Keeper of the Winds

by Jenna Solitaire

  May this journal guide you and all your heirs until the Daughter of Destiny arrives and masters the Boards.

  Your mother,

  Shalizander

  As I read, the gentle motion of the plane rocked me to sleep, her words and the words of the other Keepers … and the Boards, always the Boards … whispering in my ear.

  EPILOGUE

  “My Lord, what you propose is a dance with the Devil.”

  “No, Peraud. It is a chance to conquer the universe, and make the Devil himself kneel before us.”

  The gardens are lush and ripe. A maze of plant life hangs over carved pathways and ancient stones. Fruit blossoms and fern leaves fill the air with the scent of summer.

  I wait for him in a small grotto.

  We meet here often, after our work is done. When the moon is at its apex and the plants above bathe in its soft silver light. I feel him coming toward me. His steps are steady and sure and eager.

  He enters the grotto, but does not speak my name. It is one of our rules. Here we do not speak to each other. Here we do not know anything of each other or worry about the work we do.

  In this place, we are only spirits and flesh. Our voices are given only in longing.

  The night is humid and as he approaches, I see the beading sweat on his brow, the flex of his muscles beneath his robe. I inhale, taken by the sight of him, his stern countenance in the moonlight.

  He comes closer and with steady hands lifts me up, and carries me to a bench that I covered with a blanket. It has been many days since our work has allowed us to be together and I shiver in anticipation.

  After setting me down, he turns around and picks up the bowl of grapes I brought. I see the mark on his shoulder—a birthmark, he once told me—that is shaped like a star with nine rays. It glistens in the moonlight, and not for the first time I wonder if he spoke the truth about it. I wonder if the mark means something more.

  He turns back and sits beside me, popping the skin of a grape between his teeth. Lowering his mouth to mine, he kisses me, and I taste the flavor of the grape on his lips. They are lush, ripe and red, and the juice is sweet on my tongue.

  In the light of the stars, it looks like blood as he takes another grape and squeezes it between his strong fingers, letting the juice run into my open mouth. His eyes sparkle as he places a kiss on my neck and I feel myself gasp in response.

  But I do not speak.

  Once, I broke our rule and spoke to him. Without a word, he turned away from me and left the grotto. I waited for him until the sun rose and I had no choice but to return to my rooms. I have never again spoken to him here.

  I open my mouth once more and he feeds me grapes, one by one. Their sweetness pops on my tongue like reminders of spring wine. Above, I see the moon shining down and the leaves of the plants. The humid air makes me sweat and the sting of it on my skin reminds me of the bittersweet magic we share, our dream of creating items so powerful we can use them to conquer the world.

  Earlier today, we finished the last of our preliminary research. The items could be made in the form of Boards. Getting the materials would take time and much strength, but it could be done … and those tasks would seem simple compared to the danger of weaving of the spells required to make the Boards work.

  The energy between us is almost palpable and with a wave he summons it out of the air. Currents of psychic energy, like small bolts of lightning, arc between us.

  He kisses me, and in my mind I can hear his voice.

  “Our vision shall be made real—the power will be infinite … and ours.”

  I kiss him back, running a hand over his star-scarred shoulder.

  “Yes.” I will share his vision and power, helping him craft the Boards into items of earth-shattering magic.

  “Yes.” My heart and his, our souls, are one.

  I tell him all this, with my mind and he has no choice.

  He says, “Yes.”

  Beneath the plants and the moon and the stars, we know that the future belongs only to us and the magic we create … together.

  AVAILABLE NOW

  Keeper of the Winds

  COMING SOON

  Keeper of the Waters

  Keeper of the Flames

  Keeper of the Earth

  THE MAKING OF THE BOARDS …

  From the tower window, I see a still and flat land before me, an empty desert of baked earth and small scrub brushes flattened by wind. The sky is overcast, the reddish clouds above are thick and heavy. It is not sunset or sunrise, but the reflection of heat and flame. Part of the city beneath me is on fire and I suspect that whatever we have wrought has gone terribly wrong.

  The tower is massive, soaring into the sky above the city like a gigantic arm thrust toward the heavens. It is made of clay bricks that mirror the dull color of the plains below. Behind me is a small, square worktable. I turn my attention back to my duties.

  A mirror above the table catches the light and I see that my linen shift is stained with soot and something else … blood. The symbols stitched into it, that mirror those on the Board set upon the table, are unmarked. The magic that preserves them still holds. I glance at my face in the mirror, and my tired eyes stare back at me. There is a flash of power in them and I know I can continue.

  I must continue.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Without the kindnesses of Martin H. Greenberg, John Helfers, Larry Segriff, and Susan Chang, my story would never have been shared with all of you. If you run into them somewhere and you enjoyed reading this, thank them for, bringing these pages into the world. Special thanks also to Sherri, who helped shape the vision and shared coffee on so many nights. If you run into her, buy her a Starbucks.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jenna Solitaire was raised in Ohio, and now lives the life of a vagabond, searching the world for the next Board. When she was nineteen, she learned that she was the Keeper of the Boards, and her life has been filled with magic and mayhem ever since. With Simon Monk, she continues to travel the world and learn about the Boards of Babylon. She believes that sharing her story with others is important and plans on continuing to do so for as long as she can. Her next journey is chronicled in Book 2: THE KEEPER OF THE WATERS and she hopes you enjoy reading it.

