Adventures of Jacko the Conjurer by Jamie Ott (drm ebook reader txt) 📖

almost seemed covered in mud, as it was everywhere.

Lyssa pulled her cloak in, tightly.

A man in rags and muddy heels walked up to them with a large smile on his face. He had eyes the color of wine.

For a moment, Lyssa was caught by Lucenzus’ smile, which was wide and beautiful, accentuating lovely cheek bones.

“How goes it, friend?”

“Great!” He hugged the man, slapping his back. “This is Lyssa; Lyssa, this is Von.”

She extended her hand. When he took hers, he grabbed a little too hard, hurting her, something that’d never happened before. She wondered if Von were Prima too.

They followed him down the road to the largest hut.

“How are you feeling?” asked Lucenzus.

“Ah, great,” said Von. “Still struggling with this blood thirst, but it’s getting better.”

“Blood thirst?” asked Lyssa.

“She’s half Prima, but ignorant of our ways,” said Lucenzus to Von. He explained to her, “When the Primas first realized how small their numbers were getting, they tried turning humans who looked most like them, into them.”

“That’s right,” Von cut in. “They housed us, taught us, and initiated us, using their blood in a sacred rite. They knew their blood had magical properties, but they didn’t realize there would be side effects.”

“I don’t understand,” said Lyssa.

“After drinking the Prima blood, it changes the human into something else, altogether. Shameful, to be honest: blood sucking fiends, demons,” said Lucenzus. “They had to destroy most of those first Prima initiates. Fortunately, Stelar, the high priest, has managed to create a solution that lessens the effects of the blood.”

“Is that why your eyes are red?”

“Yes.”

“Did you take part in these rites, Lucenzus?”

“Yes, but those who are half Prima don’t suffer the same as a pure human.”

“You don’t drink blood, then?”

“Nope, never. Half Primas don’t need it. But my strengths increased, a dozenfold.”

“That’s not exactly true though,” said Von. “Remember old Zacarius? He’s half Prima, and he drank the blood and went crazy, even worse than most humans. Some peoples Prima side is stronger than others. Zacarius couldn’t go a day without killing, and now’s he’s staked underground, just like many of the humans whom Stelar’s serum couldn’t help.”

“That’s horrible!” said Lyssa. “They continue to give people these rites?”

“Yes, and be prepared. I suspect they’ll want you to take initiation. All half breeds are expected to participate.”

“Why do they do it?”

“Because the blood makes humans immortal, and magical; almost as strong as a Prima, but not quite.”

That night, Von and the villagers had a welcoming party for them. As it turned out, Lucenzus and Von grew up together. They were like brothers; it was he who had Von initiated.

The town’s people strung up a cow, and they dance around the fire and drank fine wine.

Lyssa was exhausted, and pardoned herself for not being extremely social. She’d just never been on the road for such a long period before.

She sat back and watched the fire, drinking wine. Her mind flitted between thoughts of her father, brother and mother.

She took a sip of her wine and sighed with happiness. Yes, it was sad that she might never see her father or brother again, but she was happy to know that she was going someplace. That she might have a future home, and that she wouldn’t be alone, or afraid, or have to hide from anyone. As grim as the situation was, she had something to be grateful for.

Across the fire sat two pretty blonde girls who couldn’t have been more than seventeen. Lucenzus went up to them and spoke enthusiastically.

Lyssa tried to watch them inconspicuously, hoping he didn’t ask either of them to dance.

When he did just that, Lyssa felt her face get hot.

She looked away and downed her wine.

Von appeared before her. The way his pale face and hair were washed out, yet his eyes glowed by the light of the fire was demonic looking.

“Dance?” he asked.

She accepted his hand.

He yanked her up, fast and strong, and caught her on his hip.

Immediately, Lyssa was taken with him, and a little aroused. Never had a man been able to exalt strength over her before.

He spun her around fast, making her laugh. They stepped around and around, until she was out of breath.

“Aren’t you exhausted?”

“No, I’m not human, anymore! I never get tired!” he boasted.

He grabbed her by the hand and led her to a section of the table where he poured her more wine.

Instinctively, Lyssa looked to see where Lucenzus was.

Still talking to one of the girls.

Noticing her gaze, Von said, “You like him? What a shame! I like you. You’re different than these pasties. I can’t stop staring at your straight, shiny dark hair, the way the light bounces off it. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

He reached over and lightly touched her smooth strands.

“The finest hair I’ve ever seen on a woman.”

“Funny,” said Lyssa. “In my land, pasty is quite fashionable. Golden locks are priceless.”

“We all want what we don’t have,” he said.

“Tis true,” said Lyssa, raising her cup.

“Cheers” he said.

That night, she fell asleep on the bench by the fire.

Sometime later, a pair of hands lifted her.

She opened her eyes and was pleased to see that it was Lucenzus.

He carried her to a heap of straw in the barn and laid her down.

Lyssa put her hands around his neck and pressed him toward her.

Lightly, they kissed for a few moments, before he pulled away.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

“I’m supposed to be getting married.”

“To whom?” she asked, feeling shocked.

“I don’t know yet.”

“I’m confused.”

“My father won’t let me just marry anyone. It’s a bad idea to get involved with me. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“Lucenzus, it’s just a kiss. Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”

“That’s what women always say, but it’s always more they want. I did fall in love once with a mortal woman. When my father found out, he was livid; had me jailed for a long time.”

