The Magic Council (The Herezoth Trilogy)

THE MAGIC COUNCIL

Book II of the Herezoth
Trilogy

Victoria Grefer

Copyright © 2012
Victoria
Grefer

All rights reserved.

ISBN:
1475132492

ISBN-13:
97814751324

Cover Design by
Brad
Covey

http://designer.bradcovey.com/

https://twitter.com/bradcovey

https://www.facebook.com/bradcoveyofficial

DEDICATION

For Ethan James, the most precious nephew an
aunt could ask for. Your sweet smile and boundless energy inspire me always.
Aunt Vic wrote a fair bit of this novel when we were on vacation together with
your parents at the beach! Also, for Lily and Caroline: even your tag teaming
couldn’t stop me getting writing done on vacation with you at Omie and Opie’s,
and I loved every minute of having you around. You’re such beautiful and
fearless nieces. Love all three of you! Always follow your dreams, and don’t be
afraid if, like Vane, they lead you to try new things.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Greg and Rachel, I hope
you always remain my fabulous first readers. Your comments and confusions
helped so much to work the kinks out of the novel. You helped me cut down some
things that simply weren’t needed and just slowed the pace down. Thanks!!! (PS:
Rachel, you got the character list you wanted. That was a great suggestion.)

Olivia, your experiences
with a growing Svea provided me a lot of inspiration, as you’ll see when you
read the novel. A lot of the book is due to you, I think: influences of real
life and all that! Hope you enjoy this installment of the trilogy!

Dad and Brenda, thanks for your love and
support. You’ve always encouraged me to be who I am and pursue my dreams. I
appreciate all you’ve done and continue to do.

Loren and Erin, you guys are the best sisters I
could ask for. You’ve always been there for me and supported me. What I’ve
learned about family from the two of you had no small influence on my writing.
Erica and Jeffrey, the same goes for you. Love you guys!

Laura R. and Katrina, thanks for letting me rant
and rave and talk through issues relating to the novel with you as the first
draft came together. Appreciate it much! Thanks especially for proofreading,
Laura. You’re as awesome as Andy’s awesomesauce.

Thanks to all the fans and reviewers of “The
Crimson League.” Your positive response helped give me the courage to put this
next work out there. I appreciate you all!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BOOK ONE

Chapter One
: Kidnapped

Chapter Two
: Rexson and Gracia

Chapter Three
: The Brothers

Chapter Four
: The King’s Spy

Chapter Five
: Of Knights and Negotiations

Chapter Six
: Mistaken Identity

Chapter Seven
: Of Spies and Specters

Chapter Eight
: The Diary

Chapter Nine
: Treel Warrell

Chapter Ten
: The Next Move

Chapter
Eleven
: Of Babies and Blankets

Chapter Twelve
: The League Reunited

Chapter Thirteen
: Nasty Surprises

Chapter Fourteen
: Gambling on the Past

Chapter Fifteen
: Of Guidance and Geese

Chapter Sixteen
: Of Magic Bound

Chapter Seventeen
: Sunset

Chapter Eighteen
: Of Rings

Chapter Nineteen
: Family Affairs

Chapter Twenty
: Dorane’s Demand

Chapter Twenty-One
: To Face the Future

Chapter Twenty-Two
: Of Jobs and Jails

BOOK TWO

Chapter One
: Carson Amison

Chapter Two
: Of Elopement and Intrigue

Chapter Three
: Of Traigland and Tarts

Chapter Four
: Of Necklaces and Newspapers

Chapter Five
: Of Motherhood and Marriage

Chapter Six
: Visiting Ursa

Chapter Seven
: Of Infants and Interviews

Chapter Eight
: Jorne Warrell

Chapter Nine
: Amison’s Intentions

Chapter Ten
: Race to Bendelof’s

Chapter Eleven
: The Trial

Chapter Twelve
: Return to Podrar

Chapter Thirteen
: The Court

Chapter Fourteen
: To Swear on a Chicken

Chapter Fifteen
: New Beginnings

CHARACTER LIST

Carson
Amison:
the Duke of Yangerton

Rayla
Amison:
the younger of Carson Amison’s two sisters

Arbora
Anders:
foundress of the Enchanted Fist

Brianna
Bellis:
Rexson’s first love and late wife of Carson Amison,
whom she married while Rexson was with the Crimson League and presumed dead

Crale
Bendit:
firestarter, Arbora’s mentor and surrogate
father, officer of the Enchanted Fist

Kansten
Carder:
deceased, grew up with Bendelof in the
farmlands west of Podrar. She was in the Crimson League

Kora
Cason:
married name of Kora Porteg. Sorceress and
former member of the Crimson League exiled to Traigland

