Del Ryder and the Battle for Azdia: Del Ryder, #4

By Matthew Brough

Darkness has fallen across all of Azdia. Soon, all of life will stop glowing with light. The tress have lost their life. Even the mighty feldroes have ceased to roam freely. Most of the lumens, the shape-shifting caretakers of Azdia, have been destroyed or enslaved. The only hope for the creatures of Azdia are the awaited chosen ones sent from another world called Earth.

 

The problem is Del Ryder has decided she never wants to go back. She feels like it's all her fault that the Crystal Seeds are in the hands of the evil Heir of Mordlum. She's given up on her lumen friends thinking it is all too late. But when a bird shows up with a message, and Del's annoying older sister, Suzanne, is whisked away to Azdia in a way that no one saw coming, Del and her friends have no choice but to follow. Will they be able to mount a rescue before Suzanne is corrupted by the forces of darkness? And might they finally discover the key to restore the light and remake the world?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Brough
• Release date: Apr 10, 2024
• ISBN: 9781738982615

Book preview

Long before now when the darkness oppressed,

Our lady brought hope by the words she expressed.

With courage she led and our light it did grow,

Her sword flashing bright as she conquered the foe.

Yet vanquished him not, but forgave from her heart

And kindled a love, until death would them part.

In the grove where they fought, an oak found its place,

Her sword put away, not destroyed, just in case.

For one day the light will fade once more

And an Heir will arise who will cause strife and war.

Then swords will be needed again for the fight

And our lady’s blade will appear with new light.

1

THE MESSAGES

His wrinkled hands gripped the pencil loosely, the tip of it tracing another curve. The last one, he almost sang to himself. He shifted in his chair and a creaking echoed throughout the cave.

He put down his tool and examined the small paper, running his finger over the lines he had drawn. He gripped the edge of the paper and slowly began to roll it up, savoring the action. The table where he sat was covered in more papers, each one rolled up just like the one he had been working on.

His lips curled in a smile, satisfied with his work. This will be good, he whispered.

He pushed on his knees to get them going again as he had been sitting for a while. Keeping the rolled paper between his fingers, he began to hobble away from the table, but the hobble didn’t last long. As bones creaked and muscles stretched, his movement became a skip, close to a dance. He could barely contain his excitement.

In front of him were three doors and over each one were numbers. He went into the room marked with an 18 and looked around.

It is time, my friends, he said. But a few of you will find your way, for the journey is long.

A flutter of wings was the reply.

He opened one of the many small cages in the room. He reached into it and pulled out a bird. The bird had simple grey feathers. It looked at the old man and tilted its head. He simply smiled down at the bird.

A small tube was attached to the bird’s leg. The man took the rolled-up paper and carefully slotted it inside.

He looked up at the floor-to-ceiling cages covering three of the walls. Perhaps we can go a little more quickly, he said.

He began to open one cage after another, and time after time, he sang out go to each bird. The birds flew out of the cages, out of the room marked with the number 18, and landed on the floor near the table with all of the papers.

The man left the room and went on to do the same in the other two rooms, which were also full of cages and birds. He returned to the table, still carrying the first bird that he had removed from the cage. He placed that one gently on the floor with the others.

He held out his hands and another bird obediently flew into his arms. He took another rolled-up piece of paper and slotted it into the tube on the bird’s leg, just like the first one. One by one, each bird was given their own piece of paper and placed on the floor, until the man held the very last bird in his hands.

He shuffled past the birds on the floor over to a large opening in the wall. He looked out. The cave opening was high up on a cliff and he could see right across a bay that connected to the Great Sea. On the other side of the bay were ships docked in a harbor that stretched the length of a city. The city was a fortress with spires and towers dotted here and there, with a wall that stretched around on the three sides. Every building in the city a glossy black.

The man’s eyes drooped a bit as he looked out. A sadness washed over him. He gripped the bird in his hands a little tighter. He furrowed his brow and pursed his lips.

