The Tower: Legend of the Heartstone, #1

By E. Webb

Those Who Enter Its Door Disappear
The Few Who Return Lose Their Minds

Reaching high above the cobbled streets, the Tower has loomed over the town of Savrsen for as long as anyone can remember. No one knows who built it or why, and no one seems to care—except Ena Novak. While most ignore the gray stone citadel, Ena has spent her whole life mesmerized by the Tower and the gentle glow of magic that only she can see emanating from it.

As her sixteenth birthday and the cusp of adulthood approaches, Ena faces a life trapped either by the ambitions of her vain and overbearing mother or the unrequited affections of her best friend.

Encouraged by a mysterious stranger, Ena enters the Tower in a desperate bid for freedom and finds herself in a dream come true, learning magic alongside elves, fauns, centaurs and more in the realm of Azendor. All is not well in this fairytale haven, however, and Ena soon faces treachery among those she trusts, dangerous dark creatures, and an enemy with his sights set not only on Azendor, but on Ena herself.

Ena will find that, in Azendor, she is anything but ordinary. Believing in magic is just the beginning.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E. Webb
• Release date: Sep 12, 2023
• ISBN: 9798988754602

Book preview

Chapter 1

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The Tower

The house was quiet. She slipped out of bed and tiptoed across the room in a zig-zag pattern. It was one she had been tracing since she had learned to walk, using it to avoid the squeakiest floorboards on the way to the door. Her mother seemed to wake whenever a noise, even a breath, was out of place.

Luckily, the door stood ajar. Her mother checked on her from time to time through the night. On nights like this, when intending to sneak to the hall window, she feigned sleep whenever her mother peered in.

Sucking in her stomach, she shimmied through the space, staying glued to the wall as she made her way down the hall. She paused, straining to hear any sound that suggested her mother was awake. Silence.

The hall was easier for her to walk quietly down because her mother had placed a thick sheep-wool rug here that spanned most of the hallway, muffling her steps almost to the window. When she reached the edge of the rug, she paused. The final stretch was the trickiest. The floorboard right underneath the window had betrayed her more times than any other spot in the house. No matter how she stepped, scooted, or leaned, it always gave a shrill squeak like a tattle-tale and awoke her mother. After stepping back a few paces, and letting out a shaky breath, she silently sprinted and leaped from the edge of the rug. Her right foot landed silently on the ledge, while her left hand grasped the frame that surrounded the window.

Twisting her body, she sat down, and her legs dangled as she leaned against the coolness of the glass. The night was still. She peered through a pane toward the center of town. There it was.

The Tower.

In the daytime, she could see the stone was multiple shades of gray, but at night it appeared almost black, like a shadow that stretched into the sky. It was skinny and so tall that its witch-hat-shaped roof nearly reached the clouds, and it appeared as if it shouldn’t be able to stand on its own.

Some people said it had been put together by magic long before the town, Savrsen, had been built. Most people scoffed at the idea because they believed magic did not exist. They would argue the Tower had always been there, like the sun in the sky, or that a talented architect must have built it long ago. Even though the origins of the Tower were a mystery, and even though it was in the very center of town, everyone mostly ignored it, preferring to pretend that it wasn’t there. She, however, couldn’t help but see the Tower. She was drawn to it, so much so that she risked her mother’s disappointment and scolding by sneaking to the window some nights just to look at it.

While gazing up at the Tower, her mind began to wander. She believed it was made by magic. Some nights she swore she could see a gentle glow emanating from the stones themselves. And if magic was real, and it had made the Tower, then maybe by entering the Tower—

Ena!

The suddenness of her mother’s voice cutting through the silence startled Ena, causing her to fall off the window-sill and land hard on her tailbone. The pain shot up her back, which began throbbing. Had she been alone, Ena would have cried out or at least sniffled. But not in front of her mother.

Looking up, she saw her mother was only halfway done with her nightly beauty routine. A taller-than-average woman, Majka Novak had strikingly blond hair that was touched up every two weeks with her special homemade concoction, although Ena could see her mousy-brown roots starting to show on top of her head. Her hourglass figure was covered by a pale blue silk night-dress that shimmered in the moonlight streaming through the window. Her oval face was slim, with high cheekbones that drew attention to her blue-green eyes, whose color was intensified by the oozy green mask dripping from her face.

Ena Novak, how many times do I have to tell you? When I put you to bed, you stay in bed, Majka said. You will never get into the Elect if you are constantly tired. You know that it causes dark circles under your eyes and can ruin your complexion. It is best to start a beauty routine young, so it is a habit when you are older and it really counts.

