Minds: From the Shadows

By Sherry Dedrick

Edeland was a home to many sorcerers, witches and wizards. None, however, were as powerful as the Minds, so called for their ability to read the thoughts of both animals and people alike. Anora, the second of the Blue Minds to be born onto this land, has a perilous journey ahead. Only she can lead her world to peace and end the madness of an ancient bloodline that seeks to destroy their hopes. With her magical strength ever growing, she attracts horrendous darkness with each passing day.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781300440147

Book preview

Minds: From the Shadows

Minds:

From the Shadows

Written by: Sherry Dedrick

Cover by: Shardel

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED COPYRIGHT © 2014 PRINTED IN USA

Prologue: Part I

Prologue: Part II

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty- Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Chapter Thirty

Prologue: Part I

They sailed away from the only home they ever knew. Dark clouds covered the skies as they watched the island disappear in the distance. Vanaheim had been turned to rubble and ash by greed and powerful magic that poisoned those who used it unchecked and unchallenged. The men and women knew nothing of the world beyond their own shores. They, however, were willing to risk what little they had remaining for a better life.

The ship sailed for over a year in turbulent seas before reaching the new land. When the men and women sat foot onto flat plains and wheat fields, they knew they had found a good home. It would be a home that would produce fine crops and clean air to breathe. This new world, however, was bare and nearly lifeless.

With them, the men and women brought magic that could create anything including life itself. These flat plains were a perfectly clean canvas for their greatest vision of a peaceful world. They used their powerful magic to raise mountain chains, carve vast clear rivers, and grow evergreen forests.

When they sculpted the new world of Edeland as it was later called, they continued on to create wildlife. Of the multitudes of life they created, their greatest creation was mortal men and women. Their creators would not bestow magic upon these people. For the magic, which they brought with them, could also destroy life just as easily as it could create it.

This new world of Edeland would not suffer the same fate as their former home. Vannaheim’s dark shadows would not follow them here. These mortals would be free from hatred, greed, and envy or so the creators naively believed.

For a century, the creators and their creations lived in the long-sought-after peace. They built farms, homes, and kingdoms. Edeland was just as they imagined it to be and it became so much more than they could ever have expected. It was during the second century when the creators, later known as the Eminent Council, began to lose control of their marvelous world.

When they came to shore a little over one hundred years ago, there was an unlikely passenger aboard. It was a small brown and white rodent. It was overlooked by the sailors.

Upon that mouse’s back, it carried the smallest of seeds. One would mistake that small black seed for a grain of sand and expect it to grow nothing more than an herb or a flower. Deep in the northern parts of Edeland’s shadowy Naskal Forest, the seed was dropped and soon took root.

This seed was no ordinary seed. From it grew a massive tree known as a Windfeld. In its home country of Vanaheim, this species of tree was the source of all magic. At first, only those born in Naskal had magic. Soon, it spread like wildfire throughout mortal men and women. This tree was somehow stronger and more powerful than any of the trees that once grew in Vanaheim.

This tree took the first century to grow to its full strength. Here in Edeland, it developed slightly different magic. It was a magic of nature that could control the wind, water, and the soil. The people living around this tree were born with powers that not even the council knew before nor did they know how to contain it. The tree itself could not be hewn nor destroyed. Something powerful protected it and not even the Eminent Council’s combined magic could rid Edeland of this Windfeld Tree.

For some, the tree gave powers to influence grass, trees, flowers, crops, or just about anything that could grow from seed. They were called Caregivers. They could maintain crops and influence the weather. The strongest of them all took leadership over their people.

Still, others were given even stranger powers. Dwellers, as they were called for their love of living inside of mountains, could influence the ground itself. They could build mountains or tear them down. They could create earthquakes or cease them. If provoked, these Dwellers could certainly destroy Edeland itself. The Eminent Council feared them the most. Their worries, however, were baseless. Dwellers were often peaceful folk, who cared deeply for their fellow mankind. It was within the Dweller communities that many found strong allies.

The Windfeld Tree in the Naskal Forest continued to create unique magic and even gave birth to creatures that none had seen before. These creatures were known as Men of Nature. They were made up of the same elements, in which they were born and lived. Yet they appeared as any other human being when they walked amongst the mortals.

