by Sarah Noffke
CONTENTS
Oriceran
Dedication
Legal
Oriceran US Map
Oriceran Map
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
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Epilogue
Author Notes - Sarah
Acknowledgements - Sarah
Author Notes - Martha
Publisher Notes - Michael
Social Links
About - Sarah
Martha Carr Series List
Other LMBPN Books
LAND OF TERRAN
Soul Stone Mage Book Four
By Sarah Noffke and Martha Carr
A part of
The Revelations of Oriceran Universe
Written and Created
by Michael Anderle & Martha Carr
The Oriceran Universe
(and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are
Copyright (c) 2017 by Martha Carr and LMPBN Publishing.
DEDICATION
From Sarah
For my daughter, Lydia.
You are the real magic in my life.
From Martha
To everyone who still believes in magic and all the possibilities that holds.
To all the readers who make this entire ride so much fun.
And to all the dreamers just like me who create wonder, big and small, every day.
LAND OF TERRAN Team
JIT Beta Readers
Alex Wilson
Paul Westman
Kelly ODonnell
Larry Omans
Tim Bischoff
Joshua Ahles
Kelly Linzey
Kimberly Boyer
James Caplan
Erick Cushman
Micky Cocker
If we missed anyone, please let us know!
Editor
Lynne Stiegler
LAND OF TERRAN (this book) is a work of fiction.
All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.
This book Copyright © 2017 Sarah Noffke and Martha Carr
Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing
LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.
The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
LMBPN Publishing
PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy
Las Vegas, NV 89109
First US edition, October 2017
The Oriceran (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are Copyright (c) 2017 by Martha Carr and LMPBN Publishing.
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PROLOGUE
“That fucking little fucker,” Azure said to herself, already starting to pace in the cabinet chamber. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t seen this coming. How could it be that she hadn’t known Ever had had a side motive? She had known all along that he was secretive. Maybe she’d guessed that he was hiding something, but not that he’d betray them.
“Queen Azure,” Gillian said from behind her. “Finswick just came and got me. He said you needed to see me and that it was urgent.”
Azure narrowed her eyes at the gnome. “Yes, I do, but first I have a few questions for you.” She pulled her wand from her hair, causing it to fall down her exposed back. Azure had returned to wearing uncomfortable dresses that didn’t cover enough of her upper body and sought to tangle her lower half with overflowing material. Presently she wore a black and white medieval gown with a modern flare.
“You keep a lot of secrets from me, Gillian, and I’m starting to question the logic of allowing such a person so close to the crown,” Azure said, a tone in her voice she’d never used before. Was this what betrayal did—made reasonable people doubt their friends’ loyalty?
Gillian, appearing not at all flustered, put his hands behind his back and cleared his throat. “Withhold, Queen Azure. I don’t keep secrets. I withhold information.”
“I think this might be a game of semantics,” Azure said, pressing her eyes shut and feeling the stress mount on her shoulders. It was like a giant had taken a dive from the high wire and landed squarely on her.
“Is my honesty in question, Queen Azure?” Gillian asked.
“Everyone’s honesty is currently in question,” Azure said, lifting her eyes to the entrance, where racing feet could be heard approaching.
The door swung open and Monet stood there breathless. “Is it true? Say it isn’t so!”
“I’m afraid it is,” Azure said, reading the confused expression in Gillian’s eyes.
“But with the Light Elf gone, how will I secure more Cheetos? Blisters ate all of mine. And the Dark Market is currently out,” Monet said, real fear growing in his eyes.
Azure nearly allowed herself to laugh. Leave it to Monet to loosen her up with this ridiculousness during a huge moment of frustration. That’s one of the things she appreciated about him most. He didn’t take anything too serious. “That shouldn’t be the main concern. Ever has taken off with the Book of Branches.”
“He’s done what?” Gillian asked, his mouth hanging open.
Azure flicked her wand at the note Ever had left, and it flew straight to Gillian. He took it and eagerly began reading.
“I say we behead him when he’s found,” Gran said from just behind Monet. He stepped away from the door to allow her entrance.
