It was a beautiful shot, taking the elk through the chest, into the lungs and heart. The animal collapsed and convulsed, thrashing on the ground, its hooves drumming a tattoo on the earth in its death throes.
He sprinted towards his prey and drew a skinning knife from the slim scabbard at his thigh, but the stag was dead before he got to it. But killing was always messy. Although he was Fletcher by name, the amount of time he spent binding his arrows frustrated him. He preferred the work Berdon would occasionally give him, hammering and shaping iron in the forge.
Or maybe it was the coin that weighed down his pockets when he was paid afterwards. The young elk was heavy, but he was not far from the village. The antlers made for good handholds, and the carcass slipped easily enough over the wet grass. His only concern would be the wolves or even the wildcats now. He was hunting on the ridge of the Beartooth Mountains, so called for their distinctive twin peaks that looked like two canines.
The village lay on the jagged ridge between them, the only path up to it on a steep and rocky trail in clear view from the gates. A thick wooden palisade surrounded the village, with small watchtowers at intervals along the top. Even then, it had been a small band of thieves rather than an orc raid, unlikely as that was this far north of the jungles.
Despite this, the village council took security very seriously, and getting in after the ninth bell was always a nightmare for latecomers. Furs were one of the few resources the village had to trade, earning it its name: Pelt. It was heavy going and the path was treacherous underfoot, even more so in the dark. The sun had already disappeared behind the ridge, and Fletcher knew the bell would be sounding any minute.
He gritted his teeth and hurried, stumbling and cursing as he grazed his knees on the gravel. His heart sank when he reached the front gates. They were closed, the lanterns above lit for their nightlong vigil. The lazy guards had closed up early, eager for a drink in the village tavern.
It was Didric. He leaned out over the parapet above Fletcher, his large moonish face grinning nastily. Fletcher grimaced. Of all the guards who could have been on duty tonight, it had to be Didric Cavell, the worst of the bunch. He was fifteen, the same age as Fletcher, but he fancied himself a full-grown man. Fletcher did not like Didric. The guardsman was a bully, always looking for an excuse to exercise his authority.
You see, I take my duties very seriously. You never know what kind of riffraff will be sneaking about outside. Even as he spoke he heard the bell begin its sonorous knell, echoin g dully in valleys below. This is illegal! You leave me that elk, and I save you the trouble of sleeping in the forest tonight. Subjects Fantasy Young Adult Fiction. Search for a digital library with this title Search by city, ZIP code, or library name Learn more about precise location detection.
View more libraries The Novice. Copy and paste the code into your website. This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived. Buy this Book on. You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now. Description Publishing in the UK on 5th May Othello is the first ever dwarf at the academy, and his people have long been oppressed by Hominum's rulers, which provokes tension amongst those he studies alongside Fletcher will find himself caught in the middle of powerful forces, with nothing but his demon Ignatius to help him.
Publishing in the UK on 5th May Enter an immersive fantasy Read More Read More. Additional Information. Average rating from members. See all member reviews. Featured Reviews. Julie W, Reviewer. Was this review helpful? Featured Reviews Julie W, Reviewer. Discovering his rare ability to summon demons from another world, blacksmith's apprentice Fletcher practices his skills at a magical academy where he prepares to serve his Empire in the war against the Orcs.
Chapter 1: Character Concepts After the thrilling cliffhanger at the end of book two, we rejoin Fletcher and his friends in the ether, where they must undertake a mortally dangerous quest all the while avoiding capture by enemies and facing foes more terrifying than anything they have yet encountered. Epic battles, dramatic revelations and breathtaking drama await in the third book in the New York Times bestselling Summoner series.
Fletcher and his classmates from Vocans Academy—including the elf Sylva and the dwarf Othello—time-travel through the ether, pursued by Wyvern Riders and the albino orc, Khan.
In a race against time to survive the ether's poison, they find clues about traitors in their midst, and Fletcher's demon, Ignatius, changes in ways neither anticipate. With plenty of duels, double-crosses, and even some romance, the team of Summoners faces their biggest challenge yet. Can they rebuild their world and broker peace? Find out in this thrilling young adult fantasy adventure.
Fletcher is appealing precisely because of his Everyman qualities: he is not the smartest or the strongest, but he is a loyal friend and a fierce fighter against injustice. Enter a world where the chosen few have the ability to summon demons - if you like Pokemon and wish you went to Hogwarts, you'll love this. Fletcher was nothing more than a humble blacksmith's apprentice, when a chance encounter leads to the discovery that he has the ability to summon demons from another world.
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