  Please visit her website at www.tor-forge.com/jennasolitaire for updates about her adventures, to read her blog entries, or to send her an e-mail. She’ll try to answer you if she can.

  See below for a preview from

  Daughter of Destiny #2:

  KEEPER

  OF THE

  WATERS

  coming soon from Tor Teen!

  “Simon! Jenna!”

  I turned to see Armand waving and calling our names. He was dressed in a white linen suit coat and pants, and looked much more at home in this climate than he had in Ohio. We crossed through the throngs of people coming out of customs, a dozen different languages being spoken, shouted, or whispered all around us. The clash of noises and smells was overpowering, so I focused on dragging my suitcase over to where Armand was waiting.

  As we got closer, I saw another man standing next to Armand. His hair was jet black and pulled tightly into a long ponytail, his skin the color of coffee with a touch of cream … . But it was his eyes that affected me the most; a deep amber color, almost golden, that locked onto mine with a jolt of recognition. I felt my stomach constrict, like I’d seen this man somewhere before, and the recognition between us was a physical thing, as natural as sunrise.

  My stomach fluttered and my hands went numb, which was when I lost my grip on my suitcase. I stooped to pick it up, and he was right beside me. His hand covered mine for a moment I wanted to go on forever, and then released it. He had a masculine, smoky scent about him that I wanted to drink in with every breath.

  “May I help you, Miss Solitaire?” he asked. His voice was as deep and smooth as a river. Dressed in pressed black slacks and a white, raw cotton shirt that emphasized his shoulders and was open at the neck, h
e was striking in the same way some male models are—you couldn’t help but look. My eyes went up to meet his, and I realized that he stood a good four inches taller than I was, which meant he was at least 6’ 2”.

  “How do you …” I started to say, when Armand’s cultured voice interrupted. To me, his voice sounded like it was meant for reading old fairy tales aloud.

  “Ahh, Jenna,” he said. “I see you’ve met our guide. This is Saduj Nomed.” He nodded at Simon’s questioning look. “Yes,” he added. “He’s a Templar, but he lives in this part of the world. I thought it would be good if you had a local to help.”

  The Templar Knights had supposedly disbanded long ago, but the truth was that they still existed—in two factions. One group, led by Armand, was dedicated to protecting the Boards at all costs. And the other, led by Peraud, had less noble intentions and would go to any length to possess the Boards for their own evil purposes.

  “Excellent idea,” Simon said. “We’re going to need someone familiar with the area, and it’s better to work with someone already vouched for.”

  “I’ll do all I can to help, sir,” Saduj said. His voice was low and polite and … slightly familiar, like a voice from the shadows of my dreams. “And you, too, Miss Solitaire. I will be glad to help you both.”

  My stomach rolled again, and I wondered if the sensation had as much to do with Saduj as it did something I ate. I couldn’t help staring at him, trying to figure out where I’d seen him before.

  “How was your flight over?” Armand asked as he led the way through the teeming airport.

  “Long,” Simon said, “but Jenna insisted that we travel first class, so it was more comfortable than I’m used to.” He glanced at me, then stopped walking. “Are you feeling all right? You look a little pale.”

  Yeah, at your condescending attitude, I thought. On the plane he had said he’d chosen our seats for comfort on the flight, but now he was making it look like I couldn’t even travel well.

  “I am a bit queasy,” I had to admit. “My stomach is doing rolls.”

  Simon was scanning the hallway, looking for the customs section. I glanced at Saduj, and thought I saw a disapproving look cross his face as he watched Simon.

  “You need to get your land legs back,” Armand said. “If you’ve never flown that far before, it can be a little unsettling.”

  My stomach did another roll, and I gulped for air. “A little?” I asked.

  “Maybe we should get Miss Solitaire to the hotel,” Saduj suggested. “She does not look at all well.”

  “Agreed,” Simon said. He took my arm on one side, and Armand grasped the other while Saduj carried the luggage. “Maybe it was something she ate on the plane?”

  “Maybe,” Armand said. “But you aren’t feeling sick, are you?”

  Simon shook his head. “No, I feel just fine.”

  “I’ll be all right,” I murmured, feeling like my stomach was still back in the windstorm. “I just need to get my land legs back like Armand said.”

  Between them, they managed to get me through the incredibly long customs procedure, out of the airport, and into the waiting sedan. Saduj climbed into the driver’s seat, while Simon and Armand sat on either side of me in the back.

  The inside of the car was stifling, the air hot and dead. I’d never felt an illness come on so quickly, and the heat did nothing to help my nausea.

  “Could someone open a window, please?” I asked.

  “I will turn on the air conditioning in a moment, Miss Solitaire,” Saduj said, his eyes meeting mine in the rearview mirror. “It is better not to open the windows. The air outside is even hotter than in here.”

  I felt feverish and weak. “How far to the hotel?” I asked. “I think I need to lie down.”

