The Puzzle Box, Book 2, The Dragons of Mar

By Karen Elizabeth Brown

A mad chase through the kingdom of Mar involves sabotage, kidnapping and murder, before Ari’s stolen puzzle box finds its way to its rightful owner, a dragon from the Northern Country. Now Ari must do the dragon’s bidding in order to save Mar from an evil sorcerer who has come from another timeline to wreak havoc in the land. Will Ari have the courage and strength to stand up and fight? His experience in the Feast of Games, a battle of swordplay and skill, will send the sorcerer fleeing when his magic is overpowered. But Ari must face his worst rival, the King’s son, on the battlefield of the Feast of Games. The dragon accompanies him to the Games, where he watches as Ari accepts the challenge of a battle to the death. Can Ari survive his opponent while the angry sorcerer spins his web?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Karen Elizabeth Brown
• Release date: Mar 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311199812

Karen Elizabeth Brown

Born in Southern California, I migrated to Southern Oregon in 1974 and have enjoyed living among the trees and mountains since then.My passion for writing was on hold until a few years ago, when my daughter bought me a computer. It was after this that I transferred my stories down from the scratchings on paper to a sensible form.

Book preview

THE PUZZLE BOX

Book 2

The Dragons of Mar

By

Karen Elizabeth Brown

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Karen Elizabeth Brown

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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment, and may not be re-sold or given away without the express permission of the author. Thank you for your support.

This ebook is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places and incidents are fictional. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons is entirely coincidental.

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Cover Art by Natisha Reid

7knights.deviantart.com

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

About the Author

Chapter 1

Ari! You let the fire die again!

Ari’s father threw a piece of wood on the fire and fanned the bellows to re-light the coals. After the coals were glowing, he jabbed an iron bar in the fire, waited until it became white hot and pulled it out again. Then, with a hefty iron hammer, he pounded on the sizzling hot metal.

Ari watched his father with a dismal frown, his thoughts off in another direction. Ari hated iron work. He hated the relentless, scorching heat from the furnace and the dripping sweat that spewed from every pore. His mind wandered to how he’d rather be in the shade of the forest, studying his magic tricks or gathering plants for the Hermit.

Pay attention, Ari! His father yelled over the clanging iron, jerking him back to his lesson. If you want a good, sharp sword that won’t break, you have to make the bevels even on both sides. Watch me! His father molded the rod into a flat blade and switched hammers.

Ari already knew how to make his own swords, after growing up around ironwork. But his father was determined to make him a master sword maker for the King, just like himself.

Ari nodded and forced himself to pay attention. His stomach rumbled, empty from the breakfast he’d missed. He’d gone out into the forest at sunrise to practice a new magic trick, but didn’t pay attention to the time. He was late coming back. When he rushed in to do his chores, he found that his father had already heated the furnace and was clanging away on a new sword. His father never spoke to him about being late, but his silence burned deeper than the slag flying off the iron. Ari wished, just once, he could talk with his father about his dreams, but that wasn’t the older man’s way.

Ari started to reach for the water skin when Julian’s blond head popped around the corner of the door frame. Ari waved a greeting to his close friend, but pointed to his father without speaking.

Good day, Master Melankos. Julian bowed to Ari’s father, touching his first three fingers to his chest, his lips and his forehead.

Master Melankos shoved the hot iron into a bath of cold water, causing twin towers of steam to shoot up towards the wooden ceiling. He nodded to Julian, while holding the unfinished sword over the bath.

G’day to you, boy. How’s your father?

He’s well. We had a new shipment of goods today, so he’s busy with the accounting.

I suppose you’re here to abscond with my son?

We have a special job to do for the Hermit.

You always have a special job for him. What is it this time? Finding some unpronounceable plant that cures all ills?

Julian laughed in his golden tenor voice. Naw, just some bistort and goldenseal up in the forest.

Master Melankos rubbed his right shoulder. All your running around in the forest leaves me short handed. Can you bring back something for a sore shoulder?

I’ll ask the Hermit. He has all kinds of remedies made up.

Yes, I know. And they cost more coppers than I’ve earned today.

He’ll trade them for venison.

I can do that. I’ll send it along with you. Have Ari back by supper or he’ll not get anything to eat.

Julian bowed again to the master swordsmith. He’ll be back in time to stoke the fire.

As Julian assured Master Melankos of their return, Ari cringed, knowing his father wouldn’t say he needed extra help to finish. Ari vowed to himself he would work on the swords tonight when they returned. He pulled off his leather apron and gloves, dropping them on a stool by the door. With a wave over his shoulder, he pulled Julian out of the workshop after him. They hurried down the street, with the ring of iron hitting iron chiming after them. Ari winced at the blows, and felt a churning in his gut. His father would work late into the evening with or without him.

Sorry I’m late, Julian said, handing Ari a bag to collect the goldenseal and bistort in.

It’s okay. Father was so annoyed by the time you arrived, he was ready to push me out the door to the first person who passed by.

It’s a good thing it was me. Julian paused, giving Ari a serious look. You should ask your father to release you from your apprenticeship. You know that’s not what you want to do.