These creatures could conjure powerful magic and were almost immortal. No weapon nor magic could harm them. Fearing such powerful beings, the Eminent Council called out for guidance from the strongest leaders of the Caregivers and Dwellers. Together they created devices that looked like emeralds. They bound the Men of Nature to these gems and would forever do the bidding of any who possessed them.

The Eminent Council gave those gems, three in all, to the Caregivers who helped contain their powers. Those Caregivers were siblings; two brothers and a younger sister. The fourth brother did not care for such power.

They reigned over their own kingdoms in different parts of the world. Queen Hannelore was given the power to control the Men of Waters as her brother, King Joran, was given the power to control the Men of Oaks.

Their brother King Terus was given dominion over the unique magic flowing from the Windfeld tree. King Thurn, the oldest, would take govern the underworld. He did not care to have control over the Men of Nature nor did he care to control magic itself. In his heart, he knew there was too much temptation in having authority over such invincible forces.

King Joran and Queen Hannelore were impressed with their new magic and the immortal men, whom they controlled. Greed soon entered their hearts as they realized they had the power to take over all of Edeland and it’s new northern neighbor Frehan. The promise of riches and glory was far too great to deny. With the Men of Nature, the siblings began to take over Edeland by bloodshed and fear.

Their brothers, King Terus and King Thurn, sought the help of one of the greatest warriors they knew. They gave Edric whatever power he needed to defeat the rogue monarchs. When he overthrew King Joran and Queen Hannelore, he cut the gems from their skin.

The Men of Nature took back the Gems of Power. King Joran and Queen Hannelore forced the Men of Nature to commit horrendous crimes. The Men of Nature unwillingly murdered innocent people in the name of power and glory. Never again would the men entrust another leader chosen by the Eminent Council.

Prologue: Part II

Magic in Edeland grew stronger and wilder with the passage of time. Stronger abilities were being forged by the Windfeld Tree every day. There were now men and women, who could read thoughts and conjure magic so powerful it could destroy everything surrounding them if left unchecked. These people were known as Minds.

The magic, with which these Minds were born, was so powerful that they could barely control it themselves. Many died while attempting to use their abilities. The Eminent Council created devices that would help maintain the magic and allow the Minds to use it. The device they created was called a Brain Box. It was called so for its strange appearance.

It was a small box-shaped pendant and inside there was a sphere with golden lines criss crossing every which way. That sphere was what helped the Minds contain their ever-growing magical power. For the newly born wizards, who could be as strong as Minds, the Eminent Council created what was known as an Ulithrin. Many appeared to look like any other pendant made of smooth shiny stones. The Ulithrins were most often coal black with thin silver lines running throughout the stone.

With even more powerful magic slowly taking over their once pure world, greater greed began to take over as well. Struggles for control over the Windfeld Tree led to wars and destruction. Mortal men, who could not possess magic, started to find ways to conjure it themselves.

Some stole magic from Minds, wizards, and other beings. They created potions, powders, and devices that would mimic the powers of the Minds and wizards. The most powerful of these devices was known as a Banstil. It would allow any who possessed it the ability to use stolen magic without the natural repercussions. It also stopped the stolen magic from fading thereby turning themselves into sorcerers.

The greatest of the sorcerers and most powerful was named Valyn. He became much more than a mortal man. He became something much more powerful than even the Eminent Council could have predicted.

He and his wife, Lyanna, took over lands and created false hopes of peace. Their misguided campaign to free Edeland of the Eminent Council soon turned to bloodshed. Again the saviors of Edeland, the three kings, fought to throw down this new evil. King Terus and King Thurn called upon King Edric once more for help.

When Valyn was thrown from power, it was revealed that a great prophet had been born. As a young boy, Adwin would warn of great dangers. His prophecies were never wrong and soon they were taken as fact when he spoke of them. As he reached adulthood, his visions became darker then came one so terrible that no one wanted to believe him. It was this vision that the people of Edeland dismissed and mocked. They laughed when they heard him speak of it.

As his vision started to unfold piece by piece, the Eminent Council and leaders of Edeland did nothing to stop it from coming true. Adwin went into hiding. He would no longer warn them of what was to come. His words had no meaning to them.

He lived the remainder of his life creating journals, books, and scrolls. Within all of those pages, he left clues and warnings for the one person who could stop the greatest enemy yet to come.

Chapter One

Birth of a Blue Mind

The fire surrounding the castle of Kennhelm in the heart of

Frehan grew ever taller. Arms of the flames engulfed homes and the forests. There was no escape for them. Ash and smoldering embers flew through the cold night air.

