Dealing in Magic

  CONTENTS

  LMBPN

  Dedication

  Legal

  Oriceran Map - USA

  Oriceran Map

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Author Notes - Martha Carr

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle

  Social Links

  Books by Martha Carr

  Books by Michael Anderle

  Dealing in Magic

  The Leira Chronicles Book 5

  By Martha Carr and Michael Anderle

  A part of

  The Revelations of Oriceran Universe

  Written and Created

  by Michael Anderle & Martha Carr

  The Oriceran Universe

  (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are

  Copyright (c) 2017 by Martha Carr and LMPBN Publishing.

  DEDICATION

  From Martha

  To everyone who still believes in magic

  and all the possibilities that holds.

  To all the readers who make this

  entire ride so much fun.

  And to my son, Louie and the wonderful Katie

  who remind me all the time of what

  really matters and how wonderful

  life can be in any given moment.

  And finally, a special thank you to

  John Nelson of the Austin, Texas

  Police Department

  who patiently answers all of my questions.

  I hope I made you proud.

  Thank you for your service.

  From Michael

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  DEALING IN MAGIC Team

  JIT Beta Readers

  Belxjander

  Daniel Weigert

  Erika Daly

  Joshua Ahles

  Keith Verret

  Kimberly Boyer

  Larry Omans

  Micky Cocker

  Paul Westman

  Peter Manis

  Sarah Weir

  Thomas Ogden

  Tim Bischoff

  If we’ve missed anyone, please let us know!

  DEALING IN MAGIC (this book) is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  This book Copyright © 2017 Martha Carr and Michael T. Anderle

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact info@kurtherianbooks.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, November 2017

  Version 1.01 November 2017

  The Oriceran (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are Copyright (c) 2017 by Martha Carr and LMPBN Publishing.

  Click to View Full Size Map

  Click to View Full Size Map

  CHAPTER ONE

  Ossonia stood at the foot of Correk’s bed watching him sleep. She tucked a long strand of hair behind her slender, pointed ear brushing a tear off her cheek. A worried expression floated across her face as she fingered the edge of the soft, moss green cotton throw covering him. “You almost died,” she whispered, her throat tight. She was doing her best not to wake him. The walls and ceiling of Correk’s room at the top of the castle were all visible, darkening the room. A spell was cast when Correk first got home to keep them visible and darken the windows. Everything but the window at the very top. His favorite.

  Ossonia looked up at the glass cupola in time to see a carrier pigeon fly overhead carrying an engraved envelope. The first postal run of the morning was underway. An ordinary day. The morning sunlight was visible through the window but the spell made sure it didn’t stream into the room.

  She had been making the journey up a series of staircases for months, checking on him. A series of altrea extendia as she took every step hoping that was the day he would open his eyes. He still didn’t know she was ever there.

  She was there when they carried him up from the Dark Forest the day he was brought home from the battlefield. The Gnomes were carrying him on a stretcher not saying a word. Perrom pushed everyone aside and gently took Correk into his arms, carrying him up to the castle. Correk didn’t even stir.

  Ossonia felt her heart beating harder as she clutched the side of her pale-yellow gown, silently watching Perrom whispering a spell as he carried his best friend. Correk was limp and his normally pale skin was ashen.

  Queen Saria sent in the most learned Light Elves who had been practicing the art of healing for hundreds of years. All they could do was make him comfortable and make sure the wounds healed properly. Time was having to do the rest of it.

  Over the next few months Ossonia found her way to Correk’s room and stood by his bed. She took to whispering one-sided conversations with Correk telling him everything she had wanted to say to him all the years she had known him but never once took the chance and said anything. “There’s time,” she whispered. “That’s what I always told myself. There’s time.” She swallowed hard, licking her lips. “Until there almost wasn’t.” She sat down gently on the edge of the bed.

  “The prophets are holding together by a thread. There are whispers everywhere that they knew all along about Rhazdon. Some think she’s hiding out in the Dark Market but Perrom said there’s no sign of her. I see him standing on the edge of the forest watching the castle. He won’t come in. Won’t tell me why. He keeps a lot of secrets, even for a Wood Elf.”

