A classic struggle between good vs. evil!
The Watcher
(The Ent Chronicles Series, Bk 1)
by Louise James
Blurb:
Long ago a powerful coalition of wizards and witches—The Seven—began a quest to recover hallowed grounds in the Earthling Realm. The day had arrived to claim Hailstone Hamlet! A Dark Wizard, Lord Haydron expects no one to survive the destruction, but he was wrong.
An apprentice Healer miraculously survives with no memory of what occurred but, why was she spared?
Unexpectedly, her locket opens as if by magik, and a cheery old woman speaking in a funny accent appears.
“Come for ye have I. Away from here ye must stay.
Troubles come with darkness of night; The Watcher protects and The Lantern lights.”
Ewallea assures her that she will remain by her side as they seek answers. Overwhelmed and injured, Amellea passes out only to wake in the arms of a handsome young man, riding upon the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. The Hunter believes she was spared for a purpose and their destinies are entwined. He pledges to help her locate friends and family.
The feisty beauty and her new companions find themselves on a journey of unexpected adventures to reach an enchanted forest, filled with mischievous fantastical creatures.
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Excerpt
Chapter Six – Haydron Castle
. . . At
dusk, they saw Haydron Castle on the horizon.
“I
want a fresh start before I report, so we make camp here tonight. We meet Lord
Haydron in the morning. Send a messenger announcing our arrival tomorrow at
sunrise.” The Chief Hunter dismounted Que and wearily stretched his aching
frame. Soon after everyone had dismounted and began to construct a make-shift
camp, haunting song filled the copse of trees surrounding the grounds of the
camp. Que trumpeted the day’s benediction signaling the herd to feed and rest,
but the Elk Song meant much more than the close of the day. The entire herd
bowed their heads in unison at the end of the haunting melody. She was also
thanking them for their service to all, great and small. Que heard stories and
witnessed her mother following this tradition. Que honored her parents in this
way at the close of each day while on a mission. Maleek bowed in deference to
the CrownHead of the RealmWalkers, to show his respect for her as she ruled with
grace in the tradition of her parents.
“Que,
I need rest and fast. I have burned my candle at both ends and twice in the
middle.”
“That
is not possible unless you break the candle, your royal hinny-ness!” teased the
Great QueMayReign.
“What
about my rear?” Maleek looked over his shoulder, checking to make sure it
looked okay. “What? I do’na take your meaning, Que.”
Maleek
walked over to the fresh, clear pond, sampling the cool spring water flowing
from the falls. He removed his leather shirt over his broad shoulders,
stretching to relieve the aching muscles. Tiredness had begun to paralyze those
tense muscles. He glanced over his shoulder amused, remembering Que teasing him.
Maleek
stripped out of his leathers and plunged into the brisk water. As he bathed and
relaxed his mind, Maleek drifted away, thinking of a beautiful
sunset-red-haired lass. Were their destinies entwined as QueMayReign and
Ewallea conveyed to him? What defines his
destiny?
Just as he
started to drift off, floating in the cool water, Maleek thought he heard a
voice in the distance. Startled, he stood and listened more closely but could
not catch the sound again. Something sounded very familiar about that voice,
but he could not remember. It was a gut feeling; Maleek usually acted on those
feelings because they were important.
“Aye! Ye
feel it too, my beauty. Magik mischief is near.”
“Yes, I do,
but I am more worried about you catching your death of cold right now! Que
sensed it too, impatiently snorting a warning her Hunter knew well. Maleek, get
into some dry clothes! The night air is brisk, and autumn is but a few days away. Put
these Elven-woven garments upon your tired body and sleep for a while. I will
wake thee in time to prepare for your meeting with Lord Haydron,” Que chattered
quickly while advising her Hunter.
“Ye
fuss too much, Que, like my ‘mam. I take my leave of ye now until then, Que.”
Que watched
her Hunter with amusement, as if knowing a secret. Maleek rested on a grassy
spot near a log and finally allowed the weariness of the past event-filled
hours to take him into a restless sleep.
In his
fitful slumber, visions of Trolls, meddling Nymphs, and dangerous TreeHoppers
filled his dreams as he battled Ents of all kinds. Somewhere in the chaos, he
could hear a melody hummed by the sweetest voice he had ever heard.
Wondering
away from the chaos, Maleek walked toward the sweet sound, and his distress
seemed to melt away. He stepped into a clearing and saw the source of the
song—a beautiful maiden combing her sunset-red hair as she sang a Siren’s song.
He
carefully watched from a distance until the maiden’s song ended. She stood and
turned, making eye contact with Maleek.
