The Crux: Lendaw Series: Book 1

Copyright © 2015 by R. J. Confiant.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

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Rev. date: 12/21/2015

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CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Chapter 1   Revelation

Chapter 2   Alyra

Chapter 3   Serpent in our Mist

Chapter 4   Craft

Chapter 5   The Hop and Trail

Chapter 6   Of Age

Chapter 7   The Dream

Chapter 8   Cocidius

Chapter 9   Loren

Chapter 10   Mudluck

Chapter 11   Meglog

Chapter 12   Lost

Chapter 13   Muwtag

Chapter 14   Survivors

Chapter 15   MarGraven

Chapter 16   Escape

Chapter 17   Erenhil

Chapter 18   Skirmishes

Chapter 19   Reckonings

Chapter 20   Unexpected

Chapter 21   Schemes

Chapter 22   To War

Chapter 23   Old Man

Chapter 24   Battle of Kregen

Chapter 25   More Death

Chapter 26   Standing Ground

Chapter 27   An Old Foe

Chapter 28   Destiny

Chapter 29   Completions

Chapter 30   Aftermath

Chapter 31   Sad Celebrations

Chapter 32   Departures

Map created by RJ Confiant with help of:

http://calthyechild.deviantart.com/art/Tolkien-Map-Brushes-image-pack-142620927

http://calthyechild.deviantart.com/art/More-Mountains-image-pack-142620631

http://thewhitecrayon.deviantart.com/art/TSMB-The-GIMP-Edition-151774168

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my appreciation for all those who supported me during the writing of this book; to all those who read, wrote or offered comments. I especially like to thank those who assisted in the editing, proofreading and design of this book.

I would like to recognize all those at Xlibris Self-Publishing, especially Dana Goulding and Charles Freemont, for assisting me to publish this book.

I thank my partner Douglas Carlson for his support and patience through the long and difficult process of publishing this book.

Thanks to Lee Nicholson for being my primary reader and Iain Jamison. I greatly appreciate all their input and advice during the writing of this book.

Finally, no one person really completes a task alone. I ask for understanding of those whose names I failed to mention and yet who have been a great support to me over the years. To all my family and all my friends I say, Thank-you.

PROLOGUE

The dog sat atop the hill and looked down into the vale. To an observer below, it appeared as if the dog was studying its surroundings, which of course it was as this was no ordinary dog. His name was Alistair and he was a Morphan, a change shifter, a person who could transform into other creatures. Alistair was a powerful wizard. In his usual form, Alistair stood six feet and six inches. He had long, wavy white hair and beard, which hung down, past his chest. His skin was smooth with only a few wrinkles around the eyes and around the mouth when he smiled. His eyes were a mixture of blue and green that stared with such piercing intensity they made one squirm uncomfortably. On first impression, he came across as quite serious and straightforward, which he was to a point. Alistair was likewise very personable, friendly, and jovial.

Alistair was on a planet called Terra. The people of the world called it Earth. Instead of magic, these people practiced science. This world has changed greatly since the last time I visited. I am somewhat awed at what I see: giant machines, vehicles, buildings and cities span the planet. I guess it was foolish of me to hope things would remain the same. The last time I was here was a thousand years ago. He shook his head and chuckled to himself. Change was bound to happen, it always does. The world turns and time goes on. It is the nature of things.

Alistair was from a world called Lendaw, a planet on the cusp of war, a war that would destroy his world, as he knew it. Already the dark forces were rising. For a long time, Anko lay dormant until recently. Now there were signs of his return. Already Anko’s forces gathered at the fields of Kregen - trolls, giants, ogres, wizards, witches and shades, while his henchmen Donar, Keric, and Nivel were in hot pursuit, and not very far behind Alistair himself. His last hope for salvation laid in locating a girl. Alistair was on Earth because of a prophecy:

One will come who will be of, but not from Lendaw. One who will have the power that Anko cannot defeat. With the finding of the one, Anko`s domain will cease to be forever.

