her arm. “Lyra, I’ll be your matched bird. I always have been anyway.”

  She nodded and ruffled his feathers as tears welled into her eyes.

  From his position at the bow of Daryd’s boat, Noba helped her keep watch for the eagle as they sailed.

  ***

  The weight of defeat made Lyra’s legs feel heavy when she stepped onto the bank at the golden lake with no bird. She gave a last hopeful look into the sky before joining the waiting group of white guards.

  Pisca wrapped an arm around her and nodded to Daryd. They stayed with Lyra and her friends as far as the portico.

  Only a small portion of the crowd from the previous day remained, listening to the oration of a lesser poet.

  Belray saluted and allowed the entire party to pass under into the foyer.

  A cawing screech from inside the king’s receiving chamber made Lyra jump. The call was unmistakable—an avril, the scout bird of the Dark Realm, used to obtain and deliver samples of auras from unwanted guests to alert the Black Dragon. Reminding herself they were far from the danger of the Dark Realm, she took a deep breath and walked inside.

  Eburscon stood with the avril perched on a wristlet. The violet rings on his raised hand gleamed. When he noticed Lyra enter without a bird, his mouth contorted into a hideous sneering grin. He rocked back and forth from heel to toe, swishing his purple cloak across his black boots, as he hummed to the avril.

  It seems Eburscon is now working for the Black Dragon, since he has one of his avrils, Cullen said mentally.

  Lyra nodded and swallowed hard.

  The couriers and guards saluted when the king and queen entered the room. They smiled and commented to the high couriers while taking their seats on the throne chairs.

  King Eos loudly cleared his throat. “We return to determine the winner of this challenge, who I will trade with for Aria’s copy of the Book of Dragonspeir authored by Scribe Nareene. To show my good faith, I have removed that book from storage and have it here before me.” He held the volume up for display. “Remember, the winner is determined by a combination of two factors, the correctness of their bird match and the value of their trade offer. I alone will make the determination of who is the winner.” He leaned forward on the arm of his chair. “Sire Eburscon, please present your bird.”