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

by Marsha A. Moore

  “Yes. That’s what I read as well.” Mysa ran her finger along the paper. “All the while, it gave the Scribe strength to rebuild homes of those oppressed, using the moon’s light to open seeds and grow crops. Using the nightingales’ songs, that Scribe did much from afar.” She looked at Lyra. “You must do the same in your journeys to gather the other three keystones, protecting your people from a distance. Whenever danger presents and moonlight is available, even from a thin crescent, call upon this violin and gemstone.”

  “How will it fight? What will happen when I play it?” Lyra asked.

  Mysa shook her head. “I cannot say. I’m not gifted in the art of lapidary magic or in magical woodworking. But I trust in this enchantment with my whole heart. The nightingales will sing your song that will remove the stains of killing from your people and fill them with hope to survive.”

  “It all makes sense now. Thank you so much, Queen Mysa, and Vickie, you too.” Lyra accepted the violin from Mysa. “But I don’t have a bow to play the violin. I’d hoped Lady Ysmena and her tree keepers would help me with that.”

  “I would expect so. They have gifted craftsmen. The bow may well act as a key to unlock the violin’s magic,” Mysa said.

  “That would be my thought too.” Eos rose and nodded to his guards. “Time is running out for your folk. We must get your group to the portal at Silva Caliga’s World Tree.”

  After quick thank yous, goodbyes, and promises to visit during happier times, Belray and his dragon boat crew transported the guests to the top branches of the World Tree.

  ***

  As she passed below the portal, Lyra strained to hear the deep voice of the World Tree above a raucous din of cries and shouts from below.

  “Scribe Lyra and Sire Drake, come quickly. We’re under attack. You’re needed.”

  Chapter Fourteen: Death Fires

  Lyra wrapped her arms and legs around a sturdy limb and called to her cousins, “Find a thick branch and hold on tight. The World Tree will lower you to the next.”

  Raylene straddled a limb and kicked up her heels. “This sure beats the other portal ride.”

  Lyra caught a glimpse across the tops of other trees and gasped. Thick clouds of smoke clung to the forest canopy, dotted with patches of black. She twisted to face Cullen. “What’s happening?”

  He sighed and shook his head. “Flames from the Dark Realm. Evil has spread into Silva Caliga.”

  “Sire Drake is correct,” the World Tree said in a deep, hushed voice. “All along our western border that we share with the Dark Realm, their magma drakes have invaded and overcome the circutamina tree keepers. They can’t protect their trees.” He moved the group together just under the canopy.

  Lyra coughed, and her eyes burned.

  Draora wrinkled her nose. “I smell evil.”

  “When keepers flee their trees, the dragons’ molten breath sets death fires to our branches.” His twigs shivered. “A very bad fire, burning the roots with lava sent down through the veins.”

  “What does the Dark Realm want with Silva Caliga?” Lyra ducked to see beyond his branches for a wider view. “Why kill the trees? They are much less harmful without their circutamina to guide and organize the forest.”

  “Most likely they want better access to the Alliance through our forest lands. Some elder trees think that the drakes also intend a show of power, to scare remaining trees and their keepers into following Dark Realm leadership.”

  Cullen coughed and tested his voice in the smoky air. “Venerable World Tree, you are the oldest and wisest in all of Silva Caliga. What do you believe?”

  “Sadly, I agree with the other elders but also realize much worse may be upon us. Only three others and myself in this land have lived to see this happen before. Once the four keystones were all stolen from the Alliance, the Dark Realm set black burns. They expected submission, but even after decimating whole forest strands, they didn’t gain our support. The raped land lay charred and smoking day and night, month after month. Only when the Alliance residents fled their land into ours, did the tide turn. Together, we fought—magicals and mortals, circutamina and trees. With Nareene’s magical tune, we held fast and slowly regained our ruined territory.”

  Lyra displayed Nareene’s violin and explained how the nightingales carried her song.

