Magic Invitation: Kalendra Chronicles Book One Read online

  Books by Barbara Ferrier:

  Kalendra Chronicles – Prequel

  Summon the Elven Mage

  Kalendra Chronicles – Book One

  Magic Invitation

  Kalendra Chronicles – Book Two

  The Ancient City

  Kalendra Chronicles – Book Three

  Broken Magic

  Kalendra Chronicles – Book Four

  Awaken the Ancestors

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  https://dl.bookfunnel.com/74fv4e3uge

  Copyright 2021

  Barbara Ferrier

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, Places, characters, and incidents are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All Rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part without express written permission of the copyright holder.

  Thank you so much for your hard work:

  Editor: Leonora Bulbeck

  Formatter: Nola Li Barr

  To my three daughters, whose support and

  Encouragement has made all the difference. Thank you.

  I am proud of each of you.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Thank you for reading my books!

  Keep In Touch

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Jaime went to grab his shoes from his closet, but a worn leather-bound book floated before his eyes. He slammed the door and stepped away. Panic surged through his body and he stared at the closet door.

  “What’s going on?” Tahendra asked.

  “It’s, um … I don’t know.” He shook his head to clear it, then turned to her with a look of bewilderment on his face. “Let me try that again. I … I thought...”

  She walked across the room and stood next to Jaime.

  He opened the door again. The worn book was still there. She gasped. The two looked at one another and back to the floating book. It felt like it was waiting to talk to them. Jaime hoped it was a practical joke and tried to see how it was suspended. He circled the book with his arm. There were no strings.

  “What is it?” Tahendra said. “I mean …” Her heart pounded.

  They looked to each other, then Jaime grabbed it out of the air. The book was heavier than he expected. He walked across his bedroom to the couches and coffee table near the bay window. He began thumbing through the pages. Tahendra watched intently. As he turned the pages, she saw drawings and handwriting in different colored inks. Jaime continued looking through it completely confused. Tahendra saw landscapes where planets filled the sky. The land was exceptionally rugged with steep cliffs. The book was filled with drawings of another world.

  “This doesn’t make sense. What was it doing in my closet?” Jaime said.

  He put the book on the coffee table and walked back to the closet hoping to find an explanation. Tahendra moved closer to the book. It felt alive. She took a deep breath, then gathered her courage and picked it up.

  Tahendra pored over the worn leather-bound journal. The parchment paper was creased and yellowed. She tried to read an entry, but the story broke off. The writing turned to scribbles. When she turned the page, words of reassurance said, I can do this! I’m going to be okay. I think I’m dreaming. She turned the page again and read … have I come here to die alone? She tried to piece the story together. It seemed whoever owned this journal held on to their sanity by writing every thought. Some stories and drawings disintegrated into frightened scribbles. As she flipped through the pages, beautiful illustrations of another world were accompanied by stories of people the owner had met.

  She found detailed maps made with bright colors as if they’d been embossed in the parchment. Clouds moved across them. She flipped through the pages again and stopped at a stylized line drawing of a man’s face; Underneath the drawing it read Time Traveler. Tahendra felt a jolt surge through her body. She knew that person, even in this cryptic line drawing. But how? It’s someone’s old book, she reminded herself. Why was there a moving map?

  She looked over at Jaime who was sitting on the floor drawing.

  “I think this is a real place and we need to go there,” she declared.

  “What?” Jaime responded in confusion. “Go where?”

  She held up the book. “We need to know more. For some weird reason I know this place. Even one of the people. I have no idea why.” she said shaking her head.

  “It’s definitely a strange book,” Jaime said. “It didn’t make sense.”

  Tahendra flipped the page back to the map and showed it to Jaime. His eyes scanned the map and he saw the clouds move.

  “I think it’s someone’s journal. I think the writer was freaking out: I was at work. Now I’m here. Am I dead? The man in white said it will make sense in time... If I’m dreaming, why can’t I wake up? The last thing I remember I was examining a petroglyph, deciphering the language beneath.”

  They were both quiet. Jaime was stunned. “Uncle Kris?” He and Tahendra met eyes.

  “When I was a kid, whenever we went to grandmas for vacation, he and I stayed up late. After everyone was asleep, he told me crazy stories about people he met in his travels as if he’d gone to a very different place.” Jaime laughed. “Remember those stories he told us at Thanksgiving? Mom always cut him off, said he had to be an archaeologist so he could invent what people thought.” Jaime shrugged. “I think you’re right. This is his.”

  “I loved his stories at Thanksgiving. How can we talk to him?” she asked.

