Amanda Moonstone: The Darkbane Sorceress
Sample Chapter
By Dan Wright
Not to be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system—except by a reviewer to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web—without permission from the author.
By Dan Wright
Not to be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system—except by a reviewer to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web—without permission from the author.
Chapter 6
The Great Shadori Warrior
They caught up with Wilfred, discovering a small hovel resting in a tiny clearing. It was was only slightly taller than Luthar and seemed no wider than all three of them together. Nevertheless, it seemed in pretty good condition, made from strong wood and resting under a large tree that protected it from most of the elements. A tiny little chimney puffed out smoke every so often and the smell of herbs was stronger now that they were close to the source.
“Who’d build a house this deep into the forest?” Amanda asked.
“Someone who didn’t want to be found,” Luthar answered.
“Whoever it is, I hope they have food to spare,” Wilfred said. Clearing his throat, he knocked gently on the wooden door.
“Oh,” gasped a tiny voice from inside. “Who is that knocking at my door?”
“Um, excuse me, sir,” Wilfred said as politely as his ravenous hunger allowed. “We’re lost in the woods and very hungry. Would you be so kind to allow us some
food? We’d pay you for it, of course.”
“But we don’t have any money,” Amanda hissed.
“He doesn’t know that,” Wilfred said, whispering back.
“Oh no,” the voice replied again. “I would be worried about opening the door.”
“We mean you no harm,” Luthar said.
“No, no,” the somewhat timid voice said. “I am worried about letting in the cold air.”
Wilfred’s stomach rumbled again. “Oh man, I think I’ll pass out if I don’t eat soon.”
Shaking her head, Amanda moved closer. “Sir, I know you have no cause to trust us,” she started, “but we’re lost in the forest and… and I need to find my son. Please can you just spare us a few moments of your time and we’ll be on our way, I promise.”
After a few moments of silence, the door creaked open slightly and the occupant’s green eye and purple skin appeared in the small crack. The eye focused on Amanda and she could see that around it were slight instances of crow’s feet.
“A shadori?” Amanda gasped, hiding behind Wilfred.
“This one isn't with the Singing Screams,” Luthar told her.
“Oh,” Amanda said, stiffling a laugh, “I knew that.”
The door opened up wider, bathing the occupant in light. He wore a dirty cream coat with lines of red over a traditional shadorian kimono that had a red line down the outlines. At one time, the fabric was the purest white you could have ever seen, but now it looked dirty and dusty. He was a fairly small creature – not quite a dwarf, but barely higher than any of their chests due to his back being stooped. He looked as if he would fall were it not for the stick in his hand that had a leaf attached to the end. His white hair was tied back and his beard stuck out several inches from his chin.
“Well, I suppose you can come in for a little while,” the old shadori said.
“We will not be long, I promise, Sen-Sai,” Luthar said with a slight bow.
Wilfred mouthed the words ‘thank you’ as he almost pushed his way in.
“Sen-Sai?” Amanda asked.
“It’s a form of address in Shadorian,” Luthar replied. “It basically translates as Master. San-Sai is the female equivalent.”
Luthar had to bend down as he went through the door. However, even though they had seen from the outside that the hovel was small, they hadn’t realised quite how small it was on the inside. It was so cramped that barely any of them had any space to breathe, let alone move. In fact, Luthar found his neck pushed right up against the ceiling at an awkward angle, so he had to kneel down to save himself damage.
“Hey!” Amanda moaned. “You’re standing on my foot!”
“Sorry,” Wilfred apologised. “Let me just... move a bit...”
Amanda and Wilfred bungled about, trying to get comfortable. But due to the small enclosure, they ended up poking and pressing each other rather than finding a space to stand. Amanda tried to push in front of Wilfred to find a breathing space. He sucked in air and stood up, banging his head on the wall. Amanda pushed Wilfred against the wall and found a comfortable space, finding something soft to rest her back on.
“That’s better.”
“You’re on my arm!” Wilfred complained.
