Penny for Your Thoughts

By Gregg Schwartzkopf

While Interloper deals with the aftermath of the enemy’s mind-trap, Cass and Rodger work to untangle the mystery of Joan’s sudden shift in personality. The cynical sophomore has changed into a flirty kitten with a pleasantly surprised freshman boyfriend.
Getting Joan free from the effects of a magical token is just the beginning, as more coins surface, Dream Dwellers manifest, nightmares become real, and the crystal ball that unites the whole team reveals an independent streak. The enemy is preparing for a full scale war and the fate of two worlds depends on the flip of a coin.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gregg Schwartzkopf
• Release date: Nov 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311718198

Gregg Schwartzkopf

For someone who has a great marriage, adult children, three grandchildren, and a stable day job, Gregg Schwartzkopf spends a fair amount of time in realms of fantasy. He's been an amateur magician, role play gamer and, yes, a Mets fan (YOU GOTTA BELIEVE). Recently (that is, within the last decade) he decided to try his hand at creating stories in imaginary worlds that other people might like to share.All of my books published through Smashwords are now listed as Free.

Book preview

Penny for Your Thoughts

Gregg Schwartzkopf

Published by Gregg Schwartzkopf at Smashwords

Copyright 2015 Gregg Schwartzkopf

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, and may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this e-book with others, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to your favorite e-book retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction with all persons, places and situations represented originating in the mind of the author or fictional representations of real places. Any resemblance to real persons, or events is strictly coincidental.

Acknowledgements

Independent authorship is a collaborative effort. I owe a lot to many people, beginning with supportive family and friends.

Thanks are also due to the Backspace Writers Forum for providing a safe place for aspiring authors, like me, to get feedback and encouragement. Particular appreciation goes out to Mimi R. and Tracy H. for beta reading my early drafts and providing valuable suggestions.

I have formed a close partnership with an excellent editor at Kat’s Eye Editing and with an awesome cover artist at JH Illustrations. Thanks again to Kathie and Jeanine

Finally, I’d like to dedicate this book to my parents, Stephen and Teresa Schwartzkopf. Both passed away before I began this series, but I owe much to their love and encouragement throughout my life.

CHAPTER ONE

It seemed I was destined to live in caves, though my current accommodations suffered by comparison to any former residence. This cave reminded me of a prison, possibly because that’s how the Alfarans used it. I was in the Chambers of the Forgotten, an ice cave deep in a forbidding mountain range. In a prior century, a renegade Alfaran Elder was held prisoner here for half a year before escaping, only to return in the present era to be a thorn in our collective sides.

I didn’t know how Torchbearer managed his escape and, in any event, was in no shape to attempt fleeing my circumstance. Watery oatmeal was the only food I could keep down. I experienced periodic anxiety attacks stemming from my recent ordeal. Pride and desperation drove me to experiment with an ancient remote viewing device without thorough study. It turned out to be a trap set by Torchbearer. He seized control of my mind, exposing all of my secrets while preserving his own. He played me for a fool.

My confinement in the Chambers of the Forgotten was preferable to having a mad Alfaran canvassing my memories, but that didn’t make the accommodations pleasant. I went from being under telepathic siege to spending several hours every day alone. After about a week of isolation, I finally had a visitor.

Interloper, do you recognize me?

You might be Rhassa Ulow te Marshwynd or, more likely, one of my hallucinations. I’ve seen many people who can’t possibly be here… my wife, for instance.

I assure you, I’m real. I’ve come to question you.

That’s an improvement. Last time, you came to berate me and make threats.

Rhassa shook her head. This is my first visit since you were extracted from the device in Overwatch Tower.

I considered that information carefully, as I was certain I’d seen her several times in the last week or so. If you really are Rhassa, then you should take charge of the Darkmoon Wardens, because I seem to be insane right now.

As it happens, I’ve already done that. You seem more lucid than the reports from your guards indicated. I need to know what happened to you while you were trapped in the Eye of the Sun. Do you remember?

I tried to focus, but I was developing a bad headache. It’s hard to describe. How long was I unconscious?

It was almost a fortnight, she said. You were under powerful compulsions that took a while to unravel. When you were finally released, you kept raving about the Torchbearer.

Vague memories of a gruff voice and twisted smile flooded my mind and I curled up into a ball for a few minutes. Rhassa did not attempt to communicate during the pause. I finally looked up at her. He’s not what we thought. He’s a lot worse.

Did he talk to you while you were in the device?

I nodded. He did some gloating, but mostly just ransacked my memories. He knows everything now. We have no secrets.

She dropped to a crouch beside me and lowered her voice. You know that if Torchbearer has been inside your mind I can’t really trust you anymore. You could still be under his control.

It was difficult to refute her logic. I wasn’t certain I could trust myself anymore. The traumatic flashes were random and incapacitating. If Torchbearer excavated what he needed from my head, who knew what he might have left behind. I wasn't surprised that the Alfarans decided to imprison me.

I’m curious why Kaviss left me alive, I said, referencing the Elder who was my close, but least trusted, ally. The old crank must be livid.

Rhassa stood up and walked a few paces away. That’s why I didn’t tell him I was coming to see you. The Council put me in charge of the Wardens, but they-- meaning Kaviss in particular-- want you to have no contact with us.

