by Guy Antibes
Ricky rowed up river from the boat he shared with Gobble and slipped through one of the few water lanes in the town. For most, the shanty boats were just tied to each other, connected by planks. His special place was anchored by itself along with fifteen other boats, whose owners didn’t want to mix with the other residents. An unwritten rule stated that none of them would reveal the identities of the others, and so it was that Ricky’s tiny little shantyboat, restored from a fire that had killed its former owners, turned into the boy’s home away from Gobble’s abusive shantyboat. Boards of different shapes and sizes, colors and textures, turned his shanty walls into a patchwork.
He tied up his skiff and untied the elaborate knot that was his attempt at keeping casual intruders out. If anyone wanted to invade his private place, they could kick in the thin boards of the walls to gain entry. The interior was a bit different from the shabby exterior. Ricky had accumulated furniture, rugs, pots, pans, a protected brazier for cooking and even a bed, although he had had to invade the forest for mattress stuffing. Pine needles gave off a scent that permeated the inside.
Ricky wasn’t brave enough to do any cooking on the brazier. A cooking fire burned most of the original shanty. His fear of history repeating had been the deciding factor to remain at Gobble’s. His grandfather knew nothing of his shantyboat, and he wanted to keep it that way.
He took the handful of candied fruit out of his pocket, placing them in an old battered tin that he had carefully washed and dried to keep from rusting. Most of his coins went back into his little stash. He put a few in his pocket, since Gobble would figure out he managed to earn some money to buy candied fruit and confiscate all the coins he possessed as soon as he showed up on their shantyboat.
Ricky’s stomach rumbled. He looked at the candies, knowing they could not substitute for a real meal. Ricky looked up at the darkening sky. Rain might drench the little town and he would have to make a run through the shantyboat town to get back to Gobble’s place before the rain drenched everything. He checked both his windows and duplicated the elaborate knot on both his door and on the tie-down for his boat. If he showed his boat to Gobble, his grandfather would think nothing of confiscating that, too.
He left his private place and rowed to the north shore, tying up his little skiff and climbing up a root to get to the bank. He walked for half an hour and found that a rabbit hadn’t escaped from one of his snares. He took out the little knife that Gobble had given him, the only evidence he possessed of the father he couldn’t remember, and cleaned the rabbit. On his way back to the boat he collected some wild vegetables and herbs to cook along with his rabbit in Gobble’s boat.
~
Although his grandfather’s shantyboat was three times the size of Ricky’s little vessel, Gobble kept little food aboard. Ricky answered a knock at the door.
“Water,” the voice said.
Ricky recognized the voice. Drinking raw river water was a sure way to get sick. Water had to be strained, boiled and strained again to be safely used. He looked at the few coins in his pocket.
“I can buy this much,” Ricky said, holding out his hand. “Maybe two gallons?”
“Two gallons it is,” the man said. He tapped his toe as Ricky brought three pots that would hold the water.
Ricky watched him fill the pots. The water man gave him a bit more than what he paid.
“I’ll help you later this week. Is that okay?” Ricky said.
The water man smiled. “Of course it is. Show up at my boat in three days.” He nodded and lugged a water cart over the short railing onto the plank that led to another shantyboat.
He finished dressing the rabbit and tossed the rabbit skin into an empty barrel. After dinner he’d do what he could to preserved the skin. They were always worth a few coins.
He waited for one of the pots to boil. In the meantime, Ricky ate one candied fruit that he didn’t put in the tin and retrieved a hard lump of bread. He just finished gnawing it, put the rabbit in the pot along with the herbs and vegetables when Gobble rushed in.
“There he is,” his grandfather said, pointing to Ricky.
“Of course, I’m here,” Ricky said, feeling a bit confused about Gobble’s comment.
His confusion evaporated when three constables jumped on the boat, making it rock on the water and rushed inside. Ricky rushed past his grandfather to get out a side door, but Gobble grabbed his shirt. “Not so fast, you scamp.”
The boy’s shoulder’s dropped. “You turned me in?”
