Teruvisa: Two Kingdoms

By Gentry Winn

Since he was two years old, Jared Collins has been keeping a secret, so secret that he doesn’t even know about it. However, the time has come for his secret to be revealed.

A series of events unfold, and he is transported to the kingdom of Teruvisa. After entering this remarkable world of awesome technology, Jared, together with two other newcomers his age, discover that they’ve been entrusted with a mission to succeed where an entire civilization has failed.

That’s a lot of responsibility for three twelve-year-olds who haven’t ever used a laris, seen a jobalich, experienced hypertravel, played ketauro, or spoken Amatay ... yet.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gentry Winn
• Release date: Jun 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9780615499888

Gentry Winn

Gentry lives in American Fork, Utah with his wife and 6 children. He works for Henry Schein as a technical writer. He likes writing, dancing, soccer, and piano.

Book preview

Teruvisa

Two Kingdoms

By Gentry Winn

Copyright 2011-2012 Gentry Winn

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords 5th Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this free e-book. You are welcome to share it with your friends. This work may be reproduced, copied and, distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the book remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this book, please return to Smashwords.com to leave a review. Thank you for your support.

****~~~****

Contents

Prologue: Vanished

Chapter 1: Nightmares and Visions

Chapter 2: Under the Lake

Chapter 3: The Coincidental Deaths

Chapter 4: The Council Room

Chapter 5: The Tour

Chapter 6: The Sublevel

Chapter 7: Ferran’s Library

Chapter 8: The Rebellion Begins

Chapter 9: The Spies

Chapter 10: The Division

Chapter 11: Dreggan Wins

Chapter 12: Rise of the Enemy

Chapter 13: Neural Connections

Chapter 14: Diestro

Chapter 15: Amatay

Chapter 16: Bleeding Mountain

Chapter 17: Jared, the Hero

Chapter 18: The Uninvited Guest

Chapter 19: Ketauro

Chapter 20: The Decoder

Chapter 21: The Passwords

Chapter 22: Danielle’s Sacrifice

Chapter 23: Crossing Over

Chapter 24: Light Versus Darkness

****~~~****

Prologue

Vanished

The instant Hilcar exited the portal of swirling light, he crouched down by a nearby tree and looked around to see if his arrival had been noticed. The portal had vanished, and all he could see around him was jungle, blanketed by the usual misty darkness that covered Obalin.

The last place Hilcar wanted to be was Obalin, but he didn’t have a choice. That was where he had tracked Amron, Meya, and Jared (he started tracking them the instant they left Teruvisa).

He took out his treyo—a silver, credit card-sized handheld device. He used it to quickly verify his position and then, returning the device to an inside pocket of his brown robe, looked in the direction he needed to go.

Just up ahead. Better get going. Hilcar took a deep breath and set off into the jungle and its thick darkness toward his family.

In less than a minute, Hilcar reached the clearing he was looking for. Through the dark mist, he could see movement. His heart raced, but he crept closer—the haze still helping to hide his advance.

When he reached a large tree that was about 10 feet from the clearing, he turned around and leaned back against it. This is close enough for now. He didn’t want to risk being seen—the mist, though thick, wasn’t thick enough to conceal his presence if he got any closer.

I need to come up with a plan. He took a deep breath to calm himself and listened.

There were sounds of some shuffling and a physical struggle. Jared, Hilcar’s two-year-old grandson, began to cry.

Hilcar rotated slightly to the right and peeked out from behind the tree, concerned for Jared. They better not hurt him.

Dreggan, who was wearing a black, hooded robe with wide, gold trim, had taken the boy from Meya.

Meya reached out for her crying son but was held back by one of Dreggan’s black-robed thugs. Let him go!

Amron was also being restrained by a large, robed man.

Silence her. Dreggan gave the command as casually as someone would say the time of day.

The large, robed thug holding Meya turned her around and then swung a massive fist into the side of her face. She squeaked and let out a groan as she fell to the ground.

Amron called out to his wife as he struggled in vain to free himself, Meya!