  “Fascinating.” The World Tree bent a branch near the instrument. “I never knew how that worked exactly. Lyra, can you enable the magic in her violin now? The sycamores passed me news of both your success in securing the moonstone and visit to Aria. After that, I only received brief cries of distress from them. I’ve been waiting, praying you’d return to the Alliance through Silva Caliga in hopes you could find a way to perform Nareene’s magic.”

  “I thought it only helped people in the Alliance.” Lyra glanced at Vickie. “Isn’t that what the queen said?”

  Her cousin nodded. “That’s what I understood.”

  “If you use a bow made from my wood, it will endow the circutamina with courage and hope,” the World Tree replied. “They will persevere in the fight. Nareene used a bow made from my predecessor.”

  Lyra stood tall. “A bow from Silva Caliga also extends the magic.”

  “Yes. Now listen carefully. Untie the white scarves you left in my branches from your previous journey. They may help protect you from smoke. When I take you to the forest floor, you will find a small group of circutamina guides. They will collect a branch which I will indicate, then take you to Lady Ysmena nearer the battlegrounds. She will direct the fabrication of the special bow. Lyra, playing Nareene’s moonstone violin is only a small part of what you must do, but it will keep many safe and courageous.” He waited until they gathered the strips of fabric tied in his branches. “This message will be passed through the circutamina channels to notify Ysmena. Do you have any questions?”

  “How much of Silva Caliga is under attack? Will we need to fight our way through?” Lyra asked.

  “The region where I stand is heavily guarded. Hopefully, Lady Ysmena can travel this way to meet you and offer protection. But not knowing her immediate dangers, I cannot promise.” He transferred them from limb to limb, while Draora glided alternately beside the cousins.

  Once in sight of the ground, Kenzo and Noba flew down to meet a trio of tree keepers.

  The forest floor stood eerily quiet. No birds sang, no chipmunks twittered. Even the leaves of surrounding trees remained motionless as if in the foreboding eye of a storm. A chill ran down Lyra’s spine.

  “Scribe Lyra and Sire Drake, you’ve come!” a squeaky voice from one of the circutamina called to them.

  Heartened to see her friend, Ivri, Lyra bent low to pat the shoulder of the two-foot tall keeper. “I’m glad to have your help.”

  Raylene grasped the wrinkled brown skin of Ivri’s hand, while Vickie bowed.

  “I shall always serve the Scribe and her friends,” Ivri said, her large brown eyes smiling at the young witch. The keeper pointed her two helpers to the World Tree’s swaying limb.

  The pair disappeared inside the trunk, then reappeared as two balls of white light along the branch. One circled its base, cutting through the wood fibers, while the other supported underneath the opposite end of the three-foot long span.

  Draora floated between them, hands bracing the midsection.

  The limb detached from the tree. The pair of lights, along with the ghost-witch, brought it gently to the ground.

  “My helpers will carry the World Tree’s wood.” Ivri pointed the way and started along a narrow path that opened before her.

  “Ivri, won’t lights of the circutamina alert drakes of our presence?” Cullen asked. “I’ll gladly carry their load so they may resume physical form.”

  Lyra motioned for Ivri to bring her the branch. “I can carry it.”

  “I’d rather you all be able to fight.” Raylene took a wide stride to walk alongside Lyra. “I’ll tote it. Your hands are full with the violin.”

  Ivri pau
sed and looked over her shoulder, lifting a bushy brow at the young woman. “Only if these keepers travel by your sides. Make haste.”

  Cullen signaled Kenzo and Noba, who took positions hovering above Raylene.

  Once the keepers transferred the wood, Ivri set off at a rapid pace, short legs powering a run. Her long white hair and gown flowed behind her. The brushy thicket barely moved aside fast enough for her to pass.

  Lyra and the others of her group jogged to keep up. The smoke grew thicker as they traveled, and her eyes and throat burned.

  Trees they passed held their branches ready to fight, radiating protectively outward from the position of the World Tree.

  Minutes later, the unusual stillness gave way to raucous whipping winds. Branches flailed, twigs shot through the air like missiles, and hot, acidic air hit Lyra’s face.

  Cullen drew his staff, and Lyra followed suit.

  Guttural cries of magma drakes roared above the din. Wood crackled and hissed in the forest fire ahead. Thick clouds of sulfurous gas billowed into the air.