On his hunt to find the person of whom the prophecy spoke, Alistair travelled to many worlds and to different eras. All with the same result, the trail always returned to the girl. In discovering the girl, Alistair believed he likewise found the fulfillment of said prophecy.

Alistair never expected to find the one in such a humble abode. He knew from experience that sometimes greatness comes from humble beginnings. He himself was proof.

An eon ago, he learnt that he was a wizard and that he apprenticed with the High Wizard Nairn who took him in. At first Alistair thought, Nairn made an error. After all, how could he become a wizard because he showed no outward signs of being one? He showed no signs at all.

Alistair came from a poor family in the town of Mallic on the outskirts of the Free Lands a country of nomadic and tribal people. Life in Mallic was not always easy. Most of the time he struggled to make a living. On many occasions, he had to beg off the kindness of strangers. He had no father. His mother worked and cared for the family. He was the eldest of five children, and as such, he left school as soon as possible to help with the family. Since he was the eldest and a son, he felt obligated to work and to earn a living to feed and clothe the rest of his siblings. Despite the fact that life was difficult, it was a happy existence.

When Nairn asked first his mother if he could take Alistair as his apprentice, Alistair’s mother, Kendra, was hesitant. Alistair was her eldest son, and as such, she required what little money he brought in to help sustain the family. Alistair’s sister, Hanna, ensured their mother she was able to take his place as the main breadwinner and utterly capable of helping care for the family. After much debate, Kendra relented and she allowed Alistair to leave. She released Alistair to Nairn’s care. To ease the loss of Alistair, Nairn gave Kendra one hundred Pistole. Alistair packed what few possessions he had, said good-bye to his family and left with Nairn. He was never to see his family again.

Alistair was about to do the same. History was about to repeat itself. He was about to take Jenna from the only family she knew.

CHAPTER 1

Revelation

As Alistair stared out across the span, he pondered as to what his next move should be. He took out the Gaper, looked over its glossy, smooth surface, and concentrated on the girl. Immediately the image of the girl appeared on the surface and in the background, he noted the name of a school: Darmouth High School.

As good as any place to start.

Melville was a small mid-western city with a population of about seven thousand and five hundred people. Once just a farming community, now a growing metropolis with its success founded on farming grains, and mining potash and uranium. Alastair walked along the sidewalk of Main Street where two and three story red-bricked buildings lined the street hinting at the city’s earlier days. Off the Main Street, Alistair observed newer small to mid-size buildings that sprouted up, a clue to the city’s modern times. Distracted by the wonder of it all, Alastair literally bumped into a woman on the sidewalk. Alastair caught her before she fell. Alastair smiled and apologized. He asked the woman for directions to Darmouth High School. She smiled and she gave him the directions he required. It was a half hour before he reached his destination. Alistair transformed into a dog as he neared his destination. He sat and observed. After a few hours of observation, he spotted Jenna easily enough.

Her elven features exposed her as non-human. She was very tall and lean almost to the point of being anorexic. Her face was thin with angular features and her eyebrows arched upward ever so slightly. She had green eyes and she wore glasses. Her hair was shiny red and long as to fall to her lower back. Alistair was sure that her hair concealed the pointy and protruding ears common to Elvenkind. Alistair was unsure of the reason for her concealment. Perhaps she is ashamed of them or perhaps, she simply wished to hide the fact that she was not quite human. Either way, it was obvious to him that the girl was not of this Earth.

Jenna considered herself quite the tomboy. She even dressed the part. Her usual attire consisted of a shirt, pants and runners. Thus, when Alistair first saw her he thought she was wearing riding attire.

Alistair estimated her age to be sixteen years. She was too old to be an apprentice. A pity, as he did not currently have one. The position was currently vacant.

He followed her throughout the next few days. He noticed Jenna possessed few friends, two or three, that he could observe. She appeared very relaxed and more joyful when she was with them.

When not with friends, Jenna sat alone at one of the benches, or she sat under a tree studying one of the many books in her possession.

