Curse Breaker Books 1-3: Curse Breaker Boxed Sets, #1

By Melinda Kucsera

Curse Breaker Books 1-3 features the first three books of the Curse Breaker Series in one action-packed book full of found families, reluctant heroes, and magical mayhem in one boxed set. 

Curse Breaker Enchanted

Sarn wants to be like everyone else, not a mage with a power he can barely control. But he must hide his magic in a country run by a group that wants to destroy all magic.

But that magic comes in handy when he wakes up far from home with only his cloak to protect him from monsters and murderous trees. How will Sarn return home in time and unravel the dark conspiracy that's destroying it before his son pays the ultimate price? 

Curse Breaker Darkens

When a disembodied voice warns him that a demon is after his mage, Jerlo sets off to find the man who could summon it. He swore an unbreakable oath to protect Sarn, no matter the cost. 

In a country run by a group that wants to destroy all magic, mages and demons shouldn't exist. But they do, and Jerlo's in a fight, not just for his life but for his soul. Even if he risks both, how will he save Sarn without magic? 

Curse Breaker Faceted

Sarn spies on the men responsible for his best friend's death with his young son in tow. And those men are hunting for magic-stealing rocks to fuel a zealot's quest. When their greed leads them into a forbidden cavern, they release an ancient monster, and it's hungry for a certain mage and his son. Who will survive the dark terror lurking under the mountain?

Curse Breaker Books 1-3 contains the first three books of the Curse Breaker Series: Curse Breaker Enchanted, Curse Breaker Darkens, and Curse Breaker Faceted. It's an epic fantasy adventure starring a loving father, his young son, and the people and monsters that dwell in an immersive world of intrigue and adventure. Get Curse Breaker Books 1-3 now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melinda Kucsera
• Release date: Jan 2, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201753016

Melinda Kucsera

I write fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories usually at sword point. Everyone should have such eager characters......Hello readers!Yes, this is a fictional character speaking to you. My fellow characters just locked our scribe (Melinda) in a tower. She needs to finish our latest adventure.Want to meet us? Hop on over to get our first adventure for FREE: http://www.mkucsera.com/enchantedWe’re eager to entertain you with our magical mayhem. So go download our book! We're waiting for you.

Book preview

Copyright

Curse Breaker: Enchanted © 2016 by Melinda Kucsera

Curse Breaker: Enchanted [The More Epic Version] © 2017 Melinda Kucsera

Curse Breaker: Darkens © 2017 Melinda Kucsera

Curse Breaker: Faceted © 2017 Melinda Kucsera

The cover is © by Melinda Kucsera 2022

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Table of Contents

The Curse Breaker Series

Dedication

Want Free Stuff?

Would You Leave A Review?

CURSE BREAKER ENCHANTED

The More Epic Version, Revised

Part 1: Betrayed

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Part 2: Haunted

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

CURSE BREAKER DARKENS

For Whom Darkness Calls

Before We Darken

Into Darkness

Someone Else’s Problem

A Man Set Apart

Who Is Your Master?

A Child Caught Between

A Will Caged Is A Will Sundered

The Twice-Dead Still Breathes

In These Dark’ning Times

In Darkness, She Binds

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend

CURSE BREAKER FACETED

Prepare to be Fascinated

Magical Spies

A Ghostly Surprise

Follow That Woman

Promises, Promises

Whispers in the Dark

Party Crashers

Weaving Fates

Scheming Seekers

Ghosts & Ghouls

Beastly Banners

Dryskellion Standoff

The Magic Wants Us to Go That Way

Bad Bargain

Darkness Rises

Bear Will Save Us

The Ægeldar Unleashed

Bear to the Rescue

Don’t Call Her

I Believe in You

Oh, How They Glitter

Dueling Queens

Hope Hangs by a Root

Why Have You Abandoned Me?

Light Circles Round Us

It’s Not Over

Would You Leave a Review?

Characters Speak

Scribe’s Note

In Memoriam

We’d Love to Hear from You!

The Curse Breaker Series

The Curse Breaker Series

A high-fantasy action/adventure series full of magic and mayhem with a Christian bent.

Other books in the Curse Breaker Series:

(Suggested Reading Order)

Prequels

RELIC HUNTER

Main Series

CURSE BREAKER BOOKS 1-3

(Includes Curse Breaker Enchanted, Curse Breaker Darkens, and Curse Breaker Facete)

CURSE BREAKER BOOKS 4-6

(Includes Curse Breaker Falls, Curse Breaker Sundered, and Curse Breaker Hidden)

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER BOOKS 1-3

(Includes His Angelic Keeper, His Angelic Keeper Hidden, and His Angelic Keeper Fallen)

SPELL OF SHADOW & LIGHT

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER: TEMPTED

CURSE BREAKER FALLOUT*

CURSE BREAKER TRAPPED*

CHAOS RISES*

*Forthcoming

Dedication

For my sister, Carolyn, your last request is fulfilled.

Rest in peace.

"O Guardian most dear,

Hold those loved and lost near,

Shield those who live from fear,

Always be with us here,

O Guardian most dear."

— Traditional Shayarin Prayer

Want Free Stuff?

So do we! Who are we? We’re the stars of the Curse Breaker series. Subscribe to our newsletter to get advanced previews, and our weekly adventure series delivered safely to your inbox by our digital dragon. Go to  www.mkucsera.com/welcomecharacters now to sign up.

We’re also on Patreon, and we offer a lot of goodies to thank you for supporting us. Join our community of fantasy fans now on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bePatron?u=6244689 to get copies of our books before anyone else and exclusive content. 

--The cast of the Curse Breaker Series

Would You Leave A Review?

As fictional characters, we appreciate the feedback we receive. Reviews also help readers choose our book. Since we exist only when someone’s reading our stories, reviews are very important to us. So, if you’re enjoying the magical mayhem in this book, please consider letting everyone know by leaving a review. And tell everyone you meet about us.

Thank you for reading Curse Breaker Books 1-3!

CURSE BREAKER ENCHANTED

MELINDA KUCSERA

The More Epic Version, Revised

Hello Readers!

We, the characters who starred in the original book, wanted more magic, action, drama, and mayhem. Hey, we’re readers too, and we wanted our story to be as epic as possible, so we convinced our Scribe to do a ‘More Epic Version,’ or MEV, as we like to call it.

