Wandmaker - Amber Kell Birthday Bash!

All right, ladies and gentlemen! I mentioned earlier today that I was going to feature a portion of the awesome story, Wandmaker, by the lovely and talented Amber Kell, and here you go! For her birthday, Amber has been sharing installments of the story on different blogs all through the month of November, giving readers a chance to follow it as it progress.

I'm a guest on Amber's blog today, also, where I shared about one of my favorite birthdays and am offering a title from my backlist in ebook, winner's choice of title, so be sure to stop over there for a chance to win!

I'm very pleased to be a part of the birthday celebration! Hope you had a great birthday, Amber!

Wandmaker

They gathered their things and headed downstairs to get some food. The knights were waiting for them. They sent Cebrus and Silvan amused glances.

“Sit,” Silvan pointed toward an empty seat.

Cebrus sat down with a glare at the prince.

“You don’t want food?” Silvan asked innocently.

“I want to not be treated like your dog,” Cebrus snarled.

“Don’t be ridiculous I’m really nice to my dogs.” Silvan smiled.

Cebrus waited until Silvan turned his back to grab the pitcher of water then beaned him in the back of the head with a roll.

“Hey?” Silvan spun around.

“What I’m just a disobedient puppy?” Cebrus fluttered his lashes at Silvan and the knights burst into laughter.

“We’re heading to the Dragon Breath Islands,” Silvan announced.

The knights groaned.

“Isn’t there an actual dragon there?” Meliv asked.

Cebrus nodded. “Rumor states that’s why the tree I’m looking for grows there. It needs the volcanic ash to grow. The heat of the magma attracts the dragon.”

“We’ll need to chart a boat in order to get to the isles,” Silvan said.

“I get seasick,” Meliv complained.

“We’ll get you a bucket,” Silvan replied.

“Thanks.” If looks could kill the crown prince would’ve toppled over dead.

It took them three days to reach the ocean. The only available ship was a questionable barge with a surly captain.

“Dragon Breath Island? Why would you want to go there?” The man who called himself Captain Renwy had the weathered skin of someone who lived his life on the water.

“I’m looking for a tree,” Cebrus offered.

Renwy looked around. “And you can’t find one here?”

“A specific tree,” Cebrus qualified. “I think it only grows on the island.”

Renwy rubbed his chin. “I don’t know about any trees but a dragon’ll kill you all the same.”

“Can we rent your boat or not?” Silvan asked, his temper all but crackling the air around them.

Renwy nodded. “I’ll charge you extra for your stupidity. Heading toward the islands with known dangers isn’t the mark of smart men.”

“Of course,” Cebrus said. “Or I could fix your wand. I see you have mostly weather and water magic but your wand is at the end of its life.”

“You’re a wand maker?” Renwy asked.

“Yep.” Cebrus nodded.

“And you can fix my wand?” Renwy confirmed.

“Well, I’ll actually have to replace it but it’ll be like new,” Cebrus promised.

A few minutes later they were sailing along with a happy captain waving a new black wand.