“I actually think that might be a brilliant idea,” Azure said, forcing herself to sit at the table. Finswick entered next, and Richard followed him in. Her father looked as though he hadn’t slept well the night before. The adjustment to living in Virgo, she’d learned from Finswick, hadn’t been smooth. The witches and wizards were polite to him, but also watched him constantly, not offering him the hospitality that was usually synonymous with the kingdom. And Emeri had, a time or two—according to Finswick—been found having hushed conversations with him. The former queen, now devoid of magic, hadn’t been able to put a protective spell around her conversations, and so Finswick had heard the pair fighting over something to do with lifespan. Emeri had apparently stormed off, saying something ab
out how they’d both suffer the same fate now.
“You invite three people from outside your species to sit on your cabinet and now you wonder why one has betrayed you?” Monet shook his head and clicked his tongue.
“People aren’t untrustworthy just because they are different from us. It’s about what’s inside their hearts, not what makes up their DNA,” Azure said, tapping her wand on the surface of the table.
Gillian passed the note to Richard, who appeared to still be in the dark. “I wouldn’t have guessed this about Ever,” the gnome said, climbing into one of the chairs around the table.
“Do we know when he left?” Azure asked, staring around at the various faces.
“It couldn’t have been long ago. I was actually up studying the Book of Branches up until a few hours ago,” the queen mother said, pulling a potion bottle from her robe and taking a drink of the split pea-green liquid.
“You were? Did you learn anything?” Azure asked.
“I learned that I didn’t speak Greek,” Gran said with a laugh.
Azure’s head sank lower in disappointment. “Ever must have been waiting for you to leave so he could steal the book. I had left it in his care overnight.”
“Yes, and I’d asked if I could have a go at it for a bit, which he allowed,” Gran said, wiping the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief.
“Did anyone else see anything?” Azure asked.
“I saw the insides of my eyelids and had this dream about this big-chested mermaid named Candy. She had a way with—”
“Anyone see anything relevant?” Azure cut Monet off, shaking her head at him.
Richard bowed his head. His face was still covered in confusion, but his mind seemed to be working something out. “If Ever only left recently he might not be to the border yet, or he just got there. I could go and speak with the Orcs—find out if the chief or his men saw anything.”
“Yes. Go directly to the southwestern border,” the queen mother said, holding her hand up in the light streaming through the nearby window and watching it with great interest.
“And why…” Azure started.
“Because I didn’t learn much from reading the Book of Branches, but I did learn that many of the oldest dryad tribes still reside in the forest to the west of here, the area that borders the river on the other side of the desert.” Gran clenched her hand shut, a victorious smile on her face.
“What are you doing, you crazy old witch?” Monet asked, throwing his feet up on the table and leaning back.
The queen mother slammed her hand down on the table, crushing a metal object in her palm into bits. Screws and small parts rolled in various directions. “I’m destroying what I believe to be a spying device. I’ve noticed the strange metal bugs around and just realized they must be spies sent from the Land of Terran.”
Azure turned her focus to Richard. “Is that possible?”
He nodded. “I heard Phillip brainstorming about such an idea, but he hadn’t secured the right means for it before I left. He must have found a source.”
Azure blew out a long hot breath. “Okay, so we can assume that the Duke of Terran knows about the Book of Branches and Richard’s alliance.”
“That latter part doesn’t change a thing, but I do think I need to set off to alert the Orcs or find out how long ago Ever passed through the border,” Richard said, standing tall.
Azure nodded, glad that someone was being proactive. “Yes, please do that. Take one of the fastest horses to save time.”
Richard nodded, sweeping from the room. To say it felt weird ordering the previous emperor of Terran around was a huge understatement.
“Gillian, can we get that copy of the Book of Branches that the gnomes made?” Azure asked.
He shook his head, a rough look on his face. “I wouldn’t advise it. Firstly, they are still recreating the book based on the fast copy they took of it. I’m certain it won’t be ready for quite some time. And secondly, they have restricted who can access the book.”
“But I loaned my copy to them,” Azure complained.
Gillian shrugged indifferently. “That doesn’t really matter. That’s not how gnomes work.”
“So now what are we going to do? Head willy-nilly into the mountains looking for Ever?” Azure asked.
“I can track him,” Gillian offered.
“Oh, look who doesn’t want to be beheaded by the queen mother?” Monet taunted in a sing-song voice.
