Majeena

By M.P. Adams

In a world of dark creatures and monsters, Majeena is a forgotten island, lost to the shadows.
A young orphaned creature called Aeroin Swift has lived on Majeena all his life. When the King of Majeena is attacked by a mysterious Beast who lives in the northern forest, he and his friends go on a journey to meet the Beast for themselves.
But the King's fiendish advisor, Rektor, has other plans for Aeroin; plans that will change Aeroin - and the destiny of Majeena - for ever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.P. Adams
• Release date: Jan 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311629517

M.P. Adams

My name is Michael Adams, and I am an author and charity worker. I've written a couple of books so far and I'm building up the patience to write some more.

Book preview

Majeena

by M.P. Adams

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2015 M.P. Adams

Edited by: Gareth Watkins

Cover illustration by: Joseph Bamborough

Cover Design by: Victoria Eyton

For Olinga, Rahmat, Salum and Shalua,

Who told the whole story by listening to every word.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – three creatures in a cave

Chapter 2 – the pebble coin

Chapter 3 – the falling grace of friends

Chapter 4 – walls and shadows

Chapter 5 – primal fire

Chapter 6 – the dark midday

Chapter 7 – dim candles for cold nights

Chapter 8 – his majesty’s local tea party

Chapter 9 – into the chasm

Chapter 10 – dyoka meet

Chapter 11 – the ever story of widow blake

Chapter 12 – parchment prophecy

Chapter 13 – nest of dripping injustice

Chapter 14 – how to make paws, claws, fur and fire

Chapter 15 – the astronomer

Chapter 16 – indestructible

Chapter 17 – one creature in a cave

Chapter 18 – mechanical bruise

Chapter 19 – the route of all armour

Chapter 20 – shelter under seige

Chapter 21 – the bure response

Chapter 22 – him and the light inside

Chapter 23 – waking dreams

Chapter 24 – kingdom falls

Chapter 25 – majeena dyoka

Chapter 1 – three creatures in a cave

Aeroin Swift sat back in a tree and tucked his wings beneath his arms, just as the Sun was setting over Majeena.

Aeroin was a young creature, no more than twelve years old, and most of his body was covered in dull plaits of black hair, except his hands and feet, which were hairless and webbed. A delicate wind swayed the trees and Aeroin, for the moment, felt peaceful. He sat further back into the tree, stretching out his legs. His eyes closed slowly and the Sun filtered away from the sky. The darkness of night-time crept upon the world. All was calm.

From before he could even walk, Aeroin had been very good at running from trouble. His wings gave him speed, balance, and the ability to glide across canopies, leaping from one tree to another effortlessly. On the ground, too, he was equally nimble. His wings were two sheets of film that ran underneath each arm, down along his body and to the tops of his knees. Every creature on this island had a gift of their own, but Aeroin was especially pleased with his wings because they meant he could get anywhere, even to the tops of the forests.

He awoke after a few hours, not to the cold or the shrill noises but to a light that flashed brilliantly over his eyes. He looked around to find what had shook him from his slumber but he only saw a placid darkness. Then it happened again: a burning light flashed over his face, making him squint.

He stood up with an arm latched against the great bark of the tree. His feet were steady on the branch and balanced across its length. After another few seconds the light appeared again and Aeroin saw that it came from far away, out on the horizon, in the sea. The light moved very slowly, as though the light came from a passing ship, and heavy clouds quickly engulfed the light. It became nothing more than a faint blur.

Having been woken, Aeroin could not fall back to sleep. He sat down on the branch quietly; his eyes were aching from the tiresome dreams he suffered. There was a noise beneath him and his ears pricked up.

Aeroin tilted his head slightly so that his ear was facing the ground. The sounds, he noticed, were of snapping twigs and ruffling leaves. Something was moving beneath him and, whatever this thing was, it was heavy-footed. The sound passed beneath him and continued into the distance. Aeroin’s eyes darted down towards the ground, but he could not see anything, for it was too dark. He stood up on his branch and then, with the lightest of jumps, sailed through the air to a neighbouring tree. There again was the sound of footsteps beneath him and Aeroin tried looking into the forest to see what moved below. He saw nothing, but his ears were good enough to keep track of whatever moved below him. So, with his ear tipped ground-wards, Aeroin Swift opened his wings gently and glided to the next tree.