Ena resisted rolling her eyes. The Elect was a group of people considered to be at the top of Savrsen society. Most were rich and well mannered, but extremely finicky about whose company they kept. Either you were born into their group, or you could be welcomed in by virtue of having a skill or talent they felt benefited them in some way. Ena’s mother had a knack for making creams, wraps, and scrubs that could help a woman appear more youthful and lovely. Although Majka had not been accepted into the Elect, she sold many of her concoctions to them. For that reason, she felt valued by them.

Yes, Mother, Ena said quietly.

Honestly, Ena! You must learn to speak up, I can hardly hear you. That will not do you any good once you begin singing lessons next week. How will you shine on-stage and move up in society if you can’t even speak loudly enough for me to hear you?

Ena lowered her head to hide the tears pooling in her eyes. Yes, she loved singing, and even though she had a decent-sounding voice for being only seven years of age, she never, ever wanted to sing in front of other people. Her mother wanted otherwise, seeing Ena’s natural talent as a way to get attention from the Elect. Attention that Ena didn’t want.

Majka bent down, gently grasping Ena’s chin and lifting her face up so they were looking into each other’s eyes. Now, I won’t have any more nonsense tonight, my dear. Tell me, why were you at the window? This time I want the truth. For the past year, you have told me you love to look at the stars or watch the moon rise in the sky. I am no fool, dear daughter. In the past, I let those answers slide, because I didn’t want to miss out on any more of my beauty rest, but tonight I will have the truth.

Ena’s heart seemed to stop. She felt her chest tighten, and time seemed to slow down. Ena believed in honesty. Telling the truth was important to her; it always had been. Even when it got her in trouble, something deep in her heart always pushed her to be honest. Except in this situation. Fear of her mother’s reaction always made lying about her interest in the Tower easier.

Combing her fingers through Ena’s hair lovingly, yet sternly, Majka said, I am waiting, darling. Don’t make me wait too long, because impatience causes me to frown, and I’d hate to get frown lines.

The …the … She didn’t know if she could say it, but she didn’t want to sit on the floor much longer with her mother getting more upset as time went on. The Tower … I like to look at the Tower.

She felt Majka’s hand stiffen against the back of her head, and the stern impatience in her eyes now turned to a heated rage, like a wildfire suddenly sparked into life. Seconds passed, agonizingly slow, as the heat in her gaze turned hard and cold.

Ena, you know how I hate hearing of or talking about the Tower. I have never told you why, I was hoping I could wait until you were older. However, with your interest beginning to pique, I feel I must tell you what I know, for your own good. Come.

Her mother pulled her up off the floor and gently guided her back to her room and into bed. The goose-feather pillows always seemed to swallow Ena in a cocoon of comfort when she laid on them, so she sat up straight in the bed, wanting to be as alert as she could be. This was not the reaction she had expected from her mother.

Majka sat on the edge of the bed, looking thoughtful for a moment, then turned her head toward Ena. The seriousness of her expression both intimidated and excited Ena as she waited to hear what her mother had to say.

When I was a young girl, I was very … different than I am today, Majka recalled. My father, your djed, had to raise me on his own after my mother died. I was only in my tenth year, barely beginning to become a woman. She paused and laughed to herself. Your djed did his best to raise me into a proper young lady, mostly with help from his money. We were not rich, but we were more well-off than most. By buying me dresses, bows, and jewelry, he would bribe my way into the fanciest of parties. When he was not trying to push me into society, I ran around outside with my playmates, not caring if I muddied my dress or if my braids came undone. I would waste away my days daydreaming of becoming a princess, meeting a handsome prince, and living happily ever after. I also used to gaze upon the Tower every now and again, dreaming of what could lie within, and wondering if the rumors were true. I thought if there was magic inside, maybe it could help make my dreams come true.

Majka seemed to be in a trance, with a faraway look in her eyes. Have you ever noticed the door on the Tower, darling? she asked.

Ena nodded, not daring to speak. She didn’t want to chance breaking the spell that was making her mother talk so openly.

And have you ever tried to open it?

Ena shook her head vigorously, causing her hair to whip her face.

Have you ever heard of anyone opening the door?

Ena shook her head again and said, After school one day, a classmate of mine was dared to open the door, and he couldn’t. He pushed and pulled, even tried to pry it open with a stick, but it wouldn’t budge.

