Telltale flashes of redness heralded the arrival of another visitor to the odd grotto. A tall red-haired remarkably handsome male with a heart shaped birthmark on his left cheek stood on the red tiles. The new arrival had the stature of a Drelve and height of a Droll. His light skin didn’t approach the paleness of a Mender and lacked the orange-yellow hues common to Drelves. Long orange-red hair flowed behind his dark robe. He carried no weapon, rubbed his heart-shaped birthmark, and surveyed the chamber.

“Master,” the she-demon said reverently.

Eight-legged, eight-eyed Arachnis bowed deeply and said, “My Lord. You look like the Dark Sorcerer Boton Klarje Jhundi.”

The tall male announced, “Good observation, my friend. I suppose you’ve learned of DECKSTEQ’s foolishness. Ages ago a sorcerer dispelled his *** back to the Gray Abyss. Returning unceremoniously taught him nothing. Now he’s managed to get caught in Boton’s Pentagram. His foolhardiness opened another promising world to us, but I first must return my attention to the home world. I have another task for you, my pretty. You’ll need your guile. Let them dream a little dream of you! When Stryker returns, Arachnis, you must Translocate and join our lovely compatriot and me in the World of the Three Suns.”

Albträume, elf dreams, nightmares…

The female visitor’s strangely attractive face entered his dream. Horrific and vaguely female, the creature had fiery red eyes, unsightly wings, and long muscular arms ending in long curved talons, which were covered in dark ichors.

“Did you like my gift?” she queried.

“How did you accomplish the deed?” Saligia answered.

“I did so as you, General Saligia. The bewildered eyes of Hennery’s inner circle saw you tear down the gates, rip three guards to pieces, approach the renegade, and tear Hennery apart. You left with his head. Now they think you a shaman and warrior. His worthless spawn Hennery the Ninth beat a straight path to Aulgmoor to bow before you and kiss your ***. You will not be challenged north of the Ornash River. But as my colleague told you, trouble stirs to the south, and the Drelves disrespect you. Listen well to your new ally. The Droll has means to deliver the promises etched on the parchment you received,” she replied.

“I may as well ask the question that has been in my mind since you first invaded my dreams. What do you want from me?” Saligia replied.

Talking in his sleep no longer surprised the Kiennite. Hearing Lord Saligia’s mumbling no longer alarmed Cu Seven when he guarded the General’s chambers.

“A simple task. My Master wants you to deliver a Drelve Spellweaver,” the female responded.

“I’ll gladly hew any Spellweavers I find, Your Master can have their heads, their hands, their whole cursed bodies,” Saligia growled.

“Alive. Alive, Lord Saligia. My Master requires you bring the Spellweaver to him alive,” Amica answered.

“We have the Chalice of Mystery. We paid for it with many lives,” Knarra sighed.

“So we must obtain a Locating Potion. Someone who is not a sorcerer must drink the potion from the chalice- the chalice is an evil thing which we have kept hidden for almost a millennium. If we attain and imbibe the Locating Potion, we will have knowledge of the sword’s resting place. We will need the ‘Gate Key” which is the greatest of Magick keys- it is rumored in the treasures of the Banshee΄, the wailing witch of the Lachinor. We’ll have to find her lair, traverse it, defeat her, and then take the key somewhere to open the door to a labyrinth. If we negotiate the labyrinth, we gain a weapon created to kill us! Then we must carry the blade, find, and destroy a demon that survived the efforts of eight light sorcerers including the greatest that ever lived- easy!” Roscoe rambled.

“At least we don’t have to find the Chalice. It has rested in the ambry within the Bag of Concealment confined by the spells that you and the gray dragon cast eight hundred years ago. I have never touched the Chalice of Mystery. We must gather our resources. But our foe will gain power by influencing others. We will need the assistance of the Lord of Ooranth, Calaiz. We will need Eyerthrein, Kyrsstina, Dael, Cyttia, and the Queen of Donothor. We will need the bearer of Exeter. Young Vanni has likely assumed the role of Captain of the Rangers. We will need the Staves of Sagain. I will carry one. Queen Cara will carry the Staff of Clysis. A descendant of Morlecainen must carry his staff,” Knarra said.

