Ember: Forewedge Mountain Series, #1

By M.D. James

"Ember" is the first installment novella in the Forewedge Mountain mini-series, by the author of the best-selling "Muse Series". 

Ember is an eight-year old girl who sets out on a journey after her parents are killed by a band of thieves. On her journey she discovers truths about herself and her special power. 

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Porterlance Books
• Release date: Jul 23, 2013
• ISBN: 9781497724457

Book preview

Chapter 1

My parents died just a little under a year ago.  Before then, Bayeridge was a beautiful and peaceful place to live.  We had a quaint little cottage with a barn out back.  Momma and Poppa made a living from selling fruit and pies in the town square.  We had all sorts of fruit trees on our land:  apple, peach, cherry, and even plums.  Poppa would harvest all the fruit, while Momma would make the pies.  The towns people as far north as the King’s castle raved about Momma’s delicious pies.  Each one was lovingly made, as if it were for a very special occasion.  Momma even cut hearts out in the tops of the crusts and sprinkled each pie top with sugar before baking it, so that the crust would look and taste extra special.

Selling pies didn’t make us rich, but we were happy.  We managed to trade with other families for the things that we needed, and Momma and Poppa always had smiles on their faces.  But, that was before...

Groups of thieves would terrorize the smaller towns in the King’s reign.  Since the King’s castle was so far away from Bayeridge and the other small towns, there was little being done about the thieves that would come to our farms and order that all of our harvests be given to them.  Some would try to make the long journey to the King’s castle, but would never be seen again.  If a family refused to give the thieves what they asked for, the thieves would come back and take it by force.  Most times, the family would be found slaughtered in the morning. 

That’s what happened to Momma and Poppa.  I remember last summer vividly, even though I was only seven.  Momma saw the thieves ride up on their horses, and ordered me to go hide.  I crawled inside of a large chest, scared because I didn’t know what was happening.  I could see through one of the slats though as Momma opened the door.

Where’s yer husband, Wench? the middle man demanded.  He was a big, burly man, with a scraggly beard.  His face looked to be formed into a permanent sneer.  As he talked, I could see several of his teeth were missing.  He was joined by two other men, one on each side of him.  One of them was short, but looked extra mean, as he had a large scar running down his face from the top of his eye all the way down through his mouth.  I figured he was probably the second in command.  The third guy looked like he was around as muscle.  He looked strong, but dumb.

My husband is out in the orchards right now.  We make fruit filled pies, Momma explained with a forced smile upon her face. 

The men left to find Poppa, and I ran out and hugged Momma tightly.  I didn’t know what was going on, but I knew Momma was scared from the way she was shaking. 

What did those men want, Momma, I asked.

I don’t know, baby.  We both walked to the window to try to watch the men talking to Poppa.  Poppa and the three men seemed to be talking, when suddenly Poppa started yelling and pulled out a dagger.  As quickly as the three men came, they retreated just as fast. 

As Poppa came barging into the cottage, Momma asked him what the men wanted. 

They want all of our harvest, Poppa yelled.  He was fuming.  I didn’t understand what he was so mad about.  Wasn’t it a good thing that the men wanted to buy all of our fruit?  As Poppa continued to rant, I started to understand.  The men wanted to take our harvest, not pay for it.  If they think I’m going to let them come in here and take everything we’ve worked for, they’re mad, Poppa continued. 

Charles, you need to calm down, Momma told him, but it was no use. 

Poppa spent the rest of