The Connors Chronicles, The Cross Cupboards

By C. G. Peltier

The ebb and flow of natural life is a necessary, ever-changing struggle for survival. From the tiniest bug or plant, to the largest predator, each species struggles to continue into the future. Each is part of an elaborate food chain, and is directly, or indirectly dependent on other species for their own survival. This is the natural way of life.
One should not worry about nature, as it has done since the beginning of time, nature will find its own way. It is the unnatural, the evil of wizard kind that one should be concerned about.

These are dangerous and desperate times for the people of Freedonia. The peace and prosperity they had once known ended the day the western wizard, King Charles Connors III died, and the heir to the throne, Prince Charles and his lady left the country without their twins. It was supposedly to recover from the stress of caring for his father during his long illness.
A strange thing happened the very next day. It was reported the castle staff had kidnapped the royal couple's ten-year old twin, Charlie and Kelly Connors.
To this day, Prince Charles and Lady Catherine have not returned to assume the throne, or to search for their missing twins and the long manhunt for the royal twin's still continues. There had been much speculation as to what had happened. There are a few that know the true story, however, they are not about to let the story behind the royal family's disappearances become common knowledge.
Four years after the temporary Regent, Rudemire Klug, his ten Regional Commanders and his army had imposed enormous taxes; the crippled economy had sent Freedonia on a downward spiral into despair. Many of the citizens feel the Connors had abandoned them.
Unknown to the citizens of Freedonia, the dark wizard from the east, Drake Aldric's master plan is working, with two huge exceptions. The Connors twins are still alive, and it is taking much longer than he expected to eliminate them.
As long as one Connors still lives, they are the rightful heirs to the throne. This is something the dark wizard is struggling to remedy and time is running out. When Charlie Connors reaches his fifteenth birthday, he will be coming of age. That is something Aldric is desperate to prevent from happening.
If the citizens only knew what the Connor twins and the small band of rebels have endured, have done and are planning on their behalf, they wouldn't feel abandoned. They can never know. As the citizens had done in past wars, the people would rise up and fight for their king. Being kept in the dark has kept the Freedonia citizens from being involved in another wizard war. The last war; The Great Wizard War, almost caused the extinction of wizard kind. Drake Aldric and the the rebels fox leader do not want this to happen.
After four years of living in the shadows, the Connors twins' three animal godfathers and their mouse friend are aging rapidly. If the twins and the other rebels can't find a way to turn them back into the wizards they once were, they will soon be passing away, one by one.
There is a fine line between reality and fable as the young, wizard Prince of Freedonia, Charlie Connors, his twin sister, Kelly and friend, Timothy are about to find out. After completing their mission to draw Aldric's army's attention away from the magic dome hidden in the Oak Forest, they embarked on a mission of their own. They were ignoring their fox leader's warning and were about to cross the fine line into fable. They were determined to save the lives of their rebel friends, an aging mouse and their three animal godfathers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C. G. Peltier
• Release date: Feb 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311161413

C. G. Peltier

About the author: C. G. Peltier is a man of many talents. He has served as a United States Marine, has been a die maker and die designer, a tool room and press department supervisor, a machine design engineer, an experimental department engineer, and an inventor. He had founded and run a small but successful manufacturing company twenty-two years. Now, that the reins have been passed on to his son, daughter, and son-in-law, he has become a YA fantasy author, go figure.Why fantasies? His daughter got him hooked on the books and movies of Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia and Lord of the Rings. She lent him her computer and inspired him to use his creative imagination in an entirely new way, as a fantasy author.

Book preview

The Connors Chronicles

The Cross Cupboards

C. G. Peltier

Copyright 2015 by Carl G. Peltier

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015900576 (CGP Words)

CGP Words, Mount Pleasant, WI.

Published by CGP Words at Smash words

Smash words Edition License Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to smashwords.com

or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Acknowledgements

TO MICHELLE FOR SHARING THE WORLD OF FANTASY

WITH ME, INSPIRING ME TO WRITE AND

LETTING ME USE YOUR LAPTOP.

