Chapter One

The Boy and the Stone

Ellis Dankworth is just a normal, dark-brown hair green eyed, gangly, thirteen-year-old farm boy. He lives with his parents, Basil and Sonia, and his twin sister, Sophia. His father a tall, lean, and broad man with dark brown hair, and elvish features. His mother blonde, with green eyes, and a beautifully rounded face and rosy lips. His mother can easy be mistaken for a socialite except for the farm dress she wears. Sophia is a lot like her brother, but obviously female. His whole family has owned their land through the generation's past. The house has a bedroom, living area, and kitchen on the ground floor. On the second floor is where Ellis and Sophia each have a bedroom. The homestead farm, on a plot of land that is twenty acres, has a barn with a couple of cows for milk and a horse for when they take sellable items, too heavy to carry to town. The house and barn sit on a good forty acres. Ellis never thought that his family could ever be magical or somehow in anyway be special; with a name like Dankworth, what would you expect a family's occupation to be.

The fields were just re-plowed, and he was out in the field replanting crops for next season. His father was inside the house, not yet up. Ellis wanted to prove that he can be more help in the fields than just the seeding. It seems no matter what, he will always be lanky and small. An hour later and the field a third of the way done, he stops and wipes the sweat from his brow and continues on until he trips and falls on the ground. He lifts his head and sees a very unusual stone. Working a field, you find stones all the time. This stone is brown, but also translucent and almost perfectly round. It shines like no other stone ever has before. He grabs hold of it and stands up. As soon as he grabs it, he can feel a vibration coming from the stone. On closer inspection, he sees a symbol, an upside-down triangle with a horizontal line through it, inscribed on one side of it.

Ellis hears the front door slam shut, thinking that it might be his father at last, he shoves the stone into his pocket and resumes his work. Not long after, his sister appears, Sophia sneaks up from behind him, scaring him and spilling some of the seeds.

"Ellis, accompany me to town?" she asks pleading while kneeling and helping to pick up the scattered seeds.

"Soph, I'm not finished with my chores yet. Besides, what do you need to do in town?" resuming with his work, after retrieving the seeds from his sister; from the house he sees their dog bounding up to them. "Hey Bean," Ellis shouts to their gray wolf hound. Bean runs up, places his two front paws on Ellis' chest, causing him to fall over on his backside. Now he is completely covered in mud.

Sophia pouting says, "let dad finish it, you know mom and dad likes it better when we stick together; anyway, they are setting up for the Spring festival or didn't you notice last week all the traveling merchants riding into town?"

"Of course, but it doesn't mean you have to go right this minute, does it?" Ellis replies.

Still pouting, Sophia explains that her friends will most likely be hanging around the town center and gossiping until the festival actually officially opens.

"Fine but let me go clean myself up and I will talk to dad about it, let's go," he sighs in resignation.

"Yeah, you are filthier than usual" Sophia starts giggling at her brother's appearance, with mud all down his front. In fact, the entirety of his body, from head to toe, is covered in mud. Before entering the house, he removes his muddy shoes.

Upon entering the house, with his sister, they stop and listen to hear that their parents are having a very serious discussion. When he steps closer with Sophia close behind him, he hears them whispers more clearly, but not to the point of actually understanding what was being said. Mid-sentence, his parents stop their discussion and turn to him and his sister.

"Hey buddy, I was just about to come join you to finish in the field" his dad says to Ellis with a smile on his face until he gets a closer look at his son's face. "Why...?"

"What were you guys discussing?" Ellis interrupts.

"Nothing you need to worry about, sweetheart" his mother said. "You both seem worried for some reason" Sophia comes in and notes their parents worried expressions.

Their father changes the topic by asking, "Did you finish the planting in the field already?"

"Nooo... I came in to ask, well... Soph wants me to go with her to town, seeing as the two of you won't let us go alone." Ellis states. "She really wants to hang out with her friends and see the preparations for the festival." He continues before either of his parents can interrupts.

"I don't see why not; Go clean up and you can go, and your father will finish up in the field for today" his mother and father softly laugh. Going separate ways, Sophia heads to her room to get changed, while Ellis heads out to the barrel that is filled with water at the front of the house. Taking a towel with him to clean the mud off of his exposed skin, then heads to his room and strips off his muddied clothes, pulling on his clean clothes. he puts the stone from his dirtied clothes to the pocket of the clothes he is now wearing, and heads out the door to his room, he stops at the bottom of the steps and tries again to listen in on what his parents are talking about in whispers. Not understanding or hearing anything of import, he heads out of the house and to meet up with his sister. She is wearing her good dress; one she wears to appear like she belongs in upper society. "You trying to impress someone other than your friends?" he jokes with a smirk; earning him a punch on the arm from his sister. Bean bounds up to Ellis, jumps up and places his front paws on Ellis' chest. "Get down, boy, I just got clean from earlier" Ellis laughs.

Ten minutes later...

