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The Stolen Tome [A World of Ethynia Novel] [MultiFormat]
eBook by J. Brian Jones
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eBook Category: Fantasy/Young Adult
eBook Description: Morgan Glendennings, aristocrat wizard, is at a crossroads. She believes her family's mysterious heirloom holds a secret. After much research, she learns of an ancient book that contains the information she needs. When the book is lost during shipment, Morgan suspects it has been stolen. She hires a shadowy rogue named Axel to help get it back. Together, they pursue the book and the men who stole it. Axel's distrust of wizards and all things magical only complicates matters, especially when the chase takes longer and covers a greater distance than either expected. As the mystery unfolds, they end up caught in the intricate plots and schemes of the thieves who stole the book. Morgan and Axel press on, trying to find out who paid for the thieves' services. Why would anyone go to such lengths to steal the very book that Morgan needs? Will they ever unravel the secrets and significance of the Stolen Tome?
eBook Publisher: epress-online, Published: 2007
Fictionwise Release Date: July 2007
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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [1.1 MB], eReader (PDB) [390 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [393 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [352 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [312 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [361 KB], hiebook (KML) [923 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [539 KB], iSilo (PDB) [321 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [407 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [458 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [534 KB]
Words: 119492
Reading time: 341-477 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
Chapter 1To Look For a Book At last! At long last, it had arrived! All the research, studying, excessive costs, and waiting were finally over. Morgan Glendennings gasped for perhaps the twentieth time today at the thought, then she tossed a lock of her usually well-kept, curly red hair back into its rightful place. She walked along the tightly bricked main road of Stormhaven, a port city along the coast of the Sea of Storms. A cobbler, a tailor, a weapon-smith and a general store lined one side of Currency Avenue, making it the center of commerce for the coastal city. Several large rundown warehouses stood opposite, their weather-beaten exteriors a testament to their age. Morgan barely noticed the surrounding hustle and bustle of the crowd as she skirted it. Her cloak blew open in the breeze. She shivered and pulled it tighter, then glanced at the sky. A storm was coming. Her wooden staff tapped the ground rhythmically with every other step, the length of its five feet just eclipsing her shoulder. Although she had been to Stormhaven a few times before, she doubted she would ever get used to the constant stench of salt that permeated the air with every gust of wind. She thanked the gods above, though none in particular, that she lived farther inland, in the small town of Leranth. How fortunate she was that her former mentor turned colleague, Avarond, helped--no, "arranged" she reminded herself--for her to stay with the Lorekeeper priests of Yndelis, the venerated deity of knowledge and wisdom. Their modest church library provided Morgan with all the peace, solitude, scrolls, and books that she would ever need. For several months she had been studying and researching the history of magic and its origins. The library was perfect. With its vast resources at her disposal, she hadn't thought life could get any better. How wrong she had been! But this time, she didn't mind being wrong. Not in the least. And all because she knocked a book off of a table. A book she hadn't even planned to read! It had landed on its back and wide open and the image on the page immediately grabbed her attention. The drawing depicted an exact replica of the Glendennings family heirloom. The family had long since forgotten the relevance of the story although they passed the ancient gem setting down from one generation to the next. The accuracy of the drawing compared to the heirloom in her possession, a silver eagle's talon, still amazed Morgan. Three open claws curved inward to clasp the missing jewel. The jewel had likely been lost longer than the story behind the setting. She always believed the missing stone to be a powerful magical crystal, not simply another expensive gem. Much to her chagrin, her cousins often teased her about the theory. And so Morgan had the setting mounted atop her magical staff, mainly to spite her taunting relatives. The discovery of the drawing and its resemblance to the Glendennings family heirloom captivated Morgan and the priests. The study of the book and anything potentially relevant became the focus of everyone in the temple. Their research led them to several references including another, even older tome. But the library, despite its enormous collection, didn't have a copy of that rare book. Thus, a search commenced. It had taken weeks, but the Lorekeepers finally located a copy of the ancient book in the personal collection of a greedy scholar who lived in the distant city of Mirsewell. This particular scholar had not been willing to part with the manuscript. At least not until the overly enthusiastic Morgan agreed to his outrageous price. And that's how she ended up here, in Stormhaven. Morgan brushed aside her thoughts about the gods and forcibly ignored the salty sea smell. On her right, not much farther ahead, stood the main warehouse for Schastly Shipping and Transport. A sign hung over the door, attached directly to the building by huge rusted spikes. Engraved along the left side of it was "S S & T". The rest of the markings were indecipherable; the