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Jeanne Owens, author
Category:
Fantasy
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN-10: 0595240054
Type: Fiction
Pages: 350
Copyright: Jan 1 2001
ISBN-13: 9780595240050
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
When the nephew of a prominent nobleman goes missing, the young, infamous mercenary sorceress, Marissa "Riss" Cobalt, is hired to find him. This seemingly simple job quickly turns out to be anything but as she winds up the subject of a prophecy and has to save the world from the God of Evil.
A light fantasy with a dash of anime styling.
Note: This is a revised edition of the book. It is available as e-book and print editions.
Marissa “Riss” Cobalt is a young sorceress-for-hire known throughout the world not only for her blue hair and temper but also for helping people with their problems if the money is right. So naturally, when the nephew of one of the ruling lords of the city of Westover disappears while searching for a legendary treasure, Riss is called on. Since she's on retainer to the lords, she has no choice but to accept, despite feeling there's more going on than she's being told.
When a group of bandits hired to kill Riss attacks her, the swordsman Fiore Ferio steps in and saves her life. Then he insists on accompanying her, and Riss – who has avoided making friends because of her dangerous lifestyle – reluctantly agrees to let him come along.
Things quickly become complicated when a Demon – a minion of the dark god, Yangul – attacks, and in the process reveals that Riss is part of an ancient prophecy.
After managing to escape, and knowing the Demon could attack again at any time, a scared but determined Riss and Fiore race to learn more about the prophecy. A mysterious benefactor sends the duo to Riss's former teacher, who reveals that Riss is destined to battle and defeat Yangul with the staff of the legendary sorcerer, Ozanda Sunfire - Riss's ancestor.
Stunned by the knowledge, the young sorceress grudingly accepts her fate to save the world and sets off to search for the staff. Along the way, she and Fiore rescue an elf maid, Arianna, who leads them back to her kingdom, where the Demon catches up. It challenges Riss to go to Yangul's temple in Camra and face the god of evil, and also takes Fiore's soul to hold hostage, forcing her to either accept the challenge or risk Fiore being tortured forever – or worse. Riss is so shaken by the possiblity, she begins to wonder if Fiore had become more than a friend.
Determined to rescue Fiore and fulfill her destiny, Riss seeks out Ozanda's staff. With it and the help of a couple of friends, Riss thinks she can save both the world and her best friend. She knows it won't be easy, though, and if she succeeds, her life – and her heart - won't be the same.
Excerpt
I pointed to starboard with the sword and noticed the shadow had gotten closer – and had picked up speed. I hurried to the side of the boat and took up a defensive stance. Arianna stood on my right with her bow and arrow held ready. Etienne stood on my left, ready to spellcast. But unless the sea monster was a Demon, I didn’t think any of his magic spells would be of any help. Unless he happened to know some black magic and hadn’t told us that, either.
We stood with our nerves and muscles tensed and watched the large, obscure shadow come closer and closer. When it reached us, we readied ourselves to attack as soon as it surfaced.
But instead of surfacing, it continued on, diving deeper beneath our boat. Surprised, we followed it to the other side and reached the port side of the boat just as the huge, sea green, lizard-like head and neck of a sea dragon surfaced right next to us and bellowed out a horrendous roar from its enormous, fanged mouth.
There was only enough time for me to let out a startled scream at the dragon’s sudden appearance, and for Arianna to launch her arrow, before the turbulence created by the monster’s rough surfacing caused our little rickety boat to capsize. We cried out in terror as we went flying and tumbling into the ocean. Just before I hit the water, I glimpsed Arianna’s arrow lodge into one of the dragon’s blazing yellow eyes and heard the monster cry out in anger and pain. There wasn't enough time for me to savor that little victory, though, because I sank fast beneath the surface of the water. My fear of drowning had been realized at last.
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