Change is a powerful force of life and nature. Meg and her four friends discover this when they abruptly find themselves no longer in Kansas. The new world offers them the opportunity to experience the power of magic, the adventure of a life time, and the dynamics of love as they seek the Red Wizard to join them in their battle against the invaders who threaten to destroy their new world. As they and the Green Wizard with the aid of his family, gather their company in their search for the Red Wizard they gain the support of a telepathic wily feral canine, size shifting felines, and an assortment of fascinating creatures and characters. In the process they find danger, adventure, romance, passion and love.

SEARCH FOR THE RED WIZARD

Blue Wizard's Quest Vol. IBy B. L. Phillips

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2011 B. L. Phillips
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4634-1907-3

Contents

Chapter 1 New Beginning.............................................1Chapter 2 The Gifts.................................................10Chapter 3 Into the Woods............................................21Chapter 4 First Morning.............................................34Chapter 5 Journey into the Woods....................................37Chapter 6 First Encounter...........................................42Chapter 7 The Story of the House....................................50Chapter 8 Exploration and Discovery.................................56Chapter 9 Arie Meets the Ladies.....................................63Chapter 10 Search for Arie's Master.................................71Chapter 11 Anna Rebels..............................................80Chapter 12 Meeting..................................................89Chapter 13 Monay....................................................101Chapter 14 Visit to the Farm........................................104Chapter 15 Lessons on History.......................................119Chapter 16 Decision Time............................................127Chapter 17 Their New Home...........................................136Chapter 18 Change in Plans..........................................145Chapter 19 Love is Pain.............................................149Chapter 20 Meeting the Enemy........................................155Chapter 21 The Revelation...........................................165Chapter 22 The Healing Begins.......................................172Chapter 23 Getting Acquainted.......................................185Chapter 24 Plans and Preparations for the Quest.....................188Chapter 25 New Plans................................................196Chapter 26 The Binding/Wedding......................................201Chapter 27 Farewell.................................................207Chapter 28 The Quest Begins.........................................211Chapter 29 Conversation.............................................217Chapter 30 Recruitment..............................................219Chapter 31 Jealousy.................................................225Chapter 32 Mother Arrives...........................................228Chapter 33 Negotiations.............................................231Chapter 34 Krits Join the Company...................................234Chapter 35 Journey to the Krit Mountains............................239Chapter 36 Visit to the Krits.......................................242Chapter 37 Village of the Cursed....................................246Chapter 38 Visit to the Sacred Tree.................................251Chapter 39 New Friend...............................................257Chapter 40 Castle Ahead.............................................260Chapter 41 The Road to the Castle...................................264Chapter 41 Invitation...............................................268Chapter 41 Meeting of the Wizards...................................273Chapter 41 New Relationships........................................279Chapter 41 The Battle...............................................282Chapter 41 After the Battle.........................................290Epilogue............................................................297

Chapter One

New Beginning

Change is a powerful force. This was proven when our new lives began in my kitchen. My four friends and I were going out to the sun porch when a tremendously loud sonic boom and a white sustained flash of light surrounded and blinded us. I raised my hands and covered my eyes to keep from staring into the glaring light. The loud roaring noise continued and the lights flared warmly again and again. It startled us all. Anna shrieked. I think we all five screamed. I mentally reeled caught in a swirling sensation. Then I felt a stupendous wave of nausea which made me gag. This was compounded by the deafening continuous noise which rose in volume while a blinding searing white swirling light encircled us. Then another thundering sonic roar began while a higher pitched sound joined the deafening noise. I was disoriented, confused, blinded and shaking. At this point a rush of icy cold air struck me. The cold permeated my whole body. I felt numb. I had no sense of time or location. It was an empty feeling which was followed by a long period of silence then—nothingness.

During this blankness, my mind churned trying to figure out what had happened to us. Had we been struck by lightning? I remember we were having a party.

A week ago Jill phoned. "We're having a party at your place over Labor Day," Now don't worry, Meg. I will be out Saturday morning. Then Eve and PJ will get there. Anna's not sure what time she'll arrive. You know Anna." (I could imagine Jill rolling her blue eyes upward when she said this. We all knew Anna has no sense of time.) "We'll all be staying until Monday. We'll have a good old fashioned slumber party. We're all bringing something, don't worry about food. We'll help you christen your new place and celebrate," she ended her speech with a giggle. She always answers the phone with a laugh and a giggle.