After this flight, you’ll be free again. You need not return here. Now—fly!

He held his hands out toward the opening in front of him and let go of the bird. Its wings fluttered and it sped forward out of the cave.

All of you, the man called as he spread his arms out wide, stretching his fingers down toward the floor where the whole flock awaited. All of you—fly!

Immediately, every bird took off and flew past the man. He closed his eyes and listened to the beating of their wings as they sped from the cave. To anyone else the sound would have been so loud that they would have wanted to cover their ears.

But his eyes danced with hope and delight, for in the sound of the beating wings he could hear what all of Azdia was longing to proclaim: To Mr. Thicket!

2

ALL GROWN UP

Del ambled up the front path to her house, hands in her pockets. She felt the slim outline of her phone. She was shocked that somehow after all the adventures in Azdia she still had it right there in her front pocket. Of course it had no charge. If she could she would have already been texting Sam even though she had just left him.

All of her friends had raced off quickly toward their own houses, but Del had taken her time and watched the rising sun in the quiet of the morning. She was exhausted but also somehow needed to be ready for school that morning.

She bent down to find the spare key to her front door hidden where is always was under the bricks that lined the flower bed next to the landing. Before Del had an opportunity to unlock the door, it swung open.

Suzanne’s hands shot out at her and grabbed her sweater. This was it. Her older sister would finally go beyond the occasional punch and the constant insults. Del braced herself for a pummelling.

Her sister stepped out onto the landing and pulled Del close until their noses were almost touching. She looked at her sternly.

You got in last night at two thirty, she said. You didn’t want to wake mom and you're sorry.

What? Del asked.

I’m covering for you, you idiot, said Suzanne. She pulled Del inside. Mom’s still in bed. Now get upstairs and change.

Del looked at the clock on the living room wall and was relieved. It was only seven forty-five. She still had about an hour before she needed to leave for school.

Bewildered by her sister offering to cover for her, Del raced up the stairs and went to her room. She looked around on her floor for some clean clothes. She still had unfolded clean laundry on her floor from… when was it? Del couldn’t keep track of the time. She had been in Azdia for so long it felt as if her mom had dumped the laundry there three years ago rather than just yesterday or the day before.

Del found a pair of jeans and a sweater and slipped them on. She sat on the floor and searched through the laundry for a matching pair of socks. She heard her mother’s footsteps descending the staircase and Del’s heart began to race. What was she going to tell her mom? And why was Suzanne covering for her?

She found her socks and got the first one on. She heard a tap at her window. She put on her other sock, jumped up, and walked to her door. Another tap at the window. And another. She looked over and on the other side of the glass was a bird. It looked like a pigeon and it seemed to be staring at Del.

Weird, Del thought, and then she took a deep breath, left her room, and headed downstairs to the kitchen to face her mom.

You scared us to death last night, her mom said. Where on earth were you?

Where on earth was I? Well…I wasn’t on earth now, was I? Del let out a small giggle.

Do you think this is funny?

Del shook her head.

Well, where were you? her mom repeated.

I was… I was… Del searched for an answer other than ‘in another world.’ Finally, she spat out, at the Churchyard.

With her boys, Suzanne added.

And what time was it when you got home? their mom asked.

Suzanne looked at Del and raised her eyebrows.

Two thirty, Del whispered.

Two thirty! their mom thundered.

I guess our little Del is growing up, said Suzanne.

Del heard her say little Del and she cringed. That’s what Mr. Thicket called her and it was always with love and affection. Her sister said it and it just made her angry.

A small grin came across their mother’s face. You know two-thirty is way too late for a girl your age, she said.

I know, said Del.

I guess Suze is right, said their mom. You’re growing up. But no later than midnight from now on, okay honey? And maybe ten-thirty on school nights.

What? Del honestly questioned.

Well, I want you to have fun, their mom said. After all, you’ll be a teenager soon.

