Discovery

By Jade Farhill

Without magic and at the mercy of her enemies, how will she survive?
Lumina is the crown princess of the Land of the Phoenix, a world filled with magic. However, much to her despair, and despite years of trying, she is unique in that she has no magic.
When she is captured by enemy soldiers, she must hide her true identity in order to negotiate her way out of prison.
But pretending is more difficult than she thought and an astute prison guard has doubts about her identity. An unexpected romance further complicates things. If she is discovered, she could be instrumental in the war against her father.
Lumina must look inside herself to find the strength to save her country, her people and her world. In the process, she will discover who she really is.
Discovery is the first book in a paranormal and fantasy trilogy.

This book uses UK English spelling and grammar.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publishdrive
• Release date: Jun 2, 2017

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By

JADE FARHILL

Copyright © 2017 JADE FARHILL

Table of Contents

Title Page

Front Matter

Dedication

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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

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Acknowledgements

About the Author

Sample of Book 2: Invasion

Copyright

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places and incidents are all made up in my mind. In other words, nothing is to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

© 2017 JADE FARHILL

Dedication

It’s easier to write 50,000 words than it is to narrow down who I’d like to dedicate this book to. So, I’ll try and keep this short. To my Mum and Drew, for believing in me. To Sebastian, for suggesting that I actually publish my books. To Megan, my Brain Storm Trooper. And finally, to Charmaine, for being my first fan.

Thanks for all your help and support.

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CHAPTER ONE

Today was the day. Lumina, the Phoenix Princess, was supposed to marry a man she had never met. But she had other ideas.

The wedding was to be held near the border of Bucansi and the Land of the Phoenix, in a town called Dewbury. Lumina’s bridegroom, General Tullica of Bucansi, had agreed to the wedding being held there. It would have been a stretch to ask an enemy general to come to Heartspire, the capital city of the Land of the Phoenix.

The pavilion was alive with light, laughter and music, making the darkness outside the tent somewhat oppressive. Servants rushed around lighting candles, laying out trays of food and filling wine glasses. Bodyguards escorted Lumina to a table surrounded by King Arro and his council. On top of the creamy silk table cloth was a contract.

My Phoenix, said the king, using the name he had always called her. His skin was fair, his sandy blond hair faded into the heavy crown on his head, his brown eyes were the exact shade as Lumina’s own and his beard was plaited and woven with sapphires and rubies. As you can see, this is the marriage contract to General Tullica.

Lumina nodded, inspecting it. I see he has already signed, Father.

The general had yet to arrive. The first she would see of her bridegroom would be at the ceremony. Examining his signature, she could not make out the general’s first name from his scrawl.

The king nodded, smiling indulgently at her. And now it’s time for you to make it official.

Not if I have anything to do with it, thought Lumina as she picked up the pen, willing her hand not to shake.

Once she had signed her name, the king beamed at her. The Master of Law took the contract away and announced it legitimate in the laws of the Land of the Phoenix.

Father, who is this man that I am to marry for peace? Lumina asked.

General Tullica, my Phoenix, said her father indulgently.

Yes, I gathered his name from the contract. But what can you tell me about him? What sort of man is he? Shouldn’t I know of his character before I marry him?

The king shrugged, still beaming. You can ask him when he gets here. But I will tell you he’s been a military commander of Bucansi for these last twenty years at least.

Lumina was about to take a sip of her champagne but stopped and turned to gape at her father. You mean to tell me that I just signed a contract to marry a man your age? she asked, her voice hollow.

Her father’s eyes narrowed. You’ve already signed the contract, my Phoenix. Nothing you can do about it now.

Lumina looked away. Actually, there is. She put the glass of champagne down so he could not see her hands shaking.

How dare you insult her! shouted someone from the other side of the pavilion. I demand you apologise this instant!

Never! came a slurred voice.

Suddenly, varicoloured light, accompanied by drawn swords, caught everyone’s attention. Her guards raised their own magical shields to protect Lumina.

There were a couple national legends about her. One was that she was the only person in the world without magic, so her guards always acted quickly when it came to magical attacks. The second was that she regularly escaped her guards. Lumina lived up to both legends now and took the opportunity to slip away while everyone was distracted. She moved silently into the darkness outside the tent.

From her cover of darkness, she heard one of her guards inside cry out.

She’s gone!

Of all times, why did she have to leave now? grumbled one of Lumina’s female guards.

She’s always escaping us. Why would tonight be any different? Pacaus asked. He was the captain of her guard.

Because it’s her wedding?

Damn, she’s good, another guard said. If I weren't so frustrated with the fact it’s us she’s escaping from, I’d be praising her.

Find her, the king said, stopping all conversation between her guards.

Yes, Your Majesty.

The sound of boot steps spread out behind Lumina and she raced towards the dense border forest. When she reached the edge of it, she listened for sounds of pursuit and looked over her shoulder. There was no one behind her in the darkness nor could she hear any footsteps. Turning back to the forest, she crept through the underbrush, trying to catch her breath from her dash.

A shadowy figure separated itself from the dark tall trunks of the trees surrounding her. You’re as silent as ever, Lulu, said a male voice that made her smile. It was too dark to see his curly red hair, freckled face and mischievous green eyes, but his pale appearance was obvious in the moonlight.

I’ve had a great deal of practice, Waldien, Lumina replied, keeping her voice low so it wouldn’t carry on the night air.

A large grin appeared on Waldien’s face. And how is Pacaus feeling about you slipping away from him this time?

