Fandri's Adventures



  Fandri’s Adventures

  Written by Kasper Beaumont

  With Bailey Beaumont.

  Cover painting by Brighid Walton

  Graphics by Troy Stoilkovski.

  This book is a prequel to the

  Hunters of Reloria trilogy.

  First published in 2016.

  Copyright Kasper Beaumont 2016

  This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Edited by Kerry Hall.

  This book is dedicated to Philip Beaumont.

  Acknowledgements:

  This book began with a short story written by my son Bailey and me. I am so excited for Bailey to be taking the next step and learning the art of writing. He has contributed many fine ideas to the Hunters of Reloria series over the years.

  Thanks to Phil and Colin for believing I could do it and, to Margaret and Fiona for their continuing encouragement when the going gets tough. My highest regards go to Brighid for winning the art competition and having her painting on the front cover, and also to Troy for the great layout. Kerry, I’m forever in your debt for your tireless work with the editing. Thanks also to my beta readers: Bailey, Vanessa, Bill and Wayne.

  Thank you to all the talented artists young and old who have contributed artwork to this novel. Over 50 entries were received in the art competition for this book and the winning entries can be seen as chapter headings. Congratulations to all the artists: Ynne; Ruby; BJ; Michele; Hecate; Madison; Nathan-Lee; Brighid; Susannah; Jackson; Tania; Kyla; Tahlia and Quin.

  Colin has designed a great webpage. You are welcome to visit there to view the awesome artwork and many pictures and insights into the characters.

  Webpage is: https://www.huntersofreloria.weebly.com

  Artwork: ‘First Kiss’ by Ynne Black

  Chapter 1: An Eventful First Kiss – co-written by Bailey Beaumont

  “Watch out for my crazy goat.”

  Emina’s voice was a bare whisper as she pulled Fandri by the shirt into the big wooden barn. He smiled with nervous anticipation. Will she kiss me?

  The halflings could hear geese and ducks rustling in the straw. Emina closed the latch behind them. “Old Billy Goat is very territorial and defends his barn with a passion.”

  There was no sign of the recalcitrant goat while the brown skinned halflings climbed the rickety staircase to the musty loft. Their bond-fairies glow lit up the gloom as they played chase above and around the hay bales, ignoring the eager teenagers.

  Woodcutter’s son and the resident scallywag of Southdale, Fandri had his first ever crush on this pretty shepherd’s daughter. With her long brown hair and ever-present smile, Emina had won the hearts of many young lads in the village, but she only had eyes for fourteen year old Fandri.

  “Kiss me, Fandri.” Emina’s tone was almost pleading and she sat on a hay bale, beckoning her friend closer. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him down towards her, eyes shining with anticipation. Fandri stumbled in surprise and his knee grazed upon the rough-hewn floorboards, before he recovered and was plonked down beside her.

  “Wait a minute, Emmy,” he protested. “I’m not sure if I ought to be…” Whatever he had been trying to say was lost when Emina placed her finger on his lips.

  “Shush.” She leaned her body against his, took her finger away and replaced it with soft pink lips that kissed him with passion.

  Fandri was caught unawares, his heart thumping loudly in his chest. He stretched his arms forward to embrace her, but a sudden stabbing pain in his backside made him jump high into the air.

  “M…a…a…a,” bleated Billy Goat, tearing Fandri’s cotton britches in two with a twist of his sharp horns.

  “Help! Help!” Fandri bolted for the staircase and the red-eyed goat pursued him. Emina gave a frantic grab for the goat’s collar, but wasn’t fast enough to catch him before he clip-clopped down the stairs in pursuit of Fandri.

  “Run Fandri. Billy’s coming after you.”

  He turned his head for a brief back glance as he ran out the door of the barn, shouting, “I’m running all right.” He yelped as the shaggy white goat rounded the corner of the barn and sprinted across the field towards him. Fandri spied the farmhouse, gathered the torn shreds of his pants and ran as fast as he could, the goat hot on his heels.

  Running in through the open kitchen door, he slammed it shut behind him. He heard the thud of the goat’s horns bang into the wood and felt the door shudder from the impact. Luckily the door held strong and he sighed with relief. “Mad goat.” His voice was a breathless pant in his explanation to Emina’s mother.

  Fandri and his wide-eyed fairy collapsed into a chair with heaving chests and pounding hearts.

  Fandri-La closed her wings together to get a good look at her pert behind. “That really hurt. I know that it was you Billy attacked, but it feels like my bottom is on fire.”

