Guy Antibes [Antibes - The Battlebone

By

Guy Antibes

Table of Contents

2019 Guy Antibes. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without the permission of the author.

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This is a work of fiction. There are no real locations used in the book; the people, settings, and specific places are a product of the authors imagination. Any resemblances to actual persons, locations, or places are purely coincidental.

Published by CasiePress LLC in Salt Lake City, UT, September 2019.

www.casiepress.com

Cover Design: www.ebooklaunch.com

Book Design: Kenneth Cassell

Editing: Amy Hoffman

Principal Reader: Bev Cassell

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Another book that started with a title. I was listening to Two Steps From Hell. They compose soundtracks for movie trailers. One of their titles was Battleborn, and I thought that Battlebone would be a great title, so I created book four around a quest for the Battlebone. Jacks errand is a lot more involved than his others, and readers will see why. I set this in an eastern-Asian-based society. I like to use made-up Japanese-style names, so if a characters name is a curse word or something worse, please forgive me. As far as Im concerned, all the names are fictional and made up.

Guy Antibes

Map of Masukai

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C ome into my office, Fasher Tempest said.

Jack Winder sighed. What now, he thought? He couldnt recall any mistakes he had made for the last three weeks. He walked into the office to see Penny Ephram, Fashers apprentice, sitting in a chair with her hands folded in her lap after adjusting the drape of her dark-blue robe. She looked up at him and shrugged. At least that was better than a sneer. Jack stood to bear the news, whatever it was.

Since they fought off the Black Finger Society invaders at Raker Falls, there were a lot fewer sneers. Jack was almost finding Penny to be pleasant, at times. He didnt know if it was him, or if it was her.

I have news for both of you. Fasher turned to Penny. You will be returning to Dorkansee, to the First Ring, and enrolling in the healing institute.

Pennys jaw dropped. Me? Have I done something wrong?

Fasher shook his head. This is a very good thing for you, Penny. I thought I was going to have to bring you along slowly in my practice at Raker Falls since you lacked a bit in magical power. When Jack used you to heal Tanner, it increased your abilities. You werent ready for Dorkansee before, but you are now. I have already talked to your parents, and they want you to go.

Penny looked at Jack with a fearful eye. But by myself?

Fasher smiled as he put his fingertips together. You will find plenty of healing wizards at the same level as you. I have already arranged for transportation. Three days and you are gone.

Jack raised his eyebrows at the surprising development. How long will she be away?

Two or three years. It all depends on Penny.

Jack rubbed his chin. The office wouldnt be the same without them playing tricks on each other, although that had just about stopped, as well.

What about me?

An errand has popped up, of course. This one will take some time.

Jack finally took a chair. Kadellia?

Fasher shook his head. Farther. You will be going to Masukai on the other side of the Middle Sea.

Its below Lajia, I know.

There is another object of power that needs to be found and taken out of the country. I will tell you all about it after Penny leaves. You may take any objects of power that you wish, though. I wont deny this errand may be the most dangerous yet. Masukai is not a kind country for foreigners.

Have you been there?

Fasher didnt respond, and that meant yes, but he didnt want to talk about it.

Jack took a deep breath. Then you have me for a little while. What do you want me to do?

Put everything in order. Fashers eyes brushed past Penny. You are an expert at that, just as you arent in too many other things.

Penny glanced at Jack. He couldnt tell how she felt about the abrupt change. For some reason, he wanted to have a private conversation with her to find out.

Are you through with him? Penny turned to look at Jack and then faced forward angrily peering into Fashers face.

Fasher looked up as Jack stood. We will have time to talk. Fasher smiled, but it was a little more like a grimace that came when you were about to do something you didnt want to do.

Jack plopped down in his chair at his desk in the workroom. He didnt really know how he felt about it all. He had been gone on errands as much as he had spent time in Raker Falls, but Penny was part of Fashers healing work, at least she was to Jack. He would miss her at some level. He was confused as to what level that really was.

He began to work on the chart he put together that matched Fashers fees and their expenses. Fasher had a lot of money stashed somewhere because healing wasnt profitable for him in Raker Falls.

One door slammed followed by another. Penny evidently didnt appreciate the opportunity to learn to heal in Dorkansee. Jack had been to the building where the healers were trained when he checked on a Lajian wizardess during his Serpents Orb errand. It was a nice place. The First Ring was the best place in the best city in all of Corand.

Fasher walked into the workroom and took a chair. He sighed. Jack was familiar with sighing after many encounters with Penny.

She didnt take that as well as I had expected, Fasher said.

Isnt it a promotion? Jack asked.

I tried that on her, but it didnt work. I thought talking to you both would reduce her inflammatory behavior, but it didnt, Fasher said. Ill send Corina over in an hour or so. The thing is, everything I discussed with her is true.

Has her power really increased? Jack asked.

Fasher nodded. It worked with you, he said.

Me? Jack said. He could feel his face warming up. This was something Fasher had never talked about.

To bring Penny around, I had to put a great deal of power through you, but you were already a helper when we met, you just didnt know it. I turned you into something more than a helper, a fact that Im sure you have learned.

Jack nodded. How could Fasher have that much power in him, though?

The wizard continued. The overload expanded her ability to gather magic. That is what defines a wizards power.

So you were right when you just had to bleed it out, and she would wake.

Fasher narrowed his eyes. Of course, I was right. I knew what you had done, using Penny as a conduit for your power. Grishels Feather is a complicated object. It is better used as an object of curiosity in that Grishelian abbey.

If it is so dangerous

Desperate times call for desperate solutions. That is all I will say about that. Lets talk about your errand now that Penny isnt here.

Is it a secret errand?

Fasher snorted. I wish it were. You, Tanner, and Helen will stick out in Masukai. They are darker and shorter than Corandians, but dont let their stature fool you. They are smarter than your average Corandian and have their own ways of fighting. What you will have to deal with is a culture that is anti-foreigner. It is an obsession. Say the wrong thing, and you may have violated one of their many taboos. Some of their penalties are fatal.