Maddy Dune's First and Only Spelling Bee

By Patrick O'Sullivan

Maddy Dune's First and Only Spelling Bee

 

A dozen of the best young spellcasters in the land. The heir to the throne, determined to beat them all. And Maddy Dune, a half-human enchanter who'll settle for getting through the competition without killing anyone.

 

This story was first published in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 27.

 

 

Uncle Leo caught her sleeve. "You don't have to go in there."

 

Emma brushed a tear from Maddy's cheek. "You're as human as the rest of us."

 

"I'll look for you in the audience," Maddy said. She squeezed her uncle's hand. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed her sister's cheek. She ran her fingers through Madame Aubergine's luxurious fur.

 

Rookhaven caught her earlobe and pulled her close. "Kill them all."

 

"I'll settle for out-spelling them," Maddy said. She didn't have to listen to that little voice inside of her that whispered loud enough for her brother to hear. She didn't have to kill them all.

—Maddy Dune's First and Only Spelling Bee, by Patrick O'Sullivan

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dunkerron Press
• Release date: Oct 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781625600028

Patrick O'Sullivan

PATRICK O'SULLIVAN was the OHL and CHL rookie of the year in 2002 and the AHL rookie of the year in 2005. He remains the all-time leader in games, goals, assists and points for the Mississauga/Niagara franchise in the OHL. He played 334 games over eight seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild and Phoenix Coyotes in the NHL. He played in three World Junior Championships and is all-time second in games played for the USA in tournament history. He scored the gold-medal winning goal for the United States team at the world junior championships in 2004, the first gold medal in the team's history. The 30-year-old now lives in southwest Florida with his wife and two sons. GARE JOYCE is a senior writer for Sportsnet Magazine. A former writer for ESPN: The Magazine and The Globe and Mail, Joyce has won four Canadian national magazine awards and been a finalist 21 times. He is author of seven books of sports non-fiction, including When the Lights Went Out, Future Greats and Heartbreaks and The Devil and Bobby Hull. Under the nom de plume G.B. Joyce, he has written two mystery novels, The Code and The Black Ace.

Book preview

MADDY DUNE’S FIRST AND ONLY SPELLING BEE

by Patrick O’Sullivan

Maddy Dune’s First and Only Spelling Bee

MADDY LEANED HER WEIGHT into the massive door of St. Anselm’s Orphanage and shoved. It shoved back.

Isn’t anyone going to help me with this? Her ridiculous family shuffled their collective feet.

I don’t like the smell of this place, Uncle Leo said. He mounted the stairs with a rolling gait as if he were still parading the quarterdeck of a ship.

I don’t like the looks of it. Emma mounted the stairs as well, wicker cat-basket in hand. Maddy’s sister ran a gloved fingertip across the door latch. Rather shabby. She pursed her lips and studied the resulting grime.

Kill them all, her brother Rookhaven croaked. He hopped once on Maddy’s shoulder before he hammered his grey-black beak thrice against the door.

Do you have anything to add, Madame Aubergine? Maddy said. Her father’s familiar sprawled languorously in the cat-basket. The blueblack cat knotted a paw and steel claws gleamed in the dim lamplight. Madame Aubergine began to clean the fur between her toes.

A key scratched in the lock and hinges grated in the damp evening. The gas lamp above the doorway gave body to the shadows as the door moved inward a hand’s breath.

A rusty voice called out. State your name and purpose.

Maddy Dune, here for the Spelling Bee.

There was the sound of rustling papers, of labored breathing, of a pen scratching on parchment.

No Maddy Dune listed.

Madeleine Dune, Maddy said. Of Mundane House.

We have a Madeleine Oortsgarten-Quille.

That’s me, Maddy said. Adopted daughter of Eusebius Quille and Nadine Oortsgarten, both away on business. That Quille was away seemed bearable; when he was home he was never fully there. But Nadine. She had promised to be here for the Spelling Bee. She had given her word.

Very well. The door crept open with a squeal. "You may enter this