Horace the King: The Journey

By Andy H Niles

The story is set in the early fourteenth century and talks about the adventures of a Native boy named Horace. He has to flee his village, which has a dark secret. He becomes lost in an unfamiliar jungle, filled with hurdles and unforeseen danger. Horace is from a peaceful village where everything is provided for him, and he has never been outside of it before. Now, he is faced with the reality of fending for himself. Despite his limited knowledge, he draws upon the survival skills taught to him by his father, who was a master. With an uncertain future, he lives day by day, hoping to be reunited with his people. All seems hopeless, until he makes contact—which proves detrimental.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Nov 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9781779412799

Andy H Niles

ANDY H NILES is a poet and artist who has a passion for bringing smiles to his readers as he captivates them with humor. In this book, he has taken a different approach by delving deep into the emotions of his readers, creating yearning and suspense as the mysteries unfold.

Book preview

Horace the King

The Journey

BOOK ONE

Andy H. Niles

Horace the King

Copyright © 2023 by Andy H. Niles

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-1-77941-280-5 (Hardcover)

978-1-77941-281-2 (Paperback)

978-1-77941-279-9 (eBook)

A series of books inspired by

my beautiful daughter Savannah.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Home

Chapter 2. The Mountain

Chapter 3. Friend

Chapter 4. Who Is There?

Chapter 5. Tit For Tat

Chapter 6. Up And Away

Chapter 7. Smoke Or Cloud

Chapter 8. Over The Top

Chapter 9. Men Like Children

Chapter 10. Tragedy

Chapter 11. A Journey Ended

Chapter 12. King To A God

CHAPTER 1

Home

The morning mist lifted, revealing the quiet village of Iron Ridge. The sunrays streamed through Horace’s open window. They reflected off his shadow crystal, illuminating his entire bedroom with beautifully colored lights. Caw! Caw! Caw! Horace was awoken by the loud cries of a black crow perched on a tree branch just outside his window. It cried as if it was telling him to wake up.

Horace opened his eyes and rubbed them. What’s that smell? he wondered. It smelled like burning wood. He got up and heard yelling and screaming from outside his window. Horace looked out his window towards the east and saw clouds of smoke close to his home. Moments later, Horace’s mother burst into his room and shouted, Get dressed! We have to leave! He saw a worried look on her face and knew something was very wrong.

Where is Dad? Horace asked as he hurriedly got dressed by putting on his favorite leather trousers.

Don’t worry about your father right now. We must leave. He will catch up with us later.

Horace and his mother rushed out of the house as she grabbed a bag filled with supplies that she had already packed. Outside was a scene of chaos. Lots of women and children were fleeing towards the mountains in the west.

Where are all the fathers? Horace wondered.

As they ran to the mountains, Horace could hear loud bangs, screaming and wailing from the village behind them.

Horace did not understand what was happening as he had never seen anything like this before. Iron Ridge was