  Shrill screams of tree keepers fleeing from the flames ricocheted from all directions. Three wide-eyed circutamina almost ran them down in their haste to escape.

  Ivri caught one in her arms. “Geden, what has happened? Where is Ysmena?”

  Panting, the keeper’s gaze darted all around. His lips moved without forming words.

  Ivri shook him and repeated her questions.

  “Stayed too long…their fire breath torched her gown.” The dazed keeper glanced over his shoulder and shivered. “Must go,” he murmured as he wrenched free of her hold, then dove underbrush in the direction of the World Tree.

  Ivri scanned the area before them.

  “Is Lady Ysmena all right? Do you read her lantern light?” Cullen asked as he stopped close behind Lyra and signaled Noba to ride on his wristlet.

  Their guide pointed ahead. “Not in this chaos. Just before we left the World Tree, her lantern stood this way. But the death fires have spread fast.”

  Cullen spoke to Lyra over her shoulder. “Can you read Ysmena’s signals, now that you have magic from the previous Scribes?”

  Lyra shook her head. “No. I don’t detect anything other than the keepers’ magic and evil given off by the drakes.”

  “I ain’t going into that black cloud up ahead,” Raylene stated, wiping the water leaking from the corners of her eyes. In a coughing fit, she dropped the branch.

  The circutamina seemed confused whether to attend to her or the branch.

  Draora swooped down and held the wood to her belly.

  Vickie leaned into Lyra, trembling.

  “We need to find Ysmena.” Lyra wished she could do more to comfort her cousins. She hoped bringing them along had been a good decision.

  Cullen pointed with his staff and addressed Ivri. “That way, away from this danger. There, we’ll hope you get a clear reading.”

  Ivri jogged for a short while in the direction the wizard indicated, often swerving to avoid collisions with panicked keepers running past or flaming tree limbs crashing down. With the obstacles, their group soon became spread apart.

  Kenzo flew above Draora, and Vickie and Raylene kept together.

  Lyra heard Cullen gasping for air behind her. Her own breath was ragged and interrupted with coughs, but she worried about his strength. Panic and adrenaline powered her legs into a rhythmic stride, and her mind flitted from one worry to another. Was Ysmena injured or killed? Would they be able to return to the Alliance? The pain of Kessa’s abuse sliced her heart.

  Ivri halted, cupping her ears to all directions.

  The others leaned on each other, wheezing and out of breath.

  Kenzo rested on a fallen limb, panting, while Noba fell against Cullen’s chest. Only Draora seemed unaffected.

  Lyra pressed a shoulder into Cullen’s and sent a thought, It’s a good thing Draora has the branch; the smoke doesn’t affect her.

  Yes. She has a decided advantage. He studied Ivri. She seems lost. Either the death fires confuse her sensing techniques or Ysmena is—

  Don’t think that! We need her to make the bow and get us out of this attack.

  Do you think a ghost can communicate with Ysmena’s light?

  Before he could answer, simultaneously Lyra jerked and Ivri cried, “Wait!” The keeper pointed to the smoky forest. “Ysmena’s lantern is ahead.”

  “I felt a jag of misty light! Electricity along my skin.” Lyra clapped a hand onto Ivri’s shoulder. “Is Ysmena’s signal normal? Is she all right?” She glanced between the keeper and the ghost, watching for any changes in their facial expressions.

  Electricity hit Lyra’s face. “There! The same signal, like a sudden flash.”

  Draora contorted sideways and nearly lost her balance in the air. “What in tarnation is that?”

  “Lady Ysmena’s signal is pulsing, not constant like normal.” Ivri’s long ears pinned back and her round eyes narrowed to slits. “We must find her in there,” she said to the other two circutamina and pulled a long piece of burlap from her pocket. “Everyone, cover your lower faces.”

  Lyra tied the scarf she’d collected from the World Tree behind her head and arranged it over her mouth and nose. Fingering the fabric, she sensed the burdens, worries, and concerns they’d had when they were about to enter Aria in search of Nareene’s book. In order to pass through the World Tree’s portal, he’d asked them to let all the burdens of their hearts flow into the cloths, then fasten them to his branches, leaving the worries there.

