This is a special installment in the Magic Realms short story series that ties in with a previous story and acts as its direct prequel. Normally, I'd tell what story it is, but I decided to make it a little challenge instead. Don't worry, I'll tell what story this goes with at the end of this post. If you want the fun of finding out on your own, don't scroll down past the tags.
This wonderful story was provided by my even more wonderful wife, S. J. Dracken.
I’m too late! Autumn cursed as she ran down the dirt path at top speed. Her heartbeat thudded in her ears as she pushed herself to run harder, her thin leather sandals flapping against her feet like wildly clapping seals as they threw up parched dust behind her. From this vantage point on the steep pathway above the tiny costal village she could see that the last of the pirate’s crew were making their way to the ship with the goods from the King’s storehouse.
She stopped at a ledge just before the village and looked out at the ship. She could just make out the waving figure of the black-haired captain and the shine of the spyglass in his hand. Autumn cursed again as her face heated. “Don’t you dare mock me, Rodgers!” she yelled at the air, knowing full well he couldn’t hear her.
A menacing smirk played on her lips as she held out her hands towards the earth. Fire leapt up in a short, hot burst from the ground, leaving a magic circle of runes in its wake. The runes glowed orange and a cool white as magic channeled through them. A long minute passed with no sound but the sea and crackling fire.
The air filled with a low, earth-shaking rumble as a flaming magical meteor materialized above the ship with orange runes flying around it in a circle. It began a rapid decent, causing the captain and crew scramble rapidly below deck.
Autumn concentrated on maintaining the cast, grinning in triumph as the wards protecting the ship failed beneath her keen magic disruption embedded in the runes surrounding the meteor. The unearthly fire splashed down on the ship from the masts to the deck and began eating away at the wood in relentless fashion, leaving behind metal, sails, and ropes in its wake.
“What?! It’s stopping?” Autumn gasped as her fire fizzled out just after removing the top fourth of the ship. She blinked at the absurd sight of the now-topless pirate ship and the crew scrambling around inside. “He put separate wards on the lower decks!”
She couldn’t help staring as the pirates deployed oars from the sides of the ship. As the pirates began furiously rowing away, Autumn burst into uncontrollable laughter. “That will teach you!” she shouted in between laughs and wiped the tears away from her eyes. I can only imagine what the seagoing paladins will say on seeing that sight. How embarrassing!
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Autumn smiled to herself at the memory of the last time she saw Rodger’s ship. That was shortly before the war. Before she became cursed. Beautiful straw-blonde hair was now grey and wiry, pulled back into a low, partial ponytail by a delicate woven band and copper hair pin. Her weatherworn face bore countless wrinkles and laugh lines brought on by irreversible aging, though her sea-colored teal eyes retained their intensity and keen gaze.
“Are you sure you want to go?” A taller, blue-black haired man asked as he sat across from her in the morning shade of the large orchard surrounding a decrepit looking tower. His ruby-colored eyes betrayed his dragon heritage, though all appearances were of a middle-aged man living out his latter years as a typical shepherd.
Autumn nodded as she carefully folded the letter in her hand. “It’s time, Demitri. I want to give us both closure.” She looked off at the nearby mountain peak with a distant smile. “He’s been waiting these hundred years for me to return … that insatiable Pirate.”
“That Pirate, as you call him, has taken over the whole country. It may not be safe for you, even if he has been waiting as you say.” Demitri looked at her with worry while vainly trying to keep his tone even.
“What if he challenges you to spar?”
“He won’t hurt me. Especially not now.” Autumn rose from her chair and picked up an old leather knapsack. “I’ll be home before the first snow.”
Demitri sighed in defeat. “You be careful.”
“I will.” She flashed him a confident smile and made her way to the gate.
I hope you enjoyed this little installment! I had originally planned to post it yesterday but there was a tornado watch that lasted most of the day. As a result, my laptop was packed away so I could quickly take it down to our cellar if the alarms went off ... and they did. Not long after I set my lap top up with the thought of finishing this post.
Anyway, as we all continue to practice new habits of self-distancing, I invite you to peruse the rest of the short stories on my sight. As a note, most stories are in their unedited states and are not representative of a fully polished work. If you want to find something like that, check on the books tab!
As always, enjoy and read on!
If you've read this far and didn't want to have the mystery of what story this one immediately precedes before you can find it on your own, don't say I didn't give you fair notice!
The story that immediately follows this one is "The Last Pirate Lord."
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