MEV, (the More Epic Version), had more of everything we love. But it still wasn’t right. We searched high and low for the answers and went on many side quests (which we chronicled in our weekly newsletter adventure series. You can sign up for that at mkucsera.com/welcomecharacters).

One day, we realized the truth. Curse Breaker: Enchanted isn’t one book. It’s two books.

But those two books had spent three years together as one book, and it didn’t seem right to separate them. So we didn’t. Instead, we changed the formatting to make it clear where one book ends and the next begins. They’re labeled as parts since we have always published them together as one book. We also had each part re-edited, and you are hopefully reading the final edition.

We’d like our Scribe to work on the next story arc and leave this one alone. There’s some cool stuff sitting on her PC, and we’d like to get that into your hands.

We hope you enjoy both of the books that make up Curse Breaker: Enchanted!

— the cast of Curse Breaker: Enchanted

Part 1: Betrayed

Sarn had a lot of power, but no one would let him use it. That was before a man he’d swore an unbreakable oath to serve betrayed him and left him for dead.

Now, Sarn’s lost with only the clothes on his back and the magic in his veins. But he’s not alone. An evil entity has infiltrated the enchanted forest, turning its protective power against the people of Shayari, and it’s between Sarn and his family.

They might be in danger too if this menace reaches the mountain where they live. How will Sarn reach them in time?

Chapter 1

Sorry, Sarn said as he collided with someone burlier than he was. The unlucky passerby struck the magical field that always surrounded him and hopefully bounced harmlessly off it.

But Sarn couldn’t stop and check. If he did, someone might see his green-glowing eyes and report him. Magic was illegal, and he had far too much of it running around inside his too-tall body. Enough to warrant the death penalty if anyone in power ever found out.

Delve down deep. Delve into the roots of the mountain, urged the magic sharing his skin.

Why? Sarn asked his magic without breaking stride. He had to reach his master before the next bell rang or else. Sarn checked the map scrolling across the back of his eyelids, seeking a convenient gap, but saw only a thousand—

Nine-hundred and nine, snapped his magic after performing a quick count of the people icons crowding his head map, which it maintained.

Whatever, Sarn shot back. There were way too many people between him and his goal, forcing Sarn to slow down, so he didn’t mow down everyone in his path. Why do you want me to go downstairs? My family’s down there. Are they in trouble? Fear gripped Sarn as he patted the bodies ahead of him, searching for a way through.

The Litherians—his magic said as if the name of that long-vanished race explained anything. But his magic seemed to think it did.

Not that again. Sarn shook his head. The Litherians were a bunch of stone mages who’d carved out a city inside the cone of a mountain, and their statuary fixation complicated his commute.

Sarn cursed at a wall of bodies, halting his progress. They funneled through a narrow gap between two giant statues ahead. At least that’s what the icons on his map said they were doing.

While he waited for the crowd to move, he might as well find out why his magic cared about the builders of this place. Why are you interested in the Litherians? They’ve been dead for centuries.

You could find out what happened to them, his magic taunted, but it didn’t offer a reason for Sarn to care.

The Litherians likely lost their way in the maze they’d left behind and starved to death. But Sarn didn’t feel like arguing with his magic anymore, so he kept his theory to himself. He needed to get to work, not search the bowels of the mountain for clues about a legendary race of dead mages.

Besides, someone might hear him talk to himself and get the wrong idea. Sarn felt a break in the crowd ahead and squeezed through it, only to walk into another man. Sorry, sorry, Sarn hurriedly apologized, but the crowd still hadn’t moved. What was the holdup now?

Unnatural! screamed his magic.

Sarn ignored it as another gap opened to his left. He slipped through it, but only gained a couple more feet toward his goal. Damn, this was taking too long. More grumbling accompanied Sarn. It was likely the same warning again. His magic liked to repeat itself until he gave in to its demands or something distracted it.

What do you want me to do? Sarn asked his magic when its grumbling continued. It was a low but insistent drone sawing on his last nerve. Sarn didn’t care if the people he squeezed past heard him talk to his magic. He just wanted it to shut up, so he could concentrate on locating his master before the next bell rang. I can’t just drop everything to find the unnatural thing upsetting you. I have somewhere I have to be.

His magic didn’t care about the oaths he’d sworn until it had to enforce them, and it would if he didn’t hurry. His overactive magical gift pressed against his closed eyes, begging for release. Well, he’d show it who was boss. Sarn pushed his magic down while he felt for a way past the bodies in front of him, but his hands just encountered more people, and none of them were moving—double damn.

Unnatural! His magic pulled at him, knocking Sarn off balance.

The ground trembled, and nine-hundred people panicked. Okay, fine, nine-hundred and nine, Sarn corrected himself when his magic protested. It didn’t like inaccuracies of any sort.

Shouts of earthquake finally motivated the crowd to move. They shoved past, jostling Sarn in their haste to exit this tunnel.

If this was an earthquake, then he had to go back. I must save… Sarn slammed into one of those damned statues before that fearful thought could complete. Those oversized marble annoyances were everywhere he turned, surrounding him. His cloak caught on one, and Sarn tugged it free. Had he wandered into an installation? He must have because stone-cold hands brushed across his burning eyes and the magic fighting to escape his hold, and that power ignited a fierce green blaze inside him.

Let us out! His magic pushed against his eyes, opening them as Sarn stumbled into the cold, hard arms of another statue, and they closed around him.

A slice of white marble slashed across the emerald glow, wreathing a sea of heads. No! Sarn squeezed his eyes closed and tried to slip out of the statue’s grasp, but its hand squeezed his arm. No. Sarn had to get away. I must save… that thought cut off as his awareness winnowed away. It shrank down to the stone hand, grabbing his hand as his knees buckled.

Where the hell were his damned gloves? Sarn had promised to wear them all the time. Why hadn’t he put them on?

Let us out, begged his magic as Sarn slid away.

His awareness seeped out of his ungloved hand into the statue holding him, then into Mount Eredren itself, and finally beyond it to the darkness reeling Sarn in as a dozen voices repeated five unintelligible syllables—eam’meye erator. They hammered a warning into his fading consciousness.

Wrong, wrong, wrong! shouted his magic right in his ear as the world blackened and silence fell. But Sarn still didn’t know what was so wrong.

***

The ground stilled, calming the crowd. No one saw a statue pivot on its plinth and deposit a shaking young man behind its base. Nor did anyone see a green glow snake down his scarred cheek when his seizure ebbed.

***

Sarn woke up in the corner. Magic blanketed him. Maybe it had protected him from discovery, but he doubted it. How long had he been lying there?

