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Category:
Fantasy
Type: Fiction
Price: $4.99 (eBook)
The second book of Arucadi: The Beginning. These earlier books of the Arucadi series form the background to the Arucadi series beginning with A School for Sorcery but are intended for older teens or adults.
Wonder workers have come to the town of Carey in Arucadi's heartland, and the town will never be the same.
Ed Robbins, known to the townsfolk as Simple Eddie, discovers that he is magically gifted, and his life is transformed. Abigail Dormer, respected headmistress of the Dormer Primary School for Young Ladies, does not believe in magic and is convinced that Kyla and Marta are charlatans until Abigail's own magic abilities reveal themselves, much to her consternation. Jerome Esterville, rebellious son of a pious mother, also discovers a gift, but it is wild magic, not from the Power-Giver, and if not restrained will turn him to terrible evil. Councilor Hardwick, head of the Carey City Council, hopes to receive power and, when that gift is denied him, sets the council and most of the town against the "wonderworkers." Devastation looms for the town, and Kyla and Marta face death. Ed's magical gifts may provide a solution, but only if Kyla and Marta can train him before disaster overtakes them all.
Excerpt
Loud voices. Laughter. Heavy footsteps, banging of doors. The commotion roused Marta; she hadn’t been asleep anyway. “Kyla, you awake?” she whispered.
“Yes. I hear it. We’re getting company.”
A small barred window in the door admitted a bit of light. Marta got up and peered out into the corridor. Someone in the approaching group had a lantern and was holding it high to provide light for his fellows.
“Three guardsmen bringing in one poor guy who looks barely conscious,” Marta reported. “Looks like he’s been in a fight—he’s a real mess. They’re putting him in the cell across from us. Throwing him into it, I should say.”
The man with the lantern noticed Marta looking out and came close to leer in at her. “Say, there’s women in here,” he announced to the other guardsmen. “What’d they do?”
“Council Master Hardwick brought ’em in. He’s hauling them up before the council for defrauding the public.”
The third guardsman slammed the door to the cell across the hall and turned a key in its lock. “Hey, Eddie, see you mind your manners in there. You got ladies across the hall from you.”
They all guffawed. One crossed the hall and slammed a billy club against the bars of the window, making Marta jump back. “Get your rest, ladies,” he shouted into their cell. “You need your beauty sleep before you go before the council.”
Roaring with laughter, they marched off down the corridor and through a door at its end. Their departure left the cells in darkness.
“Beasts,” Kyla muttered.
When the echoes of laughter died away, Marta heard moans and sobs from the new prisoner. She’d moaned like that more than once after a beating. The reminder brought an ache to her throat. She kindled the mage light and tried to look into the cell across the way, but could see nothing. The man must be lying on the cot or on the floor. “Suppose he’s as innocent as we are?”
“He may well be,” Kyla said, joining her at the window. “I’m not impressed with the quality of justice here.”
“Are we going to do anything about it?”
“You mean, are we going to do anything about him?” Kyla waved her hand in the direction of the other cell.
“Listen to him. He’s in pain. How do we know he’s not dying?”
Kyla cocked her head. “Sounds too loud for a dying man,” she said. “I’d guess more scared than hurt.”
Marta knew she wouldn’t rest until she’d seen for herself. “I can’t stand it. Sing the door open, and let’s see what we can do.”
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