Ace of Swords: Tarot Quest, #1

By Michael McClung

Tarot:

Since the dawn of history, the four kingdoms of Tarot have lived in peace and prosperity, guarded by the mystical beings known as the Arcana. But something has changed. Fierce raiders known as Sea Wolves stalk the lands of Tarot, burning and killing. Dark sorcery is at work as well, sowing havoc, ruin and terror wherever it touches. And the guardians of Tarot have not stirred themselves from their home on Mount Arcanum to defend the land.

In the Kingdom of Swords, a simple farm boy named Kiet makes an incredible discovery – one that could save his land from the terrible forces of destruction that beset it, or see him quickly dead. If his epic quest is to succeed, he will have to learn quickly, and stay one step ahead of the many enemies who want to take from him both is discovery, and his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael McClung
• Release date: Mar 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524200596

Michael McClung

Dr. Michael McClung is the founding director of the Oregon Osteoporosis Center. He graduated from Rice University in Houston and from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. After his training in Internal Medicine at Parkland Hospital in Dallas, he completed a fellowship in Endocrinology at the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. He then joined the faculty at the Oregon Health Sciences University, where he is an Associate Professor of Medicine. At OHSU, he founded a clinic devoted to the care of patients with disorders of bone and calcium metabolism that eventually grew into the Oregon Osteoporosis Center. In 1987, Dr. McClung joined the Department of Medical Education at Providence Medical Center where he is actively involved in the training of young physicians. He is board certified in both Internal Medicine and in Endocrinology and Metabolism, and is a fellow of the American College of Endocrinologists and the American College of Physicians. Dr. McClung is an internationally recognized expert in the fields of osteoporosis and bone density testing. His Center has been involved in many of the important clinical studies that resulted in the availability of the medications now used to treat osteoporosis and Paget's disease of bone. He has published more than 200 papers and book chapters, is co-editor of a book for clinicians about disorders of bone and mineral metabolism and is a member of the editorial boards for several journals in his field. Dr. McClung is widely known as an educator, translating clinical research information into practical strategies of evaluation and treatment for other physicians. He is an active member of multiple international societies focusing on bone diseases and their treatment. He serves as a member of the Council of Scientific Advisors for the International Osteoporosis Foundation, on the Scientific Advisory Board of the National Osteoporosis Foundation, and as a medical advisor for the Paget Foundation. He was a member of the World Health Organization Fracture Risk Task Force that led to the development of the FRAX® tool. He is a member of the global advisory boards for multiple companies and organizations. He has served on the Endocrinology and Metabolism Advisory Committee of the FDA and has participated in the development of evidence–based guidelines for the treatment of osteoporosis for several national and international societies.

Book preview

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Tarot Quest: Ace of Swords

Book 1 of the Tarot Quest Series

by

Michael McClung

Copyright 2016 Michael McClung

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For Ryan Patrick McClung,

on the occasion of his eleventh birthday.

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Sometimes we must travel far from those we love

Sometimes we must do things we do not want

And the way can seem all but impossible.

Sometimes we feel like giving up –

But every step brings us closer

And every day draws us nearer

To the end of the quest.

Contents

Chapter One: A Runaway Goat

Chapter Two: Under The Goblin's Crown

Chapter Three: A Hard Time At Home

Chapter Four: Apologies, Gifts, And Advice

Chapter Five: Setting Out

Chapter Six: Shelter From The Storm

Chapter Seven: Discoveries

Chapter Eight: Trouble In Trader Town

Chapter Nine: Preparing For The River Road

Chapter Ten: Training Begins, And Dark Sorcery Follows

Chapter Eleven: Reapers

Chapter Twelve: Danger In The Woods

Chapter Thirteen: The Hoang Rapids

Chapter Fourteen: The Shadow Across The Stars

Chapter Fifteen: Sword Training

Chapter Sixteen: The Battle Of The Neck

Chapter Seventeen: The Shadow Dragon

Chapter Eighteen: The City Of Owls

Chapter Nineteen: The Significator

Chapter Twenty: The Magician's Daughter

Chapter Twenty-One: A Nightmare Visitor

Chapter Twenty-Two: Back To The River Road

Chapter Twenty-Three: The River's End

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Duel

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Slave

Chapter Twenty-Six: The Bone Maze

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Tests Underground

Chapter Twenty-Eight: A Voice Like Autumn Wind

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Ace Of Swords

Chapter One:

