Prisoner of Reign (Book 2): Reign Adventure Fantasy Series

Dedication

To the One True King, thank you for being my faithful Abba.

Zechariah 9:12

Return to the stronghold,

You prisoners of hope.

Even today I declare

That I will restore double to you

Praises and Awards for Keeper of Reign (Book 1)

Exciting new author, Emma Right, ignites an electrifying new series with spine-tingling action and thrilling suspense!

Lisa Vanderbilt - LVCMinistries.com, co-author of "Living Victoriously in Christ:

Keeper of Reign is a book in the rich traditions of fantasy novels of Lord of the Rings. The novel has cliffhangers at the end of each chapter which makes it impossible to stop reading. Young adult readers who are fans of Lord of the Rings should make this book an addition to their reading lists.  I would recommend Emma Right‘s Keeper of Reign Book 1 to people who like adventure and fans of C.S. Lewis’ novels will also enjoy this book.

Pacific Book Reviews

***

For fantasy book lovers. The book, though it seemed long (340 pages), was actually a very quick read. This was the first in the Reign Fantasy series.  I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one.

Reviewed by Ben Weldon (age 16)

***

I rated this book 5 stars because it really kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time! I enjoyed it so very much, and I couldn't wait to read more every day! 

Lauren (age 13)

***

The story is well-written with characters who are complicated and often conflicted about their choices in considering the consequences of their actions. From page one, the story leaps into action never resting until the end with definite foresight of a possible sequel.

Keeper of Reign is a wonderful story for all ages as they join Jules on his quest to save his people. Midwest Book Review

I loved all the characters. The story has many twists and turns, but is not hard to follow. The plot is great. An easy read for all ages. The story teller did a great job.

D Taylor

***

More than sixty four and five star reviews on Amazon.

***

AWARDS for Keeper of Reign, Book 1.

Winning and medal categories include, teen fiction, young adult fiction, pre-teen fiction, children’s literature, Christian fiction, young adult fantasy and more!

––––––––

CHARACTER LIST

Jules Blaze, age sixteen, and heir of a Keeper, who suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. And hates the idea that he has to care for his four (yes, so many,) younger siblings. So uncool.

The other Blaze siblings:

Ralston, thirteen years old and a budding artist who can invent just about anything. If he can overcome his slowness!

Bitha, ten-year-old sister, with flowing jet black hair, and a caring personality, and definitely not keen on adventures.

Tst Tst, pronounced Sit Sit, and also known as Miss Big Words due to her profuse vocabulary which she uses freely unless her life is in danger, which is about almost all the time in Reign these days. She is eight.

Tippy, three years old, lisps and nothing much escapes her sharp eyes. Much to Jules's annoyance.

Neighbors:

Miranda, daughter of Saul Turpentine, and closest neighbor of the Blazes. Also a subject of much interest for both Holden and Jules.

Holden Lacework, age sixteen, and his mother, Jessie Lacework, are also close neighbors of the Blazes.

The Evil Lord, Gehzurolle (pronounced as Geh-zoo-rawl) and his army of Scorpents. Their headquarters is in Euruliaf across the River, Brooke Beginning, in the Handover side of the territory.

Map Jules found.

A Recap of Keeper of Reign, Book 1

Jules Blazes lives a normal Elfie life—as normal as anyone who’s been cursed to stand only an inch tall. Thankfully, or maybe not thankfully, the entire Elfie people, like him, had been cursed too, when a Keeper, Falstaff, broke both the King’s sacred Gift, a Crown called Petra, and a promise to His Majesty. This happened several generations before Jules and his siblings’ time.

Still, sometimes Jules muses about what it would be like to be tall, especially since the terrain of the Kingdom of Reign and its surroundings has not changed its size despite the curse. And life might have continued as it always had been for Jules, except his grandparents drown in a boat accident and his mother is kidnapped by the Elfie’s archenemy, Gehzurolle. Jules and his siblings inadvertently uncover a precious stone, and Gehzurolle is bent on getting the gem for himself. Of course, it doesn’t help that Jules is an heir to the Ancient Book his mother kept. Keeper families have always invoked the wrath of Gehzurolle more than the ordinary Elfie. The evil lord understands the power of the Books and desires that the Elfies never find out the damage the Words in the Books can do him.

