Del Ryder and the Emerald Sceptre: Del Ryder, #3

By Matthew Brough

Darkness is spreading across mystic Azdia. Soon, all of life will stop glowing with light. Soon, the trees will no longer spring to life. Even the mighty feldroes will cease to roam the forests. Already, many lumens, the shape-shifting caretakers of Azdia, have lost faith in their provider and protector, the mysterious Mr. Thicket. The only hope for the creatures of Azdia are the awaited chosen ones sent from another world called Earth.

Del Ryder leads the Company of Light on a quest across the sea to the most ancient parts of Azdia, hoping their mission will bring them closer to discovering how to defeat the darkness. The Heir of Mordlum, bent on finding the powerful Crystal Seeds, has assembled an army larger than anyone's imagining. Can Del and her friends trust Mr. Thicket enough to stand against such a vast and terrible fighting force? 

Find out in Book 3 of the Del Ryder Series: Del Ryder and the Emerald Sceptre.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Brough
• Release date: Sep 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781999423858

Book preview

Blythe Thicket’s Riddle that he gave to Del Ryder and Crimson

Old Blythe signed next to this one’s name;

Trust her completely, despite her fame.

Over the sea where the new birth falls,

Choose the tunnel or scale the walls.

When you arrive at the desert’s edge

And stand looking out from the highest ledge,

The sun will touch the place you must go,

And there will you see the ominous glow.

You’ll find what you need by looking below.

THE SEVEN CRYSTAL SEEDS

Each Crystal Seed has its own special power connected to the deep magic of the world of Azdia.

The Seed of Connection

Can create a bridge to anywhere in Azdia. Any of the other Crystal Seeds can connect back to the Seed of Connection, providing a way to travel anywhere in the realm.

The Seed of Dreams

Allows the bearer of the seed to enter the dreams of others in order to communicate with them.

The Seed of Protection

While someone holds this seed, nothing can harm them. The bearer can also extend the field of protection around others.

The Seed of Transformation

Can be used to change objects or creatures into other things. This seed holds the same metamorphing power of the lumens.

The Seed of Healing

Has the power to heal anyone of anything. This seed holds the same power that lumens can use to heal with their words.

The Seed of Language

Allows the bearer of the seed or anyone the bearer chooses to understand any language. This seed has the same power that lumens use to learn languages through touch.

The Seed of Light

Can create and control light in all its forms, the most powerful form being lightning. The most powerful of the seeds, the Seed of Light taps into the light at the heart of Azdia.

1

Attack in the Night

Del Ryder walked down the aisle toward the front of the sanctuary. She looked down at her clothes. She wasn’t wearing black. She was still wearing the same dirty clothes she had had on for weeks in Azdia. No one paid any attention to her, which was strange, given how different she looked from everyone else. It was as though people were looking right through her.

She was at a funeral. Two identical coffins were at the front of the church, which was about half-full. All of the women were wearing old-fashioned hats and long black dresses. Every man was wearing a black suit, and most of them had short hair perfectly combed or slicked back.

In the first pew were two boys wearing black suits like everyone else. One boy looked a little older than Del, maybe fifteen years old. The other was just a little kid. Del guessed he would be about five.

She slipped into the second pew directly behind the two boys.

Mom and Dad would want us to be strong, right Mark? said the younger one.

The older boy didn’t answer.

Right Mark? said the younger, sniffling with tears trickling down his cheeks Right? Right? They’d want us to be strong, right?

The younger one grabbed his brother’s hand, but Mark pushed him away. He had no tears in his eyes. Just shut up, he said. They’re dead, so it doesn’t matter what they would want. Just don’t say anything. From now on nothing will be the same. Our lives might as well be over too.

Del’s mind was racing, and as she tried to understand what was going on, the entire church began to shake. She jumped from her seat and got into the aisle, preparing to run out of the church. Cracks started forming in the floor. No one at the funeral shouted out or even acknowledged that there was an earthquake going on. They just sat there as before.

The minister in charge got up behind the pulpit and began as though nothing was happening. We are gathered here today because of a great sorrow, a tragedy. But we have also come together to hear about hope…

Del didn’t hear any more of his words, because just as the minister was making his opening remarks, a great tree exploded through the floor of the church. It grew at an alarming rate, going from a sapling to a fully-grown oak in seconds. Three other trees rose up just as quickly, their mighty branches smashing through stained glass windows and solid stone walls as if they were nothing.

The minister continued and the people in the pews just sat there, paying no heed to the destruction around them.

Suddenly, Del heard a voice shouting from the back of the church. Del, wake up!

She turned and there was Emma running toward her along the aisle as great stones, branches, and glass rained down on her. It’s only a dream, Del! Wake up!

Del woke with a start. The living room was dim. The only light came from the two lumens, Crimson and Yah-yah. Kita, Treola, and Cinder had left earlier that day, in search of the hidden village. Their goal was to warn any lumens they could find about the Heir of Mordlum and a possible attack he might be mounting against them.

After Eleanor had left a night earlier in search of her husband— to what was likely the farthest reaches of the realm of Azdia—Del had been appointed the true leader of their company. She was still unsure whether she really wanted Kita, Treola, and Cinder to head back to the thirteenth province and so close to the Heir’s lair, but she had agreed, and off they had gone.

The day had been spent making sure Treola got well enough to travel, and then putting together provisions for all of them for their journeys. Del’s group, which would include Sam, Guy, Emma, Crimson, Tabby the Winx, and Yah-yah (who said that there was nothing left for him in his home village anymore after losing his brother to the darkness), would have one last good long rest in Yah-Yah’s house before setting out for the nearest coastal town that they believed was not yet under the Heir's control.

But Del’s sleep had been anything but restful and it was still the middle of the night. She cuddled Tabby and looked over at Emma, whose eyes were open.

It’ll be okay, Emma whispered to Del.

Del nodded silently and looked around at the rest of her small company—the Company of Light.

Her gaze drifted to the window. There was light glimmering outside. It wasn’t the sunrise, nor was it moonlight. It was firelight. Shadows flicked across the living room as though something were passing between the source of the light outside and the window. Someone was outside.

Del didn’t waste any time.

Wake them up, Del said to Emma, as she turned to Crimson and Sam and began shaking them. Emma woke up Guy and Yah-yah.

We’ve got to get out of here, Del whispered. They’re here.

A terrifying screech sounded outside, so loudly that the house shook.

We must move, said Crimson.

Everyone jumped to their feet and Tabby jumped into Del’s arms.

Grab your stuff, said Del.

Fortunately, each of them had packed a bag the night before in order to get an early start in the morning, and each of them had a weapon of some kind. They all moved quickly, slinging their bags on their backs, as they jumped to the green door to go outside.

Del put Tabby inside her bag. You’ll be safe in here, she said.

She was in the lead. She grabbed the doorknob and looked back at her friends. Do we go? she asked.

Wait just a minute, whispered Yah-Yah. They might pass us by.

Everyone held their breath and remained perfectly still. Del could hear what sounded like marching troops just outside the door. She kept her hand on the doorknob and wondered whether she might be able to hold it closed if suddenly a dark lumen soldier were to try and force their way in.

Suddenly, the marching sounds stopped. Everything was silent.

Can we go now? asked Emma.

Before anyone replied, another screech, even louder than the first, thundered overhead. The whole company looked up as a whole section of the roof collapsed. Following the debris into the house was a massive black Nightwing. Its wings stretched out and knocked half of the walls away. Dust and wood flew everywhere, but miraculously, none of the company was hit or hurt.

Run! Crimson shouted.

Del turned the knob and opened the door. The Nightwing’s neck stretched out, its jaws opened and snapped at them. Yah-Yah reacted the quickest, unsheathing his sword, and pushing both Guy and Emma out of the way of being the first victims of the beast. His sword flashed in the firelight and he slashed at the Nightwing’s head. He made contact, but it did nothing other than perhaps buy the company an extra second or two to escape.

