Enchanted Bookstore Legends (5-book complete epic fantasy romance box set)

by Marsha A. Moore

  “In Indiana, a place in the human world.”

  The Tortoise looked up, and his eyeglasses slipped off his nose. “Sire Drake is already weakened…”

  A thread of smoke seeped out of the Imperial Dragon’s snout, and his tail thumped hard against the floor. “Now I better understand Lady Ysmena’s message—her chains of tree communication told of increased activity at portals to the human world.”

  They stared at each other. The stress in the room was palpable, making Lyra’s pulse race. She could take no more. “I’ll complete this last quest alone. I won’t endanger Cullen or the Alliance. I’ll be more capable in my own world.”

  “No. I’m going with you. There may be dangers you nor I can anticipate,” Cullen declared, his gray-blue eyes steely with determination.

  The Tortoise swallowed hard.

  A loud rap on the door broke the tension. A guard asked to admit the gemmator.

  A trim middle-aged man entered and bowed low, Cullen’s staff at his side.

  The leader waved a foreclaw in his direction. “Lady Lyra, this is Faber, our revered gemmator.”

  “It’s an honor to meet you, Scribe Lyra. My great grandfather worked with the Imperial Alchemist of his day to create the black amber necklace you wear.”

  “I’m glad to meet you. I’ve wondered who to thank. It has protected me many times,” she replied.

  Faber’s green eyes glinted with his smile. “I hope I did as well with Sire Drake’s staff.” He moved the repaired staff before him and handed it to Cullen.

  The wizard spun the shaft to view all sides of the tennis ball size quartz orb topped by a deep, translucent sapphire. “The depth of these crystals is nothing short of incredible. Let’s begin the alignment.” He walked into the observatory, followed by the Imperial Dragon and the Tortoise.

  Lyra stood in the doorway with Faber, but the leader motioned her to join them.

  “My birthmate star of Taurus isn’t visible now,” Cullen said as he scanned the sky. “I’ll have to make do with Virgo, the earth constellation that is in sight.” He steadied himself with a hand on the ledge while the other held his staff. “Ready.”

  “We don’t have the complete ring of four Guardians. The absence of the Unicorn, our Earth Guardian will be a hindrance.” The leader touched a foreclaw to Cullen’s shoulder and pressed his knee against the shell of the Tortoise. “With time being short, we’ll do our best without them and have Lyra add her power.”

  The other Guardian extended his neck long out of his shell to reach Lyra’s elbow. “Scribe Lyra, please touch your hand to the top of the staff. We shall all focus on Virgo and channel its energy into the circle.”

  After Lyra followed his directions, she felt a surge of electrical energy pulsing along her arms.

  The Tortoise’s neck jerked.

  Conducting the power, Lyra’s body tingled. Slowly, the clear quartz crystal illuminated.

  “The sapphire of the Alliance isn’t lit yet,” Faber called from behind.

  Lyra pushed some of her own aura into the group. From the corner of her eye, she saw the deep blue gem give a faint glimmer.

  “A subtle glow in the sapphire! Keep trying.”

  Beads of perspiration formed along Lyra’s hairline, and Cullen’s whole body began to shake.

  The Tortoise let out a low groan.

  Lyra added more of her aura, stopping only when trembling in her own legs became uncontrollable. She noticed the sapphire begin to pulse with light.

  “It’s vibrating! Only a little more.”

  Cullen slumped onto the ledge, breaking the circle. “I couldn’t hold on any longer. Whatever empowerment we achieved is what will remain for now. Let me test it.” As the others stepped back, he spun the staff. Sparks emitted from both stones. “Not bad, considering. The sapphire is only about one-third powered, but I’m grateful for that much.” He handed the staff to Faber.

  The gemmator stepped closer to the window, dropped a jeweler’s loop over one eye, and examined the stones. “Only one inclusion widened in the quartz, which is normal. The harder sapphire remained unharmed.” He gave the staff a spin and passed it back to the wizard. “It should serve to the fullest power that has been stored in it.”

  “Will you be safe going with me?” Lyra asked.

  “I’ll use magic only when absolutely necessary,” Cullen replied with a nod.

