“For lunch,” Hobin said, slipping the pack off his weary shoulders. “Let’s find a spot and enjoy a bit of dried beef and biscuits with this nice view.”
“Unless you’d rather nap first,” Leo joked, stretching his arms after he dropped his pack on the rocky summit. “I’m not too proud to admit that I could use one.”
“I’m as wide awake as ever,” Nicholas said, breathing in the crisp mountain air as he enjoyed the stunning vista. “And eager for my next climb, wherever it might take me.”
Nicholas and Ivy returned to Kanesbury in late Mid Autumn, happy to enjoy some uneventful days for a time. After the first deep snowfall of winter arrived, Ivy took ill for a few days and Nicholas dutifully looked after her as she rested in bed. Though he initially worried that her travails in the wild had finally caught up with her, he was relived when she swiftly recovered late one sunny morning when the snow was piled high outside their bedroom window.
“I’d like to thank Frist for my quick mend,” she remarked to Nicholas, “but I never wore his amulet around my neck when you placed it in my hands a few nights ago. I was so tired that it must have slipped between the blankets,” she said, handing back his treasured gift. “I found it just now.”
“It was near you, if that counts,” he replied. “I’m just happy you recovered. Now we can take our winter walks together along the river. They won’t be as grand as along Sage Bay–”
“–but lovely nonetheless,” she chimed in with a smile. “I can’t wait to start.”
“Rest for another day,” Nicholas suggested. “Just to be sure.”
Over the next two weeks they had taken several walks as Ivy showed no signs of relapsing into her brief illness. On one stroll a few days later as they wandered along the snowy, ice-coated Pine River, she took Nicholas’ hands and stopped. Ivy turned to him with a faint smile that warmed his heart despite the gray clouds above.
“After you had left this morning to purchase that load of firewood, Maynard drove me to the physician as I was feeling dizzy again like I did just before I’d gotten ill,” she told him, causing Nicholas to immediately fear the worse.
“Are you all right?” he asked, holding his breath as he gently squeezed her hands, yet puzzled by the tranquil look upon her face.
“I’m quite healthy,” she assured him. “In fact, the physician said that both of us are doing fine, so there’s no need to worry.”
“Both of us?” he asked, his brow furrowed. Nicholas’ eyes widened, suddenly understanding what Ivy had meant. He beamed, dumbfounded for a moment before wrapping his arms around her in utter joy. “When?” he whispered, holding Ivy tightly as the cold and snow around them seemed to melt into springtime.
Jack Frederick Raven was born on the first day of Old Summer the following year, having been given the names of both Nicholas and Ivy’s fathers as his own. Maynard was delighted to sit and hold his grandson on the front porch while the weather stayed warm, and Adelaide didn’t lack for excuses to walk across the road to visit as often as she could, feeling like a grandmother just as she had toward Nicholas while he was growing up on the farm with Maynard and Tessa.
The tenth day of New Autumn the following month marked the start of the Harvest Festival. It was exactly three years ago to the day that Nicholas had found himself embroiled in local troubles beyond his imagining. He and Ivy decided to attend the annual party at the Stewarts’ residence for a short while as Maynard and Adelaide were more than happy to watch young Jack while he slept soundly in the next room.
“You both deserve a little time to yourselves,” Adelaide said as they finished a light supper at the table. “And a bit of fresh air will do you good.”
“You heard the woman,” Maynard joked as he leaned back in his chair, shooing the young couple away. “Why, in a few years you’ll be begging us to babysit. Enjoy this free time while you can.”
“If you insist,” Nicholas said with a smile, grateful for their unending support.
“Thank you,” Ivy replied. “We won’t be long. But first I want to check on Jack.”
She and Nicholas strolled quietly into their bedroom and knelt on an oval rug beneath a cradle against the side wall. The room was softly lit by a single oil lamp casting flickering shadows. Beneath a patchwork quilt, their young child lay upon his back sound asleep, his chest rising and falling in peaceful rhythms. The silver amulet from the wizard Frist hung loosely on a corner post at the foot of the cradle. Nicholas and Ivy glanced at one another and smiled in the gauzy light, neither in a hurry to leave their child just yet.