TO CAROL MANTE FOR YOUR EDITING HELP

TO MOCHA LISA COFFEEHOUSE FOR

MY MORNING BREW AND TABLE.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Prologue

Chapter One....The Desperate Search for Answers

Chapter Two....The Morning After

Chapter Three....More Than a Mission

Chapter Four....Don't Go to Squire Gulch

Chapter Five....The Dark Wizard's Magic

Chapter Six....The Healer of Magical Mishaps

Chapter Seven....Missing

Chapter Eight....Wanted, Thurmond Wasserman

Chapter Nine...Unbelievable

Chapter Ten....Intruder in the Forest

Chapter Eleven....The Wayward Delivery

Chapter Twelve....The Dangerous Quest

Chapter Thirteen....Anomalous

Chapter Fourteen....Into the Cave of No Return

Chapter Fifteen....The Flight for His Life

Chapter Sixteen....The Cave Has Eyes

Chapter Seventeen....Mud and the Tales It Tells

Chapter Eighteen....The Summoning Stone

Chapter Nineteen....Into the Valley of the Damned

Chapter Twenty....Egg Shells, Hard and Crumbly

Chapter Twenty-one....Return to the Oak Forest

Chapter Twenty-two....Untold Secrets

Chapter Twenty-three....Charlie's Crazy Idea

Chapter Twenty-four....The Birthday Breakfast

Chapter Twenty-five....The Unexpected

Chapter Twenty-six....Coming of Age

Excerpt from Book Four in the Series

About the Author and his books

Prologue

The ebb and flow of natural life is a necessary, ever-changing struggle for survival. From the tiniest bug or plant, to the largest predator, each species struggles to continue into the future. Each is part of an elaborate food chain, and is directly, or indirectly dependent on other species for their own survival. This is the natural way of life.

One should not worry about nature, as it has done since the beginning of time, nature will find its own way. It is the un-natural, the evil of wizard kind that one should be concerned about.

These are dangerous and desperate times for the people of Freedonia. The peace and prosperity they had once known ended the day the western wizard, King Charles Connors III died, and the heir to the throne, Prince Charles and his lady left the country without their twins. It was supposedly to recover from the stress of caring for his father during his long illness.

A strange thing happened the very next day. It was reported that the royal couple's ten-year-old twins, Charlie and Kelly Connors had been kidnapped by the castle staff.

To this day, Prince Charles and Lady Catherine have not returned to assume the throne, or to search for their missing twins and the long manhunt for the royal twin's still continues. There had been much speculation as to what had happened. There are a few that know the true story, however, they are not about to let the true story behind the royal family's disappearances become common knowledge.

Four years after the temporary Regent, Rudemire Klug, his ten Regional Commanders and his army had imposed enormous taxes; the crippled economy had sent Freedonia on a downward spiral into despair. Many of the citizens feel the Connors had abandoned them.

Unknown to the citizens of Freedonia, the dark wizard from the east, Drake Aldric's master plan is working, with two huge exceptions. The Connors twins are still alive, and it is taking much longer than he expected to eliminate them.

As long as one Connors still lives, they are the rightful heirs to the throne. This is something the dark wizard from the east is struggling to remedy, and his time is running out. When Charlie Connors reaches his fifteenth birthday, he will be coming of age. That is something Aldric is desperate to prevent from happening.

If the citizens only knew what the Connor twins and the small band of rebels have done on their behalf, they wouldn't feel abandoned, but they can never know. As they have done in past wars, the people would rise up and fight for their king. Being kept in the dark has kept the Freedonia citizens from being involved in another devastating civil war.

***

Known only to a few, there is an enchanted place located deep within the southern boundary of Freedonia’s Great Oak Forest. It is a dome, a magical dome. If you were lucky enough to be under the dome’s protection, you would be able to see everyone and everything within the dome’s protective perimeter and you would be welcome there.

If on the other hand, you are unaware of its existence, you are not under the dome’s magic spell and you are not welcome. It is highly unlikely you would ever be able to find it or those within the dome's protective perimeter.

What happened yesterday was a prime example of the dome's magical power. Drake Aldric's mercenary soldiers were searching for those suspected of hiding here in the Oak Forest and they had walked into the dome from the north. The foreign soldiers marched right through tents and tables and continued out the southern perimeter not knowing the ones they were searching for were only feet away. It was if those living inside of the dome were in a magical, parallel existence.