Hilcar tensed up, clenching one hand into a fist and clawing at the tree with the other. After witnessing Meya getting struck and seeing her lying motionless on the ground, he wanted to storm into the clearing and fight off the captors, but he couldn’t allow his emotions to cause him to act impulsively. Dreggan was too powerful. Hilcar needed a better plan than rushing into a fight and hoping they could escape.

But what? Frustrated, Hilcar hit his forehead with his fist a couple of times. Come on... think. He wished he had more time.

Meya stirred slightly and moaned.

Hilcar relaxed a little. Good. She’s coming around. Tough girl. His daughter-in-law was about as tough as they came. He smiled to himself, remembering how she had stood up to him once. And stubborn.

Dreggan waved his hand in front of Jared’s face, and the toddler instantly stopped crying. Where are they? He sounded calm but determined.

Amron fired back, I’m not telling you anything!

Nearby, to his left, Hilcar saw a dense group of tall plants with broad leaves and thick stalks, behind and to the side of Dreggan, and got an idea. If I can make it over there, I just might be able to get Amron’s attention without the others seeing me.

Hilcar crawled behind the low-lying foliage along the edge of the clearing toward his next hiding place.

If I have to ask again, your precious little boy won’t have a mommy. Dreggan snapped his fingers.

The man standing by Meya picked her up by the throat. Her feet dangled above the ground. Gasping for breath, she began to kick her legs wildly and clawed at the arm of the brutish attacker choking her.

Hilcar’s blood boiled. He clenched his jaw as he restrained himself from rushing to her aid. Almost there. Just keep going.

Okay, I’ll tell you! Amron cried. Just put her down!

Dreggan’s thug dropped Meya, and she went crashing to the ground. She coughed and gasped a few times but otherwise seemed to be okay.

Hilcar made it to the plants behind Dreggan undetected. Now, how am I going to get his attention?

Hilcar decided to try beoveh. Since Dreggan apparently hadn’t noticed that his prisoners had been followed by Hilcar, the odds that he would be listening for a beoveh communication from Hilcar were pretty slim. However, it was still risky.

Hilcar did his best to concentrate on sending his message to only Amron and then reached out mentally to his son. Son... I’m here... don’t try to talk.

Hilcar saw Amron’s eyes dart around, looking for him.

Wanting to let Amron know his position without anyone else noticing, Hilcar looked around for something small to throw at him—something inconspicuous—but not too small that he wouldn’t feel it or too big that it would hurt him. A drop of liquid was the first thing that he thought of, but he didn’t see any dew on the leaves of the plants he was hiding behind or any other form of moisture nearby. So....

He stuck a finger in his mouth and pulled it out with a bit of saliva on it. Right... He flung the saliva at Amron’s face, and then, using some of his powers, he pushed the spit with a focused, almost microscopic, stream of air that propelled the drop to its target. Here.

Amron wiped the moisture from his cheek and looked right in Hilcar’s direction, but it was unlikely he could see Hilcar hidden behind the large plants in the mist at the edge of the clearing.

Well? I’m waiting. Dreggan, who was still cradling Jared in his arms, sounded very impatient.

It was time to act. Hilcar risked one last beoveh communication with Amron. Distract them, and I’ll grab Jared.

Amron exhaled loudly. Why do you want them, anyway? There’s no way you can get into Teruvisa now.

Dreggan barked out a laugh. "Ha. Teruvisa? Obalin will become more powerful and glorious than Teruvisa ever was."

Hilcar wondered what Dreggan meant by that statement but dismissed it. He didn’t want to get distracted while waiting for Amron’s distraction.

A thug escorted Meya, who had gotten back on her feet, to Amron’s side.

Dreggan said through clenched teeth, Now, tell me where they are.

Amron took a deep breath. Right here. He reached into his robe and then threw something down.

Dreggan’s attention turned to the ground. Amron had tossed an olamshi—a golf ball-sized, silver orb—at Dreggan’s feet. Hilcar immediately threw an arm up to his eyes to protect them from the blinding flash of light he knew would come.

The olamshi made its high-pitched squeal.

Dreggan wailed, AAAAAH!

