The
Secret Guardian
by
Wes Dodd
About the author:
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The
Secret Guardian
Genre:
Fantasy
Publisher:
CreateSpace & BookTango
Release
Date: April 2013
Book
Description:
A
Sacred Society exists amongst us all. Believed only as a myth—its
origin thrives in secret. Once transformed, each generation of its
members become the elite of our society—some for good and some for
evil as well. Troy Anthony, unknowingly and somewhat unwillingly, is
about to join the elite, like his father before him. It takes a close
family friend to ultimately expose the Secret to Troy, revealing his
true destiny, and then she becomes a valuable ally. They
inadvertently share a unique bond—one of which many doubt its very
existence. Troy is taken to two magical places where he learns many
secrets of the world, many of which we all have been curious about.
It becomes an epic battle where Troy clashes with an evil tyrant, his
father’s assassin, a distant cousin sharing many of Troy’s unique
abilities.
Excerpt:
Claire
Anthony suddenly rose up in bed, escaping the nightmare which held
her hostage. Breathing heavily as if running from fear, she threw
back the deep heavy quilts and sat nervously on the edge of her bed.
Still shaken, beads of sweat rolled down her forehead, gently sloping
along her narrow cheekbones. Her silken auburn brown hair was
drenched along the hairlines. She sighed heavily as she glanced at
the clock on her night stand—2 a.m.
This
was not a rare nightmare, but rather a recurring one, brought on by a
Secret she had kept for many years, an ancient secret known by only a
few. She needed to reveal the Secret to her son, Troy, even sooner
than she wished. The Secret would change their lives forever if Troy
decided to fulfill his destiny—like his father before him.
She
noticed a mysterious shadow lingering on her rug from the bright moon
shining through her window. Driven by curiosity, she walked to the
window to take a peek, as if searching for someone or something in
particular. The brilliance from the moon illuminated the entire
farmyard, almost like day. After a thorough examination and seeing
nothing out of the ordinary, she quietly returned to bed. She once
again buried herself within heavy handmade quilts passed down to her
from her grandmother, most of which Claire as a child watched her
make.
Claire
and her son, Troy, lived on her grandparents’ farm in Virginia
where she was raised. She lost both of her parents in an auto
accident when she was barely eight years of age. When her
grandparents both passed, she inherited the farm. She and Troy moved
back there after the loss of her husband, Bruce, in the North Tower
during the 9/11 attacks in New York City. Much like herself, Troy had
to deal with death at a very early age. After the tragedy and some
healing time, she thought it best to get her son out of the city,
which prompted her move back to the farm. The farm was nestled in a
small valley amongst the Blue Ridge Mountains near the sleepy little
town of Sweet Springs. Claire recollected the good times she had
growing up there. The clean fresh country air and the friendly people
made it a perfect place for raising her son and teaching him strong
values. The beautiful scenery and a laid-back lifestyle made it
perfect for her as well.
Claire
was a slender woman of forty years, about five-and-a-half feet in
height. Her vivid green eyes and captivating smile made everyone take
notice when she entered a room. Even with hints of gray blending in
with her auburn brown hair, she appeared to be at least ten years
younger than her age. Many men had come calling on her, but she had
turned them all away—graciously.
The
next morning dawned cool and crisp with a bite in the air that
rendered noses and cheeks rosy red, much like good old Saint Nick’s.
The heavy frost had the appearance of a coating of freshly fallen
snow. As the sun peeked over the horizon, the trees sparkled and
glimmered as if infused with magic. The hillsides were speckled
orange with pumpkin patches. The valley was consumed with the
fragrance of seasoned oak and hickory burning in fireplaces. In the
home of Claire and Troy, the aroma of freshly cooked bacon filled
every room—making your tongue tingle, mouth water and stomach cry.
This
aroma awakened Troy every morning at 6:30 sharp. He would always leap
out of bed, bounce down the stairs, and be at the table anxiously
waiting before his mother could finish preparing breakfast. This
morning was oddly different. Claire had finished cooking and Troy was
not yet at the table. She glanced at her grandmother’s antique
clock on the old mantle—6:45. She was astonished, for she had never
had to call him for breakfast before. She made her way to the
hallway, then called up the stairs, “Troy, are you up yet?”
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