Maude said, “But perhaps not well enough when you consider what lengths your friend Jam has already gone to. I fear this is a critical time for Brice. Your captain is Jam’s father, and the bos’n has known him his whole life. Never underestimate the power of family.”
Prin said, “What do you mean?”
“While they have good intentions, will they sail and leave Jam on the docks with no money or friends? If he presents himself, or since he knows the ship so well, stows away in a small compartment, what will they do?”
Sara said, “They’ll take him along after another stern warning.”
Maude crossed her arms over her ample chest and peered hard at the two girls. “Then what would happen?”
Prin was already climbing down. “We can’t let that happen.”
Maude took her by her shoulder and pulled her back in the carriage. She told the driver, “You will deliver them to the house where you picked us up.” Then she set her foot in the stirrup and onto the step, then the ground.
“What are you doing?” Sara asked.
“Rest assured dears, that Jam will not sail on the Merry Princess. Not this trip.” She spun and walked in the same direction as Brice.
Prin watched her as she left them sitting stunned, and saw the now familiar shimmer of Maude changing her features, even though she watched from behind. Maude seemed to grow taller, thinner, her back stood straighter, and her head was held higher. She swung her arms as she walked, and her hips swayed like those of a twenty-year-old.
And Jam wore the tag for tracking him, losing power because of its age, but it was so close Maude could follow it with her eyes closed. The horse had finished drinking, the maid collected the empty mugs and a coin from Sara. The driver clucked at the horse and slapped the reins on its rump. The wagon lurched ahead.
Prin said to Sara, “What do you think she’s going to do?”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
LeRoy Clary
LeRoy Clary was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He spent much of his childhood traveling the United States from coast to coast due to his father being in the Navy. LeRoy attended college in Oregon and Texas earning a bachelor’s degree in business. He then worked in the telecommunications industry and eventually owned his own telecom business. As a second career, LeRoy returned to college and acquired a degree in education and then taught math and special education for several years.
LeRoy currently lives in Washington State with his wife, youngest son, and dog named Molly. He spends his time doing what he loves the most: writing about an action-packed fantasy world of dragons, and magic. LeRoy spends his leisure time traveling and exploring the beautiful countryside in the Pacific Northwest from high desert to forests to coastal terrain.
Writing has always been one of LeRoy’s favorite past times and passion; mostly fantasy and science fiction. He’s been the member of several author critique groups, both in Texas and in Washington State. He collaborated on a project in Texas that produced the book Quills and Crossroads, which includes three of his short stories.
In recent years, LeRoy has published over a dozen fantasy books, including a book called DRAGON! Stealing the Egg which began the idea of how to live and survive in a world where dragons are part of the landscape. The Dragon Clan Series is unique in that it introduces a new main character in each of the seven books of the series. The book entitled Blade of Lies: Mica Silverthorne Story was a finalist in an Amazon national novel writer’s contest in 2013.
Learn more about LeRoy at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/leroyclary
Website: www.leroyclary.com (join his email list)
Emaiclass="underline" Leroy.clary@gmail.com
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The Mage’s Daughter--Enlightenment
1st Edition
Copyright © 2017 LeRoy Clary
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Cover Design Contributors: rbvrbv/BigStock.com
Editor: Karen Clary