“A few minutes more,” she whispered, taking his hand as they watched their son.
“I’m sure the party has barely gotten underway,” he assured her, equally content to enjoy this special time. “Knowing Oscar and Amanda, the celebration is sure to go on far into the night.”
“So no need to hurry?” Ivy softly asked, gazing at her son.
Nicholas placed an arm around his wife’s shoulder and gently kissed her check, his other hand resting steadily upon the edge of Jack’s cradle. “No hurry at all,” he said.
THE END
POSTSCRIPT
A WRITER’S WEB
ABOUT THE BOOK
When spinning the tale of Nicholas Raven and the Wizards’ Web, I had to utilize more than my right brain creative writings skills to craft such a long story. To help me effectively lay out the various plotlines and to keep track of where and when characters were at a particular moment (including those two moons), I had to use a bit of left brain technical skill, too. And though what follows is unnecessary for the reader to know to enjoy the story, I decided to include it for those who may find it of interest. On the following pages, I will briefly discuss the calendar I developed to keep this sprawling narrative on course and have prepared a story timeline detailing where characters and events are each day relative to one another. Also included are a few words about the Fox and Bear moons that were featured throughout the novel, as well as a brief geneology about King Justin and his family line. And since I was inspired to write this book after reading J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings in 1975, I’ve added one of my website updates detailing my first introduction to his works.
The Calendar
In June 1999, after typing the first few paragraphs in Chapter 1 of this novel, I realized that I needed to draw a map to keep my writing on track because of the book’s complex plot and varied geography. I ended up creating four of them. I also realized that having a short prologue would help to better set up the narrative, so I wrote that, too. Likewise, as the linear storytelling branched off into various plot threads, I decided that having a calendar for Laparia, the featured section of this world I had imagined, would help me to keep my characters and plot points in order especially if I ever had to reference a particular point in the book while writing, which I did regularly. I would never have accurately keep track of things if I hadn’t done so.
My calendar consists of twelve months, three for each season, with weeks that are nine days long. The first day of the year begins on the first day of spring, and nine of the months consist of twenty-eight days each. The remaining three each have twenty-nine days. Because of that setup, the calendar repeats itself every three years. The months are named for each of the seasons, beginning with New Spring, Mid Spring and Old Spring, similarly continuing through the year with summer and autumn, and ending with New Winter, Mid Winter and Old Winter.
Though the vast majority of the novel takes place in a span just a little over three years long, events are referenced from years past and are chronicled in the timeline. Chapter 1 begins on the fifth day of New Autumn in the year 742. Chapter 120 ends on the tenth day of New Autumn in 745. The calendars of those four years are featured on the next pages with a few key dates in the book indicated below each one.
The main story beings on the 5th day of New Autumn in 742.
Nicholas flees Kanesbury on the 10th day of New Autumn.
Vellan is defeated on the 20th day of New Spring in 743.
Nicholas and Ivy marry on the 14th day of Mid Spring in 744.
The story concludes on the tenth day of New Autumn in 745.
The Story Timeline
Year 684
Mid Spring
Vellan journeys from the Valley of the Wizards in the Gable Mountains to explore Laparia at age twenty.
Year 686
Mid Autumn
Vellan returns to the Gable Mountains and tells his fellow wizards of his travels.
Year 687
Mid Autumn
Vellan marries Audriana.
Year 689
New Autumn
Vellan leaves on a second journey to Laparia, spending much time in the Northern Mountains.
Year 692
Mid Autumn
Vellan returns to the Gable Mountains, encouraging his fellow wizards to impose their order and wisdom on the outside world, not only for the sake of common men, but to ensure the survival of the race of wizards. After weeks of instigating unrest in his society to achieve his goal, Vellan is banished from his order at age twenty-eight and departs for Laparia. Three days later, he leaves the wizards’ realm on its eastern border, crossing the Mang River. The globe on his oak staff is blackened when he steps into the water. He smashes it against a rock on the other side of the river, vowing revenge on his order.
