The Adventures of William the Brownie

By Christine E. Schulze

William the Brownie loves his family—even more than he loves chocolate and super hero comics. So when his mommy and daddy get kidnapped by monsters, he embarks at once with his little brother, Brendan, on a grand adventure to find them. Aided by a dragon, a guardian fairy, and plenty of new magical friends along the way, the brothers must overcome giant spiders, naughty rainbows, bickering cyclops, and many other challenges. Can William become the super hero he has always imagined himself and save his parents before it’s too late?

*Note to readers: 25% of all profits goes to ALFA, a charity helping adults with autism and other developmental disabilities in Southern Illinois live more full and abundant lives!*

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christine E. Schulze
• Release date: Nov 21, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311979148

Christine E. Schulze

Christine E. Schulze has been living in castles, exploring magical worlds, and creating fantastical romances and adventures since she was too young to even write of such stories. Her collection of YA, MG, and children's fantasy adventure books, The Amielian Legacy, is comprised of series and stand-alone books that can all be read separately but also weave together to create a single, amazing fantasy.One of her main aspirations for The Amielian Legacy is to create fantasy adventures with characters that connect with readers from many different backgrounds. Her current focus is to include racially diverse characters and also those with disabilities. The latter is inspired by Schulze working with adults with autism and other developmental disabilities at Trinity Services in Southern Illinois. She also donates 25% of all royalties to ALFA, a local charity that supports many of Trinity’s programs.Schulze draws much of her inspiration from favorite authors like Tolkien and Diana Wynne Jones, favorite games like The Legend of Zelda, and especially from the people in her life. Some of her exciting ventures include the publication of her award-winning Bloodmaiden, as well as The Stregoni Sequence and The Chronicles of the Mira with Writers-Exchange. Her books for younger readers include In the Land of Giants and The Amazing Captain K.Christine currently lives in Belleville, IL, but you can visit her on her website:http://christineschulze.com/(Or facebook):https://www.facebook.com/Christine-E-Schulze-158265555890/?fref=ts(And there’s always Goodreads):https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3242087.Christine_E_Schulze(And of course fanmail is the best stuff ever and is greatly appreciated!):[e-mail]~ or ~18 Archview DriveBelleville, IL 62221

Book preview

THE ADVENTURES OF

WILLIAM THE BROWNIE

Christine E. Schulze

Smashwords Edition

The Adventures of William the Brownie

Copyright © 2014 Christine E. Schulze

All rights reserved

Cover Art Copyright © 2014 Kishiro

Illustrations Copyright © 2014 Kishiro

Smashwords License Notes

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system - except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the Web - without permission in writing from the author. For information, please contact the author via regular mail.

Connect with Christine at:

http://christineschulze.com

Connect with Kishiro at:

http://kishiro-kun.deviantart.com/

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: A Problem with Chocolate

Chapter 2: The Dragon with the Dog Face

Chapter 3: The Guardian of the Children

Chapter 4: The Prince of Rainbows

Chapter 5: The Riddling Web of Avery Sphynx

Chapter 6: Cat-girl and the Fastest Shoes

Chapter 7: The Littlest Sugar Glider

Chapter 8: The Forest of Eternal Autumn

Chapter 9: The Silly Quarrels of Giants

Chapter 10: Bunnies, Chocolate, and Fairy Dreams

Chapter 11: A Little Blue Flower

Chapter 12: Happy at Last

About the Author

About the Illustrator

The Amielian Legacy

For Mr. Brown, my Little Hero

~ and ~

For all of my Monkeys and Magic Children

Past, Present, and Future:

I love you all

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

"...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,

faith, meekness, temperance..."

(Galatians 5:22, 23)

Chapter 1: A Problem with Chocolate

William was a Brownie from the Gregerson Fields, which rested deep inside the magical land of Auli’i. The Brownies were a tiny, wee folk, standing no more than a few inches tall. As their name depicts, they loved chocolate, and William was no exception.

In fact, this story begins early one morning as the small, golden-haired boy with pointed, elf-like ears stood debating over the matter of a particular chocolate bar. He tilted his head and wrinkled his nose. His large, blue eyes studied the hungry face staring up at him and the pudgy hands reaching toward him, while his brows dipped the way they often did when he pondered something very seriously.