You see, the dome and everything in it can’t be seen, felt or even sensed in any way, shape or form. Not even the smoke from the inhabitant's campfires will make it to the outside world. All outsiders could see was what was here, before the dome was created. Things like the trees, forest floor, the creek and three boulders standing against the side of the hill.

This is the true magic of this magnificent dome, and the two others. One is located northeast of New Castle and the other west of Oxdale. These three enchanted places continue to be sanctuaries for those living inside of them.

It has been four years, since the young Prince of Freedonia Charles Connors V, Charlie to his friends, cast the spell creating the dome. At the age of ten, he placed the crystal dome on the ground, knelt in front of it and placed his right hand on top of it. He said these words, Crystal Protectum Totalus!

Afterwards, young Charlie stood and watched with the others, while white clouds formed inside of the crystal dome. The clouds turned into a growing, miniature thunderstorm. Everyone stepped back, as the small dome began to buck like a pony. It shattered with a loud, cracking sound. The exploding dome left a vapor ring surrounding the shattered, crystal pieces. The vapor ring started to spread out from the center and over the rebel's feet. Their legs looked distorted, as it continued to spread past them in an ever-larger circle.

The vapor ring stopped about one hundred yards out and turned upwards toward the treetops. The small group of rebels watched in amazement, as the vapor ring started to curve inward far above. The opening grew smaller, until it closed in on the middle over the rebel’s heads. Then, the ring disappeared from sight.

This was the first and last time the dome could be seen or sensed in any way. It truly is...an invisible enchanted place.

Today, the cool, off and on rain and blustery wind has made it a miserable day in the Oak Forest for wizard, man or beast, even those within the dome's perimeter. The dome protects the inhabitants within it from outsiders, but not from the weather. It appears nature has a way of doing what it pleases.

This dome is more than a safe haven for the inhabitants. It and the cave inside, is a home to Charlie and Kelly Connors and their loyal friends and protectors, however, not a home of their choosing, but one of necessity.

These rebels are safe inside, but if they are ever going to find a way to rescue the heirs to the throne, Prince Charles and Lady Catherine from Strugard Wizard Prison or find a way to fight Drake Aldric's ancient and forbidden, dark magic, they have to risk going into the dangerous world beyond the perimeter. They have no other choice.

Chapter One

The Desperate Search for Answers

A short distance from the small, farming village of Gallway, the sun had barely reached the morning sky. Moisture from the intermittent, overnight rain still clung to the vegetation and spider webs on the side of the damp, gravel road. This section of road is only a ten-minute walk from a small, farming village.

Gallway is a hub, much like other farming villages spread around rural Freedonia. These small villages are where the surrounding farmers come to sell their goods and buy their needed supplies.

Unlike the trip to the Capitol Village of New Castle, these villages are within a short horse-cart ride from the area farms surrounding them.

The day was shaping up to be much like any other day along the road leading to the quaint, little village, a quarter-mile to the northeast.

The only area sounds were those made by the fluttering of bird wings and chirping, as they flitted from tree to tree in the humid, dawn air, searching for insects or seeds.

There was also an occasional rustling caused by small creatures scampering through the underbrush at the side of this deserted, country road.

Suddenly, the serenity of the immediate area was shattered by the unnerving sight of what resembled a swarm of tiny insects or dust particles swirling like a miniature tornado. These eerie, abnormal particles of, whatever, were coming together and merging into a vertical column at the edge of the gravel road leading to Gallway.

This sudden, unnatural occurrence sent a wave of shock through the area birds and small forest animals in the surrounding area. The birds immediately set off an alarm with their high-pitched squawking and in a flurry of flapping wings, they scattered to the four winds.

This frantic commotion panicked the small animals and sent them scurrying for cover, as these particles began taking shape.

As quickly as the ruckus had begun, the surrounding forest became quiet again, too quiet. One could almost hear the dislodged feathers of the fleeing birds floating down and settling onto the forest floor. It was disturbingly silent.

