The Estian Alliance

The Estian Alliance - By M J Webb





Acknowledgements

A series of three large novels are not penned without the help and advice of many kind hearted souls. I have been extremely fortunate to have received support from numerous friends on this wonderful journey. Chief amongst all has to be the immensely talented A J Hateley, who has once again performed wonders for the artwork which adorns the cover of this, the last book in the trilogy. I am extremely proud to work with such a brilliant illustrator and I wish her every success in her new career with the publishers Penguin.

I also owe a great debt of gratitude to Tanya Knapper, who has read and advised on all three novels and provided that essential independent viewpoint that every author craves. Thank you for your honesty and patience Lady T.

Luke Thompson, who I am certain has a huge literary career ahead of him, has always been there for me if I needed a fellow author’s input, and he gave me perhaps the greatest piece of advice I have received to date (apart from ‘give up’ that is). Thanks mate.

Here’s the group thanks; I’m bound to miss someone so apologies. Thanks for your understanding, encouragement, help and support… June and Graham Marklew, Simone and Brian, Mum, my best mate Wayne, Jim Smith, Vix and Brogan Mullis, Charity Parkerson, Lynn Hallbrooks and all in the Literary Guild, Lucy and Rox, Rob Faulkner, Andy Walls, Brian Norris and all at work, Sue Grier, Mike Maynard, Brian Beard, Jackie and Chloe Ward…..

Finally, an extra special thanks has to go to my wife. Not only has she had to put up with me over the last nine years and more, she has also had to contend with the writing bug that invaded my soul. I have to say that she bore the burden with varying degrees of restraint. But, she came out on top in the end and even proved to be my most valued and often used critic. Her help has been as constant as it has been vital. No words can convey the respect I have for her for that.

This is another book penned for my Jack and Sophie, my two adorable munchkins. They will be the true heroes of their own destiny I am sure. But, it is also written for all those who are young at heart, and have a little imagination. I hope you enjoy the series and will help to spread the word.

Thanks for reading and the very best wishes to you all.





Prologue

As chronicled in the novels ‘Jake West - The Keeper of the Stones’ and ‘Jake West - Warriors of the Heynai’, the reappearance of a Keeper changed everything for the long suffering people of Estia. His was a long awaited return which was to spark the flame of resistance in their troubled land, igniting a fire which burned to varying degrees of intensity within them all. His eagerly anticipated reappearance inspired all those who had previously been too afraid to act, as well as stirring to action seasoned veterans of the Ruddite wars, moving them to display ever more extraordinary degrees of valour. It reinforced the Estian people’s belief in the prophecies of old, the legends and stories which told of the Keeper’s role in their eventual liberation, and their deliverance from the forces of evil which had plagued their world for a thousand years. It was a rallying sign, a call to arms for a people sick to death of living in fear, in the very depths of despair. It was the defining moment in a long and bitter struggle, one which until now had seemed to have no end. It was a once in a lifetime chance to do something right, to fight for a just and moral cause, to help and protect their family and friends, and secure for them all a future, one which was worth having. Moreover, the return of the latest Keeper of the Stones, ‘The One’ who was destined to lead them to victory and freedom, was something that had been foretold, predicted. It was something that was always meant to be. It was fate. It was destiny. It marked the end of innocence for some, the beginning of anarchy for most, and the restoration of hope for all.

…And yet, as far as they were concerned, Jake West and his best friend, Ben Brooker, were just two ordinary fifteen year old schoolboys from Lichfield, a quaint and picturesque city in the heart of England, where nothing ever happened of note… Or so they thought.

Jake West. To understand the legend, you must first understand the boy. There was nothing at all special about Jake West. Nothing that would distinguish him from any other fun loving teenager. Nothing… Except for his lineage. And the rather strange and unique family history he had recently unearthed.

The life-changing role Jake had thrust upon him was an incredible burden to ask of one so young. And it was one from which he should have been spared. The last Keeper of the Stones (his grandfather, Harry) had faked his own death and fooled everyone, on many different worlds, into believing that the precious gems and awesome weapons had been destroyed. But, a chance venture by the boys into Harry’s cluttered attic, would lead to a startling discovery for our two young heroes and unlock many secrets that were meant to remain hidden, changing their lives forever.

When Jake inadvertently opened the box of stones they discovered in an old chest, he alerted everyone by his actions to the stones’ survival. From that moment on, a sequence of world-shattering events which could not be stopped were set in motion. Unknowingly, he had claimed his birthright, and he had also placed himself and all those he loved in mortal danger. He and Ben would soon be hunted across worlds. Having unwittingly revealed one of the world’s greatest secrets, he had no option now but to become a Keeper and fulfil his destiny, for like it or not, he had just been transformed from happy-go-lucky teenager, to world saviour and greatest hope we have in the battle against evil, in an instant.

And so their remarkable journey began. It would be a voyage into the unknown which would decide the fate of us all. Over the next few weeks, Jake would be pursued by ferocious warriors and beasts that seemed to come straight out of his worst nightmares. But somehow, he would find the strength within him to survive and flourish, to lead a rebellion, and raise the hopes of an entire continent. Together with his new allies he would free an army of prisoners and slaves, battle against the most powerful wizard ever known, attempt to restore the box of stones so that they might be used to defeat him, and try to find a way to return him and his friend safely home. The boys would undertake a series of perilous missions in order to acquire the replacement gems they needed. Jake would pass trials and tests designed to defeat far better men. Together, they would fight battles, lead a newly reformed army straight into the greatest civil war in Estian history, raise a sleeping dragon, and manage to survive an onslaught from an army of the living dead, all the time keeping alive the hopes of millions for an end to tyranny.

However, the dark forces of King Vantrax would prove far too numerous and powerful to defeat. Jake, Princess Zephany and the entire Estian force would be routed and made to retreat south, to the city of Te’oull. They escaped from the burnt out ruins of the once mighty fortress of Dassilliak with their lives barely intact, and they had to leave behind their badly wounded King. Jake West and his allies were beaten and on the run, with nowhere left to go. The final battle in the Estian wars loomed and it would be fought at Te’oull. He now placed all of his faith and trust in the four spirits known as the Heynai, the protectors of the Estian people, and the ones who had bestowed upon them the box of stones. It was they who had recruited the Keepers to guard the awesome weapons, as well as the wizard, Tien, to guide them… And it was they who would surely come to his aid now, in this, his moment of greatest need?

If they did not, if they failed to answer the call and chose to abandon him, then Jake West and Ben Brooker, as well as Princess Zephany and the entire army of the Estian Alliance, the last great hope of the their world and ours, were surely doomed.