What would you do? If Aladdin and his gene rode by you ... worried and in a big hurry? If a dragon so old and so powerful that it was in "Long ago ..." stories was stealing maidens from your valley? These are the kinds of mysteries and challenges Baron Rostov faces. Have fun ... This is a Tales of Technofiction book.

Rostov Rising

The Tales of Baron RostovBy Roger Bourke White Jr.

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2010 Roger Bourke White Jr.
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4490-3223-4

Contents

Preface.....................................................................xiiiA Word from the "Costumer"..................................................xvChapter One: Finger Flames..................................................3Chapter Two: Rostovs and Kalnichovs.........................................9Chapter Three: Florence and Florina!........................................13Chapter Four: The Storm Comes to Kalzov Valley..............................19Chapter Five: Throwing a Fireball and Other Heroics.........................23Chapter Six: On to Florence, On to Rome.....................................25Chapter Seven: We Make a Plan...............................................33Chapter Eight: Time for Fast Action at Last!................................37Chapter One: Anticipation...................................................45Chapter Two: The Baron's Ball...............................................49Chapter Three: The Peasant Picnic...........................................53Chapter Four: The Surprise Trip.............................................59Chapter Five: The Long Ride.................................................63Chapter Six: The Stranger at the Inn........................................69Chapter Seven: Friends at the Inn...........................................73Prolog: Wrapping Up Some Loose Kalnichov Ends...............................79Chapter One: The Hidden Door................................................83Chapter Two: The Magic Prince...............................................85Chapter Three: The Djinni and the Bandits...................................91Chapter Four: The Zarathustran Priest.......................................97Chapter Five: The Zarathustran Temple.......................................105Chapter Six: The Reckoning..................................................107Chapter One: A Cup of Tea...................................................113Chapter Two: Fixing the Clock...............................................117Chapter Three: The Engineer Speaks..........................................121Chapter Four: More on John Porter...........................................125Chapter Five: A Visit to Black Pass.........................................127Chapter Six: The "Church of the Slaughtered Virgin".........................135Chapter Seven: The Retreat from Dey-nom-Nazadlan............................139Chapter Eight: A Forest Refuge..............................................143Chapter Nine: Travel Time...................................................147Chapter Ten: Wolf's Lair....................................................151Chapter Eleven: Celesta Stokavski...........................................157Chapter Twelve: Kristijan Stokavski.........................................161Chapter Thirteen: The Plotters..............................................165Chapter Fourteen: Return to Dey-nom-Nazadlan................................171Chapter Fifteen: Mind Games.................................................175Chapter Sixteen: Cleaning Up................................................181Chapter Seventeen: Tea Again................................................185Chapter One: Dragon Day.....................................................199Chapter Two: Changing Destiny...............................................203Chapter Three: A Spring Bath................................................209Chapter Four: Preparing for the Choice......................................221Chapter Five: "You Have Built a Fire in Me".................................225Chapter Six: "Can't You Kill the Dragon?"...................................227Chapter Seven: Whom to Choose?..............................................231Chapter Eight: Exploring Possibilities......................................233Chapter Nine: Meeting the Dragon............................................237Chapter Ten: The Tale of Queen Almidahl and Qin Non-won.....................245Chapter Eleven: The Stakes and the Plan.....................................247Chapter Twelve: The New Weapon..............................................251Chapter Thirteen: The New Weapon Master.....................................255Chapter Fourteen: My Herb Cellar............................................259Chapter Fifteen: Final Preparations.........................................265Chapter Sixteen: The Curtain Rises..........................................269Chapter Seventeen: Parting Ways.............................................273Chapter One: Wolf Alley.....................................................281Chapter Two: Falcon's Aerie.................................................285Chapter Three: The Ballroom.................................................287Chapter Four: Waiting for the Angry Villagers...............................289Chapter Five: A Fool and Her Magic Are Soon Parted..........................291Chapter Six: Making a Story.................................................293Chapter Seven: The Mob Comes at Last........................................295Chapter Eight: Az'sroc Appears..............................................297Chapter Nine: Az'sroc Chooses...............................................301Chapter Ten: Brave Jak or Lucky Jak?........................................303

Chapter One

Finger Flames

I remember the day my father first told me about the "Rostov Heritage", as he called it. I was ten years old.

We were the ruling family of the Kalzov Valley in the Balkan Peninsula. My parents were loving, but their days were filled with many duties. I saw them often, but my parents were not the ones who told me about arithmetic, or cleaning my room, or being careful of the bees that floated around the flowers in our garden. These were things I learned from nannies, tutors, and other helpers around the Rostov estates.

So it was strange when my father sent word to interrupt my afternoon studies and have me come to his den-his private library.

"I will need him only for ten minutes," he told Mr. Lupin, my tutor.

Mr. Lupin bowed and left. When we were alone, my father got out his pipe, made a strange motion, and a small flame appeared on the tip of his finger! After using it to light his pipe, he put it out. He watched for my reaction.

I was not surprised. As a child, I could play in my father's den when my studies for the day were finished, if I was quiet, and so I'd seen him do this once or twice when he forgot I was there.

I, in turn, held up my hand to my father and snapped my fingers ... faugh! Just a snap sound the first time. I tried again, and on the third try I got a little flash of flame, and a pop sound instead of a snap. Then I shook my hand hard because the flame had burned it! My father smiled and laughed.

Then, growing serious, he said, "Your tutor has told you that all men are created equal under the eyes of God, is that not so?"

I nodded yes.

"He is mostly right, but not completely so. The Rostovs, you and I, have some gifts that other men do not. Has Mr. Lupin seen you do your little trick?"

"I don't do it much, because it hurts," I said.

"Are you aware that most people can't do it?"

"I know it's special," I said, "but it's just a trick ... and it hurts. No, I haven't done it for him. I tried it after I saw you doing it."

"Well, it's probably best that you not try it for...