“Nice... place you have here,” Amanda said, ignoring Wilfred’s complaints. “Quite... cosy.”
“I built it just for myself,” the old man said, standing near a pot that was boiling over a fire, the liquid bubbling within. “I don’t get many visitors, as you can see.” He dipped a spoon into the pot, tasting the soup he was making. He then took some of it and poured it into a dark clay bowl. “I’m afraid you’ll have to share, I don’t have any more bowls.”
“Thank you,” Wilfred said. “Er, Amanda… my arm?”
Amanda moved forward as much as she could so that Wilfred could take the bowl from the old man. He practically wrenched it from the old man’s hands and took the spoon, digging into the soup. “Mmmmm, this is delicious!” Wilfred exclaimed. The fresh herbs warmed up Wilfred’s belly inside. He took a second to admire the craftsmanship of the bowl and spoon “Wow, this is nice. What wood is it made of?” He scooped up more soup in the spoon.
“Oh it’s not made of wood,” the old man said. “It’s made from animal droppings.”
Wilfred’s eyes widened. “Animal... droppings?”
“Yes,” replied the old man. “It is very easy and good to fashion things from if you know how.”
Wilfred’s teeth showed and her eyes closed halfway. He sucked in air through his teeth. “I’m actually full now, thanks. Anyone else want some?”
Luthar and Amanda politely declined and Wilfred handed the bowl back, wiping his hands on Amanda’s dress. “HEY!” Amanda shouted, hitting him with her elbow.
“Forgive us for intruding, Sen-Sai,” Luthar said.
“Please, just call me Ren,” the old man said. “I haven’t been a Sen-Sai in many years.”
“I was always taught it was bad manners to call a shadori by their name unless you have permission,” Luthar said.
“Then I give you my permission,” Ren replied.
“Very well, Sen… I mean Ren,” Luthar said. “My name is Captain Luthar, this is Amanda and Wilfred. We wonder if you might be able to show us the quickest way out of the wood.”
“I will try,” Ren replied, “but I am worried my directions will not be as good.”
“Just point us somewhere and we can do the rest,” Amanda said.
“Ow you really hurt my ribs, Amanda,” Wilfred moaned from behind.
“All right, where did you come from?” Ren asked.
“Wrightson,” Luthar replied.
“Wrightson?” Ren asked. “How did you get here?”
“Would you believe me if I said it was a magical tornado?” Amanda said with a jokey smile.
“Magical tornado?” Ren asked. “How did such a thing happen?”
“Bit of a long story,” Wilfred cut in. “See, we were in a fight with a sorceress called Saevitia Darkbane.”
“Who?” Ren asked.
“Saevitia Darkbane,” Wilfred replied. “You heard of her? Purple dress, black hair, uses magic?”
Ren’s sunken eyes widened. His head lowered forward, eyes narrowing across the ground. He then looked up and tapped the floor with his stick. “I am sorry, but you must leave now.”
“Well we would if you could tell us the way,” Wilfred said.
“I am sorry, I cannot help you,” Ren stammered.
“Wait,” Amanda said, “do you know her?”
“I know no-one called Saevitia,” Ren snapped, “Please, you must leave now.”
“Wait a second,” Amanda said, putting a finger to her chin. “Something is coming back to me. I remember… reading something… something…”
Amanda stared at Ren, her thoughts reaching deep into the recesses of her memory. Her eyes widened equally as large as Ren’s did moments ago.
“You’re the… Great Shadori Warrior!”
“No, no, you have me confused with someone else,” Ren said, turning back to his pot.
“Amanda?” Luthar asked.
“I remember where I heard about Saevitia now,” Amanda exclaimed. “It was in a book I read when I was little. Saevitia was supposed to be a power sorceress that almost destroyed Celtland – until she was defeated by the Great Shadori Warrior.” She turned back to Ren. “It has to be him.”
“Are you sure, Amanda?” Wilfred asked.
“How many other shadoris do you know in Celtland?” Amanda asked. She clapped her hands. “This is great! We can fight back against Saevitia.”
