The Rise of Isaac, Books 1-3, page 65
"RUN!" Ely's voice boomed into his ears.
The heat of a midsummer sun beat down on Oliver. Sweat began to pour down his neck as he got to his feet and started running for his life.
EPILOGUE
A Growing Threat
Isaac lunged towards the Gateway. William grabbed his arm at the last second and yanked him backwards.
"No, Isaac," William growled in his ear. "You can't go charging into Brinatin we could get caught."
Isaac's face was contorted in rage. William turned his chin so his friend had to look into his eyes. Isaac blinked hard and let out a breath through his nose in defeat. He nodded and gripped William's arm briefly.
"Let's get this lot to Theald," Isaac said, stepping away from him and looking at the mages who had been standing just out of range of the blast.
"I have to go back for Alison first."
Isaac nodded. "Kogure, take the Lanics to Theald."
The shadow around him shifted and hovered over the ten mages who were still bound and masked. They all stumbled around in panic as the vark touched them then a dark portal appeared, swirling and twisting as it engulfed their bodies. They disappeared in an instant, cutting off the sound of their panicked screams.
William eyed Xen who was standing with a young boy nearby, watching them quietly.
"What about him?" William muttered to Isaac.
"Xen go back to Galice. I will send you soldiers and weapons to help seize the palace," Isaac instructed. "I will be in contact shortly afterwards."
Xen bowed low. "Thank you for everything." He turned, pushing the boy ahead of him as they walked back towards the road.
"Dammit, Will, I had her in my hands," Isaac hissed.
William looked at his friend and saw his eyes well up. He put a hand on his shoulder. "We will get another chance."
Isaac nodded, his face contorting as he fought his emotions. "You're right."
William frowned. "We were caught off guard here. How could we have known..." He shook his head, barely able to believe he had had his son in his arms.
Kogure returned and a dark portal abruptly opened beside them and Isaac nodded at William. "Take us back to Brinatin, Kogure," he said as he stepped into the blackness and disappeared.
William glanced back at the Gateway, his gut twisting uncomfortably. He hadn't expected to feel the way he had about Oliver. The emotion was powerful and was still radiating through him. He felt both elation and terror at meeting him and losing him within moments.
He tore his gaze from the Gateway and stepped into Kogure's portal, travelling to Brinatin with a wrenching feeling as Kogure dragged him.
He stepped out into the hallway of the house in Brinatin where Isaac was sat on the stairs waiting for him.
"Get Alison then we'll leave immediately," Isaac instructed, his knee bobbing up and down agitatedly.
William nodded and produced the key to the basement from his pocket. He walked to the door and unlocked it. Alison was sat behind it, her head lolling on the stone wall beside the doorway.
William knelt down beside her and shook her arm. "Ali?"
She stirred and her blue eyes met his, making his stomach constrict.
"Where have you been?" she asked, hurt registering in her features.
"Sorry, darling. I'm here now." He leant in and kissed her lightly on the lips.
She tilted her chin up to meet him, reassuring William with her newfound willingness to be with him. Isaac had insisted they lock her in the basement whilst they were gone but William no longer doubted her.
She touched his jaw softly then gripped his shoulder and William pulled back, helping her stand. She smiled at him then ducked out into the hallway. Isaac stood watching them, his arms folded across his chest.
"Ready to go?" he asked. His tone held a very slight edge to it that only William could detect from years of knowing him. He cocked an eyebrow at him but Isaac didn't respond.
"Where are we going?" Alison asked curiously.
"To Theald," William stated.
"What? I don't have a key," she said.
Isaac laughed softly. "You don't need one."
The familiar, black portal opened up beside Isaac marking the way to Theald. William placed his hand on the small of Alison's back and gently pushed her towards it.
"What is that?" Alison asked, looking startled.
"It's a portal. Kogure, the vark, it can make them," William said, revealing the truth with obvious excitement.
Alison eyed it warily and took to William's side. "Will, I don't know about this," she whispered.
"We use these regularly, Ali. There's nothing to be afraid of," William said.
Isaac nodded and walked into the hole, disappearing in a flash.
"See?" William said encouragingly.
Alison's bright eyes were wide with alarm as she looked at him.
"We can go together if you like?" William offered.
She nodded and William felt a swell of joy at her trusting him. He took her hand and tugged her slowly towards the portal. She laced her fingers with his, gripping tightly.
Pulling her forwards, he stepped into it and felt himself being tugged into the abyss. Alison's presence lingered close behind him as they were transported to Theald but he could no longer see her.
The room they emerged in was an enormous, circular chamber of stone. Hundreds of people dressed in cream jumpsuits were knelt in orderly rows in front of William. Their heads were shaved and bowed so their eyes were downcast. Alison gasped as she emerged behind him.