One event after another threatens Jules’ family. As their lives spiral down the road of no return, Jules is forced to use any resource he has left—which isn’t much—to seek his mother, the Ancient Book stolen from his family, and his younger siblings, who vanish into thin air one after another.

After making his journey to the land of Handover, Jules meets up with various individuals who play a part in determining his fate. With the help of an older Elfie, Abel Seacrest and his friendly squirrel, Blaise, and friends he makes along the way, Jules is able to find other Keepers who have been hiding in Handover.

Finally, as they meet in the underground cave back in Reign, Jules realizes the only way his family and his people could reverse the curse, regain their full stature, and rid the land of the plague of Gehzurolle and the Scorpent army, is to find the crown, Petra, and take it and his people to the Point. This task may sound easy enough, but Jules has no idea where the crown, supposedly dashed to pieces, could be. After all, it has been centuries. Sekt, Gehzurolle’s agent, uses his powers to distract Jules, diverting him from his primary goal and seducing him with his weakness: Miranda, his closest childhood friend and fellow Keeper heiress.

Chapter 1

Dead or Alive

Dead people cannot come back to life, right?

Jules rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and stared at the open doorway of the underground cave. The candles his dad had placed here and there on the ground in the vacuous room didn’t exactly illuminate the space. It was as if the room swallowed up the light that tried to brighten it. As the flames wavered and flickered, shadows in the corners shifted like ghouls. Stop imagining ghouls.

He sat up from his mat and looked at Ralston, who was sound asleep. Even an earthquake might not wake his brother. Sleeping—Ralston’s talent in life.

The last few days had been trying, not to mention tiring. Only now did Jules and his four siblings feel assured enough to rest without being plagued by nightmares of being annihilated by the evil Lord Gehzurolle. Or worse, by Scorpent threats when these vile creatures had thrown Jules and his friends into the death pits. Or the invisible Whisperer’s subtle suggestions that had wormed into their hearts; whisperings that there was no escape no matter where they hid. At least they had three working dragonfly lanterns left between them. The magical lanterns had covered them with light, keeping them shielded from the evil hunting them. Jules had some peace of mind after placing these protective lanterns next to each slumbering group.

Jules reached for the dragonfly lantern. Better make sure the light was covering him if he was going to check on that shadow by the cave door. He took a step forward, even though the hair at the back of his neck rose.

Could have just been a nightmare, he reassured himself. That apparition beckoning to him from the doorway must have been a dream—the outcome of his strained imagination influenced by the stress of the day’s events. How could Saul Turpentine—Miranda’s grandfather, who’d died in the fire at Jules’s home two days ago—visit them? Jules stood and cast a glance at Miranda, bundled in her cloak, looking cold and knocked out from exhaustion. Let her sleep, poor thing.

He thought of Saul, that evil, old man. Jules felt little affection for the elderly Keeper. Still, Saul had been his neighbor for as long as he could remember. His tree home was just a ten-minute run from Jules’s now destroyed home under the oak in the Kingdom of Reign—or what was left of it. Besides, Saul had been a close friend to his Grandpa Leroy. Even though Jules tried his darndest to abhor Saul for deceiving his grandparents and maybe even causing Grandpa Leroy and Grandma Bonnie to drown, Jules couldn’t muster more than pity for Miranda’s crazy grandfather.

Let the dead be, Grandpa Leroy would have said, if his grandfather had still been alive. If only he were still alive.

But, what if Saul was not dead? What if Saul was colluding with Gehzurolle’s agents to destroy the Blaze family and steal the Ancient Books from them, as Saul had tried to do all along? This could be true since they’d found the lost Ancient Book that had belonged to Flamethrower, the famous Elfie of long ago who was one of Eleazer’s sons.

A shiver like a wet finger ran up Jules’s back. He whisked the tattered cloak he’d been sleeping on off the mat and wrapped it about his shoulders, bony now thanks to the lack of food. The underground tunnels were a safe bet to stay in for the present, but living in these dank burrows would soon mean bitter cold for the small Elfies, what with winter around the corner.

