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Unexpected Magic
“A bold stroll through a fantasy kingdom…” – Kirkus Reviews
A captivating story – the first book in the Ethereal Creatures trilogy
MAGICIANS OF BLUEFIRE
the exciting sequel is also in print and ready for purchase now.
THE LAHTHARIANS
The anticipated Ethereal Creatures final book
Watch this space for the release date
Dear Fans – thank you for your support and patience. The Lahtharians is well underway and I’m very excited to be working on the final instalment to the Ethereal Creatures series. I apologise for the delay. My beautiful son Daniel, who is profoundly autistic has thrown quite a few challenges my way in the last couple of years. Now though, it’s full steam ahead. I’ve got my Writer’s cap back on and I look forward to delivering an exciting book to wrap up the series.
WANT TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT UNEXPECTED MAGIC
AND MAGICIANS OF BLUEFIRE ARE ALL ABOUT?
READ THROUGH SOME EXCERPTS BELOW
Ethereal Creatures
Book two: Magicians of Bluefire 369 pages – excerpts
PROLOGUE
Nearly thirteen years ago
Strange, yellow smoke drifted through the Tamlayan’s treetops, killing the Lahtharians and all creatures in its path.
Terrified, Leara searched the sky for a way out. Echoing all around her were the sounds of people coughing and struggling to breathe.
She clutched her throat, gasping in pain – it burned. “Wahlo,” she croaked, “get – the girls.”
Her husband stared at her blankly, as if he didn’t even know her.
She stumbled over to her daughters’ cribs. She had to save them. They had to get out of there. They had to—
Leara woke with a gasp. She leapt to her feet. Suddenly, the trees around her moved. Around her and around her they went.
I feel sick, she thought, holding her head. I can’t breathe. What’s going on? Something was different. There was no smoke and – her eyes darted to the neighbouring trees.
It was night. The crystal pillars emitted soft light as was typical of the late hour. The Tamlayan Forest appeared tranquil, and it seemed her fellow tree dwellers were still asleep, including her husband. Her vision of long ago remained just a vision – for now, at least.
I was just dreaming about it, she thought, breathing tentatively just to be sure. The air was clean. She gulped mouthfuls of it, feeling slightly dizzy from holding her breath. But why would I dream about it now? She bit her fingernail. Should I wake everyone? Is it happening now? No – the guards would’ve linked with everyone if it was. Maybe my dream means that it’s happening soon. Biting her nail again, she glanced at her husband. Maybe we need to put even more guards around the city – or maybe it’s time to go.
She hastened to her daughters’ cribs, still feeling the overwhelming urge to protect them.
My beautiful Kayla and Alaya, she thought, as long as my heart beats, you will be safe. Keep dreaming star-filled dreams my little darlings.
She linked with their resting minds, wondering of what they dreamed. Butterflies fluttering around the pillars … and lots of pretty flowers – oh, and there’s their father and me. She smiled, hearing nothing but their gentle breaths, and some creatures scampering along a branch overhead.
Wahlo rolled onto his side, mumbling in his sleep. She looked at him with a sigh.
I’m sure my dream has to mean the attack will be soon. We must have a meeting tomorrow – prepare to leave.
“I’d better rest,” she mumbled, settling beside him. I’ll need to be up early to link with everyone. Who knows how much time we have left?
She closed her eyes with a sigh, hoping she was wrong. The girls were too little to leave the city via the river. Their bodies just weren’t ready to handle that type of magic.
Maybe Wahlo and I should fly the girls to a place near the new city, and then I could hide with them. Elay will have to come too with Lakhale. She can then wait with me and the girls.
“But we’ll have to leave the children for a short while. The others will need our help to power the city,” she muttered. “I don’t like that though. Why does this have to be happening now?”
She sighed heavily, thinking about how long she and Wahlo had put off having children – Elay and Del too. They all thought the attack would come soon after she first had the vision, but it didn’t happen. Then they thought it might happen in the following year or two, or during the next few decades. When it didn’t, they thought they were safe – that the attack might not happen for another twenty, sixty, or a hundred years.
She rubbed her face in frustration.
I’m so tired, she thought. I need sleep. I’ll think better then … come up with a way to keep the girls safe.
A wave of sadness struck. The idea of leaving their Tamlayan home was unbearable. They were born there. Their children were born there. “Stop it, Leara,” she breathed. “Think of the girls. Think of their dreams.” She linked with them again, and smiled. They were such beautiful, happy dreams.
Sleep returned quickly.
Some time later in the night, yellow smoke appeared near the eastern side of the Tamlayan – it sped towards the city.
Leara’s eyes flew open with the vision firmly in her mind.
It wasn’t just a dream, and it’s happening right now. I’ve got to warn everyone.
She scrambled to her feet, then threw her arms out wide. “RUN!” she linked, sending the vision to everyone in the city.
They had to move now, and there was only one way out if they were to survive. They must reach the river.
Wahlo rushed over to the girls, his heart racing. He scooped them up, turning to find Leara behind him.
Leara relieved him of one child, meeting Wahlo’s sorrowful, blue eyes. Her heart palpitated. She had never imagined that this moment would arrive while the girls were young and vulnerable. “Did you see what we have to do?” she said, choking back tears.
Wahlo nodded. Her vision had made it painfully clear. He took her hand. “Come, Leara. Let’s go while we still can.”
They stepped off the ancient boughs of their home, dropping straight down to land with ease on the forest floor.
They ran faster than any mortal, but to Leara it felt as though they were pushing through a thick, invisible force. Could they truly outrun their attackers? Every part of her wanted to leap into the air, to fly her children out of there, but her vision warned it would bring about their end. They must run to the river.
Please let my babies live, she thought.
All around them, others of their kind dashed from the city, their footfalls barely making a sound. Suddenly, Elay and Del were by their side; Lakhale in his father’s arms.
Leara glanced at Elay, her closest companion. She knew her pain as it was her own.
“I can’t believe this is happening now,” linked Elay. “I can’t believe we have to leave the children.”
“I know, but we have no choice,” she linked back. “Still, it’s – we’re almost there.”
“I know,” she linked, feeling the subtle change in the ground beneath her feet. Nobody used their magic to light the way. It was too risky.
