Beneath a Desert Moon Read online

  Other Works by Mary Hamilton

  Once Upon a Moonbeam Series

  Book One: Lost and Found

  Book Two: To Find a God

  Coming in 2020

  Silver Sea Series

  Beneath a Desert Moon

  Book Three in the

  Once Upon a Moonbeam Series

  Mary Hamilton

  Copyright © Mary Hamilton, 2019

  ISBN: 978-1-7338778-0-0

  Beneath a Desert Moon (Poem) Copyright © Steven Hamilton, 2018, www.insidepassagebookroom.com

  Cover Design: BespokeBookCovers.com

  Please visit us as www.insidepassagebookroom.com

  For all who dare to dream… and ride moonbeams

  Acknowledgments

  As always, thank you very much to my editor, Diane Luehrs, for all her hard work and inspiration. Thank you to my wonderful and generous husband, Steven, for all the sweat equity he put into this series, and for offering up the charming “Klunk ditties.” Thank you, Steve, for convincing me to get these characters down on paper and to write the story before it “went away.” Without you, it never would have happened.

  Once Upon a Moonbeam

  Book One: Lost and Found

  Summary

  Teens in Pangrove, on the world of Azyr, delight in riding moonbeams. That is, until the unexpected happens. Two young Azyreans, Marzi Gloam and her brother Tovi, jump onto colored beams and find themselves transported to strange worlds. The beam keeper, Jarek Whit, who is responsible for maintaining the system, immediately leaps on a colored beam himself, thinking that he can follow, collect the children, and return right back home with them. Then, like the other two, he ends up in a very different and unexpected place.

  The green moonbeam deposits Marzi in Menalor, the land of the dark elves. Her initial confusion turns to despair as she realizes that not only is she lost, but that she is not even on her home world. The hope of getting home dims. Alone, hungry, and tired, she wanders the forest until she is found by a dark elf of the Twilight Bough. Her relief, though, fades when she learns that she is a prisoner rather than a guest. She struggles to fit in while, at the same time, trying to figure out how to get home.

  She decides that the only way to return to her family is to flee the elven enclave known as the Twilight Bough. But where can she go? How will she find her way back? The only clue she has is a group of elves, cliff elves, who themselves are seeking to find ways to travel beyond the elven kingdom. Violating the rules that have been imposed on her, she flees the Bough in the company of three young elves who have befriended her. But rather than provide a path home, this escape sets her on a journey that will put her life in danger. Strange beings from another realm, humans they are called, appear and attack the elves. The cliff elves, with Marzi in company, embark upon a journey to a set of ancient ruins to seek answers. But what little they find in the way of information is overshadowed, at least for the Azyrean, as a goddess appears to her with unexpected and unwelcome news.

  Meanwhile, her brother, Tovi, rides his blue moonbeam into Crystal Sands, homeland of the ogres. At first frightened by the large, fierce-looking beings, he is befriended by Klunk, a teenage ogre. The Azyrean is taken into the kraal, the ogre village, and treated as a guest. He helps Klunk gather food and do chores. The initial desire to go home fades somewhat as he develops a deep friendship with this gentle giant.

  But something else intrudes—a strange voice. Coming at first in dreams and then while Tovi is awake, it speaks in riddles, telling him that he has a task, a purpose among the ogres. However, the voice warns him of dark times ahead. The young lad also discovers the power of crystals and begins to understand that they are related to the ability to travel on moonbeams. He sees this firsthand as he encounters a deadly fight between a small band of ogres and other strange beings, whom he later learns to be humans. The worst part, though, is that he ends up with the responsibility of traveling throughout Crystal Sands to tell all the ogre kraals of the coming darkness.

  Finally, Jarek, the beam keeper, finds that his red beam has taken him to the land of the humans. It is here that a small band of rebels fight the growing evil of the human king. By chance, the Azyrean ends up as a guest of this small group. He, like the other two displaced Azyreans, initially just wants to go home. As hope fades, though, he becomes involved in the rebel cause and creates bonds of friendship the likes of which he has never known.

