Seasons Of...The Sacrifice: Volume 1

By DreamSharer

About the Book:
Though Adrien has been born with status and fame, he does not want any part of it. Warrior-by-birth, he seeks a quiet life not a warriors path, wishing instead to be a writer.
On the other hand, with legendary abilities when it comes to healing powers and magic, such gifts as Esmes, may become a danger not only to her but to the whole kingdom of Ostwyne, if let untrained. Strong-willed and defiant Esme along with passionate and brave Adrien have to take a journey of self-discovery packed with epic adventures and at times frightening forces.
This is a tale of fearless young warriors who go through breathtaking and exhilarating journeys as they face their ultimate crossroads having to choose their unconventional path, which would definitely change their whole life forever and that of their kingdom. When called upon to fulfil their destinies and take their rightful places in society, Esme and Adrien are drawn into adventures that will touch their hearts and perhaps even scar their souls.

With the kingdoms rules being against them and the narrow-mindedness of the people of Ostwyne, Esme and Adrian join forces to fulfill their eccentric and unique destinies. As dark disturbing secrets start to uncover, Adrien and Esme are forced into desperate battles and undesired circumstances to protect all that they cherish.

With the odds weighing cripplingly against them, the price for their rebelliousness starts to unfold: either they lose themselves and risk their own destruction or they lose their loved ones...What will they each choose to sacrifice?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543469240

DreamSharer

About the Author: Bara Dweik (aka DreamSharer) is a poet, novelist, writer, screenwriter, filmmaker, and elementary school teacher. From a young age, she fostered a love for Fantasy, Fairy Tales, Fiction, and all the magical things in the world. She grew up on fairy tales that became her drive for writing later on in life. She started her creative career when she was in high school, specifically, in 8th grade. It was when her English teacher discovered her writing talent and encouraged her to develop it. She realized then that her art was in weaving images using words while telling stories. Since then, DreamSharer has been writing and has sharing her writing gift with the world. She has written and published a book, which was a collection of short stories and poems and has also worked as a journalist and editor. She also wrote, directed and produced her own films, the last being her documentary The Divine 7. In 2012, she went back to university to earn her Masters Degree in Education after discovering her passion for teaching children. SEASONS OFTHE SACRIFICE, was born while DreamSharer was doing her undergraduate studies. It is her first novel and is the first of a series of books. Although DreamSharer produces different kinds of writing, her favorite is writing novels. Because of her love for children and being a child herself, she always has a fairy tale element in her writing and loves to make her writing magical. That is what makes her stories so special. While keeping her attention on writing in her spare time, she gets to focus her passion for teaching in her full time job. The balance for DreamSharer is terrific. Through the day she gets to do what she loves, being with the innocent children and creating lifelong memories while constantly learning amazing lessons along the way. And then, in her spare time, she gets to also do what she is passionate about and write whatever is on her mind. Her biggest drive behind her writing talent is her parents. They always stood by her side and encouraged her. They helped her through everything and always motivated her. They were her biggest fans. Her dream was to publish this book and give it as a dedication to her parents. Sadly, her father has recently passed away after a long struggle with illness. Although her father wont be there in person to celebrate the birth of this book, she hopes that his soul will be proud of her for her accomplishment and making her dream come true. She is happy to celebrate the birth of her book with her mother and dedicates it to her mother and her father may his soul rest in peace.

Book preview

SEASONS OF…

The Sacrifice

Volume 1

DreamSharer

Copyright © 2017 by DreamSharer.

Library of Congress Control Number:         2017918138

ISBN:                      Hardcover                         978-1-5434-6923-3

                                Softcover                           978-1-5434-6922-6

                                eBook                                 978-1-5434-6924-0

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 11/27/2017

Xlibris

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

550232

CONTENTS

Prologue

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

PROLOGUE

O NCE UPON A time, there existed a land of hidden magic; of sheer wonderment not immediately apparent to the naked eye, yet nonetheless omni-present and forever transformative. The Kingdom of Ostwynne was an enchanting place, home to many a lord and their families, knights and princesses, and all were surrounded with lush and bountiful landscapes. Nature, it was said, communicated in countless ways for those who bothered to listen. Some believed that the wind would whisper secrets in your ear, and that trees could talk to you through your thoughts when touched. Others said that even the bird’s song was a gift, offering comfort or guidance to passersby. Even rocks relayed messages – if you held one, an image or pattern would begin to form on the surface. Those with a reverence for nature’s wisdom benefited greatly, consulting her on issues surrounding their life’s work or purpose.

Most of the residents of Ostwynne, however, were deaf to this wisdom; quick to dismiss the stories they heard as merely myth or gossip. And this sad fact points to the other face of Ostwynne: that of a kingdom of oppression. Strict codes of conduct dictated what was socially acceptable, and residents learned to be cautious with political views. One had to live in the way that was expected of them. Thinking that ran contrary to the status quo threatened a resident’s status and reputation when voiced; at times, even the lives of dissidents were at risk. A woman was not to be schooled, or granted rights of any kind. Many felt caged or controlled. No one dared complain about the circumstances they found themselves in.

