Guardians of the Shard: Thon’S Journey

By Neil E. Fisher

Sardentia. Its a planet where the chief source of energy resides in the crystals which lie deep beneath its surface. Most crystals are used for everything from lighting ones home to powering a hover cars engine. However, there are certain crystals, when handled by gifted individuals, that unlock a wide variety of spectacular abilities. These gifted people are called the Guardians of the Shard. The color of ones crystal determines which powers may be harnessed. Dedicated to protecting not only their fellow citizens but their planet as well, their numbers are now dwindling.

The temples that train future Guardians become emptier with each passing year. Thon is one such young Guardian. Unlike many, he comes from the mining class. In a group consisting of a powerful princepols son, a wealthy merchants child, and an intuitive energy user, he proves unremarkable. Even the crystal he chooses inspires ridicule. Though he displays abilities unseen in many generations, his place at the temple remains in constant peril.

But the greatest heroes often arise from the most unlikely places. Against the backdrop of increasing political greed and alien influence, the challenges of being a temple outcast, and the rising threat of an ancient and forgotten evil, Thon must make a desperate choice. Does he become a hero to his people or does he surrender to the challenges thrown his way? Will he bring doom or salvation? Find out as Thon begins his epic journey.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Apr 3, 2018
• ISBN: 9781480858664

Neil E. Fisher

Neil E. Fisher is an aspiring writer and educator who lives and works in Frederick, Maryland. Hes been creating new worlds and characters since he was ten years old. His comic book work can be found in Tales from the Comics Experience, Great Zombies in History, and Aliens among Us. This is his first novel. Fisher currently lives in Frederick, Maryland.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Finally!

After five days, he was finally done. He had even used all his recreation time for the week, believe it or not. His campmates thought he was crazy. But this was just too special, and it had to be perfect. It just had to be!

He was too young to remember their time in the Southern Islands, but he knew how much his mata and pater missed living there, especially his pater. He had spent his whole life there. They had only come north due to the lack of decent work. Unfortunately, the work was in the crystal mines. Luckily, Mata had relatives here, so they wouldn’t be so alone.

I think he’ll love it, Thon. I really do! Mata said as she brushed his dark-brown hair out of his eyes.

I sure hope so. I used all my rec time working on it. My friends were really starting to worry about me.

Mata chuckled. Everything will be all right next week. I’m sure of it.

I’m amazed how quickly you picked up the craft. Not everyone can use a laser carver so well at your age.

It was so … so easy. It’s like the carver could read my mind as I moved the beam over the stone. If only the laser was stronger, I would’ve finished a lot sooner.

If it was any stronger, you could’ve injured yourself!

Oh, Mata, you know I could’ve handled it!

If you say so, Mata said, shaking her head.

The stone sculpture wasn’t very large, but it was definitely impressive. It was about the size of a small child’s head. Carved out of the deep-brown stone of the Syrellian Range, it was a near-perfect replica of a marsh hopper, the four-winged bird that served as both emblem and good-luck charm of the Southern Islands. Pater had said whenever things had looked hopeless, a rub of the marsh hopper had turned things around. Thon’s pater had been very sad when the marsh hopper he had as a child had been lost in their move north. Now, Thon could make sure Pater would have another for his upcoming First Day.

Now, all that had to be done was for Mata to wrap it up in a box in time for dinner. While this happened, Thon fed his baby sister, Teera. Some days, that was a tougher job than carving the marsh hopper. She never behaved like she was supposed to, always moving around in his arms and spitting out the softmeal he tried to give her. Today she managed to get some in her raven curls. Ugh! He couldn’t wait for Pater to get home.

The sound was deafening. He nearly dropped Teera when he heard it. Mata rushed to the window, her blue skirt whipping as though struck by wind.

What was that? What happened, Mata?

Look! Outside! The mines! The mines! Your pater’s still in the mines!

Plumes of dark smoke tinged with brilliant yellow-orange flame danced in the distance. Several more booming explosions followed. The mines were ablaze. Thon opened his mouth, but no words came out.