“For the reward, lad,” one of the constables said. “A good reward considering the likes of you. It looks like you’ve earned a trip to the Paranty Juvenile Home in Applia, your new residence.”
“He put me up to it!” Ricky said, pointing to Gobble, who ignored his grandson.
Gobble sniffed and lifted the pot lid. “This needs a lot more salt,” he said to himself, ignoring his grandson’s pleas as the constables fought to drag a struggling Ricky out of the shantyboat.
Ricky felt the clicking of manacles on his wrists held behind him. He gave up fighting. The men were all much bigger than him. His wiry thirteen-year-old body couldn’t throw off their tight grips and his special trick wouldn’t work when they clutched him so tightly.
~~~
A BIT ABOUT GUY
~
With a lifelong passion for speculative fiction, Guy Antibes found that he rather enjoyed writing fantasy, as well as reading it. So a career was born, and Guy anxiously engaged in adding his own flavor of writing to the world. Guy lives in the western part of the United States and is happily married with enough children to meet or exceed the human replacement rate.
You can contact Guy at his website: www.guyantibes.com.
†
BOOKS BY GUY ANTIBES
THE DISINHERITED PRINCE
Book One: The Disinherited Prince
Poldon Fairfield, a fourteen-year-old prince, has no desire to rule since his poor health has convinced him that he will not live long enough to sit on any throne. Matters take a turn for the worse when his father, the King of North Salvan, decides his oldest will rule the country where Pol’s mother is first in the line of succession, followed by Pol, her only child. Pol learns he has developed a talent for magic, and that may do him more harm than good, as he must struggle to survive among his siblings, now turned lethally hostile.
Book Two: The Monk’s Habit
With his health failing, Pol Cissert takes refuge in a monastery dedicated to magic, healing, and swordsmanship. As a disinherited prince, he thinks his troubles are behind him so he can concentrate on learning magic and getting his body repaired. He soon finds that his sanctuary isn’t the protection he hoped for.
Book Three: A Sip of Magic
Expecting to resume his studies after a long absence, Pol Cissert is disappointed when he is drafted by the Emperor’s Seeker to infiltrate into Tesna Monastery. His mission is to verify rumors of a new army being raised by the South Salvan King, a man he perceives as a personal enemy. Pol will face new challenges, not the least of which will be figuring out the mysterious roommate who arrives not long after he learns about the Tesnan’s plans to take over the world.
Book Four: The Sleeping God
Carrying an amulet given to him by his late mother, Pol Cissert seizes an opportunity to travel to a far-off city in search of his roots. He has no idea that the journey will be no easy jaunt. Chased by magicians, thugs, pirates, and priests, he searches for his legacy by seeking the Cathedral of the Sleeping God. Pol finds that the truth isn’t always something everyone wants.
Demeron: A Horse’s Tale - A Disinherited Prince Novella
Demeron, a Shinkyan stallion who can speak to human magicians, is cut off from his master and must find a way to return hundreds of miles to Deftnis Monastery, his master’s home. To do so, Demeron must travel through the country of his birth, eluding humans who would eagerly take possession of him. Sixty pages long, Demeron, A Horse’s Tale is best read between A
Sip of Magic and The Emperor’s Pet.
Book Five: The Emperor’s Pet
On his way to return Shira to her home in Shinkya, Pol Cissert is called upon to solve two mysteries. His reward is something he does not desire, but he must put that aside while he travels to Tishiko, the exotic and dangerous capital city of the country of Shira’s birth. He finds that deadly politics badgers him every step along his journey.
Book Six: The Misplaced Prince
Pol can’t remember his name or his origin when washed up on the shore of a strange continent. Demeron, his horse, must find a way to get Pol to a magician powerful enough to remove his curse. Without his magic or his memories, it may take years to find the right person, and until then Pol has become the Misplaced Prince.
FANTASY - EPIC / SWORD & SORCERY / YOUNG ADULT
~
POWER OF POSES
Book One: Magician in Training
Trak Bluntwithe, an illiterate stableboy, is bequeathed an education by an estranged uncle. In the process of learning his letters, Trak learns that he is a magician. So his adventures begin that will take him to foreign countries, fleeing from his home country, who seeks to execute him for the crime of being able to perform magic. The problem is that no country is safe for the boy while he undergoes training. Can he stay ahead of those who want to control him and keep his enemies from killing him?
