The Chronicles of Starlyn (Calthoria Chronicles Book 1) Read online

  She wandered aimlessly through the forest until she stumbled into a clearing, showing a purple sunset across the horizon. There were no longer any trees or mountains, but blue as far as she could see. The ocean rolled over itself onto the white sand at her toes, feeling like a cushion under her feet. She smiled as she stared at the mass of water, wondering if any other lands lay beyond. This became the first time Arria had seen the ocean. She’d never witnessed anything so beautiful. A gentle breeze brushed through her hair, tickling her. For the first time in longer than she could remember, she laughed.

  Arria fell to her knees, laughing at the warm breeze and ocean staring back at her. She dropped her travel bag onto the ground, grabbing a heavy object from it. Its shape oval, hard, smoother than silk, and darker than her finest armor. She gently kissed the object, tucked it in her arm, and began petting it.

  “Soon, the world will be ours my dear. Soon—all will bow before us.” Arria grinned before collapsing into the sand from exhaustion, clutching her dragon’s egg tight.

  Epilogue Two

  Starlyn opened her eyes, shivering. A loud shriek shattered the silence outside her cabin. She stood, grabbed her silk night robe while tiptoeing to the door. The moon hung high in the sky, full, and beautiful. An owl hooted from a tree in front of her. The hour grew late, outside pitch black surrounded her. Even the city of Sudegam had been clouded in darkness. Starlyn’s cabin sat a half a league away from the capital. Normally, Starlyn wouldn’t be frightened, but something unsettled her.

  Scraping metal slithered in the shadows, causing chill bumps to run down Starlyn’s arms. She stumbled down her steps. Heat lightning crackled between scarce clouds above her, lighting her surroundings. A shape moved in the darkness, startling Starlyn. She stepped backward, grabbing her hammer from inside the cabin, before tiptoeing into the grass. Whatever had been in her yard vanished. She searched for a trace, but none could be found. Dirt covered the grass all around her yard. Her eyebrow furrowed as she studied the dirt patches. Starlyn’s eyebrows shot up when she realized they were footprints. She backtracked them, gripping her hammer tight.

  She halted when she realized their source. Her jaw dropped as another streak of lightning lit the sky. She spun abruptly, searching for anything or anyone near her. Chill bumps covered her arms, face, and every part of her body. She faltered toward her mother’s grave. The gravestone cracked, its top half lay on the side of the undisturbed bottom half. Starlyn wet her lips as she crept close. There had been grass over the grave where Starlyn had buried her mother. Now, the grass was pushed to the side, most of it in large chunks on the left of the grave, and only dirt lay at its center. It had been months ago when she lay her mother to rest, to become one with nature, to let the mother use her to fuel new plants and trees. Who had disturbed her mother’s grave?

  Starlyn fell to the ground, tears cascading along her face. She dropped the hammer to her side, wiped her tears, and began digging through the loose dirt in front of the grave.

  “No, no, no, no, no …” she whispered.

  Thunder clashed in the sky as clouds moved in to cover the moon, shrouding Starlyn in darkness. Raindrops fell from the sky, slow at first, but increased in intensity. The dirt in Starlyn’s hands became mud, but she didn’t give up. She continued to dig with her hands, shoving piles of mud to the side of the grave, her entire body becoming covered in it. Her nightgown fell loose in the front, but Starlyn didn’t stop to readjust. Nothing could stop her digging. After several long minutes, she lay on her back in a deep hole, robe open in the front, staring to the unseen stars behind the clouds of penetrating rain.

  “Mother, where are you?” Starlyn asked, tears blending with the rain.

  She closed her eyes, let her head fall back, and fell asleep, exhausted.

  Glossary

  Kheshlar (K-hesh-lar): an immortal being with light blue tinted skin, tall ears with a small point.

  Kheshlarn (K-hesh-larn): possessive term for kheshlars. (Kheshlarn city)

  Sudegam (Sude-gam): The kheshlarn capital in the forest.

  Arria (Arr-ee-uh): Once a kheshlar, transformed by magic to become an Undead Kheshlar. Charcoal body with white hair, wields a flamberge.

  Elsargast (L-sar-gast): The King of the kheshlars, residing in Sudegam.

  Starlyn (Star-lynn): a kheshlar with blonde hair and a war hammer.

  Aliqua (A-lick-uh): a unique kheshlar with chocolate skin, an herbalist.

  Erenuyh (E-ren-yah): a red-headed kheshlar infatuated with Starlyn.

  Vil’ek (Vil-ekk): a close friend of the king, and former lover of Arria. Dark brown hair, scimitars.

  Sverornium (Sev-or-n-i-um): a rare material which bonded with all metal, adding strength and changing into metal into a light black color.

  Draenur (Dray-nur): a male kheshlar accompanying Starlyn + Vil’ek’s party.

  Shronan Onderon (Sh-ro-naun On-der-on): a mage, blond hair, green eyes, green robes, and green magic.

  Draeyk (Dray-ecks): a creature resembling a lizard or dragon, that is the size of a human and walks on two legs.

  Wood Kheshlar: a kheshlar with light green tinted skin, more in tune with the forest and archery.

  High Kheshlar: a kheshlar from the kheshlarn capital of Sudegam, or surrounding independent cities. Commonly labeled as simply “kheshlar.”

