Angar: Demons of The Turning

By Michael Wolfgang Weaver

In a world of too many magics, Angar, the adventuring barbarian, finds himself on a scavenger hunt for a holy man, looking for some artifact known as Failing's Digit. He arrives in a seemingly peaceful sea-side town and is almost immediately hurled into bloody conflict with the Emperor's Carbon Knights. These mysterious enforcers are hunting a wily phantom known as Gall-Dern, who means to disrupt the status quo by supplanting the prevailing magic with his own. Gall-Dern hides out by jumping from his weird caravan cabinet into the body of a boy and stealing aboard a ship called the Blazing Star. The captain of this ship, Captain Dirriza, is hoping to get through one last mission, earning enough to buy her own craft, but when the phantom and his flunkeys take over, sacrificing an innocent forester, she can see no course but to destroy the Blazing Star. When Angar first meets her, he's rather taken by her beauty and guesses immediately she's a princess in disguise. He sees to the hacking of the knights, thus attempting to free the captain's sailors from the phantom's mind control, while the captain herself sees to the possibly burning of the ship. She is attacked by the Carbon Knight's Inquisitor, and is seemingly defeated, just as Gall-Dern uses his Magic of The Turning and a magical object to transform a lackey into a fearsome beast. The Inquisitor's attack awakens long-dormant powers in Captain Dirriza and she sets the ship ablaze without really trying, though she does aid Angar in killing the beast and rescuing the boy. Unfortunately, during this rescue, Gall-Dern leaps into Dirriza, and, using the artifact, he/she transforms the remaining lackey. As Angar battles this latest creature, the wife of the sacrificed forester accosts the captain, taking Gall-Dern from her. Angar's struggle with the beast covers air and sea, with the barbarian finally eviscerating the thing and sending it to the depths. The woman Gall-Dern inhabits somehow succeeds in getting him, and herself, back into the weird cabinet, possibly lost forever. The captain takes this cabinet, hoping to learn its secrets. Angar takes the magical object, certain it is Failing's Digit, and departs the seemingly peaceful sea-side town.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Wolfgang Weaver
• Release date: May 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311845481

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Angar

Demons of The Turning

By Michael Wolfgang Weaver

Copyright 2014 Michael Wolfgang Weaver

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Contents

Roach-N-Pigeon

Angar

Dirriza

Gall-Dern

Blazing Star

New Magic

Failing's Digit

Demon

The Turning

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Roach-N-Pigeon

A dead horse was unwelcome on the square at any time, to be sure, but this was Market Day, and peaceful Arstipath was aswarm with people, all of whom would grow less than peaceful should they be accosted by a swarm of flies.

An ancient, bearded man wrangled a chain weighing more than he, wrapped the dead animal about hoof and neck so that his own horse might drag the thing onto a sledge, and thus away to the ravine. He worked as quickly as his old bones would allow, glancing about frequently, as if he worried he was moving to slowly.

The dead horse was brown, emaciated, and newly dead, having just that morning pulled a certain festooned vardo to the edge of the square. Once released from harness, the obviously ill beast had simply wandered a few paces and laid down. He was certainly tired of his master's shows and clearly meant to experience not one show more.

Rise up, friends. Break the chains of the mind and you shall be free! The tall, red-robed Saipon stood upon the rear gate of the festooned vardo and hollered at the crowd. I offer clarity, friends. I would not advoke sedition. I abhor the very notion of revolution. Simple clarity. That is all. Once you have experienced Equalbrio, the miracle elixir, you will see things as they truly are. See the world as it truly is. You will know true freedom for the first time.

Most patrons of the Arstipath Market paid him little heed, though a few, maybe a score, had gathered before his colorful waggon at the edge of the square and seemed quite taken with the promise of Equalbrio. Every town had at least a few who were.

One in the crowd was not so swayed, however. He was Polkim, and he had arrived early enough to witness the poor horse's demise, and now made his presence known:

Fa Jylutes!

Surprised at being named, Fa Jylutes scrutinized the gathering. He spied the ragged and rough Brynox mossbiter, with the two long knives strapped to his back, and a grimace of recognition slithered over his face. Polkim knew Fa Jylutes was quite content to never lay eyes on him again, but Fa Jylutes, always aware of his expression, quickly forced a welcoming smile. Polkim. My friend. How is it you find yourself in Arstipath?

Polkim crossed his sinewy arms. I would ask you the same.

Surely, you did not follow me all the way from Stesrev Waste?

Probably just a coincidence, Polkim said coldly, letting Fa Jylutes know by way of his expression that it was most definitely not a coincidence.

Fa Jylutes let his smile falter a bit. You will allow me to buy you a drink or two, I hope. Once I have aided these good people, of course. And readied myself for travel.

You don't have a horse, Polkim said. I think you can buy me that drink or two right now.

There was anger in his voice and it caused a stir in the crowd. Those not so rapt exchanged glances and wandered away from the waggon. A dozen remained, and a lanky, straw-haired fellow placed a kind hand on Polkim's shoulder.

"Let him finish, forester. He brings a