In Affinities, Escape, a Books We Love Young Adult Fantasy, two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities. Each of these young teens has an affinity for one of the elements. Ash for Air, Bran for Water, Jay for Earth and Ky for Fire. During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule. Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them
There are two heroines and three heroes and multiple villains in these stories.
Ashlea is the first of the heroines.A flash of lightning brightened the sleeping chamber. Ash woke with a start and burrowed into the pillows. The scent of trouble rode the air currents that threaded through the open window slats. Her heart thudded in her chest. Like the beating of a giant’s club against a massive drum, thunder sounded. Again, lightning flashed and cast green, red, white and blue slashes across the sky.
The air held no threat of rain. ‘Twas like the heat storms of summer, unnatural at this time of year, for the waning days of autumn marked the season.
Ash calmed her racing thoughts and tasted the air, for that was her element. A frown formed within and without. From the land beyond the four walls of the henge, she caught the odors of fires, animals and men.
Brandien is the first of the heroes
As Bran entered the passage, he stumbled. The raw emotions of his parents and siblings battered his mind and strengthened his own fears and sadness. Tears flowed down his cheeks. He nearly dropped the bundle of torches he held. Without knowing why, his free hand moved to press the blue crystal against his chest. An easing of the feelings caused him to sigh. Soon he was barricaded from the keening emotions of his parents. He’d never been bombarded in this way before. During the training sessions with his mother and father, the feelings they’d evoked had been mere whispers. These thoughts screamed.
“Bran, Bran,” Ky tugged on his arm. “Ash says we must hurry.”
Her words penetrated the haze and his control slipped. He pressed the stone and sucked deep breaths. The groaning noise made by the entrance as it closed damped his parents’ sendings.
Then their voices rose as one.
Here is the first set of Villains - Mandir and Lodar. Their villany is mild compared to the others you will see as the stories continue.
Mandir grabbed his arm. “Happy name day, halfling.”
“Where’d you get this?” Lodar reached for the stone. He yelped. “You dare hit me when you have no armed guard at your back?”
“I did nothing.” Alizand struggled to keep fear from his voice.
Mandir’s ebony eyes glittered with menace. “Where’d you get the bauble?”
“A gift from my mother.”
Both boys laughed. “Do they dead walk?” Mandir asked.
Lodar dug his fingers into Alizand’s arm. “Give me the crystal.”
“No.”
Mandir whirled Alizand around. “You dare deny us?” He reached for the stone and stumbled backward. He rubbed his hand.
The second bell rang. Lodar twisted Alizand’s arm behind his back. “Give me the pretty or I’ll break your arm.”
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