“Amellea,
I did ’na ’no ye were a Siren!”
“I
am no Siren! I was just a singin’ and enjoyin’ a bath. I needed a good wash to
remove the ash and grime.” Amellea nervously adjusted the robe she wore to
cover her shoulder as the couple cautiously approached each other. “And pray
tell, when did you return to the Ewa’s home?” the beauty stopped walking to
question Maleek once more.
“‘Tis
but a dream, Amellea. I am not there in the Enchanted Forest. I am sleeping.
‘Tis my dream, ye are visitin,’ slowly understanding himself how all this could
be happening. Aye! I heard the song, ye were singin’. I am near Haydron Castle;
I must report to Lord Haydron at sunrise. ‘Tis required of the Chief Hunter,
after each fortnight. I also have prisoners to interrogate. Much has happened,
too, most of which is not favorable. Unfortunately for me, Lord Haydron will
not be happy with the report.”
Maleek
noticed he tweaked Amellea’s curiosity when he mentioned prisoners.
“Who
are the prisoners? Could they be from Hailstone Hamlet?” hopeful that her
family might be among the prisoners.
“Aye,
yer quick minded lass! I do’na ‘no anything yet because I have not interrogated
them.”
“So,
I am in your dream, laddie, or are
you in mine? Amellea teased.
“I
venture to say ye have intruded in my dream with your Siren song, dearest. Aye!
It is quite pleasant to be here alone with ye at last, for I have wanted to
speak freely to thee for many a fortnight.” A flustered Amellea stepped
backward and sweetly smiled, but she became leery and guarded.
“And
why did you want to talk to a, a simple peasant girl, a Healer’s Apprentice? I
am nothing special.”
The Hunter
walked closer at a brisk pace, grabbing her by the shoulders. “I will ‘na hear
ye speak of yourself in such a way ever, dearest. Lass, ye skin is as fair as a
dove’s wing; eyes the color of the sky…. ‘Bonnie hair…hair the color of sunset,
just as SilverTongueTee described.” Maleek reached to touch her cheek and
stopped short to touch a lock of her hair instead. He gently rolled the lock
between his fingers, enjoying its soft corn-silk feel.
“Who
is SilverTongueTee?” Amellea looked up into Maleek’s vivid silver eyes and
nearly swooned.
Amellea
quickly moved away from Maleek as he leaned in to fully kiss her pink lips.
Maleek did not give up that easily, walking to stand behind her.
Amellea was
clearly overcome, desperately trying to control herself. Whirling around to ask
another question, she was caught in his strong arms. She quickly put her hands
on his broad chest.
“What
are you wearing? It’s so soft and thin. What is that heady smell? I…I can’t
place….” Maleek took her face in his hands and inched closer, placing a gentle
kiss on her lips.
Swaying,
Amellea melted and bit her lower lip, stunned but enjoying the attention.
Before she knew what happened, Maleek placed another heated kiss on her mouth,
and she willingly opened to deepen it.
She was
suddenly so hot—suffocating hot!
Firmly
pushing away from Maleek, Amellea came to her senses.
“I
did not give you permission to kiss me, Hunter! And what is that smell? Do you
smell it?”
“Lass,
do’na ye think ye should be callin’ me Maleek now? I mean, since we know each
other much better.” The Hunter stepped closer to Amellea again, touching his
nose to her soft hair, breathing in her scent of spring rain, sunshine and
lavender. He cradled Amellea gently in his arms as though she were as fragile
as a newborn. She snuggled into his embrace, forgetting her objections.
“It’s
you Ma–Mah–Maleek, is it? You smell of leather, cedar wood, and cinnamon.
Hmm….” Amellea shook her head slightly, realizing she had to get control of
herself, but she did not want to let go of Maleek once he had her in his arms.
She felt safe…and hot…and bothered!
Something unexplainable was happening to her. Something deep
inside her core clenched every time Maleek was near. And that smell… It drove
her crazy!
About The Author
I am a creative, loquacious Southern artist who has always liked to tell a good story. After I retired as a public and collegiate art educator, I needed to reinvent myself. Thanks to the encouragement of professionals, friends and family, and God’s amazing grace, I have found a new passion—writing fantasy and paranormal stories.
I have always been a mental traveler, reading books and physically traveling across much of the USA and Canada. I have been actively writing for three years, publishing late in 2017. It is my hope that my novels reach across generations, entertaining multiple audiences. I want my readers to escape through fantasy to mentally travel to other worlds and to find a smile, friend or foe written between the pages of the stories I write. It is my sincere hope you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing! –lj
You can connect with Louise James at
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