Warrior of Wyster: The Wyster Series, #1

By Adelyn Burleson

Lauren Ackerley is  catapulted away from her usual day-to-day life and thrust into a world invaded by enemies. Lauren has no choice but to become involved in the brewing conflict if she ever intends to return home. As arrows fly and armies assemble, Lauren is faced with the fight to gain the answers to her many questions, namely, who the mysterious Righteous One truly is....and if she can trust Him.

This book is an allegory based on the Biblical account of Gideon in Judges.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Adelyn Burleson
• Release date: Sep 30, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393289487

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE:  DREAM RAIDERS

Numerous dark-clothed raiders rode stealthily through the terrain. Scimitar-like swords and daggers gleamed at their sides. Their endless herds of horses shone in the intense sun. They thundered onwards leaving clouds of dust.

Unclear scenes of panic...shouts...conflict...hoof beats...confusion...

Flames curled around in the distance and smoke began to encroach on the blue skies overhead. The vivid landscape melted into glimpses of collapsing buildings and flashes of frightened people pouring into the streets. Tents and animals accompanied the raiders’ ruthless invasion. The menacing dark warriors fearlessly began the fight.

No! The figure of a boy shouted, reaching for a sword at his side. Anger seemed to pulse through him as he viewed the terror and destruction. He unsheathed his sword and ran towards the blur of action. An indistinct form of a teenage girl behind him also ran forward with a bow in her hand and a quiver of silver-feathered arrows secured on her back.

A mounted raider swung at the boy with his blade, but narrowly missed. The boy twisted to the side and landed hard on the ground. The girl shot an arrow. The boy moaned but rolled to his feet as the raider attacked again.

Watch out! the girl screamed as the boy dodged a deadly dagger. She swiftly reached for an arrow and prepared to shoot her bow...

But then they were suddenly gone. The last raider galloped away, leaving a ravaged land of devastation behind him.

The boy said something inaudible to the girl and came to stand by her.

No! the girl cried.

It’s too late. She’s gone. the boy looked away.

The girl returned the arrow to her quiver. Righteous One, please help us! she cried out in reply, her voice cracking with sadness. They simply stared forlornly into the distance.

But then something changed.

They were not just standing. They were waiting.

Waiting for...

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP!

I slapped my hand over the top of my alarm clock before I even opened my eyes. I was gasping for breath and beads of sweat dotted my forehead. I sat up and looked around, half expecting to see the clash of swords all around me. My vision adjusted to the dim light and the familiar shapes and features of my bedroom emerged.

For some reason, my hand traveled past the alarm clock to the big book lying on my night table. I picked the Bible up and looked at it before setting it back down where it belonged. I sighed, and then swung around out of bed. Weird, I thought to myself. Raiders. Really? I swept my blond hair back and strode into the kitchen.

I’ve got cinnamon rolls set out on the counter, Lauren, I heard my mom call from behind me.

Thanks, Mom, I answered, making a mental note to select one with extra icing. I opened the cabinet and reached for a plate.

You’re definitely going to need a big, energizing breakfast if you intend to keep up with Johanna and Daniel this morning, she chuckled. And as soon as that’s finished, you’ll need to go straight to archery practice.

What—wait, Johanna and Daniel? Is that today? I huffed, slowly setting the plate down. A sinking feeling made my shoulders droop. I might have actually preferred taking on three dark raiders at once than the task that lay ahead.

Lauren, you know your Aunt Alena needs help watching them during her meeting, and besides, you committed to do it—

I know, I know, I grumbled, but tried to smile in spite of my sorely lacking enthusiasm. But in that case I’m afraid I’m going to have to eat three cinnamon rolls.

Lauren, I’m sure you’ll love being around your cousins, my Mom said, her blue-green eyes gleaming warmly. Besides, you’re fifteen and your aunt is certain that you’re capable.

"I know that, I shook my head and then raised my chin in determination. I know that I’m plenty capable. And I know that I agreed to do it." I turned and traveled down the hall to my bedroom. There’s no way I’m going to allow two little cousins to ruin my day. There’s just no way, I told myself firmly. I threw open the curtains to the large window and let the bright morning sunlight flood into the room. I peered out at the quiet neighborhood and the birds hopping in the soft green grass. I then glanced down the street. All was as it should be.

But then I frowned.

For some reason I just couldn’t get it out of my head. The unclear scene of the boy, girl, and raiders simply refused to fade from my memory. The vivid action and the mysterious dialogue seemed etched directly into my mind. It was uncanny.