Parker
Cason:
Kora’s husband, a blacksmith from Yangerton
residing in Traigland

Johann
Clee:
 
secretary
of the Magic Council, a banker with the ability to read (or absorb written
information) by touching a book or piece of paper

Samson
Denwood:
a
warden
at the Partsvale prison

Neslan
Dormenor:
Rexson’s former best friend, should have been
Duke of Crescenton but died in the days of the Crimson League

Bendelof
Esper:
inn worker, former member of the Crimson League

Sedder
Foden:
deceased. Kora’s childhood friend, Crimson
League

Malzin
Forzythe:
Zalski Forzythe’s wife, killed the day of his
fall

Zalski
Forzythe:
former dictator of Herezoth and Vane Unsten’s
uncle, son of the last Duke of Lanceton

Byron
Gent:
scribe who writes occasionally for the local
Partsvale paper

Rich
Goodly:
one of Carson Amison’s servants

Gilbert
Greller:
eldest son of the Duke of Podrar

Mason
Greller:
Duke of Podrar and Rexson’s Chief Adviser

Tanya
Greller:
Carson Amison’s sister, married to Gilbert
Greller

Thad
Greller:
youngest son of the Duke of Podrar

Bidd
Grissner:
deceased. Hayden’s cousin, was in the Crimson
League

Hayden
Grissner:
the current Duke of Crescenton, though of
common birth, and former member of the Crimson League

Tara
Grissner:
Hayden’s wife, Duchess of Crescenton. Of common
birth

Alten
Grombach:
first general of Zalski Forzythe’s army

Hal
Halt:
deceased, friend of Hayden and Bidd Grissner and
former member of the Crimson League

Hansrelto:
ancient sorcerer rebel, crafter of a famous, evil spellbook

August
Hincken:
Ursa Hincken’s half-sister

Ursa
Hincken:
can control animals with magic. Officer of the
Enchanted Fist with Dorane Polve and Arbora Anders

Lanokas:
Rexson Phinnean’s alias with the Crimson League

Mayven:
Ancient sorceress who helped defeat Hansrelto, ancestor of
the Portegs who removed the sorcerer’s mark from her descendants

Menikas:
the former crown prince, deceased. Rexson’s older brother,
Hune Phinnean, used this name as an alias with the Crimson League

Laskenay
Heathdon:
former Duchess of Ingleton and Zalski Forzythe’s
twin

Valkin
Heathdon:
former Duke of Ingleton and Vane’s father,
after whom Vane was officially named

Carlina
Lant:
the Count of Fontferry’s daughter, engaged to
Thad Greller

Petroc:
a sorcerer in the days of Zalski who aided the Crimson League

Gracia
Phinnean:
Queen of Herezoth

Rexson
Phinnean:
King of Herezoth

Dorane
Polve:
a sorcerer, officer of the Enchanted Fist

Drea
Polve:
Dorane’s wife

Zate
Polve:
Dorane and Drea’s young son

Ilana
Porteg:
Kora and Zacry’s mother

Joslyn
Porteg:
Zacry’s wife, Traiglandian

Zacry
Porteg:
Kora’s younger brother, sorcerer and academic

Casandra
Quin:
Crale Bendit’s great-niece. She is a
fire-starter and member of the Magic Council as well as the Enchanted Fist.
Hart’s wife

Hart
Quin:
member of the Enchanted Fist and Magic Council.
He has the power to shape glass with touch

Francie
Rafe:
Vane’s Unsten’s childhood friend, raised in the
village of Fontferry

Mouser
Rone:
deceased, spy who betrayed the Crimson League

Teena
Unsten:
an innkeeper who raised Vane as her son

Vane
Unsten:
sorcerer, son of the former Duke and Duchess of
Ingleton

Ranler
Voldrone:
deceased. He was
the Crimson League’s thief and Bendelof’s teacher and protector

Jorne
Warrell:
former butler to the late Duke of Ingleton

Treel
Warrell:
childhood friend of Dorane Polve, kitchen hand
in the Palace

Gratton
Welder:
a royal guardsman

Argint
Wicker
: Zalski’s second general, he was promoted after
Alten Grombach’s untimely death and was responsible for Zalski’s murder

Gretta
Yastly
:
Bendelof
Esper’s alias with the Enchanted Fist

KORA’S CHILDREN:

Kansten, female

Walten, male

Wilhem, male

Laskenay, female

Tressa, female

REXSON’S CHILDREN:

Valkin (“Tommy”), male

Neslan (“Ryne”), male

Hune (“Brant”), male

Melinda, female

ZACRY’S CHILDREN:

Viola, female

Foden, male