I was confused, which didn’t help my throbbing head. You just said you can’t trust me, so I’d think you agree with them. Why are you defying orders to see me?

She put a single finger in the air. First of all, the Darkmoon Wardens do not take orders from anybody. You are damaged and potentially untrustworthy, but you can still be a valuable asset to the organization. Second of all, you are a sworn member of the Wardens and we do not abandon our own, even when they go mad.

Rhassa was no fool and not a huge risk taker. If she was willing to take a chance on me, there had to be a reason. I sense you have something specific in mind.

Teach me how to use the sodalite crystal for remote viewing.

##

Rhassa escorted me down a short passageway to another chamber no larger than my sleeping quarters. In the middle of this cell sat a block of granite. My crystal ball rested on a cushion of silk atop the stone pedestal.

How long have I been out of commission?

Rhassa did a mental calculation. You were trapped in Overwatch Tower for about a fortnight. You’ve been here a week.

That makes it mid-November. You mean that no one has been in contact with Caswel or my son in all that time?

I’m afraid that’s true. We’ve also lost track of Lynera. She never reported in and Esmeralda Shafil has disappeared.

I fought off another flashback as guilt consumed me. Because of my error in not spotting the trap set by our enemies, I’d placed several people in danger without being able to aid them. I asked Rhassa if she’d received any information from the Realm of Mortals.

She nodded. There is a new moon. Jamil Olcort reported to the Council yesterday and returned to Palmer Park this morning. I’ll get you a transcript of his presentation. Our plan to integrate Alfaran agents into the Mortal Realm is now dividing the Council's opinions. Half wanted to pull the team back home and start again. The remainder felt Caswel’s experience in the Mortal Realm left him best suited to work there. I reminded the Elders that we’d have to bring Rodger Hamilton into our Realm if they chose to retreat. That would raise a lot of questions among the humans.

It would cause many problems for me also. I hadn’t yet confessed to Rodger that I was his father. Doing so after yanking him into an unfamiliar world would be the worst possible timing. I wanted Cass and Rodger where they were, but we needed new ways to protect them.

Do you think the Council will let you keep Cass in place?

The team in the Mortal Realm needs to show progress by Winter Solstice or we scrap the operation and prepare to defend our own territory. I need access to the crystal, Interloper, or I fear we’re doomed to fail.

That’s a problem, I said. The darn thing never worked for the prior Commander of the Wardens. He gave it to me thinking it was worthless, but it responded to my mind right away. I believe it was enchanted by humans.

That would be impressive. Few humans ever master magic. Still, your explanation makes some sense. The only image it would show me was you stretched out in your cell. That’s why I brought it here.

I met her gaze. Are you going to let me use it?

Briefly, and under my supervision.

I stepped up to the crystal and placed my hands on either side. Taking a deep breath, I focused all my attention on a pattern of swirls near the equator of the ball. I thought about Cass in his current incarnation as Cassandra Forest and waited for his image to form on the azure surface of the sphere.

Nothing happened.

I attempted to clear my thoughts, leaving only my desire to see and communicate with Cass. After several minutes a faint light blossomed in the depths of the crystal and a deep baritone voice intruded on my thoughts.

Greetings, Donald Hamilton. I was fearful you’d been lost to the enemy.

I raised my arms and stepped back from the pedestal.

What’s the matter? asked Rhassa. Has it been damaged?

I moved over beside her and whispered, It talked to me.

She placed the back of her hand against my forehead, as she might have with a feverish child. It’s a very useful item, Interloper, but it’s made of rock. Maybe you were telepathically linked to someone.

Rhassa, I’m trying to convince you I’m sane. Why would I admit I heard the crystal talk if it wasn’t true?

She moved in front of me, placing her hands on my shoulders to focus my attention on her and away from the ball. It would suit the Torchbearer to frighten you away from your most powerful tool. Maybe he’s trying to convince you the crystal is possessed. Maybe he left a suggestion in your brain.

I suppose that’s possible. I’ll try again.

I resumed my position next to the crystal and tried to summon a vision of Lynera, who was presumably still in the Realm of Fae. There was a long stretch of inactivity before I heard the voice again. I’m sorry, old friend, but I cannot permit you access just yet. The enemy did tamper with your mind, but not to produce my voice.

My thoughts started racing. Perhaps I’d gone mad and none of this was real. I might never have left my cell. Worse, I might still be stuck in Torchbearer’s trap. Whatever my condition, however, Rhassa would need access to the crystal to complete our mission. I took a chance that at least part of what I perceived was real.

I relinquish my role as leader of the Wardens, I said to the crystal. You work for Rhassa Ulow now.

The voice sounded amused. The Alfaran woman is quite clever, but she cannot use my abilities. She has no soul. It returned to being stern. "Also of note, I don’t work for anyone. Working with you has been comfortable for these past seven years. Your agility of mind and innovative ideas significantly improved the Darkmoon Wardens. The Alfarans will never admit it, but having a human running their perimeter defenses has been advantageous. Up until now, I have acted as your tool in that purpose because it suited my designs, but now our roles must change."

My hands locked on the surface of the crystal and a chill ran through my veins. Who are you?

"I am the enemy of your enemy. I have remained dormant to avoid attracting its attention, but the fiend has damaged you. I need you, and I must purge