Dragon's Blood: War of the Oracle, #1

By Cleave Bourbon

Sheyna Namear has been left to fend for herself on the streets of Symbor…

 

…Until she decided to steal from the White Tower.

 

It's then she finds out the mistress of the tower is the one who put her on the streets in the first place.

 

Sheyna is special and destined to be a magic wielder. She is taken into the White Tower and trained as an apprentice by the master wielder and headmistress, Enowene.

 

She is happy to finally have a place where she feels she belongs.

 

But something is not quite right. Sheyna constantly feels like she is being watched, her roommate hates her, and a mysterious shadow hides in the darkness just outside her window.

 

Immerse yourself in this tale of mystery, adventure, and magic as Sheyna Namear finds her true destiny. One that leads her into her greatest role in the upcoming War of the Oracle.  

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cleave Bourbon
• Release date: Oct 2, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215446676

Cleave Bourbon

Cleave Bourbon is a native of Texas. His Texas heritage and his love of science fiction and fantasy allows him to write weird westerns among other fantastical stories. In fact, he has loved all things fantasy since he read the Belgariad by David and Leigh Eddings in High School. He says the word "fantasy" comes from fantasizing, so the sky is the limit on what fantasy can encompass as far as writing goes, so he isn't afraid to experiment and write new twists to liven up old tropes. Being that he holds both a B.A. and an M.A. in English, he writes full time and teaches in his spare time. He teaches Junior High and High School level grammar, vocabulary, and writing online. He says he will never stop writing and he will never stop teaching, unless he becomes physically unable to do so. He currently resides in Texas with his Tortoise Shell Cat, Khaleesi.

Book preview

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Dragon's Blood

Copyright © 2024 by Cleave Bourbon

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic

or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval

systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use

of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events,

and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are

used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead,

events, or locals is entirely coincidental

Contact info: [e-mail]

Front Cover Design by Getcovers www.getcovers.com

Print Cover Design by Getcovers www.getcovers.com

Editor: Courtney Umphress www.courtneyumphress.com

THIRD EDITION : JANUARY 2024

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3

Dragon's Blood

Cleave Bourbon

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Shadesilver Publishing

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Contents

Prologue

1.Frantic

2.The Jovial Elf

3.In Plain Sight

4.Finding a Way

5.Rogue

6.The Promise

7.Marella and the Tower

8.The Incident

9.The Jade Statuette

10.Enchantment

11.Daggers

12.Old Wizards

13.Apprentice

14.Rugania

15.Sheyna's Trial

16.Dragon's Blood

17.Akros of Scarovia

18.The Blood Amulet

19.What Lurks in the Shadows?

20.Truth and Innocence

21.The Silver Drake

22.Little Thieves

23.Reunion

24.Trouble with a Capital G

Also By Cleave Bourbon

Acknowledgements

Glossary

The War of the Oracle

Long before the reawakening of the magically devastated tract of land known as the Sacred Land, those who could draw upon essence and wield magic were celebrated and revered. Neophytes were sometimes identified after they tried to use essence and developed essence sickness, an affliction of the mind common in young or new wielders of magic. If possible, these neophytes were sent to anywhere master wielders congregated, and were apprenticed and cured of the sickness, which wasn’t life threatening at the time, but very uncomfortable. If left untreated, the sickness cured itself at the price of the neophyte losing their ability to wield magic forever. Eventually, academies were set up to take in new wielders and set them up with suitable masters.

On the cusp of this time of magical enlightenment, a wielder was born with special significance. Sheyna Namear would excel faster than any other wielder of her time. A legend in her own right, this is the beginning of her story, the beginning of the wielder who would one day beknown simply as Lady Shey.

A frantic scream sounded in the distance as an old woman hobbled around the corner of the Namear household looking for the source. Despite the hobble, she moved nimbly for her age, fueled by adrenalin and determination. The good men and women of the city of Symbor responded to the cries and were dashing down the streets to lend help. Something had the people of the village scrambling for cover and the old woman knew too well what it was, but her focus at the moment lay elsewhere.

She stopped the first person she could reach, a bald, middle-aged man who happened around the corner the same time as she, and pleaded with him in her grandmotherly voice, Please, sir, did you see a little girl run by here, just little more than a toddler? She is my granddaughter.

No, m’lady, I wasn’t watching out for anyone underfoot. I am trying to see what in hell’s fire is going on up there? He pointed to the front of the house, which was a corner house sandwiched into a block with five identical structures.