Del couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her mom wasn’t mad! She didn’t care if she stayed out late. How old does she think I am?, Del thought. I’m only eleven… This is worse than getting in trouble. My mom has no idea how to be a parent. She basically doesn’t care about me at all.

Suzanne grabbed Del again and dragged her to the living room.

You’re welcome, she said as she slumped down on the couch.

How did you know that would work? Del asked.

She wants to be a ‘cool mom,’ Suzanne replied. That’s her weak spot. You know, when you get older like me you find out that mom wants you to be friends with her or whatever. It’s kinda lame but it also has its advantages—like late curfews, and boyfriends. It’s best to just play along and pretend like you’re friends. She’s ready for you to grow up.

Del thought about it and was sad. There would be no more games with her friends, her adventures had ended in an instant, and now even her mom didn’t want her to be a kid anymore. It was all over so quickly.

She remembered something the priest had said to them—it seemed so long ago with everything that had happened in Azdia: You will be changed.

Del was changed. She had seen violence, death, and darkness in Azdia, and now she was to be treated as a teenager—all before she turned twelve. Her childhood was over.

They ate breakfast together and it was all as if nothing had happened. Del was relieved but still had this ache for a family that didn’t lie to each other. She didn’t want her mom to be her friend, and deep down she didn’t want to just get away with stuff like Suzanne always did. She just wanted her mom to love her.

Suzanne insisted that they leave early and walk to school together, which was completely out of the ordinary for her. She never wanted to spend extra time with Del, but as soon as they were away from the house and their mother’s listening ears it became clear why.

I’ve covered for you, Suzanne said. Now what was all that with the smoke and the energy thing and the voice? You all really freaked me out. I don’t know how you did all that, but if you’re already planning something big for Halloween or something, it is definitely going to scare people.

What are you talking about? said Del, suddenly panicked. She had hoped that maybe her sister had been in a kind of trance when she had given the final Crystal Seed to the Heir. She had hoped that maybe she would believe it had all been a bad dream.

Look, said Suzanne. You have a chance to be cool here, Del.

Del could tell Suzanne purposely did not call her by her nickname ‘Deli.’ Del hated it when she did that.

I… I… can’t, Del started.

Just tell me how you made that weird energy thing, Suzanne said.

You mean the oval? Del replied. I don’t really know… That’s… Del searched for what to say to satisfy her sister. That’s… Sam’s creation.

The little guy? Suzanne laughed. So… creepy. I wouldn’t have expected that from him.

Well, Phil is the one behind the whole idea, Del lied, deciding to go with the whole Halloween idea. But Sam’s smart even though he’s the youngest. He’s really good at science stuff.

Del and Suzanne kept talking for a while and the more they did, the more Del lied about everything Suzanne had seen in the early morning hours. She couldn’t very well tell her the truth. That Suzanne had seen through a portal to another world and had unknowingly given their enemy, the Heir of Mordlum, exactly what he needed to destroy the last of the light of that world.

The more Del fabricated, the more Del felt as if for the first time she had a real big sister. They were in on something together. Of course, the thing they were in on was not a real thing at all. Del, at Suzanne’s suggestion, had just made up an elaborate Halloween exhibition that would be happening in the graveyard to scare all the neighborhood children.

The real problem was that Suzanne wanted to be part of it, but that was a problem for another day.

3

AT THE LAKE OF LIFE

The lake in front of him was still. He sat in the boat but didn’t bother to untie it from the dock. There was no reason to be out on the lake anymore. There were no young ones to receive or pass on. No beautiful balls of lights gently falling to the surface.

When he had first taken over for Muriel, Tolstoy had been busy. He had learned from her to draw the circles on the surface of the lake, and began to have her same senses. He knew just where to send each newborn lumen.

After Muriel’s death, he had confidently done his job. He would row across the lake to greet each baby with care. He would hold one in his arms and be filled with hope. He would draw the circle in the water with his finger and then place the infant back on the surface. And then the child would sink below, beginning the mysterious journey to whichever town or village in Azdia where they would meet their brother and sister lumens.

