Magical Gemstones of Heritage Avenged: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two
by Marsha A. Moore
In my Enchanted Bookstore Legends, basic
magic ability is inherited. Opening an enchanted book, Adalyra McCauley confronts a series of quests
where she is expected to save Dragonspeir from destruction by the Black Dragon.
Even though she is one of the five Scribes in all of Dragonspeir’s
history and has inherited vast powers, she needs more than that to survive the
dangers she faces.
Lyra accepts the challenges because
Cullen, the wizard she loves, will perish if evil wins. After her first
victory, she is set back, realizing Dragonspeir magic may have caused the death
of her dear aunt. She resolves to learn the truth and accepts the
Imperial Dragon’s appointment into the Alliance sorcery training. Additionally,
becoming proficient in magic craft is the only way Lyra can bridge the gap
between her mortal human world and Cullen’s. He is her only family now; she
cannot lose him.
Although assisted by Cullen and magical
animal guides, ultimately Lyra must use her own power to complete the next quest
in this second book, Heritage Avenged. She gains additional
energy to access her inherited power from the stars, magnetics within the
Earth, and from special forces contained in certain gemstones. I’ll briefly
give some examples of how those magical gems are used historically and in my
Legends.
Moonstone and Onyx Moonstone has been called a visionary stone by
some, moonstone brings inspiration, strengthens intuition and sensitivity,
enhances creativity, allows the wearer to see situations from different angles,
and helps one to see things more clearly. It has even been said that moonstone
has the power to grant wishes. Onyx is generally believed to help with
objective thinking and spiritual inspiration, which helps the wearer move
beyond bad relationships and old hurts.
In
Heritage
Avenged, a large rainbow moonstone is used as the focal point of an
instrument which interprets information hidden in the stars. It is the focal
rondure of the Spheres of Sidus. That device helps answer a chosen question
from the reader’s past. Three onyx balls are positioned according to current
positions of the birth stars of specific ancestors. The onyx balls of the
Spheres of Sidus relate to past relationships. When, at last, the moonstone
rondure is placed and given sufficient power, it conjures an answer in the form
of a hologram-like image.
Ruby has
energy that is intense and vivid, helping you see your own strength. It is said
that the power of Ruby will encourage you to follow your dreams and bliss, to
change your world. It encourages leadership and increased concentration,
with sharpness of intellect.
In Heritage Avenged, Lyra is drawn to a ruby displayed by the
Dark Alchemist, Tarom. She is born under the Aries fire sign and cannot resist
the powers of the fiery ruby. He knows this and tempts her with a taste of what
the ruby’s energy can do to multiple her own powers, eliciting dark qualities
of greed to pull her off her path of what is noble and good.
Heliodor,
also called Golden Beryl, has long been cut into spheres for scrying since it
enhances the owner’s psychic awareness.
In
the previous legend, Lyra was given a gift from each of the four Guardians—the
Phoenix, the Tortoise, the Imperial Dragon, and the Unicorn—who are the four
Chinese sacred animals that balance all of creation through their influences on
the elements of fire, water, air, and earth, respectively.
The
Unicorn’s gift to Lyra was a scrying stone of heliodor. The golden hue of the
stone he matched to the unique color of her visible scribal aura. An aura is an
extension of power from the soul of a magical being, which can expand and
surround their entire body. To use her heliodor, Lyra concentrates on one
single question about a future event. The stone answers with an image she must
decipher. Faced with dangerous situations, she’s glad for any guidance, even if
cryptic.
Jade has
long been revered as a symbol of
love. In ancient China a prospective
bride would present her betrothed a jade butterfly to seal their engagement.
Likewise the bridegroom would give his sweetheart a gift of jade before their
wedding. This gem is considered one of the most important symbols of purity and
serenity.
In my Legends, once love grew between Lyra and Cullen, it was
visibly connected through a gift of lovers’ paired jadestones. Only one set of
these powerful stones exists in Dragonspeir. The gems are mounted into two
ornate brooches, a male and female setting. The two call to each other and bond
Lyra and Cullen’s magic, enabling them to locate each other and use their
combined magical powers as one extremely strong unit. This proves invaluable in
many dangerous situations.
