Meet Relliq #MFRWHooks

Continuing the series of posts introducing some of my favorite people (or people I love to hate) from Windmaster Golem, the sword and sorcery romantic fantasy series, the Windmaster Novels, you are invited to meet the mage, Relliq. A few thoughts on the character. He wants to be archmage and control the world. A thorn in his plans to make Kiansel his obedient mate is the Isle of Mage's weaponsmith, Brodie. The fact that Brodie is a non-tal, someone without powers of his own is to Relliq the ultimate insult, and something to be eliminated.

Physical Description

Relliq has intense brown eyes. His dark curls like to fall over his forehead. He is handsome enough to catch the eye of the opposite sex. 

Background 

As a boy, his parents recognized Relliq's untapped ability. Knowing that without powers of their own, they could not teach him control, they did want the best for their younger son and at the age of 16 sent him to study with the Oracle of Givneh at his temple.  However, knowing he was different set Relliq's attitude. He rejected the discipline of service to others and preferred to use his magic to gain power or whatever else he wanted.

An excerpt of one of Relliq's early experiments with magic. The power came about by accident, but he was not one to waste the opportunity.

Boredom added to Relliq’s dark mood. He blew on knuckles bloodied once again from scraping the edge of the bowl as he ground herbs for poultices. The bag Ysbail had left to be ready for her return was still three-quarters full. “I’m not a healer,” he snarled. “Smashing herbs into small pieces isn’t magic. It’s just woman’s work.”

But Ysbail was not only the healer of Montrat, she was also his teacher. At least for the moment, he thought. Soon the student will surpass the master. Sighing, he dropped another clump of the dried leaves into the bowl and picked up the heavy stone grinder. The cool stone rubbed against skin not yet callused. Only three turns later, sharp pain meant another blister raised and broken.

“Enough is enough,” he hissed. Swift movements dumped the clumps of herbs back into the bag and half-filled a bowl with water. The liquid cooled the sting in his hands. A slight movement of his fingers swirled the drops of blood that oozed from his knuckles into an intricate design. The rune for fog appeared, then the one for entrapment.

Snatching his spellbook from the shelf, he quickly flipped through the pages looking for instructions on how to pair the two runes. “There must be something that will work,” he muttered. “Even if the fog only affects the mind, confuses the will, it will be a useful tool. But how to direct it?” His search of the book revealed no answer, still, the lure of the envisioned magic called him. Careful so as not to disrupt the symbols, he cast the spell and peered deep into the bowl to watch the result.

The image of a rolling surf changed to a narrow, rock-lined path. Recognition dawned. The Isle of Mages? What if the archmage finds out? fear wondered.

It doesn’t matter, Relliq countered. One day, and not too far away, I will be in charge. His plan settled, he threw more magic into the spell. A man appeared. Tall and wide-shouldered, he strode with confidence along at steep trail. Gray ropes snatched at his legs. The air around the figure thickened and within a heartbeat became an impenetrable haze.

Now the liquid in the bowl once again showed its true nature. As he had just moments before, Relliq searched his memory for the means to use and control the spell. A pairing came to mind. “Night be dark, light be gone, mist turn into a living fog,” he hissed

What had been a haze thickened and pulsed in a rhythm that mirrored a heartbeat.

Relliq’s lips parted. He leaned closer to the bowl. The shadowed man fell, rose to his feet, shambled a few paces, fell again, then on hands and feet crawled through the swirling mass. Movement ceased when the figure placed his back against a sheer rock face.

More on the attack can be found in the posts Fog Attack and The Mist Strangles. As to the man? You're invited to meet Brodie, weaponsmith of the Isle of Mages, and friend to Lord Dal and Lady Ellspeth.

More About Him (Secrets or Public)

He doesn't believe in the use of sword or any other traditional weapons. In his mind, the ability to wield magic is the only weapon worth learning. You have to read Windmaster Golem to see whether the archmage or Brodie teach Relliq the truth.

 I hope you enjoyed this introduction to Relliq. Find excerpts for Windmaster Golem by clicking on the cover in the banner. To purchase Windmaster Golem, use the links below. 

Buy Links: One click to ebook sellers
Paperback at Amazon