The Quest of Galamar

By Lisa Cresswell

The second book in the Storyteller Series, “The Quest of Galamar”, continues the tale of Lily Lightfoot and her friends Peter Everheart and Heather Whipple. Now that they’ve found their way into the True World, the friends must rely on the help of Lord Gabriel, an enchanted elf, now a manticore, to find Lily’s captured grandmother, Gwendolyn.
Gabriel sends the three friends to find the full moon amulet, hidden deep in the mountains and guarded by a fierce dragon. The amulet, one of four moonstones created ages ago by the fabled elf warrior Galamar, holds the power of the Northern Portal keeper, Ironblood the dragon. Whoever possesses all four amulets has the power to recreate or destroy the True World. Gabriel’s brother, Lord Kane, will stop at nothing to have the ancient powers for himself and keep Lily from fulfilling the Prophecy of Galamar.
On their epic journey, Lily learns more about magic, friendship, the power of forgiveness and finding the strength we all possess inside.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Cresswell
• Release date: Nov 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466146716

Lisa Cresswell

Lisa T. Cresswell lives in the wilds of Idaho where few souls dare to tread, with her family and a collection of critters that includes way too many llamas. In her day job, she's an archaeologist; by night, she writes fanciful stories for children and young adults. Come visit the blog www.lisatcresswell.blogspot.com

Book preview

THE QUEST OF GALAMAR

Book Two of the Storyteller Series

By Lisa T. Cresswell

Copyright 2011 Lisa T. Cresswell

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you.

Acknowledgments

Many thanks to my dear, sweet editor,

Anika Henrikson, and to Chris Ash, for another beautiful cover design.

***~~~~***

Chapter 1: The Kingdom of Knell

Wind and sea,

Are my only company…

~ sailor’s song

Well, one thing’s for certain, grumbled Gabriel. We can’t stay here. The wind blew icy daggers of sleet off the water. Lily wiped her stinging face and turned her back to the wind to face him.

Will you stand and fight him, Lily? asked Gabriel. The manticore stood like a human, studying her with his amber lion eyes. His sable mane blew around his face in the growing gale.

Me? Lily had managed to open the portal to the True World without much help from anyone. In fact, her best friend, Peter and her grandmother, Gwendolyn had done their best to stop her. Through the force of her own will, Lily had brought Peter and Heather through. They had fought Merab and her harpy, Ashtaroth, and lost Eleanor. Now Gabriel expected her to confront Lord Kane - owner of the Morrow and ruler of the Fomorians- and defeat him. To Lily, nothing could have been more ridiculous.

You won’t be alone, said Peter. There are those who still wait for a leader to follow. We can gather them. The excitement glowed in his eyes.

Lily’s red hair whipped her face. She felt overwhelmed. I’m just a kid, she thought. Why does everyone think I’m some kind of hero? Still, Lily knew she had to find her mother.

I’ll do whatever it takes to find Eleanor, she said, setting her jaw.

Good, said Gabriel. Let’s head north. I know a place we can find sanctuary.

Lily and Heather climbed aboard the manticore’s back, while Peter bounded forward on his own, scouting for danger ahead. Derry, Eleanor’s pixie friend, hovered near Lily’s shoulder, although he still wasn’t too happy about the situation. Riding the manticore was wilder than Lily had imagined from reading about it. He moved without any apparent thought to his riders, so quickly at times the girls had to grasp big handfuls of hair to hang on. Lily was thankful for the manticore’s shaggy coat; it kept them warm.

I’m sorry for dragging you into all of this, Lily said to Heather as they rode through a misty glen of ferns. The ocean still pounded in the distance, but Gabriel had thought it wiser to stick to the cover of the trees. Heather had been uncharacteristically quiet since they left the beach. Lily suddenly realized Heather had never even questioned where they were going or why.

I’m dreaming. This has to be some kind of weird dream and I’m going to wake up in my bedroom any minute, Heather said in a calm, sleepy voice. I’m going to be mad because we didn’t get our science experiment done and you’re going to ruin my grade point average.

Lily never meant to bring Heather with them. In the confusion of the Morrow attack, Heather had to escape with them through the portal at Terah Teran.

Don’t worry, Heather. I’ll think of some way to get you home, said Lily. I hope.

Peter led them to a thicket of evergreens to rest. Although the manticore’s back was warm, Lily was thankful for the chance to get off. Riding a manticore took more strength to hold on than Lily thought she had left. Night would be falling within the hour. Gabriel lit a fire and conjured a small meal of bread and stew. As they ate, Lily leaned close to Peter and whispered to him. Lily couldn’t help feeling like she didn’t really know him. His blue eyes seemed so much bigger, his hair wilder now.

