Mage

By Diane J Cornwell

Never admit to seeing ichur, the silvery residue of magic spells. Not if you want to stay under the radar of the Councillors of Convane.

Dallas Wood, his guard Misty Locke, and their tracker mares sail across the strait to Hinton Island on his first journeyman judge circuit. All he has to do is judge local crimes while looking for proof of a rumoured God of Orphans and missing children.

Dallas’ dragon friend, Longflight, decides to visit Hinton Island with Dallas and Misty, even though Hinton Island does not like Convane mages or dragons.

Mage continues the adventure after Judge ended, including mages, dragons, tracker horses and magic spells.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tift Publishing
• Release date: Feb 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781311154828

Diane J Cornwell

Diane J Cornwell learnt to read before she started school at the age of five. At school she learnt to write the words she already recognized. She loved going to school. When she was asked to write a story on her holiday activities, Diane wrote a story on what she wanted to do, not what she did, and earned an “A” grade for the homework. That started her on a life of writing fiction.A bi-product of all that reading was creating her own stories about determined characters who try to make the right decisions the first time during their adventures. Stories she can read over and over again just for the pleasure of revisiting the characters.Diane wrote her first full length novel in 2007, and hopes to have many more stories created in the coming years.

Book preview

MAGE

By

Diane J Cornwell

Book Four of the Tracker Series

Mage

Copyright © 2017 by Diane J Cornwell

All rights reserved.

Published 2017 by Tift Publishing at Smashwords

Book and cover design copyright © 2017 by Tift Publishing

This story is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. All rights reserved.

Tift Publishing

http://www.tiftpublishing.com

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 person. If you are 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

Table of Contents

Copyright

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

About the Author

Discover Other Titles

Chapter 1

Dallas smiled at the image Swift sent him of Longflight, with wings slightly spread and four clawed feet planted on the wooden deck at the bow of the barque, next to the anchor crane.

In the image, Longflight stretched his long neck over the bow so his jaws were just above the waves spraying against the wooden side of the barque.

In fact, Longflight had changed to Lance an hour before they all boarded the barque for the trip across Craggy Strait to Hinton Island. However, he did stand at the bow, arms folded, and feet planted on the deck, swaying with each roll of the deck.

Dallas noticed the occasional thin heat haze that hovered next to Lance’s head and shoulders, caused from Lance’s magic spell to hold himself in human shape, with clothing.

Lance ignored the salt spray when waves broke over the bow, and ignored shouts from the sailors as they worked to alter the fore and lower fore brace pendants to keep the square sails full of wind on the foremast. His focus remained on the high cliffs of Hinton Island.

Dallas could not decide if Lance enjoyed the rolling deck or if he longed to change back to his dragon shape and soar high above the cliffs.

That would be unwise because even though the war was long forgotten by Hinton citizens, they still found dragons flying around their island home abhorrent. And Dallas did not want anyone to be forewarned of his official visit.

The shifting deck worsened as the barque sailed closer to the high cliffs.

Dallas bent his knees slightly to keep his balance as the barque rolled through another swell.

Dallas had left his vest off when he dressed that morning before riding to Mireland’s port, because he remembered the humid heat from the last time he visited Mireland. It had been autumn then. Now it was summer.

He hoped Misty and Lance were as pleased as he was when, after suffering through five hours of almost unbearable heat while the barque wallowed between waves since they sailed out of Mireland port, the cool ocean breeze finally blew strong enough to move the barque at a steady pace.

Even with the cool breeze, Dallas still sweated. He thought about removing his shirt, to help cool his sweaty skin but decided not to. Better to get used to the heat and humidity before he debarked at the port.

While he waited, out of the way between the mizzen and main masts next to his dun tracker mare, Swift, he took pleasure in the look of enjoyment on Misty’s face.

Misty rested her forearms on the rail behind the forecastle, next to the damper for the brace-booms. She also leant over the rail to watch large fish swim beside the wooden vessel.

She still wore her vest over her long sleeve shirt. But then, she was raised at Edgewood, on the eastern side of Leyland, so was used to the movement of sailing vessels and ocean breezes, if not the energy sapping heat and humidity.

Sweetie, her dun tracker mare, stood next to Misty, and also watched the large fish swimming alongside.

Swift, used to sailing after their trip from Mireland port around to Edgewood two seasons ago, waited patiently beside Dallas. Ears pricked forward to help her hear the calls from the sailors, Swift raised her head to better view sailors climbing the masts. She remained unfazed by slapping ropes and creaking sail yards and decking.

Dallas glanced across the ocean towards Hinton Island as soon as the ship rose out of a trough between two rolling swells. Tall cliffs loomed closer each time the ship crested another swell. Almost there.

He knew Hinton Island was next to the equator, which meant it would remain hot once he debarked at the island port. He needed to purchase light weight clothes for both Misty and himself as soon as they landed, because their normal clothes would not be suitable in the heat.

