The Dreamweaver's Journey: The Age of Awakenings Book 1

By Diana L Wicker

One of the Tales from Feyron - The Ripples of Power stories

The Realm of Feyron has always been. It is the origin of all things magical, the axis point where all the worlds meet. Once, in days gone by, there were many gateways within the Temple of Pyli connecting the Worlds Beyond seeded with magic to their home. Now many gateways have flickered out, and Feyron weakens as the magic fades and the Guardians are lost.

For the first time in over three hundred years a Dreamweaver has come of age and is tasked with contacting the Guardians. When she awakens in the night after a vision of her best friend lost and alone, injured in the snows at the top of the Crystal Mountains, she seeks out the Sacred Fire in the Temple in an attempt to call forth more information. A voice calls out from the fire, "Dreamweaver, you are summoned." An image appears of an ancient path through the Mist Shrouded Forest leading to a hidden gate into the Crystal Caverns below the mountains. The Guardians have summoned her on a quest that will take her to the four realms of light within Feyron in search of answers and aid.

Revised edition

• Language: English
• Publisher: Diana L Wicker
• Release date: Aug 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301430901

Book preview

The Dreamweaver’s Journey: The Age of Awakenings, Book 1

By Diana L. Wicker

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Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2012 Diana L. Wicker

All rights reserved.

Created in the United States of America

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 for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Cover Art Copyright © 2014 by Mia Darien

Cover Art Stock Images Copyright © 2014: Nejron Photo, Fotolia.com & BigStockPhoto.Com

Revised Edition editing and formatting services courtesy of: http://miadarien.com

Author’s Note: No substantial changes have been made to the story from the original edition.

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The Realm of Feyron and its characters are the creation of Diana Wicker. Names of characters and locations are pulled from author’s personal family history as well as the mythology of various cultures. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.

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Dedication

To my daughter Elizabeth and her friends, whose love of playing online storytelling RPGs inspired me to create a world that they could play in. Thank you, girls.

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Acknowledgements

My thanks to all of my friends and family that took this journey with me, I couldn’t have done it without you.

I would like to thank my brave friends and family that published works before me, inspiring me to try for myself, especially Maria Lund - Secrets of the Dandelion, and Alexandra Butcher - Light Beyond the Storm. Thank you for bravely leading the way.

To everyone who read the first edition before I had the courage to publish on a large scale, especially Elizabeth and Alex who followed me through creative bursts and writer's block, thank you for encouraging me to stick with it until the stories were done.

I would like to thank my friend Laura T. Hall for bravely taking on the task of editing the first edition.

My special thanks to my daughter for contributing the lovely Riddle of the Griffin. Thank you, Princess.

Last, but certainly not least, thank you to my precious husband Neil for setting up the beautiful cover on the original edition.

Original photos licensed from Fotolia:

Front Cover photo: © Nejron Photo - Fotolia.com

Back cover photo: © Iakov Kalinin - Fotolia.com (print edition only)

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Preface

The Realm of Feyron has always been, begins the Storyteller whenever she sits with the children to tell them tales, and perhaps she is right. My journey to Feyron was a long one that started in my childhood. I remember having a vivid imagination full of imaginary friends, imaginary worlds, and secreted away notebooks of stories inspired by my favorite books, movies, and television programs as well as ideas that came to me on their own. I think the Storyteller has always been here. She was just waiting for the right moment to come out.

I would like to note to the readers that the archaic spellings of words in the tales from Feyron are purposeful. Language is a living, breathing thing, just like myths, legends, and lore; and I think it is good to remember sometimes that the spellings we see today in modern American English have much deeper roots. The Storyteller does not live in Modern America, but a land out of time. I invite you to open your favorite search engine and study a bit of the past as you read the story.