  But what do the rebels want from him? Why do they keep him there? The answer, he learns, is related to his knowledge of moonbeam travel. For as it turns out, the only way for beings to move from one realm to another in this world is through portals created by moonbeams. His task becomes a race against time as he searches for the secrets of travel. The fate of the world depends on defeating the human king. But, as the rebels learn, they must travel to another realm to fight this battle. And so Jarek becomes the center of attention. But not all attention is good or welcome. There are those among the rebels whose loyalty lies elsewhere. And for them, Jarek represents both a threat and an opportunity.

  As the three lost Azyreans begin to learn, they are to play key roles in the coming conflict. If only they can figure out what they are supposed to do. To learn this, though, they will have to seek out these gods, these beings that seem to want something from each of them.

  Book Two: To Find a God

  Summary

  The three Azyreans, stranded in distant and unfamiliar lands, have finally begun to understand the seriousness of their situation. Two of them, Marzi and Tovi, are charged with finding a way to unite the races of the lands in which they find themselves. Jarek, the beam keeper, learns that his mission is to discover a way to travel between the realms. For that is where the final battle for Kronos will occur.

  Marzi struggles to bring the dark elves of the Twilight Bough and the cliffs together as one force in hopes of facing the impending evil. But distrust and old grudges among the elves conspire against her at every turn. Making matters even worse, she learns that her friends—the young elves who helped her reach the cliffs—are to be banished into the wilds of the north country. Whatever she is to face, it appears as though she must face it alone.

  As if this were not enough, she discovers that there is yet another group of elves. The frost elves live in isolation far to the north, in the Quel’dethain Mountains, guarding their domain fiercely. The goddess, Valyn, has directed the young Azyrean to engage this group as well. Danger stalks the small band that travels to the icy realm, and, once they arrive, Marzi finds herself in a not unfamiliar situation—imprisonment. This is only the beginning, though, as evil and treachery emerge even in this elven stronghold. Through all of this, she is reminded at every turn that the future of this world depends on her uniting the elves.

  In Crystal Sands, Tovi and Klunk set off to spread word of the human danger to all of the ogre kraals. Guided by the words of Myhrren, the ogres’ spiritual leader in the area, they are met with a mix of disbelief, anger, and indifference. They are also saddled with an unwelcome companion, Kharla, whose father was killed by a marauding band of humans. Struggling to keep from fighting each other, the band of three comes to the end of their journey, only to find themselves thrust into a web of almost impossible deceit and evil.

  In a labyrinth of tunnels beneath the desert, they encounter the spirit of a long-dead ogre who seeks to enlighten them in return for their help. He promises answers and wisdom if they will but help him in his quest to cross over to the afterlife—a simple enough task… or so they think. But nothing is as it seems. The spirit is not that of an ogre but rather an incarnation of the evil demon, Dredwyn. The encounters leave the party deeply divided and stalked by death. When they finally emerge from th
e tunnels, they are in for another surprise when they encounter a human rebel—one who is there not to harm them but to help.

  Meanwhile, in the land of the humans, Jarek and party set out to find an obscure brotherhood—a mysterious organization of individuals that worships Aristan, the ancient god of the humans. To their dismay, they find that King Wyndred has taken a more than passing interest in them. The king’s spies pursue the small band, who are ultimately betrayed and turned in by one of the local farmers. They are taken to the dungeons to await their fate. It is there that their fortunes improve.

  Jarek and party are rescued by the same mysterious brotherhood that they have been seeking. Their relief, though, is short-lived. The distrust that has infected the land is equally strong between the rebels and the brotherhood. They need each other in order to survive, but neither group can bring itself to trust the other. It falls to Jarek to build a path across the divide. Once the two parties decide to cooperate, they quickly discover the secrets of cross-realm travel. And with that knowledge, they open a portal to Crystal Sands, where the rebel leaders are certain the final battle will be fought. With the main body of the rebel army on their way, Jarek and his companions breathe a sigh of relief. Finally, their work is done, and they can seek respite without fear of attack. Little do they know that their problems have only just begun.