Do you think that cat was ever a cat? Or was he always the Morrow, spying on us?

He was a cat. The Morrow used him because he could get close to you, said Peter, slurping his supper.

Your family back home must be missing you by now.

This is my home. I didn’t really have a family there. It was a ruse… Peter’s voice trailed off.

To make me think you were a real kid? said Lily. The bitter tone in her voice made Peter flinch. He set his food down.

You know we had to do it, Lily, said Peter. It’s not like we enjoyed keeping secrets from you.

I know. Just don’t ever do it again, all right? Lily raised an eyebrow.

Deal, smiled Peter.

So how old are you anyway? asked Lily.

In human years or elf years?

Just answer the question!

I’m trying, but it’s complicated. Time in this world isn’t measured the same as the world you know. There are no years because there are no seasons, at least not until Lord Kane disrupted the natural system. The True World has never known a winter before. Lily looked at the fallen leaves they sat on.

How can that be? Aren’t we on Earth?

No, we’re not.

Lily shook her head, trying to understand.

OK, I know you’re thirteen on Earth. How old are you here?

I guess I’m thirteen here, too, but I’ve lived much longer than thirteen Earth years.

So it’s like dog years? One year here equals seven Earth years?

Something like that, said Peter. Lily did the math in her head.

That would make you ninety-one years old?

You say it like it’s a bad thing, Peter laughed. You’re almost as old as I am, you know.

I’m ninety years old? Lily gasped. I thought I’d be smarter by the time I reached ninety. Peter laughed again. Lily thought his voice sounded like the chiming of far away bells. It made her laugh too.

There’s something else I don’t understand.

What’s that?

"The Book of Eleanor…if Lord Kane had the power to show me where she was through the book, he must have had the power to see her too, right?"

Yeah, agreed Peter.

So if he wanted to catch her, why not just do it?

Kane never doubted he could. It was you he was really after. He had to lure you, Peter explained.

Lily cringed. It still rankled her how easily she slipped into the trap.

He must know I’m here now.

Yes, which is why we must hurry, said Peter, staring at the flames. Lily opened The Book of Eleanor to show Peter.

It’s still blank at the end, she said. There’s no more story. Lily looked up at Peter’s frown. She knew what he was about to say.

I think we should destroy, he said. Lily nodded quietly.

Anything that appears in it now will just be his way of manipulating you again.

Lily closed the book. She ran her hand over the cover, admiring the buttery feel of the leather. It had showed her Eleanor and she was grateful for that, even if it was for the wrong reasons. She handed it to Peter without any protest. Peter threw the book on the coals, as if he didn’t want to touch it any more than necessary. He held his hands out toward it.

Sacar libris! he commanded and the book burst into flames.

After their dinner, Peter whispered something to Gabriel and then ducked out of sight.

Peter! Where are you going? Lily called.

Shhh! warned Gabriel. Never fear. He’s gone to find us passage across the sea.

Across the sea? said Derry. Where exactly are we going?

The Kingdom of Knell lies directly west of here, across this small sea, said Gabriel. There we can hear news of Lily’s mother and grandmother.

The thought of Gwendolyn tore at Lily’s heart. Please let them be alive, Lily thought. Derry shuddered.

Pixies don’t like open water, he grumbled.

Why not? Afraid a little fishy will eat you? teased Gabriel. Derry didn’t answer, but gave Gabriel his coldest stare and flew back to Lily’s shoulder.

To pass the time, Lily and Heather helped Gabriel collect some apples from a tree they found growing in the woods. Lily stowed them in the backpack she brought with her from home. When Peter returned an hour later, he was smiling.

That was easier than I expected, he said. There’s a boat waiting for us, Lord Gabriel.

Good, said Gabriel. Hopefully it’s not a trap. Shall we?

Gabriel knelt down to let the girls to climb on his back. As dusk fell, Peter led them down a steep, ferny slope to a tiny cottage on an inlet. Beside the cottage was a ramshackle dock with a fishing boat moored next to it. The only light came from the last of the evening sun and the stars starting to twinkle in the blue velvet sky. The earlier storm had blown by. Lily could tell the night was going to be clear and cold. The house looked dark, as if no one was home. Only when they got closer could they see someone on the deck of the boat making preparations to set sail. Peter paused to speak with Gabriel.

I believe he is sympathetic to our cause, but I used some henbane to enchant him, just to be sure, said Peter.

Then let’s be off, said Gabriel.

There is one other thing, said Peter, hanging back just a bit.

What?

He’s a troll. Derry let out a yelp.

That sounds bad, the way you say it, said Heather. Gabriel frowned, clearly exasperated.