Jules grabbed the lantern and strode to the doorway where the shadowy image had gestured to him. The bent figure had urged him to follow, before it ran—no, floated—farther into the tunnel, away from the cave Jules and his family had settled in. Could this be a lure, like how Saul had caught his fish with bait?

Holden! He would ask Holden to accompany him to check things out. His sometimes rival but most of the time best friend had helped him out before. Should he disturb Holden? Holden’s mother, Jessie Lacework, had drifted into that comatose sleep, and her fever had risen dangerously high. It might have affected her brain. Jules’s mother had wept when she’d heard this news.

No, he’d let Holden sleep. Jules would check things out himself. It was probably nothing.

Jules shrugged off his uneasiness and trudged on. He glanced behind him and squinted at the lumpy figure his three sisters made, all huddled together in a far corner, as if freezing to death. He scanned the next corner where his mother lay sleeping next to his dad, just steps from the girls. It was a good thing the cave was big enough to accommodate them. All eleven of them had lost their homes: his family, which included his parents and the five Blaze siblings; Holden and his mother; a stray neighbor, Mr. Knapp, who’d suddenly turned up, having lost his entire family when the locusts attacked; and Miranda, whom he still wasn’t sure he could trust completely.

When Jules arrived at the mouth of the cave, he peered into the tunnel. All was dark and quiet and the only movement came from the shadows his lantern made on the cave walls. He’d heard about a red ant hive two tunnels up and possibly even a family of mice two tunnels below them. He wondered if the shadowy figure might have been one of those creatures straying from its nest. He knelt and checked for ant scat or mice droppings. This wasn’t his favorite chore, but needful. Droppings or tracks were always surefire signs of trouble, as the Elfies only stood an inch tall since the curse centuries before.

After a few moments, Jules discovered nothing—the shadow was probably his hyper-alert senses. Enough of this nonsense, he scolded himself and turned back toward his sleeping area. If he didn’t get some shuteye he might just end up insane like Saul. Sleep deprivation had been known to play tricks on the mind.

Chapter 2

Trickery

Miranda knew she had to wake up earlier than her usual time so she could gather enough supplies and make her way to Handover, that land across Brooke Beginning. She’d already lost a day and wanted to catch up, feeling her mother, Chrystle, needed her somehow. Perhaps it was wishful thinking on her part. But having never met her mother, Miranda yearned to be of some use to her now that she’d found out that Chrystle was alive. Still, Chrystle had abandoned her as a baby. Would she truly want to see Miranda?

After all Miranda had gone through, she was in no mood to leave the relative comfort of the cave, even though it was bitterly cold underground. A fire in the middle would have made a welcoming difference, but Jon Blaze, Jules’ father, with his army training, had insisted a campfire would only announce their presence to their enemies, both Scorpents and agents of Gehzurolle. Also, predators like moles, ants, and other carnivorous, earth-dwelling insects would seek them out if any sign that lunch or dinner was present.

Do you want to wave a red flag to them? Jon had asked when she’d argued.

She wondered if her own father, Tennesson, would also shut her up the way Jon Blaze could. Tennesson, a Handoveran, must surely be less cautious than the Captain Blaze. She stretched her legs, yawned, and shook her head, her red hair spilling behind her back, swaying across her shoulders with each move. Time to get going and find her mother. Miranda wasn’t sure if she was looking forward to meeting Chrystle after so many years. True, Chrystle had abandoned her for Miranda’s own safety. Why leave her with Grandpa Saul, a self-serving old man consumed by bitterness?

That she should have reservations about meeting Chrystle was strange. She’d almost gotten her friends killed to get information leading to her mother.

Now, she realized the error of her ways, but weeks back when Whisperer had approached her, it had seemed reasonable to sacrifice her friends for news about her mother’s location.

What a fool Miranda had been!

From now on, she’d only do the right things. And those Ancient Books? She’d study them first before setting out, certain they held answers on how to proceed. Handover was a vast land with mountain ranges, hidden lakes, gorges, snake and death pits, and droves of Scorpents. Reign was a walk in the park compared to the land across the river, Brooke Beginning. But Miranda had no choice. Her heart quickened at the thought of Chrystle, and she couldn’t understand the urgency within her—as if her mother could be in trouble. Grave trouble.