“Where will you find a descendant of Morlecainen?” Roscoe asked.

“You must safeguard the staff for the time being,” Knarra said.

It was too late. The entire party danced. It was impossible to control their weapons or effectively conjure. They heard faint pounding from the hallway- their comrades tried to reopen the portal to the room.

Ravenna sang, “I’m going to dance all night. I’m going to dance all night.”

She shook her red hair wildly and twisted her backside in a rhythmic fashion.

“What sort of beast is this?” Brenda asked as she pirouetted.

“They are usually the life… and death of many parties. The sounds create a mass charm type effect. You can’t help but feel the power of the sounds. Wow! He really knows how to sing the ‘blues’!” Knarra said- she interrupted her comments and shook awhile.

She continued, “The boogie man isn’t dangerous alone. It’s more mischievous and fond of drink, Magick items, and ‘bling’- gaudy things. The boogie man will ally for such rewards with other creatures; its antics tire out potential adversaries. I…”

She was really getting down.

 

Hi I’m Benjamin Towe author of the Elfdreams and Donothor series .and I’m your host for this stop in the tour.

 

This is your post for the ACOA Scavenger Hunt and I am pleased to be hosting MICHELLE LOWE, in her post you will find a number, not in written text, but as a numerical number. Write it down and collect them all as you visit every post along the way. Good Luck!

 

Art Gallery link: http://www.michellelowe.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Legacy-Art-Gallery.pdf

 

Michelle E. Lowe is the author of The Warning, Atlantic Pyramid, Cherished Thief, the action adventure/fantasy novel with the elements of Steampunk, titled Legacy. Children’s books, Poe’s Haunted House Tour, and the three part adventure children’s series, The Hex Hunt. She is also a mother, wife, and painter. Her works in progress are the continuations for Legacy. Currently, she lives in Lake Forest, California.

Book excerpt:

Pierce Landcross’s strange dream about 21 flying machines drifted from memory. Again he tried holding onto the images, yet they slipped away as his eyes opened. He remembered nothing.

He awakened in his hotel room after a day’s sleep. He’d arrived just the evening before, tired and hungry. After eating at the downstairs pub, he’d come up to his room and fallen asleep the moment he’d hit the mattress. He’d stayed in the same position on his belly until his body fully restored its restfulness. With a groan and a deep yawn, he got out of bed, stretched, and went over to the washbasin. After cleaning his face and the rest of the sleep away, he looked at himself in the mirror. The room glowed with the afternoon light, giving him a clear view of his scar.

It was his daily reminder of betrayal and heartbreak. Every detail of that horrible night played out in significant fragments; the punch that brought him down, the knife, the look on the assailant’s face, and then the abandonment. Every time he touched the scar, he could almost feel the dull, yet jagged blade tearing across his skin.

He shook off the memory and splashed more water on his face. His stomach ached for food. He also needed to find a ship willing to let him onboard before the royal guards caught up to him. He’d go anywhere as long as it was hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away.

 
Legacy Art Gallery: http://www.michellelowe.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Legacy-Art-Gallery.pdf

 

Legacy First Two Chapters: http://www.michellelowe.net/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Legacy-first-two-chapters.pdf

 

Website: www.michellelowe.net

 

Facebook: Facebook.com/michelleloweauthor

 

Twitter: @MichelleLowe_7

Legacy: https://www.facebook.com/legacynovelseries?ref=hl

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3n8AH-zNW8&feature=youtu.be

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Atlantic-Pyramid-Michelle-Lowe-ebook/dp/B00LBO3NQ2/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Atlantic-Pyramid-Michelle-Lowe/dp/1502826712

 

Scavenger Hunt Hint:

The number for your clue will not be written in text, but it will be numeral. Tally all the numbers you find during the hunt and tally them together. This final number will be an entry in the Rafflecopter on the ENTER HERE page on the official website – http://acoascavengerhunt.weebly.com/enter-here.html

If you get stuck along the way because you of a broken link, please visit the

AUTHORS LINK page http://acoascavengerhunt.weebly.com/authors-links.html

 

 

Did you find the number? If you did, then click this author’s link MICHELLE LOWE – http://www.michellelowe.net/wordpress/?p=62 to continue the Scavenger Hunt.