Hilcar sprang forward and jerked Jared from Dreggan’s arms.

KILL THEM! Dreggan shouted.

Amron called out, Dad, get Jared to the rendezvous point! We’ll meet you there!

Hilcar, holding Jared tight against his chest, launched himself up and out of the jungle. At the other end of his mile-wide arc, he let himself freefall into the Divide—a great canyon—until his robe, acting like a parachute, slowed him down.

When Hilcar landed gently on the thin strip of shoreline between the river and the canyon wall, without so much as a stumble, he took out his treyo and pointed it straight ahead. A disk of light appeared in the rock, and he stepped forward through it.

A breath later, Hilcar was standing on the steep slope of a forested mountainside. The earth beneath his feet loosened, and small rocks tumbled down the hill. He grabbed onto a nearby boulder, heaved Jared onto it, and then climbed up next to his grandson.

Hilcar sat up and exhaled loudly to calm his nerves. Made it. He looked around at the scenery and then at the silent, passive toddler, wearing the same style of blue pants and white collared shirt as he.

Hilcar remembered that Dreggan had waved his hand and made Jared stop crying. I’ll have to remove that soother Dreggan put on him as soon as we get to the rendezvous point.

Well Jared, we better get going. Hilcar picked Jared up, pulling his cloak around the boy and holding him tightly, pictured the exact spot in the backyard of the house in Riverside, California (more than 50 miles away) where he intended to land, and then sprang into the sky and rocketed toward the rendezvous point.

In the blink of an eye, Hilcar and Jared reached the back porch of their new home. Hilcar opened the sliding glass door and went inside.

Hello. Anyone here?

No answer.

That’s odd. I wonder why they’re not here yet. Hilcar reflected on the escape from Obalin, trying to remember what Amron and Meya were doing right before he flew out of the jungle with Jared. He recalled that they were both free and were leaving the clearing in the opposite direction as he and Jared.

He shrugged. They’ll probably be here any second.

Hilcar glanced down at Jared and then walked over to the family room couch. Well Jared, let’s get you back to normal.

After placing him on the couch, Hilcar waved his hand in front of Jared’s face and said the words to release him from the effects of Dreggan’s soother. Surprisingly, Jared didn’t start crying or even look around at his new surroundings as Hilcar had anticipated. He just fell over onto his side, closed his eyes, and went to sleep, apparently exhausted from the day’s events.

Hilcar carried him upstairs and tucked him in bed.

As he shut the door on the way out of Jared’s bedroom, worry started to set in. Amron and Meya should be here by now. He started to feel a little guilty for leaving them. I shouldn’t have abandoned them like that.

But, Amron had told him to get Jared out of Obalin and meet at the rendezvous point. There hadn’t been time to argue or discuss a different plan, and Jared’s safety had to take priority. I thought they would be right behind me. He clenched his jaw and balled up his fists.

A thought crept into his mind. What if they didn’t make it? Immediately, he reprimanded himself. No, don’t think that. He didn’t want to think about what ifs and went downstairs. Manasto will be able to send some people to find out where they are, he assured himself.

Hilcar contacted Manasto using beoveh. Manasto.

Manasto answered almost immediately. But, before Hilcar could explain what had happened and ask for help, Manasto’s voice filled his head, We know. We were tracking them, too. Some men arrived at Obalin only moments after you left. He paused (which caused Hilcar to gulp and a sense of impending doom to fall upon him). I’m sorry, but they found no trace of Amron or Meya.

No. Hilcar didn’t want to believe it. But if they were still alive, they would have been here by now.

His heart sank, and his legs lost their strength. He let himself collapse to his knees.

Hilcar wanted to cry out and beg Manasto to keep looking, but he found it hard to breathe, let alone speak. The world around him seemed to go dark, and it felt like time had stopped.

Manasto’s next words sounded distant. We’re still monitoring all movements in and around Obalin as best we can, but so far, no gateways have been used to leave Obalin other than yours. So, Hilcar, for the time being, you must look after Jared.

Hilcar muttered, still in disbelief, Of course.

Good. I’ll keep you informed.

