The Wizards of Wand Street: Yecelentan Tales Short Reads, #1

By Kevan Kenneth Bowkett

Refugees from a magical country, a group of sorcerers must try laboriously to rebuild their wizardry in most unpromising circumstances. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sixth Planet Productions
• Release date: Jun 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223511540

Kevan Kenneth Bowkett

Kevan Kenneth Bowkett is a Winnipeg writer and researcher. His writing has ranged from an International Convention on the Evaluation of New Technologies to poetry to Elizabethanesque drama in Time’s Fancy: The War of King Henry V and Joan of Arc. He’s also done door-to-door sales, built and slept in an igloo, and run for Parliament. .......... To sign up for Kevan's e-newsletter to keep in touch with his new books, productions, and other projects, please go to http://eepurl.com/g1dX6z

Book preview

Hear, dear citizens, that in those days was the Empire of Cothirya riven, fallen into the hands of warlords, despots, and evil priests. Wisdom had flown; she sat not on the shoulders of scholars, merchants, princes, wives and husbands. Blood ran in the streets and the fields and pounded in the brains of the many lusting for power; and mingled in the shadows with dire sorceries that brought ruin. The Emperor, caged in his palace, merely added to the chaos in seeking to reconstitute his rule. No bird of bright promise spoke in his ear, telling him when to act, and when to pause.

Yet, for a time, there seemed a dawn that was breaking this darkness: a sparkling citadel was reared in the mountains, and sent its influence far abroad. This was the burg of Kappo Arilel, home of Jen Gavvidu to whom wisdom whispered; of it was written:

A new Sun had risen in the North:

Its beams promised a new spring for the Southern Country.

––––––––

For a time: for Kappo too was encircled by foes lusting for its treasures. Therefore Jen Gavvidu sent off his lieutenant Rebensa, leading a host of fugitives down toward the lowlands of the Empire, for fear of what might come to them otherwise.

Kappo sparkled; and the clouds came on, which covered the realm of Cothirya like the canopy of the Forest of Night.

And the evening the enemy closed in on Kappo Arilel, Jen Gavvidu wrote:

The Queen’s kindness

Must be stained with cruelty.

For the world knows not how to swallow

Plain, unadulterated good.

from The Grand Romance

1.

Well it’s not satisfactory, said the wizard Blue Heron, glancing around the chamber, but under the circumstances it will have to do.

He put down a satchel of magical scrolls and another of implements on the rickety table in the corner of the swelteringly hot, top-story room in the dingy old house.

At least it hardly has a view, said his colleague Niedlai of Thexa. People won’t be able to look in and see our operations.

True enough, Neet, said Blue Heron, beginning to rummage in a satchel for some chalk and a candle. Let’s get started on the consecrating.

How about let’s get started on the paying, said the landlady.

Without speaking Blue Heron went to her and handed her a coin for the night.

If you’re a magician, she asked, how do I know this here coin won’t turn into a blob of wax or something?

If it does, you know where to find me, said Blue Heron, turning back to the table. Here in this stinking chamber atop this wretched house on the vile but aptly-named Wand Street in the overcrowded city of Gav Ra.