Discoveries: Voyages of Fortune Book Zero (A Keepers of the Stone Adventure): Voyages of Fortune, #0

By Andrew Anzur Clement

 An enslaved angel. A forsaken demon. A Key with the power to wreak ultimate vengeance.
Malka's epic quest to protect the Fragment and fight the demonic forces of the Urumi has ended. But life goes on for her and her band as they set off on different paths, linked by time and destiny in this novella of eight short stories, set in the Keepers of the Stone universe:

August 1887 – Malka awakens believing she is in the afterlife. She learns the shocking truth about her Goddess's identity and the cruel fate that now awaits her.
October 1887 – Alone in a dark cave, a scarred Bozhena is about to end it all. She receives a mysterious note from a total stranger. One that gives her new hope – to begin her final revenge on the Urumi's demonic Order and the world.
November 1887– Henry discovers the tragic tale of Natalia's parents. But it's what he doesn't know that could have frightening implications for the fate of Golden Fingers' camp.
January 1898 – An mysterious girl is playing in a ruined castle. She discovers a new supernatural artifact. One entrusted to her by a nobleman caught in a mystic political struggle centuries in the past. Her life is changed forever.
December 1989 – Liza betrays her true nature as a shapeshifter to play a pivotal role in a watershed event of European history. Will she be able to find the courage to confront the horrible consequences and trust again in the human race?
November 2002 – The marooned son of a drug smuggler discovers a supernatural tall ship on a deserted tropical island. A mysterious girl is living on board. Six months later, a shapeshifting cheetah, disgruntled with the realities of urban life, agrees to join their crew of pirates. But can they trust the ship's enigmatic master?

Their paths will cross in Voyages of Fortune: an action-packed, time-travel adventure of self-discovery, as they search for their place in life, while caught in the throes of a thrilling supernatural political gambit that links a castle in the European Middle Ages with a pirate ship on the high seas of 21st century Asia.

Sometimes our closest allies turn out to be our most threatening enemies.

Voyages of Fortune is the sequel trilogy to the Keepers of the Stone fantasy adventure series. It tells the story of an unlikely group of travelers that spans the ages as they are caught in the supernatural thrills and temptations of a power-play that began centuries ago. They must come to terms with the hidden truths of their own pasts as they attempt to come of age in a world where no one's intentions are as they seem, and where time is not always on their side. An enthralling tale that pushes the boundaries of what we can accomplish.

Tags for Discoveries: Voyages of Fortune Book Zero
-Young adult historical fantasy adventure series
-Time travel
- fantasy short stories
-Shapeshifters & Demons
-Magic and Mystery
-Fantasy trilogy prequel
-Pirates

• Language: English
• Publisher: Andrew Anzur Clement
• Release date: Nov 11, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386695943

Book preview

Author’s Note

Dear Reader,

Welcome, or welcome back, to the Keepers of the Stone/Voyages of Fortune universe. Thanks for reading and downloading this eight short story novella. Four of the stories – relating to Malka, Bozhena, Natalia, and Liza – further the fortunes of existing characters from the Keepers of the Stone trilogy. If you enjoy them, or really mind spoilers, you can start reading about their previous adventures here, in Keepers of the Stone: Book One.

The remaining stories set up new characters who will join them in Voyages of Fortune, the sequel trilogy to Keepers of the Stone. Voyages of Fortune Book One: Hidden Truths, is due out April 2018.

Once again, you can get this entire short story novella sent to your inbox for FREE at: https://andrewanzurclement.wordpress.com, no strings attached!

Happy Reading,

Andrew Anzur Clement

The Audience

Malka’s Voyage

Adyar, British India

August 1887

What is going on? Where am I?

Malka sat up, prodded by some unknown force. Her blue eyes took in the room around her.

What is this place?

The subcontinental girl sat on a tan couch in an unassuming Victorian-style parlor. Deep blue drapes framed square-shaped windows. Blinds were drawn across every one of their panes. A grand piano sat before the fireplace, which looked as if it had never been used. The room was a few degrees warmer than…wherever I was before.

The girl’s eyes set on a small icon that rested upon the fireplace’s mantle. She drew in a sharp breath. It was the image of a dark-skinned woman holding a small child. Two scars marred the left side of the older figure’s face.

Malka stood up; her blue eyes widened. The girl’s memories returned in a deluge:

The battle at Jasna Góra. My fight with Zaima. That icon became Shakti. She beckoned me towards her. I bid farewell to Henry and leapt....

The realization hit as if someone had dropped the parlor’s piano on her head.

I should be dead. Or in my next life. Or... I do not know what.

Malka looked down at her body. She wore a light, flowing white dress. Her skin tone appeared the same as before. She lifted her left wrist: the Sign of Aghasi remained tattooed on her appendage. The native of the subcontinent shook her head. Her body did not appear to have changed, though the sash she’d been trained to fight with for most of her life was missing.

The blue-eyed youth tentatively began to turn her head to the space behind her.

Either I did not perish or this is whatever happens after....

Malka stopped in mid-motion. She let out a gasp. A dark form occupied the space in front of a closed doorway. Instead of the amorphous blur of an Urumi’s figure, the form carried distinct facial and muscular characteristics. Malka could scarcely fathom that this was happening, but she found herself standing in the presence of her Black Goddess.