“Here,” linked Leara.
They all halted, the abrupt stop filling the air with dust. The river was still fourteen yards away, but a decent run up was necessary to make the other side without their wings.
Wahlo reluctantly gave Alaya to his wife.
“I want to go with you,” he linked. “This doesn’t feel right, leaving you and the girls.”
Leara bit her lip. “I know,” she whispered, “but you saw the vision. This is the only way. Go now. I’ll follow as soon as I can.”
Wahlo dragged a hand over his mouth, fighting the urge to protest.
“Wahlo – we have to go now,” she linked.
He grabbed her face and kissed her intensely, rejecting the idea that it could be their last one – that he might not see her or the girls again.
Leara kissed him back with the same kind of fervour, but then she pulled away to look at Elay.
“Let’s go,” she linked, pivoting sharply towards the river. Elay powered onto the riverbank, keeping a firm hold on Lakhale.
As they sped across the sandy soil, Leara lengthened her stride, pushing herself to the limit.
Three two one.
Leara and Elay leapt from the river’s edge, using the strength in their legs to propel them through the air. With not even two beats of their wings, they landed safely on the other side.
Leara took off, a step ahead of Elay knowing they had at least a hundred yard run before they reached the hill nearest to their city. She didn’t observe if their husbands secured the staffs. There was no time. But as they ran, she received a clear link of them diving into the water with crystal staffs in hand – Wahlo – he knew her so well.
“I’ll see you soon,” she linked, her arms already aching from carrying the girls. “This way,” she said to Elay, leading her up the rocky hill. “I’m not sure why we need to stay on foot here, but in my vision this is the way we came, so it must be the safest way.” In her vision, she had not only seen an imminent threat but the fastest way to save the children. While the Delana Village was nearby, there were folks much closer.
“I think they’re travellers,” she linked to Elay, “craftspeople of some kind.”
“I think you’re right,” panted Elay, remembering her linked vision clearly.
“Save your breath, Elay,” she linked. “We have to just about run up this hill or we won’t get back to the river in time.”
Elay sped up, but stayed quiet. She trusted Leara and her vision; that they were being guided by higher powers. The craftspeople, whoever they were, would take good care of their children. She knew that in her soul.
A short while later, Leara paused for breath, grateful they were almost at the top. “The travellers are on the other side of here, not far from Greyrock Lake.”
Elay nodded. “Here, let me take Kayla for the rest of the way.” “I’ll manage,” she linked, adjusting her hold on the girls. Her arms ached from the effort. Still, she wasn’t going to let go of them, not until it was time.
Elay gasped.
Leara turned. “What is…”
Yellow smoke shrouded nearly half the Tamlayan.
“We made it out just in time,” Elay linked, her eyes pooling with tears.
They turned from their beloved home. It was lost. Someone had discovered their existence. They would never be safe there now.
Leara set off again, her anger making her forget her tiredness. “If that smoke reaches the river before we get there,” she linked, “we won’t be able to leave – we won’t make it in time to help the others power the new city, and then…”
“And then our people will have to return above ground or they’ll die.”
“Yes,” said Leara, her heart pounding, “and there they will be exposed to whoever just tried to kill us.”
They hastened to the top.
Elay shifted Lakhale in her arms, glad that he and the girls remained asleep. “There are the travellers.” She pointed to the campfires.
Leara viewed the area. It seemed quiet, safe.
“Let’s go,” she said, stepping off the rocky hill, knowing it was a straight drop to the bottom.
Elay followed, falling rapidly in the near darkness.
Halfway down, they opened their wings out behind them, slowing their rate of descent.
Landing softly, they hurried through the slumbering band of travellers and snuck past the night guards, knowing they needed to reach a lone tree in the camp – as per Leara’s vision. Some of the travellers slept within the shelter of their wagons while others lie exposed to the stars.
Unbeknownst to Leara and Elay at that time, not many folks could sneak into this particular community and go unnoticed, let alone come out unscathed. It was a good thing their magic allowed them to tread light of foot, so nary a sound was made or dust stirred.
As they went further into the camp, they were struck by a sense of familiarity about the travellers – as if they knew them as well as they knew the Delana village and their Tamlayan home.
Elay paused, her eyes narrowing.
I don’t believe it, she thought, peering at a wagon. It looks just like – “Leara, look – over there,” she linked, pointing at a symbol. “It looks like something the Walewai used to have on their weapons – do you remember?”
Leara nodded, feeling a little numb.
“Surely, it can’t be them,” whispered Elay, “not after all that happened … not here now.”
Leara stared at the symbol. There was no mistaking it was of the Walewai. She stared harder at the covered wagon, almost overcome by joy. Their former friends were there. It was them. They were alive. She looked at the camp, at the other wagons and folks sleeping under the stars. They were Walewai – all of them, she sensed it, knew it.
Elay nudged her. There was no time for greeting friends thought long dead, or contemplating the oddness of their situation.
“Come, Leara,” she linked, feeling panicky. “Let’s leave the children there – under that wagon. They’ll be sheltered from the wind, and we know the smoke won’t make it this far.”
Leara looked at the girls, her mind suddenly clearing. She kissed their foreheads, then hastened to the brightly coloured wagon. Our friends were good people, and they’ll take good care of you until we return, she thought, placing them next to Lakhale. “My beautiful daughters, it hurts my heart to leave you, but leave you I must,” she whispered, taking one of their tiny wrists in each hand. “Until you’re in my arms again, these will keep you hidden and safe,” she added, watching thin, blue marks appear around their wrists and disappear seconds later.
“Do not fear, my children,” she gently touched their faces, “I will come for you tomorrow before the day is done.”
Elay stood up, wiping her tears. She had put the protective mark on Lakhale too. Time was up now. They had to finish the spell and go. She drew a deep breath looking at Leara. The spell had to be done together or it wouldn’t work.
Leara nodded to Elay. “I’m ready,” she linked – at the front of her mind, a spell procured from a witch after the children were born.
Elay felt Leara’s magic grow, and in her mind she repeated the witch’s spell too. The power surged through her body, almost overwhelming her senses. She glanced at her friend, and they breathed across the palms of their hands.
Leara felt close to tears, but she kept going. She watched the golden sparkles pour from their mouths, then swirl through the air to fall softly over the wagon and their children below.
