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Imago, Book I, Tales from the West by L.T. Suzuki 310 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0469; ISBN 1-55369-656-5; US$25.50, C$29.50, EUR21.00, £15.00 As the people of Imago brace for war, an alliance of mortals and elves race to secure the only weapon capable of destroying the impending evil. Pursued by the enemy, beset by betrayal and forced to face personal despair and tragedies, past and present are about to collide in a bid to save the future.
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About the Book
As the Second Age of Peace draws to an end, the Three Sisters, watchers of the past, present and future foresee the signs that will herald the beginning of great calamities that will spell disaster for mankind and all that is good.
The last hope for peace lies with the Order, an alliance of warriors from the surrounding countries, an Elf and a hapless Wizard. Led by a Prince whose fate is sealed by his past and a boy haunted by a past he cannot escape, they must deliver the Stone of Salvation to unlock the only weapon that can destroy the impending evil.
Pursued by enemy soldiers and four dark emissaries; the harbingers of evil set forth to destroy them, they embark on an incredible adventure. Trapped and outnumbered, an unlikely ally comes to their aid * the last surviving warrior, a messenger from a war-ravaged land far to the east. She reluctantly joins forces with the Order, where together, they wage war against a common adversary.
A journey fraught with many dangers, they must also fight their own fears and doubts to keep hope alive. The race is on. Time is running out...
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About the Author
A fan of swashbuckling adventure novels by Alexandre Dumas of Three Musketeers and the Count of Monte Cristo fame, Lorna Suzuki had noticed that it was always the men going off on great adventures and enjoying the camaraderie of a brotherhood. Most often, the women were portrayed as the damsels-in-distress.
In writing the Imago fantasy series, by adding a female protagonist, one that is reluctantly accepted into this brotherhood, the author drew on some of her own experiences as a woman in a once male-dominated field of law enforcement and martial arts to bring Nayla the female warrior to life.
With over twenty-four years experience in various forms of martial arts, Suzuki is a practitioner and instructor of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, a martial arts system incorporating six traditional samurai schools and three schools of ninjutsu under Japanese Soke, Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi. Although Budo Taijutsu has a very long and rich history in Japan and is steeped in tradition, it is only now growing in popularity. Practitioners of Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu do not compete in the sports arena as the techniques incorporated into this system are used strictly for self-defense, never as a sport. To learn more about Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu, please visit Shihan Phillip Legare's website @ www.shinkentaijutsu.com
As the newly elected president of the White Rock/Surrey Writers Group, Suzuki is working to raise the profile of one of BC's longest established writing societies. This not-for-profit organization strives to inspire budding writers and published authors of all genres, to improve writing skills and direct writers to publishers seeking submissions. Members meet from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on the third Wednesday of each month at the White Rock Library.
When Suzuki is not writing the next installment of the Imago series, she is a scriptwriter for Life & Times Productions founded and managed by award-winning producer, Alice Mathieson.
This company specializes in creating audio/video life-stories customized for clients as well as biographic documentaries for TV. She resides in the suburbs outside of Vancouver, BC with her husband Scott White, a talented videographer and Bujinkan Shidoshi, and her charming, young daughter Nia.
L.T. Suzuki can be contacted at:
ltsuzuki@imagobooks.ca
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Excerpts
Chapter 3 - The Road to Mount Isa
"Do not be frightened, Ewen; just believe," whispered Lindras, staring through the flames.
Ewen placed his trust and his hands into theirs. He closed his eyes, held his breath and the three stepped into the inferno. They felt no heat, no searing of skin nor flesh, not even a singed strand of hair as they passed through.
Ewen was in absolute awe! He turned back to see Arerys and the others on the other side of the wall of fire; they were embracing in joy and relief. He smiled back at them. As he turned his eyes forward, the image of the temple and the three figures that were like a blurred mirage through the flames were now clearly visible.
The Three Sisters beckoned the travelers to come forward and enter the temple. Ewen was quite taken by their loveliness. The Watchers were of exquisite beauty. All were tall and slender in stature. All three had long, flaming red hair, deep green eyes and skin as pale and smooth as alabaster. Their flowing, white gowns seemed to sparkle, as if sprinkled by fairy dust.
