by TR Cameron
Elnyier was in the private room of Void, Darkest Night casino’s best restaurant. Having the space at her disposal was one of the privileges of being the casino’s majority owner. She had two aides at her sides, both Drow, a male and a female. They took furious notes as she spun out ideas while occasionally pausing for small bites of her appetizer course. “We’re going to need to change the decorations in the palace, for one. Maldren had no taste whatsoever. Have a selection of fabrics for me tomorrow. Also, I’ll need to meet with each Council member individually. Please arrange it.”
They scribbled, and she took another bite, then set the fork down as she sensed an additional presence in the room. “Also, talk to the heads of security at each casino, see what concerns they have. Use intermediaries. I don’t want anyone to know it’s me, but I’m not sure the owners are as clued in on things as they ought to be. Let’s build our sources whenever possible. Now, you can go.”
If either was offended at the brushoff, they didn’t show it, only left professionally, almost bowing on the way out. She stared at the shadows where she thought the presence was. “I wondered when you’d make contact. I hear a lot about your activities in town.”
The Drow male Dieneth, who she’d met once before at the casino, materialized as his veil faded. He grinned. “You disapprove?”
She shrugged. “I think you could be more effective. I might be able to help you with that.” She gestured at the chair next to her, and he accepted the invitation to sit.
“Why do you believe it’s me who’s stirring things up? I’m only here to pay proper respects to the new Lady of the kemana.”
She laughed. “I don’t believe it’s you. I know it’s you. I have eyes and ears everywhere, my friend. Very little goes on in the city that I’m not aware of.”
He plucked one of the tempura shrimp from her plate with his fingers and popped it into his mouth. “The benefits of being on the Council, I suppose.”
Elnyier shook her head. “No, I’m smart enough to have separate networks, thank you very much. So, are you willing to step up your game?”
“Perhaps, if the price is right. Why? What would you get out of the deal?”
“Power. Influence. The usual.” Her long fingers reached over and rested on his hand. She put a little seduction in her voice. “Maybe more, if you’re interested.”
He grinned, and she noted again that he was very handsome, as she’d thought the first time they’d met, years before. “I’m quite interested in power, influence, and,” he paused long enough to be sassy, “more.”
She laughed deep in her throat. “Excellent. Will you have some wine?” It was clearly an invitation for more than a drink.
His smile conveyed his understanding of all that she offered. “I’d love to.”
Ruby’s story doesn’t end here. Continue her and her friend’s adventures in DARKNESS ASCENDANT.
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Author Notes - TR Cameron
May 20, 2021
Thank you for reading Book 6 in the Magic City Chronicles, and for continuing on to read these author notes! Ruby completed the Venamisha earlier than I expected at the start of the series, but it felt right for her to do it at this moment.
I’ve transitioned into summer mode, which for me is almost like moving to a different reality. Still a ton of responsibility all around, but it shifts from one area to the other. My kid and I drove North to visit my best friend, and he took us hiking so we could finish a hiking patch. It was possibly the most brutally exhausting thing I’ve ever done – and for him, it was a comparatively tiny mountain.
And the kid was not happy in the slightest. They do a great job of not devolving into whining and complaining mostly, but this one stressed us both out. But we survived, and now anytime they’re upset I can say, “But you survived the mountain! This is nothing.”
The parents reading this know exactly how well that goes over, but I’m a Dad, and it’s my job to be annoying.
I’ve started the preproduction process on Rogue Agents of Magic. I’m very excited to return to that part of my little corner of the Oriceran Universe, and the story is coming together well.
Civilization VI continues to be beyond addictive. I bought the expansion and am really liking it. Again, no one hoping to get anything else done should play it. I’ve discovered the board game “Space Base,” and I adore it. Just the right amount of brainpower required. Getting back into board gaming is one of my goals for the summer. We’ve got a couple other ones on the shelf that we’ve never played, including a Sherlock Holmes cooperative one that I’m eager to try.
My other media use is all over the place right now. I’m still listening to the audiobook of Sandman, which is amazing. Star Trek: Discovery is great; I’m almost done with Season 1. The kid and I returned to the theatre to see a movie, winding up with Raya and the Last Dragon, which was phenomenal. Flight Attendant is interesting, but depressing. And Castlevania is back, which is awesome!
A visit to our local amusement park is in the offing for next week, and I’m still working on the epic summer trip. We’ll see how that goes.
I’m hoping to find the time to learn the guitar via Rocksmith, or possibly pick up an electronic drum kit and start to learn that. I really like the idea of banging the drums as catharsis, but I don’t know if I have the patience and brain power to teach myself how to play. And I know I don’t have the dedication right now to spend money to learn. So, if you’re reading this and you know how to learn to play drums, find me on Facebook and share your wisdom!
