Current Project – The Power of a Soul

My current focus is on a YA Fantasy novel with a working title of “The Power of a Soul“.  The story is set in a country ruled by a stern religious order.  Jacob, a younger son of the upper class comes to blows with his older brother Alex.  Both boys are eager to follow in the footsteps of their strict father and join the ranks of the military branch of the ruling church faction.  Jacob follows the rules and rituals of the order loosely while Alex insists on following the rituals to the letter.  This forces the boys along different paths, with dire consequences for the rest of their family and friends.  Mother and father are forced to choose between duty, religion and their sons in a world where duty and religion reign supreme.  One sons actions lead to shame and family dis-honour while the other attempts to undo the damage.

Writing Sample

“Damn it, no!”, as he watched Toby walk away Jacob realised he had let his guard down, now Alex was just around the corner.

Not moving, lying in ambush.  Jacob wondered what he should do, the fact that Alex was waiting for him meant that he was up to something and Jacob wasn’t about to walk into his brothers trap.  Alex never seriously hurt him but he did delight in making his brother late for training or important events.  Jacob set off down the alleyway in the opposite direction of the house.  If he could get to the next street he’d be able to cut back to the square, it was too crowded for Alex to try anything.  As he set off he felt Alex start to move, of course, Alex must have been sensing him, he’d known as soon as Jacob started to walk away.  Jacob started to run, knowing it was too late, his brother was older, bigger and faster.

“Not so fast little brother!”

Knowing it was pointless to keep running Jacob turned to face his brother and get it over with, maybe Alex wouldn’t do anything with the contests so close.  They we’re both representing their fathers school after all. “What do you want Alex? I need to get ready for the contest.”

“Yes we both do, you know its going to be me and you in the final, right little brother?”

“Yes I do, father has made sure we are the best trained apprentices in town.”  Perhaps reminding Alex that they we’re both representing their father would get him to back off.

“I’m sure he’s expecting us too, did he send you to find me?”

Alex smirked as he replied, “Yes, he wants to speak to us both straight away, it’s a shame I couldn’t find you…” Alex started to advance on Jacob and began to weave power into his fo-ren, making the brown wood glow a faint purple.  Luckily he didn’t feed too much power into it, it was enough to do some harm though and Jacob knew he was in trouble.

“Alex are you really going to mess with me today of all days, I will tell father!”

“Father never believes your stories little brother, why would today be any different.  Especially since I’ll be home long before you.”

Jacob began to weave his power into his own fo-ren, however he was new to this skill and couldn’t do it nearly as well or as quickly as his brother. As he concentrated on empowering his weapon he felt Alex’s blade coming towards him.  He jumped back instinctively raising the partly charged sword to block Alex’s attack, lighting fast his brother came in for another strike, this time aiming for Jacob’s thigh.  Jacob tried to bring his weapon down to intercept but was too slow, his brothers fo-ren struck his upper thigh, the aura in the weapon pushing the aura from his leg.  He screamed in pain as his leg was immobilised and he tumbled to the ground, his fo-ren falling from his grasp.  Alex roared with laughter as he looked at what he’d done to his brother, Jacob followed his eyes and gasped as he looked at his thigh.  His brothers strike had interrupted the aura flow in his leg, his blue aura was sticking out from his skin, almost like a translucent broken bone, he knew he wouldn’t be able to move his leg for at least an hour.

“Well brother, I’ll see you at home…. or at the contest grounds at least.  I’ll tell father I couldn’t find you anywhere, he wont be pleased!”

With that Alex set off down the alleyway, laughing to himself the entire way.  Jacob winced as he looked at his leg, the physical pain wasn’t too bad, he’d been sparring with his brother for years and it had toughened his body, this was the first time Alex had used a ren strike against him though… something must have pissed his brother off for him to do this.  As he observed the damage to his aura flow he began to weep.  He could direct his aura to the leg to repair the flows, however that would take a lot of power and he would need it all for the contests today.  He needed to get home so he could show his father once and for all how Alex tormented him, Alex had messed up this time and left a large glowing shard of evidence.

“I thought he’d never leave!” came a voice from above.

“Toby?”

“Yeah it’s me, I’m on the roof, I came back to tell you something and saw the whole thing.”  With that Toby leapt from the roof of the building on the other side of the alley, somersaulting before landing gracefully, his bow at the ready.  Clearly he was afraid Alex could come back.  “Why are you just sitting there, you heard Alex, you have to get home quickly!”

“I can’t Toby, I can’t use my leg, look at the damage he’s done!”

Toby looked at Jacob’s leg, a look of confusion on his face, “Stop whimpering, it can’t be that bad, I saw him strike you and it wasn’t even as hard as my blunt was earlier on.”

“Are you crazy, look at the wound, I can’t even move my leg.”

Suddenly concerned Toby rushed to Jacob’s side and ran his hands along his friends injured leg, again with a look of confusion on his face, he met Jacobs eyes, “Jacob… there’s no injury.”

“Oh! Of course!” exclaimed Jacob, “it’s an aura wound, you can’t see it.  Alex used a ren strike on me, it’s broken the aura flow in my leg.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so?” snorted Toby sarcastically.

“You don’t need to understand, but you do need to help me get home so I can show my father, do you think you can carry me as far as the house?”