The Barrier: The Teorran of Time: Teen Fantasy Action Adventure Novel
The Barrier
The Teorran of Time
The Barrier:
The Teorran of Time
A Young Adult Fantasy Fiction Action Adventure Novel
DS JOHNSON
2015
Copyright © 2015 by Suzanne F Johnson
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.
First Printing: 2015
ISBN
1519339984
Suzanne F Johnson
Herriman, Utah 84096
www.dsjohnsonbooks.com
Dedication
To my son’s Joshua and Ryan, who always wanted a bedtime story. To my husband Don, who patiently waited for me to do the dishes, while I was engrossed in learning how to write a novel for the kids. To my sister Hannah, who helped brainstorm plot and characters on so many occasions.
To all my readers young and old, thank you for giving me a chance to take you on an MMORPG book experience.
Contents
Bright white flashes burst from their fingertips. A deafening crack snapped as hues of electric blue shot across the rotunda, breaking the once impeccable crystal stone like a twig. Half crouched and slightly leaned back with one hand stretched out, he slipped under the downward slash of a long blade already dripping. Once clear, he leapt into the air, flipping over concourses of sky blue robes intertwined with blood red battle robes.
Gavin Rhill’s treacherous needs exempted him from feeling, his conscience now void. Eyes bloodshot with fury, he sank into the depths of his insanity. The popping cracks reverberated across the slick floor, tousling him about and jarring him from his thoughts if only for a moment. Dust plumes erupted from pockets of crumbling walls. He gripped his shaking head as he pleaded to be released from his harrowing prison. But it was too late. He belonged to the Shadow now.
The hairs on the back of his neck stood out straight, plunging a rippling effect that crawled up and down his skin. An electrifying bolt of unyielding energy surged past his ear, missing only by centimeters. He flipped his long black hair from his flat gray eyes that were sunk deep in the pallid hollow of his face. The pungent odor of singed hair and flesh stifled his nose, wreaking havoc on his focus. Anger and hate surged from his bosom, transcending his reality.
Sweat dripped onto his sliver thin black eyebrows and down his face, landing at the corner of his mouth. He glared through the madness and zeroed in on the door at the end of the mysterious hall. He searched for an acceptable route to his destination. Quickly he seized his opportunity and flung himself into the air. He rolled over an oncoming deluge of potent magic, a second before the heat burst his blood red cloak into flames.
As he fell toward the floor, he slipped his arms out of his battle robe and twisted away from the engulfing barrage. He rolled through the fall and jumped to his feet, shutting the roaring shrieks from his ears. All he could hear was the pounding of his heart as he flipped over a spear that would have pierced his chest. He thrust his hands out and released his newly acquired powers. Rock fragments shot through the air like speeding razors, striking several of the newly arrived armored men. Cursed with an unrelenting pain, it paralyzed them from the inside. He dug his toes into the floor. Boosted his feet with a blast of air and whizzed past so quickly the soldiers spun in their boots.
"Gavin stop!" Castos yelled.
The leader of Queen Ambrosia's United Forces stood erect.
"You can't stop me now," Gavin said in a drawn out syrupy voice. The thought welled up inside his chest like a smoldering flame. He could taste it, smell it, and see his destiny. "I have destroyed your beautiful Srinna Vossa," he said, hissing through his cynical smile.
A flash of anger darted from Castos, as he slammed his long gold entwined staff on the ground.
"We will rebuild it. You can't stop goodness. How many people have to die?"
"You're worse off than I thought," Gavin said.
He threw his head back and laughed a humorless vicious sound.
Castos crossed the staff in front of his broad carved expression. He then lifted his palm, facing up and conjured the elements he controlled.
“Time to put an end to this senseless bloodshed.” Castos said.
He lifted his staff up high and pulled the element of fire from the particles of the universe. With a sweeping motion, he purged the ravaged energy and sent it directly at Gavin. Gavin sucked in his belly, pulled in his arms and legs and transformed his human form, into an invisible shriek of air. He rushed over Castos and fed the inferno with life breathing oxygen. The air pulled the fire back toward Castos, unleashing it onto its master. The fire didn't care what it consumed. Only that it feasted on life's sustenance. Absolute horror hit a split second before Castos was annihilated by his own power.