  “It’s not far, Jenna,” Armand said. “Quickly, Saduj.”

  “Yes, sir.” I heard him step on the gas and turn on the air conditioner, but the faint breeze of cool air did little to help my nausea.

  I closed my eyes, and tried not to throw up.

  Somehow, despite the heat and my rolling stomach, I made it all the way to our hotel without throwing up all over the sedan’s leather interior. Or on Simon and Armand, for that matter. The two of them managed to get me into the hotel, which felt much cooler.

  I felt sweat drying on my forehead and tried to stand on my own, but immediately swayed again. Simon caught my arm and held me while Armand checked us in.

  “Water,” I said to Simon. “Can I please have a glass of water?”

  “Sure, Jenna,” Simon said. “As soon as we get to the room.”

  “Thanks,” I said, relieved that at least they had drinkable water here.

  “Excuse me, sir,” Saduj said, “but it would be best to get her to her room now. She looks, I think, even worse.”

  “She does?” Simon asked. “I thought she sounded a little better.”

  “She’s cooler,” Saduj said, “but it won’t last for long.”

  Another wave of nausea swept over me and I felt my body temperature rise as Saduj placed a cool hand on my forehead. “She has a fever,” he said. “She needs to rest now.”

  “He’s—right,” I said, hearing the faint slur in my words. “I could use a nap.” I felt my stomach twist again. “Or a bathroom.”

  “Uh-oh,” Simon muttered.

  I looked at him and saw the worry there and knew he would take care of me. I tottered toward the stairs in the direction the porter had carried our luggage, but the sight of them was too much. I didn’t think climbing them was an option.

  Another wave of heat wracked my body and a spasm shook my stomach. Clenching my teeth in a desperate effort not to get violently ill, I suddenly felt myself lifted off the ground. A distant voice said, “I’ll just carry her,” and I wondered who was coming to my rescue—Simon or Saduj?

  Another voice said, “I will find a physician to see to her.”

  And then I passed out.

  The water is rising above my head and I can no longer hear the screams of the dying. The taste of salt fills my mouth and I know that I am going to die.

  I focus on memory. The touch of my lover’s hand. The sound of his voice caressing my ear as we sink together into the shadows of our tent in the desert. He is dead now, too, but soon we will be together again.

  Seconds pass, minutes … and I know that only my use of the Board of Water is what is sustaining my life. But the Board has deserted me. I lift it in my hands, the weight of the water slowing my movements.

  It is pretty beneath the water, and though I can no longer hear it, I do not mourn its loss.

  I wedge it into the rocks, wondering if one day another Holder will come and find it … or perhaps the Keeper of the Boards herself will be the one to retrieve it from this place.

  I try to remember my lover again. Killed by the same men who hunted me. But I have avenged him … I have avenged us both.

  I heard unfamiliar voices and tried to wake from my dreams. Why I kept seeing the woman hiding the Board of Water I didn’t know, but I heard the Board calling to me, calling to the Board of Air, begging to be found—and used—once more.

  DON’T MISS ANY OF THE BOOKS IN THE

  DAUGHTER OF DESTINY SERIES:

  Coming April 2006

  My name is Jenna Solitaire—and I am the Keeper of the Boards. I have the Board of Air. And every day, I hear the voice of the Board of Water calling to me. Somehow, I must find it and master its powers—before someone else does … .

  Having mastered the power of the Board of Air, Jenna travels to Jerusalem to find the Board of Water. She is accompanied by Simon Monk, who seeks the Boards on behalf of the Vatican. Jenna doesn’t trust Simon, but he’s her only source of information about the Boards. In Jerusalem, Jenna meets Saduj, a local guide who claims to know the whereabouts of the Board of Water. Simon is suspicious, but Jenna finds herself strangely attracted to Saduj. Jenna must find the Board before it awakens and causes unimaginable destruction. But will she lose
her heart—and possibly her life—in the process?

  Coming June 2006

  My name is Jenna Solitaire, and I am the Keeper of the Boards. With the elements of Air and Water at my command, I now go in search for the most dangerous Board I have sought so far—the Board of Fire.

  From the searing desert of the Middle East, Jenna and Simon travel to the ancient city of Pompeii, following the clues to the hiding place of the Board of Fire—also known as the Board of the Flames. But Peraud is hot on their trail, and is more determined than ever to claim the two Boards the Keeper already possesses. Jenna must also content with her growing attraction to Simon, who is torn by his desire for her—and his sacred duty to the Church.

  Coming October 2006

  The whisper of Air. The power of Water. The heat of Flame. I, Jenna Solitaire, have found three of the four Boards of the Elements, but each has exacted a price. Now, I journey to England to seek the fourth Board, which can control the very Earth itself—and may also hold the key to a prize beyond imagining … .

  Having found the Board of Fire, Jenna and Simon hurry to decipher the clues that will lead them to the Board of Earth—and mastery over the very land itself. On their way to locate the tomb of a mythical English hero, and fending off shadowy new attackers who want the Boards for themselves, an offer of help comes from a relentless enemy. Can Jenna and Simon trust him to help them—or are they walking straight into a trap set by the one who has coveted the Boards for millennia?