 

 

 

The beating of the great wings created turbulence in the air. The tall mountains resembled small dunes far below. Beyond the mountains, a plain came into view and in the distance a great river appeared as a rivulet. There was a speck upon the plain. As the winged creature descended, the speck changed to a large keep strategically situated upon a minor plateau rising above the plain. The walls were filled with alarmed defenders. Panic ensued with the approach of the hulking beast. The air was filled with arrows fired from the wall. A few struck the approaching creature but were no more than a nuisance. The great wings stopped beating and were extended in a fixed position. A great whistling sound filled the air. The gargantuan began to coast downward and prepared for a landing. The defenders rushed to self-protective positions. Taekora landed anyway. The arrows continued. Frustrated, Taekora inhaled deeply and exhaled, not Dragonfire, just Dragon breath, but it was enough to knock most of the defenders to the seat of their pants. Taekora then roared.
Knarra rushed into the enceinte, the quadrangle of the Fane of the Setting Sun. The massive, angry, ancient, prismatic Dragon stood on its stocky hind legs and beat its wings. The force kept the defenders on the ground.
Knarra stood before the beast. The tresses of the Priestess flew madly in the great wind but Knarra had no difficulty standing.
“You are messing up my hair, Taekora!” Knarra said emphatically.
“I’ve not received a very warm reception my old friend,” the massive Dragon answered, stopping her wings.

The messenger rushed to the leader’s quarters.
“Halt!” the heavily armored much taller guard commanded.
Breathless, the runner answered, “I bear tidings for General Saligia.”
“The General is not to be disturbed. He is…busy,” the guard answered evasively.
“I must be heard!” the messenger replied, and bent down and grasped his tattered leggings for support.
“You can tell me,” the guard haughtily answered.
“You don’t want to be the bearer of these tidings,” the messenger sighed.
“Why not?” the guard queried.
“I’d best tell only the general,” the runner insisted.
“Then you can wait here until he wakes up. Lord Saligia was involved in negotiations of the highest order with the Drollen chiefs. Something’s afoot. I don’t want to wake him. He awaits the return of the High Shaman Melphat. I think the brothers plan something major, messenger. I really don’t want to awaken the General,” the guard insisted.
“My friend, the general must hear my communication. I’m not going away,” the tired sprinter continued.
“It’s your funeral! Go on in, but I warn you, the General had a lot of the Drolls’ mead. I suspect he is quite hung over. Come with me,” the guard answered.
The guard led the messenger down a dimly lit corridor to a heavy wooden door. Tentatively the guard raised his hand and pecked on the door.
“He’ll never hear that,” the envoy fumed.
“OK! OK! I fear for my hide! You are getting us both tarred and feathered!” the guard argued. He hammered on the door.
A disgruntled voice answered from within, “This had better be good.”
“I’m sorry, my lord. There is a courier from the Gap Keep. He insists on hailing you,” the guard submissively replied.
“Enter,” the gruff voice commanded.
The messenger sighed and stepped forward as the guard opened the door to the General’s chamber.
“My lord, may I speak?” the exhausted courier asked.
“I certainly hope you have something to say. I was dreaming of the Belles of Thabell, the most beautiful ladies of our ilk. Say your peace and let me return to my rest. In fact, I want you to sing your message,” the hulking Kiennite demanded.
“It’s difficult, Lord Saligia…” the courier stammered.
“Get on with it!” Saligia demanded.
“I can’t sing, Lord Saligia. And the matter…” the envoy pleaded.
“Sing! **** you! Sing!” the commanded demanded.
“I…I should like…” the beleaguered messenger pleaded.
“I’m not going to say it again! Sing!” Saligia commanded.
“Yes, Lord Saligia. Please remember you insisted,” the cowering courier added.
Saligia clenched his fist and muttered, “Sing!”
“La, la, la, la, la, la, your brother’s dead!” the messenger crooned.
“What? What the…” Saligia gawked.
“La, la, la, la, la, la, he fell in the woods near Alm’s Glen,” the messenger continued, plaintively trying to carry a tune.
“Shut up!” the guard demanded.
“Do you speak the truth?” Saligia asked.
“Unfortunately, Lord Melphat was found dead near the Lone Oak. He and four Drollen companions were slaughtered. Lieutenant Moochie of the Drolls found only the veteran Gruth alive. Moochie’s brother Phastin was among the dead. The Drolls found Drelvish arrows among the carcasses. Here is the scepter Lord Melphat carried. I was dispatched to inform you,” the courier added.
He extended the scepter of Aulgmoor and gave the old ornamental device to Lord Saligia.
“The Scepter of Aulgmoor. My brother would never part from this in life,” Saligia muttered.
“I’m sorry, Lord Saligia,” the wyvern hide clad courier muttered.
The guard looked to the courier and said, “You should be sorry. You are the worst vocalist I’ve ever heard.”