Isaac stood there, beaming at him.
"I've just finished the count, Mr Rimori," a male voice sounded from behind them.
William turned to look at the man.
"Five hundred and thirty two soldiers in total. All have been ingrained," Truvian Gold said, flashing his perfect, white teeth at them.
THE RISE OF ISAAC
BOOK THREE
TURNING TIDE
CAROLINE PECKHAM
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the author. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author's rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.
Published by Caroline Peckham 2016
Copyright 2016 Caroline Peckham
All rights reserved
Caroline Peckham has asserted her right under the copyright, designs and patents act, 1998, to be identified as the author of this work.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
To Kathleen,
For your never-ending enthusiasm for life.
Thank you.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Every time I finish a book in this series I get an enormous sense of accomplishment but my first thoughts always go to my friends, family and fans who are excited to read the next instalment. I can't thank you enough for the comments of "When will the next one be out?" and "What happens next?" It makes me smile every time! The confidence others have in my work is what gets me through all the self-doubt and the days I struggle to write.
To name just a few of the incredible people around me who deserve a mention...
Thank you Susanne for being the best sister a girl could ask for and thank you for the mini-you you're currently growing and who I can't wait to be an auntie for later this year!
My parents (of course) who couldn't be more supportive if they tried - thank you for accepting every decision I make despite how contrary it may be!
Thank you Kathleen you wonderful soul! This one's for you! And I couldn't mention you without mentioning your beautiful daughter and my Goddaughter, Annabelle (fingers crossed you grow up to be a fantasy book fan!)
Thank you Vicky and Jooles - oh what an amazing pair you make! Congratulations on getting married. It is incredible how two people from opposite ends of the world have found each other and have gone through thick and thin together to make it work. (Also check out Jooles's dark fantasy books because they are awesome: Julius Schenk, Take The Body And Give Me The Rest)
Thank you Pauline for all of your inspiring and kind words on my books! They fill me with so much confidence!
Sophie your comments make me smile so much and I wish I could silently watch you read my books over your shoulder and hear your opinions all the way through (sorry if that's weird...)
Lucy I love to hear about you reading my books on your commute and always can't wait for your opinions! Plus, though irrelevant, thanks for always texting me with your enthusiastic comments on Game of Thrones...never change.
Jane thank you for marvelling at my creativity as I marvel at yours! One day we will collaborate on a book of art or an art piece of words (we'll work it out!)
Thank you Graham by the time I next see you I imagine you will have been promoted again - one day you will be King of the world!
Thank you Natalie you are so supportive and though you are so many miles away at the moment you and Liana are always in my thoughts.
And finally thank you to all my fans including those on Goodreads, Wordpress, Facebook, and Twitter you guys are the best!
So here's book three of The Rise of Isaac. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I think you'll be happy to know that some of your questions are about to get answered but I can't deny that they won't all be just yet!
As always, thank you for reading. You're awesome.
TURNING TIDE
CAROLINE PECKHAM
CONTENTS
Prologue: The Orphan
1. In the Shade
2. Across the Sea
3. The Barlin View
4. The Returned
5. The White Wall
6. Captive
7. Haunted
8. A Dark Secret
9. A Taste of Magic
10. The Anomaly
11. After Dark
12. The Experiment
13. Beneath the Waves
14. Breaking Point
15. Outcast
16. The Felon Fox
17. A Rising Fear
18. The Missing
19. The Cerulean Court
20. The Darkness Within
21. The Bone of Contention
22. The Obsidian Key
23. Liar
24. The Merrymoon Hotel
25. Allies
26. The King in Glacio
27. Crimson
28. The Changing Wind
29. The High Mage
30. Tribute
31. The Lost Mage
32. The Other Knight
33. Into the Forest
34. Recruited
35. A Raging Storm
36. The Nairod Isle
37. Hunted
38. The Contact
39. The Pit
40. The Way Down
41. Tangled
42. A Leap of Faith
43. Catchers
44. Shadow in the Veins
45. Flat Out
46. Swift Wings
47. Guarded Heart
48. The Deal
49. The Sky Above
50. Troubled Waters
51. Blood Red
Epilogue: A Coming War
PROLOGUE:
The Orphan
Ten Years Ago
Under the shadow of a large tree, William Knight gazed up at the orphanage with sweating palms and a pounding heart. He ran a hand through his thick hair which was currently blonde. Despite it being six years since the incident, there was still a bounty on his head for the murder of Rose Isla, his betrothed, and he couldn't take the chance of being recognised. He spent a lot of time practicing the illegal art of appearance-altering magic and was able to make himself increasingly unrecognisable.