59668.png

Two or three hover trucks screamed across the sky, loaded with extinguisher and med squads. Mata flung open the door and raced outside. She wasn’t the only one. The whole settlement poured out upon the main thoroughfare. Everyone there had relatives who worked in the mines. A silver SecureForce hover car was coming in for a landing, lights flashing.

Thon quickly wrapped Teera in her swaddling clothes and raced outside.

Mata! Mata! Mata! What is happening? Thon screamed at his mother.

He would never forget the look in her deep-brown eyes or the piercing cry of her wail as she dropped to her knees, tearing at her long, brown braids. It would haunt him for the rest of his days.

A laser drill had overloaded its power conduit. It exploded, causing a chain reaction along the mine’s power grid, collapsing most of the tunnels. There were no survivors. Pater was dead. If only Thon had finished the marsh hopper a day sooner.

CHAPTER 1

ONLY FIVE NEW STUDENTS THIS CYCLE. PATHETIC, muttered Templeman Vence while shaking his head and stroking his blond beard vigorously.

It’s not the number of the students we have but the quality. With their special skills, their contributions could rival those of ten times their number. Be reasonable. Our numbers have never been high. It takes a special individual to be selected as a guardian of the shard, said Seer Gran, trying to set an optimistic tone.

Seer Gran knew that Vence had hoped for more, as they all had. But you couldn’t force people into channeling the energy of the crystals. He felt especially sad for Vence, who had left his comfortable position at the science academy to train the next generation of guardians. It had not worked out well.

Their temple, while one of the most ancient on the planet of Bipredia, was never the most popular or well attended. This wasn’t too surprising. Religion and spiritual beliefs were secondary to basic survival to many here in the north. Generations began and ended in the crystal mines. It was a hard and demanding life that left little time for other pursuits. The rich and moneyed elite that controlled the mines also had little use for religion. If it didn’t fill their coffers, it was of no use to them.

Seer Gran enjoyed this time of the year. New students brought new life and new energies to the temple. It warmed his soul and brightened his already bright-red cheeks. He and his templemen, Kax, Vence, and Kir, had just finished casting their nets across the local mining-cell schools and were now ready to begin ushering their new charges into a wider and wondrous world.

Each student was chosen by either Gran or one of the other templemen. They had subtly observed the children periodically over the first years of their lives. If any of the children ignited the orange scanning crystal when it was in close proximity, Gran or the templeman made note and observed those students until they had reached their fifteenth first day. If the scanning crystal still burned brightly by then, the students were offered placement in the temple’s next class. Most jumped at the chance to avoid a life in the mines. Every once in a while, though, one of the elite was chosen.

You do know whose child he is? exclaimed Kax, the temple’s scholar and keeper of its history.

Of course he does! You, of all of us, should know how rare it is to have the son of our princepol join us, chuckled Vence, the temple’s expert on science and resident skeptic.

Once he joins us, who his father is will not matter. His devotion to his studies and his responsibilities as a future guardian will, replied Gran.

You’re too optimistic, Seer.

Enough of this debate for now; we have other things to—

The door to the temple boardroom suddenly burst open, revealing a student messenger.

Seer! Templemen! He’s here! The princepol is here!

The news he brought for Gran and the temple was not good.

59668.png

In the small, four-room, prefabricated life cube shared with his mata and sister, Thon had embarked on what he felt should be an easy task.

Great! Another wasted meal! Why did he always screw this up? No matter how many times he tried to help Mata out by cooking dinner, he always bungled it. Another spike-otter steak down the drain.

Just then, the front door alert started blaring.

What now? Can I please get a break? cried Thon. Not that anyone would listen.

He quickly threw the burning steak in the sink, rinsed off his hands, and raced to the door. He was beyond surprised at who was there: a tall, rotund older man with a beaming smile on his face and a bright shine to his bald head.

Seer Gran! W-w-what are you doing here? Isn’t the new class in session?

Ah! You are a smart lad, Thon. That’s exactly why I’m here.

"I know she’s really smart. Everyone says so. But, isn’t Teera a bit young for the temple? I mean—"

Gran shook his head and laughed heartily.