A Runaway Goat

Come back here, you miserable goat! shouted Kiet at the quickly disappearing young nanny goat. She had just escaped the pen she was kept in. He had only opened the gate enough for him to slip his own thin body through–or so he had thought. But the nanny goat had shot between his legs like hairy lightning. She was now running off Kiet's uncle's farm, towards the Green Hills. His uncle would be furious if he lost a goat!

Quickly Kiet latched the gate again to make sure no others escaped, and ran as fast as he could after the retreating form of the goat.

Oh, you miserable thing! Come back! But she wasn't coming back, or even slowing down. She was running at full speed, as if all the invaders in Swords were after her. Kiet, as fast as he was, wasn't gaining on her. It was all he could do not to lose sight of the quick little thing.

Kiet glanced at the sun in the sky. It was already the middle of the afternoon. He didn't see much chance of catching and retrieving the goat before dinner, which meant not only would he not get to eat, but also his uncle would be furious that all the afternoon chores would not have been done. He sighed, then decided to save his breath for the chase. The silly goat was running like its short tail was on fire.

~ + ~

An hour later, sweaty and tired and out of breath, Kiet found himself far from his uncle's farm. He was in the Green Hills in a narrow, rocky ravine he had never seen before. Kiet knew the Green Hills well enough, having played there often and picked brambleberries, but the goat had taken so many twists and turns that Kiet was no longer sure just where he was.

Finally it seemed that he had the goat trapped. The ravine was a dead end, and the only way out was back the way it had come–past Kiet.

Ho, now, nanny. That's enough running, he said to the goat in a soothing voice as he approached cautiously, wishing he'd had time to bring rope.

Hesh! Ho, now, nanny. Let's get home.

The goat stared at him with large, calm brown eyes. It didn't even seem tired.

Kiet got within three paces–and the goat jumped straight up in the air. It seemed for a moment to disappear. Then Kiet realized there was a rocky shelf in the ravine wall directly above the goat. The goat was scrambling up what looked to him like an impossible angle, and fast disappearing.

Miserable goat! he cried again, and began to climb after it.

A few minutes later he found himself on the flat, grassy top of a hill, out of breath. His arms and legs were burning from the climb. Ahead, just a few steps away, the goat grazed contentedly in a patch of sun, paying him no attention at all.

He lay down on the grass to get his breath back for a few moments, and then sat up quickly. He had suddenly realized that he didn't recognize which hill he was on, which was impossible. He had climbed every hill within walking distance of his uncle's farm.

Except for one. The Goblin's Crown.

Kiet stumbled to his feet, determined to grab the wayward goat at last and make his way home with it. There were too many stories about the Goblin's Crown for them all to be untrue, and if even one was true, he didn't want to stay here a moment longer than he needed to!

He took one step, and the ground beneath his feet began to tremble. The goat stopped grazing the lush green grass and looked up, seemingly as startled as Kiet felt. Was this an earthquake? News had come from around the kingdom of natural disasters. Floods, fires, terrible storms and earthquakes had tortured the land, of late, but Kiet's village had been spared such terrors–so far.

After a moment the trembling stopped. Kiet held still, and realized he was holding his breath. He let it out with a little laugh. Earthquakes couldn't hear someone breathing, after all.

Slowly the goat lowered her head and went back to grazing the deep green grass. Slowly Kiet started forward once more, determined to grab her and get her back to the goat pen before his uncle went from being angry to being enraged by his disappearance.

As soon as Kiet took another step, the earth shook, much more strongly than before. The goat let out a bleat of terror and bounded away.

Not again! shouted Kiet, and began to run after her once more. But the earth shook even harder–and suddenly the ground beneath Kiet's gave way. He was plunging down into the dark heart of Goblin's Crown hill.

