Folk Lore

ISBN
             
1480205478

EAN
             
978-1480205475

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

'Folk Lore
' is published by Taylor Street Publishing LLC, who can be contacted at:

http://www.taylorstreetbooks.com

http://ninwriters.ning.com

'Folk Lore
' is the copyright of the author, Joanne Ellis, 2012. All rights are reserved.

All characters are fictional, and any resemblance to anyone living or dead is accidental.

Mecaldorf

“Cornelius, is your spell ready?” Mecaldorf asked of his protégé who, at two hundred and thirteen human years, was a young warlock.

“Yes, Master, I am ready.”

Mecaldorf and Cornelius edged closer towards The Mystic Garden where the Pixie Princess, Nermina, collected flowers by the river and her protector, Nermo, although not close to her, stood alert for any imminent danger.

Little did he know he would not perform his assigned duties well
today.

“Cornelius, now!” the Wizard Mecaldorf said in a fierce whisper.

The warlock began his incantation which was only the first of many the wizard had planned for the inhabitants of The Mystic Land.

1

Princess Seraphina

Sera sang happily as she brushed out her hair, waiting for Sam to collect her. Sam was her best friend and she’d known him for as long as she could remember. The male version of her, as she liked to joke, he could very well have passed as her brother. With the same dark wavy locks and dark blue eyes, she often wondered if they‘d been separated at birth, even though they’d never actually gone a day without seeing each other and, of course, at twenty-one, he was a year older.

Always having viewed Sam as an older brother and friend, there were no romantic feelings whatsoever, no matter how much her mother, Anna, pushed the issue. For his age Sam was strong and quite buff, and if she didn’t consider him a friend, she would think him incredibly attractive. He’d been very popular with the girls at school but he wasn’t remotely interested in them. Sera could never understand why. Never short of attention herself, she supposed she was like Sam in this way too as she’d yet to meet anyone she wanted to date.

She added the last touches to her eyes before switching off the music playing at top volume. She decided to wait for Sam in the living room once she’d located her mother, Anna, to say goodbye. Anna was an older version of Sera and she looked more like an older sister than her mother. Sera always hoped she would age as well as her.

As Anna read Tarot Cards for a living, there were clients waiting to see her in the office that branched off from the main living area when Sera walked past. She claimed to have always been psychic, as was her mother before for, and informed Sera continuously that one day she would be able to source her psyche too.
Sera wasn’t
holding her breath; she didn’t believe in clairvoyance. Although Sera didn’t actually know what she wanted to do with her life, she knew it wasn’t reading fortunes.

Since leaving school the previous year, she had thrown around a few ideas with Anna who suggested perhaps she could take a year away from study before deciding what she wanted to do with her life. Sera thus far had still failed to decide.

As her father - who died when she was a toddler - had been wealthy, money really wasn’t an issue. Anna had said they were from ‘old money' and Sera often wondered what this actually meant. When it came to her father, Anna was vague. Sam’s family were in a similar position. He never appeared to be in any hurry to pursue a career either.

Anna plunged coffee in the kitchen as Sera flopped onto the couch to wait for Anna and Sam. Sera disliked waiting immensely and therefore had been deemed extremely impatient more times than she cared to remember, which also went hand-in-hand with her particularly inquisitive nature. Whenever meeting someone of interest, her endless curious questions would have put the Spanish Inquisition to shame. Sera knew this about
herself
, but to her wisdom was power.

When the doorbell rang, assuming it was
Sam,
Sera sang out a goodbye to Anna and rushed to answer the door. What she discovered instead of her best friend were two of the most beautiful people she’d ever seen, both with pale white blonde hair and blue eyes almost as pale, similar to the colour ice can appear when it assumes a blue tone. They were breath-taking. They were almost surreal.

The girl’s hair was very long, slightly wavy and cascading down to finish at the small of her back. She was tall - taller than Sera who
was
tall for a girl - and willowy, while her lips and cheeks were quite pink against her stark pale skin.

The man stood behind her, albeit close as though he was guarding her against imminent danger. Sera decided he was the most incredible looking man she’d ever encountered. His hair finished slightly above his collar with a kink and was dishevelled, as though he’d run his hand through it only recently. It was messy in a
styled sort of manner. His lips and skin were the same in hue as those of his companion.

“Good morning, Seraphina,” the female said in a melodic voice. “Is Annaphina at home?” 

For several moments Sera merely stared. How did this beautiful woman know her and her mother? Who was the wonderfully striking man with her? She was awestruck by his ethereal beauty and presence.

Sera looked him over as long as politely possible and couldn’t help but notice his hard, lean body beneath his strange olive green leather, she assumed, pants and square cut vest. His arms, as pale as his face, looked firm and strong. He too, was tall - slightly taller than her.

“Seraphina?” she spoke again. “Are you unwell?” 

