Lone Survivor: The Sorcerers' Scourge Series: Book One Read online

  She said to Tess, “Now, let me look at you again.”

  “Nothing worse than usual,” Tess replied. “My nose has been broken before. It’s fine now, but my left side is sore where he kicked me. See what you can do for that.”

  Laura peered into Tess’s eyes, which were bright green again. “Your brain was addled, but you’re okay now.”

  Laura made Tess sit at the picnic table, and then held her hand over Tess’s left side. More incantations followed, and when Tess began to complain about being fussed over, her voice sounded more normal.

  Within minutes, Tess seemed as good as new. That was as impressive as anything else I’d seen, and I patted Laura on the back several times. She smiled but looked tired.

  The sorcerer sat quietly at the end of the picnic table, and Tess turned to him. “I claim the spoils of victory.”

  He nodded and seemed to shrink in stature. Tess, on the other hand, glowed for a minute.

  Laura whispered to me, “She just took all his magical power.”

  “What are you doing here?” she asked him.

  “Nothing in particular, Master. I was headed to a bar to get drunk, as usual.”

  “Sit quietly,” she said. “You interrupted our lunch.”

  Tess went back to finishing her barbequed pork sandwich, and Laura picked up her snowstorm story as though nothing odd had happened. I stayed mostly silent. I’d never seen a magical slave before, although I knew they existed. I didn’t know what I should say or do around him.

  After we finished eating, Tess walked over to the planting bed full of mums and retrieved the staff. Then she led the three of us back to the car for the ride home. I sat in the back next to the sorcerer. He made no aggressive moves at all.

  Back at the ranch, Tess found Diana in her spacious and richly appointed office. They chatted in private while the rest of us waited outside.

  After a few minutes, the high priestess strode into the hall, holding Tess with an arm across her shoulders. “Another glorious victory. We’ll celebrate at dinner.”

  Then she turned to me. “So, you saw firsthand what we expect of you. Excellent. Are you still interested in fighting for us?”

  I didn’t have any choice, so I looked at the bright side. “Tess is an amazing example. I can’t wait to lay into the sheriff back home the same way she handled that sorcerer.”

  Diana beamed. “Excellent.”

  She led the slave away to whatever fate awaited those who had lost a battle.

  I spent most of the afternoon on an Internet search trying to find out more about real magic. No luck.

  That evening, I attended the celebration. Tess and Laura kept me close, which I appreciated because I hardly knew anyone else.

  When I finally begged off to rest, Laura reminded me that we were going to turn on my magic in the morning.

  “Get good sleep so you’re ready for your inner warrior to emerge.”

  Chapter 6

  Friday, September 6th

  MY DREAMS ABOUT THE violent fight kept me from getting as much rest as I needed. Sorcerers chased me, and I kept waking up to find myself safe at the ranch.

  At breakfast, I learned how popular my two new friends were with kids. Tess and Laura sat at a table for twelve, and each available seat was taken by a young admirer.

  When Laura saw me, she waved me over anyway and grabbed a chair from another table to squeeze me in next to a very cute little black-haired girl. “This is Christina, my daughter. She’s six.”

  I stuck out my hand and shook Christina’s. “My, aren’t you pretty. I’m Ian. Very pleased to meet you.”

  The little girl smiled at me but didn’t speak. She’d been lucky enough to inherit that pretty smile her mama flashed at me from time to time.

  Within a few minutes, everybody knew what Laura and I planned to do at Brainard Lake, and the kids bombarded me with advice for getting in touch with my magical core. I listened but didn’t understand half of what they told me. I hoped I wouldn’t need to remember, because Laura would be there to coach me.

  After we finished eating, she took me out to the barn. “In addition to horses, we want to bring staffs. Always carry a weapon anytime you leave the ranch, unless Tess or Diana is with you.”

  I nodded and took in a breath of the fresh, crisp, thin air. It was invigorating, but I couldn’t help but wonder how bitter cold it would be in the middle of January.

