Fight of the Sorceress: Rise of the Kelpies
By LJ Bushman
5/5
()
About this ebook
Margaret Campbell lost her family to war between the humans and the magical folks. Only, the humans had magical help from those seeking power.
Margaret does not know of her heritage, but seeks out her family's history as an adult. In returning to the village for the first time since the massacre, strange feelings and memories begin to resurface.
In her quest to find herself and people like her, Margaret steps into the very war which had claimed her parents. More, the others seem to think she needs to lead them.
Margaret must learn to bond with the Kelpies and lead others in order to save her friends, what's left of her people, but she doesn't know if she can.
How can she fight those powerful enough to kill her parents and win?
Related to Fight of the Sorceress
Related ebooks
Brides of Brookdale-Box book 1-2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Snowfall Sleigh Ride for Lady Serena: Seasons of Love, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Sheriff's Bride: Brides of Brookdale (book 1), #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMidnight's Budding Morrow Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beside Two Rivers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beauty's Curse Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Half Blood: The Tale of Samara Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Mistletoe Mistake of Miss Grayson: School of Charm, #5 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5To Claim the Long-Lost Lover Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOperation Ball N' Chain: Cottonwood Falls, #11 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlind Beauty: A Beauty Regency Novella, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWindmera-Desperation Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Highland Deception Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Heart of Skydean Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Dark Gentleman Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDakota Bride Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Her Errant Necklace Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDenying Destiny Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRekindled Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnleashed with the Moon: Wolf River, #5 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Dark Masquerade: The Royal Claiming Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Climax of Seduction Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMy Lady's Lover (Surrey SFS, #1): Surrey SFS, #1 Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Glendrake Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCraving Beauty Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCraving Beauty (Wylder Tales Vol.1) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLady Len and the Mysterious Mac Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLong Way Home: Hearts of the Outback, #3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Fantasy For You
The Fellowship Of The Ring: Being the First Part of The Lord of the Rings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Silmarillion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Desert: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Piranesi Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Pirate Lord: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The City of Dreaming Books Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Picture of Dorian Gray (The Original 1890 Uncensored Edition + The Expanded and Revised 1891 Edition) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Demon Copperhead: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Priory of the Orange Tree Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This Is How You Lose the Time War Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Measure: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Stories of Ray Bradbury Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fairy Tale Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Empire: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lord Of The Rings: One Volume Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Tress of the Emerald Sea: Secret Projects, #1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nettle & Bone Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Dune Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Assassin and the Underworld: A Throne of Glass Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Immortal Longings Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Don Quixote: [Complete & Illustrated] Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Will of the Many Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Labyrinth of Dreaming Books: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Court of Thorns and Roses Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Slewfoot: A Tale of Bewitchery Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Eyes of the Dragon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Fight of the Sorceress
1 rating0 reviews
Book preview
Fight of the Sorceress - LJ Bushman
Dedication
Thank you to my editor, S.H. Sheffield. For my family, especially my teens, for helping me around the house as I did edits. To Mykel, who has helped me to keep writing even when I wanted to give up on myself. And to my Muse. Forever my inspiration.
Prologue
Scotland 1077
So much blood. Just like before. Six year old Margaret Campbell secreted herself behind the large wooden wheel, eyes squeezed tightly shut to push away the gruesome sight, her hands clenched over her ears to drown out the sounds of the clashing swords and frantic screams surrounding the carriage. Her tear stained face dirty, she didn't cry now. Before, she’d seen too much blood. Her parents and all the villagers must be dead, killed by the people who had forced her to leave. Only a few lived that she saw, those stolen and taken away. The horses’ hooves and people's feet tangled in her vision, but she remained sitting under the stolen carriage. Now, someone else had attacked them and more people died.
Horses neighed, their feet stomping like her brothers when angry. Loud metal noises clanged and scared her, even though she tried hard to shut them out. War cries and grunts, pain, it all washed over her, making her sad and even more scared than when the others came to her village and hurt people. Now she understood what those sounds meant.
After a long time, the thuds and yells stopped, so she peeked open her eyes. A man, his kind eyes staring at her in concern, held out a hand to her under the carriage. It was covered in metal of some sort, but she took hers off her ears and put it in his.
Come, little one.
His voice was gravelly, like an old man, but he didn't look like her grandpa. It confused her.
She stared wide eyed at him, unable to speak.
Can you speak, my child?
She nodded. She learned to speak young, but since the others had slaughtered her mother in front of her, no words would come.
What is your name?
M-m-
The sounds stuck in her throat. Tears stung her eyes.
He kissed her cheek. It will be fine, child. So your name starts with an M?
She nodded, vigorously this time.
Shall we play a guessing game?
He smiled at her as he spoke, and she smiled back. He reminded her of her Uncle Alex. Mary? Matilda? Merida?
She made a face at Matilda. There was a girl named Matilda back home who picked on all the little ones like her.
The kind man laughed. Not Matilda for sure. Mary? Margaret?
She clapped her hands, giving him her best smile.
Hello, Margaret. I am Sir Cedric. Can you tell me where you're from?
Sadness filled her heart again. She bowed her head and shook it no. She knew the name, but her mouth still refused to form the words.
He held her close. I will take you home with me to be cared for. Would you like that?
She nodded shyly, still sad. Her parents were dead. Maybe this kind man who'd saved her would help her.
He put her on a horse, then swung his leg over the saddle, settling in, and held her with one arm. With wide eyes, she stared at the carriage and around her. Many lifeless bodies lay strewn across the road. Those on horses started to line up behind Sir Cedric, some of them with children like her, but younger. She was the oldest child taken by the group she was with.
Tears dropped down her cheeks, but she was afraid to let go of the horse, even with Sir Cedric's arm around her. He pulled her in close.
Shhhh, little one. It will be all right. You and the other children will be cared for by my people.
The days passed in a blur. Her whole body hurt, but she refused to complain, or even cry. In the whole trip, she'd barely spoken, not trusting anyone but Sir Cedric, though she could now say nay and yea. The other children laughed and joked together on break times, but she just watched.
When they arrived at the keep, a little girl stared up at them as they passed. Margaret liked the look of her, and something clicked within her. When Sir Cedric let her down, she searched for the little girl, finding her close by.
The girl smiled shyly. Hi, my name is Sarah. What is your name?
My name is Margaret.
Want to be friends?
Margaret nodded.
Then we shall.
Sarah nodded firmly. I will show you where to play and where to stay out of. My mom works in the kitchens, so I am around the main house every day.
Sarah.
Sir Cedric came up behind Margaret and put his hand on her shoulder. I see you have met my new daughter. I will be fostering her.
Sarah's eyes widened. For a moment, Margaret feared she would take back her offer of friendship.
Can I still be Margaret's friend? I just promised I would,
Sarah asked earnestly.
Sir Cedric's kind laugh washed over Margaret, giving her a feeling of peace. Of course, Sarah. I expect you to teach her about all the people in the keep. And, since you are older, you may show her around after I've introduced her to her new family.
Margaret smiled shyly at Sarah and nodded happily while taking Sir Cedric's hand. He then led her into the largest place she'd ever seen.
Chapter 1
Mist lay over the hills of Cairn Gorhn. It swirled around Margaret and Sarah as they rode, as if welcoming her home. Taken from her lands when a young child, she'd still felt the calling to return here. She'd been raised as a Christian in Sir Cedric's household, but the healer had taught her so much more.
Her red hair and blue eyes earned her the nickname Fire and Ice before she could speak among the villagers. The old woman, who claimed to be a secret bandrúi, had taught her more than the Christian fathers would have approved, claiming it was the balance