  Jerrek (Jarr-eck): a wood kheshlar with thin eyebrows and pointed chin.

  Breemurh (Bree-mur-h): a wood kheshlar with rounded chin, dimples, and thick bushy eyebrows.

  Lemnur (Lem-nur): a brunette wood kheshlar with dazzling green eyes.

  Anaela (An-uh-L-uh): a brunette wood kheshlar with green eyes and bow, survivor of a massacre.

  Calthoria (Cal-thor-i-uh): the land mass that all the kheshlars, humans, and all other creatures reside on.

  Vaelmirr (Vael-murr): a male kheshlar with shoulder length dirty blond hair, his body toned, and carrying a broadsword.

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  If you like this story, please check out my others:

  “The Mage and the Freckled Frog” and

  “Diamonds Under a Hickory Tree”

  The Chronicles of Starlyn

  The Crimson Claymore

  The Obsidian Arrow

  Undiscovered Origins

  Angelic Sins

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  Did you enjoy, “The Chronicles of Starlyn?” Do you want to know what happens to Starlyn and Arria after this? Pick up book 1 in my series “The Crimson Claymore” to learn more about these characters and more.

  Acknowledgments

  There are a lot of people I am thankful for as I begin my journey as a writer. The first person I want to thank is my Aunt Ann Kriss. Without her ever belief that I can make it as a writer, her kindness, and her donation to help me get all of this done. I am very grateful and thankful to have her support. My wife, Amanda, for being so supportive of me, and being with me every step of the way. My mom, for always believing in me and for showing me what it means to love and never give up on my dreams. My son, for being my inspiration. All of my followers on Wattpad, for all the wonderful comments and critiques that have made me a better writer. My son insists that our cat Tiger is a large inspiration as well. I would like to thank Frank Kelso and Sheliah Schodlbauer for critiquing and editing this novel. Their help has been invaluable. I would also like to thank Treasure Scarbrough for creating this wonderful cover for me. I would also like to thank my followers on Wattpad, a few in particular have been very helpful: Emily Klimczynski, Carl Alvey, and Lilia Loewenberg. And to the following Wattpad users who left wonderful comments on my novel: @roostergirl56 @AaronMeadows4 @redbirds96 @JanetBates @kirley3656 @sueqqqq @FranklinCherry @JedMolyneux3 @UwannaVaughn63 @TerryKenny @mankloy @borjieporgy @Sean68 @SandraEjeh-Eze @graverage1973 @JeffreyThomas0 @RaymondCarles @bildek @rougue434 @RichardIJenkinsSr @kanha001 @KenRider @AzieSyafiqDayyana @Dulceblue @KyleMichaelBradberry @ShaneHussey @mousa2828 @GrEysQueling @Giddeon510 @omniaetnihil @Nachosoflife @JohnMcBride4 @MebiusBrave @MebiusBrave @AmyPoppe @NicholasJones932 @LawrenceDavids @Hierophant18 @FatherofFour @stochx @Starlynpearl @spider881424 @alisa3232 @racjuly @MartyOneill @JoshuaMichaelMiller @AweleUtomi @Alantson @PietPompies @amswarriors88 @reddragon16091972 @MatthewHaslund @Bullwhip4 @ray321 @ChrisDavis6 @djhan1992 @manocha @JackanorySMurphyy @arunmechie @richjoycelyn @Otterblue @Evalau @leavesrloony @MemantotAlcazar @EmilyAlyssa17 @Archangel_Azriel @josephmpaterson @mla031 @guambum @cjo1964 @JardeRiccardoRiekert @lucario912742 @kesstra @glittleman @raymack70 @spider881424 @Coastal @mathif @AmpieRomero @JoseAlfredoArteagaSo @LoraGomez @darksythe @redbirds96 @baker75 @iloveoreos101 @JosephLeblanc @AndrewWhite065 @Frankylopez @alancnelson @pitboss1600 @Rich1986 @Captshan @JosephFloydCarrier @JasmyneSpearson @PatrickSaril @ovelikon @Nomad_03 @Alzo77 @Floyd_Chaffee @NormanMcNeese @BobNovak @Gangerdr @HansFransen1 @WinkerRrague @Nick2803 @ferdy0 @BornToRoam @bosvold @5ParkerY5 @BinaryWarden @BethLowe @ShannonMarino @viba2311 @Hayesbo @RobertPatrickTacker @ShannonBergamin @Zipper_Head @TimMcFarlane @LawrenceDavids @DilanRees @janetgarza86 @SissaRomanova @BlakePatnoe @VictoriaRBock @bibliophile3 @FranklinCherry @E0347050 @renethuh @penric55 @bosvold @NancyParsons2 @Valkrye @AwesomeSophie @JoelKJannenga @kanha001 @tripitaka33 @SusanTester @Dulceblue @carolyndymit @LJACOB2 @mrsward1983 @MattKemper5 @KealebogaBogopane @ClaudiaInTheClouds @deanmceachern984 @AgnesdeOcampo @fernandojadormeo @doumams67 @bookaholic71 @shad0021 @eddie21 @gravestone12 @beastman6 @Sulay12 @AubreyMarie @clevelandclunie3 @MihirGonsai @Scottry49 @tracyscole @Ezio21 Without all of them, this story would not have been possible. Lastly, I would like to thank all of you that have read this book. I hope you will continue to follow my work in the future.

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