Tag: Book Cover

As the final book of The Primortus Chronicles, PLAGUED PRIMORTUS, nears publication, it’s the perfect time to read  an excerpt from book 2. 

Skylee suddenly sensed the weight of her amulet against her skin. It felt neither hot nor cold. Yet her desire to read her Humusara was stronger than ever. Perhaps it could answer her questions. She pulled the book from her backpack, removed her necklace and placed the amulet inside the diamond-shaped carving in the cover. As usual, it began its miraculous transformation, going from a new-looking journal to a wornand weathered volume of ancient writings.

I never get tired of seeing that, thought Skylee, grinning down at her Humusara as she opened it. Instantly, words begin to shimmer across the page. She glanced up totell Will, but he and Airon seemed enthralled in conversation. Turning around in her seat, she looked at Chrism, who had moved to the back of the glider, and was in her own world with loud music blasting from her E-buds. I’ll tell them later. She peered down atthe aged pages and read.

EXTINGUISHING THE MAN ABLAZE

WILL BRING ABOUT A TOXIC HAZE,

REVEALING FEELINGS LEFT UNSAID

UPON THE TRACK THAT LIES AHEAD.

Hmm, I don’t like the sound of that…toxic haze. She frowned, remembering her trip to the Maori Village where Ashley had used some kind of gaseous concoction on her mom. And he might have succeeded in kidnapping her if Skylee hadn’t stopped him by using the tree’s roots and limbs. Wait a minute, she thought as the words came together in her mind. Ashley Hayes…Haze…that can’t be his real name. The book’s pages fluttered, bringing her eyes back to the paper as itfell open to a new spot. Oh goody, she thought, rolling her eyes, more riddles.

THY HEART SHALL BE CONSUMED BY FLAME,

AND LOVE BE JUDGED OF GUILT AND BLAME.

THE NINE WILL GATHER ONE TO TEST

AND TWO MUST PART AT THEIR BEHEST.

My heart consumed by flames…really? Skylee covered her eyes for a moment and then peeked through her fingers to look down at the shimmering words again. Nine will gather one to test, she reread, dropping her hand as her eyebrows shot up. Nine who, or what? Oh brother, how am I supposed to know what that means?

Skylee glanced at Ann, who still seemed engrossed with something on her V-phone. Of course, she knew Will’s mom had a point about making sure her powers weren’t seen. But it kind of hurt her feelings that she hadn’t even seemed grateful that she’d saved her son from becoming a crispy critter. Skylee exhaled loudly.

“Sky,” Will said looking at herover his shoulder. “You okay?”

Every head in the glider turned inher direction. Oh, hey guys, my Humusara just told me my heart’s gonna burst into flames at any moment, she imagined herself saying. Psssh—nevermind! Shegazed up at them and said, “Yep, I’m good.”

“Well, my neck hurts like heck,” Chrism said in a scratchy voice. “And thanks for asking.”

Airon immediately moved back to sit next to her sister. He took Chrism’s hand and spoke to her in soft tones. How does she do that? Skylee wondered,shaking her head. In any case, she was glad the focus was on Chrism so shecould get back to her Humusara. Looking down, she watched the shimmering wordsfrom her last riddle replaced with new ones.

“Wow, guess you’re feeling chatty today,” she whispered to her book.

TAKE HEED

OF EARS, WHICH LISTEN BUT DO NOT HEAR,

OF EYES, WHICH SEE ALTHOUGH NOT CLEAR,

OF MOUTHS, WHICH SPEAK BUT WILL NOT SAY,

THEIR WORDS, THEIR SIGHT, THEIR SECRET WAY.

“Ugh,” Skylee sighed, pulling her Humusara to her chest and hugging it tightly. Why riddles? I mean really, what’s wrong with plain English, like—Watch out! Brinfrost ahead, turnback! Now that would be more useful. But at the moment all she had was more questions, and chief among them was why the Arcamentum had guided her to Brinfrost.