Aldara's Quest (Ashes to Ashes)

Ashes to Ashes (Aldara’s Quest)

Jessica Boone & Mandie Bowers

Copyright 2011 Jessica Boone & Mandie Bowers

Smashwords Edition

Acknowledgments from Jessica

I would like to thank Mandie for listening and sharing in Aldara’s journey with me, for falling in love with a world and helping to keep me on track with the story. I fully intend to ensure that the remaining books continue to get better.

Mr. Brian Berg for helping me with the getting the book to print and his help with the cover; without him I fear my technical limitations would have left me unable to deliver these books.

Justin Kirby for being one of the first to read the book and for all of your help in the editing process.

John Jensen for helping to rectify some final correctional errors and for his help with future books in this series as well.

Juno Kerr for his amazing artwork; he never ceases to amaze me with all that he does.

My wonderful husband Travis Boone and my sons Andrew and Ethan, for supporting me in working towards my writing dream. You guys are my world and the most important thing to me is to make you proud.

My amazing parents Brett and Teresa DeLaHunt for all the support they have given me in my life. I love you and am so lucky to have you!

All of my friends who have supported me and have waited extremely patiently for the hardcover copy to come out! This book is only a beginning and it may still need work but I am grateful to all of you for supporting me! Thank you.

Lastly, to Randy - for all of your knowledge in the art of body language!

Acknowledgements from Mandie

I would like to thank Jessica for her randomness. For saying to me: Hey! You wanna help me write a book? We would not have ever made this accomplishment. For her constant support in a personal matter that was going on while writing it, and making sure that we still continued on our task.

My insomnia: for allowing me to have to the time to write this book, whilst working sixty plus hours per week.

My kids for reminding me that dreams are attainable and imaginations aren’t only for them.

My family for raving to everyone that I’m a published writer…it helps me smile!

And to facebook, for reuniting Jessica and I after 12 years (yeah, I know).

Writing a book is definitely a much more challenging task than I initially thought. I am a creator, and my mind never lacks for things to come up with. For this book I lacked a formal editor and the help of any professionals, which may mean there are some technical errors in the book that have not been corrected. I thoroughly apologize in advance for any such mistakes. I hope that in future books, with support from readers and friends, that I can gather enough interest from people for a chance to get more assistance with the production of this series.

This story is created with much love for all of the characters and I fully intend to deliver some stellar follow-ups. Bear with me over the hiccups. It will get better I am told.

Ashes to Ashes is proof that you can achieve anything you dream of if you put your mind (and fingers) to it.

Thanks for being with me on this incredible journey!

Throughout the book there are many types of creatures you will see. All are based from creatures used in Greek Mythology or other ancient cultures. They are not necessarily used as they are defined, so please don’t expect them to be. This story is my creative adaption using some of these creatures. In order to help you here are some of the definitions of these characters as defined when I researched them also the definitions for Aldara and Idris which is what helped me in their name selection.

Aldra- Winged Gift

Idris- Fiery Leader

Mogwai- According to Chinese tradition, mogwai are certain demons, which often inflict harm on humans. They are said to reproduce sexually during mating seasons triggered by the coming of rain. Supposedly, they take care to breed at these times because rain signifies rich and full times ahead.

The term mo derives from the Sanskrit Mara, meaning 'evil beings'. In Hinduism and Buddhism, Mara determines fates of death and desire that tether people to an unending cycle of reincarnation and suffering. He leads people to sin, misdeeds and self-destruction. Meanwhile, gui does not necessarily mean 'evil' or demonic spirits. Classically, it simply means deceased spirits or souls of the dead. Nevertheless, in modern Chinese, it has evolved to refer usually to the dead spirits or ghosts of non-family members that may take vengeance on living humans who caused them pain when they were still living. It is common for the living to redress their sins by sacrificing money to gui by burning (usually fake) paper banknotes so that gui can have funds to use in their afterlife.