  And so, the stage is set. The final battle for Kronos is to be joined in the desert homeland of the ogres, Crystal Sands. The gods, it seems have engineered this showdown in order to banish one of their own. In the conclusion to this series, the strength and character of the three Azyreans, along with their friends and companions, will be tested. Should they fail, not only will they be destroyed, but the lives of all on Kronos and other nearby worlds also hang in the balance.

  Beneath a Desert Moon

  Dreams arise from burning sands

  Beneath a desert moon

  Darkness yields to purest light

  Shines on an elven rune

  A cloak of truth awaits the one

  Who comes from far away

  A girl who knows not why she’s here

  For the gods have yet to say

  Ogres wait, the gentle giants

  Elves and humans too

  The races stand determined all

  Until the fight is through

  The ties that bind us help us seek

  The peace we all desire

  But lines divide us even now

  As daylight brings the fire

  The one, the girl who dons the cloak

  Must find the hidden way

  To make us one of heart and soul

  To see us through this day

  Beneath a desert moon there lies

  A peace, a love, a dream

  Underneath a sky of stars

  A better life it seems

  © Beneath a Desert Moon, Steven Hamilton, 2018, www.insidepassagebookroom.com

  Chapter 1: Crystal Sands

  Darkness swallowed the dusk. Lightning split the sky. Thunder rolled across the desert sands, only to pound on the mountainside, somewhere out of view. Tovi Gloam stared into the blackness. He sensed his friends and companions nearby. But his eyes remained glued to the nothingness in front of him. Even the two elves that had tumbled out of a portal less than a minute earlier had vanished from the young Azyrean’s mind.

  The image began as a faint glow—deep purple against the intense blackness. A gasp went up from the ogres as a figure floated toward them. Tovi felt those around him slinking back in the face of this intruder. The glow brightened. The deep violet became amethyst and then lilac, bordered with an ashen gray.

  As it drew near, its features gained clarity. Large glowing white eyes punctuated the elongated face. The long hair that flowed over its shoulders, cascading in front and behind, gleamed brilliant white. The mouth drew into a tight line beneath a poorly defined nose. It was at least as tall as the largest ogre, and it hovered a meter off the ground.

  Its voice boomed as it spoke, although Tovi could see no movement of its mouth. “Ogres of Crystal Sands, you have among you those who do not belong. You know all too well the sorrow and death that outsiders have brought to you over the ages. Humans and elves—your forefathers died at their hands. More recently, humans have entered your realm, slaughtering those who stood in their way. And now you welcome them.”

  A murmur rippled through the crowd as everyone retreated even more. Finally, Klunk stepped forward. “If I may ask, who are you?” The ogre’s voice betrayed uncertainty and fear.

  The voice of the strange vision softened. “I am one who has come to deliver salvation to you and your people. You have only to listen and obey.”

  “We have here among us just friends. They have only helped us.” Klunk took another step in the direction of the thing.

  “Silence!” The voice sounded like the very thunder that had rumbled across the land, heralding the arrival of the being. “You disgrace your ancestors. You betray your own values. You have willingly become slaves.” The softer voice returned. “But you are not beyond help.”

  Tovi glanced over at Myhrren, who remained silent. The old man appeared to be watching the image with no particular alarm. Why doesn’t he say anything? This thing is not speaking the truth. In that instant, the Azyrean understood. He stepped forward and cleared his throat. Staring at the glowing visage, Tovi challenged, “You are Dredwyn. You are not here to help anyone.”

  The laugh came out as half chuckle, half smirk. “Oh yes, the wise young Azyrean, with all of his twelve years of life, gives wisdom to people who have lived in Crystal Sands for untold centuries. You assume much. But this I will give you. Yes, I am Dredwyn.”