Miranda stuffed her extra cloak into a woven backpack Jules’s mom had given her the night before. It belonged to Jessie Lacework, who wasn’t going to need one for a while.  A hand tapped her on her shoulder, and Miranda gasped.

Hey. Jules’ brown eyes glowed brightly as he gazed into her face.

You’re up early. I thought you said not even buzzing mosquitoes could wake you.

I lied. Besides, I’d already slept for two nights, and I wanted to say good-bye. You sure you don’t want to stay a few days?

She gathered the last of her things, stuffed them in the pack, and stood. My mother might need help. She was supposed to be here with Tennesson—or rather, my dad—but from what Ralston said, the Scorpents could already be ransacking her house in search of the chest. She dropped her eyes to the dragonfly lantern in Jules’s hand.

And you think you can help her? Jules said. She managed to avoid Scorpents over a dozen years on her own. She can take care of herself.

And I can’t?

Jules’s face fell, and she quickly added, I know you’re worried, but I’ll be fine. I’ll go to Tenne’s—I mean my dad’s—place first, and see what he has to say. Maybe he’ll come with me. He is my father, after all, even if I keep forgetting. She barked out a short laugh.

You can’t leave till after breakfast, Jules said with a grin.

That’s for sure. I wanted to study the Books, too. Maybe Jessie’s, with the maps. She tied her red hair into a loose knot at her nape. By now most of the Blazes had roused from sleep. Captain Jon Blaze came over as Erin gathered breakfast things.

Later, after the meal, Miranda got up to leave, but Erin’s hand stayed her.

Let’s look at the Books now, Erin said. She seemed paler than usual. What if Erin, too, fell ill? Like Jessie? Maybe they’d both been exposed to some disease borne by the Scorpents when they’d been kidnapped for weeks and imprisoned in that putrid dungeon under Brooke Beginning? Miranda’s stomach churned, and she felt queasy. It was all her fault. If she hadn’t fallen for Whisperer’s deception and stooped to bargaining with that evil schmuck, both Erin and Jessie wouldn’t have had to suffer.

What if Jessie died because of her? What could she do to make up for all the mistakes she’d made?

Chapter 3

Urgency

Jules brought out the three Ancient Books stowed behind Jessie’s cot, and together they took turns flipping the pages.

If we can find, Erin said, her voice hoarse, the slightest clue about the chest or the crown, it’d help tremendously. Finding the crown is vital. Without the crown, it’d be pointless even if we found the route to the Point. She giggled at her own joke.

Jules nodded. If Flamethrower had fallen near the waterfall, the crown would have been flung into the waters below. What if someone found the crown and hid it? This was centuries ago.

Holden pointed to a section within Flamethrower’s Book. Here! It was a rendition of the crown. Since the crown was under Flamethrower’s care it rightly belonged to Jon Blaze.

But the pages mentioned nothing of significance; at least, nothing that threw light on their questions.

After some discussion, Jules’s father closed the book. Miranda, you should stay another day. It’ll give us time to study this, and I can scout up there. He jerked his head to the cave ceiling. Make sure Scorpents aren’t loitering outside our cave entrance. Another day’s delay isn’t going to make much difference for you.

Miranda felt hot tears welling up behind her eyes. My mother could be in danger. She might need my help.

Jon’s gaze flickered toward Jessie Lacework. Give your mother some credit. Besides, we may need you here.

Miranda followed Jon’s gaze and suspected he was more concerned about Jessie’s condition than he was letting on. Mrs. L had been the mother she’d never had all those years. First, Saul had died. Surely Mrs. L wouldn’t be next? Her stomach churned, and she inhaled deeply to calm her nerves.

She turned to face Jules when he patted her shoulder. If Holden and I need to get help for Mrs. L, he said, it’d be good if you stayed. Looks like Mr. Knapp’s caught the bug, too.

Knapp had not wanted any breakfast, preferring to lie down instead.

Erin nodded thoughtfully. My Book has pictures of healing herbs. I know I planted some of those in our backyard. If we could only find some arnica, it would ease their pain. Maybe you can go look, Jules.

