Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Keltoi #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #romantasy #paranormal #book 6 of Moon Rising

 

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts/ Mine is found at https://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com and may or may not complete the series.

BLURB:
Two friends have been tested and are acclaimed as a Healer and a Seer. Now the friend who will be the Warrior faces her test. When she succeeds the three travel through a tunnel and down to the lakeside believing they will be sent to an Isle where three crystals stand, one red, one blue and one green. Instead they are told they are part of the Three and three and must find the others.

Three brothers separated as soon as one of them reaches the age of five. They were taken by their father, Prime Voice of Midra in Keltoi. They have all displeased him and have been punished. They escape from their different prisons and must find their way.

Each of the meetings between the two warriors, the two Healers and the Two Seers is an adventure that binds them together. As Three and Three, they must meet the enemy and win.


EXCERPT:

Dianal held the blade to eye level. “Justice, I name you and justice you will bring to the people of Keltoi. One day those who follow the mistress of the Dark Moon will face judgment for all the evils they have done to the people.”

She turned away from the circle of disturbed earth and joined her friends. Shiera’s and Gera’s smiles broke their somber expressions. They hugged her. Laughter filled the night air.

“We are three,” Shiera said.

Dianal nodded. Her friend was right. ‘we are three,” she repeated. “Do either of you know what we are to do now?”

Gera nodded. “We must go to the lake and then we will learn what the Mistress of the Moons has for us to do.”

Dianal frowned. What would their orders be. She turned to Shiera. “You’ve read the scrolls. What do they say?”

Shiera tapped her chin. “Many things. The latest ones I’ve read speak of a time when three will come.”

“We are three,” Gera said. “What must we do?”

“Listen to what Midra says and follow,” Shiera said.

Dianal clasped their hands. “Then to the lake we must go.” She walked toward the tunnel where four times a year, the people of the hodara went to pay homage to Midra, Mistress of the Moon. Sometimes the lake’s mists cleared to reveal an isle where three massive crystals, one red, one blue and one green, stood.

Would going there this night bring a revelation of what they must do? She could only hope. “Shall we?” Her friends nodded. Together they walked the spiral path to the mouth of the tunnel.

Shiera smiled. “I pray Midra, Mistress of the moon will welcome us and take us into her service.”

Gera stepped into the darkness. “There is a strangeness in the atmosphere  but also a welcome. Soon we will reach the tunnel’s eye and perhaps learn more.”

Dianal ran a hand along the smooth rock wall as she strode forward. Amazement filled her thoughts at the feat. One hand had carved the tunnel from a single massive boulder. Darkness enfolded her but she felt no fear. Her friends’ presence filled her with hope. They walked where they must.

At the end of the passage, she halted on the first step until her eyes adjusted to light from the full moon over the mountain peaks and shining on the dark waters of the lake. Fog covered the isle allowing no sight of the gems. She and her friends strode down the broad steps past the rows of seats carved from stone. Here people of the hodara gathered to celebrate the seasons.

For an instant the fog cleared. Her breath caught in her throat as her gaze focused on the red crystal flashing on the moon’s rays. She clasped the hilt of her sword and felt the hollow to fit such a stone,

She reached the level grassy area at the edge of the dark water. For a short time, she waited for Gera and Shiera to join her. Together, they approached the edge of the lake and faced a transparent barrier.

What did this mean? Dianal’s heart pounded so hard she feared her ribs would crack. Where did I fail?  Maybe I’m not the one but she couldn’t’ believe her friends could err. Why were they denied. She glanced at one and then the other. Their expressions were the same as her confusion.

A voice sounded in the air. “Greetings.”

Dianal gasped and looked around. She saw no one. Gera grasped her hand. Shiera leaned closer.

“The time is not yet. You are Three, Warrior, Healer and Seer. There are three more to come. You must find them and return here for the blessing. You will be empowered on that day, you and your counterparts appear. Seek them diligently. Go now to the hodara. Rest for the remainder of the night, Leave on your quest in the morning.”

Dianal drew a deep breath. She turned from the lake and walked up the steps. The words echoed in her thoughts. Who were the other three and where would they be found?

As she exited the tunnel, she glanced at the sky. During the time spent at the lake, she felt no time had passed. The full moon still rode high. Gera and Shiera clasped her hands.

“What now?” Gera asked.

“We do what we were told,’ Shiera said.

Dianal nodded. “We must speak to the elders in the morning so we can prepare to leave to seek these other three.” Excitement rose but so did fear. She had never left the hodara, Nor had her friends. What would they find when the reached the outer world?

 


3 comments:

  1. Great description of them coming out of the tunnel!

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  2. Yes, who are the other three? I thought for sure they'd be.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Arouses curiosity for sure. Who are the other three?

    ReplyDelete