  “I’ll fill in as much as possible.”

  “Adalyra, your energy has changed,” the Tortoise added. “It gave me a jolt.”

  “I felt it too, very sharp-edged.” The Imperial Dragon studied her face. “The recovered lost volumes—they are feeding you more power from your ancestors. Am I correct?”

  “Yes. I think so. Certainly Elisabeth’s gave me new abilities. Nareene’s seemed to heighten my sensory input, but that effect is more subtle,” Lyra replied.

  “I expect you will keep each other safe. That is more important than securing the final lost book.” The leader glanced from Lyra to Cullen. “Whenever you’re ready, Yord will deliver you to the bookstore portal.”

  Chapter Twenty-three: The Family Keep

  As they flew over, Lyra waved to Gatekeeper Cranewort. Although she wished to stop and visit, she trusted her clairvoyance teacher would use his remarkable craft to understand their urgency. She felt sad going on a new quest without Kenzo and Noba, but knew they would call too much attention.

  Sheridan must have been watching since the portal opened ahead of them. Lyra stepped into Cullen’s bookstore and took a deep breath, glad to be in more familiar surroundings. Crossing the portal, Lyra’s long gown and cloak changed into jeans, a long-sleeved t-shirt, and a lightweight down parka. She checked to be sure the jadestone brooch remained with her, now fastened on her shirt collar.

  Cullen wore neat, casual clothes appropriate for his other occupation as a shop owner. Lyra thought he looked more handsome in his sweeping wizard’s cloak and tall black boots rather than the more drab khaki pants and sweater. Reading her thoughts, Cullen shook his head and grinned. “I’m glad you think of such things even while we’re on a serious quest.”

  Lyra laughed. “At least you’ll be more comfortable.” She tried to distract him from noticing the heat of a blush rising in her cheeks. “Does Sheridan need some food?”

  “I imagine so.” He carefully downsized his wizard’s staff and fit it into his pack. In the sales area, Cullen stopped at the counter and located a sugar cube from a cupboard. “Hello, Sheridan, my favorite locust.”

  “Do you hang out with other locusts?” the bug asked as he clung to the bars of his tiny metal cage, dropping one antenna then the other between bars.

  “Are you afraid of being replaced?” Cullen teased as he lowered the sugar and refilled the water dish.

  “I dare you to find another who can sling the slop while still keeping the portal secure,” the cicada replied and dragged his long tongue over the white cube.

  Lyra laughed. “And while flirting too.”

  “Lyra. I still think you look tasty, but it was more fun when you were scared of me.”

  “You’re right. None would be as articulate as you.” Cullen leaned his face closer to the cage. “Have any tried to cross?”

  “Other than you three just now, Eburscon approached. I almost didn’t recognize him—”

  “Did you say three?” Lyra interrupted, looking back toward the store room. “Who else besides us?”

  Before Sheridan could answer, Cullen pushed open the curtain divider.

  Kenzo peeked from behind a desk. “I was perched in Cranewort, having a chat. He urged me to follow you and help.”

  While Cullen held the drape, the tiger owl hopped into the sales area. The wizard shook his head. “How did you cross the portal?”

  “I sailed in just before it closed after you.”

  “I shouldn’t have encouraged you to practice silent flight.” Cullen grinned, then continued in a solemn tone. “I’m sorry. Since you’ll be so no
ticeable in the human world, you must return to the Alliance.”

  Kenzo folded his wings and looked at the floor. “Yes, Master.”

  “He’s only a little bigger than a common great horned owl,” Lyra said, touching Cullen’s arm. “If he stays in the car until we reach wooded areas, he should be fine. Noba would never pass, but…”

  Cullen studied his assistant. “Yes. I agree, and Cranewort must have some good reason to send you. If you promise to follow Lyra’s directions carefully. This is her world, and she will best know when you can be visible.”

  “Yes! I’ll follow her.” The tiger owl hopped high and hovered above them.

  Cullen turned toward Sheridan.

  “I thought he was with you and Lyra,” the locust spit out.

  “It’s fine. An easy mistake. Tell me more about Eburscon trying to use this portal.” Cullen leaned on the glass counter.

