Robin D. Owens - Enchanted No More

Amulti-faceted, fast-paced gem of a book.

The BestReviews on Guardian of Honor

This book willenchant readers who enjoy strong heroines.

RT BookReviews on Sorceress of Flight

Fans of AnneMcCaffrey and Mercedes Lackey will appreciate the novels honorableprotagonists and their lively animal companions.

PublishersWeekly on Protector of the Flight

Strongcharacterization combined with deadly danger make this story vibrate withemotional resonance. Stay tuned as events accelerate toward the final battle.

RT BookReviews on Keepers of the Flame

A glorious endto the series.

Wild on BooksReviews on Echoes in the Dark

Other books
available from
ROBIN D. OWENS
and LUNA Books

THE SUMMONINGSERIES

Guardian ofHonor

Sorceress ofFaith

Protector of theFlight

Keepers of theFlame

Echoes in theDark

and the digitalprequel

Song of Marwey

Enchanted NoMore

ROBIN D. OWENS

To the WordWarriors and Lisa (Crash)

Enchanted NoMore

Contents

CHAPTER 1

A late Januarynight, Denver

JENNI WEAVERSSSKIN PRICKLED AS THE heaviness of ancient earth magic crossed her frontboundary and marched up her sidewalk to her front porch.

Adwarf was at the door. The magical kind of dwarf, from the Lightfolk. He waitedfor her to acknowledge him. He could wait forever. She wasnt budging from hersecond-floor office.

Thedoorbell rang, a fruity ripple of notes that shed gotten used to since shedbought the house, and had begun to actually like. She would not open the door.Shed been dodging phone calls from strange numbers for days. The doorbellsounded again. She stared out the window, nothing to see but dark, no moontonight, and her neighbors windows werent lit. The doorbell rang a thirdtime. And the clear phone on her desk lit up and trilled. And her cell in herbedroom warbled The Ride of the Valkyries. She was afraid if she answered thedoor the tune might become all too appropriate.

Sheset her teeth, turned up her computer speakers and continued typing. The finaltweaks to the new little story line for the mass multiplayer online game weredue tonight.

Hercomputer died an unnatural death.

Asupernatural death.

Atouch-of-fey death.

Shestared at it openmouthed.

Theringing and ringing and ringing went on.

Stompingdownstairs in her fuzzy slippers, she peered out the peephole and saw no one,not on the drafty covered porch or the stoop beyond. Definitely a full-bloodeddwarf if she couldnt see him.

Anotherbad sign.

Sheshouldnt open the door, but didnt think the dwarf would go away or hercomputer would come back on until she responded to all the noise.

Hercell tune changed to Hall of the Mountain King. She hadnt programmed thatin.

Hardraps against the doorof course he wouldnt use the silver Hand of Fatimaknocker.

Knowingshe was making a mistake, she opened the door. Recognized and stared down at adapperly dressed dwarf in a dark gray tux. Drifmar. What part of never darkenmy door again did you Lightfolk not understand?

Hesmiled ingratiatingly, addressed her by her birth name. Mistress JindesfarneMistweaver, weve found a pair of brownies whod indenture themselves to you,despite your many cats. A token of our esteem. He swept a hand toward twosmall beingsshorter and thinner than the four-foot solidly built dwarfshiveringin the late-January cold. The long tips of their furry ears folded in forwarmth. Both male and female were dressed only in white shorts and sleevelesstops.

Jennilooked at the goodwill offering. They were scrawny and wrinkled. Their triangularfaces and equally large and usually triangular ears and small vicious pointyteeth made them look as mean as wet cats. They wrapped their arms aroundthemselves and leaned together.

Idont need household help, she said. I am a productive member of humansociety, I have a cleaning team every month.

Youhave a squirrel hole in your eaves above the door, Drifmar, the dwarf, pointedout.

Ilike the squirrel hole, Jenni insisted. I like the squirrels.

Thebrownies perked up.

Thedwarf bowed. Mistress Jindesfarne, we have great problems.

Alwaysgreat problems around. No. She slammed the door.

Hestuck his foot in it and the door splintered. He smiled with naturally redteeth. Now you need the brownies.

Thebrownies were looking hopeful, big brown eyes blinking at her, their thin lipsturning black with cold.

Drifmarsaid, You need the brownies and we need you. Lets talk.

No.

Wewill make it worth your while.

Withjust that sentence he ripped the scab shed thought was a scar off the wound.Hot tears flooded her constricting throat. Her fingers trembled on thedoorknob. No. My familymy once happy, large familytalked with youfifteen years ago. Then we went on a mission to balance elemental energieswhile the royals opened a dimensional gate. My family died. All except herolder brother, who blamed her for the fiasco, but not more than she blamedherself.

Theysaved the Kings and Queens of the Lightfolk.

Idont care. The Lightfolk did not save them. She didnt control her magic, lether eyes go to djinn blue-flame. The brownies whipped behind the dwarf.

Shegot a grip on herself. It was Friday night and the sidewalks had people comingand going. Besides, losing her cool with a chief negotiator of the Lightfolkwas not smart. Most of my family is dead in the service of the Lightfolk. Ihave no responsibility to the Lightfolk at all.

Yourparents taught you better. There was a hint of a scold in his voice.

SinceJenni felt like shrieking again she kept her lips shut on words, breathedthrough her nose a few times, then managed to say, Go away. Never come back.

Youare the only one with the inherent magic to balance elements left.

Hergut clenched. The dwarf didnt have to remind her that her brother was crippledphysically and magically. She remembered that every day and prayed for him.

Shestared into Drifmars pale silver slit-pupil eyes. He could have no power overher, her own eyes were sheened with tears. I am well aware of that. Go away.Never come back and if I say it three it will be.

Wait!We will make you a Princess of the Lightfolk, you will lack nothing forthe rest of your life, your very long life. We need you for just a small job,and its time sensitive so the mission would be for a short time, only twomonths.

Harshlaughter tore from her throat. You cant make a half blood a princess. Againstall your rules. A small job for a great problem? I dont believe you, and twomonths is eighty-four thousand, nine hundred and fifty-nine minutes more than Iwant to spend in Lightfolk company. She looked down her nose. That left youwith one minute. Times up.

Youllhave power and status and money and love, whatever your heart desires.

Idesire to be left alone by the Lightfolk. She flicked her fingers. Go awayand that makes three! She put her fury in it, hurled the magical geasat him, but drew on no magic around her. Not to use on such as he.

Hevanished.

Thebrownies remained.

Themale squealed, What to do? What do we do now?

Jennistared at the pitiful couple. You can come in for the night, I suppose, butjust one.

Theystepped on the stone hearth, then clapped their fingers over their rolled earsand ran back to the far side of the porch. The woman looked at herreproachfully. You have a nasty-sound scare-mouse machine.