Other works from the series:

Tales from Feyron - The Ripples of Power

The Dreamweaver’s Journey: The Age of Awakenings Book 1

The Guardian Child’s Return: The Age of Awakenings Book 2

Legacy of Mist and Shadow: The Age of Awakenings Book 3

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Realm of Feyron - Realms of Light

Age of Awakenings - Spring Returns

Cast of Characters

Guardians of Feyron - bestowers of magic to the clans of the Faie

Lord Okapoti - the great unicorn, Keeper of Life, bestower of creation magic (healing, growing, innovation/creativity)

Queen Luyung - the great red dragon, Keeper of the Elements, bestower of use of the elements (earth, air, fire, water)

~ Daiyu - the great black dragon, known as Queen’s First

~ Wen - dragon-daughter

~ Xia - dragon-daughter

~ Yun - dragon-son

Lord Grypos - the great griffin, Keeper of Knowledge, bestower of divination (visions from the Mists of Time - Then, Now, or Could Be)

Clans within Feyron

Heron Clan - unicorn children, gifts of creation

~ Lord of the clan - Tiernan of Heron, worker of miracles (thaumaturge)

~ Lady of the clan - Lei of Phanai, divination, former scholar’s apprentice

~ Their children - Aneurin, called Nye, no magic

~ Aideen, the Dreamweaver (divination through dreams and fire reading, summoner of the Guardians)

~ Arwyn, grower (plant creation)

Bru’yn Clan - dragon children, gifted use of elements

~ Clan members - Stoyan the fisherman, water

~ Ognyan, Stoyan’s son, fire

Caris Clan - shapeshifters, formerly of a World Beyond, now residing in the Lesser Forest

~ Mistress of Caris - Reyna

~ Rohan and wife Myrna, several children including Elwynne

~ Rowan (twin to Rohan) and husband Oran, several children

Scholars at the Temple of Pyli - anyone may pledge to the Temple

~ Master Scholar Teagan

Clans from Worlds Beyond

Tyrel Clan - magic is passed to the male line, true sorcerers

~ Lord of the clan - Hyatt, sorcerer

~ Nolan, Hyatt’s son, sorcerer

~ Elaina, Hyatt’s sister, griffin-child like her mother

~ Reike of Caris, Elaina’s husband, shapeshifter

~ Their children - Soifra, shapeshifter

~ Zilya, griffin-child

~ Miria, shapeshifter

~ Rian, infant son

Over the ages as the clans of the Faie have mixed and mingled, so have their magics and means of using them.

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Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Dedication

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Map of Feyron

Cast of Characters

The Story Begins

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

The Adventure Begins

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

The Return

Epilogue

Index of Short Stories

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The Story Begins

The golden rays of the sun were just beginning to dip below the horizon when the Storyteller arrived in the garden behind the Palace of Ages, her blue and silver skirts swaying as she walked. A young apprentice scholar followed behind her with a rolling cart of sweets. The children gathered around the large fountain in the center of the garden dressed in different styles and colors of clothing from many different lands, drawn by the promise of a good tale and a fine treat while the adults and older youth gathered inside for the Winter Solstice ball.

Settling comfortably on the green brocade silk cushions of the scissors-style folding chair placed for her, she smiled as the children vied for space on the wool rugs covering the flagstones. Shall we start with festival treats? she asked as she waved at the apprentice to distribute the sweets while a second cart arrived with warmed drinks.

Slowly the children settled with their treats until only the splashing of the fountain and the chirping of crickets could be heard. The evening breeze was light and comfortably cool as she sipped her spiced cider, light crystals flickering to life as the sun faded to the pink and purple of evening. It is always a pleasure to see our distant kin. Now then, with so many bright young faces from Worlds Beyond, perhaps we should begin with the story of Feyron.

Awww, Storyteller, one boy whined, we want grand adventures! We get history lessons from the scholars during summer academy each year.

Her throaty chuckle filled the air. Patience, my boy, patience. Even the grandest adventure starts with that first, hesitant step forward.

***

The Realm of Feyron has always been. It is the origin of all things magical, the axis point where all the worlds meet. The Temple of Pyli holds the font of Sacred Fire, the beacon to the clans of Faie, high atop the snow colored mesa on the center of the White Isle.

I have been told-- The Storyteller winked at a couple of children from one of the Worlds Beyond as she leaned over to whisper to them. --that it is much like the ancient Greek Parthenon of your world, only on a grander scale.