Long enough for the mountain to calm down and the crowd too, by the sound of it. Just in case it hadn’t, Sarn kept his eyes closed to conceal their emerald glow, so he didn’t freak out any of the people passing by his hiding spot, and his magic didn’t fight him. That was a pleasant change, but it wouldn’t last. His magic was contrary by nature, and he was borrowing trouble again.

Sarn put those thoughts out of mind and hoped his family was okay. He had no way to know if they weren’t. He couldn’t go to them, not while the oaths he’d sworn tugged at his mind and changed every thought to what he should do—find his master, a Ranger called Nolo. But his family—Sarn sat there torn between his duty and his family as conflicting promises warred within him.

May the Fates protect his family until he could. Sarn pressed a hand to his aching brow and winced when his head map expanded from a two-dimensional icon-rich line drawing to a three-dimensional wireframe. Like he needed those extra details. They just pointed out how much of the mountain stood between him and his waiting master. Sometimes, his magic was a little too enthusiastic.

What just happened? Sarn asked his magic, but it had gone mute again. What a wonderful time for it to stop talking to him. Oh well, he needed to get moving.

Sarn felt a high-relief carving of some historical event or other and searched it for a handhold, then hauled all six-and-a-half-feet of himself off the floor. He almost fell flat on his face again as information slammed into him, providing the tonnage, context, and type of stone he’d just touched. Damn magic, couldn’t it wait until he was steadier before drowning him in so many unnecessary details?

Sarn gritted his teeth and sifted through that information, seeking what had disturbed his magic until a sharp ache cut across his brow, forcing him to stop. He stuffed his hands into his pockets despite the protests from his magic, and information quit pummeling him. Relieved, Sarn pushed into the growing throng, letting it sweep him into its flow. He didn’t know what had just happened, nor did he have time to figure that out now.

His master’s green icon blinked on his head map, reminding Sarn of his promise. Unfortunately, the guy kept moving. Where the hell was Nolo going?

Sarn left the crowd behind and slipped into a side passage and hooked a right off the north-south transept. The sudden turn screwed with his balance, and he wavered until the visuals projected onto the backs of his eyelids stabilized. But in his haste, Sarn struck something hard, a sculpture perhaps, judging by the shape of the wire-framed heap to his left.

The Litherians had folded rock to imitate paper’s crisp folds and silk’s graceful drape while sculpting their vertical city. Then they’d wrapped five balconies around said mountain fortress, adding extra space for their statuary obsession, and more obstacles to dodge.

An arrow flashed on his map, and Sarn turned toward it, then had to avoid another statue. That arrow now pointed to a balustrade and beyond it to the meadow spreading out from Mount Eredren’s feet. Ah, so his master had business in the enchanted forest tonight. Maybe the problem his magic had complained about was out there. But intercepting that man had just become harder.

Sarn bypassed a column supporting the veranda above and stepped over a raised vegetable patch with care. Its young shoots might become part of his dinner one day. Footsteps, out of sync with his quiet tread, accompanied a new icon flaring on his map. Uh-oh, someone was coming this way. Had that someone followed him?

Why would anyone follow him? Sarn couldn’t think of a reason other than the obvious. Someone must have seen his eyes. Tonight just got better and better. Sarn cursed his ill-luck. Well, he needed to go down. Sarn climbed onto the coping and jumped before anything else went wrong tonight. Thank the Litherians, their balconies overlapped each other, and they widened as they descended. Otherwise, he’d be in serious trouble.

Magic sheathed Sarn in green light as it reached for the balcony below, turning it malleable. After falling several stories, Sarn landed in a crouch on a stone bench. His magic forced the bench under his boots to flex and absorb the energy from his fall. The mountain liked when he used his magic.

What a scary thought that was. It kept popping into his head at the oddest moments. But that couldn’t be right. Why would an inanimate pile of rocks care if he used his magic or not? It wouldn’t, so he was just being silly and worse, he was wasting time.

Sarn scanned the balcony, found no one there, and relaxed a little. Since he was alone, he opened his eyes, and their glow dyed the balcony, and its statuary, green. Sarn blinked until his map minimized, and the flagstones lost their polygonal afterimage. After a brief internal struggle, his map parked itself in his peripheral vision, but it continued to update itself with the best route to his master. At its prompting, Sarn turned to face the balustrade again.

The wind tugged at his cloak as it whispered five syllables, eam’meye erator. It repeated them three times, then faded out. Sarn hopped off the bench. What had the wind just said? Nothing good, he’d bet.

Beyond the balustrade, a red orb bled onto the serrated horizon, and the metallic stench of blood wrenched his guts. Darkness rippled through the enchanted forest, where a silent army of trees waited for something or someone. Their eyeless stare focused on Sarn, making his skin crawl and his magic circle him, alert for trouble.

Thousands of branches waved in the lowering darkness, beckoning him onward. Or was that a trick of the wind? Sarn backed away from the balustrade and straight into trouble.

A warning sounded in his head, but it was too late. Trouble had already found Sarn.

Chapter 2

A densely muscled arm slipped around his neck, and its mate secured itself around his waist. The two limbs crushed Sarn against a barrel chest. Where had that guy come from? Sarn cursed himself for not paying more attention to the corridor behind him.

What the hell do you think you’re doing? Gregori enunciated each word as if he spoke to an idiot.

But Sarn couldn’t drag in enough air to reply. His sight dimmed, and his knees jellied as he struggled to regain his footing. Before everything blackened, Gregori let go. Sweet air tinged with sweat and a hint of body odor flowed in as the darkness rolled back, releasing Sarn. Thank Fate for that.

Sarn blinked at the older and much stronger Ranger as he rubbed his neck. He couldn’t wrap his mind around what had just happened. The Rangers played rough, but not like this. Unless this was a lesson of some sort, but what was the lesson?

Oh, stop it. I didn’t squeeze you that hard, and besides, you aren’t that fragile. Gregori rolled his eyes heavenward.

Yeah right, but Sarn bit his lip to keep his acerbic comments to himself. He staggered until a ham-sized fist forced him to sit on a nearby bench. Uh-oh, Gregori’s angry eyes had zeroed in on a purpling bruise, not good.

Who did that to you? Gregori clenched his fists. The sight offended him.