For the series after RAM, I’m thinking of something involving monsters. Seems like a magical world like Oriceran would have a lot of wicked monsters to deal with, some of which would doubtless spill over to Earth…
Before I go, once again, if this series is your first taste of my Urban Fantasy, look for “Magic Ops.” I promise you’ll enjoy it, and you’ll get more of Diana, Rath, and company. You might also enjoy my science fiction work. All my writing is filled with action, snark, and villains who think they’re heroes. Drop by www.trcameron.com and take a look!
Until next time, Joys upon joys to you and yours – so may it be.
PS: If you’d like to chat with me, here’s the place. I check in daily or more: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTRCameron. Often I put up interesting and/or silly content there, as well. For more info on my books, and to join my reader’s group, please visit www.trcameron.com.
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Author Notes - Martha Carr
May 27, 2021
The new garden is currently being built in the back of the Dream House. The design takes up the entire backyard and the two sides of the house. There’s a new steel pergola and the patio size doubled and there’s raised beds and an arch and bench and a water feature and a few other things I keep forgetting to mention. Plus peach trees and fig trees and shade trees and blueberry bushes and raspberry bushes and more. Café lights around the pergola and lighting down one side of the yard. The details kind of go on and on but you get the idea. It’s gonna be the bomb!
The goal was to create my own Secret Garden. When someone comes in the back gate, I want them to forget where they are for a moment. A retreat in the suburbs of Austin.
The idea has always been in the back of my mind. Once I had the dream house and had done a lot to the interior, it was time to look to the other part of the property.
I was also helped along by Covid and quarantine. It was more important than ever to squeeze out every bit of serenity and use that I could from every square inch. That was last June.
Apparently, I was not alone in my thinking and everyone was looking to turn their backyard into a safe place t
o meet with neighbors.
Here we are a year later and the dream is getting made into a reality. The good dog Lois Lane and the sweet pittie Leela are not so sure about it. They’ve been consigned to staring out the back door without being able to go out there. Potty breaks for now are on a leash in the front yard. At 2:30 in the morning no one is thrilled about it but I did get to see the red moon this time – a few times.
First they took out the top five inches of top soil to get everything ready. Then, right on cue the clouds appeared and the rains began – for a week. To their credit, Native Edge landscapers worked through the week emerging from the backyard covered in mud and slowly but surely the backyard has been transforming.
Out front there’s a long, large stack of black slate and the driveway is full of two kinds of dirt. Not sure what that’s about. I can see the neighbors walking by from my office window, bending and twisting trying to get a better view of the backyard.
Surely that much black African slate and giant piles of dirt has to be adding up to something magnificent.
Mine is not even the biggest redo in my neighborhood. Thanks to humble brag pics on Facebook I’ve gotten a peek at what the Jones’ are doing. There are a lot of new pools around here that are in a variety of shapes with fire pits and outdoor kitchens and pergolas and new gardens. Amazing.
My little bit of paradise will be finished in a few weeks and there will be plenty of pictures on Facebook. Plus on July 4th a party with a seafood boil to celebrate surviving cancer for the 5th time, getting vaccinated and out on the town, the 4th of course, and the inauguration of the new garden. I’ve even rented a Slurpee machine. Red punch and orange mango flavors.
If anyone’s looking for me, I can be found among the trees sitting on my bench sipping a Slurpee. Party on people. More adventures to follow.
Magic Ops
If you enjoyed this book, you may also enjoy the first series from T.R. Cameron, also set in the Oriceran Universe. The Federal Agents of Magic series begins with Magic Ops and it’s available now at Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited.
FBI Agent Diana Sheen is an agent with a secret…
…She carries a badge and a troll, along with a little magic.
But her Most Wanted List is going to take a little extra effort.
She’ll have to embrace her powers and up her game to take down new threats,
Not to mention deal with the troll that’s adopted her.
All signs point to a serious threat lurking just beyond sight, pulling the strings to put the forces of good in harm’s way.
Magic or mundane, you break the law, and Diana’s gonna find you, tag you and bring you in. Watch out magical baddies, this agent can level the playing field.
It’s all in a day’s work for the newest Federal Agent of Magic.
Available now at Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited
Other series in the Oriceran Universe:
THE LEIRA CHRONICLES
SOUL STONE MAGE
THE KACY CHRONICLES
MIDWEST MAGIC CHRONICLES
THE FAIRHAVEN CHRONICLES
I FEAR NO EVIL
THE DANIEL CODEX SERIES
SCHOOL OF NECESSARY MAGIC
SCHOOL OF NECESSARY MAGIC: RAINE CAMPBELL
ALISON BROWNSTONE
FEDERAL AGENTS OF MAGIC
SCIONS OF MAGIC
THE UNBELIEVABLE MR. BROWNSTONE
DWARF BOUNTY HUNTER
CASE FILES OF AN URBAN WITCH
OTHER BOOKS BY JUDITH BERENS
OTHER BOOKS BY MARTHA CARR
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