The Wizard’s Bones
Dark Deeds and Black Magic Series Book 1
by Luke Ahearn
Genre: Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery
66 pages
In the tradition of Fritz Leiber and Robert Howard this is a gritty tale of traditional sword and sorcery.
A dark twisted youth and his voluptuous lover tackle the one thing they sought to avoid, responsibility. In the dangerous streets of Kingspoint they play at thievery, love making, and adventure seeking.
Goodreads * Amazon
A dark twisted youth and his voluptuous lover tackle the one thing they sought to avoid, responsibility. In the dangerous streets of Kingspoint they play at thievery, love making, and adventure seeking.
Goodreads * Amazon
“Tell me your price? And, yes, tell me of any traps or hexes about the bones. Be
there a fancy lock with poisoned needle? A spike-filled pit before it? A wall of blades or
darts? I wish to be on with my life, so I beg thee, start spitting grizzle, metaphorically of
course.”
A long slow inhale made Xanthus wonder if the old man drew breath or simply
found petty ways to make him wait longer. He was tempted to walk away but decided
not to as he feared to discover that he was, in truth, incapable of doing so.
“There are no traps, magical or otherwise--”
“A beast then?”
“Are you not able to stop your lips from flapping?” The old man hissed. He
seemed to compose himself under the thick robes. “The dangers are those that come
with the pursuit of great wealth.”
“More crone’s warnings? Spare me that and name your fee.”
“I am to have the Eye of Hestermortes.” He hissed in glee.
“Eye of…what did you say?” Xanthus purposely derailed the old man’s attempt
at theater by feigning ignorance of what he spoke. The eye was common knowledge in
the city.
“Heard you not of the Eye? The single red gem that sets atop the Tower of the
Eight Serpents? A gem so bright it can be seen on the darkest night no matter the
thickness of the fogs and mists and smokes?”
The ancient voice sounded confounded, as the old man indeed was. He
wondered if this lad was so dense as to miss the eye in the night sky. Had he not heard it
mentioned in conversation? Did he somehow not know of its existence?
“Oh, that.” Xanthus said nonchalantly. He debated another mouth covering
yawn, yet decided it would be too much and would weaken the effect of his own
counter-theatrics.
“Yes, that!” the old man snapped.
“And you are to have it by my hand?”
“That is the price.”
Xanthus smirked, a haughty look upon his face. “Well then, I’ll just walk right
over and snatch it up for you. Back in a jiff.”
“Ah,” the old man was once again gleeful in voice. “It is that easy, it is and I know
it. For he who knows the way up the tower it is as easy as climbing a ladder.”
“And you know the location of the Wizard’s Bones—no riddles or warnings now.
A yes or no will do.”
“Yes.”
“And you will tell me the location of these bones, bedecked and inlaid with the
most precious of gems, if I fetch the eye for you?”
“I will.”
“And the method for ladder-climbing the Tower of the Eight Serpents?”
“A simple trick really. Once over the wall in the shadow of a tree, across a maze
garden carrying silver blades with thee, find the serpent with scales set free, and with
those climb upward to fetch thou the fee. Remember this, only the scales etched with
the sigil of the serpent god will allow safe passage.”
The old voice seemed on the verge of a giggle. “So we have mutual clarification
of purpose I must ask, are you in fact giving me your word, binding yourself to this
quest?”
“I am.” Xanthus spoke with no hesitation.
“Then there is one more thing you must contend with. Once you have snatched
up the eye from the eight slender prongs of gold upon which it is perched, you will have
mere seconds to make your getaway.”
“Seconds?”
“Yes, and with that I cannot help you. My influence does not extend into that
accursed place.”
Xanthus nodded. He took a gamble and stood, thrilled he was able to do so. He
spun on his heel to leave. He heard from behind the voice rasping at him like feral claws
down his spine. It had a drifting quality to it and seemed to come from all points above
and below.
“Then this you must know before you go. Once you leave this place you will find
yourself triply hexed and demon dogged if you delay in the fulfillment of your promise.
Thrice shall you think of me in days come.”
He spoke in a singsong, “You will think of me first when death comes to you as
you hang on a strand. Second, when death comes to another by your own hand.”
The old man paused and Xanthus almost chided him for his lack of a third entry
and for his feeble rhymes. But the old man let billow a thick cloud of smoke.
“And third, after five are lain down, thou shall be from the heavens crowned.”