Ellis and Sophia find themselves on their way to the hustle and bustle of town, with Bean following behind. Sophia is in the middle of telling her brother an embarrassing story about her friend: "…and then while she was talking to the boy she likes, she never noticed that her dress was stuck in the door so when Georgie tries to walk off with him, the door pulled back, causing her dress to tear." Sophia finishes choke laughing with tears streaming down her cheeks. Ellis gives a slight laugh; he usually doesn't laugh at others' expenses. Every once and a while Bean would wander off, chasing every little thing that moves, causing the children to laugh.

***

The town that they live in; is a quaint, and small place by the name of Keld. Keld sits between mountains and forests. The lake is to the East with a path leading from the road. There also is a forest leading out of the village, just south of the lake. A line of trees separating the Dankworth farm from the village. The town sits with its back to the mountains. There are two ways in and out: the east side has a forest path; and the south side road goes by the fields and the Dankworth's farm. In the summer the children of the town can be seen swimming in that lake. In the winter that same lake freezes over which is perfect for ice skating.

There is at the center of town: the mayor's house, where he conducts most of his business. Spreading outward, on either side of the mayors' place, are those of the shops, such as the baker, the blacksmith, a tailor, and even a tavern/inn. What village isn't complete without a tavern. Keld is a place where everybody knows everyone else. Entering from the southside of town, the twins first get a glimpse of heavily armed, men and women, presumably soldiers. The townspeople are keeping an eye on the weapons of these certain individuals, while also setting up for the Spring festival. The decorations that are being hung-up all-over town consist of: colorful-flowered garland, colored pennants, streamers, and a maypole. Children are running around the adults' feet, chasing each other and letting streamer trail in the air behind them.

"Why are there so many men and women armed?" Sophia asked her brother. He shrugs just as baffled.

A woman who was walking close by overhears and turns to reply, "As I hear it, that someone very important is looking for something. Whatever it is warrants and armed guard." The woman hurriedly and worriedly turns away and goes back to her own business.

Ellis and Sophia continue walking along the road when they see a group of chattering, giggling girls; her friends Nadia, Georgie, and Kara gossiping in front of the sweet shop. Nadia is dark-skinned with black curly hair, yellow pleated dress with brown sturdy boots. Her parents run the tavern in town. Georgie is sweet, and quiet always listening. She has big, yellow ringlets. Big green, round eyes. She is wearing a floral-printed dress with calf high brown boots. Her parents are a seamstress and a cobbler. Kara the self-appointed leader of the group because her father just happens to be the mayor. She has straight, black hair and Asian-like features. Her dress is in a red bouffant style with black ankle length boots. Sophia runs off to join in their discussion, leaving Ellis and Bean to wander nearby.

"So much for me accompanying you," Ellis whispers. Having always felt like an outsider and never able to fit in or make any friends, starts wondering off away from his sister and her giggling friends.

He spots three individuals; he particularly does not want to meet these three because every time they all come face to face, they find every which way to bully Ellis in some form or fashion. Ellis tries to turn his back, to look inconspicuous, trying to find something in the tailor's shop window interesting enough that his tormenters do not notice him.

Unfortunately, the leader, Garrett, is the biggest and meanest and ugliest is followed by his cronies Norton and Samson, are heading straight down the street right at Ellis. A little bit about Garrett and his friends first of all. We will start with Norton: he is tall, with greasy, black hair, orb-like black eyes, and pimples on his face. Samson is shorter with curly hair, and he is the brother of Nadia.

Garrett spots Ellis first. "Well, well, well. Look what we have here, boys. Our favorite punching bag, I mean, playmate." Garrett smirks; trying to look contrite. "Come on guys, aren't you guys tired of beating me up already." Ellis weakly tries to get Garrett and his cronies to back off. Ellis sees that Garrett looks like he is puzzling over the changing of targets. 'His face looks like he's in pain from all that thinking,' Ellis wisely keeps that thought to himself. "Naw, you are too much fun," Garrett finally answers after thinking it over for a moment. Just as quickly, without any warning, he brings his fist up to hit Ellis. Ellis closes his eyes waiting for the pain of Garrett's fist against face, but it never comes. He opens his eyes and sees Garrett's fist is grasped by one of the armed men's grip, that was walking by at that precise moment.

"Now boy, I know you ain't just about to hit a smaller boy than yourself."

"No sir, why would I do that, we were just messing about," Garrett says laughing it off jokingly, but with fear in his eyes.

Ellis rolls his eyes. And the man replies sternly, and with a snorting grunt; "I thought so."

"Thanks Mister, but I could have handled them," Ellis says bravely. "I'm sure you could, just thought I'd step in just the same, didn't want any injuries on my watch; knowing I could have stopped things from getting out of hand, but didn't. Now, you run along so those boys don't decide to come back and finish things once I'm gone," The man says to Ellis. "You don't to need worry I'm going," Ellis slighting chuckles. Just as he was leaving, he turns back to ask the man a question and he is already gone. Shrugging Ellis continues on his way.

