Return of the Vibrius: A series of short gaslamp steampunk adventures books exploring a magic future world, #2

By Leeland Artra

A conflict that changes the world.

She'll risk her life for scientific freedom but what about her family and crew when the church threatens her with heresy? Janali, a repressed genius, secretly conducts forbidden scientific research. The months of ridicule about her "failed" experimental ship design appears over when, miraculously, the Vibrius is sighted returning home. The ship's arrival with its mysterious cargo puts Janali in a dangerous position of having to defend the ship against the imperial inspectors. Worse, the church accuses the crew of heresy for their claims they've gone beyond the edge of the world and back.

If you like steampunk with magic and other elements of fantasy, science fiction, and thrilling tales, then you'll love the fast-paced short novel adventures of the Endless Horizons Sagas, written in true homage to the pulp science-fiction classics.

Don't miss out on the exciting adventure grab Return of the Vibrius now to learn what happens!

Interview with the Author

Q - So, what makes the Endless Horizons Sagas so amazing?

A - These are fun, quick short novels. Each one a tip of the hat to one of the greatest science fiction and fantasy classics of all time. This is a gaslamp steampunk world with magic, dragons, and a mysteries for our heroes to unravel if they want to live. There will be everything you expect in a steampunk novel airships, super science gizmos, steam-powered gear head machines, plus dragons, magic, and some rather surprising super science fiction elements by the end. By keeping the novels short I've made sure every drop of ink counts and there's never a dull moment.

Q - Are these books safe for middle school students, aka teens and tweens?

A - Absolutely, there is no explicit details or bad words. Adult subjects are there but dealt with in a tween safe way. I write all my books to be easy-to-read, quick paced, fun reads for teens to adults who want to live in a world with wizards and warriors!

Q - What order should I read the books in?

A - These books are a series so I recommend the sequence:

1. Impossible Paradise
2. Return of the Vibrius
3. Center of the World
4. In Service to the Empresses
5. Murder in Transit
6. Rule of Ladies

Q - Why should readers give these books a try?

A - Because the Endless Horizons Sagas are short novels and quick reads that are thrilling and fun to read. They'll fire your imagination and take you to a wondrous world of science and magic!

And thanks for reading!

Endless Horizons Sagas eBook Categories:

• Science Fiction - Steampunk
• Fantasy - Gaslamp
• Fantasy - Action & Adventure
• Fantasy - Epic
• Fantasy - Paranormal & Urban
• Literature & Fiction - Action & Adventure - Sea Adventure
• Teens & Young Adults - Science Fiction & Fantasy - Steampunk

• Language: English
• Publisher: Leeland Artra Author
• Release date: Sep 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393207306

Leeland Artra

Leeland Artra is a science fiction and fantasy junkie turned author. He's also a Navy-trained computer scientist, an experienced table-top gamer, and a "code janitor" working virtually in the big three clouds. So yes, his work is to clean bits of imaginary systems running on simulated machines in pretend computer centers. So making up entirely imaginary worlds and adventures is not that much of a stretch. By day, he helps keep people healthy and secure. By night, he takes readers on fantastic trips of the imagination through the worlds of his books. He lives in the Emerald City (Seattle) with his indulging incredible wife and never-ending inspiration inspiring son. Join Leeland's Star Seeker community for free at https://reamstories.com/lartra where you can chat with other readers, Leeland himself, and get peeks at his works in progress!

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

JANALI JEDALOR

Lady Janali Jedalor glanced at the door, warm light from the gas-lantern reflected off the angled brass key, assuring the bolt was engaged. A second glance out her tall fourth story frosted windows, yielded no sign of intrusion. For a moment, she held her breath listening intensely. A whirring came from the spring driven magnetic stir, a soft hiss from the tight blue flame of the hand-torch she held, the hall clock clicked-clocked as its weighted chains slowly played out to the pendulum’s motions, and a breeze rustled the snow covered branches of the tree that just touched a window.