The unexpected attack had the soldiers scrambling to protect what remained of their shattered kingdom. The black smoke rose ever higher into the sky as the night went on. It choked all who were close to the city. Screams of people trapped in burning buildings haunted the night air.

The enemy soldiers locked frightened people in their very own homes. There were a few who escaped the embers only to be captured. Archers walked into the courtyards as families tried to flee. The people of Kennhelm fell to their knees in surrender, but the captain known as Baylyn leading the onslaught cared not for sparing lives. He ordered their executions. The archers released their deadly wave of arrows into the crowd of men, women, and children. Their aim did not miss a single person.

The captain’s soldiers moved ever closer to the castle. They captured the princess’ new husband moments after he joined the fighting and beheaded him. They displayed his head in front of the castle for all to see. King Edric looked out upon the devastation. His kingdom was slowly crumbling and he had not the strength to stop any of it. He ran through the hidden passageways of his kingdom until he found King Terus. He pleaded with him to save the lives of his daughter and his new grandson, Galdwin.

King Terus guided the young Princess Arabell and her newborn son down to the stables; often looking over his shoulders in a panic. His heart raced and the sweat upon his brow poured down his cheeks. The fear inside of him would not be shown upon his face but it could be seen in his eyes. He was uncertain of how he could escape here with two lives to protect, but he would keep his promise to his greatest ally.

Princess Arabell wore only a red nightgown and a

black cloak over her shoulders. There was no time to dress

properly nor to comb her knotted hazel hair. She held her son

tightly in her arms. Her arms trembled with fear as the shouting became louder and louder. In the distance, she could hear trees begin to crack and fall as the fires consumed them.

Her infant son cried out into the night. His skin was turning cold and pale. She had only a blanket to keep him warm in the bitter cold night. Princess Arabell held back the tears as long as she could.

Shouts echoed in the hallway, from which they had just

come. King Terus threw himself between the invaders and

Princess Arabell and her infant son. The would-be attackers were stopped by the sentries. King Terus looked around the rather large stable. A covered carriage had already been prepared for their escape.

King Terus knew that it would be impossible to guide out a large wagon especially with the enemy army surrounding the outskirts and invading the countryside. The princess and her son would be dead before the end of the castle courtyard.

King Terus peered out from a crack in the barn door. The

invaders were getting closer and closer. He could see

hundreds more carrying torches in the distance. He did

what his instincts told him to do. He opened the barn door just

wide enough for the wagon to pass through. He hit one of the

horses on the hind leg with a switch. The horses took off without the would-be passengers.

Princess Arabell nearly screamed in anger at the dull-witted man. Words could not describe how furious she was with the so-called wise King of Nature. All of their food supplies and weapons were inside that wagon. She was certain if they did not die leaving the kingdom then they surely would die of starvation along the merciless road.

King Terus roughly grabbed her arm and forced Princess

Arabell to mount a horse. He then mounted a horse with

Arabell’s infant son in his arm. The two broke through the barn

doors in great haste; hoping none would be quick enough to

capture or strike them down. The wagon, which King Terus had sent out as a decoy, was on fire and the horses were dead. Princess Arabell gasped as she saw what could have been her and her son’s untimely grave.

He led Princess Arabell away from the burning castle and

through many paths, which he thought the enemy would not

know about. He, however, was wrong. King Terus mistakenly led the woman and child into a base camp of enemy soldiers. Many were sitting outside their tents; sharpening weapons and awaiting their turn to storm the already weakened and distraught kingdom.

The men chased after them. King Terus and

Princess Arabell rode swifter than their ruthless pursuers. These warriors would not give up so easily. They had seen the crest of Kennhelm upon the saddles of the horses. Only those of royal blood would have such expensive saddles. There would be a great reward for their heads.

King Terus turned for a moment and as he raised his hand,

a bright ray of light flew from his fingertips. The light flooded

the trees and burned their pursuers like a wild flame. King Terus looked back at the princess. He could see her shivering with fear. He knew that she would not make it much longer. He cued his horse and held tightly onto the small crying boy. Princess Arabell followed after him the best that she could.

It was darker than normal nights and one could barely see

the trees that stood in the middle of pathways. The moon was in hiding behind vast gray rain clouds. Only a few stars shone through the darkness. There were horn calls in the distance. More men were joining the chase. The sound of the horses running was so loud that one could mistake them for thunder. That thunder was growing ever closer.