Garnetberries were also among the favorite foods of displacer bears, rare beasts also called mountain airy bears. Displacer bears inhabited mountainous regions and oft vanished right before an observer’s eyes. Actually they were very good chameleons…and displacers. The deceptively intelligent beasts had a natural ability of Magick that always made them appear to be three feet to the right, left, front, or rear of their actual position. Displacer bears were akin to infamous six-legged panthers with horny-ridged tentacles growing out of their shoulders that lived in deep swamps. A hungry mountain airy bear neared the hidden garnetberry patch. About the only thing the beasts enjoyed more on their menu than garnetberries was Blue Pegasus and young sorcerer. The wily beast used its camouflage ability and took advantage of the ill-advised inattentiveness of the sorcerer and Pegasus to get near its intended prey. Then with a roar, the creature lunged at Boton. The young sorcerer narrowly avoided the airy bear’s slashing talons.
Dean stopped munching on berries and lamented, “Alas. If the airy bear doesn’t kill me, I’ve got to face Maranna and admit to getting you in trouble. But I’ve got a sorcerer with me! Attack him, Boton! He’s not where he appears to be!”
The young sorcerer scurried behind a rock outcropping with the airy bear hot on his heels. the angry bear crashed into the rock about three feet to the left of where Boton saw him and gave the young sorcerer time to roll aside and get some separation from the beast. the bear’s talons missed his flesh but ripped Boton’s riding cloak.
“What do you mean, he’s not where he appears to be? Attack with what?” the youth finally managed. He ran, reached a cluster of thick underbrush that would at least slow down the airy bear, rolled under the brush, and scooted behind a tree.
“Use a spell!” Dean urged.
The Pegasus reared on his back legs, belted the areas to the left of the large hazy furry shape, and missed. The mountain airy bear concentrated on making Boton his meal and ignored Dean’s coming up behind him. The airy bear roared, swiped its massive paw backward, and delivered a raking blow to Dean’s left foreleg. Dean withdrew and Boton used the opportunity to mosey up the hill a bit and sneak behind another clump of bushes.
“Do something!” Dean shouted again as he limped across the meadow with the large bear close behind him.
Boton yelled to the bear, “Go away, bear! Is he like Urra the Cloudmare? Your hooves passed right through him!”
The airy bear swiped at Dean again. the winged equine jumped aside and screamed, “No, he’s got the ability to appear where he is not. I suppose he resents our taking what he thinks are his garnetberries! Use a spell!”
Boton hesitated.
Dean struck to the right of the bear’s apparent position and actually hit the beast! The Pegasus then flew away from the bear’s grasp. The frustrated predator turned its attention back to Boton.
“Cast something! Do something! Run, then!” Dean clamored. The bear neared the youth.
Boton chose the latter and ran as fast as he could toward another clump of trees, but the growling animal closed the gap. Anger changed the animal’s hue to red orange. Sensing Boton was in deep trouble, Dean flew as fast as his wings would carry him, kicked furiously three feet behind the bear’s image, delivered hoof blows to the animal’s back, and knocked the beast off balance. The bear fell to the ground and gave Boton enough time to reach the trees. The bear soon again gave chase, ripped the underbrush asunder, and exposed Boton to attack.
Dean again slipped between the predator and its intended prey. The Pegasus reared and flailed his forelegs wildly. He scored a lucky blow to the beast’s sensitive nose. The bear howled, moved backward, and fell into the Rainbow Luck Tree. The force of impact knocked one of the red fruits from the branch. The unripe cherry bomb exploded and ripped large wounds into the beast. The animal’s ichors fell to the ground three feet to the left of where the beast appeared to stand, all in all creating a macabre scene. Blood flowed from invisible wounds and splattered onto the ground at the base of the Rainbow Luck Tree. The wounded mountain airy bear yelped and scampered away.
Dean licked his wounded leg, and Boton wiped his forehead in relief.
Dean avowed, “You can’t fight worth a hoot, Boton!”
Boton protested, “I didn’t want to hurt him, Dean.”
Dean answered in bewilderment, “Hurt him! He was trying to eat us!”