Sarn righted his hood, so it covered the bruise in question and stood up. Indentured men had no rights. So what if a bunch of fools had jumped him? Complications made it better for all if Sarn kept his mouth shut. Besides, the incident had happened fifteen hours ago and had no bearing on the Ranger now glaring holes in his back. Maybe Gregori cared. What a frightening thought.

Who hit you? Gregori demanded.

Can’t have the Lord of the Mountain’s property damaged, oh no. Sarn swallowed the truth before it could pop out of his mouth. The truth had a nasty habit of doing that because his magic didn’t allow him to lie. But his situation was far better than most, so Sarn kept his mouth shut. He was managing just fine without interference, thank you very much. Still, he had to give the lout something—any explanation would do as long as it was true.

Gregori snapped his sausage fingers in front of Sarn’s face, dragging him back to the problem at hand. Pay attention, boy. I asked you a question, and you’re supposed to answer it, not stand there like a fool woolgathering. Gregori hardened his glare.

Sarn couldn’t slip out of this one. Damn. He had to say something, preferably something that wasn’t too damning, but nothing sprang to mind except the truth. Sarn studied the carvings under his boots. A long-vanished race had chiseled a seething mass of insects into the rock, but they didn’t offer any answers.

The wind tugged his green ankle-length cloak again, pulling Sarn toward the balustrade and the distant forest, and he walked toward that sweeping view while searching for something to say. He suppressed a shudder as he approached the decorative railing. From the other side of the meadow, the enchanted forest watched Sarn.

A voice whispered the same five syllables as before, eam’meye erator. Was it a warning?

Jump, urged his magic, sounding all too real as it repeated that word. Jump. Jump. Jump.

Why? Sarn asked. Why do you want me to jump? But once thought, the idea wouldn’t go away. Why not jump for it? Sarn set his hands on the waist-high balustrade. All he had to do was throw his legs over the side and let go.

Why not jump? The ground was far away, but he was standing on the side of a mountain, and the balcony on the level below this one wasn’t far at all—perhaps forty feet at the most. Why shouldn’t he jump? Down was where he needed to go. Sarn felt the invisible pull of his master for the night, Nolo. He must go to him.

Jump. We’ll catch you if you fall, his magic whispered in his ear.

Yes, it would do that. It always had in the past. The temptation was almost too much to bear. Sarn leaned out over the railing, craving that moment of total freedom in the fall, but it never came.

Gregori seized his arm and yanked Sarn away from the balustrade and temptation. What the hell is wrong with you? First, you go all silent and brooding on me like a recalcitrant child, then you spout nonsense, and for Fate’s sake, are you trying to fall? Gregori spun Sarn around to face him. The Ranger was red-faced and screaming now.

Maybe I should have let you crack your foolish head open. The fall might have knocked some sense into you because nothing else has. Gregori paused for breath and shook his head. His anger had abated as suddenly as it had come on. I’ll only ask this once more. What the hell is going on with you? His dark eyes bored into Sarn, leaving nowhere to hide. But Gregori had asked a valid question.

Unfortunately, it was the one question Sarn couldn’t answer truthfully, or he’d lose custody of his son. Which left Sarn with a dilemma because he had to say something. Gregori couldn’t let this go. It had gone too far now.

The wind died, and so too did the strange spell that had overtaken Sarn. He no longer felt like jumping. Sarn turned away from the hard eyes boring into him. What the hell had he just been thinking? Now that he was free of his magic’s mad mutterings, Sarn stood there, dazed, confused, and unable to form a reply. What could he say that Gregori would believe, let alone understand? Nothing, because the big lug didn’t share his body with a power that wanted him to use it as often as possible.

Gregori took his silence the wrong way, as usual. Look, Kid—

I’m not a kid anymore. Sarn folded his arms over his chest until Gregori seized his shoulder and shook him.

You can tell me what’s going on, or you can tell Jerlo, but you’re telling someone. Do you hear me, boy? The fortyish bruiser looked ready to plant himself in front of something in need of guarding. But nothing on the balcony required such protection.

I turned twenty last November. I’m not a child. Sarn clenched his hands into tight fists.

Then don’t act like one. Gregori shook him one last time to make his point.

Sarn rolled his glowing eyes skyward. But there was no help from that quarter, just the first stars of the night. A unicorn statue with a broken horn gave him the stink eye as Gregori spun on his heel and headed for the arch, marking the entrance to the arcade that ran along the balcony. Even the statuary had an opinion tonight.

Bind your eyes, so you don’t cause a panic, and let’s go. They’re looking for you. Gregori fished a blindfold out of his pocket and thrust it at him.

Sarn took it with nerveless fingers. Who’s looking for me?

Don’t be an idiot. You know who. Gregori looked to the sky for patience, but it didn’t seem to help him.

When Sarn continued to stand there, the big Ranger grabbed the blindfold and covered his eyes with it. After that humiliating experience, his muscular hand landed on Sarn’s arm again. He doesn't trust me to follow him. He acts like I have a choice in the matter. Sarn seethed, but he kept his thoughts to himself.

Tonight was off to a fine start, and Sarn hadn’t even started work yet. He suppressed a sigh of frustration. Things could only get worse from here. Gregori’s heavy boots beat a metronome of doom as he towed Sarn toward the trouble his magic had sensed.

***

Gregori was a man on a mission. Sarn wished he wasn’t part of that mission, but he was, so he plodded along next to the Ranger when traffic allowed and tried not to step on his heels when it didn’t. All the while, Gregori maintained his death-grip on him. Sarn felt like a rag doll as the big lug dragged him through the evening crowd. Everyone headed somewhere tonight.

Let go of me, Sarn said for the fifth time since they’d left the balcony. I’ll follow you on my own. If his magic complied. It was a sullen green star parked in front of his eyes. His magic extruded green rays and poked at the blindfold, cutting it off from the world.

Sarn tried to ignore it, but it was hard to ignore all that green light right in front of his face. With the blindfold on, it had no choice but to shine back into him through his eyes, and that wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Heat felt like it was building up under the blindfold, and it might be. A strong enough light could heat an object. Could the light his magic produced cook his eyes in their sockets?

His magic stopped testing the blindfold, but it didn’t answer his question. Maybe he should stop thinking about such things and hurry Gregori along.

Just keep walking, Gregori said finally, startling Sarn out of his thoughts. He’d forgotten he’d even asked the man a question.

But Gregori was still angry at Sarn for not answering his questions. He tightened his grip on Sarn and increased his already relentless pace, but Sarn had no trouble matching it since he was two inches taller than big, brawny Gregori, who plowed through the crowd as if he had every right to.

