Back of book cover
On the medieval planet of Vosj, seventeen-year-old Brodia’s abusive father wants her to marry so he can get the money. But Brodia is as goat-stubborn as her father. She seeks adventure and fears becoming the next ‘do-gooder’ for the village.
So, when the kingdom’s fearsome Grand Wizard Preem, known as the Bone Crusher, comes looking for an apprentice to help in the looming wizard wars, she sees a chance to escape by having Preem pick her boyfriend as his novice. She doesn’t understand why she alone feels nauseous when the wizard does his magic. But despite the discomfort, she breaks the king’s edicts against women and risks a whipping for attending a wizard’s meeting. It is all done so she can get her boyfriend chosen.
All her schemes come to nothing when the Brotherhood snatch her to sell as an indentured servant. And if she ever manages to escape from the Brotherhood, the psychotic apprentice of the enemy wizard lurks nearby. He enjoys strangling young women like Brodia so he can watch their fading eyes.
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Rumors
In the fourth kingdom of the planet Vosj, in the year 1467, during King Attim’s reign, teenage Brodia would soon endure her second whipping.
However, two days before then, a sudden warm summer shower caught her as she crossed Widemouth’s bustling market. She relished the refreshing scent of beech and oak as heavy raindrops beat down the dust. She swerved around the women who scowled at her from under their shawls.
Years in the sun gave her a dark complexion, emphasizing a lighter scar on her chin from a preteen misadventure. Brodia accepted that her lean face, high cheekbones, and button nose created an odd appearance. These frowning ladies also held opinions about her pear-green beret and the men’s clothes she preferred wearing.
With a smile, she basked in their derision as she weaved through them.
Ahead, she saw her friend Missus Kella sitting in the rain. After hurrying to the beggar’s side, she squatted, gasping at the reek of stale urine. She couldn’t bear to see her companion neglected, so Brodia tapped the crazy old widow’s begging bowl. “C’mon Kindness, let’s gets you outta this shower. I’ve gots dried meat for you today.”
Missus Kella was once the villager helper; each settlement had at least one. Then, last winter, her husband died of a fever, making something snap in her mind. Now Widemouth needed another do-gooder and Brodia dreaded becoming trapped in that role; left behind by Adventure to marry a well-intentioned farm boy. She tried to pull up the heavyset woman as she glanced through the bazaar for help.
Without warning, waves of dizziness collapsed her into Missus Kella. Brodia twisted away, hugging her stomach as she retched. Bewildered, she held a deep breath to slow the world spinning around her.
Screams pulled her attention to the market, where she saw a gray-dressed man sitting cross-legged, floating above the throng. Among the stalls, women scattered like mice fleeing a cat.
The wizard—for what else could he be?—stared at her like a farmer assessing his pig for slaughter. Even the rain avoided him, splashing off an invisible roof above his head. However, the scariest things were his eyes glowing in the shadows of his short-peaked wizard’s hat.
Brodia clutched Missus Kella’s shoulder, determined that no man would find her defenseless again. Clenching her fists to suppress her dizziness, she glared back, letting the rain splash off her face.
This wizard was much younger than Sarn the Sage, so it must be the Bone Crusher; scaring people by casting nausea spells. The villagers hid behind the market stalls. Only Brodia remained, facing the mage in gray. She guarded her beggar friend until the bastard looked away.
After breaking off the staring contest, he rose higher before flying to the north. She could breathe again as her vertigo vanished with the departing wizard.
Soon, the women milled around, gossiping in thrilled tones at the wonder they’d seen. Meanwhile, Brodia only felt dread at how he stared at her. She remembered a knowing in his sparkling eyes. He had seen her while ignoring everyone else.
“Brodia, can I assist?” Her dear friend, Hirin, squeezed through the crowd to join her. He pulled back his head, wrinkling his nose when he squatted down.
She flashed her green eyes at the blond farm boy. “Sure, Slowness.” She gave him a squeeze on his well-muscled forearm. “Help me gets Widow Kella over near the Meeting Hall and into somes shelter.”
They guided Kella across the square’s corner. Brodia liked how they worked together to get the mad villager out of the rain. At the side of the village hall, she found a dry spot beside the bell tower. “Sit here, Kindness.” The simple-minded woman plopped down without a word. Brodia placed a piece of dried meat in the woman’s hand before pushing it up to her mouth. Kella smiled at its flavor. “Stay outta the rain. I’ll be backs tomorrow to checks on you.”
“Did you see him?” Hirin asked.
She twisted to face him. “I did.” She stood, saying, “You dones for the day then?”
He nodded. “Ma told me to buy some cheese.” He reached down to tinkle a coin into Widow Kella’s bowl. Brodia smiled at him, mouthing a thank you. “You have time to talk?” he asked.
“I haves to get back. I boughts chicken livers for my birthday tomorrow. They aren’t going to keeps fresh for long.” Hirin looked disappointed as she pulled her beret down over her ears and beetle-black hair. “C’mon, Slowness; you can walks me home.” She liked this lad who had a big smile. But she didn’t want him that much, though he was the only boy she’d consider marrying. He was distant, never gave her a nickname, and never touched her or talked silly.
However, she feared he was saving to pay her father for a marriage contract. Fresh adventures were out there. She wanted to see the capital’s paved streets, visit the snow-capped Western Mountains, and discover the mythical city of Ash’tin. If she could only grasp one of these journeys to escape from her father’s clumsy hands.