"These are not footsteps, he decided as he landed on the next tree, these are hoof-steps."

And before he had time to think, Aeroin had to jump to the next tree because the hoof-steps were drawing away again at a fast pace. As Aeroin well knew, footsteps sound much more elegant than hoof-steps, even in the middle of a forest in the middle of the night.

Aeroin continued jumping from tree to tree, following the hoof-steps as they travelled through the wood. At times, Aeroin would have to glide as far as fifty metres across the canopy, just to avoid making a noise in the trees. But with very little effort and a short while later he found himself coming to the edge of the forest, near the sea. He could hear the waves crashing against the rocks, and the sound was getting louder and louder.

The hoof-steps stopped abruptly. Aeroin sat very still at the top of a tree, folded his arms and listened carefully. After an anxious wait, he heard a very deep, growling voice.

Pastor, came the voice, I could see your snout from the other side of the forest.

Out from behind a tree stepped a second creature. A pleasure to see you, too, Captain Valon, it said. How are the guards?

Not bad, came the gruff reply. A little scared, I think, but more resolved to kill the Beast. It almost got the King. If it wasn’t for the Guardian…

So I hear. Rektor’s little brute put a stop to it; deserves congratulations, but the Beast won’t stop at that, now that it’s returned. You know how vicious that thing is.

Yes, the creature grinned, quite vicious. So why am I out here, in the cold? There’s a legion of my guards back at the castle waiting in case it attacks again. What’s this ‘thing’ you want to show me?

Listening to the two creatures below, Aeroin made himself comfortable in the treetop, and kept his breathing quiet and his limbs steady.

Oh, not some thing – it’s a person I want you to meet. He’s waiting in a cave over on the beach.

Who is it?

Tsch, hissed Pastor, twitching his whiskers. All in good time, Captain. But he’s longing to meet you – it’s been no picnic getting you two together.

Well, he’d better be worth it. I’m a busy creature these days. What is he expecting? queried Captain Valon.

The two creatures shifted closer together and their bodies were gently illuminated by the spilling blue moonlight. Aeroin peeked down with a concentrated stare. Captain Valon, who Aeroin had been following through the woods, was a large bull-like creature, who walked on two legs. He must have been, or so Aeroin thought, at least two and a half metres tall. The other creature – Pastor – on the other hand, was much smaller and frailer than Captain Valon, though his rat-like face and ragged clothes did not make him appear any better.

Enough to warrant my freedom, said Pastor quickly. And before you contest, you haven’t met him yet.

Captain Valon raised a suspicious eyebrow. Get on with it, he said.

Captain Valon, the bull-creature, followed his companion Pastor across the beach and the cragged rocks. He sniffed coldly as he watched the rat-creature slither his way ahead across the pools of moonlit sea water and sandy grasses. Pastor’s claws were like nervous clams as they treaded the coarse landscape. From where he was sitting, Aeroin could only see the torn artefacts of Pastor’s jacket dip and rise as he headed toward a cave at the sea’s edge, leading Captain Valon to a secret meeting.

Aeroin peered hard from the treetop towards the cave, but the darkness made it hard for him to make out what was going on. He looked down at the ground below and saw the forest’s edge as it met the sandy bay of the beach. There was no cover on the beach, and it was not safe to jump down, but seeing the two creatures so far away, going towards the cave, Aeroin decided to jump and follow them both.

But before he did this, a great light from far out in the sea again swept across the land like a terrific beacon, illuminating everything momentarily. Aeroin hung still in the tree and held his breath for a moment. A shadow was cast deeply across the bay and, out of the corner of his eye, Aeroin saw it drift across the sand.

At first, all Aeroin could make out was a delicate flicker of darkness in the distance. A figure gradually emerged; a tall and slim figure that walked with a calm aplomb. Its hands were behind its back, and its footsteps were casual. Aeroin could see that this creature was, in fact, very human-like. It wore a dark admiral’s suit, and an admiral’s hat, too. His face was thin, pale and long, and a solid confidence was in his eyes. Aeroin was transfixed and watched as he approached the two creatures, Pastor and Captain Valon.

