Strike, Bethan Rees [best thriller novels of all time txt] 📗

Archer was waiting in the tree, watching the path to the City of Lights. She was waiting to observe the expected attack by the Dark Force against the Light Force. It was worrying the town... except for Archer. She couldn't wait to use her Bow of Light that she was given when she was young, but never had a chance. Her purple hair was blowing in the breeze.
'I should really get back,' she thought.
Just then, a black hooded figure came from the shadows.
'Hello. May I pass?' it asked. The figure was a woman. Archer could tell from the tone of the woman's voice.
The woman's face was revealed, displaying short brown hair and yellow eyes. Archer could see nothing else but her feet, which were clad in white ballet slippers which looked new. Probably an enchantment spell

, Archer thought.
'Do you fight for the Light Force?' Archer asked.
'Yes, I do. I'd like somewhere to stay for a while.' She replied. Her eyes sparkled. Archer could tell she wasn't lying.
The woman was allowed through.


'TAKE THIS!' Violet yelled as her ray of magic struck the training dummy. Its head fell off and Violet whooped with joy. She'd been trying to get the head off the dummy for three weeks now with no success. Her training mentor, Scarlett, was proud of her. Violet's original training mentor was Wayfarer when Violet was only 9. When Violet was 11, Wayfarer disappeared.
'Well done, Violet. Wayfarer would be proud of you.' Scarlett told Violet.
Violet felt pride when Rose said Wayfarer's name.


As Princess Sky jotted down Wayfarer's Oath another time from memory, she thought about Wayfarer. After she disappeared, would she return and bring peace? Would the Elders be joyous or be annoyed? Will the City of Light be saved and the conflict be over?
She went to the window of her tower and started to pray.
'Oh, Elders, will Wayfarer come back? Will we be defeated? In Wayfarer's Oath, Sky.'
Sky laid on her bed and daydreamed about when Wayfarer would finally return.


The civilians gazed at the cloaked woman as she walked by. There seemed to be a feeling of safety around her. She tripped and Violet rushed to help her.
'Thank you, dear child. I wouldn't be able to handle that myself.'
Violet felt a feeling of pride rush over her.
'Th-thank you...' She said, blushing.
The woman went into the castle to greet Queen Ray. Ray was sitting on a tall, gold throne, wearing a long blue gown. Her red hair rushed over her shoulders.
'In Wayfarer's Oath, I, Queen Ray, welcome you to the City of Light.' The woman curtsied and Ray smiled. 'Are you looking for accommodation?'
'Yes, Your Majesty, indeed I am.' The cloaked woman replied.
'Come this way, then.' Ray and the cloaked woman went out.


Dear Mother,

Violet wrote in a letter that night. Violet's mother was an Elder of the West and her father was an Elder of the East. Violet was shocked when Twilight, a fairy of the Dark Force, destroyed the Elders of the East. Twilight's power was withdrawn from her.
A cloaked woman has come to the City and we feel safe round her. I don't know who she is, but she's nice.
I finally knocked the head off the training dummy!
I love life here in the City of Light, but miss you and Father so. Father's death day has scarred me for life, but you have healed it.
With love,
Violet

Archer laid in her bed, wondering who the cloaked woman was. She had wrote several ideas, and Wayfarer was one of them.
'I should really get some sleep.' Archer mumbled as she looked at her clock. She closed her eyes, and light filled her dreams with a familiar voice.
'Hello, Archer.'

As a cloudless night fell over the City of Light, all was calm and quiet, as if Wayfarer had woven her magic and put the town into a sweet slumber, while the city was protected by a shield that calmed the town.
The dreams were of Wayfarer embracing them, and the city longed for her return, more than peace in the Realm and Wayfarer's Oath to be obeyed by all, even by the Dark Force.

Violet woke up, crying.
It was the middle of the night. She was missing Wayfarer so, after remembering what Scarlett said in her training session when she whacked the head off the training dummy. All that was on her mind was Wayfarer.
Oh, Wayfarer

, she thought.
Beings in training always sleep in the same boarding house as their mentor until they are ready. Scarlett rushed to see Violet.
'Oh, Violet, what's wrong?'
'I miss Wayfarer!' Violet sniffed.
'Honey! I understand why. She was your mentor before me, wasn't she? Come here.' Scarlett hugged Violet.


