The Daughter of Geth, A Prequel to The Guild Series

By John Joseph Doody

“I am Morning Toill, the daughter of, Geth—the last of his powerful children. Today the Thieves Guild pilot will come to see me, just as I have dreamed--my dreams are always true. He is the one they will call Lazarus, but he will not accept it when I tell him so. The tale of Thad Cochran begins here with me, and I will show him what is coming. A bloodthirsty one he will one day be, and not even his love for Maggie Thorn will keep him forever on the path of peace. One day soon, the Thieves Guild pilot will face his destiny...at a faraway place called, the North Ridge. There the avenger will confront the dreamer, and only the spirits know which one will prevail.”
Thus begins The Guild Saga which continues in The Wonk Decelerator, The Late Great Benjamin Bale and The Return of the Crimson Witch.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eTreasures Publishing, LLC
• Release date: Nov 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781942391258

Book preview

THE DAUGHTER OF GETH

by

John Joseph Doody

Published by eTreasures Publishing, LLC at Smashwords

ISBN 978-1942391-25-8

Copyright 2015 John Joseph Doody

All Rights Reserved.

Cover Artist: Suzannah Safi

Illustrations: Kerry Doody

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any format or by any means without express written consent from the publisher. This book in electronic format may not be re-sold or re-distributed in any manner without express written permission from the publisher.

First Publication, November 2015

Published in the United States of America

Published by: eTreasures Publishing, LLC

4442 Lafayette St.

Marianna, FL 32446

http://www.etreasurespublishing.com

This book is entirely fiction and bears no resemblance to anyone alive or dead, in content or cover art. Any instances are purely coincidental. This book is based solely on the Author’s vivid imagination.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Prologue

Morning Toill

The old woman woke in her rocking chair and rubbed her eyes. A yellow sliver of light shone through the narrow window onto the old plank floor of her tiny home in Geth’s eastern city. She stood and shuffled, bent at the waist, to a little table with two chairs where she performed her magic and read futures for paying customers.

She sat with a grunt, lifted a flowered box from beneath the table, and then hoisted it above her head and shook it. She set it on the table and opened it. Peering inside, she gasped. Today is the day. I didn’t realize it had come so soon.

Struggling to her feet, her back crooked and bent, she stared at the floor. As she hobbled to the splintering plank door, the boards creaked beneath her. She dragged the door open on its rusted hinges. Outside, the Geth sun had risen above the leaning stone buildings, and her alley was empty of passersby.

Enjoying the quiet, she crooked her weathered face up at the green sky, and the silhouettes of the six moons peeked from behind a bank of white clouds. Yes, he will be here today. I am certain.

Dirt crunched under hurrying feet and echoed against the stone buildings. She cast an irritated glance in the direction of the intrusion. A young Gethite with long, tangled hair, wearing a jacket fashioned from animal skins, and a pair of hide boots, hurried toward her direction. Many workers in the downtown market took this shortcut from time to time…the bravest ones only.

He slowed when he spotted her, and then he hesitated, as if he considered turning back.

Read your future, young Gethite in my alley? A hundred thousand krachnards.

He shook his head. I have no money, mother. I’m just trying to get to work in the city, and I’m late.

She hissed. Then I’ll curse you for disturbing me.

He chucked her a coin, and it landed near her foot. She scooped it up from the stoop, eyed it, and stuffed it in a pocket of her black dress. The next time you pass through my alley, bring me the rest of my hundred thousand krachnards, or I’ll curse you. She let out a long, bubbling fart and put her hands on her hips. Someone’s playing my song. She cackled.

The young Gethite scurried down the alley.

She cocked her head and peered at the sky. The Thieves Guild pilot is coming. My dreams are always true. Dancing a jig, she sang, I’m so pretty, oh so pretty…

You’re really not that pretty. A small girl wearing a worn but clean brown dress to her ankles stood before her.

The girl stood barefoot, and she had probing green eyes and silky hair. The old woman had seen her many times before, crossing her alley, but this was the first time she spoke to her. I’m a man magnet, small fry. How old are you?

Twelve…going on thirteen. The girl frowned. Does it hurt to be bent like that?

The old woman shook her head and farted.

Can you do that anytime you want?

She smiled slightly Why are you sneaking around my alley?

The girl frowned. My papa says your name is Morning Toill. You’re a witch…maybe the last witch on Geth. He says to stay away from you, and not to make you mad or you’ll curse me, but I don’t think he really believes in curses. I’ve watched you threaten to curse people, and they give you money. I think your curses are real.

I’ve seen you many times in my alley, and you have never spoken to me, the old woman repeated, her voice cracking. Why today are you speaking to me?

The girl stepped closer and opened her hand. She carried a gold coin. I’ve worked very hard to save this much money. I want you to curse someone for me.

Who would that be?

A boy, she said. He called me ugly, and he spat on me. His name is Jaffe Lod, and I hate him. I want something terrible to happen to him.

What is your name?

Elle Aliee.

Does your papa wear merchant’s clothes and work a produce stand in the center market?

She nodded.

I have seen him once or twice, and he is a decent man, even if he doesn’t believe in my curses. I will not curse the boy.

The girl clenched her fists. Why not?

My curses never lift, Elle Aliee. Your hatred for the boy is wrong. I sat on the lap of my father Geth, and he taught me that a curse outlives a change of heart, so I am very careful who I curse.

Elle Aliee’s eyes widened. You knew Geth? How old are you?

I don’t know my age. The old woman frowned. He kissed my cheeks every night at bedtime when we still lived in the palace. The place is long gone now. She farted. That was an accident. Take your money and give it to the family of Jaffe Lod. This will solve your problem.

Elle