As it shouldn’t, my darling. You see, for some reason, the door only opens to those who are of age. Once a young man or young woman turns sixteen, they can open the door with no hassle. Not many people attempt it, however, because most believe things of magic to be nonsense. But I believe most people do not go in the Tower because those who go in never come back, or they come back with no recollection of what took place in the Tower, and they become a bitur.

Ena’s eyes widened. Bitur was the term used to describe certain people in town. They always mumbled to themselves, spoke rudely, and never seemed satisfied with their lives. Biturs were known to appear confused at times and throw tantrums like little children not getting their way, even though they were adults. Ena had observed a bitur named Josip on her way home from school the other day. She had taken the long way home, cutting through the marketplace so she could smell the freshly baked bread and see if there were new toys or candies at her favorite stand. Josip had been standing at the fruit cart, hollering and waving his hands in the air at the fruit farmer. Ena’s curiosity had been piqued, and she walked as close as she dared to the commotion to overhear what was going on.

I paid good money for this apple here! Josip was wailing. It is simply not sweet enough! The crunch should be crunchier! Even the color is not as deep a red as it should be!

The fruit farmer crossed his arms, patiently waiting for Josip to calm down.

Josip threw the apple on the ground, stomped on it, and broke down into a fit of sobs.

Ena remembered feeling so sad for Josip; she had wanted to help him but hadn’t known how. It didn’t seem like anybody could help a bitur feel any better.

Ena? Are you still listening?

Ena’s mind snapped back to the present. She looked at her mother, who was beginning to look tired.

Sorry, Mother. What did you say?

Honestly, dear. If I am going to take the time to share something this important with you, the least you can do is pay attention. Majka let out a slow breath. I said that when I came of age, I had a … friend. He convinced me one night to sneak out and go to the Tower. He said he just wanted to open the door and see what was within. I believed that was all we would do. But when he opened the door, his curiosity got the better of him, and he went inside. I didn’t want to lose him, so I opened the door and went in after him.

Ena let out a gasp. She couldn’t help it. Leaning forward, reaching for her mother’s hand, she said, But, Mother, that would mean you are a …

A bitur. Yes, I know. She squeezed Ena’s hand. I remember nothing that happened once I passed through the door. My next memory was waking up on the steps of the Tower. I was alone, and my friend was gone. I ran home to find my father, and to my utter dismay, both he and I were older than when I had left on what I thought was the previous night. Seven years had gone by while I was in the Tower.

Ena leaned forward, eager to hear more.

Days went by, and I felt myself sinking into despair, becoming a bitur. Just when I thought I was losing myself, I became very ill. At this point, Majka’s voice became calm, and the look in her eyes was gentle. Imagine my surprise when the doctor told me I was with child. I could not recall being married, and would never know a man outside of marriage, so I must have left a husband and life inside the Tower. There was no other explanation. My father paid off the doctor, and I stayed out of the public’s eye until you were born, my sweet daughter. I named you Ena because it means little fire, and you are that to me. A little fire that created a light to guide me out of becoming a bitur.

But how did you explain me to your friends and the town? Ena wondered aloud.

We created a story about how I had longed for a family, so I had adopted you from a war-ravaged town across the sea. But you are my true child, darling, and that is something I hold very precious and dear.

Silence stilled the room. Majka tilted her head and stared off into space as if in a dream. Ena felt she could barely breathe as she waited for her mother to finish the story.

Shaking off her daze, Majka turned to Ena. The cold, hard determination had returned to her eyes. She gingerly pushed Ena back into the pillows and tucked the handmade quilt up around her shoulders.

Leaning close, Majka said in a quiet but firm voice, Rid your mind of the Tower, Ena. It holds nothing but pain and hardship for any who enter. Heed my words, for I know best, and you would do well to avoid the heartache I once had to endure. I never want to find you gazing upon the Tower again. If you do, then I am afraid I will have to enforce stricter rules regarding your free time.

With that said, her mother kissed her on the forehead, briskly turned around, and left the room.

Chapter 2

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Karlo

Eight Years Later

Ena idly tapped her pencil on the edge of her desk. She loved learning most subjects in school, but arithmetic always bored her. She could do the operations in their proper orders and solve complicated equations just fine, but understanding why she had to do these things gave her headaches. Schoolmaster Jumbly was a round man with small spectacles and crazy tufts of silver hair growing out of the sides of his head, and he adored explaining the whys of math. He was about ten minutes into an enthusiastic lecture about why the positions of numbers in an equation could be the difference between life and death if you were an architect or scientist. But Ena did not want to be an architect or a scientist, so she figured she didn’t need to know about the devastation that could be caused by doing math wrong. She turned her head and gazed out the window.

