Orenda
Page 15
Orla had paid Willow and Rawlie a surprise visit, begging for their help, and they had agreed. She escorted them as close to the border of Elfinland as they could get. Willow knew they needed to stop Eilith, and they hadn’t been able to do that without Morgan’s help. The power to destroy Eilith was written in The Book of Incantations. Willow had read the inside once, the inscription on how to defeat a sorceress enchanted by demon blood. She’d memorized the passage, but didn’t know when or how to use the words to defeat Eilith. She hadn’t seen the book since that day, two months ago.
“Are you sure we can help the Fae?” Rawlie asked Willow.
“We can’t let them die.” Willow couldn’t live with letting Eilith drive an entire species into extinction.
“Thank you,” Orla said in a soft whisper. She cut through brush with the sword, keeping branches from smacking her in the face.
“How did you find us?” Hudson asked.
“My mother sent me with the wand.” Orla removed the fairy wand from the backside of the sword. “She wanted you to protect me.”
“And you want to save her,” Hudson said.
“She’s my mother.” Orla stared at Hudson, confused. “You won’t help me?”
“We’re here, aren’t we?”
“I take it you don’t like the Fae?” Orla asked. The air was thick with tension. She shifted on her feet, crunching on grass.
Hudson grimaced, his jaw tight. He didn’t give her an answer, at least not a verbal one.
Willow cleared her throat and interrupted the conversation. “The forest is too hot to travel through. Is there another way for us to reach the castle?”
“There’s a river that runs beneath the mountain. It might be enough to get us around Eilith,” Orla said.
Willow glanced at her curiously. “Are you sure?”
Orla nodded. “We usually avoid it because the pixies live along the banks by the standing stones.”
It was no secret that the Fae didn’t get along with pixies. “Will they bother us?” Arianna asked.
Orla shrugged. “Let’s hope not.”
“Hopefully, Eilith doesn’t know the river exists.” Willow wasn’t feeling too confident. “How do we find the entrance to the river?”
“Follow me,” Orla said as she gestured toward the right. She skirted the edge of the decimated forest, winding around the city before treading downhill. Her feet landed with a splash, the river barely visible to the naked eye, as it was covered in leaves and bark. The air was cleaner, making it easier to breathe.
“Incredible,” Rawlie said. He stepped down into the river, offering a hand to Willow, and then to Arianna.
Hudson stepped in last, trudging through wetness as he followed the pack.
Elfinland
Available Fall 2014
http://orendaseries.com
Acknowledgements
I'd like to thank those that volunteered on Tumblr to help create the world, and story of Orenda, back in early 2013. From further defining the characters, their actions, and every little detail down to the color of Rawlie's car. Each person that offered to help, shaped the story.
Thank you to Tiffany McQuaig, Brooke Hull, and "fourfearsonly" for reading over the first chapter and providing feedback. Even with a few short words of advice, it helped enhance the beginning of the story and encouraged me to keep writing.
Thank you to Alexandra North, Laura Alexander, and "readmeorweep" for sticking with the first three chapters. Alexandra, your suggestions not only shaped the entire story of Orenda, but also helped in my edits of Aberrant. Laura, your feedback, and the time you spent offering advice for all three chapters was not only the most detailed, but also thought-provoking. Your suggestions helped me develop the chapters from a rough draft easily into a final version. "Readmeorweep" your suggestions for chapter three helped paint a clearer picture.
Kayla, your suggestions were helpful for not just the chapters in editing, but also in what to include, and how to improve the story. Your advice and comments always kept me on my toes thinking of how I could further elaborate and develop both the stories, and characters. Maddie, your words and thoughts always helped solidify my ideas, calling the dead pixies, "a dark touch but incredibly cool," made me realize I hadn't gone too far in describing something that would turn readers away or seem too unrealistic. At every chapter you were always there, offering suggestions, advice, and kind words of encouragement. I know at times that couldn't have been easy.
My beta readers are a huge part of the process in transforming a first draft into its final product. It's always nice to get a fresh perspective and I appreciate the time you take to read and offer a critical analysis of my writing. Each one of you offered insight suggestions and honest feedback.
Alicia Batista, there are not enough words to describe how grateful I am to have not only your help in recrafting my novels, but also your friendship. You always provide a detailed list of necessary changes, and often make me think about the plot and how the next book will expand the story that I've written.
Kellie Sheridan, you go above and beyond in everything you do. The developmental edits really made me think about Bray and his role in Orenda along with how he'll be important in the series. Your words are always both encouraging and honest. I know I can trust your opinion, and that means a lot. Thank you.
Emily Callahan, I loved the detailed response you offered about point of view. After four additional rounds of edits, I made sure to keep the multiple POV's as suggested. Thanks!
Heather Sheffield and Brittany Elsen, thank you both for being part of the beta reading process and a part of my Street Team. I know I can always count on the two of you to help.
Thank you so much, Erica Crouch, for an amazing cover, insightful comments, and detailed editing. Your edits and suggestions resulted in 27 hours of edits and rewrites, which helped solidify the motivations of many characters. I'm so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with you.
Thank you to all my content editors, line editors, and proofreaders: Kellie Sheridan, Erica Crouch, Tracy Seybold, Grace Campbell, Martin Coffee, and Sheila Haab.
I want to thank my amazing Street Team on Facebook that beta reads early versions of my novels, reviews advanced reader copies, participates in cover reveals, and blog tours. All of you are rock star.
About the Author
Ruth Silver is the best-selling author of ABERRANT, a young adult dystopian adventure series published by Patchwork Press and Lazy Day Publishing, in 2013. Silver attended Northern Illinois University and graduated with a Bachelor's in Communication in the spring of 2005. While in college, she spent much of her free time writing with friends she met online and penning her first novel, Deuces are Wild, which she self-published in 2004. Her favorite class was Creative Writing senior year where she often handed in assignments longer than the professor required, because she loved to write and always wanted to finish her stories. Her love of writing led her on an adventure in 2007 to Melbourne, Australia. Silver enjoys reading, photography, traveling and most of all writing. She loves dystopian and fantasy young adult stories. Ruth has been actively writing since she was a teenager. Upcoming works include Royal Reaper, a young adult series about grim reapers, due for release summer 2014. She currently resides in Plainfield, Illinois.
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Visit the author's website at:
http://writeawaybliss.com
June 3rd, 2014
http://royalreaper.com
http://patchwork-press.com
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