The Battle Cry for Freedom

By Mary Beth Allen

When Michal, Petra, Flyby, and Zyon were babies, an old woman visited their parents and prophesied the four of them would embark on a journey. She predicted they would find answers for their city to rid it of the occupying enemy, the Tresdids, and they’d solve the problems of poverty and hunger.

Michal, a human girl; Petra, the unicorn colt; Flyby, the golden eaglet; and Zyon, the little purple dragon, return home from their quest to the City of Mystery. They’ve discovered the answer they sought in Salvatore with the dreaded Tresdids. As they attempt to follow through with that answer, many adventures await, such as a flight above a giant mountain, a dangerous fire, and more.

A sequel to The City of Mystery, The Battle Cry for Freedom follows the four adventurers as they each use their special gifts and talents to do good in the world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Feb 1, 2024
• ISBN: 9781489749130

Mary Beth Allen

Mary Beth Allen is an established author of Christian fiction for children. Her previous books include Iamadore and The City of Mystery, the prequel to The Battle Cry for Freedom. She lives in Dayton, Ohio, and earned a degree in psychology from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

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THE BATTLE CRY FOR FREEDOM

MARY BETH ALLEN

Copyright © 2024 Mary Beth Allen.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

LifeRich Publishing is a registered trademark of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

LifeRich Publishing

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Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4912-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4911-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-4913-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023916860

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 11/29/2023

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

About the Author

Chapter 1

"C

AN YOU BELIEVE IT’S BEEN

a whole month since we left Salvatore?" Michal said to her three friends: Petra, the unicorn colt; Flyby, the golden eaglet; and Zyon, the little purple dragon.

Here we are in the City of Mystery packing up supplies for our city. Did you really think we’d make it? Petra asked. He put another package of oatmeal in the large plastic container and shoved it down with his muzzle to make more room.

I always thought we would, Flyby said through a bottle of organic fertilizer he was holding in his beak that he was preparing to put in his own container, because of the prophecy.

When Michal, Petra, Flyby, and Zyon were babies, their parents were visited by an old woman who prophesied that the four of them would go on a journey. They would find answers for their city to rid it of the occupying enemy, the Tresdids, and to solve the problems of poverty and hunger.

Zyon, the little purple dragon, struggled with putting the lid on a container of seeds. Grunting, she said, What I think is strange is that the adventure all started with that starburst crystal of yours, Michal.

The journey had been triggered by Michal receiving an unusually shaped crystal from her grandfather in his will. She had realized that it had something to do with the City of Mystery. She, Petra, and Flyby had decided to find the city.

You’re right, Zyon. It led us on a lot of adventures, didn’t it? Hey, Petra, do you remember that python that slid down your neck? Michal’s blue eyes teared up at the memory. It had been a scary time for her and Flyby. She flung her long auburn hair aside to get a better look at her friend.

Petra shivered, remembering the incident. It was your and Flyby’s love that got me out of that one. How about when you got snatched by the giant dragon?

That was scary at first, but we would never have met Zyon. Michal looked over at the little purple dragon and smiled. Zyon smiled back.

Suddenly there was a lot of snorting and hoofs pounding, then a sigh. Michal, Petra said with a look of shame, I need your help. I need hands. A muzzle just doesn’t work getting that last package of oatmeal in.

It’s OK. We all have our gifts and abilities. You are a scientific and mathematical genius. So what if I have hands? You can get us out of all kinds of messes with your mind, so there! The emphatic look on Michal’s face made the other three laugh. Though he wouldn’t admit it, those words did make Petra feel better.

Speaking of your muzzle not helping much, Zyon, Flyby, remember when you both got stuck in the giant spider web in the tunnel?

A look of pride came over Zyon’s face. Yes, I do, and it was my hot tears that melted it enough to get us out.

You also helped us melt a stone sword, which we shaped with another rock. Poor Petra burned his muzzle trying to help. Michal patted her dear friend on the shoulder and smiled with pride at his bravery.