Book Two: Magician in Exile
Trak Bluntwithe is a young man possessing so much magical power that he is a target for governments. Some want to control him, and others want to eliminate the threat of his potential. He finds himself embroiled in the middle of a civil war. He must fight to save his imprisoned father, yet he finds that he has little taste for warfare. Trak carries this conflict onto the battlefield and finds he must use his abilities to stop the war to protect the ones he loves.
Book Three: Magician in Captivity
After a disastrous reunion with Valanna Almond, Trak heads to the mysterious land of Bennin to rescue a Toryan princess sold into slavery. The Warish King sends Valanna back to Pestle to verify that the King of Pestle is no longer under Warish control. The Vashtan menace continues to infect the countries of the world and embroil both Trak and Valanna in civil conflict, while neither of them can shake off the attraction both of them feel towards each other.
Book Four: Magician in Battle
Trak quells the rebellion in Warish but is forced to leave to return the Toryan princess. He reunites with his father but is quickly separated again. Circumstances turn ugly in Torya, and Trak returns to Pestle to fight a new, unexpected army. Valanna’s story continues as she struggles with her new circumstances, and is sent on a final mission to Pestle. The Power of Poses series ends with a massive battle, pitting soldier against soldier and magic against magic.
FANTASY - EPIC / SWORD & SORCERY / YOUNG ADULT / NEW ADULT-COLLEGE
~
THE WARSTONE QUARTET
An ancient emperor creates four magical gems to take over and rule the entire world. The ancient empire crumbles over millennia. Three stones are lost, and one remains as an inert symbol for a single kingdom among many. The force that created the Warstones, now awakened, seeks to unite them all, bringing in a new reign of world domination—a rule of terror.
Four Warstones, four stories. The Warstone Quartet tells of heroism, magic, romance, and war as the world must rise to fight the dark force that would enslave them all.
FANTASY - SWORD & SORCERY/EPIC
Book One: Moonstone | Magic That Binds
A jewel, found in the muck of a small village pond, transforms Lotto, the village fool, into an eager young man who is now linked to a princess through the Moonstone. The princess fights against the link, while Lotto seeks to learn more about what happened to him. He finds a legacy, and she finds the home in her father’s army that she has so desperately sought. As Lotto finds aptitude in magical and physical power, a dark force has risen from another land to sow the seeds of rebellion. It’s up to Lotto to save the princess and the kingdom amidst stunning betrayal fomented by the foreign enemy.
Book Two: Sunstone | Dishonor’s Bane
Shiro, a simple farmer, is discovered to possess stunning magical power and is involuntarily drafted into the Ropponi Sorcerer’s Guild. He attracts more enemies than friends and escapes with his life, only to end up on a remote prison island. He flees with an enchanted sword containing the lost Sunstone. Trying to create a simple refuge for an outlawed band of women sorcerers, he is betrayed by the very women he has worked to save and exiled to a foreign land. There, he must battle for his freedom as he and his band become embroiled in a continent-wide conflict.
Book Three: Bloodstone | Power of Youth
When usurpers invade Foxhome Castle, Unca, the aging Court Wizard of the Red Kingdom, flees with the murdered king’s only daughter, taking the Bloodstone, an ancient amulet that is the symbol of Red Kingdom rule. Unca uses the Bloodstone to escape capture by an enemy and is transformed into a young man, but loses all his wizardly powers. Unca must reinvent himself to return the princess to her throne. Along the way, he falls in love with the young woman and must deal with the conflict between his duty and his heart while keeping a terrible secret.
Book Four: Darkstone | An Evil Reborn
As the 22nd son of the Emperor of Dakkor, Vishan Daryaku grows from boy to man, learning that he must use his unique powers and prodigious knowledge to survive. He succeeds until his body is taken over by an evil power locked inside the Darkstone. Now Emperor of Dakkor, Vishan is trapped inside, as the ancient force that rules his body devastates his homeland while attempting to recover all of the Warstones.