Ellis heads away and goes to check out the sweetshop to see if there are any new sweets on display, being a small town, the shop doesn't get any new sweets very often. Leaving Bean outside he kicks the dust of his boots and enters the shop. While looking around he notices a few new pieces confections and chocolates but grabs a few of his go to sweets and some of the new chocolates for his sister who has a giant sweet tooth and takes the sweets and carries them up to the counter to buy with the money he earns from doing chores on the farm. Ellis decides to stay and chat with the shopkeeper. After chatting for a while, he heads outside and seeing that his sister is still with her friends. He leans up against the side of the building, bored.

He takes out the stone out his pocket to examine it better. When he holds it up to the sun, he discovers that the stone has a bit of a green shine to it, and it starts to vibrate. He can feel power coursing through him, like it's coming from the stone and…him?

Out of the corner of his eye, he is vaguely aware of a rough looking man eying him and the shining coming from the stone with a distinct symbol in the center. The man walks over to Ellis, who is leaning up against the side of a building while examining the stone, walks up to him with his sword out and says sardonically:

"Where did you get this?"

Bean, who is sitting next Ellis, growls drawing people's attention to them.

In the crowded marketplace where people are wandering gathered together; it doesn't take long for a crowd to appear; trying to find out where and what the commotion is about. Generally, people living in a small place are always in everyone's business. When the man snatches Ellis' hand trying to grab at the stone, they struggle. Ellis stomps on the man's foot. When suddenly, they feel a shock wave rippling up through the ground into their feet and throughout their body, and everyone else's in about point five kilometers, that sends everyone falling back off their feet. There are startled yelps along with a whine from Bean.

"What did you just do!?" the soldier accuses thinking that Ellis had something to do with the Tremors, fearfully. Bean threateningly growls and barks at the man startling him into letting Ellis go.

"Ellis, it's time to run!" Sophia says coming up behind him and whispering into his ear than grabs his hand, the one not holding the stone, and takes off towards home.

The twins don't stop running until they arrive back at the edge of the farm, stopping to catch their breath before heading inside the house and so that they can act normal in front of their parents. "What is that stone, Ellis, and where did you get it? More importantly, why do you have it? Why are you carrying it around?" Rushing to ask the questions that come flowing out of her mouth.

"Where did that earthquake come from, did it really come from this little stone?" 'This cannot be, the stone cannot possibly have caused such an enormous tremor?' Ellis quietly thinks.

"Did that stone cause it?" his sister continues her rapid-fire questions, and her questions were making his head ache, more than it does, making him unable to think. He can tell his sister doesn't really want an answer right now, she always had the confidence in knowing what to do or to say in a situation, and not knowing is freaking her out.

"Soph, will you calm down and be quiet, I don't even know what is going on either, we will figure this all out together in time so just be quiet" Ellis replied rather forcefully. Bean has been whining this whole time, looks like with everything that has happened, it has spooked the poor fellow. His sister is looking a little hurt, that he immediately feels ashamed about his outburst that he apologizes to her, "I'm sorry, I'm just as scared as you."

"What should we tell mom and dad? And do even tell them?" Sophia asks. "You know it's going to be all over town by now, so mom and dad are eventually going to find out."

"Looks like dad's done in the fields," Ellis observes, glad he doesn't have to face his parents right away with what happened in town today, he decides to go to his quiet place where he likes to think and to be alone. He is pretty sure Sophia doesn't know about it.

"What should we tell mom and dad?" Sophia asks. Not getting a response from her brother, she turns around and finds that Ellis is nowhere to be found, but she sees Bean digging in the ground close by. "Huff," rolling her eyes, she heads into the house.

"I'm starving, I haven't had anything to eat for lunch and all I have is a bag of candy." Sophia starts to say as she steps through the door; inside she finds her parents sitting at the kitchen table, talking with dinner cooking on the stove. From the tone of their voice, it seems serious, she walks forward quietly, close enough to the kitchen and hears her mother say: "Do you think we should tell the children what is happening?" "It might be wise if we send the children away, split them up to protect them. Send Sophia to stay with my brother and Ellis will stay with your father." All too soon, her parents move onto small talk while her mother continues making dinner. Sophia takes a deep breath, exhales and walks into to the kitchen.

"How does the town look with the festival preparations?" their mother asks, while finishing up making dinner with her back to them. "Once the Spring Festival starts, we all will have to attend together." Finally, she turns around and sees her daughter's faces with a hint of worry still there. "Where is your brother?" Sophia shrugs and her mother sighs. Go clean yourselves up than we can have dinner."

***

Ellis walks into the tree line at the boundaries of the farm and continues on until he finds a small grove with a lone tree in the center. He walks up to the tree, using the limbs of the tree, he climbs. He finds his usual branch that he sits on and rests his back against the trunk and his feet freely hanging. Once he is comfortable, he brings out the stone. "Earlier, I thought I could feel power coming from you, but now not so much. Did I just imagine all that along with everyone else that was there, like some sort of mass hallucination?" Ellis continues to talk out loud to get his thoughts straight. No matter how long he sits there, staring at this lump of rock, he cannot seem to make any more sense out of it.