King Terus once again led Princess Arabell and her child

through the paths which he knew well. Though he knew them well, he did not know which ones were safe. He could only hope that his limited foresight would guide him.

King Terus, the child, and Arabell rode throughout the day and well into the night until they were brave enough to rest. They were certain that their pursuer had given up the chase, but alas they did not. They heard the calls of the horns and the screams of the approaching soldiers. The King of Nature did not understand their persistence. Surely, no reward was great enough to travel through such harsh lands. There had to be another reason as to why they would not give up their pursuit.

Princess Arabell mounted her horse with her son Galdwin tightly held within her arms. King Terus barely escaped from the assailants as they trampled through the forest and into the campsite. He stayed behind and enchanted the ground before he left. As the men stepped upon the cursed ground, they became engulfed in flames or frozen in ice.

King Terus and the princess could see hope in the distance. It was the border of Edeland. In those lands, they would be safe. They would have protection and allies that could help them flee their pursuers. The two travelers and child crossed into the borders of Edeland during the dead of night.

It was in Heiladon the two weary travelers and infant

found rest, food, and comfort. They could not stay long. The

armies, which had been hunting them from Frehan, were now close behind their prey. And there were even more enemy soldiers than before. The captain, who led the attack upon Kennhelm, had sent his armies south when a rumor of the princess’ escape reached his ears.

King Terus could not understand why they would hunt down the princess and her infant son especially in lands that were indeed treacherous for them. Edeland had many armies that would protect King Edric’s daughter and grandchild. These soldiers cared not for their own lives. They cared only to follow out the task that had been bestowed upon them.

The lord of Heiladon sent the already weary travelers upon the road as his armies kept the enemies at bay. The three were sent south. King Terus would attempt to flee to Edelwood, where his own armies would be able to throw down these bands of enemy soldiers.

Here in Edeland, the travelers were not forced to travel in

such haste as they had in Frehan. They were hidden from sight as allies of King Terus sent out soldiers to fight the invading army of Frehan. Woodsmen made false trails for the enemies to follow. These false trails led many to their unfortunate demise. Their numbers, though still strong, were slowly beginning to dwindle the further they marched into Edeland.

In Daeradin, the travelers found peace and comfort. King

Gilos offered refuge for as long as they would stay. He guided

Princess Arabell and her son to a well-protected bed chamber. He

had already prepared it with everything a young mother and child could ask to have. It was as though he expected her to stay there for an eternity.

Princess Arabell placed the now three-month-old Galdwin into the crib which stood in the center of the room. He had not slept in one since the day he was born. Both were weary from travel and fell asleep as the kings went to a hidden room, of which only the King of Daeradin knew. King Terus sat down as King Gilos did.

What happened up north? King Gilos asked solemnly as though he almost did not want to know the answer. Who attacked Kennhelm and who are these renegades?

We do not know. King Terus answered slowly and thoughtfully. They slew the new prince and the great prophet Adwin. He added. I received word from King Edric a few weeks ago while on the road here. After Adwin’s death, the attack stopped suddenly and their attention turned to finding the Princess Arabell. I cannot guess what they would want with her.

Perhaps Adwin knew. King Gilos suggested. He could have given us the answer, but it seems that he took it to the grave with him.

King Terus nodded his head in agreement. "We may

never know but it puzzles me as to why they would kill the prophet. He could have given them information that no one in this world could have."

"Could that be the reason he is dead? Perhaps these men,

whoever they are, wanted no one to know of his vision concerning the Princess of Kennhelm." King Gilos whispered.

You believe he was silenced for what he knew? King Terus questioned.

Yes, I believe he was. King Gilos replied with certainty. Whatever the answer is, you must stay here until the roads are safe. We must protect Princes Arabell at all costs.

"I cannot stay here and risk another attack upon your

kingdom. King Terus argued. I will take Princess Arabell by

the safest roads possible to my kingdom in Edelwood. There she will be protected by my people and magic."

The safest roads are no longer safe. King Gilos countered. Stay here. This is my battle as well. These men attacked two dear friends of mine and the princess. I want their heads just as much as you do.

King Terus nodded though he wanted to travel further. Soldiers of Daeradin were sent out into the wilderness where the bands of renegades camped. They were forced from their hiding places and taken as prisoners or slain during battle. The Kings of Edeland questioned the survivors night and day as they came into the castle. Silence was all that the men knew.

