Summon the Elven Mage, Barbara Ferrier [ebook reader with highlighter .TXT] 📗

crops by moonlight and prevent famine. It allowed people to create more settlements. The Shaman Moon provided light and nutrients. For centuries, the people of Kalendra honored Shaman Moon and thanked her for her service. Now the moon was being assaulted. Thankfully, Kelne had arrived in time to save the ancient texts.

Recently, the Chancellor of the western shore decided to change the code of conduct and the rules of the game. He had entitled himself to take whatever he wanted by teaming up with the Great Thieves Charles and Joe. They wanted the carved stone tablets made by the ancestral shamans and the most powerful crystals of Kalendra for their energy.

“Who needs those old relics,” Charles had said to Kelne, “when we have forward-thinking enterprise to consider?” The Chancellor’s enthusiastic power grab had enabled his associates to harvest ancient and sacred items across the land.

“These old relics, as you call them,” Kelne said to Charles face, “hold the key to keeping the world in balance and running smoothly. Things could slide into chaos if you remove them. Famine could return.”

“That’s your opinion. What proof do you have?” Charles had said. “We might as well take all the energy stones. Your concerns are just rumor and malarky. In any case, they don’t apply to us.”

Kelne and his Coalition of Wizards and Shamans had been unable to convince Charles, Joe, or the Chancellor, even after proving their actions went against the ancient laws of Kalendra. Once found guilty of their crime, the fines succeeded in slowing them down, but also sent them into hiding.

Kelne, Sylvia, and other members of the Coalition of Wizards and Shamans were fully aware the Chancellor and Great Thieves were a risk, and Kelne had been fortifying the ancient lands as a precaution. None anticipated an assault on several sites at once.

Because betrayals of the sacred sites were unheard of, the Great Thieves congratulated themselves. “Perfect timing,” Charles said. They systematically attacked ancient ceremonial carvings and sacred crystals that emitted large amounts of energy from every part of Kalendra.

After Kelne left Kris on the plateau, he discovered they’d broken into the sacred mountain in the Black Hills. Fortunately, Koteo, the protector of that land, proved more powerful. They didn’t get much, but they caused some damage.

Kelne stood atop the burning hill in the Ball Return complex, quickly put out the flames and doused the fire in the building. Using his staff, Kelne summoned large sheets of ice to cool the carved stone before anything was lost. Taking a closer look, he could see the intruders had deliberately sabotaged the instructions that kept Shaman Moon in the sky. The saboteurs’ intention had been to destroy the wisdom too, not just take the energy.

Kelne helped but didn’t prevent the damage. He examined Shaman Moon and noticed she looked weaker, darkened on one side. Urgently he looked for the Protector of the Ball Return in hopes that she could reverse the damage. He found her in the main building, next to the stadium and breathed a sigh of relief.

“What has happened here?” he said.

“They came in from the floating mountains. Some sort of projectile pierced the building. I haven’t seen anything like it before,” she said in utter dismay.

“Remember what you can of the attack,” Kelne coaxed.

The Protector pulled out a crystal and replayed the attack for Kelne. “They came from there. Are they trying to take Shaman Moon from the sky? That would be suicidal—or homicidal.”

The two looked at one another and shook their heads.

“Fortunately, they can’t open the hidden vaults no matter what kind of magic they throw into this place,” the Protector said. “The battering-ram defense is solidly in place. I checked; it’s gained strength with the attack. So far, I think the ancestors thought of everything.

“I think Charles and Joe tapped the energy within the buildings.” Kelne said. “Glass buildings are off their footings. I think we’d better seal all the passages right away. How is your strength?”

“I’m all right,” she said.

“There was a second assault in the Black Hills, earlier today. I brought my grandniece with me. She’s with Roger in the watchtower. She’s surprisingly powerful. I think I’ll ask her to help.”

“Your grandniece?”

“There was a terrible explosion in the Black Hills a few days ago, and another this morning. I don’t have the whole story, but when I arrived, Tah had the Chancellor cornered and in pain, promising to leave those lands alone. They tried to take the ancient crystal within the mountain. The only thing that prevented them from dismantling the connection to Shaman Moon was my six-year-old grandniece,” Kelne said, shaking his head in dismay.

“For the love of …” the Protector said. “What do they think they’re doing? Do they think it wise to harness all the energy in Kalendra for their personal use? They don’t understand they’d cease to exist if they succeeded.”

“I don’t know what they’re building, but they don’t believe in history or facts,” Kelne said. “They poured liquid stone over the instructions to repair Shaman Moon here so we wouldn’t be able to repeat the protocol stored in those tablets in the event of a collapse. Fortunately, I repaired that in time.”

“Tah, dear,” Kelne called. “Will you come here, please?”

Tahendra slowly stepped into the room, looking down at the floor.

“You’re not in trouble, my dear,” Kelne said as he gave his grandniece a hug and took her hand. “This is the Protector of the Ball Return. I want you to know her.”

Tahendra looked up and into the eyes of the Protector. She relaxed a little but then looked away. “Do you know where my mom and dad are?” she asked. “I was with them, and some bad people tried to take our world apart. At least, that’s how it felt inside my body. I … well, I made the mean man who was hurting everything - I made him stop. I made him get red and itchy.” She smiled. “so, he stopped.” She giggled. “He couldn’t stop scratching. Granduncle