The girl’s mother has been taken by the most awful creatures you have ever seen—black and toothy, with bat wings and drake eyes. I fear for the girl. Please, sir, tell me you saw her run this way.

What did you say she looked like, again?

Little more than a toddler, with straight black hair and the bluest eyes you have ever seen on an often dirty little face. She had been playing in the garden. I was going to help her plant flowers, but when the creatures came, she got frightened and ran.

Like I noted, I was not looking underfoot, but it seems I might have seen a girl like that not alone, but with a tall blonde lady in blue. I can’t be sure it was the same little girl; as I have stated, I was more interested in finding out what the commotion was up here.

Another scream sounded, and the man pushed the old woman aside and ran toward the sound to see what was happening.

The woman pushed her grey hair out of her eyes and continued down the street. The woman in blue had to be Enowene, a friend of the family. She knew exactly where the woman would be. She would have gone to the white tower, which is where the woman anxiously headed next.

The sound of beating wings behind her made her duck under the awning of a nearby tailor’s shop. She looked up from the corner of the covering to see one of the creatures flying overhead. It appeared to be searching for something. You are not getting little Sheyna, you foul beast! Gathering up her strength, she continued and even picked up her pace toward the tower. When she was in sight of her destination, she noticed the creature still occasionally circling up above. Quickly, she concentrated all her ability and thought on precisely what her granddaughter looked like, and then projected the image of the little girl running in the opposite direction and diving down an alleyway. The creature screeched and gave chase, while the old woman darted to the front door of the tower.

The door swung open before the old woman could knock. Quickly, Arbella, get in here! the tall blonde woman said.

The old woman complied. Enowene. Do you have her?

Aye, of course I do.

Thank the gods. Is she safe?

For the moment, but the danger has far from passed. The poor girl was so frightened I had to . . . well . . . you know, to get her to calm down and go to sleep.

Arbella gasped. You used magic on my granddaughter! Enowene, have you lost all your good elven senses! That girl is special; we don’t know how magic works with her yet. You know who her mother is, for all the love of the gods!

Forgive me, Arbella, but now is not the time. We need to put her mother’s carefully laid plan into action. She foresaw that something like this could happen.

The old woman closed her eyes, and her face tensed as if she were just wounded. Aye, you are right. I still have hope my boy Veric will come to save the day.

Your son has not been seen for quite some time. We can’t put all our hopes on Veric. He is far too close to the problem, anyway. If he finds Sheyna’s mother and brings her home, we can safely deliver the young girl to her upon her return. Do you remember your role?

Aye, I will take her for a time and then hand her off to Sable. She rung her hands and then clinched them into fists. Oh, do I have to?

Aye, Arbella, you do. You will be the first place they look for her, and you are the only one who can take her memories. You are also the only one who can restore her memories if all goes well.

What is the plan if the enemy finds out Sable has her? Arbella inquired.

Enowene looked pained. In such an event I will take her.

You cannot! You are a friend of the family, the second place they would look for her.

I have a contingency plan for that. I don’t want to go into detail but suffice it to say I know a way I could hide her in plain sight. It isn’t ideal and it has to be a last resort, but I think I could do it with a little help from some friends.

If you say so. I hope you know what you’re doing. Arbella reached into her dress pocket and produced a small jade figurine of an elven woman. Here, this is for Sheyna from her mother. She said it was special and to give it to you if anything happened to her. I managed to grab it. It feels enchanted.

Enowene took the figurine. It’s one of Toborne and Morgoran’s creations. I will make sure she gets it when she is old enough to take care of it.

That’s not one of theirs according to her mother.

Enowene studied the statuette, It certainly appears to be. I guess only time will tell.

May I see her?

Enowene nodded and led Arbella to a petite bed in a tiny adjacent room.

The old woman brushed the dark hair from the sleeping girl’s eyes. Do you know how special you are, my little Sheyna? she said. She leaned down and kissed her on the forehead.

Grandma? the child asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Yes, child?

What was that monster?

Oh, Sheyna. I’m sorry it scared you. Don’t you worry about it. Enowene and I will never let you come to harm.

Thank you, Grandma. It was scary. She turned back over and fell asleep again.

Yes, it was dear child, Arbella said. Yes, it was. You go back to sleep now.

She went to the window and cast a warding spell around it using as little essence as she could so as not to alert any other wielders in the area to her presence. Once she was satisfied nothing could get in without her knowing, she left her granddaughter to sleep peacefully. She made her way to a nearby balcony. She wanted to see whether the foul creatures terrorizing the city had gone away or not. Enowene’s tower had powerful warded magic, and once she activated it, detecting Sheyna inside would be nearly impossible. Still, Arbella worried and just like she did for the window, she warded the door and hallway leading away from the little girl’s room as well.