Her chin trembled. With their magic breathed and the protection spell complete, she turned from the girls with both sadness and hope in her heart. She knew they still had time to reach the river. Now, she and Elay could work magic to join their people and power the new city – magic too powerful to have used earlier with the children.
She clasped Elay’s hand breathing ancient words of power.
Soft, golden light sprang from within their bellies, increasing in brightness at the peak of the spell and imbuing them entirely.
In an instant, they disappeared from the camp to appear right where she wanted to be – about twenty yards from the river on the opposite side to the tree city. There, they could make their getaway unseen.
The spell ended, its mystical light dissipating rapidly in the dark. Giddiness struck – Leara clutched her belly and bent over.
Why does this always happen when I use that spell? I can’t be sick now. She exhaled slowly, glad that Elay never had to suffer the rolling waves of nausea.
Elay glanced across the river. They didn’t have much time.
Sick or not, Leara had to work the next spell.
“Leara, I’m sorry, my friend,” she said hurriedly, “but – but are you ready to leave?”
Leara straightened, careful not to upset her stomach further. “I have to be,” she said, thinking of the girls. “Let’s do the next spell.”
They pointed their arms towards the tree city. “Come,” they whispered.
Leara tilted her head, listening.
The crystal staffs flew across the river, singing from the speed.
Elay deftly caught hers then ran for the river, confident nobody was around.
Leara dived without hesitation, her body tingling with the energy of her next spell.
As they noiselessly entered the dark blue of the river, their wings disappeared and their legs transformed. Now, like the mermaid beings of the sea, they could power through the water; a necessity for the journey to their new home.
CHAPTER ONE
A way out
Alaya clung to Lakhale for just one more minute. The feel of him was just so needed, so wanted that the idea of letting him go went against everything her body was telling her to do.
“I don’t want to let go of you either,” Lakhale whispered against her lips, “but didn’t you say that someone was after you?” He stepped back, staring searchingly into her eyes.
Alaya nodded, her shoulders slumping.
“Did he see your wings?” he asked. “Is that why he’s chasing you?”
Alaya nodded again, a tear slipping. “Mhmm, I think so. I was wearing a cloak, but…” She couldn’t look at him now, feeling ashamed of what Gerald had done – almost done to her in the storeroom.
I want to forget it, she thought, pressing her hands against her head. Lakhale clenched his teeth and his fists. Without meaning to, Alaya had linked. He now knew exactly what had happened. “Let’s get out of here, Alaya,” he said softly, running his hands down her arms. “Samuel is resting at a place nearby, so let’s get him and leave Plithmead while we still can.”
“Mhmm.” She still couldn’t look at him, and her limbs felt heavy all of a sudden.
Lakhale held her close. She needed to feel secure right then, but he knew they couldn’t stay there much longer. Keeping his thoughts to himself, he looked at the alehouse where she had run into him earlier, frightened and alone.
Where is the pig? he thought, scowling as he pictured Gerald. I’m surprised he hasn’t shown up yet. He clenched his fists, half hoping the pig would charge around the corner so he could knock him flat. But there was no time for revenge, not if they were to leave Plithmead unnoticed.
Could they even leave unnoticed now?
He eyed Alaya’s wings. If Gerald had seen them, he doubted it. “Alaya,” he murmured, squeezing her hands, “I’ll help you forget him, I promise. But let’s get out of here.” He stepped backwards, urging her to come with him.
Alaya inhaled sharply, glancing at the alehouse.
Where is Gerald? Why hasn’t he come after me? A prickly feeling swept over her back. She looked at Lakhale.
“I think Gerald did see my wings, and he h – hasn’t come after me because he’s gone for the Plithmead Guard. Lakhale, I – I don’t know how we’ll get out of here.” She glanced at the alehouse again. “Grace and Shayden are in there – they’re my friends. I – I can’t leave them behind, Lakhale, I just can’t.”
Or maybe I should. She pulled at her lower lip, thinking. They don’t have wings. They won’t get into trouble. They could go back to Geldharne. I could send a message to them when it’s safe.
She looked at Lakhale. If we’ve already been seen, maybe I should fly us out of here. She pressed a fist against her mouth, nearly laughing at the oddity of such a thought. A month ago, she looked just like a normal human being, and was except for her growing list of powers. She reached for Lakhale, then pulled her hand back.
No, I can’t do it, she thought. Grace and Shayden are my friends. They wouldn’t leave me, I know it. She needed to get a message to them, but how?
“I’ll get them,” whispered Lakhale, aware of her thoughts and gladly so.
“Alright,” she whispered, “but be careful. Get Grace to come to you, like as if you want a drink or something. Tell her to get Shayden, so the locals don’t get suspicious. Also, if Gerald is there and he seems calm, it might be best if you stay there for a quick drink too. I’ve never seen anyone walk into the alehouse and leave without having a drink. I’ll wait here for all of you. Be safe.”
Lakhale cupped her face, kissing her hurriedly. “I’ll be back soon,” he linked. “Stay out of sight.”
“Don’t worry, I know how to hide,” she linked, watching him walk through the shadows.
“Good. You’d better be here when I come back.”
“Mhmm.” She watched him push through the double, swing doors. He looks so good, she thought, running her eyes down his back and over his… “I love you,” she linked.
“I love you too,” he linked back, trying to contain his smile. His Alaya was never very good at keeping her thoughts to herself. He strolled into the smoky Hendlward establishment, trying to appear like an ordinary customer.
“There’s Grace,” linked Alaya, seeing the alehouse through his eyes. “Maybe you should wait for her in the corner near the bar. It’s usually quieter there.”
“Then that’s where I’ll go.” He sat back in a chair like he didn’t have any worries, but he watched Grace in his peripheral vision.
A trim, blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl not much older than Alaya crossed the room, heading for the bar he assumed. As she weaved between tables and various patrons, he noticed that some of Hendlward’s customers wore tailored suits while others were dowdily dressed or dishevelled. Most of them appeared rather drunk.
I can’t believe Alaya’s been working here, he thought, frowning when a man leered at Grace. He gestured for her to come over.
