Read an Excerpt
Legend of Zandora
Birth of the Maiden
By Karen Deitering Wilson, Sonny Heston AuthorHouse
Copyright © 2015 Karen Deitering Wilson
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5049-2959-2
CHAPTER 1
BIRTH OF A MAIDEN
(Present Day)
Pull over! Pull over!" Heather screamed. "I'm not going to make it to the hospital. This child is coming!" Draco pulled the car over to the side of the road. The only sign of life besides Draco, his wife, and his mother, Morwenna, were the trees hovering over the isolated dirt road. Morwenna helped her daughter-in-law out of the car while her son ran to the trunk and pulled out a blanket for his wife to lie on. Under the bright light of the moon, Morwenna noticed her son's pale face as he held Heather's hand. She knew she had to do something before he passed out.
"Draco, do you hear water splashing against rocks?" she asked. "I need you to go and get us some water. I believe the pail we used yesterday to collect shells is still in the back of the car; you can use that. Now go!"
Draco went to retrieve water while Morwenna helped Heather get ready to deliver her child. She held her hand as Heather moaned with another contraction.
"This little one is like its father," Morwenna said softly. "Did I ever tell you the story about how Draco's life began under the stars?"
Heather looked at Morwenna and tried to smile. "I guess we started a family tradition." Another contraction came, and she let out a yell.
Knowing they were out of time, Morwenna positioned herself to help Heather deliver the child. "Are you ready?"
"I don't think it's up to me," she said and took in a deep breath as the contractions continued.
Morwenna kept time and felt Heather's abdomen as the contractions came closer together. "Okay, I want you to push when I say push." As Morwenna gave the instruction, Heather gave out one long and loud scream, and then an eerie silence fell over them. Morwenna cradled the child in her arms.
"It's a girl!" she shouted, taking off her shawl to wrap the child.
Unable to hear her child, Heather became scared. "Why isn't she crying?"
It was as if Morwenna never heard Heather's question while she held the baby's limp body in her arms. "Come on, breathe, breathe," Morwenna whispered. Still not breathing, the child was too still as Morwenna held her upside down by the legs and smacked her backside. She then turned the child upright and blew lightly on the child's lifeless blue lips. "It's time you met the world."
The child suddenly jerked, gasping for her first breath, and then wiggled her tiny pink legs and arms. "She's strong." Morwenna laughed and placed the baby into Heather's arms.
The baby's tiny cries traveled through the branches of the trees to Draco's ears, and with pail in hand he instantly ran to be with his wife and child. Out of breath, he dropped to his knees to get closer to Heather. "It's a Girl." she whispered to Draco.
Can I hold her?" he asked, and Heather placed the child into his arms. He beamed at his daughter as he rocked her in his arms. "She's beautiful and so perfect. Just look at her tiny fingers and toes." Draco stood and turned to his mother as he noticed a mark forming on the baby's forehead. "Mother," he whispered, "do you see what I see?"
Morwenna nodded as the two of them watched a tiny red dewdrop form on the child's forehead under the light of the harvest moon, only to disappear soon after. Morwenna lifted the child from her son's arms.
"I shall call you Autumn Mist, but your full name will be Autumn Jorah Mist: Autumn after the colorful leaves that surrounded you tonight, Jorah after the rain, and Mist from the dewdrop that danced upon your forehead."
Heather looked at Draco then back at Morwenna. "Actually, Morwenna, Draco and I have already decided names. If it was a girl, we wanted to call her Paige."
Morwenna hesitated for a moment. "That may be so, but this child is no ordinary child. She is from the blood of two different worlds, and for that reason she shall bear the names of two different worlds."
Without another word, she looked at the moon overhead and then took the freezing river water Draco had collected. She placed her hand into the pail, and the water changed from icy cold to ninety-five degrees, the perfect temperature in which to bathe a child. Morwenna tore a small piece from the shawl that wrapped Autumn Mist and proceeded to wash her grandchild. Afterward, like a baptism, Morwenna held up the child and called to the heavens.
"Paige shall be your mortal name, given to you by your parents, but let it also be known that on this day the heavens have marked you. You shall be known to the world of the Zandorians as Autumn Jorah Mist, Maiden of Zandora."
CHAPTER 2
FRUSTRATED
(Seventeen Years Later)
Bang! The old screen door hammered against the wooden doorframe when Paige stormed out of the house. "I can't believe her," she rambled as she slammed shut the door of her Volkswagen Beetle. "If Mom thinks I'm going to wear that stupid swimsuit of hers, she can think again. It's bad enough wearing this old hand-me-down cheesecloth dress, but at least it's not as stupid as wearing her outdated swimsuit."