But people didn’t get out of Gregori’s way. Didn’t they sense the man’s restrained fury? It was dying to break free, and Sarn was its target since he’d pissed the Ranger off.

Too bad Gregori didn’t have any magic to part the crowd. Sarn did, but his magic had no interest in the people in their way. Its sole focus right now was the blindfold. His magic hated confinement, but it was all too happy to dwell within him if it could look out at the world around him. Stop that, Sarn muttered under his breath as his magic stabbed the blindfold with another green ray.

Stop what? Gregori probably hadn’t meant to swing Sarn into a hapless passerby. But the poor sap collided with him anyway, striking Sarn right in the chest with something hard—possibly the poor guy’s head.

Watch where you’re going, you big—oh, the irate fellow broke off when he saw the blindfold. He stepped aside.

Sorry about that, I didn’t see you. Otherwise, I’d have steered the Kid around you, Gregori said to the man as he dragged Sarn away.

The Rangers never used his name in public if they could avoid it. Hence the whole ‘Kid’ thing. Sarn knew he should let it go, but he just couldn’t. At fifteen, it was fine, but he was a man now. I’m not a kid.

You’re whatever I say you are. Now, let’s go. We’ve got somewhere to be, and for Fate’s sake, try not to run into anything or anyone else.

How can I do that when I can’t see a bloody thing? But that wasn’t true. Sarn had other ways of seeing. They just weren’t working because his magic had quit paying attention to anything except the blindfold. Will you stop poking it and help me? Sarn directed that thought at his magic as something caught his foot. He fell forward, but Gregori yanked him backward, and he didn’t fall flat on his face.

What is wrong with you? Gregori leaned in close for a face-to-face chat. His breath reeked of onions. Can’t you walk five feet without falling? This isn’t the first time you’ve come through here. Use your mind for something. Gregori tapped the spot between Sarn’s eyes with a thick finger, then set off at a brisk pace. But he was right.

Sarn had an extra set of senses thanks to his magic, and Gregori had just told him to use them. If only it were that easy. Sarn squelched the part of his mind that counted the number of times he’d taken this crowded corridor. He didn’t need to know. I’m trying.

Don’t try. Just do it.

Because time was running out. Gregori didn’t have to say it. Sarn felt time sliding away from him as he stumbled again over something in his path. But he didn’t know what he was hurrying toward.

***

Hurry, hurry. No time to tarry. No time to talk. Hurry, hurry, time seemed to say. Though Sarn was probably imagining that to explain the terrible urgency that had gripped him.

Time beat a metronome on his skull, counting down the seconds until the bells of Mount Eredren would speak the hour, declaring him late. But I’m never late, a small voice whispered inside Sarn. Belatedly, he realized it was his voice shrinking in fear at the very notion.

No, don’t ring. Don’t ring. Sarn broke into a run and pulled a spluttering Gregori in his wake. Somehow, that burly Ranger avoided running into people.

What the devil’s gotten into you, boy? Gregori must have clipped a passing woman because she shouted curses at him.

Not good, not good at all, but Sarn couldn’t slow down. Time wasn’t on his side. If only he could clear a path through this crowd. The thought summoned his magic, and it pushed out of him as he ran, encasing Sarn in a bubble of green light only he could see. As that luminous bubble swelled, it pushed the people he was hurtling toward aside.

Sarn could see them now. A sea of amber people icons parted on the map unfolding inside his mind. If they ever discovered what he was, they’d kill him. But Sarn ignored that for now. If his glowing-green eyes stayed covered, his secret was safe and so was he.

A bell tolled twenty times, startling Sarn out of his reverie, and he tripped over something—a dropped parcel maybe as his head map vanished suddenly, leaving just the usual glow of his magic behind. No, no, no, I’m never late. Sarn shook his head to negate that as the echoes of those bells faded away. Sure, he’d come close many times, but Sarn had never been late. Not that he could remember anyway, but his memory was full of holes.

There’s a first time for everything, Kid. Gregori squeezed the arm he was still holding. His hand was long enough to encircle Sarn’s wrist like a fleshy manacle. Now, put it away before it shines through the blindfold.

Gregori meant his magic, of course. All the Rangers avoided using that dreaded m-word whenever Sarn was within earshot. But I’m never late. I can't be. My magic doesn’t allow it, Sarn protested.

Don’t say it. Don’t say that word. Gregori shook his arm in case his words hadn't gotten through. Keep walking. Nolo’s waiting for you. Gregori took the lead as the crowd filled the corridor again.

But— Sarn felt like a fool for repeating the same thing. Lateness was a whipping offense, and the promises he’d sworn would punish him for disobeying a direct order. But they weren’t.

Did being in Gregori’s custody count as ‘on time?’ To his magic, which enforced his oath to serve the Rangers, it must because that oath lay quietly inside him. Am I on time? I’m with you, and you’re a Ranger.

How should I know? I’m just supposed to fetch you, Gregori said as they shuffled forward only to stop because the crowd had. That wasn’t encouraging. Make way. Rangers on an errand. That’s right. Make a hole. We’ve got important business to attend to.

People must have stepped aside at Gregori’s request because the barrel-chested Ranger strode more quickly toward his goal, pulling Sarn along in his wake, hopefully not toward a whipping.

If that muscle-bound Ranger vouched for him, then maybe he’d get away with just a warning. Sarn chewed the inside of his cheek as he considered his chances of that happening. Given the man’s current attitude, Gregori probably wouldn’t vouch for him. Damn.

Sarn picked up the pace. They needed a faster route, and his head map usually had one. Sarn yanked it into view, and his map routed him around the statues directly in front of him. Thanks for that. Sarn sent that thought to his magic. But it didn’t reply, it was too busy probing the blindfold for a way out until a snatch of conversation caught its attention.

They’re moving around, a man said in awe, but he wasn’t Gregori.

Who’s moving around? Sarn turned toward the voice. It was an amber man-shaped icon on his map, but Gregori dragged him away.

They’re not letting anyone through— another man said as they passed him. He sounded deeply concerned and a little scared, but scared of what?

It just isn’t natural— another passerby added in that ‘what are you going to do’ tone everyone adopted when something weird happened.

Sarn almost stopped in his tracks again. His magic had made a similar claim right before Gregori had shown up. But Gregori just kept cutting through the crowd, putting his height to excellent use, and Sarn had no choice but to follow. They were both well over six feet tall, and their long strides soon left the crowd far behind.

