Orixa of the Stars

By M. Shaer

Orixa of the Stars tells the story of a young princess who is forced to flee from the stars due to a huge vapour storm caused by the Wasenas. These are very small creatures with wings, and they remain so if one does not look at them, but as soon as one gives them any attention they grow and develop hairy bodies with short legs and leech off one’s shoulders and surfaces of asteroids. Hence, Orixa, holding tight to her magical mirror along with her best friend princess Priska, find themselves on the remote island of Shofall on earth. Here, Orixa and Priska are received by Dharkjen, the oldest witch on the island, who has only one hand carrying a stick and who also has a necklace of eyes around her head to see everyone and everything from everywhere! Thence, Orixa travels through five more islands on her quest to build a ship and return to the stars. However, on each island she encounters either the witch Dharkjen or the Wasenas, and sometimes both who subject her to many adversities. Nevertheless, Orixa achieves higher levels of awareness on each of the islands. These are further reflected in songs throughout the story. Will Orixa reach her destination, or will she keep running away from Dharkjen?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781398495357

M. Shaer

M. Shaer is of Jordanian nationality and holds a master’s degree in social policy and planning from LSE through the Chevening Scholarship Award. She attended boarding school at the age of five and prior to the age of tablets. There, in the crypts and hills of the century old school her imagination grew immensely and immersed her in a world of story-telling fantasy. Nevertheless, her main area of work is in social development pertaining to the various sectors of rural development, education, human security, and environment. In this respect, she has worked with a number of international development organizations and donor agencies in the Middle East.

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About the Author

M. Shaer is of Jordanian nationality and holds a master’s degree in social policy and planning from LSE through the Chevening Scholarship Award. She attended boarding school at the age of five and prior to the age of tablets. There, in the crypts and hills of the century old school her imagination grew immensely and immersed her in a world of story-telling fantasy. Nevertheless, her main area of work is in social development pertaining to the various sectors of rural development, education, human security, and environment. In this respect, she has worked with a number of international development organizations and donor agencies in the Middle East.

Dedication

To My Sister, May.

Copyright Information ©

M. Shaer 2023

The right of M. Shaer to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398495340 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398495357 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

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Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank my mother, Randa, for the countless stories she read for me, which opened a world of infinite imagination.

From the Stars to the

Island of Shofall

Her life in the stars was brief. Therefore, Princess Orixa had little memories of it. She remembered that she was a young princess who had a magical mirror which manifested all that she desired. Also, Emperor Bekdaf gave her her cape, crown, and sword. He also often brought her orb-like coloured chocolates that came in the most beautiful little boxes, which delighted Orixa. There were several other princesses in the stars, of them all, Princess Priska was Orixa’s favourite. They played together endlessly, also Priska had a small red ship that she sailed on among the different stars, and often took Orixa with her. In the evenings, Bekdaf took Orixa and Priska for long walks, the breeze that touched their faces cleared all their troubles away, and when they returned to the castle they slept soundly at night.

One day at the end of a very long hot summer, masses of Wasenas bombarded the stars. The Wasenas were very small creatures with wings, and they remained so if one did not look at them, but as soon as one gave them any attention they grew and developed hairy bodies with short legs and leeched off one’s shoulders and surfaces of asteroids.