As the amulets are all exposed, the holders of the Moonstone, Sunstone, and Bloodstone combine to fight the Emperor’s relentless drive to reunite the Warstones and gain power over the entire world. The armies of Dakkor and the forces of those allied with the three other stones collide on a dead continent in the stunning conclusion of the Warstone Quartet.
~
Quest of the Wizardess
Quest of the Wizardess chronicles the travels and travails of young Bellia. After her wizard family is assassinated when she is fourteen, Bellia seeks anonymity as a blacksmith’s helper. When that doesn’t work out as expected, she flees to the army.
Her extraordinary physical and magical skills bring unwanted attention, and she must escape again. After finding a too-placid refuge, she takes the opportunity to seek out her family’s killers. Revenge becomes her quest that takes her to a lost temple, unexpected alliances, and a harrowing confrontation with her enemies.
FANTASY - EPIC/NEW ADULT-COLLEGE/COMING OF AGE
The Power Bearer
How Norra obtained the power and the extraordinary lengths she went through to rid herself of it.
What’s a girl to do when all of the wizards in her world are after her? She runs. But this girl runs towards the source of her power, not away from it. Along the way, she picks up, among others, a wizard, a ghost, a highwaywoman and a sentient cloud. Through thick and thin, they help Norra towards her goal of finding a solution in a far-off land that no one in her world has even heard of.
FANTASY - EPIC / YOUNG ADULT
Panix: Magician Spy
Panix has life by the tail, a new wife, a new job in a new land that has few magicians and none of his caliber. His ideal life takes some unexpected downturns, and Panix finds himself employed as a spy. He has no training but must make things up as he goes if he is to survive the politics, betrayal, war, and, in the end, his own behavior.
FANTASY - ADVENTURE
THE WORLD OF THE SWORD OF SPELLS
Warrior Mage
The gods gave Brull a Sword of Spells and proclaimed him as the world’s only Warrior Mage. One big problem, there aren’t any wars. What’s a guy to do? Brull becomes a magician bounty hunter until the big day when he learns he not only has to fight a war with the magicians of his world but fight the god that the magicians are all working to bring i
nto being. He finds out if he has what it takes in Warrior Mage.
FANTASY - EPIC
Sword of Spells
Read about Brull’s beginnings and earlier adventures as a bounty hunter of magicians in the Sword of Spells anthology.
FANTASY - EPIC
THE SARA FEATHERWOOD ADVENTURES
Set in Shattuk Downs, a reclusive land in the kingdom of Parthy, the story revolves around Sara Featherwood, who could be a Jane Austen heroine with a sword in her hand. There are no magicians, wizards, dragons, elves, or dwarves in Shattuk Downs, but there is intrigue, nobility, hidden secrets, plenty of adventure, and romance with a bit of magic.
FANTASY ~ YOUNG ADULT/COLLEGE
FICTION ~ WOMEN’S ADVENTURE
Knife & Flame
When Sara Featherwood’s mother dies, her sixteen-year-old life is thrown into turmoil at Brightlings Manor in a remote district of Shattuk Downs. Life becomes worse when her father, the Squire, sets his roving eye on her best friend. Dreading her new life, Sara escapes to the Obridge Women’s School. Seeking solace in education doesn’t work as her world becomes embroiled with spies, revolution, and to top it all off, her best friend becomes her worst enemy.
Sword & Flame
If you were a young woman who had just saved the family’s estate from ruin, you’d think your father would be proud, wouldn’t you? Sara Featherwood is thrown out of her childhood home and now faces life on her own terms at age seventeen. She returns to the Tarrey Abbey Women’s School and is drafted to help with the establishment of the first Women’s College in the kingdom of Parthy. Now in the King’s capital of Parth, life confronts Sara as she learns about family secrets which threaten to disrupt her life and about resurgent political turmoil back home that turns her scholarly pursuits upside down as she must take action and use her magic to save her family and her beloved Shattuk Downs.
