Rython Legacy

RYTHON LEGACY

Mandy Eve-Barnett

Dream Write Publishing Ltd.

P. O. Box 57083 RPO Eastgate

Sherwood Park AB T8A 5L7

Canada

www.dreamwritepublishing.ca

2019 © Mandy Eve-Barnett

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without written permission from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review. The characters and situations in these stories are the creation of the author. Dream Write Publishing and the author are committed to providing quality literary products. Dream Write Publishing and the author are committed to providing quality literary products for all ages and provide the following in-house book rating:

Young Adult 14+: General audience, adventure, alternate worlds.

Graphic violence/gore (2): spells/incantations/killing; sex/nudity (0): descriptive scenes; language (0).

Rython Legacy

ISBN # 978-1-988723-63-1

Cover Artwork by Wren Taylor Cover Design

Cover Design by Dream Write Publishing

Library and Archives Canada Cataloging in Publication

Rython Legacy

Eve-Barnett, Mandy (b. June 18, 1958-)

Sherwood Park AB

Look for this book in Print-on-Demand and E-Book

To the readers who pleaded for a sequel to The Rython Kingdom,

I hope this novella satisfies your intrigue for the continuing story.

Thank you to Wren Taylor Cover Design

for providing the perfect artwork for the Rython sequel.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Epilogue

Mores Books by this Author

About the Author

Prologue

Juliana held her granddaughter in her arms; it was a bittersweet moment. The child was a delight but also her replacement. A sure indication that the life she enjoyed with Guillem in this earthly realm would come to an end. She knew it was the order of things for the Eldenma line but this particular life had been so extraordinary, she was less inclined to leave it. Once they relinquished themselves in the ritual, the new Eldenma would take her place and she and Guillem would begin another kind of existence in a spiritual realm. She thought on the ritual, the transition it would bring about, and knew she and Guillem would return to the cavern where they once linked their souls together as mistress and consort. It was then that her grandmother transitioned to that other realm - as was the way of the succession. Juliana would pass from this life to another with Guillem – an unknown journey but that intrigued her.

Eldenma, you are crying. Are you displeased with my daughter?

Of course not, my darling child, these are tears of happiness. Come; let us present your beautiful baby to the men.

Juliana walked side by side with her daughter, Celeste, through the passageway to the cabin’s main room. Guillem and Michael stood expectantly at the appearance of their lovers.

Come and meet, Maralynn, the most delightful little baby I have ever seen apart from my own darling, Celeste, of course.

The four adults crowded around the infant. At that precise moment, Maralynn opened her golden eyes – there was such intensity in them, her observers were taken aback at the obvious power the new little being held. A thin thread of cyan mist floated above the happy group… unobserved. Maralynn’s reign as Eldenma would be fraught with challenges but could her exceptional power ultimately overcome?

Chapter One

Celeste watched her daughter, Maralynn; grow over the years while seeing her power increase. She could see her own mother, the previous Eldenma’s movements and expressions reflected in her daughter. Since her own mother, Juliana, and her lover, Guillem’s transition to the other realm, Celeste and her lover, Michael, were her daughter’s only protectors in the earthly realm. They knew, in time, their ability to protect her would end as Maralynn learned how to control and manipulate her powers.

Maralynn would listen intently to her lessons and displayed abilities to enchant and manipulate natural objects from an early age. Celeste felt her child was more powerful than Juliana, who conquered the witch Malgraf by encasing her in a magical orb for all time, all those years ago. The kingdom was at peace and the King bestowed Celeste with a comfortable home in thanks for her parents’ sacrifice. They left the earthly realm to exist in another to possibly return generations ahead. She was grateful and happy but still missed the wisdom and care from her own mother.

Maralynn’s childhood was happy and carefree with plenty of young friends with whom to play. They played games of fairies and wicked witches, pretend horse riding, and plucking sweet wildflowers to make crowns as they ran and laughed in the meadows and streams. The King’s castle stood on the mount overlooking their land, a symbol of protection and wealth.

One day when Maralynn was just eight years old, the king visited their humble abode. Celeste was flustered as she fussed to find a good chair for him to sit in and the best tankard in which to serve him ale. She curtsied numerous times, her heart pounding, her anxiety obvious.