Alaya waited nervously in the dark. She wasn’t worried about herself, not anymore. Her power of invisibility – to make her body blend in with her surroundings meant that if anyone came along, she would be quite safe.
If only I’d used it when Gerald had grabbed me, she thought, but I was just so… I was afraid. She looked at the alehouse, again wondering if he had seen her wings. I was so sure that he had, but now, I don’t know.
She hadn’t heard any disturbances in the alehouse since she had fled, and that was somewhere between ten and twenty minutes ago. Now that she’d had more time to think – if Gerald had seen all of her, then why hadn’t he run inside screaming his head off about it? Surely, that would have been his first reaction … and where was the Plithmead Guard?
Suddenly, her heart began to race. She tried to think of something else – anything but Gerald. It didn’t work. The images came hard and fast. Again she felt him throw her down, his filthy hands on her skin.
Stop it, Alaya, just stop it. She exhaled slowly, staring in the direction of the storeroom. Where are you, Gerald, you filthy pig? Maybe he did fall over when he grabbed my cloak. If I’m lucky, he cracked his head and knocked himself out, she thought nastily, shrugging away the guilt before it took hold. He deserves whatever he got. Another stab of guilt hit her insides. Damn it, why am I feeling guilty? That bastard attacked me, so if anything happened to him, it’s his fault, not mine.
“Alaya, what are you doing?” Lakhale linked. “I’m here, and I’m not going to let that pig put another hand on you. Just think about us and all the wonderful moments we’ll have once we get out of here … and as soon as I leave this place, I’m kissing you some more.”
Alaya smiled at his last words. “That sounds good. I’m going to think about that until you are back by my side.”
“Good,” he linked, careful to keep his next thoughts private. If I see this Gerald I’ll kill him. No – I’ll tie him to a tree and let the wild animals make a meal out of him – make him suffer. He exhaled slowly, willing his accelerated heart to steady, his shaking hands to still.
“Here you are, Sir,” said Grace, placing a small tankard of ale on the table. “Would you like something to eat as well?”
Lakhale took a sip, looking furtively around the room. “Ahhh, no … but you and Shayden are in danger,” he whispered.
“You need to tell him very quietly and calmly to meet us outside behind the bushes near the bookshop.”
Grace glanced nervously to where Mr Hendlward stood at the other end of the bar. Shayden was just finishing up a lively song at the far side of the alehouse. She fidgeted with her tray, looking at the dark-haired lad at the table.
“What do you mean, ‘we’re in danger’?” she asked quietly, wondering if he was already drunk when he came in. “And who is us? What do you mean us?”
Outside, Alaya rolled her eyes. “You haven’t told her who you are,” she linked.
“Oh right,” he both mumbled and linked. “You don’t know me, Grace, but I’m here with Alaya. Some pig called Gerald just attacked her out the back.”
Grace gasped, “Attacked – what do you mean?”
“Shush, Grace, you need to act normal,” he whispered harshly, his eyes darting to Mr Hendlward. Thankfully, the gray-haired, scrawny chap hadn’t noticed anything.
“Who are you?” she whispered back just as harshly. She was getting a bit sick of this fellow. If she didn’t move on to serve other customers soon, Mr Hendlward would notice. The stingy, old coot was quick when it came to docking wages.
Outside, Alaya again rolled her eyes.
“Tell her your name, Lakhale, but caution her to remain quiet before you do. Otherwise, she’ll probably squeal in excitement. She knows how much I’ve missed you.”
“Right … right,” he again mumbled and linked.
The late hour along with little sleep had not done much for his brain function. He looked at Grace, who stared at him with one raised eyebrow.
“Ah, Grace, I’m going to tell you who I am, but I need you to promise me that you won’t yell or anything.”
Grace frowned. “Why would I yell?” She looked at him more closely, observing his pale skin and his – her hands flew to her cheeks. “You have pale eyes just like her, only they’re blue, not green. You’re Lakhale aren’t you?” she whispered. “Ooh, I’m so happy for you and Alaya. She’s missed you dreadfully, she really has, and she’s been so worried about you and the family – wait, you said that Gerald attacked Alaya … is she alright?” She glanced at Mr Hendlward again, but couldn’t see Gerald anywhere.
“Yes, but—” He broke off, listening to Alaya.
“We don’t have time for this now,” she linked. “I think you’ve been in there long enough, so tell Grace what I told you before and get out of there.” She gnawed on a fingernail. The more time that passed, the more she worried. They still had to get Samuel, and they needed to find a way out of the city – a place where there were no guards.
Lakhale scratched his head. It was hard to talk to Grace when he felt the weight of Alaya’s fear.
“Just stay calm, Alaya,” he linked. “I’m coming out now.” “Please hurry. Tell the others to hurry – no, tell them to leave without drawing attention.”
“I will,” he linked, noticing that Mr Hendlward was staring at him and Grace.
“I’ll have some stew thanks, Miss,” he said loudly.
“Right away, Sir,” she said, returning quickly with a steaming bowl. “That’ll be two coppers, Sir.”
Lakhale dropped the coins into her outstretched hand.
“Meet us near the bookshop now,” he said quietly, “but leave without drawing the old man’s attention.”
I suppose I’d better eat some of this stew. He leaned over the bowl, keeping an eye on Grace and Mr Hendlward.
The old man turned away from him, talking to a woman, presumably his wife. She looked old too.
Good, thought Lakhale. Now was his opportunity. He slunk out the front doors, careful, so it didn’t swing backwards and forwards after he left.
He looked both ways down the street, glancing behind him before he made a beeline for Alaya.
Alaya leapt into his arms, just about gluing herself to him. This was where she belonged. This was home.
Lakhale’s senses were almost overwhelmed by how good she felt. He kissed her more as promised, holding her, loving the way she had wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him with such passion. It had been a long time since he held her that way.
“Er, Mr Hendlward, I need to…” Grace gestured out back, indicating she needed to use the bathroom.
Mr Hendlward downed a shot of whisky. “Well, hurry up then,” he said nastily.
“Yes, Mr Hendlward,” she said and dashed out the back door.
Where’s Shayden?
Shayden stepped around the corner, frowning.
“What’s going on, Grace?” he asked. All she had said was to sneak out back.