The swirling, particles of matter had merged into the cloaked figure of the dark wizard, Drake Aldric. With his six-foot-six, slender frame and dark clothes, he cast the shadow of one you wouldn‘t want to mess with. His somber expression and glaring eyes gave off an unnerving, if not, sinister appearance.

With his right hand, the dark wizard from the east reached up and drew back the hood of his black cloak, revealing his slender, clean-shaven face and shoulder-length, brown hair.

He immediately peered up and down the tree-lined road searching for anyone who might have seen him appear on this deserted road.

Satisfied no one was in the immediate area, the dark wizard quickly turned and started down the quiet, gravel road toward his objective. With his cloak open, the bottom of his cloak caught the slight breeze and flared back, as he briskly walked toward the village.

The farming village ahead was nothing special. He had been here before. It was comprised of several hundred cottages and shops catering to the farms in the surrounding area and was of no particular interest to him.

Today, however, the dark wizard had come here for a specific purpose. It was to visit the antique shop in the village down the road. He had his reasons for seeking this shop.

This was the same shop where one of Rudemire Klug’s soldiers had confronted the Connors twins a few weeks back. This was also the site of the first sighting of the Connors twins in almost four long years. Before yesterday, the last time he or any of his men had seen the Connors brats had been four years ago, before the twins' grandfather, King Charles Connors III had died.

The manhunt for the twins and their protectors began a few days later and is still going on. To those in search of them, it was as if the twins and their guardians had disappeared off the face of the globe.

Today, the dark wizard had come here in search of answers. His confidence had been shaken and he had come here to question the owner of a local antique shop. One way or another, this shopkeeper was going to ease his troubled mind. This commoner would be providing him with the answers he wanted and needed.

As the edge of Gallway came into view, Aldric was surprised by the amount of activity going on in the village ahead. The dark wizard had miscalculated. He had thought with coming here at daybreak the village streets would be deserted and no one would see him entering or leaving the village.

As he had found out, the people of this small, farming village go to bed early and start their day early. That’s the way of life in a rural, farming community. He had been completely wrong and was disappointed.

Planning to come this early had, apparently, been a mistake, but since he was already here, the menacing wizard would forge ahead anyway. He was determined to find out the reason why the Connors brats had come to the antique shop and if they had used dark magic to make their escape.

Because of what had happened yesterday, in the Oak Forest, he had to find out what had happened here. He wanted and needed to know why the twins had come here, and how the two had bested one of Rudemire Klug’s career soldiers.

Yesterday, Aldric had surprised the Connors brat in the Oak Forest and to his astonishment; the nearly, fifteen-year-old wizard had blocked three of his four spells. In addition, the annoying boy had, somehow, escaped with his life.

This greatly disturbed Aldric, because no wizard had ever blocked his Terminotis Spell before. If experienced wizards were unable to block his spell, how could this mere boy have done it? Yet he had. This worried Aldric immensely.

Aldric had no doubt about his own dark, magic skills and magical protection; however, the boy’s ability had him deeply concerned. The seeds of doubt had crept into his evil, calculating mind and he couldn’t shake the feeling of impending disaster. He hoped his visit to the antique shop would ease his troubled mind.

The local Regional Commander had told him the Connors brats had come to Gallway and had gone to one place and one place only. There had to be a reason for their coming here. It had been playing over again in his mind. What would have drawn him to this little farming village and how could he have escaped?

No one noticed him approaching the village, however as he reached the roadblock at the very edge of town, three soldiers came rushing from the guardhouse at the side of the road and approached him. The soldier in charge yelled, Stop where you are. What is your business here?

The tall, dark wizard didn’t bother to answer. He continued to walk toward the village. The soldier yelled, Stop or you will pay the consequences!

As the three soldiers drew their weapons, the tall stranger turned to face them.

The eyes of soldier in charge grew to the size of saucers after recognizing the wizard. He stopped dead in his tracks. He quickly held his sword in front of the other two to keep them from advancing. With a pleading voice, he said, I’m sorry master. I didn’t know it was you.

The dark wizard glared at the nervous soldier and held out his hand. The soldier dropped his sword and grabbed his own throat. He began choking himself, while the other two other soldiers stood helplessly next to him. Within a few seconds, Aldric released the chokehold and the helpless soldier fell to the ground.