He checked his watch impatiently. The girl who always took the orphans for a walk was running late. He had observed them for weeks, learning their routine. She'd take them out after lunch and they'd spend an hour or two at the local park.
The door swung open and William stood to attention. The girl, Carly, appeared, leading the kids down the stone steps in an orderly line. He'd learned her name from listening to the children and had slowly discovered all fifteen of their names too. But there was only one he cared about. She was the reason he'd chosen this orphanage: a six year old called May.
The children were all wearing bright red hats. William found her amongst the group near the back of the line, her long blonde hair flowing over her summer dress.
Carly led them down the road and William waited for a gap to form between them before following.
His heart hammered as he took the familiar route at a casual pace, the laughter of the children carrying back to him.
The park was located down the next road and overlooked a peaceful bay, the waves lapping against the shore. It was busy with children, all of whom were running around in a large playground. Nearby, their parents sat watching them from benches.
A path led into the park, bordered by trees on either side. Carly and the children headed down it, crossing the grass to the playground.
William lingered on the shaded path, waiting for a family who was heading down the road toward the park. Three children were running in circles around their father whilst their mother pushed a pram behind them.
As the family passed, he fell into step behind them and followed closely as they walked over to the playground.
Seemingly unnoticed by the other parents, William stepped away from the family and casually dropped onto an empty bench.
Carly was visibly counting the children with her finger, presumably using their red caps to keep track of them. "Right, go on then!" she said and they ran off excitedly, splitting into different groups.
May had stayed with a dark-haired girl with a pink ribbon in her hair. William recalled her name as Lily.
William shifted uncomfortably as he spotted Carly heading towards him. She dropped into the seat beside him and he pretended to be overly interested in his fingernails.
He sensed her glancing at him.
"Which one's yours?" she asked politely.
William looked up at her with raised eyebrows, his heart beating a mile a minute. "Oh, she's up in the tunnel." He pointed to a large tunnel that connected two climbing frames.
She nodded. "I volunteer for the local orphanage. I take the kids out here to play." She pointed to the various groups of children.
William nodded. "Must be hard keeping an eye on them all."
"You have no idea." She laughed lightly.
A little boy in a red hat was chasing one of the older boys. He stumbled over his own feet and crashed to the ground. A look of delayed shock crossed his features then he screamed.
"Duty calls," Carly said with a smile then hurried off to help the child.
William steeled himself, taking the opportunity. He spotted May and Lily on the other side of the playground and wandered toward them.
A couple of parents were playing with their kids nearby but they weren't paying him any attention.
"Hey, nice hats," William said as he approached the girls.
They turned and looked at him. May's bright blue eyes went wide.
William had to act fast. He knelt down on one knee and reached for May's hat. "Wanna see a magic trick?"
"Yes please," Lily said, clearly the more confident of the two.
William took the hat in his hands and twisted it around, turning it purple in a flash. The girls gasped and he smiled.
"Wanna play a game?"
Lily nodded but May looked unsure.
"Let's play find the hat." He passed the hat to Lily. "You go hide it and we'll look for it. But you have to hide it really well, okay?"
Lily gripped it and nodded. "Okay!" She ran off into the throng of kids and William moved in a flash.
He pressed a palm to May's temple. Her mouth opened in surprise but she instantly fell asleep as magic slipped from his hand. He scooped her up and arranged her arms around his neck, holding her against him.
He stood and wandered out of the playground at a casual pace, his heart thumping in his ears. A woman sitting on a bench glanced at him as he passed her.
"Someone's tired," she said and William laughed softly.
"Poor thing's overdone it." He adjusted May on his shoulder. "Come on sweetie, let's go home to Mummy."
The woman smiled and he returned it before continuing away from the playground, heading toward the path.
He didn't look back but expected to hear Carly shouting after him at any second. Forcing himself to keep his pace steady, he focused on the tree-lined path and soon crossed into the shadows with an exhale of breath.
He took a different route out of the park, one which he had planned meticulously and walked a hundred times.
He exited and glanced up and down the quiet street, the cry of a seagull sounding as it soared overhead. He hurried across the road into an alley which wound between the rows of houses.
At the far end of it he spotted Isaac waiting for him. He was perched on a filthy doorstep in an expensive suit, looking completely out of place. Isaac got to his feet as he approached and his angular face broke into a grin.
"You did it." Isaac clapped his hands together and William was filled with a surge of elation.
"Nice suit," William teased.
"One of the neighbours down the road is on holiday. Can't deny he has taste," Isaac said, tugging on the lapels. "Bring her upstairs."
William followed Isaac through a small doorway into a dingy house that smelt of damp. He climbed a series of creaking stairs and went into a room that looked as though it had remained unused for years.
