The Eternity Pendant

By Chantel Doiron

Eternity Pendants are rare magical artifacts used to communicate with those who have died. Historically, the pendants were abused to consult with war heroes from times past.

Henrey grew up on a sovereign island that helped forge a fragile peace between two warring magical continents. Orphaned young and raised by the local barkeep, Adoros, he learned early to manage his expectations for the future and make the most of the moment. All this changed when Henrey introduces himself with a sentimental family name when caught eavesdropping on a top-secret military meeting in the bar's back room.

Adoros entrusts the care of Henrey to an eccentric group of rebels, thus putting Henrey right into the middle of delicate acts of espionage to prevent the Queen of Assay from acquiring any more eternity pendants. Along with Eryn, Sapphire, and a few others, Henrey must prevent the war from engulfing his new home and his friends, but everything may not be what it seems. Time magic, rescue missions, cults, betrayal, and familiar faces will leave you wondering who to trust and who to support in the endeavor to collect eternity pendants. What would you be willing to sacrifice to save the ones you loved?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9798889825739

Book preview

Table of Contents

Title

Copyright

Chapter 1: The Guard Beckons

Chapter 2: Step-by-Step

Chapter 3: King's Mills

Chapter 4: Paaso

Chapter 5: Riva

Chapter 6: The Apostles of Virtue

Chapter 7: Rough Seas Ahead

Chapter 8: Eye of the Storm

Chapter 9: Reconciliation

Chapter 10: Rescue

Chapter 11: Summons

Chapter 12: Reunification

Chapter 13: Misgivings

Chapter 14: The Fence

Chapter 15: The Eternity Pendant

About the Author

cover.jpg

The Eternity Pendant

Chantel Doiron

Copyright © 2023 Chantel Doiron

All rights reserved

First Edition

Fulton Books

Meadville, PA

Published by Fulton Books 2023

ISBN 979-8-88982-572-2 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88982-573-9 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

To Amy, the first person to travel with Henrey on his adventure.

To Tasha, my favorite accidental witness.

To Eryn, I still wrote the character before I met you. You're the weird coincidence.

Thank you for joining me in the process of writing this book before it was ready. Thank you to everyone who reads this afterward for bearing witness to our hard work. Cheers.

Chapter 1

The Guard Beckons

Henrey stared at the wall across from him blankly, tracing the marbling on the wood almost from habit. He had been told to wait here over forty minutes ago. More precisely, he was unceremoniously shoved into the closet with a hissed warning about forty minutes ago. This wasn't uncommon in the past, but Henrey found little enjoyment in the few toys he had stashed in this closet years ago. He laid across the narrow space and gazed up at the shelves lazily. For a moment, Henrey considered just walking out and hoping for a chance to slip outside without being seen. He thought about it so seriously that his hand had found the latch before he decided against it.

It's for your own good, boy, Adoros had said. His eyebrow lifted, and his mouth scowled in a way Henrey knew well. Adoros always got that way when there was business in the tavern that was less than savory. Now that Henrey was fifteen, Adoros didn't even bother warning him about these secret meetings most days. That suited him fine as he didn't much care for politics and had very little interest in eavesdropping on whatever new heist was being planned. More often, Henrey preferred to sit on the deck outside, on the side with the mountain. In truth, it wasn't much of a mountain. Still, he loved the way the land changed from thick greenery, buzzing with life from the creatures within, very quickly to the strong grey stone of the steep cliff, then to swaying sands lining the outside of Abutan Island. Henrey had lived here all his life, as far as he knew.

The earliest memory Henrey had was being jealous of kids passing through the island. He must have been about five years old, thin as a wafer, and dirty from head to toe. He recalled the endless hunger that clawed at his insides and trying to find a place to sleep that was less damp than anywhere else where he wouldn't get shooed away. On this particular day, Henrey had snuck into the tavern with intentions to steal a little coin from one of the many travelers or maybe even manage to get some dry bread from the garbage. He managed to get a small pastry off the plate of a small girl clearly visiting from Assay. Feeling triumphant, he scampered off with his prize and settled on the deck. Henrey thought he managed a flawless theft, but soon enough, Adoros had come out to scold him.

Henrey had been here ever since. Adoros hadn't shooed Henrey away and instead offered him a small room, which was really just a storage room that had all the barrels shoved up against one wall and a cot put in it, in exchange for some simple chores like sweeping and dishes. Hungry, exhausted, and utterly alone, Henrey had easily agreed. Adoros claimed no responsibility over Henrey besides keeping him fed and clean, but he was the closest thing Henrey had to a father, so he tried to do right by him anyway.