"Welcome, Lindras, the time has finally come that we would meet again," said Eliya with a bow.
Lindras drew back his hood as he bowed in respect.
Eliya walked over to Ewen and knelt before him, his hands clasped into hers. "So little one, hope for the future lies with you."
She led him into the temple. "I am Eliya, Watcher of the Future," she said as she turned to introduce her siblings. "This is my sister, Elora, Watcher of the Past and this is Enra, Watcher of the Present. Welcome to Mount Isa."
Elora and Enra nodded in greeting to Markus and Ewen.
"You have come for the Stone of Salvation, Prince Markus," said Eliya as she removed the black cloth that concealed the blood-red stone that rested on a large, granite pedestal.
"Yes," answered Markus.
"You chose the bearer of the Stone wisely," she continued.
Ewen smiled inwardly upon hearing this encouraging bit of news.
"Take heed my words of warning, Prince Markus. None other than the innocent who is pure of heart shall safely handle this Stone. Ewen is the only one who shall remain untouched by its powers. Do you understand?" asked Eliya, her eyebrows rose as she searched into his soul through his dark eyes.
"I do," Markus answered as he nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Ewen, you must place this Stone back into the key that locks Beyilzon into the underworld before the total eclipse of the sun," instructed Elora, the Watcher of the Past.
"But how will I know--"
"When the time comes, Ewen, you will remember what to do," said Elora, interrupting the boy's question.
"I will remember?"
"Yes, Ewen. You will remember."
Her statement baffled him.
The Sisters led Lindras, Markus and Ewen to the three seats that they usually occupy. They were situated at a large, triangular stone table with a circular impression in the center. The three guests took their place in the chairs, and then each sister held out a crystal orb before them.
Elora, Watcher of the Past spoke first. "Although you shall all look upon the same orb, what you shall bear witness to are moments in your own life that have shaped the person you are now. If you are wise, you shall use this time to learn from past mistakes and to draw strength from these moments that have touched your lives."
The Watcher of the Past then placed her orb into the impression on the table. The mist that swirled inside the crystal dissolved to reveal a different story from each of their pasts that flashed before them.
For Lindras, hundreds of images appeared before his eyes representing the thousands of years he has existed. He watched as he parted ways with the Wizards of the North, South and East. He observed as his first meeting and friendship with Kal-lel unfolded. He recalled the encounter with the great Dragon of the Shadow Mountains, the defeat of Beyilzon at the last Great War, and of his frequent and often-solitary wanderings after Imago entered the Second Age of Peace.
The last image to be revealed to him was the arrival of Beyilzon's men at the Temple of the Watchers earlier in the day. Lindras observed with great interest as the soldiers of the Dark Army departed eastward, down Mount Isa, after their failed attempt to enter the gates of fire.
For Markus, his past was marked with passages filled with both happiness and much sorrow. Images of his mother's life and untimely death, his strong bond with his father, his privileged life in Carcross, and his desire to follow in the King's footsteps to be a fair and just ruler played out before him. Scenes of his past adventures traveling the land with Arerys and Darius, and finally, the heartbreaking scenes of the death of his wife and son during childbirth repeated itself in the orb set before him. Silent tears rolled down his face as the images of his departed wife, Elana faded away. Five years had passed since he last looked upon her exquisite beauty. He felt as though the loss of his long-time love was now as fresh as the first day of her passing.
For Ewen, his images were fewer but longer. He smiled as he watched with wide-eyed fascination as images of he and his father at play flashed before him. His smile quickly faded as he relived his own grief when he learned of his father's violent and untimely death while assisting the soldiers of Darross to drive back an invasion by the Dark Army; of Prince Markus bringing him into his service so that he may live in his care at Whycliffe Castle; his decision to assist the Order, but the last image confused and frightened him the most.
Staring deep into the orb, he saw himself in what appeared to be another time and another place. He was violently cast down to the ground as the sky about him grew dark. A deep and resonating voice repeatedly mocked him.
"Will you die for him?" shouted the voice. "Will you die for him?"
These haunting words echoed in his ears. Ewen looked on in both fear and bewilderment as he watched himself lying on the ground cowering, too scared to move.