“My father jailed me all the time. It’s not a big deal.”

“Wow, Lyssa. You really have no clue about the people you come from.”

“You know, I’m getting sick of your snideness. If you don’t want to talk plainly, then don’t talk to me at all.”

He sighed loudly, and said, “The Prima people live longer than humans do. When they jail their people, it’s not just for a couple of days, more like a couple of decades.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said disbelievingly. “Just go away.”

She laid back into the straw, and closed her eyes.

“Lyssa, you’re part immortal.”

She rolled back over and looked at him.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me. The Prima people are immortals. You and I are part immortal. By the time my father let me out of jail, the woman I loved was old and gray. It was the most devastating thing I’ve ever endured.”

“How old are you?”

“A lot older than I look,” he said, stood and walked out.

The next couple of days, they walked many miles.

Lyssa was hurt by Lucenzus’ rejection, but her anger lifted upon finally seeing Valhala.

Up on the base of an incline, nestled against a mountain, was dozens of houses. In the middle, was a construction she’d only heard of from learned men; a structure she’d only seen in Roman drawings: a large stone castle. It was the most majestic thing she’d every seen. Behind it was an enormous peak that rose well beyond and into clouds.

“Up there is Valhol, beyond the clouds.”

“That’s impossible,” she said. “How could anyone make such a journey?”

The answer to her question came a moment later.

Outlined by the horizon of the setting sun was a woman with long dark hair. Like an angel, she flew at them; her white dress billowed about her.

“Oh,” she said, as she dropped to the ground. “I’m no angel.”

Apparently, the woman could read minds, too.

“Mother?”

The woman pulled her into a bone crushing embrace.

“You must be my mother. I don’t think anyone has ever held me so tight before,” she smiled.

“Take my hands,” she said.

Lyssa took one, and Lucenzus grabbed the other.

She flew them to Valhala.

Learning Valhol

Chapter 4

They flew over the city gates and landed in town’s center.

Before them was a line of people waiting to get water from a stone well. Behind them was the entrance to the castle.

Turning around, Lyssa noticed several roads that led away from the center. Both sides of each of the roads were lined with stone houses.

The Primas were clearly advanced in architecture and stone masonry. In her land, she’d only seen drawings of stone homes.

Lyssa shivered. A thick cloud of fog hung around them.

“As daughter to the Dacian King, you’ve been invited to stay in the castle with the Elders,” her mother said.

Lucenzus interrupted them. He said, “I’m gonna leave you two. I’ve got business, and I need to check in with my father. Bye, Lyssa.”

He walked down a road to their right, and disappeared into a house.

“Come,” said her mother.

They approached the castle. The guards opened the doors for them.

Inside was even chillier. Cold emanated from the stone walls.

Reading her mind once more, her mother said, “This is a cold place for non Prima people. We aren’t as sensitive to temperatures as humans are.”

Lyssa rubbed her eyes, trying to focus, but the entrance hall was too dark. All she could see was the light of a flickering candle some yards away.

“Grab my hand,” her mother said. “Prima people don’t need as much light to see.”

In near blackness, she led her down a thin, but high ceilinged, chilly stone walkway.

At the end, they went right until they were in an open space. Though there was more room around them, it was still compact.

Lyssa, who was used to large halls and open plains, said, “Being in here feels like we’re entombed.”

“Don’t worry, Lyssa. You’ll get used to it. Most people in the world live in caves that are half this size, like the desert people.”

Her mother dragged her down another right hall.

At the end was an amply lit room. Around a center stone console, a few women were preparing food. One kneaded bread while another stuffed a bird. One lady was chopping carrots.

To their left and right were more halls, but her mother led her up a set of stone steps.

Although the steps continued upward, they stepped onto the first landing and walked to the end of the hall.

Her mother, Sana, opened the door.

In the center of the room was a large table with chairs. Next to it was a canopied bed. On the right sight of the room, there was a fireplace. To the left was a large shuttered widow.

Lyssa opened the shutter and looked out.

Below, there were hundreds of houses. People walked in and out of them, carrying items. Some worked out in the open, farming animals and crafting while others tended small fields.

Suddenly, light filled the room.

Lyssa turned around. Every candle on the wall had come to flame.

“You can call fire with your mind, too?”

“Yes. You, probably, can do things, too.”

“Me?”

“Every Prima is different. We each have our own abilities to control the elements, to read minds, and to master certain forms of kinesis. Since your half Prima, you might have some of these abilities, too.”

Lyssa didn’t think she had any so called abilities, but she did think back to a time when she’d visited a lion tamer who’d come to town. A particularly stubborn male wouldn’t obey him. When the tamer struck him with a whip, the lion went for him. Without thinking, Lyssa grabbed the lion by the tail, and flung him several feet into an open cage, and locked the door.

There were many more strange incidents of strength, after that day.

“The Prima people are stronger than the average human. Our muscles are made up of a different kind of tissue,” her mother said. “Our flesh is completely resilient and resistant to spasms, strains, and over pulling, as described by humans.”

“But not resistant to stabbings?”

Sana looked at her shoulder.

She walked over to her, and pulled down her sleeve.

“Oh that’s nasty,” she said. “After we