No, Thon. I am not here for Teera. At least, not now. Now, Thon, I am here for you!

Me! B-but why? I do all right in school. I guess … I haven’t really screwed up lately.

It’s not your grades or your intelligence that brings me here.

Thon clumsily stepped aside to let Gran in.

Come sit down anywhere. We have a sofa or maybe this chair or—

The sofa will be fine, my son.

Do you want a drink or some …

Refreshment is not necessary. I don’t have much time. We have something very important to discuss.

Okay. Do you want to wait for my mata to join us?

No, Thon. This must be your decision and yours alone.

What are you talking about? What do I have to decide?

Most simply, Thon, you have to decide whether you want to become the next student at the temple this year. And I need your answer now. There can be no waiting or discussion or talking it over with Mata. The future of the temple depends on it. So, Thon, what’s your answer going to be?



Being a princepol had its advantages, even in the north. Cal Dor would never love the land like some of the other elite or even some in his own family. He just didn’t feel comfortable among the trees, mountains, and streams of the vast, untamed wilds of the Northern Continent. The dust, dirt, and grime of the crystal-mining operations were even less attractive, although necessary to his wealth and power. Crystals were vital to the economy and well-being of not only his family and the north but the planet as well. Without them, he would never have a seat at the table of Sardentia’s ruling council or be able to visit the gleaming, perfect cities of the south.

He never understood the need or appeal of the spiritual beliefs many of his subjects had for the crystals. They were a power source, nothing more and nothing less. He had even less use for the temple. Sure, there were certain adepts that could channel the energy of the crystals, presumably to great effect. But there were far too few to be of any use militarily. Besides, Seer Gran was too blind to any application that didn’t promote peace and understanding or some other garbage philosophy.

He admitted that his son being chosen for this year’s class was not ideal, but having him there would dull any allegations that he was always prejudiced against the temple.

He hoped the suggestion he had given to Gran and the templemen at yesterday’s meeting would be given careful consideration. After all, didn’t they profess to care about the well-being of all those in the community? How could they put their needs and wants above the needs of the many? He had expressed his regret that, if they did not do as he asked, he would have no choice but to enact the protocols established in the Northern Standards that the temple could only be considered active with a set number of students. Seeing as they were one short, not to mention the precipitous fall in enrollment over the past few years, it would be better for all concerned to take him up on his generous offer now rather than later. He anxiously awaited their answer.

Princepol Cal Dor, the Kodanth ambassador has arrived at the Glacial City Shuttle Station. Your personal hover car escort should have him here before the conclusion of the workday, announced his appointments assistant over the holocomm on his desk.

Good, good. I look forward to his visit. Thanks for letting me know.

Just doing my job, Princepol. It is an honor to serve you.

The meeting with the Kodanth ambassador could not have come at a better time.

CHAPTER 2

"WHERE IS GRAN? DOES HE NOT KNOW THE SEVERITY of our position?" screamed Kax at his fellow templemen.

The past day had been a nightmare for the temple. First, their class was the smallest in several decades. Second, the princepol had demanded they close down or move to the sparse valley of the Tundland River. Third, their leader, Seer Gran, had mysteriously left sometime during the night. Worse yet, he had not even shown up to lead the morning prayers and meditation. He had never done that in all his combined years at the temple, from student to seer.

Does it even matter at this point, Kax? Was Cal Dor’s offer that unreasonable? I’m sure, with time, we will establish a fine school in the valley, answered Kir, the youngest templeman, with a calm and unflappable tone. He always tired of Kax’s outbursts. Not only was he too emotional, but he was a mess. His light-brown robes were often covered in dust, and his long white hair and beard were often unkempt. It continually amazed Kir that the temple archives and vaults remained so orderly under Kax’s watch.

Kir, you know well that this location is sacred. We cannot simply up and move and still maintain the integrity of the school, replied Vence.

A great evil will be unleashed if we leave. The ancient scrolls are extremely clear on this point.

"Kax, come now! Our knowledge can be taught in