The deck rolled again through the next swell then levelled.

All the sails on the mizzen mast snapped as the wind filled each sail. Then the main and fore mast sails filled and the ropes snapped and stretched as the wind filled them.

The captain shouted and sailors hurried to carry out the orders.

Swift flicked her ears back when two sailors moved too close.

Relax, Dallas said. They need to adjust the sails as soon as we tack east.

Misty laughed at something, then straightened and hugged Sweetie’s neck.

Dallas smiled at her show of happiness. He never realised she would be so pleased to receive the dragon shaped listening talisman Farsight gifted her when she first arrived at the dragon hold. He should have realised she longed to receive Sweetie’s thoughts, just like he received Swift’s thoughts in his mind as images.

Now Misty had the listening talisman, she acted more confident in her ability to communicate with Sweetie. Or it might be that Misty was more confident since she paid off her indenture to Mage Vince.

And more relaxed around him. Which he appreciated, not that he planned on telling her.

When Misty raised her hand to brush her hair off her face, he noticed her bare forearm. He also needed to purchase another bangle to replace the one that broke when she fought and killed Mage Cyro Haman. It should not be too difficult to locate a false talisman bangle as soon as they docked, and spell it once they left the port heading west along the coast. And he would make sure to set the spell so no other mage could use it to trap him again.

Wind blew Misty’s dark hair back across her face. Instead of brushing it off her face again, Misty turned her face into the wind. Her hair blew away from her eyes and mouth.

The deck shifted again. Misty gripped the rail one handed to keep her balance, while she kept her other hand on Sweetie’s neck. She noticed Dallas watching her, and gave him a quick smile.

The deck tilted again. And stabilised as the captain navigated around the point and turned the barque west again, heading into the bay towards Hinton Island’s port.

Swift shifted slightly as she regained her balance, so Dallas patted her neck, more to keep his own balance then to reassure his mare.

Sailors finished lowering the top sails on the masts, leaving the lower sails to carry them to the fast approaching wharves.

Small skiffs and row boats moved out of the barque’s path as it sailed closer to the wharf.

The heat returned as soon as the cliffs blocked the ocean breeze.

Sailors hurried fore and aft, ignoring Dallas and Swift.

Misty walked Sweetie along the deck near the side rail towards Dallas.

Better back here out of the way, Misty said.

Sweetie lipped Misty’s shoulder, so Misty moved closer to Dallas.

I think we should wait until the other passengers debark, Misty said after she glanced at the opened doorway under the forecastle deck.

I demand to see the captain now!

Dallas agreed with Misty’s comment when he heard the loud nasal voice of the Findon Ambassador, Nolan Pasher.

He met the ambassador when Pasher boarded, just after dawn.

Dallas took an instant dislike to the man.

Even though the ambassador dressed well, he tended to wear lace on his shirts and coats, and he had the bad habit of rubbing grease in his long black hair until it shone, and spraying a strong perfume on his neck and wrists, that smelled of sweet lilies. The cloying smells of grease and lilies forced Dallas to remain upwind of the man.

Dallas glanced up at the captain on the forecastle deck, shouting orders to his sailors to lower the last of the sails.

Finally the black haired Findon Ambassador walked out of the shade onto the deck and turned to look up at the captain on the forecastle deck.

From where he stood, Dallas realised all Pasher could see was the captain’s back with his long blond hair held in a clasp at the base of his neck.

Captain Walter, I demand your attention now! Ambassador Pasher glared up at the captain’s back.

The captain kept his attention on manoeuvring his ship close enough to the wharf so his sailors could throw ropes across to the waiting wharf crew.

Two of the ambassador’s aides hurried out of the doorway and stood next to the ambassador. One spoke in a whisper. The ambassador ignored both of them.

Another five minutes passed while the ship crept close enough to the wharf for the sailors to toss coiled ropes towards the waiting men. Each rope was caught and swiftly wrapped around the closest waiting post.

The sailors pulled on the ropes until the side of the barque bumped against the wharf.

While they did that, other sailors tied down the last of the sails.

Captain! The ambassador ignored his own aide, who tugged on the lace around the bottom of the Findon Ambassador’s waist coat. I demand your sailors search this vessel for Mint!

The wind carried the perfume and grease smells towards the front of the vessel, away from Dallas.

Lance caught the smell carried on the breeze. He unfolded his arms and slowly walked along the deck close to the rail until he was down wind of the ambassador.

Lance stopped beside Misty. Pleasant trip.

Long trip, Dallas suggested to Lance.

Relaxing, Misty added with a smile, until he started shouting. She glared at the ambassador’s back.

Either of you know who Mint is? Dallas asked Lance and Misty.

Lance shook his head, then turned to study the port buildings, which were a mix of several solid adobe buildings with tiled roofs close to shore, and island huts further up the slope.