The beoveh conversation ended, and Hilcar fell face down on the ground, groaning and sobbing uncontrollably.

When the tears stopped coming, he realized that he was curled up in a ball on his side, covered by his robe and its hood, but had no idea how long he had been like that. He was still shaking a little, so he tried taking deep breaths to steady himself.

After a few minutes, he reached deep inside—past the shock, disbelief, and grief that had overwhelmed him—and summoned the strength to get up. He took a step toward the stairs, intending to go up to his bedroom, but despair started to swell inside him again as he thought of Jared, who was asleep upstairs. How am I going to tell him?

Hilcar stumbled backward and then fell onto the couch as he let himself go limp. He sank into the cushions, and his head tipped back. He felt a great sense of loss and emptiness inside him as he stared at the ceiling.

Eventually, he succumbed to emotional exhaustion and fell asleep.

**********

Hilcar was awakened by a quiet voice and someone pushing on his shoulder. Grandpa. Grandpa.

He turned his head and saw Jared kneeling next to him on the couch.

Jared rubbed his abdomen. I’m hungry.

Hilcar put Jared on his lap and smiled at him. Of course, you are. I’m sorry grandpa’s being such a sleepy-head this morning. He gave Jared a big hug.

As Hilcar led Jared by the hand into the kitchen, Jared asked, Where’s mommy?

Hilcar’s heart melted again, but he tried to be strong for Jared’s sake. He wasn’t sure what to say, but he managed to explain the situation in simple terms. She and your daddy have gone away, so you’ll live with grandpa for a while. Does that sound okay?

As innocent as could be, Jared answered, Yeah.

A tear rolled down Hilcar’s cheek, but he quickly wiped it away and stood up. He didn’t want Jared to think something was wrong and start asking questions that Hilcar couldn’t handle at the moment.

Hilcar didn’t feel like eating anything, so, after he got Jared some breakfast, he went back into the family room and sat down on the couch.

He remembered Manasto’s words, ...you must look after Jared, and began to think about what he would tell people (and eventually Jared—when he got older) about the deaths of Jared’s parents and about how he would convince others he was Jared’s legal guardian. I’ll have to come up with the appropriate documents: a will and death certificates.

His thoughts turned from death certificates to coming up with a story about how Jared became an orphan. I guess I could go with something easy... like he lost his parents in a car accident in Los Angeles.

It seemed almost cruel to use something so ordinary as the cause of their deaths when, if they were killed, it would have been in a self-sacrificing act of heroism. But, not wanting to dwell on the cause of their deaths (especially if they were still alive), he moved his thoughts along. So, when will I say they died? He quickly decided, I’ll make it recent... like a month ago.

Hilcar began to wonder if, to the people on Earth, it would seem strange that an older man (and a widower, as well) would be taking care of a toddler. I’ll have to say that Jared didn’t have any other family to take him in. I suppose I could say that Meya didn’t have a good relationship with her family—so they refused to care for him—and Amron was our (my wife and mine) only son, so there were no siblings on our side of the family to take responsibility for him, either.

Responsibility... That word prompted Hilcar to think of what one of his Earthly responsibilities would be—work. Of course, he would only have to pretend to go to work, but Jared would still need to be in day care.

So, what’ll my career be? Nothing came to mind. Well, it should probably be something ordinary so that people don’t ask too many questions about it... He thought of accounting. Yeah. That’ll be fine.

Hilcar had come up with a good story, but being an older man (according to Earth’s standards) and having to raise his grandson alone was going to make living on Earth challenging. Additionally, he couldn’t use any of his powers around Jared or teach him anything about Teruvisa until Jared was old enough (that was what the Council, himself included, had decided would be best).

Hilcar groaned within himself, Aaah. The boy would be better off with his parents. Tears started to well up in his eyes, but he took a deep breath and tried to focus on what had to be done. No use in dwelling on what can never be.

Hilcar became determined to raise Jared the best he could, love him as his own son, give him a good life, and prepare him in subtle ways for the time when he would return to Teruvisa.