Princess Arabell explored the halls of the castle often with Galdwin upon her hip. She was unaware of the ongoing war campaign to keep her and her son alive. She only knew that her heart ached for her family and her son. At times he was the only reason she kept hope in her heart.

She was in a place where she did not want to be. Her thoughts returned often to Kennhelm when she spent peaceful days with her father and late husband. She could not understand why that life was taken from her, but now she had to protect what was left of her family.

The day came at long last when the roads to Edelwood and to Kennhelm were safe. King Terus wandered throughout Daeradin in search of the princess and her son. He would personally see to their safe return to the north, where they belonged.

Princess Arabell sat upon a marble bench outside in the lush flower garden. Galdwin, now a year old, played at her feet in the tall green grass. King Terus found her and sat next to her. He looked down at Galdwin with a broad smile upon his face.

Galdwin looked up and put his little hands upon the

ground. He lifted himself up and waddled over to the king as

quickly as he could. He reached up to be lifted into King Terus’

arms. The King reached down and took up the small boy and laughed. Galdwin laughed as he reached out and grasped King Terus’ nose.

Princess Arabell reached over and took up her son. "I am

truly sorry, my king. Galdwin has become very fond of you over

the past year."

And I am fond of him. King Terus assured her. "I would

be a very proud man if I had a son like him."

You have come to tell me something? She asked.

"We can leave Daeradin now. I will escort you back to

Kennhelm before I return to Edelwood." He answered.

Princess Arabell was almost devastated by the seemingly

wonderful news. "Perhaps I should go to Edelwood with you and

allow Galdwin to grow for another year. It would be easier to

travel with him."

King Terus looked at Galdwin thoughtfully. He loved the boy as though he were his own son. His heart began to ache as he realized that he could not keep Galdwin away from King Edric for his own selfish reasons. The King of Kennhelm had already lost so much during the attack. He could not take away the king’s only surviving family as well. King Terus focused his glance on her. You should return to your father. He would surely like to see his grandson grow and to know that his daughter is safe.

"Kennhelm is dear to me, but it is not where I want to be

now. The princess answered. My heart belongs elsewhere."

You do not wish to return to Kennhelm? King Terus

delightfully asked.

"I would return to visit, but my heart would never stay. It

would follow you. Princess Arabell said as she smiled. You

have been kind to me and my son yet you owe us nothing."

King Terus looked to the young boy then to the princess.

I will send word to your father and ask his permission. The

King reached over and took Galdwin once again in his arms. "I

would like to be the father of such a wonderful boy."

Word came to Daeradin only a week after King Terus sent

his message to Kennhelm. With the blessing of King Edric, the

Princess of Kennhelm and King of Nature were joined together in

Daeradin by King Gilos. At long last, King Terus felt whole in

his heart. Peace had been brought to Edeland at long last and he

now looked forward to raising a family. It was something he

never thought he would have.

King Terus and Queen Arabell were only wed for two

months before she conceived her second child. When it came

time for her to birth, King Terus invited nearly all of his family

and Queen Arabell’s family, who had survived, to the castle to

witness the miracle.

Lush blankets and the softest pillows surrounded the precious mother and child. Servants were frantically carrying out every possible task to make the new queen and her child comfortable. King Terus dismissed them all as he entered the room. He looked upon his wife as she sat up in bed with their precious daughter in her arms. The king held his son Galdwin within his arms and introduced him to his new baby sister; Anora.

Her eyes were vibrant blue and the tiny amount of hair

upon her small head was as yellow as the spring flowers. The

mighty king had heavy tears in his keen eyes that wanted to fall.

He could not have been happier to introduce his daughter to his

kingdom of Edelwood. His brother, King Thurn, walked into the

room and looked upon the new addition to the family as Galdwin

ran to him.

The great king could barely contain his excitement over

the newborn. He felt peacefulness within the child and knew that

their family honor would soon be restored. King Thurn picked

Galdwin up and carried his nephew on his hip across the room. He noticed the tears within King Terus’ eyes.

"It will forever amaze me how such a small, precious

creature can bring even the strongest of warriors to tears."

King Thurn laughed.