Xanthus stood mute; in truth he was shaken by the old man’s predictions. But
then the voice went back to its previous timbre, and he felt a sense of release from the
old man and the gloomy inn.
“Now go, young fool, silly knot brain, take your leave of me. Forget not the
demon dogs I set on you. Not true demons to be sure, nor are they dogs, but close
enough for they will dog your steps. They will watch you with keen eyes from the dark
as they skitter stealthily ahead, behind, above, and below. You will never lay eye upon
them until I wish it, but you will know of their presence. You must know that my minions
take much glee at the nerve on edge, the furtive glance, and woe to he who denies
them their fun. Now go fool and tarry not lest the triple hexes befall you?”
The screechy chuckle set Xanthus’ nerves on edge. Demon dogged , he tried to
scoff at the notion, but knew all too well the chance he took when he turned and left.
there a fancy lock with poisoned needle? A spike-filled pit before it? A wall of blades or
darts? I wish to be on with my life, so I beg thee, start spitting grizzle, metaphorically of
course.”
A long slow inhale made Xanthus wonder if the old man drew breath or simply
found petty ways to make him wait longer. He was tempted to walk away but decided
not to as he feared to discover that he was, in truth, incapable of doing so.
“There are no traps, magical or otherwise--”
“A beast then?”
“Are you not able to stop your lips from flapping?” The old man hissed. He
seemed to compose himself under the thick robes. “The dangers are those that come
with the pursuit of great wealth.”
“More crone’s warnings? Spare me that and name your fee.”
“I am to have the Eye of Hestermortes.” He hissed in glee.
“Eye of…what did you say?” Xanthus purposely derailed the old man’s attempt
at theater by feigning ignorance of what he spoke. The eye was common knowledge in
the city.
“Heard you not of the Eye? The single red gem that sets atop the Tower of the
Eight Serpents? A gem so bright it can be seen on the darkest night no matter the
thickness of the fogs and mists and smokes?”
The ancient voice sounded confounded, as the old man indeed was. He
wondered if this lad was so dense as to miss the eye in the night sky. Had he not heard it
mentioned in conversation? Did he somehow not know of its existence?
“Oh, that.” Xanthus said nonchalantly. He debated another mouth covering
yawn, yet decided it would be too much and would weaken the effect of his own
counter-theatrics.
“Yes, that!” the old man snapped.
“And you are to have it by my hand?”
“That is the price.”
Xanthus smirked, a haughty look upon his face. “Well then, I’ll just walk right
over and snatch it up for you. Back in a jiff.”
“Ah,” the old man was once again gleeful in voice. “It is that easy, it is and I know
it. For he who knows the way up the tower it is as easy as climbing a ladder.”
“And you know the location of the Wizard’s Bones—no riddles or warnings now.
A yes or no will do.”
“Yes.”
“And you will tell me the location of these bones, bedecked and inlaid with the
most precious of gems, if I fetch the eye for you?”
“I will.”
“And the method for ladder-climbing the Tower of the Eight Serpents?”
“A simple trick really. Once over the wall in the shadow of a tree, across a maze
garden carrying silver blades with thee, find the serpent with scales set free, and with
those climb upward to fetch thou the fee. Remember this, only the scales etched with
the sigil of the serpent god will allow safe passage.”
The old voice seemed on the verge of a giggle. “So we have mutual clarification
of purpose I must ask, are you in fact giving me your word, binding yourself to this
quest?”
“I am.” Xanthus spoke with no hesitation.
“Then there is one more thing you must contend with. Once you have snatched
up the eye from the eight slender prongs of gold upon which it is perched, you will have
mere seconds to make your getaway.”
“Seconds?”
“Yes, and with that I cannot help you. My influence does not extend into that
accursed place.”
Xanthus nodded. He took a gamble and stood, thrilled he was able to do so. He
spun on his heel to leave. He heard from behind the voice rasping at him like feral claws
down his spine. It had a drifting quality to it and seemed to come from all points above
and below.
“Then this you must know before you go. Once you leave this place you will find
yourself triply hexed and demon dogged if you delay in the fulfillment of your promise.
Thrice shall you think of me in days come.”
He spoke in a singsong, “You will think of me first when death comes to you as
you hang on a strand. Second, when death comes to another by your own hand.”
The old man paused and Xanthus almost chided him for his lack of a third entry
and for his feeble rhymes. But the old man let billow a thick cloud of smoke.
“And third, after five are lain down, thou shall be from the heavens crowned.”
