Gathering Storm , livre ebook

Magic Parcel :
The Gathering Storm




Frank English









2QT Limited (Publishing)


First edition published 2011
Paperback ISBN 9781908098146
2QT Limited (Publishing)
Burton In Kendal
Cumbria LA6 1NJ
www.2qt.co.uk

Digital Edition converted and distributed by 2QT Limited 2011

Copyright © 2009 Frank English. All rights reserved.

The right of Frank English to be identified as the author
of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition that no part of this book is to be reproduced, in any shape or form. Or by way of trade, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition, including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser, without prior permission of the copyright holder.


Cover design and Illustrations by
Chaz Wood & Frang McHardy

The author has his own website: www.frankenglish.co.uk









A CIP catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
ISBN 978-1-908098-23-8











Dedication

“With deep thanks to my wife Denise who, throughout, has been
an enthusiastic listener, a wise counsellor, and a sound adviser.”

Northern Omni map on next page...











Central Omni map on next page...










Southern Omni map on next page...






Preface


Long ago, in an Omni experiencing the growing pains of a young new world, long before the appearance of the newer races, a dark rumour had begun to grow in the void, from a swirling maelstrom of confusing, choking and discordant mists. Disturbing and challenging the Ancients in their glorious and untroubled youth, that darkness became Umbrano, the powerful Master of Deceit, whose desire to rule, crush and corrupt could not be satisfied.
This world was bright, fresh, new and empty, and he wanted it for himself. It had been foretold that many new peoples would populate this world, so he wanted to be there to welcome them as they arrived.
As the elders of the newer races appeared and settled to this awesomely wonderful land over generations, they were confronted by the sugar-coated evil he peddled, and were either ensnared or enslaved before they could evade his evil powers. Once trapped, there was no escape.
His was a banner which attracted also a disparate rabble of militant, evil and greedy leaders who hoped to earn a share of his power, which would be all-encompassing and would promise them much. It was destined, however, to deliver them and their peoples into his clutches only. They would swell his army of slaves to aid his relentless quest for domination.
Only one had no fear of him. Not of this or any known world, his origins were shrouded in confusion and chaos. This was Magistera, Ice Master, whose power was surpassed only by that of Umbrano himself. Because of their close association, that superiority had never been tested. Magistera’s support of Umbrano’s schemes was unswerving because he wanted it to be so, and because it served the future purposes that he had long identified and harboured.
The legends surrounding Magistera whispered of a mystical world of immortal beings whence he was cast out because of his aspirations to wrest power from his masters. Rumour and speculation were all that remained. Kindred yet disparate spirits in many ways, they both felt it unnecessary to vie over something they could share. Both understood the consequence of and penalty for betrayal, so, in this case, there appeared to be an indivisible bond which stitched together the belief that their joint cause was justifiable and their right to pursue it to its end inalienable. They miscalculated massively.
How did two of the most powerful beings on this new world with limitless potential manage to make such a spectacular and cataclysmic mistake? They underestimated the resolve of the many ordinary Omnians not to be shepherded and corralled by Umbrano’s arrogance and greed. They didn’t expect the erstwhile inactive and indecisive leaders of the placid ancient races to be as vociferous in their condemnation of the two, or as ready to stand against them.
At the same time as the ancients arose against Umbrano, there appeared two powerful magicians, who, it was said, were as old as the bones of the land upon which Omni had been founded. They were called Algan and Gor-ifan, later to be named ‘The Great’ and ‘The Seth’ respectively; incomparable sorcerers with powers granted to them by the Supreme Elder himself, The One, so it was said. Thought to have come out of the west, from the lands of permanent warmth, light and ease, they were the movers, the leaders, the persuaders, charged with a burden of counteracting the excesses of evil perpetrated by the axis of darkness.
By the time resistance had begun to be organised, Umbrano’s powers had grown and had become almost insurmountable. The two sorcerers looked towards the west for aid and support, but none was forthcoming. They were on their own.
It took generations of death and destruction before Umbrano and Magistera were defeated by a powerful alliance of mortals and immortals, and laid before the Supreme Elder in the west. Their fate? To be incarcerated in the Crystal Realm forever, from where there could be no escape.
That is…

























Chapter One


Saturday afternoon and here was Ursula, in her own home where she should be, but without the friend she was supposed to be sharing it with. How could he have gone and left her here, and how could she not have kept him here when he returned, however briefly? Annoyance very quickly gave way to concern, and then to worry. There was no sure way to get back to Omni, only when Omni needed you, as Jimmy had said. And my, did they need her! She giggled slightly at their flabbergasted faces when she appeared and destroyed all those … those creatures which were attacking her friend. It was only when the enormity of what she had done, and the thought of the terrible power she had wielded hit her, that she started to shake. She had known for a long time that she had a hidden power, but not that sort of power; not the power to change worlds and take … lives! That frightened her. It frightened her quite a bit!
Deep in thought, Ursula wandered aimlessly around the ground floor of the house. She hadn’t really taken note of where she was going, but walked without thinking, hoping something would occur to her. Muttering to herself, she stopped suddenly in her tracks, eyes wide, and head sweeping left to right, slowly. She stepped forward again, very gingerly, and yes, it was still there! She felt the tingle she had encountered before with Jimmy! Turning to her right, in a deep recess in the wall, she noticed a slim ribbon of yellow light, outlining what seemed to be a large door which was slightly ajar. Her father’s study! It had to be his study! The magic of this house was still a constant surprise to her, even now. Perhaps he might know of a way to help. After all he was a scientist. She tapped on the oak staves which formed the door’s body. No answer. She tapped again, louder this time. Still no response.
“Father, are you in there?” she croaked, almost holding her breath. “I need to speak to you.” There was still no answer.
She took a single step forward; one solitary half-movement. As she did so, the door swung inward very slowly, until she was in and the door was fast shut behind her. She hadn’t moved any more, but the room seemed to ‘scoop her up’ and secure her inside.
Six and a half paces or so square, with no windows and only the one door, it was the perfect place not to be disturbed. The enormous oak desk, which was clear of all clutter save a desk tidy, a pen rack, and an over-sized geographical globe, dominated its side of the room opposite the door. Three walls were festooned with hanging tapestries which were, in fact, painfully detailed maps of different areas of an Omni she didn’t recognise. They appeared to be flat two-dimensional maps picked out in embroidery silks, but they were three-dimensional moving pictures, albeit changing very slowly. She moved to the desk, sliding her finger tips around its silky edges as she walked around it, all the while not letting her gaze wander from the largest map. As she felt the sharpness of the desk’s leading edge press in to the middle of her back, the map began a slow descent to become level with Ursula’s face. All the while it descended, it was playing a telecast of the northern-most part of Omni.
In this land of barren desolation, covered entirely by snow, she could see a daunting black tower growing out of the surrounding. The Northern Watch Tower had stood for many ages of man, with its air of gothic decrepitude, as a symbol to all Omnians. However, unfortunately, it had fallen into darkness and disuse; yet she could see a small group of humanoid figures struggling against the almost horizontal blizzard, as they headed towards the Tower. The image became clearer and grew, and she was able to make out an indistinct and shadowy leader who seemed unaffected by the snow, and upon whom none seemed to settle.

***