Amber Quill Press has a new fantasy book out from QSFer Hurri Cosmo:
Relath Talasar is a wizard, not the scam artist Khat, the local sheriff, thinks he is. Mainly because Khat does not believe in wizards, or dragons, or magic of any kind. Belief in such things can put you in jail and practicing magic can actually get you executed. All Khat is trying to do is force Relath to leave town so he doesn’t have to deal with it.
But after coming to LockShire on the heels—or should he say tentacles?—of an evil Angel Walker, Relath has fallen hard for the lawman. Now not only does Relath have to protect the big dumb sheriff and defeat the Angel Walker, he also has to stay ahead of a colonel hell-bent on seeing him hang for the crime of being a wizard…
Excerpt
…“Do you remember seeing a guy with long black hair? Kind of a perpetual frown on his face?”
“Oh! White as a fucking ghost?”
Khat laughed. Relath realized he loved that laugh. “Yeah, that’s Almar. He’s… Well, he was…”
“Your lover? That tall, thin ghost was your lover?”
“No! I told you. It wasn’t like that. But yeah, we… We had similar interests.”
“Fuck the similar interests. At least you eat! That guy didn’t look strong enough to lift a fork. He blackmail you or something because…damn.”
“No. I know. He’s…odd. But he is the alchemist in town and… “
“You wanted better rates?”
Khat shot Relath an angry look and Relath laughed.
“Honestly, I don’t see anything even appealing in that guy. Even though I only saw him for a few minutes I remember him! Scarier than hell!” Then Relath frowned. “When was that? Wait…oh yeah. It was when I cured old man Van Derke, right? Wasn’t he an alchemist, too, back a few hundred years back?” Relath giggled. “Yeah, I have to admit, I made too big a show with that one. Did it for your benefit, you know. Showing off I guess.”
“Well, Almar wasn’t amused.”
“He lodge a complaint or something? Want you to run me out of town?”
“Worse. Van Derke is his father. Almar couldn’t cure him either. The man was dying. Then you come along. Well, Amar really believes you’re a…a wizard now. He’s an idiot. But he…he sent runners. To the castle.”
“What? Runners? As in to tattle on me? When?”
“That same day, is what he said. Fucker told me earlier today. But I have a feeling those runners are going to be tattling on more than just you. I think he wants my head, too.”
“Shit. That wasn’t just the other day either. It was more like four. So chances are the runners have already arrived and there just might be a troop on its way back as we speak.”
“Pretty much what I was thinking.”
“So then why? What the hell was this all about? You had your way with me and now you lock me up and hand me over? Is that it?”
“No! Fuck, Relath! For someone as good as you are at scamming folks, you sure can be stupid! I…I didn’t even mean to do this…but things got heated and… Face it, Relath, you’re not safe here. You never have been and now you’re out of time and you need to run. I’ve been not so subtly hinting at that for over a week, now.”
“Look, as accustomed as I am to running, you honestly do not need to worry about me. I am a wizard. They do exist, so I can protect myself. The problem now is making sure you’re protected.” Especially with the smell he detected a moment ago. Relath rose from the cot and walked to his coat, now laying on the floor, and picked up a small bottle of his elixir. He sprinkled a few drops on his hand, then turned back to Khat and, slowly waving that hand, spread his fingers.
Khat laughed out loud. “Me? You’re going to protect me? I’m sorry, Relath, but as amazing as your elixir seems to be, I’m more inclined to believe you stole that liquid of yours off some unsuspecting alchemist. You cure a few small ailments with it, then make up the chillshade shit and rake in the dough.”
“You don’t believe in magic. I understand that. Then let me ask you a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“What would be the reason you’re floating six inches above the cot?…”
Buy Link
Amber Quill Press: http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/2084-Talasar-s-Elixir.aspx
Author Bio
Hurri Cosmo lives in Minnesota where she holds tight to the idea that there, where it’s cold a good part of the year, she won’t age as fast. Yep, she avoids the truth as much as she avoids mirrors. But one of the reasons she loves writing is reality doesn’t always offer up a “happily ever after” and being able to take control of that is a powerful lure. Being a happy ending junkie, writing just makes them easier to find. Oh, she doesn’t mind “real life” and she does try to at least keep it in mind when she writes her stories, but she truly loves creating a wonderful couple, knowing they will fall in love and have their HEA. Every – single – time. And, of course, that is exactly the reason she loves reading this genre, too. Give her a glass of red wine, some dark chocolate, and her computer, whether she is reading or writing, and she will entertain herself for hours. The fact she actually gets paid to do it is Snickers bars on the frosting on the cake.
To learn more about Hurri and her writing, please visit her website at http://hurricosmo.webs.com.