Magic Invitation: Kalendra Chronicles Book One

by Barbara Ferrier

  “Kalendra is controlled by three moons,” Uncle Kris said. “There are two big moons. The smaller one is the Shaman Moon. Do you want to hear the legend? Why did the shaman put a third Moon into the sky?”

  The four friends nodded and continued to eat their meal. Jaime sliced more bread and Sam served himself more stew. Kris walked over to the fire and stirred it a little.

  “Originally the Brothers Moons, as they were called, were the only moons. Crops grow by moonlight there, but people struggled to provide for themselves outside of the most fertile valleys. So, the shaman designed a moon specifically to help crops grow. They wanted people who lived outside those fertile valleys to be self-sufficient too. No more famine.

  “In the meantime, the Brother Moons were acting exactly like brothers. Their arguments were getting worse. They fought over control of the tides. They wanted more space. As they fought, the people in Kalendra felt tremors in the earth. Buildings and even tall cliffs collapsed from earthquakes. People were desperate for safety.

  “Can you imagine rerouting rivers or moving continents? That was what they did. The Divide I showed you; Brother Moons did that.

  “The shaman successfully brought another moon into the sky. She was smaller and brighter. The Brother Moons were responsible to keep Shaman Moon safe. It’s been calmer ever since. People have lived well for thousands of years now.”

  Suddenly Kris looked over to Jaime and felt anxious. He ran to the closet and grabbed his pack. “Why would my journal have been in your closet? That’s too strange. What if your mom had opened that door?” he gasped. “Something must be urgent. We better go right now,” he said.

  The four stared at Kris.

  “I have gone and returned from Kalendra many times. May I take you there? All four of you have been invited by coming here with that book. You knew to come. What do you need to know?”

  The four friends looked quizzically through the journal. They passed the book around and thought about the stories Kris told.

  Jaime felt uncertain. His mom had thrown Kris out of her house because of his stories. Then again, she was harsh.

  “Do you have the eagle? And the carving?” Jaime said.

  “Yes, of course.” Kris walked into the kitchen and opened a small drawer. “I keep them near.” He placed them on the table for each to handle. Kassara was first to pick up the straw eagle. She handled it very carefully and with a great deal of respect.

  “What did you experience when the little boy gave you this?” Kassara asked.

  “It was miraculous,” Kris said. “I heard things as if I had the ears of a different creature.”

  “Do we need to be ready?” Sam asked as he handled the small carved toy. “I mean, I never thought about going to another world. Would they allow me there?”

  “Of course. You will come as my guest,” Kris said, making eye contact with Sam. “All four of you. We’ll go directly to the Wenderfaren Valley. You’ll experience Kalendrian hospitality and comfort. If you don’t like it, you can return. In fact, you can do so without any memory of having gone, if you want. It really is that simple. I think it’ll change your lives in the best way possible.”

  “Will we be missed?” Jaime said. “I want to go to state in swimming this year.”

  “You won’t go missing,” Kris said smiling. “Time works differently there. And besides, it’s a short trip. You’ll be tourists.”

  Kris ran to his room and grabbed a few essentials, muttering, “My sister would have incinerated it ... Something must have happened.”

  Tahendra stood. “I decided before we came. I’m going. This guy, she said pointing the time traveler drawing in the journal. There’s something about him.”

  “I’m in too,” Jaime said.

  “I’m in.”

  “Unanimous,” Sam said.

  “How do we get there?” Jaime asked.

  “Grab your packs,” Kris instructed. “We’ll drive to the coast. It’s not far. There’s an arch in the cliff. It’s a doorway of sorts. I’ll go first and make plans. I need to talk to Kelne. He’s the most magical wizard in Kalendra. He’ll transport all of you there. When you arrive, follow the trail through the meadow until you get to a small, white cottage. Then knock three times.”