  “Like I said, it was hard to recognize him, his aura was so dark. I kept the portal closed, and he pushed against it. He still has some Alliance power and almost got it open, but he was no match for me.”

  Cullen faced Lyra, and she read the anxiety in his narrowed eyes. “My car’s in the back parking lot. I won’t take time to pack clothes from Aunt Jean’s cottage.” Lyra took a step back toward the store room and dug in her jacket pocket for the car keys.” It’ll be quicker to conjure whatever we need.”

  “How long will our drive take?” Cullen asked, closing the cage door and following her.

  “We can get from here in Michigan to southern Indiana in ten hours, taking a few breaks.”

  “Let’s get started then.” He held open the back door for her and Kenzo. “Thank you, Sheridan,” he called out before he pulled it closed.

  ***

  While Lyra drove, the overcast early spring skies of the Midwest made her long for the beauty of Dragonspeir. As a girl visiting Aunt Jean, Lyra always enjoyed the calmness and peace of the dove gray atmosphere, a welcome change from the intense high energy of sun-filled days at home in Florida. The soft blue sky above Dragonspeir highlighted so many beautiful sights: the striking cliffs around the lair; the myriad colors across the Steppe of Ora, transitioning between good and evil; the pearly waters of the Sea of Cogadh.

  Cullen napped while Lyra drove, but she couldn’t relax enough to sleep when he took his turns. She hoped his rest breaks helped him conserve the power of his aura.

  Kenzo silently perched on the carpeted hump in the backseat and peered between the front headrests. Following Lyra’s orders to not move around, only his head rotated, looking every direction.

  Around midnight, they pulled into the sleeping hill town of Nawbone in southern Indiana where Brigid grew up. Lyra recalled the area from her childhood, having visited some cousins there with her family years ago. Lyra strained against the darkness to recognize any structures. A few stores at the main crossroads looked vaguely familiar.

  With no traffic behind, she drove slowly and scanned both sides of the road. “We need a motel for the night. It’s late, and most places will be closed.”

  Cullen leaned forward and helped her look. “Why can’t we start searching for where that book is hidden?”

  “We can get some leads on an address, but we can’t do much more at this hour.”

  “Why not? Time is short. With Eburscon trying to pass through the bookstore portal into this world, he or others may be onto the clue you found in Brigid’s book.”

  Lyra raised an eyebrow and glanced his way. “People in these hollows don’t welcome trespassers. Maybe your full afflation protects you against shotgun fire, but I’m not willing to find out if I have enough.” She turned into a lit up gas station where a man sat in a smoke-filled office. As she glanced into the backseat, she said, “Kenzo, you need to stay low.”

  She opened her door, and in a flash, Cullen was at her side. “I’m going inside with you.”

  “I’m sure it’s safe, but there’s an odd energy riding on that breeze.”

  As they entered the doorway, the bald middle-aged man looked up from his magazine. “Can I help you?”

  “We need to find a motel for the night,” Cullen replied.

  The man took a drag on his cigarette and nodded toward the greasy face of a motor oil promotional clock. “At this hour…did you try the Village Rest Stop?” He pointed back the way they came.

  Lyra shook her head.

  “At the light take a right. It’ll be on your left. If that isn’t open, go on past about a quarter-mile.” He stood and leaned over his desk, looking at the crossroads. “On the right, there’ll be the Valley Inn. Those are the only ones in town that might be open. B&Bs are all closed up by now. If neither of those work, you’ll have to take this state route right here in front of us twenty miles to the interstate.” He pointed the other way, past the station.

  “Thank you. That should help.” Cullen nodded.

  “I came to Nawbone a long time ago when I was young, visiting some cousins. I’m going to try and look them up,” Lyra said, looking from Cullen to the attendant. “Do you have a phonebook I can borrow?”

  The man pulled a directory from the center drawer of his metal desk and placed it on the corner of the top. “What are their names?”

  Lyra leafed through the white section. “Their family name was Rawbuck. Vickie and Rhonda were my cousins.”

  “Vickie still lives here. Married to Bob Ridpath and has two kids. They live on Bean’s Hollow, off the state route.” He ground the stub of his cigarette in the full ashtray.