And what would I have him do? He’s not rich like your father. He can’t set me up in every idea that pops into my head.

"Is that what you think my father does?"

Julian tossed his black locks at his blond headed friend. Both young men wore shoulder length hair, which was the style of the apprentices in Chaldea. They wore white tunics with folds of colored cloth over their right shoulder that was tied at the left hip, underneath their girdle or belt. Julian wore a green sash and Ari had a blue one. Most young men wore a sword or dagger hanging from their waist, as did Ari and Julian. Ari sized up his friend of many years and shoved him on his shoulder.

Face it Julian, you’ve been dancing around with ideas ever since we left school. You need to settle on something.

Julian gave Ari a sideways glance. "I have something I’m working on. But when I find the right thing, I’ll let you know."

And in the meantime you’re wasting your father’s money.

At least I’m doing what I want and not what someone else wants me to do.

You call picking flowers a vocation?

Julian chuckled. You like it, too! Besides, I like the side benefits.

Say what you mean! You like Hestia.

Julian blushed. So you say. Besides, she lives with her uncle in that rambling old shack.

And you’d like to rescue her?

Julian looked towards the mountains as they headed up the path. I’d like to see her get out in the forest where she loves to go.

Speaking of going to the forest, where are we going today?

To the forest by the ruins of Old Chaldea.

Is that where the Hermit suggested we go? And don’t say we’re getting bistort and goldenseal, because I know he wouldn’t call us out just for that.

You’re right. There’s a special plant that grows in dark, damp places he wants us to look for. It’s a cousin to faerie’s moss. It has lavender petals and grows in moss. That’s why we’re going to the ruins. They have some old wells we can look in.

Ari stopped walking and frowned. That doesn’t sound too safe.

I’ll look if you don’t want to. Each plant is ten coppers.

"What I want is to get something to eat. I missed breakfast this morning. Then I’ll look for this plant. I need a few extra coppers in my pouch."

We can take the path past Caitlyn’s garden and go through the orchard. The apples are ripe right now. Julian turned to head toward the garden, but when Ari stopped, he whirled around to see Ari’s face changing color.

Ari had flushed at the mention of Caitlyn’s name. She was the King’s daughter and sister to his worst enemy. They were the same age, and had studied with many of the same tutors, but it seemed they were worlds apart. Ari was only allowed to see her because he was the victor at the Feast of Games for six years in a row. Although Ari was slender at the waist, he had grown up with the muscles of an iron worker, making swords for his father. It made him strong, so at the games he could wield a sword or lance with as much power as any of the knights.

Maybe not today. Ari said. I ran into Loxias last night and he challenged me again.

You shouldn’t have beaten him in the games.

That’s not what he’s so sore about. It’s because he lost his best mare in the bet. He wants a chance to redeem it.

It’s probably both things. Face it, Ari, you’ve made an enemy for life.

Ari shrugged and ran ahead to the path leading out of town. They stopped suddenly, for an old, beat up wagon coming down the road, with a man in a black hat driving a tired, dappled horse.

Hey there! The man yelled down at Ari and Julian. They stood silent, eyes agog at the rustic cart. The wood was dry and cracked and there were doors on each side, with large padlocks holding them shut. Can you tell me what town this is?

Chaldea, of King Demetri’s land, Julian answered. Ari continued to stare with arms folded across his chest. Chaldea was known throughout the entire kingdom of Mar as the home of the kings. Why didn’t this man know where he was?

I’m a poor magician who has spent the past twenty years in the Eastern lands and I’m looking for a new place to rest my head. Is there an inn nearby?

Ari dropped his arms and stepped forward. Can you show us some magic before you ride off?

Let me find a good place to rest first. Then I’ll be glad to repay your kindness.

Julian pointed down the road towards the Birdseye Inn. It marked the center of Chaldea outside of the King’s castle and was a place of revelry at night. The man tipped his hat, flicked the reins on the horse’s rump and began rolling down the road.

What’s your name? Ari called.

I am called Nemos. And with that, he clicked his tongue to wake up his horse. The horse raised its head and flicked its tail, as it began to trot along the road. They disappeared around the bend while the two young men continued to stare after the strange sight.

Did you see that? Ari said. His voice rose in his excitement and he slapped a hand against his thigh.

I was standing right here. What of it? Julian liked magic, but didn’t have the enthusiasm that Ari had for it.

I bet he’s going to give a show.

Yeah, and he’ll ask for your purse, too.

He’s got to make a living. Besides, he said he’d repay us for our kindness. Maybe he’ll show us the secrets behind his magic.

Ari, magic’s not real. It’s all pretend.

"I bet he can tell us about real magic from the east."

Julian shook his head, bringing both hands down, hand in fist, to emphasize his point. No, there’s no such thing! It’s all stories and legends from when Old Chaldea was still here. Ask the Hermit.

At the mention of the Hermit, the argument ceased as the two young men blinked at each other, and took off racing across the road, through the orchard and into the edge of the forest. They needed to collect their plants and get them back to the Hermit before supper. As soon as they reached the old ruins of Chaldea, the city that used to sit next to the forest, they began searching for the plants in earnest.