As time went on there were less and less newborns, and a thought plagued him. Had Del Ryder and the Company of Light been successful?

It didn’t seem so. If they had, surely there would be more babies, and in greater varieties of glowing light, and to far more places than the towns of the fifteenth province. In fact, all of the last newborns had all gone to the fortress-city of 1501.

One morning, completely out of the blue, Tolstoy had discovered a beautiful hand-carved walking stick laying next to him. He had looked around for who might have delivered it, but there was no one. He took the stick with him out on the lake and waited for the balls of light to begin to fall. There were none.

Instead, a strange burst of energy washed over the lake. It was so strong that it nearly capsized the boat. Tolstoy clung to the walking stick tightly and he felt the faintest feeling of warmth pass through his hand, along his arm, and then throughout his body. The lake settled and he rowed back to shore.

Not a single newborn had arrived on the lake since that day. As the days moved forward, all hope drained from Tolstoy, though his light still flickered within him.

On this particular morning, he was doing exactly as he usually did—just sitting in the boat. He had the walking stick in front of him propped up so that he was looking directly at the handle. There was a small opening in it that he could look through as if using a spyglass to see farther across the lake.

The forest around was silent and dim, though still glowing. And then, the silence was broken by a quiet sound. It was faint, distant, and came from the air. Tolstoy glanced up and looked around for its source, but before his eyes could confirm his suspicions he had to duck out of the way. A flutter of wings passed over him. He looked back up and there was a small grey bird perched on the top of the walking stick.

Hello there, Tolstoy said. Aren’t you an unexpected visitor. Haven’t had visitors here since… Well since I was a visitor myself.

And then it dawned on him. No, he declared as his gaze fell on the small tube attached to the bird’s leg. It isn’t possible. You couldn’t have come all this way, could you? All the way across the sea.

He reached out and slipped a rolled-up piece of paper out of the tube. He unrolled it and looked at the message. His eyes grew very large and he stood up in the boat. A huge smile came across his face.

That settles it, then, he said. He leapt out of the boat, as the bird took off from the stick that Tolstoy still gripped tightly. He held the paper and declared, I don’t know how I’ll get there, but I will go, nothing will stop me. This most certainly settles it.

He walked quickly to the tree where he usually slept. There was a hole in the tree that he reached into and pulled out a small pack. Just a few preparations, he mumbled.

He grabbed a flask and walked back over to the edge of the lake and filled it up. He turned back toward his tree but stopped before putting the cap back on the flask. He held it up before taking a sip. Tears welled up in his eyes as he whispered softly, To Mr. Thicket.

4

RUNNING FROM IT ALL

Del entered the crowded lunchroom. She walked up and down the aisles in a daze, looking for either an empty seat or a spot saved for her by her best friend, Sam. She’d been zoned out for pretty much the whole morning, avoiding conversations with everyone.

She spotted Emma on the far side of the room. She was back with her regular friends, laughing at one of the older boys who was making milk come out of his nose. Emma was at the center of her group. Everyone looked up to her. Del knew that being in grade six herself, she couldn’t approach Emma as a girl in grade nine, the top grade in their school, especially someone as popular as she.

She turned away from Emma and saw Guy and Phil with a group of boys from their grade seven class. Phil was a lot like his sister, Emma: in command of the group around him, seemingly telling a story or a joke to them. Guy wasn’t paying attention to Phil, though. He stared across the room at Emma, something that Phil certainly wouldn’t be happy about if he noticed it.

For a brief moment Del wondered if they would all stay friends without playing at the Churchyard or fighting the darkness in Azdia.

Guy caught Del’s eye and nodded toward a particularly packed part of the lunchroom. There was Sam sitting at the very end of a table closest to the windows on the far side of the room. Del walked over and sat down opposite to him in the spot he had saved for her.