  “Oh, you do make a fuss.” Emina’s mother, Lyla pointed a wooden spoon at the fairy. “Why don’t you heal your halfling and you’ll feel better for it too?”

  Fandri-La admitted she was right and performed the healing ritual with Lyla-Li. Singing soothing tunes and glowing from within, they spun in the air above the injured halfling.

  Fandri smiled as the pain eased, until he looked through the open window to see Emina and her father striding purposefully across the field towards the farmhouse. Emina pulled on her father’s arm, but he was brusque when he shrugged her off. Hani was an overprotective parent of three pretty daughters and Fandri surmised that the red-faced farmer wasn’t hurrying to enquire after his health.

  “You were with a boy in the barn?” Hani’s voice boomed across the field, sending chickens scurrying for cover from his big gumboots. Fandri shrank down below the windowsill, his knees feeling weak.

  Lyla whispered in his ear. “You’ll be in for a whipping if he catches you, boy. Go hide in the cool room and I’ll let you out when he’s gone.” She handed Fandri a piping hot bread roll and bustled him into the cellar. Fandri-La followed with wide eyes.

  The door had just closed when Hani burst into the kitchen. “Where’s that troublemaking boy?”

  “Hani, leave the boy alone. I’m sure he’s out in the fields somewhere.” Lyla sprinkled flour of a lump of dough and proceeded to knead it, avoiding eye contact with her fuming husband. “I think your goat has made a new hole in the fence. Why don’t you go check the boundaries?”

  Hani harrumphed in reply and pulled the belt from his waist, jerking it so hard, it cracked like a whip. He turned on his heel and slammed the farmhouse door.

  As Hani scoured the fields, Lyla bustled Fandri out of the cellar and through the back door of the house. The youngster looked nervously both ways before bolting towards the woods where he lived. The tall wheat grass gave way to the leafy coolness of the forest. Birds and small creatures scattered out of the path of Fandri and his fairy, who sprinted as fast as they could go.

  After a furious burst of speed, Fandri slowed to a walk, relieved that the ordeal was over. He had frequent glances over his shoulder as his fairy stopped to drink nectar from the flowers.

  A family of rabbits darted through the undergrowth, long ears twitching at the halfling’s footstep. Ever the opportunistic hunter, Fandri grabbed a slingshot from his belt and rapidly shot pebble after pebble into the grass. A reassuring thump signalled a successful hit. Fandri dashed over to collect his prize and gave a quick twist of the neck to alleviate suffering. He tied a string around the neck and slung it over his shoulder.

  W
ith a flap of her tiny wings, Fandri-La flew down to whisper in the rabbit’s ear and pat its head as it passed. She was saddened at the loss of life, but understood that Fandri never killed more than he could use or sell in the town.

  Fandri patted his behind where the wind blew through the hole in his britches. “Let’s hurry home to get my spare trousers, Fandy. I doubt Ma will believe I ripped them on berry prickles.”

  His fairy nodded with a tinkle of her bell. “You do seem to attract trouble like flies to a troll. Not that we’ve ever seen a troll, of course.”

  The halfling sighed. “I promise you we will escape this village and see the world one day, little fairy. You and I were meant for bigger things than this boring old place.”

  “I’d be happy with you anywhere.” Fandri-La grinned as she flitted up to weave her way through the branches high above, for she honestly enjoyed her halfling’s adventure-prone adolescence.

  Their home came into view on the far side of a clearing. The robust log hut had been built here in the woods long before the small village of Southdale nearby. A halfling home for dozens of generations, it was a simple one-room bungalow with an open window at each end and a kitchen tacked onto the back. Currently three generations of the family lived there: Fandri, his parents and his paternal grandparents.

  “Come on fairy. Let’s get on in and have a nice rest. I think I’ve had enough troubles for one day.” Fandri-La nodded her head and started off across the clearing.

  The bushes next to Fandri rustled and the halfling froze in surprise.

  “M…a…a…a.” The shaggy goat bleated and raced towards the halfling.

  Fandri picked up the shreds of his britches and sprinted for the cabin.

  The goat lowered its head as it charged the halfling and lifted him off the ground with both horns and the halfling flew in through the front opened window.

  Fandri squealed as he rolled onto the cabin floor. Placing his hands to his sore reddened backside, he sniffed the air. “What is that awful smell?”

  “Oh silly.” Fandri-La flitted down holding her nose. “Don’t you know all Billy’s wee on their beards? He has marked you with his scent now. He will always be waiting to challenge you, if you ever return to Hani’s farm.”

  Fandri groaned. “Ugh girls, I don’t know if they are really worth all this trouble.”