Sunlight sparkled through the window, warming Ena’s skin. The sky was pale blue today, with fluffy white clouds scattered across it. She could see the deep green leaves on the trees dancing slightly, suggesting a small breeze was blowing by. It was a perfect day to be outside. Ena craved being out in nature because most of her days were spent stuck indoors. With etiquette lessons from her mother every morning, school during the day, and private singing lessons with Lady Twindle after school, the only time she could be outside was well after the sun had gone down.

Luckily, tomorrow was a rare day off from school, during which the schoolmasters would put together mid-year scores. Usually, on such days, Majka would extend Ena’s etiquette lessons to include painting, dancing, or embroidery. However, tomorrow Majka had an appointment with the wife of an important member of the Elect to make personalized lotions and creams. She had been talking about this appointment with excitement all week and was planning to spend most of the day consulting with this client. Ena would have all day to spend as she pleased, and she was planning on spending most of it outdoors.

Something small and wet hit her cheek, causing her to snap out of her daydream. After wiping the slimy wad off with the back of her hand, she turned to look at her classmates to find the guilty party. Most were either slumped over in their chairs with boredom or vigorously taking notes, hanging on to Schoolmaster Jumbly’s every word. One of her classmates, though, was staring right at her, grinning. Karlo. She should have known. He had cropped dark hair, sun-tanned skin, and a wide, goofy smile, and his light green eyes twinkled mischievously. He gave her a little wave, loaded another spit wad, and shot it at her. Ena ducked just in time, the tiny projectile sticking to the window behind her with a little splat. Ena raised her head and turned to smile triumphantly at Karlo when she felt another wad smack her between her eyes. Karlo pumped a fist in celebration and gave Ena a bow.

As disgusting as the spit wad was, Ena found herself stifling her laughter as she wiped it away. Karlo had always made her life interesting. He had moved into town when they were both nine years of age, and they had become fast friends for two reasons.

One, when Ena had invited Karlo over for a playdate, and her mother had found out his family’s livelihood was farming, she had forbidden Ena to be his friend. Farming, although a needed profession, was not Elect-society material. This had made Ena want to be his friend even more, so Ena had bravely negotiated with her mother. Ena would take her music lessons seriously and perform as much as Majka requested if Ena could be friends with him. Her mother had reluctantly agreed but had abused Ena’s promise to perform whenever she wanted in the following six years. Ena had sung at festivals, afternoon teas, and dinner parties, whenever and wherever Majka required.

Two, his family owned a stand in the marketplace right at the center of town, where they sold produce from their farm. The marketplace was laid out in a large circle, with shops, stands, and carts making up the perimeter. At the very center stood the Tower. Ena had been forbidden to go to the marketplace without Majka ever since that night eight years ago, when she had told Ena her story of entering the Tower. Because Karlo’s family had a stand there, it gave Ena an excuse to go to the center of town without Majka, thus providing a chance to be near the Tower unsupervised. While Karlo helped his father sell their goods, Ena would sit quietly and gaze at the Tower, wondering what secrets it held. Although her mother had warned her the Tower held trouble for those who entered, Ena felt drawn to it, her curiosity having steadily grown over the years.

One day, when they were eleven, while Karlo was taking a break from work, Ena commented on the shimmering glow that sometimes emanated from the Tower at night. Karlo gave her a strange look and insisted that the Tower’s appearance never changed. Ena insisted that some nights it held a rainbow sheen on its black surface, as if magic were flowing through the stones. Karlo mentioned he had only seen the Tower up close in the daytime, when he was working the stand. They hatched a plan for Karlo to accidentally take her school-books home, and come to return them to her that night. Then they could see the glowing stones on the Tower together from Ena’s house.

Karlo showed up just after evening supper, as the sun was setting. They stood together on the front porch, looking toward the center of town. As the last rays of the sun faded, Ena began to see the faint glow pulsing from the stones on the Tower.

See! she exclaimed. Isn’t it beautiful? I wonder why it does that. There must be magic in it.

Karlo looked back and forth between Ena and the Tower, concern growing on his face. All I can see is a tall, dark shadow and a pointy top. Are you joking? Or do you really think you are seeing something?

Ena felt shocked. How could he not see the glow? It pulsated and moved across the surface of the stones, creating a dark kaleidoscope of gentle light against the even darker night sky. Her mouth hung open, eyes wide as she silently stared at Karlo.

He laughed, startling Ena out of her shock and causing her to feel annoyed.

You truly believe in magic, don’t you? Karlo said.

