The Crystal Bard

By Thomas K. Carpenter and Rachel J. Carpenter

An army gathers determined to destroy the Mother Tree.

The Trio are planning a second, larger attack and Terran knows they will have to stop it before it reaches the walls of Gneiss Glenn. But without the help of his friends and only low level elves to muster a defense, the chances of success are slim.

The settlement’s only hope is the legend of the Crystal Bard, a powerful elven warrior who uses their voice to rain destruction upon their enemies. But there hasn’t been a Crystal Bard in hundreds of years, and even if Terran did have the perfect pitch required, his troubled past haunts him. As Terran and the Rock Leaf elves run out of options, he must find a way to overcome his stage fright, or the Trio and the hidden force behind them, will destroy the Mother Tree and his shot at reuniting with his friends forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Carpenter
• Release date: Aug 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005177867

Thomas K. Carpenter

Thomas K. Carpenter resides in Colorado with his wife Rachel. When he’s not busy writing his next book, he's out hiking or skiing or getting beat by his wife at cards. Visit him online at www.thomaskcarpenter.com, or sign up for his newsletter at https://www.subscribepage.com/trialsofmagic.

Book preview

Chapter One

Terran spotted an enormous carcass across the hill, near an old rockslide.  He sent Luna a mental message while he jogged through the pine trees, keeping a wary eye out for critters that might want to rip his throat out.  Since they'd left the familiar confines of the Rock Leaf Forest, moving towards the ocean, the trees had changed to oak and hickory.  They couldn't yet smell the salty air, but they occasionally spotted white birds with long beaks drifting on the breeze.     

They'd been tracking the essence for two days without spotting their prey.  He'd been scouting the edges of the Rock Leaf Elf territory—his territory, he reminded himself—to make sure no Crag Trolls returned while they repaired the damage from the attack.  He'd been standing on a cliff overlooking the stream that ran north of the settlement when he felt the strong pull at the center of his breastbone, more severe than when he'd encountered the Spirit Bear, though his position as Champion of the Mother Tree might have made him more sensitive to the lost essences that once had been a part of the Rock Leaf Elves' home.  

To level the settlement to the third rank, he needed two more essences, and he needed to gain higher ranks if he wanted to get his friends back faster, so he'd set off after the essence with Luna at his side, since no one else could help him.  

But the creature that had the essence had thus far eluded them, leaving no tracks, only the mangled bodies of its prey, which confused Terran and his companion.  Only the constant tugging of the essence had given him any way to find it.

The carcass near the rockslide had been reduced to a head and a large set of curved ribs.  Flies covered the chunks of meat left on the bones. They scattered when he waved his hands but quickly buzzed back to their meal.  The size of the carcass worried Terran.  Examining the head revealed that it'd been a dire boar, not quite the size of the Spirit Bear, but large enough to give a hunter pause.  Terran pulled out his dagger and poked through the bloody remains for clues.

If you want a snack, we can stop for lunch, said Luna, coming from upslope.  I've eaten three preacher bugs and a wounded squirrel since we met up last.

Crouched on his heels with the tip of the dagger beneath what looked like a mostly eaten liver, he said, Wounded squirrel?

Luna sat on her haunches.  I pushed it out of a tree.

Terran scrunched up his face.  I thought those little critters could fall great distances without getting hurt.

Luna glanced askew.  I might have broken its front legs first.  Hard to tell when I was sinking my teeth into its backside.  Learn anything?

The guts are mostly here, except for the liver, said Terran.  There's a ton of meat left too.  Whatever is killing these creatures, it's mostly interested in the liver, and not much else.

Tracks?

Only a cursory look, but nothing obvious.  Nothing a creature big enough to take down a dire boar should be making.  He looked into the cerulean sky.  Unless it has wings.  A bird of some kind.  A very big bird.

[You have increased your skill Nature's Lore]

Skill: Nature's Lore 6 (INT)

Took you long enough…

Luna quickly slunk down, keeping her gaze upon the sky.  Bird?  Well, since neither of us have wings, there's little chance we can find this stupid thing, which means we should just go back to the settlement.

