Simara Khotes – Lajian wizardess in Dorkansee
Henry Oppen – Simara’s companion
Heros Soffez – A leader among the Soffez Family
Igar Khotes – Simara’s father
Grigar Soffez – Wizard relative of Heros
Amara Soffez – Wizardess
~
The Warded Box
Lark Handercraft – Tesorian wizard
Ralinn Bonarin – Lark’s apprentice
Eldora – Goddess of Water
Amee Newbright – Leader of the Morakans
Jim Lessikan – A Morakan
Pakara Jimaroon – Priestess of Eldora
Corina Bell – Former priestess of Eldora
Baron Overvale – Tesorian noble and leader of an army
Whelham Waterford – Wizard and brother of the King Kaleen
King Kaleen – King of Tesoria
Jorey Balcon – Grand Wizard of Tesoria
Wessa Fanstrong – Archpriestess of Eldora
Harida Maltwill – Noble and sister to the late Queen
Norris Everlight – Leader of Tesoria’s criminal underworld
Ran Maltwill – Chancellor and brother of Harida and the late Queen
Panderites – A Tesorian insurgent faction
Sparrows – A Tesorian insurgent faction
~
Grishel’s Feather
Myra Pulini - Passoranian wizardess
Harria Wovenbottom – Furniture maker in mid-Corand.
Ferrio Lorina - Priest of Grishel
Barria Torito - Torito sibling
Carlo Torito - Torito sibling
Sammo Torito – Torito sibling
Addio Barumi - Claustral Prior of Ullori
Bracco - A monk
Tunno - A monk
Rucco Simmia - Black Finger member
Torlo Arroca - Monk and Rucco’s friend
Head Garolla - Leader of the Black Fingers
~
The Battlebone
Kiro Ganshi - Wealthy merchant at the port of Taiyo
Namori Ganshi -Member of the Pearl Mist
Haruno - Head steward at Kiro Ganshi’s manor
Iraishi Ranturo - Master of the Pearl Mist
Torii Ishoru - Yomomai Pearl Mist leader
Keneto Kaseru - Masukai high noble
Akkora - Goddess of the Mist
Zukori - God of Battle
Okiku - Senior Pearl Mist wizardess
Borigore - God of the Kadellians, patron of the Black Finger Society
Gigaru Zinza - Grigar’s Masukaian name
Sakoru Sinda - Jack’s Masukaian name
Ruki Sinda - Master of Deep Mist
Miru - Jack’s Deep Mist mentor
Zeki - Grigar’s Deep Mist mentor
Rekori - Deep Mist wizardry instructor
Yoki Tirashima - Pine Bear coordinator
Takatai Minza - Pine Bear General
Rakota Yomoko - Emperor of Masukai
Simaru - Deep Mist wizard-warrior
Hidori - Deep Mist wizard-warrior
~
Lidya (Liddy) Ephram - Penny’s sister
Trinita (Nita) Limpet - First roommate
Griff - Second-year student at the institute
Professor Oleander - Healing Institute instructor
Sera Waters - Healer student and city police agent
Willet Barton - Leader of clandestine city agents
Gary Green -Police physical training instructor
Deera (Dee) Young - Second roommate
Lazigar (Lazy) Porres -Lajian institute student
Peer Major - Penny’s suitor
Catrina North - Alias of Simara Khotes from The Serpent’s Orb
Lorton Reedbrook - Policeman assisting in weapons training
Kanlinn (Lin) Marker - Noblewoman and Penny’s social mentor
King Jordan - Ruler of Corand
Ramona - Soffez widow
King Eduardo Anoges -King of Lajia
Winara Nantez - Soffez cobbler
Takia -Goddess of the Clouds, Patron of Lajia
~
The Hidden Mask
Yvessa -Ice Goddess of Antibeaux
Ari Gasheaux - Former wizard extraordinaire.
Dame Ratitoux - WWS noble from Chancey
Lord Floury - A Royalist noble from Bristone
Annette Floury - Lord Floury’s daughter
Fenton Crabson - Corandian Ambassador
Enara Crabson - Ambassador’s wife
Payare Bellet - Prime Minister
Glorie Paragon -Princess, queen’s sister
Inez Paragon – Queen of Antibeaux
Richard Raimon - Queen’s Consort
Charl Masson - Interior Minister
Anne LaForce - Agricultural Minister
Pol Asoule - Trades Secretary
Fanny Asoule - Wife of Pol
Andere LaForce – Son of Anne and merchant banker
Arno Gibbert - Weapons maker
Guy Rive - Leader of an anti-faction group
Orthos Mere - Weapon’s tester
Etienne Tolmoux - Archbishop of Church of the Ice Goddess.
