Legends of the Ells 2 The Young Guardians

By J T Wheeling

Immediately after the final departure of the old Ells, the young Guardians are confronted by Xyle, a terrifying new foe with powers that exceed their own. For many years Xyle has prepared plans to seize control of Earth and is ready to execute them.
This raises the task of preserving the Ell legacy to a new level, for Xyle has tremendous resources stretching far beyond Earth itself.
An attempt to discover these brings Yani into deadly danger, far from home.
His feelings for Estella deepen and a new relationship is forged with her father, a former foe. Three new youngsters join the Guardians, one from India, one from China and one from South America.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J T Wheeling
• Release date: Sep 16, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301781263

Book preview

LEGENDS OF THE ELLS

Book Two

The Young Guardians

By J T Wheeling

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Published by:

J T Wheeling at Smashwords

Copyright (c) 2010-2013 by J T Wheeling

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All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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Legends of the Ells

Book Two

The Young Guardians

by

J T Wheeling

Now the Old Ones leave these lands

Their task isleft to younger hands

Terror comes in fierce array

Striking hard by night and day

The Young Guardians by J T Wheeling 2010 Copyright Reg No. 1696952657

Smashwords Edition

Prologue

17th October 2438

Unaware they were being watched by unfriendly eyes, Yani, Ragore, Pasco and Lucy stood on the windy hilltop, gazing sadly as the figures of the old Ells shimmered, faded and vanished. Where they had been, just seconds before, now only a group of tall stones remained to guard the spot. This time, as the youngsters well knew, these sentinels would stand forever; this time there would be no return.

Never again would Zandor intrigue them with tales of the Intervention years, nor ride the lands of his beloved Earth. Now everything was left in the care of the youngsters, sole Guardians of the Ell inheritance. They shivered as a blast of wind from the north brought a foretaste of winter, echoing the desolation in their hearts.

Tears in his eyes, Yani muttered something about winds of time taking everything away. Just an old song he explained to Pasco, who looked curiously at him.

Come on, Yani, Ragore said at last, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder, I suppose we’d better get back.

Knowing that Yani had missed out on growing up with his parents and had just watched his only family life cut short after only a couple of years, Pasco and Lucy gathered round him. Their eyes expressed their concern.

You’ll see them in Ellshome, Yani, but now we should get back to Altania.

Yani took a deep breath. Of course, he sighed, it’s time to go.

They turned to walk down the hill, but stopped abruptly as a figure appeared in front of them. Wrapped in a red cloak and of average size, a man stared at them from dark and hostile eyes. A short beard added some distinction to his lean face.

So, he announced, The old ones have finally gone, leaving you youngsters in charge. He gave a sharp laugh. I shall enjoy twisting your tails while I gradually take command. I’ve waited a very long time for this day.

Yani glared at him. And just who are you? he demanded.

You may call me Xyle, though I have been known differently in many places over many years. My father was an Ell so I have control of many of their technologies. These I shall put to good use. I don’t see you young people being too much of a nuisance and, meanwhile, you’ll give me some amusement. I’ll enjoy watching you squirm and run about like headless chickens.

Yani’s blue eyes blazed. He lifted his staff and spat a bolt at the figure, strong enough to stun a man, but it passed straight through without effect.

How unfriendly, Xyle remarked, but your futile powers cannot touch me. I suggest you hurry home and deal with my first strike. I believe your friend Turias is in South America. He’s going to have plenty to handle, provided he manages to survive.

He paused to savour the shock in their faces, then challenged them. Meanwhile, should you wish to try your luck, you may search for me in the Far East. Now, I bid you goodbye, and, with a bark of mocking laughter, the figure vanished, leaving only a spiral of dust drifting on the wind.

Was that real? Lucy gasped. Your bolt went right through him.

It must have been a projection from a spy-bee, Pasco answered. You know, the things Zelton used long ago.

That’s secret Ell stuff—.

But he claimed to have an Ell father, Yani spoke slowly, so perhaps it was.

Then we have a big problem, Ragore growled, and he knew the moment the old Ells were leaving. I don’t suppose we could get them back?

No, Yani said. Their Council’s ruling was absolute, they may interfere no more. Anyway do we want to go running to Ellshome every time we have a problem? His slim face wore a determined look and Pasco looked at Ragore and shook his head. He had seen that look on Yani’s face before and knew it meant trouble.

Let’s get back to Altania, he suggested, then we can warn Turias. Why did he go there anyway?