“We can’t stay here,” she said. “I’ll explain on the way.” She grabbed his hand and began running. “Gerald attacked Alaya, and he might have seen her wings. Also, Lakhale is here.”
Shayden stumbled, pulling her to a stop. “Lakhale is here? H – How?”
“It doesn’t matter,” said Grace clutching his hands. “We have to leave the city – right now. If Gerald tells his father that Alaya has wings, then everyone will look for her and us. They know we’re friends. They’ll know that we knew about it. Come on.” She tugged his hand.
“Wait,” said Shayden as they reached the corner of the alehouse. He peered around it. I can’t see anyone. Keeping hold of her hand, he urged her to cross the street in the shadows.
It wasn’t far, but to Grace, the sprint towards the bookshop seemed long.
Shayden looked behind them when they reached the bookshop. The sole street lantern revealed they were safe.
Book One: Unexpected Magic 446 pages – excerpts.
PROLOGUE
An unexpected sound played through the air, rousing an Ancient One from the realm of dreams.
Tomma sighed, reluctantly opening his eyes.
Surely it’s not daybreak already, he thought, rubbing his large, roughened hands over his face.
“Huh, I guess I was wrong,” he mumbled. Before opening his eyes, he had sensed a faint light all around him and could have sworn that daylight was about to break. Thankfully, it was still dark. Good. He wriggled about until he was comfortable.
Again, there was a sound.
“Baby is crying,” he yawned, patting his wife on the leg.
“You get it,” Estar said sleepily.
“You can do it,” Tomma mumbled.
More crying … One eye popped open, then the other. Tomma tried to determine from where the sound was coming. It seemed like it was from directly below them, underneath the family wagon. His wife sat up beside him, her confused expression hidden by the night. They didn’t have any babies, so why did it just sound like one had cried within proximity?
They listened closely. When they heard nothing, Tomma and Estar thought it was strange. The likelihood of them both hallucinating or hearing things that were not actually there was next to impossible. However, they were positive they had heard a baby crying. That was confusing for two reasons. One was because their youngest child Tashee was age six. The second was because she and her brother Axel, age eight, were fast asleep in a shelter next to the wagon.
There it was again … the sound of a baby’s whimper.
Tomma shot a look at his wife, but couldn’t see much of anything, given it was dark outside and even darker still inside the wagon. They tilted their heads down to listen better. It was now clear to the parents of six children that a baby lay somewhere beneath the floorboards of their wagon, and they were definitely not sharing a weird hallucination.
Estar nudged her husband in the ribs, indicating that he should investigate. Not that she was afraid of what might be out there. She was a strong woman and a skilled fighter. Right then, she just wanted to close her eyes, even if only for a few more minutes.
After fumbling around for a moment, Tomma crawled to the side of the wagon. Cautiously, he pulled back the canopy and peered out. He couldn’t see the baby, but he could still hear it. Slowly, he placed his feet on the ground, hoping they would not meet with the child – and they didn’t. Relieved, he exhaled slowly. Striking flint to torch, he bent down to have a look, only to be dumbfounded by the sight that greeted him. His mouth fell open while he struggled to comprehend what he saw. There wasn’t one baby under their wagon, but three, and none of them belonged to any of the families in their community, of that he was certain. In fact, his daughter Tashee was the youngest child.
What the hell is this? he thought. Why would someone leave their children here … and in the middle of the night no less?
Holding his torch high, he moved it slowly around, peering into the shadows. There were no obvious signs of danger, but it was difficult to tell in the poor light. His older son Elarn, who was on night watch, walked towards him. Clearly, the torch had attracted his attention. Tomma gazed at the children. Despite their tiny size, their presence was very troubling. He leaned in under the canopy of the wagon.
“Estar … Estar, come here,” he whispered urgently.
Estar yawned loudly then quickly covered her mouth. She didn’t want to wake Axel or Tashee. Stepping into the fresh night air, she looked to where her husband pointed. Her jaw dropped.
“What … what is this?” she asked, her wide eyes darting between her husband and son.
The two men were similar in looks, except that Elarn’s hair was reddish-brown like his mother’s, and Tomma’s hair was a dull brown.
Elarn frowned. He stared at the children, feeling uneasy. At least two people had snuck into the camp undetected, with three children nonetheless.
“Elarn and I need to go,” said Tomma, lightly touching Estar’s arm. He lit a new torch from the one he’d made earlier, passing her the old one.
Estar nodded, understanding. After watching them disappear beyond the camp-grounds, she returned her attention to the babies. In the shadowy light, she noticed straight away the children were all lovely in appearance. Also, that one of the sleeping children looked like very much a baby while the others seemed maybe two or three years of age.
Poor things, they’re all very young and in need of their mother … or mothers, she thought, securing the torch to the post beside the wagon, so her hands were free.
She picked up the crying child, surprised when it settled almost immediately in the comfort of her arms. Her heart melted when she saw a large pair of pale, green eyes returning her gaze. With a soft smile, she very gently opened the child’s blanket.
“I thought you were a little girl,” she said quietly, brushing her fingertips over the pretty, mint green dress the child was wearing. “It feels like silk,” she mused, wondering why rich folks would leave their babies in the middle of the night with strangers. Must have been something awful.
Elarn and Tomma, having finished the perimeter check of the camp, were deep in discussion when they returned to Estar. Their grim expressions were evident with the arrival of dawn.
“We found no tracks leading in or out of the camp,” Tomma said quietly, “but Elarn will head further out now with some of the men.” After watching him depart, he rested his face against Estar’s soft, messed up hair. He still thought her lovely despite her long locks sticking out in all directions from sleep. “What do we do?” he whispered, looking at the child in her arms.
“We do what needs to be done,” she said grimly. “The children’s presence is dangerous and could bring trouble to us all. I don’t like it, but what other choices do we have?”
Tomma nodded, dropping his arms from her waist. The weight of her words cut deep. Usually, the Elders would have had a meeting about matters that concerned the whole community. However, given the situation, he knew what the outcome of such a meeting would be. He stared past Estar, the children, and their brightly painted wagon, the muscle in his jaw ticking from a sudden onset of anxiety. He had not felt that way for a long time. With a sigh, he rubbed his face. The last time they allowed strangers among them, precious lives were lost. The stealth in which the children were brought into their midst made him very uneasy. Who left them there? Why were they left with them – travellers, and not at the Delana village where their folks could easily return for them? It didn’t make sense unless they were being pursued and didn’t have time to reach the village.