Her temper tantrum in full swing, she sped out of the driveway with a squeal of tires and raced away from the house. She never noticed the police car on the side of the road until lights flashed in her rearview mirror. Oh great, a cop.
Nervously, she glanced at her speedometer and then pulled her car over to the side of the road. She rolled down the window when the officer approached.
"Turn off your engine," he instructed. "I need to see your driver's license, registration, and proof of insurance."
Paige turned off the ignition and then fumbled through her purse before she remembered her registration and insurance card were in the glove compartment.
"Do you know how fast you were going, young lady? You were going sixty-two in a fifty-five."
Paige handed the officer the documents he requested and batted her eyes in hopes that he would let her off with a warning. "I'm sorry, but my mind was on an argument I had with my mom earlier."
The officer glanced at her as he took her papers, and then he went back to his cruiser. Paige tapped her fingers on the steering wheel while she wiggled her right foot up and down. She continued to gaze into the rearview mirror as the officer spoke on his car radio. A few minutes passed before the officer got out of his cruiser and returned to her.
"I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'll let this one slide with a warning, but if I see you doing even one mile over the speed limit again, I'll write you up. Understand?" he asked before he handed back her information. "Next time you have an argument with your mother, I recommend you don't get behind the wheel."
"Yes, sir." Paige took her papers and put them away before she started up the car. That was close. I can only imagine what Mom would have said if I got a ticket, she thought as she slowly made her way back onto Highway 41.
It wasn't long before Paige found herself turning onto an old, unmarked dirt road that led to a line of trees. Like a child chasing after an ice cream truck, she shivered with excitement, for just beyond the line of trees was a beach with an endless view of the lake.
The breeze from the water's edge rolled into the car through the open window. The aroma of fish filtering to Paige's nose brought back images of her father driving the same road. Even though he had disappeared several years before, his voice continually haunted her daily life. "Breathe in that air. Can you smell the fish?" her father's voice echoed in her head.
While the car rocked and bounced over potholes and washout ruts, she spoke as if her father were sitting next to her. "Yes, Dad. You'd have to be dead not to smell it."
She parked the car several feet from the beach. For several minutes she sat motionless, her arms wrapped around the steering wheel, and stared out the windshield. A man and child collected shells from the beach, and it brought flashbacks of her and her father doing the same thing many years ago.
Paige got out of her car as the two disappeared down the shoreline. She closed her eyes and tilted her face toward the sun, allowing its rays to beam heat onto her face. She inhaled the fresh air and welcomed the hot white sand that blanketed her feet. After getting the kinks out of her body, she retrieved a wide-brim hat and a wicker basket from the front seat, then slipped off her sandals and tossed them inside her car. With her hat on and her basket securely in hand, she headed to the water's edge, barefoot and free, and whispered, "Maybe today I'll be lucky, Dad, and a wave will wash up the agate I need to bring you home."
CHAPTER 3
FIRST ENCOUNTER
A chill ran down her spine as the hot, dry sand under her feet turned wet and cold. She felt some relief from the sun as the breeze blew through her dress, filling it like a balloon around her lean body, and whisked her long, curly hair away from her sweaty neck. Paige's mother never allowed her to wear makeup because she believed her unblemished olive complexion, dark green eyes, and ruby red lips had more perfection than those of any goddess or princess.
While Paige was occupied gathering shells and other trinkets off the beach, three young men were busy building elaborate sand castles. All were tan and muscular, but Noah was taller than his friends were; in fact he towered over them. His shoulder-length blond hair shone in the sun the way a crystal reflects light, and his laughter echoed above the other two. It wasn't until Noah turned to work on the other side of the sand castle that he caught sight of a girl. He watched her for several minutes before he pointed over in her direction.
"You see that girl over there? Do you know who she is?"
"Never seen her before," Jake replied, while Sam just shook his head.
Noah smiled and continued to watch the girl. "She sure stands out from the scenery."
Jake smirked as he looked over at the girl. "If you ask me, she seems pretty weird. Look at that outfit."
"Forget the outfit; look at her," Noah protested.
Amused by the whole thing, Sam laughed. "Okay, Romeo, why don't you just go over and talk to her?"
Noah shrugged. "Maybe later; she looks busy."
"She doesn't look too busy to me. Besides, that's never stopped you from going over to meet a girl before."
Jake chuckled and tossed some sand at Noah. "Maybe he's scared."
"I'm not scared." Noah clenched his teeth and stood up to wipe off the sand.
Paige stopped collecting shells to watch seagulls and listen to their shrill kittee-wa-aaake, kittee-wa-aaa. Unlike most people, she discovered at a very young age that she could communicate with other creatures. She quickly learned not to tell anyone about her strange ability to speak to animals. The other children at school had been cruel to her, mocking her and calling her a liar. At least she found comfort knowing that her grandmother believed her.