Gillian ignored the wizard and slipped down from the chair. He began walking back and forth, working double-time because of his short strides to cross the space he paced. “If we leave right away, Ever’s trail should be fresh. He’s fast and knows the forest well, but I know the mountains better. I can inquire along the way to see if anyone saw him pass through that area.”
“Okay, it’s a plan that involves much uncertainty and a bit of faith, but I’ll take it,” Azure said, rising from her chair. She turned her eyes to Finswick, who was standing by the fire. “Please enlist help to hunt down and destroy these spy bugs. I can’t have Phillip knowing any more than he does.”
The cat nodded and strode from the room, his tail high in the air.
CHAPTER ONE
The Duke of Terran turned the volume knob on the old transistor radio until the static-filled music was loud enough to hear. The old device only played one song, but if a radio had to be enchanted to play something, then Phillip was grateful it was this song. “Earth Angel” had quickly become his favorite. The shady character from the Dark Market had given Phillip a long list of songs, but from the beginning this had been the one he knew should be played on the broken device.
He swayed back and forth, gaining the attention of his dog Rover as he sauntered through the office. One day he dreamed of traveling to Earth and attending a party like those he’d seen on the black and white shows he’d bought from the Dark Market. The devices and entertainment were unreliable, but with his power reserves full from leeching the Dark Forest he’d been able to make them work, just like the radio. However, he had to be careful, not just because of the rogue dryads hiding in the shadows waiting for him to slip up and enter the forest without a harpy bodyguard, but also because he’d lost Emeri’s soul stone. Humans on Terran lived longer thanks to magic, but Phillip had hoped the soul stone would make him the longest-lived human on Oriceran one day. That option had been stolen with the soul stone. That was why he had to steal more soul stones, which shouldn’t be a problem once the fast-acting virus he’d poisoned the streams of Virgo with took full effect.
The Duke stared out the window, humming along with the music. Everything was going according to plan. Now he just needed to execute the next phase.
“Uncle, you called for me?” Frederick said at his back.
Phillip swung around, a fake smile on his mouth. “I did indeed. I need you to do a few things for me.”
The young man lowered his chin and regarded Phillip for a moment with great reluctance in his eyes. “You don’t want me to write another letter to the Queen of Virgo, do you?”
Phillip pulled in a breath, looking proud. “I actually do.”
“But Uncle, I didn’t think that making threats was the best idea for getting Father back the first time. If I could just speak with my sister—”
“Do not call her that,” Phillip boomed, cutting Frederick off.
“But that’s in fact who she is. Queen Azure, as my father’s child, is my sister,” Frederick said, rebellion flaring in his eyes.
“Do you enjoy highlighting the fact that you’re related to a disgusting witch? Because I promise you that you’re better off hiding that fact rather than dwelling on it.”
“Uncle, Virgoans are just people like us. I remember Father trying to get you to see that long ago. But you—”
“Know better than he did,” Phillip finished, interrupting him again. “I also know that we can allow those tattletales to live, or we can destroy them and take their power.”
“I
disagree. The more I think about it, I’m convinced that I should write an apology to Queen Azure. We should form an alliance with the witches and wizards of Virgo.” Frederick’s eyes fell on a golf club that rested against the wall. He’d never seen one before, which is why his brows scrunched up tight as he stared at it.
“Do you know that, as we speak, the Queen—your sister—is trying to locate a book that will tell her how to find the rogue dryads? She means to have us punished for harvesting the Dark Forest,” Phillip said.
“Oh, really? How do you know that? Why was I not made aware?” Frederick asked.
“I didn’t think it was worth bothering you with, since your studies are of utmost importance,” Phillip lied.
“More and more I think you keep things from me, Uncle. Like what’s going on with these harvests… Why are the rogue dryads cutting off our borders in the forest?” Frederick scratched his head and picked up the club. “And what is this?”
“That…” Phillip plucked the instrument from Frederick’s hand. “That is a golf club. Apparently it’s a sport from Earth that involves knocking a ball into a hole. We’ll need a lot of grass-covered ground to play it, but I’ve found a spot just outside our borders that should work.”
“If we’re already having so many problems with the rogue dryads, how are you going to secure this land?” Frederick asked.
“Good question. I’ve had blueprints drawn up, and I think we can wall in this golf course using the magic that protects Terran. However, we are going to need a distraction. Bait of sort that the rogue dryads would go after,” Phillip said, strolling behind Frederick.