Sprite- The term sprite is a broad term referring to a number of preternatural legendary creatures. The term is generally used in reference to elf-like creatures, including fairies, and similar beings (although not earth beings),[1] but can also signify various spiritual beings, including ghosts.

Zeus- God and Ruler of the Realms

Dryad-are tree nymphs in Greek mythology. In Greek drys signifies 'oak,' from an Indo-European root *derew(o)- 'tree' or 'wood'. Thus Dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees,[1 though the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general.

Waldgeist- The term Waldgeist is German for ‘woodland spirit’, believed by ancient pagans to be the custodians of the forest. The Waldgeist spirit was believed to live in the forest and be the protector of those with 'pure spirit' who entered the forest. If you are able to spot a Waldgeist in the trees it is said to be good luck.A Waldgeist was often depicted in carved wooden form with leaves or twigs for hair and beard. They have a variety of forms the most common being an old man. It was believed that Waldgeists could foretell the future and were sought for this purpose. The term 'knock on wood' was believed to have originated with hunters and woodsmen who would upon entering the forest knock on a large old tree to awaken the Waldgeist to ensure no evil came to them. Waldgeist were known for their playfulness and mischievousness. They were known to like to play tricks on people but could also be good and would grant wishes if a person was felt to have a kind heart.

Meliae- In GreekHYPERLINK http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_mythology mythology, the Meliae or Meliai (were nymphs of the ash tree, whose name they shared. They appeared from the drops of blood spilled when Cronus castrated Uranus, according to Hesiod, Theogony 187. From the same blood sprang the Erinyes, suggesting that the ash-tree nymphs represented the Fates in milder guise. From the Meliae sprang the race of mankind of the Age of Bronz.

Tallemaja or Huldra from old Norwegian folklore-The huldra is a stunningly beautiful, sometimes naked woman with long hair; though from behind she is hollow like an old tree trunk, and has an animal's tail. In Norway, she has a cow's tail, and in Sweden she may have that of a cow or a fox. Further in the north of Sweden, the tail can be entirely omitted in favor of her hollow or bark-covered back

Chapter One

As plumes of smoke poured across the gloomy horizon, she stood in front of what was once her home, the only home she had ever known. With her home reduced to a few remnants of a standing foundation, Aldara watched the ashes dancing in the wind, swirling and raining down on her from all directions – completely engulfing her in the sulfuric cloud that had descended upon her village. She looked on with emerald eyes agape with fear, her wine red hair tangled and matted to her ivory skin amidst the chaos that surrounded her. The fire, while it had lost much of its intensity, continued to burn so hot that her blood began to boil, turning her fair complexion into a crimson rage. She could feel the rage, palpable, lingering in the air as the magic in her blood tingled in response.

No one believed her when she foretold of an imminent threat years ago. They never believed her. No matter how afraid she was, no matter how many people she told, they would just smile at her, pat her on the head and tell her that she was just imagining things. Monsters didn’t exist, they had told her. She was too little to be worried about such things. She knew most of them thought she was just a silly child with an overactive imagination. Who would believe a seven year old when she is telling them that someone or something is coming to kill them all? After a time and after hearing a lot of whispers about her, her parents convinced her that she must never talk about her visions again. They told her the village elders would never believe such nonsense nor allow anything that went against the laws of the village. She must keep her visions to herself. So she did.

For years nothing happened and she began to believe that it must have been he imagination. Her village was safe. Her people were going to be fine. Nothing could touch them where they were, just as her parents promised. The forest would protect them all like it always had.

Since then, she had experienced many other visions and none had ever come to pass. The older she got, the better she understood how crazy these visions must have seemed. By the time she was twelve, she was old enough to realize if she didn’t want to be shunned by the people of her village she had to keep the things she saw to herself. So she did just that, and she was able to maintain a normal life in the village. But nothing she had ever seen or sensed could have prepared her for the events that had unfolded. Now she was alone, her parents dead and gone. She realized as she looked around that everyone she has ever known or loved had perished in the fires.