Normally, the captain of her guard would be furious that she had run away from him. Tonight, however, he’d made an exception and had even helped her with her escape plan. She’d been impressed at how perfectly he had acted frustrated when she had disappeared. He said he was glad that this time at least he knew I’d escape him.

Waldien laughed.

It’s good to see you. Lumina grinned at her friend. I take it everything is in place?

Lumina saw him nod in the moonlight.

Your carriage to the palace in Heartspire awaits, Lulu. But first, you might want to change into this. He thrusted some smooth cloth into her hands. We can’t let anyone see you in those wedding clothes and identify you as the Phoenix Princess.

Lumina smiled into the darkness and slid behind a tree so she could change. She tied her hair up into a concealing bun, ensuring that the unique golden tips of her red hair wouldn’t be noticeable. The dress was dark, contrasting with her pale skin.

When she emerged from the trees, Waldien turned to look at her. Good, you should look more like a noble lady than a princess now. Hand me your wedding dress and I’ll hide it in my backpack. Waldien stuffed the gown into a bag which he then threw over his shoulder. Follow me. Lumina padded through the darkness after him until they came across a group of people.

These people will be your escorts, Lulu.

Lumina nodded to the dark figures around her. She should have known Pacaus would never allow her to travel without at least seven escorts. By her count, there were twelve of them, including Waldien.

No one here, apart from Waldien, knew that Lumina was the Phoenix Princess. And she wanted to keep it that way. Her fingers drifted up to her hair, to check it was tidy and her golden tips were invisible.

Waldien shoved his bag into the carriage so he could smuggle her dress out of the carriage before anyone realised what it was. He had winked at Lumina when she had asked how he would manage this. Then she had chuckled, remembering he was the one who had taught her how to pick pockets and locks.

Waldien gestured to the female guards closest to her. This is Torynn, Makshi, Cecas, Patal—

Suddenly, an explosion boomed from the direction of the pavilion. Moments later, a shockwave hit them, throwing everyone around. The horses spooked and took off, trailing the carriage behind them, leaving Lumina and the guards alone. She gasped, trying to get air back into her lungs. Pain stung the palms of her hands where she had hurt them when the shockwave had flung her to the ground. Raising herself to her hands and knees, she looked around, searching for her friend.

Waldien crouched beside her. You all right, Lulu? he whispered.

Lumina was about to nod when footsteps crashed through the forest behind them, getting closer by the second. Taking a sharp breath, Lumina realised their pursuers would stumble on them within minutes.

Up, she ordered and scrambled to her feet. We need to run.

Waldien grabbed her wrist and dragged her away from the pounding footsteps.

She heard the crashing noises getting closer. They’re gaining on us! Lumina ran faster, her blood singing in her ears. For the second time in her life, her phoenix side dominated her human side. The sweat trickling down her back had nothing to do with her exertion. She grabbed the hands of the two guards closest to her, one of whom was Waldien. Everybody hold onto each other.

When she was certain that everyone was connected to her, she listened to her inner phoenix and let it sing inside her. She coaxed it out and its song became louder and louder. The ground moved faster beneath her. She led her pack of guards, dragging them along at a speed no mortal could match.

***

Half an hour later, they stopped to regain their breath. She thanked her inner phoenix that sang in her veins and it quietened; the singing becoming a distant melody. Would she ever hear that melody again?

She shook her head. Now was not the time to think about it. Instead, she filed this experience away for later analysis. At least, she was in control of herself this time and the memory remained with her. Unlike last time, she thought and shuddered.

The canopy above them was almost too thick for the moonlight to penetrate. Lumina couldn’t see the others but she could hear their panting. The air was heavy with the sweet scent of the blue flowers native to this area. It was pleasant, unlike some scents that clung to her in the humidity.

You’ve never done that before, Lulu, Waldien said in between gasps.

It was certainly a first. She wasn’t even tired after her long-distance run.

As her vision adjusted to the oppressive darkness, Lumina could make out sweat glistening on the faces around her. Twelve pairs of eyes stared at her. Cold sweat trickled down her back. Would anyone suspect her true identity?

How did you do that, Lulu? asked Cecas.

I think we should be focusing on getting out of here. We might have been followed, Waldien said.

First we need to figure out where we are. Lumina avoided the eyes of those around her and looked for clues as to their location. All she saw was dark foliage strangling the moonlight. Until now, they had been following an animal track. She could just make out the path and decided to continue along it. Perhaps if they followed it, they would figure out where they were. Without a word, the others fell in to step behind her.

A moment later, heat flared across her skin, a warning from her phoenix to stop her progress. Rope caught Lumina’s foot and pulled it out from under her. She grabbed Waldien’s arm to stop herself from crashing face first into the ground.

Her friend cursed as he and everyone around them lost their balance and rose into the air, crushed together, caught in a giant net.

Waldien’s elbow dug into her ribs, someone’s knee pressed into her lower back and Lumina’s foot was jammed into some unfortunate person’s face.

Curses rang out through the group. We’re about two metres off the ground! somebody said in a muffled voice.

The bodyguards struggled to get knives out and cut their way through the net.

So much for babysitting, grumbled one of them as he tried to saw through the rope.

I’m twenty, not a baby, thought Lumina as she frowned at the comment. The movement made the net sway slightly and the line at her back vibrated to the rhythm. She never carried weapons on her, so she was unable to help cut them free. Could she contact her inner phoenix? A vision of her father trying to force a new soldier onto her guard detail flashed in her mind. Then, suddenly, she was alone, staring up at