  As luck would have it, the usually-occupied cabin was empty that day, with the rest of Fandri’s family spending the day fishing down near the water mill. Fandri sighed with relief, stripped off his ruined calf-length trousers and buried them in the compost midden in the nearby woods. He figured it would be easier to explain a lost pair of pants than a pair with a large hole in them.

  Of course explaining to his parents why Hani wanted to throttle him was another matter altogether. Fandri’s father insisted on honesty and accepting the consequences of his actions. The youngster was sure that public humiliation and being unable to sit for a week were the likely consequences when he was caught.

  “Things will blow over in a couple of days.” Fandri-La tried to reassure him and patted his hair with her tiny hand. Fandri raked dirt over the midden.

  “Now that is something you do not see every day: a halfling burying a pair of britches with a gaping hole in them. I wonder what misadventures have befallen you and why the need to hide the evidence. Methinks you have a guilty conscience.”

  Startled, Fandri searched around for the intruder who had witnessed his deed. A bush to the left of him rustled and a strapping young man strode towards him. The halfling gasped for the lad was the tallest person Fandri had ever seen. Surely he can’t be a halfling?

  Staring at the boy, Fandri’s eyes narrowed in thought. What is there besides halflings in Reloria? “Are you an elf?”

  “No pointed ears here.” The boy tucked his shoulder-length blond hair behind his ears with a giggle of delighted amusement. “Guess again.”

  Fandri snorted at the cheekiness of the lad. “Well then, I guess you’re a troll, although I’ve never met one. Are you going to eat me?”

  “Ha-ha, ah…you halflings are such naïve folk; never learning about the world beyond your simple existence. My name is Varl, prince of the Diagro Plains and squire to my Uncle Rawlan. My people are known as men and we hail from a land far to the north. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, halfling. And I see your fairy hiding behind that branch there. Well met.” Prince Varl gave a bow and winked at Fandri.

  The halfling tried to copy the bow with one arm raised to the side as Varl demonstrated. “Hello, I am Fandri of Southdale and I live here in the woods with my family. My fairy is named Fandri-La.”

  She attempted the bow in mid-air and Varl smiled. Her bell tinkled. “I am pleased to meet you as well. Are there other men with you?” She glanced between the trees, half expecting a score of men to jump out of the shadows.

  “This is no need to fear an invasion of mankind, here in your woods, fairy. Most men are unaware of the halflings’ existence and would scarcely perceive you a threat if they did.” Varl scratched a small pimple on his chin as he shifted his gaze to Fandri and pondered their meeting. “It is a happy circumstance that we met, for I have been bereft of company my own age. Would you be so kind as to be my companions for dinner this evening?”

  “For real, I am invited to eat with a prince?”

  Varl shook his head. “I am one of the least important among my companions; if truth be told. At least that is the case now whilst I am a squire. They seldom pay me any heed unless it is to identify my faults. Come, I will be missed anon. Do you accept my offer?”

  “You betcha, I do. Let’s run before that farmer or his wild goat comes for another piece of my behind.”

  “I beg your pardon.”

  “Never mind, it’s an embarrassing tale of pain and love.”

  Varl raised an eyebrow, but was polite enough to ignore the statement.

  With the fairy in the lead, the two youngsters jogged towards the town, passing farmers tending their crops, halfling women picking fruit, and the men working on a barn. Fandri noted his parents and grandparents casting lines into the river as they passed by in silence.

  Varl made for the guest house, the halflings’ rustic version of a tavern. This consisted of four rooms rarely occupied and a hall which doubled as a dining or meeting room. The fact this place was rarely visited by children caused Fandri to shuffle his feet behind his new companion.

  Oblivious to Fandri’s reluctance, Varl swung the double doors open and led the way into the hall, striding with purpose towards a large group seated in the centre.

  Fandri stopped mid-stride with wide eyes. What in Reloria?

  His eyes passed over a group seated at a table, for the people standing beside them were the tallest the halfling had ever seen. Their heads stooped to fit under the wooden beams. All three were fair-skinned with blond hair and full beards, in contrast to the halflings’ brown skin, hair, and wispy beards. Fandri noticed long leather scabbards belted to their waists and triangular shields strapped to forearms. All gave him a cursory glance and returned to watching everything in the room.

  Fandri-La was shy and tried to blend in beside the door frame.

  “Uncle Rawlan, this is Fandri, a halfling I met in the woods.” Varl tugged on the sleeve of a short-haired stocky man and received a back-handed slap across his face for his trouble.

  With a ringing in his ears, face red and stinging, he bowed respectfully.