That’s because it is bad, said Gabriel. Was there no one else, Peter?

No! Not a house for miles! insisted Peter. I figured better this than lose another day.

What’s so bad about a troll? asked Heather, her voice betraying her fear.

Trolls are nasty, dim-witted creatures who pledge their allegiance to no one, said Derry. It’s like a fly asking a spider for help.

That’s enough, Derry, said Gabriel.

He’ll probably get us out to sea and have us all for breakfast! shrieked the pixie, working himself into a frenzy.

That’s enough! barked Gabriel. Trolls aren’t the most pleasant company, but they can be managed Derry. What you said is half true. They are rather dim-witted. I don’t doubt Peter’s ability to enchant one, but I want you girls to be especially careful. Stay together and don’t get caught alone with him. It’s only a three-day voyage. I think we can manage at least that long. Any sign of Formorians?

The troll said they were through here a few weeks ago, but nothing lately, said Peter. He claims to sell his catch in Brownlea. That’s still a good eight leagues from here. They followed Peter down the twisty, rocky footpath toward the dock.

Why would he live so far from town? asked Lily.

He must prefer solitude, said Peter. Trolls aren’t known for their social skills.

I hope you’re right about this. How do you know he’s not in with them? asked Heather.

Derry’s right about the allegiance thing. Trolls don’t take to leaders of any kind. They would never join Lord Kane willingly.

Although they might be conquered by him, added Gabriel. Many a troll has been possessed by a Formorian and added to his army.

Lily remembered the trolls Eleanor set free in Abernath and wondered what had become of them. Did they escape? As they silently approached the boat, the troll caught sight of them. It leaped onto the dock and made three huge strides towards them.

Is that you, Peter? the troll called in a deep, gravelly voice.

Yes, Edan, said Peter. I’ve brought my friends. Are you ready?

As Edan got closer, Lily smelled the rotted fish aroma that soaked his raggedy clothing. She tried hard not to wince at the stink, thankful it was dark. She noticed Peter kept his distance as well. Edan was taller than any human Lily had ever met, at least nine or ten feet tall, and thick like the trunk of a tree. His clothing appeared to be made of seaweed or moss that hung around him in great ropes. Only the whites of his bulbous eyes and his large, chunky teeth were clearly visible in the dark night.

Aye, the ship is ready, Edan answered. Question is, are you ready?

Peter replied that they were and quickly introduced everyone.

This is Lily and Heather. And this is… Peter gestured toward the manticore, who interrupted with a stern look at him.

Byron of the Low Lands, said Gabriel. Edan betrayed no suspicion at the lie.

Hurry aboard then, said the troll. We’ll want to put some distance between us and the shore by morning.

The ancient ship creaked as they climbed aboard. The deck was cluttered with buoys and tangled masses of half-rotted fishing nets. Lily hoped Edan was a better sailor than housekeeper. Peter ushered everyone to the hold below, which unfortunately smelled even more like rotted fish than Edan.

I think I’m gonna be sick, whined Heather. Can’t we stay outside?

It’s better if we stay concealed, said Gabriel.

Here, said Peter, pulling a pinch of golden dust out of his pocket. Peter blew lightly on the granules in his hand, scattering them about the room. The fluffy crystals perfumed the hold with the scent sugary-sweet fruit. It reminded Lily of Gwendolyn’s candy apples and made her mouth water. Everyone breathed a bit easier. Lily looked around for a place to sit. The cabin appeared completely unused. There were four bare bunks, with a port hole above each one.

Don’t like it, don’t like it a bit, fretted Derry, the tiny green pixie pacing back and forth on Lily’s shoulder.

No one said you had to go with us, Derry, said Gabriel.

You didn’t have to! I owe Eleanor my life and I’m going to do whatever it takes to save her.

The ship began to sway and Lily heard the sound of water slapping the sides of the vessel. Peter looked out a port hole.

We’re off, he said. We might as well try to get some sleep.

The girls and Peter each took a bunk, although they weren’t that comfortable without bedding. Derry slept in the crook behind Lily’s knee and Gabriel curled up on the floor, but did not sleep. He took the first watch.

In the morning, Gabriel allowed them to go up on deck for breakfast. They had indeed lost sight of land, surrounded completely by a salty green sea. The waves were rough and the sky gloomy, but it did not rain. The wind was just strong enough to move them at a steady clip.

Looky there, said Edan, pointing to the sky. Lily looked up at the enormous white bird floating above the ship. It glided on the air currents, never once flapping its wings.

What is it? she asked.

That be an albatross. Good luck that is, yep, yep, said Edan. He’ll show us the way. Edan gazed at the bird with his big, black eyes, so round and unblinking