But those snatches of conversation stayed with Sarn as he veered around another statue, his magic helpfully pointed out on his head map. What exactly had he overheard? Enough to prove what he’d sensed earlier wasn’t a fluke. Something was going on, and the Rangers must be hip-deep in it. No wonder Gregori was so short with him.

What were they talking about? Sarn asked. Perhaps he could goad Gregori into talking. That muscular Ranger couldn’t stay silent for long. Gregori would burst if he didn’t talk to someone.

Never you mind, Gregori said.

The ground vanished under Sarn’s feet, but he’d expected that. Thank Fate for his head map. Without it, Sarn would have tumbled down into the bowels of the mountain instead of stepping lightly onto the first itty-bitty step. Sarn touched the wall enclosing the staircase to steady himself because there was no railing. Information kept pouring into his skull. It boiled over onto his map and updated it while Sarn reeled from the sudden deluge.

Stop that. I don’t care if you found an interesting frieze to investigate. Show me the damned steps, so I don’t fall, Sarn whispered to his magic. He didn’t care if Gregori heard him. His head was too full of information. Sarn couldn’t focus on anything else.

He needed to concentrate. These steps were smaller than his feet. One misstep could send Sarn hurtling down into the bowels of the mountain if he wasn’t careful, especially since he couldn’t see them. His map wasn’t helping either. It careened wildly as each additional detail appeared on it.

Sarn had caged his magic for too long. It spread through the stairwell until a familiar archer icon appeared below, promising answers, which Sarn probably wouldn’t get because the Rangers never told him anything unless they had to. Maybe they’d have to tonight. It felt different from other nights and more sinister, but Sarn might have imagined that because he wanted things to change.

Then there was no more time for such woolgathering. His magic focused on the staircase, and Sarn rushed down them to the next landing, taking them three at a time before his magic looked at something else.

Sarn had a feeling nothing good awaited him as Gregori fiddled with the catch to a secret door, but Sarn couldn’t turn back now. He’d given his word five summers ago, and there was no taking it back. A promise was a promise and never mind the consequences. His nights belonged to the Rangers. He must do whatever they told him to do. But Sarn had an awful feeling about tonight that he just couldn’t shake as the mechanism that operated the secret door made a grinding sound.

Just when the echoes of metal rubbing on metal became unbearable, they stopped. Fresh air flowed into the dank stairwell laden with pollen and a hint of something darker, lending the night an ominous tone. Sarn hoped he’d imagined that as a hand landed on his shoulder and pushed. But he didn’t think so. The night felt wrong in some undefinable way.

Chapter 3

Gregori shoved Sarn into the cool night. I found him. The damned fool was trying to fly.

You were trying to fly? Nolo asked as he tried to make sense of Gregori’s report. At least he didn’t believe it outright. Or did he? Nolo grabbed Sarn by the arm as if it were a bloody leash and not an appendage attached to his body.

Neither Ranger trusted Sarn to do what he was told, even though they had no reason to distrust him. So, neither one gave him any instructions or information. Nothing new there. Sarn tried not to let that bother him, but it did. He wasn’t fifteen anymore. He’d grown up, but no one had noticed.

I wasn’t trying to fly. Sarn yanked his arm free before stalking a few paces away. Much better. Now to see about that stupid blindfold.

Sarn scanned the cliff with his magic, not his eyes because the blindfold still covered them, and his head map sprang into action, shifting its view, so it displayed the cliff, the mountain they were standing on, and the meadow below. No other icons popped up on his head map except the three of them. Good, Sarn fingered the blindfold. It was time for that annoying thing to come off. He had an unshakable feeling he would need his eyes tonight.

Leave it. Nolo grabbed his arm again and squeezed it hard enough to make his point. Why was everyone so hands-on tonight?

You were trying to defy something, Gregori muttered darkly.

Sarn fought the urge to roll his glowing eyes because no one could see them.

We’ll talk about that later. I need you to come with me. Nolo shook Sarn’s arm to make it clear who he wanted to accompany him.

Sarn didn’t have a choice, but he’d have gone with Nolo anyway because he was curious about what had spooked both Rangers. Something had, but neither wanted to discuss it. That was fine. Let them keep their secrets. Sarn had a feeling he’d find out soon enough. Curiosity had always been his downfall.

What’s going on? Sarn asked, even though neither man would ever tell him anything. Still, it couldn’t hurt to ask. Every so often, they’d throw him a crumb of information. But not this time.

Gregori poked Sarn in the ribs as he delivered the usual response to such questions. What makes you think anything’s going on?

Sarn slapped that muscular Ranger’s hand away before it could deliver another rude poke. Snatches of conversations I overheard, Sarn paused. Should he mention that persistent feeling that something wasn’t right? It kept growing like a shadowy threat in his mind as they walked.

Sarn felt his magic suddenly unfurl. What was it doing? It probably sensed something. Should he rein it in or let it flow? Sarn bit his lip as he considered that. He didn’t get long to brood, though.

Let’s go. The disturbance is some way ahead. Nolo pronounced the word ‘disturbance’ as a curse. Maybe it was. Nolo steered Sarn toward the switchback trail leading down the mountain.

What could that ‘disturbance’ possibly be? Sarn tried not to step on Nolo’s feet, but he couldn’t see where he was stepping. His magic tried to help, but it kept running ahead of them like an eager puppy and shooting back information about the trail in a series of ghostly sketches.

Each burst took a moment to assimilate. While it did, Sarn was momentarily without an external reference until his map updated itself. Sorry, Sarn said as the toe of his boot grazed Nolo’s heel again.

Since the enchanted forest crouched just a mile away, that disturbance could be anything. But it was likely magical. Otherwise, why bring him to see it? Sarn was the only mage living under Mount Eredren. That made him their de facto expert on all things magical. Sorry, Sarn said as he stepped on Nolo’s feet again.

Nolo didn’t respond. He just kept descending the switchback mountain trail with Gregori bringing up the rear.

Why are you coming along? Didn’t your shift end at sundown? But even as Sarn asked, he wasn’t sure if he was right. He couldn’t read the schedule.

Never you mind, Gregori all but growled. Keep your attention on the trail, so you don’t fall.

It would help if I could see the damned trail. Sarn shot Nolo a glare through the blindfold.

Don’t curse. It makes you sound coarse, Nolo shouted over the howling wind, and there was a silent, ‘we expect you to be better than that,’ tacked onto the end of that statement, which referred collectively to the Rangers.