Bending over the lab bench, she controlled her breathing and willed her hands steady as they held the welding torch and solder. The blue flame heated the eyepiece setting. A curl of heat signaled the metal was at the right temperature. She touched the brass solder to the joint. The solid solder wire flashed into liquid, flowing into the seam. Biting her tongue, she applied the precise amount of solder needed to hold the adjustable loupe selector.

Although solidly bonded, it wasn’t enough. She’d broken a magnifier loupe and was forced to polish scratches from the other loupes when the mounting broke the week before. Regarding the neat instrument she’d built, she shook her head. She wanted to be conducting experiments with what little free time she stole, not repairing her custom tools.

The lost week to replace the broken loupe could have been avoided if she dared. She considered the repaired bracket. She knew how to make it indestructible. Straightening her back and shoulders she took another quick look out the window. The yards remained empty.

Drawing in a deep cleansing breath she closed her eyes. She imagined herself opening to the Star Empresses. Moving her hands slowly in a gathering motion, she pulled the ambient energies into her core. The power was warm and filled her with a joy she couldn’t explain. Every time was like the first. She continued to gather power until the sensation of it in the center of her chest began to burn uncomfortably.

She couldn’t hold the energies for long.

Her fingers rested on the hot metal as she concentrated on the image of the bracket’s parts flawlessly joined. The moment of clarity came, she released the energy with a soft exhale.

Given a path and purpose, the power surged through her arms to her fingers into the bracket. The metal flashed white casting minor shadows on the walls. Removing her fingers, the brace glowed a soft white faded to blue and then looked ordinary in the span of a few seconds.

The parts were no longer separate pieces soldered together. Now they were seamlessly melded brass as if hand-tooled from a single cast rod.

She picked up the eyepiece, examining each of the eight magnifying loupes. The supporting pin, another artifact of her application of the Star Empresses’ powers, would bend but never break. Even if bent fully back on itself, it would snap back straight. The mounting brackets were tightly holding the lenses. She couldn’t find a visible seam even under her thick magnifying glass.

A satisfied breath filled her lungs, quickly stolen by another glance into the yard, ensuring she wasn't observed.

CHAPTER 2

SURPRISING VIEW

Janali shivered and shook herself physically to push away morbid imaginings. She hadn’t been caught in three years. As long as she remained vigilant, she would be safe to conduct her research.

The replacement device fitted perfectly onto the repurposed welding goggles. Placing the goggles over her head, she experimented with changing out the loupes. The loupes moved to her lightest touch, flipping effortlessly between combinations exactly as she desired.

It was early; there was time to test the magnifying loupes with her other invention, the telescope. She moved to the back of her lab. A wide set of glass doors opened out onto her balcony. A wood and stone tea bench rested comfortably just inside, providing a means to enjoy the view during inclement weather.

Before opening the doors, she touched three camouflaged switches on the mahogany panels of the tea bench. The bench’s stone top rose smoothly on polished brass pressure pistons. The secret compartment held her personal telescope in its purple silk pillowed hollow. She kept this one for herself and made sure never to suggest a superior telescope to the ones her family provided the military existed.

She slid her hand tenderly over the polished wood and brass. Her family was profiting from the manufacture of lower quality telescopes for the military and well-to-do members of society. Even the success of the telescopes did nothing to convince her mother Janali’s time would be better spent in research.

Telescope in hand, she stepped out to her high balcony, taking in the magnificent vista of the capital city harbor and open seas to the north. Her breath produced steam vapors, and she took in a deep breath of the crisp winter air. Her skin prickled against the cold. But the golden sun was bright in the cloudless blue sky, and its light warmed her enough she didn’t need to retrieve a coat.

She paused briefly, considering the irony the balcony represented. Without her sister’s attempted slight of assigning Janali the boarded up, rear-most estate buildings for Janali’s new offices, Janali would never have spent hours taking in the view from this balcony. Without this view, she wouldn’t have wanted to see further than humanly possible. Without that desire, she wouldn’t have invented the telescope. Without the telescope, she wouldn’t have discovered she could observe all the great trade houses’ private shipping yards below. Without knowing what each great house was trading, she couldn’t have made so many bold and successful ventures for her house. Without the