Riding the Storm

Nobody knows better than Jeorek that a Stormrider without a sorcerer is nothing but unfulfilled potential. When he finally finds a young man with a resonant aura, however, he discovers that the sorcerer fate has bequeathed him isn’t anything like what he expected. At first glance, Dare is a mute, crippled slave with no discernible power, but he soon proves to be far more than he appears. He’s not only a nobleman’s son, but he’s also one of the most powerful Illusionists in the empire. So how did he wind up as a slave? As Jeorek learns about his sorcerer’s shadowed past, he must gain Dare’s trust to unravel the mystery that surrounds him before the young man’s enemies become his own. In a world where magical illusions can obscure reality, will he be able to see the danger coming? What’s more, will he be able to weather the storm?

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Excerpt from Riding the Storm

No doubt noting the pale sapphire on Jeorek’s finger and the fine gold thread of his midnight-blue jacket, the slave trader’s eyes instantly filled with avarice. Despite the man’s sly and disheveled appearance, though, he was not the one to capture Jeorek’s attention. Instead, Jeorek fixed his gaze on the manacled figure behind him.

The young man who stood chained on display appeared to be the only one left for sale. He wore the indistinct brown rags of the classless, and his hair was too filthy to discern its true color. Even his face was smudged with dirt. He was clearly not a child, but his figure was far too lean to be that of a fully grown man—or perhaps he was simply too starved to have retained any muscle mass. From head to toe, he looked exactly like what he was: a slave.

There should have been nothing remarkable about him, yet there were several things that shocked Jeorek and made him take a closer look. While the slave kept his gaze slightly downcast, he didn’t lower his eyes all the way. Jeorek had a clear view of the icy hatred that hardened the dark brown irises. The slave also had his hands clenched into fists around the length of chain stretched between his wrist shackles. Jeorek had the distinct impression that the young man was contemplating strangling his master.

What was most arresting, though, was not anything in the physical appearance of the youth. It was the brightly wavering aura around him. Against all likelihood—against even Jeorek’s wildest expectations—this sorry, startling boy was not only some kind of sorcerer but the first and only sorcerer to ever harmonize with his energy signature. Even as the incessant hum and luminance around the boy faded, Jeorek couldn’t be in doubt. Here before him, in the form of a lowly slave, was his only hope for a power-bond.

“By the gods,” he whispered, feeling equal parts wonder and horror. “I can’t believe it.”

“What is it?” Vraiden asked curiously.

“Gentlemen,” the slave trader broke in, no doubt scenting a profit to be made. “I see you’ve taken an interest in my slave here. As you can see, he’s young, so you’ll have no trouble getting your money’s worth out of him. At seventy-five in silver, that’s a bargain.”

Although Jeorek didn’t believe in slavery, and thus knew little about the trade, he could see this price was indeed low. The other traders around them were asking more than three times as much for their slaves. He couldn’t decide whether this was good news or an insult, but he felt vaguely sick.

“What’s your name, boy?” He took a step closer and addressed the slave directly.

The young man lifted his gaze only as high as Jeorek’s chin before dropping it back down. His lips remained pressed together.

The slave trader feigned a careless laugh. “Ah, there, you see? You’ll have no worry of backtalk from this one. He can’t speak a word.”

“He’s mute?” Iris asked.

“Where did you get him?” Vraiden interrupted.

Obviously pleased by their interest, the trader rocked back on his heels and smiled. “I purchased him on the outskirts of Roekkr, north of Gloam in the Somber Lands. They’re all hale and hearty up there. You can work him hard and have no fear he’ll die on you. He’s a steal at seventy-five.”

Jeorek felt his upper lip curl. “Give us a moment.”

He grabbed his cousins by the elbows and pulled them out of earshot.

“That poor boy,” Iris lamented as she glanced back.

“If I’m not mistaken,” Vraiden observed less sympathetically, “that ‘poor boy’ is thinking about strangling his master with his chains. We’d best be somewhere else when that happens.”

“I’ll have to buy him.” Jeorek delivered the announcement and watched them gape. “We need to take him with us.”

Vraiden started to sputter. “What are you talking about? What do you need with a slave?”

“You should,” Iris agreed, choosing a different interpretation of his words. “No one should have to live like that. We can clean him up, give him a good meal, and set him free.”

“So we’re a charity now?” Vraiden shook his head. “I don’t support slavery any more than you two do, but I don’t think we should get involved. He’s not some kind of pet to be bathed and fed.”


Jeorek rubbed the bridge of his nose even as he raised his other hand for silence. “Enough. I don’t need or want a slave or a pet, but he has to come with us. That slave has a resonant aura.”

Slack jaws met this announcement, leaving his cousins gawking at him.

With a loud huff, Jeorek ignored them and continued to grumble to himself. “I come from a noble family. I’m a powerful warrior. How, in the name of all the sky gods, did I end up with a mute, murderous slave for a sorcerer?”

He shook his head, but he knew he had no choice. Digging into his money purse, he withdrew the required coinage and walked back to the trader.








TERMS OF THE EMPIRE

Empire: composed of primary, secondary, and tertiary states (those nearest the capital are primary, while the less developed lands are tertiary); most areas are electrically charged and suffer frequent lightning strikes, which disrupt higher technology; the emperor and empress are the ultimate authority, but their heir, the prince, is in charge of house autonomy

House autonomy/houseship: the most localized form of government and a privileged status granted by the prince and/or his council; authority over a single household or plot of land and all the people and resources thereon; those who rule or are members of their own house wear an embroidered tree over their hearts

Stormriders: a race of people who can magically morph into birdlike bodies composed of nearly pure energy; to maintain their intelligence and control during this transformation, they must find a sorcerer or sorceress with a compatible aura and physically absorb them for use as a power source; in any form, Storm-riders are fast healers, fierce fighters, and almost invincible to magical attack

Sorcerers/Sorceresses: men and women with varying degrees of magical power and ability; they can reach a higher threshold of power if they bond with a Stormrider

Power-bond: the psychic, emotional, and magical connection between a Stormrider and his/her sorcerer/sorceress, which strengthens both partner's powers and allows for telepathic communication when the Stormrider is in shifted form

Mate-bond: marriage; a permanent monogamous relationship

Social classes: platinum is the highest class, and its members are related (however distantly) to the royal family by either blood or marriage; below the platinum class are the gold class, silver class, and bronze class, with classless slaves on the bottom; social class is considered a matter of breeding rather than wealth and is indicated by the color of decorative stitching used on clothing

Spectrum of power: every sorcerer/sorceress and Stormrider has an individual level of power irrespective of their social or financial background; this degree of power is indicated by the color gemstone worn in the person's ring; the most powerful people are at the ends of the spectrum
White — strongest (warm side of spectrum)
Pearl/Cream  
Red 
Orange   
Yellow            
--------- Weakest           
Green    
Blue
Violet   
Grey
Black — Strongest (cool side of spectrum)      

Occupation: indicated by the symbol embroidered over a person's chest; e.g. warrior — sword, merchant — scales, etc.