Yah-yah reached out his hand after redirecting the Nightwing’s head with his sword and touched the side of its face. He jumped forward and patted Crimson on the back. It didn’t occur to Del right away what Yah-yah was doing, taking such a risk, by getting close enough to the Nightwing to touch it.

The company barreled out of the house and immediately stood face to face with more than twenty dark lumen soldiers. Del braced herself for a fight but the soldiers just stood there, staring. The Nightwing destroyed what remained of the house from the inside out and bore down on the company of Light. Del knew right away why the soldiers weren’t attacking. They were waiting to see the Nightwing devour its prey.

Go Crimson! Yah-Yah shouted. Take them and fly!

What was he talking about? Del wondered. But she barely had time to think. Yah-yah and Crimson were already changing shape. That’s why Yah-yah had taken the chance and gotten so close. The touch to the beast’s cheek meant the lumens could turn into Nightwings, Yah-yah a bright green one, and Crimson a deep red.

Jump on, said Crimson, now in full Nightwing form. He craned his neck low.

Emma, Guy, Sam, and Del climbed onto Crimson’s back. He beat his wings and they began to rise.

A roar came from the lumen soldiers, who raised their weapons to aid in the fight. But it was too late. Crimson was already in the air. The dark Nightwing flapped its wings and jumped off the ground to pursue Crimson, but Yah-Yah jumped between them, giving Crimson a chance to get away.

Yah-yah did everything he could to stop the Nightwing from leaving the ground. They rolled around, scratching and biting at each other.

We have to help him, Del said. Crimson, you have to dive back.

You’re too important, said Crimson, who kept rising higher.

No Crimson, said Del. He needs our help.

He is the one helping you, said Crimson. Helping you escape, so you can save us all.

Del watched in horror at the fight between the two Nightwings. Yah-yah was holding his own. Maybe he would win. Maybe he would be okay.

But then, the dark lumens sprang into action. About half of them, their swords drawn, ran toward Yah-Yah and the Nightwing. The other half pulled out bows and arrows and pointed them up to the sky. The first arrow let loose.

They’re trying to shoot us down! Sam cried.

Watch out! yelled Guy.

The arrow whizzed past them and then floated harmlessly to the ground, but more arrows were on the way. Crimson looked straight up, but moved from side to side, avoiding arrow after arrow. It was as though he could see behind him without ever glancing back.

That was close, said Guy.

But Yah-yah, said Emma. He’s…

He’s not going to make it, said Sam.

Another arrow whizzed past, narrowly missing Guy’s head.

Hang on everyone, said Crimson. We’re not quite out of their range—ouwww!

No! Del screamed. She looked back, and an arrow was sticking right into Crimson’s side.

They lost a bit of momentum and dropped several feet. Del couldn’t quite believe that the dark lumens could fire arrows that far, and she couldn’t believe they were hit.

I’m…okay… said Crimson, though clearly by the raspy way he spoke, he was not okay. I can stay in this form and I can still fly. It’s our only chance.

He did stay in the form of a Nightwing, and when the dark lumens below were merely dots on the ground, he turned toward the west in the direction of the great sea.

I can get us far enough to get away from them, said Crimson. But then I will need to rest.

Del could see a different landscape just before the horizon. The bare trees, the grey sand and stone, and the overall drabness of which they had become accustomed in the eighteenth and thirteenth provinces looked as if it was coming to an end. Rolling hills covered in lush green grass stretched ahead of them. Crimson began descending and a river came into view. They would have water, and perhaps food for their journey as well.

Crimson landed. The company jumped off his back and each of them made straight for the stream. Del looked into the running water. It swirled and glowed with a myriad of colors. Every time Del had drank glowing water in Azdia it provided the most remarkable energy boost. It helped as well that it was tastier than any other drink she had ever had—sweet like a cream soda without the bubbles.

We’re going to be okay, Del said. It’s glow-water.

Each of them scooped up handfuls of the delicious liquid. Guy, of course, got down on his hands and knees and just put his whole face right into the water. Crimson, however, remained in the form of a Nightwing. Del was the first to stop drinking the water long enough to notice.