Terran crossed his arms.  It isn't like you to give up on a hunt.  What gives?

Do you know how some birds kill their prey?  They pick them up, way high, then drop them on the rocks so they're nice and tender for eating, said Luna.

Didn't you just do that to a squirrel? asked Terran.

Exactly, said Luna with an air of superiority.  I'd rather not become lunch.

If we stay in the trees, we should be fine.  Nothing that large can fit through this tangled mess, said Terran.

Sure you don't want to go back?  Chanterelle seems to want to test the weight capabilities of your hammock quite often.  Might be necessary for another round, said Luna.

Fine.  We'll go a little further and then turn back, said Terran.  Now that we know we're looking for a bird, maybe we'll have better luck.

The Rock Leaf Lynx stayed by his side as they moved through the trees, not even making one comment about the noise his footsteps made.  The further they went, the more Terran kept waiting for her to say something.

What? she asked, stopping mid-stride.  You keep looking at me.

You haven't said anything about how loud I've been moving through the trees.  The last few days you haven't let up.  It's kind of worrying me that you've been so quiet.

The lynx blinked.  Hmm...fine.  She sat on her haunches and cleared her throat.  Are you sure you're not a subrace of plain rock, rather than Rock Leaf Elf?  The goal is to avoid the sticks, not break every one on the ground.  Did you know what they call Rock Leaf Elves that can't move silently?  Humans.

He applauded quietly.  That's better.

She crouched towards the earth in the semblance of a bow, then fell in next to him as they continued their hunt.  A little time afterward, she said, You clapped quieter than you walk.

Okay, that's enough, said Terran, the corners of his lips tugging upward.

I can't turn this off once it gets started, said Luna as her tail swished with pleasure.  

Further comments were swallowed away as the forest ended.  The hillside ascended rapidly, but that wasn't what made them stop midstride.  The pines of the next hill had been stripped of needles and knocked down.  It looked like there had been a big explosion, sending the trees in multiple directions.  Terran whistled softly at the destruction.  He couldn't imagine what could have caused it.

I hope you're not planning on heading into that, said Luna.  Unless you're looking to make noise by stepping on bigger and better sticks.

I wonder what caused this? he asked.

Luna padded onto the fallen trees.  Between the rotting trunks, saplings grew.  They were no taller than Terran, with green, leafy extensions.  

It happened a long time ago, he said.  On that other side, the trees are larger, suggesting that this didn't happen all at once.

Using her furry gray paw, Luna tapped on a tree wound that looked like huge gouges.  

Haven't we seen marks like this on the dead bodies? she asked.

You're right, he said, which means we're close to the creature's nest.

Luna hunched low, her hackles bristling as she scanned the sky.  I hear something…

Terran caught the scraping of claws across the canopies, and he turned, throwing himself between two trunks as the massive winged creature dove from above.  It'd been skimming the trees to stay out of sight, and had used their advance into the open to attack.  

As it soared past, looping around for another attack, Terran scrambled up the log, ignoring the pain from where he'd cracked his shoulder.  The bird creature—he took a second look fearing he'd knocked his senses loose when throwing himself to the ground—had wide eagle wings and the feathered head of an elk.  It was called a peryton.  A level 14 peryton to be exact.

He might have stood on the log gawking longer had it not been diving towards him, claws extended to snatch him away.  

Terran threw stone shards at the peryton, hoping to deflect its dive, but the spell mostly hit the feathery underside, dealing no damage. Claws caught him across the shoulder, and bright red pain shot through his vision, forcing him to dive between the logs again.  

The peryton perched over the logs, reaching between with its claws, slashing and grasping for Terran as he scrambled to push himself further beneath the rotting wood.  The peryton tried to shove its head through the gap to snap at him, but its horns couldn't fit past the logs.  A painful, earsplitting screech had Terran throwing his hands over his ears.  

He reached through the earth, hoping to find deep stone, but these were old hills, worn down and turned to soil.  He would find no weapon from the ground.

