The Wretched of Muirwood Read online

  A flood of disappointment washed over her.

  “Rein in your feelings, child. Until I finish. That may mean many things. It does not mean that you will never learn to read. I cannot foretell how long I will remain as Aldermaston and you are much younger than I. Those words were spoken to you through the Medium’s will at the time. I feel them valid still. You would make an excellent learner, Lia. And that is one of the reasons why I cannot let you.”

  She subdued her disappointment. “Thank you, Aldermaston. I will trust your judgment in this. I know now that I should have trusted you…earlier.”

  “Your trust is not easily earned. Thank you.”

  She turned to leave then stopped. Reaching down to the pouch at her waist, she loosened the strings and withdrew the Cruciger orb. She was loathe to give it up. “I am sorry for stealing this from you. I will never steal from you again.”

  As she was about to set it on his table, he held up his hand. The look on his face – the gesture – confused her.

  “I must correct you. You did not steal it, Lia. You, of all people, cannot steal it. For it is already rightfully yours.”

  She did not realize she had stopped breathing. “What do you mean?”

  His eyes penetrated hers. His eyes, so deep and timeless, like the sea. “We found it with you in the basket. So you see, it did not surprise me that it worked for you or that it led you. Since you have already mastered its powers, I must allow you to keep what is rightfully yours. It is yours, Lia. The Cruciger orb has always been yours.”

  * * *

  “Through the will of the Medium, many devices and implements have been created for the use and benefit of those who believe and are willing to act. Stones that give off light. Shells of glass that fasten into breastplates which allow the wearer to translate languages. Of these implements, the Cruciger orbs are perhaps the most mysterious. No artisan can craft such remarkable and so intricate a workmanship. They are ancient devices. All records which speak of them describe that they are gifts found by happenstance by common men and women destined for great deeds and are usually handed down from generation to generation and guarded with the utmost secrecy. The orbs only work for those they were intended to bless. It is my personal belief that they are not of this world at all, but gifts from the world of Idumea.”

  - Cuthbert Renowden of Billerbeck Abbey

  * * *

  ###

  AUTHOR’S NOTE

  I am a collector of quotes. Over the years, I have assembled snippets of wisdom from Greek philosophers, advisors of Roman emperors, religious texts of various faiths, to more modern luminaries like Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Andrew Carnegie. Nearly all of the quotes attributed to Cuthbert Renowden of Billerbeck Abbey in fact originate from our world, with some editing for context. There are themes of wisdom from Solomon to Allen that reveal some of the secrets of human nature. I have tried to weave these into the Muirwood series as well as I could. Bonus point to any reader who figures them all out.

  You will find many of the artifacts and traditions within this series to be historical in nature and representative of medieval life. A little delving into Wikipedia on terms like globus cruciger and gargouille may provide some insights on things very common centuries ago which we do not see much of today. But this is not medieval Europe. Muirwood is set on another world that shares some historical and religious contexts with ours.

  Finally, regarding the Medium. Every power demonstrated through the Medium can be found through various religious texts. Whether it is summoning fire from the sky, water from stones, or preventing death in battle, all have been hand-picked. They show that our own world has a deep tradition of miraculous occurrences. The one exception to this is the use of floating stones, which concept came from artist Christophe Vacher, someone I admire greatly and whose paintings inspire my writing.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Jeff Wheeler is a writer from 7-10 p.m. on Wednesday nights. The rest of the time, he works for Intel Corporation, is a husband and the father of five kids, and a leader in his local church. He lives in Rocklin, California. When he isn’t listening to books during his commute, he is dreaming up new stories to write. His website is: WWW.JEFF-WHEELER.COM

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  CHAPTER ONE:

  CHAPTER TWO:

  CHAPTER THREE:

  CHAPTER FOUR:

  CHAPTER FIVE:

  CHAPTER SIX:

  CHAPTER SEVEN:

  CHAPTER EIGHT:

  CHAPTER NINE:

  CHAPTER TEN:

  CHAPTER ELEVEN:

  CHAPTER TWELVE:

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN:

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN:

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN:

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN:

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:

  CHAPTER NINETEEN:

  CHAPTER TWENTY:

  CHAPTER TWENTY ONE:

  CHAPTER TWENTY TWO:

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE:

  CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR:

  CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE:

  CHAPTER TWENTY SIX:

  CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN:

  CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT:

  CHAPTER TWENTY NINE:

  CHAPTER THIRTY:

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE:

  CHAPTER THIRTY TWO: