The Middle Realm: The Trinity Chronicles, #2

By Charmaine Theron

When Ash uncovers a familiar symbol in the Middle Realm, a hidden prophecy is revealed which he is sure constitutes a warning to the Guardians. As he unearths further secrets, Ash discovers that the concealed spells within the Book of Elements not only safeguard the Guardians from one another, but prevent them from uncovering the seed of their destruction.

When the Ghouls steal the book for their elusive master, Ash embarks on a mission to recover it. Without the book, the Guardians' return to the Third Realm to overthrow Drakon, the Dark Guardian, will be futile.

But a force far more sinister than Drakon is manifesting. Time is running out and at the turn of the millennium the August Moon's appearance will signal the beginning of a new era or the end of all time. Will the One, a more powerful being than the Fifth Guardian, finally appear?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charmaine Theron
• Release date: Aug 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393701378

Charmaine Theron

Charmaine Theron is the author of The Trinity Chronicles. A financial manager by day and a writer by night, she lives with her fiancé, her son and step-son in Waterfall, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Her debut novel, The Third Realm, is followed by her second novel of the series, The Middle Realm. Look out for the release of the exciting final novel in the trilogy, The Under Realm.

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Spellbook

The Middle Realm

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The early morning light shadowed the splendour of the City of Hajar. An hour ago, Ash and Elektra had hiked the switchback footpath to the highest ridge of the mountains that overlooked the rock city below. They sat in companionable silence on a rock that jutted out like a jagged, broken tooth – their feet swinging freely over the ledge.

But their hearts weren’t free.

I made a mistake, Ash admitted remorsefully. Alyssa would still be alive if I hadn’t been so rash.

Raven would’ve killed her anyway. She’d no intention of letting her live.

Ash shook his head venomously. I wish I could go back and—

Elektra touched his arm as Ash choked back his words. She placed her small hand gently over his.

The other Guardians... do you think they’re alive? Elektra asked hesitantly. She gave a melancholy sigh.

Twenty days had passed since they had journeyed through the vortex and escaped to the Middle Realm.

They are. Ash furrowed his brow. If I were Drakon, I wouldn’t have killed them.

What makes you so sure?

He wants us to return... so he’d let them live to lure us back and then kill us all.

So he believes we’d fall right into his trap?

Ha... but we won’t – not with the spells! If all goes according to plan, our soldiers and the desert warriors will control the elements.

I’ve been training with Rania, Elektra announced.

Rania? Ash brushed his blond hair away from his eyes.

Yes... you know her – the pretty desert warrior.

Her! She’s dangerous – looks can be deceiving. I wouldn’t want to be on the other end of her sword... not even during training!

I’m riding out with them this afternoon to check the perimeters.

On Pandora?

Elektra’s laugh reverberated off the sandstone cliffs. Pandora, a placid palomino horse, had journeyed with them through the vortex.

No, silly! Pandora wouldn’t survive the desert. Rania’s given me permission to use one of their horses – an Arabian stallion... I can’t wait.

Be careful – you know what happens after sunset.

There’s nothing to worry about, Ash... these are the desert warriors we’re talking about.

Ash nodded wordlessly.

A familiar turmoil of emotions flooded him. Nostalgia. Worry. Fear. He longed to be back in the Third Realm with his family and the other Guardians – as life used to be. But everything had changed. He couldn’t even begin to make this Realm his home while he didn’t know how the others had fared. Here, the time ticked by slowly each day, but with each passing second he knew they were edging closer to their return.

Elektra rested her head against his shoulder in a gesture of comfort. Silently they watched the fierce sun creep up behind the mountains, awakening the sleeping city below.

––––––––

Once the sun had risen, Elektra went off to train while Ash headed to the rock temple chiselled into the side of the mountain. Inside, the Book of Elements lay open on a wooden pedestal. Maksimos and Kyros huddled over the book, studying it intently. Ash approached them.

Maksimos glanced up first, smiling. You’re on time, Ash. He straightened up, placing his hands on his lower back as if to ease himself into standing position. My age is starting to show. He laughed heartily.

Master Maksimos. Ash bowed to his predecessor and then nodded at his mentor, Kyros. Have you figured out the spells as yet?

We both have lots to learn, said Kyros pointing at the two of them.

It’s simple, said Maksimos. The incantations are chanted aloud and, as you know, only the Guardians can read the ancient language in which the book is written. The more you practise, the easier it gets... like everything else.

Are there other spells in the book? Ash questioned. Beside the element spells?

Maksimos raised his bushy eyebrows. There are, but for now we only need the four element spells. Long ago a Guardian took it upon himself to conceal the other spells – he believed he was protecting the Guardians from each other.

Curious, Ash shifted closer to the ancient book, staring at the spell on the open page. He shivered, recalling the time in the oak woodlands – the Groves of Dodona – when he had broken the code to read the ancient language. This apparently happened to all the Guardians, but he remembered distinctly how scared he had been. Now the words on the aged pages appeared crystalline to him.

Master Maksimos... I’ve been wondering... if you don’t have the Onyx, then who does?

From what you’ve told me Ash of the way Drakon created the tornados during the Dark War, I’m certain that he has the magic stone.

And all this time we believed you had it. Kyros ran his hand through his long, blond hair. But... it all makes sense now – him winning the war.

You’ve probably been told already that the book and the stone work together. But in the wrong hands, I’m afraid to say, the Onyx is a dangerous object, Maksimos pointed out.

It’s powerful... Kyros added, ... we can’t underestimate that.

But how did Drakon find a way to control the magic in the stone? asked Ash.

With his twisted evil magic, anything’s possible. Dark Magic is what we call it. And the possessor of the Onyx can control the weather-force... which is dangerous in itself. Maksimos shook his head.

The thundering of horses’ hooves broke the tension and shouting drowned out their conversation. Ash bolted to the open doorway. The Hajaran desert warriors crossed over the wooden bridge and disappeared through the open stone door. The narrow gorge swallowed them and Ash caught a glimpse of Elektra’s strawberry-blonde plait flying out from underneath her shemagh.

Elektra’s befriended the warriors, Kyros remarked. When we return to the Third Realm we must consider her as a successor to Alexis. She’s excellent with the bow and arrow and a great rider too. She’d make an outstanding horse-warrior.

That’s if we ever return, Ash remarked dejectedly. And if we do, there might be nothing left.

Kyros strode over to Ash and placed his hand on his back. We don’t want to rush it. The way I see it, Drakon won’t kill Thanos and Galene. He wants us to return so he can eliminate all of us. But... he doesn’t know that we have the book and an army of fearless desert warriors backing us up.

Ash nodded and swallowed a lump in his throat. Raven... she knows about the book. She was with us in the woods when I broke the code.

They’ll be searching for it in the Third Realm, added Kyros. The last thing they’d expect is that we have it. And I’m sure Thanos and Galene won’t tell them that we hid it in the casket. Even so, if they search in there, it won’t be there.

Let’s get back to training, Maksimos suggested. Ash, you’re up first.

Kyros closed the wooden door. Ash crossed the room to the pedestal and stood in front of it. Kyros shifted into position behind Ash, while Maksimos walked around to the opposite side and faced them.

The incantations are easy. Connecting to the core of the book is the difficult part. Place your hand on the page, Maksimos instructed. It’s similar to how we source our energy when conjuring up orbs or mythical creatures, but you take it one step further by casting the spell over the person who’s in front of you. You don’t have to physically touch them.

Ash brushed his fingertips lightly over the page and the familiar tingling sensation spread through his body. His fingers shimmered and the page became luminescent. The words popped out at him and he chanted, slowly at first, gradually increasing his tempo – the ancient dialect tumbling off his tongue. As he picked up momentum, the energy surged into his outstretched hand which he pointed toward the closed temple door. He shut his eyes – the words now memorised. The zinging spread throughout his entire body. Heat pulsed in his hands and a light burst out of his fingertips, flashing across the temple and hitting the wooden door squarely.

Ash opened his eyes, blinking, as the intensity of the spell subsided. A wide grin spread across his face when he saw the smoking zigzag on the door.

Maksimos reached over and slapped him on his shoulder. Ash, I don’t know what to say! That was powerful... but you’ll have to tone it down a fraction. We don’t want any injured warriors before we even leave.

I didn’t expect that. I thought if I was further away from our Sphere my power would diminish.

Remember what I told you before. The Trinity represents all three Realms, Maksimos explained, which makes you the healer in all the Realms, so your powers will be of equal strength.

Ash touched his sword on his hip. The metal was hot and the triangular symbol blazed beneath his fingertips. He thought of Hektor, the Arete Army’s commander who was also Elektra’s father. Hektor had believed that ordinary Seraphians could connect with the energy from their element – this was rightfully so, but only once the element spell had been cast.

It looks like my job of mentoring you is almost over, Kyros remarked proudly.

That’s enough for today, Maksimos said. Training will commence at the same time tomorrow. He bobbed his head, dismissing Ash.

Ash bowed and left the temple.

––––––––

Ash headed to the stone door where six vast stone columns guarded the entranceway to the City of Hajar. While he waited for Elektra’s return from her excursion, he worried about her safety even though she was in capable hands out there in the harsh desert. He wanted to be nearby when she re-entered the city, in case something happened. The sun was setting dangerously low, and, once it disappeared, the desert monsters emerged.

The horses came into view through the narrow gorge and Elektra rode confidently behind Rani. But when a sporadic dust cloud rolled in behind them, it spooked Elektra’s horse. The stallion sidestepped skittishly, dancing out of line from the other horses. He flung his magnificent head sideways. Pricking up his ears, he tugged at his reins. But, as quickly as the cloud had billowed through the entranceway, it subsided. Elektra brought her horse under control before cantering away toward the stables.

Zahir, the Hajaran warrior leader, bellowed, Shut the door! He had been the last horseman to pass through, just as the sun dipped behind the mountain.

The colossal stone door rumbled as a dozen Hajaran tribesmen heaved the pulleys that moved the mechanisms, sliding the door shut. Solid stone blocks buried beneath the ground sealed the entrance so that no creature could pass beneath once it was closed.

This was the only way in or out. Surrounding three quarters of the city, the rose-red sandstone cliffs soared above them creating a natural barrier. On the western side, a perennial stream flowed into the valley through a gully in the cliffs. The city was unreachable from that side, as a treacherous swathe of mountains stretched between them and the desert on the outskirts.

The dust settled, powdering the tribesmen and Ash. Once the door shut solidly, Ash ambled in the same direction to where the warriors had ridden. When he arrived at the stables, Elektra was busy cooling down her horse. Sweat glistened on the stallion’s muscular flanks. She sponged him down as he drank fresh water from the trough in front of him.

Ash cleared his throat and Elektra looked up. Her green eyes flashed when she noticed him. She squeezed the rag out and dunked it into the wooden water bucket, rinsing it off.

He reminds me of Abrax. Her eyes reflected sadness at the memory of the treasured horse she’d left behind in the Third Realm.

But with a way better temperament by the looks of it! Ash joked, trying to make light of the situation. What’s his name?

Azraq.

Ash inclined his head. That’s a weird name for a horse.

It means blue in Arabic.

"Blue! But he’s black."

Take a closer look at him – his coat shines blue-black.

Ash stepped nearer, inspecting the stallion. Placing his hand on the horse’s elegant neck where his coat gleamed, he stroked him briskly. I get it.

How did your training go?

It was easier than I— Ash broke off mid-sentence. There’s one thing that Maksimos mentioned... Ash intertwined his fingers through Azraq’s mane as he recalled what Maksimos had said.

This time Elektra tilted her head, waiting expectantly.

We can only see the four element spells in the book – the other pages are blank.

Blank?

Yes... there’s nothing on them.

The spellbook - is it incomplete?

No... it’s not like that. A Guardian concealed the other spells by using an incantation on the book itself. Ash laughed.  Crazy, hey?

Why on earth would a Guardian do that?

To protect the Guardians from each other...

That’s strange, Elektra said.

Maksimos is hiding something from us and Kyros doesn’t seem to know much about the spellbook – he’s never questioned the concealed spells before. It’s very strange. If you remember, he was new to the Guardianship when Drakon was his mentor and the coup happened. Soon after that... the book vanished. Maksimos was meant to destroy it beforehand but he must have kept it for some reason.

Ash, are you sure about this? If he’s hiding something he’d never tell us anyway and he probably wouldn’t tell Kyros either. Elektra discarded the rag and led Azraq toward his stable.

Ha... I know a way! If I get the book, I can test one of the spells I’ve learnt on it. Maybe it’ll break the concealing spell.

"No... don’t do that! Elektra’s eyes widened. What if it goes wrong?"

You don’t have much faith in me. Ash smiled lopsidedly.

So much has happened already. We can’t have anything else disastrous happening. There has to be another way, Elektra said adamantly.

All I need is a few minutes when Maksimos takes a break from watching over the book and then I can try a spell, said Ash.

Ash! Don’t you listen!

Okay, okay... he conceded. I’ll keep my energy for the elements spells.

I’m not so sure if Zack’s the right one anyway, Elektra remarked.

We had fifteen other volunteers including Chance, but so far Zack’s proven to be the strongest physically and mentally. Kyros wants to test it on him first.

Chance... was he cross? Elektra stifled a laugh.

Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen much of him over the last few days. He’s probably sulking somewhere.

Elektra rolled her eyes. He can’t get his own way all the time.

Ash trailed Elektra to the feed-room where they stuffed a rope-feeder with hay. After helping Elektra secure the opening on the one side, they strolled back and hung the feeder in Azraq’s stable. The stallion snorted in appreciation, ripping at the grassy stalks poking out between the ropes.

Let’s wait and try to get hold of the book afterwards... maybe by then Maksimos won’t be so protective over it, Elektra said compromisingly. But only on one condition...

What’s that?

That you don’t cast any incantations on it. Elektra stroked Azraq’s velvety muzzle while she peeked out from beneath her eyelashes at Ash.

Ash nodded reluctantly.

Elektra stepped past him and Ash followed, shutting the stable door behind them.

