Withered Wizard
This is the second book in a four-book fantasy series that continues the saga of Brodia and Preem. This book will be available on Amazon in the winter of 2026/2027.
Back of book cover
On a medieval planet, the Four Crowns have been split into three groups. Grand Wizard Preem goes south toward Lowmouth to prepare for a wizard's battle. Wizard Brodia goes north with her prodigy wizard daughter, Tresela, to weaken the wizard's academy. Lastly, Jisana goes east, where she'll find a kidnapped prince.
Meanwhile the enemy, Grand Wizard Quon uses his Academy of Wizards to create students trained in the art of a wizard's battle so he can swamp the Four Crowns.
Running Away
Tresela sobbed as she followed Ma in the rain along the forest river. She’d just seen Pa flying away, keeping low, and she couldn’t shake the sense that she wouldn’t look at him again. What happened to her life of playing? She loved playing hide-and-seek with him. But for the past weeks, he had shown her his favorite game, nanuj. But when she told him it bored her, he stopped. Guilt now claimed her thoughts. “Papa, I’m sorry I didn’t like your game,” she murmured as a prayer to his absence.
“Tresela, keep up,” Ma said. She was angry with her, so Tresela tried to hurry, though she could not see the ground clearly through her tears and the shower.
When Azaly picked her up, Tresela buried her head in her shoulder. Her father had gone, and her mother was upset with her. “I’m sorry,” she whispered to her new friend. At least she wasn’t angry at her.
“We are all unhappy that your Pa had to separate from us,” Azaly murmured as she strode behind Ma.
Tresela thought about her words. “Is Mama upset with me?”
“No. She is annoyed with losing your father, but she adores you as all mothers do. I love you too.”
Tresela’s tears slowed as she remembered joining with Ma after the mean soldiers died. “Will I see Papa again?”
At first, Azaly nodded, but then she added, “I hope so, honey. You must be strong for him.”
Soon, she felt better, telling her friend she could walk again. After hurrying to reach Mama’s side, she reached up, and Ma took her hand. Everything was alright once more.
Later, after her tears stopped, she spotted a black object flying through the downpour. She pointed it out to her mother, who claimed the evil wizard was flying men into the forest to hunt them down. It scared her, but she knew Ma’s magic was stronger than the green stripe she met in the house.
Twice more she watched a dark shape sail over the treetops. Ma said the enemy was making a line of soldiers to catch them. But when she asked about Pa, her mother assured her he was far past any snare, so they only had to worry about themselves.
Finally, after the rain stopped, they camped for the night without a fire beside the river. The girl sat in Azaly’s lap as she chewed a piece of meat.
“Returning to Narbend will trap us,” Mama told Azaly. “So, we must break through their cordon before it closes its gaps, and they’ll be especially diligent near this river. We shall hurry to the north at first light tomorrow.”
Tresela wanted to escape these nasty humans who were worse than the arrox. “Are we going home, Mama?”
“No, honey. We will go through these woods until we reach Castin Village, north of here. You’ll like the majestic windmills there.”
Then Ma walked around until she returned with a heavy branch, which she magically cut, then removed its side twigs. When Azaly wondered what she needed it for, Mom said she had to be careful using magic during the day, as the two wizards would be flying nearby. She made some swings with her club until she was happy.
“Are we going to liberate Otanic?” Azaly asked as Mother banged her weapon against a tree with a loud thwack.
“Soon. But first, I need you as an apprentice, rather than a novice.” They spoke about wizardry as Mama described the d’sur waves flowing through the wizard’s stone. It surprised Tresela that her friend didn’t already know this, since everyone must understand how magic worked. After the long lesson from Ma, they settled to sleep. Tresela snuggled into Mama’s arms because they had no fire to keep her warm.
Papa was flying away in her dreams while she struggled to chat with him over the ever longer distance.
***
The next morning, her mother set off, striding through the dead leaves that covered every inch of the forest floor. Tres tried to keep up, running whenever she fell behind. Soon, Azaly carried her, then Ma took over. Never had she walked this fast and sensed their urgency to escape from the trap. Even her companion puffed her breath as Mama said she needed to build her stamina before she could see the waves in the air.
When the sun was high enough to warm them, Tresela heard sounds ahead. Mama stopped, squatting down, so Az did the same. Tres stared in the sound’s direction but couldn’t see any movement at first. Then she spotted a man thirty paces in front. He yelled that they weren’t to move as Azaly pointed at a dark object moving through the sky above them.
“Use this tree to hide,” Ma told them, “I’ll pull him away.”
Crouching behind a hollowed-out tree trunk with her friend, the child watched her mom run toward the mountains. The Harpin soldier began chasing after her.
Tell Azaly to stay where you are. I will be back soon.
Alright, Mama.
Do not make any noise.
Tresela was alone with her friend, who didn’t do any magic.