Aldric smirked and felt pleased, as he peered into the eyes of the quivering soldier. Aldric loved having power over others. Was it the fear in their eyes, or the control he had over them? Whatever it was, he enjoyed using his dark magic powers?

Aldric realized he might have acted foolishly, moments ago. He glanced toward the village to make sure no one had seen what he had done to the soldier. Everyone in the village ahead was going about their normal activities unaware of what had happened. Not one was looking in this direction.

He felt relieved, but had to be more careful with using his magic powers in public. If he had been seen using his dark magic against others, word would spread and it would ruin his image.

At this distance to the edge of the village, he doubted anyone had noticed.

He turned back to the three. You are to never call me Master in public. Even brainless lowlifes like you three, should be able to understand those words. I repeat, never address me as Master in public. You got that?

The soldier nodded and trembled, as he slowly got to his feet.

In public, you address me as Mr. Aldric. Is this clear?

Aldric glanced toward the guard shack. Why is the draw gate up? I gave explicit orders that all draw gates should be down until all travelers get a thorough questioning. Yet, this gate isn’t down. You do know how to follow orders, do you not?

Yes sir, Mr. Aldric sir, we won’t make this mistake again.

You better not. Since, we are all in agreement here, keep it up until I leave. Right now, I require a service of you. I need you and your dimwit men to show me to the antique shop. Are you able to understand what I have said?

The soldier was about to answer, but Aldric held up his hand. No more talking, do as you are told.

As the soldiers led the way past the edge of the village and continued down Main Street toward the center of Village Square, they were about to pass by three women standing in front of a nearby shop. One of the women noticed Drake Aldric walking down the street. She immediately left the other two and walked to intercept Aldric and the soldiers.

She approached him. Mr. Aldric, please help me.

Aldric looked at the irritating woman and forced a fake smile. Madam, what is it you require of me?

My husband has been taken away, he is innocent I tell you, he is innocent. He doesn’t know anything about the royals, sir. They had no reason for taking him away. Would you please help me?

Nice lady, give your name and the name of your husband to this soldier. He nodded to the shorter soldier. I will see what I can do.

Aldric turned and continued down the street with the two remaining soldiers. After he was out of hearing distance, he said to the soldier in charge, It’s good for my image to appear to be helpful to the common folk. I want you to take their names, but I don’t want you to lift a finger to help the wench. I do, however, want her husband to be questioned by the local Regional Commander again.

The soldier nodded and led the way toward the antique shop. After a short distance, Aldric stopped in front of the shop he had come here to visit.

Aldric glanced at one soldier. You there, go into the shop and see if there are any customers inside and if there are, tell them to leave immediately.

Aldric waited, as the soldier opened the door and went into the antique shop.

This was the very same shop where three weeks ago, one of Rudemire Klug’s soldiers had stumbled onto the Connors twins and had failed to apprehend them. He was a large seasoned soldier, good with a sword and they were two children. Two children, not yet fifteen-years-old and yet they were able to get the best of the career soldier. Afterwards, they were able to evade the horse soldiers giving chase.

This was unacceptable to the dark wizard. The soldier had them in the shop he was now standing in front of, and he let them slip through his fingers. For his failure, the soldier paid with his life. You don’t fail Drake Aldric and live to do it again.

The confrontation with this seasoned soldier was of concern to Aldric, but even of greater concern, was what happened yesterday in the Oak Forest. It was during the sweep of the Oak Forest to locate the riff-raft hiding there, one of his soldiers had summoned him.

When he appeared, he found the frantic Connors boy standing where his twenty prisoners once were. Three of his soldiers were out cold and the seven others were missing.

The unthinkable had happened. The Connors brat, somehow, was able to stand up to him, block his killing curse and escape with his life. He couldn’t understand how this could have happened.

The dark wizard had sought out skilled wizards, had tricked them into following him to a place where the Death Alarm Spell wouldn't alert wizard kind. Once there, he tested his magic ability and he left them dead.

It was clear to Aldric he had far superior magic skills, but still this impetuous boy had survived. It didn’t make any sense to him. How could this unthinkable thing have happened?