“I am sorry,you have had a wasted journey,” Ren replied.
“Why are you living out here?” Amanda asked.
“My reasons are my own,” Ren replied.
“Please, Ren,” Luthar cut in, standing up and bumping his head. “If you are who Amanda thinks you are, we need your help. Saevitia has my son and I intend to make her pay!”
“Who’d build a house this deep into the forest?” Amanda asked.
“Someone who didn’t want to be found,” Luthar answered.
“Whoever it is, I hope they have food to spare,” Wilfred said. Clearing his throat, he knocked gently on the wooden door.
“Oh,” gasped a tiny voice from inside. “Who is that knocking at my door?”
“Um, excuse me, sir,” Wilfred said as politely as his ravenous hunger allowed. “We’re lost in the woods and very hungry. Would you be so kind to allow us some
food? We’d pay you for it, of course.”
“But we don’t have any money,” Amanda hissed.
“He doesn’t know that,” Wilfred said, whispering back.
“Oh no,” the voice replied again. “I would be worried about opening the door.”
“We mean you no harm,” Luthar said.
“No, no,” the somewhat timid voice said. “I am worried about letting in the cold air.”
Wilfred’s stomach rumbled again. “Oh man, I think I’ll pass out if I don’t eat soon.”
Shaking her head, Amanda moved closer. “Sir, I know you have no cause to trust us,” she started, “but we’re lost in the forest and… and I need to find my son. Please can you just spare us a few moments of your time and we’ll be on our way, I promise.”
After a few moments of silence, the door creaked open slightly and the occupant’s green eye and purple skin appeared in the small crack. The eye focused on Amanda and she could see that around it were slight instances of crow’s feet.
“A shadori?” Amanda gasped, hiding behind Wilfred.
“This one isn't with the Singing Screams,” Luthar told her.
“Oh,” Amanda said, stiffling a laugh, “I knew that.”
The door opened up wider, bathing the occupant in light. He wore a dirty cream coat with lines of red over a traditional shadorian kimono that had a red line down the outlines. At one time, the fabric was the purest white you could have ever seen, but now it looked dirty and dusty. He was a fairly small creature – not quite a dwarf, but barely higher than any of their chests due to his back being stooped. He looked as if he would fall were it not for the stick in his hand that had a leaf attached to the end. His white hair was tied back and his beard stuck out several inches from his chin.
“Well, I suppose you can come in for a little while,” the old shadori said.
“We will not be long, I promise, Sen-Sai,” Luthar said with a slight bow.
Wilfred mouthed the words ‘thank you’ as he almost pushed his way in.
“Sen-Sai?” Amanda asked.
“It’s a form of address in Shadorian,” Luthar replied. “It basically translates as Master. San-Sai is the female equivalent.”
Luthar had to bend down as he went through the door. However, even though they had seen from the outside that the hovel was small, they hadn’t realised quite how small it was on the inside. It was so cramped that barely any of them had any space to breathe, let alone move. In fact, Luthar found his neck pushed right up against the ceiling at an awkward angle, so he had to kneel down to save himself damage.
“Hey!” Amanda moaned. “You’re standing on my foot!”
“Sorry,” Wilfred apologised. “Let me just... move a bit...”
Amanda and Wilfred bungled about, trying to get comfortable. But due to the small enclosure, they ended up poking and pressing each other rather than finding a space to stand. Amanda tried to push in front of Wilfred to find a breathing space. He sucked in air and stood up, banging his head on the wall. Amanda pushed Wilfred against the wall and found a comfortable space, finding something soft to rest her back on.
“That’s better.”
“You’re on my arm!” Wilfred complained.
“Nice... place you have here,” Amanda said, ignoring Wilfred’s complaints. “Quite... cosy.”
“I built it just for myself,” the old man said, standing near a pot that was boiling over a fire, the liquid bubbling within. “I don’t get many visitors, as you can see.” He dipped a spoon into the pot, tasting the soup he was making. He then took some of it and poured it into a dark clay bowl. “I’m afraid you’ll have to share, I don’t have any more bowls.”