It appeared, to him, that Jenna had a strong desire to learn. He found this an honorable trait. Jenna was what many, at her school considered a ‘geek.’ Perhaps some people would consider such thought snobbish. Jenna, herself, appeared to wear the title with pride.

Alistair desperately needed to extract the girl. He knew this would be difficult, if not impossible to accomplish. Alistair had to be careful and he was unsure how to proceed. In his world, retrieving the girl was a simple process of asking her guardian for permission. The process was more complication on Terra. The Terrans, as he knew Earth inhabitants, had authorities known as police. He did not wish the police to arrest him in his attempt to acquire the girl. In addition, Jenna could show resistance. He was after all a complete stranger to her.

He shrugged his shoulders.

There had to be a way to make this happen. He needed to proceed cautiously.

Now, how can I approach the girl without scaring her away?

An idea popped into his head and without any further delay, Alistair transformed himself into a dog.

Alistair trailed Jenna for four days. It was then that he decided to make his move. He strode over to Jenna and then he paused. Jenna noticed the dog and called it over. Alistair obeyed. He approached cautiously wagging his tail. Jenna reached down and patted the dog on the head, What a cute doggy you are! Who’s a good boy then? Alistair grabbed Jenna’s scent thinking he would be able to trail her should he lose her sight. Alistair barked and strode away.

Later, Alistair followed Jenna to her farmhouse located near Seventh Avenue on the outskirts of a small town called Melville, which was smack dab in the middle of nowhere, or so it seemed. As Jenna opened the door to her home, Dot greeted her. Jenna closed the door behind her and she returned the greeting.

Alistair watched from a distance.

The house was old and it begun to show signs of wear and tear. There were boards missing on the white picket fence, and the paint cracked and peeled on the remaining boards. Some of the tiles on the roof were moldy and they had moss growing around their edges. A few tiles were broken and the odd one went missing. The uncut grass and the over grown weeds proved the yard was un-kept. The house was very modest.

Jenna lived with her adoptive parents Dot and Matt who worked long hours to earn a meagerly wage, while Jenna attended school during the day. She spent her evenings studying until late in the night. Jenna worked one night a week and one day on the weekend to earn enough for school supplies, and some pocket money. She considered herself an unpretentious girl. She rarely wore dresses, nor did she bother with make-up, except on special occasions and usually with great discomfort. Jenna was smart. She would help anyone who asked. Although her life was modest, Jenna did not want. She had everything she needed. She had a happy and loving home. Jenna was content.

Thunder roared in the distance and an eerie light flashed across the evening sky. Alistair looked up.

Something is wrong.

It took a moment for Alistair spot it. The beast was huge, as tall as a ten-story building. The Gargon gave a great roar. It was black; blacker than anything Alistair had ever seen before and the creature seemed a warped version of its brothers and sisters the dragons. It was two-headed, its scales seemed like armored plating, its mouths were round in shape and it had multi-layered shark-like teeth.

Mounted upon its back was Donar, a Shadeen: A black wraith-like creature, once a magician like Alastair. Donar practiced the dark arts and overtime they corrupted him. Their power wore at him until he was, but a shadow of his former self, and enslaved to Anko his lord and master. Donar was one of seven such creatures known to exist.

Were there others? Have they come into this world as well? I must be careful.

Alistair needed to act quickly. He transformed back to his natural form of a man, he cursed and ran for the door of the house banged on the door and shouted, Get out! Get out quickly. I have put you all in danger. Come quickly.

Panic-stricken Jenna opened the door and rushed out, closely followed by Dot and Matt. Looking up in the sky, Dot let out a scream.

Alistair shouted, My name is Alistair and I mean you no harm. Do you believe me?

Too frightened to respond, they stood there dumbstruck.

Alistair continued, If you wish to survive, you must listen and do as I say!

Speechlessly, they nodded.

Tego texi tectum maximus, mumbled Alistair, with his arms stretching over Jenna, Dot and Matt. At once, a great, glowing shield immediately surrounded the three of them.

Whatever happens, don’t move and stay here, ordered Alistair. He turned his attention to Donar. "Donar, you should not have come this far from your home. You do