  The creature turned his burning stare to the gathered ogres. “My children, you have this one chance. My armies will soon march through the portal. They mean you no harm. If you join with them, you will surely drive the elven and human rebel invaders from your land. And then we, you and I, will embark upon a journey that will place you at the center of the universe. You may then take your place as the true masters of all.”

  At that moment, Kharla swept in with a scream and swung her club at the image so forcefully that her body shuddered. And yet, for all the force, the weapon seemed to strike nothing. It passed through the ethereal glow with no apparent effect. “You lie! You have come to kill our people. I will destroy you.” She swung the club again with the same results.

  A deep cackle emerged from the being, and silence ruled the scene for a moment before the entity spoke again. This time, its voice came out laced with poison and death. “If you make company with elves and the renegade humans, you will perish—to the last ogre. And Crystal Sands will become a wasteland for all time.” With a brilliant flash of purple and white light, the image vanished, leaving the bewildered ogres and elves in darkness.

  Chapter 2: Crystal Sands

  With the vanishing of the demon Dredwyn, the darkness receded, and Crystal Sands’ dusky twilight returned. All stood in silence. Tovi stared at the spot where the image had disappeared only seconds before. He had encountered Mugrok in the caves and understood him to be a version of the malevolent being Dredwyn. But what they had just witnessed was far more terrifying. One look at Klunk’s face told Tovi that his friend felt the same sense of foreboding.

  Before either of them could speak, one of the ogre chiefs stepped forward. “Maybe we have chosen in haste. We should think on his words. The thing that was here, he is powerful. It would be better to be on his side. We all heard him.” The chief stood, wringing his hands in front of him.

  Klunk met the chief face-to-face. “No. What we saw was a lie. I encountered him in another form in the crystal caves, and he lied then as well. He brings only death. Dredwyn is not our friend.”

  “I respect what you have done in bringing the word to all of us and for helping us join together. But this is not for you to say. We must think about our kraals. We have families, children that we must care for. I say that they
will be kept safe by not fighting against that thing.”

  Kharla, who had only moments before tried to fight the demon, surged forward. “You are not safe. That thing, that devil, will not give you safety. His men killed my papaw and a lot of others. You will not save your people by hiding in your huts.”

  The chief glared at her and returned to stand with the men from his kraal. All of the other ogres stood, their heads bowed, and shuffled their feet as though trying to disappear. The silence was deafening.

  Tovi turned to Myhrren. “Why don’t you tell them?”

  The old man shrugged and smiled. “I could tell them no more than Klunk or Kharla did.” He shook his head. “They are frightened, and they are right to be so. Dredwyn is not to be taken lightly.” He knelt so that he looked Tovi in the eye. “You cannot force them. You have already learned this. There will be discussions well into the night and more tomorrow. Speak from your heart when you have the chance. But more importantly, pick your allies. You will know them. Some ogres will come to the truth before others. Do not expect everyone to agree to war on the first day. But make no mistake, the war will come whether they want it or not.”

  “So that’s it? I just talk to them?”

  “What else would you do?”

  Tovi had to admit the old man had a point.

  Another voice drew the Azyrean’s attention. He turned to see the human, Mathias, step forward to address the gathering. “If I may speak. My name is Mathias Grenham. As you can probably guess, I am not from here. I am a human from Ebon Hills, in the realm of Caravast.” He hesitated for a moment as though trying to compose himself. “I understand your reluctance to fight that thing, that Dredwyn. My land is ruled by a King Wyndred. I suspect there is a relationship between him and this thing we saw, although I confess that I’m not sure what that connection is. But I promise you this. The being who calls himself Dredwyn does not have friends. He rules by fear; he lives only to kill and dominate. You will not find any comfort in league with that demon. We have buried too many of our fellow humans to believe his false words. Klunk and Kharla speak the truth. You would be well-advised to pay heed.”