Don’t even talk to me about it. The words came out of Del’s mouth and she meant it. She had no doubt in her mind. She didn’t want to talk about Azdia. Early that morning when they had first gotten back to earth, she had decided they were never going back.

Not that they could go back even if they wanted to. The Heir of Mordlum, their greatest enemy, had the seven Crystal Seeds, all embedded in the Emerald Sceptre, giving him ultimate power over everything. Their only way into Azdia had been the seed hidden in the graveyard that Eleanor and the priest had kept safe for years. Without realizing what she had been doing, Del had guided the Heir to of all people, Suzanne, who was in the graveyard that night looking for Del, as if she actually cared about her!

At the time, Del was dreaming but somehow it was all real as well. She was there, but her sister couldn’t see her or hear her shouts to not do it. Not having any clue about the evil she was about to unleash, Suzanne had given the Heir the Seed of Connection. After that, it was all over. Darkness would reign in Azdia, and there was no chance of bringing the light back even if they could return, which they couldn’t.

This was why Del didn’t want to think about it. It was all too much, and she couldn’t do anything about any of it.

Did you get in trouble? asked Sam.

Actually, no, said Del. It was really weird. You?

I’ve never seen my parents so upset, said Sam. My mom was crying the whole time. They wanted to know why I’d stayed out all night and I didn’t want to lie to them, but what could I say? So I told them what we agreed on. I was with all of you and we accidentally locked ourselves in the basement of the old church.

What did they say? asked Del.

I’m grounded, said Sam. For a month. But the worst part was how disappointed they were. I think my parents hate me now.

They don’t hate you, said Del. I wish I had parents that cared enough to ground me for a month. My mom? Her eleven-year-old daughter doesn’t come home all night and she didn’t even notice. But the craziest thing was my sister.

Del proceeded to tell Sam about her strange morning with her sister covering for her and Suzanne’s expectation of being included in their Halloween plans that didn’t actually exist.

At least we have a few weeks to figure that one out, Sam responded.

He took a bite of his sandwich and looked down. They sat silently for a little while, though their surroundings were anything but quiet. The lunchroom was its usual chaos. People had gotten into their routines now that they were well into the first few days of school.

Mixed in with the laughter, the talking, the sometimes squealing or yelling that was usual when you have a few hundred grade five to nine students in the same confined space, Del could hear a tapping. It was faint but consistent. She looked at the window and immediately saw the source. A pigeon was perched outside on the windowsill and was gently hitting the glass with its beak.

She tried to ignore it at first, but the tapping was getting louder.

Geeze that thing is loud, Del said, motioning to the window.

What thing? asked Sam, turning his head.

But before Sam was fully facing the window the bird had flittered off.

What was it? asked Sam again.

A bird, said Del. Weren’t you annoyed by it banging on the glass?

I didn’t notice, said Sam.

It was super loud, said Del.

We’re in the middle of the lunchroom, said Sam. It’s all kinds of loud in here.

But it was… never mind. It doesn’t matter.

As Del finished her last mouthful of food, Sam asked, Want to go outside?

Del nodded, and they got up from their table and headed toward the doors at the end of the bank of windows where Del had seen the bird. She opened the door and brilliant sunlight met her eyes. It reminded her of the time she, Sam, and Emma had passed through the bridge that connected the two worlds onto the beach near Koht Valgust. From there, they had gone from the pitch black of the bridge to the blinding sunlight of Azdia. Here, it was just a dim lunchroom to the noonday sun in the schoolyard.

Del blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the light. She and Sam took a few steps together.

You know you can’t just expect us all to forget about Az— Sam began, but Del cut him off before he could say any more.

No. Don’t even say it. I just want to forget about that place.

Sam stopped walking and looked at his friend. But what if we can… Sam looked down again and mumbled, what if there was a way back?