Chapter 1

Nightmares and Visions

Jared wanted to run, but he couldn’t. A force of some kind held his bare feet firmly to the cold ground. He twisted and tugged, desperate to escape from the dark, silent forest that refused to release its grip on him.

Moments later, a robed figure came out from behind a nearby tree and approached Jared with the confidence of a hunter who knows his prey can’t get away. Without a word, the tall stranger grabbed Jared by the shirt and lifted him off the ground with ease.

Jared’s face was inches from the menacing stranger’s face, but he could see only darkness where the person’s face should’ve been. Who are you?

Jared woke up. His eyes darted in every direction.

He exhaled loudly, annoyed and impressed by the realistic dream, and then rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. Wow. It seemed even more real than last time.

It had been over a week since the last time Jared had had that recurring nightmare, and he hoped, just like he did every time, that this would be the last time. He hated how the nightmare made him feel weak and alone. He also disliked admitting how strong of an effect it had on him because, after all, it was just a dream, and he wasn’t a child.

With a groan, Jared sat up and stretched before throwing off his covers. He got out of bed, picked his algebra book and homework folder up off the nightstand (he had done his homework in bed last night), and then tossed them both on his backpack, which was lying open on his desk by the door, as he left the room.

He crossed the hall to the bathroom to start getting ready for school. It wasn’t going to be just another day of seventh grade, though. It was the Friday before Halloween, which meant that the students could dress up in costumes at school, and Jared had decided to wear his soccer uniform to show off that he was on a soccer team.

Seeing his black goalie shorts, orange-and-black-striped soccer jersey, black tube socks, and shin guards sitting on the bathroom floor by the wall renewed his excitement about his costume choice. A light had been shined on the dark gloom left in his thoughts by the nightmare he had.

About 20 minutes later, as Jared came out of the bathroom, he got lightheaded, and an image of a white hand on a black background flashed before his eyes. Whoa. He leaned against the wall to steady himself.

After a couple of seconds, he took a deep breath and pushed off from the wall. He was about to take a step when his grandpa approached him in the hall.

Jared, I was wondering if... Jared’s grandpa paused and got a concerned look on his face. His voice became softer. Are you alright?

Jared nodded. Uh—hm. He didn’t feel that getting lightheaded after standing up too fast was worth mentioning.

His grandpa took a step closer and then put a hand on Jared’s shoulder. Did you have that nightmare again last night?

Jared was stunned. He did have the nightmare again. But, why is he bringing it up?

The last time Jared had his nightmare, more than a week ago, his grandpa mentioned he thought Jared looked tired, and that’s when he told his grandpa about the recurring nightmare he was having. But, he hadn’t made a big deal out of it.

Maybe I look tired again. Jared wondered if that was what prompted his grandpa’s question.

Jared looked down to the side and shrugged. Yeah. He tried to make it seem unimportant, even though the nightmare really did bother him. But, it’s no big deal.

His grandpa slid his hand off Jared’s shoulder. Well, I think I have an answer as to why you’ve been having these bad dreams.

Jared looked up with curiosity and disbelief. What do you mean? They’re just dreams.

No. I think it’s something else. Jared’s grandpa looked more serious than usual. Have you seen any images outside of your dreams?

Jared never seemed to be able to hide when something was bothering him from his grandpa, but he was still surprised by the question. How did he know? Sometimes, it seemed like his grandpa could read his mind.

Hesitantly, Jared admitted, Well... I did see something just now.

What was it?

Jared couldn’t believe he was going to tell his grandpa what he saw, but, for some unknown reason, he felt he should say what it was. I think it was a hand. He shrugged, not thinking that it had any great significance.

To Jared’s surprise, his grandpa seemed very interested. What did it look like? Describe the hand to me. Jared must have had a weird look on his face because his grandpa said, Humor me.

Jared didn’t know why his grandpa was acting so strangely over nothing, but he held up his own hand, with his palm facing himself, as he described the hand he had seen. I got lightheaded and then saw an image—or I guess you could call it a drawing or a symbol—of a white hand on a black background. The hand was open, with the fingers together, and the thumb was sticking out to the side. After he said it, he realized just how stupid it sounded.