The wind dropped, leaving a tense silence broken by the soft clicking of the beads on the bracelet Nolo always wore and the padding of their boots on the gravel trail winding down the mountain.

Ten agates and three jaspers, supplied his magic before Sarn cut off its commentary. His magic liked rocks, even if they were part of someone else’s jewelry.

I don’t care, Sarn told it. Why don’t you do something useful and find the disturbance? This time, Sarn had remembered to think about his comments instead of speaking them aloud. He didn’t want his minders to think he was crazy when he was talking to his magic.

Magic shot out of Sarn in shimmering green waves, obliterating his head map in a blinding explosion of green light that thankfully stayed inside his skull. Sarn reeled, momentarily stunned by his map’s sudden absence as his magic reached the end of its tether. Everything stopped.

Time stood still, freezing Sarn in place mid-step. A black spot swelled amidst the inescapable green glow of the magic pouring out of his eyes. The blindfold might hide it, but nothing could douse that fire in his eyes, not even the voice thundering in Sarn’s ears.

You will figure out what ‘normal’ is and you will spend every minute of every day trying to be it. You will not even think about using magic unless it’s absolutely necessary, said his master, Jerlo, the Commander of the Rangers, in his mind, reminding Sarn of his orders.

Sarn must obey those orders no matter what. He’d promised, and the word of a mage was binding until death.

The word ‘normal’ echoed in Sarn’s head and almost bowled him over. Normal people didn’t use magic because they had no access to it. But ‘normal’ was something he wasn’t, and that thought caused his magic to snap back. It crashed into Sarn, and he swayed until Gregori steadied him.

You okay, Kid? Gregori asked. Was there a hint of concern in his voice? You look a little pale.

Was he okay? Sarn blinked at the strip of black cloth over his eyes, but they weren't glowing any brighter than they usually did. What had just happened? Sarn struggled to remember. Everything, since he’d left his cave, was suddenly hazy.

Where? Sarn stopped as his sixth sense handed him the answer. He was standing on the shoulder of Mount Eredren with Nolo and Gregori. There was something the duo wanted him to see.

No really, are you okay? Gregori spun Sarn around to face him.

But Sarn couldn’t see anything except that damned blindfold. Why was he even wearing it?

Gregori snapped his fingers. Hey, Kid, I’m talking to you. Are you all right? Answer me.

Sarn nodded. That was his default response to all questions about his state of being because he couldn’t lie. His magic wouldn’t allow it. But a nod wasn’t a lie. Did I just have another one of those blackouts?

Sarn sensed that nod wasn’t enough. He dug around for something to say that was true. Why wouldn’t I be okay?

There, that should do it. Now, if they’d just tell me what they want me to see. Had they even said? Sarn didn’t know. Everything was so jumbled in his head. Maybe he had blacked out for a moment.

Why wouldn’t you be? Kid, you must have something wrong with your memory. One moment you’re all quiet and intense, and the next— Gregori snapped his fingers again. You’re swaying like a sapling in a breeze. You’d have fallen if I hadn’t caught you. Maybe this isn’t such a bright idea. Gregori directed that last comment to Nolo.

You might be right. Nolo sounded torn but resolute.

No, I want to help. Sarn turned toward Nolo’s voice. His head map had disappeared when he needed it most. Damn. Sarn tried to call it back up, but nothing happened. How could that be? It always lurked at the periphery of consciousness.

All right. We’re already out here. We might as well continue, but the instant you feel at all unwell, we’ll turn back. Is that clear? Nolo tugged on Sarn’s arm, presumably to get his attention, though he already had that, so Sarn nodded.

An eerie polysyllabic summons whispered on the wind like some fell warning. I’ve heard that before, Sarn thought, but his magic didn’t comment as that chant repeated. Sarn clenched his fists until his nails bit into his palms.

Do you hear that? Sarn asked, hoping he wasn’t the only one who heard it.

I don’t hear anything except the wind. It’s gusting again, Nolo said, dashing his hopes. Why, do you hear something else?

Sarn shook his head. If Nolo didn’t hear that fell chanting, then he was hallucinating it. Damn. Sarn scrubbed his free hand over his face and surreptitiously tugged on the blindfold, but it didn’t budge. Gregori had bound it too tightly.

What’s this ‘disturbance?’ Sarn asked to change the subject. If he was hallucinating voices speaking in gibberish, then it was best to ignore them.

They were nearing the end of the trail. In a minute, Nolo would have to pick a direction, and that would tell Sarn something about their destination since Nolo still wouldn’t. His master maintained his silence. Damn him. You don’t think I can understand. Sarn clenched his fists, and anger hammered a molten spike into his heart.

Calm down. Nolo squeezed his captured arm hard enough to make his point.

Why should I? No one would answer his questions. Sarn kept walking toward an unknown situation while listening to an aural hallucination that grew louder with each repetition. It was enough to drive a man mad, and Nolo wanted him to calm down?

Hell no. Sarn embraced his anger, even though part of him knew he was being irrational. He just couldn’t help it. Everything felt so out of control. Sarn wanted to pummel something, but that wouldn’t shut the voice up or end its nonsensical chant. It stopped as suddenly as it had begun. An image of a circle enclosing a thirteen-pointed star appeared. Flames flickered at each vertex, making the entire thing glow.

Sarn reached for one of them and his hand passed through those flames, proving they were as illusory as that voice had been. Why thirteen? What did that mean, and why was he hallucinating this now?

What are you doing? Gregori shook Sarn’s shoulder.

I— Sarn trailed off as the image of that star faded. Magic wreathed his hand. He couldn’t see it thanks to the blindfold, but Sarn could feel it running over both his hands.

Be normal, Jerlo’s voice ordered in his memory, and the green flames cut off. But Sarn’s map returned. It sprang up in time to deliver a warning.

Northeast of their current position, a cluster of Rangers appeared on Sarn’s head map. Were they standing by the disturbance or waiting to lead them to it? There was no way to know for certain until they reached them.

The crack of a whip startled Sarn, and he halted. Did you hear that? Sarn gestured to where he’d heard the noise, but it didn’t come again.

I didn’t hear anything but the wind. What did you hear? Nolo’s tone gave away his worry, but he held tight to Sarn’s arm and kept hiking. Something serious had happened. Why wouldn’t Nolo explain what that something was?