[You have increased the skill Earth Sense]

Skill: Earth Sense 2 (END)

Not that it did you any good.

The peryton grasped for him with its claws again, so Terran triggered his Rock Leaf armor, rendering himself invisible.  A screech from the peryton signaled its displeasure, but it didn't move from the logs, continuing to slam its claws into the ground, trying to pierce Terran like a shish kebob.  

The peryton shoved its claws into the nearby log and flapped its wings to lift it.  Terran saw what the winged beast was going to do, so he scrambled from his hiding spot, running across the logs to escape, but in his confusion he ran towards more empty space rather than the protective cover of the trees.  

Hurry, Terran. Luna spoke into his mind. It's going to be able to see you soon.

No shit, he mumbled to himself as the peryton, despite his invisibility, oriented itself towards him and, with one swift beat of its wings, launched itself right at him.  He barely took a single step before the peryton caught him around the midsection.

He was ascending quickly into the sky before he realized the peryton hadn't gutted him with its claws.  He was reminded of Luna's fears as the horned bird climbed into the bright sky.  

A glance to the earth made his head spin with vertigo.  He reached into a pouch to pull out a pine cone, when his stomach lurched into his neck.

Plummeting rapidly towards the ground, Terran lost all sense of pride and screamed his bloody head off.  

The earth approached in three rapid blinks.

Rolling hills.

Decimated hillside.

Impact.

You have been slain!

Chapter Two

He groaned awake in the shadow of the Mother Tree, his bones aching as if they'd been gnawed on by giants.  The scene of impacting the ground replayed in his mind, leaving him nauseous.  He couldn't even open his eyes to see who approached.

Terran the Tenacious, said Petram, the shaman of the tribe.  I thought you were out hunting with Luna?

Terran forced his eyes open, grimacing at the headache he endured.  I was. We found an essence and tracked it down.

Petram looked around the clearing.  I assume if Luna is not here that you were unsuccessful in your quest.

The shaman's words brought a pop-up in his vision.

You have been given a quest: Acquire the Mother Tree essence from the Peryton

Reward: Essence of the Mother Tree 

A little revenge would be nice too

The essence is in a peryton, said Terran, shoving his hand into his hair in hopes of reducing the aching.  It dropped me from the sky.  Was not a fun death.

I can assume you will be heading back soon?  Finding another essence is quite exciting and will help the tribe considerably, said Petram with his hands clasped in front of him. 

I'm going to need some levels before I go back, and a way to deal with a flying creature. All my spells are useless against it, and Luna's afraid of big birds, said Terran.

Well, then you have time to meet some of our new arrivals.  A dozen elves showed up while you were out hunting the peryton.  Several are from the bard college, he added with an almost imperceptible sneer.

Terran cocked his head to the side. The bard college?

They are the lore keepers of our race, Petram said in a huff of breath.

Do you not like them?  Terran innocently asked.

Petram shrugged noncommittally.  Come.  Meet them for yourself.

Terran regretted moving as he tried to sit up, causing a spike of pain to his temple. The world spun around him.  He dropped his head between his knees and waited for the pain to subside before he moved again.  It took several minutes of deep breathing, but eventually Terran was able to steady himself and follow Petram.

Remind me to pack a parachute if I'm going to try that again, he whined to Petram while massaging his temples.

The pair slowly made their way to the central fire pit.  Elves flitted throughout the settlement.  All the damage from the Crag Troll attack had been repaired and they were busy going about their normal daily routines.

I believe I asked for a mug of tea, Terran heard an irritated voice say formally as they neared the gathering.

Elia, the Mother Tree tender, passed a steaming mug to a slender elf who sat perfectly upright on a log, his deep purple robes carefully arranged around him. The entitled expression on the elf's gaunt face didn't waver as he accepted the drink with the slightest of nods.  Terran caught an eye roll from Elia as she passed him, returning to her work at the Mother Tree.

Hello.  Welcome to the glen, Terran said, inclining his head in the traditional Rock Leaf Elf greeting.

The slender elf wrinkled his nose. That is not the proper greeting for someone of my stature, he said, turning away.

