Kindle Edition
Amazon
Category:
Fantasy
Publisher: Trois Femmes
ISBN-10: 057820732X
Type: Fiction
Pages: 566
Copyright: October 11, 2019
ISBN-13: 9780578207322
Price: $21.00 (eBook)
A wall of fire separates the land.
On one side, an evil wizard plots the destruction of all.
On the other, a Queen desperate to save her kingdom is running out of time.
Prince Winter is safely back in the tiny kingdom of Cabbage after being rescued from the Land of the Dead. But Queen Irene and the wizards know that as long as the evil wizards Anthony and Zarohdin remain alive, danger hangs over them all. They begin to mass an army to attack the wizards.
Zarohdin and Anthony conscript men to serve in their army and round up pretty, young girls to start breeding more wizard sons for a future world where wizards will rule over mortals.
Kay disguises herself to work as a servant in Zarohdin’s alabaster castle but act as a spy for the rebel army. Fitzgerald leaves his pregnant wife, Nan, behind to lead his troops into battle.
After his army barely survives the first skirmish with the rebels, Anthony casts a spell and calls up Everfire, a wall of flames that surrounds his territory. But Irene’s friend, Kay, and Nan’s husband, Fitzgerald, are trapped on the wrong side.
With no way over the wall of fire, Irene struggles with doubts over her ability to keep her children and kingdom safe.
Can Irene, Nan, and Kay prevail over the two powerful wizards? Everfire sends them on a wild adventure of espionage, war, romance and surprises in the third installment of the Irene, Nan, and Kay fantasy series.
Excerpt
Throughout the day, Kay slipped away from work to monitor her appearance. So far, her disguise was holding, but Seever had not mentioned how long it would take before she returned to her own looks once she stopped drinking the potion, so she constantly checked. She nervously examined herself in the hall mirror—was her skin a bit lighter? Was her nose getting shorter? Her nerves were strained and she felt sweat trickle down her back. She feared her time was running out.
She glanced out the window with dismay. Marjoram was right; the weather had turned exceedingly foul. Wind drove the rain against the castle and nobody wanted to go outside. There would be no boats coming to the island today.
I'd best send Jon a message. I hate to use one of these precious dragonflies, but he has to know what's going on.
Kay went to her room and penned a note telling Jon she had spilled all her potion and would try to get off the island before being discovered. She tied the note securely onto the dragonfly and took it to the back kitchen door. The wind gusted so strongly, she wondered how the poor creature would make it to Jon, but she tapped its head lightly and watched it fly with determination into the storm. Just as Kay closed the door she heard Marjoram calling her.
"Desiree. Take this tray of scones and tea to the upstairs reception room. Anthony and Zarohdin are meeting with Sir Richard about something."
"But, I'm not a server and I...am not feeling well. Can't Capella take it?"
"No. She's still busy serving the Pleasure Women. No doubt stealing a chat with her sister. I don't want the tea to get cold. Hop to it." Marjoram gestured to the tray.
Kay picked it up, hurried into the entry hall and climbed the stairs. As she passed the women's large dayroom, she heard laughter and animated conversation. She continued past the wizards’ bedchambers to the upstairs reception room.
She knocked softly and upon hearing Anthony call out "Enter," pushed the heavy door open and moved swiftly into the room. Ordinarily a bright, sunny place with lots of windows, today the storm made it gray and gloomy. Kay kept her head down and her eyes low.
"Where would you like this, my lord wizards?" she asked.
"There on the table," Zarohdin replied. "Where is the fat one...Capella? She usually serves."
"Busy with the women, sir," Kay whispered. She was feeling a bit dizzy and wanted to get away as soon as possible. She turned to go, but the older wizard called her back.
"Which one are you then?"
"Honestly, father, what does it matter?" Anthony broke in, his voice scornful. "She's nothing but a drudge—she's the one who lights the morning fires, scrubs the pots and women's clothing. She's quite beneath anyone's notice."
Kay began to weave a bit on her feet. She desperately wanted to leave, but knew she could not until the wizards dismissed her. Zarohdin was still staring at her, so she answered his question.
"I am Desiree, gracious sir," she said. "I have much to attend to now, so with your permission...I...I..."
Everything went black for a moment and with a soft moan, Kay sank to her knees, holding her head. The two wizards and Richard stared at her, curious, unable to decide if they should bother to do anything. To their astonishment, Desiree's long, dark hair started to shorten, lighten, and become curly. Her skin became rosier and her frame a bit plumper and youthful looking. With a roar, Anthony reached the girl in two long strides and yanked her up by her arms, pulling Kay's hands away from her face. She looked up in terror at the wizard.
"What is this? Father, it appears we have a spy. Who are you?" he shouted, shaking Kay.
"It's Kay," Richard said grimly. "Her name is Kay from the Secret Valley and she's the one who transformed me into a rat! Give me the pleasure of killing her, m’lord Zarohdin, please. 'Tis certainly my right after what she did to me."
"No, I will do it," Anthony said. "I have a wonderfully painful spell I've been longing to try. Or, we could put her in the magic lake—see if the water changes a woman into a beast as it does the men!" He laughed, delighted with the idea. "Yes, a painful death is definitely in order."
"No," Zarohdin smiled, his dark eyes glittering. He crossed over to Anthony who still held Kay tightly. "Let us not be so hasty, my son. We can work this to our advantage. We'll find out what means of communication she has been employing for her spy work and use it against her fellow rebels. As for killing her...oh, no, no, no." He chuckled. "I have desired this wench since the last time she visited. She's mine."
He yanked Kay away from his son and pulled her out of the room, down the hall towards his bedchamber. With a sudden horror, Kay realized what Zarohdin’s plans were and she began to scream and fight with all her strength. The door of the women's quarters opened and curious heads popped out, but no one came to her aid.
Zarohdin, laughing at Kay's struggles, opened his room, threw the still-fighting girl in, followed, and slammed the door shut.
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