The man in the dark suit said nothing, but even from a distance Aeroin could see the fear in the two creatures’ eyes.

R-Rektor, stammered Pastor. I have the Captain here with me. He threw a sharp, deflecting glance at Captain Valon.

Rektor’s eyes thinned and danced back and forth between Pastor and Captain Valon. Interesting. You’ve got an impatient manner tonight, Pastor. I am pleased to finally meet you, Captain.

Captain Valon dipped his head elegantly. And you, Rektor. I am honoured to meet a friend of the King.

Pastor urged his companions to move into the shelter of the cave and the others agreed. As they spoke, Rektor’s words were like a fiery silk to the creatures and they seemed to do his bidding with a will that was not their own. They quickly led Rektor to the cave and disappeared behind a wall of dripping stalactites and mist.

Aeroin, too, was urged to follow the creatures below. He couldn’t decide if this was because he wanted to, or if it was because Rektor had spoken. Either way, Aeroin floated gently down from the tree and onto the sand below. From a safe distance, he tip-toed to the cave. It was cold now, and Aeroin could feel the wind blistering his face. Once Aeroin was at the edge of the cave, he sat on a rock and listened intently to the discussion within. What he heard was not at all what he had expected to hear.

Chapter 2 – the pebble coin

The three creatures stood in a cave, their words echoing through the rocky frame.

I will make this brief for you both; I’m needed at the Palace, so time is short, spoke Rektor.

However long is required of me, I’ll be here, said Pastor, twitching his whiskers. You’ll find this cave to be safe for you both to talk.

Rektor gave a dispassionate nod to Captain Valon, who walked over to the rat-creature and launched a hard fist across his fur-infested face. You’re not required at all, Pastor, he whispered shrugging. You’re the broker.

Pastor snarled and retracted, sucking in blood that dripped from his protruding mouth. Ach! You’re a miserable toad! snarled Pastor. I’m making a good deal with you.

"Time is short," Rektor repeated loudly.

Okay, okay, said Pastor and snapped his head away from Captain Valon.

Pastor peered for a moment at the back of the cave, choosing which of the rocks that were strewn around the edge of the dripping cave to sit on. He made a swift calculation of where best to sit, which was a low shelf equidistant between the Captain and Rektor, each of whom he felt cautious to be around. Aeroin peeped around the cave wall to catch a glimpse of the rat-creature’s contemplative face as he sat.

We should keep this meeting between the two of us, Captain. I think we both know the dangers of meeting outside the King’s approval.

The Captain gruffed. He’s in danger, but he doesn’t seem to know how badly. Last night was a close call; the Beast was moments away from killing him.

I know. This is precisely why we need to make a concerted effort to keep him out of harm’s way. If he stays in the Palace, within a few more weeks he’ll be dead. He cannot withstand the onslaught of the Beast and its so-called allies.

The Shelterians?

"No, not the Shelterians, Captain. They have nothing to do with it, they’re just useful scapegoats. It gives the city-folk something to think about – and someone to blame. No, the Beast’s allies are unaffiliated, landless and most likely hiding in the woods. They don’t like the King for his arrogance, his selfishness – precisely all the things I like about him. The Shelterians, on the other hand, they are the weakest of us and they will take whatever we dish them like sick dogs. Our real concern – yours and mine – is the Beast. If anyone of the City-folk knew his real power, they wouldn’t stay on this Island at all."

Pastor had been keeping an ear to the conversation but was taken by a smooth, round shape within the rocks. He reached down and pulled out something, which he covered with his hand. It was too difficult for Aeroin to make out what was in his hands, because the cave was too dim and the object was obscured by the three creatures that stood inside it. But immediately Rektor stood up and raised his arms, as if to procure the object that was close to his grasp.

And when Aeroin saw Rektor’s hands, he choked in fear. Each of his hands were as long as his forearms. They were so long and bony that, were they hanging straight down, they would both stretch far beyond his knees. His fingers alone could wrap around a neck twice. But there was something else, some other primal fear that emanated from the hands, and Aeroin couldn’t stand it.

What are you doing? sneered Pastor, Leave me alone.

Give me that, commanded Rektor.

