The Fourteenth Key (The Chronicles of Terah Book 3) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Character List

  Maps

  Chapter 1 Saturday, October 4

  Chapter 2 Syrando

  Chapter 3 More Surprises

  Chapter 4 Sunday Morning

  Chapter 5 Paddy's Men

  Chapter 6 Laryn Lends a Hand

  Chapter 7 A Busy Monday Morning

  Chapter 8 Business As Usual

  Chapter 9 Back to Ashmont

  Chapter 10 Sister Janine

  Chapter 11 Defensive Measures

  Chapter 12 Dinner at Kyle's

  Chapter 13 Brena Steps In

  Chapter 14 Meanwhile, At Willow Canyon

  Chapter 15 Caitlyn's Fear

  Chapter 16 An Afternoon with Shadron

  Chapter 17 Rhianna's Role

  Chapter 18 An Evening with Allisandra

  Chapter 19 Colby Falls

  Chapter 20 Dinner at Danyelle's

  Chapter 21 Landis and the Sea

  Chapter 22 The Glenarbour Slave Auction

  Chapter 23 Crinsor Run

  Chapter 24 The End to a Long Day

  Chapter 25 Lunch with Dayed

  Chapter 26 Back to Crinsor Run

  Chapter 27 Tying Up Some Loose Ends

  Chapter 28 A Little Follow Up

  Chapter 29 Fine Tuning

  Chapter 30 Bridgeport

  Chapter 31 Mapleton

  Chapter 32 Rochdale

  Chapter 33 Saturday, November 2

  Chapter 34 A Piece of the Puzzle

  Chapter 35 Landis Meets with Robyn

  Chapter 36 Landis Visits Milhaven

  Chapter 37 Saryn

  Chapter 38 Repercussions

  Chapter 39 Intruder in the Night

  Chapter 40 Darrell Makes Some Plans

  Chapter 41 Caitlyn's Story

  Chapter 42 Working Out Some Details

  Chapter 43 Sister Hayley

  Chapter 44 Nikki

  Chapter 45 A Decision Is Made

  Chapter 46 Narrowing Down the Suspect List

  Chapter 47 Sunday Morning in the Canyon Lands

  Chapter 48 Petri's Story

  Chapter 49 Wednesday, November 20

  Chapter 50 A Busy Day

  Chapter 51 Things Get Started

  Chapter 52 The Reception

  Chapter 53 Debra's Story

  Chapter 54 Winding Down

  Chapter 55 The Next Week

  Chapter 56 The Wedding

  Chapter 57 Making Plans

  Chapter 58 A Busy Sunday

  Chapter 59 Count Down

  Chapter 60 To Catch A Spy

  Chapter 61 Follow up

  Chapter 62 The Old Year Comes to a Close

  Chapter 63 A New Year Begins

  Chapter 64 Reactions

  Chapter 65 Questions

  Chapter 66 Mikos's Plan

  Chapter 67 Back in Milhaven

  Chapter 68 Meanwhile at Mikos's Cave

  Chapter 69 News from Wyndsor

  Chapter 70 Visitors in Bridgeport

  Chapter 71 Gwendolyn Returns

  Chapter 72 Reactions

  Chapter 73 More Reactions

  Chapter 74 Meanwhile in Landoryn

  Chapter 75 Preparations Begin

  Chapter 76 King Merdin in Hendon Port

  Chapter 77 More Preparations

  Chapter 78 King Merdin at the Cave

  Chapter 79 Rescue

  Chapter 80 Showdown

  Chapter 81 Loose Ends

  Chapter 82 Last Minute Details

  Chapter 83 The Duel

  Chapter 84 Aftermath

  The Fourteenth Key

  by

  Mackenzie Morgan

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, places, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author.

  Copyright © 2015 by Mackenzie Morgan

  Cover Design by John Ward

  All rights reserved.

