The Sacred Sword of the Zanthee

By Elaine Moore

Will Fabian and his brave quartet of friends survive a quest to save their Wylon people from an evil curse? Can they find the sacred sword of the Zanthee? Join them on their perilous adventure on Lumina, a planet with two very diverse lands. Badonias desert wastelands is home of the insect creatures Neodons. Quintarlia is rich and abundant in wildlife and food. The Zanthee, deadly golden frogs, have always guarded Fabians homeland, Quintarlia, but the Neodons leader has a plan to destroy them. Fate draws Fabian and his friends to band together in a journey full of challenges where failure spells doom for all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris AU
• Release date: Jul 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499013115

Elaine Moore

Elaine Moore was born in Port Pirie, South Australia. I am currently living in Canberra. I am married with two children. I work in childcare. I have a passion for writing. My favourite authors are J.K. Rowling and C.S. Lewis, they inspire me. My favourite writing genre is fantasy and Sci /Fi. I have a certificate in Comprehensive writing.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Badonia

Somewhere in the never-ending blackness of the dark universe was a small lonely planet named Lumina. The emerald-ginger-coloured planet had two different lands: Badonia and Quintarlia. The two lands were divided by the mighty River Santos.

Conditions on Badonia were harsh, dusty, and dry. Very little vegetation or wildlife existed in this solemn place and food was scarce. Frequent swirling dust storms gave the sky a mysterious orange hue and the rocky landscape made mobility for any living creature difficult. Treacherous, thorny vines seemed to thrive amongst the jagged rocks and the scorching sun could make a green leaf wither within a matter of minutes.

There was only one type of creature that could tolerate this desolate place: the Neodons. These insect-like creatures have thrived here for many generations. The underground tunnels gave them shelter from the harsh environment.

Their strong, round bodies were a vibrant, luminous green shade. Their heads were quite small with piercing red-and-yellow bug eyes and sharp pincers for a mouth. The tail, being short and spiky, gave them a scary appearance. Neodons’ segmented front legs were shorter than the back legs, enabling them to hop around easily around the rocks.

It was a wild and windy day in Badonia today and the dust storm was fiercely raging, turning the sky into a fiery orange hue. Visibility was poor in these treacherous conditions.

Three adventurous Neodons—Olem, Morton, and Zane—were caught in the dust storm. They were moving very slowly, their segmented legs were barely moving at all, fighting against the strong wind.

Time passed by slowly. They were becoming weaker by the minute. Olem looked around desperately through the plume of orange dust, trying to find shelter. He had a terrible hunch that there might be a storm today and he wished that he had stayed at home. He rubbed his bug eyes with his claw and squinted, trying to clear his vision.

‘Zane and Morton,’ gulped Olem with a screechy insect voice. ‘Look ahead. I think I can see an entrance to a tunnel. Quick, follow me!’

The others hopped along, following Olem to the narrow entrance of the tunnel. They quickly squeezed into the safety of the tunnel, relieved to be out of the swirling dust. They proceeded through the narrow tunnel, travelling downward towards the end. It was dark and dusty inside and they had to rely on their feelers to find their way.

Olem entered a small room that had several mounds of dirt compacted together to form mounds for sitting on. It was dark inside, except for a jar of wriggling glow worms gently illuminating the room.

Olem took a seat on one of the dirt mounds and tried to catch his breath. He was exhausted and his body was covered in orange dust. His antennae twitched as he looked up at the others.

‘Didn’t I tell you two that we shouldn’t have gone out today? You know that my antennae are sensitive to the weather and I warned you that there would be a dust storm. Why didn’t you listen to me?’

Zane looked at Olem and his sharp pincers twitched as he spoke. ‘But, Olem, my dear friend, we always get together and go out walking every Monday afternoon. It’s no big deal, is it? We’re all right now, and no one was hurt.’

‘I guess so,’ replied Olem glumly. ‘But next time, listen to me, OK? We might not be so lucky.’

Zane’s tummy rumbled loudly; he was starving. ‘Hey, let’s find some food from the emergency supplies.’

Zane hopped over to the rickety old cupboard in the corner of the room. He opened it with his claw. Much to his disappointment, it was bare, except for a glass jar standing on the top shelf. He took the jar over to his hungry friends and poured the contents out onto the mound of dirt that formed a table.

Olem reluctantly stared at the pile of dried-up leaves and worms that Zane had put in front of him. Food was scarce in Badonia at the moment as they haven’t had any rain for a long time. He frowned as he crunched the tasteless food in between his sharp pincers.

‘You know, I’m really sick of eating this horrible stuff, Zane! I wish that I had some of those delicious red razzleberries and cherryapples from Quintarlia. My mouth is watering just thinking about them!’

‘Yeah, I know what you mean, this dried-up food is givin’ me constipation,’ gulped Zane.

Morton had just finished cleaning the dust off his face and was now ready to join in the conversation. Morton was the shy and quiet bug of the three. He sometimes felt like the odd one out in the group and he lacked in confidence.