Year 692 - 702
Vellan transforms a region in the Northern Mountains of Laparia into Kargoth. He casts a spell on the Drusala River so that whoever touches or drinks the water will be devoted to him and carry out his orders.
Year 707
Vellan’s created Enâri race is revealed to the world.
Year 707 - 710
The Enâri build Vellan’s stronghold at the base of Mount Minakaris north of the city of Del Norác and carve out his residence inside the mountain.
Year 710 - 715
Vellan wields economic influence over the mountain nations of Surna, Linden, Harlow and the nearby kingdom of Drumaya. He also cements a relationship with the Northern Isles.
Year 715 - 720
Vellan meets Caldurian in the Red Mountains and trains him as his apprentice.
Year 720 - 722
Caldurian, at Vellan’s behest, tries to forge an alliance with other kingdoms in Laparia but is turned down.
Year 722
Caldurian, with help from Madeline, a nursemaid in the Blue Citadel in Arrondale, fails in his attempt to kidnap the infant Princess Megan to use as leverage to gain King Justin’s support for an alliance with Vellan. Caldurian and Madeline flee with the eagle Xavier and their Enâri force of five hundred to the village of Red Fern where they stay temporarily with Madeline’s cousin, Carmella. When Carmella learns about their activities and threatens to turn them in to the authorities, she has a fight with Madeline who casts a spell and turns her hands a pumpkin orange color. Caldurian later casts a spelling spell upon Carmella. Then he, Madeline, Xavier and the Enâri escape to the east, hiding in the northern reaches of the Cumberland Forest near the village of Kanesbury.
After learning by chance that Mayor Otto Nibbs of Kanesbury was a second cousin to King Justin, Caldurian promises Otto riches and power to persuade the King into an alliance with Vellan. Otto, however, secretly sends word to the King about Caldurian’s whereabouts. The wizard grows suspicious of Otto and unleashes his Enâri horde on Kanesbury. Jack Raven dies after being wounded in the attack. His son, Nicholas, is born to Alice Raven a week later. King Justin’s troops arrive and arrest Caldurian, Madeline and Xavier. The Enâri flee to some caves outside the village and are placed under a sleeping spell by the wizard Frist who had accompanied the King to Kanesbury. Frist creates the Spirit Box which the King gives to Otto Nibbs. Xavier escapes, stealing the key to the Spirit Box from Otto. King Justin releases Caldurian and Madeline, expelling them from Arrondale with a warning for Vellan not to interfere in the kingdom ever again. Ten-year-old Dooley Kramer steals the key from Xavier after wounding the eagle with a rock. Xavier later dies. Caldurian vows revenge upon both Kanesbury and Otto Nibbs.
Year 742
New Autumn
5th day of month Nicholas Raven announces his plan to join the King’s Guard in Morrenwood.
8 Nicholas invites Katherine Durant to the Harvest Festival dance. Dooley Kramer steals Nicholas’ jacket button. Adelaide Cooper is kidnapped by Zachary Farnsworth and Dooley Kramer.
10 On the first night of the Harvest Festival, Nicholas is framed and arrested for robbing the gristmill and flees custody. Mune bribes a drunken George Bane to enter the Spirit Caves and unwittingly release the Enâri from their twenty year sleeping spell. Jagga breaks away from the other Enâri to search for the key to the Spirit Box. Nicholas hides in the ice cellar at the home of Oscar and Amanda Stewart where a party is being held for the Harvest Festival. Jagga kills Arthur Weeks, who is waiting in Dooley’s house, and steals the key to the Spirit Box. Nicholas flees Kanesbury in secret after being accused of Arthur’s murder.