  No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic or mechanical, without the written permission of the author, except where permitted by law

  Character List

  Main Characters from The Master’s Chair and The Dragon’s Flame

  Agnes - Resident sister at the Chapel of Light in Milhaven

  Alek - Guard at the castle in Milhaven, one of Myron’s bodyguards

  Ariel - Head page in Myron’s office

  Ashni - Giant, Blalick’s wife, lives on Wildcat Mountain

  Badec - Myron’s father, Master Sorcerer of Terah before Myron, deceased

  Bianca - Seated Sorcerer of Dresland

  Blalick - Giant, attends Glendymere, lives on Wildcat Mountain

  Brena - Head of the Sisterhood, lives at the chapel in Timera Valley

  Caezar - Retired soldier

  Cameryn - Page in Myron’s office

  Chanz - Robyn’s dog, lives in Mapleton

  Chris - Kevin’s closest friend, Myron’s assistant, advertising executive on Earth

  Colin - Sorcerer who helps Warren in Walnut Springs

  Crandal – General in charge of Camden’s army

  Cryslyn - Head of Housekeeping at the castle in Milhaven

  Damien - Seated Sorcerer of Nandelia, lives in Prindley

  Dani - Alysian Cat - lives with King Merdin in Farowood

  Darrell - Captain of the Guard at the castle in Milhaven, college football player on Earth

  Drusilla - Next in line for Head of the Sisterhood, trained Theresa, lives in Drisden

  Duane - Elf, lives in North Amden, helped get Myron out of Milhaven when he was born

  Dylan - District Sorcerer for Tamarack, lives in Fall Creek

  Edwin - Seated Sorcerer of Farragon

  Elin - Page in Myron’s office

  Evelyne - Resident sister in the chapel in Abernon

  Fenway - Owns the tavern in Milhaven

  Garen - Captain of a squad of guards Rolan sent to Milhaven to kill Myron

  Gaynor - District Sorcerer of Zander until he was removed and placed with Warren, killed by Myron in self-defense.

  Geoffrey - Seated Sorcerer of Havernia

  Gerry - Resident sister of the chapel in Glenco, Rolan’s girlfriend, responsible for the poison that killed Badec, helped steal the dragon’s flame lamp and pendant, killed by Rolan

  Glendymere - Dragon, Head of the Federation of Terah, Grandfather of the dragons, Myron’s tutor, works with Landis, lives in Willow Canyon

  Glenice - Resident sister in Mapleton, communication link between Myron and Robyn

  Gwynn - Elf, Hayden’s wife, Rhianna’s and Duane’s mother, Landis’s foster mother, lives in Crinsor Run, North Amden

  Hayden - Elf, Gwynn’s husband, Rhianna’s and Duane’s father, Landis’s foster father, lives in Crinsor Run, North Amden

  Hayley - Aide in chapel in Milhaven who became Theresa’s assistant

  Isak - Page in Myron’s office

  Jana - Wrenn’s wife, lives in Milhaven, former governor’s assistant, helps Joan

  Jason - Seated Sorcerer of Prosidian

  Joan - Karl’s wife and assistant, farmer on Earth, worked at the Pioneer Village

  Judith - Seated Sorcerer of Riordan

  Kalen - Dwarf, Keeper of the Gate

  Karl - Joan’s husband, Governor of Camden, farmer on Earth, worked at the Pioneer Village

  Kevin, aka Myron of the House of Nordin - Master Sorcerer of Ter
ah, Seated Sorcerer of Camden, Badec’s and Yvonne’s son, accountant on Earth

  Landis - Tsareth’s daughter, Rolan’s half-sister, Taelor’s half-sister, fostered with Hayden and Gwynn in Crinsor Run, Myron’s apprentice, lives with giants on Wildcat Mountain, studies with Glendymere

  Laryn - Badec’s sister and Second, Myron’s aunt.

  Lawrence - Army captain, Gen. Crandal’s assistant, was Captain of the Guard under Badec

  Lynda - District Sorcerer of Zander

  Macin - Giant, Blalick’s and Ashni’s son, lives on Wildcat Mountain

  Malcolm - Seated Sorcerer of Glyndal

  Marcus - Sorcerer, Myron’s associate, lives at the castle in Milhaven

  Merdin - King of the Forest Gnomes, gnome representative to the Federation of Terah, lives in Farowood

  Miranda - Head of the kitchen staff at the castle in Milhaven

  Myron of the House of Nordin aka. Kevin - Master Sorcerer of Terah, Seated Sorcerer of Camden, Badec’s and Yvonne’s son, human representative to the Federation of Terah, accountant on Earth

  Neiven - Blacksmith and Head of Grounds at the castle in Milhaven

  Nolan - Badec’s father, Myron’s grandfather, was Master Sorcerer before Badec, deceased