  Two staffs were resting against a wall inside the barn. She gave me a plain one and kept a fancy, carved one for herself. We continued through the barn to where a pickup was hooked up to a two-horse trailer. A big black stallion named Hercules was waiting for me in a nearby corral, and a chestnut mare was standing next to him. We loaded the horses and the tack. Then Laura drove us to Brainard Lake.

  It turned out that the place was everything she’d predicted and more. To the west, the jagged ridge line of the Continental Divide filled the western horizon. The peaks seemed close enough for me to toss a rock and hit one.

  The gray granite contrasted beautifully with the deep blue morning sky. The sun was still relatively low on the horizon, so the light was tinted with pink. Alpenglow, Laura called it. She seemed to know all about the high country.

  It must’ve snowed overnight, because the peaks were dusted with frosting. I certainly couldn’t beat the view, and my throat tightened as I realized how lucky I was to end up here instead of having been burned to death back at home.

  When I got my voice back, I said, “Wow! Just wow. I love how the lake reflects the mountains in the background.”

  Laura grinned at me. “Feeling inspired yet?”

  I nodded. “If this place doesn’t get my mojo working, nothing will.”

  We saddled our horses and tied down our staffs.

  “Believe it or not,” she said, “the view’s even better up higher. And it’s quieter, more awe-inspiring.”

  With an impatient shake of his head, Hercules pawed at the trail heading west from Brainard Lake. He seemed as eager to experience what lay ahead as I was.

  We traveled along a churning mountain stream that connected a series of lakes. After a couple of miles, we reached Lake Isabelle, which was nestled at the bottom of the giant wall of rock that made up the divide.

  Laura hadn’t spoken much as we rode, and I was too overwhelmed by the scenery to say anything. After we dismounted, the horses grazed eagerly, as though the grass here was particularly tasty.

  Laura and I sat on a large flat rock overlooking the lake. The water rippled each time a breeze kicked up. When the water was still, it reflected the surrounding mountains and the blue sky.

  I tingled all over. “How could a place as gorgeous as this have existed for my whole life without me knowing about it?”

  “Actually, there are hundreds of places like this hidden high up in the Rockies.” She took several photographs for Tess and Katie.

  I forgot about magic for a moment as I took in the view. The colors around us were somehow more vivid than at lower elevations. The air was clearer, too. The few trees that did survive this high seemed greener than down below, as were the grass and other plants. In fact, everything up here blazed with its own unique colors in the morning sun. The leaves on a few plants had already changed for the fall, so there were splashes of yellow, orange, and red everywhere.

  “It’s beautiful beyond words,” I said.

  After a few more minutes of silence, Laura asked, “Are you ready to light your fire?”

  “Sure,” I replied. “What do I need to do?”

  “Focus on your magical core and think or say, ‘Erbater, I answer your call.’”

  I tried to calm my swirling thoughts and find that magical sensation that had flitted through my mind at Maggie’s house, but it proved to be frustratingly elusive. I’d catch a glimmer of it for a second, and then it would disappear.

  After trying for a few minutes, I thought, dammit, hold still. I kept try
ing, and eventually I spoke the incantation, but nothing happened, except that my hands felt numb.

  Laura sat there patiently, as though we had all the time in the world. That was her strength, a willingness to help people without pushing her own agenda. Her lovely smile encouraged me, but that wasn’t enough.

  Finally, I asked, “What the hell am I doing wrong?”

  “Who says you’re doing anything wrong? This isn’t supposed to be easy, Ian, although real magic is much harder.” She walked over to my horse, retrieved my staff, and brought it to me. “This can’t hurt.”

  I grabbed the staff and tried to keep from grinding my teeth together. “I need better advice than, ‘Toughen up, kid, and wave this stick around.’”

  Laura let loose a peal of laughter that told me I was being childish. “Fine, but understand one thing—everybody makes magic in their own unique way. I can only give suggestions.”

  “Sorry to snap at you. Suggest your brains out.”

  She slid closer to me on the rock. “Maybe you aren’t starting in the right frame of mind. You seemed to be frustrated. You’re rushing.” She picked up a stray orange leaf lying on the rock. “Meditate on this for a few minutes.”