Whoever is after them could track them here. His stomach churned. Just because we didn’t find any tracks doesn’t mean there aren’t any – and if there aren’t any that means the children were brought here by some kind of magic. Either way, their entire community was in serious danger.
He looked sharply in each direction, sure that an attack was imminent. They needed to get rid of the children, pack up the camp and leave immediately.
“Damn,” he muttered, glancing at them over his shoulder, “I don’t think I can do this. They’re just children.” But what choice do I have? If I don’t take action now, I put more lives at risk than just those three. They certainly couldn’t leave them in the nearby Delana village. If they were caught, the villagers would view the children as a bad omen, and them as bringers of doom or some such nonsense. His entire community would be hunted. No – that couldn’t be allowed to happen.
He sighed again. His heart heavy. Knowing what he must do was a hard truth to accept, but it didn’t change what had to be done. Protecting the community, ensuring their survival, especially after the devastation they had already suffered, was of great importance to him and the other Elders.
The sun had truly arrived now, so he extinguished the dwindling torches, all the while trying to keep his emotions in check. He looked at the little ones again. It would certainly be kinder to die at his hands than to suffer at the hands of the villagers – or any villagers for that matter. They all had reputations for overreacting if they thought magic was involved. The only alternative would be to abandon the children in the wilderness. He shuddered. The idea of the tiny things being torn apart by wild animals was too horrific to contemplate.
No, he thought, barely able to look at his wife. Better to die quickly than to die like that. I’ll make sure the poor little things don’t suffer. With a deep breath, he took a step back, steeling himself for what he must do.
He was so upset that when his wife spoke, he was startled. “We must protect the children until their folks return for them,” she said, rocking the little girl in her arms. “Something terrible must have happened otherwise they wouldn’t have left the children the way they did. But I don’t believe that they, whoever they are, wished us harm or we’d already be dead. I can’t imagine the children will be with us for very long … and until their folks return, we’ll look after them.” She smiled at the little girl, smoothing back her golden brown hair.
Tomma was surprised. “But, Estar, whoever was after them could track them here and if there was magic involved… keeping the children will put the community at risk. As much as it pains me the idea of… to do what needs to be done – we have to do it.”
Estar sighed. “At first that’s what I thought too, but then I thought about it further and … I just don’t think the children’s folks would have left them here if they thought we were at risk of being attacked by whoever has them on the run – magical being or otherwise.”
She gazed at the little girl in her arms, admiring her sweet, chubby cheeks. “I honestly don’t think that we have reason to worry anymore, and I’d rather keep the children with us than leave them with the villagers. Do you agree?” She looked at Tomma, hoping that he would.
Tomma thought about what she said. He didn’t like the children being with them. He didn’t like the risks, but he felt incredibly relieved. “I don’t like it, Estar … I just can’t escape the feeling that we should get rid of them and get out of here while we still can … but I suppose they can stay for now.”
Estar closed her eyes with relief.
“We’ll need to discuss this with the other Elders though,” added Tomma. “Breakfast looks almost ready so we’ll make a final decision then. He looked at the children, his eyes resting lastly on the little, green-eyed one.
How strange life can be, he thought.
One child; a boy judging by the way he was dressed, had wriggled free of his soft, yellow snugly blanket and was now sitting up. It was hard to miss his large, pale blue eyes, for they were staring up at him with a question. At least, it appeared that way.
Not too hard to guess what that question is, he thought, reaching down to scoop up the boy. “You’ll be wondering where your Ma is,” he said in a kind voice, “but I’m afraid I can’t tell you that, because I don’t know. You’ll be safe here with us though until your folks return, so you needn’t worry.” He hoped he could keep that promise. The boy with hair as dark as night locked his pale blue eyes with the little green-eyed girl. He didn’t utter any sound, but he leaned towards her and held her hands. Their minds linked, though nobody else was aware of their silent communication.
He wondered where his folks were and why they were here with these people? He felt afraid.
The little girl’s eyes widened. “Don’t know,” she linked back, feeling deeply worried. “Where’s my Mama and Da-da?”
The boy shrugged slightly, his lower lip trembling.
“My Da-da will come get us … your Da-da too.” He tried to hug her, but it was awkward because they were being held.
She rested her cheek on his shoulder, comforted by his link. He was her best friend. Her sister was there too, so she was not alone.
“Ohh, they’re lovely,” Estar said with a smile. “Tomma, would you wake up Tashee and Axel so they can help with the children. I’ll get some breakfast for them.” She dashed off to get some milk. They had nine healthy milk cows, five milk goats, and some thirty laying hens.
News of the children’s arrival spread among the travellers, so naturally everyone wanted to come see for themselves. Estar shooed them all away, insisting they give the children some space so as not to frighten them.
Tashee and Axel were excited when they saw the children. “Where did they come from?” Tashee asked loudly, eyeing the little girl her mother had placed in her lap.
“Why were they under our wagon?” asked Axel, also loudly, “and where is their Ma and Da?”
Estar laughed. “I don’t know, my darlings, but their folks will be back for them later today or tomorrow, I think.”
“What do we call them, Ma?” Tashee asked. She bounced the little girl on her knee.
“Well, I hadn’t thought about that … hmm, I’m not sure,” Estar replied. She looked at the baby in her arms, at its pale, blue eyes and soft blonde hair. “I thiiink we should call this one … Kayla. What do you think?”
“That’s a pretty name, Ma … I like it,” said Tashee. She popped some milk-soaked bread in the girl’s mouth.
“Ma, I think the little girls are sisters because they sort of look the same, but the boy doesn’t look like them at all. I don’t think he’s their brother … not with that dark hair.”
Estar agreed with her daughter’s observation. She shook her head, amazed at how easily the children had settled with strangers. The toddlers remained quiet, mostly just staring at each other.
Axel stared at the boy sitting in his lap, from his longish black hair to his button nose, his bright orange shirt, and matching long pants. “I think we should name the lad, Lakhale,” he said, liking the way it sounded. He had no idea of how the name came to mind, but that didn’t matter. Perhaps, in their travels he had heard it when passing through a village or city.