Please, Celeste, do not worry so. I am here to ensure you are well cared for. Do you need anything from me?

No, Sire, your majesty, we have all we could ever want. You have been more than generous in giving us this lovely home. We are forever your humble servants.

Thank you for your kind words, Celeste, but in truth I am the one who should bow to you. If not for your mother, Juliana, I would not be king or have my kingdom. A small abode is a poor reward for all your mother did for me and my realm.

We are honored, your majesty, to serve you. Do you require us to assist you with something?

I wanted to see Maralynn, to see how she has grown, if I may?

Of course, your majesty. She is playing in the meadow beside the stream; I will bring her to you. Can I refill your tankard before I go?

I have plenty of ale to wait such a short time but maybe a pillow for my back; I ache so now-a-days.

Celeste retrieved a pillow, curtsied again; picking up the hem of her dress ran towards the meadow calling for Maralynn. As she reached the stream’s edge, she could see her daughter crouched beside the water, alone. Just before she called again, she watched as her daughter’s hand slowly rose above the water and a funnel of water spiraled upward. It was not the first time she witnessed her daughter testing her powers but when a sizeable stone rose upwards, too, she realized the young girl’s powers were indeed increasing. Not wishing to startle her daughter, Celeste brushed her hands through the long grass to make a rustling sound. Maralynn glanced around and let the stone and water splash back into the stream.

Mamma? Am I late for supper? The sun is still high.

No, you are not late. You have a special visitor. Come quickly.

Who is it? Tell me.

Before revealing the identity of her visitor, Celeste quickly tied her daughter’s hair back and brushed grass seeds from her smock.

The king himself wishes to see you, Maralynn, so please remember to curtsy and be polite.

The real king? From the castle?

Yes, the king. Now let him speak and only answer if he asks you a question.

Celeste was not quick enough to catch Maralynn’s hand before her daughter ran toward their home shouting.

Hello, King, here I am!

Celeste cringed inside. Oh my, what will he think of her? I must catch up. As she turned the corner of their home she could not believe her eyes. There was Maralynn sitting on his majesty’s lap chatting away as though he was an ordinary man.

Celeste held out her arms to take Maralynn from his lap.

Your majesty, please pardon her behavior, she is still too young to understand properly your position and royalty.

The king shook his head and smiled. I have not met such a delightful child, Celeste. She is so full of life and her energy is certainly invigorating.

Maralynn smiled at her mother, safe in the knowledge that she was loved and perfectly safe in the lap of their royal leader.

Will you show me your castle, King?

Celeste’s hand went to her mouth. Surely, we will be put in the dungeons now. Goodness, Maralynn.

If that is your wish, then of course we shall go to my castle. I will show you my throne room, the great hall, and we will walk the battlements. He pointed to the parapets high above them, a visible tremor in his hand.

Can we go now? I want to sit on your throne!

Maralynn, no! Get down now, curtsy to his majesty, and behave properly. Your majesty, I am truly, deeply sorry.

The king and her daughter swung their heads around to look at Celeste, her face pale with shock at her daughter’s inappropriate behavior.

A tear fell from Maralynn’s eye and rolled down her cheek at her mother’s scolding. She slipped from the king’s lap and walked to her mother’s side. She clutched her mother’s skirt and looked at the king through her long dark eyelashes.

Celeste, please, do not be sorry. It has been a long time since anyone has treated me as a man rather than a king and, to be honest, it is refreshing. I grow old and soon Prince Edward will rule. Your daughter has brought me joy this afternoon. Dear, Maralynn, please do not cry. Your mother is only teaching you the proper manners in which to refer to a king.

Sire, you are more than kind and thank you for your understanding Maralynn has never entered the castle keep.

Never been within the castle walls? Why, we must right that fact. You will bring Maralynn to visit me tomorrow, at noon. We shall tour the castle and then eat a feast. I hope I will be able to keep up with such a lively child.

Your majesty, we will be honored. Celeste curtsied and nodded to Maralynn to do the same. The small girl mimicked her mother’s actions and smiled at the old man in front of her. She liked him and, king or not, she