To collect this girl Kathryn from Peru. She lives on the west coast with her father but she’s coming to join the other two newcomers on the Guardians’ training course.

Something other than the chill wind caused them to shiver again as they made their way down to the waiting flyers.

CHAPTER ONE

The Terror Wave

A shaft of red light shone down upon the Pacific island like a celestial knife. Its white hot heat pierced the rock on the mountainside, burrowing a deep trench. Steadily it moved northwards carving the mountain in two. Finally, with an awesome roar, half of the towering rock face fell into the blue sea. A colossal wave of water shot skyward catching a myriad of sparkling colours from the rising sun then falling in a cascade of white foam back to the ocean. The release of energy was immense. Now the resulting gigantic tsunami would pulse eastwards for thousands of miles before wrecking its fury on whatever land it reached.

The Peruvian Coast. 19th October 2438

Kathryn walked by the ocean, her dark green eyes mournful as she remembered Fiella, her Ell mother.

Why must you go? she had asked Fiella six months before, isn’t life here good enough for you? Look how unhappy Dad is!

Fiella’s eyes swam and she bit her lip. Believe me, my darling, if I could stay I would, but you know that all Ells must leave this planet. Perhaps I should never have married Dad, but we have been so happy all these years—and we wouldn’t have had you, the joy of our life. You know that you can come with me to Ellshome—

And leave Dad alone? I couldn’t, you know that. I love you both. Kathryn buried her face in her hands and sobbed. It seems so unfair.

Fiella cradled the blonde head in her arms.

Life brings sorrow as well as joy. Dad knew this day would come, I knew it too, but the Ells have been here for centuries and we had hoped for a longer time together. However the Council have decreed that now humankind should show they can manage unaided, so we must go. Only the half-Ells may choose to stay….. my darling, this is like dying for me too… Fiella’s voice broke and Kathryn wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist.

A true child of nature, murmured Fiella to her husband Alain, on their last night together. She will be a comfort to you when I’m gone. It’s so hard, this parting, though we always knew it would come some day. If only I could take you with me! Her husband’s lip quivered as he stroked her hair.

No, my dearest love, he whispered, we married with our eyes open and I wouldn’t change a thing. If you stayed longer you would see me age before your eyes, then die and leave you alone. This is cleaner and better. You have given this world a great gift in Kathryn. Soon she will go to the Guardians, all of whom have vanished Ell mothers, and learn to preserve the Ell legacy. Kathryn is our gift to the world.

Following her mother’s departure, the bond between Kathryn and Alain deepened. Now she was sixteen she would travel to Altania, where she would study to become a Guardian, and Alain would be alone. The night before he left for his annual visit to Juliaca, high up in the Andes, he had a talk with her about the future.

You are ready to do all that your Mother and I could wish for—join the other students and use your talents to guard the legacy of the Ells. Someone will collect you tomorrow evening and bring you up to Juliaca before you go on to Altania. I don’t own you, darling, and I must try to make a new life for myself—but we shall meet often. At least you are staying on Earth.

After Alain had left early in the morning, Kathryn decided to go along the shore to a distant cave she had heard of. This would be her last chance to investigate it before leaving her old home. She sang an old Paraguayan song of farewell as she went along, her clear soprano winging out on the morning air. Walking helped her think and calmed her mind. She thought about her forthcoming trip to Altania and wondered if the Atlantic was as splendid an ocean as this great Pacific, which she loved as an old friend. She read its moods like a book, and rejoiced in all its various changes.

Today, however, it seemed strange. The sea and the sullen look of the cloudy weather puzzled her; this was a face the Pacific had never shown her, and it did not seem friendly.

It’ll soon cheer up! she said to herself as she trudged steadily southwards.

Altania

Ragore stood alone in the Guardians’ control centre, eyeing a fine sunset and deciding which of Altania’s restaurants to visit later. Manuel had just returned from France with some new recipes and….. The jangle of the alarm startled him from such mouth-watering dreams. He stared at the wall screen in horror then hit the bell to summon the others. Across the world, in the middle of the south Pacific, half of a mountain had fallen into the sea. The inevitable tidal wave, a dreaded tsunami, was coursing out like a hungry lion, pulsing through the ocean in a burst of energy that would spend its fury only when it reached land.

Out of breath, Yani arrived. Ragore pointed at the screen.

It’s not just a tsunami, it’s a giant! Half an island has fallen into the ocean and the main force seems to be travelling east, towards South America. The wave could be nearly a hundred metres high when it reaches land. Evacuation instructions are going out to every town and village on the coast. They all have passenger flyers and the mountain villages are sending more to help. There are also special shelters but I don’t know if they can hold against such a weight of water. Waves like this are once in a million years and there have been no indications of danger.