Gavin shot through the air with exhilarated weightlessness. His thunderous laughter rattled the windows until they shattered, sending glass shards careening to the ground. Gavin Rhill soared down the long corridors, disarming enchantments along the paths. When he reached the door, he hovered momentarily then unraveled through the misty tendrils of the air element. He transformed back into his human form, his skinny, almost mal-nourished, figure reemerged.
The towering solid wood door, was intricately carved with ancient symbols and runes. His long, thin fingers, manipulated the old puzzle that, had taken over a year to figure out. With the last knot pushed, the door opened with a gasp. A small puff of wind bathed his face with the odor of musky dust. An aroma he quite enjoyed. He heaved the heavy obstacle open and slipped inside. He waved his hand across the smooth orderly lines on the inside of the door. Several clicks and a few slides of unseen latches echoed against the hollow roundness of the room as it sealed shut.
Gavin's eerie piercing eye darted around the room. His bones ached from its cold darkness. His shadow ran across the isles. His heart jumped, a lump formed in his throat. His worse fear was that the Shadow would come and take him. A large, stately majestic desk, sat at the far side of the circular room. Heavy weaved curtains framed tall windows. He found a slight beauty in the carved vaults. Every wall was covered top to bottom with shelves of scrolls. Books were so jammed pack that they overflowed.
"You must not fail," the Shadow's voice echoed in his mind, sending shivers down his spine.
He picked up the first parchment on top of the desk, read the heading and tossed it on the floor. He picked up another, then another. His intrigue half stopped him. He would love to spend hours, or even better yet, days, picking apart the exploits of this ancient knowledge.
What I could learn from all of these,
he thought. But he knew he only had but a few moments until the Council would know where he was. He put his thoughts aside and hastily rummaged through the scrolls and parchments that sat barren and lonely.
"Where is it?"
He ravaged the last few particles of writings, as the persistent gnawing in his navel grew. With one fowl sweep of his arms, he sent the rest flying to the floor. He slammed his fits on the table, his knuckles pure white. A bead of sweat fell from his drooped head and splashed onto the marble surface. He stared into the backs of his eye lids and tried to think of where, the Binding of the Crypt spell would be hidden.
Then it came to him.
How could I have forgotten the search spell
? He thought. He closed his eyes and focused. A dusting of rusty orange sparkles danced into existence and floated around the room. His heart skipped a beat as the magic was sucked into a book then shoved back out. Over and over, the magic came up empty. His emotions couldn't take any more. His fear of failure and what the Shadow would do to him threw him into a rage. His tantrum sent books, scrolls and reading implements flying around the room.
Loud booms and cracks
echoed against the outer walls. Shrieks of agony crested the horizon. Gavin Rhill knew he was the cause of men and women’s deaths, but he didn't care. The war outside was only a ruse to get into the protected room anyway. Though it did serve another purpose, if he could destroy the Dodjen, he would gain power over the Wyvern's. Then he could release the underworld creatures the Shadow controlled. He knew the magic of the united efforts could stop the Shadow. If he could gain control of the bond already forged, he would be unstoppable.
*********************************************
"Queen Ambrosia, what do you want us to do?" Aarin asked rushing to her.
"We wait until the Commission gets here."
Her soul was hollow as she gazed down from her sixty-level skyscraper. Her beloved Srinna Vossa was under attack and she knew her time was limited. The peaks of the circling spires that surrounded the main building, barely passed her flat. The three moons reflected brilliant strings of haze that illuminated the night. Srinna Vossa was a group of islands that floated on the Teorran Belt, raw magic that shot into the sky like a fountain.
"Our magic defenses are about to give way. If the Velsharoon get in, it will be all over," Aarin said, his expression pained and wounded.
"They will have to hold. We can't let them get into the city."
"Do you not care? Your people will die,
all
of them. The Velsharoon have the comet at their disposal. Never in history has anything been able to break our defenses."
