Chronicles of the Heart: A Journey Beyond Time

By Evelyn M. Harrow

In "Chronicles of the Heart: A Journey Beyond Time," a historian named Bella inadvertently discovers an ancient locket that transports her to the 15th century, thrusting her into a world brimming with magic, mythical creatures, and a looming battle against a dark lord named Edric. As she navigates this new world, Bella forms an unlikely alliance with Adrian, a disillusioned knight who dreams of a just and peaceful realm. Together, they rally a band of rebels in a desperate fight against tyranny, armed with courage, the mysterious powers of the locket, and a blossoming love that transcends time itself.

Bella must grapple with the locket's secrets and her role in a prophecy that hints at either salvation or destruction. As the final confrontation with Edric draws near, Bella and Adrian are faced with choices that challenge their morals, their love, and the very fabric of time. With everything on the line, can they forge a future worth fighting for, or will their world be consumed by darkness? "Chronicles of the Heart" weaves a tale of adventure, romance, and the enduring power of hope against the darkest of odds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcane Atlas Books
• Release date: Apr 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224601899

Book preview

Chronicles of the Heart: A Journey Beyond Time

Where Destiny Meets Love Across the Ages

Evelyn M. Harrow

Copyright © 2024 by Evelyn M. Harrow

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

Contents

1.The Artifact Unearthed

2.Knight of the Realm

3.Whispers of Rebellion

4.The Seer's Prophecy

5.Allies in the Shadows

6.The Heart of the Rebellion

7.Betrayal at Dusk

8.A Rift in Time

9.The Final Stand

10.Echoes of Eternity

Chapter one

The Artifact Unearthed

Dr. Bella Hartwood wiped the sweat from her brow as she knelt on the scorched earth, her trowel carefully scraping away layers of dirt and history. The relentless Mediterranean sun beat down on the excavation site—a patchwork of trenches and tents sprawled across the rugged landscape of a remote European village. Bella had been here for weeks, leading a team of archaeologists on a dig that had started as an academic pursuit but quickly became an enigma that tugged at her very soul.

Dr. Hartwood, I think you should see this. The voice of her assistant, Liam, snapped Bella out of her reverie. She stood up, brushing the dirt off her khaki pants, and walked over to where Liam was working. In his hand was a small, glinting object, caked in centuries of grime.

Bella took the find, her heart quickening as she examined it. It was a locket, intricately carved with symbols she had never seen before. This is extraordinary, she murmured, turning it over in her hands. The craftsmanship, the design... it’s unlike anything we’ve uncovered before.

Liam nodded, his eyes wide with excitement. What do you think it means?

I’m not sure, Bella admitted. But I intend to find out. She looked around at the bustling site, at the team working diligently to uncover the secrets of this place. Make sure this is cataloged properly. I’ll take a closer look back at the lab.

As Bella made her way to the makeshift research facility they had set up in a nearby barn, her mind raced with possibilities. She had come to this village chasing a legend, a whisper of a story passed down through generations of her family. Her grandmother had spoken of an ancestor, a woman who had vanished without a trace, leaving behind only a cryptic journal that hinted at an incredible journey through time itself.

At first, Bella had dismissed the tales as fantasy, the product of an ageing mind. But as she had delved deeper into her family’s history, she had uncovered clues that suggested there might be more to the story. And now, with this locket in her hands, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was on the precipice of something extraordinary.

In the quiet of the lab, Bella examined the locket under a magnifying glass. The symbols were worn but still discernible—a script she had never encountered, even in all her years of study. She reached for a reference book, flipping through the pages, searching for anything that might help her decipher the meaning.

Hours passed, the sun dipping below the horizon, casting the lab in a warm, orange glow. Bella barely noticed, lost in her work. It wasn’t until Liam poked his head in, a plate of food in his hand, that she realized how much time had gone by.

Thought you might be hungry, he said, setting the plate down on the workbench. Find anything interesting?

Bella sighed, leaning back in her chair. Nothing yet. These symbols, they’re not like anything I’ve seen. It’s as if they’re from another time, another place.

Liam’s eyes widened. You don’t think...

That the stories are true? Bella finished, a wry smile on her face. I don’t know what to think anymore. But I know I can’t stop until I find out.

She turned back to the locket, her fingers tracing the delicate engravings. And then, as if in response to her touch, the locket began to glow. It was a soft light at first, barely noticeable in the well-lit lab. But as Bella watched, transfixed, the light grew brighter, pulsing with an energy that seemed to come from within the metal itself.

What’s happening? Liam asked, his voice tinged with fear.

Bella didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Because at that moment, the world around her seemed to fracture, the solid ground beneath her feet giving way to a dizzying vortex of light and color. She felt herself falling, tumbling through an endless expanse of nothingness, the locket clutched tightly in her hand.

And then, as suddenly as it had begun, it was over. Bella found herself lying on cold, damp ground, the smell of earth and something else, something ancient, filling her nostrils. She sat up slowly, her head spinning, and looked around.

She was in a forest, the trees thick and old, their branches reaching up to a sky that was tinged with the first light of dawn. But it was not a forest she recognized. The very air felt different, charged with an energy she couldn’t quite place.

Where am I? she whispered, her voice sounding small and frightened in the vastness of this strange place.

As if in answer, there was a rustling in the underbrush, the sound of footsteps drawing near. Bella scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding, as a figure emerged from the trees.

He was tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in a tunic and breeches that looked like something out of a history book. At his side was a sword, the hilt glinting in the early morning light. He regarded Bella with a mix of curiosity and wariness, his hand resting on the pommel of his weapon.

Who are you? he asked, his voice deep and commanding. And what brings you to these woods, dressed so strangely?

Bella swallowed hard, her mind racing. She knew she should be afraid, that she should be trying to find a way back to her own time. But there was something about this man, something in his eyes that made her feel safe, even in the midst of this impossible situation.

My name is Bella, she said, her voice trembling slightly. And I... I don’t know how I got here. Or where ‘here’ even is.

The man’s brow furrowed. You are in the realm of Lord Edric Moray, he said. And I am Sir Adrian Vallance, a knight in his service. He paused, looking her up and down. Though I have never seen a woman dressed as you are. Are you perhaps from a foreign land?

Bella almost laughed at the absurdity of the question. You could say that, she muttered. She looked down at the locket, still clutched in her hand. I think... I think this brought me here. Though I don’t understand how.

Sir Adrian’s eyes widened as he saw the locket. May I? he asked, holding out his hand.

Bella hesitated for a moment before placing the locket in his palm. As she did, she felt a spark of something pass between them, a connection that she couldn’t explain.

Adrian examined the locket closely, his fingers tracing the same symbols that had so confounded Bella. These markings, he murmured. I have seen them before, in the ancient texts of the order.

The order? Bella asked, her curiosity piqued.

Adrian looked up at her, his eyes intense. The Order of the Guardians, he said. A secret society sworn to protect the realm from the dangers of magic and those who would misuse it.

Bella’s heart skipped a beat. Magic? she whispered. Is that what this is?

Adrian shook his head. I do not know. But I do know that the appearance of this locket, and of you, cannot be a coincidence. Something is happening, something that threatens the very fabric of our world.

He handed the locket back to