In the city’s core lived a large population of peasants, prohibited from venturing outside its borders without a hefty fine. They worked hard to earn a living, and at the worst of times, felt enslaved by a life dictated from above. Some battled depression as they fought to educate their children in private, away from the scrutiny of authorities who forbade it. But what they had that the nobles did not was a very real sense of community; relationships unburdened by charade. Residents looked out for one another; nights were often passed in the nest of family and a richness of culture.

Nobles, on the other hand, were bound to a life of pretense and appearances. Many lived an isolated existence in their castles; everything they needed brought to them by servants. Neighbors were not to be trusted; indeed, they competed with one another for property and status. Social events were an exercise in maintaining a stiff upper lip; or putting on a good show to protect an image or personal fortune. There were roles to be played, and many rules and codes of conduct to be adhered to. It was a stifling existence.

The richest man in the kingdom was none other than Lord Pierre Beauvais, owner of the Esterdell Castle, an enchanting and enormous citadel up on a hill. Built of ivory stone, it was surrounded by a lavish and majestic garden; nature that could only be described as animated. Close by the castle in the Aldton Forest was a magical well frequented by the Lord’s daughter, Esme. A beautiful young woman pure of heart, she was a stunning sight with her long and wavy chestnut hair, topaz green eyes and curvaceous figure. Resourceful and smart, she had class, money, property, even fame. Anything she could possibly desire was at her fingertips. But none of it meant anything to her. She was not a woman lusting after material things. It was another life she wanted.

Esme was a bold and brave daughter of an over-protective father who wanted nothing more than for her to become a lady and to bear his grandchildren, when a suitor proved worthy of his expectations. But her independent spirit would have none of it. Determined to rear her own destiny and marry of her own choosing, she was a warrior at heart who envisioned a democratic society of equality between the sexes. In her most private moments, she promised herself again and again that when she became of legal age, she would use everything in her power to fight for this vision and always stand up for what she believed to be right. In her young heart, she dreamt of world peace, defense of the innocent and triumph over evil. But what made Esme remarkable was that, amidst a tyrannical and repressive kingdom, she remained a deeply passionate advocate of the freedom of speech.

For now, though, this ambitious young woman contented herself to taking long walks with her beloved pet pony, who could talk, and Esme, gifted with special powers that enabled her to revive the dead, was happy to listen. Together, they would visit the magical well in the heart of the forest so her pony could drink from its riches, and Esme would in turn swirl her fingers in it to create glitter, which in turn formed words with a message. It offered her great comfort in the long hours she waited for Adrien.

Adrien and Esme had been close since they were young children, but much of their relationship remained secret, shielded from the cruel and bitter ways of Adrien’s father. Lord Antoine Belmont was the second richest noble man in Ostwynne, and owner of Wyvernmarsh – a fortress made of clear glass and white stone, set on a cliff overlooking the sea. While it lacked the exquisite oasis that Esterdell did, it boasted an enormous library, brimming with important, ancient documents, books, parchments and contracts, offering everything from historical accounts to fairy tales. Built in the eleventh century, it was home to extremely rare books. It was an intellectual’s haven.

Sadly, it remained sequestered from all in the kingdom – a vast and valuable archive of legacy wasting away – because its keeper was too sullen and churlish to share. Lord Belmont was a deeply unhappy man, having fought from a very young age with Lord Beauvais over land and property that was never rightfully his. Stubborn and petty, Lord Belmont would not surrender his battle, despite the fact that as far back as the 16th century, the most brutal of wars took place between their families. Aldton Forest remained under the steely ownership of the Beauvais family, as it had been for centuries, leaving Lord Belmont angry and spiteful. Lord Beauvais’ attempts at a peace treaty between them were futile.

And this was the influence that Adrien was subject to. An only child with few friends, his mother died shortly after giving birth, leaving him in the hands of his housekeeper, Patricia, and deeply troubled father. Lord Belmont was rarely at home, choosing instead to live on one of his other properties, but this did not mean he was not invested in his son’s future. To the contrary. He had plans to initiate him in the business of buying and selling property. He placed unending pressure on his son to be raised and groomed for knighthood like other nobles in the kingdom, and in the infrequent times they were together, he rarely spoke to him, except to teach that a respectable man did not have feelings or fall in love. Adrien was a brave young man, and very wise, but he was afraid of his father, addressing him always as ‘My Lord’ and seeking his approval at every opportunity.

Despite his father’s harsh nature, Adrien found ways to survive the torment and feed his soul. Though it wasn’t his choice to become a knight, he knew that his training would benefit him in protecting his future family, so he took on the challenge with pride and dedication. What he really dreamed of was being a storyteller. Unknown to his father, he was the library’s only inhabitant, and he considered its treasures a gem, even if one denied to him. He spent hours buried in its arms, finding refuge in the sacred texts. Occasionally, he dared wrap a book under his arm and sneak out to his favorite tree in the forest.

Alas, his other joy was his time in the forest with Esme. As children they played games there, climbing trees and building a treehouse, where he would read stories to Esme from books in his father’s library. As the years passed their friendship strengthened and they became inseparable. Together they discovered that the forest had a voice,