William adored his little brother, Brendan—much as he adored the chocolate bar he’d been ready to consume for breakfast, and which Brendan now eyed carefully. Sharing is so hard sometimes, William thought, clutching the chocolate bar a little tighter; it made a squishy sound. If he didn't make up his mind soon, it would melt into unrecognizable goo.

Deciding he loved Brendan more than the chocolate bar—and that he could sneak another bar from the pantry besides—William handed the half-mushy chocolate to the toddler who accepted it with a grin and a gurgling laugh.

William crept from the bedroom then and tip-toed down the hallway to thekitchen. He snitched a second chocolate bar, wondering at his amazing luck at being able to sneak so much chocolate without getting caught. Of course, he’d been practicing his sneaking quite a bit lately, having learned much on the subject from the best comic books that Daddy always read to him. Mommy thought the comics were silly, but she couldn’t really understand why they were so amazing. After all, being a girl, she didn’t even know how to read them; only girls who were teachers knew how to read comics.

William hurried back down the hallway. He’d already half-consumed his chocolate bar and thought about going back for another, but Brendan suddenly laughed from their bedroom. William froze in place right outside his mommy and daddy’s room. He waited and listened, but no noise stirred from within. Their entire little village had stayed out late at a party last night; perhaps that’s why Mommy and Daddy were still in such an oddly deep sleep. Just to be safe, William decided to peek inside their room before heading back to his own.

The door was cracked open; he pushed it open a little wider. It creaked on old hinges, and William made an annoyed face. The creaking would certainly wake Mommy and Daddy now—so much for his super-hero sneakiness.

William poked his head inside the bedroom and gasped. The bed was perfectly made. The covers weren’t rumpled one bit, and Mommy and Daddy were nowhere to be seen.

Mommy? Daddy? he called.

When no answer came, he tip-toed into the room. Maybe they’d fallen asleep somewhere strange, after being so tired from the party. He checked under the bed, inside the wardrobe, and then poked his head inside the small adjoining bathroom. Nothing behind the bathtub curtains, nothing in any of the drawers or cabinets. Everything was perfectly neat and orderly, and nothing was out of place—except for his mommy and daddy.

William dashed from the room and almost tripped over Brendan who’d toddled from their bedroom and now ran clumsily down the hall. Gooey chocolate ringed his wide grin, and he stretched sticky, chocolate-covered hands toward his big brother.

Mommy? Mommy? Brendan asked.

William had to think fast. He didn’t want to scare Brendan by telling him that Mommy and Daddy were missing. Maybe they’d just fallen asleep at one of their friends’ houses or even outside beneath the Celebration Tree. Taking Brendan’s hand, William said, Don’t worry, Brendan. Mommy and Daddy are just playing a game. They’re hiding, and we have to find them.

Brendan laughed, looking delighted at the idea. William led him through the house, and they searched everywhere—behind doors and curtains, under shelves, inside cabinets, under tables and chairs. When their search came up empty yet again, William said, Maybe they’re hiding outside, Brendan. Let’s go look...

He pulled Brendan toward the front door, but all of a sudden, Brendan plopped down on his bottom in the middle of the kitchen.

"Come on, Brendan!" William tugged his baby brother’s hand, but Brendan sat still as stone, pouting and smacking his lips with a side-ways glance at the pantry.

William rolled his eyes and hurried toward the pantry. "Brendan, why are you always so hungry..?"

He grabbed what food he could reach—raspberries, raisins, and sunflower seeds—and brought them into the kitchen. Then, he hesitated. Mommy wouldn’t be too happy if she walked in and found them eating on the floor instead of at the table. That was a house rule, after all. But Mommy was busy hiding, and Brendan wouldn’t do anything else until he ate, and despite his super-hero strength, William couldn’t lift Brendan all the way into his high chair.

Instead, he grabbed a towel from one of the kitchen drawers, spread it on the floor, and created a picnic breakfast for him and Brendan. As they ate, William's stomach growled. He’d been too worried to notice how hungry his tummy felt.

This was a good idea, Brendan, he said. You’re so smart; you always have the best ideas.

Brendan smiled, shoved a clump of raisins in his mouth, and reached for another raspberry.

Once they’d finished their meal, William placed the towel on