Secret Scrolls: Winds of Change (book 1)

Prologue

Lunar Year 1501

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Midnight, they say, is a wonderful but dangerous hour. The time when a new day comes is also the time the greatest changes of your life can occur.

The streets of Cactus Settlement were filled with mobs of angry people as soldiers from the palace tried to hold them back. Gunshots rang out and fires blazed in the main streets. In a small house at the edge of the settlement, not quite yet reached by the protestors, a mother hurried around, filling two bags and nervously peeking out the curtains. In the back bedroom two brothers slept, blissfully unaware of what was happening, at least for the moment.

The faintest whisper of a gunshot sounded and the mother silently prayed before rushing into the back bedroom, shaking the eldest boy awake. "Sheldon. Sheldon! Wake up. You too, Douglass."

Sheldon sat up with a grunt, his orange hair a tangled mess. "Mom? Why are you getting us up? I still need several more hours of sleep."

From the other bed, Douglass mumbled, "It's too early or too late to be up."

Their mother smiled sadly and gently lifted Douglass out of bed, setting him on his feet. "Sheldon, you and Douglass need to leave. You didn't know it, but it's too dangerous here now."

"'Dangerous'? 'Need to leave'?" Sheldon echoed, his eyes flickering to the window showing the Saige Paint Desert beyond. "Leave to there?! Mom, are you coming?"

"I can't."

"But Mom–"

"Only you two can escape," she led the brothers to the back door, handing each one a bag. "If I come, they'll hunt us down."

"But Mom. I'm only ten. How are we going to survive out there?"

She sighed and put one hand on Sheldon's shoulder, the other on Douglass'. "Woplon fiema ic a rag, fiema ic waby. When there is a will, there is a way. Your faith will help you. Promise me you will stick together, no matter what."

They looked at each other and nodded.

"Good. Remember this: Joluer go ar gefakala. Together you are strong. That is important."

The faint sound of an explosion reached their ears and their mother pushed the door open, a rush of cold, desert-night air flooding in. "Now go! Run! Don't come back!"

Sheldon stared up at her. "Mom."

She pointed. "I'll find you someday. Now go."

Sheldon studied his mother one last before grabbing Douglass' hand and running out into the desert night.

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A young, eight-year-old boy by the name Gabriel stared at the hooded man before him. "Wait, why? Why can't I stay with the tribe?"

"With the tension we thought it best to remove you, being one of the last Enchanters in the group," the man reached into the fold of his robes, pulling out a book. "I believe this is yours."

Gabriel took it, eyes wide. "But wait! How am I supposed to use it?"

"I am sure you will figure it out."

"I'm supposed to teach myself?! But that goes against Enchantora code and-"

"This is how is has to be, Gabriel!" the man's tone silenced the boy in an instant. "Once you are grown and can wield your power, you will be welcomed back."

"But wait-" Before Gabriel could say a word more, the hooded man suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but a puff of smoke that was whisked away by the wind.

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The sound of a gunshot from downstairs caused Ivy to sit bolt upright in bed. Another gunshot and a scream that sounded like...her mother. The sound of steel against steel and heavy boots slamming up the stairs. Ivy was too scared to move.

A strange man burst into the room. A strange man with a gun. Ivy's turquoise eyes filled with fear. But instead of shooting her like she expected, he just looked her up and down, a sad look in his eyes. He looked young, maybe no older than eighteen. "Kid, you need to get out of here." Another gunshot from downstairs. "Now."

The man ran back out and Ivy forced herself into motion, throwing on some clothes and grabbing her emergency money. She reached into her closet and grabbed the emerald blade her parents had given her just hours before.

Using the hilt, she smashed her window by the bed. Then taking a deep breath, she leapt out onto the bushes below.

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The lights of Cactus Settlement were long behind them when Sheldon felt Douglass' fingers slip from his. Sheldon skidded to a stop, whipping around to find Douglass panting. Collapsed on the sands. "Sheldon I can't–I can't run anymore..."

Sheldon said nothing and knelt by his brother, who suddenly looked to his left. "Do you hear that? Sounds like someone crying."

"Hang on," Sheldon lit the lantern their mother had provided and led the way to the noise.

It turned out to be a brown-haired boy in a cloak far too big for him and he was hugging a blue-leather bound book to his chest. He looked up in alarm when he noticed them approaching. "Who are you two?!"

"Two escapees," Sheldon replied. "Did you have to run from the revolution, too?'

"No," the boy sniffed. "I was left out here by my own tribe."

The brothers exchanged glances and Douglass knelt next to the boy. "Look, since we're both stranded out here, why don't we stick together until we find help?"

"I would like that," the boy sniffed again then looked up. "I'm Gabriel."

"I'm Douglass and this is my older brother Sheldon."

Sheldon nodded then said, "If I'm not mistaken, the Trade Route should be east of here. But we need to get moving, I'm worried about bandits."

"Oh, right," Gabriel climbed to his feet and wiped at his nose. "I forgot about bandits."

"Well, don't worry. You're with us now," Douglass grinned. "We'll protect you!"

Gabriel managed a weak smile and they started walking.

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"Is that a tent?" Sheldon asked after what felt like several hours of walking.

Without a word, Gabriel took off in that direction, Douglass in pursuit.

"Guys, wait!" Sheldon exclaimed. "You can't just–oh gosh."

He came up to them as they were talking to the dark-skinned couple that own the tent. But what caught Sheldon's attention was the two sets of green eyes watching them from behind the woman.