Around 9:30am today Jill arrived. She's a delicate featured dark blonde whose figure had softened at forty. Once she'd been a petite size 6, now time had added a touch of roundness to her full height of five one. Her dancing blue eyes brightened her smiling face. One would believe she will never suffer from frown marks, such is her cheerful nature. She was celebrating her recent divorce from a domineering man. She's always been attracted to strong older men. They've always wanted to control her because she is so loving, giving and gentle. There is something about her which shouts `vulnerable.' I've always felt a bit protective of her. Besides, we've known each other since we were toddlers. She unpacked several items from the trunk of her Lincoln as I hurried out. It is always wonderful to see her. Today was no exception. We gave each other a hearty hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"You really brought a lot of stuff, Jill. Let me help you take it to the house." We each picked up one sack and carried the box between us as we walked toward the house. It did lean heavily to her side since I'm around 6 feet tall and she's so short and tiny. "I've made up the guest rooms and stocked the fridge."

"I know how you stock a fridge. After all we were roommates in college. Taking no chances I've brought a few more goodies," she smiled and giggled.

Jill had planned the menu. She knew no one liked the same grilled meat. So she'd brought two chicken breasts for Eve, teriyaki sauce, chicken wings and legs for Anna, two pork chops for herself, a T-bone steak for PJ, and a rib eye for me. As an appetizer she'd added three dozen huge unshelled tiger shrimp and a jar of shrimp sauce. She had asked Eve to bring the ingredients for the beef vegetable soup and bread. She was going to bring a nice size pot roast, which she planned on browning and cubing before simmering it for the afternoon. She'd also brought a pint of cream for her coffee.

Since my husband Vaughn's death from cancer over a year ago, she's been a frequent guest and has often taken a soda from my under stocked refrigerator.

We'd almost reached the porch when a blue Chevy pulled into the drive. It was Eve. She honked the horn and waved. We stopped, twisted around and yelled, "Hi!"

We finished carrying the groceries to the porch and climbed the steps. We paused for a second and I looked back. Eve had already gotten out of the car and gone to the passenger side where she began unloading her boxes and bags. I called to Eve, "I'll help you in a minute. We need to get this box into the house."

"It's okay, guys. I've got to unload it first." She took out a couple of large grocery sacks, a plastic sack, and her overnight bag while we went inside.

Jill and I finished carrying her boxes to the kitchen. While Jill unpacked the boxes, I left to help Eve. One look at Eve's pile made me realize she knew the generally sad state of my refrigerator. It looked as if she was planning a week's outing. Between their boxes and my shopping it looked as if three days was too short a stay. No doubt my refrigerator would physically reject much of their offerings. I was rapidly thinking of where I could store everything.

I reached her side and gave her a big hug and a kiss. She is almost as tall as I am and a bit stocky. "It's so good to see you, Eve. I'm glad you could make it. Say, I hear congratulations are due." I hugged her again.

It was a special day for her too. Eve was celebrating her promotion at work. Eve has short brown curly hair with golden highlights. Her grey eyes twinkle when she exchanges looks and sly remarks. Eve is blessed with a quick nimble wit. She was not one who'd later say, "I wish I'd thought of that." She was the one who'd say it and we all wished we had. She is not a delicate flower of a woman. Her bone structure she blames on her Germanic heritage. She loves blue denim. As usual she was wearing faded jeans and a denim shirt. This one had an embroidered golden bear climbing out of the pocket.

"Let's not stand around. Here take this," she ordered as she handed me a plastic sack with two loaves of bread, one a French loaf and the other some type of specialty bread filled with olives and herbs. She loved the unique flavors of food. Her healthy appetite had filled out her figure, even though she had lots of energy and worked out daily. Next she handed me her overnight bag and one small plastic bag which contained her teddy bear which she brings to all our sleep overs since we were kids. She picked up the rest.

As we carried the items toward the porch a shrill blasting of a car horn announced PJ's arrival. The bright red convertible she drove fit her style. The top was down and her natural auburn hair streamed back from her fair complexioned face as she sped into the drive. "Wait for me, Guys," she yelled.