Boton wandered to the fringe of the clearing. The young Dark Sorcerer was drawn to an unusual tree, which was thirteen feet tall and covered by small cherry sized fruits; the little fruits were red, green, blue, black, white, and polychromatic (multiple colors). In addition to the brightly colored fruits, the bush bore translucent fruits. He could see through the fruit. There were thirteen fruits of each variety. He extended his hand to pluck one of the fruits from the tree when he heard Dean scream, “No! Stop!”
“Why?” Boton asked incredulously.
“That’s a rainbow bush. Some call it a Luck Tree. The fruits are of different colors. It always has thirteen fruits of each color. If one of the colored berries is picked, another takes it place. But the fruit is originally translucent. The clear ones change only after a colored one is picked. Lore holds there are only two of these trees in existence, this one and another in the Hanging Gardens,” Dean answered.
“Have you been to the Hanging Gardens? Are they not in ruin?” Boton energetically interrupted.
“No, my inquisitive friend, I’ve never been to the wondrous oasis in the Veldt Deseert. And, yes, Maranna, who has been to the Gardens, says they do fall into ruin, but for the Old Plants. The Old Plants may be all that yet exists of the wondrous gardens. I know of only this Rainbow Luck Tree. My father before me visited this location. As you can see by looking at the clear fruits, there are no seeds. How it began, no one knows. The Old Plants are as the Old Ones, long-living, poorly understood, and presumed only legend by many. This tree never grows taller, and legend holds that only the Magick of a Wish Spell can transplant, destroy, or graft the tree,” Dean replied.
“I can see the fruits. Are they poisonous? Why else would you have stopped me?” Boton asked.
“You were about to pick one of the red berries. It’s not ripe yet. If you pick it too soon, it’ll blow up in your hand. The red berries are called cherry bombs. If they are allowed to ripen, you can eat them, but one and only one. That’s only one per person per lifetime. It’s the Magick of the Tree. If you eat one of the red berries after it ripens, you will feel hot; eating the white berry will make you feel cold; you will taste mint if you eat a green one; eating the black berry will create a slight burning sensation beneath your skin; devouring the blue berry will give you a little shock; finally, eating the chromatic fruit will give brilliant hues to your skin. All the effects will be brief. Nothing happens if you eat a second of the same color. A lingering and valuable benefit of eating the berries of the Rainbow Luck Bush is resistance to the effects of the breath of the dragon of the same color as the berry that you eat. You should know one other thing, Boton. If picked when they ripen and dried, the red ones explode when thrown. You must know exactly when to pick them, else they explode in your hand, as I said before. The rainbow bush produces cherry bombs only once each season. These should not be picked for another fortnight,” Dean replied.