A Sorcerer's Fist Read online

  Song of Sorcery

  Book Five

  By

  Guy Antibes

  Table of Contents

  Map of the Kerrothian Continent and the Isle of Dimani

  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

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Chapter Forty – Epilogue

  A Song of Sorcery Character List

  Excerpt from A Boy Without Magic

  Copyright Page

  Author’s Note

  A Bit About Guy

  Books by Guy Antibes

  Copyright ©2018 Guy Antibes. All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without the permission of the author.

  ~

  This is a work of fiction. There are no real locations used in the book; the people, settings, and specific places are a product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblances to actual persons, locations, or places are purely coincidental.

  Published by CasiePress LLC in Salt Lake City, UT, May 2018.

  www.casiepress.com

  Cover & Book Design: Kenneth Cassell

  ~

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  ~

  We bring to a close the adventures of Ricky Valian. To end the series we have battles galore, politics, and more betrayals. From the young thief to whatever happens to Ricky at the end of the book, he has grown and confronted evil sorcerers, good sorcerers, good friends, and the kind of friends you’d never want. Ricky finally becomes a man, and you, reader, have been able to share his thoughts and his progress. Thank you for sticking with him through all five books.

  More thanks to my editors for helping Ricky get through some of his rough spots.

  — Guy Antibes

  The Continent of Kerrothia and

  The Isle of Dimani

  ~

  Chapter One

  ~

  M erry needed a breather from the flying. Pira and Ricky agreed. The trio stepped into a little inn far from the main road between Sealio and Applia to spend the night. They were far ahead of any pursuit, and no one would likely think to search an out-of-the-way village.

  They walked into the small common room.

  “Do you have any rooms available?” Ricky asked.

  The innkeeper nodded his head. “Four. One of them is filled with junk, so I guess you have three to choose from. They each have two beds, so what is your pleasure?”

  “Two rooms,” Ricky said. “One for my sister and our aunt and another for me,” Ricky said. He put a Parantian silver coin on the counter. “We will be back on the road in the morning.”

  The innkeeper snatched the coin. “Suit yourself. I eat breakfast right at dawn. You can join me as part of your fee. No horses?”

  Ricky shook his head. “We walk fast,” he said.

  “Suit yourself,” the innkeeper repeated. Ricky wondered how many times the innkeeper said the phrase in a day. The man looked at them suspiciously but gave them simple keys to their rooms.

  They sat down in the common room. “Can we get something to eat?” Merry asked.

  “Stew is always in the pot. I can give you some ale. Light or dark?”

  “A bit of stew and light ale for us all,” Ricky said.

  “Is that all right, ladies?” the innkeeper said.

  They nodded and waited for their meal. When it arrived, Pira sat in front of a bowl of brown stuff. She stirred her spoon around and frowned. Ricky didn’t mind the food. He’d had worse.

  “It isn’t to your liking?” Merry said. Taking a taste and then digging in. “You have to eat it.”

  Pira took a tentative bite and hesitated to chew. “I suppose I can get used to this.”

  “You just have to tolerate it,” Merry said quietly.

  Ricky looked back at the innkeeper, who observed them despite the fact that the common room began to fill up. “Wait until you see your bedroom. Traveling to new inns is always exciting, isn’t it, Merry?”

  Merry giggled. “Exciting isn’t what I’d call it, but it is an adventure.”

  “I don’t suppose I can go back, can I?” Pira said. She took another bite and then another and soon ate like the others. “I am concentrating on the adventure while I eat. At least my stomach will be filled. I was getting hungry.”

  “Famished, for me,” Merry said. “Challenging inns don’t have to be in small villages. There are plenty of adventures in Sealio, my dear. It’s just that you’ve had extraordinary lodgings for quite some time.”

  “Indeed I have,” Pira said. She took a drink of her ale and winced. “I should have had a sip of this first. I think my tongue is numb.”

  Ricky showed her his own nearly-full mug and winked. “I’m with you on that one. Let’s finish up and get the rest we need. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  Pira nodded, and they all finished their stew. As they walked up the stairs, Ricky looked back to see a few villagers finishing the remainder of their mugs. He laughed and spent the rest of his night fighting bedbugs.

  Breakfast was a revelation for Pira. It rivaled the breakfasts that Ricky enjoyed so much in Wedo’s village.

  “This is wonderful!” she said to the innkeeper. “I’ve never eaten so well.” She asked for more fried potatoes.

  They stepped outside with their bag of food for lunch, stuffing it into their meager backpacks, and proceeded to walk towards the main road between Sealio and Applia.

  “I see what you mean,” Pira said as they left the village. “We have to accept what we get. I’ve never applied that philosophy to living arrangements.” She took Ricky’s arm and looked up at him. “This is all new to me.”

  “You have a lot more newness to get used to, Princess,” Ricky said, smiling.

