Excerpt from La prophétie d'Ophélia (Ophelia's Prophecy) - Book 1
No one agreed. Some people said she was from a far away land and others said that she was of noble descent. The rumours about Ophelia were endless. But one thing was for sure, she left no one indifferent. Ophelia had an extraordinary gift. She could read people's future! She also concocted and sold potions which were known for their fabulous powers. She could read tea leaves, the lines in the palms of a hand and tarot cards. But besides the mystery that surrounded her, Ophelia brought joy wherever she went. Whenever her blue caravan rumbled down the road towards the villages, children would run along to meet her calling out to her handsome black horse, "Zingaro. Hey! Zingaro!"
Zingaro was a strong majestic and his dark mane glistened upon his strong neck. His chocolate brown eyes were noble and seemed almost human and was the smartest horse that anyone had ever seen. He was Ophelia's pride and joy. She talked to him all the time and in turn, he gave the impression that he understood everything she said. The two were inseparable and as free as the wind. Under rain or shine, they traveled across forests and journeyed throughout the countryside setting up camp wherever their hearts desired.
No one agreed. Some people said she was from a far away land and others said that she was of noble descent. The rumours about Ophelia were endless. But one thing was for sure, she left no one indifferent. Ophelia had an extraordinary gift. She could read people's future! She also concocted and sold potions which were known for their fabulous powers. She could read tea leaves, the lines in the palms of a hand and tarot cards. But besides the mystery that surrounded her, Ophelia brought joy wherever she went. Whenever her blue caravan rumbled down the road towards the villages, children would run along to meet her calling out to her handsome black horse, "Zingaro. Hey! Zingaro!"
Zingaro was a strong majestic and his dark mane glistened upon his strong neck. His chocolate brown eyes were noble and seemed almost human and was the smartest horse that anyone had ever seen. He was Ophelia's pride and joy. She talked to him all the time and in turn, he gave the impression that he understood everything she said. The two were inseparable and as free as the wind. Under rain or shine, they traveled across forests and journeyed throughout the countryside setting up camp wherever their hearts desired.
Excerpt from Le destin de Ballanika (Ballanika's Destiny) - Book 2
“Who are you? What are you?” asked Lily. “A mermaid?”
The sea creature lifted the hem of her green dress. Lily expected to see a fish tail as, but instead there were two delicate feet.
“You’re a woman?” said Lily.
Ballanika nodded and with her long gracious fingers, she brushed a school of blue fish away. She seemed to be around twenty years old.
“How did I get here?” asked Lily.
“The dolphins,” said the woman who’s hands and her face were translucent like mother of pearl.
“What are doing here?” Lily continued.
“Waiting,” answered the nymph.
“Are we dead? Is this heaven?”
“We’re alive but this is far from heaven,” the woman replied. “We’re in the bottom of the sea. And this is where I live.”
“How come we can breathe?” asked Lily again.
“Because of the pebbles on our tongue; they’re magic! As long as we have them in our mouths, we’ll be fine,” said Ballanika without a smile.
Lily ran her tongues over the pebble and pointed to the door inlaid with mother of pearl.
“What’s in there?”
A veil of sadness crossed Ballanika’s face. “You must never go inside.”
“Who are you? What are you?” asked Lily. “A mermaid?”
The sea creature lifted the hem of her green dress. Lily expected to see a fish tail as, but instead there were two delicate feet.
“You’re a woman?” said Lily.
Ballanika nodded and with her long gracious fingers, she brushed a school of blue fish away. She seemed to be around twenty years old.
“How did I get here?” asked Lily.
“The dolphins,” said the woman who’s hands and her face were translucent like mother of pearl.
“What are doing here?” Lily continued.
“Waiting,” answered the nymph.
“Are we dead? Is this heaven?”
“We’re alive but this is far from heaven,” the woman replied. “We’re in the bottom of the sea. And this is where I live.”
“How come we can breathe?” asked Lily again.
“Because of the pebbles on our tongue; they’re magic! As long as we have them in our mouths, we’ll be fine,” said Ballanika without a smile.
Lily ran her tongues over the pebble and pointed to the door inlaid with mother of pearl.
“What’s in there?”
A veil of sadness crossed Ballanika’s face. “You must never go inside.”
Excerpt from La quête de Lily (Lily's
Quest) - Book 3
From the dim glow of street lamp, Lily noticed that the man’s feet were bundled in rags and held together with string. He had a three or four scarves wrapped around his neck, which made his head look small. He smiled a toothless grin. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
The old man sat beside her and she held her coat tightly around her neck.
“Maybe I help you?” he said.
This stranger was the only person in the village to talk to her.
“I’m looking for someone,” said Lily.
The toothless man smiled and stared at her with his clear eyes. “Aren’t we all looking for someone?”
The man looked crazy but he certainly not dangerous.
“Have you lived here a long time?” asked Lily.