As their love deepens in Heritage Avenged, the
gems have more uses, being able to store large quantities of energy. In one
horrific moment, Lyra’s jadestone is stolen from her, just when she is
depending on it to save Cullen’s life. She struggles to get it back, and when
she does, she is rewarded with answers to many of her deepest questions.
Jet wards off dark magic by
balancing the emotions of the wearer to protect him/her from possession.
It’s no wonder that a necklace of jet was created for the
first Scribe to protect her from being mentally possessed by evil forces of the
Dark Realm in Dragonspeir. After the Black Dragon first trajected his magic
through Lyra in the first book, Seeking a Scribe, Cullen gave her
that ancient necklace and initiated its magic once again. In Heritage
Avenged, Lyra discovers that jet necklace absorbs and protects her from
dark powers shot at her by the Imperial Alchemist and Lord of the Tempestas.
Opal is
considered to be able to confer the gift of invisibility on its wearer.
A mysterious benefactor sent Lyra a gift of a rare opal
invisibility ring at just the right moment at the end of the first book. During
Heritage
Avenged, a man steals this ring from Lyra along with her jadestone.
However, in this case, the joke is on the thief since the gem will only unlock
its magic for females.
Sapphire has
been associated with divine favor. The Buddhists believed that the sapphire
favored devotion and spiritual enlightenment. The ancient Greeks linked
sapphire with Apollo, and wore it as an aid to prophecy when consulting
oracles. It is worn and utilized in rituals to strengthen the ability to tap
and send forth power.
Blue is the designated color of allegiance to the Alliance.
The highest magicals in the Alliance each possess a sapphire, including each of
the four Guardians. Cullen’s wizard staff bears a sapphire at its apex, which
channels his power into sharp streams.
Amethyst
and Iolite Amethyst can be used to increase psychic awareness, to
sharpen the 'sixth sense.' Similarly, iolite stimulates the wearer’s
spiritual awareness, guide him/her to a higher awareness, and awakens inner
knowledge. Iolite helps its owner to open the door to the knowledge of the
Universe.
Both of these purple gems are worn by several
magical residents of Dragonspeir who don’t align their support with either the
Dark Realm of the Black Dragon or the Alliance of the Imperial Dragon. Colors
are worn to display allegiance, red for the Dark Realm and blue for the
Alliance. Purple, an intermediate color, indicates these individuals stand
apart. Included in this group are the alchemists for both realms, as well as
many of the magical nomadic tribal peoples who are sky readers. These renegades
pose as much threat for Lyra as the Dark Realm, pursuing her for her unique
scribal aura.
I’ve always enjoyed the legends and lore of
gemstones. Their mystical qualities added another layer of magic to my Legends.
To see these amazing stones in action, read Heritage Avenged: Enchanted
Bookstore Legend Two.
Heritage Avenged:
Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two by Marsha A. Moore
Genre: Fantasy
romance
Description:
Lyra McCauley receives an alarming letter from the coroner
who evaluated her deceased aunt, originally thought to have died of cancer. The
news causes Lyra to take leave from her job and travel from sunny Tampa to the
frozen island community in northern Michigan. Questioning whether Dragonspeir
magic was responsible for her aunt’s death, she resolves to learn the truth and
accepts the Imperial Dragon’s appointment into the Alliance sorcery training.
Additionally, becoming proficient in magic craft is the only
way she can bridge the gap between her mortal human world and her lover’s.
Cullen, a 220-year-old wizard, is dependent upon his Dragonspeir magic for
immortality. He is her only family now; she cannot lose him.
Evil forces block her and try to steal her inherited scribal
aura. Riding a stealth dragon, a cloaked rider pursues Lyra. Both the Alliance
and Dark Realm alchemists lay tricks and traps. Her aura equals that of the
first and most powerful Scribe, but will Lyra’s novice training allow her to
discover the truth? Will she be able to be with Cullen, or will the Dark Realm
keep them apart?