  Ossonia looked around the room, letting out a deep sigh. “A woman from Earth came to see you. Someone named Mara. I think she’s related to that detective. The king spoke to her and said you were getting better…” She looked at his sleeping face and brushed her fingers against his cheek. “He sent her home or at least he tried to. Stubborn woman. Must be the human part of her. I saw her heading toward the Dark Market.” She stood up and smoothed out the front of her dress. “I have to get going but I’ll be back. You know, if you would wake up I could stop coming back so often and get a few other things done.”
>
  “Leira…” Correk’s eyelids fluttered.

  Ossonia stood perfectly still, holding her breath.

  “Leira…” He struggled to lift his hand, a fiery symbol drifting across the back of his hand and fading away. Ossonia read the brief symbol and squeezed her eyes shut. He was still trying to change the direction of a fireball away from Leira. That’s what almost killed you. You were saving Leira.

  It wasn’t the first time she saw the symbols flitter across his skin. “The human family means a lot to you, don’t they,” she whispered. “You have family here too, Correk. You were supposed to be on a mission. A temporary mission.” She was doing her best to let it go. Just be grateful.

  She turned to go and head back to the post office.

  “Is she alive?” His voice was a rasp and sounded weak.

  Ossonia started, whipping around, her hand pressed against her stomach. Correk was blinking his eyes, trying to raise himself up on an elbow. He cleared his throat, coughing. “Is she… is she alive?”

  Ossonia did her best to give a small smile. Joy and pain filled her chest. His first thought was of Earth. “Yes, she’s alive. Leira is alive. You saved her.” She walked closer to him and took his hand.

  “Ossonia, you’re here… Am I alive?” He gave a crooked smile and let out a cough.

  Ossonia made herself smile, squeezing his hand. “That has been an open-ended question. There’s a rumor that there’s a pool going on among the Willen about whether you’d live or die. Odds are in your favor by a slim margin.”

  “What side did you take?” He let out a laugh that ended in another cough as he let go of her hand.

  She gave a shake to her head, her hair cascading across her shoulder. “I knew you’d make it,” she lied. “Easy money.”

  He laid his head back down against the pillow, shutting his eyes. “Ugh, everything aches. How long have I been out?”

  Ossonia hesitated. “Three months,” she said, gently.

  His eyes sprang back open and he tried to sit up. “Three months? What? That’s impossible! I have to go. I have to go back!” He did his best to sit up, failing and trying again, letting out a painful grunt. Ossonia gently pushed him back down. “There’s time.” She bit her lip, blinking back tears.

  “I have to go back. They need me there. Three months? Didn’t anyone try a spell?” He finally gave in and laid back, grimacing from the pain.

  “Every spell with every artifact. It helped but only to make sure you were healing. Nothing was able to wake you up. It seems patience was going to insist on having its way.” And grief… and love… “The Gnomes in the library even dug out a few dusty books looking for the old spells. They have never let anyone even see those books, much less bring out a spell. You must matter to them a lot.”

  “Remarkable, considering. I need to get back. Too much time has passed already.”

  “You’re awake. The hardest part is over. Give it at least a few more days. A spell to speed up getting you moving should help now that you’re awake.”

  Correk let out a long groan. “Another day or two.”

  “That’s less than a few.” Ossonia smiled. “I’ll help you. You’ll be back on Earth in no time.” She pressed her lips together, determined not to say anything else. I can do this for you. I can let you go… for now. Our story isn’t finished. Go. Do what you have to do. I will go on from here and we will see.

  “Alright then, a few more days.” Correk rubbed his face with his hands. “For an Elf who’s been asleep for three months I’m awfully tired.”

  “Sleep. We’ll try sitting you up later today. Promise.”

  Correk opened his eyes again and looked up at the cupola. “Why is it so dark in here?”

  “The queen’s spell.”

  “Of course.” He put his arm across his eyes and then back down by his side. “Any chance we can reverse that one? It feels grim in here like I’m laid out.”

  Ossonia waved her arm in the air, quickly turning away to hide the tears in her eyes as she removed the spell. The sunlight streamed in, speckling the bed with light.

  “I love this room.” Correk lifted his head to look around. “Someone’s kept it clean.”

  “That was the Gnomes too. They visit the room more often.”

  Correk looked at her. “My mission isn’t done yet. The gates are starting to open… Human corporations are trading for our seeds. Or they were… Imagine what they’re doing now.” He gave into a coughing jag, pain on his face.

  “It’s all right, I understand.” Ossonia took in a long, slow breath. “There’s still time.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Mara waited until Eireka left for a hike through the Barton Creek greenbelt with Donald before opening a portal to Oriceran. She watched from a window as they drove off, making sure there were no last-minute thoughts from her daughter to rush back in for something forgotten.

