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Chapter 119 - Spoilt for Choice
There was a fundamental difference in how the Adventurers’ Guild operated in comparison to other major factions. It was a government organisation at its heart, even if everyone with wealth to spare had a hand in it. Its purpose was solely to protect the kingdom from monstrous and regional threats....
Amazon and Audiobook Announcement
Note: In case you missed it, the latest chapters were unlocked just before this.I’ve mentioned it a few times in the comments and on discord now, but I am so hyped to tell you that The Hedge Wizard will soon be published on Amazon.Book 1 is already up for pre-order and will be fully released on 21...
Chapter 118 - A Fanciful Education
Marcela was in her last year at the academy, and a little older than them. She struck an almost equally imposing figure as her mother, standing almost as tall as Dylan, with an aura that none of them could replicate. She must have been close to soul manifestation already with an aura like that. Perh...
Chapter 117 - Invitation
Hump tried his best to sound innocent, though the more he spoke, the more difficult he realised that was. He told Countess Daston of his… predicament, starting with when he and his master had been ambushed on their way through Bleakwood Forest. And, somewhat surprisingly, she actually seemed to ca...
Chapter 116 - Descending Shadow
“Are you certain you told nobody else?” Vivienne asked. “Just Oswald and the receptionist at the guild?”Hump shrugged. “Vamir knows too.”“He wouldn’t have said anything,” Celaine said.Sighing, Vivienne placed a hand on the counter, leaning against it. “I suppose I shouldn’t be ...
Chapter 115 - Invasion (Start of Book 3)
I didn't manage to figure out all the details by Tuesday, but it was worth the extra time. I've got a full outline for Book 3 ready to go and I think it's going to be the best book yet. Hope you enjoy!The white rockface of Sheercliff towered over the city; a long, tired line of refugees ...
Chapter 114 - Click (End of Book 2)
Hump never expected to be so pleased to see Randall, but seeing the arrogant young lord standing at the prow of a reasonably sized fishing vessel, he couldn’t help but smile. Eight other boats were with him. Hump and the others had gathered up the wood they could on the island and come sunrise, th...
Chapter 113 - Controlling the Storm
Hump felt the tug of his essence, not just on his soul, but on his mind. It flared wildly around him, aimless and beyond his control. It had no point of focus, no target. Yet still it was filled with his intent, infused with his anger, fueled by his life. When he’d called upon it, he had no intent...
Chapter 112 - Warlock's Wrath
Hump was back in the void. The same void he’d gone to each time the gorger had come for him, except this time, it had been of his own volition. He had dragged the creature here, and now it would suffer the price.He felt heat bubbling from the core of his soul, grumbling like a building fire. He co...
Chapter 111 - A Way Out
Bud stared in horror as the woman with the shield collapsed to the ground. Her head lulled to the side, rolling back until her eyes stared at him. For a moment, he saw fear in them, then nothing. Lifeless. Gone.He wanted to scream, but already the beast was moving toward Hump. It leered down at him....
Chapter 110 - Drowning of the Deep
Hump felt a draft through the temple. The flooded floor started to stir. Essence converged on Vivienne, drawn into the already thick aura that surrounded her, building on it. It flickered like violet flames. So much power that Hump couldn’t have hoped to control it, yet she seemed to contain it wi...
Chapter 109 - Risks That Wizards Take
Hump did a quick count. Nine flesh prowlers, one of which was a goliath—the gorger had eaten the other—and ten or so shades.Those were bad odds.However the creatures didn’t act as he’d expected. As the gorger came fully upright, its flesh still bubbling as it assimilated the new matter, the ...
Chapter 108 - Sprung Trap
Slowly catching up. If there's not a chapter tomorrow, I have failed.The air shook with the force of the explosion.Hump was on his front, face hidden in his arm. Stones and dust—pieces of the gorger—thumped against his back, but any serious impact was absorbed the enchantments of his cloak. ...
Chapter 107 - Negotiations
Hump held his staff low to the ground, dragging the butt along the floor behind him while the townsfolk pressed against him, helping to keep it concealed. Lucile was beside him, her shield hidden in someone's coat, and her staff short enough not to be visible over anyone's heads. Still, one ...
Chapter 106 - A Change of Plan
Following Lucile’s direction, Hump stepped into the most lavish of the gorger’s chambers. The walls and floors were covered in vibrantly coloured rugs and fine paintings. It must have been stolen from the human realm, but Hump wondered what for. Did the gorger appreciate such fineries? If it was...