Sera shook her head to tear herself out of her reverie and her assimilation of the man before her.

“Um, yes, I’ll get her for you. Would you like to come in?”

“Yes, thank you.” 

The female walked gracefully, as though floating, and her companion followed her without saying a word.
Sera was
in the process of closing the door when Sam bounded up the stairs towards her. He always managed to appear out of nowhere and she could never quite understand how he did this.

“Hey, Sam,” she called. “Come in. My mum has ... guests … and I just have to let her know.”

“No problem,” he replied. “The movie doesn’t start for an hour.” 

She closed the door behind him and turned to the two pale figures in her living room, both opting to remain standing.

“Sam this is ...” She stopped, realising she didn’t actually know who they were.

“Keela, Keelor, what are you doing here?” Sam exclaimed.

“Something has occurred and we need to convene the chosen and their elders. Sampson, you will of course be required to accompany Seraphina.”

“What is going on here?” Sera asked.

“She doesn’t know?” the male finally spoke.

“Annaphina has decided to wait until the time is right, Keelor.”

“The time is now.”

“What is going on here? How do you know these people, Sampson?”  Sera asked, now totally confused.

“Forgive our presence which is foreign to you, Princess. We didn’t realise you were unaware of your heritage.”  Sera almost missed his brief study of her face as Keelor turned to Sam. “Sampson, next time you address Keela, please do so appropriately.”

“I beg your pardon, Princess Keela.”

“Forgiven, Sampson.
Alas Keelor can be a little overzealous at times. I understand your need for discretion.”

“What is going on?
Sam, who are the Chosen?”
Sera asked again.

“I think I’d better answer your questions, Seraphina,” Anna told her daughter as she entered the room. “I’ve rescheduled my clients so we can talk. Please make yourselves comfortable. Would you like refreshments?”

They all shook their heads.

“Mum, what is going on here?”

“I knew one day I would have to tell you who you are, but I’ve put it off for as long as possible. Since you came of age I knew it would only be a matter of time. I’ll tell you all about who they are and how it affects you in a moment, honey, but first I wish to find out what has happened for them to venture from ... home.”

“Please forgive our intrusion, Elder Annaphina, however the Chosen must assemble at once. Nermina has been abducted and Nermo incapacitated. We believe it may be the work of Mecaldorf,” Keela said.

“Do you think he intends to use her as ransom?”

“Yes, Elder Kalar believes this to be his intention. She has foreseen Mecaldorf recruiting lost folk. We believe one of these folk is responsible for Nermo’s imprisonment.”

Sera’s head swung from one to the other as they spoke, unable to grasp exactly what it was they were talking about, but when she
glanced at Sam he didn’t appear confused or surprised by any of this information.

Keelor stood vigil beside the seated Keela as though he was powerless to leave her side. She had been correct; his attire
was  indeed
constructed from leather, however the trademark sound leather usually makes with movement was missing. Upon his back appeared to be some type of long stick, maybe a
staff,
and this only added to her puzzlement. Was he carrying a weapon of some kind? Did Sam?

“Oh dear,” Anna murmured before turning to Sera, “I suppose I had best tell you who you are, Princess Seraphina.”

2

Keelor

Keelor was not prepared for the human folk princess to be quite so beautiful. He’d heard stories from the elders about Annaphina, and of course all princesses within the circle were exquisite, however Seraphina instantly took his breath away. Her black hair was full and flowed in waves past her shoulders. Her dark blue eyes could only be described as indigo and resembled the depths of the river of music. His favourite activity was to wonder within the lands to sit beside the river and ponder while soothing his soul.

To fall instantly in love with the mere sight of a princess was not uncommon, however it was forbidden to do so outside one’s own kind. An elfin and a human relationship was not only unheard of, it was against folk law. Deciding he was simply dazzled by her beauty, he pushed his whimsical feelings aside as there were more urgent matters at hand.

Sampson had somehow managed to keep their combined heritage a secret and Keelor was surprised there wasn’t more to their binding. Human princesses for the most part married their protectors. Seraphina’s mother had as had her mother before her. As far back as was written, this had been the way of the human folk.

Although he was Keela’s protector, his obligation to her was protection alone, unless Keela desired otherwise. Elfin princesses were free to marry the elfin of their choice. Previously, elfins had chosen their protectors to become their life mates; in fact, Keela’s father had been her mother’s protector. The law permitted freedom of choice, but human folk generally thought it simpler to marry their guards to avoid explaining their calling to mortal humans. The aging factor was also a contributor. Convenience was a high priority for human princesses. Seraphina, however, did not appear to have any romantic notions towards Sampson.

Her confusion over the situation was almost comical and the small crease between her brows was endearing. Shaking away the
romantic emotions surfacing inside him again, he concentrated on his Chosen One’s words as she recalled the details of Nermina’s abduction.