A wave washed over her feet, and with it a shell washed onto the beach and caught her attention. As she bent down to pick it up, she spotted a boy unknown to her. Oh great, someone is coming in this direction, covered in sand, no less. I don't need this right now.
The boy smiled and stretched out his sandy hand to Paige. "Hi, I'm Noah. And you are?"
She said nothing as she fumbled with the basket lid. She watched as Noah's face flushed with frustration when she didn't respond. Maybe he will go away if I ignore him. She knew his pride was at stake when he withdrew his unshaken hand and continued with his questions.
"So, do you come here often?"
When she didn't reply, Noah bent down and placed his hand on her basket.
"Why don't you answer? Are you deaf?" He raised his voice, annunciating each word.
Paige looked away from the basket and glared at him. "Are you always this rude? Couldn't you see that I'm busy? And what business is it of yours if I come here often or not?" she snapped back.
Surprised by her attitude, Noah put his hands on his waist. "Sorry if I bothered you, but I was trying to make conversation. You sure are hotheaded for someone so ... oh never mind." He turned to walk away, waving his arms in frustration.
"Funny, one could say the same thing about you!" she yelled after him.
He did a turnabout and faced her. "At least I'm not the rude one. I just asked if you come to the beach often. What's the big deal?"
Silence filled the air as he stepped closer to Paige. She wrapped her arms around her basket and took a few steps backward. Noah, still frustrated, broke the silence.
"I noticed that you were picking things up off the beach and thought maybe we had something in common. Why are you so defensive anyway?"
"Defensive? Why shouldn't I be? You came over here and bothered me. Now excuse me, but I have to go." She tried to mimic Noah when he turned away from her, but instead she lost her footing. "Ooooh!" she squealed as she started to fall.
Noah grabbed her with both hands like a quarterback catching a football. Never letting go, he went down with her. Paige's hat and basket flew into the air, and she hit the ground, landing on top of him.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Paige felt as if her cheeks were on fire. She jumped to her feet and straightened her dress before she retrieved her hat and basket. Embarrassed, she looked everywhere but at Noah as she answered him. "I'm fine. Now if you don't mind, I have to go." She started away from him.
"Can you at least tell me your name so I know who I saved?"
She stopped and turned toward him. "You didn't save me, and my name is Paige!"
"What? I couldn't hear you."
"And you ask if I'm deaf?" she snapped. "I said my name is Paige."
"Paige. Nice name. Mine's Noah."
"You already told me your name." She rolled her eyes and stomped away, but she couldn't control the smile that stretched across her face. She was glad he couldn't see it, or hear her thoughts. Wow, what abs. And his eyes — how could anyone not notice his beautiful blue eyes?
Noah stood where he had fallen and watched Paige drift farther away. It wasn't until she was out of calling distance that he went back to the sand castle he had been building.
Jake couldn't wait to hear his explanation. "Well?" he asked. "I watched you put the moves on that girl. Did you?"
Before he could finish, Noah gave him a stern look. "She tripped and I caught her, that's all."
Jake grabbed his right arm. "Okay, if that's what you want us to believe, but we saw that girl on top of you. By the way, great move."
Noah's face became hot like burning charcoals. "She tripped, Jake!"
Seeing Noah step back to take a swing, Sam interrupted him. "It's okay, Noah. Jake doesn't know when to stop with the questioning. He'll harass you until you tell him what he wants to hear."
Noah looked at Sam, then at Jake, and then he shrugged and started to laugh. "It must have looked pretty funny — the two of us falling to the ground."
"Hey, Noah," Sam said, laughing along, "maybe you can give us lessons on how to do that fancy move. You know, in case we have to help a girl when she trips."
"Do you really think I'm going to share my secrets with the likes of you?" Noah teased as he went back to work on his sand castle.
"See, Sam? I told you Noah was trying to make a move on that girl. You owe me a lunch."
While Noah worked on the sand castle, Paige's thoughts drifted between Noah and the black agate. Too bad I have a black agate to find. It may have been fun to share my day with Noah.
She bent down and picked up a small rock, then held it to the sky so the sun could shine on it. "I should have been nicer," she mumbled. "If I had any brains, I could have told him I was collecting agates. He didn't have to know why I'm looking for a black agate. He would think I'm crazy."
She trembled at the thought of her grandmother's words: An evil sorcerer holds your father captive. She tossed the stone into the water. "I have to stay focused. Without that agate, I'll never see my father again. It has to be on this beach. River Otter told me so."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Legend of Zandora by Karen Deitering Wilson, Sonny Heston. Copyright © 2015 Karen Deitering Wilson. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.