Crimson, she began. You haven’t changed. Can you change?

I probably shouldn’t while I have this sticking in me, he replied. I’m going to need some help.

The arrow looked more like a spear in length and width. Black feathers made up the the tail of it and the point was completely embedded in the hide of Crimson in his Nightwing form.

Guy jumped up from the stream, strode over to Crimson, and wrapped his fingers around the shaft of the arrow.

Does it hurt? He asked.

Terribly, said Crimson. You must pull it out.

Guy pulled and Crimson grimaced, clearly trying to stifle a scream or howl. The arrow moved slightly.

Help me with this, said Guy.

Emma, Sam and Del all came over. The arrow was large enough for all four of them to be able to pull on it. They pulled and pulled until it eventually popped out. As it did, Crimson let out the slightest of whimpers.

Crimson began to shrink and change back into his regular form. Usually when a lumen changed, their light would become brighter and brighter. Crimson had been weakened, though, and his usual deep and shining red was significantly faded. He was more of a dull pink.

After his transformation, Crimson ran his hand over where the arrow had lodged itself.

I should be okay, he said. Nightwing skin is thick. I don’t think it went deep enough to hit anything important. Look.

He showed the company his side and there wasn’t much of a wound at all. It seemed to have shrunk as Crimson had shrunk and changed. It looked very much as if he had received a bad sting from a wasp or a bee rather than having been shot by an arrow.

I just need some water, said Crimson, bending down to the stream.

Do you think they killed Yah-yah? Emma asked.

Or taken to be changed into one of them, said Crimson between slurps. More and more lumens’ light will be extinguished.

It’s terrible, said Emma, tears forming in her eyes. What are we doing in this terrible place?

You’re saving us, said Crimson. There’s still hope for Yah-yah, for all of Azdia.

How? asked Emma.

All our hope is bound up with Del now, Crimson replied. She must follow the path laid before her and light will return. We must help her. We will help her.

But I don’t know how to bring the light back, said Del. I have no clue what to do.

But you do know where to go, said Sam.

Del took a breath, looked at Sam, and nodded. Across the sea, she said.

2

Guilt and Guile

Phil Coons sprinted down the lane toward his house. His back gate was in sight. He looked over his shoulder. There was nobody there. He couldn’t hear anymore sirens from the police cars and ambulance that had been bearing down on the graveyard where Phil had left the priest.

He stopped a few houses short of his own, his thoughts beginning to catch up to his legs. He was thankful that it was still the same evening as when he and his friends had gone into Azdia, but it was starting to get dark. What was he going to say to his parents when he got home? They would have for sure been worried about him, as would all the other parents about their kids. He would have to come up with some explanation. What if his mom asked him if he knew where his sister Emma was? What would he say?

Oh, she’s just trapped in another world, but don’t worry—Guy, Sam, and Del are with her, and she’ll be fine because even though the forces of darkness in that world are trying to kill them all, Del’s the chief of the Malak! What’s that, mom? You mean you haven’t heard of the Malak—the ones who are supposed to bring the light back to Azdia and save the day? Well, Del’s the best—yes, that’s right, my friend, Del. Oh, and you know Emma’s necklace? It actually holds one of the seven Crystal Seeds that contain the most powerful magic in the world, and she’ll pretty much be hunted by the bad guy until he gets the seed.

Yeah, Phil was pretty sure the truth wasn’t going to help, and the truth was, he didn’t even know if his sister and his friends were safe. Maybe the Heir of Mordlum had caught them. Maybe he had found a way to open Emma’s necklace and add the Seed of Dreams to the other three Crystal Seeds that he already had.

Phil felt the Seed of Connection in his pocket, another one of the seven Crystal Seeds, which possessed the most powerful magic imaginable. Each seed had its own special abilities and each were connected to the one Phil had. Any one of the Crystal Seeds could transport someone to the Seed of Connection, even across worlds from Azdia to Earth.

