Sorceress (The Cross-Worlds Coven Series Book 4) by Phil Stern

Author:Phil Stern [Stern, Phil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phil Stern
Published: 2016-10-09T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

NORINE SAT IN her seldom-used office, moodily staring at the far wall. Outside the rustic building could be heard the normal evening sounds of an idyllic Haven country lane, with soft chatter and occasional laughter drifting about. Indeed, the Coven’s bucolic home world had seemingly returned to normal, the tension and conflict of the last few years firmly drifting into the past.

In her new position, though, the Coven Leader’s chief-of-staff had to sweat all the details of their organization’s vast operations. Top on her list right now was Caylee Nuxan’s mission into Lysandy.

Lush blonde hair falling about her shoulders, Norine irritably pushed a few sheets of paper about the desk top. By the stone, why had Eleanor sent such an inexperienced girl into a virtually unknown magical world? True, Caylee was a very promising young witch, but this was exactly the type of assignment that called for an experienced hand. Because if that damn industrial-age gauge led directly to another unexplored domain…or worse yet, some wildly random inter-dimensional portal…Norine knew exactly what would happen. Caylee would leap first and ask questions later, getting herself into who-knows how much trouble.

Which, in turn, was exactly how promising young witches became causalities. Or worse yet, just disappeared forever, a mystery to her saddened Coven-mates for years to come.

At this point Caylee wasn’t yet overdue, but nearly three days of fretting about things in Vail had been quite enough. Slipping across the Boundary to Haven a hundred menlars before, Norine had promptly summoned Sarina Toulon to her office.

At the stroke of seven o’clock, the 30-year-old sorceress entered the room, smoothly sitting in the seat opposite the chief-of-staff. Tall and slim, with mid-length auburn hair, Sarina was one of the most competent operatives at her disposal.

“You wanted to speak to me?” Sarina spoke with the confident tone of a veteran sorceress in her prime. “About the strike force, I’m assuming?”

She was referring to the rotating team permanently stationed in Haven, ready for immediate deployment to any threatened dimension. Sarina was one of four witches who took turns as the force leader, having just completed her week-long shift sixty menlars before.

Which was another thing Norine appreciated about the Earth native. Unlike just about everyone else around here, Sarina got right to the point.

“No, I’m sure that’s all under control,” Norine said. “But there is a situation I need your help with.” Briefly, she described Caylee’s mission.

Frowning, the younger woman raised an eyebrow. “That’s sending an awfully inexperienced girl out onto a pretty shaky limb, isn’t it?”

“That’s my thought as well,” Norine carefully agreed.

“And all because Eleanor was curious about this gauge?”

“Well, the Coven Leader has undertaken a new training program…”

“Consisting of what? Babying them for six months in Vail, then throwing them off a cliff without an earth stone?”

Sighing, Norine leaned back. Bluntness also had it’s drawbacks, she decided. “Look, all I’m asking you to do is check up on her.”

“Out in the field? In Lysandy?”

“That’s right.”

“This is off the books, isn’t it?” A moment went by, Sarina evenly eyeing her superior.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.