Once, in days gone by, the dusky light of the mists of time flickered from all of the gateways within the great temple. Every clan born from the Children of Tomorrow was granted a key created of the magic of Feyron itself, used to open the gateway between Feyron and their World Beyond. As the aeons passed, many clans lost their magic and memories of Feyron; their gateways slowly growing dark.

With each gateway that has grown dark, Feyron has weakened, as the magic faded from the Worlds Beyond and the guardian children were lost. The scholars watch over the remaining gateways in the temple and keep the lore in the desert archives, an eye always cast across the regions of Feyron; the Mist Shrouded Forest, the Crystal Mountains, the Fertile Plains, and the Expanding Desert.

***

Storyteller, I thought the true sorcerers could open the gateways within the Temple without a crystal key, a young girl wearing a sky blue kirtle interrupted.

Yes. The Storyteller nodded as she set her cup upon the fountain wall. The true sorcerers are the only clan of Faie that can open an active gateway without a crystal key.

But what of the Unending Sea? asked a young boy wearing a long tunic and tight leggings of creamy linen embroidered with a weaving, maze-like design.

The Unending Sea cannot be seen from the Temple. The Storyteller smiled, as she pulled a shawl about her shoulders. "The clans of Feyron live on the Fertile Plains between the shores of the Great Lake and the Unending Sea, so the clans can easily keep watch over the sea and send word to the Temple if need be.

Now then, the Storyteller continued, for many long generations there was no Dreamweaver in the Temple, and the Guardians were lost to us.

But there’s a Dreamweaver in the Temple now, interjected a youth wearing a black suit with a crisp, white shirt, and the Guardians were long ago found.

Yes, they were, and that is the story I will share with you this night; how the new age began and spring returned to Feyron when a young Dreamweaver and her friends found the Guardians. It all started at a Winter Solstice Ball, much like this one, with a group of youth who were looking forward, just a little too much, to growing up.

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1

One of the pointed archways behind the left colonnade on the main floor of the temple flared to life, the white-blue light shooting across the room, alerting a scholar that the final clan was arriving. He waited patiently as the Tyrel clan stepped from the light. The first to arrive was a middle-aged man, tall and lanky. His shaggy blond hair sported a permanent windblown look, and his brown eyes twinkled when he laughed. His personality was jocular, so he was usually laughing.

With open arms the scholar greeted the visitors, Welcome home, Master Reike, your mother awaits your return at the Palace of Ages, and longs to hold her grandchildren.

Laughing, Reike picked up his youngest daughter as he tucked the crystal key into the bag over his arm and nodded towards Elaina, his wife. No doubt Mother is eager to meet her newest grandson, Rian, as well. His elder daughters Soifra and Zilya stood nearby, waiting as their parents chatted with the scholar.

Elaina, her long black curls pulled back into a loose ponytail, slid the cloth from the sleeping babe’s face so the scholar could see him. A fine babe he is. The scholar grinned. I shall enter his name into the Book of Ages. Will your brother be joining us, my lady?

No sooner had the question been uttered than the gateway flashed again and two gentlemen stepped through, dressed in the clothes of leisure in their world, black denim pants and black T-shirts, with a bundle of baggage hovering between them. Hyatt, Elaina’s older brother, had jet-black wavy hair while his son’s was a honeyed auburn, a gift from his mother. Lord Hyatt. The scholar bowed. It is always an honor for you to return. And Master Nolan, it seems about time that you should be choosing a bride, perhaps at the Midsummer ball this year?

With a good-natured chuckle, Hyatt ushered his extended family forward, taking the hand of his niece, Zilya, as his son winked at his oldest cousin Soifra. Perhaps we shall discuss such come summer, if someone catches his eye.

Now, shall we take the carriage, Hyatt asked his family, or would you like to use magic?

***

The lush green lawn of the Temple faced the Expanding Desert beyond the shores of the Great Lake, the evening sun sparkling gold over the waters. To the right, the Mist Shrouded Forest covered the far side of the lake. Behind the Temple, framing it against the skyline, the Crystal Mountains glistened with a myriad of waterfalls feeding into the Great Lake from the snowcapped peaks far above.

The family gathered at the gates from the Temple lawn where the enchanted carriage of alabaster and gold waited to carry them along the single