  Pallor, aka. Paul - Elf, lives on Earth, godfather to Kevin O’Reilly, Hayden’s nephew, house in Crinsor Run

  Paul, aka. Pallor - Elf, lives on Earth, godfather to Kevin O’Reilly, Hayden’s nephew, house in Crinsor Run

  Ramen - Retired soldier

  Regan - Seated Sorcerer of Silva

  Rhianna - Elf, Hayden’s and Gwynn’s daughter, Duane’s sister, from Crinsor Run in North Amden, Landis’s assistant, lives with giants on Wildcat Mountain

  Robyn - Tsareth’s son, Rolan’s brother, Landis’s half-brother, lives in Mapleton

  Rolan - Seated Sorcerer of Brendolanth, Tsareth’s son, Landis’s half-brother, lives in Trendon

  Ryan - District Minister of Ragenon, lives in Walnut Springs

  Sandy - Gargoyle representative to the Federation of Terah, lives in Dresland

  Sari - Giant, Blalick’s and Ashni’s daughter, lives on Wildcat Mountain, tends Theresa’s herb gardens

  Shardin - Governor of Wyndsor, lives in Valez

  Shelandra - Elf, Duane’s wife, lives in Crinsor Run, North Amden

  Sheryl - Ryan’s wife, lives in Walnut Springs

  Starvos - Seated Sorcerer of Jardin

  Steve - Myron’s advisor, retired history teacher on Earth, lives at castle in Milhaven

  Taelor - Landis’s half-brother, Rolan’s runaway slave, former chapel aide, lives with giants on Wildcat Mountain, helps Sari with herb gardens

  Theresa - Sister at chapel in Milhaven when not on assignment for Sister Brena, college journalism major on Earth

  Tolliver - Town Director of Milhaven, owns the dry goods store

  Torrey - Warren’s wife, lives in Walnut Springs

  Trivera - Seated Sorcerer of Wyndsor, lives in Valez

  Tsareth - Father of Robyn, Rolan, and Landis, Seated Sorcerer of Brendolanth before Rolan, deceased

  Tyree - Taught Myron about the government of Camden while Myron was in Rainbow Valley, occasional advisor, does not live at the castle or in Milhaven

  Verna - Resident sister at the chapel in Timera Valley, helps Sister Brena

  Warren - District Sorcerer of Ragenon, lives in Walnut Springs

  Wrenn - Governor of Camden while Badec was Master Sorcerer, advises Karl, lives in Milhaven

  Xantha - Pegasus, has a mind link with both Myron and Duane, lives in Crinsor Run, North Amden

  Yara - Merfolk representative to the Federation of Terah

  Yardner - Captain of the Guard at Rolan’s castle in Trendon

  Yvonne - Myron’s mother, seer, died shortly after his birth

  Chapter 1

  Saturday, October 4

  As soon as the October meeting of the Council of Sorcerers adjourned, Rolan, the Seated Sorcerer of Brendolanth, grabbed his page’s arm, turned his key, and vanished from Chamber Island. Seconds later he arrived in his office in Trendon. Before his page had recovered from his trip through the energy field, Rolan half pushed, half threw the boy towards the door.

  Rolan started pacing before the page could get the door pulled to. Seeing Myron that morning had brought it all back. Rolan had finally managed to get rid of Badec only to have Myron arrive on the scene, and Myron just kept sticking his nose where it didn’t belong. Who did Myron think he was anyway? How dare he barge into Rolan’s castle and demand anything, much less the dragon’s flame pendant.

  Rolan clenched his fists. He still couldn’t believe Myron had accepted Landis as an apprentice. By whose authority had those arrangements been made? Rolan was the head of the House of Gergin. He was the only one who had the right to decide her fate, and he’d decided she would die, provided he could find her.

  And then there was Taelor. Myron offering protection to that slave made no sense at all. So what if he and Landis had the same mother? He was still a slave, and you didn’t mess with someone else’s slaves. They were property, nothing more, nothing less.

  Rolan clasped his hands behind his back and spun around to face his desk. The only way Myron could know anything about Taelor was if the slave was with Landis. And since she was Myron’s apprentice, she would have to go to Milhaven, and more than likely the slave would end up there, too.