As they continued working, they reminisced about how they all had faced the dangers of the Steg Forest. When Petra and Michal had crossed the Asager River, Michal had become caught in an undertow. If it hadn’t been for little Zyon flying over and pulling her back to Petra so Michal could grab his mane, Michal would have fallen over a giant waterfall!

We’re almost done here, Flyby said with a flourish of his tail feathers. The Firsts will be proud of us. Remember when we met the Firsts?

Along the way, they had met the Firsts: the first unicorn, the first eagle, the first dragon, and the first human. The individuals each gave a word of wisdom and a challenge for the youngsters to accomplish, leading them closer to the city. Michal thought about the Firsts with a warm feeling in her heart. They were special in the eyes of Tungal. The Firsts had defended him when he had been challenged, taken to his trial, and ultimately killed for being the Son of Tuhan.

Michal, Petra, Flyby, and Zyon had spent the previous week with Johanin, the first human, learning about Tungal and reading the book about him. They were now ready to return with the projection crystal to Salvatore and tell their people about him.

Tungal was the answer to the problems of Salvatore. Turning to him would give their people hope and change their lives. The crystal, when placed in a rock base, projected his life.

Rachleah, the first dragon, and Omegara, the first eagle, were ready to carry them and the supplies over the mountain to Michal’s, Petra’s, and Flyby’s homes. They were planning to stop at Zyon’s home and have her mother gather the other dragons together. They wanted them to fly back to Gracious in the country of Enochland to get the rest of the food and building materials that the Gracians were donating to the Salvatorans. With the food and building materials were special seeds for vegetables, fruit trees, and flowers that would grow in limited sunshine. Due to the tremendous amount of smoke that was belched out from the factory built by the invading Tresdids, the amount of sunlight needed for plants to grow couldn’t get through. The Salvatorans didn’t have enough to eat. The farms nearby rarely traded with the Salvatorans because the people were so poor that they had nothing to exchange for food. The Gracians had been sending supplies as they could through an organization that Petra’s father worked with, but it was difficult with the Tresdids always watching. Johanin thought the Tresdids would not pay any attention to an eagle and dragons carrying bundles in their talons.

I can’t wait to get home and see my family. I’m really excited to tell them about Tungal, Michal said. She had the responsibility of packing the dried soup mixes. They were filled with nutritious vegetables and meats that would give the Salvatorans strength while they waited for their vegetable gardens to grow.

Me too-too. Oops, Flyby said. He was in the process of conquering a bad habit of repeating the last syllable of every sentence. Omegara, the first eagle, had helped him to understand that he didn’t need to repeat himself to be heard. He was loved, and his friends and family wanted to hear what he had to say. Now he rarely repeated himself except when he got excited, anxious, or nervous.

I must admit I am anxious to tell my parents as well, Petra said. Petra, as a typical unicorn who analyzed everything, had taken a little longer to accept the story of Tungal.

I know my grandma already knows Tuhan, Zyon said. She talks to him all the time, but I don’t think my mama believes in him. I hope we have time to show her the projection crystal when we stop at my home.

We’ll make time, Michal promised, laying her hand on the wee dragon’s shoulder and looking her straight in the eye. It’s important that as many individuals as possible learn about Tungal.

Well, that’s another container ready. I thought we were almost done, but the containers seem to be multiplying! Flyby said, tightening the lid and lifting the handle so that it could be easily picked up. I think they’re going to rope several of these containers together and have Omegara or Rachleah grab the ropes. We’ll ride on the Firsts’ backs, though Zyon and I will fly as much as we can.

Uh, won’t we get cut on Rachleah’s ridges? Michal asked, glancing at the big dragon’s sharp spines.

Naw, Petra said. The Gracians fixed up a saddle for you on Omegara and a sling for me beneath Rachleah. They’re going to attach a perch for Flyby and Zyon on Omegara. Since a dragon can carry four times its own weight, she will be carrying most of the supplies and me as the eagle is carrying all the rest of you.

I don’t know about this flying stuff, Michal said. Her right eye twitched. She rubbed it without thinking, to calm the nerve.