Darkness drifted over the city bringing with it the relief of the cool night air which soothed the skin after the blistering heat of day. When Ash left Elektra, he knew that once they cast the element spells, they’d be one step closer to returning home. And that was what his heart longed for.

Chapter 2 

Secret Engravings

Ash and Elektra waited with Chance at the far end of the temple. Zack knelt before Maksimos. He had a smug look on his face when he glanced at Chance. Chance ignored him and looked the other way, folding his arms across his chest. Once Maksimos had cast the element spell on Zack he would hopefully be able to manipulate the fire element.

It should be me, grumbled Chance.

Ash shot Chance a sympathetic look but he couldn’t be distracted by his self-pity. This was a crucial turning-point and, if the spell worked, it could be their ticket home.

Zack... bow your head, Maksimos instructed, and clear your mind.

Zack followed his instructions eagerly.

Maksimos placed his right hand on the open page and reached his left hand out, aiming his fingertips at Zack. Immediately the page glowed and he uttered the incantation for the element spell. His voice was loud, with a cutting edge to it. His eyelids flickered and, when the last mantras burst forth from his mouth, a sudden flash struck Zack, sending him sprawling across the floor.

Maksimos opened his eyes – a surprised expression on his face. Kneeling down he tapped Zack on his shoulder, but he was out cold.

Oops, said Maksimos, I forgot how powerful these spells are. I should have heeded my own warning.

Zack stirred. He sat bolt upright, holding his head between his hands. My head’s going to explode.

Kyros strode over from the other side of the pedestal. He hooked his arm under Zack’s armpit and heaved him off the ground.

Zack rubbed his square jaw. Are you sure you didn’t punch me Master Maksimos?

Maksimos’s eyes lit up. If I did, I can guarantee you there’d be a lot more pain in your head right now.

Kyros hauled a wooden bench over to Zack and indicated that he should sit.

How long will it take? Zack asked.

Not more than an hour, replied Maksimos. You’ll feel it Zack – without a doubt.

We’re going to check on the training. It’s best you all stay with him until then, Kyros advised, looking toward the three friends.

Maksimos bundled up the book and both Guardians left the temple.

Elektra perched herself on the bench next to Zack. Did the Guardians explain to you what would happen if the spell went wrong?

Elektra, Ash said, this isn’t the time to mention that.

Maybe your brain will be fried, chirped Chance sarcastically.

Elektra snorted.

Zack murmured drowsily. I... I need to lie down.

Elektra shifted over and made space for Zack to lie on the bench. It’s probably the effects of the spell working through your body.

Do you feel weird in any other way? asked Ash, Besides feeling tired?

Tired... only tired... like I’ve never slept before... Zack drifted into a deep, dead sleep. His regular snoring soon echoed around the rock temple.

Well that’s just great! remarked Chance. It’s more like a sleeping spell.

And we always believed he was so tough! said Elektra.

Ash paced up and down near the pedestal. When he stopped alongside it, he placed both his hands on it and stared off into the distance. As his eyes focused, he noticed a faint engraving in the rough rock in front of him. His interest was piqued and he edged closer, taking a better look. Tilting his head, he studied the marking which looked vaguely familiar.

Elektra ambled over. What’re you looking at?

That. Ash pointed at the wall.

Elektra squinted and moved nearer. She wiped her hand over the dusty surface revealing the engraving.

It’s a triangle, the same as the one on my sword.

Chance now crossed the temple floor and stood next to them. That’s weird. Maybe Maksimos drew it.

He could have... he’s the only one in the Middle Realm who’d have known about the Trinity sword, said Ash.

Elektra turned to face him, her green eyes dancing. Ash... perhaps you and the sword are connected to this somehow.

Ash strode up to the wall and, stretching out his hand, brushed the symbol with his fingertips, but the wooden temple door creaking open made him bound back in fright. Alarmed, he spun around facing the person entering.

What’s going on? Kyros asked.

They scuttled away from the wall and, thankfully, Kyros seemed oblivious to what they were looking at.

He’s been counting sheep since you left, Master Kyros, Ash replied hastily.

Zack lay prostrate on the bench, snoring noisily.

Kyros shook him by the shoulder. Zack... Zack! Wake up!

Mmmm. What’s for breakfast?

Elektra laughed.

Zack’s eyes flew open and he stared blankly at the ceiling above him. Where am I?

The temple. Don’t you remember? We cast the element spell on you. Kyros pronounced his words slowly.

Chance chortled. I told you, his brain’s fried.

I’m all good. Zack sat up and rose to his feet, but, as he stepped forward, he swayed unsteadily and grabbed Ash’s arm.

Maksimos is waiting for us in the training arena, Kyros said. Are you good to go?

Sure... replied Ash as Zack held onto him and they headed out of the temple.

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They soon arrived at the sandy arena on the western side of the