This frightening image dissolved to black. Greatly disturbed by these dark scenes that played out before him, he looked up to Elora.
She closed her eyes and spoke to his heart. Do not be frightened by your past Ewen; learn from it instead.
His confusion was evident. How can this be? I do not recall this happening in my life.
"In time, you shall understand. You will remember," said Elora as she stepped forward to claim her crystal.
Enra held forth her crystal orb. "What you shall see now is the present as it unfolds. Because your lives are now entwined, what you shall bear witness to, shall be shared."
Markus and Ewen were surprised for what was revealed was not so much images, but rather what was felt and thought by those around them. On the other side of the wall of fire sat the men of the Order. Now within this orb, their hearts were laid bare for Lindras, Markus and Ewen to see.
It saddened Markus to discover that his lifelong friend, Arerys Wingfield, loyal and true to those in the Order was contemplating a different existence. His desire was to leave this earthly realm to make a journey to the Twilight; if he were to survive the perils of this quest. He no longer felt fulfilled; his long existence left him feeling empty. He resolved that this would be the last adventure that he would share with Markus in Imago.
The image of Arerys faded, to be replaced with that of the protector of Carcross: the charming and high-spirited Darius Calsair. Without a doubt, he was a true knight, through and through. Loyal, brave and willing to lay his life down for King Bromwell and his country without hesitation and yet, none were surprised to find that his thoughts strayed to the beautiful Elf maidens of Wyndwood.
The image dissolved again to reveal another: Lando Bayliss, the protector of the House of Calaware. A man of great faith, honesty and integrity; Lando was deep in prayer. His thoughts were with Lindras, Markus and Ewen, praying for their success in securing the Stone of Salvation. He hoped for the powers that be, to come to their aid, to bring a swift and successful end to the quest so he may return home to his beloved Cedona.
The crystal orb faded to black, only to reveal another image, this time of Faria Targott. It became quickly obvious to all present that doubt and worry overshadowed Faria's troubled heart.
How can we entrust a boy to do a man's job? We are doomed to fail. There must be another way. He wrung his hands in woe, pondering the likelihood of whether the quest would end with a happy outcome.
Lindras and Markus were equally troubled by the revelation of Faria's dark thoughts.
Enra cautioned, "Trust your feelings. Do not be deceived by the one who may feel compelled to take whatever actions he believes will justify the ends. He is driven by his own doubts and fears."
As they continued to look on, they watched as Beyilzon's soldiers congregated in growing numbers in the Shadow Mountains. The soldiers and knights of Darross, with the assistance of those in the Alliance, had always succeeded in destroying small incursions as the Dark Army periodically breached the Aranak Mountains - the enemy was always driven back into Talibarr. Now, they witnessed the random acts of violence the Dark Army dispensed as they roamed the land and even now, soldiers anticipating the Order's arrival at the temple, were waiting in ambush to claim the coveted Stone of Salvation.
These troubling images swirled like a whirlpool into an abyss of darkness. Enra collected her orb, stepping aside for Eliya.
The Watcher of the Future placed her orb into the table's impression. In the stark blackness of the crystal, images came to surface that were terrifyingly real. Before their eyes, one scene quickly dissolved into the next: villages in ruin; a darkened castle devoid of life; the alignment of the stars, and the red moon that is to herald the release of Beyilzon from the underworld.
The trio looked on as horrible scenes of Elves and men, slaughtered in an all out war on the Plains of Fire played out before them. In the midst of these terrifying images rode forth four dark harbingers of evil on great, black steeds. They were carried on a wake of death and destruction as they scoured the countryside in pursuit of the Order. These images began to darken as the eclipse of the sun plunged all of Imago into blackness.
Lindras and Markus were greatly disturbed and moved by these powerful images. Ewen could not hide the fear in his eyes. The muscles of his neck tightened as he involuntarily swallowed the lump caught in his dry throat.
Markus drew a deep breath as he searched Eliya's lucid, green eyes for answers. "Do we have any hope?"
She smiled at him and answered in a gentle voice. "Prince Markus, from the beginning of time, both mankind and Elves have been blessed with what you call hope. There is always hope. When all else fails, it is hope that allows you to continue on. It is when you lose hope that all will be lost and the quest is doomed to fail."