I never thought this day would come. I can raise them without them knowing the evilness of this world’s past. King Terus spoke somberly. These children will bring peace to our countries in Edeland. Somehow, I can feel that in my heart and soul. I cannot wait to hold her in my arms.

"You must wait a bit longer. She is comfortable now and

she needs her rest as do I. Queen Arabell answered. I do not

want her to be disturbed now."

King Terus smiled. Of course, my dear. Rest now.

Anora, however, was not as comfortable as she appeared

to be. Their small daughter grew grumpy and started to cry as the

sunlight bounced on her precious face. Anora was not pleased with this light of fire. The tiny infant wanted shade. The large blanket, lying at the bottom of the bed, suddenly rose up and covered the window. Her parents and uncle fell silent as they watched.

Galdwin did not care about the strange phenomenon. He

barely noticed the rather large, heavy blanket flying through

the air. He tried gaining his uncle’s attention by pulling at his lips

and hair. King Thurn, however, could not be distracted from what took place. He walked to the side of the bed and waved his hand over the now sleeping Anora.

He could feel a magical strength like no other that he had

known before. As King Thurn waved his hand a blue crown of

light formed over Anora’s small forehead. It was a thin light

that stretched across her forehead. It came to a point in the center

and looked much like an outline of a bird in flight. In

the center of that point, there was a small five-point star. King Terus nearly dropped to his knees when he saw this. King Thurn allowed Galdwin to his feet as he sat upon the bed next to Queen Arabell.

"Terus, no one within all of Edeland has such magical

strength at birth. Not even the Minds." King Thurn whispered fearfully as he looked up to his brother.

Queen Arabell looked to her husband dismayed. "I

thought you said you would only give them the magic to

influence nature when the time came and nothing else."

King Terus was silent. He looked up to the blanket once

again. He could not believe that his newborn daughter could do

something so incredible yet so disturbing. He stood and kissed his wife’s brow. He then leaned down to kiss Anora upon her small, warm forehead. Galdwin tugged at the tail of his father’s shirt. He asked to be picked up by his father many times so that he could distract him away from Anora. The king asked his brother to follow him from the room.

He bid his beautiful wife not to worry about the mystery.

King Terus did not want to stir panic or dismay within her

especially upon the day she had given birth to their daughter. He

picked up the desperate Galdwin and followed his brother outside to the hallway to speak privately. King Thurn closed the round wooden door tightly and as quietly as he could.

You did not give Anora those powers, did you? King

Thurn questioned. "It is impossible for you to give such powers.

The natural forces will decide whether or not our family’s

bloodline is worthy of having such strength again. Those powers are not from the Men of Nature anyway. They are something else. Something much stronger."

What could this possibly mean? King Terus dismissively questioned.

Do not pretend that you do not know! King Thurn

argued. "You saw the blue crown upon her brow as did I. It can

mean only one thing. The prophecies are true. We were too quick

to throw Adwin’s predictions away. I will summon the Eminent

Council at once. They will want to know of this immediately."

King Thurn began to walk away from his brother. King Terus reached out and grabbed him by the arm. You cannot tell them! They must not know!

They will eventually find out, Terus. I will not commit treason by keeping her a secret. Edeland needs her, brother. King Thurn countered. Why must they not know about her?

The fewer, who know about her, the safer she is, King Terus explained. Adwin must have known of Anora’s birth. He must have told someone. He told someone with unimaginable power. I can feel this inside my heart now. It all makes sense! Those enemy soldiers hunted Arabell for nearly a year, Thurn! Whoever this enemy is, he must have powerful spies and ways to get secrets. I beg of you, please do not risk my daughter’s life by letting it be known who she is to anyone.

The Eminent Council is immune to spies, Terus! Do not be so foolish! They can protect her. They can help guide her towards her destiny. The peace, that we thought we finally had, will not last for long. Her birth has ensured the greatest war of our time will indeed come to pass as Adwin feared. Edeland will need her, Terus. King Thurn warned.

King Terus watched his brother as he walked away. He

wanted to run down the hallway after King Thurn to stop him

from summoning the Eminent Council. Irrationally he felt as though his brother was betraying him by calling upon their wisdom. He would have kept his daughter a secret her entire life if it meant keeping her alive.

His knees were much too weak with fear to take even a small step forward. He stood there until he was prepared to face his wife and newborn once again. He entered the room quietly and made sure to close the door without a sound. He crossed the room then sat next to his wife upon the chair with Galdwin sitting in