“Thank you,” Wilfred said. “Er, Amanda… my arm?”
Amanda moved forward as much as she could so that Wilfred could take the bowl from the old man. He practically wrenched it from the old man’s hands and took the spoon, digging into the soup. “Mmmmm, this is delicious!” Wilfred exclaimed. The fresh herbs warmed up Wilfred’s belly inside. He took a second to admire the craftsmanship of the bowl and spoon “Wow, this is nice. What wood is it made of?” He scooped up more soup in the spoon.
“Oh it’s not made of wood,” the old man said. “It’s made from animal droppings.”
Wilfred’s eyes widened. “Animal... droppings?”
“Yes,” replied the old man. “It is very easy and good to fashion things from if you know how.”
Wilfred’s teeth showed and her eyes closed halfway. He sucked in air through his teeth. “I’m actually full now, thanks. Anyone else want some?”
Luthar and Amanda politely declined and Wilfred handed the bowl back, wiping his hands on Amanda’s dress. “HEY!” Amanda shouted, hitting him with her elbow.
“Forgive us for intruding, Sen-Sai,” Luthar said.
“Please, just call me Ren,” the old man said. “I haven’t been a Sen-Sai in many years.”
“I was always taught it was bad manners to call a shadori by their name unless you have permission,” Luthar said.
“Then I give you my permission,” Ren replied.
“Very well, Sen… I mean Ren,” Luthar said. “My name is Captain Luthar, this is Amanda and Wilfred. We wonder if you might be able to show us the quickest way out of the wood.”
“I will try,” Ren replied, “but I am worried my directions will not be as good.”
“Just point us somewhere and we can do the rest,” Amanda said.
“Ow you really hurt my ribs, Amanda,” Wilfred moaned from behind.
“All right, where did you come from?” Ren asked.
“Wrightson,” Luthar replied.
“Wrightson?” Ren asked. “How did you get here?”
“Would you believe me if I said it was a magical tornado?” Amanda said with a jokey smile.
“Magical tornado?” Ren asked. “How did such a thing happen?”
“Bit of a long story,” Wilfred cut in. “See, we were in a fight with a sorceress called Saevitia Darkbane.”
“Who?” Ren asked.
“Saevitia Darkbane,” Wilfred replied. “You heard of her? Purple dress, black hair, uses magic?”
Ren’s sunken eyes widened. His head lowered forward, eyes narrowing across the ground. He then looked up and tapped the floor with his stick. “I am sorry, but you must leave now.”
“Well we would if you could tell us the way,” Wilfred said.
“I am sorry, I cannot help you,” Ren stammered.
“Wait,” Amanda said, “do you know her?”
“I know no-one called Saevitia,” Ren snapped, “Please, you must leave now.”
“Wait a second,” Amanda said, putting a finger to her chin. “Something is coming back to me. I remember… reading something… something…”
Amanda stared at Ren, her thoughts reaching deep into the recesses of her memory. Her eyes widened equally as large as Ren’s did moments ago.
“You’re the… Great Shadori Warrior!”
“No, no, you have me confused with someone else,” Ren said, turning back to his pot.
“Amanda?” Luthar asked.
“I remember where I heard about Saevitia now,” Amanda exclaimed. “It was in a book I read when I was little. Saevitia was supposed to be a power sorceress that almost destroyed Celtland – until she was defeated by the Great Shadori Warrior.” She turned back to Ren. “It has to be him.”
“Are you sure, Amanda?” Wilfred asked.
“How many other shadoris do you know in Celtland?” Amanda asked. She clapped her hands. “This is great! We can fight back against Saevitia.”
“I am sorry,you have had a wasted journey,” Ren replied.
“Why are you living out here?” Amanda asked.
“My reasons are my own,” Ren replied.
“Please, Ren,” Luthar cut in, standing up and bumping his head. “If you are who Amanda thinks you are, we need your help. Saevitia has my son and I intend to make her pay!”