The Hag of Calix

The Hag of Calix is in the same genre as the pulp fiction that appeared in "Astounding Stories" and other magazines of the mid 20th Century. It traces the adventures of Felic as he fights to recoup his fortune after the loss of his pirate ship and crew. He agrees to take on a mission for Queen Gwenay of Calix, a quest for the missing gem of the Qalandor, and subsequently crosses paths with an old enemy, the brutish Bargonast. who covets the same prize. He is given a royal sloop to expedite the mission but during its renovation he befriends Chessa, a runaway princess from Dagra. The high priest of Dagra, her detested fiance, becomes his second enemy with the resources of the Dagran navy to pursue his intended. The story progresses through subsequent adventures on a volcanic island with hostile natives and a pursuit through gale-whipped seas. Felic becomes the love interest of both Queen Gwenay and Chessa, a frivolous distraction as he battles the odds against him. He is tested by the wrath of men and nature, and by the jealousy of women.