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BUY MARK:
Search For The White Jewel (Jewels of Erda Book 1)
BLURB:
When the Holder of the Yellow Jewel dies, her ward Liara believes she will become the new Yellow Holder. The dying word of the elderly woman astonishes the young woman. She will hold the White Jewel. This fabled gem has been lost for years since her mother and her sister fought and her aunt took hold of the Black Jewel.
Liara, accompanied by her foster brother set forth to find the jewel, escaping the soldiers sent by the Queen and Black Jewel Holder. During their escape, Liara meets Valmir who saves her and her foster brother during a shipwreck. During their journey, they meet other holders of the Jewels, including Reena, daughter of the now dead Queen. Though she has the Black Jewel, Reena has no idea how to use the gem.
EXCERPT:
Prologue
The black-robed wizard
slipped through the doorway leading to the Queen’s chamber. He paused and
studied the wan woman propped against the black silk pillows. As he approached
the bed, his robes rustled.
The Queen
grasped the Black Jewel, symbol of her reign. “Be gone, I say. I have no need
of you.”
“Your time has
passed. ‘Tis time to cede the Jewel to your successor.”
“Not yet.” She
raised the Black Jewel. Dark rays pulsed in its heart. “Be gone and let me be.”
He
evaded the dark beams. “What of the White?”
She
laughed. “Do you think I fear that thing? My sister failed to find the gem. For
generations, there has been no sign of its existence. There have been but myths
and rumors.”
He smiled. “The
White stirs. I sought and I found.”
“Where?” Her
eyes narrowed.
‘Tis where it
has always been, waiting for the one who can hold the jewel. But fear not. ‘Tis
not your battle. Soon you will be gone, and I will have the training of the one
who is to follow you. This time there will be no mistakes. As Holder and Chosen , she and I will rule.”
“Be gone, dark wizard.”
The Queen raised the Black and poured her anger into the gem. Thunder roiled
the silent night and a great display of colored lightning brightened the sky
above the palace.
Chapter One
From The Lore of the Jewels
In days long past, just after the world was
formed and the people rose from the dust, Mother Sun and the Sister Moons
beheld what had been wrought and were troubled by what they saw. For as people
moved across the lands, chaos rather than harmony ruled.
“We must bring peace and order.” Mother Sun
spoke to the pale reflections of herself.
From her depths, she drew molten elements
and fashioned them into Jewels. The icy breath of the Sister Moons cooled the
gems. To Earda, they were sent and for each Jewel, there was a purpose.
And from the hearts of the six Jewels, light
radiated and coalesced to become the White.
Liara closed the
Lore of the Jewels. Everyone knew the ruling Jewel was black. And the tale of
how the gems were formed was naught but an interesting fable. Her foster mother
had given her the book on her last name day. Tana’s insistence that she learn
the legends puzzled Liara. What use were these mystical tales to one who might
never hold a Jewel?
She heard a
disturbance in the courtyard and peered through the open window. Several men
dismounted. Their steeds were magnificent beasts with burnished horns. Who were
these visitors? They looked to be men of importance.
Tana’s maid
appeared in the doorway. “Milady Holder bids you remain in hiding until her
guests leave.”
Liara sighed.
Twice this lunar, visitors had arrived to see the Yellow Holder. Both times,
she had been bidden to keep her presence a secret. Not that she minded missing
lessons, of course. The complicated exercises in visualizing had no practical
purpose she could see. What bothered her was not being allowed to sit in
company and hear about events beyond the keep and the village.
Curiosity gnawed
at her thoughts. In hopes of learning more about these unexpected visitors to
the High Sanctuary, she hurried down the back stairs and lingered in the
shadows near the postern gate. But the men had gone inside before she could
hear what they said.
Excitement
fluttered like the jeweled wings of a flitter. She was free, at least for the
afternoon. She slipped outside and climbed the path beyond the walls of the
massive stone tower. Then she broke into a run, deftly avoiding the roots of
the gnarled, wind-shaped balsa trees.
MY PLACES:
MY PLACES:
Sounds to me that the black wizard has plans for Liara that may not be in keeping with her desires. Though it doesn't sound like it, I hope the white jewel can offer her protection from him.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful beginning - pulled me in and made me want more :-)
ReplyDeleteWizards, black and white . . . it would seem you should be able to pick up lots of LOTR fans!
ReplyDeleteJanet, this is so different from the other bits of your work that I've read. Really intriguing!
ReplyDelete