  Rolan yelled for a page to send for Cpt. Yardner. While he waited, he sat down and drummed his fingers on the desk. With a little luck, he’d get rid of both of those headaches at the same time. And if Myron happened to end up dead too, so much the better.

  Cpt. Yardner knocked once on Rolan’s door, opened it, and walked in. “What can I do for you?” he asked as he shut the door.

  “I want the six best marksmen we have, and I want to see them today.”

  Cpt. Yardner nodded. “I’ll get right on it.”

  “And tell them to pack a bag.”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  One of Rolan’s targets was standing in a small cavern in her bare feet concentrating for all she was worth and getting nowhere. “I don’t understand how to do this!” Landis stared at the ground in frustration. “Stand still and draw the energy of Terah up into your body. Right.”

  “Oh, stop fussing,” her best friend, Rhianna, said. “It can’t be that hard. All the other sorcerers can do it.”

  “Not all of them.” Landis tossed her red hair out of her face. “Myron doesn’t have to.”

  “He’s part elf. He doesn’t count.”

  “That’s why he’s so powerful. He doesn’t have to stand around pulling energy up through his toes.”

  “And you won’t either once you learn how to do it. You’ll do it automatically, just like he does.”

  Landis shook her head. “He gathers it like you do, like all elves do, directly from nature.”

  Rhianna stood up and stretched her long, lean body. “I don’t know whether we gather it or not. It flows through us, but I don’t know how.”

  Landis shook her head and glared at the ground. “I’ve spent two months trying to do this and I’m no closer now than I was when I started. Maybe I’m not meant to be a sorcerer.”

  “It hasn’t been two months. We’ve only been here five weeks.”

  “Seems like years,” Landis grumbled. “Isn’t it time to call it a day? My head hurts.”

  “We’ve got several more hours before we have to head up to the house. Stop whining and get back to it.”

  “How will I know when it works? Am I going to start glowing or something?”

  “You’ll feel a warmth inside and it may tingle the first time you draw the energy in,” Glendymere, the huge gold dragon who had agreed to teach her to harness magical energy, answered.

  “Sorry. I don’t mean to complain,” Landis said. “I’m just tired.”

  “You’re frustrated. Every apprentice goes through this.”

  “Even Myron?” Landis asked.
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  Glendymere nodded.

  “He was a complainer, too?” Rhianna asked.

  Glendymere hesitated a moment before answering. “Everyone expected him to learn a lot and do it quickly. He didn’t think he was progressing fast enough, so he was frustrated on a daily basis. It came out as complaining.” Then he looked at Landis. “Give it time. It’ll get better.”

  “If you say so.”

  Glendymere chuckled. “You sound just like him.”

  “If they’re that much alike, I don’t know if I can take it,” Rhianna mumbled. Then she turned back to Landis. “All right. Let’s get back to work, but let’s try a new approach since yours doesn’t seem to be working.”

  “Such as?”

  “Close your eyes and relax. Clear your mind. Then picture strands of energy rising up from the ground and flowing into you.”

  “What do strands of energy look like?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe like waves of heat from a fire, or the steam from boiling water.”

  Landis closed her eyes and shook her arms to relax her muscles. She rolled her head to loosen her neck and concentrated on breathing. After she felt some of the tension leave her body, she pictured waves shimmering up from the ground. When nothing happened she focused harder on the flickering waves, trying to force them into her body. As her concentration increased so did the frown lines in her forehead.

  “No, don’t tense up,” Rhianna coached. “Relax. Let the picture form in your mind. Don’t do anything else, let the mental image stay there, block everything out. Hold it. Just hold it.” Rhianna’s voice dropped to a whisper. “See it flow. Relax.”

  As Landis concentrated on Rhianna’s voice, she felt the tension slip out of her body again. Before long a gentle warmth began to seep into her feet. As it spread up her calves, her eyes popped open, her jaw dropped, and the warmth vanished.

  Landis frowned. “Did I do it? Or was it my imagination?”

  Rhianna shrugged.

  Landis walked out of the small room she and Rhianna used and into Glendymere’s sleeping chamber. The dragon was curled up against the far wall but his eyes were open.

  “Glendymere? Do you know? Was it my imagination or did I really connect?”

  Glendymere nodded. “For a couple of seconds. Not enough to do anything with, but a good start. Try it again, but this time, see if you can keep the connection a little longer.”