  “Statute three of the Knights’ Code?” The man’s voice was deep and harsh.

  “To lead, one must first learn to follow. I apologise for my absence, Sir Rawlan. It will not occur again.”

  The knight grunted to indicate the answer was correct. “See that it does not. Now relieve the squires in the stables and finish cleaning and feeding the horses yourself. You will be present at supper and oil our leathers afterwards.” Rawlan turned his back to the boy to show the conversation was over.

  “Come Fandri, the e
lves are in counsel and there is work to be done.” Varl dragged the halfling out of the hall, with his fairy following. “You would think I would be granted permission to view your town, but instead, I get to do all the chores by myself. Do you care to assist me?”

  “Sure, I haven’t tended horses before and would be happy to help. Why is your uncle so upset with you?”

  “Oh, that is just his manner, strict, but fair. I did wander off without permission and my knight has the right to strike me for an infringement of the Knights’ Code. Our people are quite formal about such matters. You ought to consider travelling with us, there is much you could learn from elves and men.”

  Fandri’s mouth gaped in astonishment. “Leave Southdale? I have never been more than four hours walk from here my whole life. Besides, what would people say?” Contrary to his words, his heart beat rapidly and he felt a flush of excitement. Varl’s offer to travel with men and elves certainly had an air of adventure about it. Fandri had never met an elf either.

  “So they’re all men then, I imagine from the shield your elders carry?” He studied Varl more closely and noticed the same triangle shield was strapped to his elongated back and a leather scabbard hung from his belt. Varl’s freckled face smiled back at him with the joyfulness of youth. With a start Fandri realised that this boy acted younger, but was a good head taller than the halfling who had just reached his full height at age fourteen. Varl probably had a few more years to grow and would no doubt bump his head on the rafters like his companions.

  “Well inferred, friend Fandri. We are the knights of the Diagro Plains and we travel as guards for the elven royal family: King Phelaeron-Sky, you would have seen seated with the long black hair and his wife Queen Liara-Star is the beautiful blonde lady. Her brother is the aloof red-haired Prince Celdar-Moon, who is heir to the throne. You may have also noticed the wizard with them. He is Grand Mage Nnarndam of Nnanell and is unparalleled in magic. These are the creators of the Elven Shield of Reloria.

  “Wizards, elves, Elven Shield? I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Come, pick up that curry comb and I will educate you as we work.” Varl dismissed the other squires and they set about tending the horses together.

  Fandri-La felt much happier and flitted from horse to horse, muttering glad tidings in their ears.

  Varl spoke to the halfling of many things: places far from Southdale and wondrous inhabitants and events beyond the halfling’s comprehension. One thing became clearer to Fandri the more the squire spoke. Southdale sounded, but a dot on the map of a land full of intrigue and adventure to a young halfling and his bond-fairy. Their eyes shone with anticipation and they resolved to somehow go with Varl on his mission.

  Later, when their chores were completed, Varl and Fandri returned to the guest house, which was now lit with candles in the wall sconces and filled with the sounds of music and voices. Varl swung the doors open and delicious smells from the kitchen assaulted their senses. Fandri-La flitted into the room with an excited smile, followed by the boys.

  “Mmm…Southdale’s own pork stew and black bread from the baker, my favourite. I believe there is something else, but I can’t put a name to it.” The halfling’s attempt to inhale the entire room with his widened nostrils made Varl laugh.

  “I believe it is a northern dish judging by the aroma. Perhaps a lamb braised with honey and ponaton spice. That is indeed a delicious meal, and I did detect some spices in the wizard’s saddle bags.” Varl pointed to a wrinkled old man with silver hair wearing a pointed blue hat with stars. “Come, let me introduce you.”

  The introductions had to wait because the elves were deep in discussion with the wizard. The boys sat in silence to the side and waited politely for a break in the conversation.

  A slender elf with long ginger hair was frowning as he addressed the wizard. “How soon you forget the dangers of the Vergai, Grand Mage. It has not been six moons since the rousting of several of them near Bare-top Mountain. It’s possible they had been there all along, but perhaps there is a failure in the Elven Shield and they are invading Reloria as we sit here, surrounded by ignorant halflings.”

  Fandri’s face turned a bright red at being mentioned.

  Another elf with dark hair gave the first elf a long look as he stood up from the table. ‘Ginger elf’ pretended to be engrossed in the stitching of his velvet sleeve as he paced the room with a scowl on his face.

