Shakespeare's Curse: The Mages' Guild Chronicles, #0.5

By Karen C. Klein

Teneyros is a young and ambitious wizard when he hears rumors that the Elder of Scrolls Anansi is retiring. Anansi loves tricks and wants to see who can play the most devious trick, because that is the person who will win the position to lead the wizards of the world. Teneyros plays this game against his brother as well as their rival, Ben Jonson. Who will win and who will lose? Who will be the Elder of Scrolls?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dancing Dragon Press
• Release date: Jan 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386370895

Karen C. Klein

Karen C. Klein writes fiction and non-fiction in a variety of genres and styles. She is author of Torin’s Legacy, which is the first book in her series Chronicles of the Mages’ Guild. She also enjoys writing short fiction and novellas. In addition to writing, Karen is a keen researcher, with a librarian’s eye for detail. While in grad school, Karen discovered an enjoyment of website design and has experience in web design using the WordPress content management system.  She has experience utilizing search engine optimization and can do so for any content she writes. Karen also has a passion for all things geek culture and co-hosts the podcast, Pages & Pixels: from two geek girls.

Book preview

Shakespeare’s Curse

A Tale of the Mages’ Guild

Karen C. Klein

Copyright Information

Shakespeare’s Curse

A Tale of the Mages’ Guild

Copyright © 2015 Karen C. Klein

Dancing Dragon Press

Cover Design © S.M. Asmussen

Cover Art © Briancweed

This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this book are fictional,and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental. This book, or parts of it, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

To Christina

Teneyros

My brother ensorcelled crowds for money at the displeasure of the Elder of Scrolls. However, he did have a way with words unlike any other. I’ve always lacked my brother’s panache. Of course, if I could wield words the way he did, I would use the power at my fingers as well. Will has never been one to step back from a challenge—even if, in the end, it would be the reason he disappeared from the world’s stage.

Although he would always blame me for the fiasco.

In 1606, Will and I fell out; he banished me from Stratford-upon-Avon. At that point, I’d packed up most of my worldly possessions and moved to the Wilds. I found a nice tall tower with a good view and was sure I’d never look back.

Ten years later, I proved myself wrong.

A quiet rumor went through the wizarding world: the Elder of Scrolls was retiring. No one dared to believe it. He’d been in the position for the last thousand or so years.

Anansi, the wizards’ leader, had perhaps the least enviable job: trying to herd the wizards when necessary. No one really envied him the position, except when they thought of the power. Then wizardly eyes started to go all soft and gooey, sort of like they do when a new lover looks into a partner’s eyes.

In order to confirm the rumor, I broke my brother’s banishment and returned home. I felt the call of home pulsing in me. I needed to hear his voice and to see if he heard the news or not. With great trepidation, I strode into the boundaries of town.

Immediately I felt the magic wrap around me. Will’s wordplay was unique to all—no