Lyra McCauley is the fifth and current Scribe of the Alliance territory of Dragonspeir. Magic coded in ancient texts written by her ancestors, the previous Scribes, is desperately needed to help the Alliance battle fierce attack by the Dark Realm. While studying the book written one thousand years ago by the first Scribe, Elisabeth, Lyra becomes frightened when she reads this alarming scene. It has been foretold that she shares a destiny with Elisabeth, and enough similarities have already happened. Lyra is terrified that she and her beloved, Cullen Drake, the Imperial Sorcerer of the Alliance, may share the fate of the first Scribe and Sire Garrett--in the light of the Emtori Ruby.
When
the light shined directly in front of us, the head of the beast became visible,
but I still couldn’t identify it—a confused mix of brown fur and scales.
It
stood as tall as a grizzly, but owned more limbs than I could count. Some
stretched out serpent-like with thick, coiling muscles reminding me of a boa
and others like a bear but with exaggerated claws. One of those dug fiercely into
the crook of Garrett’s neck. By the size of the blood staining through the
thick layers of his undergarment, tunic, and waistcoat, I feared a major vessel
had been severed.
Adrenaline
rushed through my body, and the ball of magic prickled the skin of my palm. I
couldn’t lose him, the first man to touch my heart. A rush of instinctive
knowledge flooded my mind. I raised my arm to throw at the silhouetted head of
the beast.
It
leaned into the light and turned, so that I no longer had a line of fire. Its
furred ears pinned back, and a thin, forked tongue shot from the tip of its
muzzle. A red glow haloed its fur and glistened along its scales. With the mass
of the bear-asp filling the entry, I believed the beast displayed an immense
evil red aura—the color common to those of the Dark Realm—until it dragged
Garrett to one side of the room.
My
beloved’s head lolled to one side, and the glow of his aura dimmed. In the
intense red light filling the room, his white power seemed to disappear.
My
vision strained to determine the truth. I darted to a closer fissure and pulled
my arm back to cast a handful of power.
A
familiar red flash caught the corner of my eye. With Garrett unable to cloak my
vision, I realized my struggle with the ruby would rely upon my own mettle.
No
matter how I tried, the fireball would not leave my hand. Blisters bubbled on
my palm and pads of my fingers.
From
a wide basin on a crude granite pedestal, the Emtori Ruby radiated
scintillating crimson light in every direction. The gemstone, the size of an
apple, appeared far larger than in the Imperial Dragon’s conjured image. It
seemed to grow under my gaze to the diameter of a basketball. Transfixed by its
power, no impulse to scream, run, or defend myself registered.
Confusion
tore at my mind. I sensed the warmth of Garrett’s love entreating me for help,
while the Ruby locked my vision on it alone. My beloved’s heartbeat rang in my
ears, begging, while the pulsations of the Ruby formed their own rhythm that
fought his. Blood trickled in a thin stream along the stone before my toes…red,
crimson, ruby. Opposing thoughts battled each other. Madness made my muscles
tense. I crumpled onto hands and knees in the pool of his blood, my eyes still
fixed on that fiery gem. All I desired was to touch it, feel its power coursing
through me, feeding me. It was the mother I’d lost as a child. It needed me and
promised to care for me like no one else had. It commanded my arms and legs to
crawl. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks as I passed Garrett.
Lyra McCauley, current Scribe of the Alliance, is the only
one who can decode magic hidden in the recently retrieved ancient texts written
by her ancestors, the first four Scribes. Information in those writings can help
Lyra locate the four missing keystones, which will restore power to the
Alliance and allow overthrow of the Dark Realm. With peace restored, she and her
beloved, Cullen, could finally marry.
Time is short with the Black Dragon’s Dark Realm increasing
attacks to avenge the death of his heir. Many innocent lives are lost. Alliance
residents are forced into hiding. Magicals and blue dragons follow leadership
of the Imperial Dragon and the other three Guardians into battle to defend the
Alliance.
While Lyra unlocks the ancient magic, she opens herself up
to scribal powers from her ancestors. She alone can fight the deadliest of the
Dark Realm’s forces—the cimafa stealth dragons—but at a cost. The energy flux
threatens her health and ability to learn where to find the missing keystones.
Can Lyra overcome this shrewd tactic of the Black Dragon to decimate the
Alliance?
About the series~
The Enchanted Bookstore Legends
are about Lyra McCauley, a woman destined to become one of five strong women in
her family who possess unique magical abilities and serve as Scribes in
Dragonspeir. The Scribes span a long history, dating from 1200 to present day.
Each Scribe is expected to journey through Dragonspeir, both the good and evil
factions, then draft a written account. Each book contains magic with vast
implications.
Lyra was first introduced to
Dragonspeir as a young girl, when she met the high sorcerer, Cullen Drake,
through a gift of one of those enchanted books. Using its magic, he escorted
her into the parallel world of Dragonspeir. Years later, she lost that volume
and forgot the world and Cullen. These legends begin where he finds her again—she
is thirty-five, standing in his enchanted bookstore, and Dragonspeir needs her.
When Lyra reopens that enchanted
book, she confronts a series of quests where she is expected to save the good
Alliance from destruction by the evil Black Dragon. While learning
about her role, Lyra and Cullen fall in love. He is 220 years old and kept
alive by Dragonspeir magic. Cullen will die if Dragonspeir is taken over by the
evil faction…Lyra becomes the Scribe.
Purchase Links for previous books in the series:
I'm
looking forward to seeing what sweets some of my fellow authors on this hop
will serve. Be sure to check them out on the main blog page for Sweet Saturday
Samples.
2 comments:
Fascinating morsel! Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks lots, Marsha!
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