Princess Sky was alone. The only light in her tower room was the light from the moon, and that was it. Her blue wings felt heavy on her back.
She heard the door open and shut. There was someone else in the room with Sky.
'Hello?' Sky called. 'Who's there?'
Suddenly, she felt a cage go round herself. She then felt very, very sleepy.
'Your worst nightmare...' said a mysterious voice.


Queen Ray screamed the next morning.
Princess Sky was gone. All that was left of her excistance from the night before was 10 writings of Wayfarer's Oath.
The guards rushed in just as Queen Ray fainted. Her advisor, Melanie ran in and demanded that Ray should be taken to her quarters immediately. The soldiers did as she asked.


Archer was heading out to the tree she waits in when the cloaked woman that arrived the day before came up to her.
'Are you sure you can handle guarding alone? After all, I am talented in the magical arts.' She asked and demonstrated by lifting a bench that was nearby. She spun it and set it down again.
'I'm generally fine, but that would be great! Thanks.' Archer responded. The two beings set off to guard.


'Here we are.' Archer informed as her tree was spotted. 'Now, you go on the opposite one, and that would be great.'
The cloaked woman did as she was asked. Once Archer's purple wings fluttered her up, she got out her bow and the cloaked woman prepared her hands.


Hours passed, and Archer took a nap. The cloaked woman didn't realize this, but she soon did when something popped up on the horizon.
'Archer, wake up.'
Archer woke up. 'How do you know my name?'
'I just knew because, well, you are an archer, you know.' She said, blushing.
Archer stared at the thing that was seen on the horizon. It was black and multiplying quickly.
'What in the Elders' name is it?' Archer asked.
As the black thing got closer, the cloaked woman realized what it was.
'Oh my lord,' she said. 'It's an army of the Dark Force!'

Archer gasped. Then she took out her bow and aimed.
Pulling the string back, she felt something. Pride. Suddenly, her mind seemed to flash back to when she was younger...

Wayfarer was standing above Archer, holding a bow and a load of arrows.
'These are for you, Archer,' she said. 'Feel pride as your bow string is pulled back by you. Feel pride as the arrow flies and hits the enemy. Feel my pride, Archer.'

'RELEASE YOUR HOLD, ARCHER!' The cloaked woman yelled. Archer released and the arrow hit a soldier riding on a black unicorn. Black smoke filled the air around him. The arrow she released appeared back in her case, clean as if it had never happened, but it had.
Archer had hit her first target. She shot again and again, killing every time she shot, but there were too many for her and the cloaked woman to conquer.
Just then, the cloaked woman sounded a horn to alert the City of Light.
The surprise attack had come.


Violet rushed to the guardroom. She saw a massive army of black, and Archer with the cloaked woman, struggling to hit them all. She fluttered out of the room and high up in the air so she could see the army. She raised her arms and let out a purple ray. It hit a black bear, which disappeared into smoke. Violet was pleased with herself, so she tried again, sometimes failing, sometimes just hitting it. More magical beings joined her, so the force was strong. Scarlett even came along, hitting every time. Violet was a bit jealous, but proud of her mentor.


Queen Ray woke up to see her advisor, Melanie, leaning over her. She could hear magical beings struggling and power being used.
'What's going on?' Ray asked.
'We heard a horn from one of the guard trees. The surprise attack by the Dark Force has come.' Melanie replied as soldiers flew out to join the attack.


Princess Sky opened her eyes to find herself in a cavern. On her wrists were two grey handcuffs, but they were not joined together as usual. They just went round a wrist each.
Sky then heard an opening and a closing of a door. A lady in a long black dress came out. She had black hair in a bun with a silver crown.
'Greetings, Sky. I am Queen Widow of the Dark Force and you will work in our mines or join us and leave the Light Force behind. What will it be?'
Sky could not believe the choices. To stay loyal but work in the dark, dismal mines, or betray Wayfarer and join the Dark Force.
Sky couldn't make up her mind.