  At least that was a concrete suggestion. I focused on the bright orange color. After a few minutes, I noticed a fir tree nearby, one about fifteen feet tall. I walked over to it, still holding my staff, and ran my fingers over one stiff branch. This tree had survived an incredible number of hard winters, probably only growing an inch a year. Its trunk was twisted and scarred by the winds that must have roared through this area often. I walked around the fir, and on the back side, I found a second trunk that’d broken off. That piece was about ten feet long.

  When I sat down on the rock again, I felt much calmer. I rested the staff on my knees. Time had a different meaning for the living things up here. I stared at the fir tree without thinking of anything, just letting its shape and color soak into my memory. Then I waited for the kernel to skitter through my mind.

  It did, and it moved much more slowly this time. I could focus on it. So, I recited, Erbater, I answer your call.

  Something in my mind pulsed. My body relaxed, and a glow filled me. The pulsing reminded me of small waves at the edge of Lake Isabelle lapping against the shore. I took several deep breaths and simply enjoyed the experience.

  Laura took my hand, and her eyes flashed. “Obviously, you did it. Let’s enjoy the moment together.”

  A separate pulse seemed to come from her, and it resonated at the same frequency, two notes in harmony in my mind. We sat silently, and peace washed over us both. The pulsing faded, but my sense of contentment didn’t.

  Her eyes were dazzling. Yesterday, they’d seemed mostly gray, but now they were bright emerald green.

  “Your eyes are very pretty this morning.”

  She tried to pull her hand away, but I didn’t let go.

  “Hey, Farm Boy, are you hitting on me?”

  I wasn’t sure, but her hand felt perfect in mine. “Not trying to, but you do have a lovely smile. I’ve been meaning to ask, do you have a boyfriend?”

  “No, and if you’re thinking of applying for the job”—she squeezed my hand hard—“you’ll need to take Christina, too. And, by the way, in our community, it’s the woman who asks the man. All you can do is flutter your eyelashes, look handsome, and wait for me to call.”

  I’d never look handsome, so that option was out. And I doubted fluttering my eyelashes would help. Laura seemed to be the type of woman who was impressed by kindness, so that was my best option. I let go of her hand and stroked her cheek with my fingertips. “Good to know.”

  She play-punched me on the shoulder. “I have to admit, I haven’t had this much fun with a guy in a long time. Have a girlfriend back home?”

  “Not for ages.” I took her hand again, and she didn’t resist.

  We sat together, not saying much, and my mind slowly returned to normal. Laura took more pictures, and I took a couple of her in the middle of this incredible scenery.

  “This was a much different experience than I expected,” I said. “I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.”

  She stood, pulled me up with both hands, and swirled us in a circle. “You surprised me, too, Farm Boy. Your magic is strange, more like a fairy’s love for nature than a fighting man’s.”

  “Do you mean I’m weak?”

  She shook her head. “Strong, but strange. Like a big engine idling. Have you ever ridden in a hot sports car, like a Corvette?”

  “One of my Osage uncles has one.”

  “Perfect. Could you feel the engine rumbling at idle?”

  “Sure, the whole car vibrated.”

  She continued to hold my hands. “That’s what I feel now. Your magic is pulsing inside you, wanting for you to hit the gas. I’m more like a kitten, looking for a soothing hand.”

  I didn’t know about that. “I can tell you one thing—wild places are magical for me. Making magic will be a whole other problem.”

  Laura snorted. “Here’s the thing about people who own Corvettes. Once they know they can take it out on a curvy mountain road and feel like they’re flying a jet, they can’t stop themselves. You’re going to be surprised.”

  I still wasn’t buying the analogy. “Maybe people who want a Corvette in the first place have trouble holding themselves back, but I never did. A horse is my favorite ride, not a sports car.”

  “Even for people who end up driving a Corvette by accident,” she replied, “once they take their first turn behind the wheel, they’re hooked.”