It’s probably incinerated, Jules said and turned back to the Book on his lap.

As it turned out, they came across some useful information in Flamethrower’s Book, even if it wasn’t about crowns or chests. Jules jabbed his finger at the drawings of candles with the three colored flames. That sure looks like Abel’s candle.

Miranda gazed at the mysterious tapers. Each taper was set in a different antique-looking candle holder, and some were even on a seven-pronged candelabrum with the middle candle having the three colored flames of red, white, and blue, on one wick.

"It is Flamethrower’s Book, so I suppose there should be some things about fire, Holden said. He flipped the pages even though the Book was resting on Jules’s lap. Maybe Abel Seacrest’s address is in here somewhere."

It would be good to locate him, Jules said. He rummaged about his cloak and brought out the odd-shaped whistle with the many holes Abel had gifted them. I’d never have thought this was a whistle, but it sure came in handy. The question is, where did Abel learn to design it?

Before they could continue, a commotion broke out in the far corner of the cave.

Help! Help! Jules’s little sisters Tippy and Tst Tst, who were playing by themselves, shouted.

Miranda gasped. Near one of the three doorways stood a woman with a man propped against one shoulder. A young girl about ten held the woman’s hand. Suddenly, the man slipped and fell to his knees as the girl doubled up and grunted as if in severe pain. What was this plague that had befallen so many?

What’s wrong? Erin said as she and Miranda dashed forward toward the sick family.

We were lost, the woman said, and we saw your light. She glanced at the dragonfly lantern next to breakfast area. I’m Talia. We were driven underground because of the locusts and stick insects that invaded our home. My husband and daughter have suddenly taken ill. Maybe we haven’t had enough water, or sunlight, or something. With that she too knelt and clutched her stomach, groaning.

Miranda leaned forward and checked the woman’s forehead. A high fever, just like Mrs. L’s. Looks like they all have it, whatever this is.

Let’s lay them in the corner, Jon said. Make that a sick area so we can keep an eye on the lot. I hope there’s not going to be more of us sick than well.

Knapp’s condition, too, seemed more serious. He’d slept on and was unable to wake up for more than a few seconds to drink before lapsing back into a deep slumber. He muttered in his sleep as if consumed by some stupor, a prisoner of his unconscious mind.

The task of studying the Books fell by the wayside. Miranda kept hoping she might have the chance to slip away for a few moments to gather her thoughts, but Jon was adamant about her fetching water from above. Keeping the younger kids, like Tst Tst and Tippy, occupied so they wouldn’t wander into the passages and become lost was needful, Jon stressed to her.

Besides, Jon said, someone might have stumbled across our entrance. The rock at the mouth of the tunnel had been tampered with, and there were signs of Scorpents. He, together with Holden and Jules, had just returned from a trip to gather some morsels of food: acorns that they’d have to soak and pulp to make a pasty soup for nourishment. It wasn’t exactly custard pudding, but it’d keep them alive.

Jon went on to describe what they saw. Large, webbed footprints meandered between the burnt conifers.

Were the Scorpents looking for signs of Elfie life, or were they specifically searching for Jules and his family, and hence, the Books? Miranda and her friends debated back and forth.

I’m sorry, Miranda, Jon said, raising his hand. But, as your de facto guardian, I command you to stay put for a bit. Maybe once the soldiers from my camp nearby arrive, they can accompany you to look for Chrystle. But you’re not traipsing on your own to Handover. That’s final.

Miranda locked eyes with Jules, her lips pressed together in a line. Jules must have been glad to have her here, but more than ever she felt the urgency to search for her mother. Why was Jules’s father being so pigheaded about this? It was well and fine for Jon to order her about. After all, his family was all around him. He’d even deserted his own soldiers to be close to them, so why couldn’t he understand that she needed to connect with her own flesh and blood?

With her grandfather gone, Chrystle was the only link she had to anyone she’d consider family. Of course, there was Tennesson, her Handoveran father. But, not only had she never met the man, she’d never considered his existence from the beginning of time, and couldn’t see how she could relate to a Handoveran, let alone call him