Xanthus stood mute; in truth he was shaken by the old man’s predictions. But
then the voice went back to its previous timbre, and he felt a sense of release from the
old man and the gloomy inn.
“Now go, young fool, silly knot brain, take your leave of me. Forget not the
demon dogs I set on you. Not true demons to be sure, nor are they dogs, but close
enough for they will dog your steps. They will watch you with keen eyes from the dark
as they skitter stealthily ahead, behind, above, and below. You will never lay eye upon
them until I wish it, but you will know of their presence. You must know that my minions
take much glee at the nerve on edge, the furtive glance, and woe to he who denies
them their fun. Now go fool and tarry not lest the triple hexes befall you?”
The screechy chuckle set Xanthus’ nerves on edge. Demon dogged , he tried to
scoff at the notion, but knew all too well the chance he took when he turned and left.
Luke Ahearn was born in New Orleans, LA and now lives in Central California. He's written several award winning fiction and nonfiction books.
Luke has over 20 years of professional game development experience in lead positions; designer, producer, and art director.
He’s also authored several best selling nonfiction books on computer game development.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
Luke has over 20 years of professional game development experience in lead positions; designer, producer, and art director.
He’s also authored several best selling nonfiction books on computer game development.
Website * Facebook * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads
Follow the tour HERE for exclusive excerpts and a giveaway!
Jan 15
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
La Libreria di Beppe
Jan 16
Adventures in Publishing
YA Book Divas
Jan 17
The Reading Spot
The Book Town
Jan 18
JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews
Jan 19
Spunky N Sassy
Yearwood La Novela
Jan 20
T's Stuff
Jan 21
Books, Authors, Blogs
Jan 22
The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
The Bookworm Chronicles
Jan 23
Yah gotta read this
The Authors Blog
Jan 24
Teatime and Books
Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero Mom
Jan 25
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
Jan 26
Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
Queen of All She Reads
Jan 27
Indie Wish List
Jan 29
Mello & June
Kimmie Sue's Book Reviews & More
Jan 30
Aconite Cafe
Rambling Reviews
Jan 31
nanasbookreviews
Jazzy Book Reviews
Feb 1
Meghan's Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & Giveaways
Lisa-Queen of Random
Feb 2
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
Loves Great Reads Blog
Feb 5
Home for Book Lovers
Girl with Pen
Feb 6
Fantasticando sui libri
Cali Book Reviews
Feb 7
Brianna Remus Books
books are love
Feb 8
Book Reviews and Giveaways
Book Review Virignia Lee
Feb 9
Bound 2 Escape
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Feb 10
United Indie Book Blog
Feb 12
Port Jericho
Book Bangers Blog
Feb 13
Always Love Me Some Books
AC Squared Book Blog
Feb 14
A Mama's Corner of the World
2 Girls & A Book
Feb 15
Rabid Readers Book Blog
Jan 15
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
La Libreria di Beppe
Jan 16
Adventures in Publishing
YA Book Divas
Jan 17
The Reading Spot
The Book Town
Jan 18
JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder
Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews
Jan 19
Spunky N Sassy
Yearwood La Novela
Jan 20
T's Stuff
Jan 21
Books, Authors, Blogs
Jan 22
The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
The Bookworm Chronicles
Jan 23
Yah gotta read this
The Authors Blog
Jan 24
Teatime and Books
Tales of A Wanna-Be SuperHero Mom
Jan 25
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
Sapphyria's Book Reviews
Jan 26
Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
Queen of All She Reads
Jan 27
Indie Wish List
Jan 29
Mello & June
Kimmie Sue's Book Reviews & More
Jan 30
Aconite Cafe
Rambling Reviews
Jan 31
nanasbookreviews
Jazzy Book Reviews
Feb 1
Meghan's Mindless Mutterings: Reviews & Giveaways
Lisa-Queen of Random
Feb 2
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
Loves Great Reads Blog
Feb 5
Home for Book Lovers
Girl with Pen
Feb 6
Fantasticando sui libri
Cali Book Reviews
Feb 7
Brianna Remus Books
books are love
Feb 8
Book Reviews and Giveaways
Book Review Virignia Lee
Feb 9
Bound 2 Escape
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Feb 10
United Indie Book Blog
Feb 12
Port Jericho
Book Bangers Blog
Feb 13
Always Love Me Some Books
AC Squared Book Blog
Feb 14
A Mama's Corner of the World
2 Girls & A Book
Feb 15
Rabid Readers Book Blog
