James Linniad and the Golden City, Caleb Baker [top non fiction books of all time .txt] 📗

 From the Palace balcony the King could see everything. He could see the entire city and all of its glory. From his balcony he could smell the sweet aroma of flames. A small fire had broken out in the heart of the city, and, at the moment, all the King could do was watch. He couldn't do anything to save his people. But they understood. It wasn't the King's duty to carry out such trivial tasks as putting out domestic fires. No. He had much more important matters at hand.     

In his hands he held a book. Not a normal book. In fact, one would say this book was as unordinary as any came. It was bound in leather, but not the natural kind. In the leather were traces of magic. Magic that could change the world. His world. In the book read the words to destroy the evil beyond his countries boarders. With this book his people would no longer have to live in fear. There was just one problem. There were no words. The tale wasn't written yet.    

The King started a brisk walk back into the castle depths. Here would be where the Prophecy was born. Right in these halls. After a few lefts and rights the king finally reached his destination. The magic center. This room consisted of a single platform where if one object was placed on it, it would disappear to find its true destiny. Destiny was a word that few used in the kingdom as of late.     

After he placed the book on the platform the King stepped away, afraid that he might be taken with it. He watched as the book shook vigorously under the mystical light that formed around it. In an instant it was gone, leaving behind only a light dusting of white crystals and sparkles. It was truly a wondrous thing to watch magic work. 

"The book has been sent," the King said to himself, "soon, the door will open."

The hills of Surrey, England lay in the background of an enormous medieval castle. Winter was upon the country, and every tree was bare, and dancing with the falling snowflakes. The setting sun gave the pure white blanket of snow below it a pale orange glow, reflecting off of it, and rebounding it's light to all of it's surroundings.     

The castle was very old. It's ramparts and turrets had swirling ivy growing upon them. The cobble that it was built with was stained with the days of the old. It was originally built as a fortress in the late fifteenth century. It defended the small country that stood in its wake with a proud, and generous attitude. But now, nearly six thousand years later the castle stood drained of it's power. However, it was not uninhabited.     

"It's just a little further!" James called out to the company behind himself. 

James Linniad and his family were the current owners of the castle. The Linniads could be traced as far back as the medieval times, and the castle was passed down through the generations. 

"We've been out here for so long, I'm freezing," a girl called out ahead to James.

Her voice was gentle, and her name was Alice Lancaster. 

"I second that, we've passed many trees that would be good enough, James," another girl said, speaking through a scarf, her name, Juliet Matthews. 

It was winter vacation for James and his friends, and his family was playing host to them for the holidays. At the moment, James and his fraternal twin brother were giving a tour of the castle grounds. They were also looking for a Christmas tree.   

"I'm sorry, Juliet, it's just, my mother wants a really good one for the living room," Nathan Linniad said lightly, not turning around to look at her. 

"Well I don't mind the cold, I find it refreshing," Lucas McKinnon stated to the group.     

They came to a clearing where the gravel path stopped, and turned into a snowy lane. Barren trees bent high over the untouched path made a ceiling with their skinny limbs, allowing snowflakes to drop through the open canopy. Clouds were beginning to roll in above them, no doubt harboring massive amounts of precipitation. 

"We are looking for an evergreen tree," James murmured to anyone that would listen.     

Nathan took the lead, hopping ahead, and looking down the long rows of thick oaks. His black hair was becoming more and more obscured as the snow drift began to pick up. James straightened the wool cap on his head, making sure that it covered his ears. Following that, he tightened the long scarf around his neck, shielding it from the blowing winds. 

"James, I don't think we're going to find one," Alice said blatantly, "how about we go back to the castle and warm up?"

"Once again, I second Alice," Juliet said, although muffled through her shawl. 

James didn't say anything. He did want to go back home and warm up with some hot chocolate, but he promised his parents that on their venture they would return with a Christmas tree. He stopped in his tracks and looked around at his company. Juliet and Alice stood huddled together like arctic penguins, chattering their teeth and shivering their shoulders. Lucas however, was the complete contrary, only wearing jeans, a sweatshirt and a winter hat, and even with that he didn't complain. 

"Alright, we'll go back," James finally caved in, but only after noticing Juliet was getting the sniffles. 

"Finally," Alice breathed.     