“Always have and always will. I have to. They need me here.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m the ragman!”
“What’s that?” asked Lily
The man leaned over and picked a piece of paper of the ground. “I collect what’s left behind.”
The ragman folded the paper neatly and stuffed into his tattered pocket. “I’ve never seen you around before,” said the ragman.
“I was here once,” replied Lily. “But that was a long time ago. It’s strange, don’t remember the place as being so dreary.”
“Ouff!” said the ragman, shaking his head. “That’s true! As soon as night falls, there’s not a soul around. People lock their doors. They lock their shutters. They hide in their houses. They’re afraid of strangers. They’re afraid of the night.”
“Why’s that?” asked Lily blowing into her hands to keep them warm.
“Well Miss! It’s like this,” explained the ragman. “Something that happened a long time ago. You see, one night…”
The ragman started to cough and buried his tiny head in his scarves. Lily patted him on the back.
“Where was I?” he said when he finally stopped. “Oh yes! One night, pirates attacked the town and set fire to houses, barns and the storage sheds. Some of the townsfolk were badly hurt. Some were even killed. It was awful. People everywhere were screaming and crying. It was really, a terrible. Terrible. The thing that those pirated did! After they destroyed our homes they took all that we had back to their ship. But the worse thing that they did was to take some of the children.”
“You were here then during the raid,” Lily whispered.
“I sure was! I’ll never forget that night until my dying days!”
“Would you remember having seen a caravan? It was up on the hill outside the town,” asked Lily.
The ragman pointed over his shoulder. “I do remember. It was a pale blue! It was set up, up there.” He pointed to his head. “I forget nothing! Never!
From the dim glow of street lamp, Lily noticed that the man’s feet were bundled in rags and held together with string. He had a three or four scarves wrapped around his neck, which made his head look small. He smiled a toothless grin. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
The old man sat beside her and she held her coat tightly around her neck.
“Maybe I help you?” he said.
This stranger was the only person in the village to talk to her.
“I’m looking for someone,” said Lily.
The toothless man smiled and stared at her with his clear eyes. “Aren’t we all looking for someone?”
The man looked crazy but he certainly not dangerous.
“Have you lived here a long time?” asked Lily.
“Always have and always will. I have to. They need me here.”
“What do you do?”
“I’m the ragman!”
“What’s that?” asked Lily
The man leaned over and picked a piece of paper of the ground. “I collect what’s left behind.”
The ragman folded the paper neatly and stuffed into his tattered pocket. “I’ve never seen you around before,” said the ragman.
“I was here once,” replied Lily. “But that was a long time ago. It’s strange, don’t remember the place as being so dreary.”
“Ouff!” said the ragman, shaking his head. “That’s true! As soon as night falls, there’s not a soul around. People lock their doors. They lock their shutters. They hide in their houses. They’re afraid of strangers. They’re afraid of the night.”
“Why’s that?” asked Lily blowing into her hands to keep them warm.
“Well Miss! It’s like this,” explained the ragman. “Something that happened a long time ago. You see, one night…”
The ragman started to cough and buried his tiny head in his scarves. Lily patted him on the back.
“Where was I?” he said when he finally stopped. “Oh yes! One night, pirates attacked the town and set fire to houses, barns and the storage sheds. Some of the townsfolk were badly hurt. Some were even killed. It was awful. People everywhere were screaming and crying. It was really, a terrible. Terrible. The thing that those pirated did! After they destroyed our homes they took all that we had back to their ship. But the worse thing that they did was to take some of the children.”
“You were here then during the raid,” Lily whispered.
“I sure was! I’ll never forget that night until my dying days!”
“Would you remember having seen a caravan? It was up on the hill outside the town,” asked Lily.
The ragman pointed over his shoulder. “I do remember. It was a pale blue! It was set up, up there.” He pointed to his head. “I forget nothing! Never!
Excerpt from La vengeance de Nostromous (Nostromous' Vengeance) - Book 4
“Zingaro?” Ophelia whispered.
The horse looked up at her. He tried to get up.
Nostromous stirred.
“We have to get out of here before it’s too late,” she said coaxing the stallion to stand. Zingaro swayed as he tried to walk.
The chamber was now filled with bats.
Ophélia tied the ivory whistle fish around her neck and wrapped the dagger in the oilskin along with the leather bound book. She grabbed a torch and lead Zingaro down the maze, pushing against the flow of bats.
They were long gone when Nostromous finally regained consciousness. He felt his head and felt the wound, when he looked at his hand it was full of blood. He stumbled over to the altar and saw the book of spells in a pool of mud and ash. The ink was washed away from the pages.
“I’m ruined!” he cried. “She’s destroyed everything. Everything.”
But then he remembered, after all those years where Ophélia recited the spells for him, she had managed to memorize them.
“I must find her.”
He tasted the blood on his lips. He could tell that it was hers. He licked the blood from his lip and spat into a vial that lay by his feet. He took a strong whiff then corked on the tiny bottle.