You can stay here, boy, but I got some rules, Adoros told him that day. Ye won't be stealing from my paying customers. If you want food, you'll do some old-fashioned work and earn it. And last, if I tell you to stay out of sight and close your ears, I expect you to listen. If you can do that, you can stay here until you got someplace else to go. He had seemed very stern and authoritative to Henrey that day, but in hindsight, he thought that Adoros was lonely. He had a grown daughter, Estelle, he talked about sometimes who had gone off to study the fairies in Alaria and his wife who had died over a decade ago. Without having to fuss over Estelle and being too old to go off adventuring himself, it was little wonder he was fine taking in a stray boy with no parents.

It was for all these reasons that Henrey was now in this closet in the tavern, bored out of his mind, and mimicking Adoros's voice silently as he tried to straighten up the supplies. He finished the vegetable inventory, then the fruits, then even the spices. He gazed longingly at the locked door he wished so desperately to exit. When this method somehow failed to make Adoros appear, Henrey resignedly started to move the pots and pans around. There were a few forgotten dishes on a shelf up high that Henrey could just almost reach. He stood on his tiptoes but felt nothing but air. He jumped a little, careful to land quietly, and felt his fingertips barely graze the handle of the pot. With determination, he climbed onto the bottom shelf and reached upwards. Just as he got a good grip, his foot slipped, and he came crashing down, along with the shelf full of supplies. Light flooded the storage room suddenly as the door was thrown back viciously.

And what is this, Adoros? A spy sent from those Alarians? a man said. Henrey could only see his silhouette in the doorway but could tell that he was imposing and furious.

Of course, not, Tomas, Henrey heard Adoros scoff. Can't you tell he's nothing more than a poor servant?

The man stood quietly for a moment and gave Henrey's eyes a chance to adjust. Now he could make out the red uniform of the Assayn Guard. He also noticed several gleaming medals on his lapel, indicating that he was high-ranking. Henrey made himself small and kept his eyes on the wood floor as he clumsily picked up the pots he dropped.

I see, he said finally. Slightly more menacingly, he said, Why don't we pull up a seat for the boy, Adoros?

There was a brief pause, and Henrey could see that Adoros didn't like this idea but also saw no alternative.

Of course, Tomas, Adoros said curtly and gestured for Henrey to join them on a short wooden chair beside him.

Henrey shamefully made his way to the table, silently cursing himself for trying to manage the pans at all. He kept his hands on his lap and stared at the table, not wanting to look at the members of the Guard gathered in the eye. If Adoros had wanted him out of earshot for this meeting, he knew that this meeting was important, almost definitely dangerous, and absolutely not something he should have been around for. The room was still quiet. Henrey hated the way the Guard could fill a room without saying or doing a thing.

Why don't you get him a drink, Adoros? It was phrased like a question, but there was no illusion that Tomas was giving a demand. And you, boy, what is your name?

Henrey Wyne, sir, Henrey said, flitting his eyes up for just a fraction of a minute, then quickly putting them back down as if his hands were the most interesting thing on the planet. Adoros inhaled sharply.

Wyne? So you hail from Assay, don't you? Tomas asked almost casually. He was eager to hear more, though, as his entire body was suddenly perked up and leaning in towards Henrey.

I'm not sure, sir, Henrey mumbled.

Speak up! Look a man in the eye when he asks you a question, boy! Tomas commanded. The other two men in the room tittered as Henrey jumped in his seat.

I haven't got parents, sir. I don't know of my origins beyond Abutan Island, Henrey said a little louder, trying not to display his worry.

Is this true? Tomas looked to Adoros. Adoros crossed his arms, leaned up against a sink on the back wall, and nodded. His silence was making Henrey more weary by the minute. As a barkeep, Adoros was naturally good at keeping a conversation flowing or changing the topic easily. His silence was as telling as any signal he could possibly give to Henrey: do not cooperate.

Well, then, where does your surname come from, Mr. Wyne? Tomas asked eagerly.

Henrey was a little embarrassed to admit the truth. There was one time, when he first started staying with Adoros, that he was almost adopted. A beautiful woman had come to stay at the tavern for an extended amount of time, and she had taken a liking to the little orphan boy who was all bones. She was fit and tall, and her eyes sparkled when she talked excitedly. Her laugh was as beautiful as any