  “Certainly, Duke Ricky.” She squeezed his arm. “I have a lot to learn, don’t I?”

  “We have a lot to do,” Merry said. “Some of it will be learning, and a lot will be doing. As long as you don’t fixate on your own sorrowful situation, you’ll do well enough. I find that if I look at each day as a new adventure, I can get through the harder times, and I imagine there are harder times for everyone.”

  Pira nodded. “I’ve already experienced difficulties, but they may take on a different flavor out here.” She put her hand to her mouth and burped. “Sorry, but I just was reminded of that.”

  They all laughed. “Time to leave,” Ricky said, seeing that they were alone on the road.

  They rose into the air. Ricky would have taken off to Applia at speed, but Merry’s power was the lowest, and they would make whatever distance they could together. Ricky expected to
spend another night before they reached Applia.

  As they flew, however, Ricky found that Merry could go faster if she held hands with Pira or with Ricky. He had forgotten the power of touching while he traveled alone. Before night fell, they landed within an easy walking distance of Applia, and that included a few rest stops along the way.

  Merry and Pira walked through the city gates as mother and daughter. Ricky followed a few minutes behind. He wore his sword, but the wand case was in his backpack, sticking out a bit.

  “You aim to do something with that sword while you are in the city?” The guard asked.

  “Not at all,” Ricky said cheerfully, “but I wouldn’t dare be caught outside of Applia without it.”

  The man grunted and let Ricky through. Now Ricky had to figure out what to do. It was too dangerous for all three of them to approach the palace. Birds might have flown faster than they could.

  “I’ll send a message to the Duke,” Ricky said. “We can stay in a good inn that I know.”

  They walked to the place where Ricky had spent a night his last time in the city. After a better dinner than the night before, Ricky decided to go to the palace by himself. He presented a note, written on the inn’s stationery, to the guard and requested an audience with the Duke, his liege lord in Naparra. He signed it Vincent Crabacci.

  One of the duke’s men led Ricky through the gate and to the left, stopping at the door to the stables. Duke Noacci met him, wearing a nondescript coat covering his clothes.

  “I’ve already received a warning that you might be coming through Applia. There are six or seven of you?”

  Ricky shook his head. “Only three, including Princess Pira and Merry Doubli.”

  Noacci rubbed his chin beard. “That is more manageable. I have a house where you can stay. A trustworthy servant stays there, keeping it clean and the larder full.” He shoved a key wrapped in paper to Rick, who stashed it in his pack. “Stay there until I can meet you.”

  “I’ll be there tomorrow. We are at an inn tonight. If we rush out, it will be more noticeable.”

  Noacci smiled. “Good thinking. I’ll try to get some time to visit you tomorrow. There are too many eyes in the palace.”

  Ricky had to accept the duke’s words. “We will be there tomorrow morning,” Ricky said.

  “Good. There have been some developments. Not all of the birds flying from Sealio come from the King.”

  Ricky nodded, and the two parted. On the way back to the inn, Ricky looked at the address Noacci had given. The townhouse wasn’t too far from the inn, so he decided to check it out before talking to Merry and Pira. He walked through Applia’s streets. He didn’t sense uneasiness like he had in Sealio.

  A light glimmered on the third floor where the housekeeper must live. Ricky walked back and forth in front and in the alley behind the house and didn’t see anyone unusual. Satisfied they weren’t walking into a trap, he returned to the inn. The two women sat talking in the lobby.

  “Ah, you are back,” Merry said. “Did you find your uncle?”

  Ricky smiled. “I did. He will put us up for a while.” He dangled the key. “I’m tired, so let’s get some sleep. I expect you’ll want to do some shopping before we head to the place.”

  Merry and Pira looked at each other smiling and then nodded. “I’ll let you go on your way.” He handed the address and the key to the pair. “As for me, I’m heading upstairs. Good night. We can discuss our plans tomorrow at Uncle’s.”

  He left them and went to his room. His backpack hadn’t been disturbed. Ricky shrugged in the little room. He didn’t trust anyone or anything. He longed for the day when he could relax, but he didn’t see that happening in the near future.

  Something woke Ricky in the middle of the night. He went to his window overlooking the grounds and saw two horses being led to the stable. He decided he’d check out the house one more time. He stepped out of his open window and flew across the sleeping city and still didn’t spot any observers of Noacci’s safe house. He returned to his room and sighed before he went back to sleep.

  After breakfast, Ricky nodded to Pira and Merry as he walked out of the dining room. He donned his backpack and proceeded to the townhouse.

  After knocking for a bit on the door, a woman opened it, clutching a thick robe to herself.

  “I’m visiting from Sealio and was told I could spend some time here,” Ricky said.

  The woman narrowed her eyes. “And are you with anyone?”