‘Hey, my bug friends, I know that you like the food from over there, but let’s face it: we’re doomed to a pitiful diet of dried-up leaves and worms. Nothing grows here in this dust bowl. We just have to live with it.’

Olem got up and jumped restlessly around the room; something was bothering him.

‘What’s wrong, Olem?’ asked Morton as he bent down to pick up a slithery worm that he spotted on the ground. He bit its head off and then put the rest into his mouth.

Olem’s feelers twitched with excitement. ‘Everyone, listen carefully, I have a great idea. Why don’t we sail over to Quintarlia tomorrow and steal some real food? We can sail over there in my trusty boat!’

Zane and Morton looked at Olem as if he was crazy. Was he out of his mind?

‘I don’t know if that’s a good idea, Olem. It’s not an easy trip, you know.

‘Well, I think that we can do it!’ announced Olem, eyes blazing. ‘I’m getting bored here in Badonia. We always do the same thing day in and day out… searching for food all the time, seeking shelter when there’s another storm approaching! I think that its time for a challenge. Gee, where’s your sense of adventure, pals!’

Morton’s boggle eyes widened with fear and his body trembled. He didn’t like this idea at all. He sat down nervously on the dusty mound.

‘But the Zanthee… you know how dangerous they are. I don’t think we should go. I’m scared.’ He gulped.

Poor Morton was petrified of the Zanthee—otherwise known as the golden frogs. They were very large, about the size of a cat, and their purpose was to protect the borders of Quintarlia. They were a threat to the Neodons, and many have never returned alive after trying to pass through them.

Morton closed his eyes for a moment; the bristle hairs on his body trembled as he remembered the time that he had lost his sister Jessa when they tried to get past the Zanthee in the reeds. He would never forget the look on her terrified face when the Zanthee’s purple venomous tongue struck her on the head. She was paralysed and died within seconds.

Olem was getting impatient. He looked eagerly at his friends for an answer; his pincers twitched excitedly. He didn’t want to eat another disgusting worm, not if he could help it. He decided to sit down and wait for a reply. The room was silent for a few minutes. They all stared at the mesmerizing glow worms on the table.

Zane’s tummy rumbled loudly again, breaking the silence. ‘All right, I’ll go with you Olem,’ he announced. ‘Those razzleberries are awesome. I think it would be worth giving it a go!’

‘Excellent!’ Olem looked over to Morton. ‘What about you, Morton? Are you coming with us?’

‘No! I don’t want to go. Jessa wouldn’t approve of it.’

‘But Jessa is dead. Anyway, I think you’re wrong, Morton, she would probably want you to get revenge for her death. I will kill those frogs! Don’t be such a coward, Morton, and join us!’ said Olem as he jumped up and down excitedly.

‘But even if we manage to get past the Zanthee frogs, we still have to get to the razzleberry orchards without being detected by the Wylons.’

‘Oh, that part will be easy, Morton. We will sneak around at night when they are asleep. We will avoid their village altogether. Besides, I know my way around. I’ve been there before, you know.’

Morton sighed; he’d lost this battle. ‘All right then, count me in,’ he muttered.

‘Okay, great! Now, we had better get some sleep. It’s a long trip over to Quintarlia. We can go to the Santos riverbank in the morning and the get the supplies we need and then get the boat ready to set sail.’

The next morning, Olem, Zane, and a very reluctant Morton made their way out of the tunnel. They had packed their supplies and were ready to go.

Olem looked up at the sky. ‘Look, Morton, isn’t it a lovely day? The sky is clear and the conditions are perfect for sailing.’

‘I guess it is a nice day, but I’m still not very keen on going, Olem.’

‘Well, there’s no time to waste. Let’s go!’

Zane and Morton followed Olem as he hopped along the rocky, narrow trail. They were on the way to the Santos riverbank.

Olem was leading the way at a very fast pace. The others could hardly keep up with him. Small rocks flipped up in the air as they hopped along the rough surface.

Olem was excited about going over to Quintarlia. He had a fearless sense of adventure. He wasn’t scared of the Zanthee. He felt confident that they could get past them without getting caught, and of course, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on some ripe, juicy fruit. It had been a very long time since he’d had something decent to eat.

About an hour later, they had finally arrived at the Santos riverbank. It was a quiet day at the riverbank today and there weren’t many other bugs around. A steep, rocky ledge led down to the boat ramp where the Neodons’ boats were moored. The reeds were gently blowing in the breeze and the sun was shining—perfect conditions for sailing.

Olem went straight to his boat; he stepped in the muddy water and untied the anchor with his bug claws. The wooden boat was small but sturdy in appearance.

‘All right, fellow bugs, we’re here! Now, everyone, get the sails ready and let’s go,’ said Olem impatiently.

Morton looked at Olem and wondered why he was so keen. He felt scared and didn’t feel like taking part in this. He was already tired from the long walk to the riverbank. He just wanted to go home.

