The Orb of Infinity
A few months back my granddaughter and I had an idea for a book that we should write together. India is eight years old and by her ninth birthday would like to have finished a 30,000 word manuscript where a character with her name is the hero.
Here is just a taste and part of a rough first draft.
Chapter One
The soft green
glow from the digits of clock on India’s bedside table had only blinked three
am when a flash of silver and blue light filled the room. She woke to the feel
of someone blowing softly on her cheek, stoking her hair and the soulful voice
urging her to wake up.
‘Princess,
it is written that you are the chosen one and you must come at once.’ A person
no bigger than India’s arm was bending over her, repeating the plea.
Believing
it to be a dream India tried pulled the bedclothes over her head and follow these
visions until morning. The covers as if pulled by an invisible thread, rolled
back.
Having
gained India’s attention, she spoke, ‘My name is Xlora, special envoy to the
Prime Minister of Astranada,’ then standing back, bowed. ‘and ten centuries ago
it was written that one would come and free our people from the tyranny of Rahn.’
Xlora took her gloves off and hoping India would not fall back into sleep, slapped
them against her thigh ‘You Princess India, are the chosen one and just as the
ancients decreed. You will come.’
India
started shaking, and fearing another nightmare sat on the edge of the bed. Her
feet feeling for her slippers. Xlora used her frog like index finger and thumb
to prise India’s eyes open, it was no use as India slipped back into a slumber.
Taking a vial from the pouch on her belt and waved it under the girl’s nose.
India looked around as an aura of calm washed over her.
She
looked at the voice’s owner, a person no taller than her favourite doll was
standing in front of her. Xlora wore a silver-blue flying jacket, an airman’s
helmet, leather pants and flying boots with stiletto heels. Everything
matching, only her navy-blue cravat broke the monotony of colour. Even her skin
was silvery, her eyes and lips matched the cravat.
‘Go
away, I have school tomorrow.’
‘You’ll
have time for school later, tonight we have a planet to save.’
India
reached for the light switch. ‘I’d better tell Mum.’
Xlora’s
hand stopped her. ‘We have no time for that, quick we must go now.’
‘We’ll
be back before they all wake up.’ She opened the closet, ‘now what have we got
for you to wear?’ The envoy tut-tutted, saying, ‘No that just won’t do.’ pulling
things out, one after another until a mountain of clothes covered the floor.
‘Stand still, we’ll need to kit you out and, Uniforms On-line won’t cut it.’
Pointing
to the mess in her room, India said. ‘Who’s going to put all of this back?’
‘It’s
a little girl’s room, they’re always messy.’
‘Put
all of it back now.’ She managed through a yawn.
Clicking
her fingers Xlora huffed, ducking and stepping out of the way as India’s
clothes flew back to where they came from.
‘You’ll
just have to come in your pyjamas. We’ll have to pick up something on the way.’
She took India’s hand and snapped her fingers again. ‘We have to hurry.’ And
with that, she started rubbing the screen on India’s iPhone until a whirlpool
appeared, took India’s hand and stepped into the swirling black hole of
nothingness engulfing the room.
