Receptio
Receptio is a steampunk novel set in primarily in the fictional kingdom of Randor. It revolves around the protagonist an orphan named Quan. Initially it follows Quan growing up in the slums of his city, Randor, a place called Downwind. It shows Quan working as an unlicensed scribe and [...] runner in the inner city. At this point his childhood friend Matilda is introduced. Long time confidants the two help each other in times of need. He delivers a satchel of narcotic called krut to noblewomen he is enamored with named Belinda at a bar called the White Zombie. After a run in with a local street gang Quan reminisces AbOUT his formative years. As a youth he had honored a high ranking knight’s dying wish by delivering a letter to the King of Randor. This letter saves the King’s life. To the chagrin of the court magi Melarn who orchestrated the plot which is unknown to anyone else. During his delivery he encounters Winston Gunder the grandson of the knight.
Quan is receives enough money from the dying knight that he is able to purchase an apprenticeship in the local scribes guild. Apprenticed to an elderly scholar named Dorbin he learns to read and write several languages over the course of several years. With one year left in his apprenticeship Dorbin is left in charge of a will dispute. The party soon to be disinherited kills him. Quan is barely able to escape. Quan is forced into hiding. After a time he looks for a new master to finish the last year of his apprenticeship so he can legally work as a scribe. The other members of the guild fear reprisal from the men that killed Dorbin and are unwilling to allow him. Left without any resources he heads back to the Downwind. This brings the novel back to the time period that the novel begins at.
After Quan’s wounds heal from his encounter with the gang he returns to his regular tasks until he runs into the street gang again. This time the gang decides to [...] him. Before they are able to do so a man saves Quan defeating the gang members. He introduces himself as Mitais Haldane. Clearly a foreigner from his speech and demeanor, Mitais goes with Quan to the White Zombie where he tells Quan he is planning on moving to Randor. He hires Quan to act as an aide.
Over the following months, per Mitais’s instructions, Quan purchases a house and begins to build a business. With Matilda’s help he sets up a curio store that serves as a front for their narcotics trade. Belinda soon becomes reacquainted with Quan who realizes Quan has become a source of easy krut. This becomes a source of jealousy for Matilda as she is developing feelings for Quan. During this period Mitais reveals to Quan that his real business in Randor is to assassinate the King’s head wizard. The reason has had Quan set up this business is it will take several years to determine how he will infiltrate Melarn’s home and kill him.
Around this time Winston is reacquainted with Quan. They become fast friends. Since they last met Winston has become a squire fast approaching knighthood. Mitais decides as a hobby to train Quan in the [...] arts and Winston often takes part as Quan’s sparring partner. Meanwhile Belinda and Quan become romantically involved and Matilda, out of loneliness settles with Winston. Unknown to Quan Belinda is having a separate romantic affair with a noble named Regan. Some months go by and Mitais discovers enough information on Melarn's defenses to attempt to assassinate him. He informs Quan of his decision and leaves Quan and Matilda his home and business.
Quan out of loyalty is determined to help Mitais. Unsure of his survival he says goodbye to Belinda and informs her of his intention. Belinda quickly informs Regan, who is in league with Melarn, of the assassination attempt who in turn informs Melarn.
Mitais, not knowing Quan is soon to follow, infiltrates Melarn’s home and set’s to kill him. Melarn forewarned of Mitais’s arrival ambushes him. He fights Mitais and gets the upper hand until Quan surprises him. Quan is informed of Belinda’s betrayal as he attacks. This leads to a pitched battle which it appears Mitais kills both Melarn and himself with an explosion. With his last act, Mitais saves a dying Quan by injecting him werewolverine blood (which regenerates his wounds) and teleports him out of the proximity of the explosion.
Due to Mitais being on the brink of death when he teleported Quan, instead of teleporting him slightly out of the blast radius he is teleported half way across the world. Stricken with guilt and learning to deal with his lycanthropy Quan spends the next few years in the forest alone. Eventually he vows to get revenge on Belinda and Regan. He travels out of the forest and quickly meets an intelligent big horned sheep named George who is a member of a group of big horned sheep who were genetically modified to serve as battle mounts. George is traveling to search for a new home for his people who are currently leaving in a wasteland.
The two begin several years of journey where they work as mercenaries in a variety of forums ranging from steam powered ships, gypsy caravans and zeppelins. All the while searching for the way home to Randor. Finally they arrive in a city where with the help of a difference engine (a steam powered computer) they discover the way home to Randor. They take a ship to which takes them to a nearby city ruled by a leader called the Autarch. It is currently under siege and the two are drafted into the armed forces. They spend the next year fighting for the Autarchy until the siege breaks. Quan is recruited by a member of their intelligence services after the siege due to his lycanthropy. He is supposed to meet with a larger group in Randor to help assassinate the King.
With no intention of doing so, Quan and George travel to Randor. They stay at Matilda’s (formerly Mitais’s) home. Matilda’s has married Winston in the roughly ten years since Quan left bearing Winston two children. Both of whom are in a boarding school for aspiring knights. Winston is away guarding on military duties. Matilda and Quan become romantically in a brief torrid affair. The two kill Belinda and Regan. They call for Winston and his family. Winston comes home relieved to see Quan despite suspecting the affair. They decide to allow the assassination to take place so they can catch all the culprits which include many nobles they cannot prove are involve. This leads to the end of the novel. They prevent the assassination after a bloody fight which Mitais appears saving Quan. His assassin’s guild having been able to revive him. He disappears shortly after the fight. Quan realizes that he has no home left in Randor. Due to his lycanthropy he is viewed as a monster by most. He withdraws from both Winston and Matilda not wishing to cause strife on their marriage. George receives permission from the king for his people to come live in the kingdom. Quan begins a bout of alcoholism as he considers leaving Randor. Mitais approaches him and offers him a position in his guild. Quan agrees and the two depart. This concludes the novel.
source createspace.com