constant battering of salt, wind, and water had eroded them long ago. She pulled open the door and stepped inside, eager to pay the remainder of the shipping fee and collect her book. The front room was empty except for a dust-covered counter. The backroom, however, buzzed with activity. Or so it appeared through the narrow slit between the partially opened, dirty gray curtains separating the storefront from the warehouse. Morgan strolled to the counter, her short graceful steps the embodiment of wealth, rank, and nobility. Anyone that looked upon her could tell that she had an air of superiority that expected--nay, demanded--respect. Although at the moment, no one noticed. For several moments she stood quietly at the counter, her hands crossed in front of her. She shifted her feet and let out another sigh, this one louder and much more dramatic, then resumed her vigil. A few more seconds elapsed, each one seeming longer than the previous. She slowly--so slowly--let her gaze fall to the little bell on the countertop. "Not again," she murmured. How preposterous! To have to stand and wait! Back in her hometown of Wingarde, the capital city of Terecet, the owners of the shops were always at the counter, ready to serve their patrons. Not that the reputation of Morgan's family didn't contribute to their attentiveness. Their wealth and status was well known. "If these folks even knew," she said. Was there anyone in Wingarde who didn't know her? Or at least know of her? She shook her head and chuckled to herself, instantly dismissing the silly notion. Morgan glanced one final time at the curtain and, seeing no help forthcoming, hesitantly reached out and tapped the bell. She started at its shrill clang. A hand thrust through the curtain, its index finger extended upward, indicating that she should wait for its owner. Eventually, a grinning face covered by a thick beard poked through the drapes. "Whatcha need, lass?" he asked without stepping into the room. "Make it quick, now. We're still tryin ta off-load the goods that jus arrived." Morgan scowled. "I am here to pick up an order." "Oh, I see," he replied. "We don't do that 'ere. Ya need ta go down ta our receivin' office in Trade Circle 'n wait til it gets there with the other orders." He abruptly disappeared behind the tattered cloth. Morgan gaped in disbelief at the swaying curtain. "W ... W ... Wait!! That's not what I was told! This was a special delivery!" she half-yelled. The man didn't return. Morgan simultaneously stamped her staff and one foot on the wooden floor, then muttered a string of unintelligible sounds. In the next moment, she composed herself, straightened her cloak just so, and exhaled a deep calming breath. She tapped the bell again, sending out its all-too-familiar ring. A different face greeted her through the raggedy curtain; this one belonged to a clean-shaven man in his early twenties. "Yes, ma'am?" he asked politely. "What can I do for you?" Morgan considered this a definite improvement. "I am here to pick up a package that was supposed to arrive on the ship that just came into Stormhaven." He was shaking his head before she finished the sentence. "We don't deliver the merchandise here. This is just the front of our warehouse and sorting area on the docks. You need to go down to our receiving office in Trade Circle." He started back through the curtain. "Wait," she screeched. He halted the swinging curtain with a dirty hand and turned to face her. "Do ya need directions? Well, you go back out and down the--" "No, no, no. I do not need directions," she said. "I was told by Dmitri Schastly himself to come here to pick up my order. I made it very worth his while to see that I received this package the second it arrived." The dockworker rubbed a hand across his chin and furrowed his brow. "Hmmm, that does sound like something Master Schastly would do. Let me check in the back with the boss and see if he knows anything about it. What's the name again?" "Glendennings. Morgan Glendennings," she said. The man nodded and slipped beyond the curtain, leaving her alone. Many minutes later, Dmitri Schastly stepped through the ruffled cloth, his weathered face showing a hint of concern. He gradually approached the counter, wringing his stubby hands together and avoiding eye contact. He gulped before glancing up at her from beneath his shaggy black hair. "Lady Morgan, so nice to see you agai--" he said. Her thunderous roar cut him off. "Where is my book?" "Well, you see, we seem to have a little problem," he soothed, his gaze never leaving her face. "If you don't have my book, then you have a huge problem." She tossed a stray lock of hair out of her face. "We think that your cargo has been temporarily misplaced," he said. "Misplaced? Misplaced?" Morgan glowered. "Where and when did you realize that it had been 'misplaced'?" "We really aren't quite sure." He held his hands out to his ample sides. "I'll have my best crew look into it right away." "Oh, I see," she said. "So they haven't been sent out yet? I guess that means that you only just now realized that it was missing." Dmitri winced, nearly biting his tongue. "Unfortunately, yes." Morgan glared at him. Then she blinked, huffing once. "You have until I return to find that book," she growled through clenched teeth. She pivoted and strode purposefully toward the exit, clutching her magical staff with a vise-like grip. "But ... But ... When will that be?" he said as she swung open the door. "Don't worry about 'When' so much as 'What if'. Especially if you don't have it when I do return." She didn't look back. * * * *Dmitri blanched. Morgan's threat lingered long after the door slammed behind her. He leaned on the counter, panting heavily and trying to steady himself, then he slipped back into the warehouse, his mind already racing. He needed a good story. A believable story. Otherwise, he would have to deal with an angry wizard. And worse yet, the local authorities. As if they weren't already causing