I shot another wistful glance outside the window. I longed to understand what the girl and boy had been waiting for.

It seemed so...

Real.

CHAPTER TWO: THE MYSTERIOUS VOICE

C ome back, Johanna ! I cried, tossing the ball in the air. When the little girl showed zero interest in paying attention, I gave a little huff of disapproval. Johanna! Johanna, come back here!

Daniel began to giggle. I ignored his laughs and gave a long sigh. My sense of determination to babysit had already died an untimely death.

I had to run to catch up to my youngest cousin and held out the ball to her. Johanna, sweetie, we can’t run off like that, I said gently, though she neither listened or took the ball. I’m your babysitter until your mom gets back, remember? You’ve got to listen to me. My loose t-shirt flapped in the breeze as I tossed the ball again. Do you want to play Monkey in the Middle?

Johanna turned to face me with an impish grin. Tag! she shouted. You’re it! She blasted off like a little rocket towards the woods again. Daniel clapped his hands and raced on behind her.

I tucked my blonde hair back and tried in vain to look authoritative. Johanna! Daniel! I should never have agreed to watch them. The resentment I felt warmed my cheeks in the cool April air. Next time Aunt Alena’s going to have to find someone else to do this.

Lauren! I came out of my reverie at the call of my name.

Come back! I ventured into the woods a little bit.

Lauren! Lauren! My name was being screamed frantically.

I broke into a run. What’s wrong? my heart pounded anxiously in my chest for my cousins. It’s probably just a joke. I tried to convince myself. Hey! I yelled. The Bible on my night table popped into my head. God doesn’t like it when you disobey your babysitter—and your cousin! That should do it.

Lauren, Lauren! Lauren! the voice reached a crescendo.

I burst into a clearing to my left and attempted to chase the sound of my name. I looked ahead and my eyes settled on a small weathered structure. A barn.

Were my cousins trapped somewhere inside? I bounded up to it and studied the old grey wood. Vines and blooming wisteria partially covered it. Panes of glass were missing in the windows.

Lauren. The voice was now a whisper. Then I knew. I just knew. This wasn’t Johanna’s voice. It wasn’t Daniel’s. It wasn’t a child’s voice.

My spine prickled as I steadied myself against the barn’s rickety wooden planks. Who are you? I shouted. My mind flashed back to my strange dream. Was I hearing things, or was this real? I reached for my cell phone, prepared to dial an emergency number at any moment. I had to find them!

Lauren.

There it was again! That mysterious whisper. In wonder, I jerked around. How could one voice be so unsettling and yet fill me with peace at the same time? I backed away and into the barn. I gathered the courage to repeat my question. Who are you?

Come and find out.

This time the voice was imperative and commanding. I apprehensively yanked on the tangled vines so hard that my hand scraped into the barn beneath.

A mere moment later I was hurtling up in the air at a speed that took my breath away. The barn, everything around me—seemed like a blur, rippling and warping as though it were underwater or part of a mirage.

I LANDED ON A DUSTY, hard surface on my hands and knees. When I looked down at my hands in the darkness, they were no longer curled around the vines.  

I took a deep breath and stood up enveloped in utter silence. Too much silence. I looked upwards, feeling cold and dizzy.

I was in a cave.

I stood in confused wonder. The shining cavern walls were mainly orange, but mixed with a complicated blend of reds and whites. Impossible, I breathed.  

I stepped forward to gawk at the ribbons of color mixed in breathtaking wavy patterns all along the cave’s tunneling passageways. My eyes quickly adapted to the strange light around me. The stone seemed to emit a large degree of the brightness, bathing the area in a dim orange glow.  The floor appeared to be composed of dusty beige dirt.

I must have fallen here from the barn, I whispered aloud. I’m just in the backyard—and I’ll find a way back up. I stood to my feet and walked ahead, brimming with curiosity.

The barn was just less sturdy than I thought, and now I’ve fallen in some kind of sinkhole. I desperately tried to convince myself. Never mind the fact that the cave was made of glowing orange stone.

I placed my hand on the curving rock wall, smooth and as perfect as a polished gemstone. I peered at it closely and stooped down to pick up a small piece of the orange stone that had fallen to the cavern floor. I slipped it into my pocket and then ventured down the tunnel farther, curious to know what would appear beyond the corridor. I pushed away the uncomfortable insecure questions—questions I certainly didn’t want to think about.

The orange glow gradually became brighter as I came around a tunneling bend of the cavern. I took one glance up into the blinding sunlight ahead and stepped outside onto a dusty path surrounded by trees. I smelled the scent