Markle Vanrick is cursed by the gods. Nothing in his life has ever worked out. So, when he works up the courage to leave home with only his lute, it’s only natural his money is stolen and he’s stuck without a way to get to his cousin’s farm.<br><br>Enter Frye Indori, a mischievous man who lives life to the fullest -- only because he’s a few steps away from being caught and killed. Blessed with magic from the goddess Magana, Frye fled his hometown to escape the clutches of the corrupt priestess performing evils in the goddess’s name. When he runs into helpless Markle, he feels obligated to show Markle there is some good in the world.<br><br>Like it or not, Markle gets caught up in Frye’s game of fox and hare. When the priestess finally catches them, Markle may have a few surprises of his own.

Music and Magic

“There’s nothing I can do to help. I have no real skills.”


“Your magic is powerful, Markle. You are powerful.”


“I feel weak, shaken, and unimportant.” Markle glared up at her, his voice rising in pitch and tone. “I feel like my life is a string of misfortunes and nothing will change my luck. I feel like I want to give up, end it all, end my own damn suffering!”


The goddess didn’t descend on him, scolding him for his lack of faith. Instead, her body slithered into a protective ring around him. Her scales felt warm, not like a reptile at all.


“I understand your feelings, my child. I have not been able to contact you until you willingly activated your magic. Your training should have begun eight years ago, at the age of ten. But Farlain prevented me from embracing you.” Her body contracted slightly, as of to offer a hug. “Each day, I am chained more and more. If not for Frye’s intervention, I never would have found a way to connect to you.”


Chapter 33