  A secret knock tapped on the door. Sam and Kassara arrived. Jaime closed the door behind them very quietly with his finger to his lips. Then he whispered, “We were just talking about going camping this weekend,” he said. Tahendra nodded. “If my uncle’s home, I want to stop by his cabin.” Then silently, ‘Don’t let my mom know.’” In a normal voice he said, “Camping in the morning. I’ll pick you up at nine.” He smiled.

  “Cool. I’m ready for the mountains,” Kassara said. Sam and Tahendra agreed. “I’ll get my chores done tonight so I can leave early.”

  “Thanks for the escape, man,” Sam said. Jaime nodded.

  Chapter 2

  Jaime, Tahendra, Kassara, and Sam drove through dense forest, up a winding road over a steep rocky pass with views of blue and purple cliffs. The road descended into dense woods along a fast-running river. The rain forest was gorgeous. Storm clouds were gathering.

  “Talk about off the beaten path. I haven’t seen a house in miles,” Kassara exclaimed.

  “I know. Uncle Kris changed his whole life,” Jaime said. “Started carving wood, writing stories. I can’t wait to see him.” Tahendra nodded.

  Jaime turned onto a narrow road and drove under a tall archway. The cobblestone drive wended deep into the woods and the
y arrived at a carved wooden bridge and Kris’s stone cabin.

  “I hope he’s home. It’s been a long time,” Jaime said as he parked. The four got out of the car. Jaime slipped his pack on. They walked across the wooden bridge carved with geometric shapes. Tahendra noticed designs she’d seen in the journal.

  Jaime walked up the path as Kris came from behind the house, his arms filled with firewood.

  “May I help you?” he asked.

  “Uncle!” Jaime exclaimed grabbing the wood. “You know Tah.”

  Kris smiled broadly. “Welcome, Tah. I’m glad you’re here.” She smiled back, happy to see Kris.

  “And this is Kassara.”

  Kris extended his hand to greet Kassara, met her eyes and put her completely at ease. Running up from the car was Sam, who dropped his metal water bottle. He reached down to get it and his sleeping bag fell off his pack.

  “This is my friend Sam,” Jaime said.

  Kris held out a hand. Sam tried to seem at ease. “So, this is where you live,” he said awkwardly.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty far out in the boonies. Welcome.” Sam looked at the ground.

  “I’m glad we’re here,” Jaime said. “It’s been way too long since you and I talked.”

  “Definitely.” Kris smiled broadly. “Do you need help with your bags?”

  “We’re good,” Jaime replied. As everyone went inside, Sam followed, carrying a few other things that had fallen out of his pack.

  “I didn’t know how to get in touch except showing up at your door,” Jaime said. “Our plan was to go camping and stop by just in case you were home. Is this okay?”

  “You and your friends are always welcome in my world, Jaime,” Kris said with a broad grin. “This morning I put a big pot of stew on the fire. You’ve arrived with impeccable timing. Lunch will be ready shortly. Choose your bunks. This will be more fun than camping. It’s getting stormy out there.”

  The friends got settled in. The guest room had four large wood-framed beds, fresh linens, and soft, cozy blankets. When they returned, the fire glowed in the beautiful stone fireplace. They settled into the living room just as a downpour hit the skylights and windows. Thunder rumbled outside.

  Jaime anxiously held out the ragged leather book. “This was in my closet. Do you recognize it?”

  “Where did you find that? I’ve looked all over for it,” Kris took the journal from Jaime with a puzzled look across his face.

  “It was weird, Uncle Kris,” Jaime said nervously. “It was waiting for us. It was floating in the air in my closet, like it wanted to talk to us.”

  “When I saw the drawings,” Tahendra said. “for some reason they were familiar. I knew it was someone’s journal from another world. But it was the world from my dreams. I didn’t know anyone else knew my dreams. One picture jarred something … but I just don’t remember …,” she shrugged. “We thought it was yours.”

  “I loved the stories you used to tell,” Jaime said. “You said the Maiden of the Forest gave you an Easy stone from her river to make your days go smoothly. I remember begging for one of those. What is this place?”

  Jaime opened the book near the center and showed them a series of drawings of a plateau divided by steep cliffs. Huge rain clouds covered the sky.

  “Oh, well, there? That’s the Divide,” Kris said as he pointed at the page. “Masterful piece of geology. Nothing but trouble if you need to get across. Believe me. That place nearly killed me. I broke bones when I fell from the ridge. You’ve got to watch out for the wind.” He stroked his rib cage on his right side, then looked up and smiled at the four good friends.

  “Thank you so much for coming to visit and bringing me my journal. I’m glad you’re here. I trust you’ll stay. School must be about to start.” The four nodded.

  “What is this place?” Jaime asked as he thumbed through the journal. I know you told me stories of going somewhere. I thought they were stories. You went here? How? Jaime and Tahendra looked intently at Kris, demanding an explanation.