Long grasses brushed their booted calves as they crossed a flat swath of greenery, heading ever nearer to the enchanted forest. A malevolent presence slammed into Sarn, hitting him like a physical force. Somewhere in that trackless wilderness, something had gone horribly wrong. That was the only answer that fit. And they wanted him to do something about it? Were they insane?

We fix, said his magic as it crawled out of its hiding place deep within Sarn. It was reading his mind again. Maybe it would answer a few questions.

Fix what? What happened? What kind of mess are we walking into? Sarn waited, but that was all his magic had to say on that subject. Sarn ground his teeth in frustration. The problem must be nearby. They were rapidly nearing the end of the meadow. Soon, they’d be in the enchanted forest. Then Sarn would get far more than he’d bargained for.

Chapter 4

Sarn halted on a gravel path. Something didn’t feel right. Though that might be because the enchanted forest lay just beyond the two concentric rings of standing stones that encircled the meadow. They maintained a cordon the enchanted forest couldn’t cross. But something was different about those mega-plants tonight. Sarn touched the blindfold.

Leave it in place, Nolo hissed.

Why? The only people nearby were Rangers. Sarn could sense them even without his head map. Nor were they the only people his sixth sense kept track of. The two people who were dearest to Sarn, his younger brother, and his little boy, were dim lights at the periphery of his consciousness.

Because it’s better this way. Now come along. Nolo tugged on Sarn’s arm to get him moving.

Is this ‘disturbance’ in the enchanted forest? Sarn approached the inner henge. He could sense it even if he couldn’t see it. Those standing stones had power like the one poking at the blindfold covering his eyes.

Whatever gave you that idea? Gregori breezed past Sarn, sarcastic as ever.

After this point, there’s nothing but enchanted trees for a long way. But not forever. There were other settlements nestled in Shayari’s hundred valleys. Sarn couldn’t recall which one lay in this direction. Nor was he sure which direction he was facing. Sarn triggered his head map to find out. Instead of spawning, his map stayed out of sight. Damn Gregori and his blindfold. Sarn felt for the knot again, then stopped.

It was too silent here. Not even the wind dared to rise. The air between the menhirs in front of Sarn coalesced into an invisible hand, and it shoved Sarn backward away from the two henges. Nolo’s grip broke as he stumbled out of the inner ring of standing stones onto the meadow. Why did it do that?

Something warm brushed against his hands when Sarn raised them to examine the barrier blocking his way. Particles flowed clockwise, sparking on his palms. They probably glowed the same green as his eyes since the same magic generated them both.

Nolo shook Sarn, reminding him of his master’s presence. What happened? Why did you retreat?

I didn’t. It expelled me. Sarn tried to yank his arm free and failed.

It’s never rejected you before. I don’t like it. Nolo sounded pissed off. He tightened his grip, but he needn’t have bothered.

Sarn couldn’t leave. Magic and oaths bound him to Nolo, forcing him to do what that Ranger said, but Sarn didn’t have to like it. He removed Nolo’s hand from his arm, so he could pace. Before tonight, Sarn had crossed these henges many times with no hindrance at all. Why was tonight different? Sarn quit pacing and explored the blindfold. It was time the damned thing came off.

No, don’t touch it. You must leave it in place. There are too many folks about. We can’t let anyone see— Nolo began, but he didn’t finish his protest because there was no kind way to say it.

No one wanted to see his freaky eyes because the sight might drive someone to put them out. That reality bitch slapped Sarn every time he opened his eyes. The damned knot defeated his extra-large fingers, putting paid to the argument.

Nolo pried his hand away from the blindfold again. Leave it. I’ll remove it when it’s safe to do so, not before.

Tell me what’s going on. Nolo could give him that much, but he wouldn’t. Sarn clenched his jaw.

I can’t tell you what I don’t know. Nolo tugged him southward as that shocking statement sunk in. Nolo didn’t know something? That just didn’t happen.

Where’re we going now? Sarn wished he could see. His head map tracked their progress, but it couldn’t suggest any routes because it didn't know where they were going.

To find a spot where you can cross. We’ll walk the whole damn circumference if we have to.

So, the problem lay in the enchanted forest. Damn. The forest functioned on magic akin to his, and it wreaked havoc on his control. Just what he needed on a night when his magic was already unruly. Sarn wanted to drop his head into his hands in defeat, but he refrained.

Grass ceded to rock again, jolting him out of the endless spiral of his dark thoughts, but this time, they were water-smoothed stones. Sarn grimaced at the fishy stink of the River Nirthal. It flowed east to west in a broad, lazy ribbon along the southern edge of the meadow, not too far from where he was standing, and his magic was painfully aware of its presence.

Nolo crossed first. This time, when Sarn stepped across the divide, the barrier slid through his body, allowing him to pass. He shuddered at its alien feel as he trudged the ten feet between the two henges, then out onto a rocky beach.

Are you all right? Nolo asked. He still held onto Sarn.

Sarn nodded and pulled his arm free as something large approached. It flashed red on his head map. Sarn pointed to it. What the hell is that?

Look out! Gregori shouted. Look out for what?

Get down, Kid! Another Ranger rushed toward them. His icon waved his hands above his head, and a large tree-shaped icon followed him out of the forest.

Someone grab the Kid and get him down! Gregori said, but he sounded further away.

A body slammed into Sarn and knocked him to the ground, but it was too late. A rough object wrapped around his forearm and pulled Sarn toward the enchanted forest. Another unidentifiable object wrapped around his upper arm, adding its argument to the fray, and he slid away.

Let go of me. Sarn scrabbled for a hold, but his fingers found only dirt. There was nothing to grab onto until several arms clamped around his waist and pulled in the opposite direction. But the force pulling his upper body had more leverage than the Rangers who were trying to prevent his kidnapping. They were ceding ground, and Sarn was slowly sliding away.

Before the forest pulled them into it, the Rangers realized who they were attempting to save and let go. Sarn slid between two trees, still blind to what was going on. Thanks a lot, Gregori.

Chapter 5

Nolo flinched as a giant tree slithered toward them. Trees should stay put, even enchanted ones. But a three-hundred-foot-plus monster crawled on its roots, heading straight for Sarn. And the blindfold made it impossible for the Kid to see the danger.

A branch whipped out as Nolo dove. He knocked the boy down. But the lad was closer to seven feet than six, so a branch seized the brat’s arm. It dragged Sarn, but Nolo held fast. Another tree grabbed hold and yanked even harder. The Kid slid a few feet closer to a host of uprooted trees.

If I could just pull the Kid back across the gravel into the ring