Everything she owned was turned to ash, the entire village wiped out. All because she hadn’t believed in her abilities. Should have made them believe. Should have made them hear me...

All these thoughts swam through her head as she wandered the ash covered lanes of what was once home hoping that someone, anyone, would still be alive. She knew that whoever had come and set the town ablaze and left. She could sense it, just as she had sensed that they were coming. No one would ever be made aware of what had happened. The village she once called home had been so small most people didn’t even know it existed.

There is no one here, no one alive She told herself. She did the only thing she could do in that moment of realization.

Run.

She ran as far and as fast as she could into the woods, headed straight for the only place she knew she would be able to seek peace from the horror behind her. It seemed like days had passed, though it had only taken her minutes to run the few miles to her secret sanctuary. It was a shelter whose existence was known by only herself and Idris, her best friend.

Idris.

The name brought a stab of red hot pain to her stomach that nearly made her stumble as she ran. They had been friends since they were in diapers. Most thought it was strange she shared such a bond with a boy, a very handsome boy at that. Yet Aldara never looked upon Idris in such a way. Being around him felt as natural as breathing. However, Aldara was forced to assume that her best friend was gone along with everything else form her beloved village, which now lay in ashen ruin. The inseparable pair had never told anyone about their hideout in the woods. It was far beyond the boundaries the elders had in place around the village and they would never have allowed them to travel so far.

Nearing the cabin, she saw the tree-lined stream behind it, and slowed down while taking in as much air as her lungs would allow. Reaching the stream, she dropped to her knees and scooped water into her scorched dry mouth, hoping to cleanse the taste of the ash from her tongue. She thought about how she would never see her best friend again. How their spot would never again be theirs. Their own secret hideout from the world.

As far as she was concerned, right now the world no longer existed. The people she cared the most about were all dead.

She was alone, just like in her visions.

She would always be alone.

She wept openly now, her wet tears forming rivers of sadness in the ash that clung to her face. She gasped, choking back more tears as she faced the reality that had been so cruelly thrust upon her. Aldara had gone from being safe and loved to orphaned and alone in a matter of hours. This was a horrific realization for a seventeen year old girl to process. Idris remained most prevalent in her mind. He was her closest friend, her confidant. What will I do without him, she thought. She felt her heart breaking over the thought of losing him. She sat there by the stream for what could have been days or months. She wasn’t sure. But finally the tears slowed and then stopped all together, leaving behind a sad and hollow feeling coupled with a strange new sense of determination.

She lifted her head to the sky and tried to gather her thoughts. She needed a plan. She had always been wise beyond her years. An old soul, her village elders had called her. Something would come to her.

She looked around for something to eat, knowing she wouldn’t make it much further if she didn’t. Thankfully, the forest had always been bountiful. This was the way her people had lived for decades. Off the land, not out of grocery stores and online shopping like the rest of the world. Her people believed the world had been tainted by technology and corrupted by government. Years ago, her family, along with several other families had simply vanished from the rest of the world. They had started their own colony, putting down roots in a vast forest that no one else had ever seemed to know (or possibly care) existed. They cultivated crops, built their own shops, cabins that were elegantly crafted, yet simple. They learned to hunt and gather.

Growing up in the village, everything they could ever need was within walking distance. The forest was all around them. The adults had only to gather their bows and step a few feet from their homes to find their dinners. The children were taught from an early age which plants were edible, what berries they were to gather. As they reached maturity they were sent out in groups to gather for the village. Life was simple for their people. Anything they ever needed for shelter or sustenance existed all around them in the woods.

They had their religion too. They prayed to the goddesses of the forest for protection. These were deities that had since been forgotten by the rest of the world. A lot of good that did for them, she thought. Where were these beloved goddesses when their village was faced with complete annihilation?

Perhaps this was the reason the rest of the world had cast these deities aside in the first place.

She herself didn’t even know that there was an outside world until the visions started. She saw visions