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Ari found the well before Julian finished climbing over a broken down stone wall at the edge of the ruins. He pulled off the cover, wrinkled his nose at the moldy, dank smell and stared down into the hole.

I’m not going down there, no matter how much he wants to pay me.

Why don’t you check over by the ruins of that house, while I see if there’s anything in here. Julian walked up behind Ari and jumped over the edge of the well. He smiled as he lowered himself into the dry well. It still looks damp around the edges. I might find something.

Ari didn’t answer because he was busy digging around in the ruins of a house near the well. He found a few bistort near a broken down wall, but before leaving, he slipped on some loose stones and went crashing through a layer of rotted floorboards. Grabbing the boards to break his fall, he landed in a cellar that hadn’t been touched in decades. As Ari lay on the floor, he could smell the rotting mold and sneezed from the unsettled dust. He crawled up from the rubble and began searching around in the dim light.

Ari stopped. A faint humming from under a pile of debris caught his attention. Taking care not to upset some sleeping animal, he slowly poked at the mound with a broken stick. When nothing leapt out at him and he knew it was safe, he removed the wood and stones, piece by piece. Soon Ari was staring at the source of the humming. A dusty box sat among the remaining stones and debris, its curious hum drawing him closer. He reached out and gingerly touched its edge. Dust and dirt fell away at his touch, and Ari could see part of a white tiled square. He licked his finger and rubbed the dust off of another place and saw part of a red square that contained a filigree design. Finally, he started to pick up the entire box, when a noise from behind startled him. He dropped the box and jumped back. Whipping around, he glared, breathless.

Julian! Geez! You scared me!

Sorry. I thought you got hurt when you fell in.

You didn’t have to sneak up on me.

You looked like you were busy doing something.

Ari turned around to face the box. Naw, but I found something.

What is it? Julian tried to see around Ari, but because it was so dim, he had to step up next to him.

Ari bent down and picked up the box, holding it in a protective cradle. At the same time, Julian reached out to touch it, but Ari pulled away.

No!

I want to see it, too!

Let’s get out in the light so we can have a better look at it. Ari turned his back on Julian, looking for a way out of the cellar.

Julian walked towards the other wall and bumped into a stone staircase. Hey! Over here!

They climbed up the set of stone steps that ran up one wall and out of the old cellar. After moving the debris off the hatch that covered the opening, they stepped out into the bright sunlight. Both young men squinted and shaded their eyes, trying to get a better look at Ari’s find. Ari sat on the edge of the broken stone wall and held the box in front of him. He let Julian pull off chunks of mud from the corners. After dusting off the dirt and gravel bits from the box, they saw it was made up of square tiles, decorated in delicate designs. Each side had nine tiles, with a different color dragon on one tile, a cloaked man with a sword on another tile, and a magician, with a different color robe, on a third tile. The rest of the tiles were designs and odd writing. Ari and Julian shook their heads at each other, neither one knowing what they were looking at.

Is it a child’s toy box? Julian asked.

Ari sat still, looking at the pictures and listening to the hum. No, it’s not a toy box.

Maybe we should try to open it.

Ari disagreed. No. Let’s take it to the Hermit. He knows about the history of this place. Maybe he can tell us what it is.

Ari put his plants in on top of Julian’s and used his empty sack for the box. They rushed up the mountain to the Hermit’s shack to find Hestia, the Hermit’s niece, standing in the doorway.

Are you done already? Hestia stood with arms crossed around her waist, glancing from both young men and then to see the position of the sun. It was still up above the edge of the mountains, which meant there was still plenty of time before supper.

You should see what Ari found! Julian tried to grab at Ari’s bag, but Ari pulled away again.

Get away! Ari tried to fight off Julian’s hand.

Ari! Let me have it!

Ari’s fist doubled up and he started to swing at Julian.

Boys! the Hermit yelled. He appeared at the corner of the shack, a staff in one hand and a bag of plants in the other. A whip was tied on the belt that cinched his robe. What’s gotten into you?

Here. Ari pulled out the box and handed it to the Hermit.

The Hermit didn’t speak as he examined Ari’s find. He stared at it for a long moment and then took it over to the well bucket to wash it off. All this time, the three others followed him with their eyes, but no one moved or said anything. Finally, after holding it up to the light, turning it this way and that, shaking it, and listening to its humming, he spoke.

It’s an old fashioned puzzle box. You put something inside and lock the puzzle, so no one can get it out.

I want to know what’s inside! Ari let out a breath as he spoke. Is it magic?

The box probably isn’t magic, but the old magician’s used to use them to hide their secrets inside. They would put a spell on the box to protect it. But by the way this one has you boys acting against each other already, I’d say you’d better leave it alone. Take it back where you found it and re-bury it. The Hermit set the box down and backed away from it.

No! I can’t do that! I want to know what’s inside! Ari said. When Julian tried to pick up the box, Ari shoved his friend so hard, he fell down. This startled Ari.

I-I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into me. Ari picked up the box and cradled it in his arms.

It’s that box, Hestia said. I agree with uncle. Take it back to the ruins.

"I’ll take