Pastor resisted. It’s only a sovereign. It’s not worth a grain of sand to the jewels I’ve stolen for you.

You would think so, whispered Rektor. He took the object in his hands and clasped them tightly around it.

He put the object away in his coat and thought no more of it. Captain Valon, go quickly and gather a small troupe of your best guards. We must find the Beast at once and make sure it sees no more daylight. My feeling is it will be in the Borowitz Forest. Kill it swiftly, if you can. And you, Rektor looked down at Pastor with a grimace, will do well not to let a single soul know about this.

Of course, Rektor, he nodded, I only want my freedom, as I say.

And you shall have it, said Rektor. He peered around at the looming figure of the bull-creature, he’s all yours now, Captain. I’ll find a way to get the King to safety. I know a place, hidden from any danger, but no one – not even you – can know about it. Let those close to the King know that I am keeping him safe. Especially the Guardian. Remember now, we have very little time.

Rektor nodded one last time and, looking briefly at the walls of the cave as though it were decorated elaborately, he turned towards the cave entrance. Aeroin quickly moved out of view. He slid behind a large rock that had wet moss climbing over it, and he waited as Rektor walked casually by. The sovereign was put carefully into his front pocket and buttoned tightly shut.

Deep in the cave behind him, Aeroin heard the rat-creature say something, as though pleading, and this was followed by some muffled screams and yelps. They gently dissolved within a few minutes into the sound of the soft flowing waters as they caressed the rocks. The symphony of the beach was broken harshly as Captain Valon removed himself from the cave and walked off along the beach, wiping his hands of dirt and blood. His hooves punched the sand like a soft drum as he walked away into the darkness.

Aeroin sat still for a great deal of time, not daring to move from his precarious position. The moon was still high in the night sky, but Rektor and Captain Valon had finally disappeared out of view. And the rat-creature did not reappear from within the cave.

Aeroin backed slowly away from the entrance and then, very carefully, walked back shakily towards the wood. The ground beneath him was cold and damp, and he was very careful not to slip.

What was that all about? he thought. He realised it was getting too dangerous for him to stay out alone. He was, after all, a Shelterian himself; an orphan of Majeena Island kept precariously in the Shelter of the inner island. But before he jumped into the woods again to return home, he looked over his shoulder at the ocean expanse behind him. He saw the same bright light flicker across the horizon, scouring the surface of the sea like a carpet of fire. He shut his eyes tightly for a moment, a reflex to its brightness, and, when they opened again, the light was gone, never for Aeroin to see it again.

Chapter 3 – the falling grace of friends

A short time later Aeroin was far from the beach and speeding across the nearby fields. A beaten path of tall grass and wheat lay behind him within a few short minutes. He was heading back to the Shelter now as quick as he could, to tell everyone about his encounter. Of course, he knew that he was going to be in trouble with the Carers because he had run away again but that didn’t trouble him too much – he had a story to tell.

Eventually Aeroin reached a dirt road that meandered through the fields quite lazily. The dust of the road was swept up in the air by every passing horse. Through the murk Aeroin spotted a burgeoning storm brewing in the sky and heard a distant crash of thunder echoing long across the fields and, not wanting to get wet, he resolved to climb into a passing cart for protection. Very soon he saw a dirty brown horse slowly pulling a large cart over a hill in the distance. It was driven by an equally dirty and fat creature whose head and shoulders were covered by a sheath of black cloth. He was humming a tune to himself and his small head was bobbing from side to side in a jolly way, as though he was utterly content. Aeroin lay watching him from the side of the road and waited for him to get close by. He launched himself onto the back of the cart and quietly sat down amongst a slew of large, wooden barrels where he rested as the driver of the cart sang merrily away.

As Aeroin expected, the rain began to fall; nervously at first, but very quickly it was thumping against the cloth. Eventually Aeroin could hear nothing much except the heavy drumming of raindrops. Far away the thunder crashes seemed to be chasing him, but they were at such a distance that Aeroin didn’t worry too much about them.

He closed his eyes and began to imagine what was happening – a war was raging in the skies! – a great clash of armies! – the rain was like a hundred thousand creatures, marching off to battle! It was almost as though nature was playing out the war that was also happening between the Islands. Up until now Majeena Island had only