"But how best to defeat Beyilzon and his men?"
"It shall take all of your strength and your unwavering belief that it can be done. It will also require Ewen's compassion and unselfish courage to help you see this quest to its end," answered Eliya.
"Surely you can advise me on strategy as you know the outcome?" asked Markus, again looking for more decisive answers.
"Man's future is not predestined by myself or even by the Maker of All. Ultimately, you shall steer the course of the future, whether it shall lead to success or ruin. I cannot advise you on the course of action to pursue, but I will tell you this: In your darkest hour a most unlikely ally shall come to your aid. Though your men may resist the help, do not be deceived by appearances, for even the smallest ember can still burn and ignite a massive inferno."
"It is good to know that we may have an ally in all of this," smiled Lindras.
"Yes, it is Wizard, but will the Order recognize this when the time comes?"
"But what about me? How can I help Prince Markus fight such a formidable enemy?" lamented Ewen. "I am merely a boy, I am not even skilled in the ways of the warrior. How can I be of any good to Prince Markus and the Order?"
"Oh, little one, do not despair. It is not the power of your strength that Prince Markus shall call upon. It shall be the strength of your heart that shall see you through," said Eliya. Her hand gently raised Ewen's chin so she may look into his eyes to allay his fears.
Eliya looked at Lindras and decided to share this with him: "As you leave the Valley of Shadows, the Order may encounter a menace like no other. He is a manifestation of your own powers, Wizard. Do not call upon the Keeper of the Gate unless you can control him. He will confront all who dare to trespass onto Mount Hope. You stand to jeopardize the quest if your powers cannot contain him. Remember Lindras, this is one adversary that cannot be brought down by the hands of man."
Lindras nodded as he stroked his long beard. He carefully contemplated this bit of information disclosed by the Watcher.
Eliya then turned to Markus and warned him: "Beware of Beyilzon's agents. Four of his dark emissaries scour the land in search of the Stone of Salvation. Neither dead nor alive, they are caught in a shadow world created by Beyilzon; they are forced to do his bidding. Battle them if you must, but only a fatal pierce through the heart shall release them from the Dark Lord's hold."
Markus shook his head in despair as the warnings and foreshadowing images that played out in the orb filled his mind with turmoil and worry. He knew that the difficulties and perils that lay ahead for the Order were going to be great, but were they insurmountable?
"Tell me, my lady, are these the shadows of things that shall come to pass?"
"The future is not engraved in stone. Even a single grain of sand may tip the scales to set into motion a great many changes. The shadows that you see are merely the shadows of what shall be, if you fail to defeat Beyilzon," stated Eliya.
"Then we have no choice," said Markus, with determined resolve as he rose from the table. "We shall defeat the Dark Lord."
The Three Sisters nodded in approval to Markus. Eliya turned to the pedestal, taking the brilliant gem into her right hand. Kneeling before Ewen, she presented him with the Stone of Salvation.
Ewen studied the many facets of this oval, blood-red jewel that fit so neatly into the palm of his hand. How can such a small thing wield so much power? Ewen wondered as he held the Stone up for Lindras and Markus to admire.
Reading his thoughts, Eliya's answer touched Ewen's heart. You shall soon learn that you cannot measure power by size alone, Ewen. Just as there are people much larger than you, who do not possess your inner strength and will, there are also those who may be small in stature, but have the power to control great armies. What they may lack in size, they make up for in skill and knowledge. Do not be fooled by what you see, instead, search the heart for what your eyes will not reveal to you.
Eliya carefully placed the Stone into a black velvet pouch with a long, golden drawstring. Pulling the pouch closed, she hung it about Ewen's neck.
"We shall watch over you, little one," she said, gently planting a kiss upon his forehead.
With those words, the wall of fire vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. Markus, Lindras and Ewen were now free to continue their journey. They bowed to the Three Sisters before turning to regroup with the other members of the Order.
As Ewen turned to wave a final good-bye to the Sisters, Eliya, Enra and Elora were already seated at their table. Elora recording the events that had just transpired, Enra gazing into her crystal orb to observe what treacheries Beyilzon's men were now scheming, while Eliya watched the night sky for celestial signs that would herald the release of Beyilzon from his prison.
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