Ragore’s usually cheerful face looked even grimmer as he added, Remember Turias is somewhere in the Andes. That fellow Xyle mentioned him. Do you think he could have triggered this?

Yani shook his head doubtfully. I’ve no idea, but let’s get hold of Turias now.

Within five minutes Turias’s craggy face appeared on the V-phone screen, looking worried. I’ve already heard about the danger. People are leaving the coast but there is one problem. Kathryn, the student coming to us next month, has gone walkabout on the shore. Her father’s working with the mayor of Juliaca, well out of reach. The girl’s very popular in her village and there have been several offers to go and look for her. She always takes her staff so that may help. I’m already in the sea-rescue flyer—it’s the best hope of pulling her out—provided I can find her. Keep in contact as I travel and, if the satellite cameras see anything, let me know at once!

The bad news was that heavy cloud covered the coastline, ruling out observation from space. Yani relayed this news to Turias who frowned, then cut the connection. He called the mayor of Juliaca.

Can you find Alain and bring him to the phone, I need to speak to him urgently. By now he had reached the coast, but reckoned he was still ten minutes away from where he would begin his search. Minutes later Alain came through, frantic with worry, but Turias cut him short.

Alain, the best thing you can do is to tell me in which direction I should start looking, north or south.

Probably south and she always takes her student’s staff. Her mother told her…., and then Alain’s voice broke.

Turias spoke firmly. Listen, Alain, stay on the box and I’ll link in the camera and turn it forwards so that you can see the beach and help look for her. Thankful to be doing something useful Alain leant forward and stared at the image before him. He lost all sense of sitting in the mayor’s office and felt he was actually flying along the beach himself. The mayor’s assistant, a lady called Mattia, stood behind with one hand on his shoulder, her head bent forward to watch. She felt the tension in the muscles beneath her hand and her heart went out to this total stranger who had rushed into the office a bare two minutes earlier. What pain he must be suffering! Maybe her eyes could help too.

Turias laid his hand on his staff, querying it for any sign of a nearby staff’s vibration. There was no response.

Despite the dull weather, Kathryn had left early and consequently was further south than usual. Dad and I never explored that cave we heard about, she thought. The cliff face stood up clearly now—she would reach it soon. Some distance along, the dark opening of the cave beckoned.

The ocean and sky had turned a strange metallic colour, Kathryn began to feel uncomfortable. Her staff had been trying to attract her attention for some time now but there was no way she could get to a V-phone till she returned home, so she ignored it. Having walked so far, any message could wait.

Still, she could not ignore a growing feeling of apprehension, so she hurried towards her goal. Unbidden, an odd piece of knowledge surfaced in her mind. It was some macabre joke about young men seeking out danger for fun. A sailor, despising their stupidity, had suggested they go down to the beach to watch a tsunami come in.

A tsunami! she thought, no, surely not! There’d be a warning, then she looked at her staff and realized her mistake. Panic seized her. The evidence lay before her, for the tide had retreated so far it was utterly unnatural. All around had grown deathly quiet. The gulls had fled and there was a growing, frightening anticipation hanging in the air around her; something momentous was coming!

If it is a tsunami, I’m exposed here. Could the cave protect me?

Heart pounding, Kathryn began to run, but the sand dragged at her feet and the cave remained agonizingly distant.

Far ahead, where the land ran further out to sea, a dark line appeared. A strange sound vibrated in the air, the ground trembled and the total hopelessness of her situation hit her. She couldn’t reach the cave in time; it probably wouldn’t save her anyway.

There was nowhere, simply nowhere, she could go, and absolutely nothing she might do. She stood, knees rubbery, and stared at her approaching doom. For a mad moment she wondered if anyone had ever tried to surf a tsunami. Her whole body quivered as she grasped her student staff tightly, wishing it had some of the abilities possessed by the fabled staffs of the Guardians. She had been told they could lift you up! She held it out in trembling hands. Lift me! Lift me! she commanded it.

Nothing happened, her staff did not move at all. The horizon changed as, far out in front of her, the dark line rose higher.

Turias was becoming more and more concerned till, at last, his staff intimated a faint signal ahead. In Juliaca, Mattia suddenly pointed at the picture. There’s a figure! she cried. At the same moment Turias saw Kathryn and swung the craft round to come in beside her.