His confidence had been shaken and the boy’s survival was the cause. He had to find out how the boy had done it and was hoping to find the answer in this shop in front of him.

Aldric impatiently waited outside of the shop for the soldier's return. Sir, the shop is empty, except for the owner.

Good, get out of my way and stand guard. Aldric started for the door but stopped. I want you to make sure no one enters the shop, while I’m in there. I don’t want any witnesses. You have my instructions.

After the soldier nodded, Aldric walked to the door and entered the shop. It was deceptively large inside the shop. There was a large supply of antique furniture, tapestries, furnishings and other items on display.

Aldric wondered why he hadn’t known about this shop before. Jogging his memory, he remembered the small sign on the front of the shop. The sign only had the name of the proprietor and one other word, (Wasserman's Resale).

The sign didn’t have the word antique on it. This explains why he had never stopped here before.

He slowly began walking up one long aisle and down another, while looking at the items on display. He would question the owner in a minute.

He stopped, picked up a few items and gazed at them. He placed them back and continued on. After years of visiting shops like this one in search of sources of dark magic, he fancied himself a good judge of ancient and magical artifacts.

Aldric noticed the shop owner watching, as he stopped at a plain, granite pedestal with a crystal globe nestled on top of it. There was something about this globe, which drew the dark wizard’s attention. This globe and pedestal seemed familiar to him. Had he seen them before? Wait, maybe it was in a magical book he had his men confiscate years ago. This had to be where he had seen the crystal globe.

He reached for the globe and picked it up. Holding it in his hands, he noticed the perfectly, round shape, peered into it and studied the amber center. Oddly, the center was spinning. This defied any reasonable explanation.

Aldric glanced at the shop owner and was surprised at his reaction to what he had done. The pesky commoner’s eyes were as big as saucers and his mouth gaped, as if a miracle had happened here in his shop. He definitely had to have this globe and pedestal.

The shopkeeper hurried over to the dark wizard. He appeared quite nervous, while he approached the tall, darkly dressed wizard. Why wouldn’t he be nervous? The young witch who had been in his shop the day the royal twins had been confronted by the soldier had warned him he would probably be questioned about what had happened that day.

He’d thought with the passage of time, they’d forgotten about the incident and he was in the clear. He had been expecting soldiers, but not Drake Aldric himself. This visit wasn’t going to be a good one. He had to be very wary of this dark wizard.

He asked, Sir, do you have any questions, or may I be of service to you in any way?

Aldric never took his eyes off of the globe. This is interesting, very interesting, indeed. The globe has a small, amber sphere, perfectly centered, a clear, crystal periphery and a perfectly round and smooth outside. Without taking his eyes off of the globe, the dark wizard asked, Am I right in thinking this is sixth century amber crystal by the goblin, Yorn and the dwarf-carved, granite stand is, seventh century, chiseled by Grunk? And was this globe the very one once owned by Rutherford Connors?

Aldric could see sweat forming on the nervous, owner's forehead, as he responded, Yes, what you said is correct. Many owned the globe and pedestal, until it was lost or stolen near the end of the eight century. There wasn't any mention of them, until Rutherford Connors found the globe and the pedestal hidden in a cave. Rutherford had it in his possession for a number of years, but somehow, it once again disappeared. It was found again about twenty years ago in the burnt out remains of a country cottage by a neighbor of the one who owned the cottage.

He peered into the eyes of the shop owner. You are well informed.

The nervous man continued, As you can see, there wasn't any damage to the globe or pedestal from the fire. When no one came to claim it, the finder placed it in his parlor. Earlier this year, the finder needed money to pay his taxes and he brought it to me. I recognized this was a rare find and bought it for his asking price.

Aldric looked curiously at the shop owner and asked, How is it you know about these things?

From research and what I was told by the man who sold it to me. The shop owner eyed Aldric, as he continued to look at the globe. Sir, you have an exceptional eye, a very exceptional eye, indeed. You also have an outstanding knowledge of the history of this magnificent globe.

Aldric responded without looking up, I consider myself a collector of sorts myself. I have a collection of ancient items.

The owner looked at the sphere in the dark wizard’s grasp. "It is written this globe