“I’ll track you down, if it’s the last thing I do!”
“Zingaro?” Ophelia whispered.
The horse looked up at her. He tried to get up.
Nostromous stirred.
“We have to get out of here before it’s too late,” she said coaxing the stallion to stand. Zingaro swayed as he tried to walk.
The chamber was now filled with bats.
Ophélia tied the ivory whistle fish around her neck and wrapped the dagger in the oilskin along with the leather bound book. She grabbed a torch and lead Zingaro down the maze, pushing against the flow of bats.
They were long gone when Nostromous finally regained consciousness. He felt his head and felt the wound, when he looked at his hand it was full of blood. He stumbled over to the altar and saw the book of spells in a pool of mud and ash. The ink was washed away from the pages.
“I’m ruined!” he cried. “She’s destroyed everything. Everything.”
But then he remembered, after all those years where Ophélia recited the spells for him, she had managed to memorize them.
“I must find her.”
He tasted the blood on his lips. He could tell that it was hers. He licked the blood from his lip and spat into a vial that lay by his feet. He took a strong whiff then corked on the tiny bottle.
“I’ll track you down, if it’s the last thing I do!”
Excerpt from Le secret de Lumina (Lumina's Secret) - Book 5
The door to the caravan opened and Madame Lumina, leaning on her cane, struggled down the stairs. Her wispy hair floated around her head like grey haze. Her back was curved, as if pulled down by the amulets of animal teeth, pieces of bone, and dried shrivelled things, that hung around her neck. Her layered skirts held up by wide leather belt from which hung little flasks, and tiny sacks. She seemed even more ancient in the daylight.
The door to the caravan opened and Madame Lumina, leaning on her cane, struggled down the stairs. Her wispy hair floated around her head like grey haze. Her back was curved, as if pulled down by the amulets of animal teeth, pieces of bone, and dried shrivelled things, that hung around her neck. Her layered skirts held up by wide leather belt from which hung little flasks, and tiny sacks. She seemed even more ancient in the daylight.
Excerpt from Le courage de Tanaga (Tanaga's Courage) - Book 6
Tanaga heard the trap door open and heavy steps racing down the stairs. The light stung his eyes. He finally recognized the figure approaching him. It was Nostromous. Tanaga removed the cork from the vial that Lily had given him and took a drop.
Nostromous peered down at him. “I’ve never known a man who can take as much misery as you can and still not give up. You don’t even know these children. Is there no end to your madness?”
Tanaga avoided his eyes. “If you want to know where I hid the treasure, you’re out of your mind.”
“That’s not why I’m here,” said Nostromous.
“Then what do you want from me?”
“I want to know where she’s heading?” replied Nostromous.
“Who?”
Nostromous kicked him. “You know exactly who I’m talking about. The girl in the hot air balloon.”
“What is she to you?” replied Tanaga.
“I’m not sure yet, but I need her to get to someone else.”
“Who’s this person you’re after?” asked Tanaga surprising himself with his newfound courage.
“Her name’s Ophelia? Did the kid tell you about her?”
“She did tell me about her,” said Tanaga remembering his promise to Lily; that he would do what he could to find Zingaro and Ophelia if he ever had a chance.
“I tell you what,” said Tanaga. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll trade you the treasure for Ophelia, the child and the horse.”
“Seems fair to me,” said Nostromous.
“Do I have your word?” asked Tanaga.
“Of course!” Nostromous smiled to himself as he shook Tanaga’s hand.
Tanaga heard the trap door open and heavy steps racing down the stairs. The light stung his eyes. He finally recognized the figure approaching him. It was Nostromous. Tanaga removed the cork from the vial that Lily had given him and took a drop.
Nostromous peered down at him. “I’ve never known a man who can take as much misery as you can and still not give up. You don’t even know these children. Is there no end to your madness?”
Tanaga avoided his eyes. “If you want to know where I hid the treasure, you’re out of your mind.”
“That’s not why I’m here,” said Nostromous.
“Then what do you want from me?”
“I want to know where she’s heading?” replied Nostromous.
“Who?”
Nostromous kicked him. “You know exactly who I’m talking about. The girl in the hot air balloon.”
“What is she to you?” replied Tanaga.
“I’m not sure yet, but I need her to get to someone else.”
“Who’s this person you’re after?” asked Tanaga surprising himself with his newfound courage.
“Her name’s Ophelia? Did the kid tell you about her?”
“She did tell me about her,” said Tanaga remembering his promise to Lily; that he would do what he could to find Zingaro and Ophelia if he ever had a chance.
“I tell you what,” said Tanaga. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll trade you the treasure for Ophelia, the child and the horse.”
“Seems fair to me,” said Nostromous.
“Do I have your word?” asked Tanaga.
“Of course!” Nostromous smiled to himself as he shook Tanaga’s hand.
