Mirazdan's Mirrors

By Seth Giolle

Angelina's on a routine visit to Iroquois Falls. Little does she know that the cities are on the march, and one such army has its sights on Iroquois Falls; only, they're locked on a long siege, nothing short of extermination. First on their list are Angelina, Gordon, and Simon. And anyone who stands in their way. Angelina won't let that happen, but is she willing to become what it takes to survive a war? What side of this war will she choose? Is there another choice where peace is still an option?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 18, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387675586

Seth Giolle

Seth Giolle was born on a small, rural farm in southeast Ontario. After Travelling throughout Canada in all its splendour, he once again makes Ontario his home.

Book preview

Mirazdan’s Mirrors

Future Kings 

 Book 9

By Seth Giolle

Other Books in the

Future Kings Saga

Stalkers

Kasheteh

Canchock

Sides in a War

Casting Shadows

The Karzalean Key

Lost Idols

Mirazdan’s Mirrors

Marbles

Sweet Dreams

Simon

Colours

Mirrors

Reverse Cast

Sandbox Fun

Reality Check

Resociation

Dream Walk

Evening up the Odds

0001

Marbles

Chapter One

Angelina’s pace was anxious. It had been too long waiting. What was keeping Gordon? Maybe they’d gotten some spies inside and taken him hostage. Or done worse.

The world around her was still a stable grey. It was a smoky mental projection used for group spells and meditations. In this case it was being applied for communication, but that didn't matter. She’d cast her mind out there. He’d responded, and she’d opened this link.

So where was he already!?

She dropped her head back, running her long brown hair behind her ears. The eighteen year old also took in a long, held breath. It wouldn’t do any good to get all flustered, not yet. There was enough time for that.

A braid would be good.

Gordon was late. She could take the time for distraction, so she considered her hair and decided she needed a braid – when she was out of projection at least. There was nothing she could do until then.

Her green capris were loose enough. She’d used some cotton plants and synthetic fibres from her pack to weave them. They fit well for give but not too much. Her beige top was almost a cloak with its billowed sleeves and v-neck. The back collar that stood up was just fashion, for the moment.

She hadn’t decided if she liked it yet.

Any distraction only lasted so long, and her mind drifted back to the current situation. If they’d grabbed Gordon, she’d show them the meaning of pain!

There was a shift in the grey at last, and Gordon took shape. A dark blue line ebbed outwards, grew legs and arms, then a head. The colours and details just appeared at once after that.

Angelina would have strangled him for worrying her if she wasn’t so happy to see he was fine. What took you so long? Her tone might have come out more irritated than she’d planned.

I couldn’t find the marble, the fourteen year old groaned. You’re going to need to enchant another item for me, something larger that won’t roll out of my fingers maybe, he added sarcastically.

Angelina considered an equally sarcastic response, but there wasn’t time. And she could never stay angry at Gordon for long. But she did eye his clothing closely. Noticing this, Gordon curled his upper lip, hands on hips.

Go on, get it over with.

Angelina decided to offer him mercy, for the moment. He’d told her the Raiders, those clans that had moved in and taken over Iroquois Falls after their departure those years previous – he’d told her they’d crafted a town mage costume for him, but he hadn’t described it.

The black pants weren’t too bad. The blue top looked like it was heavy cotton. That had to be warm on such a hot day, but even that was workable. The treaded knee and elbow pads, spiked shoulder pads, and bright red sash were a little much.

I told my parents I’d give it a try, Gordon rued, sneering, for a day.

How many hours ago was that?

Gordon did the math in his head. Five hours to go.

Angelina nodded. They’ll be long hours. He smiled and bowed mockingly. I’ve got bad news.

Is it the fires?

Fires? Angelina shrugged. What fires?

Gordon thought a moment before stepping closer. He waved his hand between them. Capri.aschille.IroquoisFalls, he muttered.

Iroquois Falls took shape from the grey matter, its town wall outlining the jagged town limits. It still had its entry points top right and down left, also top left. The wall and its town basically bowed in between.

The mill and old museum part way down on the right side of town had been destroyed for a new structure, a gladiator-type arena that created a bulge on that side of town. Angelina chose to ignore that development too. Gordon would either agree that such a building and past-time was wrong, which would result in shame or guilt, or he’d support the brutal distraction, which would leave her working hard to not slap him until he saw reason. That also wouldn’t help produce anything helpful just then.

