GENRE: Gay Fantasy Spicy Romance
LENGTH: 124,823 words
RATING:

In this duology by best-selling MM author Edward Kendrick, Niall, the mercenary Renard, and their companions seek to find a sorcerer to rid their homeland of eternal winter, if possible. If they are successful, they intend to defeat an evil sorcerer and free the people under his thrall, with the help of the sorcerer Symounde, healer Aymer, and Tybout and his wolves. How many will survive if they try?

Contains the stories:

A Quest to Find a Sorcerer: Niall wants to find a sorcerer who can rid his home of eternal winter. It will mean convincing friends and a mercenary to join in the quest. The friends are easy. Renard, the mercenary, is not, but Niall succeeds. On the journey, Niall and Renard form a bond beyond friendship, while the small band contends with storms, wolves, and brigands; praying in the end they find a sorcerer willing to help.

A Quest to Defeat a Sorcerer: Mercenaries and lovers Renard and Niall, along with newly-wed Merek and healer Aymer, join forces with the powerful sorcerer Symounde, his trainee Janot, and Tybout and his wolves to attempt to destroy the evil sorcerer, Huguenin, who holds many in Wildemere in his thrall. Can they succeed in the fight against the battle sorcerer and his dead-eyed minions? If so, how many of them will survive?

EXCERPT FROM "A Quest to Find a Sorcerer"
Note: may contain sexually explicit scenes of a homoerotic nature.

"I had an idea," Niall said. "It might be a crazy one but hear me out."

"This sounds intriguing," Petyr replied.

Niall chuckled. "I hope so. Do you remember what the old man at the tavern said last evening?"

"You mean about finding someone who can control the weather?"

"Yes. A sorcerer to be exact, although that was my idea, not his. Anyway, I thought why not try to."

Petyr cocked his head, looking at his friend. "You're serious, aren't you?"

"Very much so. It would mean a long journey through the mountains and there is no guarantee when we reached the other side things would be any better than they are here."

"One could hope they are or the journey would be for naught," Petyr replied, frowning. "Whether there's a sorcerer there who could help us ... Well, it would be a gamble for certain."

"You think it's possible, though, and worth finding out?" Niall asked.

Petyr didn't reply immediately. Niall could tell from the expressions flickering across his face, thoughtfulness, interest, worry, that he was seriously considering the idea.

Finally, Petyr said, "You didn't ask me because you only wanted my opinion, did you?"

"That's part of it."

Petyr chuckled. "I think you're right, it is a crazy idea, but it could be ... an interesting journey and what would we lose by taking it? Well, other than our lives, of course."

"Yes! I mean, there is that but you would be willing to try from the sound of it."

"I am. It will take a great deal of planning and it has to be more than just the two of us, of course."

Niall heaved a sigh of relief. "It will. Master Ilberd already suggested we ask Renard, the mercenary, to be part of it."

"Good luck with that."

"Maybe he will. Master Ilberd said he's a relative and he might be able to persuade him."

"Ah, so you've already talked to him about it. Well, naturally you have. He's like a second father to you."

Niall snorted. "He's the only man I would call father, although yours comes in a close second. You know that."

"I do." Petyr rapped a finger on the table. "Who else should we ask?"

"A good question. Perhaps Janot, Mage Aymer's apprentice, because we should have a healer with us, I think."

"Absolutely," Petyr agreed. "I like him. He's very down-to-earth, if rather shy."

"He is. Then, umm ..."

"Merek," Petyr suggested. "He's big and brawny, which isn't surprising as he's the blacksmith's apprentice. He would be good to have along in case of trouble."

"I hope you mean like moving trees that have fallen across our path or boulders on a mountain trail," Niall said.

"That, and who knows what sort of ruffians we might run into."

"That's why we want Renard with us. I mean, I can wield a dagger, I'm sure you can, too, but they wouldn't do much against highwaymen or brigands."

"As if there are many of those," Petyr replied in derision. "Who would spend time waiting for a rare passing merchant or lord?"

"There must be some, at least here in Dorraine to hear Renard tell it."

"True, I suppose." Petyr leaned back against the wall behind him. "I do hope my father will let me come with you. I also wonder if Janot and Merek's Masters would give them leave to join us."

"First, we have to find out if they're interested."

"We're really going to do this?"

Niall nodded adamantly. "We are, even if it's only you and me and, the gods help us, Renard."

"And maybe not him. He might no want to be the caretaker of some young fools who have never left Misthaven, to say the least Dorraine, to travel through the mountains to who knows where."

"I suppose we'll know soon enough." Niall stood and went to get his cloak and gloves. "We should see if Merek is at the tavern. He does spend some evenings there. We'll probably find Janot at Mage Aymer's home."

"Because he lives there and rarely ventures out." Petyr frowned as he put on his cloak then picked up his gloves from the bed. "It may make it hard for us to speak to him alone."

"I guess we'll find out."