  As soon as their car was finally out of the apartment complex’s parking lot Mara went to her room and quickly got out of the comfortable jeans and pullover. She slipped into leather pants and a long tunic that came to her knees and boots and braided her hair in the back.

  “Need to look the part.” She looked in the mirror and smiled, satisfied with the results. “Ought to do it. Nothing that says a Nana can’t be a badass.”

  She got down on her knees next to her bed and reached under the mattress right by where her head usually lay. She pulled out a pouch of Oriceran money and an embossed card with the royal seal, putting all of it in a leather satchel that she slung over her shoulder.

  “Okay, one more time with feeling.” She cupped her hands and pulled in energy through the ground and up through her feet, forming a ball of light and singing into it, slowly opening a portal that hung just above the bed.

  “Aw crap. That’s not a good sign.” Mara got up on the bed and stood on her toes peering through the portal, making sure the other side was at least close to the ground. “Still a little rusty,” she grunted, as she pulled herself through the portal, rolling into the other world along the floor of the Dark Forest. “Dammit all to the world in between!”

  She picked herself up, brushing off dirt and twigs as the portal closed with a crack of sound, sending out a spray of sparks. “Not exactly the way I was hoping to start this trip.” She got her bearings and realized she was close to where she was trying to land and felt better about her magical abilities. Harder than it looks to keep opening those damn things.

  The forest hummed and buzzed and tweeted with the sounds of a million creatures but no one seemed to take notice of her entrance. She set off through the woods as an oversized butterfly flew overhead, fluttering her hair with its wings. Yellow puzzle beetles scurried along the ground across her path, opening and closing the top of their shells in different patterns, revealing a singular red dot beneath.

  “Good to be back.” Mara waited for the beetles to pass and breathed in the air, feeling the surge of magic from Oriceran seep through her feet and fill her veins with its energy. She shut her eyes and rolled her head around, relaxing her shoulders. The grey in her hair started to fade, turning jet black as the magic restored her skin. She started walking again, picking up to a jog before breaking into a run, laughing as she easily leaped over an old fallen tree blocking the path. A luminescent snake reared up its head from the other side of the tree, snapping just a moment too late to catch her heel. It coiled back down into a glowing, writhing mound and slithered under the tree into the warm earth.

  Mara finally found the road just beyond the Light Elves castle and hurried along toward the Dark Market. There was a stream of people heading in and out of the market and the aisles inside were bustling, people elbowing each other to get closer to the tables. Mara made her way to a table in the back where a short, round Wizard was selling human technology powered with Oriceran crystals. A silvery gecko was perched on his shoulder, its small tongue darting in and out, keeping track of the crowd.

  An elderly Elven woman was
arguing with him over the cost of an old iPhone with a sliver of rose quartz. He was about at the end of his usual spiel, throwing up his hands in defeat, finally agreeing to slightly more than he had wanted all along. He let out a dramatic sigh and shook the Elf’s hand. “You got me! You wore me down,” he said, with a congenial smile. He held his hands up in protest. “Don’t often meet such a hard bargainer like yourself.” He deftly wrapped up her purchase, taking her money with his other hand and completing the transaction in seconds. The Elven woman took the package from him, smiling as she walked away.

  “Another satisfied customer.” Mara arched an eyebrow, drawing closer to the table.

  The Wizard glanced up, an oily smile on his face ready for the next interested buyer. The smile quickly fell away when he saw Mara standing there. “Son of a bitch!” He slapped his hand on the table. “You again! I told you I don’t know any more than what I said the last time you were here.”

  “Hello, Harry. You didn’t say anything of interest the last time I was here or the dozen times before that.”

  “And yet here you are again. Not too good at taking a very strong and plainly obvious hint, are you?”

  Mara steadied herself and pulled in just enough energy to send out a stream, encircling Harry. “You know what I am and what I can do.” Her eyes gave off a low glow.

  “Don’t do that shit here!” He batted his hand at her, turning his back, smiling at a group of Witches passing by. “Hello, nice to see you ladies.”

  The energy rode up his back and down the front, making Harry wiggle, shaking a leg. The women looked back, smiling and talking.

  “Very funny, Mara. A child’s trick.” The gecko ran to the edge of his shoulder, peering out at Mara, flicking its tongue.