Terran looked back to Petram, eyes wide. Did I do something wrong?

Zoras, I do believe that is not the proper greeting for someone of Terran's stature as the Chieftain of Gneiss Glen, Petram said with his eyebrows raised.

Zoras's head snapped back around with a furrowed brow. What?  This green human returned the Mother Tree and some of her essence?  That cannot be true.

Oh, but it is. Petram patted Terran on the back.

Zoras stood and fully inclined his head toward Terran.  In that case, I am Zoras, headmaster of the Crystalline Conservatory.  We are the true keepers of lore and trainers of the Crystal Bards.

Terran mimicked Zoras's gesture.  I am Terran, Chieftain of Gneiss Glen and companion of Luna, the last remaining Rock Leaf Lynx.  Terran thought adding the information about Luna somehow made him seem more legit.

The newcomer's eyes went wide at the mention of Luna.  

Where is the lynx now? Zoras asked.

She will be along in a few hours.  I have just returned from a scouting mission for a second essence, and she chose to stay out hunting.  Terran fibbed because he thought it was important not to mention his death to Zoras.

We look forward to meeting her and recording her tale, Zoras said, returning to his seat with a scowl and turning his back on Terran.

Terran stood with his mouth open, trying to think of something else to say.  When nothing came to mind, he shook his head and moved to the fire to make himself a mug of the minty smelling tea.  As he was ladling hot water into his mug, a pudgy elf with deep blue eyes and laugh lines around his mouth approached Terran.

I am Jondar, the elf said quietly to Terran.  I'm Zoras's apprentice, he added, inclining his head then taking a swig from a flask he dug out of his pocket. 

Terran smiled and nodded his head in respect.  Pleased to meet you, Jondar.  Where have you all traveled from?

I'm not allowed to answer questions, he said, taking another small sip from the flask and returning to his seat next to Zoras.

Terran really didn't know what to make of these new elves.  They were far less friendly, and he worried they would not fit in well with the others.  He didn't want to stay and chat, so he sipped his tea while making the rounds, checking on all the trees of the settlement, hoping to catch a glimpse of Chanterelle doing her training.  Watching her lithe body move through her routines always put Terran at ease. 

He found her fighting a tall elf with broad shoulders wielding a spear.  Chanterelle had a long thin blade in her right hand and a smoky black blade—the Nightblade—in her left.  She parried the thrusts of the spear with the longer weapon, batting it away with the flat of the blade while keeping the shorter weapon at the ready.  She held herself in a side stance, which made the target of her body quite small.  

The spear elf seemed to be getting the best of her, pushing her back, but the smirk on her lips told Terran she was just waiting for the right opportunity.  A few other elves stopped their drilling to watch the fight.  Chanterelle kept giving up ground until she stepped into a patch of shadow beneath the trees.  Wisps of darkness swirled around her weapon like an umbra of night.

When the larger elf overextended with a punching thrust, Chanterelle danced past the tip, slapped his hands with the flat of her longer blade, and pricked his shoulder with the Nightblade.

He dropped his spear, holding his shoulder with a grimace.  I thought we were just practicing.  No blood.

Chanterelle sheathed the Nightblade and rested the longer weapon on her shoulder.  A lesson for you.  Had that been in battle, I would have slit your throat.

The tall elf wrinkled his lips as he backed away.  The rest of the fighters returned to their drills.  As if the battle had never happened, Chanterelle came skipping over and gave Terran a deep kiss that he felt down to his knees.

What was that for? he asked when he finally pulled away, a grin on his lips.  Her eyes were darker than ever, but it gave her a smoky look that warmed his midsection.  

Every time I fight, it's exhilarating, she said hungrily, tongue resting playfully on her teeth.  She bit her lower lip.  Can we make a visit to your tree house?

Maybe later.  Duty calls.  He paused.  When you used the Nightblade, there was a smoke lingering around it, like night made real.  What was that?  are there some hidden abilities in the blade?

Chanterelle lifted one shoulder playfully.  Who knows.  All I know is that it fights like a dream.  I feel like I'm unbeatable when I'm wielding it and standing in shadow.