11 Before dawn, Mune meets with the messenger crow, Gavin, and then later with Caldurian for his next orders. Nicholas has breakfast with the Nellis family while on the road but runs away before they learn of his troubles in Kanesbury. Caldurian meets with Farnsworth that night to retrieve the key, telling him to expect a visit from the wizard Arileez. Nicholas encounters soldiers from Montavia later that night who are traveling to train with King Justin’s men.
12 At dawn, Caldurian meets with the Enâri at Barringer’s Landing, planning to invade Montavia. They leave that evening. Nicholas passes through the villages of Mitchell and Foley.
13 Jagga asks a farmer to melt down the key in his forge, turning it into a medallion.
14 Nicholas reaches King’s Road. Later that night, he meets Princess Megan in the Darden Wood.
15 Nicholas joins Megan on the road to Boros so she can stay with her Great Aunt Castella.
16 Nicholas and Megan spend the night with Leo Marsh and his family in the village of Minago.
17 On the road, Nicholas reveals to Megan and Leo what had happened to him in Kanesbury. They arrive at the Plum Orchard Inn. Megan is nearly kidnapped and later reveals that she is Princess Megan of Arrondale.
18 Nicholas, Megan and Leo leave the Plum Orchard Inn as Madeline spies on them through a window. They arrive in Boros. Aunt Castella says they are being followed. Nicholas meets Ivy Brooks.
Caldurian and the Enâri meet Commander Jarrin on shore above the Black Hills. Caldurian meets with Arileez on shore and gives him instructions for his assignments in Kanesbury and Morrenwood.
Madeline meets Mune at the Plum Orchard Inn. He tells her of the planned assault on the Blue Citadel. They will go north to the grasslands and meet with Commander Uta. Madeline informs him that Dell Hawks is tracking Princess Megan to kidnap her and that there will be a war council in Morrenwood. Mune later tells Gavin of the war council so he can send the message to Caldurian.
19 Ivy goes alone to her aunt and uncle’s candle shop in Boros that morning. Later, Megan arrives there with Nicholas and Leo. Megan and Ivy switch places. On the way home, Ivy is kidnapped in Boros and brought to a root cellar in Cavara Beach. Sims, who was hired to help kidnap Ivy, tells Nicholas and Leo where she was taken in exchange for money.
Gavin informs Caldurian of the planned war council in nineteen days.
20 Nicholas and Leo leave for Cavara Beach shortly after midnight. Madeline and Mune take Ivy from the root cellar before dawn and travel to the grasslands.
Jagga meets Carmella on the road, strikes up a friendship and gives her the medallion as a gift.
22 Madeline, Mune and Ivy meet with Uta and discuss the proposed raid on the Blue Citadel. Captain Lok is ordered to take Ivy, who all believe is Princess Megan, to Karg Island near the mouth of the Lorren River for safekeeping. Nicholas and Leo sneak up on the tents along the shoreline. Nicholas frees Ivy who is later recaptured. Nicholas and Leo are both rendered un
conscious as Ivy is taken away by boat.
23 Caldurian, the Enâri and troops from the Northern Isles attack and take over Montavia, taking King Rowan prisoner in Red Lodge. Prince William and Prince Brendan escape from Triana that evening to get help in Morrenwood.
Otto is visited by an Enâri creature that night who is really the wizard Arileez in Enâri form.
Nicholas and Leo leave the grasslands.
24 Otto leaves for Barringer’s Landing in the morning, expecting to meet with the Enâri creatures to prevent them from attacking Kanesbury again. He never returns. Maynard is placed under a sleeping spell by Arileez who has taken his shape. Farnsworth and Dooley bring Maynard’s sleeping body to a shed in the swamp that evening. They also bring supplies to Adelaide who is their prisoner in a small locked house nearby. A public meeting is held in the Kanesbury village hall about Otto’s disappearance. Maynard (Arileez) is appointed as acting mayor and Ned Adams replaces him on the village council. Len Harold volunteers to go to Morrenwood to seek help from King Justin about the possible Enâri threat.
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