Chapter 105 - Dive of Faith
Celaine had an arrow ready on her string when the shade veer toward, soaring down at them from a thin strip of clouds. A lone creature, and one of the last to return to the gateway.“Steady,” Vivienne called to her. “Let it come.”She didn’t need to be told by some wizard how to hunt. Her bo...
Chapter 104 - The Remnant Realm
With the end of Book 2 approaching, I needed an extra few days to go into more detail on the outline. Really excited now for what's coming up :)The gateway carved a tear through the fabric of space, giving a view of a shadowy world beyond. Hump guessed it would take him five minutes to sprint th...
Chapter 103 - Knight of Honour
I don't remember struggling with a chapter as much as this one in ages. Went through so many versions before I finally found one I was happy with. Sorry for the delay but hope you enjoy!Bud stared at Hestia’s Star, racked with indecision. The gateway had opened, and it was time for him to act ...
Chapter 102 - Dead Lands
This is Tuesday's chapter. Sorry for the delay. My girlfriend's birthday was on Tuesday and we were in Germany to see her family, then I flew home Wednesday and didn't manage to finish the chapter.Hump’s grin widened as he thought over the possibilities the spellbook’s ability would ...
Chapter 101 - Treasury
Hump rushed to his feet before he knew what he was doing, pressing his hand against Lucil’s mouth and muffling her screams.“Lucil, please, you need to stay calm,” he said quickly. “I’m not going to hurt you. We’re on the same side. Please, you need to listen to me for a moment.”She fou...
Chapter 100 - The White Flame
I am so excited to be posting Chapter 100! It's unbelievable to have reached this milestone, and I'm so glad it was on this chapter. Thanks to all of you for the support, especially to Anil and Zadumu who have been my Chosen Hedges since June last year. Hope you enjoy!Hump woke up in a start...
Chapter 99 - Arrival of Reinforcements
Bud sat in the reception area of the mayor’s office, staring numbly at the far wall. For the last three months, it had been him, Hump, and Celaine. Now, Hump was gone, and it felt like they were missing the spark that made them click.All he could think about was what his friend might be going thro...
Chapter 98 - Cracked to the Core
The gorger’s attack was relentless. Hump screamed as its icy will invaded his body, forcing its way to his core like tendrils of frostfire. Hump threw up his own walls of will, reinforced by his terror. While the gorger’s strength surpassed his own, it was not overwhelming. It was the way it use...
Chapter 97 - The Feasting Hall
Hump didn’t breathe as the creature stepped inside. Its pace was leisurely, a curious look in its eyes just like Albry’s had been when he was possessed. Assessing, curious, hungry.A woman trailed behind it carrying a rod that glowed with pale red light. She wore a simple tunic and trousers, stai...
Chapter 96 - When Hope is Lost
Celaine stared out at the lake wondering what on earth she was going to do next. The dark sky had cleared, and now the setting sun pierced through what clouds remained.Hump was gone. The egg had lost its bonded, which meant she’d lost all reason to remain. The obvious choice was to return home wit...
Chapter 95 - Overrun
Hump readied his staff as flesh prowlers poured out of the gateway, forming a half circle around the entrance. There were at least twenty of the snarling beasts, and for now they held back. Whatever the reason, Hump was grateful. With Skander down and them stuck within the confines of the building, ...
Chapter 94 - The Shadow Beyond
Couldn't get this one ready for yesterday. The scenes are getting much more complicated now, and where a chapter would usually take me about 8 hours, this took more like 15.There was no time to formulate a plan. A glance over his shoulder told Hump that the shades they’d sent scattering only a...
Chapter 93 - Sacrifice
Hump stared in shocked silence at the pillar of dark essence rising to the sky, feeling helpless as the shades descended on the town below. He wondered how many hadn’t reached safety.“Hump,” Bud said, a quiet anger to his voice, “we can’t stay here.”“No, we can’t,” Hump said.“We...
Chapter 92 - Before The Storm
They came like black trails of smoke through the sky. Dozens of them, if not hundreds. Their bodies were streaks of darkness against the clouds, and behind them, shadow rose in a constant stream. Hump could do nothing but stare at the darkening sky with wide eyes. This was too much. So far beyond hi...
Chapter 91 - Summoning
Hump wanted to pull his hair out.He sat in the inn’s dining hall, his focus fixed on his spellbook while Bud and Celaine at breakfast. He’d spent half the night trying to make sense of Vivienne’s formation, and now with only a few hours of sleep and noon fast approaching, he was feeling far fr...