him enough problems. * * * *Meanwhile, Morgan stormed into the street, ramming into the solid wall of a man's chest. She hurriedly untangled herself from his black cloak and murmured a half-hearted apology. "Don't worry about it. Looks like someone in there must've really upset you." The stranger tilted his head toward the door. "Something like that," she muttered. "Incompetent, untrustworthy fools. I should burn the whole place down with one good fireball." "Well, that's a little harsh, isn't it?" he asked, glancing down. "I mean, if you did that, where would an honest fellow like me go to work?" "You work for that rotten two-faced son of a goblin?" She swung her staff toward the warehouse. "I see that Dmitri has added to his list of critics," the man said, rubbing his neatly trimmed goatee. "Since I do a little part-time work for him, maybe I can help you out." "I doubt it," she said. "He has 'misplaced' a valuable package. One I paid plenty of extra knir to have delivered." "Ah, I see." His blue eyes revealed that his thoughts had turned inward. After several quiet moments, he smiled at her and nodded. Morgan furrowed her brow at him. "See what?" "Well, I've seen my old friend, Dmitri, make some very ... questionable ... business decisions since I've been here," he said. "And with the kind of people that I know all too well." "Is that so?" She squinted, taking a half-step away. "Yes, that's so." He chuckled, noting the distance she'd put between them. "You don't have to worry about me, though. I left that part of my life long ago and in a place far from here. The way Dmitri uses me to negotiate those deals really bothers me. In fact, I'm already considering something else." "Back to burglaries and muggings, perhaps?" Morgan scowled. She backed up another step, slowly inching one hand toward the wand tucked into her belt. The stranger laughed. "Not even close." She sighed outwardly. An admitted thief who denies being a thief? What was the world coming to? "Anyway, Lady ... uh ... I don't recall your name, if you'll forgive me?" the thief-who-wasn't-a-thief asked, bowing politely. Morgan rolled her eyes at his blatant attempt to garner information. "That is because I did not tell you my name, good sir." "Good to know my memory isn't failing me," he said. "But if you don't tell me your name, then how am I going to help you get your package from Dmitri?" "You said you weren't working for him anymore." She tried to trap him with his own words. "I don't work for him anymore." He shrugged. "I just told you that. But since Dmitri doesn't know it, I still have access to his warehouse and documents." "Just what are you implying?" "I imply nothing. I am offering to help you with your problem from the inside." "You mean you can get my book for me?" Her heart jumped in her chest. "Well, I don't know that I can promise you that," he said, much to her dismay. "However, I can probably find out what happened to it." "I would greatly appreciate any help that you give me." "Perfect!" he said. "Now, we merely need to discuss my fee for--" "Your what?" "My fee," he repeated. "I think an even one hundred knir sounds fair. You can pay me half when we meet. Then I'll tell you what I've found. If you feel it's worth the remainder of the price, I'll expect you to honor your end of the agreement. Deal?" If she waited for the authorities to look into the situation, it could be days, weeks, or even months before they found out anything useful. Such a delay wasn't very appealing. On the other hand, what if this thief double-crossed her? He seemed intent on doing that to Dmitri. What trouble could she get into with those same authorities? But what choice did she have? She chewed her lip and looked up at him. Their eyes locked, her bright green orbs matching the intensity of his icy blue ones. "I will agree to this, but only if you meet me at a place of my choosing." "I would expect nothing less," he said. "Name the place." "Leranth," she said. "At the temple of Yndelis." His brows hiked upward as his blue eyes widened, darkening with respect. "Interesting choice. We shouldn't have to worry about being seen there." "We shall be seen, I assure you. I am living there at the moment," she said. He nodded. "All right. And when I arrive, who should I ask for?" Morgan paused, reluctant to reveal any more than necessary. She began to think of an alias to use. "Let me guess. You're going for the fake name routine, right?" She stammered a denial, but he dismissed her with a wave, shushing her. "Don't bother. I know what you look like and where you're staying. Don't you think I could find out your name if I really wanted to? One night at a tavern in Leranth is all it would take. So, please, spare me the stuttered excuses and games." Morgan's jaw dropped, understanding a little more about the type of person she had hired. She blinked once, gulped, and stared at him. He sighed. "I don't have time for this. What if I get things started? I'm Axel, recently arrived from a place far away and better off forgotten. After all, I'm sure that you would've had some of your priest caretakers question me about my name before allowing me inside anyway." "Yes ... Oh, of course." She made a mental note to recommend it to them. "I am Morgan. That is all you need to know about me. Just show up at the temple and identify yourself after you have gathered all the information you can find. The sooner you do the better." "I'm sure that you'd like to start tracking down your book as soon as you can. And I know that I'd like to have my payment. I'll be there as soon as I come up with something useful." He turned and headed toward Dmitri's warehouse. "Oh, and Axel," Morgan called as he neared the steps. He stopped, but didn't look back. "Don't try anything that would anger an already unhappy mage." He allowed the threat to hang in the air. "Wouldn't be the first time." He shrugged, pulled open the door, and went inside.
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