A World Before

The first rays of dawn spilled over the rolling hills, painting the village of Ashmoor in shades of gold and amber. Thin wisps of smoke drifted from stone chimneys, carrying the familiar scent of burning oak through the crisp morning air. Roosters crowed somewhere beyond the cottages, and the rhythmic clatter of horses' hooves echoed faintly along the muddy road that wound through the centre of the village.

To anyone passing through, Ashmoor looked like any other quiet settlement tucked away in the countryside. Children chased each other between wooden fences, merchants prepared their stalls in the market square, and neighbours greeted one another with warm smiles as another ordinary day began.

It was the kind of place where nothing remarkable ever seemed to happen.

At least, that was what everyone liked to believe.

Rick awoke to the steady thud of an axe splitting wood outside his bedroom window.

He smiled to himself before sitting upright, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. The sound was as familiar as birdsong. If his father wasn't chopping logs before sunrise, something was wrong.

What will happen to Rick?
Find out in the first book of my series "The World Trilogy"