Jericho and the Magician’s Daughter: A Spellsmith & Carver Short Story

A Short Story Prequel to the Spellsmith & Carver Trilogy
A broken rule, a mechanical fox, and missing chickens ... student magician Jericho Carver’s life just got a lot more complicated. Jericho loves his work in Master Spellsmith’s shop, learning simple spells and watching the master complete more complex magic. However, when he finds out the master’s daughter, Rill, is forbidden from learning the craft for seemingly arbitrary reasons, his sense of fair play won’t stand for it. Even if it means sneaking behind the master he respects, he’ll have to right the wrong.
However, this small act of kindness makes him Rill’s honorary protector. When Rill’s beloved bronze fox, Jaspyr, is accused of chicken thievery, Jericho steps up to save the day. But something more menacing than foxes dwells in the nearby woods. Something that might take more magic to deal with than Jericho possesses.