Queen Ambrosia turned on her heel and shot him a seething glare. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, "Do
not
proceed to lecture me on caring for my people. I will lay down my life for them. I will take the scrolls of the most importance with me to my death. How dare you accuse me?"
Her small slender frame shook with fury, her knuckles clenched white at her sides. The pressures she held as Queen of the most powerful city on Edenocht nearly overcame her.
Aarin stood at attention. His face shadowed from a lack of sleep. "I'm sorr-"
"You are not permitted to speak."
She threw her hand across her body in a downward strike.
Her cheeks burned dark pink.
Her long, pale blue robe blew slightly in the wind that came in from the open balcony. Queen Ambrosia paced the floor. Her soft slipper shoes kicked her gown into a rhythmic billowing pattern.
"How dare he." she said barely audible, her breath almost steaming.
The tightness in Aarin's chest seized his every whit and his knees weakened. The sweat crested his shoulder length brown hair. He feared he was about to be sent to his death for questioning her. A brisk wind flashed through the room. A flicker of light cast a shadow as a forest green wyvern landed on the balcony. The rider dismounted and tossed the reins over its neck. The wyvern pulled in her massive wings tightly to her side and pawed the smooth surface. The rider pulled off the black leather riding gloves and slipped them under his belt. His chain armor under his obsidian body armor clinked as he moved quickly toward the queen.
"My Queen."
His deep green eyes framed his square and handsome face. Tears escaped as she nearly ran into his arms.
"What are we going to do?" she asked as she buried her tear stained cheeks into the crease of his shoulder.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tight, "The commission is dispatching troops as we speak, and the Rangers are here now. I have stationed six battalions at each corner of the island and more on the smaller islands. Medrith and I will take you and Serin to safety."
"No, I must stay here," she said swallowing the lump still in her throat.
"But your highness," Jerim objected.
He pulled back from her and rested his warm hands on her bare shoulders. The cool of her skin felt good under the heat of his.
"No, you must take Serin to the Wyvern realm where she will be safe," The queen wiped her eyes with a handkerchief. "You must promise me you will take care of her. Promise," she demanded.
The depth of a mother’s love was nothing to be trifled with. All he could do was nod and whisper a soft, "I will."
"Good, then I will send for the inner circle to secure the scrolls" Queen Ambrosia said firmly. "Aarin, send for the mages."
"Yes, your highness," he said.
"Oh and Aarin," The hairs on the back of his neck stood as the chills ran down his spine. "I'm sorry for losing my temper."
He nodded and then left the room quickly. She bit her lip to keep it from quivering and wrung her hands within each other.
"Your adviser? You gave him the ‘What For'?" Jerim asked with a smirk. She nodded, her glassy eyes wondered around the room uncomfortably. "Now tell me what happened?" he said moving to the long meeting table.
He pulled out a soft padded, velvet tall back chair. She sat down eloquently resting her intertwined fingers in her lap. She explained that the day had started out quiet and non-eventful. But by mid-morning the alarms had sounded. Gavin Rhill’s air ships, powered by elemental air, surrounded the horizon of their floating sanctuary. The Velsharoon began an attack on the magical barriers around the city.
"Wait, you said they arrived mid-morning, and the shield dropped fifty percent power by early afternoon? Why did you wait so long to notify me?" he asked.
Her eyes widened as the realization stabbed at her heart.
"I thought the mages could handle it," she said embarrassed.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, "Go on," he said and sat back in his chair with his arms crossed. His brows scrunched together in the middle of his face in full thought as she recited the rest of the events.
"They haven't broken through yet and now that you are here everything will be fine."
She said and returned to the open arched doorway of the balcony. The soft flowing pale blue drapes danced in the night breeze.
"I must tend to the ranks. I will return soon," Jerim said.
He scooted his chair out and placed it back under the table.
Queen Ambrosia grabbed his hand and said softly, "Be careful, you made a promise to me." Her eyes locked onto his and held his gaze for a moment.
"I will," he said.