Excerpt:
From Chapter 1: The
Letter
Lyra worried about
Cullen on his flight home. Despite the fact he was over two hundred years old,
it was only his second plane trip. The few wizards of Dragonspeir who visited
the real world seldom traveled far, and then not conventionally. He kept her
safe in his world last summer. She intended to keep him safe in hers.
“Next!” the
heavyset postmistress belted out.
“I’ve got to hang up,” Lyra quickly whispered
into her cell phone. “Be sure you call me when you land in Sault Saint Marie.
Love you.”
She sighed and
maneuvered to the clerk at the far end of the counter. If only they could live
together in one world. She needed to learn more magic first and hoped to make a
start in a few weeks, when she took her winter break from teaching to attend
his Solstice Festival. Unfortunately, her formal lessons would have to wait
until next summer.
When Lyra
approached the counter, the woman peered over the top of her reading glasses as
she shuffled papers. “Yes?”
“I’m here to pick
up my mail from a vacation hold.”
“Theme of my day,”
the postmistress muttered and then barked, “Name and ID.”
“Adalyra McCauley.
Just since the day before Thanksgiving.” She fumbled in her purse and pulled
the driver’s license from her billfold.
The women sighed,
slid off her stool, and shuffled into a back room. A few minutes later, she
lumbered back, carrying a small stack of letters, glossy ads, and magazines.
She scooted the mail across the counter.
Lyra stuffed it
all into a tote bag, then scurried to her silver Subaru sport wagon and tossed
it into the passenger seat. Driving Cullen to the Tampa International airport
and this stop barely left enough time to make it to the university in time to
teach her ten o’clock class. But the memory of those lingering goodbye kisses
made it worth the consequences.
She stopped for a
red light at a twelve-lane interchange, tapping the wheel impatiently. The
edges of the mail peeked out of the sack, tempting her. She pulled it into her
lap and riffled through the letters. The usual bills. The signal remained red.
Thumbing quickly
through familiar envelopes, one unusual return address caught her eye, William
T. Betts, M.D., Washaw, Michigan—the island village location of Aunt Jean’s
cottage on Lake Huron. Although addressed to Lyra, it had been sent to where
her aunt lived prior to passing away. She couldn’t place his name as one of
Jean’s doctors. Multiple postmarks revealed a path of forwarding, the oldest
dated last August, a few weeks after the funeral. She checked the traffic
light—still red.
She ripped open
the envelope and yanked out the letter.
Dear Ms. McCauley:
I
am writing this correspondence in my capacity of Birch County coroner. Please
accept my condolences for the recent loss of your aunt, Jean Perkins. Prior to
delivery of her remains to the Michigan State crematorium, her attending
physician, Dr. Everett Schultz, requested an autopsy. Dr. Schultz and I wish to
meet with you to discuss my findings at your earliest convenience.
Respectfully,
William
T. Betts, M.D.
A horn honked from
behind and jolted Lyra into a panic. Her limbs froze and her eyes returned for
another glimpse of the letter. She wildly scanned the page, searching for
additional information. Aunt Jean had died of cancer. What more could they tell
her than that?
At the time of
Jean’s death, the abrupt change in her symptoms puzzled Lyra and made her
question the visiting nurse. Hours before, her aunt’s mind had been lucid. Her
eyes were clear and her breathing soft and steady, not a raspy death rattle. Now
those initial concerns seemed grounded.
The driver behind
her laid on the horn.
The noise jarred
Lyra to the present. She exhaled an arrested breath. To brace her shaking arms,
her free hand clamped the steering wheel. Unable to coordinate, her foot slid
off the clutch and stalled the car.
A chorus of horns
blared.
After fumbling
with the ignition, she restarted and herded her Subaru into the stream of
traffic. She locked her eyes squarely ahead to avoid angry road-rage stares
from passing motorists.
