Pumping
water from a spout in its base, the great shell maneuvered out of the narrow
inlet towards the open ocean. They sailed past a harbor with catamarans moored
on the docks. Round huts with conical roofs clustered behind the docks.
The tall
sail of Calluma unfurled and caught the wind. Their strange ship gathered
speed, rocking up and down with the waves. The shell boat hummed a song, “Splish, splash, waves crash round Callama.”
The wind
picked up and the Callama sped over the waves. Athanor threw a windproof psi
shield over their heads so they could stare into the distance without squinting
through the gale.
Glancing
at Violet, Athanor requested, “Ask the Callama how long we have to travel to
reach the damaged area.”
She
transmitted his question and the sea beast answered, “Hours, flowers, until the moon tide changes.”
“A long
time if we have to wait for the next tide,” Violet said, pursing her lips in
regret.
“AguaSalva
is a small planet,” Amarylla rustled. “Three moons and many tides.”
Five tentacled
Bollerol whistled, “High tide to low is four standard hours in this
season.”
The sun
sank into the green ocean and the crescent of a moon rose into the sky before
they reached their goal. At length, Callama’s shell slowed to a halt, and
rocked in the gentle swell of the green, foam-flecked waves.
The great
shell hummed, “Weep, deep, Callama dives.”
Bollerol
translated through its spout, “Callama enters the deeps. Shell sections will
seal together. Ride inside or out?”
“By
thunder, I’ll swim outside the shell and see where I’m going,” Athanor growled,
pulling down his faceplate.
“Pull me
with you,” Violet said, attaching her breather tube. The Grand Master could
travel underwater as easily as in the air. Wrapping his arm around Violet’s
waist, he vaulted into the water and grasped hold of a ridge on the exterior of
Callama’s shell.
“Brightness
will cling to the outer shell,” Amarylla agreed.
The orange
Bollerol slid to the base of the boat and the two halves of the shell closed.
Amarylla’s roots coiled around the shell. Tipping on end, Callama sank below
the waves, dragging the two Grand Masters and Violet under the water.
Translucent
green water surrounded them and lines of bubbles drifted in the wake of the
great shell. Strange slow songs of the sea creatures washed against Violet’s
senses. The green ocean darkened as they descended farther from the sunlit
surface.
As they
swam deeper, the quiet waters were threaded with thin cries of terror.
“I sense the attackers are below us,”
Violet informed Athanor.
Three
pairs of bright yellow eyes on the tips of dark ribbons converged on Callama.
The ribbon eels wriggled around the shell boat and Violet understood their
vibrations. “Our homes are cracked. Our
children are eaten.”
“Death, slaughter, craze the sand city.”
Callama’s slow hum was quickened by horror.
Blurb
Young empath, Violet Hunter, and her crafty Grand Master,
Athanor Griffin, tackle the villains threatening civilization.
Their worst enemy, the Red Queen, rampages across the
galaxy evading capture, while blocked portals restrict normal commerce among
planets. Compounding their problems, half the Grand Masters on the Council fear
Violet is the agent of their doom as her father foretold, and vow to eliminate
her. To restore peace, Violet and Athanor embark on a hazardous quest for a
weapon hidden by the ancient psychic masters on one of four planets. But, the
weapon proves elusive, dangers lurk in the ancient sites, and new alliances
forged with bizarre entities may not be sufficient to foil their enemies and
save the galaxy.
This rollercoaster adventure offers weird characters and
deadly horrors balanced by lighthearted moments. Grand Master’s Mate is Book 3
of the Grand Master’s Trilogy.
Buy links:
Book 1, Grand
Master’s Pawn: Only 99c
Book 2, Grand
Master’s Game:
Giveaway
- FREE for 26th
Book 3,
Grand Master’s Mate:
Bio:
Aurora Springer is a scientist
morphing into a novelist. She has a PhD in molecular biophysics and discovers
science facts in her day job. She has invented adventures in weird worlds for
as long as she can remember. In 2014, Aurora achieved her life-long ambition to
publish her stories. Her works are character-driven romances set in weird
worlds described with a sprinkle of humor. Some of the stories were composed
thirty years ago. She was born in the UK and lives in Atlanta with her husband,
a dog and two cats to sit on the keyboard. Her hobbies, besides reading and
writing, include outdoor activities like gardening, watching wildlife, hiking
and canoeing.
Media links:
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Aurora-Springer/e/B00K2C4NL8
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AuroraSpringer
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