This is very serious. Jared’s grandfather remained straight-faced.

Jared expected his grandpa to start laughing or at least smile, not carry on like he was. Serious?

Yes, very. I’m going to have to pick you up right after school and bring you home, and you won’t be able to leave the house at all tonight.

What? Jared thought that maybe his grandpa was teasing him.

His grandpa kept the same serious look on his face and tone in his voice. Meet me on the south lawn outside the school as soon as your classes are over. I’ll get off work early today and give you a ride home.

It took a few moments for the reality of what his grandpa was saying to sink in. This... can’t be happening. His grandpa had approved Jared’s plans that evening. He can’t change his mind like that.

But, I was going to go trick-or-treating with Tom. Remember? Jared whined.

Jared’s grandpa remained solemn. I know. I’m sorry.

That answer wasn’t nearly good enough. It only made Jared more annoyed. I can’t believe he’s doing this. Anger started creeping into Jared’s voice. Can’t it wait ‘til tomorrow?

Jared’s grandpa shook his head. I’m afraid not.

Why not? Jared wondered if the reason his grandpa was having second thoughts about him being out after dark was because he thought Jared might pass out on the street and get run over by a car or something, even though Jared was 12 years old—old enough to go out at night around the neighborhood without his grandpa having to worry about him—and his friend Tom would be with him. I’m sure Tom—

His grandpa cut him off. Jared, your dreams have crossed into your waking hours. There’s a reason for these nightmares and this hand vision. If you’ll just—

Jared couldn’t hold in his frustration any longer. A vision? Okay, now you’ve gone totally crazy! He had never insulted his grandpa before, and he almost wanted to take it back right after he said it.

No. His grandfather was noticeably agitated and waved a finger side to side. I assure you; this is no little thing. Based on what you’ve told me, I can’t let you go out tonight.

Even though Jared felt a little guilty for having spoken so disrespectfully, he remained firm against his grandpa’s ridiculous conclusion. I can’t go out because of a stupid nightmare and some so-called vision? What are you talking about?

You’re my responsibility. His grandpa’s tone softened slightly. I could never forgive myself if something bad were to—

Enough is enough, Jared thought. His grandpa was being way too overprotective about nothing. What do my nightmares have to do with going out on Halloween?

Jared’s grandpa had never been so controlling before. He was acting very strange—even unreasonably.

That’s why Jared was so shocked when his grandpa cleared his throat and said definitively, Your parents left you in my care, so I’ll decide what’s best for you.

It’s not fair, Jared pouted as he stomped his foot and folded his arms. He didn’t know what else he could say to change his grandpa’s mind.

With an empathetic tone, Jared’s grandpa responded, I know. I want you to be able to have fun with your friends. But just not tonight, okay? He put a hand on Jared’s shoulder and spoke more softly. I’ve never asked you to do anything without a reason, so I need you to trust me when I tell you that it’s very important that you stay home tonight. I wish I could explain, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

His grandpa seemed sincere, but that didn’t make Jared happy about not being able to go out with his friend. Jared looked down and grumbled, I don’t understand. What are you so worried about?

His grandpa reached out to Jared with his voice. What every parent’s worried about—the health and safety of their child.

For some reason—maybe because he was caught up in his emotions—Jared said something to his grandpa that he never had before. Yeah, but you’re not my dad. He shrugged his shoulder, pulled away from his grandfather’s touch, and turned around. He couldn’t look at his grandpa anymore. I better finish getting ready for school, he muttered.

As Jared started down the stairs, he heard his grandpa say, It’ll all be clearer tomorrow. I promise. There were unmistakably tears in his grandpa’s voice.

Jared was torn by the hurt he caused his grandpa, but his frustration was equally strong. Yeah right, Jared said under his breath as he entered the kitchen to get some breakfast.

A few moments later, his grandpa came down the stairs. Jared expected his grandpa would come into the kitchen, but instead, Jared heard the door that led to the garage open.

Have a good day at school. The sadness in his grandpa’s voice weakened the sentiment. Don’t miss the bus.

Jared, still sulking,