Chapter Two:

Under The Goblin's Crown

Kiet woke lying on his back, in darkness, not knowing how long he had been unconscious or where he was. Thankfully he had fallen on something soft; his questing hands told him it was a pile of soft earth. Still, he had hit his head on something when he fell, or some stone from the earthquake had struck him in the head during the fall, and he had lost consciousness. His head ached.

He realized it was not completely dark. Far above, a little late afternoon sunlight shone down from where he must have fallen. There was just enough light to see that he was in some large, stone space, but it wasn't a natural cavern. The floor was too flat, too smooth and regular. He put out a hand and realized the floor was covered in tiles.

Slowly and with a groan because of his aching head, he sat up and then leaned down to take a closer look at the floor.

The tiles were large, about twice as big as his hand, and each of them was glazed and painted with the symbol of his kingdom: A sword.

Where am I? he wondered out loud.

You are in the tomb of Kiet the Great, first King of Sword.

A tomb! The Goblin's Crown was actually a tomb!

Kiet started in amazement, and fear. Who's there? he demanded.

I am Sword, came the reply.

Kiet scrambled to his feet. Where are you, and what do you want from me?

I am here, the voice said, and a golden glow appeared some distance away. The light allowed Kiet to see something of the walls of the tomb he was in. There were paintings on the walls; murals from the Suit of Swords, the book that told the legends and prophecies of his country. Nearest him, he could see the Ace of Swords, the picture of the legendary Sword of King Kiet the Great coming to the mortal world from a cloud, being held out by a giant, ghostly hand. Next to that one, he saw the picture of the Hoodwinked Woman, the blindfolded woman holding two swords crossed in front of her, the woman who offered King Kiet the choice between success and happiness. Beyond that one he could dimly make out another painting, but it was just too dark to see which one it might be.

He glanced towards the light source. Kiet felt excitement, and a little fear – and then a lot of fear as he realized he had no idea how he was going to get out of this place! Would it become his tomb as well? The tomb of King Kiet the Great, and Kiet the farm boy?

He shook his head to clear away such thoughts and walked slowly through the gloom towards the light.

The voice was silent. He approached the light and could see the sarcophagus. It was a big stone rectangle, about the size of a wagon. On the top was carved the statue of a king – King Kiet – lying in full armor. His eyes were closed, as if he were just sleeping. He had a strong, proud face with high, wide cheekbones and a strong chin. He held in his gauntleted hands the hilt of a glowing sword whose point rested at his armored feet.

Kiet son of Kiet, I recognize your lineage, your family line, said the voice. I have lain here in the dark for centuries, waiting. Now danger stalks the land once more, and a descendant of the first king finds me. Take me up, Kiet, and take me out of here so that we may put the land right once more.

Descendant? What do you mean?

You are the many-times great-grandson of the man whose bones lie beneath me, King Kiet the Great.

How can I be related to the First King? I'm just a goatherd!

Your noble ancestor was a fisherman's son before destiny called. Take me up, Kiet, for the land needs a hero, and a hero of the kingdom of Sword needs a sword. I am yours by right of inheritance. Also, the tomb will soon sink beneath the earth, never to be rediscovered.

What?

Such is the magic laid on King Kiet's tomb. If thieves or dark forces were to enter, I would just remain quiet, and let them be trapped. But you are no thief or pawn of darkness. You are the rightful heir to Kiet's Sword – to me.

Suddenly the whole tomb shook. Dust and loose dry soil drifted down from the gloomy ceiling.

Hurry, Kiet. Pick me up.

If I do, I am supposed to save the whole kingdom from the invaders?

Yes, and from the dark magic that attacks the realm as well.

Kiet shook his head. I'm just a boy. How in the world am I supposed to do all that?

Your age matters not. Your size matters not. All that matters is your determination to do right. As for how, it is simple, though not easy – you must find and bring together all the cards from the original Suit of Swords. I will guide you to them, one by one. Once you have collected them all, no power will be able to stand against you, Kiet.

The tomb trembled again, more violently this time. One thing was clear; if he didn't pick up the sword and agree to try, he was doomed to die in that crypt. But he felt inside himself an eagerness for adventure, and to set what was wrong, right. He just didn't know if he could. But he knew he could try.

"I will