The priest had told him to protect this seed, and Phil knew why. The Heir of Mordlum was bent on collecting all of the Crystal Seeds and if he got all of them there would be no way to stop him from taking over all of Azdia, and extinguishing all the light of that world.

Phil pulled the seed out of his pocket and it glowed green in his hand. The Seed of Connection wasn’t just the connection point for the other seeds. It could also take someone anywhere in Azdia they wished to go. He could use it to go back and help his friends. Phil knew exactly how to activate it to open the portal to Azdia, but he had no idea where in Azdia his friends would be or where the portal would drop him.

As he walked slowly down the lane, another thought—no, a feeling—came over him: overwhelming guilt. He’d just jumped through a portal home and left his friends behind to fend for themselves and then he’d left the priest bleeding in the graveyard. Sure, he’d phoned 9-1-1, but then he’d just taken off. What was he doing? He’d always thought of himself as brave, as the leader. Now it was turning out that Del was the leader, and even Sam was braver than him.

Phil, you’ve got to do something, he said to himself. But what? He thought. I have to go back, but I need…

Phil wasn’t sure exactly what he needed.

I need help, Phil said out loud. When he said it, he meant that he felt like he was going crazy, but when he heard himself say it, it dawned on him.

Yeah, he spoke again. I need help.

He turned and began jogging back down the back lane wondering how long it would take him to run to the nearest hospital.

The door to the priest’s hospital room was open and Phil peered in. The old man was sleeping. He had been cleaned up, but he still looked pretty bad—like he had been in a fight.

Phil had run hard to get there quickly. It had only taken him about half an hour, but then it took another twenty minutes to catch his breath and convince the information desk clerk that it was okay to give him Reverend Manters’ room number. It hadn’t worked to say he’s a friend of mine, but it had worked to pretend to cry.

Phil took a step into the room. It was crowded, with the bed, some machines, a table on wheels next to the bed, and an uncomfortable-looking mint green easy chair. Everything was dim, cold, and sterile. A tube was going into the priest’s nose, and another one was going into the back of his hand. There was a beeping sound from a machine, and the priest was breathing heavily. At least he was breathing, and Phil was pretty sure the beeping was his heart, so that was good.

Phil leaned over the priest and whispered, Reverend Manters?

No response came.

It’s me, it’s Phil—you know, Phillip.

The priest’s eyes flickered open. I’m glad you’re here, he said slowly and quietly. His voice was weak and rattly, as if it came from the back of his throat and not through his mouth at all.

I have to go back to Azdia, Phil said. But I don’t know how to find my friends. Can you help me?

Yes, said the priest. But, going to your friends will not bring the greatest help to them or to Azdia. You must find my wife. You must seek Eleanor.

But I left them, you know. All I wanted was for us all to get home and I just dove through the portal and left them all there. I saved myself.

So, you wish to seek your friends because you feel guilty?

No—I mean, yes. I don’t know. I just know I need to make it up to them.

If you want to help your friends, you must find Eleanor. The priest was talking more quickly now, his eyes locked with Phil’s. In the graveyard you told me that Eleanor believes that I am still somewhere in Azdia. She will now be looking for me. You must go to Azdia and tell her what happened to me.

But what did actually happen to you? Phil asked.

I had been looking for my wife in the wild-lands—deep in the eighteenth province.

You knew she’d been captured by the Heir of Mordlum, Phil clarified.

Yes, the priest replied. I didn’t find her, nor did I find the Heir, in my wandering, he found me. He told me I would never see my wife again and that there was nothing I could do. He wanted me to retrieve the Seed of Connection for him in exchange for Eleanor’s life. I refused and we fought. I was no match for him as he has become strong. He had at least one Crystal Seed, and during the course of the fight, he activated it, opening the bridge back to our world. He pushed me through, knowing I can never return.

You can’t go back? Phil asked.

This was my last time in Azdia, said the priest. And I am likely nearing the end of my time on earth as well.

Phil didn’t know what to say.

You, Phillip, can return to Azdia, the priest continued. "You can find Eleanor, and assist Del and the others in the fight against him. Then, perhaps, my Eleanor can return to