  They arrived at the ocean as the sun was setting. The tide was low. It was a short, easy hike to the arched cliff. As they watched from the sandy beach, Kris walked confidently to the archway in the rock. As he passed under it, he vanished. Tahendra and her friends looked at one another in amazement. Then they waited for exactly ten minutes. Tahendra and Kassara were nervous; they agreed to hold hands as they walked under the arch and disappeared. Sam and Jaime followed closely behind.

  Chapter 3

  Following Kris’s Instructions, the four arrived in a large meadow, surrounded by tall grasses with yellow flowers. They walked past gnarled trees loaded with fruit. Apples, pears, and fruit trees they didn’t recognize filled the air with sweet and tart fragrances. Their senses opened wide to take in the brightly colored world. Baby birds chirped in their nests while the rustling leaves sounded like a concert of kettle drums. The sun touched their skin with soothing warmth.

  Tahendra recognized the inspiration for Kris’s journal drawings. This would be an adventure to remember. They walked through fields of white flowers that danced in the breeze, then arrived at the door of the cottage Kris had described.

  Kassara and Tahendra looked at one another apprehensively, then knocked three times as instructed. The door swung open.

  Kelne stood tall. He had long white hair and beard and piercing blue eyes. His white robes were stately. He looked like a powerful wizard. “Please come in.”

  The cottage was filled with the smell of freshly baked pies. The large living room had plenty of seating. A beautiful woman with short dark hair stood near the window. The light streamed across her kind face.

  “Welcome to Kalendra. We’re so happy you came,” Presence said softly.

  The four travelers saw Kris and sat down at the table with him.

  Kelne walked across the room and stood at the head of the table.

  “Kris Campbell has said so much about each of you. I understand you’re ready for some serious adventures. You’ve come to the right place.” Then he looked directly into Tahendra’s eyes. She smiled, nodded, and felt at home. He was the man in the journal.

  Kelne sat at the end of the table next to Tahendra and looked across to Jaime. “Do you have expectations?” he asked. Jaime sat stunned.

  “Um, well, we found a book. Um … Uncle Kris’s journal.”

  Kelne gave him a thoughtful look. “I see. How did you know this book would bring you to another world?”

  “I didn’t,” Jaime stammered. “Tah knew. We went to Kris’s and brought our friends,” he said, gesturing to Kassara and Sam. “We thought it was his. I recognized stories he used to tell.”

  Beacon came out of the kitchen and placed a cup of tea in front of each of the travelers. He was also a wizard, but not formal like Kelne. His short white robe hung open over frayed cutoffs and t-shirt. His hair was curly, and his beard salt and pepper stubble. Beacon sat down next to Kris. Tah looked from Kelne to Beacon in disbelief.

  “When I saw the drawing of you in Kris’s book,” She said to Kelne, “I had a feeling about you.”

  “You did.” Kelne smiled confidently. Tahendra looked confused. Jaime looked from Tah to Kelne.

  “She told me this was a real place. Then I remembered Kris’s dreams.... When I was little, Uncle Kris was my besty.” Jaime looked to Kris and at the same time the two made their secret handshake. Their fingers were rolled in a fist, with their thumb and pinky extended. They rocked their hands from end to end and bumped fists. “At Grandma’s we hung out until we fell asleep in the armchair. He mumbled in his sleep, ‘The Wenderfaren please,’” Jaime turned to Kris. “Was this the house you were dreaming about?”

  “I did love it here,” Kris said. “I’m not surprised.
Kelne found me wandering around. I was lost, scared, and convinced I was completely insane. Kelne said he’d been expecting me. I didn’t know what to make of that.”

  Kelne looked at Tahendra and sighed. He hadn’t seen his grandniece for eleven long years, not since he brought her to Earth for her safety. She’d grown into the wonderful young woman he always knew would return. She was home safe. He could see she was completely confused, and of course she would be—her memories of Kalendra had been removed for her safety. Kelne sensed they were stirring but it was too soon for her to know the truth of her life and powers.

  Tahendra felt safe and reassured. As she met Kelne’s eyes, she sensed he was responsible for the Journal in Jaime’s closet. Kris watched Kelne’s undivided interest in Tahendra. He assumed the travelers were going to rely heavily on her.