Each hut had palm leaf coned roofs resting on wooden supports with woven mats hung around the sides. Dallas decided the huts would be much cooler than the solid buildings.

No, Misty said. If I was Mint I would keep well clear of Ambassador Pasher. She touched the handle of her long knife with her right hand.

Dallas hoped she did not find a reason to kill the ambassador before they debarked. He decided to divert her attention away from the annoying male. Are all Findon males as arrogant and offensive as that one, or is he an exception?

No. Misty answered. Even the women are the same. They view everyone not born on Findon as servants or slaves, only alive to do their bidding. She dropped her hand off the handle of her long knife. The only time they act normal is when they are setting someone up to take the blame, in case their plotting and plans backfire.

The walkway planks dropped into place.

Two sailors hurried across to the canvas covered cargo waiting behind Dallas and Swift.

Dallas moved forward, closer to the main mast to give them room to unload the cargo.

The captain finally walked to the edge of the forecastle deck and looked down at the waiting ambassador. What is your problem?

I seem to have lost my pet, Mint. Ambassador Pasher said. I demand your sailors stop what they are doing and find her for me. He waved his lace covered wrist towards the sailors removing the canvas covers.

The captain sighed. You assured me your animal was caged. Captain Walter looked at his crew carrying barrels off his ship. You will have to wait until my crew offload the cargo. You can search for your pet, but keep out of the way of my crew. The captain turned his back on the ambassador and walked forward, out of sight.

Sir, the shorter of the two aides said, please wait here while I search again.

Ambassador Pasher flicked his fingers towards the aide. The aide hurried back through the opening under the forecastle. Another flick of his fingers moments later sent the second aide after the first.

Dallas assumed they would search their assigned room below deck.

What sort of animal was it? Misty looked down the side of the deck, even though she did not know what to search for. Could Sweetie and Swift sniff out the animal?

Dallas looked at Lance.

Lance watched two skiffs sail closer to the ship, ignoring the activity on board.

Dallas checked the cargo pile. Only two casks remained, along with several hemp wrapped bundles.

Sailors returned and hefted the two casks and hurried back to the wharf.

Last of the casks offloaded. We might be able to debark before the bundles, Dallas suggested.

I hope the captain calls us soon, Misty said, I decided we should not search for the Findon pet. They can waste time searching. After all, they lost it. Misty frowned at the ambassador.

What is it? Dallas studied the over dressed, obnoxious male.

Findon citizens never do anything without an ulterior motive. Misty looked at the forecastle doorway. I wonder if he deliberately let his pet loose. She shrugged. I can’t think why he would release an animal on board. Why not wait until he debarked?

What sort of animal was it? Dallas reached for Swift’s reins, ready to lead her off the ship.

Before Misty answered, the captain called to Dallas. Ready to leave?

Yes, Captain. Dallas led Swift forward. What was the animal that escaped?

The captain shook his head. A pest! Nothing but a pest!

A rat? Dallas could not understand why some people made pets out of rats.

No, the captain explained. A lizard. Frill neck that flares up before it attacks. And will eat both crops and animals. In fact they eat anything they can chew. They are banned from most ports, killed on sight.

Lance stepped forward. An agama?

The captain nodded.

Bad! Lance looked around the deck. We need to kill it before it gets ashore and lays eggs.

He only had the one, the captain said. Need two to breed.

Lance ignored the captain. Swift! Sweetie! Find the agama!

Dallas flipped the reins over Swift’s ears and across the saddle, out of his mare’s way.

Swift walked towards the rear of the vessel, head down, sniffing each step she took.

Sweetie watched Swift for a moment, then walked towards the bow of the ship, also sniffing the deck.

Misty raised her eyebrows and smiled at Dallas. She was not happy with waiting, unless she was planning her next assassination target.

Go with Sweetie. He laughed.

Misty, still smiling, drew her long knife and followed Sweetie.

Dallas noticed the Findon Ambassador slowly edged towards the plank. Why would he leave before he found his pet? Stop that man! Dallas shouted at the closest sailors.

The captain heard Dallas’ warning and shouted at the same two sailors. Stop him!

Ambassador Pasher leapt onto the plank and ran across to the wharf. By the time the sailors reached the rail opening, Pasher was half way across the wharf.

Both sailors stared at the greasy black haired male.

Pasher raced towards a waiting black carriage.

Don’t watch him, the captain yelled at his sailors, catch him and drag him back.

The sailors leapt across the gap onto the wharf and raced towards the black carriage.

Pasher disappeared inside the black carriage, and the driver yelled at the four horse team as he flicked the reins. The horses pulled and the carriage rolled down the wharf.

Both sailors stopped and looked back at the captain.

Leave him. The captain waved his arm, indicating the two sailors return to the ship. He turned back to Dallas