"Hi, PJ, Meg will help you. I'll go ahead and get my stuff inside," called Eve. We went on up to the porch where Jill had opened the door. Eve held it open with the toe of her shoe.

Jill said, "Let me have those bags, Meg. You go help PJ." The two of them disappeared inside.

"What can I do to help, PJ?" I asked as I hurried to help her.

"I'm not quite ready to unload the car. I have time for a hug or two. We embraced. "It's been too long."

"Too long," I agreed.

I waited for PJ, which is short for Pauline June, a name she hates. She put up the convertible top and unloaded a picnic basket, large cooler and a duffel bag.

"You know, Meg, I've really missed seeing you."

"Well, you wouldn't, if you didn't go gallivanting around the world so much." I quipped as I picked up her duffel bag and set it down. It was quite weighty. "What's in this bag?" I asked as I semi-hefted it a second time.

She laughed. "I never waste time nor space. Inside my bag are my nighty, swimsuit, clothes, and makeup."

I chuckled. "Either you're packing for a long stay or your makeup is pretty weighty. Maybe this is how you manage to stay so young looking."

She laughed. "Time has been kind." Besides, if I can lift it, so can you." She managed to carry the bedroll, and a cooler loaded with vegetables and her favorite soda, as well as a bulging picnic basket. Truly time had been kind to her, and although she was well over 40, she looked to be in her early thirties. Her trim petite figure was kept in shape by her strenuous daily workouts and her mother's genes. It's also true she's always treated her pale delicate skin with care. She never forgets to wear sunscreen and she limits her time in the sun. Her rich green eyes and fair complexion were the only connections hinting to our family relationship. She was my first cousin, yet she and my sister look more alike, than do I and my sister. PJ had inherited the family height. I'm a full six-foot tall and big boned while she's a small-framed 5'10" tall woman. At one time we had the teaching profession in common. She, however, married young and quite well, so well she quit teaching. When she divorced, she divorced quite well. PJ still didn't have any desire to return to work. She was a great golfer, volunteer, and bridge player. We planned on playing a few rubbers of bridge over the weekend. We'd follow our sumptuous lunch today with visiting and bridge. Then they'd top the evening off with a hot bowl of homemade soup and crackers.

Eve teased PJ. "I thought you were only bringing the salad and fruit. You have enough food to a keep us alive for a month, are you expecting a tornado.

PJ laughed, "I brought bagged ice and salad fixings." She smiled, "A few treats aren't bad either." She opened up the bag and pulled out a variety of cheeses: a small chunk of blue cheese, a hunk of cheddar, smoked Gouda and Swiss cheese. She topped this off with, a variety of fresh fruit, and two boxes of crackers.

Eve and Jill began to laugh when they saw the three pound box of chocolates. She lifted her head, tilted her chin back, and said defensively, "This is my `card playing incentive' program."

I was ready for all their goodies. Earlier I'd loaded up my two stainless steel serving carts with cutlery, silver, and plates. I'd put the wine and a stick of butter in a plastic bag in the ice bin which PJ shortly filled with ice. She also put ice in the other cart's bins and in the glass pitcher. I placed the shrimp sauce and a container of sour cream and salad dressing in the other ice bin. While Jill and Eve washed the vegetables and put them in a colander, PJ and I loaded the cart with the rest of our supplies and stocked the refrigerator with things we'd use later.

PJ spoke up; "Instead of sitting around waiting for Anna, we could prep these veggies and get everything ready to cook the soup before we play cards."

"Why don't we go out on the sun porch? Meg's already got the table and chairs out there. We can visit and work," suggested Jill.

"Sounds workable, Jill. Oh, by the way I've already fixed the potatoes for lunch. I oiled them and rolled them in coarse salt and wrapped them in foil. They're on the bottom shelf along with the roasting ears Jill brought."

"Before we head out I'll put the package of meat in the stew pot. I think I'll grill it and then cut it up. Do we have any more ice, PJ?" Eve asked.

"Sure do. Do you want me to dump some under and around the meat?"

"Good idea. Now, what else do we need?" asked Eve.

"A wee bit more organization and a commercial refrigerator," teased Jill.

"I hope Anna gets here soon," said PJ with a touch of worry in her voice.

"What if she's late?" asked Eve.

"No problem. We have no shortage of food," advised Jill. "And then there are four of us, so we can play cards."