Well, yes. Don’t you? Ena shot back.

Karlo guffawed. No, not really. I think some things are amazing, like how small seeds can turn into a harvest of food, but the idea of magic? Powers? Wizards, elves, unicorns, and dragons? Just things put into stories for children. Look around, Ena. What’s real is what we can see, study, and touch.

But what about feeling? Ena countered. What if you can’t see something, but feel it is real? Deep down in your gut, you just know it.

Karlo put his arm around her shoulders and leaned in to whisper in her ear. Then that makes you a romantic. A wish-on-a-star kind of girl. And if my best friend wants to be a dreamer, that’s all right with me. I think it adds some fun to life, some sparkle. That’s it! That’s your new nickname: Sparkle.

From that day forward, Karlo had called her Sparkle unless they were talking about something serious, like how his father wanted him to continue working the family farm when he finished school, or how Majka liked to control every aspect of Ena’s life.

Ms. Novak! Schoolmaster Jumbly boomed. I am waiting!

Ripping her mind from the past, Ena gazed blankly at her teacher. She had no idea what he was waiting for. She heard snickers and whispering around her. Her face grew hot, and her heart began thumping so loudly she swore everyone could hear it, like a large drum playing a steady beat. What should she do? She could try saying something, but whatever came out of her mouth could be more embarrassing than if she just stayed silent.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Karlo jump up and say, Hey, Jumbly, catch!

Ena watched in horror as a large spit wad sailed through the air, barely whizzing over the schoolmaster’s head, and stuck to the blackboard.

Everyone fell silent.

The schoolmaster’s face turned white. The expression of shock wore off and turned into a scowl as the coloring in his face returned. Mr. Maric! Jumbly cried, his face becoming bright red with anger. You shall accompany me immediately to the headmaster’s office for such atrocious behavior!

Karlo calmly stood up and walked to the front of the class, wearing a dopey grin. As Schoolmaster Jumbly stomped out of the room, Karlo turned back with a wink and mouthed at Ena, You’re welcome.

Ena slumped in her chair and let out a sigh of relief. Good old Karlo. He really was her best friend, knowing how much she hated being the center of attention. But it wasn’t fair that he would get into trouble with the headmaster, as well as his father, just to save her from being embarrassed.

The bell tower chimed, signaling the end of class. After picking up her books and pencil, Ena made her way out of the classroom.

She would have to wait until after her last class of the day to scold Karlo. Luckily, now it was her favorite class, literature, so time would go by quickly. They were currently studying fables and fairy tales, so Ena felt the hour was spent in a different world, far from her reality in Savrsen. No lessons, expectations, or a mother who tried to control her. Just heroes, heroines, adventure, and magic.

As Ena walked into the hallway, she saw Schoolmaster Jumbly coming her way, face red and muttering about the woes of his choice to become a teacher.

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Standing at the bottom of the schoolhouse steps, Ena rocked back and forth on her feet. The schoolyard was empty now. All her classmates had begun walking home or been picked up by their parent’s carriages. How long would they hold Karlo in there? Schoolmaster Jumbly could talk for quite a while, but the headmaster was known for being even more long-winded.

She stooped down and took off her shoes, freeing her toes from their stylish prison. Majka had gotten them for Ena as an early birthday present and insisted she wear them every day. They were the latest style, which supposedly made your feet appear daintier—at least, while you were wearing them. A pencil-sized heel stuck out from the back, while the body of the shoe was narrow and pointed at the end, with multiple buttons running down one side to latch it into place. It appeared you could only fit two, maybe three toes into the point of the shoe, but you were expected to somehow fit in five. Ena believed these shoes had made her perfectly fine feet appear hideous, thanks to the way her toes were now crooked. The skin on top was red from being rubbed raw, and a large black-and-blue bruise was forming on one of her ankles.

She stepped out of the shoes and pulled off her stockings to stand in the soft grass, sighing happily as she stretched and let her feet be free. Since she was getting comfortable, she untied her sash and let her dress flow out. The floral pattern didn’t match up quite right without the sash tied uncomfortably tight around her waist. She couldn’t believe her mom thought wearing high-society-style articles of clothing was worth the money and pain … no, actually she could believe it. Appearance was the most important thing to Majka Novak.

Hearing the creak of the door caused Ena to turn her attention back to the schoolhouse.

What were you thinking? Ena demanded as Karlo walked out the door.

Smiling, Karlo sauntered down the stone steps. Were you worried about me, Sparkle?

Ena rolled her eyes. "Of course, I was worried about you. I don’t want you to get in trouble with your father.