I never want to go back, don’t you understand? Del insisted. We failed. I mean, I failed. We didn’t help anyone. Everyone kept saying that we needed to stop the Heir from getting all the seeds or he would gain ultimate power. And we didn’t stop him. He has them all, he has the sceptre. That’s it. It’s all dark now. Your parents grounded you. I’m thinking Emma, Phil, and Guy are in deep trouble too, and then my sister is expecting a crazy Halloween show. I was supposed to be some great leader and I was stupid. I actually had started to believe in it all, believe in myself, and in… and in…

And in Mr. Thicket, said Sam.

Don’t say it! Del turned away from Sam. I don’t want to hear his name.

But Del… Sam started as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

No! Del cried, whipping around and swatting his hand away. She felt the tears coming and she didn’t want to be challenged. I can’t be around you anymore!

But, Sam tried.

Del pushed her friend and then turned away and began to run.

Del! Sam called. Where are you going?

Del didn’t know and didn’t care where she was going. She just knew she needed to run in any direction other than the way to the church and graveyard or the way home. She didn’t look back. She ran out of the schoolyard, past the library, the firehall, and past row upon row of houses.

Del could barely feel her legs moving. She glided over the sidewalk and couldn’t stop herself from thinking about glowing trees all around her. It wasn’t like her first visit to Azdia, though, where they were all swatting at her, trying to stop an unwanted intruder. Instead, they were moving in harmony to her run, spurring her on, to go faster, faster, as if she truly was the chief of the Malak and had some urgent message to deliver to an awaiting group of lumens.

But she knew there was no message. She knew there were no more lumens of light. Everything had become dark now. Tears flew off her face as the wind from her run carried them away.

She slowed a little bit. She couldn’t outrun her thoughts. She couldn’t forget. She came to a stop to just cry, not knowing how long she had been running.

She knelt down on the sidewalk and hid her face in her hands. She was alone and she didn’t know what to do. Her thoughts automatically turned to Mr. Thicket. It had become so ingrained in her. It was second nature for her now to think that Mr. Thicket would help her. But she knew the reality. He wouldn’t. There was nothing he could do.

But then, Del felt a hand on her shoulder and she could tell by the way it was placed that it was someone old. It certainly wasn’t Sam. Even if he had followed her, she would have outrun him if he had tried to keep up.

The hand on her shoulder was a hand of comfort, a touch of reassurance. Del felt a strange surge of excitement. But it couldn’t be him. Mr. Thicket couldn’t be there, could he?

Stop dreaming, Del thought to herself. Stop hoping.

My dear girl, came the voice from above and behind her. That was definitely something he would say, but it wasn’t him. The voice belonged to a woman.

Del stood up, turned around, and was face to face with Eleanor Manters.

5

AMONG A HERD OF FELDROES

They had been in search of any pocket of light since it had happened. Mr. Thicket had left them long ago, after they had set out to ensure that as many towns in Old Azdia as possible would be protected from the Heir’s army.

They had begun with such a sense of victory. Mr. Thicket himself was leading them. They had a herd of feldroes on their side. The Malak were in the land.

But when they arrived at the first town it had already been overrun by the darkness. The Heir’s soldiers were gone, and they did what they could for the few survivors amid the ash and rubble.

They left a few lumens and feldroes behind, hoping they could help rebuild and protect what was left from any further attacks. On to the next town, which was in an equal state of turmoil. Fires were burning, and most lumens were either dead or taken. It was difficult work, but work that they knew they needed to do. They kept up their courage. Before long the Malak would make the light return, they had thought. But that isn’t what happened.

Mr. Thicket, their leader and protector, disappeared one night and never returned. Sirah reassured them that he must have had good reason to go. She tried to keep their band of lumens and feldroes together as they went to the next town, but it proved too difficult.

The lumens and their feldroe friends became disheartened and they disagreed as to what they should do next.

We need to fight! said one.

We should go back to where the Malak are, said another.

We must protect the feldroe herd, Sirah reasoned. We are too few in number to openly attack the Heir’s army even if we can catch up to it.

But Sirah’s declaration