"Step forward, Malika," the figure rumbled in a deep but feminine voice.

Malka rushed toward her deity. The last Master of the Thags’ Sect fell to her knees at the figure’s feet, breathing in short bursts.

Shakti! My Goddess! I have accomplished the quest you entrusted to my people. Her voice shook with a mixture of fear and awe. I am honored to find myself in your presence. But, where have you brought me? Is this the afterlife?

No, Malika, the figure intoned. But when I called you to the icon, you began a new existence.

My Goddess, forgive me. I do not understand. I still appear the same. My memories remain unaltered.

You are now one of us, Malika.

The dark form began to glow until it was almost white. Its figure morphed into that of a brown-haired, light-skinned woman while retaining the same general facial features. Her flowing white dress was identical to Malka’s. The woman’s eyes glowed as blue as the Thag’s. She addressed Malka with a calm authority.

I am called Zitar. After you leapt into the conflagration at Jasna Góra, your essence coalesced here, most likely because you are descended from my lineage.

The Thag shook her head.

Zitar? You are Shakti?

The light-skinned woman smiled slightly. I appeared to your Sect’s founder in the dark form I showed you, yes.

Malka took in a breath. The girl prepared to prostrate herself.

Zitar sighed slightly. She turned and stepped toward the doorway, undoing the lock and opening the door as she reached it.

Walk with me.

Looking up at what she assumed to be her Goddess’s true form, Malka complied. The two of them walked down an unadorned white hallway and then out onto a stone veranda. Beyond it, a collection of buildings and pagodas was interspersed between various types of unkempt tropical foliage. The Thag’s eyebrows rose; she realized that she’d been here before, during her adventures with Stas around Madras. This was the Theosophical Society’s complex in Adyar.

I see you recognize it, Malika, Malka’s Goddess spoke beside her. Arunesh and I now use this as a base of operations. I will take you to him. There are things of which you must be made aware.

Zitar eyed Malka with a curious stare. The Thag bowed in reverence. The two of them made their way down three short steps onto a gravel path lined with short palms. They passed a few more majestic trees and began to round a bend. The garden’s foliage grew denser.

My Goddess, forgive me once more. May I ask why you call me Malika?

As I’ve told you, your life as a Thag is over. There can be no going back.

But, Goddess, I am still the same.

That, Malika, is the crux. Your essence has changed. Who you are remains unaltered.

The Thag’s brow furrowed; the two neared an open-air pagoda that stood in a clearing. Inside, a longhaired, gaunt-featured man appeared to be lecturing to a group of individuals who sat on the floor, ankles curled beneath their thighs. Like Zitar and Malka, he was dressed completely in white.

Seeing their approach, Arunesh dismissed his pupils. Zitar and Malka entered the outdoor space.

I see she is conscious, the gaunt-featured being said.

Yes, Arunesh. That much is obvious.

Have you told her?

No. Not all of it.

I see.

Malka continued to look at the being she regarded as a deity.

Told me what, Goddess?

Her question went unanswered.

The gaunt man’s lips formed a thin line. He made a gesture to where the path continued on the far side of the pagoda. The three of them stepped down, back onto the gravel.

Arunesh set off down the path. He began speaking immediately. You may have gained our abilities. However, as far as we are concerned, that does not make you our equal. We remain the leaders of the Society and expect you will do as told without question.

Of course. The Thag did not bat an eyelash. I would never presume to claim the same status as Shakti or her counterpart. I shall serve you as best I can. Once I tell Henry and Liza that I am alive, I am certain they will be more than willing to continue….

Zitar cut her off. No, Malika.

You will tell no one, Arunesh snapped on Malka’s other side. Only high-ranking members of the Society are aware of the nature of our existence. The penalty for divulging the truth without our express permission is death. Your old life is behind you. Now, you follow our instructions.

I am sorry, Malika. Zitar shook her head. Your friends must remain under the impression that you perished during the battle.

The Thag’s own features mirrored Zitar’s gesture. Her expression went from one of awe to one of noncomprehension.

What about Liza? She is part of the Society. May I at least be allowed to appear to her?

No, Arunesh snapped. She works for us purely on a need-to-know basis, as do all those indentured to us.

But why?

Zitar sighed. Secrecy is of the utmost import, Malika. We have rules in place to ensure information remains guarded. Our experience has shown us that outsiders cannot be trusted. We used to share what we knew more freely, centuries ago. But a couple we trusted betrayed us, and we lost an incredibly powerful object. Their true ends with it remain unknown.

Zitar… Arunesh warned, considering his counterpart to have already divulged too much.

Why does that mean I can’t tell Liza or Henry I am all right?

You have no need to know, Malika. Arunesh sounded slightly peeved as he responded to the questioning he’d just forbidden.

The Thag took in a shocked breath. She turned to Zitar.

"But, Goddess. Do you not trust me and those I traveled with? We fulfilled the quest you entrusted to my Sect. I contained the Fragment; I was prepared to lay down my life for it. We would never betray you. What reason have I given to make you