One car pulled
alongside and tooted. Her eyes shifted onto the driver who flipped her off
before speeding away.
Shaking, she gave
up rushing to be on time. Keeping her car safely on the road was challenge
enough. She hung back to allow other cars to pass.
Plodding in the
slow lane, her thoughts drifted to the letter. What had the coroner found? In
September, the funeral home wrote, indicating they stored her aunt’s ashes, as
Lyra directed, until she returned to collect them. The director never mentioned
any question about the cause of death.
Lyra shifted
before engaging the clutch. Grinding gears vibrated the car. White-knuckling
the wheel, she gratefully turned at the sign for Southern University. Finally
in her assigned parking spot, she slumped into the seat.
Before getting
out, she reread the letter to search for clues between the phrases. She found
none, but the words “earliest convenience” loomed. The doctor wrote the letter
three months ago. Would that lost time make a difference?
Was it possible
someone harmed Jean? Hundreds in the village visited the funeral and expressed
sorrow. What about that strange man, Revelin? He came to Jean’s home,
supposedly working as an aide from the home care division of the local clinic.
He acted suspicious, trying to read Lyra’s computer screen, open to her draft
of the new version of the Book of Dragonspeir.
Maybe a person from Dragonspeir? A few supporters of the evil Black Dragon
could enter her world. But who? His alchemist, Tarom, possessed enough power
and talent. A chill ran down her spine, thinking of his glowing red eyes and
crimson cloak with moving tentacles at its hem. She sighed. No obvious evidence
linked either man.
Sun rays reflected
light through her windshield from the modern glass and concrete English
building. This alerted her to pull herself together and go inside. After
sucking in a deep breath to steady her nerves, she opened the car door and
stepped out. Her legs shook under her weight. Her shoulders sagged under the
load of the briefcase and bags. With an awkward gait, she ambled toward her
building.
She stopped cold.
Students raced around her to make their classes. What about Eburscon? Alchemist
for the Imperial Dragon’s Alliance. She clenched a fist, recalling his haughty,
antagonistic manner. He openly disapproved of Lyra’s influence on anyone in
Dragonspeir.
Opening a side
door off the parking lot, she checked her watch. Five minutes past the start of
class time. She braced herself, rearranged her bags, and climbed two flights—a
short cut to the classroom which avoided the department offices.
Three minutes
later, she arrived in the room, out-of-breath and shaking, in no shape to
teach. But, the chairman kept careful tabs on all his non-tenured professors,
including Lyra.
Thankfully, the
lesson was an easy one, reviewing short story reading assignments. The students
in her American Lit course, just returned from a long Thanksgiving weekend,
didn’t want to hear a rigorous talk about Emerson and Thoreau. Most eyed her
with groggy stares, heads propped on elbows. A handful of alert and prepared
students vied to contribute, snapping out responses to Lyra’s discussion
questions. Usually she enjoyed pitting them against each other, but today she
merely appreciated their participation.
Her mind wandered
two thousand miles away. She watched the clock, counting the minutes until she
could talk with Cullen during his layover in Detroit.
Purchase Links:
Heritage Avenged: Enchanted Bookstore Legend Two
Seeking a Scribe:
Enchanted Bookstore Legend One
Author Links:
Website: http://MarshaAMoore.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarshaAMoore
Fantasy Faction staff page: http://fantasy-faction.com/staff-members?uid=38
Goodreads author page http://www.goodreads.com/marshaamoore
Author Bio:
Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The
magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Her creativity also spills
into watercolor painting and drawing. After a move from Toledo to Tampa in
2008, she’s happily transforming into a Floridian, in love with the outdoors.
Crazy about cycling, she usually passes the 1,000 mile mark yearly. She is
learning kayaking and already addicted. She’s been a yoga enthusiast for over a
decade and that spiritual quest helps her explore the mystical side of fantasy.
She never has enough days spent at the beach, usually scribbling away at new
stories with toes wiggling in the sand. Every day at the beach is magical!