  Sam fidgeted and avoided eye contact. Beacon watched each of Tahendra’s friends and looked forward to training them.

  Kassara sat on the bench in shock, wondering how any of was this possible. Kelne was most unusual. Jaime took the journal out to show Kelne the book.

  Kris took his hat off as a gesture of respect and saw Jaime nervously handling the journal. Leaning over, he put his hand on his nephew’s shoulder. Jaime looked at his uncle and smiled. Then he put the book on the table for everyone to see.

  Presence arrived with a tray of snacks. Biscuits, fruit, and pastries they didn’t recognize were set on the table.

  “This looks fantastic,” Sam exclaimed. He looked at Presence and earnestly said, “Thank you so much.” Presence met his eyes and nodded.

  Beacon brought a second tray of food and sat down.

  Presence had run this inn for almost three years and trained many hours a day. She was a celebrated athlete in Kalendra and her superpower was training athletes. She looked forward to helping the Earth tourists rise to their greatest strength. She saw Kassara was visibly strong. Her presence of mind was impressive considering she’d just landed in a new world.

  A sudden rumbling rocked the house. The ground shook beneath them. Items on the kitchen counter danced. Tea spilled out of a few cups. A small ceramic vase fell from above the fireplace and broke on the floor. An earthquake.

  Kris turned to Kelne, “Is something wrong?”

  “A few disturbances recently have gotten our attention,” Kelne said. “I wasn’t going to say anything yet because you all have so much training ahead. I’ll be brief. I assume that Kris has already told you the story of the Shaman Moon?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “We think this disturbance has to do with the moons. I think they’re reaching out for mercy. I don’t understand yet what is going on. I plan to check in with the shamans while you hike up to Beacon’s Village.”

  “Do they need something?” Tahendra asked.

  “That’s a good question, Tahendra. What do they need from us? How do we communicate? I’m not exactly sure. That’s why we have brought so many good minds here. Your ideas are valuable to us. We need your help.” Kelne looked each traveler in the eye.

  “This world is quite different from your own. I want to give you some pointers before you leave for your trek out of this valley. Remember, nothing is as it seems in Kalendra. Your training will help you get around in our unusual lands.

  “In a world where what you believe, you receive,” he continued, “you must learn to be mindful of your thoughts. Please be forewarned. So that you are aware, there is a cold breeze named the Winds of Doom, that maintains a certain reputation. When you travel to the high plateaus, the breeze blows through your hair, gets you a bit cold, and then blows directly through you and chills you to the bone. You will stand alone to face your fears and doubts. Your confidence will have been completely blown out of your body and your mind. I promise, in Kalendra you will learn to speak kindly to yourselves. Listen to your fears and pay special attention if you are touched by that wind,” he said. “I trust you saw Kris’s journal drawings?”

  The four travelers nodded, feeling anxious and uncertain about leaving the inn.

  “What can we do?” Sam asked. “I don’t have that much confidence in the first place. If those winds come up, how do I make them go away?”

  “Excellent question,” Kelne said. “What do you say to Sam, Beacon?”

  “Oh boy, do I understand. Please humor me this once. When they blow, experience them. It may be harsh. You might relive an old memory. Try not to react,” Beacon nodded. “We’ll help you learn to watch your thoughts and become detached from them. Eventually you’ll be glad for the experience and it will help you acquire your magic. Until then the winds will broadside you every time. … I promise we will debrief your experience in the Winds once we’re settled into my village. Until then savor the experience. Decide to make peace with whatever memories come up. It’s hard. I won’t lie.” Beacon made eye contact with each traveler. They nodded in agreement.

  “Tomorrow,” Kelne said, “you will hike to Beacon’s mountain village. Once there, you will each stay with host families. My phoenix is selecting them for you now. Keep a close eye on one other. And stay together.”

  “I don’t understand what’s happening,” Tahendra said. “Something’s familiar but I don’t know this place. It’s confusing.” She looked in Kelne’s eyes, hoping for an explanation.