  “My cousin and her mother. They actually have the key. They are out and about and will arrive here when they are done outing and abouting,” Ricky said. He smiled, and it was briefly echoed in the woman’s face.

  “Do you know my employer?” she asked.

  Ricky nodded. “He has the biggest house in town. We have mutual relatives.”

  She stepped back and let him inside.

  “You are Valian?”

  Ricky nodded.

  “I expected the three of you last night. You didn’t come, and that kept me up so late that I ended up sleeping in this morning.” She looked up and down the street. “Where are the women?”

  “Outing and abouting,” Ricky said. “I was truthful about that. They needed to replenish their personal supplies. That isn’t something they needed me for.”

  She snorted. “I suppose not.” She closed the door and led Ricky into the sitting room. “You have had breakfast?”

  “I have. So have they. Feel free to continue what you are doing. I have some thinking to do and can do that here.”

  She gave him a curt smile. “I’ll leave you for a bit. The kitchen is at the end of the hall to your right.”

  Ricky nodded and sat down as the woman could be heard clomping up the stairs. When Ricky heard the door close, he did a bit more reconnoitering. He had Princess Pira to protect now and wouldn’t leave her security to chance. Although he had let the women out on their own, neither was well-known in Applia, and if they didn’t act nervous, they were probably safer out in the open than sitting around at the inn.

  He sat back in the overstuffed chair and reviewed the last few days. He regretted Loria’s death, but not Sorcerer Benicci. The Duterian sorceress had tried to kill him and had been in the act of trying it again. Loria and Mara, on the other hand, hadn’t been after him all the time, but enough, it seemed. He still felt bad about their deaths, but he couldn’t dwell on them again. Petrolo Garini’s death surprised him. The man had truly tried to help Ricky at Doubli Academy. He blamed Petrolo’s demise on the Botoyans, whom had created a twisted version of a pacifistic religion.

  Ricky wondered how deep the rot had penetrated into Duteria’s Rings. He suspected that it was most affected from the center out. Few First Ring sorcerers cared much about religion, at least that had been Ricky’s experience. He put his head back in thought and lifted it when he heard something rattling the door.

  The hallway brightened from the morning sun as Pira and Merry entered with their arms filled with packages, along with a large valise held by each.

  “Have you bought out the entire marketplace?” Ricky asked.

  Pira looked flushed from their walk, but less so than Merry, who huffed and puffed her way into the sitting room, finding a couch.

  “I’ve never been to a market before!” Pira said. “At least I don’t remember going. There are all kinds of things to see and eat, and do…”

  “And buy,” Merry said. “She spent more than I did, and that’s a wonder.”

  The housekeeper walked in. “I am Espina Bennuto,” she said. “Welcome to this house. A visitor will be arriving two hours after noon.”

  “A message came?”

  “While you snored away, young sir.” She smiled. Rachael looked happier and more energetic than when he had seen her earlier in the morning. He must have awakened the lady.

  Ricky had to endure a lunch where Merry and Pira went through most of their purchases in painstaking fashion. At least the shopping expedition acted as a div
ersion from their current circumstances. While they were talking in the kitchen, Duke Noacci came through the back door.

  “That should be kept locked,” the duke said.

  “Uh, Espina left to purchase tonight’s dinner,” Ricky said.

  “Keep it locked, anyway.”

  Ricky was duly chastened. He was more distressed that he didn’t think to check.

  “You’ve had news?” Ricky said.

  Noacci joined them at the table. “I received more this morning. Sealio is stirring like a hornet’s nest. The gates of the city are sealed, although that only applies to the inner city. There are increased patrols everywhere else.”

  “So our friends—”

  “Are still inside. But what are we going to do about you?” Noacci said. “Until King Leon is satisfied that you are no longer in Sealio, we have a bit of a reprieve.”

  “I thought all the roads would be blocked,” Ricky said.

  “They are. King Leon ordered them so when he realized Pira had gone. I don’t know how you got out or arrived here so soon.”

  “We flew,” Merry said with a giggle.

  “Ah. All of you know Ricky’s trick?” the duke asked.

  “They do. We can go anywhere in one-quarter the time,” Ricky said.

  “Am I still the Princess?” Pira asked.

  Noacci nodded. “I haven’t heard otherwise, but I expect that to change. You can stay here for a week or so, I imagine. You might have one more day when you can walk the streets of Applia safely. I haven’t yet issued the orders about looking for Princess Pira and Ricky and won’t until tomorrow morning. Then you will have to stay put.”

  Ricky nodded. He’d have to go out himself for more suitable clothes. “I’ll think of what I can do,” he said to the duke.

  “Do that. I imagine Pira told you my position in all this?”

  Ricky nodded.

  “I am not all-powerful. We walk on the edge of destruction and have for a few years now. It is only getting worse.”

  “Perhaps it is time to make a bold statement,” Merry said.