Path of the Dandelion King

By J. L. Church

An ancient turtle and his faithful fairy stumble across an infant child in the wetlands on the fourth day of the Juniper Suns Solstice. With the help of the Master Beekeepers and other unlikely friends they fight against the evil forces of darkness who dwell beneath the Earth. The child will be tested three times and she must pass all three before the ninth season when the purple myrtle trees bloom, or darkness will once again rule the Upperlands.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. L. Church
• Release date: Oct 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781735206523

J. L. Church

JODI LEIGH CHURCH, has been a Spirit filled Christian for nearly 40 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accountancy and has over 25 years business experience. After writing her first non-fiction book, Storm of Righteousness: In an Unforgiving World highlighting her personal encounters with the supernatural she was inspired to stretch her child like imagination to bring fun and fantastical stories to life for all ages.Ms. Church currently resides in Northern Texas and is the mother of one adult son and has two cats. She is in the process of becoming foster care certified.Contact Information: [e-mail]

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ESPIRE CHRONICLES

Path of the

Dandelion King

J. L. Church

ESPIRE CHRONICLES

PATH OF THE DANDELION KING

By J. L. Church

Copyright © 2020 by Jodi L Church

Distributed by Smashwords

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, by any information or retrieval system, without permission of Jodi L Church.

Paperback ISBN 978-1-7352065-9-2

Mobi eBook ISBN 978-1-7352065-0-9

EPUB eBook ISBN 978-1-7352065-2-3

Cover Design and Illustrations: CyAn Platas

Names: Church, Jodi L, author / Church, Jordan A, editor / Platas, CyAn, cover design and illustrations

Title: Espire Chronicles: Path of the Dandelion King

Identifiers: ISBN 978-1-7352065-9-2 (paperback)

978-1-7352065-0-9 (Mobi electronic)

978-1-7352065-2-3 (EPUB electronic)

Subjects: Fantasy, Fairy Tale, Action and Adventure

Author Page: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/stormworld1111

First Edition

2020

This book is dedicated to the victims of human trafficking.

#SaveOurChildren

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Biography

INTRODUCTION

An ancient turtle and his faithful fairy stumble across an infant child in the wetlands on the fourth day of the Juniper Suns Solstice. With the help of the Master Beekeepers and other unlikely friends they fight against the evil forces of darkness who dwell beneath the Earth. The child will be tested three times and she must pass all three before the ninth season when the purple myrtle trees bloom, or darkness will once again rule the Upperlands.

CHAPTER 1

Long ago, there was a wise and ancient turtle named Leangafurd. He traveled the lands watching mankind come and go. He was of gigantic proportions but had an invisible shield so no one could see him unless he made himself known. He had with him an all-seeing eye, a peculiar and spunky fairy named Magdalina. She could see into the depths of the sea, through time and space, and into the soul of a man.

In her rebellion against the Order of the Fairy Guild, who sought to control who she could befriend, she fell ill and her wings withered away never to return. Nursed back to life by this gentle giant, she chose to stand with Leangafurd, to be his eyes and ears, a friend by day a watcher by night. Leangafurd had a pair of silk spider web wings woven for her so that she might fly again, although not nearly as fast nor high. Leangafurd feared neither darkness, chaos, or war, nor evil or death as he was able to know all things that were, that are, and were to come because of his all-seeing eye friend.

Leangafurd saw the potential of mankind, the depth of their resolve, the character of their forefathers but also the depravity of their soul, the brokenness of their bodies and mind. Throughout the ages, the Worekers, now dungeon dwellers, came to possess knowledge and understanding and sought to destroy those who lived on the Earth, those weaker than themselves. They went after the children of the lands because they had grown soft, lazy and complacent, having grown fat from generation after generation of being spoiled with riches.

The Worekers were a divisive people, who chose a life of solitude underground in the hidden places, among volcanos, mountain rock formations, and debris. The lack of sun, nutrition and light made them pale and frail. Their eyes were as fireflies buzzing around in the darkness. As the fiery light from the lava gazed upon them their skin resembled ill formed dough, thin without substance, blemished, scarred by the jagged rocks and terrain, veins exposed. Sickly odors permeated from within as of dying flesh.

They were split by clans having found disdain within even themselves, lacking empathy, love, or character, but looking like death in the form of a man. Those balding, unable to grow but patches of hair and having eyes bright as the sun ruled the inner most caverns of the underground. Many were deformed from generations of inbreeding and lacking sustenance, teeth having rotted out.

The larger ones feasted on the innards of the bats of the caves while the smaller ones ate the dung left behind, the roaches being a delicacy. They were once royalty of the Upperlands but were driven to the ends of the Earth by the Ancient Ones, the Warriors of Old. The Worekers were known for their depravity and violence, and unrelenting terrorizing of the country people they so proudly ruled over.

Two brothers fought for control of the inner caverns for they were majestic in size, but the evilest brother won. He was King Gauthburg of the Knasi Clan. Being so ruthless, he took his own children to the witch of the sea, Heluzba, and sacrificed them there for victory against his brother. What he did not realize was that by being given victory, neither him nor his descendants would ever be permitted to leave, but were cursed to an eternity of darkness, never again seeing the light of day or breathing the fresh air from dew on a spring morning.

Shackled to the underground tunnels, a slave to the heat of the brimstones and the never-ending chirping of the bats above that plagued the deep underground caves. In this solitude, in this magic land they never died, to be tormented day and night without end.

Now his brother, King Sublet, the ruler of the Clan of Dashbeurn, made his home within the outer caves and tunnels, but they were wet and damp, no more than four feet high. His people crawled from place to place as animals. Their backs were permanently hunched over unnaturally, never able to stand, and their spines protruded from their backs.

Their eyes were much smaller than the Knasi Clan and not as bright, because on occasion they did see the light of day, but they were also deformed, malnourished and full of wickedness. The Dashbeurn Clan became accustomed to cannibalism, eating the weak who were not able to survive for their lungs were full of mold and sickness never quite able to take a full breath. As the curse was put on his brother, the caves were sealed to all men of the Earth who entered.

But among these people there were the most hated of them all, the Ebborgots. They did not have name nor personality but became one with the caves on every level, both physically and spiritually. They were once a people with extraordinary supernatural powers given to them by the Ancient Ones, but they abused their power, taking advantage of the innocence of children, trying to harness their essence for their own personal gain. They were to be punished more than any other, no longer having a conscience, nor fear, nor compassion, they were banished between the worlds, never fully here and never fully there.

They tormented the other clans day and night, seeking to steal them away into the other worlds, but never quite able to, only being able to materialize long enough to torment the living. The psychological toll on the people from the continual harassment caused them to be imbalanced and unpredictable, almost schizophrenic.

Now Leangafurd knew of these cursed people, having watched them descend further and further into the darkness. For he was instrumental in the blessings of their forefathers. He instilled Wisdom in them, foretelling of their futures if they did as he instructed, but they rebelled against everything that was good and right and went their own way massacring, deceiving, and mistreating anyone who got in