The Island of the Mystics
About the Book
Still reeling from the events in The Wizard's Apprentice, Lucas and his family retreat to live with his grandparents, King Navor's parents, while their home is rebuilt. When Gertrude comes to visit, Audrina realizes she needs to tell her grandparents about falling in love with her childhood friend. This, unfortunately, proves a challenge. With Lucas in turmoil, and Gertrude doubting the princess' love for her, the two team up and run away.
While their loved ones search for them, not knowing whether they're alive or dead, a storm maroons the runaways on a mysterious island. There, Lucas finds acceptance that he never thought he had at home. Meanwhile, Gertrude falls deep into a mystery that could topple a civilization.
Both must struggle with the new, strange land and, having landed there, whether they could ever go home.
While their loved ones search for them, not knowing whether they're alive or dead, a storm maroons the runaways on a mysterious island. There, Lucas finds acceptance that he never thought he had at home. Meanwhile, Gertrude falls deep into a mystery that could topple a civilization.
Both must struggle with the new, strange land and, having landed there, whether they could ever go home.
Preview Excerpt
She stood on the shore and watched the waves. Her sea-green eyes tracked the horizon, looking for what? She did not know. The cry of her child back at home drove her here to this spot, and her heart ached. Mermaids swam in the wake, their multi-hued heads dotting the surf like jewels in the setting sun. Normally, she would smile at the sight, but now she felt a chill gripping her heart. She turned back to the village. One of her hands slowly rose in a futile wave of farewell. She knew he couldn’t see it, but her heart hoped he would know that she had gone down to their beach, that she had lingered there; waiting and watching.
Jerusha had talked to her about her sadness. The wise woman had magic, they said. She could help her as she had helped many others, but her words had driven her here, to the beach where she had first laid eyes on him: her love.
The waves lapped at her feet. Her toes sunk in the sand. Her footprints had long faded away. If she turned to look, she wouldn’t be able to see the path she had taken to reach that spot. It felt as if everything in her life was as temporary. Things and people came into her life to make a mark and then vanished without a trace. Nothing lasted.
A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye and made its way down her cheek to reach the corner of her mouth. She tasted the salt of it and thought of the ocean. She stifled a sob as the finality of it all hit her. She loved him. She loved their life, their child. She wanted him at her side, and yet… The wind around her blew hard and moaned through the rocks, giving voice to her silent grief. The first few drops of rain hit the beach as the mermaids in the surf disappeared from view. She shivered as the air grew cold around her. Her eyes hardened as she reached a decision. She no longer cared what everyone else said. Damn their judgements and proclamations. She would end her suffering and her pain. It was better this way. She was nothing but a misery to them all. Her own child wouldn’t stop crying when she held her, and her husband looked at her in pity. He was better off on his own.
She thought of her precious girl with her turquoise hair, so like her own. Her eyes filled with curiosity, and she felt shackled to her. Her tears were never soothed by her mother’s arms. She was a failure. Jerusha was right. to solve the problem, she needed to be taken out of the equation.
She walked the beach filling her pockets with rocks. It made sense to do this here. This was where she had found happiness in the arms of her husband. Here was where she would find peace as well. Heart pounding, pockets full, she turned and walked into the waves, letting the sea swallow her grief, as it swallowed her body whole.
Jerusha had talked to her about her sadness. The wise woman had magic, they said. She could help her as she had helped many others, but her words had driven her here, to the beach where she had first laid eyes on him: her love.
The waves lapped at her feet. Her toes sunk in the sand. Her footprints had long faded away. If she turned to look, she wouldn’t be able to see the path she had taken to reach that spot. It felt as if everything in her life was as temporary. Things and people came into her life to make a mark and then vanished without a trace. Nothing lasted.
A tear slipped out of the corner of her eye and made its way down her cheek to reach the corner of her mouth. She tasted the salt of it and thought of the ocean. She stifled a sob as the finality of it all hit her. She loved him. She loved their life, their child. She wanted him at her side, and yet… The wind around her blew hard and moaned through the rocks, giving voice to her silent grief. The first few drops of rain hit the beach as the mermaids in the surf disappeared from view. She shivered as the air grew cold around her. Her eyes hardened as she reached a decision. She no longer cared what everyone else said. Damn their judgements and proclamations. She would end her suffering and her pain. It was better this way. She was nothing but a misery to them all. Her own child wouldn’t stop crying when she held her, and her husband looked at her in pity. He was better off on his own.
She thought of her precious girl with her turquoise hair, so like her own. Her eyes filled with curiosity, and she felt shackled to her. Her tears were never soothed by her mother’s arms. She was a failure. Jerusha was right. to solve the problem, she needed to be taken out of the equation.
She walked the beach filling her pockets with rocks. It made sense to do this here. This was where she had found happiness in the arms of her husband. Here was where she would find peace as well. Heart pounding, pockets full, she turned and walked into the waves, letting the sea swallow her grief, as it swallowed her body whole.