Terry Hortine - Member of the Royal Guard
Grier Floury - Officer of the Royal Guard
Lord Thomas Delancey -Unaligned lord
Jamie Trier – Vassal of Lord Delancey
Manon Trier – Jamie’s mother – vassal of Lord Delancey
Excerpt from The Buckle’s Curse
Chapter One
~
I t wasn’t a pleasurable dinner by any means, Jack Winder thought. He looked at the sour look on his father’s face after he told him about his marriage to Penny Ephram.
“You don’t agree with it?” Jack asked.
His father shook his head. “How are you going to support a lord’s daughter? I suppose I can put you to work as a partner. It wouldn’t hurt to use your title in my business.”
“I am supposed to receive a stipend from King Jordan,” Jack said.
His mother snorted. “And you actually believe that? When has the royal government ever enriched our lives? You are common born, and they will forever consider you a commoner. Get some sense in you, my son. You aren’t going to marry that Ephram girl.”
Jack sat back. “I am over twenty-one.”
Jack’s father narrowed his eyes. “Barely. You think you can save the world with your magic?”
Jack had saved countries with his magic and had even told the stories, but they must have never believed him. Their attitude made him angry, but he’d try one more argument.
“Penny and I could open up a healer’s clinic. I can heal certain injuries better than Penny can, and she is certified.”
“And you aren’t. What if something went wrong? You’d be thrown out of any village you decided to set up shop,” Jack’s father said.
That was it, Jack thought. He had done his best to convince them. “I take it I won’t have your blessing?”
Both his parents shook their heads. “No. Go on your errand. You’ll come back sick of the girl like you were when she worked at Fasher’s clinic,” his mother said.
“But she’s changed,” Jack protested.
“And that makes her even better than the likes of you.”
~
Penny sat next to Jack on a stone wall on the path leading up the side of the hill.
“I’m sorry you had such an awful time last night,” Penny said, twisting her silver wedding ring around her finger. “My father didn’t seem as bothered when I told him this morning. You are to come to a family dinner this evening.”
Jack nodded glumly. “Fasher said he could get our marriage annulled. It is a legal ceremony in Corand, he is certain of that.”
“Husband,” Penny said, smiling and putting her ha
nd on his upper arm. “Let’s not make a decision until after dinner.”
Jack shrugged. “It is almost as if they are purposely making us united against them,” he said.
“That is exactly what they are doing!” Penny said. She kissed his cheek and hurried down the path. “I have to go now. I’ll see you tonight.”
~
Jack wore new clothes he had bought in Raker Falls’ best shop, and he hoped he had dressed appropriately for dinner in Lord Ephram’s mansion. He did wear his Masukaian sword and took his wool knit cap to give Lord Ephram as a memento of Antibeaux. He knocked on the door and was greeted by his friend, Lari, the housekeeper. He gave her a silver Antibeaux coin.
“A little something,” Jack said.
“Penny gave me a nice woolen scarf.”
Jack smiled. “But this is from me.”
“And I will treasure it as much as her scarf,” Lari said. “The family is assembling in the dining room. Come this way.”
Lari stood at the entrance to the dining room. “Lord Jack Winder.” She leaned toward him and whispered. “Good luck.”
“I’ll need it, no matter what happens.”
Lari giggled as she left him to walk in the room.
“What did Lari say?” Liddy asked.
“She wished me good luck, and I will need every shred I can get when we leave for Bornan in the spring.”
“We?” Penny’s mother said. “You really intend on taking Penny across the sea? Look what happened the last time.” She pointed at Penny with her chin.
“She did more than survive, Lady Ephram, and she was invaluable in helping the group succeed in Antibeaux. That was an errand for the king of Corand as much as it was for Fasher. We are even on intimate terms with the new queen.”
Liddy made a face. Jack put it down for jealousy. She narrowed her eyes and looked directly at Jack. “Are you really married?”
“Legally, yes,” Jack said.
“He’s right, Liddy,” Reginart said. “He is also a lord as much as I am and will receive a stipend from the king as the only knight errant in the kingdom. He will be able to take care of Penny, no matter what happens.”
“You agree to the marriage?” Penny asked, surprised.
“How can I not agree to something that has already happened?” her father said. “I believe that you were forced into it, and Fasher has confirmed that you communicated with him before and after the unfortunate event.” Reginart looked at Jack. “Unfortunate in that you were forced into it.”
Liddy pointed her finger at Jack. “I won’t have a commoner’s son as a brother-in-law!”
“I was a commoner not that long ago, Liddy, in fact, Jack might be more senior than I am,” Reginart said.
Liddy folded her arms and glared at Jack. “You killed her once, you’ll kill her again! Divorce my sister.”
“That might be best,” Jack said.
“What?” Penny said, her eyes glistening with the gathering of tears.
“My parents are against the marriage too. I think Penny and I should annul the marriage.” Jack looked at Liddy. “Not divorced, annulled. However, if Penny and I agree to that, I would formally ask for Penny’s hand in marriage with the intent to hold a proper wedding in Raker Falls when we return from Bornan.”
“Betrothed?” Penny said with a hopeful smile.
Jack nodded. “I was going to bring it up when we talked earlier today, but you had to leave early.” He turned to Reginart Ephram. “Will you accept me as your son-in-law if we wait an appropriate amount of time? Fasher seemed to be pretty adamant that Penny needed to travel with Ari and me to Bornan. You might want to talk to him about that.”
Reginart shook his head. “I don’t need to talk to him since you have already proven your worth”
“I brought this as a memento of Antibeaux. I’ve worn it a bit, but it might be unique in Corand.”
Reginart laughed. “Not as unique as you might think. I’ve seen a few hats like that in Dorkansee. A lot of people have tried to establish trade with Antibeaux, but it has never worked out.”
“You should contact Oscar, Lady Kanlinn’s butler. He returned with some exclusive contracts with Antibeaux craftsmen and government officials that we met. I’m sure with a little bit of your expertise…”
Reginart laughed. “How can I refuse you, Jack? I’ve had reservations about you in the past, but they are in the past. Regardless of what my wife and Liddy say, if it is what Penny wants, I want it to.”
“I do want it, Father.” Penny jumped out of her seat and gave her father a hug before doing the same with Jack. “First, you spring marriage on a girl, and then you ask for her hand in marriage. How can you twist things around so?” she said.
Jack smiled. “I’ll do my best to protect Penny in Bornan.”
“I will hold you to that, young man,” Penny’s mother said sternly, but she rose and gave her daughter a hug. “Penny has always been a bit unconventional, and she continues to surprise us. I suppose you two are meant for each other.”
Penny laughed. “It has turned out that way, Mother.”
After dinner, Penny walked Jack out to the manor gate.
“We will still wear our rings?”
“Church side out,” Jack said.
Penny laughed. “Of course, unless we need to pretend we are married in Bornan.”
Jack shrugged. “If we that happens, then we will.” He put his arms around her and kissed her forehead since he had seen Liddy lurking by the front door. “I will see you tomorrow. We will have all winter to work on preparations for our trip and work on our new relationship.”
A Bit About Guy
~
With a lifelong passion for speculative fiction, Guy Antibes found that he rather enjoyed writing fantasy, as well as reading it. So, a career was born, and Guy anxiously engaged in adding his own flavor of writing to the world. Guy lives in the western part of the United States and is happily married with enough children and grandchildren to meet or exceed the human replacement rate.
You can contact Guy at his website: www.guyantibes.com.
†
Books By Guy Antibes
WIZARD’S HELPER
Book 1: The Serpent’s Orb
Book 2: The Warded Box
Book 3: Grishel’s Feather
Book 4: The Battlebone
Book 5: The Polished Penny
~
MAGIC MISSING
Book One: A Boy Without Magic
Book Two: An Apprentice Without Magic
Book Three: A Voyager Without Magic
Book Four: A Scholar Without Magic
Book Five: A Snoop Without Magic
~
SONG OF SORCERY
Book One: A Sorcerer Rises
Book Two: A Sorcerer Imprisoned
Book Three: A Sorcerer’s Diplomacy
Book Four: A Sorcerer’s Rings
Book Five: A Sorcerer’s Fist
~
THE DISINHERITED PRINCE
Book One: The Disinherited Prince
Book Two: The Monk’s Habit
Book Three: A Sip of Magic
Book Four: The Sleeping God
Demeron: A Horse’s Tale - A Disinherited Prince Novella
Book Five: The Emperor’s Pet
Book Six: The Misplaced Prince
Book Seven: The Fractured Empire
~
POWER OF POSES
Book One: Magician in Training
Book Two: Magician in Exile
Book Three: Magician in Captivity
Book Four: Magician in Battle
~
THE WARSTONE QUARTET
Book One: Moonstone | Magic That Binds
Book Two: Sunstone | Dishonor’s Bane
Book Three: Bloodstone | Power of Youth
Book Four: Darkstone | An Evil Reborn
~
Quest of the Wizardess
The Power Bearer
Panix: Magician Spy
~
THE WORLD OF THE SWORD OF SPELLS
Warrior Mage
Sword of Spells
~
THE SARA FEATHERWOOD ADVENTURES
Knife & Flame
Sword & Flame
Guns & Flame
~
Hand of Grethia
~
THE GUY ANTIBES ANTHOLOGIES
The Alien Hand
SCIENCE FICTION
The Purple Flames
STEAMPUNK & PARANORMAL FANTASY with a tinge of HORROR
Angel in Bronze
FANTASY
~