  “We’ll see. Is this how it’s going to be for us? We’ll disagree about magic?”

  Laura grinned back. “Probably. I can be very annoying when I know I’m right. Just ask Christina or Tess.”

  -o-o-o-

  I DON’T KNOW HOW long we stayed up there. I lost track of time, but when we left, I walked Hercules instead of riding. Plus, I tied my staff behind the saddle and the dead tree trunk. Laura and Tess both had beautiful staffs, and I thought maybe I could carve mine from the tree that had inspired me. It was one way to stay connected to this amazing place.

  As we walked, I asked Laura more about the people in the Boulder clan. “How long have you known Tess?”

  “Since I was a year old. I first met her the day after she was born, and we’ve been best friends for as long as I can remember.”

  “Where’s Christina’s father?”

  Laura was walking her horse in front of me, but she turned around and stared at me for a moment. “Why? Are you worried he might come back and get in your way?”

  I laughed. I hadn’t thought of that, but I couldn’t resist teasing Laura. “I don’t know. Doesn’t seem like you’re planning to call me anytime soon. Maybe he’s still your man.”

  She headed down the trail again. “You can stop worrying. Christina’s father is a famous healer from Chicago. I met him online in a witch’s sperm donor service. I picked him because I wanted my child to be a more powerful healer than I am.”

  “Sounds a bit too much like a stud service for livestock,” I replied.

  Her eyes flashed with anger. “You keep thinking our clan is filled with modern Americans. We only own one TV, and it’s rarely on. We’re actually druids, and our clan dates back two thousand years. We honor the old ways. Marriages were arranged back then to promote great bloodlines instead of waiting for people to fall in love. There’s nothing wrong with strengthening our clan that way. Women in our community only get one or two kids. Naturally, we want them to be as special as possible.”

  Over and over, she surprised me. “Who keeps you from having as many kids as you want?”

  “Kids are a huge financial investment for the community. And most of the boys end up leaving, which is why Diana isn’t going to kick you out anytime soon. As soon as you learn to fight, you’ll become extremely valuable. Tess’s dad moved to San Diego, and t
hey paid him a quarter-of-a-million-dollar signing bonus, plus a twenty grand a month allowance, and free room and board. Not to mention all the sex he can stand.”

  “So, if I manage to survive fights with sorcerers, everybody here will shower me with love?”

  “Yeah, that sums it up. So, train hard, Farm Boy, and you’ll never have to flutter your eyelashes or look handsome again.”

  Things were definitely looking up.

  -o-o-o-

  Brigid’s Community Ranch, Boulder County, Colorado

  WHILE LAURA AND I were unloading the horses at the barn and stowing their tack, she said, “I can hardly wait to see Tess’s face after she touches you. If we hurry, we might catch her in the lounge.”

  Laura was right. We found Tess sitting on a black leather sofa surrounded by kids. She seemed so comfortable around them, including Christina, who was sitting on her lap. They were looking at a picture book on karate fighting.

  Laura and I sat down near Tess, who reached out her hand for mine and smiled. “I feel your power much better now. I’m going to enjoy kicking your ass into shape.”

  I laughed, but I didn’t think she was kidding.

  Laura and I sat down on a sofa across from Tess. Christina came over, hugged her mom, and sat next to her.

  Tess said to Laura, “Don’t make moon eyes at Ian. You’re too good for the likes of him.”

  Laura giggled and leaned against me.

  Tess was probably right. “I can’t do anything useful with magic yet,” I said.

  Laura squeezed my hand as though to comfort me. “Of course not. It’s still early. I’m super-excited to see what your future holds.”

  How refreshing.

  Tess rolled her eyes as Laura, and I stood to go to the cafeteria line for lunch.

  “Don’t get too excited about her,” Tess said to me. “She’s a princess, and she deserves a prince.”

  I agreed but didn’t say that. Once Laura and I had loaded our trays, we returned to sit with Tess. Christina and the other kids left, returning to class.

  As we ate, Tess said, “Diana has decided Ian should work with the livestock.”