‘I’m not sure that I want to come now,’ he mumbled as he threw his bag down. He sat down on the muddy ledge and sulked. A swarm of mosquitoes buzzed around his bug face.

‘Morton, don’t be silly. You didn’t come all this way for nothing, did you?’ replied Olem.

Zane went up to Morton and grabbed his claw in his and gave him a pat on the back. ‘Oh, come on, Morton, no need to be scared. We’ll look after you.’

Olem was losing his patience. His eyes were blazing. ‘Well, come on, are we going or not? We must take advantage of this wind. It’s in our favour.’

‘Yes, let’s get moving,’ agreed Zane as he picked up Morton’s things.

Morton reluctantly hopped into the boat with the others. This had better be worth it, he thought.

They had been sailing for almost two hours now. Zane stared down into the clear blue water with amazement. He saw fluorescent-coloured jellyfish swimming around the boat in large groups. The jellyfish were of various colours and sizes. Some were fluorescent blue, others purple or green. Their long, thin tentacles were elegantly dancing through the crystal water.

‘Look at the jellyfish! Aren’t they pretty!’ said Zane as he reached down into the water.

‘Yeah, they’re pretty, Zane, but be careful that you don’t fall in. They’re poisonous,’ warned Olem. ‘The jellyfish are only found here in the deep cool water. They don’t go in the shallow water. Their poison could make you sick for a few days. I’ve been stung once, not pleasant.’

Zane quickly removed his claw out of the water. He didn’t want to get stung; after all, he’d promised that he would protect Morton on this trip. He needed to be at his best.

Morton stared up at the blue sky above and then looked down at the glimmering water below. He was still not happy about going to Quintarlia—, the rich promised land. He was worried about their safety and wondered if they would make it back home alive.

CHAPTER TWO

Quintarlia

Quintarlia was situated in a deep valley in between the River Santos and Badonia (the dry land where the Neodons lived). This place was much different from that of Badonia; the land was lush and green from the frequent tropical storms. Picturesque rainforests and abundant wildlife thrived here.

This place was also the home of the Wylon people who harvest the rich fruits regularly and look after the land.

Bountiful orchards could be seen for miles in which the delicious cherryapples and razzleberries grew. The cherryapple is like an apple and grows on a tree. The fruit tastes a bit like an apple and a cherry mixed together. It was part of the Wylon people’s staple diet.

Razzleberries were the other delectable fruit. It grew like a grapevine and was used to make desserts, ice cream, and even razzleberry wine.

The Wylon people also look after the Zanthee. For many generations, these frogs have protected Quintarlia from the Neodons, who have always threatened to invade their land.

Along the Santos riverbank, two of the Wylon people were fishing. It was a bright, sunny day and the water was calm and inviting.

Isadora put a wriggling worm on her hook and cast her fishing line over the clear blue water. She watched as the line took flight and hit the water’s surface. Isadora enjoyed fishing, and when she wasn’t busy harvesting, this was one of her favourite hobbies.

Her brother, Aleck, watched in awe. He always admired the way in which she cast the line. Her technique was amazing and she made it look so effortless.

‘Wow, Isadora, what a brilliant cast,’ said Aleck. ‘I wish that I could cast my line as far as you.’

‘Well, practice makes perfect,’ replied Isadora as she waited patiently for a nibble.

Isadora was fourteen years old, one year older than her brother Aleck. She was a tall, slim, attractive girl with long silver hair that she liked to wear in a ponytail. Her bright blue eyes sparkled brightly against her pale skin.

Isadora liked to wear a tiara in her hair. The tiara had a tear-shaped pink diamond in it surrounded by red rubies on either side.

Her pixie-like ears were small and pointed at the tip. This was a characteristic feature that all the Wylon people had.

Aleck looked a lot like his sister; he had the same big blue eyes. He had a slim build and he wasn’t very tall. Aleck’s hair was silver, short, and spiky.

Wylons were each born with a symbol on their forehead. The girls’ symbol resembled two crescent moon patterns joined together, with a black dot on each side.

The boys’ symbol looked the same, only reversed so that the crescent moons appeared to be on top of each other.

Isadora got the first bite and Aleck was watching with envy. Her rod was bending a lot; it was a large fish. She reeled it in. It was large with coloured stripes on its body.

‘Wow, Isadora, you have caught a Rainbow fish, that’s brilliant!’ announced Aleck proudly.

Isadora looked at the pretty fish flapping on the grass; she suddenly felt sorry for it so she took it off the hook and threw it back into the water.

Aleck’s eyes widened with surprise. ‘Are you crazy? Why did you do that?’

‘I think that it’s too pretty to eat,’ replied Isadora.

Aleck was suddenly distracted by a bite on his fishing line. He quickly reeled it in; Isadora laughed when she saw how small it was.

Aleck mumbled in disgust as he threw it back into the water. It wasn’t his day.

Another hour had passed by and Isadora and Aleck weren’t very successful