Melforger (The Melforger Chronicles) (40 page)

Every instinct urged Raf to go home as fast as possible, to leave behind the searing heat and endless sand, and curl up safe and secure inside their sycamore
Ancient
.

But Bolyai’s right, if we don’t find a cure, then the whole Forest will die.

He sighed and shook his head.
The foresters will just have to look after themselves
.

He took a breath of the warm air and walked up to Tiponi and Bolyai. The Elder turned to look at him out of the corner of his eye.

“Well?”

Raf nodded resolutely. “Let’s go.”

Without another word, Tiponi set off, the other two following closely behind him, their sandals kicking up sprays of fine sand.

The palm tree stood silently watching them depart, its two armored trunks extending majestically into the sky, the sole reminder of what was once the sprawling oasis of Kastiyya. The bright green fronds at the very top rustled and swayed coyly, as the desert breeze welcomed the first new
Ancient
in centuries.

End of Book 1

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

There are many people to whom I am in-debted for their help in writing Melforger, whether it was for their feedback, their patience, their
e
ncouragement or their practical help.

Most of all, though, I’d like to just thank them for believing in me.

Those of us in life who are surrounded by wonderful, inspiring people, as I am, are the lucky ones.