“Hmm, La-khale … Lakhale – it is a good name,” said Estar. “So we have Kayla, Lakhale aaand … and Alaya.” Like Axel, she was unsure where she had heard the name, but thought it suited the little girl perfectly.
Lakhale – Kayla – Alaya.
Estar and Tomma looked at the three children, wondering when their folks would return. They hoped it would be soon.
TWELVE YEARS LATER…
CHAPTER ONE
Alaya is in trouble
Shivering with excitement, Alaya stared in delight, her imagination already taking her through a magical maze of the strange and the wonderful. A fire-breathing dragon burst through a dark mass of stormy clouds, its silver scales glittering like a star filled night as it swooped down through a rainbow sky. A young wizard materialised atop a rainbow, standing there as easily as he would on solid ground. He slid down the curve of colours to leap onto the back of the silver skylord. Together they zoomed towards the earth, towards Alaya.
Revelling in all that she could see, Alaya smiled as brightly as the sun – a smile that added to her extraordinary beauty. Her otherwise pale, green eyes sparkled, a reflection of her barely contained excitement. Her mind overflowed with creativity, turning the world around her into a magical place as what did not exist came seemingly to life. As the dragon bearing the wizard boy came within a hundred feet of her, the glorious images shimmered out of sight, leaving only her inspiration.
Earlier that morning when she was going to the Delana village to buy some flour and honey for her Ma, she was inexplicably drawn elsewhere. The trail leading to the village skirted the edge of the mysterious Tamlayan Forest. Whenever she went by there, she felt a deep connection to the ancient beauty with its spectacularly tall, evergreen trees. Each time she passed, a windy visitor would whirl around her with cool scented air, its invisible touch pushing her towards them. It seemed there were voices in the wind too, sweeping through the leaves with urgent whispers – almost as if the woods were an old friend trying to encourage her back home.
The Tamlayan Forest was forbidden to the children of their community though. The folks of Delana warned them and all who passed through the area to avoid the forest – that on occasion, they had seen strange lights coming from there, and heard odd sounds.
Until that day, Alaya had always resisted its allure. She respected her mother’s wishes as a good daughter should. She also wanted to avoid getting into huge trouble, which would happen if her mother or father ever found out. When leaving the trail many hours earlier, she had no intentions of going in there let alone straying so far from the track. It was as if she had fallen into a trance, or was compelled by a sorcerer’s spell, one that had led her far into the forest.
Overjoyed by her find, Alaya couldn’t wait to bring Lakhale there. Lakhale was not only her best friend from the time they were little, he was also her betrothed. The two had made that all important promise when she was six and he was seven – for when they were grown up and ready for … well, for all that grown-up stuff.
Thinking of Lakhale, of how soon their promise would become a reality, she thought of the expectations that would be placed upon her – like kissing and all that other stuff.
“Ugh,” Alaya shuddered as she got a mental image of her folks kissing. She was only fourteen after all – or at least, that’s how old her folks Tomma and Estar believed her to be. It was possible that she might be fifteen or even sixteen, given the travellers had no idea how old the children were when they were left with them. Her birthday, along with Lakhale’s and Kayla’s, was celebrated yearly on the same date they were left with the travellers. It’s a triple celebration her mother said when they first shared the special day.
She shook the disturbing picture of her folks locking lips from her mind, much preferring to focus on her surroundings.
Who would have known something so incredible could exist? she thought, her pulse quickening. Looking around in all directions, she was again inspired, feeling a sudden desire to dance everywhere, to absorb everything in her path.
It is glorious, she thought, twirling around.
What a magical place. A green wonderland that held the sweet promise of fun and make-believe adventures. There were boulders of different sizes among the tallest trees with the widest trunks she had ever seen. Her eyes zeroed in on what appeared to be a giant toadstool in the middle of a small clearing. It was taller than any house she had ever seen, with a cap so wide that it occurred to her, what a great shelter it would make on a rainy day. She shook her head in amazement.
“Ooh, look at those.” Some leafy vines had grown spiral- like up trees and along branches. Many of them had grown back towards the forest floor where their life had begun.
I could swing off those later, she thought.
Breathing deeply, she let her head tip back, allowing the sunlight filtering through the tree canopies to touch her face. She slowly turned around with her arms spread wide, enjoying the light and warmth. After a few more turns, she gazed at her surroundings once more, spotting a fallen tree leaning against a large slab of rock. Its trunk was almost bare, so it had been there for some time.
Without further thought, she raced over to run up its nine yards of length. When she was almost at the top, she balanced on one foot before whirling around on its smooth surface. Her knee-length, brown skirt flared out around her waist, forming a near-perfect circle as she turned. She could not have felt any freer.
Stopping suddenly, she fixed her eyes on a spot about ten feet away, trying to discern what had caught her attention. She could only make out a dark shadow, so she jumped down to investigate. As she drew closer, she could have smacked herself in the head. She had been so busy dancing, so caught up in her imagination that she failed to notice a very small, strangely shaped hill in her new playground. It was virtually hidden behind a patch of particularly heavy undergrowth and a curtain of thick, twisted vines.
She rushed towards the dark shadow, exclaiming in delight when she saw the darkness was, in fact, the mouth to a cave.
Alaya could hardly believe her luck, quite sure that had she not been on the log, she would have missed the cave entrance entirely. She pulled back the heavy vines, amazed to discover that much of the cave opening was more below the ground than above it. With one foot in the cave, she suddenly remembered her mother had sent her to do a task.
“Oh … oh,” she said, panicking when she realised the day was almost over. The light beams through the trees had lost their strength. There were no clouds overhead. Those were all the clues she needed to get out of there.
Running at full pace, she weaved her way back towards the trail. She had no trouble in finding it. That struck her as odd, because she remembered nothing about walking into the forest to know how to make her way out. Still, she couldn’t afford to waste time on the strange phenomenon. The sun’s position in the sky indicated there was little time for her to reach the village then get back to camp before dark. Quickly scooping up the basket she dropped earlier, she ran as though her life depended on it.
Alaya just made it to the store before Mrs Baxter closed up for the day. “Phew,” she said, panting heavily as she walked in the door.
