Uprooted

By A.C. Wonderland

The town of Eryale is at war with the North. In defence of their hometown, Neil's girlfriend is tasked by her mentor with casting a spell which will determine the outcome of the entire region. But magic requires a price and the greater the spell the higher the cost. Only when Neil visits Elvira at work does he learn of the horrible effect of her spell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 19, 2015
• ISBN: 9781326157111

Book preview

Uprooted

Chapter 1: Forest Magic

The season painted the forest with brushes of amber, gold and maroon. Leaves dwindled down from the branches in a lazy rain which covered the forest floor with a thick and slippery carpet. With great care Neil found his way through the enclosed parts of the woods to the spots he had marked earlier on his map. It was his last spot before returning home to the village.

The forest was the last barrier between the warmongering Altadaireans. After the civil war up North, Altadair had been trying to spread the revolution of magical peoples by merging governments, but Eryale was not willing to lose their independence. Seen as betrayal, Altadair declared war on the settlement. The first wave of attacks caused many casualties on both sides. Eryale had been underestimated because of their size, but their defences were implacable and their combat training a social norm. Now Eryale expected a second wave any moment and Neil’s workload as a barrier warden had doubled.

Last one, Neil thought as he inspected the trap, which was a plant which spread a sweet nectary smell which the forest animals knew to stay clear of. Not only were the flowers highly poisonous, rendering its victims paralyzed for over an hour. It also ensnared whomever or whatever touched its sensitive vines. Its thick leafy limbs which lay in complex patterns around its base would strangle even a full grown mountain Runar. The hairy beasts could grow up to be well over 8 feet tall, and their massive claws would just make it worse, as slashing the vines would only expose the victim to its paralyzing poison.

Neil infused the plant with extra magick to inspire it to grow further. I hope it won’t grow so big that it won’t be manageable anymore, he thought. I don’t know why we keep stimulating