Hey, you think you’re scared. At least you’ll be on top of Omegara. What if the rope or sling breaks? If it does, I’ll soon be a splotch on the ground, Petra said with a forced laugh.

You two, flying is easy as can be. You just flap your wings and go, Zyon said, flapping her wings to demonstrate, lifting up a few feet from the ground then dropping gently back down.

Sure, if you have wings, Petra said. Maybe if I swish my tail back and forth fast enough it will make me fly. He gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with amusement, and swished his tail faster and faster. Then he leaped with all four feet straight up off the ground, startling his friends. It worked! he exclaimed. If I move my feet when I get in the air, maybe I’ll go forward.

By this time Michal was doubled over, laughing at her friend. Flyby stared, not sure what to think. Zyon, the youngest of the four of them, looked excited and exclaimed, Try it, Petra! Try it! It might work! Then you’ll really be flying!

Meanwhile, some of the Gracians stopped what they were doing to watch the display, smiling in amusement.

Petra got a look of determination on his face and started swishing his tail again. He swished it harder and harder. Faster and faster. He leaped forward high into the air. This time he moved his feet like he was galloping and ended up six feet down the road.

You did it, Petra! You did it! You flew. Now you just need to practice, and before long you’ll be able to fly a long way, Zyon said, clapping her front talons and jumping up and down on her hind legs.

Petra couldn’t hold it in any longer. He let out a loud, laughing whinny and stomped his right hoof. Michal and Flyby were laughing so hard that they were both crying. Flyby had finally caught on that Petra was just pretending.

Zyon gazed from one to the other then looked at all the people surrounding them. Something wasn’t right. They were all laughing. Then she thought they were laughing at her. She turned her eyes back toward Petra and he was shaking his head. It suddenly hit her. He had just been playing. He had fooled her into believing he could fly. He had just jumped. If she could have turned red, she would have done so at that moment. Her eyes filled with tears. She turned and ran away. Silence followed her.

Oh no, Michal said, her smile turned to a frown. Now we’ve done it. She thinks we were laughing at her. I guess we were some, but I was mostly laughing at you, Petra. You were so silly. Should I go talk to her and tell her that?

A woman out of the crowd said, I’ll talk to her. It might come better from a stranger. I too was laughing. Not so much at the little dragon but at the antics of the unicorn. I will go tell her that. It will make her feel better, I’m sure. The woman left in the direction Zyon had run.

Thank you, Petra said, his blue eyes deepening in color from distress. I wouldn’t want to hurt our little friend for the world. She’s like a sister to all of us. It hurts me that she is upset with us.

Me too, Flyby said.

Too bad she didn’t hear all this, Michal said. Then she’d know how sorry we are.

It was pretty funny, a tear-filled voice said from behind some bushes.

Zyon, is that you? Michal called out.

Zyon walked out from behind the bushes, her head hanging low. I’m sorry I got so upset. I should have known you guys wouldn’t be making fun of me deliberately.

No, Zyon, I’m sorry, Petra said. I was being silly, but I wasn’t trying to make you look bad. I was just trying to have a little fun. I thought you were just joining in and being silly with me. I didn’t realize you were being serious.

Petra, you’re always so serious. When you do something, it’s always a real experiment or something like that. How would I know you weren’t really trying to fly?

Petra sighed. I keep forgetting that you haven’t known me forever like Michal and Flyby. It seems like you’ve always been one of us. You wouldn’t know all the silly things we’ve done as we’ve grown up. Yes, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more serious, but I still have a silly side to me that comes out occasionally.

You really feel like I’ve been with you forever? Zyon said her eyes opened as wide as stars. I feel the same way.

There’s nothing like having to depend on each other for your life that brings you as close as a brother or a sister really quick, Michal said with a smile at each of her friends.

Enough of this emotional stuff, Flyby said, hopping to the next container. Let’s get back to work. We have a mission to accomplish.

Now doesn’t that just sound like something Flyby would say? Michal said with a laugh as she reached for another box. She knew that Flyby, as an eagle, was very family oriented. So when he took on the mission of