The trek back to the castle was quick, as they weren't dragging a tree, and James didn't have to stop every few feet to introduce and explain things about the grounds. In all the years that he had known his friends they had never been to his castle. His family only used it for holidays, and this was the first time James was allowed to invite them for a stay.   

Lucas McKinnon was James's oldest friend, both of them having met when they were five years old. He had dirty blonde hair that fell down to his shoulders, and his eyes stood out prominently with a striking blue color. In James's group Lucas was the one with the best sense of humor, and that was what drew the two friends together in the first place. He usually wore really tight fitted jeans, and logo t-shirts. But what stood out the most was his height, where he stood six feet and three inches tall.    

James first met Alice Lancaster when he was in the fifth grade. She was highly intelligent for her age even at that time, and with the years she soon became the smartest girl in the entire school. And eventually, the smartest fifteen year-old James knew. Her hair was blonde like Lucas's, except hers fell far below her waist. She usually tied it back with a pink bow that greatly accented her emerald green eyes.     

Juliet Matthews was in James's eye the most beautiful girl in the world. She moved to Surrey from London in the fifth grade, and that was when the two first became acquainted. Even back then he had a certain infatuation for her. Her long chestnut brown hair bounced behind her with exuberance whenever she walked, and her eyes were the same exact color, dancing when light shone into them. Her smile was gentle and sweet, but when the time required it she could be dangerously fierce.    

Nathan Linniad was not only James's twin brother, but he was also his longest friend, excluding Lucas. Being fraternal twins, they had easily visible distinctions. Nathan had jet black hair much like his father, while James looked more like his mother, having dark auburn colored hair. Nathan's eyes were icy blue, giving a brilliant contrast to his hair. But the one thing people noticed the most was the necklace dangling around his neck. It was a small red jewel that was a family heirloom, and it was passed down through the lines of lineage. It had somehow found its way into the hands of Nathan, much to James's dismay. He was shocked when he found out that Nathan had acquired the pendant, because he was older than him by a small amount of two minutes.    

The door to the back of the castle foyer opened with a long creaking noise. James passed under the threshold first into the warm sanctity of the Grand Lobby. He was immediately engaged by the smells of baking cookies and mince pie. James's mother had meticulously decorated the foyer for the holidays, draping garlands in the rafters, hanging reefs on every door, and even playing Christmas songs and jingles at a low but resonating octave.    

A large sparkling chandelier was hanging from the ceiling and it seemed to be where all the garlands were connecting, shining in the light of the bulbs. His parents were definitely festive people, James's father could be seen wearing ugly sweaters harboring poorly sewn reindeers and elves upon them, at the makings of Mrs. Linniad, along with his signature smoking pipe that exuded the smell of vanilla.     

The other four kids walked through the door and into the inviting castle, shaking snowflakes out of their hair and off their shoulders, and allowing their scarves to release the tight grips around their necks. James's cheeks felt numb as he walked deeper into the foyer, as the cold air outside did not agree with the warm air inside. He took off his gloves and started working his fingers, flexing them to get his blood to start pumping again. He noticed the others doing the same actions, Nathan bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet, and blowing into his hands that were cupped around his mouth.  

"It feels so good to be somewhere warm again," Alice sighed, as she disrobed her scarf and mittens. 

Juliet took off her winter cap and scraped snow off the top of it, then shook the rest out of her hair. Lucas simply crossed his arms and followed James further into the room, taking in all of his surroundings.  

"This is a really beautiful place, mate," he said as he walked to James's right. 

"Thanks," James answered.    

A loud click clacking noise entered the festive room, bouncing off whatever parts of the wall that wasn't decorated. It was Mrs. Linniad, and she came bearing a plate full of sparkling sugar cookies. She was sporting a very fine red dress, and her hair bore perfect curls. Her lips were the color of her dress, only deeper. She fit the pure definition of beautiful to the last dot, leaving behind only the brilliant smell of a strange flower that James could never put a name to. 

"How'd you lot like the tour?" she asked brightly. 

She held out the tray of cookies, and everyone graciously took one, Lucas being the first. 

"It was brilliant, Mrs. Linniad! I had no idea this place had such a history!" Alice practically blurted. 

Juliet nodded next to her as she took