  “I understand,” Kelne said softly. “Please allow that be okay, for now. I think it’s better that way. When you’re ready I’ll explain. I assure you it will all make sense.”

  “When I’m ready?”

  “You’ve made it this far. That’s rather good. You’ve already entered this world.”

  “I don’t...” Tah trailed off.

  As her eyes met Kelne’s, Tahendra found herself locked into his piercing blue eyes. It felt like déjà vu, except she was experiencing memories that were not hers. Steep cliffs with spectacular views passed before her. Was this a tour? Tahendra trusted Kelne had things to say with these images, even if he wouldn’t tell her why. She had never spent time with a wizard before and didn’t know what to expect.

  Kelne had thought about Tahendra every single day. Moving her to Earth was too hard, but the policy of no contact had kept her safe. Now that she was back, Kelne knew she would enter places he could not and solve problems he could not. She’d help him get to the bottom of the earthquakes. He needed her leadership. She and her friends would need all their magic. Kelne had never needed a team so badly in his life.

  The last thing Kelne had done before he left her on Earth, was ask the six-year-old to promise she’d learn to recognize honest, trustworthy people who kept their word. He knew already she’d delivered. This motley crew was exactly what he ordered all those years ago.

  Sam fidgeted at the table, wondering if he’d be sent home.

  Presence caught Sam’s eye and placed the scones before him. “Is there anything else I can get you?” she said with kindness. She could tell from his reaction that he appreciated the offer. His anxiety lessened, and his shoulders relaxed.

  Chapter 4

  Waking at daybreak, Kassara took a short walk down the trail to the open valley. Out of the side of her eye she saw Presence throwing a javelin. She had rarely seen such a solid throw. Presence ran swiftly, picked up the javelin, and again took her mark. Carefully stepping in stride for the throw, she hurled it again even farther than she had before. Kassara quietly watched. The sun slowly lit the sky. Presence continued short sprints followed by long throws. She was equally skilled at left- and right-handed throws. She turned and came up the path to Kassara.

  “You are the watcher,” Presence said. “So still in the early morning.”

  “You’re so graceful.”

  Presence smiled. “Is observation your sport?”

  “I suppose you could say that” Kassara said. “At school Tah and I used to climb ropes. We were each other’s biggest competitors. It was fun. We got good.”

  “What did you like best?” Presence asked.

  “The feeling
s of freedom that came from being strong. And the camaraderie.”

  Presence smiled. “Nice. Sounds like a good time,” she said. “Want to help me find berries for breakfast? I’ll show you. They might be unfamiliar.”

  The two walked down the path together.

  “When you leave this place,” Kris said, showing them the map, “you go on this forest trail. It’ll get steep with switchbacks and take you to the base of the cliff wall. At the top of the cliff, you’ll find a comfortable spot for the night. It won’t be far once you’re in the high meadow.

  “Enjoy your training with Beacon and Kelne. They taught me a lot. We’ll spend more time together when you’ve completed your training.” The travelers put their packs on. They bid Kelne and Beacon good-bye. Then, each in turn gave Presence a hug and thanked her for her hospitality. They also hugged Kris good-bye.

  “Here’s a rope that may help,” Beacon said, handing the small rope to Sam. Don’t worry, it’s far stronger than it looks.” Sam slipped the small rope in his pants pocket.

  Looking into the valley, they saw how far they’d come. The sweet village was a speck on the horizon. They stood at the base of the cliff face; the next trail marker was directly above them. An Eagle circled above them.

  The eagle flew to Tahendra and made eye contact, then firmly said in her mind, “You must lead them,” then flew off.

  “That was a magnificent bird,” Kassara said.

  Still in thought, she said “Yeah.” Tahendra did not consider herself a leader. She kept her ideas to herself or told Kassara when they were alone together. Instructed to lead, she knew she’d have to start.

  “Could I lead the way for a while, please?”

  “Really? Are you sure?” Jaime asked.

  Tahendra looked at him. “I’m the smallest one here, so it makes sense I should lead this climb. If I can find good holds, everyone can follow.”