Terran didn't quite believe that there wasn't a hidden component to the weapon, and his suspicions were confirmed when a quest popped up.

You have been offered a quest: Figure out what's going on with the Nightblade.

Reward: Unknown

The lack of a clear reward made Terran suspicious, but Lhoris joined him before he had time to ponder on it.  Lhoris wore his Rock Leaf armor like a second skin, sauntering over with his hands clasped behind his back.  He positioned himself where he could watch the recruits working with their spears.

I heard you met our new additions, said Lhoris.

An interesting encounter.  I've met friendlier enemies, said Terran.

Don't mind that old geode, Lhoris said without turning away from the drilling.

Geode?

It's what we call the Crystalline Conservatory bards.  Head and manners like a rock, but if you bust it open, it's filled with crystals of knowledge.  Don't let them hear you say that though.  It's quite derogatory, and I don't think you want to go sending Zoras into a rage, Lhoris explained.

Terran snickered.  I guess I'm glad to know it isn't just me they don't like.

Oh no.  They hate everyone equally.  Too much time surrounded by books and not out with the trees makes them cranky I think.  But don't worry.  It looks like there are only two of them.  The others should fit in nicely.

That's a relief at least.

Petram tells me there will be a seed ready to plant again soon.  Any idea what you're going to grow next? Lhoris asked.

I assume you asking means you have some thoughts on the matter, Terran said.

I think an archery range would be the most useful.  If we have more attacks on the settlement it would be good to have better trained archers and more damaging arrows, he answered.

Terran pulled open the settlement tab to see what options were available, noting the change in population had already shown up.

Settlement: Gneiss Glen (Tap to rename)

+20% defense

+25% attack

+20% damage

+20% food production

+10% morale

-5 days seed production

+5% HP

+5% AC

Level: 2 

Fortifications:

Bramble wall 1/1

Watchtower 0/5

Gate 0/2

Population: 42/75

Housing: 5/10

Seeds grown: 5/10

Days until next seed harvesting: 1

Total Buildings: 5/10

Barracks (Level 2) 1/1

Fungi Garden 0/3

Shaman Hut 1/1

Chieftain Hut 1/1

Orchard 1/3

Leaf Armory (Level 1) 1/1

Weaponmaker (Level 1) 1/1

Crystalline Conservatory 0/1

Aviary 0/1

Archery Range 0/1

Occupations:

Unassigned: 12

Orchard Tender: 3

Mother Tender: 1

Armorer: 1

Captain: 1

Shaman: 1

Tenders: 2

Warriors: 5

Loamers: 7

Weaponmaster: 1

Gatherers: 3

Builders: 3

Resources:

Food Stores: 1,423

Loam: 510

Healing herbs: 1,480

Leaves: 202

Sap: 16

Hibernating Shrooms: 30

Archery range seems like a great way to go.  Thanks for your input, Lhoris, Terran said after looking everything over.  Anything else?

We need more steel for weapons, he said.  Most of our recruits are using wooden weapons.  While the Mother Tree can gift us leaves for armor, she cannot make a good spear point.

Where do we find steel? asked Terran.  I don't see it as an option for the settlement.

There's no ore in these hills.  That's found in the mountains to the north, but harvesting it is impossible with the Crag Trolls.  Our best bet would be to trade with a nearby city.  Salt Luck on the coast is probably our best bet, said Lhoris.

You have been offered a quest:  Find a source of steel for the weaponmakers.

Reward: Improve defensive capabilities of the settlement

Great, said Terran.  I'll see if we can find someone to make a trip.

Terran continued his rounds, checking on all the trees, the elves of the settlement, and the security of the bramble wall.  The wall had filled back in quickly after being torn down in places by the Crag Trolls.  He had made it halfway around the settlement when Luna bounded up to him.

I see how you are.  Taking the easy way home, she ridiculed.

I'd like to see how you'd feel after being dropped from hundreds of feet in the air to splatter on the ground like paint.  I doubt you'd call it the easy way had it been you, Terran poked back.