Now, where has that elf gotten off to? she said as she carefully navigated the stairs down to the main floor. She found Enowene in her personal study going over pieces of parchment with strange writing on it. The elven woman looked up when she entered.

I warded the room. I take it you warded the tower?

Naturally, and I sent Sanmir to chase the hunters away. I suspect they are long gone by now.

Good, it’s getting more difficult to keep her hidden.

I don’t think you should allow Sheyna to go play in the garden for a while. I realize it will be difficult to keep the child out of the dirt for a day or two, but you must make do. At least until I send some acolytes after these things hunting her and get to the bottom of this disturbance. In fact, don’t let her out of your sight.

What are you planning?

If we can’t find a suitable place for her here in the tower, I will have her hair color changed and place her with Celestine at the inn once we deem the area safe enough. The Jovial Elf has several protective wards placed around it. I did them myself. Even with the wards I placed around here as powerful as they are, the tower may still be too conspicuous, but the inn is a simple enough structure to fool any would-be lurkers.

And if it’s not? What happens then? I thought this magic school would be the safest place in all Symboria for her.

This tower might be the safest place for her magically, but as I have indicated, it’s big and recognizable as a place of magic. This would be a good place to begin looking for her even without the wards. If anyone tries to locate her here and they find the protective wards in place, that might confirm we have her. Plus, the essence used here makes a lot of noise. It’s difficult to keep her in my mind’s eye. I am convinced that moving her to a small, more controlled space will be more advantageous.

I pray you are right. What if the measures you take at the inn are not enough?

Then, I take even more drastic measures. Let us hope the situation doesn’t lead us to that particular outcome."

The morning sun had barely peaked the horizon when Celestine, Enowene’s only daughter and proprietor of the Jovial Elf Inn, unlocked to the front door to receive her mother and the little girl, Sheyna. Arbella had stayed back at the tower. Sheyna was covered with a child’s blanket.

She’s still sleepy. If you have her room made up, we can put her in it while we finish the protective wards.

This way, Celestine directed. She’s in the room next to mine."

Enowene tucked the sleepy girl in her new bed. The child just groaned but didn’t completely awaken. She was interested in snuggling in the new bed.

Have you already begun the wards? Enowene asked.

All the ones I could do by myself. You just have to work your magic and it will be done.

She nodded. Good, I didn’t detect any prying eyes on the journey here, so I think we’re safe.

Why do the dragons want her so badly, anyway? Celestine asked.

Not all the dragons, just the ones under the control of the Oracle. There is a silly prophesy, probably more hearsay than truth, that says this girl will set events in motion that will cause a great war. The Oracle claims he has also foreseen it.

So, killing this poor innocent girl will prevent the war?

Not as I understand it. The Oracle says she will be responsible for unleashing a terrible magic that will not only defeat the Oracle as he is trying to save the world, but leave part of the world barren of not only magic, but everything that grows.

How does he know it’s this girl?

She is one born of dragonkind. She has dragon’s blood coursing within her veins. A small amount to be sure, but it’s there. She might even have enough within her to fuel dragon magic.

Is she a wielder too?

Enowene nodded, Yes, she is. Now you know why they want her. She can do it all. If she lives to adulthood, she will be a powerful, unstoppable force unlike anything these lands have ever seen.

If that is true, and the Oracle is trying to save the world from her then why are we protecting her?

Because I promised her mother, and I believe her mother is a true source of good. The other wielders and I believe the Oracle is the adversary and not this girl. We think she will stop him from taking over the world, not from saving it.

If what you say is true, I will do my best to keep the little one safe here in my inn.

Enowene cast a ward and then cast another. I know you will. This will only be temporary until I consult with the members of the First Trine and ask them where they want to house her. There, She stood back with her hands on her hips, the wards are all in place. I think we can rest easy now.

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Celestine was glad when little Sheyna began calling her mother. Over the next couple of weeks, she was able to keep the girl safe and hidden. The powerful wards cast over the inn worked and Enowene reviewed and recast them as needed. She noticed the little girl was very fond of the garden, so she let her work in the flowerbeds and vegetable garden whenever she had time to keep an eye on her. On one such occasion, Celestine was going some needlepoint while Sheyna planted some flowers she had been growing in a pot on this back porch into