We’ve spotted fires south and southwest of town, Gordon noted, kneeling, pointing to three points, red flares, small campfires popping out where he pointed. We sent scouts, but they’ve not returned.

I’m up here, Angelina put in, a miniature green figure now standing north of town, in the old buildings where we first met StarBen. I’ve got at least twenty-five soldiers behind me, back about a hundred feet. There were a few more joining them when I called you, so numbers may vary.

Will they find you? he asked, worried.

Angelina smiled smugly. Not until I want them to. It isn’t this group that’s the worry. I overheard them talking to someone else. They’re just the first units of a much larger host.

Gordon swore. Angelina hadn’t heard such words from his mouth. Hanging around with Raiders was a bad influence on him, but then again, she was feeling some of those words too.

We’re sitting ducks here, he groaned, damn it! I told my parents to build out more, extend the wall, more fortification, more underground bunkers, something.

There was something in his voice. It wasn’t just random preparations he was rambling about.

You expected this? Angelina prompted. He couldn’t have warned her? She’d expected a peaceful trip to collect the artefact some of the Raiders had dug up on a tour, if that’s what they called it. She’d figured her discovery north of town would have been alarming. But he had the fires, and he’d expected this!? Again, he couldn’t have warned her?

Gordon blushed, wiping his face with his hand. Sorry, guess I forgot.

Yeah, she snapped, you did.

She crossed her arms.

There’ve been rumours for a while, he conceded, licking his lips and avoiding eye contact a moment, but I didn’t give them much heed.

What kind of rumours?

The bad kind, he joked sourly, the cities forging out with armies to take over the smaller communities and wipe out all the Raider towns that have popped up.

Which would be you. Angelina closed her eyes.

Gordon scowled, gesturing wide as if to suggest he couldn’t have helped it. They won’t civilize any faster than what we’ve got, okay? I can’t change them much. They are what they are.

The battle stadium?

Angelina had tried to not bring it up. She really had, but while he was on the topic of civilizing the Raiders, well, it had just popped up, and it was out now.

The fourteen year old ground his teeth a moment. They need a venue to wear off their energies, Angelina. They were taking it out on each other which was starting small clan wars, which wasn’t helping anyone.

Angelina stifled a quick counter. It wasn’t her town anymore. She’d finally let that go. She lived up north now, and she was good to abandon all ownership of Iroquois Falls.

That didn’t mean stupid moves still didn’t get to her.

It was different for Gordon. He lived there half the year when not training up north, and his parents were in charge. Their lives were held in the balance, perched atop the precarious peace garnered within those walls.

Did Gordon have a tattoo? She didn’t know why, but she’d just suddenly noticed red lines wrapping around both sides of his neck. Gordon had a back tattoo!?

That was enough to shock her speechless.

Gordon took advantage of the moment.

They’ve been moving slowly, he explained, pacing a few steps, taking their time, and I think they’ve been restocking units from each town they take over. That’s the only way they could still be on the move and winning.

And they’re winning? Angelina checked, rubbing the bridge of her nose.

He had a tattoo? She had a tattoo, a small butterfly. That wasn’t the point. Gordon had a tattoo? He didn’t change in little ways. Maybe that was the real shocker.

After their vacation to South America, and Africa, things had gone quiet. He’d accepted the new wife, not that they even lived in the same apartment. Apparently she had a horrible laugh and made fun of everyone she felt was beneath her, which was everyone.

Angelina figured Gordon was overdoing the details. He liked girls just fine. She’d been there when he’d been ogling those women down south. His libido was healthy, but he didn’t know this girl, and she was suddenly his wife, a part of every town meeting and appearance, for presentation’s sake? She was likely unruly and demanding, but was she really as bad as he said? She figured not.

Still, since then, on subsequent visits north he’d been practising at creating flame and ice weapons by design. The next trip north he’d given up his staff for medallions woven into his sleeves, a big change for someone who’d been dependant, and expert at, talismans of all sorts since they’d started their training years back.

Now tattoos? No medallions in his sleeves, so maybe he’d taken back his staff. Or he’d gone for ink? Were they ink talismans? StarBen hadn’t mentioned if that was possible. She’d have to ask him.

Visions have been unreliable, Gordon grumbled. "One time, it