  She ran her finger past her cousin’s maiden name. “Ridpath, Robert. Here’s the address—rural route three.” Lyra’s brow crinkled. “Where’s that?”

  The attendant rubbed his hands under his belly, supporting it like a pregnant woman. “They live in the big yellow house on the left, about a mile past the state road. You’ll see a shed with a sign for antiques. She tries to sell old stuff to visitors who come to see the hill country.”

  Lyra turned to the small section of yellow pages. “I’ve always remembered some tasty local honey my parents bought when we were here. Any chance you know some bee keepers in the area?”

  The man shook his head. “Ask your cousin. She works with a B&B across the road from her, and they serve fancy breakfasts. I know there are some along her road who raise honey bees.”

  Lyra closed the directory and took a step toward the door. “Thanks so much. I’ll look her up tomorrow.”

  “No problem. Glad to help.” The man nodded matter-of-factly, as if he helped guide visitors in this quiet town every day. He sat back down to his magazine and took a swig of his soda.

  As Lyra pulled the car out of the station, from her rearview mirror, she saw the attendant standing and staring at them with a phone to his ear. She shivered. “That man just watched us leave and called someone.”

  Cullen laughed. “Meeting strangers would likely be the highlight of his day, don’t you imagine? But who would be up at this hour?”

  “I’m curious about that too. He didn’t seem odd, but…there’s a strange feeling I keep getting in the air here.”

  “With others possibly looking for that last missing book, you could be sensing some unrest in the energy here. I don’t detect any Dragonspeir magic, but my power is weak. Or…after gathering those two missing volumes, you might just be more in tune with the vibrations of your ancestors.”

  “I hope that’s the case.” She pointed to the first motel. “That one looks closed.”

  Looking down the road, Kenzo called out, “There. The Valley Inn has a light in the office.”

  “Good eyes. I’m glad you can see that far,” Lyra said and accelerated.

  After a short drive, she turned in to the motel and parked the car under their flashing orange neon vacancy sign.

  “I’ll secure a room for us,” Cullen said as he opened his door.

  Tired, Lyra leaned back in her seat while he checked in.

  When he returned, she drove the car around
to the location of their room at the back of the building. Treetops, from the hill behind, formed a roof over the parking lot. The white limestone cut from local mines decades ago reflected an eerie glow from light of the lamp beside the door.

  No people were present, so Kenzo stretched his wings among the trees.

  Cullen let them into the room and inspected the accommodations. “I don’t see or sense anything unusual.” He waved for his assistant to join them inside.

  “No. It’s just a typical seventies style family-run motel. It even has that vintage smell—must and moth balls,” Lyra said as she rreclined on the chenille spread of the double bed, while Kenzo perched on the arm of a chair.

  Cullen laughed and sat next to her. “Your nose is certainly high-powered after finding Nareene’s book. I can’t smell anything other than ammonia cleaning detergents.”

  She sat up and placed a hand on his arm. “That gives me an idea. I think there is something else we can do tonight. I want to drive along that road my cousin Vickie lives on.”

  “Good idea. Was that story about buying honey from here years ago actually true or were you just fishing for information?” He stood and picked up the key from the dresser.

  “A bit of both. I remember having honey when I visited here and it was especially good. We didn’t buy any from a local bee keeper though.”

  “What will you look for along her road?”

  “Any unusual energy patterns, smells or sounds.” Lyra opened the door and looked both ways before letting Kenzo pass.

  ***

  Along Bean’s Hollow road, Lyra concentrated on any shifts in energy while Cullen drove. When they passed Vickie’s yellow-sided Victorian two-story, she raised a hand, signaling him to slow down.

  The house lay still and dark, but she could feel a familiar electrical vibration. It possessed the same reassuring energy pattern as many other family items: the other three volumes of the Book of Dragonspeir; the magical wedding gown from Aunt Jean’s closet; the pocket watch she gave Cullen as an engagement gift. The antique shed pulled her toward it. She wondered what family treasures she might find there. Would they be keys to finding Sorcha’s book? Above that compelling hum, a higher pitched resonance alarmed Lyra, one she couldn’t identify.