  Kris nodded to them, then turned to Sam and Kassara.

  “What I’m going to share involves both of you. You wouldn’t be here otherwise. As Jaime and Tah’s good friends, I extend my trust to each of you. I want to thank you in advance for that. I’m going to tell you about an extremely strange and unusual experience. You will likely think I’m insane, and I don’t blame you one bit. I was certain. I assure you this is a true story.”

  Kris met Kassara’s eyes. She nodded. He turned to Sam who was hunched over on the couch, fidgeting. When he realized that Kris was looking at him, he nodded. Kris placed his hand on Sam’s shoulder very gently. “Thanks, man,” He said. “I appreciate it.” Sam nodded again.

  Kris held up his old journal and thumbed through the pages, stopping at the detailed maps Kelne emblazoned on the pages the day he arrived there. The maps had a red and gold banner across the top which read Lands of Kalendra. Clouds moved across the map. Kris handed Kassara the book, then put a log on the fire and motioned to the four friends to sit at the large wooden table.

  “Everything about that trip was unexpected. But going to Kalendra,” he shook his head in dismay. “I don’t know how I found that place. Maybe it found me,” he said to himself. Then he looked at each of them. “My crazy adventure began when I went to Europe on a little vacation.” Kris stood at the end of the table, facing them four.

  “I was in a train station in Paris. I couldn’t decide where I wanted to go. A tiny old man with a teeny green vest and a tall top hat came out of the crowd and hailed me down. I bent low to hear what he had to say. He told me to stare at the whole list of train station destinations on the wall. Stare until one pops off the wall, were his exact words. I did. When you stare at all of them together, usually one will jump out. He said I must go there, that I would have the best experience choosing my travels that way.

  “I decided to see if he was right, so I gave it a try. I bought a ticket to the first city that popped and went there for dinner.” A huge grin came over Kris’s face as he lit up. “Whenever I made decisions that way, the results suited me. Things went exceptionally well.”

  Kris smiled warmly at the four friends and filled their bowls with stew. He put the large cast-iron pot down and pulled fresh baked bread from the oven, sliced it, and put butter on the table. The fresh sourdough aroma and the stew filled the room. The four visitors nodded their thanks, buttered their bread, and began to eat.

  “The words travel south popped out at me three times in a row one morning,” he shrugged and threw his hands up, “so I hopped on the train. I went as far south as I could. The train line ended at some port. I don’t know where. It was to the city that popped,” he laughed. “There was a night market though, and that was where I met my friend, Edwardo. He had food piled high in the corridor and needed to take it to a large ship behind the market. So, I helped him and off we went. His jeep was waiting across the water. We were in some desert.”

  “Edwardo’s greatest pleasure was bringing feasts to the rural villages. He loved cooking up a party for people who lived out there. I saw a part of humanity I didn’t know before. As I spent time around the campfires in the villages, I saw the world differently.

  “A young boy, Sammy, gave me a woven eagle he’d made. Jonea, his grandfather, performed a ceremony to give me the sight and hearing of an eagle. I felt quite different, and I told Edwardo. “‘The magic of the villagers has pierced your heart.’ Edwardo wasn’t crazy. He understood,” Kris said.

  “At the next town, I met a magic woman, and my whole life changed. She sang with the voice of an angel.” Kris laid his hand on his heart, “about time travelers in another world ... She led me down a long, narrow staircase behind the village to an archaeology site and gave me a small carving.

  “She looked in my eyes and held my hand. ‘I’ve waited for you. Please protect the ancient people.’

  “She gave me a small carved toy. Then I watched her walk across the archaeological
site to this big circular carving in the wall.... There was a bright flash, and she was gone …”

  He turned to acknowledge his guests. “I was insane, right? I mean … there are very few explanations. I can’t really think of any ...”

  Kris looked over to the table and met Kassara’s eyes, then Sam’s, then Jaime’s and Tahendra’s, and slowly shook his head.

  “Edwardo had left in an emergency so I couldn’t tell anyone.”

  “I looked around the site, hoping someone else was there. I saw Jim, the only archaeologist who still worked there, sitting at a makeshift desk. I asked him to tell me about the colorful carving. I offered to draw it for him. He was delighted and said it would help him translate the symbols and stories. He handed me a blank journal and several pens of different colors,” he pointed to his journal. “He already had translations for several symbols. I wrote them down. Kris opened the book to the front. “When I stood up, I must have brushed against the stone carving because all of the sudden I stood on a high plateau in the clouds. I was in another world completely. I had arrived in Kalendra.”

  Kris handed his journal to Jaime who showed it to his friends. Jaime flipped through the drawings and came across one with three moons. “This place is crazy. How many moons does it have?”