  The dark-haired elf had a pleasant face topped by a filigree crown which featured a large blue sapphire. His voice was deep, but yet sounded gentle as his eyes followed the red-haired one. “Yes, my brother-by-marriage, we’re all aware of the urgency of our quest to measure the shield. It is our responsibility to protect these innocent halflings and fairies, and not worry them with tales of lizard-men who would ruin this fair land. Now, Prince Varl, I believe you wished for us to meet your new friend.” The elf smiled and nodded to the boys who jumped to their feet.

  “Your royal majesties: Elven King Phelaeron-Sky, Queen Liara-Star and Prince Celdar-Moon, this is Fandri, son of…” He turned to Fandri. “Who is your father?”

  “Farli, your royal majesties. It’s nice to meet you.” He extended his hand towards the pale-skinned elves.

  Varl pulled him back. “No Fandri, like this.” He knelt on the wooden floor board with one knee raised and an arm extended to the side. Fandri copied him.

  “Good manners for a halfling. I think I like this one.” The king extended a hand and with no apparent effort, raised Fandri to his feet.

  The halfling swayed with surprise at finding himself upright.

  Fandri-La gave a bow in mid-air and the king nodded in acknowledgement. “Welcome Fandri-La.”

  The queen smiled and Fandri’s heart skipped a beat at her ethereal beauty, for her skin seemed to glow like a bond-fairy’s. “I am pleased you approve of him Phelaeron, for he and his fairy are destined to accompany us during our travels.”

  “What? Are you kidding me?” Fandri and his fairy stared at each other with raised eyebrows.

  A deep throated chuckle sounded from nearby and they turned to see the wizard. “Nnarndam’s the name, Grand Mage from Nnanell. Disbelieve if you will, but the queen’s visions always come true one way or another. I wouldn’t be surprised if a little time away from the South Lands would be a good experience for you, youngsters and a lot gentler on your backside than today’s escapades.”

  Nnarndam chuckled again and watched the boy squirm with confusion and pat his bottom. “Come; sit beside me, Fandri and Varl. I wish to speak with you. Tunri, please bring two glasses of honeydew and a thimbleful for the fairy.”

  “Thank you.” Both boys graciously accepted drinks from the halfling. “How do you know of my misadventure with the goat, Sir Mage? I’m sure I would have noticed you there.”

  Nnarndam took a big swig of his ale and wiped the froth from his whiskers. “It so happens that today I was a sparrow, I do find them to be quite unobtrusive little birds. I was flying over the farm when a boy with ragged britches and a red bottom came racing out of a barn. He was followed by a pretty maiden; a ruddy-faced farmer carrying a pitchfork and a red-eyed goat. I soon deduced your romantic tryst with the maiden was not to the liking of said farmer and goat. It did make for an exciting flight for me, I must admit. I rather like your spirit and am pleased you have decided to join us.”

  “But…why and how can you change into a bird?” Fandri was getting rather frightened by these all-knowing strangers and their insistence on him accompanying them northward.

  “As to the why, I cannot say, but here is the how.” Nnarndam mumbled under his beard and his form changed gradually from a wizard to a shaggy goat with horns.

  “Billy oh no, not again.” Fandri jumped up on the table, to the amusement of the elves and knights.

  The goat bleated and jumped on the table beside him. It drank a sip of the halfling’s honeydew and the knights roared with laughter.

  King Phelaeron-Sky
rapped his ringed knuckles on the table for attention and the laughter settled. “Enough wizard, you are scaring the boy. Change form and I will send for the meal, you cheeky upstart.” He turned to Fandri-La. “Come, my dear fairy, let me look at you.” The fairy twirled her curvaceous form and danced for the elf, who stared at her with rapture. “Ah, creating bond-fairies was my finest accomplishment, to be sure. Sit here and we shall dine together.”

  Fandri studied the king who looked no older than thirty with long black hair, pointed ears and fine features. The only thing that gave away his age was a faraway look in his eyes, which spoke of adventures long past. The halfling mused that the elf must be even older than the wizard appeared, to have created the bond-fairies, whose origins were lost in the mists of history. The king and fairy glowed in unison and Fandri felt warmth and love flow through their bond.

  It was at that moment that Fandri decided to leave Southdale with these travellers.

  After a delicious dinner, he explained his choice to Varl. “I plan to join your journey, but first there is one thing I must do. I’ll return here before dawn.”

  Varl nodded. “Sometimes it is harder to say goodbye than say nothing at all. I respect your decision and await your return, my new friend.” Varl clasped Fandri’s forearm, which he returned in kind.

  Artwork ‘Fairy’ in pencil by Ruby, grade 5