While they were talking PJ took out the mixed lettuce bag and put it, along with some of the other salad ingredients into the colander. She added the salad bowl, filled with smaller salad bowls, tongs and more vegetables on the second cart on the middle shelf, along with the wineglasses.

Meanwhile Eve poured a carafe full of hot coffee and sealed it tight. "I love to have a hot cup of coffee after a meal, along with a piece of chocolate," she remarked as she set the carafe on top of the second cart. She went to the fridge and took out the cream. "Perfect." She set it in the cart's ice bin. She laid the box of chocolates under the colander. "We could have a bon-bon or two while we wait for Anna." She winked.

"I think it will save a trip of two if we bring a pitcher of ice water, glasses and coffee cups," added Jill as she set these beside the coffee on the cart. Jill then picked up the bread in the plastic sack.

"Do we have it all?" asked PJ, as she looked around the kitchen.

I shook my head no. "I've made a pitcher of tea. It's in the fridge in the plastic container. Would you get it, PJ? I've got to get the cards and score sheets." I went into the dining room and picked up the cards, the score sheets, a pen, and pencil. I tucked these in my pant pockets. On a last minute whim, I picked up my Polaroid camera. It isn't digital state of the art, yet it is instantaneous. "Smile, I called as I snapped a picture of our gang on my entry into the kitchen. I set it aside to wait to be developed. "I wish Anna would get here soon. Then I'll take another photo."

"Oh, no," said Jill as she looked around. "I almost forgot the cutting boards and knives," she said as she picked up a small paring knife, a bread knife and two larger knives. She jammed these onto the first cart. "Did you remember the steak knives, Meg?"

"I sure did. Voila," I said as I uncovered the silverware and sharp knives.

"How about a peeler?" asked Eve?

I shrugged my shoulders. "I wasn't thinking about such a chore."

She turned, opened the whatnot drawer, and searched for the small device. "Found it. I also have the meat tongs, a spatula, a grate for the carrots and the toothpicks." She dumped everything, including the box of toothpicks into a plastic grocery bag and set it on the stew pot on top of the ice covered meat.

Meanwhile Jill noticed the breakfast supplies on the cabinet. "You still have an ant problem, Meg?" she asked. I nodded yes. "Meg, would you grab the stadium blanket I'll use it as a bench cover?"

I picked it up, slung it over my shoulder, and went to help her. She opened the refrigerator and saw the mess inside and laughed. "Meg, hold the box of cereal while I make room."

Jill reached in and picked up the luncheon meats, and dumped the meat into the meat drawer. She was rearranging the rest of the items on the shelf when PJ pushed open the kitchen door. As PJ pushed the cart over the door's sill and onto the porch she bumped into the grill. Eve was right behind her pulling the second cart. This caused Eve to bump into PJ. I was losing my balance and awkwardly leaned against the cart to keep from falling. Meanwhile Jill's right hand was on the metal shelf in the refrigerator. At the same time she was touching the box of cereal I held. Exactly at the same moment Anna reached Jill's side and held back the refrigerator door with her shoulder. Her arms were filled with her bags of groceries and her sleeping bag. It seems everyone or some item was linked together.

At this moment something happened. I still didn't know what it was.

We were in a state of nothingness until sometime later a bright light flicked a couple of times then failed for an unimaginably long length of time. I felt as though I was holding my breath. The pressure on my body was intense and I fought to breathe. I don't know how long we were in this state. It could have been hours or days it seemed to be eternal, and then suddenly we burst into daylight again.

We weren't in the house anymore. Nor were we on the porch. Gone was the kitchen. In fact, gone was the house. Gone was almost everything I'd ever known. We had one thing in common; we were totally confused. Perhaps confusion is a mild word for our state. Maybe a better word was `stupefied,' yet even this word wasn't quite right. We looked at each other. For a long time, no one said a word. It seemed as if our vocal cords and our minds were on different planes.

I don't know who made the first sound or motion. I recalled hearing Anna's colorful language and Jill's outburst of laughter. I don't know who or what broke the silence.

Jill officially ended the silence when she whispered, "Have we been struck by lightning?"

(Continues...)

Excerpted from SEARCH FOR THE RED WIZARDby B. L. Phillips Copyright © 2011 by B. L. Phillips. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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