  Raylene’s face blanched as she secured a scarf. “There’s something not right with this scarf—bad vibes.” She moved herself and Vickie closer to Cullen and Lyra.

  Lyra didn’t know if Cullen also sensed the negative energy in the white fabric. It seemed pointless to find out, since the hard job ahead must be accomplished, with or without the added stresses. The weight of another burden seemed unfair with what lay before them. She took a deep breath and reasserted her determination, shouldering the load.

  Ivri led the group into the darkness. Clogged with black gases and ash from burned wood, the air became so dense Lyra couldn’t see Draora where she previously hovered two yards above them before.

  Fragmented jolts of Ysmena’s lantern continued to strike Lyra’s skin. She wished she’d been able to read the Lady of the Forest’s signals before, in order to have a comparison. From the strained faces and frantic speed of their guides, she expected trouble.

  The trio of keepers seemed to forget their guests and repeatedly dove under branches too low for the others to pass.

  Cullen barked in a deep voice, “Hold up! Clear this path!”

  Ivri’s whole body shook as she stepped back and kicked soil on the logs to make them move aside. Eyes forward, she set into another run.

  The cry of a magma drake split the air directly above them. Its red eyes and fiery snout glowed through the smoke.

  Cullen charged his staff.

  Lyra wondered if the drake saw them, or discovered her aura. Not as skilled as a cimafa, it would require closer range to detect her. How close, she didn’t know. She moved power into the sapphire of her staff, enough to kill the beast. She hesitated, watching and listening, using whatever her limited senses would register. Striking would be a last resort. Garbled cries from dozens or more drakes filled the skies—more than she could take down without Cullen being fully powered. She considered using the moonstone. Although the moon did sometimes rise before nightfall, midday seemed an unlikely time for it to be visible. Setting the keystone into action for the chance lunar connection wasn’t worth the risk of calling attention.

  Terrified keepers, burned out of their homes, tore past with agonized grimaces and glazed eyes.

  Raylene stooped and scooped three into an embrace. “We’re here to help you all.”

  Four more attached themselves to her legs, their tiny bodies shaking uncontrollably.

  Lyra watched the sky and held her breath, fearing th
at the drakes might have noticed the commotion around them.

  Not taking the same liking to the circutamina, Vickie let out a yelp when one clung to her knee. “Ray, come help me.”

  Her younger cousin extended an arm, and the keeper joined her flock.

  A magma drake circled low and gave a loud roar. Seconds later, four pairs of red eyes flashed above them.

  Lyra sent the shot off her staff and repowered it at once.

  Cullen pushed against her and borrowed a large mass of her aura to fire his own.

  Silhouetted by background sparks of molten shots from distant drakes, two dark bodies fell through the trees in front of the couple. In response, magma from more drakes fired at them from every direction.

  Lyra lost count of the numbers of eyes. Her throat, already rough from the smoke, clamped tight and her breathing became shallow. Stifling heat seared her face.

  Cullen hurled another blue laser and took one drake, but that only attracted more.

  She clutched her staff and released a strike at a pair of red eyes that loomed close. Molten black flames caught the sleeve of her jacket and raced up her arm.

  Vickie helped her wriggle out of the garment, while Cullen shot again. “There’s too many,” he gasped.

  Cullen’s cloak caught on fire. As Lyra dampened the flames, dozens of small hands reached out and helped.

  More grabbed her hands and pushed her legs from behind. Flashes from the drakes’ magma revealed the faces of a whole troop of circutamina.

  Trusting their help, she allowed them to direct her under growth so dense the drakes couldn’t follow.

  Confounded, the dragons let out a chorus of wild screams.

  Lyra glanced repeatedly behind her to make sure the others in her group moved in the same direction.

  The keepers led them to a huge trunk. Ivri stepped through the bark and pulled Lyra with her. “Lady Ysmena is here, inside the safe Aron tree whose old growth—base and roots—cannot burn.” The keeper dropped through a small passageway into an underground room.