Laurie Forest - Wandfasted

Magic, romance and adventure collide in Wandfasted, the irresistible ebook prequel to The Black Witch by Laurie Forest

When they painted Heretics on our barn and set fire to it, I thought that was the worst it could get.

Until they sent the dragons.

But they didn’t count on us having dragons of our own. And they certainly didn’t count on Her. Our Great Mage. The Bringer of Fire. The Storm of Death. The Crow Sorceress. Our Deliverance.

The Black Witch.

PRAISE FOR THE BLACK WITCH

“I absolutely loved The Black Witch ... Maximum suspense, unusual magic—a whole new, thrilling approach to fantasy!” —Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“ The Black Witch is a refreshing, powerful young adult fantasy. This strong debut offers an uncompromising glimpse of world-altering politics amplified by a magical setting in which prejudice and discrimination cut both ways.” —Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author

“I absolutely devoured The Black Witch —a power-packed read that elegantly tackles a very tough, relevant subject in a fantasy setting, perfect for new and old readers of the genre!” —Lindsay Cummings, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Wandfasted

Laurie Forest

Dedication

For Diane Dexter—

tireless youth advocate, talented writer and reader, devoted mother

and my good friend.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

Title Page

Dedication

Western Realm Map

Prologue

Chapter 1: Front Lines

Chapter 2: Jules Kristian

Chapter 3: Prisoner

Chapter 4: The White Wand

Chapter 5: Wandshield

Chapter 6: Lightning Mage

Chapter 7: Affinity

Chapter 8: Vale Gardner

Chapter 9: The Black Witch

Chapter 10: The Dryad

Chapter 11: Untethered

Chapter 12: Wandfasting

Chapter 13: Lower River Girl

Chapter 14: Level Five Mage

Chapter 15: Rigid Lines

Chapter 16: Staen’en

Chapter 17: Ironflowers

Chapter 18: Embroidery

Chapter 19: Predator

Chapter 20: Mages

Chapter 21: Sanguin’in

Chapter 22: Voltic Sea

Chapter 23: Home

Chapter 24: Blue Lightning

Chapter 25: Valgard

Chapter 26: Kindred Lines

Chapter 27: Weapons

Chapter 28: Alone

Chapter 29: The Selkie

Chapter 30: Runehawk

Chapter 31: Fire

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Extract

Copyright

Prologue

I’ve gotten used to the names they call us.

Crows. Roaches. Hedgewitches.

I no longer cry when I’m shoved in the market or spat on in the streets. I endure their mocking, hateful glares and the signs of protection they make against me to ward off my perceived evil.

I am Gardnerian.

As such, I’m barely tolerated here, stranded in a sea of Kelts, allowed to exist only because my aptitude for healing brews is considered useful in this tiny, remote village.

It would be easier, perhaps, if my appearance didn’t set me apart so much. My forest-green eyes and dark hair might seem unremarkable, but the black tunic and long skirt I wear, paired with a silver Erthia orb necklace, mark me as one of the First Children. And the way my skin shimmers a faint emerald in the dark—perhaps the most undeniable sign of all—makes it impossible for me to hide what I am.

A Gardnerian Mage.

Hated by all but my own people.

When they painted Heretics on our barn and set fire to it, I thought that was the worst it could get.

Until they sent the dragons.

But they didn’t count on us having dragons of our own. And they certainly didn’t count on Her.

Our Great Mage. The Bringer of Fire. The Storm of Death. The Crow Sorceress.

Our Deliverance.

The Black Witch.

Chapter 1: Front Lines

“We’re not doing business with Crows,” Mistress Darrow states. “Not anymore.”

She stands with one fist propped on a broad hip, her apple-cheeked face twisted up into a triumphant sneer, strands of her blond hair escaping her crimson kerchief. The flag of Keltania is pinned above her ample bosom—an iron-black X on a rectangle of bloodred linen.

Her husband, Merchant Darrow, seems embarrassed, his own Keltanian flag haphazardly pinned up near his shoulder. He looks down at the wooden counter in front of him, toying with the smooth abacus and deliberately avoiding my gaze.

Panic rears inside me. My grip tightens on the apothecary crate I’ve set down before them, tidy medicine bottles lined up in the segmented box. I think of the money we need for our journey east to Verpacia. Of the red tinge to the leaves, winter close on our heels. My elderly grandfather, my young brother.

Doveshire has become too dangerous for Gardnerians. It took ages for my brother, Wren, and me to convince our stubborn grandfather that we needed to leave, but now, everything is ready for our departure—the wagon is packed, the horses already hitched, the house closed up.

All we need is the money for these medicines I’ve spent weeks brewing. The money we’ve been counting on to buy supplies—supplies we’ll need to survive.

I straighten my shoulders, trying not to shrink under Mistress Darrow’s glare. “I don’t understand. The last time I came in, you were happy to buy my medicines.”

She blows out a disgusted breath. “Dark witches with dark magic, that’s what your lot is. First you twist the faith that belongs to us. Then you use your dark magic to steal a nice big chunk of our land.” She gives her chin a defiant lift, her smile full of venom. “Well, the tide is turning. Your magic’s faded.”

Some of what she’s saying is true, to the sadness of many Gardnerians. Most of my people have no magic or weak magic at best. And we haven’t had a Great Mage in generations. But our magic isn’t dark, and I’ve never done a thing to harm her or anyone else—though I’m sorely tempted to in this moment.

I can feel her angry gaze on me as I turn to her husband. “Please, Merchant Darrow,” I plead, the forced politeness of my tone ringing false in my own ears. “I’ve spent weeks preparing these healing brews for your shop. My family is counting on me to sell them.”

Conscience seems to get the better of Merchant Darrow, his lined face tensing in discomfort. “Just this last time, Tessla,” he forces out gruffly, still not looking at me as he pulls the vials of medicines closer to inspect them.

Mistress Darrow throws him a tight look of fury before grabbing the crate and jerking it away from the both of us.

“We’ll take them, then.” She smiles malevolently. “Just like you Crows took our land.” She sets a hard gaze on her husband. “No payment.”

I’m not sure I’ve heard her right. “What?”

She skewers me with her glare. “Oh, we’re onto the lot of you. Figuring you’ll wave your wands around and take everything we’ve got right from under us. Well, not this time. We’re going to fight, and we’ll stamp you all out before you have a chance to raise up another Dark Mage. And we’re taking our land back.”