Mrs Enid Baxter wrinkled her nose when she saw Alaya’s dirty, grass-stained bare feet.
“What may I get for you?” she asked crisply, itching to get the broom.
Alaya panted, still winded from the run.
“Mrs – Mrs Ba … Mrs Baxter, Ma wants – I wa –”
Mrs Baxter drew an impatient breath, wanting to get the girl out of the store before she dirtied the place further.
“Well, Child, speak up. I’ve not got all day. Mr Baxter will want his supper soon, so I need to be closing up.”
Alaya, with goods in her basket, tore out of the store the way she had entered, slowing down only when she walked into the camp. The ground was covered in short, tufty grass and bare patches of dirt. In the middle, a huge, lime-green canopied tree spread its thick, knotted branches. She loved that tree. Its massive above-ground root system was super fun to play on.
I sure hope Ma isn’t too mad, she thought, picturing her mother’s mildly angry face and then her steam coming out of her ears angry face. She wondered which one she would see.
“I sure hope it’s not the last one,” she mumbled, doing her best to appear calm as she walked along. After adjusting the heavy basket in her arms, she gave a smile here, a wave there.
If I don’t look like I’m worried about being late, maybe Ma won’t be worried that I am.
The camp centre was bustling with folks preparing dinner. Over a crackling fire to the right of the big tree, a wild boar was spit-roasting. Chickens and rabbits were also being cooked.
Alaya almost drooled. Yum, she thought. The aroma of the nearly cooked foods was a reminder that it had been a long time between meals. Where’s Ma? Maybe she’s forgotten all about me. Her peripheral vision took in the mix of men’s clothing flapping in the wind at the northern edge of the camp: browns,rusty reds, gray and blue colours mostly.
So hungry, so hungry, she thought, now suffering pangs to her stomach. Maybe I can sneak this basket over, and when I see Ma, I can pretend I’d brought it back ages ago – not my fault she didn’t see it. She looked furtively left then right, glad to see nobody paid her much attention. Better not wave anymore otherwise it will be obvious I just came back.
Alaya’s family was one of many in a sizable community of travellers that moved all over the countryside selling various wares they crafted. For the last three weeks, they had been camped in a great spot by Greyrock Lake. They were only a half an hour walk away from the Delana village. The lake was a short fifteen minute walk away which was handy for fishing or swimming. Then, best of all, there were the wildlife-rich woods all around the nearby Greyrock Mountains. Hunting was almost too easy.
Alaya glanced about. So far so good, she thought, knowing that one of her folks might drag her off at any moment, demanding an explanation. A voice then sounded in her head, nearly causing her to drop everything.
“Alaya, wait for me.”
“Lakhale, you scared me,” she voiced crossly when he appeared at her side.
Lakhale said nothing. He just reached over, relieving her of the basket.
Alaya smiled gratefully, wishing she hadn’t snapped at him.
Lakhale smiled back, though he wondered why she was so jumpy. She had never reacted to his mind-link like that before.
“Is Ma angry with me?” She smoothed her skirt nervously.
“No, I don’t think so, but I’ve been away from camp most of the day helping Elarn and Etch. After you had left this morning, Elarn had me join him on a hunting trip. So there we were on—”
“Are you sure?”
Lakhale rolled his eyes – Alaya was terrible at interrupting. “Am I sure about what?” he asked, smoothing back his long, jet-black hair.
“That I’m not in trouble?” Alaya huffed impatiently, stopping for a moment.
“Oh right, well ahh I just got back a short while ago, so I haven’t even seen your folks. But I haven’t heard anyone talking about you, so that’s a good sign, right?” He looked Alaya square in the eyes. “What did you do, Alaya?”
“Oh, Lakhale, you wouldn’t believe what I found today,” she said hurriedly, “and where I’ve been. It was—” She switched to mind speech in her eagerness to tell the story. In no hurry now to find out if she was in strife with her folks, she dawdled, relaying every minute detail.
Lakhale stared at Alaya, his handsome face alight with interest. “You’re certain there is a cave?” he asked, switching from mind speech back to talking.
“Yes and it leads underground too!” she said bouncing from foot to foot.
Lakhale laughed at her enthusiasm but then a bit of dust or something upset his throat. He turned away, coughing.
“We have to go there,” he croaked moments later, placing the basket down, “tomorrow if we can.”
“Yes, I can’t wait,” she agreed wholeheartedly. “Ooh, you started to tell me earlier about your hunting trip. What happened?” She smiled encouragingly.
Lakhale switched the cumbersome basket from one arm to the other. Then, he described in detail how Elarn let him gut one of the kills on his own. Just as he was reaching a potential vomit inspiring point in the account of that proud moment, he was again interrupted. This time was by a sandy-haired young boy named Kert, who seemed to pop out of nowhere.
“You’re in trouble you’re in trouble you’re i—” he chanted,
trying to continue even when Lakhale clamped a hand over his mouth. Sadly, he sounded more like a dying cat.
Lakhale grabbed the little imp around the middle. He wrapped his other arm around the boy’s spindly legs then carried him off sideways into nearby bushes.
Alaya followed them surreptitiously. She backed her way into the bushes while checking to make sure nobody had noticed.
Confident that nobody had, she spun around quickly.
“Tell me, Kert, what do you mean that I’m in trouble?” she asked sharply, eyeballing the lad up close.
Kert just stared back, petrified.
Alaya had to change tack. After moving away slightly, she gave the wee fellow a gentle smile, hoping he would relax. Only then, might he reveal what he knew.
Following her lead, Lakhale released his hold on Kert. To discourage him from running off, he kept one hand on his shoulder.
Kert was only seven years old and a small seven at that, so as he looked from Alaya to Lakhale, who were tall for their age, his knees held a slight tremble.
“Well, I don’t know if you are in trouble,” he said shakily. “I just overheard Tashee telling Axel you were late, and I thought it would be fun to … to make you think you … were … in … trouble…”
Lakhale removed his hand from Kert now, unsurprised when he made his escape. He laughed as did Alaya. While they watched him scamper away, she felt relieved along with a good dose of hopefulness. Although, when she looked back at Lakhale, his expression told her there was no way she was escaping her mother’s anger.
“I guess I should get this over and done with,” she sighed, pouting slightly.
* * *
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